“The typewriter on which the note that gave us away about the picture stunt was printed.”
“You have? Whose was it?” asked Bob.
“The proctor’s! Look, there’s a specimen of work from his machine and here’s the card with our names on it.”
Ned laid them down side by side, and, as he told how he had secured the sample by the use of a little subterfuge, his two chums noted the similarity of slight marks in letters that seemed to prove the point. And, a little later, it was proved positively.
For the proctor sent for our heroes one day.
“I understand you think that a certain student here gave information to the faculty to the effect that you three took down the founder’s picture. Never mind how I found it out, but do you hold that belief?” he asked.
“We did,” answered Ned, “but we don’t now.”
“I am glad of it,” the proctor said, “for it was I who saw you. As I was too late to prevent your carrying your prank to completion to save Dr. Boxwood’s portrait from desecration, I wrote the note and put it on the flagpole.”
“We know that, too,” said Ned.
“How did you find it out?” asked the proctor.