“But Heller has seen fit to say that he suspects me,” went on Tom, looking his enemy full in the face.

“No,” said Sam, and he could not conceal the triumph in his voice.  “I did not say that.  What I did say, and what I repeat was, that on the night the horses were poisoned I saw Tom Fairfield leave the dormitory, wearing a sweater like mine, and later I saw him near the lane leading to Mr. Appleby’s farm.  That’s all I care to say.”

“And what do you answer to that, Fairfield?” asked the doctor gravely.  “Were you or were you not there?”

“I do not see how that affects the matter at all,” said Tom, trying to speak calmly.  “I, or anyone, might have been in the vicinity of the farm without having had a hand in the poisoning of the horses.”

“That is true, but will you answer the question.  Were you there?”

“I was not, sir,” exclaimed Tom, steadily.  There was a breath of relief from Jack and Bert.

“I saw him!” insisted Sam doggedly.

“Are you sure?” asked Doctor Meredith.  “Remember this is a serious matter, Heller.”

“I am sure, Doctor.”

“Perhaps Fairfield can throw more light on the subject,” went on the puzzled head master.  “Is there any way you can account for Heller’s seeming identification?  Could anyone else have worn your sweater?” and he looked at Tom.

Once more there was a silence.  Tom seemed strangely affected.  He took a long breath, and then stammered: 

“I—­I do not care to state, Doctor Meredith.”

“You mean that someone else had your sweater?”

“I prefer not to answer.”

“You realize what that means?”

“Yes, I suppose so.  It means that I will be suspected of having done these things.”

“I am afraid so, yes, Tom, my boy,” and the doctor, dropping his more formal tone, addressed Tom almost as if he were his own son.  “Not that I believe you guilty,” he added.  “Far be it from me to suspect one of my students when he has assured me that he is innocent.  I have never yet known an Elmwood Hall lad to tell an untruth!” and the doctor drew himself up proudly.

“Therefore, I believe you, Tom,” he went on, “but I am in duty bound to point out to you that many will believe you had a hand in this unless—­unless you can account for your sweater being worn by someone else, on the night in question, near the farm.  Can you?”

Once more a silence.  Then Tom said: 

“I prefer to say nothing, Doctor.”

“Very well.  Then this painful scene had best end.  I request you all to keep silence on this matter.  I will see Mr. Appleby, and explain that all of my students deny having had a hand in this occurence.  That should be sufficient for him.”

The doctor paused a moment, and then, holding out the gaudily-colored sweater, asked: 

“Do you wish to claim this, Tom?”

“Yes, sir, it is mine,” and with a steady step Tom walked forward to get the garment.  As he went down the aisle toward the rostrum there were one or two faint hisses, that seemed to come from the section where Sam Heller and his cronies sat.