with a smile, "but some one has done it."

"But why should they, Sheldon, especially as both poems are your
own? What reason would any one have to do this? If the inserted
lines belonged to another poem so that you might be accused of
plagiarism, then there would be some color to this argument, but
the whole thing is yours."

"It is strange," said Jack, going back to his seat, all the boys
seeming to be greatly puzzled, and talking to each other about
the matter in low and earnest tones.

"I will now read the poem which took second prize," said the doctor,
and proceeded to read Percival's poem, very much to the latter's
surprise and delight.

"Well, I came somewhere near you, at any rate, Jack," he said, "but
I never expected to come in second."

There were other poems read, one receiving a prize and the best
honorable mention, the boys being thoroughly satisfied with the
awards, and cheering the winners loudly.

Jack was still puzzled about his poem, but he said nothing, having
certain ideas about the matter, but not caring to make them known
at the time, preferring to wait till he had more information.

After the exercises were over the boys went off in little groups of
four or five in different directions.

Percival went with Jack on the river, taking young Smith along, and
when they were out from shore Dick said:

"You have an idea who inserted the verses of your other poem in your
new one, haven't you, Jack?"

"How did Herring happen to hit upon some other verses of mine which
a paper up the state had stolen?" asked Jack.

"He might do that, of course, but how did they get into the poem you
had submitted two days before if he got the paper only this morning?"

"The paper was a week old, Dick."

"Then you think that Herring may have been lying, Jack?" asked Dick
pointedly.

"Other persons besides Herring may have seen the verses in the other
paper, Dick. I cannot prove---now---that Herring wrote them in."

"But you may do so at some other time?"

"That's what he means," said young Smith, "but Jack never says
anything against a fellow unless he is sure of it."

"That's right enough, J.W., and we agree with you."

"Do you remember a night or so ago when Billy Manners had the black
eye?" asked the young fellow suddenly. "He said he must have got
it tripping over a tent rope, and Harry said he got into their
tent by mistake. I asked him what he was doing outside, and at
first he would not te