The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1937-12-03

were very wise," continued Profess
sor Scotch. "They sought to protect
the students, as far as possible,
from undesirable outside influences.
With that in mind, they chose this
location and bought up or put under
certain restrictions a great tract of
land all around here. That's why
we are not today surrounded by
shops and stores and movie thea
tiers and dance halls, and all the
harmful distractions such settle
ment would bring"
eyes, SIR" said Bart again.
But he was giving little attention
to what the professor was saying.
His mind was busy with a specula-
ton. Why had the dean sent him
here at time when, as he prob
ably knew, Merriwen and Mulloy
would be present? He told himself
there was something queer about it
and that he didn't like it. He felt
as if something unpleasant were
about to blow up right in his face.
Horace Scotch ratified on cheer
fully about the advantages at Far
dale academy, the most Of which
would have been rated as disadvan-
tages by Hodge. After long speech
which he seemed to enjoy much
more than anybody else, he came
to what Bart was wondering about.
"We have found we can take all
three of you boys in," he stated,
"but you will have to room together
in a room that was intended to
accommodate no more than two"
It was out at last. Hodge swal-
lowed nothing at all, but it felt like a
dry lump as big as a golf ball. He
had been keeping his eyes off Frank
and Barney, but now he shot them a
look. The Irish boy met it with a
sheer and Merriwell seemed to be
trying to hide grin. Fine fellowsl
Wrath struck at the pit of Bart's
stomach. He would tell them where
they got off.
'It's possible, Hodge," said the
professor, "that you won't like the
arrangement, but it's the best we
can do"
Then Hodge got it. It was trap.
They were sure he would refuse,
and that would let him out. He
would be told so at once. Just in
time, he held back the words that
were boiling to his lips. And he got
a good grip on himself before he
spoke again.
"Why, that's fine, sir" he made
himself say, forcing sickly smile.
With that, he shut his mouth hard
to keep from saying too much.
Once more Horace Scotch rubbed
his hands together, and beamed.
'Then it seems to be all nicely
settled" he said.
Still taking pains not to make a
false step, Bart ventured: 81 sup
pose these-these other fellows have
agreed to it already, Professor
SCOTCH"
"Oh, I'd barely mentioned it to
them when you rang, Hodge, but
I'm sure they'll be satisfied, condi-
tons being as they are"
Elbow about it, Mulloy?" Bart
challenged.
81 can stand it if you can, me
lad" was the reply.
Frank put in quickly: cts all
right with me, of course"
"Now that's the kind of talk ex-
pected from you boys" said the
professor happily. cts the right
spirit. The way to get along in this
world is to make the best Of things
when you can't have the best of
things. Now there's only one more
hurdle to jump"
$50 there's another catch in it."
thought Hodge, on guard again.
you'll have to pass a special
examination" Horace Scotch ex-
planned. cts required of all late
arrivals" He stood up. "Ten o'clock
sharp, Central building, Room 49,"
~ don't like the number" said
Barney. "It never brought me a
bit of luck"
Still beaming, the professor shook
hands with them and expressed con-
fidence that luck would be with
them.