It was generally after vespers that Mr. Smith communicated to the schoolanything which he desired to call to their attention. This was to be theoccasion of bringing our hero into disgrace.
The boys assembled, most of them quite ignorant that anythingexceptional was to occur. Hector himself, the person chiefly interested,was entirely unconscious that he was to be made "a shining mark" forthe arrows of suspicion and obloquy. If he had noticed the peculiar andtriumphantly malicious looks with which Jim Smith, the bully and tyrant,whom he had humiliated and deposed, regarded him, he might have been ledto infer that some misfortune was in store for him. But these looks hedid not chance to notice.
There were two other boys, however, who did notice them. These were BenPlatt and Wil-kins, who had very good reasons, as we know, for doing so.
"I believe old Sock is going to pitch into Roscoe at vespers," said Ben,in a whisper, to his roommate.
"So do I. There's a look about him like that of a tiger about to pounceon his prey."
"Or a cat with murderous designs on a mouse."
"We must expose the whole thing."
"Of course."
"Won't Jim be mad?"
"Let him! He won't dare to thrash us while Roscoe is round."
There was, indeed, about Socrates Smith an air of mystery, portentousand suggestive. He looked like one meditating a coup d'etat, or,perhaps, it might better be said, a coup de main, as the hand is withschoolmasters, generally, the instrument of attack.
When the proper time arrived, Mr. Smith cleared his throat, as he alwaysdid before beginning to speak.
"Boys," he said, "I have an important, and I may say, a painful,communication to make to you."
All the boys looked at each other in curiosity, except the three whowere already in the secret.
"You know, boys," continued Socrates, "how proud I am of this institute,how zealous I am for its good reputation, how unwearied I am in myefforts for your progress and welfare."
Mr. Smith's unwearied efforts were largely in the line of making out andreceipting bills for tuition, and it may be said that this was to him byfar the most agreeable of the duties he undertook to perform.
"I have been proud of my pupils," continued the principal, "and it hasgiven me pleasure to reflect that you all reflected credit, more orless, upon my teaching. I have, also, sought to form your manners, totrain you to fill the positions which Providence may have in store foryou. In a word, while from time to time you may have indulged in littleescapades, slightly-culpable, I have felt that you were all gentlemen."
"What in the world does he mean?" thought more than one puzzled boy."What is all this leading to?"
Among those to whom this thought occurred, was Hector Roscoe, who wasvery far from conjecturing that all this long preamble was to introducean attack upon him.
"But," proceeded Socrates, after a pause, "I have this afternoon beenpainfully undeceived. I have learned, with inexpressible pain, thatSmith Institute has received an ineffaceable stigma."
"Old Sock is getting eloquent!" whispered Ben Platt.
"I have learned," continued Socrates, with tragic intensity, "that Ihave nourished a viper in my bosom! I have learned that we have a thiefamong us!"
This declaration was greeted with a buzz of astonishment. Each boylooked at his next door neighbor as if to inquire, "Is it you?"
Each one, except the three who were behind the scenes. Of these, JimSmith, with an air of supreme satisfaction, looked in a sidelong way atHector, unconscious the while that two pairs of eyes--those of Wilkinsand Ben Platt--were fixed upon him.
"I thought you would be surprised," said the principal, "except, ofcourse, the miserable criminal. But I will not keep you in suspense.To-day, by inadvertence, I left my wallet, containing a considerablesum of money, on the bureau in my chamber. An hour later, discoveringmy loss, I went upstairs, but the wallet was gone. It had mysteriouslydisappeared. I was at a loss to understand this at first, but I soonfound a clew. I ascertained that a boy--a boy who is presently one ofthe pupils of Smith Institute--had entered my chamber, had appropriatedthe wallet, had carried it to his dormitory, and there had slylyconcealed it in the pocket of a pair of pants. Doubtless, he thought histheft would not be discovered, but it was, and I myself discovered themissing wallet in its place of concealment."
Here Mr. Smith paused, and it is needless to say that the schoolroomwas a scene of great excitement. His tone was so impressive, andhis statement so detailed, that no one could doubt that he had mostconvincing evidence of the absolute accuracy of what he said.
"Who was it?" every boy had it on his lips to inquire.
"Three hours have elapsed since my discovery," continued Mr. Smith."During that time I have felt unnerved. I have, however, written andposted an account of this terrible discovery to the friends of the pupilwho has so disgraced himself and the school."
Ben Platt and Wilkins exchanged glances of indignation. They felt thatMr. Smith had been guilty of a piece of outrageous injustice in actingthus before he had apprised the supposed offender of the charge againsthim, and heard his defense. Both boys decided that they would not spareJim Smith, but at all hazards expose the contemptible plot which he hadcontrived against his schoolfellow.
"I waited, however, till I was somewhat more calm before laying thematter before you. I know you will all be anxious to know the name ofthe boy who has brought disgrace upon the school to which you belong,and I am prepared to reveal it to you. Hector Roscoe, stand up!"
If a flash of lightning had struck him where he sat, Hector could nothave been more astonished. For a moment he was struck dumb, and did notmove.
"Stand up, Hector Roscoe!" repeated the principal. "No wonder you sitthere as if paralyzed. You did not expect that so soon your sin wouldfind you out."
Then Hector recovered completely his self-possession. He sprang to hisfeet, and not only that, but he strode forward, blazing with passion,till he stood before Mr. Smith's desk and confronted him.
"Mr. Smith!" he said, in a ringing tone, "do I understand you to chargeme with stealing a wallet of yours containing money?"
"I do so charge you, and I have complete evidence of the truth of mycharge. What have you to say?"
"What have I to say?" repeated Hector, looking around him proudly andscornfully. "I have to say that it is an infamous lie!"
"Hold, sir!" exclaimed Socrates, angrily. "Shameless boy, do you intendto brazen it out? Did I not tell you that I had complete proof of thetruth of the charge?"
"I don't care what fancied proof you have. I denounce the charge as alie."
"That won't do, sir! I myself took the wallet from the pocket of yourpantaloons, hanging in the chamber. Mrs. Smith was with me and witnessedmy discovery, and there was another present, one of the pupils of thisinstitute, who also can testify to the fact. It is useless for you todeny it!"
"You found the wallet in the pocket of my pantaloons?" asked Hector,slowly.
"Yes. There can be no doubt about that."
"Who put it there?" demanded Hector, quickly.
Socrates Smith was staggered, for he had not expected this query fromthe accused.
"Who put it there?" he repeated.
"Yes, sir," continued Hector, firmly. "If the matter is as you state it,some one has been mean enough to put the wallet into my pocket in orderto implicate me in a theft."
"Of course you put it there yourself, Roscoe. Your defense is verylame."
Hector turned round to his fellow-scholars.
"Boys," he said, "you have heard the charge that has been made againstme. You know me pretty well by this time. Is there any one of you thatbelieves it to be true?"
"No! No!" shouted the boys, with one exception. Jim Smith was heard tosay distinctly, "I believe it!"
"Silence in the school!" shouted Socrates. "This is altogetherirregular, and I won't have it."
Hector turned to the principal, and said, calmly:
"You see, Mr. Smith, that, in spite of your pr
oof, these boys will notbelieve that your charge is well founded."
"That is neither here nor there, Roscoe. Will anyone step up and proveyour innocence?"
There was another sensation. In the second row back a boy was seen torise.
"Mr. Smith," said Ben Platt, "I can prove Roscoe's innocence!"
CHAPTER XX. HECTOR GAINS A VICTORY.