“Hurrah, Dave, that’s the talk!” cried Roger, with sudden enthusiasm. “I didn’t think of it, but that is just what is needed to clear ’em! We’ll knock Jason Sparr’s accusations into a cocked hat!”
“You let me see that drawing!” shouted Nat, making another grab for it. “I’ve got a right to it—if my uncle made it.”
“You can look at it, but you can’t handle it,” said Dave, and he gave Roger a look that the senator’s son well understood. Both knew that the money-lender’s son could not be trusted with such an important bit of evidence. 208
The drawing was held up, but Nat was not permitted to get too close to it. He looked it over carelessly and then his lip curled.
“Huh! I don’t think my uncle drew it,” he said.
“And we think he did,” returned Dave.
There was a sudden silence after this. Each boy was busy with his thoughts. Dave felt particularly light-hearted.
“This ought to clear Phil and the others,” he reasoned. “And they can come back to school without delay and finish the term and graduate.”
Having packed up his things, Nat got out his bicycle and prepared to ride back to Oak Hall, and the others did the same.
“Going to give me that drawing?” asked the money-lender’s son, just as he was ready to start off.