human
Merry, what would you say if I were to tell everything I could find out about our crew to the sophs?
gpt
I should say you were a confounded sneak!
human
Hum! I kinder thought you'd say something like that.
gpt
But you do not know too much about the crew.
human
I know something, and I could know more if I had a mind to. All I would have to do would be to play the spy a little.
gpt
Well, I suppose that is right. What about it?
human
Somebody is playing the spy.
gpt
How do you know?
human
I've got it straight enough, for the sophs know all about what our crew is doing. They are laughing over the Oxford stroke and the English oars.
gpt
How do you know this?
human
Heard 'em.
gpt
When?
human
To-night.
gpt
Where?
human
On the street. Browning and a party were going down to Morey's, and they were having a high old time with Hartwick, who was explaining the advantages of the stroke and the oars our crew has adopted.
gpt
That's not proof that somebody has played the spy. It may have slipped out through the carelessness of some of our men.
human
It may. But I don't think so. I heard Emery ask Hartwick how he knew so much about us.
gpt
What did Hartwick say?
human
He said he had a nice fresh flat who thought it a fine thing to play the spy and blab all he found out.
gpt
Blay bluses--I mean blue blazes! cried Harry, banging his fist down on the table.
human
That's what makes me cot under the hollar! A man who would do a thing like that will steal a sheep! I'd like to have the pleasure of thumping him a few times--just a few!
gpt
It will not be healthy for the spy if I catch him, he finally declared.
human
I'll make it pretty hot for him around here!
gpt
Which would be a highly commendable action,
human
Have you any idea who would do such a low-down thing?
gpt
Sometimes we have ideas which we do not care to express.
human
That's right; but in a case like this--confidentially--to us, you know--
gpt
Well, if I say anything, it is to be strictly confidential.
human
Sure!
gpt
You both give me your word for it?
human
We do.
gpt
If I knew, I would not hesitate to come out openly and accuse the fellow, said Dismal;
human
Go ahead.
gpt
Well, there is a certain fellow who has not been above playing into the hands of the sophs in the past, and it is natural for me to suspect him. His name is--
human
Hello, fellows! cried Ditson.
gpt
How are yer, Jones! I am surprised to see you here. Is it possible you have let up cramming long enough to make a call? Why, I have even heard that you had your eye on some classical scholarship prize as soon as this. Everybody who knows you says you're a regular hard-working old dig.
human
There are fools who know other people's business a great deal better than their own,
gpt
That's right, nodded Ditson, who made a great effort to be rakish in his appearance, but always appeared rather foxy instead.
human
But I tell you this matter of burning the midnight oil and grinding is not what it's cracked up to be. It makes a man old before his time, and it doesn't amount to much after he has been all through it. Goodness knows we freshmen have to cram hard enough to get through! I am tired of it already. And then we have to live outside the pale, as it were. When we become sophs we'll be able to give up boarding houses and live in the dormitories. That's what I am anxious for.
gpt
It strikes me that you are very partial to sophs,
human
They're a rather clever gang of fellows, he said.
gpt
Freshmen are very new, as a rule. Of course there are exceptions, and--
human
I suppose you consider yourself one?
gpt
Oh, I can't tell about that. But supposing I am; by the time I become a soph some of the newness will have worn off.
human
I am not particularly impressed with any freshman who seems to think so much of sophomores. You ought to stay with them all the time.
gpt
Oh, I don't know. They have treated me rather well, and I have found the most of them easy people.
human
They seem to have found some freshman easy fruit. Somebody has been blowing to them about our crew.
gpt
I know it, was Ditson's surprising confession,