“To whom did you lend it?” asked Dr. Drayton quickly. It was not a fair question, and Ray made no immediate reply. He saw that a full and accurate answer would turn upon me the suspicion of having lighted the cannons. It was an excellent opportunity, had he been disposed to accept it, for him to retaliate upon me for my supposed falseness to him. But this, I knew, was the kind of retaliation which Ray Wendell despised. However much he may have doubted me at that moment, it could in no way affect his own sense of honor. In answering, he measured his words carefully. “It was dark, sir――too dark to recognize anybody, except close by. Some one behind me asked for my match box――I did not see him, but handed it back without turning around.” “But you recognized his voice, did you not?” questioned Dr. Drayton, pushing the inquiry eagerly. Ray hesitated. “Dr. Drayton,” he said at length, “granted that I knew who it was, could I be expected to tell――to――――” I could stand it no longer, so I broke in again. “It was to _me_, sir, that Mr. Wendell gave his match box.” All, Ray included, looked at me in surprise. “To you!” exclaimed Dr. Drayton. “Yes, sir,” I answered, “to me, but only to pass it back. Some one of those behind me asked for the box, and I got it from Mr. Wendell. I only retained it for a moment, and I do not know to whom I gave it, for the rest were masked.” Ray was looking at me with an expression of relief on his face. He was beginning to see that he had misunderstood the position of affairs. Dr. Drayton was plainly disappointed. He had at first thought that his inquiries had unearthed the chief offender, but now he found himself as far astray as at the beginning. Scanning us both sharply he asked: “Had either of you gentlemen any idea of the purpose for which that match box was wanted?” “No, sir,” we answered together. “But you knew the cannons were to be discharged?” “No, sir,” answered Ray, “not even that. It was a total surprise to us. We had no idea that masks were to be worn either.” The professor looked at us incredulously. “Then how came you to be identified with this party, Mr. Wendell?” asked Professor Fuller. “How is it that you, a prominent member of the Senior class, became associated with this masked company?” “The object of our gathering last night,” said Ray, “was to regain the cannons which had been stolen by the Park College men. It was on that basis alone that I joined the party. I had no idea that there were any mischievous intentions until too late to withdraw.” “Please recount to us what occurred, Mr. Wendell,” said Dr. Drayton. Ray accordingly narrated the doings of the night before, while the professors listened with eager interest. When he had finished, Dr. Drayton said: