If everything went right, then, there would be a coroner’s inquest to-morrow upon what remained of that gentleman, found suspended to the branch of a tree somewhere within a mile of the Apollinean Institute.  The “Weekly Universe” would have a startling paragraph announcing a “Sad event!!!” which had “thrown the town into an intense state of excitement.  Mr. Barnard Langden, a well-known teacher at the Appolinian Institute, was found, etc., etc.  The vital spark was extinct.  The motive to the rash act can only be conjectured, but is supposed to be disappointed affection.  The name of an accomplished young lady of the highest respectability and great beauty is mentioned in connection with this melancholy occurrence.”

Dick Venner was at the tea-table that evening, as usual.—­No, he would take green tea, if she pleased,—­the same that her father drank.  It would suit his headache better.—­Nothing,—­he was much obliged to her.  He would help himself,—­which he did in a little different way from common, naturally enough, on account of his headache.  He noticed that Elsie seemed a little nervous while she was rinsing some of the teacups before their removal.

“There’s something going on in that witch’s head,” he said to himself.  “I know her,—­she ’d be savage now, if she had n’t got some trick in hand.  Let ’s see how she looks to-morrow!”

Dick announced that he should go to bed early that evening, on account of this confounded headache which had been troubling him so much.  In fact, he went up early, and locked his door after him, with as much noise as he could make.  He then changed some part of his dress, so that it should be dark throughout, slipped off his boots, drew the lasso out from the bottom of the contents of his trunk, and, carrying that and his boots in his hand, opened his door softly, locked it after him, and stole down the back-stairs, so as to get out of the house unnoticed.  He went straight to the stable and saddled the mustang.  He took a rope from the stable with him, mounted his horse, and set forth in the direction of the Institute.

Mr. Bernard, as we have seen, had not been very profoundly impressed by the old Doctor’s cautions,—­enough, however, to follow out some of his hints which were not troublesome to attend to.  He laughed at the idea of carrying a loaded pistol about with him; but still it seemed only fair, as the old Doctor thought so much of the matter, to humor him about it.  As for not going about when and where he liked, for fear he might have some lurking enemy, that was a thing not to be listened to nor thought of.  There was nothing to be ashamed of or troubled about in any of his relations with the school-girls.  Elsie, no doubt, showed a kind of attraction towards him, as did perhaps some others; but he had been perfectly discreet, and no father or brother or lover had any just cause of quarrel with him.  To be sure,