It was exactly six-thirty and the fellows were just finishing a good supper at Walker"s lunch counter. Judd had become a hero in the eyes of everyone now, except Benz. He could not allow himself to think of Judd being other than just a plain country rube and although mightily astonished at Judd"s showing he pa.s.sed it off finally with: "The lucky stiff!"
Pole was speaking. "Rube, seeing you"ve got so much kale now you might pay back that quarter I loaned you, with interest."
"Yes, an" don"t forget that dollar an" a half you owe me," chimed in Oole, with his mouth full of Boston baked beans.
"I don"t owe you a cent an" never did!"
"He"s only kiddin", Rube," soothed Curns, "Just so you remember me in your will, I"ll be satisfied."
Judd grinned; then his face grew sober. "Well, fellahs, I reckon we"d better be gettin" home. It"s a long walk an" it"s gettin" dark.
Besides, I got quite a bit o" money an" I don"t want to take any chances o" losin" it."
"That"s right! I move we do go home," grunted Oole, then sweetly to the waiter, "Another plate of beans, please."
"Behold, gentlemen, the human storehouse!" derided Pole, pointing at Oole.
"That"s enough from you, macaroni!" retorted Oole, tearing a biscuit in two, savagely.
"Did you say Marconi? Gentlemen, I am honored!" began Pole, then placed a hand over his eye. "Thanks for the biscuit Oole, but please pa.s.s them next time. Such table manners!"
Benz had been quiet for some time. He was a little indignant to think of the renown Judd was getting. Why, all the fellows were beginning to pay attention to him now. And he, a rube! Benz"s one desire was to do something which might make Judd the laughing stock of the college; something which would provoke ridicule whenever referred to.
"I"ve got it!" he whispered. "Judd"s afraid of robbers. Why, I heard that he hides his wallet under the mattress or carpet every night before he goes to bed. Why not pull a fake hold-up and scare him stiff on the way home to-night? Great! I"ll put the fellows wise."
Benz got busy and soon everyone knew the plot but the unsuspecting Judd. Some fellows objected strenuously, but finally consented when they considered what a rich joke it really would be.
"Pole, it"s up to you to get Rube started for college. The rest of us fellows will make some excuses and hang around town until you two are gone. I"ll get a revolver and some masks and with the bunch will take a short cut through Perry field and meet you near the mill pond. Get busy!" Benz was insistent.
"I tell you, I hate to do this thing," Pole hesitated, "Seems to me we"ve pestered Rube about enough. He proved to us that he"s the real stuff this afternoon and I"m for leaving him alone."
"But think of the sport, Pole. Think of it! Can you picture him begging for mercy when I point that gun at him and say, "Hands up!"
Can you?"
"I guess almost anyone would beg for mercy in a situation like that,"
replied Pole, not easily moved.
"Oh, come on, just this once," pleaded Benz.
"... All right, it"s not my funeral," yielded Pole, finally. "But you"d better not go too far."
"Bosh! Rube"s slow as mud. He"ll never tumble to the fact it"s not a real robbery and we won"t put him wise to the joke until we get back to college."
"All right, as I said before, it"s not my funeral," muttered Pole, indifferently. Then to Judd who was standing some few feet off: "I say, Rube, let"s you and I be piking it for the college. The rest of the bunch are goin" to hang around a bit and I"m anxious to get back."
"Suits me! So long, fellows--see you later!"
Pole and Judd started off.
"Now, gang!" cried Benz, "Wait here for me. I"ll be back with the stuff and we"ll take the short cut. Gee, it"s dark out, ... and no moon!"
"This night sure is a dark one. I can hardly see the road, can you, Rube?" It was Pole speaking and he was almost feeling his way along.
"Easy. I can"t see the road but I reckon I can feel it," responded Judd, walking along quite briskly. "Keep right behind me, Pole, an"
"Hands up!" The voice came from the left side of the road and Judd jumped to the right.
"Don"t run or I"ll fire!" It was a severe warning. Judd stood perfectly still. The masked highwayman approached stealthily.
"W-what do you want?" Judd"s voice trembled slightly.
"We were in the crowd this afternoon; saw you pocket the twenty-five.
Hand it over!"
"We! You?" Judd looked about nervously.
"Yes, there"s more of us. Come on an" show yourselves, pals!"
Sure enough! Three masked bandits came into view and stepped up threateningly. Judd started to lower his hands.
"Up they go!" mumbled the ringleader, brandishing his revolver fiercely. "Are you goin" to come across,--or do we take it from you?"
Pole stood back some three paces watching the proceedings quietly.
"Pole, what shall I do?" asked Judd, despairingly. "Help me!"
"I"m covered, Rube," replied Pole, helplessly. "Looks as if you"d have to dish up."
Judd hesitated. Finally, "It"s in my vest pocket."
"That"s the boy!" came a m.u.f.fled voice. "Best way to do an" no blood shed. Jack, you get the coin an" I"ll keep him covered. You other two guys watch that friend of his!"
Benz was the ringleader; the man referred to as Jack was Curns; the other two men were Potts and Oole.
As Curns approached to take the money he pulled the mask well down over his eyes and nose so that he could not be recognized. All went well until he placed his hand in Judd"s vest pocket. Then Curns sensed trouble. He started to withdraw and step back but Judd was too quick for him. Like a flash his fist shot out and caught Curns on the point of the jaw, knocking him unconscious.
Benz was standing just two feet behind Curns. Judd reached him in one bound, struck the unloaded revolver from his hand, and crashed a bony fist into his face. Benz went down without a cry.
Judd swung about for the other two. Potts and Oole were standing not far apart, supposedly guarding Pole. Judd had acted so quickly that they were not yet prepared to protect themselves, or to put Judd wise to the intended joke. Potts tried to escape but he did not move fast enough. He was dropped where he had stood by a stinging blow behind the ear. Judd wheeled swiftly, ready for the final victim.
"Rube!" Pole found his voice. "For John"s sake, let up. It"s all a joke!"
Judd had already grabbed the huge Oole and was shaking him as one would a baby.
"A fine joke, I call it. Tryin" to rob a fellah!"