Jack Rangers Western Trip | Page 6

"Who's there?" he asked.
"Martin, the monitor," was the reply. "Dr. Mead wants to see you at
once in the office."
"Trouble! I knew it!" exclaimed Jack to himself. "Well, I wonder what
it is now. Hope word of that Klu-Klux-Klan business hasn't reached
here already. But I'm not afraid of that. Even Dr. Mead will admit we
acted from a right motive. All right, Martin," he called. "I'll be there as
soon as I dress. Anything special?"
"I'm afraid it is," replied the monitor, as he hurried down the hall.
Jack made a hasty toilet and then went to the office of the head of the
academy. He found a number of the teachers gathered there, including
Professor Grimm, who looked more angry than usual. The latter was
speaking as Jack entered:
"This positively has to stop, Dr. Mead," he said. "I will put up with this
no longer. Either Ranger or I must leave."
"What have I done now?" asked Jack.
"Something more serious than usual, Ranger, if it turns out that you are
guilty," answered Dr. Mead.
"Of course he's guilty," burst out Mr. Grimm. "Haven't I proof?"
"Last night," said Dr. Mead, speaking slowly and sternly, "the big bell
was taken from the tower. It was carried and placed in front of
Professor Grimm's room, and tied to his door so that when he opened it
the bell was pulled into his room. In this way some valuable sea shells
he had on the floor were broken."
"What makes you think I did it?" asked Jack. "I was laid up with a

sprained ankle."
"That's just how I know it was you and some of your chums," cried
Professor Grimm. "Tied on the bell, where it had been used, so the
sharp edge would not cut one's fingers, was this rag. There it is. Smell
of it. What does it smell like?" and he thrust it under Jack's nose.
"Why--why--it smells like arnica," replied our hero, wondering what
was coming next.
"Arnica! Yes, I guess it does. What was it you were pretending to put
on your ankle last night, Ranger? Arnica, wasn't it? Of course it was.
I've caught you this time! The evidence is all against you! You didn't
think you dropped that rag, and that the arnica would figure in the
evidence. Dr. Grimm, I repeat, Ranger must leave or I shall!"
CHAPTER III
A THREATENING LETTER
For a few seconds there was a silence following Professor Grimm's
ultimatum. Jack was so surprised he did not know what reply to make.
The suddenness of the accusation, with the experience of the night
before, and the upset over his sprained ankle, combined to make him
hesitate before he made answer.
"What have you to say, Ranger?" asked Dr. Mead, in a sterner voice
than he had ever before used toward Jack. "I know you will tell the
truth, for I have never yet known you to lie. But I must tell you that if I
find that you are guilty it will go hard with you this time. I have put up
with a good deal from the students, but this is too much."
"I--I don't know what to say, sir," replied Jack, in a sort of daze. "I'm
not guilty, I can assure you of that!"
"It's one thing to say so and another to prove it," snapped Professor
Grimm. "The evidence is all against you."

"It's all circumstantial," interrupted Jack.
"But rather conclusive," went on the irate professor. He detailed how he
had seen Jack and his friends out late, how he had come upon them
using arnica, and mentioned some of their pranks in the past, including
the mock duel arranged between Professor Socrat the French teacher
and Professor Garlach, the German instructor.
"I admit I have played pranks in the past," said Jack frankly, "but I'm
not guilty this time. All I ask is a chance to prove that I had no hand in
this."
"You don't deserve a chance!" exclaimed Mr. Grimm.
"That's hardly fair," spoke Jack indignantly.
"Don't talk back to me!" burst out the angry teacher.
"I think your request is a fair one, Ranger," went on Dr. Mead. "I will
give you twenty-four hours in which to prove that you had no hand in
this. That is all now; you may go."
Dr. Mead was a man of few words, but Jack knew he would be
absolutely fair. So, bowing to the head of the school, and without a
glance at his accuser, Jack left the office.
"Whew!" exclaimed the youth, as he got outside. "I seem to be up
against it harder than ever. Twenty-four hours to prove something that
may take a week. Well, I've got to get busy, that's all."
"Hello!" exclaimed a voice as