If a thunderbolt had fallen through the roof it would hardly have caused a greater surprise than the sight of Jack Minot walking slowly down the aisle,with a wrathful flash in the eyes he turned on Joe as he passed him.
"Now,Minot,let us have this over as soon as possible,for I do not like it any better than you do,and I am sure there is some mistake.
I'm told you went to the shop on Friday.Is it true?"asked Mr.
Acton very gently,for he liked Jack and seldom had to correct him in any way.
"Yes,sir";and Jack looked up as if proud to show that he was not afraid to tell the truth as far as he could.
"To buy somethin?"
"No,sir."
"To meet someone?"
"Yes,sir."
"Was it Jerry Shannon?"
No answer,but Jack's fists doubled up of themselves as he shot another fiery glance at Joe,whose face burned as if it scorched him.
"I am told it was;also that you were seen to go into the saloon with him.Did you?"and Mr.Acton looked so sure that it was a mistake that it cost Jack a great effort to say,slowly,"Yes,sir."Quite a thrill pervaded the school at this confession,for Jerry was one of the wild fellows the boys all shunned,and to have any dealings with him was considered a very disgraceful thing.
"Did you play?"
"No,sir.I can't."
"Drink beer?"
"I belong to the Lodge";and Jack stood as erect as any little soldier who ever marched under a temperance banner,and fought for the cause none are too young nor too old to help along.
"I was sure of that.Then what took you there,my boy?"The question was so kindly put that Jack forgot himself an instant,and blurted out,"I only went to pay him some money,sir.""Ah,how much?"
"Two seventy-five,"muttered Jack,as red as a cherry at not being able to keep a secret better.
"Too much for a lad like you to owe such a fellow as Jerry.How came it?"And Mr.Acton looked disturbed.
Jack opened his lips to speak,but shut them again,and stood looking down with a little quiver about the mouth that showed how much it cost him to be silent.
"Does anyone beside Jerry know of this?"
"One other fellow,"after a pause.
"Yes,I understand";and Mr.Acton's eye glanced at Joe with a look that seemed to say,"I wish he'd held his tongue."A queer smile flitted over Jack's face,for Joe was not the "other fellow,"and knew very little about it,excepting what he had seen when he was sent on an errand by Mr.Acton on Friday.
"I wish you would explain the matter,John,for I am sure it is better than it seems,and it would be very hard to punish you when you don't deserve it.""But I do deserve it;I've broken the rule,and I ought to be punished,"said Jack,as if a good whipping would be easier to bear than this public cross-examination.
"And you can't explain,or even say you are sorry or ashamed?"asked Mr.Acton,hoping to surprise another fact out of the boy.
"No,sir;I can't;I'm not ashamed;I'm not sorry,and I'd do it again to-morrow if I had to,"cried Jack,losing patience,and looking as if he would not bear much more.
A groan from the boys greeted this bare-faced declaration,and Susy quite shivered at the idea of having taken two bites out of the apple of such a hardened desperado.
"Think it over till to-morrow,and perhaps you will change your mind.Remember that this is the last week of the month,and reports are given out next Friday,"said Mr.Acton,knowing how much the boy prided himself on always having good ones to show his mother.
Poor Jack turned scarlet and bit his lips to keep them still,for he had forgotten this when he plunged into the affair which was likely to cost him dear.Then the color faded away,the boyish face grew steady,and the honest eyes looked up at his teacher as he said very iow,but all heard him,the room was so still,"It isn't as bad as it looks,sir,but I can't say any more.No one is to blame but me;and I couldn't help breaking the rule,for Jerry was going away,I had only that time,and I'd promised to pay up,so Idid."
Mr.Acton believed every word he said,and regretted that they had not been able to have it out privately,but he,too,must keep his promise and punish the offender,whoever he was.
"Very well,you will lose your recess for a week,and this month's report will be the first one in which behavior does not get the highest mark.You may go;and I wish it understood that Master Minot is not to be troubled with questions till he chooses to set this matter right."Then the bell rang,the children trooped out,Mr.Acton went off without another word,and Jack was left alone to put up his books and hide a few tears that would come because Frank turned his eyes away from the imploring look cast upon him as the culprit came down from the platform,a disgraced boy.