“Say, Tom, are you crazy?” demanded Dick.

“Crazy?  Yes, I’m crazy with joy.  Who wouldn’t be to get free so easily?”

“But explain it,” begged Sam.

“I can’t explain it.  As I said, the president tried to make me confess, and of course I had nothing to confess.  When the telephone rang I heard one voice and then two others, one after another.  I think they belonged to Koswell, Flockley and Larkspur, but I am not sure.  The voices talked to Doctor Wallington about ten minutes.  He got mad at first and then calmed down.  I heard him ask, ’In Professor Sharp’s room?’ and somebody said ‘Yes.’  Four times he asked for names, but I don’t think he got them.  Then he went out of the office and was gone about a quarter of an hour.  When he returned he said, ’Now, on your honor, for the last time, Rover, did you mar that photograph?’ and I said ‘No,’ good and hard.  Then he said he believed me, and was sorry he had suspected me, and he added that I could go off for the rest of the day and enjoy myself, and here I am.”

“And you didn’t squeal on Koswell & Company?” asked Sam.

“Nary a squeal.”

“Do you imagine they confessed?”

“I think they told the president over the ’phone that I was innocent, maybe the three swore to it, but I don’t think they gave their names.”

“What did they mean about Sharp’s room?”

“I was curious about that, and I found out from one of the servants.  Sharp found an envelope under the door.  It contained a five-dollar bill, and on it was written in a scrawl, ‘For a new photograph.’”

“Koswell & Company got scared mightily,” mused Dick.  “Well, I am glad, Tom, that you are out of it.”

“And as a token of your escape we’ll present you with this,” added Sam, and brought forth the package from Dan Baxter.  Tom was much surprised, and listened to the story about the former bully of Putnam Hall with interest.

“Good for Dan!” he cried.  “I’ll write him a letter the first chance I get.”

“And here’s a letter from Nellie,” said Dick, “and one from father, and another from Aunt Martha.”

“Hurrah!  That’s the best yet!” exclaimed Tom.  “I’ve got to read ’em all.  Sit down and rest.”  And he dropped down on a grassy bank and his brothers followed suit.

CHAPTER XII

IN WHICH THE GIRLS ARRIVE

“You may be sure of one thing, Tom,” remarked Dick while he and his brothers were walking back to Brill, some time later, “Jerry Koswell has it in for you.  You had better watch him closely.”

“I intend to do so,” answered Tom.  “But there is another thing which both of you seem to have forgotten.  That’s about the dress-suit case.  Did Koswell find it, and if so, did he take anything else besides the box of pencils and crayons?”

“He’ll never admit it,” put in Sam.  “Not unless you corner him, as Songbird did about the photo.”