Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-10
The Shot From the Cedars.
CHAPTER VII.

The Shot From the Cedars.
II don't know anything about that" the
president was saying an hour later. very
exciting hour as 1t CHANGED to be, and the
president was both disturbed and vexed
"A pistol is not a proper part of a teach
er's equipment, and no man is warranted
in using one except, possibly, in defense of
his life"
And must he wait till he's dead to find
out whether his life's in danger?" drawled
the presidents other bette noir, the pro-
fessor of electrics. IF 1 had been in the
captains place think 1 would have shot
sooner"
You couldn't have shot at ALL" said the
president, scathingly. You don't carry a
pistol-don't know how to use one. He
does it seems, and he shouldn't.
mo. l admit that according to academic
tradition and the laws of the land he
should have suffered himself to be pounded
into pulp-a one-armed man, alone and
helpless-but I'm bound to say, Mr.. Presi-
dent, that. you seem infinitely more con-
cerned about the possible shooting of a
student than the actual and brutal and
preconcerted assault upon one of the fac
ulty.'
Four of the six present gasped au-
| dibly at the effrontery of the electrical de-
partment. Never before the coming of
Fame, 1.-The disturbing element" into the
charmed circle of college life had such a
thing been heard of among the faculty.
Since that coming not only Fame, but GER
tain followers, had more than once meas
ured lances with the president "electrics'
among them; but never before had ''elec-
tries" said his say with such shocking
force and abruptness. The night air that
had been SO chill and depressing seemed
now surcharged with surplus voltage. The
president stood glazing at his former sub
| ordinate, his mouth wide open as his eyes.
You speak strongly" he said at length.
II feel strongly" said Sharpe in reply.
81 was one of the first to reach the spot.
1 heard that shot from the laboratory
heard the rush through the grove. Then
there were shrieks for help. l saw The
watchman's lantern go diving among the
trees, and l got there as quickly as 1
could My father, Mr.. President, came
home in '65 wearing that uniform with
his arm in sling. 1 had learned to honor
1T, and here l saw it covered with blood
and dirt-and a crippled soldier beaten
Senseless."
The beating wasn't so one-sided," re-
! sponded the president, feeling that Sharpe
was gaining ground. Young Stetson' 8
brought home with a broken nose that
| Wen have to pay for. Your helpless VIC
tim seems to have been a hard hitter
probably it was his pistol butt that did it,
i wish l could think so,' was the I'M
compromising answer. "Of all the cow
| ardly, blackguardly things ever heard of
thls is about the worst. His sister showed
me the letter by which they lured him,
telling him to look out for his guns. Dr..
Raynor says they must have stamped on
his face when they had him down, and the
wound In the shoulder, of course, is re-
opened. The doctor working at that
when came away. It's my belief those
orutes beat him down from behind-his cap
SHOWS it-probably knocked him senseless. -
"Senseless, and yet able to shoot and
scream for help!' interjected the president
satirically.
"I-didn't say that" said Sharpe, REDEEM
Ing. There were screams for help but
scholar suspiciously. You spoke of him as
a.one-helpless. Did his assailants scream
for help?"
II said he was alone when attacked. He
was not alone when 1 got there
Who were there?" was the sharp de-
mand.
Several people," answered Sharpe slow
ly. "Duggan, the Waterman. Post and
Linkman from the observatory, and sew
eral others, strangers or students, I don't
know which. l was busy with him."
But none of those you name could have
first. Did you see no one else? Prof.
Sharpe, ] will ask you a direct question
that you may answer or not as you see fit.
Was Miss Hoyt there?'
The silence in the old library. for second
or two was broken only by the ticking of
the big Dutch clock. Then Sharpe replied:
Miss Hoyt was there"
And can you reasonably account for
Miss Hoyt's being in the west grove at
that hour of the night?"
II cannot. It is not my business. I do
not permit myself, however, to doubt that
she can. 1t was barely ten. Clifton Hall
is close at hand. She Is not confined to 1t
that know Of
promptu council was ended. Sharpe wished
to stay and speak further but the president