Dave Porter and the Runaways Part 52

"One month more and it will all be over but the shouting," said Roger one day, as he came into the room where Dave was studying.

"All over but the shouting or weeping," returned Phil, who was present. "I am afraid some of the fellows will do more weeping than cheering," he added, grimly.

"Let us hope that everybody pa.s.ses," said Dave, looking up with a quiet smile.

"Such a thing has never been done," said Ben. "Somebody is bound to drop by the wayside--I hope it isn't yours truly," and he sank his head again into his book.

"I think old Haskers is commencing to tighten the screws again," said Buster. "He let up for a while, after the wild man was caught, but yesterday and to-day--phew! we caught it, didn't we?"

"We sure did!" cried Phil. "I can't understand that man. Why is he a teacher when he just naturally hates boys?"

"That's a conundrum that can't be answered," said the senator's son.

"Well, we won't weep on leaving him," remarked Luke, dryly.

"Say, that puts me in mind of a story," said Shadow. "Once on a time a man in an auto ran into a boy carrying a cat in a basket. He didn't hurt the boy much but he killed the cat. Says he, 'I am sorry, my boy, and I'll pay you for the cat. How much?' 'I--I don't know,' blubbered the boy. 'Will two dollars do?' asked the man. 'Yes,' says the boy, and took the money. 'Were you taking the cat home?' asked the man, when he was ready to drive on. 'No,' said the boy. 'I was going to take him down to the ca.n.a.l and drown him!'" And there was a smile over Shadow's yarn.

It had been a bl.u.s.tery day, and as night came on the wind increased in violence, until it fairly howled around Oak Hall. It tore through the branches of the oaks that gave the place its name, until it looked as if some of the trees might be broken off by the fury of the elements.

"My gracious! I never saw such a wind!" cried Roger, as he came in from a trip to the gymnasium.

"It must be fierce at sea," returned Dave, who was with him. "I am glad I am on sh.o.r.e. The newspapers will tell about wrecks along the coast to-morrow."

n.o.body thought of going out that evening, and the boys put in the time studying and reading. The windows rattled, and occasionally a shutter banged, and a good night's rest seemed out of the question.

"My, what a night for a fire!" remarked Phil, while he and his chums were undressing.

"Don't mention such a thing!" returned Ben, with a s.h.i.+ver. "It would burn down everything!"

At last the boys retired. A few dropped off to sleep, but Dave was not one of them. He had studied hard and was restless, and the fury of the elements added to his nervousness.

At last he could stand it no longer to remain in bed, and got up to sit in an easy-chair for awhile.

He was just crossing the dormitory floor when there came an extra heavy blast of wind outside, followed by a crash, as one of the giant oaks standing close to the school building was broken off near the top. Then came another crash, a jingling of gla.s.s, and a sudden wild cry for help.

"h.e.l.lo, something's gone through a window!" Dave muttered. "Maybe it's in the next room!"

He ran to the window and looked out. Just below the window-sill he saw some branches of the broken tree. He looked down and noted that the tree-top had gone into the window of the room below.

"What's the row?" cried Roger, springing up and rubbing his eyes.

"Is the roof caving in?" asked Phil.

"Some tree-branches came down and went through the window right below us," answered Dave. "Listen!"

All did so, and heard the cry for help repeated.

"It's Job Haskers calling!" said the senator's son. "He uses the room below us now."

"Let us see if he is hurt," suggested another of the boys.

Clad in their pajamas, the boys flocked out into the hallway, there to be joined by others. Word was pa.s.sed around of what had occurred, and all made their way to the door of the instructor's apartment. They heard him yelling for help with all his might.

The door was locked, and Dave and some others put their shoulders to the barrier and forced it open. All was dark in the room, and the wind was rus.h.i.+ng around, sending books, pictures, and other things in all directions.

Several matches were struck, and at last a sheltered light was lit.

Doctor Clay, Mr. Dale, and some of the other teachers had now arrived, and instructors and students gazed curiously at the scene before them.

The top of the tree had come straight through the big window of the apartment, cras.h.i.+ng down on a bureau and a writing-desk, smas.h.i.+ng both flat. Some branches of the tree rested on the side of the bed, pinning Job Haskers against the wall, as if in a cage.

[Ill.u.s.tration: "HELP ME! SAVE ME!" SPLUTTERED THE TERROR-STRICKEN TEACHER.--_Page 287_.]

"Help me! Save me!" spluttered the terror-stricken teacher. "I am being crushed to death!"

"All hands to the tree!" shouted Mr. Dale, and showed what he meant.

Boys and men took hold of the tree-branches and pulled them to one side.

"Are you much hurt, Mr. Haskers?" asked Doctor Clay, kindly.

"I--I don't know, I think so!" gasped the teacher. His face was white and he was s.h.i.+vering from fright.

"Can't you crawl under the branches?" asked Mr. Dale. "Here, come this way."

He showed how it could be done, and trembling from head to feet, the scared teacher got out from under the tree-top. His face and one shoulder were scratched, but otherwise he appeared to be unhurt. But all were forced to acknowledge that he had had a narrow escape.

"You had better take one of the spare rooms, Mr. Haskers," said Doctor Clay, as another blast of wind swept through the room. "You cannot remain here, with this tree-top in the room. And I am afraid we shall have to saw it up to get it out again. You can be thankful that your life has been spared."

"The furniture is smashed!" murmured the teacher.

"Never mind the furniture, so long as you are not hurt. It can be mended, and all the window needs is some new sash."

"My things have been scattered," grumbled the teacher. "A perfect mess!"

"Leave it until morning--you can do nothing to-night," said the doctor; and so it was finally decided, and teachers and pupils trooped off to bed. The broken-in door was closed, but it could not be locked.

The boys had scarcely gotten back to the dormitories when Dave called Phil, Ben, Roger, and Buster to one side.

"Now is our chance," he whispered. "Did you notice that the bureau and the writing-desk in Haskers's room were smashed? It may not be the most honorable thing to do, but I think we are justified in looking his things over and seeing if we can't find some clew to that letter Jason Sparr received."

"Right you are!" declared Phil, promptly, and the others said practically the same.

They waited until the other boys had retired once more, and then, at a signal from Dave, all filed silently into the hallway again and tiptoed their way to the room below. Soon, they were inside and had the light lit, and also a lantern which belonged to Ben's bicycle, and which he had chanced to have on hand.

Silently and with great care the boys went over the many things that had been scattered over the floor--wearing apparel, books, pads, papers, and various articles of more or less value. Presently Phil gave a low cry.

"Look at this!" And he held up several sheets of paper. In one corner were the words:

LATIN MADE EASY