It was only after much grumbling that Mr. Callum reduced his complaint to writing. He told of the upsetting of the basket of chaff on his head, and how he had discovered the tell-tale evidence in Andy's pocket. He ended by making another demand for their dismissal. Evidently he did not suspect any other lads of having had a hand in the joke.
"Very well," said the secretary, "I will give this to Dr. Doolittle in the morning. Have you boys anything to say?"
"I—we—that is I—" began Andy stumblingly.
"We have nothing to say now," interrupted Frank quickly, while the professor glared at them.
"Then Dr. Doolittle will send for you when he wants you. That is all now."
Still muttering threats against our heroes the professor withdrew, and the lads slowly followed.
"What was your idea in not saying anything?" asked Andy of his brother as they once more went toward their rooms.
"Why, don't you see? Poor Doc is off his feed. He's all knocked out on account of this disappointment, and he doesn't care whether school keeps or not. He won't pay any attention to Old Thorny's complaint and we'll get out of it. Not that I'm anxious on that account, for I don't believe he'd punish us much. But there's no use running your head into danger that you can keep out of. You'll see, that complaint will go under a mass of papers on the doctor's desk, and I doubt if he'll ever see it. The secretary's talk about him not feeling well gave me the tip."
"Good for you! But old Thorny won't let it drop."
"I don't suppose he will. But what can he do if the Doc won't pay any attention to him? Take it from me Doc doesn't like Callum any more than we do and he knows we fellows are down on him. If Doc wants his school to be popular he'd better drop old Thorny."