“Except keep still,” suggested Bert.

“Sure,” assented Jack.

Several days went by.  The first excitement over the implied charges against Tom had died away.  Farmer Appleby had wanted to cause the arrest of the lad against whom his suspicions were directed, but his lawyer pointed out that he had such slight evidence that it would be a dangerous proceeding.

But Jack, Bert, George, Bruce Bennington and several of Tom’s closest friends stuck to him most loyally.  Of course Sam Heller was against our hero, but that was to be expected, and many sided with Sam.

“Fairfield ought to be run out of Elmwood Hall!” exclaimed the bully.

“That’s what!” added his crony.  “And if he doesn’t withdraw soon we’ll run him out.”

“Will you?” cried Sam.  “I’m with you.  How can we do it?” and the two went off by themselves to plot.

As Bruce Bennington had feared, there were now two factions in the school, those who were for and against Tom.  And it seriously interfered with the work of the eleven.  For there were some who hated Sam cordially, and as he was the quarterback of the team there were internal dissensions, and such ragged playing, in consequence, that Elmwood lost many games she should have won.

“Say, this is getting fierce!” cried the coach after a disastrous gridiron battle.  “What’s to be done?  We’re in bad shape back of the line.”

“Maybe we ought to put Tom back.”

“We ought to, and yet I’m afraid if we do it will cause more trouble.  But I’ve a notion to,” and they discussed the matter in all its phases.

Meanwhile Tom went on seeking clews, wandering off by himself, lonely at times, but never giving up.

“I’ll clear my name yet!” he said to himself, fiercely.

CHAPTER XVII

THE EMPTY BOTTLE

“Great Caesar’s grandmother, Jack, why didn’t you think of that before?”

“I don’t know, Bert.  It just seemed to come to me as I sat here thinking about it.”

“Well, it’s a good thing you think once in a while.”

“Why don’t you help out then, if you think I don’t do enough of it?” asked Jack rather snappily.

“Oh, come now,” went on Bert.  “I was only joking.  I sure am glad you thought of it.  It’s a wonder some of us didn’t fall to that idea before this.  We’ll tell Tom, as soon as he comes in, and I’ll wager that if we go about it right we can clear this thing up in a day or so.”

“I’m sure I hope so,” assented Jack.  “It’s getting on my nerves as well as on Tom’s.”

“Yes, and I guess every fellow in college will be glad to know the truth of it.  Why, the team’s going to pieces just on account of this miserable horse-poisoning case, and the burning of a little hay.”

“Still, it did look black for Tom, especially when he had that quarrel with Appleby over the trampled corn, and made some remarks about getting even because he had to pay for it.”