Jack Rangers Western Trip | Page 7

Jack was walking along the corridor
toward his room. "Whasmatternow? Betcher Ic'nguess!" and the voice
evolved itself into a good-natured looking lad, who stretched a big wad
of gum from his mouth, and slowly got it back again by the simple but
effective process of winding it about his tongue.
"Hello, Budge Rankin!" exclaimed Jack, as he saw the queer, bright lad
who had lived near him in Denton, and for whom Jack had secured the

place of second janitor at the school. "So you think you know what the
trouble is?"
"Betcherlife," replied Budge, who had a habit of running his words
together, a habit which his gum-chewing did not tend to relieve.
"What is it?"
"Accused you takin' that bell," went on Budge more slowly. "Hu!
Wanterbe a detective?"
"How did you know it?" asked Jack, a little surprised at Budge's
remark.
"Easy. Heard 'em talk. Transom open," was his answer.
"What do you mean about me turning detective?"
"Lookerthis," Budge said, quickly holding out a small object to Jack.
"Found it in Grimm's room, 'sIsweptout."
"You found it in Mr. Grimm's room as you swept it out?" inquired Jack,
not certain he had heard aright.
"'Smatter!" exclaimed Budge, that being his short-hand way of stating
that was what was the matter.
"A spark plug from an automobile," mused Jack. "Well, that doesn't
seem to give me much of a clue."
"Gotermobe?" asked Budge.
"No, of course I haven't an automobile," replied Jack.
"Knowoas?"
"Do I know who has? Why--By Jove! I believe I see what you mean.
Say, it's lucky you found this. I'll turn detective for awhile now. I
wonder how this got into Grimm's room."

"Rolled under door, I guess," replied Budge, speaking more rationally
as he threw away his cud of gum. "From hall, maybe."
"That's it!" exclaimed Jack. "I see it now. Thanks Budge. I hope I
succeed. I'm much obliged to you."
"'Sallright!" exclaimed Budge, as he hurried away to attend to some of
his duties.
When Jack got back to his room he found quite a gathering of his
chums there.
"In for it on account of that Klu-Klux business?" asked Sam Chalmers.
"Not exactly that," answered Jack, "though if I'd stayed at home It
wouldn't have happened."
"Ha-ha-ha-has it g-g-gg-got anything t-t-t--" began Will Slade.
"Whistle it!" exclaimed Bony Balmore.
"Sing it!" came from Fred Kaler. "Here I'll help you out," and he began
to play on his harmonica.
"Whole-wheat-whangdoodles!" cried Nat Anderson, "but tell us, Jack.
Don't keep us in suspense."
"It's the bell," said Jack. "I'm accused of taking it down and putting it in
Grimm's room. They found a rag with arnica on it near the ding-dong,
and Old Grimm jumped to the wrong conclusion, basing his belief on
what he saw here last night in the first-aid-to-the- injured line. I've got
until to-morrow to prove that I didn't do it."
"We can prove it easily enough," said Sam.
"Not so easily as you think," spoke Jack. "Grimm saw us out late, you
remember, and if all of you joined in saying it wasn't I who did it, they
wouldn't believe you. I guess they want to make an example of
someone. No sir, I'm going to do some sleuthing on my own hook. I've

got a good line and a bit of evidence to start with. I'm pretty sure I can
make some folks around here sit up and take notice about this time
to-morrow."
"Good for you, Jack!" exclaimed Dick. "If you want any help call on
us!"
"Thanks," replied Jack. "Now I guess we'd better get ready for
breakfast."
His chums left him to complete his dressing, and, when they were gone,
Jack carefully laid aside the spark plug Budge had given him.
"First link," he said.
During the noon intermission Jack had a short but earnest talk with
Socker, the school janitor. The latter nodded his head vigorously
several times during the conversation.
"I'll get it for you," he said as he and Jack parted.
At the close of school that afternoon the janitor went to Jack's room
with a large bundle.
"Any trouble?" asked our hero.
"Not a bit," replied Socker. "He was out and I found it rolled up in a
corner, just where he had thrown it. He hasn't even cleaned it."
"So much the better," said Jack, as he gave Socker a small sum of
money. "I'll keep quiet about this, don't worry."
"I hope you will," the janitor went on. "It's against the rules for me to
do what I did, but I want to oblige you, and have you come out all
right."
"Which I think I will," Jack added.
When he was alone he opened the bundle Socker had brought. It was a

linen duster, and, as Jack saw several