Page:Dave Porter at Oak Hall.djvu/270



Dave's accusation the sneak of the school turned pale, and for the moment did not know what to say. There was a painful silence, broken by Gus Plum, who advanced upon the boy from the country with clenched fists.

"See here, I ain't going to stand for this!" he blustered. "Chip is no thief."

"I have spoken the truth," answered Dave, calmly. "I dare Macklin to deny it."

"Ho—how can you prove that I to—took the composition," came faintly from the sneak.

"Never mind, I can prove it, and that's enough. It was a mean piece of business. I had to use another composition not so good in its stead, and it brought down my percentage."

"Don't you let him bulldoze you, Chip," interposed the bully. "I don't believe he can prove it." And he winked suggestively at his toady.

"Do you know what I think, Plum?" continued Dave, hotly. "You and Macklin are in league with each other in this, just as you are in with each other on other shady transactions." Rh