Tom and Joe hastened to the casement to look. On the campus, not far from the school, stood a bronze statue of Dr. Theodore Whittleside, the original founder of the institution. It was a fine piece of work, the gift of several of the alumni societies, and was almost sacred. Now some ruthless hand had pulled it from its base, and part of one of the hands was broken off.
For a moment Joe and Tom stood aghast, looking at it. Then the meaning of it came to them. Some sacrilegious student, or students, had done the deed.
“There’ll be a peach of a row over this!” declared Teeter. “Hurry up and get to chapel. Old Cæsar is sure to spout a lot about it. It’s sure dismissal for whoever did it.”
“And it ought to be!” exclaimed Joe wrathfully.
“If they catch them,” added Tom, thoughtfully. “I wonder who did it?”
[CHAPTER XXVII]
ON PROBATION
Joe did not get to chapel that morning. He was all ready to go with Tom and the others after making a hasty toilet, when a messenger came to the door.