“And I don’t want to go, but still, a fellow----”
“I know, he has to do his duty. I sometimes feel that I ought to be at work helping the family instead of staying here, where it costs considerable,” interrupted Phil. “But if I ever can I’m going to make it up to them. Wait until I get my degree, and the law cases come pouring in on me, with big fees--say, maybe I could give your dad some points!” he exclaimed, for Phil was considering the law as his profession.
“Well, dad has hired about all the lawyers he can afford,” replied Tom with a smile.
“Oh, I didn’t mean for a retainer!” cried Phil. “I’d take the case for practice.”
“I’ll tell dad,” was the pitcher’s smiling answer.
From the easy chairs, and the rickety sofa, the lads arose, amid clouds of dust. The alarm clock, that served to awaken them in time for first chapel call, was set going again, and carefully placed under some cushions that the ticking might not keep them awake, while yet the bell might summon them in time for worship next morning.
“We surely must do something to that sofa,” remarked Phil, as he pressed down on the old springs. “We need a new one----”
“Then we’ll have to have this one revamped. It feels like lying on a pile of bricks to stretch out on it now. I think----”
There were loud voices out in the hall. Voices in dispute.
“I tell you I will go out!” exclaimed someone.
“But the last bell is just going to ring,” expostulated another, whom the boys recognized as a hall monitor.
“What do I care! I can fool Zane. Stand aside!”
There was a moment of silence, and then the strokes of the retiring bell peeled out through the dormitories.
“There! I told you!” said the monitor. “You can’t go. If you do, I’ll have to report you.”
“All right, report and be hanged to you!” and then followed the sound of a scuffle in the corridor, as if some one was shoving the monitor aside.
“Something’s up,” remarked Tom in a whisper.
“I’ll take a look,” volunteered Sid, and, with a quick motion he turned out the electric light, somewhat of an innovation in Randall. Then he tiptoed to the door, which he opened on a crack. Through the aperture came the noise of retreating footsteps, and it was evident to the strained ears of the four chums that someone was going down the hall, toward the broad stairway that led out on the campus, while someone else was proceeding toward the main part of the dormitory, where Proctor Zane had a sort of auxiliary office.