"Is that all? If it is, I call that very flimsy evidence; and I again warn you to be careful how you make accusations."
"It ain't all, Doctor Meredith. Th' same hired man picked up this pin near the stacks," and the farmer held out a pin such as was worn by nearly every Elmwood Hall student.
"Picked up the pin near the stacks; did he?" asked the head master coolly, as he looked at the ornament. "Well, seeing that a number of my students were helping put out the fire, it is but natural that one might lose a pin there. I see no evidence in that, and again——"
"This here pin were picked up at the stacks just afore th' fire was discovered—not afterward," said the farmer in a harsh voice, as his gaze swept the faces of Tom and his chums.
CHAPTER XIII
THE POISONED HORSES
For the space of several seconds there was silence—a portentous silence—and then the head of the school, looking from the pin in his hand at the accusing farmer, and thence to the three lads said:
"Do you know, Mr. Appleby, to whom this pin belongs?"
"No, sir, I don't. But I thought maybe you could tell. That's why I come t' see you. If anybody set my stacks afire I want t' know it, an' I want damages, same as I had when some fellers tromped through my corn," and Mr. Appleby looked straight at Tom, who returned the gaze fearlessly.
"Again I warn you to be careful in your accusations, Mr. Appleby," said the head master sharply.