The King of the School, or, Who will Win? — page 133: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE KING OF THE SCHOOL; OR, WHO WILL WIN? “Here is your money,” said he. * Now be kind enough to give the ser- geant the advice you promised.” “Certainly,” said Mr. Bateman, testing the coin between his teeth. ‘The officer can take either of the men into custody, separately, but he cannot apprehend them all at once. And if he fails to establish the charge, he is liable to be cast for damages.” The worthy sergeant, after con- sideration, wisely declined to have anything to do with the three individuals who so much resembled each other, and so the case came to an end. Frank escorted Kate home, and, after a tender adieu, returned to Lexicon College. A surprise was in store for him. A letter was lying upon his desk, the address written in a hand he well knew. |: Several of the boys had gathered ‘round to look at it, for they, too, recog- nised the florid penmanship. _ To keep the reader no longer in juspense, the letter was from Baynes. Feeling no small amount of curiosity to know what he could have to write about, as well as to know how he managed to escape the watery grave every one thought had received him, Frank opened the billet. As he read it, his brow grew stern. The tone of the letter was threaten- ing, and Frank was not accustomed to receive threats calmly. Tt ran something in the following style:—. Mr. Ecerton.—No doubt you fan- cied me dead, but you will find that I yet live to be your evil genius. You have baulked me this once, but next 127 time I shall triumph. Kate Conway shall never be your wife. “‘H. BAyNus,” Frank then looked at the envelope again, and, to his great surprise, found that it bore the Ballsbury post-mark, First of all he consulted with the doctor; but that worthy gentleman could not understand it at all. Only one thing appeared at all clear to his mind: that was that Baynes had by some very marvellous mischance escaped the death he so richly deserved. Frank then proceeded to the residence, of his friend—the sergeant of police, That worthy looked at matters in a more worldly way. ‘“‘ Did you watch to see what became of the young ruffian after he leaped out of the mill window ?” he asked. “‘ No,” replied Frank. “Then it is very clear to my com- prehension. While you were attending to Miss Conway he must have risen to the surface, and got to the bank. It would then be very easy to reach the boat, in which, with a swift current in his favour, he could soon reach town.” “ But do you suppose he is hiding about here now ?” “T should hardly think so; but I will have a good search made.” The search was made and maintained, but nothing was seen or heard of Baynes, and every one began to fancy that he must have enclosed the letter to some ‘confederate, who posted it in Ballsbury. Nevertheless, about a week after this event, as Frank was returning from Mr. Conway’s house one evening, he wag again fired at, a circumstance which convinced him that his foe was still in the neighbourhood, EO DOC EO mn