Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-10

"odiu iiOt 50 nave II. lie nad Other mat
tiers TO attend to at once. A new theory
had presented itself to his mind, based on
rumors that had reached his ears. From
more sources than one had he heard of Miss
HoytS recent evening wanderings, and of
that early morning meeting the occasion
of Fane's first unlawful Laying on of
hands" He had lost sight of other theories
IN presence of this new and forceful one.
lie forgot what Sharpe told him of the lur-
ing letter-the threat to the guns. He
sat thinking of stories of anonymous notes
That had been coming from mysterious
sources. He was contemplating with dis
may the certainty that here was a new
scandal, a new sensation the Press would
surely discover, and again the college would
become the butt of every paper opposed
politically to the powers in office 1t was
pitlful. 1t was exaSperating. Only yester-
day, he reasoned, they had most inoppor-
timely dismissed young Stetson and inten-
slned the rage against them in Stetson,
seniors, breast. Stetson, who "steered'
ward caucuses and state conventions: Stet-
son. worse luck who practically owned the
Evening Star; Stetson, whose hopeful son
was lying at this moment at his fathers
house, with shattered nerve-and nose;
Stetson, who had sworn vengeance against
the college in many saloon that night and
was supposed to be somewhere in ambush
at this moment-doubtless maturing plans
for college annihilation. AT least he had
not come home, and it was nearly twelve.
Lights were burning late in a dozen
rooms about the college buildings that
OFSlieiui night Sharpe COulu see them as
he hurried away. He at first had thought
to overtake his recent associates in coun-
Gil and make them listen to that which
the president refused to hear. He had
but his wife had met her often, had be-
come her friend and frequent visitor.
sharpe believed in the girl and was
speak of her presence at the scene
of what promised now TO be a
tragedy To be sure, half dozen others
away before Fame revived-before they
sought to lift him to his feet. Sharpe had
not even marked her going. 1t really made
no great difference that he had mentioned
And why should it not be? Miss Hoyt
was not the only occupant of Clifton Hall
who occasionally spent an evening at the
home of those college folk who dwelt be-
yond the west grove. The broad path
from the library to those scattered home
steads led along the south edge of the
grove, not thirty yards from the spot
where Fame was found. OF course it must
have been her shrieks that scared and
scattered the brutal gang-more probably
than did the shot. Some of them, he re-
terrace back of his laboratory. He could
hear them plainly, though the forms were
but family visible. He. had feared when
called to the presidents that some of the
students. some of the few recalcitrants
whom Fame had disciplined might be con-
nected with the ARRAY, but the moment he
learned that Stetson was home with
damaged nose he felt sure, and thanked
God for 1t, that the ruffian crew were all
probably of the shop and saloon gang so
long prominent in local rows of every kind
He now felt sure that Fame had been
led by them into ambush. He reasoned
therefore, 1t was no thought of meeting
Miss Hoyt, either by accident or invitation.
that brought him to the grove. He be-
lieved Fame had been struck from behind
before he could think of drawing pistol,
Knocked down and trampled on. What he
could not understand was how Stetson
should have received so terrific a blow
What he could not determine was who
dealt 1t.
Sharpe could hear the slamming of doors.
the scurrying to and fro of nimble feet,
the cackle of excited talk as he passed
under the lighted windows of the various
houses and halls on the downward side of
the college, but he wished to avoid ques-
tion-avoid in fact everybody until he could
better control his nerves and temper. He
had dared this night to beard the presi-
Dental lion in his den, and was preparing
gone direct to the president from Fane's
bedside. and was exasperated to find the
president far more concerned about Stet-
sons injuries than those of Fame. He
should not even have been surprised Next
to his religion and his family. the college
was the good doctors dearest thought.
That Fame had been assaulted on the col
lege grounds might advertise, but would
hardly injure the institution. That Stet-
son had been struck down on college
ground, and presumably by college Of
fetal, might injure it beyond repair.
Sharpe had begun greatly to like that
swing into line as his supporter. Sharpe
despised Stetson and everything that was
Stetsons, and believed in lighting him
tooth and nail Students had told him
earlier in the evening of Stetson's buster
ings In town. and already he was looking
for clues that should connect the elder