University of Oregon monthly., February 01, 1908, Image 19

22
U n iv er sity
ok
O regon M o n t h l y
his friends how a girl had turned him down and how he had &>t
even.”
When Dexter awoke the next morning, with a head that made
the room seem cramped, the chapter house was alm ost' deserted.
He gathered a bath robe around him and started down the ‘hall
in search of cold water. As he passed the^door of Dave’s room a
voice hailed him, a voice of command that found its way through
the aching daze in his head.
“Come in here Dexter, I want to see you,” said Dave, “hook
here; I heard your entertaining little story last night. You know
what I mean. The way you hounded Mary McLeod out pf school
with your dirty lies. It may have been interesting to blacken;the
reputation of a good girl, but you’ve got a more interesting job
ahead of you. You’ve got to make it good. Understand ?’’ ^
Dexter interrupted him with a cackling laugh.
“Cut . but the melo-drama, Dave, don’t make me laugh when
my head aches so.”
The shamelessness of the reply goaded Dave to the point of
fury. He sprang forward, and dragged Dexter from the chair.
Only when the form in his hands grew limp and the, fingers no
longer plucked at him did the black whirlwind of his auger find
relief. Releasing his grasp from Dexter’s throat, the body slumped
down in a heap at his feet. He gazed at it a moment and then
stooping he picked it up and bore it to the bathroom. Dashing
cold water into Dexter’s face he applied himself to the task of bring­
ing him back to consciousness. Presently the eyes opened, filled
now with a great fear. A mortal terror of this relentless being
whom he thought a friend and who was as merciless; as an alien
savage.
“Listen to me,” said Dave at last. “You have committed a
great wrong and you must make restitution. Nb one knows the
truth except your particular friends. You have got to confess your
share in this to all the fellows tonight. How you will compel your
friend Lila to do her part, I don’t know, but that is your business,
and this wrong must be made right.”
And so it came about that just before “exams’*’began a bevy
of girls descended upon Mary and abased themselves. at her feet.
The aching heart sickness, the lonesomeness and the memory of her
own narrow escape from temptation, had worked a change, and they
found her in a forgiving mood. They did not leave until Mary was •
coaxed to pack her suit case and accompany them, and thus it