Dave Porter and the Runaways Part 13

"We sure did," answered the shipowner's son.

"And told him about----" began our hero.

"Never mind what we told him, Dave," interrupted Phil. "We did tell him that we wanted to make up the lessons but couldn't do it in the time he had allotted. He argued it, at first, but now he has agreed to give us the same time Mr. Dale did, three weeks."

"Good!" exclaimed Roger.

"You, or all of us?" asked our hero.

"All of us. I think he'll speak to you at recess--he said he would."

"What did he say when you--when you mentioned Mrs. Breen?" asked Roger.

"Hush, somebody might hear you!" returned Phil, in a whisper. "We have promised to keep that quiet."

"But the poor woman----" began Dave.

"Will get her money, never fear. A lawyer has already written about it, and old Haskers says he will pay up. He claims it is all a mistake. But he doesn't want anybody at Oak Hall to get wind of it."

There was no time to say more, and evidently neither Phil nor Ben felt in the humor to discuss the affair. The early morning lesson proceeded as usual, but it was noticed that Professor Haskers was much subdued in his manner towards the students.

"Porter and Morr, I wish to speak to you at recess," said he, coming down to where the two lads sat. "Kindly remain here."

When the other students had left the cla.s.sroom the instructor came to our hero and his chum and motioned for them to follow him to a private room close by.

"I wish to speak to you about the lessons you are to make up," said Job Haskers, after clearing his throat several times. "I understand that you want more time."

"We would like to have more time, yes," answered Dave, briefly, and looking the teacher full in the face.

"Can you do the lessons in three weeks?"

"Yes, Mr. Haskers," said Dave, and Roger nodded his head.

"Then you can take that much time. But, remember, I shall expect you to--to--er--to make up the lessons."

"Yes, sir," came from both students.

"If you need more time--or any a.s.sistance--possibly I can arrange it,"

went on Job Haskers, eagerly.

"Thank you, if you give me three weeks I am sure I can make up the lessons to your satisfaction, Mr. Haskers," came from our hero.

"And so can I," added the senator's son. "Anyway, I'll try my level best."

"Very well, then, we will let it stand that way." There was a pause and the instructor bit his lip several times. "By the way, I--er--understand that there is a very unpleasant rumor going around concerning me," he proceeded. "It is all a mistake which I shall try to clear up without delay. I trust that you will not attempt to--er--to circulate that rumor any further."

"Mr. Haskers, do you mean about that affair with Mrs. Breen?" demanded Dave, bluntly.

"Yes. I have already explained to Lawrence and Ba.s.swood that it is a mistake, and that the widow will be paid all that is due her. But if this should--er--be mentioned here----" The teacher stopped short and looked sharply at Dave and Roger.

"Mr. Haskers, let us understand each other," answered Dave, quickly.

"I have no desire whatever to get you or anybody else into trouble.

Nor do I want to ask you for any favors. I think we are justly ent.i.tled to more time in which to make up those lessons, and now that you have granted that time, I shall do my best to make good. As for that Mrs. Breen affair, I think that poor old lady ought to have her money. I understand some lawyer is going to try to collect it for her.

Well, if you settle the matter I shall feel very glad; and you can rest a.s.sured that I will not say a word about the matter to anybody in this school, or anywhere else."

"You--er--you give me your word on that, Porter?" demanded the instructor, eagerly.

"I do."

"And you, Morr?"

"Yes, sir," answered the senator's son.

"Who else is there who knows about this--er--unpleasant affair?"

"Phil Lawrence and Ben Ba.s.swood," answered Roger.

"No other students?"

"Not that I know of."

"Very well, then." Job Haskers drew a breath of relief. "See that you keep your word. And about the lessons--if three weeks are not long enough, I may--er--be able to give you a little more time."

"That time will be enough," replied Dave.

"We'll make it with ease," added Roger.

"Then that is settled, and you may go," and so speaking, Job Haskers left the room. The two boys followed him, and went out on the campus.

"How did you make out?" questioned Phil, as he ran up to them.

"We got our time," answered Roger.

"But let me tell you one thing," said Dave. "After this Haskers is going to hate us worse than ever."

"I don't see why," declared the shipowner's son. "I think we are letting him off mighty easy."

"He feels as if he had been forced into doing what we want," went on Dave. "I think he looks at it as if you had used that Mrs. Breen incident as a club over him."

"Well, it was a club in one sense, Dave."

"I know it, Phil, and, although I am glad we have won out and gotten that extra time, still I am sorry that you and Ben went to him as you did."

"Humph! did you think I was going to sit still and be put back into a lower cla.s.s?"

"Maybe it might have been better if you had gone to Doctor Clay."

"I don't think so," replied Phil, shortly; and then the school-bell rang again and all the boys had to go to their next cla.s.ses.