THE RACER BOYS ON THE PRAIRIES

Or

The Treasure of Golden Peak

BY CLARENCE YOUNG

AUTHOR OF "THE RACER BOYS," "THE RACER BOYS AT
BOARDING SCHOOL," "THE MOTOR BOYS SERIES,"
"THE JACK RANGER SERIES," ETC.

NEW YORK
CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY

Copyrighted 1913, by
Cupples & Leon Company

The Racer Boys on the Prairies

CONTENTS

THE RACER BOYS ON THE PRAIRIES

CHAPTER I

"WHAT IS HE AFRAID OF?"

"Say, there are the Racer boys back!"

"That's great! Now the fun will start!"

"It sure will. I was afraid they weren't coming here this term."

"Say, Riverview Hall wouldn't know how to get along without 'em."

"Guess you're right."

"Hello, Andy!"

"Hi, there, Frank!"

A group of students who had been skylarking about the boarding school campus, made a rush for the two lads who were slowly advancing across the green stretch.

It was early in the year, and the weather, which had been wet and rather cold, was now turning into balmy spring, with the feeling of baseball in the air. The Easter vacation was over, and the new term at Riverview Hall would open in a few days. Some of the students had already arrived, and more were coming. Among those who had made their appearance were Andy and Frank Racer, whose advent caused such delight to their chums.

"Now we'll have some baseball!" exclaimed Ward Platt, who could not seem to get along without some form of athletics. "Andy and Frank will just make up enough so we can have two nines," he added.

"And we'll do something else besides play ball," declared Jack Sanderson.

"What?" asked John North.

"We've got to turn in, and get up some new kind of hazing for the Freshmen. There'll be a lot of 'em here this term, I understand."

"Good! The more the merrier!" exclaimed Duke Yardly.

"Well, come on and see what news Andy and Frank have," suggested Donald Burgess. "They're always doing something different, and there's no telling what it will be this time."

"That's right," agreed his chums, and they soon surrounded the two lads whose coming seemed to so liven up matters at Riverview Hall.

"How about you, Frank?" asked Ward Platt, as he grasped the elder of the two brothers by the hand.

"Fine," was the rather quiet answer. "And how about you and the other fellows?"

"Slick as axle grease," was the jolly answer.

"What have you been doing with yourself, Andy?" inquired Jack Sanderson, as he clapped the younger Racer lad on the back with such force that Andy gave forth a sound like a small bass drum.

"Prac-practicing!" gasped Andy, as soon as he could get his breath. "Just—practicing, Jack."

"Practicing what, you old mush-eater?" demanded the other. "Have you some new kind of baseball dope, or is it some place to go camping up at the North Pole?"

"Just practicing," replied Andy, who seemed to be trying to get in a certain position in regard to Jack. "Practicing this, old man!" he suddenly exclaimed, and with a quick push, a motion of his foot, and a shove, he sent Jack sprawling backward in the grass.

"That's one for you, Jack!" exclaimed Ward.

"Now will you be good?" demanded Donald Burgess.

"Did you say you wanted gravy on your eggs?" innocently inquired John North.

There was a general laugh as Jack slowly arose, looking rather dazed, for his fall had been a sudden one. He glanced sharply at Andy Racer.

"What did you say you had been doing?" he asked.

"Practicing," replied Andy, with just the suspicion of a grin on his face, that was still tanned from much out-of-door life. "Practicing that trip-up. It's a form of Japanese wrestling, and a fellow back home showed it to me. I've been practicing up on it during the Easter vacation, and I wanted to see if I could work it."

"Oh, you can work it all right!" exclaimed Jack, carefully feeling his elbow. "Let's see how it's done."

"All right," agreed Andy with a readiness that was all too apparent. "Stand up just as you did before, and——"

"Not on your life!" exclaimed Jack, backing away. "No you don't! Once in a day is enough. I meant just show me the motions."

"It's impossible to demonstrate it without a subject to work on," replied the younger Racer lad, while his brother and some of his chums were quietly laughing off to one side. "Come on; I won't throw you hard."

"No, you don't!" went on Jack, still backing away. "Try it on someone else for a change."

"All right," readily agreed Andy. "This is how it's done," and before John North was aware of what was about to happen, Andy turned on him suddenly, and, in an instant, though he tried to save himself by grappling with Andy, John, too, went down.

"Say, that's a dandy trip, all right!" exclaimed Henry Walker. "Come on now, Andy, show us how it's done without sending us head over heels."

"No, the price of admission is one fall!" insisted Andy, who was quite proud of his accomplishment.

"Up to his old tricks; isn't he?" asked Jack of Frank, who was quietly regarding his younger brother.

"Yes, I'm afraid he'll never get over 'em. Andy sees a joke in everything, or, if it isn't there, he'll make it."

"Oh, that's all right. It's a good thing. What's the use of being gloomy? I'm going to get him to show me how it's done."

"Why are you so anxious to learn?"

"Oh, it'll come in mighty useful when we start hazing some of the Freshmen. There are some husky ones here this term, and we'll have our hands full making them walk the chalk line."

"Many here yet?" asked Frank.

"Yes, quite a few, and more are coming."

"Any nice fellows?"

"Yes, lots; to judge by the looks. Since the school has been renovated, thanks to you and Andy, we get a better class of fellows. Yes, there are some nice chaps here, and one fellow who seems to have something of a mystery about him."

"A mystery?" asked Frank, wonderingly.

"Yes, he acts just as if he——"

But Jack suddenly interrupted himself by exclaiming:

"There, Andy's showing how he does that tripping act. I must get next to how it's done. Come on—though I suppose you know," and he started away from Frank.

"No, I don't know the secret of it," admitted the elder Racer lad. "Andy fooled me with it once or twice until I invented a new way to stand him on his head, and then he quit."

"I see!" laughed Jack. "But come on over," and he led the way toward where Andy stood, surrounded by a group of admiring lads.

"But you started to say something about a mysterious Freshman," suggested Frank, who liked to follow up matters.

"Tell you about it later," promised Jack, and he pushed his way into the throng about Andy. "I want to see this first."

Andy was demonstrating his famous "double-hammer-grip-half-Nelson-three-quarter-leg-lock-hold-trip," as it was afterward christened.

"You just put up your right arm so," said Andy to John North, "and then you stick out your left foot, and then you take hold of the other fellow's left hand. Then you take a long breath, lean against him, draw back your other foot and—there you are!"

As Andy spoke John was forced to execute a twist, and found himself sitting on the grass, looking at his companions with such a strange expression that they couldn't help laughing.

"That's how it's done," said Andy, with just a trace of a laugh.

"So—so I see," grunted John, as he arose.

"Oh, rats!" exclaimed Jack. "I thought you were going to do it slow, so we could see the different motions."

"That's the trouble with it," went on Andy. "It has to be done quickly, or it won't work, proving to you that I have nothing up my sleeves," he went on, in the tone of a professional magician; "and that the hand is quicker than the eye. Ahem!"

"Oh, cut it out!" yelled several.

"Yes, show us how it's done. We're all friends of yours," went on Jack. "We may need it in our business when it comes to hazing the Freshmen."

"All right, I'll show you," and with that Andy proceeded to demonstrate slowly, and with much explanation, how the trick fall was brought about. It was really a knack of making the other lad trip himself, by pulling him forward, and then suddenly compelling him to change his center of gravity; and Andy had it down to perfection.

"Say, that's all to the fried eggs!" exclaimed John North, admiringly, when the explanation was completed.

"It sure is," agreed Jack. "I wonder if I can do it?"

He tried, but was not very successful, and then some of the others began imitating it, with Andy standing by and giving words of advice.

"Say, haven't you had enough of this?" asked Frank Racer after a while. "Come on, Andy; we've got to see about our room, and get our things in shape. I want the trunks brought up from the station."

"All right, I'm coming," replied his brother. "No, that's not the way to put out your foot, Jack," and he started toward his chum.

"No, you don't!" exclaimed the latter, backing away. As he did so he glanced across the campus, and at the sight of a solitary figure advancing toward one of the dormitories he uttered an exclamation. Then Jack glided to the side of Frank Racer and whispered to him:

"There he is!"

"Who?"

"That strange Freshman I was telling you about. Just watch him, and see how queer he acts."

The two watched while Andy once more went through his little wrestling lesson. The lad to whom Jack had pointed was about the build of Frank Racer, though slightly larger, and he seemed to be of athletic mould. Yet there was a curious air about him, and, as he walked on, he glanced over his shoulder from time to time, as though to make sure that he was not being followed.

"That's queer," commented Frank.

"It sure is," agreed Jack.

"Does he do that often?"

"All the while since he's been here."

"And how long is that?"

"Three days now. He arrived the day after I came. How does he strike you?"

"Why, just as if he was looking for someone to come up behind him, and hit him with a brick," said Frank.

"That's it, exactly."

"And yet, what is he afraid of?" went on the elder Racer lad. "What's going to happen to him here, I'd like to know?"

"And I don't know. That's the mystery of it. Ever since he's been here he's acted as though he was afraid of something going to happen, or as if someone was going to attack him. I've been watching him, trying to find out what it means, but I can't."

"What sort of a fellow is he otherwise?"

"Oh, good enough."

"What's his name, and where does he come from?"

"Chase—William Chase. I s'pose we'll call him Bill when we get to know him better. But at present it's William. And he comes from some place out west—I don't just know where—on the prairies, I fancy, from one or two remarks he's made."

By this time the strange lad had reached the dormitory. As he entered the doorway he wheeled about quickly as if to make sure that no one was following him, and, even at that distance, Frank and Jack could see a look of fear on his face.

"That is mighty queer," murmured Frank. "What is he afraid of? We'll have to look into this."

CHAPTER II

PLANNING THE HAZING

"What's your object?" asked Jack, as he linked his arm in that of his chum, and the two strolled over the campus.

"Object in what?" inquired Frank Racer.

"In looking into the mystery that seems to be hanging about this William Chase."

"Oh, I don't know as I have any particular object, except that I always like to solve a mystery—if I can. And again, I don't like to see any Riverview Hall lad act as this fellow does. It isn't a good sign. So, if it's all the same to you, Jack, we'll see what we can do toward getting at the bottom of this."

"Sure, I'm with you. And Andy will be in it, of course."

"He will if he can stop fooling long enough," rejoined Frank, glancing over to where his brother was still surrounded by a group of lads intent on learning the trick of the fall.

"Oh, Andy can settle down when he wants to," remarked Jack. "But let's go up and see what sort of a room you're going to have. Ward and I picked out ours, and there's one next to us that——"

"Say no more!" exclaimed Frank. "Andy and I will take that one. Hi, Andy!" he called in a tone of voice that his brother knew would allow of no further trifling.

"Coming!" yelled Andy, and with a last push that sent a would-be masterer of the art of tripping sprawling to the grass, the younger Racer ran to join his brother and Jack.

Frank looked toward the dormitory which the strange new lad had entered. He was no longer in sight, and as the elder Racer lad thought of his queer actions he wondered more and more.

"Here's something that needs looking into the first day we get back to school," he mused, as, surrounded by his chums, all talking at once, he walked toward the dormitory where he had roomed with his brother during the last term.

And now, if you will grant me a few minutes, I will tell you, as briefly as I can, something more about the Racer boys, and the affairs in which they have figured as set down in the previous books of this series.

The first volume was called "The Racer Boys," and in that I detailed how the two were at their summer home in Harbor View, and how they solved the mystery of the identity of a lad in a wrecked motor boat.

Andy and Frank Racer were the only sons of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Racer, of New York. Mr. Racer was a wealthy silk merchant. Andy was about a year younger than Frank, and of a fun-loving nature, always ready for a trick or a frolic, and generally so impetuous that he acted first and thought afterward. Frank was inclined to be the opposite, in that he was filled with determination, and he usually carefully thought out his plan of action before venturing to do an important thing.

Still, Frank liked fun, and was not a second behind his brother when it came to having a good time. He was fond of athletics, as indeed they both were, and they had made good showings on track and field.

How they had a battle with a whale, and how they brought the lad ashore from his wrecked boat; how they got on the track of the unscrupulous man who sought to harm him, and how they finally learned who "Paul Gale" was—all these are told in the first book.

In the second volume, entitled "The Racer Boys at Boarding School," our heroes found themselves in a different atmosphere. Their parents decided to send them to some institution of learning after their summer of activity at the shore, and for this purpose Riverview Hall was picked out. Almost at the start there was trouble. On the boat going to the school Frank and Andy defended a girl from the rude talk of a man who turned out to be Professor Thorndyke Callum, one of the teachers at Riverview Hall. Naturally Mr. Callum "had it in" for the two lads.

"Oh, what a punk school!" Andy Racer had exclaimed on reaching Riverview Hall. And indeed, though his language might not have been polite, it was very descriptive.

Riverview Hall was afflicted with "dry rot." It had fallen upon evil days, the trustees had no money to hire good instructors, and, indeed, there was hardly enough cash to keep the institution going. Dr. Wesley Doolittle, the head master, was doing his best, but he was more of a scholar than a financier.

In consequence the buildings were almost in ruins, there was hardly a decent bed in any dormitory, the football gridiron and the baseball diamond were overgrown with weeds, the rowing shells were wrecks, and the few lads at the place were dispirited.

Shortly after the advent of the Racer boys all this was changed. Frank and Andy were at first much discouraged at the poor condition of the school, but they agreed to "stick it out," and they did. They reorganized the football eleven, put the grounds into shape, fixed up a racing shell, got the baseball nine in running order, and soon Riverview Hall was again among the champions.

Then a millionaire, seeing a great football game in which our two heroes played, and learning how much they had done for the school, invested a large sum in it. So that Riverview Hall came into its own again, and among the improvements was the withdrawal of Professor Callum.

But before all the projected improvements could be made something else happened, as you will find related in detail in the third volume of this series, entitled "The Racer Boys to the Rescue."

Because of the failure of the heating system of the school there came an enforced vacation in the winter. The school had to close for repairs and the students went to their several homes.

Frank and Andy Racer took advantage of the unexpected vacation to go to the Maine woods on a hunting trip. Their uncle was a lumberman in that cold region, and the boys planned to go to one of his camps. They did go, taking Jack Sanderson and Ward Platt with them.

But, before they left they heard bad news from Tom Crawford, a student at Waterside Hall, a rival school of that attended by our heroes. Tom's little brother, Len, who was an invalid, had been at a sanitarium in Maine, and had wandered off in the woods. Then he was captured by some unscrupulous lumbermen, who held him for a ransom until the Racer boys got on the trail, and went to the rescue.

After their fun and adventures in camp the Racer boys and their chums returned to school, for the improvements were so far under way that it was more comfortable. The winter term passed, and the spring one came, with the Easter vacation. Then once more, the students went to their homes, and now, the start of the term that would end in the beginning of summer found our friends back again at Riverview Hall.

The school had not formally opened as yet, though many of the boys, including our heroes, had arrived to take possession of their rooms and get their belongings in shape. When Frank and Andy got there they found many of their chums to greet them, and the manner of that greeting I have already indicated.

"Well, fellows, what are we going to do?" asked Ward Platt, as he sat on Andy's bed, and tried to kick over a pile of clean clothes on the floor. Andy had taken them from his trunk and was about to put them in the bureau drawers. "Let's think of something flossy."

"Yes, it'll be flossy all right if you think of it," rejoined Andy.

"Oh, it will, eh?" and with that Ward succeeded in reaching, with the toe of his foot, the pile of collars, cuffs and other things. In another second they were scattered about the room.

"Here! what did you do that for?" yelled Andy.

"To show you that I could do something flossy," was the answer, and, with a quick motion, Ward took a back somersault over the bed, landing between it and the wall, where Andy could not reach him.

"I'll punch your nose!" went on Andy, as he saw his scattered garments. "I'll——"

"You'll cool down," advised his brother, in a quiet voice. "If you don't you'll have Flopps in here to help Mrs. Stone keep order."

"That's right," added Jack. "I saw Flopps just now spading up a flower bed, and he's right close."

"Oh, get out!" rejoined Andy. "Look at my clean collars and——"

"No business to call names," mocked Ward, from his place of vantage behind the bed. "Beg my pardon, and I'll call it square."

"I will—like pie!" exclaimed Andy. "The next time I catch you alone——"

"Now, now," came soothingly from Jack. "Go easy, boys. Don't get to scrapping so soon. We've got to stick together this term. There are lots of Freshmen—a big class—and they'll have it in for us, most likely. I was just wondering what we could do to 'em."

"Haze 'em," suggested Frank. "They'll have to have it sooner or later."

"Then the sooner the better," chimed in Andy. "Say, fellows, I've got a great scheme!" and in his eagerness to impart a joke he forgot his enmity against Ward, who ventured to come from behind the bed.

"Out with it," commanded Jack.

"Yes, we'll never have any peace until he does," commented Frank.

"And maybe not much afterward," added Ward. "That's the worst of Andy's jokes—there's always a come-back to them."

"Oh, you get out!" exclaimed the younger Racer lad. "I can think up just as good jokes as any of you fellows."

"Yes, but the trouble is that you get caught at 'em," added Ward, who seemed bound to pick at Andy.

"Let's hear what this one is," suggested Jack, who scented trouble between the two chums unless the dispute was quelled. "Go ahead, Andy. We'll all listen. Land knows we need something to wake us up. I've been here three days now, and not a thing has happened. We've been waiting for you two brothers to come and start something."

"Oh, I'll start it all right," declared Andy. "Now I've just thought of something in regard to this hazing. It'll be great!"

He went to the door, opened it softly and looked out; then closing and locking it, rejoined his companions. They had gathered in the room Frank and Andy had picked out—a room next to that occupied by Ward and Jack.

"Why all this gum-shoe business?" inquired Frank.

"Some of the Freshmen might be listening," replied his brother. "I saw one or two looking at us rather sharp as we came up here. We can't be too careful. Now for my plan."

His voice dropped to a whisper, as his companions drew more closely to him, and in a low voice Andy imparted his plan, pausing now and then to listen at the door. But, as far as he could tell, no one tried to listen at the portal.

"What do you think of it?" demanded Andy, at the conclusion of his talk.

"Great!" exclaimed Jack.

"I'll take back all I said about you," added Ward.

"If we can get the things it will be sport," declared Frank.

"Oh, we can get 'em in town all right," asserted Andy. "And I've got the cash, too."

"You ought to have—the first of the term," commented his brother, with a laugh.

"And now let the black work begin!" hissed Jack, after the manner of a stage villain. "Them is hard words, Kate!"

"You must give me them papers, villain!" exclaimed Frank, with mock heroics.

"Aw, cut out the fooling and get down to business, fellows," pleaded Andy. "There's lots to be done if we want to go at this hazing proper."

"All right, we're with you," assented Ward.

A little later four figures were seen strolling across the campus in the direction of a trolley line that ran to the town of Riverview. The boys were gone for some time, and there were many whisperings among them, as they came back, almost late to supper, for which Mrs. Stone, the matron, cautioned them.

A little later darkness covered Riverview Hall. That is the proper way to begin to tell this part of the story. Deep, dark, black darkness. In fact, as Andy remarked, you could easily tell that it was night.

From their rooms stole four figures.

"Are you all right, fellows?" whispered a voice.

"Of course, Andy," answered Frank. "Don't ask so many questions. Someone will hear you."

"Well, I don't want any slip-up," declared the younger Racer lad. "Is everything all right?"

"These whiskers tickle my face," complained Ward.

"A pity about you," snapped Andy. "Cheese it! Here comes someone!"

The four lads, who had reached the basement of the dormitory, crouched behind some packing cases, and waited in tense silence for what was to come next.

CHAPTER III

A NEEDLESS ALARM

"It's only Flopps!" exclaimed Jack, after a pause—made painful from the fact that the conspirators had to assume uncomfortable attitudes because of the sudden alarm.

"That's right, so it is," agreed Ward, looking over the top of a packing case, and seeing the gardener putting away some of the implements he had used that day. "He's all right."

"Hold on!" exclaimed Andy in a whisper, as he saw the others about to leave their place of concealment, to proceed with the hazing operations that were under way.

"What's the matter now?" demanded Frank.

"If he sees the way we're togged up he'll raise a row sure," explained Andy. "He won't know us, and he'll think we're black-handers or something like that. He'll bring every professor and monitor out on the run. Lay low for another minute and he'll go out."

"I guess that's right," admitted Frank. "Andy is getting sense in his old age."

Once more the four crouched behind the cases, and watched the gardener in the dimly-lighted basement. Having put away the rake, spade and hoe, Flopps proceeded to put out the gas he had lighted, and left.

"Clear coast," announced Andy, after an observation. "Now to make the Freshmen know what's what. You notified the other fellows, didn't you?" he inquired of his brother and chums.

"Sure," asserted Frank. "They'll meet us outside."

The four proceeded cautiously until they had emerged from the lower part of the dormitory. They found some of their friends waiting for them, they, too, having eluded the vigilance of monitors and suspicious professors.

"Let's see," remarked Andy, in a low voice. "There are eight of us here."

"Six are coming from the West dormitory," volunteered John North.

"And ten from Bradley Hall," added Duke Yardly, referring to a new dormitory where some of the older students had rooms.

"Then we'll have enough for a start," commented Andy. As he spoke he advanced into a stray beam of light from a school window.

"For cats' sake, what have you on your face?" gasped Duke.

"That's our disguise," explained the younger Racer lad. "We're going to treat the Freshies to a new kind of hazing—a surprise, and we want you fellows to join in. Now I'll explain," and he did, at some length.

"Say! That's great!" exclaimed Donald Burgess. "How'd you think of that, Andy?"

"Oh, Andy's think-tank is always working," asserted his brother—"at least it is when it comes to such things as this. Now if it was a geometry proposition, or a Latin construction——"

"Oh, I'm as good at boning as you are," retorted Andy. "Here come the other fellows. Now I've got to tell them how to behave. You see the game is this," he went on. "You chaps will start in on the regular hazing stunts—making 'em eat salt, doing a dance, standing on their heads, and all that. Then in the midst of it we four will come bursting in, and—well, we'll see what will happen."

"That's right!" cried Tom Bennett, admiringly. "This will make a sensation all right!"

A number of luckless Freshmen had gathered for common communion and consolation in the large hall of the dormitory set aside for their special use. They were commiserating one with the other, wondering what sort of hazing would be meted out to them—for it had been rumored that the ordeal would start that night. Shortly after ten o'clock into the place burst a crowd of Sophomores and Juniors.

"Up, boys, and at 'em!" came the cry, and then began the struggle between the two forces. The Freshmen were taken at a disadvantage, and were soon overpowered. Then, too, the first-term lads did not like to put up too much of a fight.

For, be it known, hazing, as practiced at Riverview, was a sort of ancient and honorable institution, not very severe, and the lad who put up too much of a protest against "taking his medicine," had life made miserable for him the rest of his time at school. So there was more or less submission, though there were one or two rather strenuous encounters.

The Freshmen were being put through their "stunts," and being made to do all sorts of ridiculous things, when the door of the room, that was being guarded by a committee of the hazers, suddenly flew open, and a quartette of masked and bewhiskered figures rushed in.

"Hands up!" came the sharp command, and objects that glittered menacingly in the light were held forward. "Hands up!"

Instantly there was confusion, the hazers uttering louder cries of amazement than did the Freshmen.

"Go through 'em, boys!" came the command from the foremost figure, who seemed to be the leader. "See if they've got any coin. Take only gold watches, though; we can't use the dollar kind. Lively!"

"Oh, they're burglars!" yelled one of the hazers.

"That's what!" snapped one of the masked figures. "Hands up, and keep 'em up!" came the sharp command.

"What right have you in here?" demanded Duke Yardly, in threatening tones. "This is a private school, and——"

"Nothing's private when we come in!" said the leader. "Go through 'em, boys. We two will keep 'em covered!"

While two of the masked and bewhiskered individuals held the glittering objects pointed toward the crowd of startled students, the other two began a quick but systematic search of their pockets. Loose change and bills were abstracted, together with several gold watches.

"Oh, please don't take that!" begged one Freshman, as a gold match box was brought to light. "My best—my mother gave me that."

"Best girl, you mean!" snapped the taller of the masked figures. "Take it, boys."

"This is a high-handed proceeding!" declared John North.

"If you can get your hands any higher, lift 'em," said one of the hold-up individuals, sarcastically.

"All present are accounted for," reported one of the searchers, as he advanced toward the two guards, holding a hat filled with a miscellaneous collection of treasures.

"Very good. Back to the cave. And if you fellows have any regard for your own welfare you won't follow," the taller looter added significantly. "You'll stay here five minutes without giving the alarm or——" He did not finish, but looked suggestively at the object in his hand.

Backing to the door, the four hold-up individuals slipped quickly out of it, and locked it after them, making the group of Freshmen and hazers prisoners. At once there burst out a riot of talk in the room, succeeded by chuckles of mirth from the quartette.

"Say, it went off like apple pie," said one of the masked figures.

"Couldn't have been better," added another.

"Someone's coming!" was the sudden warning.

All but one of the figures swung out of sight around the corner of the corridor. This figure, still holding the object that had cowed the students, was in full view of a hall light as someone advanced. Then, seeing that the newcomer was a pupil, the masked figure, making a threatening gesture, commanded:

"Hands up!"

The effect of the order was startling. The student with a quick motion fairly leaped at the masked figure, knocking the shining object to one side, at the same time exclaiming:

"Ha! So you thought you'd catch me off my guard, eh? You thought you could sneak in here and get it? Well, I've fooled you. I've been looking for you the last three days. I expected you'd come East after me. But it won't do you any good. Now I'm going to give the alarm!"

There was so much of menace and threat in the voice and action of the student that the masked figure gasped. There was a fierce struggle, and as the new student took a long breath in readiness to sound the cry of alarm, the masked one called out:

"Hold on, old man! It's only a joke. We're doing a hazing stunt. No harm intended. Let go my shoulder. You're needlessly alarmed. It's only a joke, I tell you."

For a moment the two stood confronting one another, locked in a fierce grip. Then, as the student seemed to believe the assurance given him, he asked:

"Then you're not after—not after my——"

"We're not after anything," was the answer. "It's a joke, I tell you," and, tearing off his mask, the pretended hold-up man revealed himself as Frank Racer.

CHAPTER IV

A MYSTERIOUS MAN

"Say, it went off all right; didn't it?"

"And we sure had 'em going!"

"None of 'em suspected anything until after you fellows went out, and then we heard a laugh in the hall."

"That gave the thing away."

"Oh, but it was all right anyhow."

"And I guess they can sort out their own stuff."

"But what happened after you four left?"

These questions, comments, surmises and exclamations of admiration followed swiftly, one on the heels of the other, as Frank and Andy Racer, and several of their chums, gathered in the room of our heroes after the hazing.

Of course my readers know that the four "hold-up men" who entered while the hazing was in progress were Frank, Andy, Jack and Ward. They had disguised themselves with false beards and masks, and the game was to enter at the height of the hazing, pretending to be real burglars, and to take a few objects of value away from their own friends and many from the Freshmen.

The plan worked well, and few of the Freshmen suspected anything but that some real criminals, taking advantage of the fun at the school, had selected that opportunity to make a "haul."

"But what happened when you fellows went outside?" asked Donald Burgess. "There we were—Sophomores and Juniors—holding up our hands just like the Freshmen, and pretending to be more scared, all the while bemoaning the loss of our coin and jewelry. But something happened outside in the hall; didn't it?"

"There did," admitted Frank, and he told of meeting the lone student, and pretending to hold him up.

"I never saw a fellow act so queer," put in Andy. "We were keeping back, and letting Frank have his fun. Why, the fellow really thought he was up against a regular second-story man, I guess. He didn't show the white feather, though, and——"

"Who was he?" interrupted John North.

"Billy Chase," answered Frank. "I knew him the minute I saw him, and I thought I'd have some fun. But he didn't know me until I took off my mask."

"Billy Chase," murmured Jack, and it might be worthy of note that the formal "William" was dropped, and the more comradely name of "Billy" adopted. It was Billy Chase from then on, I might explain.

"Yes, Billy Chase," repeated Frank Racer. "The lad you spoke to me about—the lad who seems afraid of his own shadow."

"He wasn't afraid of a shadow to-night," commented Ward Platt, with a chuckle. "He went right at you, Frank."

"He sure did, and he's got a grip, too, let me tell you. Of course that was only a toy pistol I had, but he must have thought it was a real one. He got a hold on me and bent my arm back in regular Western style, so that, in case it had been a real gun, I couldn't have done anything. Oh, he's up to snuff all right, believe me!"

"And yet he seemed afraid you'd get something from him," commented Andy.

"Yes. That's the queer part of it. He must carry something valuable around with him, that he doesn't want someone to get."

"What happened after you told him who you were?" asked Ward.

"Oh, he seemed to wilt, and be sort of dazed. But I can't blame him. He had me 'buffaloed' for a while. It was a case of horse and horse. That Billy Chase is an all-right lad, I think, even if I did play a low-down trick on him. I think he'll make good, even if he is a Freshman."

"But what happened after we got out of the room?" asked Andy, in whose fertile brain the whole hazing joke had originated.

"Oh, we just stayed there, with our hands up in the air," explained John North. "Then some of the Freshmen began to get wise, and they soon saw some of us snickering. Then it was all up."

"We left their stuff on the big table in the lower hall," explained Andy. "It's all piled up there."

"And what about our stuff?" asked Duke Yardly quickly. "Did you mix it all up together there?"

"Sure we did," said Jack. "We didn't have time to separate it. Besides, we couldn't show favors. We robbed Freshmen and all you fellows alike. You can sort it out."

"Yes, we can!" exclaimed Duke in deep disgust. "It'll be just like those Freshman to hold on to our stuff, now that they're wise to the joke. Say, this didn't turn out the way I thought it would."

"That's always the way with Andy's jokes," remarked Herbert Waldron.

"Aw, let's see you get up a better one," challenged Andy, trying to get some of the glue from the false beard off his chin. "It was a peach, I think."

"Oh, it wasn't so bad," admitted Jack. "But it sure is queer about Billy Chase. I wonder what he's got back of him, anyhow?"

"Give it up," came from Andy. "Ouch! That pulled!" he exclaimed, as he removed a patch of the false hair.

Frank Racer said nothing, but there was a determined look on his face that spoke more than words. He had been much puzzled by the strange actions of the Freshman, and he made up his mind that he would find out more about him.

There came a knock on the door of the room where the chums were gathered. It produced instant silence.

"Come—come——" began Andy.

"Cheese it!" whispered Duke, hoarsely. "It's after hours and you've got lights!"

Then came another voice saying:

"Better cut for it, fellows; the proctor is on the job. Some of the Freshman have complained to him."

Andy Racer never moved more quickly than he did a moment later when he "doused the glim," to use Jack Sanderson's expression for putting out the light. Then in silence and darkness the guests of the Racer boys filed out into the hall, and sought their own rooms. The fun of the night was over.

"Well, how about you?" asked Andy of Frank, as they were about to turn in. The proctor had just knocked on their door to inquire if they were in bed. They had answered that they were—with their clothes on—but they did not mention the latter fact.

"Oh, I guess we might as well go to bed," remarked Frank, as he stretched out on the mattress. "We've had a strenuous day, and there are more ahead of us."

"Of course," assented Andy. "We didn't half finish with the hazing."

"And I haven't half finished thinking about the queer way Billy Chase acted," went on his brother. "There's something strange going on here, Andy, and it's up to us to find it out."

"How do you mean?"

"Why, I mean that this lad is evidently carrying something valuable about with him, and he's afraid of being robbed. That's what he thought I was after. He seems like a nice chap, and I want to help him, if I can."

"So do—I," murmured Andy sleepily.

"Get out!" exclaimed Frank. "You'll play a joke on him first chance you get."

"Sure I will—why not? Goo' ni'——" and Andy was too sleepy to finish.

The hazing and the subsequent advent of the masked figures, who were at first taken for thieves, was the talk of the school the next day. The joke was on the Freshmen, of course, and they were a long time hearing the last of it.

But, in a measure, they succeeded in "getting back" at their traditional enemies, for, after Frank, Andy, Jack and Ward had left the money and watches in an indiscriminate heap, the Freshmen hid that part of the spoils belonging to the other students, and it was some time before each lad found his own.

But the affair was taken in the right spirit, and Andy received proper credit for originating it. More new students arrived at Riverview, and several of the former friends of our heroes came back. The next few days were full of activity at the school.

"We've just got to get out on the diamond!" exclaimed Ward, one warm afternoon. "Come on, fellows, let's get up two scrub nines and have a game."

"I'm with you!" cried Andy.

"Sure thing!" added Frank.

"Let the Racer boys be the captains," came from Ward.

"Sure!" was the general assent, and soon Frank and Andy were choosing sides.

"Want to come in?" asked Frank, of Billy Chase, who sauntered up when almost the last player had been picked.

"Well, I'm not very good at it, but I'd like to get in the game."

"All right then. I'll put you out in the field. By the way, no hard feelings about the other night, I hope?"

"Not at all," laughed Billy. "I sure did take you for a hold-up man, though. And as I'm carrying about with me some valuable——" He seemed to recollect himself suddenly, and stopped with a jerk. "Oh, no hard feelings at all," he said presently. "I can take a joke."

"Glad of it," spoke Frank. "Well, let's play ball."

The impromptu game began. The playing was rather ragged, for it was the first real contest of the season, and none of the lads was in form. But it was lots of fun for all that.

Andy was at the bat, and Frank's side was in the field. Andy knocked what ought to have been a three-bagger, out in center field, seemingly away over the player's head, and beyond him. But, by a phenomenal run, and a quick jump, Billy Chase gathered in the ball, retiring the side.

"Good catch!"