Page:Ned Wilding's Disappearance.djvu/99

Rh "I say we'd better wait," Frank went on quietly. "Of course you know, and I know, none of us had anything to do with the blowing up of the tower. I don't believe it was blown up. I believe the wind did it, and some one has imagined all this and given the reporter a story of what he thinks is the truth. At the same time the school authorities may be going to have an investigation. It's their privilege. Now if we go to the editor's office and raise a row folks at once will jump to the conclusion that we had some hand in the explosion. Besides, it doesn't say we are suspected."

"It as good as says so," Bart exclaimed. "Everyone will know they mean us."

"At the same time the article doesn't say so. That editor is cute enough for that. He doesn't want a libel suit on his hands."

"It might as well call us by the names," Bart insisted. "Besides, that refers to Ned as plain as can be, and he isn't here to defend himself. It's our duty to go."

"I tell you you'll only make things worse if you go to the office of the paper," Frank insisted.

"The editor will ask you if you think the article refers to you. You'll say it does, and he'll say, in effect, 'if the shoe fits put it on.' These newspaper men are no fools. They have some basis