"Of course it is," agreed Garry. "He and Stewart thought they saw a chance to get us in bad by producing circumstantial evidence, and you can trust them not to overlook a chance like that. Oh, if we hadn't taken that walk last night! As it is, we've played right into their hands! "Anyway, we know, if no one else does, that we didn't bring the cow into the school," he continued, trying to put as cheerful a face as possible on the matter. "They can't prove something on us that we didn't do." If he could have known that even as he was speaking, Mr. Allen was reading an anonymous note that had been dropped mysteriously on his desk while he was out of the room, Garry might have found his determined cheerfulness severely shaken. For these are the words that Mr. Allen read over and over again, his brow wrinkled in anxious thought: "This note is written in the interest of Lenox High. If you want to know who spattered the map, spoiled the fans, and took the cow into the school, ask Grayson, Sherwood and Long. They know." The note was typewritten on ordinary paper and bore no signature. There was absolutely no clue to the writer. Contemptuous as he usually was of all anonymous documents, the message impressed the principal in spite of himself. "If those three boys are guilty, I'll find evidence of it," he said to himself, with a grim tightening of his lips. "This nonsense has gone far enough." But it seemed that the "nonsense" was to go still farther. An anonymous letter was published in the next morning's edition of the town paper. It was a venomous missive and alleged that "wild parties" were occasionally staged at Lenox High. It was hinted also that it might be worth the while of any one sufficiently interested to examine the desks of the some of the students in the school. The paper went on to say that, although usually averse to publishing anonymous communications, recent acts of vandalism in the high school seemed to justify it in making an exception of this case. "Lenox High has hitherto enjoyed an enviable reputation," the article added. "It is sincerely hoped by the citizens of Lenox that those who are attempting to tarnish that reputation may soon be brought to book. In our opinion, no zeal should be spared toward the accomplishment of this end." Wrathfully Mr. Allen read the article. His administration of the school that far had been very successful. He was responsible for its management. If the things that were hinted at proved to be true, it would be a serious reflection on the discipline of the school. Upon reaching the office he at once wrote a note and sent it around to all the teachers, instructing them to search the desk of each pupil personally and report to him at once. The order was carried out at once, and with astonishing results.