The King of the School, or, Who will Win? — page 52: what you’re looking at

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

46 Each of them had thoroughly ex- amined the floor of the corridor before the sand was swept away. “Those marks could not have been caused by any human being,” observed Fitzgerald. “Yet how coulda phantom—a thing of air, a mere shadow—do anything of the kind?” asked Frank. “ Perhaps neither a human being nor a spirit is the moving cause of these strange noises observed the earl. ‘‘In which case we must suppose some vegetable substance to be endowed with powers of locomotion. How ab- surd!” sneered Marsham. “ Not at all,” replied Pembridge. “Then how could the noises bemadeé?” “¢ By animals of the inferior order.” “Ah, that is possible,” said Frank. “But where do the animals come from? There are no cats or dogs in the house,” said Marsham,. “ ‘That’s what we have to find out.’ “Then if they are animals, my ani- mals, my pets, shall havea look at them.” “ ‘What do you mean ?” “IT mean to bring my two terriers” into school to-night, and take them upto my room. Assoon as the noise is heard open goes the door, and out goes Pincher. The result is, of course, that any living thing not big enough to run away with the dog is stopped.” “Very good. But what will be the consequence?” “<'We discover the ghost.” “ And the Doctor discovers that your dogs have been brought into the school- house, contrary to his express orders.” “T don’t think he would be very angry. At all events, [ll risk it for the sake of unearthing Freddy’s ghosts.” The little group then separated. Marsham went to the “Six Bells” to visit his ghost hounds, as he now style. the terriers, He had the satisfaction of finding them in a very lively condition and evidently well fitted for the task he desired them to perform. Fitzgerald, who had taken a very studious turn of late, went back to THE KING OF THE SCHOOL, OR, WHO WILL WIN? the school-house to thumb the pages Homer. “T must imitate his example,” Frank Egerton remarked to his companion, - the Earl of Pembridge. “T hope not, Charlie is getting quite ill,’ “‘It is necessary for me to study now more than ever. My prospects are very much changed, and I shall have to work hard to make myself a name and position when I leave school.” “What profession do you intend to adopt?” ‘It is my father’s wish that I should become a barrister, and I now feel more than ever compelled to respect his wishes.” “Frank, I have, or shall have much influence. It shall be exerted to the utmost to promote your welfare.” ‘Hor which promiseI sincerely thank your lordship.” “Oh, bother! and drop the title please, Frank.” “Certainly if you wish it. And now I want you to tell me if you have seen or heard anything of those girls?” “No; I wrote to Lizzie though, and had an answer. She and her sister were extremely sorry to hear of your misfortune. I wish I could find out who sent that note to the doctor. © “SodolI. ‘Sorry to inform you that your pupils frequently visit a house in- habited by people whose moral charac- ter will not bear examination—a house well known to the police.’ By Heaven ! a good idea strikes me. The police shall tell the doctor what they know about old Conway and his daughters.” ‘That would be best.” “TI will write to the inspector this evening, and ask him to call upon the doctor to-morrow!” Acting upon tunis idea, the two boys returned to the school, and concocted an epistle which they dispatched by the hands of their general servant, Harry, to the inspector of the Ballsbury police, In half-an-hour the messenger re turned, EO DOO EO mn