"You know well enough, Ditmore. You took my—er—my set of teeth! You have made me the laughing-stock of the whole school! You shall suffer for it!"
"Who says I took the teeth?"
"John Fenwick saw you place them on the chandelier! Oh, you need not deny it."
"Mumps! Well, he always was a sneak!" answered Pepper.
"He is a nice, manly youth."
With a firm grip still on Pepper's arm, the irate teacher led the way to a room looking out on the rear. It was an apartment less than ten feet square, and plainly furnished with two chairs and a couch. In one corner was a stand with a washbowl and pitcher of water. The single window was stoutly barred.
"Going to make a prisoner of me?" asked Pepper, as the door was opened and he was thrust into the room.
"You shall stay here for the present," snapped Josiah Crabtree. "When I let you out I think you'll be a sadder and perhaps a wiser boy."
"Am I to have my breakfast?"
"No," answered the teacher.