“Mike?” repeated Bert, puzzled.
“Yeah, Mike Mooney. I was goin’ by, see, an’ he calls me over. ‘Beat it up to the Acad’my, he says, an’ find Upton Hall and tell a guy name o’ Hollins in Room 21 he’s wanted here. Tell him Burton sent for him.’ I don’t know what’s up, but I seen three or four guys standin’ ’round on the inside an’ another guy sittin’ in a chair, an’ I guess some one got hurt, huh?”
“Hurt!” exclaimed Bert. “All right, I’ll come. You tell him—”
“Tell him nothin’! I’m goin’ home, see.”
The youth vanished and Bert instinctively started up the stairs for his cap. Then, realizing with dismay that it was already a quarter to ten, he turned and hurried after the messenger.
[CHAPTER XVIII]
MR. CADE RECEIVES
He made quick time down the walk to the gate, through State street to West and so into the Saturday night throngs. The messenger’s theory that Chick had been hurt, alarming for the instant, was soon discarded by Bert. What was far more probable was that Chick had played pool again, lost and was unable to meet his obligations. Probably Mooney was holding him as hostage. Bert frowned at the recollection that his present wealth was represented by two silver quarters and one nickel. If Chick’s indebtedness exceeded fifty-five cents he was, Bert thought, likely to remain a hostage!