Hal had somewhat recovered his balance because he knew, of course, that it must come out all right somehow, although he had no idea what or how they were going to do him. He knew he was innocent yet here were a lot of circumstances that looked like evidence to them and until he could clear them up he would be under great suspicion.
If they should decide that the evidence warranted action they could even have him locked up, and he began to think of the books he had read of people—men, women, and boys who had been unjustly accused of different crimes and had been locked up for years, many of them never having their innocence proved. It was a terrible fix for him. All this went through his mind while the others were consulting.
Finally Dr. Lawrence, the president, turned to Hal and said:
“Mr. Case, it is a terrible thing for all of us to have to consider a matter of this kind. It is one of the few occasions in my life when I would rather be anyone else than the President of Lowell University. Whoever it was who performed this theft may have to answer finally for the conviction of an innocent young man. We are loath to accuse you of this crime. In fact, I wish you to understand thoroughly that we do not accuse you now. At the same time the circumstances are such that we cannot, we regret to say, exonerate you until the matter is fully cleared up. You yourself admit that it looks bad for you. It does. But we will not permit ourselves to believe you guilty until every effort has been made to clear it up. Meantime, however, not as a punishment for the matter, but to put it on a basis which while not justifiable is nevertheless explainable, as the result of your intention to absent yourself from the University without leave, we have decided that [you must consider yourself off the Varsity] for the period of one week. We rely on you not to leave the University pending the investigation. I am sorry.”
[“You must consider yourself off the varsity.”]
He shook Hal’s hand warmly after this dignified speech and expressed the hope that the matter could be cleared up soon. He assured Hal that no expense or labor would be saved in that direction.
Then they let him go home and it was the saddest trip Hal ever took in the direction of Mrs. Malcolm’s home. Whether they considered him guilty of the greater crime or not, he was disgraced anyhow. Surely it was a hard punishment to give an impetuous young fellow for simply wanting to go home and for the reason that Hal thought he had.
He went up the stairs to his room with a heavy heart—a heart that ached in every way. He felt that he was done for.
Hans’ door was open and he heard Hal come in.