The Orchard Secret Part 33

There were uneasy twistings and turnings on the part of the girls, and many whispered comments, despite the frowning warnings of various teachers scattered about the room.

"But you need have no further fears," the dean went on. "The beast has been caught and penned up securely. It will be kept under restraint from this time on. So no one need have any fears of going into our orchard--if she has occasion to go there."

"So this is what the taxi-man must have been hinting at," thought Arden.

"Though why he didn't dare speak of it I can't imagine. And I suppose it was the ram that knocked me down. I was lucky!"

"This is the explanation of the greater part of the night's alarm, young ladies," continued the dean. "It is all very simple. It is unfortunate that Dr. Bordmust was injured, but he is now resting comfortably, and another clergyman has been temporarily engaged, so there will be chapel service--as usual." The dean smiled with dry humor, having noted flashes of joy on the faces of several students at the idea of escaping from morning devotions.

"Dr. Bordmust has asked me, as a favor to him," stated the dean, "not to punish the girls who were out of their rooms against rules after hours.

They kindly went to his a.s.sistance and summoned much-needed help. I am happy to accede to our chaplain's request, for I know the whole undergraduate body is extremely fond of him. I will ask no questions of those girls. In fact, I hereby publicly thank them for their great presence of mind. There is only one thing I must insist on."

There was a portentous pause, and the dean ended the silence by saying:

"If the ringing of the alarm bell was done as a joke--please don't repeat it." She smiled benignly. "Now you may go on with your lunch."

CHAPTER XXV Arden Is Convinced

Silence--a somewhat stunned and portentous silence--followed the dean's explanation and remarks. Then a buzz of talk began. It spread all through the room, for the orchard mystery had grown to greater proportions than the faculty of Cedar Ridge had believed.

Arden secured the attention of Sim, who was excitedly talking to Terry, and propounded this:

"Do you seriously think that what Tiddy said just now is true? Or, at least, do you think it is a logical explanation? It sounds fishy to me.

If it was a ram that hurt Tom Scott and the chaplain, the beast planned his attacks with almost human cleverness."

"Oh, I don't know," Sim answered. "I suppose it's possible----"

"But not probable," Arden interrupted.

"Oh, let's forget about it," suggested Sim.

"I wonder," thought Arden as they finished lunch and walked from the dining room to the sun-flooded campus, "I wonder if Sim is going to do anything about the pool? She didn't seem much interested in the way the dean solved the mystery."

"What do you think?" inquired Terry. "Aren't you satisfied, Arden, with the dean's statement?"

"It satisfies me, Arden, m'sweet!" drawled Sim. "I find this sun very satisfying, too," she went on as she stretched her arms high above her head and ran her fingers through her thick hair.

"You, also, Terry?" inquired Arden.

"Yes," Terry answered. "You'll have to look further for doubters of the dean." She threw herself down on the warm gra.s.s and opened her Latin grammar for a last look before cla.s.s.

Arden stood over her chums in uncertainty, for now Sim had joined Terry on the gra.s.s. The sun was bright, the sky unclouded and of a deep blue.

Arden pulled her bright red sweater down lower over her tweed skirt and adjusted a small scarf about her neck. Cedar Ridge was not a particularly "dressy" college, nor did it have a reputation for displaying on its campus carelessly dressed students. Rather a happy medium was struck.

High heels were out of place. One could not make a swift last-minute dash up the boardwalk to Bordmust Hall in open pumps, as several girls had found out to their sorrow.

Arden and her chums dressed in sports clothes, topped, usually, by the inevitable mortar-boards. Now that hazing was over, the college settled down to a peaceful routine, with not so much stress on the poor freshmen.

"Well," Arden finally remarked, "I must say you girls show very little of the stuff which made our country the great place it is today. You have no curiosity. That's your trouble!"

"My trouble is not enough sleep," murmured Sim drowsily.

"Latin will be the death of me," declared Terry.

"Then I'll leave you to yourselves," announced Arden, turning away. "I'm off to see what I can see."

"Not mad, are you?" questioned Sim.

"No, just curious." Arden was soon beyond talking distance.

She was a little surprised, though she would not let Sim or Terry know it, that they took the dean's explanation so calmly and believingly.

"For my part," reasoned Arden to herself, "I'm going to find out if an old black ram really caused all the scares and trouble."

Once her mind was made up, Arden acted quickly. Her next cla.s.s was an hour away. There was time enough, she knew, as she swung off in the direction of the orchard. She went in through the hedge entrance. It was dark and gloomy there, even with the sun shining, and for a moment the girl hesitated. But she kept on, and was soon in the grove of gnarled and fantastic trees. The sun was shining down through their twisted branches and glinting on the vari-hued apples. Arden drew in a deep breath of a tangy perfume.

She picked up a red and yellow apple, wiped it off on her skirt, and bit into it. Distinctly it was good. She walked on farther. All was serene.

There was no ram, no sign of a ram, though Arden did not really expect to find one roaming about. But she did think she might see the marks of the beast's feet. But she saw none.

"And there's no one lying here unconscious and injured by any black beast," said Arden smiling a little at her conceit. She walked over to a corner where stood a shed in which were kept barrels and ladders for the harvesting of the apples. It was nearly time for the harvest now.

The door, that had been taken off for use as a stretcher the night the chaplain had been attacked, had been replaced. The door swung open, and Arden had a glimpse inside the shed of various farm implements.

"Ho, hum!" she yawned. "I guess the girls and the dean were right.

There's no use trying to find anything different. I shall have to admit I was wrong, and I don't want to, for really I don't believe in that ram story. If I could only find something else to bear out my theory."

She was looking around the orchard, gazing toward distant corners for something she could investigate when she was startled by a rustle of dried leaves caused by some feet pattering rapidly among them. There were a whistling snort and a loud sniff.

Arden wheeled about and screamed in terror.

Rushing straight at her, with lowering head and menacing horns curved in the typical design of such creatures, was an immense black ram. The animal must have been hiding behind a tree. Attracted by Arden's presence in the orchard, and perhaps incensed by her red sweater, it had come to give battle.

Snorting in rage, like a miniature bull, and scattering the leaves with his pounding feet, the ram was coming on, Arden thought, like an express train. For one wild moment she felt resentful against the dean who had said the beast was now securely penned. Then Arden turned and made a jump for the tool shed.

She got inside just in time, pulling the door after her. And a moment later the whole structure was shaken as the ram b.u.t.ted his horns against the thin portal.

"Oh, my gosh!" gasped Arden. And as there followed a moment of silence and inaction on the part of the creature, she saw a hook on the inside of the door and slipped it into the staple.

Then came another b.u.t.ting attack on the door.

"He'll break it in!" cried Arden, her heart beating fast. "It isn't very strong. Oh, what shall I do? What shall I do?"

The ram was snorting, puffing, and blowing outside the shed. Arden could hear him pawing in the dried leaves. Then for the third time he rushed with those heavy curved horns at the barrier which kept him from the human he wanted to attack.

"No wonder Tom Scott and the chaplain were hurt with such a creature as that rushing at them!" gasped Arden. "Oh, dear! I wish I'd taken the dean's word. It's a ram all right. A terrible ram!"

She wondered if a human voice in command would have any effect on the creature. She would try.