It was quite a procession that lined up on the board walk of the Yates' home, which stood some distance back from the street. Frank rang the bell and Mr. Yates himself answered the summons.
"What's this?" cried the mill superintendent. "A surprise party?"
"If it is, it's a disagreeable one, Mr. Yates," said Frank. "We want to show you what sort of a trick Sidney has been playing on us—he and that Billy Fram."
"What are you doing with those wet clothes?"
"Sidney had Billy Fram steal them from our clubroom and throw them into Mr. Darrow's cistern."
Of course Mr. Yates was astonished, and at first he would not believe what was told him. Sidney had gone out, but came back in the midst of the interview.
"See here, what does this mean?" demanded his father, catching him by the ear. "Answer me, did you do this?"
"Oh!" screamed Sidney. "Don't! I—I didn't do nothing!"
"He had it done, and we can prove it," answered Frank.
"I—I didn't do it!" Sidney was so scared he lost his head. "Billy Fram did it! Oh, let me go, please do!"