admit yourself that the finding of the
watch, as related by you, is, to say the least, singular."

"Singular, yes; suspicious, not necessarily. You say yourself
that the watch was supposedly passed from one person to another.
Why could not one of the suspected men have slipped it in Sheldon's
pocket, either designedly or by mistake? It is certainly possible."

"I wish you'd let me go out and tell the Hilltop boys that this man
has more than intimated that Jack Sheldon is a thief, Doctor,"
said Percival "I can imagine what they will have to say about
it, and what they will do to him. The river is very convenient!"

"Restrain yourself, Percival," said the doctor.

"If I have given the young gentleman an unenviable reputation,"
the detective rejoined, his face red, "it is on account of the
reports I have heard of him from-----" and he stopped short.

"Who told you this?" demanded the doctor. "There is not a more
exemplary boy in the whole Academy than John Sheldon. Ask any
one of the instructors, ask the boys themselves, ask the editors
of the Riverton papers, ask the heads of the business houses,
the superintendent of the Machine Works, the Chief of Police himself,
and they will all tell you the same. Who was your informant to
the contrary?"

"I am not at liberty to reveal the name of my informant," said the
detective, a little abashed, "but I had it from more than one source."

"Then let me tell you that you were maliciously misinformed, for
there is not a boy in the Academy who bears a better character than
John Sheldon. I will retain this watch until I have a better
authority to deliver it than yours. I wish you a very good morning."

Just then the bugle blew to call the boys to dinner, and as they
always formed in regular order to march into the dining tent there
was not the opportunity, which Percival so much desired, of pitching
the detective into the river or at least giving him a sound hissing.

"As you please, sir," the man said, as he bowed himself out. "You
cannot expect me to believe all that this young gentleman says after
what I have heard of him from-----"

"You could have consulted me, at any rate," said the doctor. "I
think I am best competent to judge of the characters of the boys
put in my charge. Good morning, sir. Boys, the bugle has sounded."

The detective went away in a hurry, looking a good deal crestfallen,
the boys getting into line with the rest, this operation preventin