Again Bob and Ned said they were. They were mildly excited, too. As Jerry had stated, matters had been a bit dull at Boxwood Hall of late. Nothing of interest had been done, save that a few of the old-time jokes--“standardized plays”--Jerry called them, had been executed. The boys welcomed any sort of change.
Jerry went carefully over all the details with his chums.
“We’ll have to work quickly,” he told them. “And I’ll lay out the work so each one of us will have just certain things to do. And do ’em fast--that’s the word--fast!”
The boys waited until it was near the hour when lights must be extinguished and every student, who had not permission to remain out, must be in his room. Then, with a final word of instruction, Jerry led his chums forth. As he left his room he took up a black robe they sometimes used in the automobile when it was chilly.
“To throw over the picture. The gold frame might shine when we passed some lamp and give the game away. I’ll cover it with this robe.”
Carefully and cautiously the three chums made their way to the chapel. It stood well away from the other college buildings. The only structure near it was the cottage of Martin, the janitor, an elderly man fond of a pipe and a book after supper, so there was little danger of his being abroad. At this hour it was dark and deserted.
“Yes,” answered Jerry, in the same low voice. “But maybe I won’t need ’em.”
As they neared the chapel, and swung around to the side where the door leading to the vestry was, a black form rushed out of the bushes toward them.
“Martin’s dog. Keep still!” commanded Jerry. “Here, Jack, lie down! Go back!” he ordered.
The dog, which had not barked, was a friend of every lad in the college. He fawned upon the three plotters and then, satisfied that they did not want to romp with him, Jack went back to his kennel.
Cautiously they ascended the steps and tried the door.
“Open,” announced Jerry. “I won’t have to use the keys. Come on in, and don’t stumble over a chair or any of the kneeling benches.”
They entered the dark vestry and closed the door behind them.
“Bear cats and little kittens!” muttered Ned. “It’s as black as a bottle of ink.”
“I’ve got a flashlight,” announced Jerry, producing a pocket electric lamp. By its light the boys made their way out of the vestry, up on the platform and over to where the picture hung.