CHAPTER XXV
A MISSING PROFESSOR
"Young gentlemen," began Doctor Meredith, as he faced the assembledFreshmen class in the chapel, where he had requested that they meet him,"this is a solemn occasion. I hardly know what to say to you. Never, inthe history of Elmwood Hall, have we gone through what has transpired inthe last few days. We have never had a strike, nor an occasion for one.We have never had a burning in effigy.
"I am at a loss what to say. I have tried to sit as an impartial judgein this matter, and so far, I have to admit that there is some right onboth sides, and a great deal of wrong on one side--which side is yet tobe determined."
Tom wanted to say something, but he refrained. The doctor was speakingtoo solemnly to be interrupted.
"I have considered this matter from all standpoints," went on the headmaster, "and I have tried to see my duty. I want to do what is right byall. For that purpose I have asked you to meet here, and I will now go astep further and will send for Professor Skeel. Perhaps, when we have amutual conference, all differences will be explained, a new system canbe devised and all will go on peacefully and quietly, as it always hasat Elmwood Hall.
"I will ask our worthy janitor, Mr. Demosthenes Miller to step over toProfessor Skeel's house, and request him to come here."
It was about an hour after Tom's dramatic interview with the Latininstructor. Our hero and Bruce had parted, Tom to go to Latin class,and, later, with all the Freshmen in that division, to attend thespecial meeting.
While the janitor was gone there was a painful silence. Then thefootsteps of the returning messenger were heard. He came in alone.
"Is Professor Skeel coming?" asked Doctor Meredith curiously.
"No, sir, he is not," replied the janitor with a respectful bow.
"Why not?" and Doctor Meredith was plainly surprised.
"Because, Doctor Meredith, Professor Skeel has gone."
"Gone?"
"Yes, sir. Disappeared--_vanesco_ as the classic Latin puts it. Hisservant just informed me that the professor packed up a few of hisbelongings, and went to town to catch a train. He will have his otherthings sent after him. So he will not be here. He also left word that hewould not come back."
For a moment there was a silence. Then came a long breath of relief fromthe students. It was echoed by Doctor Meredith.
"This--er--this--rather simplifies matters," he said, a bit nervously."I had it in mind to have Professor Skeel beg your pardon, and you, as aclass, to beg his. Then matters would have gone on as before. But thissimplifies matters. Professor Skeel, it seems, is no longer a member ofthe faculty of Elmwood Hall. I do not understand it, but I fear he hasleft for good."
"And I _know_ it--I don't _fear_ it," murmured Tom. "I'm glad of it,too. It saves me the disagreeable duty of branding him as a forger.All's well that ends well? I suppose."
"The purpose of this meeting having been accomplished," went on DoctorMeredith, "you may consider yourselves excused. You will report forLatin recitation to Professor Hammond, until further notice, and I willengage a new classical professor as soon as possible."
"Three cheers for Doctor Meredith!"
"Three more for Professor Hammond!"
"Three big ones for the Freshmen class," called Tom, when the first twohad been given.
"And three cheers for Tom Fairfield, the best leader in Elmwood Hall!"shouted Jack Fitch, swinging his cap.
That the roof remained on the chapel after all that excitement speaks agood word for the workmen who placed it there. Certainly such cheeringwas never before heard in the old school.
"No more Skeel!" exulted Jack, as he walked out of chapel, his armlinked in Tom's.
"Nothing but fun from now on," declared Tom, "and it will soon be springand baseball."
"What are you going to do this vacation?"
"I don't know. I've got to wait and see how dad and mother make out inAustralia, I suppose. I must write and tell them all that happened here."
What Tom did when school closed may be learned by reading the nextvolume of this series, to be called, "Tom Fairfield at Sea; or, TheWreck of the Silver Star."
"And so Skeel forged that note?" asked Jack, when he and his chum werein their room that night.
"Yes, it was a rank copy of Bruce's signature. And he had raised theamount, too. I guess he was after money, all right."
"I wonder where he went?"
"Far enough off, I imagine. He'll never trouble Elmwood Hall again."
"Nor Bruce Bennington, either."
And this was so. Bruce was a different lad, from then on. His face wasalways smiling, as it had been before his trouble.
"I never can thank you, Tom, for what you did for me," he said. "Onlyfor you Skeel would have carried out his threat, and his forgery neverwould have been discovered in time to prevent my disgrace. But I've madea clean breast of it to dad, and though he gave me a hard calling down,he's forgiven me. Oh, I feel so glad!"
"And so do I," added Tom. "We're going to have a new Latin prof. Iunderstand. A jolly young fellow."
"That's good. Here comes Demy. I wonder what he wants?" spoke Bruce, asthe studious janitor approached, with a book as usual.
"Well, what is it?" asked the Senior.
"I fear I have made a grave mistake," said Mr. Miller. "In announcingthe disappearance of Professor Skeel the other day I used the Latin word_vanesco_. I see now that I used the wrong tense. Will you kindly set meright."
"Demy!" exclaimed Tom, "if you will kindly follow the example ofProfessor Skeel, and vamoose, it will be all the same. We'll give youa Latin lesson later. And, in the meanwhile, here is a dollar to buya dictionary," and Tom passed over a bill to the man who was always afriend to the students.
As for Professor Skeel he was not heard of again for some time. But thelads of Elmwood Hall did not care. They had Tom Fairfield, who becamemore of a leader than ever after his successful strike. As for SamHeller, he led a miserable life as a Freshman--ignored by nearly all.
"Come on in to town," invited Bruce that night. "I'll treat you fellowsto a good feed, Tom. And I've fixed it with Merry, so we won't have tohurry back."
"Good!" exclaimed our hero, and on his way with his chums to a goodtime, we will say good-bye to him for a time.
THE END