uder one. The bomb was at last completed and
Stockie received a hint to keep his ears open for music that night. The
little iron bed of the doomed talebearer was not far distant from
Paul's, and between them was a stove in which burned a brisk fire every
night to drive out the chill mountain air. When all were asleep, Paul
slipped from his bed, and touched the fuse to the red hot side of the
stove. Then he placed the ignited bomb under the tell-tales bed and
hastily scrambled back to his own. He had just time to roll himself up
in the blankets, when there was a flash and terrible explosion. The
bed of the tell-tale turned a complete somersault, while the entire
building trembled with the concussion and a shower of broken glass
was scattered around. No serious damage was done; but Paul was horrified
and frightened half to death at the result of his first essay with
explosives. The boys in the dormitory were only too glad of an excuse
for excitement. They immediately began the usual battle with pillows
accompanied with the wildest yells and whoops, until they were suddenly
quieted by the entrance of the officials. No one could find out the
culprit, so the investigation was postponed until morning. Classes were
suspended next day. Every student, including the invalid, was present in
the study-hall. The entire faculty sat in judgment. The president
opened the meeting with a severe lecture, during which he quoted
that it "was better that ten guilty ones should escape rather than that
one innocent person should suffer." He called urgently upon the guilty
ones to stand up and declare themselves. His invitation was not
accepted.

"Now boys, you know that it is a strict dormitory rule that no one there
shall speak above a whisper. The noise you made last night was heard
distinctly in the village a mile away. All of you who did not break the
rule last night put up your hands."

Every boy's hand in the study hall was at once raised. The president
looked perplexed, and said: "Perhaps you misunderstood me. To make
it plain to you, I want every boy who did not raise his voice above a
whisper after retiring last night to stand up."

The first on their feet were Paul and Stockie, whose good example was
followed without any exception by every boy in the school. The president
was dumbfounded. He shook his head sadly. After a brief consultation
with the professors he remarked. "The young me