Andy at Yale Part 57

He was Nathan Conklin, and had taken a room in the freshman dormitory because no other was available just at that time.

"Do you want some advice?" asked Conklin. He was a pleasant chap, considerably older than Andy or Dunk. And he seemed to know life.

"I guess that's just what we do want," said Andy. "We are up against it. We have caught--er----"

"You needn't explain," said Conklin. "The less said on such occasions the better. I happened to be pa.s.sing and I could not help hearing. What I didn't hear I guessed. Now I'm going to say a few words.

"Boys, Yale is bigger than any of us--better than any of us. We've got to consider the honor of Yale above everything else."

Andy and Dunk nodded. Mortimer sat with his face buried in his hands.

"Now then," went on Conklin, "for the honor of Yale, and not to save the reputation of anybody, we must hush up this scandal. It must go no farther than this room. Gaffington, are you willing to leave Yale?"

"I suppose I'll have to," Mortimer answered, without looking up.

"Yes, you would have to go if this came out, and it's better that you should go without it becoming known. Now then, are you willing to make rest.i.tution?"

"I can't. I haven't a dollar in the world."

"Let that go," said Dunk, quickly. "We fellows will see to that. I guess those that have missed things won't insist on getting them back; they'll do that much for the honor of Yale."

"About this other man who is under charges, are you willing to give testimony--in private to the judge--that will result in freeing him?"

asked Conklin.

"Yes," whispered Mortimer.

"Then that's all that's necessary," went on the medical student. "I'll go see the Dean. You'd better come with me, Gaffington. I'll take charge of this case."

"Thank heaven!" said Andy, with a sigh of relief. "It was getting too much for me."

With bowed head Mortimer Gaffington followed the medical student from the room. What transpired at the interview with the Dean neither Dunk nor Andy ever learned. Nor did they ask. It was better not to know too much.

But Mortimer left Yale, and the honor of the college was untarnished, at least by anything that became known of his actions. He slipped away quietly, it being given out that his family was going abroad. And the Gaffingtons did leave Dunmore, going no one knew whither.

A certain secret meeting was held, when without a name being mentioned, it was explained by Andy, Dunk and Conklin that the quadrangle thief had been discovered. It was stated that those who had suffered losses would be reimbursed by private subscription, but the idea was rejected unanimously.

How Mortimer worked, and how he accomplished the various robberies, without being detected, remained a mystery. No one cared to go into it, for it was too delicate a subject.

The charge against Link was dismissed after a certain interview the Dean had with the county prosecutor, and Link was given his old place back.

"But if it had come to a trial," he said to Andy, when he was told that the thief (no name being mentioned) had confessed, "if I had been tried I could have told where that mysterious hundred dollars came from."

"Where?" asked Andy interestedly.

"From that farmer you saved me from. He got religion lately, and felt remorse for my injured arm. So he sent me the hundred dollars for my doctor's bill and other expenses."

"And never said a word about it?" asked Dunk.

"Not a word. But he died the other day, and the truth came out. A fellow I know in the town wrote me about it. So I could have proved that I didn't get the money by stealing."

"It wasn't necessary," said Andy. "So everything is explained now."

Andy's first year at Yale was nearing its close. The season was to wind up with a series of affairs and with several ball games, including one for the freshman team. Of course Dunk and Andy played. I wish I could say that Yale won, but truth compels me to state that Princeton "trimmed" her.

"And we'll do it again!" exulted Ben Snow, as he greeted Andy after the contest.

"I don't know about that!" was the answer. Then Andy hurried off to where a certain pretty girl waited for him. No, I'm not going to mention her name. You wouldn't know her, anyhow.

"Well," remarked Andy, as he and Dunk were packing up to go home for the summer holidays, "college is a great place."

"Especially Yale."

"Oh, I don't know. Of course I think there's no place like Yale, but there are others."

And so Andy and Dunk packed up and prepared to start for home, agreeing to room together again during their soph.o.m.ore year, and until they had completed their college course.

They had locked their trunks, and their valises where ready. When came a knock on their door, and a voice said:

"Such bargains! Never before have I had such neckties and silk socks!

Fellows, let me show you----"

"Get out, you Shylock!" laughed Andy, locking the portal. "We've only got money enough for our railroad fare!"

And Ikey Stein departed, looking for other bargain victims.

"Come on," suggested Dunk, "let's take a walk over the campus and say good-bye to the fellows."

"I'm with you," agreed Andy.

And arm in arm they departed.

THE END