“Come on up here, Hendy. What are you sitting off there for?” called Crawford, for Henderson had taken the seat nearest the door, where he could see any one approaching.
“I’m waiting for Coyle,” he replied, without turning his head.
“Oh, Coyle’s always half an hour behind time. He’ll be late at his own funeral if he don’t look out,” cried Green.
“Say, Green—got your examples done?” asked Crawford, glancing at the clock and keeping an eye on Henderson.
“No, plague it! Bobby gave us a double dose yesterday, an’ it takes such a time to prove ’em all.”
“If we only had the keys now, ’twouldn’t take half so long,” grumbled Barber.
At this moment Henderson coughed, and Crawford, whose back was towards the door, called out loudly, “Well, I say it’s no fair to take away algebra keys and let the Latin class keep their ponies. Clark and some others wouldn’t get the marks they do if Bobby should make a raid on their ponies.”
“Sh-sh-sh” went around the group, and Henderson strolled carelessly back to his own seat as Mr. Horton entered the room.
The other boys looked inquiringly at the teacher, wondering how much he had overheard, but they could gather nothing from his face. They were not left long in doubt, however, for, as soon as the opening exercises were over, he said:—
“When, a short time ago, I called for all the algebra keys, I supposed that I had put an end to the use of helps of that sort, but from a remark that I overheard as I entered the school-room this morning, I am obliged to believe that I have been mistaken. I will give you the same opportunity that I gave on the previous occasion, and ask every boy who has, or who uses, any translation or other such help in preparing his Latin to rise.”