The King of the School, or, Who will Win? — page 29: 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: So intent were they upon their occupa- tion, that they did not notice Harry till he was close to them, and had slipped a string over their necks. That done he led them back in triumph to the “Six Bells,” and con- demned them to imprisonment for the remainder of the day. In the meantime Professor Moeritz had created no small sensation at Lexi- con College. a | He rushed at full speed into Doctor Whackley’s study, where some twenty of the senior boys were assembled, and hurriedly related his tale—purposely omitting to say from whom he received his information. | The principal of the college, though as sound a scholar as one could wish to meet, was slightly informed in the ways of the world, and felt as Charlie Fitz- gerald expressed it, “no end of bothered.” | | ‘““What is to be done, Herr Moeritz, what is to be done, boys?” he asked. ‘“‘This is a big house, and it is impos- gible to say where they will make their entrance.” “Send for ze police,” suggested Pro- fessor Moeritz, They shall protect you.” “ That is the best thing to be done, I fancy, sir,” said Fitzgerald, who was one of the company in the study. “And if the thieves should, by any chance, effect an entrance, we shall be able to give a good account of them,” added Egerton. ‘As we are forewarned we shall be in readiness.” “T almost wish they would do so,” said Marsham. “ Tt would be a delightful sensation— the capture of a gang of housebreakers by Dr. Whackley’s pupils,” continued Frank. “But from whom did you get your information, Mr. Moeritz?” the prin- cipal at length asked, The question being thus directly put, of course the worthy German could do nothing less than give an equally direct answer. | “Do you think this London street boy’s information is correct ?” was 28 Whackley’s next question, “Or htt not quite possible that he may have been in league with the thieves, and at the last moment, fearing detection, has preferred to betray his comrades rather than share their punishment, “TI think he is perfectly honest,” said Egerton. “And I!” “And I!” “And I!” echoed Fitzgerald, the Earl of Pem- bridge, and several others. “Very good; your opinion may be well-founded, but until this matter is settled, the boy must not set foot on my premises.” | “You shall be obeyed, Doctor Whack- ley; but as you have given no instruc- tions to the contrary, I shall continue to employ him—beyond the boundaries of the school,” said the young earl. “As you please,” was the doctor’s polite response, and the interview ter- minated. | | A messenger was sent to the police office, and, consequently, a couple of extra constables were detailed to keep guard over the school premises. After some talk with these men, Egerton and Fitzgerald decided upon constructing a patent alarum. They procured a long ‘kite string belonging to one of the smaller boys, and passed it quite round the building, keeping it about six inehes above the ground by means of forked sticks. Half-a-dozen old bells were fastened at various parts of this cordon. The result, of course, would be that any one unaware of this trap, would, in approaching the house, kick his foot against the string and set the bells ring- ing. Baynes who was still compelled to keep his bed, was informed by Crawley of all these preparations, and expressed the greatest concern, He wrote a note and bribed one of the servants to take it dewn to the bil- liard-rooms, and deliver it to Captain Robinson. The servant took it, but, to Baynes’s great disgust, returned with the infor- mation that the captain had uot been EO DOC (CO mn