CHAPTER X
MISSING MONEY
For a moment Andy stood there, not knowing what to do or say. It was sounexpected, and yet he knew he must meet Mortimer at Yale--meet andperhaps clash with the lad who was now a sophomore--the lad who had suchgood cause now to dislike Andy.
On his part the young "swell" leered into Andy's face, then glancedsidelong at the youths who accompanied him. Andy recognized them as thesame who had been in the auto that night of the bonfire at Milton.
"That's he!" exclaimed Mortimer; then to Andy: "I didn't think I'd meetyou quite so soon, Blair! So you're here, eh?"
"Yes," answered Andy.
"Put a 'sir' on that!" commanded one of the other lads.
"Yes--sir!"
Andy took his own time with the last word. He knew the rites and customsof Yale, at least by hearsay, and was willing to abide by the unwrittenlaws that make a first-year man demean himself to the upperclassmen. Itwould not last long.
"That's better," commented the third lad. "Never forget yourmanners--er--what's your name?"
"Blair."
"Sir!" snapped the one who had first reminded Andy of the lapse.
"Sir!"
"You know him," put in Mortimer. "The fellow who put us out of the auto,eh?"
"Oh, sure, I remember now. Nervy little rat! It's a wonder I rememberanything that happened that night. We were pretty well pickled. Oh,land, yes!"
He seemed proud of it.
"Take off that hat!" commanded Mortimer. "Don't forget you're a freshmanhere."
"And a fresh freshman, too," added one of his chums. "Take it off!"
Andy was perfectly willing to abide by this unwritten law also, anddoffed his derby. He made a mental note that as soon as he could hewould get a cap, or soft hat, such as he saw other students wearing.
"The brute has some manners," commented one of the trio.
"I'll teach him some more before I get through with him!" mutteredMortimer. He, as well as his two companions, seemed to have been dining,"not wisely but too well."
"Anything more?" asked Andy, good-naturedly. He knew that he must put upwith insults, if need be, from Mortimer; for he realized that, in a way,class distinction at Yale is strong in its unwritten laws, and he wantedto do as the others did. It takes much nerve to vary from the customsand traditions of any country or place, more especially a big college.And Andy knew his turn would come.
He also knew that it was all done in good-natured fun, and really withthe best intentions. For a first-year man is very likely to become whathis name indicates--fresh--and there is need of toning down.
Besides, it is discipline that is good for the soul, and somewhatnecessary. It makes for good in after life, in most cases, though ofcourse there are some exceptions. Hazing, after all, is designed,primarily, to bring out a candidate's character. A lad who will give wayto his temper if made to take off his hat to one perhaps below him insocial station, or if he sulks when tossed in a blanket--such a lad, inafter life, is very apt to do the same thing when he has to knuckleunder to a business rival, or to go into a passion when he receives thehard knocks of life. So, then, hazing, if not carried to extremes, hasits uses in adversity, and Andy had sense enough to realize this. So hewas ready for what might come.
He knew, also, that Mortimer might, and probably would, be actuated by amean spirit, and a desire for what he might think was revenge. But hewas only one of a large number of college youths. Andy was willing totake his chances.
Andy looked over toward Wright Hall, with its raised courtyard. Lightswere gleaming in the windows, and he fancied he could see his own roomaglow.
"I hope Dunk is there," he thought.
"Shall we put him through the paces?" asked one of Mortimer's companionssuggestively, nodding at Andy.
"Not to-night. We've got something else on," answered the society swell."Trot along, Blair, and don't forget what we've told you. I'll see youagain," he added, significantly.
The trio had come to a stop some little distance from Andy, and hadstood with arms linked. Now they were ready to proceed. On the variouswalks, that traversed the big campus in the quadrangle of Yale, otherstudents were hurrying to and fro, some going to their rooms, otherscoming from them. Some were going towards their eating clubs or to theUniversity dining hall. And Andy was feeling hungry.
"Well, come on," urged Mortimer to his companions. "I guess we'vestarted this freshman on the right road. Just see that you follow it,Blair. I'll be watching you."
"And I'll be watching you!" thought Andy. And at that moment he wasgazing intently at Gaffington. As he looked, Andy saw something fallfrom below the flap of the coat of one of the trio, and land softly onthe pavement. It fell limp, making no noise.
One of Mortimer's companions, who, Andy afterward learned, was Leonard,or "Len," Scott, reached his hand into his pocket, and brought it outwith a strange look on his face.
"Hello!" he exclaimed, blankly, "my wallet's gone!"
"Gone!" exclaimed the other, Clarence Boyle by name. "Are you sure youhad it?"
"I sure did!" said Len, feeling in various pockets. "Just cashed acheck, too!"
"Come on back to your room and have a look for it," suggested Mortimerpulling his chum half-way around. "If it's gone I can lend you some. I'mflush to-night."
"But I'm sure I had it," went on Len. "I remember feeling it just as wecame out of Lawrance. I had about fifty dollars in it!"
"Whew!" whistled Mortimer. "Some little millionaire, you are, Len. Nevermind, I can let you have twenty-five if you need it." Andy knew thatMortimer's father was reputed to be several times a millionaire.
"But I don't like to lose that," went on Len. "I guess I will go backand have a look in my shack. If I can't find it I'll stick up a notice."
"You might have dropped it when we met that other bunch of freshmen andhad the little argument with them about their hats," suggested Clarence.
"That's right," went on Mortimer, still pulling on Len's arm, as thoughto get him away from the spot. "Maybe one of the freshmen frisked it offyou," he added, looking at Andy.
By this time the trio had turned half-way around, evidently to go backto Scott's room and look for the missing pocketbook. Andy had a clearview of the object that had fallen from under the coat of one of them.
"There is something," the freshman said, pointing to the object on thepavement. "I saw one of you drop it. Perhaps it is the pocketbook."
Len wheeled and made a grab for it.
"That's mine!" he cried. "It must have worked up out of my pocket andfallen. Thanks!" he added, warmly, to Andy.
With a quick motion Len opened his wallet. A strange look came over hisface as he cried:
"It's empty!"
"Empty!" gasped Mortimer. "Let's see!"
He leaned forward, as did Clarence, all three staring into the openedpocketbook. Andy looked on curiously.
"It was one of those freshmen!" declared Mortimer, with conviction."They must have slipped their hand up in your coat when we were friskingthem, and taken out the money."
"But how could they when I still had the pocketbook?" asked Len, muchpuzzled.
"They must have taken out the bills, and put the wallet back," went onMortimer, quickly. "They didn't get it all the way in your pocket and ittumbled out when you were standing here. Lucky we noticed it or wewouldn't have known what happened. Come on back. We'll find thosefreshmen."
And, without another look at Andy, they wheeled and hurried across thecampus toward Vanderbilt Hall.
"Huh! That's queer!" mused Andy, as he continued on his way towardWright. "I'm glad I saw that wallet when I did."