“Did you ever hear the like?” cried Fenn.
“Wait, here’s something more,” said Bart. He pointed to a few lines of type at the bottom of the article. They read:
“Just as we are going to press we learn that one of the four suspected lads has hurriedly left town.”
“Come on!” cried Bart. “I’m going to make him take that back.”
“Make who take what back?” asked Frank.
“Why the editor of this paper. Can’t you see who he’s referring to in that last line? He means Ned! He means that Ned’s run away for fear he’ll be arrested! He means us when he says ‘four boys often seen in each others’ company!’ He’s accusing the Darewell Chums of blowing up the tower! Come on, we’ll make him deny this if he has to get out an extra!”
“Go slow,” advised Frank.
“Go slow! Yes, that’s always your way! Wait and let him say all he wants to about us! I guess not!”
“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.”