The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-08-19


after lunch, and that my sister and should
motor round by the station, pick him up
there, and take him on with us to the school.
Explained all this to Rao before left town,
and particularly impressed upon him the
desirability of limiting his apparatus as
much as possible, as the motor-car accom-
mediation was necessarily restricted.
Most of the guests had already assembled,
and were gone down to the cricket ground.
But Rex was anHously awaiting our arrival,
and darted out to greet us.
"You bad better come over to the cricket
at once" he said. Mrs. Searson is down
there. The Doctor is engaged at present.
There's an awful row on-the whole of the
Fifth Form summoned to his study; and
jolly long jaw he must be giving then-they
have been shut up with him for nearly an
hour"
Just as he spoke, DR.. Searson himself
came hurrying from the house. He is a
busting, active little man-very popular
with the boys, and an excellent school
master, but one of the most excitable and
impulsive individuals l know. He was
flushed and agitated, and could hardly
pause to greet US before he began to give
expression to his disturbed state of mind.
Dear me! Dear mel" he exclaimed.
The most unpleasant thing that has
happened during the whole of my twenty
five years here! And to occur to-day, of all
days in the year, when I was most anxious
that everything should pass off quietly and
pleasantly. 1t is really most provoking!"
My sister inquired sympathetically the
cause of his annoyance.
"Why, to tell you the truth, replied DR..
Searson, lit is most unpleasant business;
a case of theft-common and paltry theft.
And by one of our own bigger boys, too.
Unfortunately, it is not the first time that it
has occurred Twice lately, boys in the
Fifth Form have complained that money
and articles have disappeared from their
pockets; but on each of the former occasions
the evidence was so confused and uncertain
that | concluded the youngsters had been
mistaken or had themselves lost what was
missing This time, however, there is no
room for doubt.
"The whole of the Fifth went down to
Shepherds Bend to battle this morning,
under the charge of junior master. The
boys leave their clothes, while bathing, In
the dressing-shed which we have erected
there for their use.
But on returning from the river, young
Stewart at once complained that some
one had been interfering with his clothes.
To-day is his birthday, and he had re-
ceived several presents from home-a gold
mounted fountain pen, valuable sports
mans pocket-knife, and G3 in cash.
- ~
left in his pockets, for only two minutes
before undressing he had shown the knife
, and pen to the master and had asked him i
he could give him change for one of the
sovereigns. 1t is equally clear that during
the bathing no stranger entered the shed
, for Roberts, the master in question, wa!
, standing outside near the door the whole
, time that the boys were in the water. Blu
/ no sooner were the lads back in the sheC
than young Stewart discovered that money
: pen, and knife were gone manifestly stolel
' by one of the boys of the party"
"And what did Mr.. Roberts dor" askec
: Cecilia.
S IDOL" cried DR.. Searson Indignantly
/ "Why, he bungled the matter right away b,
4 proposing to search the whole company a
S once-a proposal hotly resented by every
/ one. And then when he got back here b
: let the boys loose while he came to report t
o me-giving the culprit just the opportunit,
o he required to hide his spoils. 1t is reall
t astounding how incredibly stupid som
people can be! And now, of course
d the investigation is quite hopeless. hav
n been lecturing the whole form for the las
o haf-hour without the slightest result.
e Every boy stoutly denies having touche
the things-most of them with great indig
Y nation, and all of them with protestations c
n innocence which suggest that the thief, who
/ ever he may he, is no novice at this work {
k deception.
h "Of course, it is almost inconceivabl
/ that in a crowded shed any one boy coul
It have done this unnoticed by all his fellow.
K but even that consideration is no real hell
h for as you are probably aware the schoolbo
n code of honor does not allow anyone to te
It tales. So that have been reduced to tt
it necessity of Furnishing the whole class b
i. detention, and excluding them entirel
b from to-day proceedings, unless the culpr
" confesses"
lie 81 do not know anything of school di
cipline," said Chanler, in his quiet, leisurel
j, fashion, "but I thought I did know som,
in thing of the English sense of justice. An
lie it cannot be just to punish the many whe
~ only one is to blame especially when it
y so easy to discover the real offender"
Dr SearSO0 rya red at him with 0OIi