Meanwhile, history was in the making on the trampled field of battle.
At a few minutes before the half-hour after six, a large, wide-shouldered youth attired in a pair of old trousers, a faded brown sweater that lacked part of one sleeve and a cloth cap of a violent green-and-brown plaid might have been seen ambling leisurely across the campus in the direction of the West Gate. In fact, he was seen, for from an open window on the front of Leonard Hall a pyjama-clad boy thrust his head forth and hailed softly.
Joe paused and searched the front of the building until a spot of pale lavender against the expanse of sunlit brick supplied the clue. Then: "Hello, Keith," he answered. "Can't you sleep?"
Leighton Keith chuckled. "Where are you going?" he asked.
"Just for a stroll," replied Joe carelessly.
Joe shook his head. "Got a date, Keith, with a guy named Eldredge."
Keith nodded and waved, but, after Joe had passed from sight around the corner of the building, he pursed his lips thoughtfully and stared out into the early morning world. Gradually a smile curved his mouth. "Paul Eldredge," he murmured. "Guess we'll look into this." He donned a dressing-gown and passed into the corridor and along it until he reached a window that overlooked Linden Street. Joe was just sauntering through the gate, hands in pockets, nonchalance expressed in every motion. But Keith noted with satisfaction that he turned to the right into Apple Street and presently crossed that thoroughfare and disappeared into the lane that led toward the abandoned brickyard. Keith whistled expressively if subduedly and went quickly back to his room and aroused Harry Cater by the simple method of pulling the clothes from him. "Katie," as he was called, groaned, clutched ineffectually for the bedding and opened one eye.
"Wake up, Katie," said Keith. "Joe Dobbins has a scrap on with Eldredge at the brickyard. Come on!"
"He just told me." That was near enough the truth, Keith considered. Katie opened the other eye, stared around the room and slung one foot over the edge of the bed. "All right," he said briskly. "Wait till I get a shower and I'll be with you."
"Shower? Nothing doing!" Keith was piling rapidly into his clothes. "There isn't time. This is something a little bit choice, old man, and we don't want to miss it. Get a move on!"