Page:Dave Porter at Oak Hall.djvu/245

Rh "My composition is missing."

"Missing?"

"Yes, I placed it in my drawer last night and now it's gone. I thought it might be in one of the other drawers. You haven't seen it, have you?"

"No."

The desk was searched from top to bottom, but all Dave could find were the two discarded compositions.

"This is queer," said Phil. "Nobody would steal a composition."

"As I came into the dormitory, I saw Chip Macklin at the door. He was coming out."

"He hasn't any right in this room."

The matter was talked over, but nothing came of it. It was now time to return to the classroom, and Dave did not know what to do.

"Why don't you hand in one of the other compositions?" suggested Phil. "That will be better than nothing."

"I'll do it, Phil—but I wish I had that last."

The composition was given to Job Haskers, and when the matter was made public Dave received ninety per cent. out of a possible hundred. Only four boys were ahead of him, the highest per cent. being ninety-seven.

"That was pretty good," said Phil. "Considering it was your second best, so to speak."

"I'd give a dollar to know what became of that