“A few days ago,” said the professor, “I had something to say to you about the breaking of the skeleton in the laboratory, which at that time I supposed to be an act of vandalism. I have since learned that this skeleton was used by the hazers to frighten the unfortunate subject of their pitiful sport, and that it was broken while being thus used, and then returned to the academy. I declared, should I learn who had been concerned, that I would be severe in my punishment; but that declaration was made without a full understanding of the circumstances. I am now in complete possession of the facts, and I know the name of every boy who took part in that disgraceful frolic. The wisest men often feel at liberty to change their minds, and, without any claim to special wisdom, I have changed mine. I shall not inflict immediate chastisement upon the offenders. However, I shall hereafter keep close and constant watch upon them, and any further offense of theirs coming to my notice shall not pass, I promise, without merited discipline. I am not so old that I do not understand that boys will be boys, but there are plenty of clean and manly sports in which you may indulge to your heart’s content without danger of bringing to yourselves pangs of regret, and without fear of inflicting shame upon your parents and friends by your behavior. Although I have been exceedingly mild in my denunciation of your conduct, I wish you to know that I feel highly incensed and grieved and regretful over it.”
Without exception, they were intensely relieved when he had finished. Few of them ventured to exchange glances, but behind his geography Hunk Rollins grinned and winked at one or two of the guilty chaps who chanced to look in his direction.
After school that night, ere proceeding to the football field for final signal practice, half a dozen lads gathered behind the gymnasium.
“Somebody pup-peached,” said Phil Springer.
“Well, whoever the pup is, he’s a peach, that’s all I have to say,” observed Chipper Cooper.
“Who d’you s’pose it was, fellers?” questioned Sile Crane.
“My deduction is,” said Sleuth Piper, “that it was a certain party named Grant.”
“Of course it was Grant,” agreed Berlin Barker. “No one else would do it.”
“If it was him,” said Tuttle, “why didn’t he come right out with it when the prof gave us that first game of talk about busting the skeleton and offered to let off without punishment any one who would own up?”
“Because he’s a sneak and a coward!” exclaimed Berlin. “He was afraid to get up before the whole school and squeal, but he went to Prof. Richardson privately and told the whole business. I’ll bet my life I’m right.”