The Rover Boys on Snowshoe Island Part 19

"All right, we will," answered Slugger. He turned to his crony. "You slip one of them under Professor Lemm's door, and I'll place the other on Colonel Colby's desk."

"All right, but be careful."

"Bet your life!"

Asa Lemm was just finis.h.i.+ng his morning toilet and grumbling over the happenings of the night, when he chanced to glance toward the door of his room, and at that moment saw a letter thrust under it. He stared for an instant in amazement, and then rushed forward and threw the door wide open. But his movement, quick as it was, came too late, for Nappy Martell had already slipped around a corner and made his escape. Taking up the letter, the professor read the contents with great interest. The communication ran as follows:

"DEAR PROFESSOR LEMM:

"If you want to know more about the trouble last night, ask John Rover and Walter Baxter. They had the two billy goats. I think you will find that all of the Rovers and the boys who go with them were in this joke.

"Yours respectfully,

_"One Who Knows."_

"So that's who is guilty!" muttered the teacher, after reading the letter a second time. "The Rovers, eh? I might have known it because of the trouble I have had with them in the cla.s.sroom. And I remember now that I have also had trouble with that Baxter boy. I must see Colonel Colby about this at once."

The professor hurried downstairs, and found that Colonel Colby had entered his office but a few minutes before, and was perusing the communication left there secretly by Slugger Brown.

"I have found out who was guilty last night," snapped Asa Lemm, as he flourished the letter in his hand.

"Did you receive an anonymous communication?" demanded the master of the Hall.

"I did, sir. But what makes you ask that question?"

"I have such a communication myself," and Colonel Colby indicated the epistle.

"We must punish those rascals, sir!"

"First I want to find out if there is any truth in these letters,"

answered Colonel Colby. "Very frequently anonymous communications cannot be relied upon."

"Oh, I haven't the least doubt but what Rover and Baxter are guilty!"

exclaimed Asa Lemm quickly. "I've had trouble in the cla.s.sroom with them, and also with the other Rovers. I should not be surprised if the whole crowd had something to do with it."

"I will send for Rover and Baxter."

It must be confessed that Jack was somewhat surprised when one of the a.s.sistants came to him and told him he was wanted immediately in the office.

"Gee! this looks bad!" cried Randy.

"Want any of us to go with you?" questioned Fred quickly.

"No; I can face the music alone," answered the oldest Rover boy.

He arrived at the office just as another a.s.sistant was bringing in Walt Baxter. The two exchanged glances, but said nothing. But the glance given Walt meant, "Keep mum," and the other understood and nodded slightly.

"So here you are, eh?" cried Asa Lemm, before Colonel Colby had a chance to say a word. "I thought I'd catch you!"

"Excuse me, Professor Lemm, but I wish you would allow me to conduct this examination," put in Colonel Colby a trifle stiffly. If the truth must be told, the overbearing manner of the teacher was not any more to the liking of the master of the Hall than it was to the cadets. Yet, Asa Lemm had come well recommended, and Colonel Colby did not wish to pa.s.s hasty judgment on him.

"Yes, sir," returned the professor. "But please remember I have suffered greatly, and I demand satisfaction."

"I have sent for you cadets in order to clear up the affair that happened last night," began Colonel Colby, ignoring Asa Lemm's last remark. "I have been given to understand that you were the two to bring those goats into the Hall. Am I right?"

"I did not bring the goats into the Hall," returned Walt Baxter promptly. "Just the same, I guess I'm as guilty as anybody," he added quickly, not wis.h.i.+ng to s.h.i.+rk responsibility.

"I was one of the cadets who brought the goats into the Hall, Colonel Colby," answered Jack promptly.

"Baxter did not a.s.sist in bringing them into the Hall?"

"No, sir."

"But you were not alone, Rover?"

"No, sir."

"Who was with you in this escapade?"

"I prefer not to answer that question, Colonel Colby."

"Make him answer! Make him answer!" stormed Asa Lemm. "You young rascal!

I'll teach you to play tricks on me!" and he shook his fist in Jack's face.

"Professor Lemm, I'll thank you to be less violent," interrupted Colonel Colby. "This examination must be held in an orderly fas.h.i.+on. You say you were not alone, Rover. Will you tell me how many were mixed up in this affair?"

Jack thought for a moment. "Do you mean the whole happening in Professor Lemm's room?"

"Yes."

"Oh, there were eight or ten of us--maybe more. Of course, some had more to do with it than others," responded Jack.

"Eight or ten of you!" gasped Asa Lemm. "As many as that?" And his face showed his surprise. He had imagined that possibly only the Rover boys and Walt Baxter were guilty.

"Are you quite sure you don't want to mention any names, Rover?" asked Colonel Colby again.

"No, Colonel. And if you were in my position, I do not think you would want to mention any of them either," added Jack, looking the master of the Hall squarely in the eyes.

"We won't discuss that side of the question." Colonel Colby turned to Walt Baxter. "How about you? Do you care to say who was mixed up in this affair?"

"No, sir," was the prompt response.

"Make them tell! Make them tell!" exclaimed Asa Lemm. "Punish them severely! Put them in the guardhouse on bread and water until they are willing to divulge the names of all the rascals who were mixed up in these outrageous proceedings."

"I am not going to make them tell if they won't do it on their own account," was Colonel Colby's answer. As a cadet at Putnam Hall, he had never had any use for a tale bearer.

"Then I'll take the law in my own hands!" cried Asa Lemm vindictively.

"I'll go down to Haven Point and make a complaint and have them both arrested!"