Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-03-25

All eyes were on StoNeu. lie was
thought, and it was the reason Zone
of the reasons) why he had stood silent
when the principal challenged them.
Nobody knew anything except the girl
The police didn't know; the principal
didn't know. If he kept quiet the in
qulry would end in nothing and there
would be no harm done to anybody
except the town ruffians. and they de-
served all they got. How was he to
guess that somebody else was out after
hours, and that to save him from being
exposed, perhaps expelled, his own
chum, like the brick he was and al
ways had been
"Hold your tongue, you fool ~
Cell made for the door. Look here. -
ne said, "I'm going to tell the prin-
cipal that if you were out last night it
was on an errand for him-that can't
hurt anybody
No, you're not.
Yes, / am--certainly ] am
IF you do, III never speak TO you
again---on my soul, never"
But he's certain TO remember it
sooner or later
Let him."
And when he does, what's nc to
think of himsclf?'
That's his affair. isn't it? Leave
him alone.
Cells voice rose to Il cry. No. | will
not leave him alone. And since YOU
won't let me say that about you, II
tell him about myself. Yes. l will, ant
nobody shall prevent me ! don't care
"hat happens about father. or anybody
else, now. l cant stand this any longer
| can't and i won't"
"Alick! Alick Cell Old t"llo"
But the door had been slammed to
and Cell was gone.
. The principal was in his hUrary, u
well l-carpeted room, warmed by a large
fire and lighted by red -shad"G lamp
his half yearly examination had Just
finished and his desk was pilci high
with examination papers. but be could
not settle nimself TO his work on them
He was barking back to the event OF
the morning, and was not too pleased
with himself. lie had lost his temper
again; he had inflicted degrading
punishment on a senior boy, and to Pro
rect the good name of the school he mao
allowed himself TO be intimidaled by
the police into d foolish and ineffcctua
public inquiry.
'Wretched Wretched WretChed :.
ne thought, rising for the twentieth time
from his chair before the fire and pacing
the room in a disorder.
He thought Of Stowel With riot oi
mingled anger and affection. He hac
always liked that boy-a tine lad, with
good heart and brain in spite OF obviou.
limitations. He had shown the boy
he had repaid him Defying him IL
he face Of the whole school Provoking
hin with his prevaricatiou. the prouC
curl of his lip and his damnahle itera
ton: IF you say 50, sir IL
had been maddening. Any master in
,he world might have lost his temper
Of course the boy was guilty, But
then he was no sneak or coward. GooL
gracious, no, that was the last thint
anybody would say about him. Quit
the contrary! Only too apt TO take
the blame of bad things Oh himself wher
he might make Others equally respon'
sible. That was one reason the under
ma sters liked him and the boys wor
SHIPPED him. Then why, in the name o
goodness. hadn't he spoken out, mad'
scme defense, given some explanation
After all the first otfense was nothing
worse than being out after hours 70,
little foolish swecthearting. Th'
principal saw Stowell making clear
breast Of everything, and himself ad
ministering severe admonition an'
then fighting Il all out with the polio
for school and scholar. But that wa
impossible now-quitc impossible.
No.
He thought Of the boys father-th
senior judge or Deemster Of the islam
and easily the first man in It. One q
the trustees of the college also, to whom
serious matters were always mentioned
This had become a serious matter. Eve
If nothing worse happened 10 tha
young blsckguard IN the hospital, tn
pvlice might insist on expulsion. II so
what would be the absolute syidenc
against the boyf Only that he had bee
out OF school when the diSgraceful Incl
Icn, had happened The Deemster
who was cool and clear headed, Nigh
soy the boy could have been out o.
some other errand. Or perhaps tha
some other boy might have been out a
the same time.
But that couldn't be Good heavens
no, Stowcll wasn't Il fool. If he ha
been innocent, why on earth should h
nave taken his degrading punishment
lying down? No, no, he had been guilt
enough, lie had admitted that he wa
ont after hours, and. having nOthin
eI,a 10 say even about that twhy q
hy whose perinission) hc had tried (
carry thc whole thing OF with Sol
Of silent braggadocio.
"Wretched Wrctched Wretchcd !.
The urinciDnI had at length settle