“Well, that is what Dora did when Dick gave up his college career.  I think the folks understand——­”

Just then a bell in the tower of the main seminary building began to clang loudly.  At the first stroke both girls started.

“There goes the first bell!” cried Grace.  “We must go.”

“Oh, hang the bell!” muttered Tom, and then, as Grace ran towards the building, with Sam beside her, he once more caught Nellie by the hand.

“Now say, Nellie, don’t you think——­”

“Oh, Tom, I must get in before the second bell rings!” pleaded Nellie.

“Yes, but won’t you promise——­”

“How can I promise anything, Tom, with this affair of the missing ring——­”

“Missing ring!  You don’t suppose for one minute that that is going to make any difference to me, do you?”

“Oh, no, Tom.  I know you too well for that.”  And now Nellie gave him a look that thrilled him through and through.  “But I think I ought to clear my name before—­ before I do anything else.”

“All right.  I suppose it has got to be as you say,” returned Tom, hopelessly.  “But listen!  If they make any more trouble for you, promise me that you will let me know.”

“All right, Tom, I will.”  And then, after Tom had stolen a quick kiss, Nellie hastened her steps, and a few seconds later she and her sister disappeared within the building.

“Do you know what I’d like to do, Sam?” muttered Tom, as the brothers turned away from the seminary grounds in the automobile.  “I’d like to wring that Miss Harrow’s neck!  What right has she to accuse Nellie?”

“No right at all, Tom.  But one thing is certain, the ring must be missing.  I don’t think that the teacher had anything to do with taking it.  They don’t have that sort here.”

“Possibly not.  At the same time, to my mind it is far more reasonable to suppose that she took it than that Nellie had anything to do with it,” declared Tom, stoutly.

“If the window was closed down, it seems to me that the ring must have been taken by somebody in the building,” pursued Sam, thoughtfully.  “Perhaps one of the hired help did it.”

“Maybe.”  Tom gave a long sigh.  “I certainly hope they clear the matter up before long.  I shall be very anxious to hear from the girls about it.”

As the young collegians had received permission to be out after hours, they did not attempt to take the short cut through The Shallows on returning to Brill.  Instead, they went around by another road, over a bridge that was perfectly safe.

“It’s not so late, after all,” remarked Sam, as they entered their room.  “Perhaps I had better, finish that theme.”

“Oh, finish it in the morning,” returned Tom, with a yawn.  “You’ll feel brighter.”

“All right,” answered Sam, who felt sleepy himself; and a few minutes later the brothers retired.

The next morning found Sam at work on the theme long before the hour for breakfast.  Tom was also up, and said he would take a walk around the grounds to raise an appetite.