"It was a fellow about your size."
Drayton turned pale, and said, "Chester, do you mean that I did it?"
"I do mean just that."
Drayton's fists doubled up threateningly, and he was about to assume a fighting attitude, when he changed his plan, and tried to coax Joe.
"Oh come, Joe, you know better. You are only chaffing. I thought at first that you were in earnest."
"You thought right then," added Joe dryly.
Drayton made no reply, but tried to stare indignantly at Joe.
The effort failed; his own eyes dropped before the steady, honest eyes that looked him through.
"How do you know?--what made you think I did it?" added Drayton hurriedly, fearing that he had admitted his guilt.
"I saw you burning paper in the garden last evening, and although I had no idea then that you were up to mischief, I felt sure of it as soon as I found the fellows all complaining about their books."