CHAPTER XXXVII.
THE SHADOW LIFTED—CONCLUSION.
Three of the professors were in consultation with Digby Rudge, the proctor. They were Babbitt, Mower and Such.
“You say you can bring absolute proof against him?” questioned Prof. Babbitt, eagerly.
“Yes,” nodded the proctor. “I have suspected him for some time, and now I have the proof I need.”
“I cannot believe it true,” said Prof. Such, stroking his chin. “Merriwell has always seemed like an upright and honorable young man.”
“So he has,” nodded Prof. Mower, stroking his beard.
“Ah, you do not know him,” said Babbitt, triumphantly. “He is cunning, but I read his character aright from the start.”
“Prof. Babbitt,” said Such, sternly, “I believe you are prejudiced. You have seemed to have something against Merriwell from the first, and your antipathy for him increased when you failed to trap him at your special examination, which——”
Babbitt drew himself up stiffly, and made a protesting gesture.
“I scarcely thought this of you, Prof. Such,” he said, interrupting. “Even though I am aware that Merriwell is a favorite of yours, I did not think you would accuse me of permitting my prejudice to influence me against him.”
“You will soon see, gentlemen,” said the proctor, “that this is not a matter of prejudice. For some time robberies have taken place in Farnham Hall, and——”
The door opened, and Frank Merriwell stepped into the room.
Instantly the proctor pointed an accusing finger straight at Frank, adding:
“There, gentlemen, stands the thief!”
For a moment there was a tableau, and then Prof. Such hastened to say:
“Your proof, Rudge—we demand your proof.”
“It is ready,” said the exultant proctor, stepping to a side door, which he flung open. “Mr. Gooch.”
Sidney Gooch entered the room. His face was nearly as white as snow, but Frank gave him a look of encouragement when their eyes met, and Sidney braced up.
“Gentlemen,” said the proctor, “Mr. Gooch once had his watch stolen from him by this Mr. Merriwell. He has lost it again, and he can give positive evidence that Frank Merriwell has it, either about his person or concealed somewhere in his room.”
“Is this true, Mr. Gooch?” excitedly demanded Prof. Such.
“It is not!”
Sidney spoke the words distinctly, so that no one could misunderstand them. The proctor was the most astounded person in the room. Frank smiled a bit, while Prof. Babbitt uttered an exclamation.
As soon as he could recover, the proctor excitedly cried:
“What is that, sir? Didn’t you tell me your watch had been stolen again, and you knew for a certainty that Frank Merriwell was the thief?”
“I did.”
“Then what do you mean——”
“I was mistaken,” said Sidney. “I have since found my watch, and I was wrong in accusing Mr. Merriwell. I ask his pardon here in the presence of you all. I do notknow anything against Mr. Merriwell, and I feel certain he is not the thief.”
Prof. Such laughed shortly in a satisfied way, while Prof. Mower looked relieved.
As for the proctor, he was both astounded and disgusted. When he started to say something more, Such interrupted him sharply:
“Rudge, I think you had better follow Gooch’s example, and apologize to Mr. Merriwell. It is the only graceful thing you can do.”
So the proctor was forced to apologize, although it was a bitter pill for him to swallow.
“I trust you will hold no hard feelings against anyone for this little mistake, Mr. Merriwell?” said Prof. Mower.
“Not in the least,” smiled Frank, his face full of sunshine and good will. “I have not been harmed, and if I have done anything to arouse anybody here against me, I wish to beg their pardon now, and say I am sorry. It is all I can do.”
“Very generous—very generous for a young man who has been accused of theft!” nodded Such.
So the plot against Frank proved a failure. His generosity in wishing to give Gooch a chance to reclaim himself had led Sidney to make a clean breast of everything. Gooch had been in Frank’s room for the purpose of concealing some of the stolen articles there, where they might be found if the room was searched after Merry was accused. He pointed out the articles and told Frank that he was to be summoned before three of the faculty that very afternoon.
Together Merriwell and Gooch left the room and the building. Together they walked across the campus.
“I have kept my word so far,” said Sidney, huskily.
“You have,” said Frank, “but the worst is to come. It will be far harder to go to the fellows from whom you have taken things and confess to them; but right there is where you will prove your manhood, and it will be a mighty mean fellow who will not respect you for it if he thinks you are going to try to turn over a new leaf. I will see each one, and do all I can to keep them still, so it will not leak out. If we can save you from disgrace, Gooch, we will.”
It seemed that Sidney’s heart was moved by this.
“Merriwell,” he said, “you are the whitest man living! Your heart is as large as your whole body!”
Frank kept his promise to Gooch, and in the end the erring lad was given ample chance in which to redeem himself.
And this was not all that Frank did. He sent an anonymous letter to the proctor, stating that he was sorry the man had suffered, and that he begged to inclose a present in consequence, said present being a beautiful gold watch charm.
This charm completely won the proctor’s heart, and for a long while after he was remarkably easy on all the college lads.
For the time being all ran smoothly, and here we will leave Frank, hoping to meet our readers once more in a new volume of this series, entitled: “Frank Merriwell’s Loyalty,” wherein we will learn how true our hero could be to his chums, no matter how great the danger.
“He’s all right, Frank is,” said Bruce. “No better lad in Yale.”
“Right you are,” echoed Rattleton. “Frank is Old Eli’s favorite son.”
And all the others agreed.
THE END.