Bob Cook and the German Spy | Page 7

and puffing hard. Bob sat astride him, holding him pinned to the earth with both knees while he pounded his head up and down on the ground.
"Lemme up," said Frank weakly.
Bob bumped him once or twice more for good measure. "Had enough?" he asked.
"Yes," gasped Frank, while the spectators yelled their approval.
Suddenly the cheering stopped and a gap appeared in the ranks of the onlookers. The principal of the school came running toward the spot where the fight had occurred.
"What does this mean?" he demanded, much out of breath.
The two fighters picked themselves up slowly. They were smeared with dirt and blood. Bob's collar was torn and Frank's coat was almost ripped from his back. Bob's left eye was half closed and rapidly turning black; Frank's nose was swollen and the skin all scraped off the side of his jaw.
"We had a fight, sir," said Bob.
"So I see," said the principal, while the crowd snickered.
"He started it," exclaimed Frank.
"I did not," cried Bob hotly, turning half way around as if he was considering pitching into his opponent again.
"We won't discuss that question here," said the principal. "The best thing for you two boys to do is to get cleaned up and then come and see me in my office."
He turned away, slowly followed by Bob and Frank and all the rest of the spectators. "Good boy, Bob," whispered Hugh in his friend's ear. "You did him up all right and he deserved it too." Many others also took occasion to show Bob that they heartily approved of what he had done.
A short time later Frank and Bob stood before Mr. Hewitt, the principal. He was a kindly man and well liked by all the boys, even if they did love to imitate the way he had of looking at them over his spectacles. He was always fair to every one and the boys knew they could expect to be treated justly by him at all times. They respected him and looked up to him.
"Well, boys," said Mr. Hewitt, "I'm sorry you had a difference of opinion."
"That's just what it was, sir," exclaimed Bob quickly.
"Haven't I a right to opinion?" demanded Frank.
"What is your opinion?" inquired Mr. Hewitt.
"Well," said Frank slowly, "I say that the United States is wrong about going to war with Germany."
Mr. Hewitt glanced at Frank over his spectacles. "I'm afraid I can't agree with you, Frank," he said. "I don't like war and I don't believe many of our people do either. There is a limit to any country's patience, however."
"Some people here want war," said Frank.
"Yes," exclaimed Bob. "He said that my father wanted war so he could make money out of it."
"He's making ammunition for the Government," Frank exclaimed.
"But at cost price," said Bob. "He will lose money if anything."
"I have always regarded Mr. Cook as one of our best citizens and a fine man," said Mr. Hewitt. "I think you must be wrong, Frank."
"I tried to convince him that he was," said Bob, stealing a sidelong glance at Frank's battered features. Mr. Hewitt also looked at Frank and a faint smile flitted across his face.
"People should be careful about what they do and say these days," he advised. "You are very wrong to talk against the United States, Frank."
"I only repeated what my father says," exclaimed Frank. "He knows."
"I'm sure he's mistaken this time," said Mr. Hewitt quietly. "I also hope he won't talk like that again; people's feelings are easily aroused in times of war and he might suffer harm."
Frank looked sullenly at the floor and said nothing. Bob held out his hand to him. "Let's shake hands," he said. "We all ought to work together now. I'll forget this morning if you will."
Frank made no move. "Come on, Frank," urged Mr. Hewitt. "Do as Bob says, and in the future try to remember that you were born in America, not in Germany. You were born here, weren't you?"
"No, sir," said Frank. "I was born in Germany."
"Well, at any rate remember that you are living in the United States. Shake hands and go back to your work, and I hope you will have no further trouble."
Frank somewhat reluctantly shook hands with Bob and they walked out of the principal's office together. At the door of the study room Frank turned to Bob. "I shook hands with you then because I had to," he snapped. "I warn you though, I'll never do it again, and you'll be sorry for what you did to me this morning. Yes, you and your whole family!"
Bob was completely taken aback by this sudden outburst but before he could make any reply Frank was gone. Bob walked slowly to his desk, carefully avoiding the glances of the many boys in the room who looked curiously at him and his