Jeff was stunned. Of all offenses at Pennington this was certainly the most serious. To enter Room 44 at any time and under any circumstances was the most dishonorable thing that a student could do. This was the room in which the examination papers were prepared and kept. All of the students were aware of this fact and honor bound to respect the restrictions that none was to enter that room under any conditions. Some one in school had violated this trust and suspicion pointed to him!
“How—why—this is terrible, Dr. Livingston. But—but why do you suspect me, sir?” asked Jeff.
For answer Dr. Livingston took his hand from the book before him and lifted the cover. Inside the fly leaf, neatly folded, Jeff saw a sheet of light green paper which he recognized only too well as the form in which the examinations in Latin were always printed at Pennington.
“Your book was found, Thatcher, with this in it,” said Dr. Livingston wearily.
CHAPTER XXIII
VOICES
Jeff staggered back as if he had been struck a blow in the face. Was this treachery? The evidence was certainly accusing.
But suddenly his nervousness passed and just anger and resentment took its place. His face became red and he could feel his collar grow too tight for him.
“Of all the rotten, crooked tricks, this is the worst I have ever heard of, sir,” he exclaimed. “Now I know why that book was not in my pocket where I put it and where I knew it should be. Whoever stole the examination papers also stole my book from my pocket and put one of the papers in it. Then he left the book where it would be found and turned in at the office, so you could find this evidence. That is just about the meanest trick a fellow could do.”