“Why are you sick of it?” inquired Short in a sneering tone.
“For one reason because I like him. He’s a fine, generous, good fellow and he looks upon me as one of his best friends. I’ve not a thing against him; he’s never done me a single ill turn and I’ve no reason to dislike him. This thing is on my mind all the time and I’m sick of the job. Now I want you to let me out of it. I’ll repay you the money you’ve advanced to me——”
“I thought you were a welcher,” cut in Short contemptuously, “and I know what you’ve done is not from any love of me; you’re my man, bought and paid for; do you understand that? And if you fail me I’ll send you to jail, just as sure as I’m sitting here.”
“Sh, Tom, don’t talk so loud; some one may hear.”
“They’ll hear a good deal about you before long if you don’t stand up to your job. Now look here; I’ll be a good boss but you’ve got to do what I tell you to do. You’re my man, now don’t forget that. I suppose I’m a villain; I don’t care anything about that. I don’t want any physical harm to come to Osborn; that isn’t what I’m after. But he had me dismissed in disgrace and I intend that he shall have a dose of the same medicine; you’ve got to do the work, that’s all there is about it.”
“It’s mighty dirty work, Tom,” said the other bitterly.
“Not a bit dirtier than when you deliberately stole two hundred dollars from me. And you’ve taken my money right along without any kicking; it’s too late for you to get tender about the work you’re doing.”
The other turned pale and looked troubled. His voice shook as he replied: “Well, Tom, there’s no use whatever of trying to put Osborn in the soup while the present superintendent and commandant are here. They know somebody is after Osborn—I wrote you all about that. After the letter I sent in signed ‘Indignant Fourth Classman’ Osborn was called to the superintendent’s office. What occurred there none of us know; he has kept mum about it, and of course I couldn’t afford to be inquisitive. Then after that came the superintendent’s order directing the person who signed that letter to report to him; you see there’s no use for us to put up any job on him now. We’d simply defeat our own ends, that’s all. You’d better drop it for the time, Tom.”
“Perhaps you’re right; later on it would come harder to him than now. But that fellow must be dismissed. Look here, can’t you get him on hazing?”
“I could easily if he would haze, but he knows the man that tried to have him accused of stealing and of cheating would report him if he hazed; I’ve heard him say so and he’s not going to do any.”