“Well, perhaps he may know it all to-night. I’ve got my suspicions already, but I’m not going to say anything yet. But I tell you I won’t sleep a wink to-night until I’ve heard what Ralph has to report. By the way, did you ever find out what the name of Mr. Musgrove’s widowed sister was?”
“Yes, I had that much curiosity. It is Mrs. John Langworthy, and her husband was a very smart and wealthy lawyer years ago,” replied Uncle Jim, with a knowing smile.
“H’m; Langworthy, eh?” and Frank looked meaningly at Ralph, as he echoed the name.
CHAPTER XX
TWICE A PRISONER
It was a peculiar coincidence that the freshman spread was to come off this same night that meant so much to Ralph.
The sophomores had been wild to glean the particulars, so that they might in some fashion manage to break up the feast, either by kidnaping some of the first-year students, get possession of the president of the class, or else purloin the good things that had been laid in for the spread.
Ralph had intended going, for it promised to be great fun. This new turn to his own private affairs, however, knocked the notion out of his head. Indeed, he forgot about it entirely.
The minutes dragged terribly, and yet he knew that he ought to wait a decent time to allow Sam Smalling and his little family a chance to eat their supper.
About a quarter to eight he could hold back no longer. It was getting dark, but he had asked questions of Frank, and knew just where to find the cottage in which the Smallings lived.
To reach it he must walk almost a mile around the town; but that, he expected, would be a matter of only ten or fifteen minutes at most.