"Good-bye until Wednesday," he called to his chums as they stood on the platform waving their hands to him. "I'll meet you in New York sure." But it was a long time before Ned kept his promise. CHAPTER XIII STARTLING NEWS The issue of the Darewell _Advertiser_ that Monday afternoon contained some startling information. The three chums were standing in front of the drug store talking of their prospective trip when a newsboy ran past calling: "Extra! Extra! Full account of the blowing up of the school tower with dynamite!" "What's that he's yelling?" asked Bart. "He said something about the school tower and dynamite," replied Fenn. "Trying to sell his papers I guess." "Let's get one and see if it's a fake," suggested Frank. "Here boy! Give me one!" cried Bart, and the lad handed him a sheet, damp with paste from the press. Staring at the three chums in big black letters was the heading: SCHOOL TOWER DYNAMITED! Not Blown Down by Gale of Wind as First Supposed. BELIEVED TO BE BOYS' WORK! Investigation Has Been Ordered by President Williamson of the Board of Education. FOUR LADS SUSPECTED! "Well, what do you think of that!" exclaimed Bart when he had finished reading the head-lines. "Isn't that the limit?" "Limit! It's the strangest thing I ever heard of," cried Frank. "Somebody has been stuffing the reporter," suggested Fenn. "Let's read the rest of it." Looking over Bart's shoulders the two other lads read the account. It told in vivid language how the fact was discovered that the tower had been blown down by an explosive. Those nearest the tower when the crash came told of hearing a dull boom, that was not caused by the wind. Then came the sound as the bricks fell through the corner of the roof of the auditorium. "But if other evidence was wanting," the article went on, "it is easily found in the dials of the clock that was in the tower. The white faces bear the black marks of powder and an analysis which has been made shows the stains to have been caused by some powerful explosive, the exact nature of which is being kept secret by the authorities. "It is understood from a reliable source, however, that dynamite was used, a small quantity being placed in the top of the tower. It is said that part of a dynamite cartridge has been found but this is denied by the police. "That the work was that of mischievous boys, who, possibly did not appreciate the seriousness of their deed, is the opinion of the school authorities. This is borne out by the fact that a boy confessed to having carried off one of the powder-marked dials of the clock. Why he did this has not been disclosed, but Mr. Williamson has secured an admission from him that he did take the dial from the debris of the wrecked tower. This dial the president of the board has secured, together with the other three.