“Six towels. I’d just drawn them from the store; I haven’t even cut them yet.”
“No way of identifying them from other towels, is there?”
“Yes, by George, there is! Though I hadn’t cut them apart I had stamped my name in indelible ink on the inside of each pair. I then folded them back. But my name is there all right.”
“Streeter,” said Himski suddenly, “you and Creelton are friendly, aren’t you?”
“Oh, friendly enough; why?”
“I want you to go to his room now and ask him to lend you a half dozen of new towels, ones just from the store, and say you will return them later.”
“Look here, Himski, I don’t like to do that. I don’t care much for Creelton but I’d hate to believe him a thief. I know Os thinks he is, but he’s never offered a bit of proof, and I’d hate to accuse a classmate of being a thief.”
“I don’t ask you to do more than borrow some towels from Creelton, Streeter. Now I’ve got good reasons for what I’m asking you to do. I’d do it myself if I were on friendly terms with him. If it proves I’ve done Creelton a wrong I’ll make as public an apology as you think I should. Now, Streeter, will you borrow those towels?”
“Yes, I will. I’ll do it immediately.”
All three left the room, Streeter going first, and soon the latter was in Creelton’s room.