"I am afraid I'll have to," said Tom quietly, as he turned aside. "But if you fellows think———"
"Say, if you intimate such a thing as that we believe you guilty I'll punch your face!" cried Jack, with a laugh, in which there was no mirth. "Won't we, Bert?"
"We sure will! Now come on to Latin class;" and with their arms still about their chum, showing their loyalty to him in his time of trouble, the boys passed on across the campus, followed by many eyes.
CHAPTER XVI
TOM SEEKS CLEWS
"Well, Tom, what's the answer; anyhow?"
"Don't talk about it if you don't want to."
Thus Jack and Bert spoke as they entered their room with their chum shortly before luncheon on the day of the sensational disclosures in chapel.
Tom looked at his two friends, and then sank down rather wearily in a chair.
"I don't mind talking about it," he said, with an attempt at a smile. "In fact I was going to propose it myself. I've got some hard work ahead of me."