The King of the School, or, Who will Win? — page 51: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE KING OF THE SCHOOL; OR, WHO WILL WIN? “That’s enough to live on till I can retrieve our fortunes,” said Frank, en- deavouring to put a gay face upon the matter. | Eventually a small house was taken 45, in the southern. suburbs, to which the widow lady removed. Frank returned to school, it having been determined that he should remain there for another year at least. 0 ae CHAPTER XII. A CONSULTATION. At Lexicon College Frank found things going on much as they had been previous to his father’s death. The boys had heard from the Earl of Pembridge and Charlie Fitzgerald that it was Baynes’s father who had held the fatal mortgage; accordingly Baynes himself was for a few days shunned more than before. Gradually however, he was re-estab-_ lishing himself in the good opinion of some. ‘“ How can it be my fault? What blame can attach to me?” he would ask. “Tam not responsible for my father’s business transactions. And, if Egerton had written to me when notice was first given, I might have helped to make some arrangement.” This argument was accepted by many of the boys; but it was quite evident to some of the more observing ones that Baynes was in reality very pleased at the misfortune that had come upon our hero. For a day or two after his return Frank was permitted to do as he pleased, but he very soon settled down into the regular routine of the school. a * % * * * Egerton very soon found that the mysterious sounds in the corridor were still heard at nights. No one had been able to discover | now they were caused. Watching was useless, Frank had a notion that Webber had something to do with it. By way of proving the correctness of his idea he took an opportunity of quietly turning the key in the lock one- night when leaving Freddy’s room after a friendly chat, thus making that in- genious youth a prisoner. The trick was so far successful that no strange noises were heard that night. It would be impossible, however, to always keep Freddy under lock-and- key, so Frank set his wits to work to find out in what manner the peculiar sounds were produced. The next night, as soon as all the boys were in their rooms, he strewed the whole of the floor of the corridor and staircase with fine sand, upon which would appear the footprints of any one who walked about in the night. Next morning after the sounds had been louder than usual, Frank, and one or two others to whom he had entrusted his secret, looked out. The sand upon the flooring was marked with the most peculiar kind of scratches imaginable, but no foot- marks could be seen. The boys were more puzzled than ever, and the younger ones were con- firmed in their belief that Lexicon Col- lege was haunted by unquiet spirits. Frank Egerton, Marsham, the Earl of Pembridge, and Charlie Fitzgerald, held a consultation. Go NOC A) (S(O) mn