Oole gasped for breath. "Let go! You"re killing me!"
"It"s Oole, Rube, let loose!" Pole grabbed Judd by the arm and tugged at him frantically.
The rest of the fellows who had been silent onlookers now rushed out as they saw the comedy transformed into a near tragedy.
Of a sudden the truth of the whole affair came over Judd. He released his hold on Oole and sank down by the road side exhausted. Oole also sat down, rubbing his throat gingerly.
"Fellahs, you shouldn"t have done this!" moaned Judd, "that"s goin" too far!"
A flash light was unearthed and the three fellows examined. Curns showed signs of returning consciousness, but the other two were still dead to the world.
"The mill pond!" someone suggested, and the three injured members were carried to its bank. Judd, quite overcome with grief and surprise followed in company with Pole.
"Why didn"t you tell me, Pole?" demanded Judd. "If these fellahs are bad hurt ...!"
"It was all my fault, Rube! Don"t take it so much to heart," pleaded Pole, "The fellows are comin" along all right. Just plain knockouts, every one of "em."
The appliance of water aided greatly in restoring the three bruised and battered highwaymen to their right senses.
Benz, when he came to, found only one eye ready for use. The other was swollen shut and one side of his nose felt like a small mountain.
Potts groaned over a small lump behind his ear and Curns nursed a tender spot on his jaw.
"Gee!" said Potts, "You did that fast, Rube. Biff, bang, smash! and it was all over. I heard the biff and the bang but I _felt_ the smash!"
"No more highway robberies for mine," groaned Curns.
Benz was too sore and disgusted to say a word. His latest plan had been a magnificent failure and Judd was more of a hero than ever.
"Did I say that fellow was slow?" said Benz to himself, "Well,--I take that much back. He"s fast as greased lightning!"
"I"m sorry, fellahs," apologized Judd, brokenly. "I thought you were the real stuff; I hated to part with the money an",--an"--"
Here was an opening for Benz. He could not go back to college without some sort of an alibi.
"You thought it was the real stuff? Bah! Pole put you wise and you went in to do us all up. That"s what you did, you big stiff!"
"I never said a word to Rube!" cried Pole, hotly. "The joke"s on you if there is any and you know it! Don"t put the blame on anyone else!"
"Well,--let"s hush this affair up, fellows. I"d hate to have it get around college. Don"t say a word about it, will you, Judd?"
"Hush this up? Nothin" doin"!" broke in Curns. "This joke is too good to keep. Gee, I won"t be able to chew any food with this jaw of mine for a week! Good-night, gentlemen, it"s getting late. Going home, Rube?"
CHAPTER XI
BENZ BROODS
News travels fast. Chapel Sunday morning was conspicuous by the absence of Potts and Benz. But Curns was present with a smiling face and piece of court plaster attached to his chin. He attracted crowds of students as a magnet attracts iron filings. The students clung to him until they heard the last word of the episodes of one Judd Billings and then, bent almost double with laughter, they rushed off to tell the news to someone else. Information was freely and cheerfully given. By Sunday noon everyone in college, even the professors, had learned of the exploit. Students cheered whenever Judd put in appearance and questioned him as to Dynamite or how to administer a knockout punch.
To all inquiries Judd turned a deaf ear and his simple modesty was much in evidence.
Judd, of course, told Cateye everything and Cateye was quick to resent Benz"s attempts at practical jokes.
"I wish I had gone along, now," said Cateye. "All this trouble might have been averted. Judd, until Benz makes up with you you"d better stick pretty close to me for there"s no telling what he may do to get even. He"s a mighty good fellow to his friends but when he doesn"t take a liking to anyone that person had better watch out."
"I reckon I can take care of myself," Judd replied, firmly.
"I know you can!" a.s.sured Cateye, "You don"t need any body guard, but my motto is, "Keep out of trouble," and that"s why I want you to stick by me close. Savvy? Come on, let"s go down to dinner."
As the two boys entered the dining room everyone at the tables arose as if by pre-arrangement, while Curns yelled: "Now fellows, let her go!
Rah, rah, rah! Rah, rah, rah! Rube, Rube, Rube!"
Much good natured laughter followed and Judd took his seat awkwardly, face flushed with embarra.s.sment.
"Do you know my sister Norah?" some student shouted.
"No, I don"t, but Dyna-mite!" another replied.
More laughter followed.
Suddenly there was a second commotion. Every head turned toward the door. Benz was entering.
"Behold, the conquered hero comes!" noised Curns.
All eating stopped. Benz hesitated at the threshold, glowering defiantly up and down the tables. One eye was still badly swollen and colored a glossy black. His nose looked sadly mis-shapen. In all he presented a glorious spectacle.
"Oh you shiner!" cried some student from a far corner of the room.
This exclamation was too much. A roar of laughter went up as Benz stood hands twitching in anger and humiliation.
"Laugh, you guys, laugh!" he cried hoa.r.s.ely.
"Don"t worry, we will!" somebody a.s.sured him.
Benz stood the gaff a moment longer, then turned about, and leaving the fellows in an uproar, strode off to his room where he remained the rest of the day.
Two weeks more slipped quickly by, during which time the Bartlett eleven captured two more victories, one over Everett and the other over Lawton Academy, by top heavy scores. Both of these schools were supposed to have fairly strong teams and the results of their games with Bartlett came as quite a surprise in football circles. Students began to herald the present team as the greatest in the college"s history, and talked of Thanksgiving day when the big game of the year was to be played against the rival college, Pennington.
Benz had held aloof from Judd, not even speaking to him when meeting face to face. Fellows still smiled when pa.s.sing Benz and Benz resented those smiles. "I"ll get even with Rube some how!" he thought, angrily, "He"s just a rube. The lucky stiff!"
Meanwhile Cateye had written another letter to Bob describing in full Judd"s escapades, and adding: "He"s fast developing into some football man, Bob. You should see him punt! And tackle! Say, I never saw him miss a man yet,--he"s that sure! The bigger they are the harder they fall. Judd"s good enough for the varsity right now and I"m expecting Coach Phillips to give him a chance any night. Of course Benz is captain and he"ll put up an awful fuss if anything like that happens.
Judd, in my opinion, could make good any where you put him on that eleven to-day. He"s that much better than any of us. But then, this is his first year and he is green yet, I"ll admit. Wish you could come down for the big game. Your side-kick ... Cateye."
The campus clock had just struck nine one evening late in October when some one pounded on Cateye"s door.
"Let "em in, Judd," said Cateye, "before they break the door down!"
Judd was quick to respond. The door swung open. Pole and Potts stepped in.