o swell with the hurried approach.

"Stop there," said the Doctor hastily, and, having had his imagination
sharpened by frequent contact with the genus boy, he added with sudden
inspiration: "Go round to my study window. I will speak to you from
inside."

A moment later Skippy's white face appeared, framed against the night.

"Bedelle, Mr. Hopkins reports that you were dismissed from first recital
this morning, for being in a condition which unfitted you for
association with your fellow beings. Is that true?"

"Please, sir, it was the citronella."

"Mr. Tapping reports that the stench arising from your room has made the
house untenantable. Is that true?"

"Please, sir, that was asafoetida and--"

"And butyl mercaptan; I'm quite aware of that," said the Doctor quickly,
to continue the tradition of omniscience.

"Yes, sir."

"Well, Bedelle, what is your explanation? Were you trying to poison any
one?"

"Oh, no, sir!"

"You were not contemplating self-destruction, were you?" said the
Doctor, whose curiosity led him to adopt a light coaxing manner.

"Please, sir, I was experimenting."

"Experimenting! What for?"

"I'm sorry, sir, I can't tell you," said Skippy defiantly. He had
foreseen the test, but he was resolved to be drawn and quartered before
yielding up the secret of his future millions.

"You--can't--tell--ME?" said the Doctor in his pulpit sternness.

"No, sir. I've taken an oath."

"Do you realize, Bedelle, that you owe me an explanation, that if there
is no explanation for this extraordinary attack on the discipline and
morale of the school that I should be quite justified in requesting your
immediate departure?"

"I know, sir. Yes, sir."

"And you refuse still?"

"It's an invention, sir. That's all I can tell you, sir. I'm sorry, sir.
Please, Doctor, I'd like to stay in the school."

The Doctor considered. He was a just man and his sense of humor allowed
him to distinguish between the vicious and the playful imagination.
After long, agonizing moments for Skippy waiting at the window, he took
a sudden decision.

"Bedelle?"

"Yes, sir."

"If I let you remain at Lawrenceville, will you give me a promise--that
so long as you remain here, you won't attempt to invent anything else?"

"So long as I'm in the school?" said Skippy, broken-hearted.

"Absolutely. It's that or expulsion. I have four hundred tender lives to
protect. Well?"

"I swear," said Skippy, with tears in his eyes.