“I got in exactly as did the person who wrote the line about Mr. Moehler, and it wasn’t Mr. Osborn, because I saw his board after he left it, sir. If you will remain here a moment, sir, I will show you how I did it.”
Himski left the room and in a couple of minutes the door of the closet opened and he stepped into the recitation room, holding the closet door open.
The commandant, Professor Scott and Mr. Moehler crowded into it. They saw that what had been the ceiling of the closet was in reality a trap-door, which was now raised, and in the closet was a ladder leading to it.
“How did you discover all this, Mr. Himski?” asked the commandant sharply.
“When I went into the closet with you, sir, I noticed some marks on the white wall which could have been made by a ladder leaning against it. I looked up, threw up a burning match, and observed there was a crack all around the ceiling and it suddenly occurred to me that the ceiling was a trap-door. I knew Osborn hadn’t written those words and I was certain the only way that the man who did could have got into the room was by the closet. So then I got professor’s pass-key and opened the door leading to the garret. I found the trap-door and a ladder beside it. By the garret door I found this piece of wax; some one had been taking an impression of the lock. You know the rest, sir. It was easy to tiptoe into the room from the closet without making a noise, write on the board and get back to the closet without being discovered.”
“By George, Mr. Himski, I have much to thank you for. There must be some scoundrel here who wants to get Mr. Osborn into trouble!”
“There is, sir, but that’s a long story; I will tell you about that when you have time to listen to me.”
“Mr. Himski is right about that, captain,” broke in Professor Scott, who until now had kept silent. “I know something about that myself, and the former superintendent and your predecessor also knew about it.”
“You have saved me from doing an act of unconscious but cruel injustice, Mr. Himski, and you have saved a classmate from a terrible wrong. It is certain that but for what you have done Mr. Osborn must have been dismissed. I will hear about your story later but now I must see that section. They are in the hall; send them here.”
In a moment Ralph had marched his section in the room.