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HAPPY DAYS.
138
tents. —.
The majority of these contained exhibits
from the industries and farms of the sur-
rounding country, and the rest were shows.
It was before one of the latter that our
party of eight halted, after they had jostled
every one out of the way they came in con-
tact with.
A band was playing inside and over the
entrance to the tent was a sign reading as
follows: .
“COMIC OPERA!
““The Weary Maiden and the Cuckoo.
“Performance every half hour.
“Six pence admission.”
“I think this one will do.us, boys!” ex-
claimed Jack Haywood. “But let’s stock
up with some buns and sausages first.”
“What are we going to do with buns and
(hic) sausages?” asked Fred Atterson, who
was getting so bad that he could no longer
talk straight, and was Staggering awfully.
“TH show you,” was the reply. “Now,
then, everybody get a bun and a sau-
sage.
There was a booth right at hand where
the articles he mentioned were for sale,
and soon every boy was possessed of them.
Haywood paid the bill, and then play-
fully pushed the monger down.
This might have caused a row if they
had stayed there, but they didn’t.
~ of the students planked a sover-
down at the window and purchased
eight tickets to the show. .
en, with the buns and sausages in
their hands, the St. Aldate’s men rolled
inside, two by two, and linked arms.
The performance was just about to be-
gin, so Jack Haywood held up his hand
and roared out for them to wait until they
got seated. .
There was a big crowd inside, who
wanted to see the show go right on, so the
management paid no attention to the young
Giving vent to their feelings in the dis-
Pleasure at not being noticed, the St. Al-
date’s crowd made a rush for the front.
There were no vacant seats there, but
they soon made some by upsetting a couple
of long benches. .
“Then those who had occupied the seats
were pushed aside, and they all sat down.
certain that they would have been at it
hammer and tongs in short order,
The “gowns” were invariably the ag-
» gressors in all the fights, as the “towns”.
would only fight when they became so ex-
asperated at the insults that were heaped
wen them that they could no longer stand
it.
Something like order was soon restored,
and then the comic opera proceeded.
The weary maiden came out attired in
a gorgeous costume, and began singing in
a cracked voice to a big stuffed bird that
Was supposed to be the cuckoo,
As our hero looked at this he came té the
conclusion that it was a man rigged out in
a bird-like costume.
It struck him that the bird might want
a piece of sausage, so he asked Jack Hay-
Wood about it. .
“Certainly,” was the reply. “The bird is
hungry; feed it!”
-Darrel got upon his feet rather unstead-
ily, and then, taking good aim at the
cuckoo, let the sausage drive.
The sausage struck the bird right in the
mouth, and it tumbled over on its back,
and showed a pair of booted feet wriggling
in the air.
A roar of laughter went up fromthe
audience, especially from the students, and
then Jack Haywood shouted out for his
crowd to feed the weary maiden.
The buns and sausages went flying at her
like a broadside from a man-of-war, and,
screaming, she ran from the stage.
That started the row.
The townspeople became angered because
the show was being broken up after they
had paid their money to sce it, and they
sided in with the management.”
The next minute blows were being struck
all over the tent, while cries of “Towns!”
and’ “Gowns!” could be heard above the
noise and whacks that were received by
both sides.’
“Stick together, boys!” yelled Jack Hay-
Wood. “Follow the boy frgm New York!
Look at him! He is mowing them down
and making a path for us!”
This was indeed the case.
Darrel was certainly doing some great
fighting,
It-was while this was going on that Fred
Atterson dropped under a bench and quick-
ly removed his mortar-board and gown,
Then he grabbed a hat that belonged to
one of the “towns,” and squeezed his way
toward the entrance, .
He got there ahead of the rest, and when
he saw Darrel knocking them down ‘right
and left he caught.a policeman by the arm
and said: .
“There's the ringleader! Arrest him, offi-
cer! Here's half a crown for you.”
caused to be erected at least a score of |.
CHAPTER XVII.
DARREL IS LODGED IN JAIL.
The students being in the majority, they
un.
soon had the “towns” on the rt
The St. Aldate’s men were yelling them-
selves hoarse as Darrel and those behind
him worked their way to the outlet.
Then they started after them, knowing
that to stay inside would mean arrest.
Darrel did not stop to think of this.
He did not think of anything but that
he was an Oxford student, and that he was
keeping up the time-honored custom of hit-
ting a head whenever he saw it.
The first thing he knew he was seized
by a brawny policeman and whisked out of
the tent.
It happened so quickly that Haywood
and the rest could not save him.
A number of roughs appeared at the en-
trance just then, and joined in the fight,
and this prevented our hero’s companions
from getting out.
Darrel made a mighty effort to .break
away from the “bobby,” as the policemen
were called, but he had been caught from
behind, and before he knew it a pair of
handeuffs were slipped on.his wrists.
That is what the half-crown did.
With his brain in a rather muddled state,
and the hoarse shouts of the fighting crowd
inside and outside the tent, the boy from
New York was led away to the jail.
The officer took good care to keep off the
main thoroughfare, so he would not be apt
to be seen by any students, and in a short
time he landed him inside of the gate and
turned him over to the keeper.
“Started a fight just for fun,” was the
charge. “Most dangerous university man
I ever met.”
It was not until he found himself in a
cell with nothing but hard boards to lie
on that poor Darrel fully realized what
had happened.
But-he was too sleepy to worry over it
just then, as the brandy he had drank
without knowing it was now getting in its
ork.
In a few minutes the boy ‘was sound
asleep, Wearing off the effects of his first
spree in a cell in Oxford Castle!
But let us turn. our attention to the
young villain who had been the means of
bringing all this about.
Fred Atterson had a way of. sneaking
away from those he did not want to see
him in a manner that was truly great,
As drunk as he was, he managed to steal
away and reach a small public place that
was frequented by him quite often.
He waited here until the fighting was
about all over, and then he made a bee-line
for the college.
He got in before the allotted time for all
students to be in and got to his room, stag-
gering as he went.
Luckily for him, he was not seen by the
proctor, who was making his rounds, and
was in another place just then.
Atterson got-off some of his clothes and
tumbled into bed. .
t was late the next morning when he
awoke. . .
He felt dizzy, and his mouth was cracked
and dry from the wine he had imbibed the
night before.
He rang the bell for his scout.
When that individual appeared a few
minutes later Fred ordered him to get him
some brandy-and-soda, and then give his
head a good rubbing with warm water and
ay rum, .
This made him feel better, and when he
had swallowed another dose of brandy-and-
soda and put on his dressing-gown he
turned to the scout and said: :
“Go and see if Thistle is awake. If he
is tell him I. would like to see him.”
The scout went off and in a few minutes
came back.
“If he's up he’s sported his oak, sir,”
he said, which meant that the door was
locked, and that no one would answer from
within. - oe
“Perhaps he hasn't got back yet,” mused
Fred. “Or it may be that he was ar-
rested.”
He looked at his watch and saw that it
was nearly eight. :
At that time the students breakfasted in
the big hall, and those who were missing
would be hunted up by the proctor.
Fred concluded to go down to breakfast.
He was not in the humor to eat much,
but he wanted to see who were there, and
who were missing.
One of the first ones he came in contact
with was Sir Dawson Buckley.
The foppish young baronet appeared to
be in a yery bad humor, and didn’t respond
to the “Good-morning!” Fred handed out
to him.
-“He’s mad over what happened last
night,” thought the young rascal. “Well,
I’m sure it is no fault of mine. Darrel
certainly gave it to them strong, though.
wonder if Sir Dawson will look for sat-
isfaction?” 7
The breakfast was eaten, and when it
was over the proctor had to report nine-
teen missing.
Of these eleven were found asleep in
their rooms, the rest not being at the col-
lege at all.
Amofig the latter were Darrel Keene,
Dyke Thistle and Tom Robins.
Pretty scon Jack Haywood came along, a
bandage over his left eye, and looking quite
broken up from the effects of the night
a
S
S
“Where's your cousin, Atterson?” he
asked.
“I* haven't seen him,” was the zeply.
“There are several of the fellows missing.”
“Jove! I haven't seen the boy from New
York since we made the rush. and forced
our way out of the tent at the fair Jast
night. Deuced strange where he is.”
“That’s what I think,” lied Fred. “But
he will turn up with the rest of them, no
ubt.”
“It may be that he got caught and is
jailed. Hanged if I ain't going to take a
walk over to the castle and see. I've taken
a big interest in Darrel Keene. He is one
of the finest fellows I ever met, Atterson.
You ought to be proud of being related to
him.”
“I am,’ answered Fred, and then he bit
his lips to keep back what he felt like say-
ing.
“Going along, Atterson?”
“No, I think not. I feel rather dizzy this
morning, you see.”
“Ha, ha, ha! It was a jolly old time last
night. I feel sore from the thumps I got
from the “towns.””
“So do I.”
This was another lie, as Fred had not re-
ceived’a blow in the fight.
When Jack Haywood had gone he went
back to his rooms, feeling very. well satis-
fied.
He had seen the policeman start off with
Darrel, and now he felt certain that he had
been jailed.
“I will write to the governor about it,”
he muttered. “I fancy it will please him
to hear the boy from New York has gotten
in disgrace at college. I suppose I had
better wait until I make sure, though.”
There was little studying done that
morning by the students who had been out
the night before. .
The excitement caused by the cross-
country run, the fair, and then the fight
between the towns and gowns had been too
much for them.
Fred was not a little worried over the
absence of Dyke Thistle.
He regarded him as his right bower now,
and he did not want him to get into trouble.
About ten o’clock he put on a brand new
cap and gown, and went out to learn some
tiding of the missing bully, and also
o make sure whether the boy from New
York was in jail or not.
Much to his satisfaction, he met Thistle
at the Mitre, mixing the wine he had im-
bibed the night before with some more of
e same. “Morning, Fred!” cried the
bully, putting out his hand. “Heard the
news? Darrel Keene is in the lock-up for
being the ringleader in the fight last night.
He’s likely to be kept there for a week!”
CHAPTER XVIII.
WHAT TWO GOOD FRIENDS DID.
Jack Haywood, who had taken such a
strong interest in our hero since he bad
een one of the two to beat the seniors in
from the cross-country run, made a dili-
gent search for the American boy, and was
not long in finding that he was locked up
in Oxford Castle.
Haywood at once went over to try and
effect his release, but when he got there he
was told by an official that the charge
against the boy was too serious for him to
be let off with a fine.
“R's got to stand a trial, sir. If it is
proved that ’e was the ringleader last
night it'll go ’ard with ’im.” -
“But there wasn't any ringleader,” pro-
tested Haywood. “It was a jolly old spree,
and this boy, who is an American, and not
used to the ways of Oxford, was unfortu-
nate enough to fall into the hands of a bob-
He must be got out of jail, It will
tuin his chances and cause him to be ex-
pelled from college if he serves time here.”
“Can’t ’elp it, sir. You'll ‘ave to see some
one what's got more influence than I "ave,
ir.”
“Who would be a good one to see?”
“If you could see Lord ’Anley, sir, and
get his influence, I fancy your friend could
get hout of jail, sir.” .
The jailer grinned as though he was get-
ting off a great joke when he said this.
Lord Hanley was one of the magistrates
of Oxford township, and he well knew
that no one would dare to go to him to
ask him to intercede,
Jack Haywood knew this also. He felt
very much down-hearted when he left the
castle a few minutes later, without even
secing the boy from New York, .
As he came ont of the somber gates of
the castle the first person he met was Tom
bins.
Tom’s head was tied in bandages, and
his left arm was in a sling.
“Hello, Robins!” said Haywood. “You
got it deucedly hard Jast night, by the
looks of you.”
“Yes, an apothecary’s clerk took charge
of-me last night, and made me sleep in the
back room of the store with him. I am
pretty well screwed up, I can tell you! Is
it a fact that Darrel Keene is in the lock-
up?”
“Yes, it is a fact, Robins. The worst of
it is that I can’t see how we are going to
get him out.”
What! It isn't as bad as that, is it?”
“Yes.
“What's the charge?”
“Ringleader of the mob last night."
“The dickens! That's bad, isn’t it?”
“Very.”
“Is there no one we could see to use their
influence to save him from being dis-
graced?”
“The jailer just had the gall to tell me to
go to Lord Hanley, who was one who could
very easily get him out. e beggar
thought it was a great joke, for he lauzhed
in my.face. I felt like giving him one.in
the teeth.”
“Lord Hanley, did you say?”
Rebins was greatly surprised, and Hay-
wood looked at him curiously.
“Yes; Lerd Hanley, of Hanley Hall. He
is chief magistrate for Oxford township,
or something like that.”
“Good! We will go to see him, then.”
“Are you crazy, Tom’ Robins?”
“Not by a jugful! Darrel is acquainted
with his lordship. It was his
&
that he saved from the runaway a wec% or
so ago.”
“By Jove! It seems to me that I remem-
ber something about that. It was the Lady
Blanche, and she was out riding with Sir
Dawson Buckley when the thing hap-
pened.”
“Exactly. And I was right there and
assisted in stopping the team. Darrel
caught the young lady just as she was
about to fall out of the rig. She has taken
quite a notion to him, and has given the
baronet the snub, so I have heard. Darrel
met the Lady Blanche and her father a dav
or so after, and they stopped and had a
talk with him. His lordship was very pro-
fuse in his thanks to the boy from New
York for saving his daughter from being
badly hurt, or perhaps killed.”
“By George! Robins, we will dare to go
and see his lordship at once. We will tell
him just what took place, and then ask
him to save the boy from New York from
being disgraced. Let's hire a trap!”
Jack Haywood was jubilant now.
He felt confident that he had discovered
a way to get Darrel out of jail.
Ten minutes later he and Tom Robins
were seated in a trap and whirling along
the IMey road.
The horse was a good one, and they were
not long in reaching Hanley Hall.
“His lordship would see them,” the ser-
vant said, and they were ushered into the
library.
A couple of minutes later, Lord Hanley
appeared. .
“What is it, gentlemen?” he asked, look-
ing at the bandaged head of Tom Robins
curiously.
“Your lordship will please excuse us,”
spoke up Jack Haywood, “but we have
come on some business of great importance
to A disturbance occurred at the fair
last night, and Darrel Keene, the boy from
New York, who is one of the students at
St. Aldate’s, was taken into custody on a
trumped-up charge, and they refuse to let
him out of the jail this morning.”
“Ah!” and his lordship looked surprised.
“Yes, sir,” went on Haywood. “It was
all a mistake, sir. There is no better young
fellow living than Darrel Keene. It will be
an awful disgrace, sir, if he is tried and
found guilty without a chance to prove his
innocence.”
“Tell me all about it,” said Lord Hanley,
while a frown gathered on his brow.
In a straightforward way Jack did so.
“I will ride down to the castle right
away,” exclaimed his lordship, after he had
thought a moment. ““I believe your story.”
He turned, indicating that the interview
was at an end.
Jack and Tom left the Hall feeling much
elated. -
They were now satisfied that they had
sucteeded. .
When they were half-way back to Oxford
a spirited team passed them, aud as they
looked out they saw that Lord Hanley was
driving it.
But that was not all. The Lady Blanche
sat at his side.
“Great Jupiter!” gasped
“What do you think of that?”
“T don't know what to say, unless it is
that the Lady Blanche has fallen in love
with the boy from New York,” replied
Robins. ~
“Strange things happen.”
“Yes,” :
Hay wood,
“Well, I suppose the girl has a right to
TN Ey te da Ada yee ae po
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