that Roy was summoned to the
Principal's office. A rather stout, hard-featured man of middle-age whom
Roy had never seen before to his knowledge, sat beside the Doctor's
desk.

"Porter," said the Doctor, "does this belong to you?"

He took a fishing-rod from the desk and held it out. Roy looked at it
and shook his head.

"No, sir," he answered.

"Do you know whose it is?"

"No, sir."

"Do you own a fishing-rod?"

"No, sir."

"Where were you yesterday afternoon at--" The Doctor looked inquiringly
at the stranger.

"Four o'clock," prompted the latter gruffly, viewing Roy with unfriendly
gaze. Roy hesitated and his heart sank. Then,

"I was asleep, sir," he answered.

"Ah!" The Principal paused and tapped softly on the polished surface of
the desk. Then, "In the dormitory, you mean?" he asked.

"No, sir, I wasn't in the dormitory."

"Not in the dormitory? But you just said you were asleep?"

"Yes, sir, I was."

"Whereabouts, then?"

"By Wissick Creek, at what the fellows call the Deep Hole."

The stranger snorted triumphantly.

"Why did you go there to sleep?" asked Doctor Emery.

"Why, sir, I--I was out walking and--and I laid down and got sleepy. So
I just went to sleep."

He knew that it sounded awfully silly and unconvincing. Evidently the
Doctor thought so too, for he smiled gently and regretfully.

"Don't you think that's rather a strange tale to tell, Porter?"

"It's the truth, sir."

"It's a tarnation lie, that's what it is," said the stranger
vindictively. Roy turned hotly.

"It isn't a lie," he cried. "And I don't know what business it is of
yours, anyhow!"

"Well, I rather guess it's my business--" began the other. But Doctor
Emery held up a hand.

"Leave him to me, if you please, Mr. Mercer," he said quietly. "Porter,
this gentleman tells me that he discovered a boy, presumably one of my
boys, fishing at the bottom of his meadow at about four o'clock
yesterday afternoon. The boy saw him coming and ran away, leaving this
pole behind him. The boy wore--"

"Ask him what he wore," interrupted Farmer Mercer.

"Just what I have on now," answered Roy. "And this cap," he added,
holding it forth.

"Yes, you had a cap all right," said the farmer. "But I don't suppose
you happened to have on a red sweater, eh? A dark red one?"

"No, I didn't, sir," replied Roy.

"You have such a sweater, I understand, however," said the Doctor.

"Yes, sir, I have a crimson sweater."

"That's