"Humph! that photo is burned up," growled Gus Plum.
"Gus Plum!" gasped Dave. He could say no more.
"Plum, do you mean to say you burned that picture up?" demanded Roger. "If you did, you ought to be tarred and feathered for it!"
"He wouldn't dare to do it!" came boldly from Phil. "If he did, I know what Dave will do—have him sent to jail for it."
"Bah! You can't send me to jail for a little fun," blustered the bully.
"That is no fun, Plum," put in Ben. "That photo was of great importance. If you burned it up, you will surely suffer."
"Is it really burned or not?" muttered Dave, hoarsely. "Answer me, you—you cur!" and he caught the bully by the throat.
"Le-let go—don't strangle me! N-no—it's all right. I was only fooling."
"Then, where is it?"
"In the—the closet—on the top shelf."