For the space of several seconds there was silence—­a portentous silence—­and then the head of the school, looking from the pin in his hand at the accusing farmer, and thence to the three lads said: 

“Do you know, Mr. Appleby, to whom this pin belongs?”

“No, sir, I don’t.  But I thought maybe you could tell.  That’s why I come t’ see you.  If anybody set my stacks afire I want t’ know it, an’ I want damages, same as I had when some fellers tromped through my corn,” and Mr. Appleby looked straight at Tom, who returned the gaze fearlessly.

“Again I warn you to be careful in your accusations, Mr. Appleby,” said the head master sharply.

“I am, Doctor.  I ain’t namin’ no names, but I brought that pin t’ you, thinkin’ you could tell who owned it.  Then, when it is knowed who was sneakin’ around my barns, I may be able t’ say who sot the fire!”

“Preposterous!” exclaimed Doctor Meredith.  “I will not, for one moment, entertain a suspicion, even, against one of my lads on such flimsy evidence as this.”

“’Tain’t flimsy!” retorted the farmer.  “There’s been men convicted of serious crimes on less evidence than a gold pin.  That’s a school emblem, an’ I know it!”

“True enough,” agreed the head master.

“Then I ask you to say who owns it?” demanded the incensed farmer.

“That I cannot say,” was the cool answer.  “This is not a class pin—­it is a hall emblem—­that is, any lad in the school is entitled to wear it, and nearly every one does.”

“Then call the roll, an’ find out who’s lost his pin!” suggested Mr. Appleby eagerly.  “That’s an easy way to find out.”

“I shall do nothing of the sort!” answered the doctor firmly.

“Then I’ll go t’ law about it.  I tell you, Doctor Meredith, that pin was picked up near the stack before the hay was found t’ be on fire.  It belongs to one of your students, an’ I demand an investigation.”

“Well, you may demand as much as you please, Mr. Applesauce——­”

“Appleby’s my name—­Jed Appleby.”

“Very well, Mr. Appleby.  You may demand as much as you please, but I shall not inflict an accusation on any of my students in general, and certainly on none in particular, on such flimsy evidence as this.  Here is the pin, you may advertise it if you like.”

“Huh!  Yes, an’ d’ ye s’pose th’ owner would claim it?  Not much.  I don’t want th’ pin.  It ain’t mine.  But I want t’ know who sot that fire, an’ I’m goin’ t’ find out!  One of my men seen a school lad near the hay early in th’ evenin’, I tell ye!”

“Can he identify him?” asked the doctor.

“No, I don’t know as he kin.  It was dark, an’——­”

“That will do,” interrupted the head master.  “I am afraid I have no more time to listen to you.  Good day.  I shall keep the pin, since you refuse to take it,” and the doctor, with a curt nod to the farmer, and a smile at the lads, passed on.