been present at the blowing up
of the old stone bridge, and were seen near the shanty where the
sticks of dynamite were kept, and one boy of the town says he saw
a young man coming from the shanty with something in his hand. Mr.
Sparr has the authorities at work and is piling up his evidence,
and the arrest of the rascally schoolboys may be hourly expected.
It is said that some of the boys have run away, but the
authorities have an idea where they can be located. The town
committee is thinking of offering a reward for the capture and
conviction of the rascals. For the safety of our citizens, the
Weekly Globe-Leader hopes the evil-doers will soon be
apprehended."

No names were mentioned in this account, but everybody in Oakdale and
vicinity knew that the boys of Oak Hall were alluded to, and there was
much talk over what might be done. Doctor Clay felt the disgrace
keenly, and Dave and Roger were equally affected.

"What are we going to do, Dave?" asked the senator's son.

"I don't know," returned our hero. "But we've got to do something,
that's certain."

CHAPTER XX

THE WILD MAN AGAIN

"Roger, I have an idea!"

"What is it, Dave?"

"I may be mistaken, but I've been thinking that perhaps that wild man
did the blowing up at the hotel."

"What makes you think that?" questioned the senator's son, putting
down the book he had been trying to study.

A day had passed after the events recorded in the last chapter, and so
far no word had come in concerning Phil and the other runaways. Doctor
Clay had sent for a private detective to assist in locating them and
also to try, if possible, to clear up the mystery concerning the hotel
affair.

"Well, in the first place, it would be just like a crazy man to do
such a thing, wouldn't it?"

"Perhaps."

"In the second place, I have heard that the wild man was seen around
when the bridge was blown up."

"Is that so? Who saw him?"

"Mr. Tyson, the farmer who lives near the bridge."

"Why didn't he try to capture the fellow?"

"He did, but in the excitement of the blowing up the wild man slipped
him. And that isn't all. Mr. Tyson saw him coming from the vicinity of
that shanty where the dynamite was kept."

"Say, that is certainly interesting!" cried the senator's son. "When
did you learn all this?"

"Less than an hour ago. Mr. Tyson brought some vegetables to the
school and I had a talk with him."

"Did he think the wild man blew