THE VINDICATION OF THE PREX “ Play some good trick on somebody, who, if he found it out, would break every bone in your miserable body,” suggested Freshie Number One. “ That’s not very definite,” said the Prep, slowly. “ Well, then do something that you’d be fired for, if you were caught. That’ll do just as well,” said Freshie Number Two. “ Doesn’t cut any ice with me,” said the Prep, his blood now thoroughly aroused. ‘ ‘ What is it ?’ ’ Another pause, during which each tried to invent some daring trial. At length, as he gazed vacantly here and there, the eyes of Freshie Number Two rested for a second on the bell tower. On the instant an idea came into his head. “Why not steal the tongue out of the bell?” he said, turning to the waiting Prep. ‘‘But it’s welded fast in the link,” said the Sub-Freshman, “No it isn’t,” contradicted Freshie Number Two. “ I was up there last Sunday and tipped the thing over on purpose to see how it was put on. It’s just a closed hook that holds it.” “ And you’ve got to let us know when you’re going to try it,” added Freshie Number One. “ Det me see,” pondered the Prep, “I’ve got nothing on Saturday. I’ll try it Friday night.” “I wonder if he’s got the sand to do it,” said Freshie Number Two, as the loquacious Prep sauntered down toward that corner of the campus where shone the lights in the windows of ‘ ‘ The Bakery.” “If he does, we’ll scare the life out of him. You can rig up in those Rip Van Winkle togs you wore to the Bal-Masque,and in the dark he won’t know but that you are the Prex himself.” But, as it is said, “ the best laid plans o’ men and mice gang aft agley.” When Friday night came round, the Prep, true to his promise, was first on the field of action, armed with a piece of candle, a heavy screw-driver and a narrow file. As he knelt before the great bell, with only the struggling light of the candle to dispel the intense darkness, his heart smote him, and he was strongly tempted to abandon the wild scheme. But, as he thought of the two Freshies awaiting him in the dormitory below, all his pride and fleeing courage returned. With great care he turned the bell over on one side, until he
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