n.

"Your father says, child," he related, "that he took the gun from the
stern of the boat, and laid it on the shore, near where he was hauling
the net.... He heard a shot and ran forward and was arrested. He swore
to me that he did not fire the gun and I believe him. The fatal step was
in his taking the rifle at all, because that was disobeying the law."

"Ye air my friend, too," Tess said beamingly, leaning over and taking
the Professor's hand in hers. Before he could stop her, she had raised
it to her lips, kissed it several times, and dropping it again, calmly
went on eating.

CHAPTER XXV

At the "Cranium" Fraternity, Dan Jordan was closeted with three little
freshmen. Swipes looked downcast.

"I want to do something to help," he wailed; "I feel as if it were all
my fault that the parson is gone. We can't have any fun without him.
It's tedious, too, being cooped up here not being able to go anywhere
for fear of being taken ourselves."

Dan cleared his throat preparatory to speaking.

"If you fellows won't peach," said he in an eager undertone, "I'll tell
you something and you can help."

"What?"

"We'll have Graves if you will all do as I tell you."

"Watch me," cried Swipes, turning a somersault. When he was in the most
harrowing position, Brown gave him a swift kick.

"Give him one for me, Shorts," whispered Spuddy, but Swipes was on his
feet again, ready to listen.

There was a general hurrah when Jordan in subdued tones had outlined the
plan.

"Where are Graves' evening clothes," demanded Dillon; "we must smuggle
them into the opera-house some way."

"They'll be there all right," replied Jordan; "they've gone in with the
caterer's stuff. You'd better send your own best togs in a barrel or the
sophomores will see to it that you won't have them when you want
them.... Now mind, mum's the word."

The fishermen of squatter's row did not recognize the stranger who
slouched along by the side of Tessibel, the night of the freshman
banquet. She was on her way to the city with her fish. One after another
women poked frowsy heads from the hut windows at the barking of their
dogs. But Tess went steadily on, not even heeding her companion who
hurried his footsteps to keep close to her.

"Ye sells yer fish for a shillin' a pound," said she after a few
minutes' walk.

The man nodded. Once only did he raise his eyes. They were passing a
dingy-looking empty house, with a large broken window.

Ju