Radio Boys Loyalty; Or, Bill Brown Listens In Read online

  CHAPTER II

  FOOLED

  "Come here quick and watch this!"

  "What's going on? I've got this letter----"

  "This is some livelier than letter writing, Bill," Gus declared, and amoment later Bill was of the same mind.

  The boys gazed out of the window of their room in the school dormitoryto witness an upper-class reception of one of the freshmen, a lad ofalmost tender years, yet husky and of undoubted good nature. He wasexpensively dressed to begin with, a little foppish in appearance even,and it was known that his people were very wealthy. Such as he, then,could well afford the sacrifice demanded of him to become a member inhigh standing of the Marshallton student body. Whatever was done, shortof actual physical injury, must contribute to the violently initiatedyouth's general glorification, at least this was the popular impression.It occurred to but few to make serious objections to that which wascustomary in the school.

  Hazing, long since taboo or forbidden in many educational institutions,was still a part of Marshallton Tech, by reason of the belief that ahigh mentality and virile spirit demanded the extreme mental andphysical show-down which hazing is wrongly supposed to bring out. Thoughsevere enough, perhaps the initiations were not so terrible as to callfor much complaint.

  "By cracky, that's rotten!" exclaimed Gus, as he watched the progress ofthe affair.

  "Worse than mean!" agreed Bill.

  This comment was called forth as the victim, in his efforts to escapefrom his tormentors, had his coat and vest torn from him. In a littletime his shirt was reduced to ribbons. A fine gold watch and its brokenchain lay on the ground among the feet of the struggling boys, and anunsuspecting heel soon reduced the time-piece to little more value thanthe metal in the case. A wallet slid out of a pocket and disgorged fromits folds considerable cash and paper, some of which the bystandersgathered up with much difficulty. The freshman's panama, kicked about inthe dust, was not rescued until it resembled an uprooted weed.

  "We wouldn't enjoy being treated that way," commented Gus, thesentimental.

  "We couldn't afford it," amended Bill, the practical. "That sort ofthing may be well enough for rich fellows, though I think it's rankfoolishness at any time. But, Gus, we've got to dodge it in some way."

  Gus made no reply. He was thinking that his chum was right, but,still interested in the excitement without, he left the usualwhatever-it-must-be with Bill. When Bill spoke again, some few minutesafter the well-hazed youth had made a get-away, Gus listened withinterest.

  "We can get the materials," Bill finished, "and it won't take long to dothe work."

  And it did not. Having procured a permit from the professor ofphysics--and no one could have refused Bill with his convincingtongue--the boys returned well loaded to their room. They took from apaper packing box, whose contents had been hidden from the curious, alot of wire, some switches, some acid and a number of storage batterycells.

  On their way from the central building the chums had been stopped by anumber of upper classmen. It was mid-afternoon, an optional study orplaytime, and just the hour for brewing mischief. This is what happened.

  "Come on there, Freeporters! Put down those boxes; we have a littlebusiness to transact with you," the spokesman called.

  Gus gazed calmly at the five militant youths in front of him. Withoutundue egotism, he possessed an easy confidence, and he knew that,barring some bumps and scratches, that bunch would need assistance inhazing him. He would have complied forthwith, had not Bill given anultimatum. With a small box under his left arm, he shifted his crutch tohis left fingers and slipped the free hand into his pocket, drawingforth about the wickedest-looking pistol that any thug would use. Thefive began backing away, the spokesman turning quite pale and theothers, no doubt, feeling much as he looked.

  "Would you Indians want to haze me?" Bill asked.

  "Aw, no. You're exempt, of course. We don't bother with cripples, kids,old ladies nor natural criminals." This attempt to be witty trailed offweakly.

  "Well, my friend here is carrying glass and we can't tarry now. Anyinterference with him will result in my turning criminal instanter, andI'm keen to do so. Go on, Gus."

  Gus went on, and Bill, with weapon still in hand, followed after. Heturned to call back to the flabbergasted five:

  "You can find us in our room any time after to-day. Getting hazed isreally great sport, and we won't pull any guns on you then!"

  Hardly half an hour elapsed before there came a knock at the door of theroom occupied by Bill and Gus. A moment before, Gus had been down to geta pair of pliers that had dropped out of the window and two wide-eyedlads in the hallway had hailed him:

  "That crutch-thumper that rooms with you is in for the G. B.," one hadsaid and the other had added:

  "Say, he must be a blamed fool to carry a gun and pull it here. 'Prex'won't stand for that."

  Bill called a "Come in" in answer to the knock, and no less thanPresident Field and Professor Whitcomb, both looking very stern,entered.

  "Brown and Grier, I have heard with real pain and very great surprise,after the letter from Professor Gray highly recommending you two lads,that you have so soon shown utter disregard for the rules, the standing,the decency of our institution by carrying and drawing a deadly weapon,a pistol, and on slight provocation. This is deserving of instantexpul----"

  "Sure is, Doctor Field, if it were so. But it isn't. And please, also,do not hold the idea that it was on slight provocation. They were goingto haze us, or rather Gus here, Doctor. We had just seen something ofthis sort, with the result that Fleming, of Chicago, had a ruined suitand panama, a fine watch destroyed, and a lot of money and papersprobably lost. We came here to study; our means are limited; if we metwith such a disaster our finances wouldn't stand it and we'd have to gohome; that's all there is to it. Now, I can't offer you a cigar, Doctor,because you don't and I don't smoke, but if I did I'd probably carrythem in this case."

  With that Bill drew forth the nickeled pistol again, snapped it open anddisclosed a rather unique cigar case which he extended toward the men.

  "Oh, you mean that this thing was----"

  "Just that, Doctor. I hope we have respect for the institution to whichwe have come for a much needed and wanted education. But I saw no harmin fooling those chaps who think they have the right to compel us tolose a lot of time and money. Am I right?"

  President Field was human; he tilted back his head and laughed mostheartily, nudging the professor also, in quite a boyish way.

  "We are greatly relieved, and I wish you had scared those young rascalsmore than you did. Professor, we shall simply have to put a stop to thishazing--stop it under pain of dismissal. And this joke, now--it shouldbe mentioned at chapel, eh? I really want to thank you, young gentlemen,for doing the school a distinct favor."

  "We hope to add to the joke somewhat by to-morrow, if you will kindlyhold up that hazing ban for one day."

  "And how is that, may I ask?"

  "Would you mind if we keep it a small secret until then? We can promiseto refrain from anything dreadful."

  "But then we----"

  "Please, Doctor. This, if you will trust us, will do more real good thananything the faculty can do in the way of _verboten_. Just twenty-fourhours, Doctor."

  "Well, well, we shall see. From what Gray wrote, I think we may trustyou. Good evening, boys."