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 "All right," said Ned wearily. "Let's drop it. He won't be able to pin anything on you. You'll get out of it all right."

There was a trace of bitterness in Ned's voice, and Laurie scowled. "Well, he asked me so suddenly," he muttered apologetically, "I—I just said what came into my head. I'm sorry. I'd have refused to answer if he hadn't sprung it so quick."

"It would have been rather more—rather less contemptible," answered Ned coldly.

Laurie flushed. "Thanks! I guess that'll be about all from you, Ned. When I want any more of your brotherly remarks I'll let you know!" He swung aside and left Ned to go on alone to No. 16.

The story of the purloining of the physical director's blue roadster was all over school by that time. Ned got the full details from Kewpie. Mr. Wells had left the car in front of School Hall, as he very often did, and was playing a game of chess with Mr. Pennington. Shortly after half-past eleven he had looked for the car, had failed to find it, and had hurried to the corner. There he had met a man coming down Walnut