“He had to believe the girls, too,” added Dick.  “He knew they would not tell him such falsehoods.  But I am glad Charter came along.  He hated to get mixed up in it, I know, but he acted the man about it, didn’t he?”

“Wonder what the doctor will do with Koswell & Company?” questioned Sam.

“Fire ’em, most likely, and they deserve to be fired,” growled Stanley.  “Oh, when I think of the trick that was played I feel like wiping up the floor with every one of those scoundrels!”

“It was certainly a bit of dirty work,” was Dick’s comment.

The boys were seated in Sam and Tom’s room, talking it over.  It was Sunday afternoon, and outside the sun shone brightly and a light breeze stirred the trees.

It had proved a strenuous Saturday afternoon and evening.  Dick and Dora had come up, meeting Allan Charter, the leading senior of Brill, on the way.  They had persuaded Charter to accompany them to the Brice cottage, and there all had witnessed a bitter quarrel between Henry Parwick and Koswell, Larkspur and Flockley.  Parwick was semi-intoxicated, and in a maudlin way had exposed all that had been done at the haunted house.  He had spoken about getting the powder for them, and mentioned how Koswell had fixed a fuse and lit it, and he told of getting the liquor bottles and flasks and other things.  He had warmed up during his recital, and had demanded fifty dollars on the spot.  When refused he had threatened to go to the Brill authorities and “blow everything.”  Then Koswell had threatened, if this was done, that he would have Parwick arrested for robbing his former employer, William Schlemp.  Then had come blows, and in the midst of this Charter had stepped forward and confronted the evildoers.

“We have seen and heard all,” he had said sternly.  “I am a witness, and so are these young ladies.  You, Koswell, Flockley and Larkspur, ought to be ashamed of yourselves.  I never dreamed any students of Brill could be so bad.  I shall report to Doctor Wallington without delay.”

Charter had been as good as his word, and had been closeted with the head of the college for an hour.  The girls went back with Tom, Dick and Sam, and also had an interview with the president.  Then Doctor Wallington sent for Flockley, Koswell and Larkspur.  Only Flockley answered the summons, and it was learned that Koswell and Larkspur were afraid to come back, fearing arrest.  Parwick had also disappeared.  Then had come a telegram from Dan Baxter giving the address of the druggist, Schlemp.  Word was sent to this man, and later he wrote that Parwick had once worked for him, but had been discharged for drunkenness and because he was not honest.

The interview between Doctor Wallington and Flockley was a most affecting one.  The dudish student broke down utterly, and confessed all.  He said Koswell had hatched out the plot, aided by Larkspur, and that he himself had been a more or less unwilling participant.  He told much about Parwick, and how that dissolute fellow had spoken of having the strange powder, which was a Japanese concoction, and which, if used often, would render a person insane.  He begged the good doctor to forgive him, and said he would be willing to do anything in order to remain at Brill.