A BIT OF EVIDENCE
"Dave, what do you make of this?"
"Well, to tell the truth, Phil, I don't think much of it."
"You don't think it is a clew?"
"Do you?"
"It's rather faint, I must confess."
"Oh, I don't think there is anything to it," declared Ben.
"There is something, but not a great deal," came from Roger. "I don't
see how you are going to follow it up."
This talk between the boys occurred after Dave, Phil, Ben, Roger, and
Buster had called upon Jason Sparr and the justice and insisted on
seeing the letter the hotel man had received which stated that the
boys were guilty of blowing up the dining-room of his hostelry.
The hotel man had treated them kindly, for he was in dread that the
boys would get their folks to sue him for damages. He had offered to
pay back the money taken from Phil for the spread, and the
shipowner's son had taken the amount, to which he was justly
entitled.
The examination of the letter had revealed next to nothing. It was
evidently written in a disguised hand, but some of the letters looked
like Job Haskers's handwriting. In the corner of the paper some sort
of an advertisement had been torn off, only the letters, "_blisher_"
showing.
"I think those letters are part of the word, '_Publisher_,'" Dave had
said. "This letter was evidently penned by somebody who used some
publisher's blank."
"Maybe Job Haskers had those blanks," Phil had exclaimed. "Remember,
he said he published or was going to publish something once upon a
time."
The boys talked it over, but could reach no conclusion. Jason Sparr
told how the letter had come to him, but this added no new light on
the subject.
"Well, it was a nasty trick, no matter who played it," said Dave.
"I sha'n't rest until I find out who did it," retorted Phil.
All were resolved to watch Job Haskers and also Nat Poole. But while
doing this they had to turn once more to their studies. Phil, Ben, and
Buster had to work harder than ever, and so did Dave, to make up for
the time lost during their absence. But Doctor Clay was kind to them,
and for once Job Haskers did not say anything, although he showed that
he expected them to "toe the mark," as Roger expressed it.
Several weeks slipped by, and during that time Oak Hall played several
games of ball. One game of importance was won, and this was celebrated
in a befitting manner. Dave attended the games, and so did Phil and
Roger, but none of the three allowed the sport to interfere with their
studies. All were "in the grind," and resolved to graduate that coming
June with the highest possible honors.
During those days Dave received many letters from home. His folks and
friends were glad to know that the wild man had been captured and the
mystery of the blowing up cleared away. Jessie sent him a very warm
letter in particular, congratulating him for bringing back the
runaways, and saying she hoped he would have no more trouble during
the final term at Oak Hall. She added that she and all the others
expected to come to the school at graduation exercises.
"Now it is up to me to make good," said Dave, after reading this
letter several times. "Dad expects it, and Jessie, and everybody, and
I am not going to disappoint them."
But it was no light task to remain at the top of the senior class, or
even near it, for there were bright seniors in plenty, including the
studious Polly Vane, who seemed the brightest of all. But Dave plugged
away, day after day, resolved to keep at it until the very last. He
was writing on his theme and had it about half finished.
"One month more and it will all be over but the shouting," said Roger
one day, as he came into the room where Dave was studying.
"All over but the shouting or weeping," returned Phil, who was
present. "I am afraid some of the fellows will do more weeping than
cheering," he added, grimly.
"Let us hope that everybody passes," said Dave, looking up with a
quiet smile.
"Such a thing has never been done," said Ben. "Somebody is bound to
drop by the wayside--I hope it isn't yours truly," and he sank his
head again into his book.
"I think old Haskers is commencing to tighten the screws again," said
Buster. "He let up for a while, after the wild man was caught, but
yesterday and to-day--phew! we caught it, didn't we?"
"We sure did!" cried Phil. "I can't understand that man. Why is he a
teacher when he just naturally hates boys?"
"That's a conundrum that can't be answered," said the senator's son.
"Well, we won't weep on leaving him," remarked Luke, dryly.
"Say, that puts me in mind of a story," said Shadow. "Once on a time a
man in an auto ran into a boy carrying a cat in a basket. He didn't
hurt the boy much but he killed the cat. Says he, 'I am sorry, my boy,
and I'll pay you for the cat. How much?' 'I--I don't know,' blubbered
the boy. 'Will two dollars do?' asked the man. 'Yes,' says the boy,
and took the money. 'Were you taking the cat home?' asked the man,
when he was ready to drive on. 'No,' said the boy. 'I was going to
take him down to the canal and drown him!'" And there was a smile over
Shadow's yarn.
It had been a blustery day, and as night came on the wind increased in
violence, until it fairly howled around Oak Hall. It tore through the
branches of the oaks that gave the place its name, until it looked as
if some of the trees might be broken off by the fury of the elements.
"My gracious! I never saw such a wind!" cried Roger, as he came in
from a trip to the gymnasium.
"It must be fierce at sea," returned Dave, who was with him. "I am
glad I am on shore. The newspapers will tell about wrecks along the
coast to-morrow."
Nobody thought of going out that evening, and the boys put in the time
studying and reading. The windows rattled, and occasionally a shutter
banged, and a good night's rest seemed out of the question.
"My, what a night for a fire!" remarked Phil, while he and his chums
were undressing.
"Don't mention such a thing!" returned Ben, with a shiver. "It would
burn down everything!"
At last the boys retired. A few dropped off to sleep, but Dave was not
one of them. He had studied hard and was restless, and the fury of the
elements added to his nervousness.
At last he could stand it no longer to remain in bed, and got up to
sit in an easy-chair for awhile.
He was just crossing the dormitory floor when there came an extra
heavy blast of wind outside, followed by a crash, as one of the giant
oaks standing close to the school building was broken off near the
top. Then came another crash, a jingling of glass, and a sudden wild
cry for help.
"Hello, something's gone through a window!" Dave muttered. "Maybe it's
in the next room!"
He ran to the window and looked out. Just below the window-sill he saw
some branches of the broken tree. He looked down and noted that the
tree-top had gone into the window of the room below.
"What's the row?" cried Roger, springing up and rubbing his eyes.
"Is the roof caving in?" asked Phil.
"Some tree-branches came down and went through the window right below
us," answered Dave. "Listen!"
All did so, and heard the cry for help repeated.
"It's Job Haskers calling!" said the senator's son. "He uses the room
below us now."
"Let us see if he is hurt," suggested another of the boys.
Clad in their pajamas, the boys flocked out into the hallway, there to
be joined by others. Word was passed around of what had occurred, and
all made their way to the door of the instructor's apartment. They
heard him yelling for help with all his might.
The door was locked, and Dave and some others put their shoulders to
the barrier and forced it open. All was dark in the room, and the wind
was rushing around, sending books, pictures, and other things in all
directions.
Several matches were struck, and at last a sheltered light was lit.
Doctor Clay, Mr. Dale, and some of the other teachers had now arrived,
and instructors and students gazed curiously at the scene before
them.
The top of the tree had come straight through the big window of the
apartment, crashing down on a bureau and a writing-desk, smashing both
flat. Some branches of the tree rested on the side of the bed, pinning
Job Haskers against the wall, as if in a cage.
[Illustration: "HELP ME! SAVE ME!" SPLUTTERED THE TERROR-STRICKEN
TEACHER.--_Page 287_.]
"Help me! Save me!" spluttered the terror-stricken teacher. "I am
being crushed to death!"
"All hands to the tree!" shouted Mr. Dale, and showed what he meant.
Boys and men took hold of the tree-branches and pulled them to one
side.
"Are you much hurt, Mr. Haskers?" asked Doctor Clay, kindly.
"I--I don't know, I think so!" gasped the teacher. His face was white
and he was shivering from fright.
"Can't you crawl under the branches?" asked Mr. Dale. "Here, come this
way."
He showed how it could be done, and trembling from head to feet, the
scared teacher got out from under the tree-top. His face and one
shoulder were scratched, but otherwise he appeared to be unhurt. But
all were forced to acknowledge that he had had a narrow escape.
"You had better take one of the spare rooms, Mr. Haskers," said Doctor
Clay, as another blast of wind swept through the room. "You cannot
remain here, with this tree-top in the room. And I am afraid we shall
have to saw it up to get it out again. You can be thankful that your
life has been spared."
"The furniture is smashed!" murmured the teacher.
"Never mind the furniture, so long as you are not hurt. It can be
mended, and all the window needs is some new sash."
"My things have been scattered," grumbled the teacher. "A perfect
mess!"
"Leave it until morning--you can do nothing to-night," said the
doctor; and so it was finally decided, and teachers and pupils trooped
off to bed. The broken-in door was closed, but it could not be
locked.
The boys had scarcely gotten back to the dormitories when Dave called
Phil, Ben, Roger, and Buster to one side.
"Now is our chance," he whispered. "Did you notice that the bureau and
the writing-desk in Haskers's room were smashed? It may not be the
most honorable thing to do, but I think we are justified in looking
his things over and seeing if we can't find some clew to that letter
Jason Sparr received."
"Right you are!" declared Phil, promptly, and the others said
practically the same.
They waited until the other boys had retired once more, and then, at a
signal from Dave, all filed silently into the hallway again and
tiptoed their way to the room below. Soon, they were inside and had
the light lit, and also a lantern which belonged to Ben's bicycle,
and which he had chanced to have on hand.
Silently and with great care the boys went over the many things that
had been scattered over the floor--wearing apparel, books, pads,
papers, and various articles of more or less value. Presently Phil
gave a low cry.
"Look at this!" And he held up several sheets of paper. In one corner
were the words:
LATIN MADE EASY
_JOB HASKERS, Publisher,_
ALBANY, N. Y.
"It's the same paper!" cried Dave. "He tore the corner off so that
just the letters '_blisher_' remained."
"That's pretty good evidence," said Roger.
"I should say it was!" cried Ben. "Wonder what he will have to say
about it, when we confront him with it?"
"Let us look for more evidence, while we are at it," came from Buster.
And then the midnight search continued.