Page:Dave Porter at Oak Hall.djvu/261

Rh "On a little jollification of their own, I suppose,—just to outdo us," said Sam Day, and he guessed the exact truth.

It was not until a full hour later that a murmur below told them that something more was going on. At the risk of being discovered, Dave and Roger crept out into the hall and listened. A crowd passed from the rear of the Hall to the doctor's private office. In the number were Plum, Poole, and Macklin.

"This is scandalous, scandalous!" they heard Dr. Clay say. "I never could have believed it had I not seen it with my own eyes!"

"It's all right, doc.,—it's all right," came thickly from the bully of the school. "Just celebrated a little, that's all. No harm done."

"Plum, you have been drinking!"

"Only a glass of wine, sir—only one glass. Always drink wine at home."

"So do we," added Nat Poole. "Had a—a—cel'bration, just as Gus says. Pays to cel'brate sometimes—makes the a—a—brain clearer!"

"Go to my office!" thundered Dr. Clay. "I am—I am astounded!" And then the whole crowd passed out of sight and hearing.

"This is awful, and no mistake!" whispered Dave, as he and Roger crept back into the dormitory. "And little Macklin, too!"