The superintendent flushed still redder. “No!” he declared.
“What?” cried Hal. “You didn't tell Billy Keating of the Gazette that I had seduced a girl in North Valley? You didn't describe the girl to him—a red-haired Irish girl?”
“I merely said, Mr. Warner, that I had heard certain rumours—”
“Certain rumours, Mr. Cartwright? The certainty was all of your making! You made a definite and explicit statement to Mr. Keating—”
“I did not!” declared the other.
“I'll soon prove it!” And Hal started towards the telephone on Cartwright's desk.
“What are you going to do, Hal?”
“I am going to get Billy Keating on the wire, and let you hear his statement.”
“Oh, rot, Hal!” cried Edward. “I don't care anything about Keating's statement. You know that at that time Mr. Cartwright had no means of knowing who you were.”
Cartwright was quick to grasp this support. “Of course not, Mr. Warner! Your brother came here, pretending to be a working boy—”