Chapter XIII. Jack Has a Mystery

orsoundslumber.Jillpaidnoattentiontillheutteredanamewhichmadeherprickupherearsandlistentothebrokensentenceswhichfollowed.Onlyafewwords,butshedroppedherwork,sayingtoherself,— “Idobelieveheistalkingaboutthesecret.NowIshallfindout,andhewilltellmehimself,asIsaidhewould.” Muchpleased,sheleanedandlistened,butcouldmakenosenseoftheconfusedbabbleabout“heavyboots”“Allright,oldfellow”“Jerry'soff”and“Theinkistoothick.” TheslamofthefrontdoorwokeJack,andhepulledhimselfup,declaringthathebelievedhehadbeenhavinganap. “Iwishyou'dhaveanother,”saidJill,greatlydisappointedatthelossoftheintelligencesheseemedtobesoneargetting. “Flooristoohardfortiredbones.GuessI'llgotobedandgetrestedupforMonday.I'veworkedlikefurythisweek,sonextI'mgoinginforfun”and,littledreamingwhathardtimeswereinstoreforhim,Jackwentofftoenjoyhiswarmbathandwelcomebed,wherehewassoonsleepingwiththeserenelookofonewhosedreamswerehappy,whoseconsciencewasatrest. “Ihaveafewwordstosaytoyoubeforeyougo,”saidMr.Acton,pausingwithhishandonthebell,Mondayafternoon,whenthehourcamefordismissingschool. Thebustleofputtingawaybooksandpreparingforasrapidadepartureasproprietyallowed,subsidedsuddenly,andtheboysandgirlssatasstillasmice,whiletheheartsofsuchashadbeenguiltyofanysmallsinsbegantobeatfast. “Yourememberthatwehadsometroublelastwinteraboutkeepingtheboysawayfromthesaloon,andthatarulewasmadeforbiddinganypupiltogototownduringrecess?”beganMr.Acton,who,beingaconscientiousmanaswellasanexcellentteacher,feltthathewasresponsibleforthechildreninschoolhours,anddidhisbesttoaidparentsinguardingthemfromthefewtemptationswhichbesettheminacountrytown.Acertainattractivelittleshop,whereconfectionery,baseballs,stationery,andpicturepapersweresold,wasafavoriteloafingplaceforsomeoftheboystilltheruleforbiddingitwasmade,becauseintherearoftheshopwasabeerandbilliardsaloon.Awiserule,forthepicturepaperswerenotalwaysofthebestsortcigarsweretobehadidlefellowshungaboutthere,andsomeofthelads,whowantedtobethoughtmanly,venturedtopassthegreenbaizedoor“justtolookon.” Amurmuransweredtheteacher'squestion,andhecontinued,“Youallknowthattherulewasbrokenseveraltimes,andItoldyouthenextoffenderwouldbepubliclyreprimanded,asprivatepunishmentshadnoeffect.Iamsorrytosaythatthetimehascome,andtheoffenderisaboywhomItrustedentirely.Itgrievesmetodothis,butImustkeepmypromise,andhopetheexamplewillhaveagoodeffect.” Mr.Actonpaused,asifhefoundithardtogoon,andtheboyslookedatoneanotherwithinquiringeyes,fortheirteacherseldompunished,andwhenhedid,itwasaverysolemnthing.SeveraloftheseanxiousglancesfelluponJoe,whowasveryredandsatwhittlingapencilasifhedarednotlifthiseyes. “He'sthechap.Won'thecatchit?”whisperedGustoFrank,forbothowedhimagrudge. “TheboywhobroketherulelastFriday,atafternoonrecess,willcometothedesk,”saidMr.Actoninhismostimpressivemanner. IfathunderbolthadfallenthroughtheroofitwouldhardlyhavecausedagreatersurprisethanthesightofJackMinotwalkingslowlydowntheaisle,withawrathfulflashintheeyesheturnedonJoeashepassedhim. “Now,Minot,letushavethisoverassoonaspossible,forIdonotlikeitanybetterthanyoudo,andIamsurethereissomemistake.I'mtoldyouwenttotheshoponFriday.Isittrue?”askedMr.Actonverygently,forhelikedJackandseldomhadtocorrecthiminanyway. “Yes,sir”andJacklookedupasifproudtoshowthathewasnotafraidtotellthetruthasfarashecould. “Tobuysomething?” “No,sir.” “Tomeetsomeone?” “Yes,sir.” “WasitJerryShannon?” Noanswer,butJack'sfistsdoubledupofthemselvesasheshotanotherfieryglanceatJoe,whosefaceburnedasifitscorchedhim. “Iamtolditwasalsothatyouwereseentogointothesaloonwithhim.Didyou?”andMr.ActonlookedsosurethatitwasamistakethatitcostJackagreatefforttosay,slowly,— “Yes,sir.” Quiteathrillpervadedthesc