CHAPTER XVIII
A DOLEFUL "UNCLE"
Frank, peering in at the doorway of the school reception-room, saw thatPresident Elliott looked both grave and concerned. Judging from theexpression of his face, Frank decided that the academy head was not veryfavorably impressed with either the words or the appearance of the visitor.
"You see, kind sir," said the repulsed Brady, turning to him and snufflingas if at the point of tears, "my own kin disowns me. Oh, sir, it is hard,hard, to have it happen so!"
Ned did not say a word. He simply kept at a safe distance.
"If I may ask," spoke Mr. Elliott, "what do you expect of this boy?"
"Forgiveness," whined the tramp. "Yes, sir, that is the word. I havewronged him cruelly. I admit it, to my shame. I was a worthless, shiftlessman, and I abused him and drove him from my heart. Now I have reformed, andI seek to make atonement. He is my last living relative. To whom shall I gofor sympathy, to whom shall I cling but my dead wife's brother?"
"Stepbrother," corrected Ned almost sharply. "You are no relative of mine."
"Boy, don't taunt me, don't make my sufferings more than they are," andBrady heaved a prodigious sigh. "I have given up drinking. It's this way:An old-time friend of mine, who has made eighteen million dollars in adiamond mine in Canada----"
"How's that? How's that?" challenged the learned old professor keenly."According to the last authoritative geological data available, Canada----"
"I mean Brazil; yes, that's it, Brazil--anyhow, somewhere over in Africa."
"H'm!" sniffed the old professor suspiciously.
"He found me in rags. I told him my story. He offered to set me on my feetagain if I would sign the pledge. I signed it. Then he bought me a home,and put enough money in the bank to start me in some nice little business,and some other money. I got thinking of this poor, homeless lad. It almostbroke my heart. I have spent several hundred dollars having detectivestrace him down."
"Jem and Dan," Frank told himself, and almost laughed outright.
"At last I find him," proceeded Brady. "I wish to provide for him; I wishto educate and make a man of him."
"Very well," nodded Mr. Elliott. "He is here at a good school. Let himremain. I shall be pleased to have him now on a basis where he can studyand learn all of his time, instead of having to work his way, for he is abright, promising scholar."
"Exactly, exactly," assented Brady eagerly; "only, you see, sir, I want toprove that I mean well by him."
"Prove it, then, by paying his tuition for a year, and leave him incompetent hands," suggested the practical, sensible educator.
"Willingly," declared Brady. "I'll pay five years in advance if you say so,only I'd like to have him come with me for a week or so."
"Why?"
"To get used to me. To see that I'm in earnest I want his advice about mynew house, about my business. I want to get him a fine outfit. He can havethe best, sir, I assure you. I will get him a watch. I understand thesecollege fellows like pets. I'll buy him a pug dog."
"Not for Bellwood School you won't," observed Mr. Elliott bluntly.
"No, sir, that's so," assented Brady. "I'll buy him a horse and a boat,then, anything he wants, only let him come with me. We are all of us weak,sir. I may be tempted, I may fall. Let him sort of brace me up for a coupleof weeks. Then he will return, realizing that his poor old relative isgenuine, and I'll be proud all the time thinking I've won his respect."
Professor Elliott fixed his eyes on the speaker as if he would pierce himthrough and through. Then he regarded Brady thoughtfully. Finally he spoke.
"Foreman, do you wish to go with this man?" he asked.
"No, sir, never!" cried Ned fervently. "Professor Elliott, please, pleasedon't let him take me away!"
"Do I understand," inquired the professor of Brady, "that you pretend to bethe legal guardian of this boy?"
"Oh, no, sir; no, indeed," Brady hastened to say. "I'm only his poor old--"
"Then, if you are not his legal guardian," remarked Mr. Elliott decidedly,"the boy remains here, if he so elects. That ends the matter, I think."
Brady made a great ado. He tried to look pathetic and mournful.
"My boy," he sniffled, "won't you grant the dying request--I mean theardent request of your poor, homeless old relative?"
"I thought your eighteen million dollar friend had given you a home,"intimated Ned.
"True, but what is a home without a--a relative?"
"I won't go with you, and that ends it," said Ned firmly.
"I will go, then, sir," said Brady to the professor with affected sadness,"but I shall return to make another appeal to you."
"This incident is closed, sir, and my time is valuable," observed theschool president with some asperity, arising to his feet and waving Bradyout of the room.
The latter directed a venomous look at Ned. Frank noted this, and shudderedas Ned himself had done. It was an evil face, unmasked now, that of thetramp, and Frank realized that his young friend would do well to keep outof the power of this hypocrite and knave.
Frank dodged aside as the man came out into the corridor. Then he followedhim at a distance. He waited till Brady had reached the road in front ofthe academy. Then he stepped more briskly, caught up with him and touchedhim on the arm.
"One moment," said Frank.
"Eh--ah--what is it?" stammered Brady, halting and staring suspiciously atour hero.
"Do you remember me?" inquired Frank, looking him squarely in the eye.
"I don't," replied Brady.
"You're sure of that?"
"I never saw you before."
"Think again," spoke Frank. "I'll recall a little incident at Tipton, whereI came very near getting you into the hands of the town marshal."
With a frightened scowl Brady glared at Frank, the light of recognition nowin his eyes.
"I see you recall the incident," proceeded Frank steadily. "You are ascamp, and you are up to some game about my friend, Ned Foreman. Now I'vesomething to say to you. If you hang around this place one single minute,if you ever dare to come to this academy again, I'll have you in jailinside of an hour."
"You impudent puppy!" shouted Brady, lifting his hand as if to strikeFrank. "You'll do what?"
"I'll have you arrested."
"What for?"
"For stealing a diamond bracelet from Mr. Samuel Mace of Tipton," wasFrank's reply.