ed to do this."

Many of the boys smiled, and the doctor continued:

"Didn't you recognize this poem when you read it in the out-of-town
paper, Herring?"

"I had never seen it before," Herring answered, and it was noticed
by some of the boys that he seemed a bit restless.

"Then you do not read the Riverton paper?"

"No, sir, I do not."

"I seldom read it myself," the doctor remarked, "or I would have
remembered these verses. They are very clever and breathe the true
spirit of patriotism. They really fit admirably into the rest of
the poem, which I will read. Will you get your copy of the verses,
Sheldon, and let some one compare them?"

"Certainly, sir," and Jack arose and left the place, returning
shortly and handing a copy of his poem to Percival.

Then the doctor read the poem, and Percival showed by his expression
that it was identical with the one in his hand.

"It is the same, sir," he said, "but it does not contain the opening
lines which you read before."

"I don't see how they got in there, Dick," said Jack. "I am sure
that I did not put them in. How could I? It would have been a
most astonishing piece of absent-mindedness. Besides, I have only
the printed copy now."

"However, it happened that the opening lines belong to another
poem," observed the doctor, "both by the same author, it does
not alter the fact that both fit the subject admirably, and might
easily be a part of one production. The metre is the same, and the
subject as well. The first serves excellently as an introduction
to the other."

"I can see that they do, sir,", replied Jack, "but I am certain
that I did not submit both. By the way," with a sudden inspiration,
"may I see the manuscript, sir?"

"If you will come to the desk I shall be pleased to show it to you."

Jack went forward, took the copy of the poem, looked it over carefully
a few moments, and suddenly said:

"The opening lines are not in my handwriting, Doctor. It is similar,
but not the same. These lines have been inserted by some one else.
I never put them in. You may see that they are at the top of the
page, which had a wide margin. All the other pages had, but this
one now has not. The title has been erased and written in at the top.
Some one has tampered with the manuscript. You can see for yourself,
Doctor."

"Yes, but who would do this, Sheldon? You certainly do not accuse
me of doing it? Or any of the professors?"

"Hardly, Doctor,"