e insisted on
providing dry garments for Ray and Tom, and in making them hot coffee.

In two hours the constable arrived, and only just in time, for the
tramp had nearly forced open the smoke house door, and would soon have
escaped. He was handcuffed, and driven to the town lockup.

"I'll appear agin' him to-morrow," said Mr. Appleby. "Now hadn't you
boys better stay here all night? It's rainin' cats an' dogs."

"No, I must get back to the school," said Tom. "And I'd like Ray to
come with me. I want him to help explain certain things to my chums.
They know I'm not an incendiary, or a horse poisoner, but some others
don't believe that."

"We'll soon make 'em!" exclaimed Ray.

"I'm with you Tom. I can't make up all you suffered on my account, but
I will do all I can."

"Wa'al, if ye will go back I s'pose I can't stop ye," said the farmer.
"I'll have Hank drive ye in, though."

Mr. Appleby's nature seemed to have undergone a sudden change. He was
no longer mean and inhospitable. In a short time Tom and Ray were on
their way in a covered carriage to Elmwood Hall.

CHAPTER XXV

EXPLANATIONS

"Look who's here!"

"Back again!"

"Tom Fairfield, what in the name of the seven sacred scribes has
happened, anyhow?"

Thus Tom's chums--George, Jack, and Bert, greeted him about an hour
later when he entered his room in the borrowed garments of the farmer.
Ray Blake followed him into the apartment, a trifle embarrassed. The
boys had managed, through the friendly offices of Demy Miller, the
studious janitor, to enter the dormitory unseen by the proctor or any
of his scouts.

"Yes, I'm here," said Tom with a smile, as he limped to an easy chair.
"Ray, have a seat. Boys, allow me to introduce my cousin, Ray Blake."

"Your--your cousin!" gasped Jack.

"Yes. He's the one who had my sweater," went on Tom.

"Your sweater?" gasped George.

"Yes--that rather brilliant one that connected me with the
horse-poisoning case."

"But--but," stammered Bert. "Did he--your cousin--?"

"No, he didn't use any cyanide," said Tom quickly. "Now for some
explanations. But first shake hands, and then maybe we'd better stuff
our keyhole so the light won't show. No use being interrupted."

"That's already been attended to," said Jack. "We always take those
precautions," and in turn he and the others shook hands with Ray.

"To begin at the beginning," said Tom, "this is my cousin--a son of my
mother's sister. I