“Did you have any conversation with the candidate at desk number 155? Was there anything in his manner, or did he do anything that now leads you to believe he might have exchanged his papers for yours?”
“Yes, sir.”
“What was it, please? Tell all the circumstances.”
“Soon after I commenced my work last Monday morning,” began Ralph, “my attention was attracted by a noise of heavy breathing, and I heard some whispered swearing. I turned around. The candidate behind me looked wild with anger. Then he whispered to me to let him have my sheets as I finished with them, to compare the answers, he said, but I wouldn’t do it. Then a little later he kicked my chair and whispered to me that he would give me one hundred dollars if I would give him my papers.”
“What did you say to that?”
“I called him a scoundrel and asked him what he paid for the examination he had had stolen, and told him if he said anything more to me I would report him.”
“You should have done so anyway, Mr. Osborn.”
“Yes, sir, I know I should, but I was thinking of nothing but my examination.”
“Do you know the candidate’s name?”
“I think it’s Short, sir; I don’t know anything about him except I have heard people say he is a millionaire.”