ly at Tom.

"Oh, sure I can play. I just didn't want to get laid up, and that's
why I pulled out. I'll play all right."

The Elmwood regular eleven was being whipped into good shape by captain
and coach, and to their delight our three friends were promised places
for the first match game of the season.

It was a night or two before the game when Jack, who had been to town,
came back with an evening paper.

"I say!" he exclaimed, looking it over before the summons to supper,
"here's more trouble for our friend Appleby."

"What is it?" asked Tom quickly, looking up from a book.

"Why, it seems all his horses were poisoned night before last, all six
of 'em. And they found traces of a white powder in the mangers this
morning."

"Really?" cried Bert.

"Sure. Here's a long piece in the paper about it."

"Are they dead?" asked Tom.

"No, but it says it's doubtful if they'll get better. I say, I s'pose
he'll make another row now, and charge some of us fellows with doing
it," and Jack pored over the item.

"Why will he?" asked Tom.

"Because--Oh, just on general principles I fancy. Or he may find
another school pin. I guess I'll put mine in a safe deposit box--when
I find it," and Jack laughed, but there was no mirth in his voice.

"When you find it," repeated Bert. "Why--er--I thought you------"

Again he subsided, as Jack kicked him under the table, and an
embarrassing pause was broken by the ringing of the supper gong.

CHAPTER XIV

SAM HELLER'S EVIDENCE

"Young gentlemen, I have a serious matter to bring before you. A very
serious matter, involving not only the personal honor and reputation of
every student here, but the school itself. I must ask for your close
attention."

It was Doctor Pliny Meredith who was speaking, and the place was
chapel, after the usual morning exercises. The students had been about
to go to their lectures when the venerable head of the school, entering
most unexpectedly, asked them to remain a moment.

"Two nights ago," went on Doctor Meredith, "several horses belonging to
our neighbor, Mr. Appleby, were poisoned!"

There was a gasp of surprise from several students, not only those who
had read the account in the paper, as Jack and his chums had done, but
from others, who wondered what was coming next. They had not long to
wait.

"You young gentlemen will recollect," went on Doctor Meredith gravely,
"that, some time ago, there was a fire at the farm of t