CHAPTER III
A FRUITLESS SEARCH
There was much buzzing and whispering among the pupils as they marched to their classrooms—whispering which the teachers and principal thought best to ignore under the circumstances, for the morning announcement had been an unusual one.
Bart, Fenn, Ned and Frank were in the same grade, and their first morning period was taken up with a Latin recitation. All four were doing some hard thinking as they got out their books in Mr. Kenton’s room. Bart Keene was the first of the four chums to make up his mind. He felt a certain responsibility, since he had proposed the joke.
“Mr. Kenton,” he asked, “may I be excused for a moment?”
“What for, Keene?” inquired the Latin instructor.
“I wish to—to speak to Professor Long.”
There was an audible gasp of astonishment from Bart’s classmates at this. Ned and Frank started to their feet, to utter a protest. They saw Bart’s motive, but they were not going to let him bear the brunt of the punishment alone. There was a curious look on the face of Fenn.