“Not at all,” agreed Piper sternly. “Berlin called our attention to the handkerchief before he’d even reached it. He didn’t have a chance to hang it there.”
“That’s all I want to know,” said Rod quietly, “and I’m much obliged to you.”
“Don’t mention it,” returned Sleuth cuttingly.
Barker reached the academy barely in time to escape being late for the opening of the morning session. As he seated himself at his desk his eyes were turned in the direction of Rodney Grant some distance away, but already Rod had a book open before him and was apparently quite oblivious to his surroundings. And all through the forenoon the young Texan gave constant attention to his books and recitations, not even seeming aware of the fact that the other boys drew away from him in classes, leaving him alone and solitary. Even at intermission he succeeded in maintaining his demeanor undisturbed, although with half an eye and no ears at all he could not have failed to take note of the sneers and disdain of his schoolmates.
As the deep snow had obliterated the path across lots, it was necessary for him to take a roundabout course through the village in order to reach his aunt’s home; and, on his way for midday lunch, turning up Main Street from the square, he perceived several fellows blocking the sidewalk in front of Hyde’s livery stable. Instantly he knew there was trouble impending, but not even for an instant did he hesitate or slacken his steady stride. Rollins, Tuttle, Cooper, Piper, Springer—they were all there. Barker was there, too, standing in the middle of the sidewalk, his gaze fixed on the approaching lad, for whom he was plainly waiting, and Rod knew they had made haste to reach this spot ahead of him.
Within Grant’s heart a voice seemed calling warningly: “Steady! Be careful! You know what may happen if you lose your head.” But they had sneered at him as a coward, they had branded him as a braggart and a quitter, and now the time had come when his manhood would no longer permit him to betray the slightest wavering; so, with his face a trifle pale, but his eyes shining dangerously, and every nerve in his body keyed, he went forward.
Barker held his place in the middle of the sidewalk; unless he turned aside a bit Rod must brush against him. Their eyes met, and suddenly Berlin cried:
“Hold on a minute, you dog-killing whelp! I told you what I’d do if the law wasn’t sufficient to make you settle for that dirty piece of business, and now you can’t get away unless you turn your back and run for it.”
“Barker,” said Grant, and there was something in his voice that surprised those waiting, staring lads, “I turned my back on you once, and I’ve been mortally ashamed of it ever since, even though it was for your own good, as well as my own, that I did so. You’ve pushed me too far, and I’ll never turn again; but I warn you that you’d better step aside right lively and let me pass.”
“Ha! ha!” laughed Berlin, in derisive contempt. “You’re as brave as a cornered rat.”