Andy at Yale Part 56

"No, we've got to get the goods on him," said Andy.

"Well, hasn't he got plenty of stolen goods--those from the other fellows' rooms?"

"I know. But if we went in on him now he'd bluff it off--say he came in to borrow a book--or money maybe."

"But we could search him."

"You can't search a fellow for coming to borrow something," declared Andy. "Come on, let's go where we can look in."

Silently they stole forward until they were opposite their door. From it they had a good view of Mortimer.

Just at that moment they saw him reach for the bills on the table and, with a quick motion, pocket them. Then the thief started toward a bureau.

"Come on!" whispered Andy, hoa.r.s.ely. "We've got to get him now, Dunk!"

With beating hearts the two sped silently but swiftly into the room.

They fairly leaped for Mortimer, who turned like a flash, glaring at them. Fear was in his startled eyes--fear and shame. Then in an instant he determined to face it out.

"We--we've got you!" cried Dunk, exultantly.

"Got me? I don't know what you mean?" said Mortimer, trying to speak easily. But his voice broke--his tones were hoa.r.s.e, and Andy noticed that his hands were trembling. Mortimer edged over toward the door.

"I came in to get a book," he faltered, "but I----"

"Grab him, Dunk!" commanded Andy, and the two threw themselves upon the intruder.

CHAPTER x.x.xV

FOR THE HONOR OF YALE

"What does this mean? You fellows sure have your nerve with you! Let me go, or I'll----"

Mortimer stormed and raved, struggling to get loose from the grip of Andy and Dunk.

"I'll make you fellows sweat for this!" he cried "I'll fix you!

I--I'll----"

"You'd better keep quiet, if you know what's best for you," panted Andy.

"We hate this business as much as you ever can, Gaffington! Don't let the whole college know about it. Keep quiet, for the honor of Yale whose name you've disgraced. Keep quiet, for we've got the goods on you and the jig is up!"

It was a tense moment, and Andy might well be pardoned for speaking a bit theatrically. Truth to tell he hardly knew what he was saying.

"Yes, take it easy, Gaffington," advised Dunk. "We don't want to make a holiday of this affair; but you're at the end of your rope and the sooner you know it the better. We've caught you. Take it easy and we'll be as easy as we can."

"Caught me! What do you mean?" asked the unfortunate lad excitedly.

"Can't I come to your room to borrow a book without being jumped on as if I----"

"Exactly! As though you were the thief that you are!" said Andy, bitterly. "What does this mean?"

With a quick motion, letting go of one of Mortimer's wrists, Andy reached into the other's pocket and pulled out the bills. "They're marked with our initials," he said, and his voice was sad, rather than triumphant. "We left them there to see if you'd take them."

The production of the bills took all the fight out of Mortimer Gaffington. He ceased his struggling and sank limply into a chair which Dunk pushed forward for him.

There followed a moment of silence--a silence that neither Andy or Dunk ever forgot. The quadrangle thief moistened his dry lips once or twice and then said hoa.r.s.ely:

"Well, what are you going to do about it?"

"That's the question," spoke Andy, wearily. "What _are_ we going to do about it?"

"Are you going to deny it?" asked Dunk. "Before you answer, think what it means. An innocent man is under charges for these thefts."

Mortimer did not answer for a moment. When he did speak it was to say:

"No, I'm going to deny nothing. You have caught me. I own up. What are you going to do about it?"

"That's just it," said Dunk. "We don't know what to do about it."

Silently Mortimer began taking from his pockets several pieces of jewelry, evidently the things he had stolen from the rooms of other students.

"That's all I have," he said, bitterly.

Andy and Dunk looked at him a moment without speaking and then Andy asked:

"Why did you do it, Mortimer?"

"Why? I guess you know as well as I do. Everything is gone--dad's whole fortune wiped out. We haven't a dollar, and I had to leave Yale. We kept it quiet as long as we could. I didn't want to leave. I couldn't bear to!

"Oh, call it what you like--foolish pride perhaps, but I wanted to stay here and finish as I'd begun--with the best of the spenders. That's what I've been--a spender. I couldn't be otherwise--I was brought up that way. So, when I found I couldn't get any money any other way I began stealing. I'm not looking for sympathy--I'm telling the plain truth. I took your watch, Dunk. I took those books. I smuggled one into Link Bardon's room, hoping he'd be suspected. There's no use in saying I'm sorry. You wouldn't believe me. It's all up. You've got me right!"

He leaned forward and buried his face in his hands.

Andy and Dunk felt the lumps rising in their throats. They had to fight back the tears from their eyes. Never before had they taken part in such a grim tragedy--never again did they want to.

"You--you admit all the quadrangle thefts?" faltered Andy.

"Every one," was the low answer. "I took Carr's book and silver cup--I hid them in the closet that day you fellows caught me. I took Pulter's book, too. I was desperate--I'd take anything. I just had to have the money. I took the money Len thought he lost that night in the campus.

Well, this is the end."

"Yes, it's the end," said Dunk, softly, "but not for us. We've got to think of Yale."

There was a footstep outside the door. The three started up in some alarm. They were not ready yet for disclosures.

"Beg pardon," said a calm voice, "but I could not help hearing what was said. Perhaps I can help you."

Andy swung open the door wider, and saw, standing in the hall, a man he recognized as one taking a post-graduate course in the Medical School.