CHAPTER IV
GOOD WILL AND FIXTURES
Bill made another motion touching the wall button, and instantly, with acombined and very audible gasp, the seven youths relaxed, got away fromthe wires and stood up. There would probably have been a general retreatmixed with a volley of expletives hurled at Bill and Gus, had not Gustaken a hand in the prevention of this, as planned. A stream of waterfrom a long syringe, aimed over the heads of the sufferers, had clearedthe doorway of spectators. The jerk of a ceiling cord slammed the doorshut and it was deadlatched, requiring a key to open it. The would-behazers, thus trapped and fearful of attempting a further attack, turned,perforce, to face their captors.
But there was one fellow, Albert Shurtlief, who so deeply resented theelectric shocking that his desire for instant retaliation robbed him ofcaution. He was coming right over the wires again and did get partlythrough before another touch of the wall button gave him a second siegeof writhing. The others looked on in wonder, convinced that the bestthing they could do was to remain quiescent. Gus said:
"Let up on him, Bill, and if he wants to come through----"
Again the button. The still furious sophomore did get past the wires andwas going to make a rush at Bill when Gus stood in his way.
"Now, please. You ought to go a little slow." That was a way Gus had inmaking a protest against what might end in a scrap. But without furtherado, Shurtlief, who was commonly known as "Scrapper Bert," let fly anangry fist right at Gus' exposed jaw.
If the electrically charged wires had surprised the mischief-makingupper classmen, the sudden collapsing of their fistic champion shockedthem even more. Scrapper Bert was rather noted for his prowess. No onecared to put on the gloves with him, nor to gain his displeasure. To seethe new boy, a "measly freshman," not as tall, as heavy nor as old asBert, catch the assailant's hard-driven fist in the palm of an instantlyextended hand and then let drive with his own right a neat, short-armuppercut that got Bert just where he had meant to get Gus, was a neededlesson to the smug conceit that too often goes with added school years.Bert, from a seat on the floor, which he had taken without choice of thespot, regarded his opponent through half-closed eyes with a certainnonchalance, his anger fled. He slowly got to his feet, climbed backthrough the wires without further thought as to their being charged, andstood with his companions, quite submissive and mute.
As usual on all occasions demanding words, Bill's tongue was loosened:
"Look here, fellows, we want to give you the right dope on this thing:You see we are here to study--to try and go through if our money holdsout. Our people are not rich and, like Tom Edison when he was a boy,we've got to hustle on short allowance. And we really can't afford to behazed, as you did that new chap yesterday. If we had to buy new clothesand watches and caps, we'd have to quit school--see? And we knew younever missed anybody much, so we naturally, asking your pardon, got upthis nice little reception for you. Now to get right down to brasstacks, you see our position and respect it--everyone of you--and,putting yourselves in our position, you don't blame us, nor hold anygrudges; isn't that so?"
Siebold, spokesman, made reply, after thinking a little.
"Oh, well, I suppose all is fair in war. You've had your innings now, ofcourse, but we'll have ours later." And then he added: "We'll get you."
From what Doctor Field said, Bill and Gus knew better. Hazing would bebroken up on pain of expulsion, as it should be in all schools where theattendance is for business purposes, the getting of a technicaleducation as a means of livelihood. The boys felt that perhaps in acollege art course, where education becomes much play on the part ofwell-to-do lads, class fracases, bowl fights, initiations and the likemay not be amiss, but they did not intend to let open brutality rob themof their chance to study. And, however sure they felt that Siebold'sthreat was idle, there would be a satisfaction in winning their ownfight.
"Now, that's just what we want to talk to you fellows about," Billdeclared. "You don't want to think about 'getting' us. We want you tocall this all off and for good; we want you to give your word on it;see?"
"No; we can't--" began Siebold.
"Won't, eh?" Bill's words came sharp and clear. "Well, then, take alittle more treatment for your blamed foolishness." And Bill touchedanother button.
The contortions, the writhings, the shrieks and cries that followedquite surpassed the former exhibitions. The well-worn woolen rug thatfitted from wall to wall across the end of the room where stood theseven seemed to be charged with red hot needles. Suddenly these ceasedto leap and jump and burn; the old rug and the hidden wires under itwere again quiescent. But the strident voices of the afflicted prisonerswere not silenced, though the late lamentings were given over to amedley of condemnations, appeals and pleadings.
"Say, go a little slow on this!"
"Call it off, confound you!"
"Are you trying to electrocute us?"
"Say, Brown, please----"
"Let's call it quits, fellows!"
"We'll call it quits if you want. I suppose we've got to hand it to youtwo." This last from Siebold.
"Going to call it all off, then? Give us your word! We can't believethat any fellows in Marshallton Tech would go back on their word." Billwas smiling genially.
"That can't be called in question. All off. You're exempt." There was ageneral acquiescence to this. The door slowly and to the seven quitemysteriously swung open; the seven started to file out.
"Good-by, fellows, and no hard feelings. We were only having a littlefun with you as you were going to have with us. You can't----"
"Well, but you two have still got to remember," said Siebold, shakinghis finger at Bill and Gus, "that you are freshies and must keep in yourplaces. You've got a little the better of us this time, but----"
"Golly, Dan," spoke up a fellow hazer, "a _little_ the better? Strikesme we've all been good and licked and these chaps ought to get thecredit for----" The voice died away along the hall and Bill turned tohis chum.
"We don't want any credit, do we, Gus? But we will get it just the samewhen this gets out. I sort o' think our little stock has gone up aboutone thousand percentum, even though we _are_ freshies."
This proved quite correct. In a few minutes a lot of freshmen hadcrowded into the room and there was a sprinkling of sophs also.Questioned eagerly, Bill explained quite freely the purpose of theencounter and its result. Whereupon a big, fat soph declared quitevehemently:
"Huh! They were easily licked. No pluck. You're lucky to have run into abunch of quitters."
"You wouldn't have quit, eh, Jumbo?" ventured another, grinning.
"Huh! Nothing like this contraption--" began the husky fellow, advancingand laying his hand on the top cross wire.
"Not even for a little thing like this?" queried Bill, reaching the wallbutton.
"Ow! Blazes! Quit! Don't! Oh, darn! Stop! Turn--it--off! E-e-e-e-e-!Help!" And the instant the stabbing current ceased, Fatty fell back fromit and glared at Bill.
"You really can't blame them for quitting, can you?" asked Bill, and foranswer the husky soph turned and fled from the room, followed by thejeering laughter of the crowd.
And that ended it. After Bill had asked the crowd if any or all of themwanted to test the "convincer," as he called the electrical rigging, hebade the onlookers who filled the hallway a pleasant _au revoir_, andGus again pulled the strings that closed the door.