t any rate, it will be safe
enough to make the accusation."

Putting the book back in his pocket, the torn leaf being now in its
place, Jack went up stairs and out upon the grounds.

There were some of his chums at a little distance and Herring and
Merritt were just going around the corner of the building toward the
barn, being evidently engaged in earnest conversation.

Jack waited a minute and then followed them into the barn.

"Maybe it didn't work all right," Herring was saying, "but folks'll
suspect him just the same."

"It wouldn't have went all right if I hadn't seen your name in it,"
snapped Merritt, "and made you tear it out before you slipped it in his
desk last night."

"That's all right, he didn't see it and I did tear it out."

"Burn it up?"

"I guess so. Anyhow, no one won't find it and if they do so long as it
ain't in the book--what the mischief!"

Herring suddenly found a book placed in front of his nose and, turning
his head quickly, saw Jack Sheldon standing behind him.

"They will know that it belongs to this particular book now, won't they,
when the edges match so perfectly, Herring?" asked Jack. "You were very
clumsy in putting a Caesar in my desk when I am not studying it and more
so in having your name in it."

Herring turned crimson and tried to snatch the book out of Jack's hand.

"You can have it now, for I no longer have any use for it," said the
boy, slapping Herring's face with the book, "and now I am going to give
you the thrashing you have so long deserved."

"You are, eh?" snarled Herring, backing away.

"Yes. It is the only thing you understand."

"You see fair play, Ern," blustered the bully.

Jack only smiled and then without further notice attacked his enemy and
administered what he had promised, a sound thrashing.

In a very few minutes he forced Herring to cry for a respite and to
acknowledge that he was beaten.

"I could make you apologize before the doctor and the whole school,"
said Jack, as he heard the bell ring to call the boys back to their
duties, "but there is no shaming a fellow who is without shame and the
way I have taken is much more efficacious and you will remember it."

Then Jack left the barn and went back to the building, meeting Percival
and Billy Manners at the door.

"Where have you been, Jack?" asked Dick.

"Wrestling with a passage from Caesar," said Jack, with a laugh.

"Did you get the best of it?"

"I think I did."

"Yes, but