The Washington herald., 1914-04-12
E.W.MORNUNG

he got over the wall"
Here a breathless boy returned.
Cant see anything of him, he gasped
Its true, then" remarked the new
conner
Look at that door," said l.
But unfortunately the breathless bo.
looked also, and now he was beini
joined by others equally short of wind
Where's Beefy?" he screamed
What on earth's happened to Beefy?'
MY good boys" exclaimed the man
will one of you be kind enough TO tel
me what you've been doing, and wha
these gentlemen have been doing for
you? Come in all, before you get YOU
death. l see lights in the classroom, anc
more than lights. Can these be sign
of a carouse."
"a very innocent one, sir" said {
well-set-up youth with more mustach,
than have yet.
We'll, Olphert, boys will be bows. Sup
pose you tell me what happened, before
We come to recriminations"
The bad old proverb was my frs
warning. caught two of the youth:
exchanging glances under raised eye.
brows. Yet their stout, easy-going men.
tor had given me such a reasSurine
glance of sidclong humor, as between
man of the world and man of the world
that it was difficult to suspect him oi
suspicion. | was nevertheless itching tc
be gone
Young Olphert told his story with en-
gaging candor. 1t was true that they
had come down for an hours nap and
cigarettes; well. and there was no de-
nying that was whisky in the glasses.
The boys were now all back in their
classroom, ! think entirely for the sake
Of warmth; but Raffles and l were in
knickerbockers and Norfolk jackets, and
very naturally remained without. while
the man (who wore bedroom slippers) J.,
stood on the threshold. with an eye
each way. The more | saw of the man
the better | liked and the more l feared
him. His chief annoyance thus far was
that they had not called him when they
heard the noise, that they had dreamed
of leaving him out of the fun. But he
seemed more hurt than angry about that
well, sir" concluded Olphert. I'VE
left old Beefy Smith hanging on to his
hand, and this gentleman with him, so
perhaps he can tell US what happened
next?"
q wish l could" l cried, with all
their eyes upon me, for had had time
to think. Some OF you must have
heard me say I'd fetch my friend in
from the road:"
YES, l did" piped an innocent from
within.
well. and when came back with
him things were exactly as you see them
now. Evidently the mans strength was
too much for the boys; but whether he
ran upstairs or outside | know no more
than you do"
1T wasn't like that boy to run either
way" said the man, cooking a clear blue
eye on me-
But if he gave chaseI
1T wasn't like him even to let 60"
Il don't believe Becfy ever would"
put in Olphert. That's why We gave
him the billet"
He may have followed him through
the pantry window" l suggested wildly.
But the doors Shut" put in a boy.
I'll have a look at it," said the man.
And the key no longer in the lock, and
the insensible youth within The key
would be missed, the door kicked in /;
nay. with the mans eye still upon me, I
thought l could smell the chloroform,
| thought could hear a moan, and pre-
pared for either any moment And how
he did stare! Until now the man had
the center of the stage, but at this point
Raff1es usurped place which was al
ways his at will. People would wait for
what he had to say, as these people
waited now for the simplest and most
natural thing in the world
One moment"
"Well?" said the man, relieving me of
his eyes at last.
Il don't want to lose any of the
fun"
"Nor must you," said the man, with
emphasis.
"But we've left our bikes outside"
continued Raffles. IF you don't mind.
we'll bring 'em in before these fellows
get away on them"
And out he went without a look to
sec the effect of his words, l after him
with a determined imitation of his self
control. But would have given some
hing to turn round l believe that for
one moment the shrewd instructor was
aiken in, but as l reached the steps l
,eard him asking his pupils whether any
IF them had seen any bicycles outside.
That moment. however. made the diff