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The Story of a Bad Boy
to be killed； but happily （happily for me at least） I was merely stunned。 I
lay in a semi…unconscious state until eight o'clock that night； when I
attempted to speak。 Miss Abigail； who watched by the bedside； put her ear
down to my lips and was saluted with these remarkable words：
〃Strawberry and verneller mixed！〃
〃Mercy on us！ What is the boy saying？〃 cried Miss Abigail。
〃ROOTBEERSOLDHERE！〃
1 This inscription is copied from a triangular…shaped piece of slate；
still preserved in the garret of the Nutter House； together with the pistol
butt itself； which was subsequently dug up for a postmortem examination。
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The Story of a Bad Boy
CHAPTER Nine
I Become an R。 M。 C。
In the course of ten days I recovered sufficiently from my injuries to
attend school； where； for a little while； I was looked upon as a hero； on
account of having been blown up。 What don't we make a hero of？ The
distraction which prevailed in the classes the week preceding the Fourth
bad subsided； and nothing remained to indicate the recent festivities；
excepting a noticeable want of eyebrows on the part of Pepper Whitcomb
and myself。
In August we had two weeks' vacation。 It was about this time that I
became a member of the Rivermouth Centipedes； a secret society
composed of twelve of the Temple Grammar School boys。 This was an
honor to which I had long aspired； but； being a new boy； I was not
admitted to the fraternity until my character had fully developed itself。
It was a very select society； the object of which I never fathomed；
though I was an active member of the body during the remainder of my
residence at Rivermouth； and at one time held the onerous position of F。 C。；
First Centipede。 Each of the elect wore a copper cent （some occult
association being established between a cent apiece and a centipedes
suspended by a string round his neck。 The medals were worn next the skin；
and it was while bathing one day at Grave Point； with Jack Harris and
Fred Langdon； that I had my curiosity roused to the highest pitch by a
sight of these singular emblems。 As soon as I ascertained the existence of a
boys' club； of course I was ready to die to join it。 And eventually I was
allowed to join。
The initiation ceremony took place in Fred Langdon's barn； where I
was submitted to a series of trials not calculated to soothe the nerves of a
timorous boy。 Before being led to the Grotto of Enchantment…such was the
modest title given to the loft over my friend's wood…house…my hands were
securely pinioned； and my eyes covered with a thick silk handkerchief。 At
the head of the stairs I was told in an unrecognizable； husky voice； that it
was not yet too late to retreat if I felt myself physically too weak to
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The Story of a Bad Boy
undergo the necessary tortures。 I replied that I was not too weak； in a tone
which I intended to be resolute； but which； in spite of me； seemed to come
from the pit of my stomach。
〃It is well！〃 said the husky voice。
I did not feel so sure about that； but； having made up my mind to be a
Centipede； a Centipede I was bound to be。 Other boys had passed through
the ordeal and lived； why should not I？
A prolonged silence followed this preliminary examination and I was
wondering what would come next； when a pistol fired off close by my car
deafened me for a moment。 The unknown voice then directed me to take
ten steps forward and stop at the word halt。 I took ten steps； and halted。
〃Stricken mortal；〃 said a second husky voice； more husky； if possible；
than the first； 〃if you had advanced another inch； you would have
disappeared down an abyss three thousand feet deep！〃
I naturally shrunk back at this friendly piece of information。 A prick
from some two…pronged instrument； evidently a pitchfork； gently checked
my retreat。 I was then conducted to the brink of several other precipices；
and ordered to step over many dangerous chasms； where the result would
have been instant death if I had committed the least mistake。 I have
neglected to say that my movements were accompanied by dismal groans
from different parts of the grotto。
Finally； I was led up a steep plank to what appeared to me an
incalculable height。 Here I stood breathless while the bylaws were read
aloud。 A more extraordinary code of laws never came from the brain of
man。 The penalties attached to the abject being who should reveal any of
the secrets of the society were enough to make the blood run cold。 A
second pistol…shot was heard； the something I stood on sunk with a crash
beneath my feet and I fell two miles； as nearly as I could compute it。 At
the same instant the handkerchief was whisked from my eyes； and I found
myself standing in an empty hogshead surrounded by twelve masked
figures fantastically dressed。 One of the conspirators was really appalling
with a tin sauce…pan on his head； and a tiger…skin sleigh…robe thrown over
his shoulders。 I scarcely need say that there were no vestiges to be seen of
the fearful gulfs over which I had passed so cautiously。 My ascent had
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The Story of a Bad Boy
been to the top of the hogshead； and my descent to the bottom thereof。
Holding one another by the hand； and chanting a low dirge； the Mystic
Twelve revolved about me。 This concluded the ceremony。 With a merry
shout the boys threw off their masks； and I was declared a regularly
installed member of the R。 M。 C。
I afterwards had a good deal of sport out of the club； for these
initiations； as you may imagine； were sometimes very comical spectacles；
especially when the aspirant for centipedal honors happened to be of a
timid disposition。 If he showed the slightest terror； he was certain to be
tricked unmercifully。 One of our subsequent devices…a humble invention
of my own…was to request the blindfolded candidate to put out his tongue；
whereupon the First Centipede would say； in a low tone； as if not intended
for the ear of the victim； 〃Diabolus； fetch me the red…hot iron！〃 The
expedition with which that tongue would disappear was simply ridiculous。
Our meetings were held in various barns； at no stated periods； but as
circumstances suggested。 Any member had a right to call a meeting。 Each
boy who failed to report himself was fined one cent。 Whenever a member
had reasons for thinking that another member would be unable to attend；
he called a meeting。 For instance； immediately on learning the death of
Harry Blake's great…grandfather； I issued a call。 By these simple and
ingenious measures we kept our treasury in a flourishing condition；
sometimes having on hand as much as a dollar and a quarter。
I have said that the society had no special object。 It is true； there was a
tacit understanding among us that the Centipedes were to stand by one
another on all occasions； though I don't remember that they did； but
further than this we had no purpose； unless it was to accomplish as a body
the same amount of mischief which we were sure to do as individuals。 To
mystify the staid and slow…going Rivermouthians was our frequent
pleasure。 Several of our pranks won us such a reputation among the
townsfolk； that we were credited with having a large finger in whatever
went amiss in the place。
One morning； about a week after my admission into the secret order；
the quiet citizens awoke to find that the signbo