On the day succeeding, as James and Mark were in the campus, Herbert Grant approached them.

Now Herbert was the janitor of the academy.  He also was employed by the principal to summon students who had incurred censure to his study, where they received a suitable reprimand.

It was not a pleasant duty, but some one must do it, and Herbert always discharged it in a gentlemanly manner, which could not, or ought not, to offend the schoolfellows who were unlucky enough to receive a summons.

“Boys,” said he, “I am sorry to be the bearer of unpleasant news, but Dr. Brush would like to see you in his study.”

“Both of us?” asked James.

“Yes.”

“Are there any others summoned?”

“No.”

Mark and his companion looked at each other with perturbed glances.  No one cared to visit the principal on such an errand.  Corporal punishment was never resorted to in the Bridgeville Academy, but the doctor’s dignified rebuke was dreaded more than blows would have been from some men.

“What do you think it is, James?” asked Mark, uneasily.

“I think it’s the saloon,” answered James, in a low voice.

“But how could he have found it out?  No one saw us go in or come out.”

The billiard saloon was at some distance from the academy building, and for that reason the two boys had felt more secure in visiting it.

“I’ll tell you how it came out,” said James, suddenly.

“How?” asked Mark.

“You remember Frank saw us coming out day before yesterday.”

“He said he wouldn’t tell.”

It was not very difficult for Mark to believe anything against Frank, and he instantly adopted his companion’s idea.

“The mean sneak!” he said.  “I’ll come up with him!  I’ll tell my father not to give him any money for the next month.  I’ll—–­I’ll get him to apprentice Frank to a shoemaker!  Perhaps then he won’t put on so many airs.”

“Good for you!  I admire your pluck!” said James, slapping Mark on the back.  “You are true grit, you are!  Just teach the fellow a lesson.”

“See if I don’t!”

Mark nodded his head resolutely, and went into the presence of Dr. Brush, thirsting for vengeance against his stepbrother, who, he felt persuaded, had informed against him.

If Frank had known his suspicions he would have been very much surprised.  As it happened, however, he did not even know that his stepbrother had been summoned to the doctor’s study.  Had he met Herbert, the later would have told him; but after receiving his list, it so chanced that he and his friend did not meet.

The fact was that a young man employed as tutor in mathematics in the academy, while taking an afternoon walk, had seen Mark and James Carson leaving the liquor saloon, and, as in duty bound, had reported the same to the principal.

Mr. Triangle, however, had not been observed by either of the two boys, and therefore they were led off on a false scent.