The Heroes of the School Part 14

The boys were making such a noise, laughing and yelling that they did not hear the hail of a youth who came down to the edge of the bank, a little later, and shouted at them. Finally, however, he managed to make his presence known by a shrill whistle in imitation of a whip-poor-will.

"Why it's John Newton!" exclaimed Fenn, recognizing the boy who had been expelled from school.

"I've got a letter for you, Frank," said John.

"A letter for me?"

"Yes. Special delivery."

"Where'd you get it?"

"From the post-office of course. I'm working there now as messenger.

Heard you boys were here and as I had to come in this direction I brought it along."

"Thought you were going to get a job in a theater," remarked Bart.

"I am, some day, but I've got to go to New York for a good opening.

There's none around here for a real artist," and John began to warble like a bob-o-link.

"Wonder who that letter's from?" asked Frank.

"Better wade ash.o.r.e and find out," suggested Ned, and Frank did so.

His chums watched him take the letter from John and sign the book and then they too, began making their way toward sh.o.r.e. Frank dried his hands on his shirt, which was on top of his pile of clothes on the bank, and opened the envelope.

The letter must have been a short one, for he was only a few seconds in reading it. As he did so his chums could see a change come over his face.

"Bad news?" asked Bart sympathetically.

"No--yes--that is--I can't tell you," said Frank, speaking quickly.

"I've got to hurry back home," he added. "I'll go on if you don't mind, and not wait for you," and he began to dress quickly.

"Aren't you going back in the boat?" asked Ned.

"No, I think I'll walk through the woods. I'll take the short cut."

"Anything we can do?" asked Bart.

"No--I wish I could tell you--but I can't," Frank replied. "I must send an answer at once."

He thrust the letter into his trousers pocket and went on dressing himself. He completed his toilet in a hurry and walked off through the woods, taking the path the post-office messenger had used. The latter had departed as soon as he delivered the missive.

"Well, that's a strange sort of letter Frank got," commented Bart as he climbed out on the bank. "h.e.l.lo!" he added. "He's forgotten the envelope," and he picked it up from the ground where Frank had dropped it.

CHAPTER XIII

SANDY ON GUARD

"Hurry after him," suggested Ned.

"He's too far by this time," spoke Bart. "Besides I don't fancy going through the woods in my bare feet. I guess it will keep."

"Where's it from?" asked Fenn. There seemed to be nothing wrong in looking at the postmark. Besides the chums seldom had secrets from each other.

"New York," said Bart, turning the envelope over. "It is from a law firm," he added as he looked at the name in the upper left hand corner.

"Wright & Johnson, 11 Pine street."

"I've got some relatives in New York," remarked Ned. "I am going to see 'em some day."

"Well, I don't see how that will throw any light on Frank's queer actions," remarked Fenn. "Wonder what the trouble is?"

"If he doesn't want to tell us I don't see what right we've got to ask,"

came from Ned. "Better not say anything more to him about it."

"We'll give him back the envelope," suggested Bart, "and that will give him an opening if he wants to tell us anything. If he doesn't--why I guess it's his secret."

That was decided to be the best move, and the boys dressed and got into the boat. They rowed leisurely back to the dock, speculating, at intervals, over Frank's curious behavior.

"Maybe he'll go to New York," suggested Ned.

"He's not likely to go without telling us," came from Bart. "If he does he'll see us before he goes."

The lads remained at the dock some little time, cleaning their boat and mending a broken oar. As they were walking up the street toward the main part of town Ned exclaimed:

"There goes Frank now!"

The others looked and saw their chum just ahead of them, hurrying along.

"Where's he going?" asked Bart.

A moment later they saw Frank enter the law office of Judge Benton.

"He seems to have quite some legal business," observed Fenn. "Maybe some one has left him a lot of money."

"Wish some one would leave me a bit," observed Ned with a laugh.

Further consideration of Frank's doings was interrupted for a moment as the chums met Lem Gordon.

"h.e.l.lo Lem, where you going?" asked Ned.

"Got to go to the hardware store for some nails. Lot of jobs to do around the house and dad says I might as well keep busy during vacation.

I planned to go fishing, too, but I guess I can do that this afternoon.

Say, did you hear about Sandy?"