The King of the School, or, Who will Win? — page 67: 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? 61 another half written, he began to wonder what it was all about. The more he watched, the more curious did Baynes become. At length he put the question— « Are you making your will, captain, or writing composing letters to your creditors ?” “ T am now writing to your respected father, having just finished a letter to your master, the Reverend Doctor Whackley.” | It was now Baynes’s turn to change colour. “Do you doubt me ?” asked the cap- tain, holding up the first letter, which was addressed to Baynes, senior. “T don’t see what you can have to write about.” “ Perhaps you will know in a day or two.” . The captain then very coolly finished writing, sealed both letters, put stamps on them, and rang the bell. «Take these to the post-office,” said he to the waiter. “Stay !” exclaimed Baynes, starting up. ‘ Leave them on the table and go outside for a few minutes.” The waiter looked from one to the other, hardly knowing which to obey. “You may do as the gentleman says,” said Captain Robinson. As soon as the waiter had retired Baynes spoke. “What are you going to do ?” «¢ Send these letters, acquainting your father and the schoolmaster with the share you had in the attempted burglary at Lexicon College.” ow oe “You have no proof.” ‘‘ T have a letter which I wrote to you. Really, Mr. Baynes, there would not be the slightest difficulty in getting the postman to prove that he delivered this at your school, You dropped it.” “ Fiend, you have me in your power.” “T know it. ButIain’t going to be ’arsh.” “ Well ?” ‘¢T must have the money.” “ But how is it possible to get it? You know pretty well how I am situ- ated.” “: Where are these rich swells as could be gulled so easy? Why, Mr. Baynes, your school-fellows don’t play billiards any more than if they were a lot of methodist parsons.” “JT can’t tell how itis. The Earl of Pembridge, I know, goes to Harris’s rooms, but neither he, nor Marsham, nor Lascelles will play with me; and Egerton isn’t worth picking up, now.” “Coulun’t you pick up a blank cheque out of the doctor’s book ?” whispered the captain. ‘¢ What would be the use ?” ‘You are a good hand at imitating signatures.” | Baynes flushed, and then turned pale. ‘“‘Y oushall have the money to-morrow, captain,” said he,.in a hoarse, low whis- er. “That’s right; I knew you would act like a man of spirit.” Baynes buttoned up his coat and walked away, while the captain, with a fiend-like grin on his face, resumed his practice with the balls, LO>Rase COMM A) DOOKS CO mn