Bobby Blake at Rockledge School: or, Winning the Medal of Honor

Pee Wee knew that the threat of the loss of the medal had hung over Bobby all the time. He – and the other boys, too – knew that Bobby's record was otherwise clean.

"Vote for Bobby Blake – he's all right!" became the rallying cry all over the school, and even Captain Gray took it up.

"You know, fellows," he said to his particular chums, "I haven't a ghost of a show for the medal. I'd like to get it, but your votes wouldn't win it for me. And I declare! beside Bobby, I don't think I deserve it."

The boys had a chance to express their individual opinion about the winner of the medal by secret ballot, several days before the actual vote was taken. In this way the teachers learned just who was most popular with the boys at large.

A slip was given each boy in class, on which was printed "First Choice," "Second Choice," "Third Choice." Every fellow in the Lower School wrote Bobby's name against each choice!

And when the teachers, Mr. Leith and Mr. Carrin, came to count the votes from the other boys, Bobby's name predominated by a good majority. There were still some faithful to Barry Gray, and one or two other boys were named for the medal; but on every slip save two, Bobby's name appeared as either first, second, or third choice. Those two particular slips did not have Barry Gray's name on them, either, and the astute teachers recognized the handwriting of Bill Bronson and Jack Jinks!

If, after this first ballot, there were names voted for, whose owners could not possibly win the medal, because of their standing with the teachers, the fact was to be made known by the Doctor. The whole school waited, most anxiously, for Dr. Raymond's decision in this case.

The regatta came in between. That was the great sporting event of the spring between the two schools which faced each other on opposite sides of Lake Monatook.

There were two-oared races, four-oared races, and then the big race of the day – the trial of speed between the eight-oared shells. The Rockledge boys thought Captain Gray and the others, in their white jerseys with a crimson "R" on each side, were "a pretty nifty crew," when they entered their boat and pushed out to the starter's place.

The Belden crew had rowed over from their side of the lake. The course was laid on the Rockledge side and was two miles in length – a mile straight away, then round the post and return to the starting point.

The younger boys forgot all other things and rooted for Gray and his crew with all the strength of their lungs. They were massed on a part of the bluff where they could see the whole race, and their friends and parents and the townspeople were on hand in force to add to the excitement of the occasion.

Clinton was too far away for Mr. and Mrs. Martin to come to the closing exercises of the school. Mr. Martin could not leave his store long enough for that, and there were too many children at home for Fred's mother to leave for over night.

The chums got warm letters from them, and there were presents for both Fred and Bobby. When the latter saw his mother's handwriting on his package, and knew that she had thought of this time so long ahead, and prepared for it, he was more touched than he had been by the Christmas presents that had reached him from the same source.

Fred was rather woebegone these last few days. "Wow! wait till Dad sees my report," he said, hopelessly. "He'll be sorry he sent me this watch and chain."

Nevertheless, both lads wore their watches very proudly. They were just what they had longed for, and although the timepieces were not very valuable, they were good, practical instruments.

The boys held them now, as they watched the racing shells, and came pretty close to knowing by how many seconds the Rockledge crew beat the Belden, when the shells raced down to the starter's boat.

There was an extra supper that night. Mary baked an enormous cake, with candles on it, and the date of the winning of the boat race traced in pink frosting. This was set down in the middle of the upper table, and Captain Gray had the honor of cutting it. A good-sized piece was sent around to each boy, and Gray was called on for a speech.

The handsome, well-dressed lad was not afraid to speak in public. He was a bit forward but goodhearted. Yet perhaps the Doctor was just as well suited that Barrymore Gray should not be in line for the Medal of Honor.

There was a certain conceit about his character which had always troubled the good doctor; yet Barry had carried off the duties of his captaincy with success.

Frank Durrock was appointed captain for the coming year, and he was called on for a speech, too, having rowed bow in the winning shell. Frank was another sort of a boy. He could only nod his thanks and sit down in confusion.

The youngsters cheered Barry and laughed at Frank; yet they all liked the latter pretty well, too.

The Doctor himself covered Frank Durrock's confusion by making a little speech. His last words were: "And now, boys, to-morrow we decide upon the winner of the Medal of Honor. All electioneering must cease to-night, you know. Be prepared to-morrow to settle for yourselves who is the most popular candidate. You are dismissed."

CHAPTER XXV

THE WINNER

Pee Wee was so full of tickle that he was not sleepy! His father and mother had been up for the regatta, and were staying at the Rockledge Hotel until the school closed for the year.

Mr. Wise was a rich man and he could afford to do about anything that Pee Wee wanted him to do. There was something now on Pee Wee's mind and, as Fred said, "he'd have to get it out of his system or he couldn't go to sleep."

"Wait till the other boys are asleep," whispered the fat boy. "I'm going to keep pinching Mouser so he'll keep awake. You fellows pinch each other."

The beds of Bobby and Fred, and Pee Wee and Mouser Pryde, were side by side. It rather tickled Bobby and Fred to think they should keep each other awake in the way the fat boy suggested; but that he carried it out in Mouser's case was very evident from the occasional grunts and objections from the latter.

The chums from Clinton kept themselves awake by asking each other riddles, and telling stories. Fred had one "giggly" joke that went as follows: "Say, Bobby, do you know they're going to close the public library down town?"

"What for?" demanded his chum.

Just then Pee Wee's shrill whisper reached them: "Cheese it! Come here, fellows. I have something to tell you – honest!"

The dormitory was quite silent, save for the four boys in the corner. Fred slipped out of bed and Bobby followed him. Pee Wee and Mouser were sitting up in their own beds.

"Now listen," whispered the fat boy. "Just as soon as school's out, my folks are going to Bass Cove. We go there every summer. It's a dandy place – you bet!"

"All right. We've heard about that before," said Mouser, yawning. "You might let a fellow go to sleep and wait till morning to tell us your chestnuts."

"I've a good mind not to tell you at all," grunted Pee Wee.

"Say! you're not telling any of us very fast," whispered Fred, giving the fat boy a poke. "Get busy! some of the others will wake up."

"I'll tell you," whispered Perry Wise, earnestly. "I have the grandest father! He says I can have you three down to Bass Cove, if your folks will let you come. What do you know about that?"

"Oh – fine!" gasped Fred, when he could get his breath.

All three of the boys had heard about that summer place. Pee Wee was never weary of talking about it.

"Sure he'll let us come?" demanded Mouser, wide awake on the instant.

"That's what I said. I've been asking him in my letters. And he saw you to-day – and mother, too – and he said 'yes.' He liked you all – 'specially Bobby – and he says you all can come."

"Say!" gasped Fred. "That'll be great. Won't it, Bobby?"

"I should say," admitted his chum. "And I was wondering what would become of me before my folks got home again."

"We'll go clamming, and crabbing, and fishing, and sailing – oh, crickey!" gasped Fred, with his head under the bedclothes, "what won't we do?"

"It will be great," admitted Bobby, with a sigh of longing. "I just hope your folks will let us go."

This hope was realized, as my readers may learn if they meet Bobby and Fred in the next volume of this series, entitled: "Bobby Blake at Bass Cove; Or, The Hunt for the Motor Boat Gem."

The four giggled, and whispered, and talked the matter over for another hour before they could close their eyes. The outlook for the summer vacation was first in their mind, too, when they awoke in the morning.

But this was an important day at Rockledge School. Even the expected pleasures of a summer at Bass Cove must be put temporarily in the background.

In the afternoon the graduating exercises were to be held – called at Rockledge "the commencement exercises." In the evening the boys entertained socially all their friends and relatives who could or would come to the school.

There was something else – something that loomed almost as big to some of them as the graduation of the seven head boys.

After breakfast the whole school filed up to the big hall. It was a serious occasion, and even Fred Martin was not "cutting up" this morning, and was one of those who most solemnly reached their seats.

All the teachers were sitting on the platform with Dr. Raymond. The old captain of the school, and the new captain, each stood at a door in the back of the room to see that nobody slipped out, and to collect ballots when the time came.

"Now, boys," said the good Doctor, rising and smiling at the fifty. "This is a serious occasion yet it is a happy one, too. It should be happy for you all, because your teachers have found among you at least one boy who is worthy of the high honor of receiving the medal," and he displayed the gold star as he had on that first day, nine months before.

"It is happy for us on the platform," and he made a little bow to the gentlemen with him, "because you have found one among you whom so many seem to admire. And we know what you admire him for.

"It is unhappily impossible for every boy voted for to win the medal. That is understood. Not alone must he be popular with you all, but he must have stood high in every study and in his deportment as well. Several of those voted for the other day in the informal balloting by the school, cannot possibly receive the approval of myself and the other masters.

"Master Gray, unfortunately, is not eligible; neither is Masters Durrock, Converse, or Spelt. There is no dishonor attached to the records of these boys, but there are other reasons – reasons connected with their standing in class – that make it impossible for us teachers to agree on either of these names.

"Now, boys, on the ballot now handed around, you will have but one choice. And it looks as though your choice had already been indicated. Let me assure you that, if that is so, your teachers are, one and all, in favor of your choice."

There was a murmur of approval – almost a cheer – when the doctor had done speaking. Lots of the boys turned to smile at Bobby. He suddenly found himself very red in the face. Fred looked delighted. Pee Wee could scarcely keep in his seat.

Barry Gray and Frank Durrock passed the papers swiftly, and gathered them again in a few minutes. That the school was almost unanimous could not be doubted.

Mr. Leith and Mr. Carrin counted the slips. There was a bunch of them on one side of the table and only a few on the other side. The doctor rose, smiling with satisfaction.

"My dear boys!" he said, ringingly. "It is a joy to me to find you so nearly unanimous. And you have chosen the boy of whom, above all others, we approve.

"Robert Blake! stand up."

Then they cheered. It was impossible to silence the Lower School, at least, for fully three minutes. Bobby stood, blushing and trembling during this "unseemly riot."

"Robert," said Dr. Raymond, quietly, at last, "you have been a good boy here, and an exceptionally faithful scholar. I have watched your course for the year with interest. You have won out under circumstances that were most trying.

"You boys have a code of morals of your own. I know it. 'Thou Shalt Not Tell Tales' seems greater to you than any other commandment. And I confess I do not uphold the tale-bearer.

"If a boy does wrong, he should tell on himself. That is being honorable. Especially if he knows that because of his wrong-doing any other fellow is suffering.

"You all know that Robert bore a burden of punishment for months which he did not really deserve. There is another among you, however – and I'm proud of him!" and the doctor flashed a single glance toward Fred Martin's red hair and red face, "who came forward when he understood, and did his all to remove the black mark from Robert's record.

"It makes me happy to know that I have such boys as these in Rockledge School. I do not believe there are fifty boys anywhere – in any school – any finer than my boys," declared the Doctor, with growing enthusiasm.

"And I have never presented the Medal of Honor to any of my boys with greater pride than I shall feel when I pin this star upon Robert Blake's coat this afternoon."

The school cheered again. Even Mr. Leith smiled at the enthusiasm displayed by the youngsters. They formed in line, Barry and Frank Durrock lifted Bobby to their shoulders, and the procession marched down stairs and out, and around the campus.

Bobby felt terribly disturbed. It seemed to him as though his ears would never stop burning.

They made too much of it. He was delighted that he could tell his mother and father of his success, and show them the gold star. But he could not see just how he had won it, nor how he had won the boys' enthusiastic approval.

There was another honor for him, too. He was selected as one of the new members of the school secret order – The Sword and Star. That went with the winning of the medal without question.

"Wow!" sighed Pee Wee, "he can hit as hard as any fellow in the Lower School, when he boxes. And he's good fun, and is not afraid to get into a game of fun, even if the teachers scowl on it a little."

"Huh! I guess not," grunted Fred. "That's right about Bobby. He's not afraid of anything. That is, he's not afraid to do anything that isn't mean."

And that being a most just expression of his character, we will say good-by for the present to Bobby Blake and his friends.

THE END