“You won’t be alone exactly. Oh, I know what you mean, and I’m sorry, but—there isn’t anything else to do, Leon.”
“You mean you’re pig-headed,” corrected the other exasperatedly. “There are plenty of other things to do. You can stay here and behave like a sensible chap and not like a—a kid! Lots of fellows have been put on probation before this, but they didn’t get mad and leave school. What will Mr. Thingamabob, your guardian, say?”
“I don’t know. He won’t care much. I told him I might leave.”
They walked on in silence to the end of the bricks. Then Leon nodded at the lights in Doctor Duncan’s house. “What did he say, Monty?” he asked.
“Not much. He was decent—in a way. Or tried to be. The trouble is with Old Whiskers, Mr. Rumford. He insists that I purposely put the keys on his table, or whatever he calls it, to show my disrespect. Well, I didn’t. I didn’t know it was his study. I thought it belonged to one of the fellows. I told the Doctor that, but I don’t think he believed me. Anyway, Rumford insists on having me punished and Charley says I’m to go on pro. And that settles it.”
“But—but did you tell him it was just a joke?”
“I did. He said a joke wasn’t a joke unless it was taken as one, or something like that. Oh, I’ll give Charley credit for being decent. I think he’d have let me down a heap easier if it wasn’t for Rumford. Well, never mind. I thought I’d tell you. I might leave sort of suddenly, you know. I dare say Standart’ll make a fuss about being damaged. He’s a low-down, white-livered coyote, anyway.”
“You’re certain Standart told Charley?” asked Leon.
“He didn’t tell Charley. He told Rumford. I found that out. I asked what possible evidence there could be against me, sort of injured innocence act, you know, and Charley said that one of the keys had been seen in my possession. That means Standart. No one else saw the pesky thing. I wish he had more fight in him. It’s going to be like whipping a puppy.”