One morning a day or so after this Dr. Wise received an anonymous letter written and addressed in typewriting and posted at Riverton, which caused him some little uneasiness.
During the morning session when all of the boys were in the great schoolroom, he called for attention and said, evidently with the greatest reluctance:
“It is not my custom to notice unsigned communications but I have one here which I feel must be investigated in common justice to the person accused. I will read it.”
The boys looked at each other, wondering what was coming and the doctor read the half sheet of note paper which he held in his hand.
“J. S. has a pony in his desk. You had better search it. This may account for his standing in class.”
The boys all understand that by a “pony” was meant a translation of some work in one of the dead languages which they were studying at the time.
“This is a serious accusation,” the doctor went on. “What boy has the initials J. S.?”
“I have, sir,” spoke up Jack, promptly. “My name is John Sheldon.”
“So have I!” cried the other boy. “I am Jasper Sawyer. Maybe it’s me he means.”
“That’s nothing, my name is James Sharpe,” said another.