hes, and also an old
empty soap-box.

"We'll fill the soap box half full of ashes," said Slugger, "and then we
can place the opened-up cans of tomatoes and the opened-up bottle of ink
on top. When we get the stuff over to Colonel Colby's rooms, we can
spread half of everything around where it will make the best showing,
then we can skip over to the offices and do the same thing, and after
that we'll rush back and leave a little trail of ashes and some ink
leading into the Rovers' rooms, and place the empty ink bottle and the
empty cans in their closets and put the ash-box under one of the beds."

"Dandy!" replied Nappy. "Come on!"

Not knowing that Bob Nixon was watching them from a corner of the
boiler-room, they soon had the box of ashes and other stuff ready. Then,
watching their chance to see that the coast was clear, they sneaked up
out of the boiler-room and then out of the school by a side door. Here a
path led to the nearby building where Colonel Colby had his private
suite of rooms.

"Now then, hurry up!" cried Nappy, who was beginning to show signs of
nervousness.

They found the door to the main room unlocked, and both entered and set
the box of stuff on one of the easy chairs. Then one took up the ink and
the other an opened can of the decayed tomatoes.

"Now make a fine job of it," whispered Slugger.

Both took a step forward to start their nefarious work, when each was
almost paralyzed by hearing Colonel Colby's voice.

"Stop!" commanded the master of the school, and stepped out from behind
a screen which stood near a corner of the apartment.

"Oh!" ejaculated Nappy. "We're discovered!" and, dropping the bottle of
ink in his hands, he started to run.

"Not so quick, Martell!" came from the doorway, and then both of the
youths were startled to see themselves confronted by Bob Nixon. Behind
the chauffeur stood Captain Dale, while in another doorway appeared the
form of Professor Brice.

"Wa--wa--what does this mean?" stammered Slugger. He knew not what to
say or do.

"It means that I have found you out," answered Colonel Colby sternly.
"You will both march over to my office at once."

CHAPTER XVIII

HOME AGAIN

"Good riddance to bad rubbish!"

"You told the truth that time, Andy. We're certainly well rid of Slugger
Brown and Nappy Martell."

"Say! I'd like to know some of the particulars of the interview Slugger
and Nappy had with Colonel Colby. It must have been a pippin," rem