'As Gold in the Furnace'

vi

n, the subscriptions came in very slowly. Many boys, seeing that Roy, usually the largest contributor to all such schemes, had given so small an amount, measured their own donations

d, were determined to carry it through to success. Bracebridge encouraged Henning to continue his work of soliciting, but

mosphere, as it were, which appeared to militate against his success. Roy often tried to discover the cause. Was this silent but unmistakable change

nder. All his friends, not understanding or guessing his motive, expostulated with

nce, giving him credit for acting from right intentions, although what these were, now near Christmas, w

ot necessarily ill-intentioned boys, they frequently discussed his "going back on h

d a coarse-grained youth named Stockley, one d

by this time getting used to such talk

nd won't sing, ought to be made to sing

the bird who should be made to sing. But I think you will have some difficulty in proving that I am acting against justice. As to the h

igger in the woodpile in this affair. Your cousin was saying only this morning that he could

go and mind your own business and leave me and Garret

fist close tightly, and he observed the muscles of his arm

ning, "I will ask it. Till then, mind your own affairs,

ome unintelligible words between his teet

hy classroom with a flushed

acebridge, seeing that his friend

talk pretty freely to one fellow who

serious

d him to mind his own

d Bracebridge, who saw Hen

along," rep

eyes. While facing it conversation was impossible. Presently they came to the bas

e?"asked Ambrose as soon as both had finished rubbin

s in cash, but about eighty-seven h

pertinently curious if I a

That room just off the playroom. You know, Ambrose, that is the place of meeting of al

ident hesitation. "I would rather you keep i

ar uneasy. Wha

ugly work being concocted. No doubt you think I am fanciful, but I have

m wh

I may be doing an innocent boy a grave injustice. There is a good deal of talk against y

aw!

their talking is not worth your consideration. Nevertheless there are a few restless spirits h

ou advise me

of the college treasurer? He will take care of it for you. It

I do not think there is any necessity for it. T

as I said, it is better

it really does exist outside of your imagination. I have done nothing small or mean to any one. The head and front of my offending seems to be that I have withdrawn from next year's ball team. I happen to be a good player

give them. Both Beecham and Shealey, and of course, myself, have every confidence in you, and you may rely on

us boys. I know I have vexed him by my decision. More than once he asked me to retract it. When I refused to d

baseball malcontents. He's all right. Before he had done with these fellows, they held very different views concerning you. Still

nodded

. One is pro-Henning, the other contra. Therefore, and I know you will take what I say in

nk I shall

he big form of his fri

l punishment. But there are a dozen means of annoying and v

shall never be ashamed of having done so. It seems to me that, without the slightest fault of my own, I

I know you wi

f confident friendship, as they began

ter, although he now wore it under his coat. In the presence of Garrett the two fri