Page:Nid and Nod (IA nidnod00barb).pdf/343

 happened. But who—Say, maybe the other fellow was Jim Hallock!"

"Just what I was thinking," agreed Ned. "I don't see, though, how we can prove anything against either of them. Look here, son, I guess the best thing we can do is see Johnny and tell him all about it. After that it will be up to the faculty. Come on!"

They had to wait some time for an audience, but finally they were facing the Doctor, and Ned, as spokesman, was saying very earnestly: "Neither Laurie nor I was out of our room after ten o'clock Friday night, sir. Somebody did come in our window, though, and woke us up. I thought it was Laurie and he thought it was me, and that's why I didn't want to answer your question, sir."

Now, nothing could have been clearer and simpler than that and yet, when Ned had finished, the principal blinked behind his spectacles, gazed a moment in silence, and then waved a hand.

"Sit down, boys," he said. "Now, Edward I think you'd better say that all over again."