The Argosy, Vol. XI, No. 21 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

b24 accomplishments. He 1s very quick at learning anything, and does everything with a dash that is simply fascinating. You can see for yourself that he has plenty of good looks.” Brad watched Kugene Clifford throughout lunch with growing interest, and could not help admiring his strong, well built figure and handsome face. Brad was a close and accurate observer of human nature, however, and could de- tect in Clifford's manner a certain amount of self conscious- ness. ‘‘ Well, he zs a fine looking fellow,” reflected Brad, ‘‘ but I don’t believe any one admires him any more than he does himself. Still, l can't blame him when he has so much to be proud of.” While Brad was gathering impressions concerning the other boys, they were forming an estimate of him, and ‘the general decision was strongly in his favor. ‘* | think he is one of the most interesting fellows I ever met,” said Fred Dawson, one of the most thorough and faithful students in the academy, when discussing Brad with a group of boys on the following afternoon. ‘* What he hasn't seen of the world isn’t worth mentioning. I got more points of information from a short talk I had with him this morning than I have learned in a month. He seems to have been everywhere, and yet he is as modest as can be in talking about what he knows. I had to draw him out with questions, but once started, he told me enough to fill a book.” ‘* Well, if he knows so much,” said Clarence Bliss with a short laugh, ‘‘ why don't he know enough to dress well? He looks like a hired man in that corduroy suit." ‘‘T admit it isn't swell,” answered Fred, ‘‘ but it probably suited him for his purposes before he came here, and, who knows, perhaps he can’t afford another suit at present. Thaf is nothing to his discredit.” “Then, for the sake of the academy, let us by all means take up a collection and get him one,” remarked Arthur Paton. ‘* I don’t care anything about his clothes,” exclaimed one of the other boys. ‘‘ Mattoon is one of the best natured fellows I ever met, and I like him through and through. If there is to be any such a contribution,” he added with a laugh, ‘‘it ought to come entirely from the “Sper four, as they set the fashions here.” But it was not the expense that deterred Brad from pur- chasing a new suit. When on the following morning Perry Landon, who had rapidly become well acquainted with Brad, and knew lis circumstances well enough to feel confi- dent of giving no offense, jokingly remarked fhat the upper four contemplated a contribution to obtain another rig, Brad burst into a hearty laugh. ‘Well, they had better not waste their ducats,” he said. «They have insulted my precious olf corduroy, and I in- tend to rub it into them by wearing it all the term. It is my little joke ; besides, I have stood so much on account of the suit that I have grown fond of it, and can’t give it up. Just present the “fper four with my compliments, and tell them that if they can't stand my corduroy they must cut me dead except on Sundays, when I wear iny best suit.” And that was all the satisfaction Brad afforded them. CHAPTER VI. BRAD HAS AN ADVENTURE. T was on a Wednesday morning when the academy opened, and the ensuing days of the week were chiefly preparatory, as far as studies were concerned, so that the boys had considerable leisure and opportunity to judge of their new companion. After the disagreeable encounters THE ARGOSY with Brayton Arkell and Sidney Ivers, everything went very smoothly for afew days. Brad's cheery good humor and easy offhand manner won him an immediate popularity with the majority of the boys that was extremely gratifying to him. From Ivers and Arkell he expected no courtesy, and re- ceived none, while the remainder of the ‘‘ upper four ” had as yet paid little attention to him. Saturday was a half holiday at Hosmer, and as the first Saturday of the term proved to be a beautiful day, the boys scattered far and wide over the netghborhood in the various pursuits of walking, hunting and skating. Perry Landon proposed the latter to Brad. ‘I can't,” he answered. ‘I have no skates with me. I left my pair packed up in my big box at the warehouse in New York, but I'll walk over to the lake and see you skate.” Once at the lake Perry Landon offered Brad lis skates for a time, but as they were of the older style and required plates in the heels, Brad could not take advantage of his offer. ‘- Never mind, he said. ‘* You go on and have your sport. Ill watch you a while, and then I'll run home and finish a letter [have on hand. Who are those fellows?” he added, pointing toward a group of three some distance up the lake, one of whom was curveting around gracefully on one oot. he Why, that is Eugene Clifford, Clarence Bliss, and some one else.” ‘Ts that Clifford doing the fancy work ? pretty one foot ‘8’.” ‘* Yes,” answered Perry Landon ; ‘‘ no one around here can skate that way except Eugene. He is a crack ice sprinter and long distance racer, as well as fancy skater. The town has exhibition races for prizes nearly every winter out here on the lake, and the last two seasons Eugene has come out away ahead. He is probably practicing now for this year's contest. Come on up with me and watch him for a while.” Brad followed Peiry up the lake and stood looking on for some time, while Eugene Clifford, not at ail reluctant to dis- play his skill before a new admirer, passed in succession through a series of brilliant and intricate figures. Brad stood by and watched him with interest, nodding appreciatively from time to time, but saying nothing. At last, as he felt his feet growing numb, and the early evening began to draw near, he turned back and warmed himself by running home. | He went first into the reading room opposite the library, where he completed a letter to Mr. Parker which he had begun in the morning. He was occupied some time with this, and when he placed it in the mail box he found there remained but a few minutes before dinner; so he hastened up stairs to make preparations. Perry Landon, who had returned from the lake, was standing before the bureau. ‘‘Here is a note for you,” he said, as Brad entered the room. ‘I found it on the pincushion when I came in.” Brad tore open the envelope and read as follows : He makes a You will please I will return I wish to see you tonight on a matter of importance. meet me at my office in the school building at 11 o'clock. on the 10:30 train, and wiil be there at that time. ° RICHARD HOPE. “ Why, what under the sun does it mean?" asked Brad in astonishment, as he read the note to Perry. ‘‘ What should Dr. Hope want to see me at that hour for?” Perry shook his head in silence. “ Perhaps it is a hoax of some kind,” suggested Brad. Perry took the note and examined it. ‘No chance of that,” he said. ‘It is Dr. Hope’s hand- writing—that is unmistakable.” ecomnieoooks COU