Where's Fergusson?

Southland Times, Issue 23734, 4 February 1939, Page 7 (Supplement)

Where's Fergusson?

It was the first day of the winter term at Culver, and the playground was full of hoys, some discussing holiday experiences, some, not yet acclimatised, wandering listlessly to and fro, and others, the hardier spirits, already boisterously play-. in “Seen the new chap?” asked Jack Smith, otherwise Smiggy, of his chum, Dusty Miller. “No. Where is he?” The first speaker jerked his thumb towards a small, bulletheaded boy who was standing by himself in a corner of the playground, and continued, Hes m our dorm. At least, so Scotty Sa “What form?” asked his friend, k r, ‘Don’t know. I don’t think Blinkers has tried him out yet. Let’s go and ask him.” . The chums strolled across to where the new boy was gazing round with a vacant expression, and eyed him critically. At last, Smiggy said, “I say, you new chap, what’s your name?” . The new boy turned a pair of dull brown eyes on the speaker, and after a considerable pause replied, “Fergusson—what s yours? This was hardly the way for a new boy to address a seasoned cuiverite, and the chums exchanged meaning glances. “Cheek!” muttered Miller. Smiggy nodded, then turned a fierce look on the daring new boy. “Never mind my name. What form are you in?** . . Fergusson put both hands in his pockets and gave this second inquiry even more consideration than the first. At last he said, Find ° U The chums looked at each other aghast, then Smiggy advanced to inflict corporal punishment, and Fergusson quickly withdrew ms hands. But at that moment the supper bell rang out, and a master appeared on the terrace overlooking the scene. Smiggy turned away with a baleful glance. “I’ll settle you later, he remarked, grimly. tiinf It must not be thought that either Smith or Miller were bullies; they were simply bent on enforcing the Culver code. At Culver. as at most boarding schools, it was expected as a matter of course that new boys should maintain a humble and respectful athtude fw at least the first few weeks. After that, they took the position to which their prowess and strength entitled them. , ~ So when Smith punched the new bov’s head that night in the dormitory, he honestly thought he was doing a justifiable thing, and none of the other boys, who knew the facts thought otherwise. Except Fergusson. He hit back, and in the ensuing scuffle gave about asgood as he got. In the middle of the row, Mr Bevan (called “Blinkers because of his blue spectacles) came in, and hearing each boy s explanation, gave them 50 lines do ’em,” said Fergusson, as soon as the master had gone “You’ll have to, said Scotty, his next-door neighbour. “You’ll see,” said Fergusson, darkly He partially undressed, then added, “’Tisn’t just and I won’t do ’em. I’ll run away first “Don’t be stupid,’ . said Scotty, scornfully. Then, mindful of his own feelings as a new hoy, he added in friendly tones, Look here, let me give you a tip. You re nearest the door, so mind you nip

out soon as the bell goes to-mor-row, or Blinkers will cop you one. The truculent new boygrowled, “Like to see him do it!’ and climbed was awakened from pleasant dreams about home by the clanging of the school bell at seven. It brought him back to realities with a start, but he did not rise at once. He was at the far end from the door, and Mr Bevan and his cane .would not reach him for a few minutes. But he had barely turned o ve rwhra someone grabbed him by tne shoulders, and looking up he recognised Miller. “I say,” cried Miller, excitedly, "that new chap’s done a bunk. Smiggy sat pp at once and stared, in the direction of Fergusson’s bed. .

“Scotty says he told him he was going to run away, and he s left an his clothes, too,” went on Miller, de Smiggy y sprang out of bed and began to dress hurriedly. The affair certainly seemed promising, but he was unable to. take the care-free view of his friend. Supposing they blamed him! By now the dormitory was in a ferment, and in a few minutes the Head himself, clad in a dressing gown and not yet shaved, appeared; and Scotty was called upon to repeat his story. Fergusson had apparently gone off in nothing but his pyjamas, and as it could hardly be supposed that he had left the school so scantily attired, a thorough search of the building was first made. But no Fergusson was found. It was concluded, therefore, that he had left the dormitory by the iron staircase outside (provided in case of nre), and search parties of masters ana bovs were hastily formed, whilst the Head retired to his study to telephone to the police . . Smicsv. now seriously alarmed, was in® one o" the search parties which returned at 8 o clock after a vain hunt through Bunting Wood. He met Miller at the gates and asked for news. n.-ii™ “There’s isn’t any,” said Miller. “No one else is back yet. . “Let’s go and have a look at the idiot’s bed,” said Smiggy, after a

worried pause. “I’ve been thinking. He might have left a note under his pillow.” _ "Not very likely” said Miller. “He’d have had to write it in the dark.” However, he followed his chum upstairs. . They found no note, but suadpnlv Smiggy looked round in perplexity. “Why. his things have g °Sure enough, Fergusson’s clothes, which had been lying on his locker, had vanished. , “Blinkers must have . shifted them.” said Miller; but Mr Bevan came hurrying in a moment later and seernS equally surprised. As the other'search parties returned Mr Bevan cross-examined each master and boy, but no one would Xit having-touched the missing b °“Extraordinary thing!” sa ‘^, Head to the constable, who had by nO The ar co V n e s d table wisely said nothing, hut made notes in aif at pocket book with a stub of pencil.

Then he. examined the missing boy’s locker, and finally the bed. Suddenly he flung out a fat forefinger. “What’s that?” He was pointing to a large red stain, on the sheet, which had become visible as he moved the clothe £ oo j ts —blood,” stammered the Head, turning Pale. The constable touched the stain and found it wet, then straightened himself and looked round gravely. “Is it blood?” asked Mr Bevan. “Looks like it,”, said the constable, guardedly. “Now 111 have to look round.” He proceeded to make an exhaustive search or every room in the school. “We’ve done this once, said Mr Bevan impatiently, as the half hour Cb “ Aye,” I daresay,” said the constable, coolly, and went on with his search, followed at a respectful distance by a crowd of interested spectators. But no Fergusson was discovered—not even when the constable got a ladder, and, pushing open the skylight, peered out on the roof. At last the Head turned to an assistant, “It s nearly 9 o’clock. Tell them to ring the bell for breakfast'. It’s out of our hands now. We must leave it to the police.” . , The bell went a moment or two later, and the. boys, whispering excitedly, took their places They were barely seated when the Head

appeared on the platform beside the master in charge. . “If any boy knows — he began, then broke off and stood staling over the boys’ heads at the door. Immediately every headl wa» turned in that direction, and there was a chorus of exclamations Fergusson had calmly entered, ana. was looking round for a seat!. ■ Well, to cut a long story shorty what had happened was this—Fer-. gusson, who had a hollow tooth, had, had an attack of toothache during the night, and had gone downstairs to get a small bottle of Neryo which was in his overcoat pocket. Coming back in the dark,-he had lost his bearings, and after prowling about for some time, had got by mistake into a bedroom belong-, ing to a sixth-former, who had not yet returned to school. Bya> strange chance it happened that th®, bed was in the same position in. relation to the door as Fergusson a bed, and after dosing his tooth with "Nervo,” Fergusson had' crawled in and/ slept peacefuUy, blissfully unaware that he. was in the wrong room. He had hear® the bell, but as no “Blinkers had. routed him out he had slept on. and had finally roused himself-at, 8.30. How the. first, searcher* had missed him was not quite clear; it must be supposed that they looked under the bed, but not • in it. Finding himself in the wrong room when he awoke,.Fergusson: had set off in search.of the dormitory, and had eventually found it. By this time the whole school were hunting for him outside, but, of course, he did .not know and concluded that they were already at breakfast or in class. He had dressed, and, thinking that he might as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb, had decided on a stroll until morning school washover.. He had' descended by the fire stairs, and had thus, clothes and all, been out of the school during the constable’s search. A strong desire for something to eat had, however, soon brought, him back, and he was standing in the wonder ing what to do, when the bell, and a pleasant smell of coffee, had told him that a meal of some sort_waa imminent—and he had followed the smell. As for the red stain--it was merely the c ,^ tente ,,°* gusson’s bottle of “Nervo;* which he had upset when he threw off his pyjama coat. The pyjamasr being also stained, he ‘had -hidden under his. mattress, but the stain on the bed he could only cover with the bed clothes. ' , . Very simple—when you khov' how it all happened!

JUST TOO FUNNY ? A teacher asked his class to writ® an essay on the funniest thing they had ever seen. After half, an hou? or so he went to the laziest boy in the class and said: “Show me youf composition.” On the boys essay paper was written:. “The thing I ever saw was too funny los words.”