s thing was done to throw discredit on me and to stop the life of
the _Gazette_."

"That's just what it would mean if the thing had gone through."

"It was done by some one who knows the Academy and the fellows,"
declared Harry. "It was aimed at Jack, principally. We know who does not
like him here and it should not be a hard matter to find who is
responsible."

"It may be one for all that," replied Jack. "This is a serious business
and the perpetrators will cover their tracks. One thing is certain. You
must watch every boy that reads the _Gazette_ to-morrow. Shall I have
the bundle sent up here or go after it?"

"We have generally gone after them and done the distributing ourselves
in the past," said Percival. "If we do that now the fellow who
engineered this business will be the first to get a copy of the paper
and to make it public. Did any one see you leave this afternoon or did
any one know why you went to Riverton?"

"No, there was no one around when I left except yourself and only Hal
and Art saw me return."

"Then no one suspects that you have discovered this article and
suppressed it. I will take a run down in the morning and get the papers.
You were to let Brooke know?"

"Yes, to-night."

"Good! Tell him that I will call for the papers and to deliver them to
no one else."

"Why don't you phone him?" asked Arthur. "That will save a lot of
trouble."

"And perhaps cause more," laughed Jack. "I don't like telephoning
myself. There are too many listeners."

"I have a wire," said Dick. "You may use it if you like. I do often and
I don't know that I am bothered much."

"Just now the old ladies on the party wire are not doing their afternoon
gossip," chuckled Arthur. "They are busy getting supper instead. I don't
believe we would have any trouble. Go ahead, Jack."

Thus urged Jack stepped to the telephone, took down the receiver and
called:

"Let me have one two three Riverton, please. Office of the _News_, yes.
They are not busy?"

"Here's your party," said the operator on the other end of the wire.

At the same moment Jack heard some one say, not at the 'phone but
evidently in the room where the instrument was kept:

"Well, I done it but I wanted the money."

Jack recognized the voice as that of the boy in the _News_ office.

"How much did you get?"

This time the speaker was the editor, Mr. Brooke.

"Five dollars."

"Who paid you? Here, wait, till I answer that confounded call. Hello!