In 28 Clarke there was little conversation during the hurried process of disrobing. It was practically all contained in two sentences, as follows:
“If anything comes of this, Gerald, please remember that I did my best to keep you out of it.” (This in a stern and somewhat displeased tone of voice.)
“Yes, Dan, I will.” (This very, very meekly.)
Then they both went to sleep and, in spite of the uncertainties of the future, slumbered as soundly as though there was no such thing as a conscience!
The next morning the S. P. M. dispersed. Dan, Gerald, Tom, Alf, and Arthur traveled together on the early train to New York; but as the train was pretty well filled with other Yardley boys, there wasn’t much chance to discuss the subject uppermost in their thoughts. It must be acknowledged, however, that none of them, not even Gerald, appeared greatly worried or cast down. As Alf put it with fine philosophy, “It’s by me, fellows. Meanwhile I’m going to have a good time.”
At New York they separated, Gerald waving good-by from the window of his father’s electric brougham to the others, who were negotiating with a cabman for a trip across town. Gerald’s vacation passed quietly. He had a fairly good time, especially when he visited Tom overnight; but being quite alone save for the servants, wasn’t very exciting. He ran up a good-sized telephone bill in calling up Dan and Alf every evening in Philadelphia and having long talks with them by wire. It was from them that he first learned of the success of their Broadwood joke.
“It was in the evening papers last night,” Alf told him over the telephone. “Nearly a quarter of a column in the _Bulletin_ here, and nearly that much in the others. It’s great. There isn’t anything about our being chased, though.”
“Do they know who did it?” asked Gerald, anxiously.
“Sure! That is, they know Yardley did it. ‘School Plays April Fool Day Prank on Rival,’ is the way the _Bulletin_ has it. Look in the New York papers, Gerald, and if you find it clip it out and bring it with you, will you?”
Gerald did and carried quite a bundle of clippings back to Yardley with him at the end of a week. The prank had tickled the risibilities of the editors, and there was scarcely a paper that didn’t make some mention of the incident. They had a fine time reading the stories aloud the evening of their return to school.