Later Mr. Allen sent for Anderson. He was a surly sort of fellow, a member of the football team, but one who had always cherished an envious grudge against Garry Grayson because of the sudden rise of the latter to football prominence. Anderson was a senior, had played for three years with the team, counting the current season, and had fondly hoped that, following the departure of Ralph Wynn, he might be chosen captain. To have Garry, a sophomore, placed over himself, a senior, had galled him to the quick. "I know everything, Anderson," Mr. Allen said to him curtly, as he entered the office. "Sandy Podder and Lent Stewart have confessed to their part and yours in planting the hip flasks in the desks of Grayson, Long, and Sherwood. What have you to say for yourself? Think well before you speak." Utterly taken aback by the suddenness of the attack, confused and flabbergasted, not knowing whether it were safer to deny or to tell the truth, Anderson kept silent, his face as pale as death. "Silence is confession," remarked Mr. Allen after a moment's pause. "Do you admit it?" Shamefacedly, Anderson nodded. "That will do," said Mr. Allen. "You may go." Ever since the conference of the day before Garry had been besieged by his chums to tell them what he had meant by his cryptic utterances. But Mr. Allen had requested him to say absolutely nothing until he gave him permission. So Garry perforce kept silent, despite all the baiting of his friends. "Can't do it, fellows," he said. "You'll hear soon enough. But look at my face." "Why should we have to?" snorted Rooster. "What have we done?" "Not much to look at," remarked Ted, eying Garry critically. "Do I look downhearted?" asked Garry, disregarding the gibes. "Am I weeping bitter tears? All I can tell you is to keep your eyes and ears open. Something's going to break, and you won't be sorry when it does." Following his interview with Aleck Anderson, Mr. Allen called a conference of his teachers at noon. At the afternoon sessions of the various classes the students were told that they were all to gather in the assembly room to hear a statement by the principal as soon as school work was over for the day. The pupils poured into the assembly room, buzzing like so many bees, agog with curiosity. But the noise subsided like magic when Mr. Allen came from his office and advanced to the front of the platform. "I have called you together this afternoon," he said, "to right a wrong and do justice." He paused for a moment and the silence was almost painful. Garry's heart gave a bound. Involuntarily his eyes swept the audience. Sandy Podder and Lent Stewart were nowhere to be seen.