“Then it strikes me that this other paper has been taking liberties with the News, not only taking things ’written especially for the News,’ as printed over the poem, but declining to give any credit to the paper, and putting on the name of another besides the writer.  Reputable newspapers are not supposed to do this.”

Many of the boys smiled, and the doctor continued: 

“Didn’t you recognize this poem when you read it in the out-of-town paper, Herring?”

“I had never seen it before,” Herring answered, and it was noticed by some of the boys that he seemed a bit restless.

“Then you do not read the Riverton paper?”

“No, sir, I do not.”

“I seldom read it myself,” the doctor remarked, “or I would have remembered these verses.  They are very clever and breathe the true spirit of patriotism.  They really fit admirably into the rest of the poem, which I will read.  Will you get your copy of the verses, Sheldon, and let some one compare them?”

“Certainly, sir,” and Jack arose and left the place, returning shortly and handing a copy of his poem to Percival.

Then the doctor read the poem, and Percival showed by his expression that it was identical with the one in his hand.

“It is the same, sir,” he said, “but it does not contain the opening lines which you read before.”

“I don’t see how they got in there, Dick,” said Jack.  “I am sure that I did not put them in.  How could I?  It would have been a most astonishing piece of absent-mindedness.  Besides, I have only the printed copy now.”

“However, it happened that the opening lines belong to another poem,” observed the doctor, “both by the same author, it does not alter the fact that both fit the subject admirably, and might easily be a part of one production.  The metre is the same, and the subject as well.  The first serves excellently as an introduction to the other.”

“I can see that they do, sir,”, replied Jack, “but I am certain that I did not submit both.  By the way,” with a sudden inspiration, “may I see the manuscript, sir?”

“If you will come to the desk I shall be pleased to show it to you.”

Jack went forward, took the copy of the poem, looked it over carefully a few moments, and suddenly said: 

“The opening lines are not in my handwriting, Doctor.  It is similar, but not the same.  These lines have been inserted by some one else.  I never put them in.  You may see that they are at the top of the page, which had a wide margin.  All the other pages had, but this one now has not.  The title has been erased and written in at the top.  Some one has tampered with the manuscript.  You can see for yourself, Doctor.”

“Yes, but who would do this, Sheldon?  You certainly do not accuse me of doing it?  Or any of the professors?”

“Hardly, Doctor,” with a smile, “but some one has done it.”