Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-03-25
FIRST BOOK
The Sin
CHAPTER I
The Breed OF the BallamoA

wv breakfast, when the principal came
nom his private room with his h'sh.
quick. birdlike step and almost leap'u
ap to his desk to speak to us. he was
q rather small. slight man. OF m'uu'e
age, with pale face and nervous ses'
tures, liable TO alternate bouts ot n
somewhat Intellectual playfulness ana
gusts Of ungovernable temper. II was
easy to see that he was III his angry
mood that morning. He looked r"uua
she school for q moment over the SILVER
rims of bis spec,acles, and then SAID
"Boys, before you go TO your classes
for the day have something TO teu
Sou. One of you has brought disgrace
Npon King williams. and must know
which Of you II is." .,
Then followed the degrading story.
The facts Of It had just been brought
% his notice by the inspector OF poiice
for Castletown. He had no intention
Of entering into details. They were too
shameful Briefly, one OF our boys a
senior boy apparently. had lately made
q practice Of escaping from his mouse
after hours, and had 30 far forfeited his
self respect as to 60 walking in the
dark roads with a young girl--a servant
9irl, he was ashamed TO say, from the
home Of the high bailif. He had been
seen repeatedly. and although not iden'
tilted. he had been recognized by his cap
Is belonging to the college. Last night
two young townsmen had set out to
waylay him. There had been q hight,
IN which one boy had apparently used a
weapon, probably g stick. The result
was that one of the young townsmen
was now in hospital, still insensible,
che other was seriously injured about
the face. Probably q pair OF young
6lackguards who had intervened from
base motives Of their own and therefore
deserved no pity. But none the less the
conduct of the King Williams boy had
been disgraceful. 1t must DC punished
no matter who he was, or how he might
stand in the school.
Il tell you plainly. boys. I don't
know who he is. Neither do the police
the townsmen never having heard his
aame and the girl refusing TO speak"
But he had a suspicion very
strong suspicion, based upon an un-
nistakablc fact. He might have called
the boy he suspected TO his room and
dealt with him privately. But matter
Hike this. known to the public authori-
ties and affecting the honor and well
fare Of the college, was not to be hushed
up. In fact, the police had made it n
condition of their foregoing proceeding
in the courts that an open inquiry
should be made here. He had under
taken 10 make It. and he must make il
Scw.
Therefore. l give the boy who MAJ
been guilty Of this degrading conduc
the opportunity ,f voluntary confession
of revealing himself TO the who'll
school and asking pardon OF hIs prir
eipal, his masters and his fellow -pupils
for the disgrace he has brought on them
Who is IT."
None of US stirred. spoke or mad'
sign. The principal was rapidly losing
his temper.
Boys" he said. there is somethin,
I Ilave not told you. According to tn,
police the disgracefnul incident occurred
between 8 and . 80 last night. and il
Is known to the house master of on,
OF your houses that one boy, ard on.
only, who had been out without permis
sion, came in after that hour. I nov
EH%,s' that boy another chance Who Il
Still no one spoke or stirred Th,
principal bit his lip, and again lookeC
down the line Of our desks over th'
upper rims of his spectactes.
docs nobody speak? Must I cal
Z name? Is 1t possible that any Kins
Williams boy can ask for the donbl'
shame Of being guilty and being tounC
sut?" -,
Soys ana no sound except their audible
breathing through the nose.
''Very we'll. So be II. I've giceE
shat boy his chance. Now he must tax
the consequences.
with that the principal stepped dowt
trom his desk, turned his blazing eye
Sor ard the desks Of the fifth form anc
said; x.r
We uasped. Stowell was The neat
~ ~ the school and an immense ant
. universal favorite. Through the mist
~ Years some of us can see him still, a
h heaved up from his seat that morn
ins and walked slowly across the opel
door in front 10 where the principal va
standinx. 4 big, well grown boy
N.ired with broad forehead, large darl
sws. fine features and. even in thos
Eoyisb days, "a singular air OF distinc
Tbere was no surprise in his face
.cd NOT a particle Of shame. but ther
Cas look Of defiance which raised t
Soiiing point the principals s'mmerin
Hstowell," ne said, you will no
Seny that you were out after hours las
''No, SIR"
'sThen il was you who were guilty o
yhis dissraceful conductF .,.
"a thsn with a proud look to chcc
Himself, and to close his mouth as Wit
3 snap. ., ,r,so,+ go"
Stowell Strengthened himself up an
answered, $50 you say, sir.
"i say? Speak for yourself. You,v
= tongue in your head, haven't youi'
'IPerhaps / have, sir.
'Then It was your
gtowell made no answer.
HVhv don't you answer me: An
- r.. 1t was you" said the prin
1ksn seswsll. With i littls toss
Sa1 e3ellGht eurl u ~ "
4 n ". y z q ;,;.. z 4, v y 4.