CHAPTER XXV
THE WINNER
Pee Wee was so full of tickle that he was not sleepy! His father andmother had been up for the regatta, and were staying at the RockledgeHotel until the school closed for the year.
Mr. Wise was a rich man and he could afford to do about anything thatPee Wee wanted him to do. There was something now on Pee Wee's mindand, as Fred said, "he'd have to get it out of his system or he couldn'tgo to sleep."
"Wait till the other boys are asleep," whispered the fat boy. "I'mgoing to keep pinching Mouser so he'll keep awake. You fellows pincheach other."
The beds of Bobby and Fred, and Pee Wee and Mouser Pryde, were side byside. It rather tickled Bobby and Fred to think they should keep eachother awake in the way the fat boy suggested; but that he carried it outin Mouser's case was very evident from the occasional grunts andobjections from the latter.
The chums from Clinton kept themselves awake by asking each otherriddles, and telling stories. Fred had one "giggly" joke that went asfollows: "Say, Bobby, do you know they're going to close the publiclibrary down town?"
"What for?" demanded his chum.
Just then Pee Wee's shrill whisper reached them: "Cheese it! Come here,fellows. I have something to tell you--honest!"
The dormitory was quite silent, save for the four boys in the corner.Fred slipped out of bed and Bobby followed him. Pee Wee and Mouser weresitting up in their own beds.
"Now listen," whispered the fat boy. "Just as soon as school's out, myfolks are going to Bass Cove. We go there every summer. It's a dandyplace--you bet!"
"All right. We've heard about that before," said Mouser, yawning. "Youmight let a fellow go to sleep and wait till morning to tell us yourchestnuts."
"I've a good mind not to tell _you_ at all," grunted Pee Wee.
"Say! you're not telling any of us very fast," whispered Fred, givingthe fat boy a poke. "Get busy! some of the others will wake up."
"I'll tell you," whispered Perry Wise, earnestly. "I have the grandestfather! He says I can have you three down to Bass Cove, if your folkswill let you come. What do you know about _that_?"
"Oh--fine!" gasped Fred, when he could get his breath.
All three of the boys had heard about that summer place. Pee Wee wasnever weary of talking about it.
"Sure he'll let us come?" demanded Mouser, wide awake on the instant.
"That's what I said. I've been asking him in my letters. And he sawyou to-day--and mother, too--and he said 'yes.' He liked youall--'specially Bobby--and he says you all can come."
"Say!" gasped Fred. "That'll be great. Won't it, Bobby?"
"I should say," admitted his chum. "And I was wondering what wouldbecome of me before my folks got home again."
"We'll go clamming, and crabbing, and fishing, and sailing--oh,crickey!" gasped Fred, with his head under the bedclothes, "what won'twe do?"
"It will be great," admitted Bobby, with a sigh of longing. "I justhope your folks will let us go."
This hope was realized, as my readers may learn if they meet Bobby andFred in the next volume of this series, entitled: "Bobby Blake at BassCove; Or, The Hunt for the Motor Boat _Gem_."
The four giggled, and whispered, and talked the matter over for anotherhour before they could close their eyes. The outlook for the summervacation was first in their mind, too, when they awoke in the morning.
But this was an important day at Rockledge School. Even the expectedpleasures of a summer at Bass Cove must be put temporarily in thebackground.
In the afternoon the graduating exercises were to be held--called atRockledge "the commencement exercises." In the evening the boysentertained socially all their friends and relatives who could or wouldcome to the school.
There was something else--something that loomed almost as big to some ofthem as the graduation of the seven head boys.
After breakfast the whole school filed up to the big hall. It was aserious occasion, and even Fred Martin was not "cutting up" thismorning, and was one of those who most solemnly reached their seats.
All the teachers were sitting on the platform with Dr. Raymond. The oldcaptain of the school, and the new captain, each stood at a door in theback of the room to see that nobody slipped out, and to collect ballotswhen the time came.
"Now, boys," said the good Doctor, rising and smiling at the fifty."This is a serious occasion yet it is a happy one, too. It should behappy for you all, because your teachers have found among you at leastone boy who is worthy of the high honor of receiving the medal," and hedisplayed the gold star as he had on that first day, nine months before.
"It is happy for us on the platform," and he made a little bow to thegentlemen with him, "because you have found one among you whom so manyseem to admire. And we know what you admire him for.
"It is unhappily impossible for every boy voted for to win the medal.That is understood. Not alone must he be popular with you all, but hemust have stood high in every study and in his deportment as well.Several of those voted for the other day in the informal balloting bythe school, cannot possibly receive the approval of myself and the othermasters.
"Master Gray, unfortunately, is not eligible; neither is MastersDurrock, Converse, or Spelt. There is no dishonor attached to therecords of these boys, but there are other reasons--reasons connectedwith their standing in class--that make it impossible for us teachers toagree on either of these names.
"Now, boys, on the ballot now handed around, you will have but onechoice. And it looks as though your choice had already been indicated.Let me assure you that, if that is so, your teachers are, one and all,in favor of your choice."
There was a murmur of approval--almost a cheer--when the doctor had donespeaking. Lots of the boys turned to smile at Bobby. He suddenly foundhimself very red in the face. Fred looked delighted. Pee Wee couldscarcely keep in his seat.
Barry Gray and Frank Durrock passed the papers swiftly, and gatheredthem again in a few minutes. That the school was almost unanimous couldnot be doubted.
Mr. Leith and Mr. Carrin counted the slips. There was a bunch of them onone side of the table and only a few on the other side. The doctorrose, smiling with satisfaction.
"My dear boys!" he said, ringingly. "It is a joy to me to find you sonearly unanimous. And you have chosen the boy of whom, above allothers, we approve.
"Robert Blake! stand up."
_Then_ they cheered. It was impossible to silence the Lower School, atleast, for fully three minutes. Bobby stood, blushing and tremblingduring this "unseemly riot."
"Robert," said Dr. Raymond, quietly, at last, "you have been a good boyhere, and an exceptionally faithful scholar. I have watched your coursefor the year with interest. You have won out under circumstances thatwere most trying.
"You boys have a code of morals of your own. I know it. 'Thou Shalt NotTell Tales' seems greater to you than any other commandment. And Iconfess I do not uphold the tale-bearer.
"If a boy does wrong, he should tell on himself. _That_ is beinghonorable. Especially if he knows that because of his wrong-doing anyother fellow is suffering.
"You all know that Robert bore a burden of punishment for months whichhe did not really deserve. There is another among you, however--and I'mproud of him!" and the doctor flashed a single glance toward FredMartin's red hair and red face, "who came forward when he understood,and did his all to remove the black mark from Robert's record.
"It makes me happy to know that I have such boys as these in RockledgeSchool. I do not believe there are fifty boys anywhere--in anyschool--any finer than _my_ boys," declared the Doctor, with growingenthusiasm.
"And I have never presented the Medal of Honor to any of my boys withgreater pride than I shall feel when I pin this star upon Robert Blake'scoat this afternoon."
The school cheered again. Even Mr. Leith smiled at the enthusiasmdisplayed by the youngsters. They formed in line, Barry a
nd FrankDurrock lifted Bobby to their shoulders, and the procession marched downstairs and out, and around the campus.
Bobby felt terribly disturbed. It seemed to him as though his earswould never stop burning.
They made too much of it. He was delighted that he could tell hismother and father of his success, and show them the gold star. But hecould not see just how he had won it, nor how he had won the boys'enthusiastic approval.
There was another honor for him, too. He was selected as one of the newmembers of the school secret order--The Sword and Star. _That_ wentwith the winning of the medal without question.
"Wow!" sighed Pee Wee, "he can hit as hard as any fellow in the LowerSchool, when he boxes. And he's good fun, and is not afraid to get intoa game of fun, even if the teachers scowl on it a little."
"Huh! I guess not," grunted Fred. "That's right about Bobby. He's notafraid of _any_thing. That is, he's not afraid to do anything that isn'tmean."
And that being a most just expression of his character, we will saygood-by for the present to Bobby Blake and his friends.
THE END
Bobby Blake at Rockledge School; or, Winning the Medal of Honor Page 25
