Runyon went home the next day for comfort and repairs. And when he was repaired and comforted, not daring or not caring to face the jeers of his schoolmates, he decided not to return to the scene of his defeat, but to work in a department store instead. Some time after his disappearance, some innocent asked a friendly instructor whether Runyon was expelled on account of his fight with Archer, and thus put the keen noses of the faculty on the scent. So, long after the school had ceased to talk of it, the history of the Battle of 7 Hale was revealed to the authorities.
CHAPTER X
DUNCAN’S DISGUST
Despite his fears, Sam never heard from the faculty with reference to his duel. He had, on the whole, proved to his teachers his right to be considered a law-abiding citizen, if not a distinguished scholar; and the accepted student version of the affair showed him anything but an aggressor. Mr. Alsop, while consenting to the verdict of acquittal, adhered in silence to his own opinion, which held Sam accountable for the desecration of the well by a low fight.
This, however, was a month after the event. Mulcahy had come over on the very evening to offer congratulations.
“You were lucky to get out of it so easily,” he said. “The fact is that I thought Runyon would be too much for you, so the best thing was to switch him off. I didn’t like the idea of your being mauled about by a rough bully like him. That’s why I tried to keep you back.”
“But I simply couldn’t put up any longer with the treatment he was giving me,” protested Sam. “That was worse than fighting and getting licked. I hadn’t any self-respect left.”
“I hoped you would be able to patch it up. I see now that I was wrong, but I was terribly afraid he’d do you some injury.”
Sam uttered a low laugh—quite the good-natured victor. “Well, he didn’t. My knuckles are the only sore spot on me.”
“It’s a good thing you got Kendrick into it with you. He’ll be more likely to come over to our side on the Laurel Leaf matter. Have you talked with him yet?”