Billy Bunter's Benefit By Frank Richards - Friardale

Billy Bunter’s Benefit
By Frank Richards
And he was very curious indeed now. After third school on Friday, five
fellows had gone up to that study. It was bright and sunny in the quad,
and most fellows naturally were out of doors after third school. But
Harry Wharton had spoken to his friends when they came out of the
form-room, and they had all gone up to the study, and shut the door.
Something, it seemed to Bunter, was “on.” Whatever might be “on” was no
concern of Bunter’s— but Billy Bunter’s interest in what did not concern
him was deep and abiding. So there was Bunter, with a fat ear applied to a
keyhole, listening-in.
Harry Wharton’s voice, in the study, was distinctly audible to the
surreptitious fat Owl. He was too late to catch the first words, but he
listened with eager inquisitiveness to what followed.
“—what you fellows think about it. I never thought, when that ass Wibley
rushed me into it. But Smithy said something yesterday, and—and—well,
look here, I don’t want to stand in Linley’s light.”
“Well, old Marky wouldn’t dream of wanting you to stand out, on his
account,” said Bob Cherry.
“I know that! But I’ve been thinking it over, and I don’t like it! I don’t
mean that I think it’s a sure thing for me—Linley would very likely beat
me to it. But—.”
“Neck and neck, I fancy,” said Frank Nugent. “The neck-and-neckfulness
would be terrific.”
“Bother that ass Wibley!” said Johnny Bull. “Well, he’s right that some of
us ought to play up, after Mauly and Smithy have shelled out as they
have,” said Harry. “But if we can think of some other way, I’d rather take
my name out, and stand aside.”
“We’ll jolly well think of some other way, then,” said Bob. “I’d like to see
old Marky walk off with the Old Boy’s Prize. I know he wants some new
books that he won’t ask his people for.”
“That does it,” said Harry. “Look here, there’s five of us, and among us we
can manage it, one way or another—if you fellows agree.”
“Hear, hear!” said Bob.
“That’s all right,” said Johnny Bull. “We’ll all play up, and manage it
somehow. Twelve bob each would do it.”
“It’s agreed then?” asked Harry.
“Yes, rather,” said Frank Nugent.
“The agreefulness is terrific.”
“Then I’ll take my name out, and wash it out,” said the captain of the
Remove. “I shan’t be sorry to get out of the swotting, if you come to that.
There’s the cricket, you know, though Wibley thinks that doesn’t
matter—.”
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