“Bosh! This isn’t mathematics.”
“’Deed it is!”
“Hold on, boys!” said Sam. “You’re getting nowhere. Now, Shark, listen! Poke and I believe that Tom Orkney did this thing. We hate to think he would, but we believe it because——”
“Because you’re wrong. Tom couldn’t have done it—at least, I don’t admit that he could. It won’t work out that way.”
“Work out?”
The Shark nodded. “Of course, I have to depend on estimates, and I don’t pretend that I can show exact results,” he began; but paused as Step strode into the room, closely pursued by Boyd and the Trojan.
In the middle of the floor Step halted. Not a word said he, but raised a hand dramatically.
The hand held an object, recognized at sight by every boy there. It was the cap, owned by Tom Orkney, which had figured in the celebrated quarrel.
CHAPTER XII
PUNISHMENT POSTPONED
There was a long pause, and a very significant pause it was. The boys stared at the cap in Step’s hand; then they glanced from one to another. Here and there a head nodded, as if in answer to an unspoken question; but it was left to Poke to break the silence.