"That's because Sid monkeyed with the regulator," insisted Tom. "He thought he could improve it. But, say, it is getting late. Nearly ten."
"My bedtime, anyhow," came from Holly, as he slid from the sofa, and glided from the room. "So long. Sid wants to look out or he'll be caught. Proc. Zane has a new book, and he wants to get some of the sporting crowd down in it. See you in the dewy morn, gents," and he was gone.
"Sid _is_ late," murmured Tom, as he began to prepare for bed. "Shall we leave a light for him?"
"Nope. Too risky," decided Phil. "No use of us all being hauled up. But maybe he's back, and is in some of the rooms. He's got ten minutes yet."
But the ten minutes passed, and ten more, and Sid did not come back. Meanwhile Tom and Phil had "doused their glim," and were in bed, but not asleep. Somehow there was an uneasy feeling worrying them both. They could not understand Sid's action in going off so suddenly, and so mysteriously--especially as there was a danger of being caught out after hours. And, as Sid was working for honors, to be caught too often meant the danger of losing that for which he had worked so hard.
"I can't understand----" began Tom, in a low voice, when from the chapel clock, the hour of eleven boomed out.
Some one was coming along the corridor--two persons to judge by the footsteps.
Phil did not answer. A moment later the door opened, and in the light that streamed from a lamp in the corridor, Sid could be seen entering. Behind him stood Proctor Zane.
"You will report to Dr. Churchill directly after chapel in the morning," the proctor said, in his hard, cold voice. "You were out an hour after closing time, Mr. Henderson."
"Very well, sir," answered Sid quietly, as he closed the door, and listened to Mr. Zane walking down the corridor.
"Caught?" asked Tom, though there was no need of the query.
"Where were you?" asked Phil, sitting up in bed, and trying to peer through the darkness toward his unfortunate chum.
"Out," was the answer, which was none at all.
"Humph!" grunted Tom. Then, suddenly: "You must have been hitting it up, Sid. I thought you didn't smoke. Been trying it for the first time?"
"I haven't been smoking!" came the answer, in evident surprise.