“I have; but I can show you how it can be done easier than I can explain it to you. We can’t go up to my floor to operate, for Bert is standing guard there. Who’s on your floor?”
“Clarence Duncan.”
“Are you willing to trust him? I notice that you and he are not quite as thick as you used to be.”
“I’ve got to trust him whether I am willing or not. If I should go back on him entirely he would find a way to get me into a row that would send me down.”
“I don’t see how he could make anything by that. He is as deep in the mud as you are, and he would probably be sent down himself.”
“He wouldn’t care for that. He’ll go any lengths to injure a boy he hates. That’s his style. I have managed to keep up a show of friendship with him, and I know he will let you do anything you like on his floor. Come on.”
Clarence, who was seated in his chair reading a sensational story paper that one of the students had smuggled into the academy, nodded to Tom, returned Don’s salute, and would probably have paid no further attention to them had he not seen them turn into the hall that led to the fire-escape. This excited his curiosity and he arose and followed them.
“What are you going to do here?” he demanded.
“Gordon has discovered a way to open these doors,” replied Tom.
“Not from this side,” exclaimed Duncan.