"My hands were tied," he said. "Rooster and I had to sit there and watch them get licked." "Pretty tough!" murmured Cal sympathetically. There was a moment of silence while the car purred rhythmically along the road. Then Cal spoke suddenly and with a resolution not familiar to him. "See here," he blurted out. "I like you, and I've reason to be grateful to you for what you did for my dad when he needed help. Besides, I don't like to see a fellow framed." Garry looked at him curiously. Cal was silent again as he manipulated the car about a corner and swung off on a road leading into the country. Here he slowed the car to an ambling pace and turned half about to face Garry. "Because that's what you've been," he said, continuing from the point where he had left off. "Framed!" "Don't I know it?" Garry spoke bitterly. "We fellows never had hip flasks, never even thought of them until they were found in our desks. If that isn't framing, what is?" Cal pondered a moment. "I don't like to mix in any one else's business," he said slowly. "But--" He paused. "If you know anything, spill it," urged Garry eagerly. "I will," said Cal briskly. "I'll tell you when and where you were framed and who did it!" CHAPTER XIII Tracing the Threads Garry Grayson's heart gave such a bound that it almost seemed to turn over. "Tell me! Tell me!" he cried. "That interests you, does it?" returned Cal, with grin. "I thought it would. Now listen, Garry, and I'll tell you what I know about this. "I was out with some of my friends a short time ago," he went on. "We stopped at a roadhouse for a bite to eat. Sandy Podder, Lent Stewart, and another fellow I didn't know were sitting at a table near us. The whole bunch of them had hip flasks--" Garry uttered an involuntary exclamation, and Cal glanced at him quizzically. "Yeah," he continued, "and by the time we had finished dinner that bunch was pretty wild. When we got up to go we saw the landlord of the place go and join Sandy and his bunch at their table. They began talking in a low voice so that we couldn't hear anything they said, except here and there a word. "After we got out to the car, I found that I had left my cap behind and went back for it. Here's where the interesting part comes in." Cal paused and watched the road thoughtfully for a few seconds where it turned and twisted before them. "For the love of Pete, go on!" cried Garry. "I'm coming to it," grinned Cal. "Well, you see by this time it was pretty late, and there was no one in the dining room of the place but Podder and his gang--" "And the landlord," put in Garry. "And the landlord," repeated Cal gravely. "He's a very important person in the tale, as you'll see. As I opened the door I happened to hear your name mentioned. You see they thought they were alone and were not so careful to keep their voices lowered. "'We'll plant the flask in Garry Grayson's desk,' I heard Sandy say.