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Show ' j CHAPTER XI Victor Col ton. , jf you should ask tho -ivorafre Har- H, vard mffn just when Victor Coltou Imd "raduntod 'with his degree of B. A.. mM -aid Harvard man would have, in all probability, been "stumpcV' for n r0 mM j plv. Colton was regarded as an hisli- , tution in himself. .11; was rumored that i ho was pursuing a post-graduate course, mM 1 and, during the passage of tho years, ho had taken ou a sort of double as- mmt pect half student, half alumnus, and vet neither one nor tho other. A sinn- i Jar n'Stery sliroudod tho exact charac-ter charac-ter of his graduate studies. No one H ever seemed to have seen or heard of Hr ! him in a lecture roonr or laboratory. Ho mM was wholly unknown at the library' and, as for attendance at chapel, such a mM thing would have been regarded in the nature of a phenomenon. Some one had mM facetiously observed that, though Ool- 1 ton was ' pursuing a post-graduate mM course, he never seemed quite able to mM- catch up with it. And yet he was commcndably persistent, for, though mm t students camo to the university and j graduated with, machine-like regularity, mM Colton stayed on forever. J lie was" whar. the society columns mt i would term a "well-groomed" man; mM ( alwaj's neat; in appearance, clean-shav- mM on, and quite immaculate as to such mM rather adventitious aids to personal adornment as patent leather shoes, mM 1 gloves, hats "in season' and wnlk- m , lng-stick. No one ever remembered to m have seen him in "sneakers," a sweat- ;r, flannel trousers, or a cap. Indeed. Hj as far as accoutrement went, he seemed mA in contrast with the great body of stu- dents, like some rare exotic a wholly mA i paradoxical garden plant in that gay, Hj , Juxurinnt growth of wild flowers. . The uncertainty that surrounded his m status as a student also attached to his 7)orsonality. For, though obviously old- HH er than the average collego man, it. i would be difficult to say iust how old B , lie was. lie might have been twenty- ; five he might have been thirty; no BB'.f one would have been surprised to loam BBV that either was tho case. BB ( Tho one definite thing known about Hl Colton was his devoted attachment to BBh Preshmen, 1 especially to Freshmen who BBV received liberal allowances from their BBk 1 not over-judicious parents. He fas- BBb toned himself upon them with an ardor BB that was in direct ratio to the amount mi of spare change at their disposal and, Hl as Tom had intimated in his warning BY , to Ames, was a constant and faithful BBw ' tutor iu that branch of the curriculum mt not. scheduled in the university cata- BV t loguc the great. Amnrican science of Ht i poker. That his pupils paid liberally Hj ' for the instruction they received at BBB j his hands was, perhaps, no more than B I; just, considering the time and labor he B I devoted to their oducation. Tt was B ! rumored generally, that this was. in- BBB it deed, his "post-graduate" course, that B he earned a very respectable income flfl l at. this engaging, if somewhat irregn- HJ lar. branch of research. If that were 1 so, however, no one had ever made di- B rect complaint of 'him. His victims BBV j" if such they were wern characleristic- BBB j ally reticent, as ..to their losses, and. H'l observing tho unwritten code in such H'l matter, never made the slightest ' '"squeal." Colton '"s " friendships " were not BB : wholly confined to Freshmen. He num- Bj looted also among his associates certain BHj uper classmen who, lacking either BBT j training or character, discovered a eer- BBB' I tain congeniality in the stronger, more H: virile personality of this man who well lenew how, by flattery and cajolery, to H- clothe them with a sort of vicarious BBS! importance. This latter class included BH' "Wiltou Ames. Dissipated and nervous H; wreck that he was, he found iu Ooltou H' what he regarded as a sympathetic, BBS; congenial compauion, a. man who, in- H' stead of lecturing him and finding fault BBS with his weaknesses, metaphorically Bh patted him ou the back and. for puf- BBpJ; poses of revenue only, made him be- Hl iidve that he was a very good fellow BBS, who was suffering, from lack of appre- BBS ciation and sympathy. In fact, as be- BBS twocn Colton and Ames, it was a typi- H ease of the spider and tho fly BBS' the flv being invariably willing," if SB jot eager, to walk, into tne parlor. The day when Tom had once more established es-tablished diplomatic relations with Evelyn Eve-lyn found Ames in Colton ?s rooms over at Dm ustcr. , No one would have suspected, sus-pected, from' a cursory view of the aparnnent, that Colton was not a devoted de-voted student. In one corner was a grand piano, ou the ruck of which was a bound volume of Beethoven's son-, son-, atas. The walls wero lined with book shelves, which wore filled with books, all of a respectable literary character, -In the center nf the room was a large, square-top reading desk, litrered with books and papers. The floor was covered cov-ered with a rich, heavy rug, while, do-spite do-spite tho warmth of the tilinosphcrc, a cheery wood (ire burned on the andirons and-irons in the fireplace. It would, perhaps, be ungracious to explain that all these -elaborate lit tings were a part of Colion's stock in trade, that they were cunningly designed to lend him the character of that which he was not a man of literary and studious stu-dious habits; that he didn't know a Beethoven sonata from Bach ?s mass in B minor; that the books were seldom, sel-dom, if ever, removed from their places in tho shelves; that the desk could, in the twinkling of an eye, be convened into a very serviceable poker table. Whatever ihe purpose for which the room was so elaborately fitted up. it must be allowed that the fittings were in excellent taste. Colton was lounging easily in an armchair smoking a cigar, while Ames sat rather dejectedly at the desk, toying toy-ing nervously with an ivory paper-cutter. paper-cutter. For a long lime they had 'renin 're-nin ined thus in silence, Colton occasionally occa-sionally eyeing his companion with a very palpable contempt. At length, flinging the remnant of his cigar into' the fireplace, he spoke. "Look here, Ames what a grouch you have on! "What's tho niattbr, old iuair?" Ames made no replv other than tapping tap-ping the desk nervously with the paper-cutter. paper-cutter. "Ever since you've been on the water wagon," continued Colton. a shade of genuine vexation clouding his face, "you haven't been fit. company for man' or beast. "What the deuce has got into youf You've got no right to treat me so. when you know I'm one of your best friends. Come ou over to town totueht, and let's have a little try at Billy Moran's. No big game, you know, just a little quiet seance." "No, T won't," replied Ames abruptly. abrupt-ly. And then, after a moment of nervous nerv-ous silence, he went on: "Why can't you let mo alone, Colton. Col-ton. when I am triying to be decent?" ''Let. vou alone!" returned the other with considerable heat. "If that's what you want, 1 'II let; you alone, all right. By Jove why, vou talk . as though we were a sort of jMcphisto and Faust proposition. You're a nice, sweet, innocent little Faust, aren't you?" Ames looked up at him sharply, a sudden dread sweeping over his pale countenance. "What what do you mean, Colton?" Col-ton?" "Well." continued the other, as if he had not heard, "you can't say I've had anything to do with the mess you've got into with your Marguerite, anyhow." And then rising, as if about to leave, he added: "By-by, until you. ore in a better humor.-" "What do you mean?" asked Ames hoarsely. "Wliy, I'm going that's all.". "No no." the other insisted. "What do you mean by what you said just now about about the girl?" "Oh. now. look here, Ames," replied re-plied the older man as he stopped suddenly sud-denly at the threshold and walked back slowly toward the table where his companion com-panion sat huddled like somo stricken creature, "don't you imagine for an instant that I'm not wise to nil that about the girl. Why," he said with n sinister smile of contempt as he surveyed sur-veyed the poor, weak figure before him, "you tell everything you know when you're in a sympathetic mood when you don't realize what you're saying, don't you know? Oh, yes, 1 know all about it." he went on in a louder tone as Ainns niiido a 'feeble ostiu'o of pro-lest. pro-lest. "You've given yourself dead away, old man. You might Just as well linve )Ut it, all down in an affidavit. You've lionrcd your troubles into my symnatUiziiitf oar, time and time again, bord how you 'vc bored me about that prrl, about how 3011 intended to elope with her. Poor Miss Thome," ho added, looking down at Ames with tho stealthy gaze of an animal stealing upon its prey. '".Poor, inuoeent girl!'1 Ames sprawled his arms on the desk and buried his faec in his handy, trembling trem-bling convulsively iu tho effort to conceal con-ceal his emotion. "Poor, innocent girl,'' repeated Colton Col-ton distinctly, in a tone as hard .as flint. "ITow could 3-011. damn it all. Ames'? But here see here, old fellow," fel-low," he said, assuming a . friendly manner, "don't feel so broken up about it. It's bad business but. then I've always been a good chum of yours, so cheer up. Come, cheer up, do you hear?" lie said, shaking Ames roughly by the shoulder. "It'll all come out right. in tho end. Remember, as 1 said, 'in a good friend of yours, and wo sha'n't let a little thing like this spoil it nil. Come along to town, and let's make a night of it. Come on, will you?" For a' few moments there was a silence si-lence brokeu only Ivy the crackling of the burning logs" in the fireplace. Then Ames, pulling himself together with an cfl'ort, replied in a voice choking with agitation: "Oh, let me alone, Colton! You know I can't go if T would. I I. haven't any 11101103'." "As if that made any difference between be-tween boon companions"'' replied Colton Col-ton with an atle'mpt. to adopt an air of good fellowship, though his voice was distinctly patronizing. "Now, understand me. old man, T want lo help you. I'm not going to quarrel with you in spite of your surly conduct. I like you, Ames"; there's something about 3-011 that appeals to me, and I want to help 3-011 out of this hole 3'ou're in. u I13-, confound it, man, I asked 3-011 over especially toda3' to put you in the way of making a nice little lit-tle sum of money." Ames looked up a( him, pale, haggard, hag-gard, 'lis e3'es bloodshot. . Hardened though lie was, Colton 's face flushed before his friend's searching, anxious and half-suspecting gaze. "What dp 3'ou want, me lo do?" asked Ames in a tone that was scarce-l3" scarce-l3" audible. '"Oh, hang it all, old fellow, don't put on so much agon3"," replied the other with a gruff attempt to appear at case. "You need monev, don't you? A few hundred would conic in very handy, eh? Well, I repeat, T can put you iu the way of picking up a comfortable purse .just for the trouble trou-ble of or stooping for it." "Stooping for it?" repeated Ames blankly. "What do you mean b3-stooping b3-stooping for it?" , "Well or " replied Colton, eon- I fused and embarrassed iu spite of him- j self, "T suppose you'd call it stoop- I ing. It's no uncommon thing though. You see, the odds on the race are two to one 011 the 'Varsity against the Englishmen." En-glishmen." "1 know that; but I haven't anv money 10 bet. " "Ah, T am perfectly aware of that," replied Colton. with an evil leer, "but 1 have, and I 'm placing ovory ponii3r T can la' my hands- on on tho English crew, because they are going to win and," here he leaned over and almost j whispered into Ames's ear. "and it is you ;who will be tho cause of their winning." iimcs urew uik'.k, nis nauas worKtng 1 nervous!', his manner a mingling of j dread and indignation. "1. don't understand 3'ou! " lie said ' at length. "I. don't know what 3011 're J talking about. ' ' "Oh, you don't?" replied Colton,! rapidly regaining his self-assurance as he noticed his friend's agitation. "Well. I'll explain. It's very simple' This fellow Thorne your friend Mad- ' den 's tutor and ahem the brother of j the voting lady whom you " "For God's sake, cut it out, Colton. What iirp 3'ou driving at?". "Well, this chap Thorne is the key- stone o'f the crew. Tfe is the whole show, and he alone is responsible for the great work that the crew is doing. Win, he fnirl.v lifts that boat over the" short course between the Long-wood Long-wood Bridge and the Union Boat club. Tt is his work that has enabled the crew to beat all records over that course in practice. It is his work that is sending the odds up in favor of the 'Varsity. They haven't a substitute in his class." "Well," cried Ames impatient- as the other stopped. "What: do -ou mean? Where do I come iu?" "Oh so 3-011 're not 'on' vet? Well, I'll be a little more particular. What I mean is, that Thorne isn't, going to row. " . "What! Thorne not row?" repeated ! Ames,, iu genuine amazement. I "That's exaclh- what T mean.! Thorne isn't, going to row. On the morning of t lie :t()th, jusr before the race, his sister. Miss -Parian, is goinir to leave Cambridge suddonlv. Sec?" "Look here, Colton," cried Ames, springing from his seat impetuously, "what in hell are 3-011 propoping to me? Do 3'ou expect me to betray m3 own college, my own friends? Damn it all, Colton, m.y be 110 account, weak and good for nothing, but if 'm capable of such trcachciy such rottenness rot-tenness as 3'ou seem to think, win-then win-then T want to lie down and die right now! T don'!, want to go 011 living." "Oh, is that so?'' returned the other with a sneor, ".you don't want to go 011 living, eh? What a nice little Sunday Sun-day school scholar .you are, to be sure. Iltiw noble, how consistent! You wouldn't betraj- your college, but vou would run awa with " "Stop!" shouted Ames desperateh . "1 tell .vou, man, stop!" J "Oh. no!" exehumcd Colton, with' mock surprise. "3-011 don't really mean to say 3!on are sensitive on that subject? sub-ject? Now, look here. obL man," he continued, assuming his confidential, sympathetic tone, ".you.'re no worse than lots of other fellows! ; 3011 've been merclv well, injudicious. And what is it P .as); of 3011? Of course .vou in- I lend lo marry the girl, and all I want is lh:l 3011 have her leave Cambridge a little "sooner than she otherwise would to be nreeise, on the morning of the :50th. I'll see to it that Thorne loain. f her departure before flu- race, and vou may depend upon if, he'll rush off to hunt her up. lie's iniirhty fond of her, J. believe -eh ?' lie added .'dcnificanflv. ''Anil if the Englishmen English-men -win, as lhc.y uiuKf, with Harvard deprived of her stroke oar. wli3' I. owe 3ou 500. Shall T put that down as a bet?" he -.'I'lked. .taking a notebook note-book from liis waistcoat pocket. With an . oath Ames crashed his fist down ou the desk "No!" he cried, "never! It's it.'s unspeakable, it's unworthy of a .Harvard man! And. Colton. I'm done with 3ou from thin moment."" he. added 1 moving toward the door, "Done with 3'ou, 1" !n-I" "Ah, b"ut one irionient," returned Colton gcut.Py. stepping quickly bc- twoen him juid the door, "you may bo done with me. but .1 don't think so. I At any rate, I'm not done with you. . Now listen, and be reasonable. This Thorne, .1 understand, is a somi-sav- ago from the mountains of Tennessee. I'dlows like that don't handle mcu of your sort with gloves. Jn fact, they become quite violent at times. What do .you suppose he -would do to 3011 if 1 should tell him what T know? What would he do to his sister? What would your own sister think, and your mother : "Oh. for God '8 sake," said Ames, sinking back into his sent, quite broken, brok-en, and resorting to his old, habitual whine, "don't don't; for heaven's sake, man, don't!" Colton stood contemplating the abject ab-ject crenturo with a feeling almost of pity. "There," ho said, "now 3-ou're showing 3'our good sense. What is the loss of a boat race compared with tho loss of of everything else? You will do as T tell you like a good fellow and everything will work out all right in the end won't 3011, old man?" And for answer, Ames, crushed, dc- ' feated, humiliated, once more bowed his head in his hands, and sobbed like a child. (Continued next Sunday.) |
