The boys had come to understand in a measure Diamond"s chivalric nature and sentiments, and it did not seem strange that he should see something improper in stealing turkeys from a farmer; but it did appear rather remarkable that Merriwell should maintain such an idea after he had taken a hand in the game.
"It must be that you chaps intend to become parsons after you leave college," said Walter Gordon, rather derisively.
"And Merriwell would pay for the dog if he killed the beast!" exclaimed Uncle Blossom. "How about the turkey? I should have thought you"d paid for that."
"I did."
"What!"
That word was a roar, and it seemed to leap from the lips of every lad in the room, with the exception of Diamond and Merriwell. The boys were all on their feet, and they stared at Frank with bulging eyes, as if they beheld a great curiosity.
Merriwell simply smiled. He was quite cool and unruffled.
"You--you paid--for--the--turkey!" gasped Lucy Little, as if it cost him a mighty effort to get the words out.
"Exactly," bowed Frank.
"How? When? Where?"
"I pinned a five-dollar bill to the roost before I laid violent hands on the old gobbler. Baldwin will find it there in the morning."
"Water!" panted Robinson as he flopped down on a chair. "I think I am going to faint!"
"Oh, think of the beautiful beers that V would have paid for!" sighed Robinson, with a doleful shake of his head.
"This is a disgrace on the famous cla.s.s of "Umpty-eight!" shouted Lewis Little. "We can never wipe it out!"
"I fear not," said Easy Street. "It is really awful!"
"And to think Merriwell should have done it. It would have served him right if that spring gun had filled him with shot!"
"Excuse these few tears!" exclaimed Blossom, who had secretly opened a bottle of beer and saturated his handkerchief with the contents.
He now proceeded to wring the handkerchief in a highly dramatic manner.
"Go ahead," laughed Frank. "Have all the sport you like over it, but I feel easy in my mind."
Some one proposed not to eat the turkey at all, but there was a dissenting shout at that. Then the bird was taken down into the cellar by three of them and stripped of its feathers. A pan and necessary dishes had been borrowed of Mrs. Harrington, and there was a roaring hard-wood fire in the open grate.
Harry officiated as cook, and set about his duties in a manner that showed he was not a novice, while the other lads looked on with great interest, telling stories and cracking jokes.
Merriwell offered to bet Robinson that woman was created before man, but Bandy was shy, scenting a sell. However, Frank kept at him, finally offering to let Robinson himself decide. At length Robinson "bit," and a small wager was made.
"Now," cried Bandy, "go ahead and prove that woman was made before man.
You can"t do it."
"That"s dead easy," smiled Frank. "I know you will readily acknowledge that Eve was the first maid."
"No, I"ll be hanged if--"
Then Robinson stopped short, for he saw the point, and the others were laughing heartily and applauding.
"The first maid!" he muttered. "Oh, thunder! What a soft thing I am! You have won, Merriwell."
The turkey began to give out a most delicious odor, and the boys snuffed the air with the keenest delight. How hungry they were! How jolly everything seemed! There was not one of the party who did not feel very grateful to think he was living that night.
At last the turkey was done. Harry p.r.o.nounced it done, and it was certainly browned and basted in beautiful style. It was a monster, but there would be none too much for that famished crowd.
Frank and Blossom a.s.sisted Harry in serving. There were not enough plates for all, but that did not matter. They managed to get along all right. Some were forced to drink their beer out of the bottle, but n.o.body murmured.
The turkey was white and tender, and it was certainly very well cooked.
It had a most delicious flavor. And how good the beer was with it! How those fellows jollied Merriwell because he would not even taste the beer. And still they secretly admired him for it. He had the nerve to say no and stick to it, which they could not help admiring.
When the turkey was all gone cigars were pa.s.sed, and nearly every one "fired up." Then Harry and Frank got out a banjo and mandolin and gave the party some lively music. It was long after two o"clock, but who cared for that? n.o.body thought of the hour. If Mrs. Harrington complained in the morning, she must be pacified with a peace offering.
They sang "Old Man Moses," "Solomon Levi," "Bingo," and a dozen more.
There were some fine voices among them. Finally a quartet was formed, consisting of Merriwell, Rattleton, Diamond and Blossom. It positively was a treat to hear them sing "Good-by, My Little Lady."
"The boats are pushing from the sh.o.r.e, Good-by, my little lady!
With brawny arm and trusty oar, Each man is up and ready; I see our colors dancing Where sunlit waves are glancing; A fond adieu I"ll say to you, My lady true and fair.
"Good-by, good-by, my lady sweet!
Good-by, my little lady!
Good-by, good-by, again we"ll meet, So here"s farewell, my lady!"
Oh, those old college songs! How they linger in the memory! How the sound of them in after years stirs the blood and quickens the pulse! And never can other songs seem half so beautiful as those!
It was after two when the party broke up, but it was a night long to be remembered.
CHAPTER XXII.
A SURPRISE FOR FRANK.
On the following morning Merriwell arose with a headache.
"The smoke was too much for me last night," he said. "It was thick enough to chop in this room."
"And you don"t know how I wanted to have a whiff with the fellows," said Harry, dolefully. "It was awful to see them enjoying cigars and cigarettes and not touch one myself!"
"But you didn"t," smiled Frank. "Good boy! Stick to that just as long as you wish to keep a place in athletics."
"I don"t know which is the worst, smoking or midnight suppers."
"Midnight suppers are bad things, and you will observe that I seldom indulge in them. If I was on one of the regular teams I could not indulge at all. I"ll not have any part in another affair like that of last night till after the race. From now till it is over I am going to live right."