Dr. Livingston looked at him searchingly for several seconds and it seemed to Jeff as if the cloud that had settled over the Headmaster lifted just a little.
“Thatcher, did you enter Room 44?” he said sternly and in a manner that demanded a truthful answer.
“No, sir. I have never been in the room, sir,” said Jeff drawing himself up erect and looking the Master squarely in the eyes.
“Did you steal the examination papers that are missing?” continued Dr. Livingston.
“I did not. I have never before seen that paper that you just showed me folded in my book.”
“Do you know anything about this disagreeable situation at all,” demanded Dr. Livingston, finally.
“Nothing more than you have told me right here, sir!” replied Jeff.
Dr. Livingston was silent for several seconds. Again he spoke:
“Thatcher, I believe you. But here is mighty unpleasant circumstantial evidence that I must accept until a better case can be made out for your defense or damnation. Until then you are barred from taking the final examination. Of course, you are set down from the baseball team and any other athletic team in school. You must keep within bounds at all times and you must be in your room at eight o’clock every evening. I’m very sorry, Thatcher, but you realize the seriousness of the situation. I am going to conduct an immediate investigation and will clear this thing up as soon as possible and”—the Headmaster stood up and put his hand on Jeff’s shoulder—“Thatcher, I hope you are telling the truth and that you can prove your statements, for, my boy, I like you a great deal and it would hurt me more than you can believe to know that you were party to any dishonorable acts. When I saw your name in this book here it made me feel sick at heart, my boy. Go, now, and we will try to work this out happily for you, anyway.”
Jeff could not choke back a lump that came into his throat as the kindly Headmaster spoke to him, and in spite of his best efforts tears mounted to his eyes and spilled over onto his cheek. He had never had the benefit of paternal affection and the fatherly attitude of the venerable Dr. Livingston reached a strangely responsive heartstring.