CHAPTER IV
A MYSTERIOUS MAN
"Say, it went off all right; didn't it?"
"And we sure had 'em going!"
"None of 'em suspected anything until after you fellows went out, and then we heard a laugh in the hall."
"That gave the thing away."
"Oh, but it was all right anyhow."
"And I guess they can sort out their own stuff."
"But what happened after you four left?"
These questions, comments, surmises and exclamations of admiration followed swiftly, one on the heels of the other, as Frank and Andy Racer, and several of their chums, gathered in the room of our heroes after the hazing.
Of course my readers know that the four "hold-up men" who entered while the hazing was in progress were Frank, Andy, Jack and Ward. They had disguised themselves with false beards and masks, and the game was to enter at the height of the hazing, pretending to be real burglars, and to take a few objects of value away from their own friends and many from the Freshmen.
The plan worked well, and few of the Freshmen suspected anything but that some real criminals, taking advantage of the fun at the school, had selected that opportunity to make a "haul."
"But what happened when you fellows went outside?" asked Donald Burgess. "There we were—Sophomores and Juniors—holding up our hands just like the Freshmen, and pretending to be more scared, all the while bemoaning the loss of our coin and jewelry. But something happened outside in the hall; didn't it?"
"There did," admitted Frank, and he told of meeting the lone student, and pretending to hold him up.
"I never saw a fellow act so queer," put in Andy. "We were keeping back, and letting Frank have his fun. Why, the fellow really thought he was up against a regular second-story man, I guess. He didn't show the white feather, though, and——"
"Who was he?" interrupted John North.
"Billy Chase," answered Frank. "I knew him the minute I saw him, and I thought I'd have some fun. But he didn't know me until I took off my mask."
"Billy Chase," murmured Jack, and it might be worthy of note that the formal "William" was dropped, and the more comradely name of "Billy" adopted. It was Billy Chase from then on, I might explain.
"Yes, Billy Chase," repeated Frank Racer. "The lad you spoke to me about—the lad who seems afraid of his own shadow."
"He wasn't afraid of a shadow to-night," commented Ward Platt, with a chuckle. "He went right at you, Frank."
"He sure did, and he's got a grip, too, let me tell you. Of course that was only a toy pistol I had, but he must have thought it was a real one. He got a hold on me and bent my arm back in regular Western style, so that, in case it had been a real gun, I couldn't have done anything. Oh, he's up to snuff all right, believe me!"
"And yet he seemed afraid you'd get something from him," commented Andy.
"Yes. That's the queer part of it. He must carry something valuable around with him, that he doesn't want someone to get."
"What happened after you told him who you were?" asked Ward.
"Oh, he seemed to wilt, and be sort of dazed. But I can't blame him. He had me 'buffaloed' for a while. It was a case of horse and horse. That Billy Chase is an all-right lad, I think, even if I did play a low-down trick on him. I think he'll make good, even if he is a Freshman."
"But what happened after we got out of the room?" asked Andy, in whose fertile brain the whole hazing joke had originated.
"Oh, we just stayed there, with our hands up in the air," explained John North. "Then some of the Freshmen began to get wise, and they soon saw some of us snickering. Then it was all up."
"We left their stuff on the big table in the lower hall," explained Andy. "It's all piled up there."
"And what about our stuff?" asked Duke Yardly quickly. "Did you mix it all up together there?"
"Sure we did," said Jack. "We didn't have time to separate it. Besides, we couldn't show favors. We robbed Freshmen and all you fellows alike. You can sort it out."
"Yes, we can!" exclaimed Duke in deep disgust. "It'll be just like those Freshman to hold on to our stuff, now that they're wise to the joke. Say, this didn't turn out the way I thought it would."
"That's always the way with Andy's jokes," remarked Herbert Waldron.
"Aw, let's see you get up a better one," challenged Andy, trying to get some of the glue from the false beard off his chin. "It was a peach, I think."
"Oh, it wasn't so bad," admitted Jack. "But it sure is queer about Billy Chase. I wonder what he's got back of him, anyhow?"
"Give it up," came from Andy. "Ouch! That pulled!" he exclaimed, as he removed a patch of the false hair.
Frank Racer said nothing, but there was a determined look on his face that spoke more than words. He had been much puzzled by the strange actions of the Freshman, and he made up his mind that he would find out more about him.
There came a knock on the door of the room where the chums were gathered. It produced instant silence.
"Come—come——" began Andy.
"Cheese it!" whispered Duke, hoarsely. "It's after hours and you've got lights!"
Then came another voice saying:
"Better cut for it, fellows; the proctor is on the job. Some of the Freshman have complained to him."
Andy Racer never moved more quickly than he did a moment later when he "doused the glim," to use Jack Sanderson's expression for putting out the light. Then in silence and darkness the guests of the Racer boys filed out into the hall, and sought their own rooms. The fun of the night was over.
"Well, how about you?" asked Andy of Frank, as they were about to turn in. The proctor had just knocked on their door to inquire if they were in bed. They had answered that they were—with their clothes on—but they did not mention the latter fact.
"Oh, I guess we might as well go to bed," remarked Frank, as he stretched out on the mattress. "We've had a strenuous day, and there are more ahead of us."
"Of course," assented Andy. "We didn't half finish with the hazing."
"And I haven't half finished thinking about the queer way Billy Chase acted," went on his brother. "There's something strange going on here, Andy, and it's up to us to find it out."
"How do you mean?"
"Why, I mean that this lad is evidently carrying something valuable about with him, and he's afraid of being robbed. That's what he thought I was after. He seems like a nice chap, and I want to help him, if I can."
"So do—I," murmured Andy sleepily.
"Get out!" exclaimed Frank. "You'll play a joke on him first chance you get."
"Sure I will—why not? Goo' ni'——" and Andy was too sleepy to finish.
The hazing and the subsequent advent of the masked figures, who were at first taken for thieves, was the talk of the school the next day. The joke was on the Freshmen, of course, and they were a long time hearing the last of it.
But, in a measure, they succeeded in "getting back" at their traditional enemies, for, after Frank, Andy, Jack and Ward had left the money and watches in an indiscriminate heap, the Freshmen hid that part of the spoils belonging to the other students, and it was some time before each lad found his own.
But the affair was taken in the right spirit, and Andy received proper credit for originating it. More new students arrived at Riverview, and several of the former friends of our heroes came back. The next few days were full of activity at the school.
"We've just got to get out on the diamond!" exclaimed Ward, one warm afternoon. "Come on, fellows, let's get up two scrub nines and have a game."
"I'm with you!" cried Andy.
"Sure thing!" added Frank.
"Let the Racer boys be the captains," came from Ward.
"Sure!" was the general assent, and soon Frank and Andy were choosing sides.
"Want to come in?" asked Frank, of Billy Chase, who sauntered up when almost the last player had been picked.
"Well, I'm not very good at it, but I'd like to get in the game."
"All right then. I'll put you out in the field. By the way, no hard feelings about the other night, I hope?"
"Not at all," laughed Billy. "I sure did take you for a hold-up man, though. And as I'm carrying about with me some valuable——" He seemed to recollect himself suddenly, and stopped with a jerk. "Oh, no hard feelings at all," he said presently. "I can take a joke."
"Glad of it," spoke Frank. "Well, let's play ball."
The impromptu game began. The playing was rather ragged, for it was the first real contest of the season, and none of the lads was in form. But it was lots of fun for all that.
Andy was at the bat, and Frank's side was in the field. Andy knocked what ought to have been a three-bagger, out in center field, seemingly away over the player's head, and beyond him. But, by a phenomenal run, and a quick jump, Billy Chase gathered in the ball, retiring the side.
"Good catch!"
"Pretty play, old man!"
These and many other cries greeted his performance.
"And he said he could only play alittle," mused Frank. "I guess it's Billy for the main nine, all right."
Frank's side came to bat. Quite a fringe of student spectators had gathered to watch the game, and there were also some town lads and men from Riverview, for the gates to the ball field were not closed, and anyone might come in.
Billy Chase went to bat first. As he took his place the opposing catcher signalled that he wanted a few practice balls. Billy stepped away from the plate.
A moment later he started violently, and Frank, who saw him, looked to note the cause.
On the outer edge of the crowd of spectators Frank saw a man standing regarding Billy with an earnest gaze. He was a man of powerful build—a "Westerner" if such a description is permissible—a man with a very black beard. As Frank looked at him he thought of the false black beards he and his chums had worn the night of the hazing. This man's beard was exactly like them, and yet it was obviously not false.
FRANK SAW A MAN REGARDING BILLY WITH AN EARNEST GAZE.
FRANK SAW A MAN REGARDING BILLY WITH AN EARNEST GAZE.
FRANK SAW A MAN REGARDING BILLY WITH AN EARNEST GAZE.
As the man gazed at Billy, the student suddenly threw down his bat and, approaching Frank said:
"Put some one else in my place. I can't play."
"Why not?"
"Well, I don't want to. I—er—I've forgotten something I've got to do. Sorry, old man, but I can't play."
"All right. It's too bad, but it's only for fun anyhow. I'll get a substitute. Come out to-morrow."
"I will," promised Billy, and, as he mingled with the throng of spectators, Frank saw the man with the black beard edge up so as to get close to the student.
Suddenly Billy turned and looked the man full in the face. The latter seemed taken by surprise, and shifted quickly to one side. A moment later he turned away, and as he walked off Frank saw that he was lame, walking with a slight limp.
"Humph!" exclaimed the Racer boy. "That's strange. He's as mysterious as Billy himself. I wonder what all this means?"