A Delightful Story of Two Boys, a Girl-and a Guy!

First appeared in School Friend Annual 1953 published by the Fleetway Press (lovingly re-created by Paul Edmund Norman)

CHAPTER II A GUY IN DISGUISE

Archie Wiles, as he looked at the guy, tottered; then he gave me a wild-eyed, accusing look.

"Did you put that mortar-board and gown on?" he hissed.

"Of course not," I faltered.

The Head strode towards the guy. He snatched off the mortar-board and the gown.

"I shall deal with you two boys in an appropriate manner," he said fiercely.

"But, sir -- "

"We didn't -- "

He marched off the field to where his car had been parked. He must have seen the guy as he drove up. Without giving us a further chance to deny it, he drove off.

Archie looked at me, goggling.

"What did you leave the guy for?" he demanded. "You were supposed to watch."

"Sue called me to the house," I said uneasily.

"Sue! So this is her doing!"

I felt a good deal more furious than even he did. It was a dirty trick, a soppy trick. She wasn't to know the Head would pass -- but, I ask you! Was there any surer way of getting us into trouble? As if any chap in his right mind would doll up a guy to look like his headmaster.

We both turned back with but a single thought between us - to find Sue. But we hadn't far to go in search of her, for she came out of her house towards us.

She was grinning; and she was obviously delighted with herself.

"You've seen it?" she said.

"We've seen it," said Archie grimly.

"Improvement, eh?" asked Sue. "You said you hadn't a hat for the guy and I found you the ideal thing -- "

"Ideal!" choked Archie. "You call that ideal?"

"Yes, I do," said Sue hotly. "My goodness - - you might thank me. I went to all that trouble - - "

"No one asked you to, Sue," I said.

"But as you butted in, you butt some more," said Archie darkly. "Just tell the Head. Corks! You've got us into troublke. Bad trouble."

"As you might have guessed," I added thickly. I was really fed-up. "I trusted you, Sue."

Sue had a blank, frowning, puzzled look.

"You mean your Headmaster saw the guy - - and he was cross? But why?"

We would have told her, but aunt came hurrying out from our house. She called my name sharply in a particular way that makes me shudder.

"Hugh!"

"Yes, aunt?" I said.

"Your headmaster has just telephoned. He has just explained to me the utterly disgraceful trick you played. I have agreed that to-night you shall not be allowed to take part in the firework display or the bonfire. He is telephoning ARchie's father, too. I am shocked, and ashamed!"

Archie and I were stunned. No fireworks! We had pooled resources and were to have a really terrific "do". Uncle was bringing home an extra box and so was Archie's dad.

Sue started to say something, but aunt - as she does when she's mad - - talked her down.

"Go and bring that guy into the house at once," sha raved.

Archie and I skipped off the mark, and we heard Sue's pattering steps behind us.

"My golly," I heard her say in dismay as she looked at the guy. "Where's the hat I put on the guy? And the coat?"

We halted. Now was the time.

"If you mean the mortar-board and gown," said Archie, "the Head confiscated them."

"Yes, and you've jolly well got to own up, Sue," I said gtimly. "Why should we lose our firework night because you made the guy look like our Head by putting on the mortar-board and gown?"

But my words tailed away rather, for there was an utterly amazed expression on Sue's face that no one could mistake.

"Mum-mortar-board and gown?" she babbled. Oh, but I didn't put anything of the kind on - - it was an old battered grey felt hat, and a tattered sports coat - - honestly!"

Archie snorted.

"Tosh! We saw it, and the Head saw it. I know your father was a schoolmaster, and he had a gown and mortar-board."

Sue went white.

"Are you calling me a liar, Archie Wiles?" she asked hotly.

"Well, who else put them on?" he shouted.

Sue stamped her foot.

"I didn't. I wouldn't do such a thing. Oh, my goodness - - how awful! No wonder the Head was mad with you. You poor things!"

I know Sue pretty well, and she's not a liar. She wasn't lying or acting. But if Sue hadn't put the gown on the guy - - who had?

"Come on," said Archie gruffly, seizing a pair of handles. "Grab hold, Hugh. I shan't forgive you for this. You let a girl fool you. I knew something of this sort would happen once a girl got involved."

I took the other end and lifted the guy. Then I called a halt, turning to Sue.

"Let's be fair to Sue," I said. "Sue - - honour bright, you didn't put the mortar-board and gown on the guy?"

"Honour bright, Hugh, no," she said sincerely.

That was good enough for me, and even Archie, I saw, was shaken.

He was about to lift the guy again when we heard a shout, and turned to see some of our chaps from the school approaching.

In the forefront was a tough type I don't get on with, a fellow named Hodge.

"Hey - - that your guy?" he asked.

Sue wheeled on him.

"Have you been loitering round here long? " she asked, a gleam of suspicion in her eyes. "I heard someone letting off fireworks a little while ago."

"No law against letting off fireworks," said Hodge truculently. "Do they scare you?"

"no, they don't," snapped Sue. "But now I know who put the mortar-board and gown on the guy. Archie and Hugh have been blamed for it. The Head came along and saw it. If you did it, you can jolly well own up."

There was a significant kind of hush - - and it convinced me that Sue had hit the nail on the head. Hodge was just the kind of chap to play such a trick - - but also he was the kind not to admit it. He never cares who sinks so long as he swims.

"WHat are you babbling about, girlie?" he sneered. "Are you trying to fix the blame on me?"

"it's nothing to do with us," said his mob.

I could see by Archie's face that he had come to the same conclusion as I had.

I went up to Hodge. He wasn't going to wriggle out of it so easily as he thought.

"If you did fake the guy, own up, you toad!" I said. "someone did it - - and it wasn't us. Only you have been loitering here."

"Perhaps iot was an ickle dickey bird," sneered Hodge.

"Ha, ha, ha!"

I barred his way and he hit me on the chest; one of his pals put a foot out as I staggered back, and over I went. I hadn't a h ope - - it was six of them against Archie and me.

I was Sue who helped me up, and by then Hodge and his pals had gone off laughing.

It really did look as if we had definitely had it. Our chances of persuading the Head of our innocence and being allowed to carry on with our Guy Fawkes celebrations were dismally faint.

But just before Hodge was outof earshot, Sue gave a sharp cry. She was looking on the gorund.

"A clue! Saved, saved!" she chanted. "I've got a clue! Proof!"

CHAPTER III