CHAPTER XVI
THE HONOR SYSTEM
“Going back to the office, Mack, to write this up?” Lefty asked as he got into the car.
The Journal men had no way of knowing that the names of the two missing Boyville School boys had meant anything to Joan and Chub, on the back seat. Joan had gasped when she heard the names and then stared out into the darkness, speechless for a moment.
“No, Lefty, please wait!” She reached over and touched his sleeve. “I—we—we’ve just got to go in, Chub and I. We know that boy, Alex White, and he’s nice, isn’t he, Chub? And I—I’m just sure there’s a mistake.”
Mack slammed the door. “Little Mary Mix-up to the rescue.”
But Chub was her champion. “Don’t mind the old crab,” he whispered. “It’s a big story, and he’ll be glad enough to gobble it up, after we dig it up.” Aloud, he said, “That kid Alex wasn’t the kind that would break parole, and I think, too, that there’s something rotten in Denmark. You see, we know more about this than you three do. We heard that Charley boy threaten to run away, and Alex was ready to fight him.”
“I’m afraid Alex got the worst of it—” began Joan.
“Say, let’s leave the kids here in case anything breaks,” burst out Lefty, “and let us drive over the route again, for traces of the missing boys.”
“Oh, what’s the use?” yawned Mack. “Let’s go home and get some sleep. We can read all about the fire in The Morning Star.”
Chub was already out of the car, holding the door open for Joan. Inside, in the bright yellow light of the big hall of the main building, they stood still, a bit abashed now that they were there, especially with no plans as to what they should do.