time."

"I guess I'd better give up billiards. In two days I have spent five
dollars. It doesn't pay."

"No doubt Frank will be gratified when he hears that you have given up
playing. He will think it is because you are afraid of him."

James had touched the right chord, and poor Mark was once more in his
toils.

"It's lucky for me that Frank spoke to him," thought James. "It makes it
much easier for me to manage him."

One thing, however, James had not taken into account. There were others
besides Frank who were liable to interfere with his management, and who
had the authority to make their interference effectual.

On the day succeeding, as James and Mark were in the campus, Herbert
Grant approached them.

Now Herbert was the janitor of the academy. He also was employed by the
principal to summon students who had incurred censure to his study,
where they received a suitable reprimand.

It was not a pleasant duty, but some one must do it, and Herbert always
discharged it in a gentlemanly manner, which could not, or ought not, to
offend the schoolfellows who were unlucky enough to receive a summons.

"Boys," said he, "I am sorry to be the bearer of unpleasant news, but
Dr. Brush would like to see you in his study."

"Both of us?" asked James.

"Yes."

"Are there any others summoned?"

"No."

Mark and his companion looked at each other with perturbed glances. No
one cared to visit the principal on such an errand. Corporal punishment
was never resorted to in the Bridgeville Academy, but the doctor's
dignified rebuke was dreaded more than blows would have been from some
men.

"What do you think it is, James?" asked Mark, uneasily.

"I think it's the saloon," answered James, in a low voice.

"But how could he have found it out? No one saw us go in or come out."

The billiard saloon was at some distance from the academy building, and
for that reason the two boys had felt more secure in visiting it.

"I'll tell you how it came out," said James, suddenly.

"How?" asked Mark.

"You remember Frank saw us coming out day before yesterday."

"He said he wouldn't tell."

It was not very difficult for Mark to believe anything against Frank,
and he instantly adopted his companion's idea.

"The mean sneak!" he said. "I'll come up with him! I'll tell my father
not to give him any money for the next month. I'll---I'll get him to
apprentice Frank to a shoemaker! Perhaps then he won't put on so many
airs."