“Not intentionally, sir.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean that I did not know it was there. Some one must have put it in my pocket for a joke.”
“Nonsense! Do you expect me to believe that?” the professor asked sharply of Tom.
“It’s the truth, sir.”
“Preposterous! I don’t believe you!”
“Sir!” exclaimed our hero, for he was not in the habit of being told that he spoke an untruth.
“Don’t contradict me!” stormed the teacher. “I say you did it on purpose—er—a-ker-choo! On purpose—ker-choo! I have known it to be done before, in other classes, but never in mine. I will have no nonsense! Ker-choo!”
The professor was having hard work to talk, for he sneezed quite often, as, in fact, did every one in the class.
“This foolishness will have to stop!” he declared. “I am certain you put that powder in your own pocket, Fairfield.”