Under Fire: A Tale of New England Village Life. Frank Andrew Munsey
De Vere saw plainly that, in spite of his endeavors to injure Fred, the latter was more of a favorite than himself. He supposed that he had accomplished something of his design before the party took place, but there he found that the result of his malicious endeavors practically extended only as far as his sister.
Indeed, he almost fancied that his thrusts had been turned against himself, for no one seemed to care for him especially. He was very moody and sulky at his disappointment. He had overestimated his strength and importance, as boys of his stamp always do; moreover, he thought Nellie treated him very coolly, and it is just possible that she did, as her time was fully taken up by another person, and the mere absence of attention on her part was sufficient to make Matthew sullen and disagreeable.
This sourness was noticed by all, and they left him to himself, pretty much as he had hoped to see them treat his rival. The tables were fairly turned upon him, as he could not fail to see. But he had intimated that if Fred attended this party, and matters went a certain way, he would have his revenge.
He resolved to carry out this threat, and so passed a great part of the evening in mischievous plotting.
When it was time for the party to break up, notwithstanding the fact that he had behaved so rudely and had not participated in any of the games, or other forms of amusement, he gathered himself together, approached Miss Nellie, and proposed to serve as her escort.
But Nellie answered, with a demure look and a twinkle in her eye, that another young gentleman had kindly offered to do her that favor.
It is said that under certain conditions even a straw may break a camel's back, but this refusal of Nellie's was no straw to Matthew. It was rather a sledge hammer blow, which brought bad temper and made him desperately angry.
He seized his hat, and without further conversation with any one, left the house and strode sullenly down the street. At the first corner he turned up a by path, and then ran across lots to the main street, and entered a drinking saloon.
"Why did you play, then?" the bartender was asking savagely, addressing a rough looking boy, Tim Short by name. "You have owed me for two months, and now here is another game of billiards to charge."
"I thought I should beat," said Tim, with a discouraged and demoralized look.
"That's what you've thought every time, but that don't pay me. I'm going to have my money now. If you don't pay, I will get it from your father; so come, square up, and be quick about it."
"I will settle on pay day."
"No, that won't do; you have promised that before. Either give me something for security or I will see your father tomorrow."
"How much is the whole bill?" asked Matthew.
"One dollar," replied the bartender.
"Here, Tim, is the dollar. I will lend it to you. Pay him and come with me."
Young Short clutched the dollar eagerly, and turned it over to his creditor with evident reluctance.
"Come, Tim," went on Matthew, "let us go home; it is late for us to be out."
The latter looked upon Matthew as his benefactor, and followed him promptly into the street. When the two were quite alone by themselves, De Vere took his companion by the arm and said:
"I'm in luck finding you, Tim. I rushed down to the saloon, but I was afraid you had gone home, it is so late."
"And I'm better off than you to have my bill paid. How is it you are in luck, and paying out money so free?"
"Never mind the money, Tim," De Vere replied nervously. "I want you to do me a favor. Will you?"
"Will I? Well, I should think I would."
"Will you promise never to mention what I say to any one?"
"I promise."
"It would get us both into trouble if you should, Tim."
"But it ain't nothin' so awful bad, is it, Matthew?" asked Tim, with a tremor of alarm in his voice.
"I think I can trust you, Tim," replied De Vere, ignoring his companion's question.
"I know you can, after all you have done for me," replied Tim gratefully.
De Vere drew young Short close to him as they turned into a dark, narrow street.
"Tim," said he, in suppressed agitation, "you know those tall oak trees on the old Booker road?"
"What, them by the cave in the big rock, do you mean?"
"Yes, that's the place."
Young Short commenced to breathe fast with excitement.
"You know, Tim," said De Vere, scarcely above a whisper, "you know the bushes and rock together furnish a good hiding place."
"I should think they would," responded Tim dubiously.
"We've got some work to do there."
"What, not tonight?"
"Yes, as soon as we can get there, or it will be too late."
"Don't you think it's too late now, Matthew?" suggested Tim.
"I tell you to come along," commanded De Vere in anything but a pleasant mood.
"You didn't tell me what you are going there for."
"I have good reasons for going there. I want to get square with a fellow," responded Matthew, with a ring of revenge in his voice.
"But couldn't you do it just as well alone?"
"No, I couldn't."
"Afraid?" queried Tim.
This question did not have a good effect upon Matthew's nerves, but he was too prudent to fly into a passion with Tim at this time.
"Who is this fellow?" asked young Short doggedly, after a little silence.
"Fred Worthington," answered De Vere bitterly. "I'll show him that he can't interfere with me."
"Fred Worthington!" echoed Tim; and he stopped short where he was.
"I think we had better get some good clubs," said De Vere.
"And then we will get the worst of it," replied Tim. "I know Fred Worthington too well to take any chances on him."
"But we will jump out upon him when he is not expecting us," urged Matthew.
It was hard work to screw Tim's courage up to the necessary point, but his sense of obligation to Matthew finally overcame his well founded fears of Fred Worthington's strong arms, and he promised to take part in the disappointed rival's dastardly plot.
The point to which De Vere led his rascally associate was close beside the path along which Fred Worthington would have to pass on his way home from Dr. Dutton's. Although not far beyond the limits of the village, it was a lonely spot, with no houses near by, and the two young highwaymen could not have found a more suitable place to put their cruel design into execution.
Crouching behind the bushes, the cowardly pair lay in wait, each grasping a heavy stick in his hand, ready to dart out and rain revengeful blows upon their innocent victim.
IV.
The evening was a memorable one for Fred. His enjoyment had been far greater than he anticipated; and what a boy of sixteen will not anticipate is not worth considering.
It seemed