CHAPTER XX

TWICE A PRISONER

It was a peculiar coincidence that the freshman spread was to come off this same night that meant so much to Ralph.

The sophomores had been wild to glean the particulars, so that they might in some fashion manage to break up the feast, either by kidnaping some of the first-year students, get possession of the president of the class, or else purloin the good things that had been laid in for the spread.

Ralph had intended going, for it promised to be great fun. This new turn to his own private affairs, however, knocked the notion out of his head. Indeed, he forgot about it entirely.

The minutes dragged terribly, and yet he knew that he ought to wait a decent time to allow Sam Smalling and his little family a chance to eat their supper.

About a quarter to eight he could hold back no longer. It was getting dark, but he had asked questions of Frank, and knew just where to find the cottage in which the Smallings lived.

To reach it he must walk almost a mile around the town; but that, he expected, would be a matter of only ten or fifteen minutes at most.

So wrapped up was Ralph in his own affairs that he never once thought of looking around him when he stepped out of the gate and started off. Had he done so he would have discovered several dusky figures dogging his footsteps in a very suspicious manner.

They kept just so far in his rear until the town had been left behind, and the country was at hand. Of course these were sophs bent upon keeping the new favorite of the freshies from attending that dinner, which was doubtless to be spread in some isolated barn far beyond the confines of Columbia, in order to lessen the chances of the second class interrupting the feast.

Suddenly Ralph’s sober thoughts were interrupted. He found himself pounced upon and borne to the ground. In vain he struggled, for three proved too much for even the athletic hero of that afternoon game.

At first he was amazed at what was happening, and thoughts of some rascals boldly playing the part of highway robbers flitted through his mind.

Then a face was thrust close to his, and a voice said:

“Your goose is cooked, freshie. No fine spread in yours this night. Instead, you will occupy a dungeon until the midnight hour has struck. And if our plans carry right we’ll have gobbled your class grub long before then.”

Of course the truth flashed through Ralph’s mind now. He knew that he had fallen into the clutches of the watchful sophomores, eager to capture all the leading lights of the lower class, and spoil the long anticipated treat.

It was exasperating to say the least. Of course none of them would believe him if he declared that he had no idea of attending the dinner, and was bent on private business of the utmost importance.

Just as he expected, when he started to speak of this they only jeered him.

“Tell that to the marines, freshie. Don’t we know that they expect to elect you the president of the class to-night, in place of Rud Kipling, who went home last week sick? Oh! no, you don’t get loose until the clock strikes twelve, so save your breath. Tie his hands, boys, and bring him along. I know a cot beneath the hill, and there we’ll chuck him in to ruminate, while we hike after that grub.”

They assisted him to his feet after his hands had been rudely lashed. Through a woods they walked, whispering at times. Ralph was really angry at this unexpected bit of hard luck. If the boys only knew what it meant to him to have his liberty they could not have the heart to hold him a prisoner in this way.

Coming to an old cabin, once the home of charcoal burners, but long deserted, they thrust him inside and, closing the door, fastened it in some manner.

When the mocking voices of the sophomores had died away in the distance, and Ralph found himself alone, he set about trying to effect his escape. Had it been the dinner alone that was the inducement he might have taken it philosophically, and simply laughed at his predicament; but while he remained there, precious minutes were passing, and the story of his mysterious past waiting to be told.

He struggled with the cord they had wrapped about his wrists. The sophs were far from being experts in tying up a prisoner, so that there was a chance for Ralph to work his hands free. Force would not accomplish it, but by manipulating his right hand he was presently able to draw it out of the bonds.

There remained only the door between him and liberty. He examined this part of the structure, to find, as he suspected, that it was just as flimsy as the rest of the old cabin. Consequently, when he threw his weight against it, after several attempts, the door gave way with a crash.

Striking a light, Ralph found that all this had only taken just fifteen minutes. It was now eight o’clock plus seven minutes; and he was free to go his way.

Another thought came into his mind. Loyalty to his class struggled with this wild desire on his part to hasten to the home of Sam Smalling, so as to hear all he had to say.

Was he not in duty bound to warn his fellows in some manner? From what words the sophomores who had captured him had let drop, it was evident that they knew where the spread was to take place, and that a raid was being organized, looking to the stealing of the dainties provided for the freshman dinner.

Ralph thought it over, even as he was hurrying along. After all, it seemed up to him to do something to save his class the mortification of being made the laughing stock of the vindictive second-year boys, who were evidently abroad in force, bent on breaking up the spread.

Now that he came to consider the matter, the place of secret meeting was in the same direction. No wonder his captors were positive that he had been heading for the rendezvous when overtaken with disaster.

“I might go out of my way enough to meet some of the boys, and put them on their guard,” he said, finally.

That was Ralph’s nature all over, ever ready to sacrifice his own interests in order to benefit those with whom he was associated. It was the spirit instilled in the souls of the Delta Pi members--loyalty first of all to the school, and next to one’s class.

So Ralph made his way along cautiously. He was in mortal fear lest he be pounced upon at any moment by others of the prowling sophs, and held once more a prisoner.

In this fashion he drew near the farm where stood the barn hired for the occasion by the freshmen. No doubt it was completely surrounded by a cordon of eager sophs, anxious to accomplish their work of retaliation, for the freshmen had effectually broken up their entertainment earlier in the season.

Hearing voices coming along the road, indicating a large company of boys and girls, Ralph knew that the main body of his fellow class members must be approaching, having gathered in town somewhere, since the girls refused to attend unless suitably protected.

Of course the sophomores would not dare attack this group. Indeed, their plans covered a different field entirely, since they contemplated making way with the provisions that were being carried to the spread.

Ralph waited until they were exactly opposite.

“Watchman, what of the night?” he asked, suddenly appearing among them.

Several of the freshmen, thinking that an attack was about to be sprung on them, had started to grapple with the single figure. The passwords spoken by Ralph, however, reassured them.

“Don’t mention my name, anybody,” said Ralph, in an impressive whisper; “for some of the sophomores are hiding near by. They think I’m a prisoner in the old hut of the charcoal burners in the woods. I escaped and came here to tell you that they know all about the place of meeting.”

“Then somebody leaked, that’s all,” grumbled one of the boys, angrily.

“I suppose so. But they mean to get a chance to steal your grub. Look out for them, fellows. Keep a good watch out,” said Ralph, impressively.

“Hey! hold on, where are you going to?” demanded one of the group as Ralph started to slip away.

“Sorry, but I can’t be with you to-night, fellows. Some mighty important business of a private character chains me down,” explained the other.

“No, you don’t now. You’re needed at the spread more than any other fellow; and we don’t mean to let you off this time. Private matters must wait when the class of Umty Fourteen has the call. Duty before pleasure, you know. Besides, you’re IT to-night, and we just won’t get on without you. Come on!”

Ralph thus found himself in another fix, and could well exclaim to be delivered from his friends. First the enemy had captured him and tried to keep him a prisoner until midnight. And now the fellow members of his class, having determined to elect him president for the balance of the season, seemed equally bent on preventing him from keeping his appointment with Smalling.

He said nothing further, but walked along with the crowd. All the while he was keeping his eyes open in the hope of seeing a chance to drop out, and giving his classmates the slip. He could not bear the thought of postponing the interview with Sam Smalling that might mean everything in the world to him.

They had reached the barn before he found his opportunity. A number of freshmen had come on at dusk to guard the place, so that their enemies might not take possession unawares, and shut them out.

While the two divisions were fraternizing Ralph saw his chance, and dodged aside.

“Here, where’s Ralph West gone to? We mustn’t let him slip away,” said a voice.

“He was here a minute ago, but now he’s gone!” cried Helen Allen, in a plaintive voice; and Ralph felt doubly sorry that he was compelled to forego a pleasant evening in the company of Frank’s sister.

Scurrying through the end of the barn, he reached the open air.