“Guilty of such bad habits. We went into your lockers and your trunks, and we discovered two bottles of liquor, eight packages of cigarettes, and three packs of playing-cards, all belonging to you two students. You know our rules. You have broken them, and you must either be punished or else be dismissed from this school!”
CHAPTER X
FROM CELLAR TO ATTIC
For the moment after Josiah Crabtree made this declaration Jack and Pepper were so amazed that they could not speak. They stared at the teacher as if they had not heard aright.
“Do you mean to say you found such things in our trunks and lockers?” asked the young major, at last.
“I certainly do, Ruddy.”
“It’s a—a trick!” burst out Pepper. “A mean, rascally trick!”
“No, there was no trick about it,” answered Josiah Crabtree.
“But, Mr. Crabtree, there must be some mistake,” faltered Jack. “I do not drink or smoke or play cards, and neither does Pepper. Surely you have made a mistake.”
“No mistake about it, I tell you. I found the things as plain as day, and Captain Putnam saw them too. You had the things hidden pretty well, but our search was thorough. After the fire I suspected you at once, for I saw the evidence of smoking and drinking around the burnt building. You may as well confess. It will do no good to put on an innocent front.”
“Mr. Crabtree, will you listen to me?” asked Pepper, half desperately.