“Do you really mean to tell me any member of that society would confess their guilt to you if you put them on their oath?”
“And may I ask what you would have done had any of them made such a confession?”
Again did the principal look over the top of his glasses, and he realized as he never had before, what a power the Greek letter societies could be in the discipline of the school.
“But if no members of your club committed the outrage, who did?” asked Mr. Larmore finally, evidently voicing the thought that was in his mind.
“That, sir, we cannot tell you at the moment—but we will be able to later.”
“Because we shall make it a point to find out, sir. And as a first step toward that end we should be obliged if you would tell us who gave you the information.”
“I will do that—presently. First, however, I should like to ask you what punishment you think should be meted out to the boys who are guilty?”
“I fancy they won’t be ready for punishment for some time after we find out who they are,” exclaimed Longback.
Smiling at this answer to his question, Mr. Larmore exclaimed:
“I am obliged to you boys for coming to see me. I’m sorry to say, however, that I cannot accept your statements as to the innocence of the members of the Pi Eta society in regard to smashing the apparatus in the physical laboratory.
“My authority—who is no other than Tony, the janitor,—is, I believe, altogether too reliable.
“For that reason, I have decided that until I can learn who the perpetrators of the act are, to punish them individually, I shall assess the Pi Eta society the amount of the damages, which comes to seventy dollars, and until payment is made, I shall insist that the society’s room be closed.
“I shall be obliged if you will act as collector for me, Dawson. You can also announce my decision to all the society members, though I shall do it in school just before the noon recess.
“And now, young gentlemen, I bid you good morning.”
Mingled, indeed, were the feelings with which the boys heard this ultimatum from Mr. Larmore.
After he had dropped his sarcasm, they believed that he would at least be fair with them, and accordingly, when they heard his terms, they could scarcely believe their ears.
But they managed to control their feelings and, bowing curtly, turned on their heels and strode from the office.