"Oh, dry up!" commanded Andy, in no gentle voice. "Don't be an 'I told you so!'"
"Well, you would go out," retorted Frank.
"Yes, and we had a good time, even if we did get caught," said Andy. "Anyhow, it's too early in the term for the proc. to lay it on very heavy. Besides, we had to haze those Freshmen, and we did it good and proper."
Andy was right in guessing that the proctor would not make the punishment heavy. A light sentence was passed on all the culprits save the first-year students, and, by virtue of their having been taken from their quarters against their wills, they were let off with a warning to be more watchful in the future.
Thus the first weeks of the new term passed. Hazing became a thing of the past, and the cap-rush, which was won by the Freshmen, entitling them to wear the insignia of the school on their head-gear, ended hostilities between the class bodies for the time being.
Frank's endeavor to fathom what seemed to be a mystery concerning Billy Chase and the bearded lame man amounted to nothing. The man seemed to have disappeared, and as Billy did not speak of him, Frank forbore to ask any questions.
Billy became quite friendly with the Racer boys and their chums. He was a fine chap, fond of all sports, and modest in his accomplishments. He had the broad, free spirit of the boundless West, and easily made friends.
"But he doesn't get over that peculiarity I noticed first," remarked Jack Sanderson. "He always seems to fear he is going to be attacked from behind."
"Maybe it's nervousness," suggested Andy.
"Nonsense! He hasn't an excess nerve in his make-up. It's something else, I tell you," insisted Jack. "Why, only to-day he——"