Andy at Yale
Page 24
CHAPTER XXIV
LINK'S VISIT
Busy days followed. After the football game, the quarrel of Dunk andAndy, and their reconciliation, brought about so effectively by IkeyStein, little of moment happened except the varsity football games,which Andy followed with devoted interest, hoping that by the next termhe would be chosen for a place on the team.
The students settled down to hard work, with the closing of the outdoorsporting season, and there were days of hard study. Yale is no place forweak students, and Andy soon found that he must "toe the mark" in moresenses than one. He had to give his days and some of his nights to"grinding."
For some time Andy did not understand how Ikey had brought about themeeting of Dunk and himself--at least, he did not know how thepeacemaker had induced Dunk to go to the park. But one day the latterexplained.
Following the dramatic scene in Burke's, Dunk had gone out. Not wishingto face Andy he had stayed at a hotel all night. In the morning, whilehe was remorseful and nearly ill, Ikey, the faithful, had sought himout, having in some way heard of the quarrel. Ikey was not given tofrequenting Burke's, but he had his own way of ferreting out news.
To Dunk he had gone, then, and had told much the same story he hadrelated to Andy, giving it a different twist. And he had so worked onDunk's feelings, picturing how terribly Andy must feel, that finallyDunk had consented to go to the park.
"Well, I'm glad I did, old man!" said Dunk, clapping Andy on the back.
"And so am I. I'm only wondering whether Ikey faked that 'sob story' ornot."
"What of it? It certainly did the business, all right."
"It sure did."
Dunk and Andy were better friends than ever, and, to the relief of Andy,Mortimer and his crowd ceased coming to the room in Wright Hall, andtaking Dunk off with them.
Occasionally Andy's chum would go off with a rather "sporty" crowd, andsometimes Andy went also. But Dunk held himself well in hand, for whichAndy was very glad.
"It's all your doing, old man!" said Dunk, gratefully.
"Nonsense!" exclaimed Andy, but his heart glowed nevertheless.
The quiet and rather calm atmosphere of college life was rudely brokenwhen one night, following a mild celebration over the victory of thebasketball team, several robberies were discovered.
A number of rooms in the college buildings had been entered, and variousarticles of jewelry and some money had been taken. Freshmen were mainlythe ones who sustained the losses, though no class was exempt.
"This is getting serious!" exclaimed Dunk, as he and Andy talked thematter over. "We'd better get a new lock put on our door."
"I'm willing, though I haven't got much that would tempt anyone."
"I haven't either, only this," and he pulled out a handsome gold watch."I'm so blamed careless about it that most of the time I forget to carryit."
"Well, let's put on a lock, then. The one we have doesn't catch half thetime."
"No, it's been busted too many times by the raiding sophs. I'll buyanother first time I'm down town."
But the matter slipped Dunk's mind, and Andy did not again think of it.
The thefts created no little excitement, and it was said that a privatedetective agency had been engaged by the faculty. Of the truth of thisno one could vouch.
Another warning was given by the Dean, and students were urged to see tothe fastening of their doors, not only for their own protection, but inorder not to put temptation in the way of servants.
Andy came in from a late lecture one afternoon, to find open the door ofhis room he had left locked, as he thought. At first he supposed Dunkwas within, but entering the apartment he saw Link Bardon there. Thehelper arose as Andy came in and said, rather embarrassedly:
"Mr. Blair, I'm in trouble."
"Trouble!" exclaimed Andy. "What kind?"
"Well, I need money. You see I've got a sick sister and the other dayshe wrote to me, saying she'd have to have some money to buy anexpensive medicine. I sent it to her. She said her husband would get hispay this week, and she'd send it back to me. Now she writes that he issick, and can't earn anything, so she can't pay me back.
"I was counting on that money, for my wages aren't due for several days,and I have to pay my board. I don't like to ask my landlady to wait, andI thought maybe----"
"Of course I'll let you have some!" exclaimed Andy quickly. "How muchdo you need?"
"Oh, about seven dollars."
"Better have ten. You can pay me back when you like," said Andy as heextended the bill.
"I don't know how to thank you!" exclaimed Link, gratefully.
"Then don't try," advised Andy, with a smile.