Over the Line Part 24

"Feet tied!" President Windell laid a hand upon Benz and shook him.

"See here--what were you young men up to? ... That's not much short of murder!"

"I know ... it sounds almost like it," admitted Benz.

"It's apt to go pretty hard with you," snapped the president, "Wait here until I go and dress. I want you to take me to where this happened. And while you're waiting, put in a call for the sheriff at Tarlton. He'll have to investigate anyway and the sooner he's on the job the better."

The professor disappeared upstairs. Benz hesitated a moment, his hands twitching nervously. Then he picked up the telephone and asked for long distance in a voice that faltered brokenly.

At breakfast that morning tense excitement reigned. News of the tragedy had just been spread broadcast and there were many vacant chairs. A great number of students had rushed for the river but a few of the calmer ones and those who loved their appet.i.tes above all else, answered the roll call and contented themselves in stowing away the usual number of pancakes.

Just as the meal was about over, Bartz staggered in, weak and exhausted. He had run many miles up and down the river bank in the hopes of discovering Judd--but a needle in a haystack might have been more readily found than Judd's corpse in a river bed.

A great crowd thronged about Bartz, asking him hundreds of different questions, excitedly. He made no attempt to answer them; in fact, his one desire seemed to be to get a bite to eat and steady his nerves.

All he would say was: "Let me alone, fellows. I'm tired. Been up all night. No, we haven't found his body yet. Yes ... the sheriff's placed us all under temporary arrest. He's got our names an' he's coming after the bunch of us and take us down to Tarlton for a hearing at nine o'clock this morning. Oh, they'll drag the river all day if they don't find him. Yes, we're going to wire his folks in a couple of hours. For heaven's sake, guys, let me be! I need a rest!"

A decided gloom prevailed over the college. Judd, although he had been called a rube had become a great favorite and very popular at Bartlett.

The students looked at Cateye, sympathetically, when he hobbled down to breakfast half an hour later. His face was red and his eyes, ... yes, unmistakably swollen from excessive weeping. Cateye was met upon all sides with sincere words of sympathy and regret for the loss of his beloved room-mate. To all these declarations Cateye made the sober reply: "Thanks, fellows, thanks. Your grief and sympathy quite overwhelm me." Then, dabbing his face sadly with a handkerchief for effect, Cateye smothered many almost unsuppressible giggles. It was turning into such a rich joke! If no one discovered Judd before the time was set to bring him out, it would be great!

Judd, meanwhile, had remained within the close confinement of his room awaiting until the time was ripe to resurrect himself.

At eight o'clock President Windell suspended all morning cla.s.ses and the entire college practically went into mourning. Benz, overcome with grief, confessed time and again his part in the tragedy wherever he could find an audience. Within another hour the sheriff came down from Tarlton and gravely proceeded to corral all the partic.i.p.ants in the "foul murder." He had been newly appointed custodian of the law and was overly anxious to perform his duties well.

Almost the entire student body congregated on the campus shortly after nine o'clock, to witness the departure of the sheriff with those directly implicated in the plot.

"I can't tell yet what I'll do with ye!" the sheriff said, addressing the students under arrest. "But this here drownin' is a serious crime and, some of ye will have to pay for it! That's just the way with ye college sports anyhow. Always up to some thing and never satisfied till ye've committed some devilment. But ye'll pay for this, ... mark my words, ... and ye'll pay dear!"

Some students, including Pole and Potts, arrived at this moment. They had been helping drag the river but, despairing of recovering the body, had returned. A crowd surrounded them at once.

"What luck?"

"Find any trace of him?"

These and many more anxious questions were hurled at the weary searchers.

"We found his cap down by the bend in the river, that's all," responded Pole, sadly, pa.s.sing the cap about for inspection. Then, noticing Benz in the throng: "Say, have they wired his folks yet?"

"... No."

"Well, that had better be attended to. They've got to know it sooner or later and we should notify them immediately."

"I'll see that a message is sent right away," replied Benz, brokenly.

At this juncture, Cateye, who had been watching from his window across the campus, decided that the time was ripe for Judd's resurrection. In fact the time was over-ripe. If Cateye had imagined what tremendous proportions the supposed drowning of Judd might a.s.sume he would never have devised the plan to cure Benz of his practical jokes.

"You'd better be taking that stroll right away, Judd," directed Cateye.

"The sheriff's just about ready to depart with the bunch and it looks like every last student is out to bid farewell. Now do just as I told you and hurry or you'll be too late!"

Judd lost no time in descending the stairs and stepping quietly out of the dormitory. He stalked leisurely across the campus, pa.s.sing several students on the way but they were so busy talking about the night's terrible happenings that they did not recognize him. In fact, Judd actually succeeded in mingling with the crowd, so intent were they all upon the departure of the sheriff and his prisoners. He took a position by the side of Benz, who was tearfully bidding good-bye.

Judd, for the moment, was touched but remembering the many things Benz had done against him he thought the "cure" might do him good.

Of a sudden Benz chanced to turn and caught sight of Judd. At first he stared, wild-eyed, and in open-mouthed astonishment; then he recoiled from the terrific shock. He could not believe his eyes.

"Oh, fellows, help me! I'm seeing things!" Benz shrieked, covering his face with his hands and endeavoring to get away.

Everyone looked in Benz's direction and at the sight of Judd the greater portion of the crowd dispersed to a safe distance. Judd had come among them so quietly that the sight of him was a great shock.

Pole was the first to recover himself.

"Great guns, Rube!" he exclaimed, astounded. "I thought you were drowned!"

"Me! Drowned?" drolled Judd, slowly, "I should say not!"

"But where have you been all this time?" cried Potts.

Those who had sufficiently recovered, at least enough to believe their eyes, began gathering about joyfully.

"Up in my room," replied Judd, suppressing a yawn.

"How did you get out? Why didn't you let us know that you were o.k?

What did you hold off so long for?" The questions were coming thick and fast.

"I didn't think about it and besides I was busy catching up sleep."

"Catching up sleep!"

"Yep,--I didn't get to bed last night till after one o'clock. And then, I got my clothes all wet and had to dry 'em out before I could appear in public again."

The joy of the students at having Judd restored to them as if from death itself, finally surpa.s.sed all bounds. They made a grand rush for the big, awkward youth and lifting him protestingly to their shoulders, they bore him once about the campus before releasing him, in this manner proclaiming the glad tidings.

The sheriff, disappointed at having his bid for prominence spoiled, still lingered about the students. At last he stepped up to Judd.

"Young man, do ye wish to swear out a warrant agin any of these rascals?"

"No, thanks," grinned Judd, "I reckon it isn't a very serious offence to duck a feller, is it?"

"Not very; but er,--er, attempted murder is different! Quite different!"

"You might give them each thirty days for a poor attempt," suggested Judd.

The bunch laughed.

Judd turned to Pole, who stood holding his cap. "I'll thank you for my lid, Pole. It's the only sky piece I've got."

"Well, let's lift the crepe and postpone the funeral," urged Potts, "The corpse has decided to take on new life and the mourners are wearing glad rags again. Cla.s.ses begin this afternoon at one P.M. as usual. This way out!"

The crowd broke up, joyfully.