The Heroes of the School or, The Darewell Chums Through Thick and Thin   By: Allen Chapman

Or

The Darewell Chums Through Thick and Thin

BY ALLEN CHAPMAN

AUTHOR OF "BART STIRLING'S ROAD TO SUCCESS," "WORKING HARD TO WIN," "BOUND TO SUCCEED," "THE YOUNG STOREKEEPER," "NAT BORDEN'S FIND," ETC.

[Illustration:

The GOLDSMITH Publishing Co.

CLEVELAND OHIO

MADE IN U.S.A.]

Copyright, 1908, by Cupples & Leon Company

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE I. Expelling a Pupil 1 II. The Wrong Slide 9 III. A Queer Character 15 IV. A Hut in the Woods 22 V. The Challenge 30 VI. A Great Game of Ball 38 VII. Alice has a Chance 47 VIII. The Strange Boatman 52 IX. A Plot Against Bart 59 X. A Cow in School 67 XI. Honoring the Seniors 73 XII. Frank's Queer Letter 82 XIII. Sandy on Guard 89 XIV. Peculiar Operations 96 XV. Ned Stops a Panic 104 XVI. A River Trip 111 XVII. The Tramp's Headquarters 116 XVIII. A Night Scare 123 XIX. The Farmer and the Bull 130 XX. Followed by Sandy 137 XXI. At the Fair 143 XXII. Up in a Balloon 149 XXIII. Above the Clouds 157 XXIV. Into the River 164 XXV. Captured 175 XXVI. Planning to Escape 183 XXVII. The Escape 192 XXVIII. The Pursuit 199 XXIX. An Unexpected Meeting 208 XXX. Striking Oil Conclusion 215

THE HEROES OF THE SCHOOL

CHAPTER I

EXPELLING A PUPIL

"What are you looking so glum about this morning, Stumpy?" asked Ned Wilding as he greeted his chum, Fenn Masterson, otherwise known as "Stumpy" because of his short, stout figure. "Haven't you got your lessons, or are you going to be expelled?"

"I'm not to be expelled but some one else is, Ned."

"What's that? Some one going to be expelled?" asked Bart Keene, coming up in time to hear what Fenn said.

"John Newton is," replied Stumpy.

"What's that got to do with you?" asked Bart, for, as had Ned, he noticed that Fenn looked worried.

"It might have something to do with me if John "

Just then the bell of the Darewell High School began to ring, and, as it was the final summons to classes the three boys and several other pupils hurried into the building. On the way up the stairs Ned Wilding was joined by a tall youth with dark hair and eyes.

"What's this I hear about John Newton?" asked the tall lad.

"Hello, Frank! Why Stumpy says John's got to leave the school, but it's the first I heard about it."

"Are they going to expel him this morning?"

"Seems so. We'll soon know."

A little later several hundred boys and girls were gathered in the auditorium of the school for the usual morning exercises. When they were over the principal, Professor McCloud, came to the edge of the platform.

"I have a very unpleasant duty to perform," he began.

Most of the boys and girls knew what was coming. The principal never prefaced his remarks that way unless he had to expel a pupil. Ned and Bart looked over toward where Fenn sat. They wanted to see if there was any reason for Stumpy's seeming apprehension.

"John Newton!" called Professor McCloud, and a tall youth, with eyes that squinted slightly, left his seat and shambled forward.

"It's coming now," whispered Fenn, and Frank Roscoe, who was sitting beside him, looked at his chum and wondered.

"Any one would think it was you who had to face the music," declared Frank.