“Ha!  So you are even willing to laugh in my face, are you!” almost screamed Abner Sharp, and rushing at Tom he caught the youth and shook him roughly.  “Do you—­er—­know that this lady is my—­my affianced wife?”

“Let me go!” cried Tom, and shook himself loose.  “Excuse me, sir.  I know I hadn’t ought to laugh, but it looks so—­so awfully funny!” And Tom had to grin again.

“Rover!” broke in the president of Brill sternly, “aren’t you ashamed to do such a thing as this?”

“Why—­er—­what do you mean, sir?”

“Just what I said.”

“Oh!” A light began to break in on the fun-loving Rover’s mind.  “Do you think I did this?”

“Didn’t you?”

“Of course he did!” fumed Professor Sharp.  “And now he is willing to laugh over his dastardly work!”

“I didn’t do it, sir,” said Tom firmly.

“You are certain?” It was the head of the college who asked the question.

“Yes, sir.  I never saw that picture before.”

“But I have the proof against you!” fairly shouted Abner Sharp.  “It is useless for you to deny your guilt.”

“I say I am not guilty.”

“Isn’t this your box, Rover?”

As Professor Sharp uttered these words he brought to light a German silver case which Tom had picked up in a curiosity shop in New York.  The case had his name engraved on it, and contained pencils, crayons, and other things for drawing.

“Where did you get that?” demanded the youth.

“Never mind where I got it.  Isn’t it yours?”

“Yes.”

“Ha!  Do you hear that, Doctor Wallington?” cried Abner Sharp in triumph.  “He admits the outfit is his!”

“So I see,” said the president of Brill, and if anything his face grew a trifle more stern.  “Then you admit your guilt, Rover?” he questioned.

“What!  That I defaced the photograph?”

“Yes.”

“No, sir!  Didn’t I say I had never seen the picture before?”

“This photograph was in Professor Sharp’s room, on the mantel.  The room was locked up, and the professor carried the key.  This box was found on the table, beside some books.  You had some difficulty with the professor a day or two ago in the classroom.”

“I didn’t touch the picture, and I haven’t been near Professor Sharp’s room,” answered Tom stoutly.  “If I was there, would I be fool enough to leave that box behind, with my name engraved on it?  And if the door was locked how would I get in?”

“Did you lend the box to anybody?”

“No.  The fact is, I—­er—­I thought I had left the box home.  I—­Oh!”

“Well?”

“I think maybe the box was in my dress-suit case, the case I lost.  But it wasn’t in the case when it was left at my door that morning.”

“Oh, nonsense!” muttered Professor Sharp.  “He is guilty, sir, and he might as well own up to it first as last.”

“I have told the strict truth!” cried Tom hotly.  “I am not in the habit of telling falsehoods.”