I---I-----"
Here Dr. Thornton broke down, dabbing at his eyes with his
handkerchief. Almost unconsciously he passed the pin, which he
was yet holding, to Fred Ripley.
"Lock the locker door, Mr. Prescott---and give me the key,"
requested the principal.
Dick passed over the key, then spoke, with more composure than
might have been expected under the circumstances:
"Dr. Thornton, I am as innocent of any thieving as you yourself
can be. Sooner or later the right of this will come out. Then
you will realize that I didn't steal anything. I'll prove myself
innocent yet, sir."
"I hope so, my boy, I---I---hope so," replied the principal.
As they ascended, Fred Ripley stepped aside to let the other two
go first. He was afraid to have Dick Prescott behind him just
then.
No sooner had the trio entered the general assembly room than
it quickly dawned on all the students of both sexes that something
was unusually wrong.
Dick's face was red as fire. Had he been guilty of the thefts,
he might have been cooler about it all. Conscious innocence often
puts on the appearance of guilt.
Somehow, Dick got to his seat. He picked up a book, mechanically,
and pretended to be deeply absorbed in study.
"What's up?" whispered the fellow seated behind Fred.
Ripley turned enough to raise his eyebrows significantly and let
his questioner see him do it. Instantly all seated near the lawyer's
son became intensely curious.
Wondering glances strayed from over book-tops, even from the far
corners of the big assembly room.
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