CHAPTER VI
THE SUSPICIONS OF SLEUTH.
Osgood's manner during the tedious homeward jaunt would not have led anyone unaware of what had taken place to fancy that there had been theslightest unpleasantness. He was polite and affable to every one uponthe buckboard, and when the boys sang, as they did once or twice, hisfine baritone voice was sufficient to command admiration and applause.
This fellow had entered Oakdale Academy in the midst of the term of theprevious autumn, and had maintained for a time a certain reserve whichprevented his schoolmates from seeking to pry into his personal affairs.It was some time, indeed, before the naturally curious boys learned fromhim that he was a native of New York, but that, on account of hismother's health, his parents had removed to California some yearsbefore, where his father had suddenly passed away from an attack ofheart disease. Of this bereavement he continued to be disinclined to saymuch, and it was noticeable that while he seemed distinctly proud of hismother, his father was never mentioned in that manner.
Nevertheless, Edwin Osgood took pains to impress upon his associatesthat there was genuine blue blood in his veins, and his claim was thathe was upon his mother's side a direct descendant of Lord RobertPercival, Earl of Harcourt. Little by little at various times he letdrop a few words which, pieced together, told of the banishing of ayounger son of Lord Percival, who had brought upon his head thedispleasure of the old Earl through his wild and wayward ways. Thisyounger son had come to America, where he married, and Ned asserted thathe was of the third generation in this country.
All this was apparently dragged reluctantly from his lips, and he evenmade some pretense of disdain for ancestry, although his stationery borea crest, and those chaps who were favored by invitations to his roomsstated that they had seen various portraits of Osgood's noble forebears.
Unlike other students at Oakdale who came from out of town, Ned did notsimply room or board; he lived in the home of a widow by the name ofMrs. Chester, who had been induced to take him in through what was saidto be a surprisingly liberal money consideration. In Mrs. Chester'shouse he had a sitting-room and a bedroom with an adjacent bath, and itwas said that the widow, perhaps a bit impressed by having such a youngswell in her home, permitted him to do about as he pleased in his rooms.
Now a fellow like this might through snobbery easily make himselfunpopular in a country school, but Osgood's seeming whole-souled, manlyboyishness, combined with an unusual knack at all-round sports andbaseball in particular, had overcome the prejudice of many chaps whowere inclined at the outset to regard him with disfavor. His staunchestfriend, however, was Charley Shultz, with whom he had taken up almostimmediately, and who seemed so remarkably different from him in everyway that wonderment over their chumminess was justified. Shultz wasrough and brusque and not infrequently positively boorish; furthermore,he was something of a bully, although, finding this bent disapproved byOsgood, he plainly sought to hold the inclination in check.
Among the village girls Ned was greatly admired, but with the boys astrong point in his favor was the fact that, although always pleasantand polite, he rarely attempted to play the gallant. He seemed to preferfellows of his own age and with similar tastes in sports to theprettiest girl of the village or the school, and, although some of themisses were miffed over this, he rarely wasted time in their company.
Another point in his favor was the fact that, although he was known tohave a pocket full of spending money and sometimes spent it generouslyon his companions, he managed to avoid patronism, and did not make thefellow less supplied with coin feel small or mean on that account. Inshort, he was generally sized up as "a jolly good fellow," and, althoughthey had not ventured to say as much, several members of the nine hadthought that Nelson was rather too hasty and harsh in sending Osgood tothe bench for his disregard of orders. Besides Jack Nelson, Rodney Grantand Ben Stone were almost the only ones who had not fallen powerfullybeneath the spell of Osgood's personality.
During the most of the homeward trip Shultz sat silent on a seat whichalso held Tuttle and Piper. Once or twice he had a few words to say, andhe endeavored in saying them to give the impression that he, like Ned,had dismissed the incident of the game which had so nearly led to apersonal encounter in the Wyndham gymnasium. But Shultz was no diplomat;subterfuge to him was a most difficult thing.
The result of the game had been telephoned to Oakdale, and the boys werewelcomed with cheers as the buckboard rolled up the main street towardHyde's livery stable. At the stable they piled out with their bats andbags, shivering a little from the raw cold of the spring evening, whichhad crept into their bones in spite of overcoats.
At the door of the stable Osgood paused a moment, and, Springer, Hookerand Cooper joining him, he was heard to say:
"See you later, fellows. Don't forget. So long. I'm hungry as a bear,and I won't do a thing to Mrs. Chester's grub to-night." Carrying thebag that contained his uniform and mitt, he swung off with a vigorous,buoyant stride, whistling cheerfully.
A few low words passed between the trio left behind, after which theydispersed in starting for their various homes.
Jack Nelson was not the only one to perceive something mysterious in theaction of these fellows; Sleuth Piper's eyes and ears were wide open.When Shultz had likewise departed Nelson spoke to Grant.
"I don't suppose it's any of my business, but I'd really like to knowwhat's in the wind. Those fellows are up to something."
"I reckon so," nodded Rodney; "but I opine it's no concern of mine."
Both were startled as Piper noiselessly appeared beside them.
"There are things going on in this town," said Sleuth, his voicediscreetly lowered, "of which the general public is wholly unaware."
"Hello!" laughed Rodney, lifting his eyebrows. "The great detective ison the job. I judge you have inside information, Pipe?"
"Very little," answered Sleuth; "but if I set out to get it I'll not bebalked. Once I take up a case worthy of my attention, I am relentless asFate."
"Do you have an idea this matter is a case worthy of your attention?"asked Nelson, winking slyly at Grant.
"That I can't answer," confessed Sleuth; "but it's my theory thatpersons whose movements are secretive and mysterious deserve to bewatched. Possibly I can tell you one little fact of which you areunaware."
"Let flicker," invited Jack. "We're listening, all agog."
"For some little time," said Sleuth, in answer to this invitation,"certain fellows have been meeting regularly every Saturday night in therooms of Ned Osgood."
"Is that all?" exclaimed Grant, disappointed. "Why, I suppose, as Osgoodhappens to be such a popular chap, they merely drop in on him for asocial call."
"Is there any reason why a fellow who is merely making a social callshould shroud his movements in secrecy?" questioned Sleuth instantly."If you were going to drop round to see Osgood for a little pleasantchat of a Saturday evening would you take pains to prevent the fact frombecoming known? Or would you, if meeting a friend on your way, openlyand frankly tell him where you were going?"
"I don't opine I'd be covering up my tracks any whatever."
"Not unless it was to be something more than a mere social call," noddedSleuth decisively. "By apparent chance it has happened that I have meton different occasions two or three of these fellows who were on theirway to call upon Osgood, and when I asked them where they were goingthey either lied or begged the question. Ha! Now you perceive that theremust be some hidden motive for this secrecy. A man who takes extremepains to conceal his motives should be watched."
"There's certain some logic in that," admitted the Texan; "but I'llallow I don't see what those fellows could be up to that would concernanybody but themselves."
Nelson, however, was thoughtful, frowning the least bit.
"It may not concern any one else," he said presently, "and, then again,it may. It may be my fault, but I can't quite trust Osgood. I'll admitthat he acted pretty decent in practically acknowledging that he waswrong
to-day; but all the time I couldn't help feeling that he wasplaying policy, while thoroughly satisfied that he had been in the rightand that I was a chump to call for the sacrifice. As a matter between usthree, there's a feeling of dissension on the team as well as in theschool, and I'm sure that Osgood and Shultz are behind it. When Ibenched Osgood it wouldn't have surprised me in the least if some of theplayers besides Shultz had made an objection. He has got a grip on them,and they think he knows more baseball than I or any of the old players.I've seen them imitating his methods and his style of play. When a ballteam loses confidence in the judgment of its captain, that team soongets into a bad way."
"I didn't like the talk Shultz made about Prof. Richardson," said Grant."The old boy may not take a natural modern interest in athletics, butyou sure hit the nail on the head, Nelson, when you said that he doeshis work well in the class room and therefore makes a good principal.But I suppose I'd likely object to almost anything coming from Shultz.There's something about that fellow that certain rubs my fur the wrongway."
"He's irritating," agreed Jack; "but I can't help thinking that Osgoodis the more dangerous man. If there's trouble, you'll find that he willreally be the leader."
"Oh, I don't judge there will really be any trouble," said Rodneyoptimistically. "If there was any brewing, I think you nipped it in thebud, captain. I've got to hike home, or Aunt Priscilla will begin toworry; she always does if I'm late to meals. Good night."
Sleuth pulled at Nelson's sleeve. "Wait a minute," he requested in a lowtone. "I've a powerful suspicion that you're right in thinking there'strouble brewing--there's something going on beneath the surface. I'mgoing to investigate. I'm going to take this matter up professionally.I'll pierce the dark depths of the plot. I'll lay it bare in all itsheinous nakedness."
"Go as far as you like, Sleuth," smiled Nelson. "As far as I'm concernedyou have free rein, but don't drag me into it in any way."