"Hicks, it has come to my knowledge that you are selling as souvenirs bits of the clapper that was stolen from the gymnasium." "May I ask, sir," said Hickey with indignation, "who has accused me?" At this Mr. Tapping spoke up severely: "I have informed the Doctor of facts which have come into my possession." "Sir," said Hickey, addressing the head master, "Mr. Tapping has _honoured_ me with his enmity for a long while. He has not even hesitated to _threaten_ me. I am not surprised that he should accuse me, only I insist that he state what evidence he has for bringing this accusation." "Doctor, allow me," said Mr. Tapping, somewhat ill at ease. Then turning to Hickey he said, with the air of a cross-examiner: "Hicks, are you or are you not selling souvenirs at one dollar apiece, in the shape of small silver clappers?" "Certainly." "Made out of the original clapper?" "Certainly _not_!" "What!" exclaimed the amazed Tapping. "Certainly not." "Do you mean to say that two hundred and fifty boys would have bought those souvenirs at a dollar apiece for any other reason than that they contained a bit of the stolen clapper?" Hickey smiled proudly. "They may have been under that impression." "Because you told them!" "No, sir," said Hickey with righteous anger. "You have no right, sir, to say such a thing. On the contrary, I refused to answer one way or the other. You listened this afternoon from your window and you heard exactly my answer. If you will do me the _justice_, sir, to tell the Doctor what I did say, I shall be very much obliged to you." "Enough, Hicks," said the head master with a frown. "Answer me directly. Are these watch charms made up out of the original clapper?" "No, sir." The Doctor, in his turn, looked amazed. "Come, Hicks, that is not possible," he said. "I warn you I shall trace them without any difficulty." Then Hickey smiled, a long delicious smile of culminating triumph. Slowly he drew forth from his pocket an envelope, from which he produced a legal document. "If you will kindly read this, sir," he said, tending it with deepest respect. The Doctor took it, glanced curiously at Hickey, and then began to read. Presently his face relaxed, and despite a struggle a smile appeared. Then he handed the document to Mr. Tapping, who read as follows: * * * * * I, John J. Goodsell, representing the firm of White, Brown and Bangs, jewellers of Trenton, New Jersey, take oath that I have this day engaged to manufacture for William Orville Hicks of the Lawrenceville school 250 small clappers, design submitted, of iron plated with silver, and that the iron which forms the foundation comes from scrap-iron entirely furnished by us. Sworn to in the presence of notary. JOHN J. GOODSELL. Attached to the document was a bill as follows: