Nat Poole

“ And then, to avoid further questioning, Nat Poole hurried away. Our hero could do nothing but stare after him.
“That is mighty queer,” mused Dave, as he turned into the library to consult the reference book. “If Nat doesn’t know the man, why was he so anxious? He acted scared to death when I said the fellow called himself the King of Sumatra.” 94
Dave remained in the school library for a half an hour and then joined Phil, Roger, and the others in Dormitory Number Twelve. He found the students discussing a talk Roger had had with Nat Poole only a few minutes before. ”

“ Can’t you take a little fun, Dave Porter?”
“I don’t like that kind of fun, Nat Poole! I would have cut a fine spectacle if you had gotten away with my clothing. You just come along and explain yourself;” and thus speaking, Dave dragged the unwilling soldier out from the bushes and down to the side of the stream. Then he let out a low but well-known whistle, to which his chums immediately responded, that having been the “get-together” call at Oak Hall.
“Hello, it’s Nat Poole!” cried Phil.
“What are you doing here, Nat?” questioned Roger. ”

“ And, by the way, do you notice how thick he is with Nat Poole since Macklin has refused to toady to him?"
"They are almost of a stripe, Roger," answered Dave. "I know Nat Poole thoroughly. The only difference is that Poole is more of a dandy when it comes to dress."
"Poole says he is going in for athletics this summer," said Phil. "I overheard him telling Luke Watson so." [21]
"Is Luke going into training?"
"I don't think so. He loves his banjo and guitar too much." ”

“ Dave had added, with a grim smile.
"Yes, and without such fellows as Nat Poole, too," Phil had put in. "Although I must say I don't think Nat is as bad as Link and Nick."
"Nat is too much of a dude to be real bad," said Laura.
"Nat lacks backbone," explained Dave. "He usually does what the others tell him to. But Jasniff and Merwell are both wicked fellows, and Jasniff is brutal." ”

“ It was a signal for a general use of the wooden swords and stuffed clubs, and in a moment the two unlucky students were surrounded, and blows fell thick and fast. Poole yelled like a wild Indian, but Merwell set his teeth and said nothing, only striking back with his fists when he got the chance. Dave took no part in the onslaught, nor did Ben and Phil. As soon as he saw a chance Nat Poole ran for his life. Link Merwell stood his ground a little longer, then he too retreated, shaking his fist at the members of the Gee Eyes. ”

“ And off marched Nat Poole, just as angry as Job Haskers.
"Good for Nat," whispered Phil. "I hope he does report old Haskers."
"We must look out that we are not caught," answered Dave. "How funny it did look when Haskers went over the dashboard!" And he laughed merrily.
The boys took themselves to a safe place in the lower hallway. They saw Nat Poole come in and march straight for Doctor Clay's office. The master of the Hall was in, and an animated discussion lasting several minutes took place. ”

“ A full minute passed and neither Dave nor Babcock offered to get up. Then from out of the bushes near by Plum, Poole, and Jasniff emerged.
"We caught 'em right enough," muttered Jasniff. "The tree came down just in time."
"Ar—are they hu—hurt much!" faltered Nat Poole. His face was as white as death itself.
"They are certainly knocked out," answered Nick Jasniff, coolly.
"Oh, I hope they ain't dead!" gasped Poole, his knees beginning to shake.
"They are not dead," announced Gus Plum, who [121] was bending over the fallen youths. "They are stunned, that's all." ”

“ Nat Poole was also going home, and would be on the same train with Dave and Ben.
"I wish he wasn't going with us," said Ben. "I'm getting so I can't bear Nat at all."
"Well, he Isn't quite as bad as he was when he chummed with Merwell and Jasniff," answered our hero. "I think their badness rather scared Nat. He is mean and all that, but he isn't a criminal."
"Well, I think some meanness is a crime," retorted Ben.
The boys had purchased gifts for Doctor Clay, Mr. Dale, and some of the others, and even Job Haskers had been remembered. ”

“ Say, Shadow, you don't think——"
"Yes, I do!" shouted the lad who had the reputation of walking in his sleep. "I think Nat Poole took those shoes, slippers, and boots, and then got scared in some way and returned them. And when he boxed 'em up he caught his watch charm in the slipper, and the charm dropped inside."
"It looks reasonable," was Dave's comment.
"You let me have that charm and I'll find out about this," went on Shadow. "I'll show him he can't do such a thing and then shove it off on me, and make folks believe I took the shoes while I was walking in my sleep!" ”

“ You say things behind folks' backs and try to bully the little boys, and in reality you are no better than anybody else, if as good. You make me sick."
"I'll—I'll hammer you good for that!"
"All right, send me word when you are ready," retorted Buster.
In the meantime Dave was still standing over Nat Poole. Suddenly he caught the aristocratic youth by the ear and gave that member a twist.
"Ouch! Let go!" yelled Nat Poole. "Let go! Don't wring my ear off!"
"Will you apologize?" demanded Dave, and gave the ear a jerk that brought tears to Poole's eyes. ”

“ This was the bitterest pill of all for Link Merwell to swallow. To think he might have been disqualified but that Dave Porter had been given the chance to continue hammering him! He [Pg 177] wanted to argue, but no one except Nat Poole would listen to him, and so he strode out of the gymnasium in disgust, accompanied by his crony.
"It makes me sick," he muttered. "Everybody stands up for Porter, no matter what he does!"
"Well, you see he has a way of worming in with everybody," answered Nat Poole. ”

“ A school in Laverport broke up, and sixteen of the students were transferred to Oak Hall—sophs, juniors, and seniors. So those fellows, added to the freshies, make quite a bunch."
"What has that got to do with Poole and me?"
"Nat Poole and one of the fellows from Laverport, a chap named Guy Frapley, are very good friends—in fact, I think they are related. This Frapley was a sort of leader at Laverport, and he has got a number of the other newcomers under his thumb. Last night I was down by the boathouse, and I heard Nat and Frapley talking about you. ”

“ When they arrived on the ice, they found Gus Plum and Nat Poole already there. Each of the rich lads had a pair of silver-plated skates of which he was very proud. Dave's skates were of the plainest kind of steel, having cost but sixty-five cents, and Nat Poole stuck up his nose at them. ”

“ Basswood.
[Pg 93]
CHAPTER X CAUGHT IN A STORM
"Did you ever know this Wilbur Poole, Dad?" questioned Ben.
"Yes, I met him years ago at Aaron Poole's home. But of course he was in his right mind then. Poor chap! I pity him very much."
"I think we all pity him," answered Dave. "Nobody can be responsible after his mind breaks down."
"I feel sorry for Nat Poole and his folks," said Laura. "This will give them a great deal of trouble, not to mention the expense."
"If Wilbur Poole was anywhere around Rayville it might pay to start a hunt for him," suggested Roger. ”

“ The faces of Gus Plum and his associates showed their disappointment.
"Going to play us, eh?" said the bully, slowly.
"You'll be beaten out of your boots," said Nat Poole, with a sneer.
"That remains to be seen," answered Roger. "We accept the challenge and we are here to arrange all the details of the game."
A talk lasting nearly a quarter of an hour followed, in which they went over such details as seemed necessary. Plainly Plum was ill at ease. He wanted to chose an umpire, referee, and linesmen from outside of Oak Hall, but the senator's son would not consent to this. ”

“ At Oak Hall, Nat Poole had always envied Dave his popularity and had done everything in his power to depreciate it.
[117] “Well, all I can tell you about the wound in my side is what the doctors and nurses here have said,” returned our hero calmly. “They all think I ought to stay in the hospital a little longer. They say they never heard of a fellow getting up so quickly and starting back for the front. ”

“ You'll never gain anything by sticking in with Merwell. Gus Plum has cut him, and so have lots of the fellows, and you ought to do it. There are plenty of other good fellows in this school, even if you don't want to train with our particular crowd. Think it over, Nat."
And Nat Poole did think it over, and, as a consequence, from that day on he turned his back on Merwell and refused to have anything more to do with the dissolute bully.
The day for the second ball game with Rockville was perfect in every respect. ”

“ He certainly can’t amount to much if he trains with such a chap as Nat Poole.”
Dave was quite curious to know whether Lieutenant Gebauer and Nat Poole had really come over to France. But there was no way of finding out. He questioned a number with whom he came in contact, who had been at various American camps throughout France, but not one could give him a word concerning the pair.
During those days came another cause for gratitude. Buster Beggs had recovered from the gas attack which had laid him low, and had once more joined the engineers at the front. ”

“ If you don’t, you’ll get something that you won’t like.” And having thus delivered himself, Dave gave Nat Poole a vigorous shake and then gave him such a shove that he stumbled backward several steps and then went flat on his back in some low brushwood. ”

“ Professor Potts could not make farming pay, and was in danger of being sold out by Aaron Poole, the father of Nat Poole, already introduced, when a most unexpected happening changed the whole current of events. In the town lived Mr. Oliver Wadsworth, a rich manufacturer. He had a young daughter named Jessie, and one day, when this miss was waiting for an automobile ride, the gasoline tank of the machine took fire, and Jessie was in danger of being burned to death when Dave rushed in and rescued her.
"A boy who will do such a brave deed deserves to be assisted," said Mr. ”

“ But I really don't think Nat Poole will cut much of a figure during this term of school. He has lost too many of his old friends."
But, for once, Dave was mistaken. Nat Poole did "cut a figure," although not quite in the manner expected, and what he and his cronies did caused Dave not a little trouble.
CHAPTER IX THE FOOTBALL MEETING
In a few days Dave felt as much at home as ever. Nearly all of his old friends had returned to Oak Hall, and dormitories Nos. 11 and 12 were filled with as bright a crowd of lads as could well be found anywhere. ”

“ Dave had expected to hear from the bully concerning the proposed fight, but nothing came in the way of a challenge. To tell the truth, Gus Plum was just a little afraid of Dave, and likewise afraid of his popularity.
"I can't understand why the fellows stick up for his kind," he declared to Nat Poole, "but they do, and nothing seems to change 'em."
"I understand they are going to make him a member of the Gee Eyes. They are going to make me a member too. Do you belong?" ”

“ Poole,” answered Dunston Porter, stiffly. “I think it was your fault entirely. But if you think otherwise, come and see me when I get back from this trip, which will be in four days.” And without waiting for more words, Dave’s uncle started up the touring car, and Aaron Poole was soon left far behind.
“If he isn’t a peach!” murmured Roger, slangily. “It’s easy to see where Nat gets his meanness from. He is simply a chip off the old block.”
“He’s a pretty big chip,” returned Phil, dryly. ”

“ The only member of the family that is worth while is Mrs. Poole. She has done a lot for the Red Cross and other war organizations, and I am mighty sorry that she has to put up with such folks as Nat and Mr. Poole.”
“You’ll have to keep your eyes open, Dave,” observed Phil. “Nat will do his best to square accounts, and he’ll probably get Gebauer to aid him.”
[193] “It’s a pity Nat doesn’t try to make something of himself while he is in the army,” observed Dave. “He has just as good a chance as any of us.”
“It isn’t in him,” said Buster. “You can’t build a marble palace out of mud.” ”

“ He wrote to his father for money, but, as my old readers know, Aaron Poole was very miserly at times, and now he pulled his purse-strings tight and declared that Nat spent too much entirely, and must do without more funds until the summer vacation came. ”

“ Poole in 1803, "is a strange, strange boy, exquisitely wild, an utter visionary; like the moon among thin clouds, he moves in a circle of light of his own making. He alone is a light of his own." And of his daughter in the same poetic strain: "My meek little Sara is a remarkably interesting baby, with the finest possible skin, and large blue eyes, and she smiles as if she were basking in a sunshine as mild as moonlight of her own quiet happiness." ”

“ James Poole, as was expected, met the voyagers at Southampton, and Tad was surprised to see how much softened and how gentle his father's face and manner had become. When Tad introduced Phil, James Poole greeted the boy very kindly, and cordially invited him home.
The Pooles had a nice roomy cottage just out of town, and on the way there, Tad's father told him that Mrs. Poole had been a great invalid for four months and more, and quite unable to do any work about the house, so that life had been very hard for all. ”

“ Ain't there any other thing, if you please, that I ought to do?"
"Yes," shouted Tad, beside himself with passion—"lots of 'em!"
"Shut up, will you?" roared James Poole, bringing his heavy fist down upon the table. "Am I never to have a minute's peace at home?"
"'Tain't my fault, dad," said the boy; "I ain't gone and done nothin'."
"No, everybody knows you never do nothin'," sneered his stepmother. "You're just one of they poor critturs that's put upon all the time by other folks, when you're as innercent as a angel."
Tad got up and pushed his plate away without having touched a mouthful. ”