Argosy, Vol. 1 (1882) — page 159: what you’re looking at

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

150 advanced. He made his way out to the road, toed the mark, and waited for the word with very little preliminary talk. A senior with a stop watch was ap- pointed time keeper and referee. “Are you ready?” asked the time keeper. “Yes.” éé Go ! 33 Away went Jack with a beautiful long stride, and in a few seconds he was lost to sight amid the leafy arches of the road. A babel of voices arose. was lively. and vociferous. Bert Sharpe found many who, fol- lowing Dolph’s lead, were willing to bet small amounts against Jack’s success. Few if any cared to bet on him, because the majority, who believed Jack would succeed, were not of the sporting ele- ment. “Ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen min- utes! ’’ announced the time keeper suc- cessively. All eyes were turned up the road. ‘“ Thirteen and a half!” No Jack yet. ‘“ Thirteen and three quarters!” Not even in sight yet. “ Fourteen! and Burke loses! ”’ cried the referee. A howl of disappointment went up, during which Bert literally dragged Dolph out of the circle. Both their faces were white when they faced each other behind a big tree. “ Fifty dollars out between us!” cried Bert in a hoarse whisper. “ May the everlasting mountains topple over on that miserable cad, Jack Burke! ” “It’s all your doings, Bert Sharpe!” “Don’t talk that way, you idiot, in a time of trouble like this. How much tin have you got?” “ About five.” “The same here! Now for Teddy Young. He’s our only salvation. My thirty five and your twenty are due from him, and that’ll see us through. Where is he?” “ T haven’t seen him.” Discussion THE ARGOSY. “ Hey, there, you fellows! -is Teddy Young in the crowd? ” ‘““T haven’t seen him since the ses- sion ended,” volunteered some one. “Come, old man, pay up! ” cried one of the winners, taking Bert by the lapel. “Hold on!” replied Bert. “ Ted Young owes me a pot of money, and— er—just excuse mea few minutes till I look him up.” “But what the mischief is keeping Jack Burke?” asked some .one. “Twenty five minutes, and he’s not in sight yet.” IV. It was nine o'clock that night; the scene, Bert Sharpe’s room in the East Wing. Bert was walking up and down excitedly, as the door closed on a de- parting visitor; Dolph was smoking a cigarette and looking sulky. “Thunder and lightning! I can’t stand this much longer!” cried Bert. “ That’s the tenth man who’s dunned me tonight for the amount of his bet— with Teddy Young disappeared— skipped the place, I suppose—and not a sou in our clothes! And Jack Burke not shown up yet, either.” . ‘“There’s something deuced queer about this whole thing,” murmured Dolph. “J believe Burke just put up ajobonus.” .— . “ By the way, is there a light in his room yet?” “ No,” replied Dolph, glancing out of the window. “ But that doesn’t sig- nify.”’ ‘What do you mean? ” “Oh, he’s probably slid in on the quiet long ago.” Well, by Jove! I propose to see if it’s so,” cried Bert, snatching up his hat. “And I'll have it out with him now, you can bet, and make him see us through this thing.” “Im with you,” said Dolph, rising leisurely, and they both went out—~ across the campus to the South Wing, up the stone steps to the second floor, to poor Sed Geldon’s old roone. HOolk eo