do you mean?" faltered the teacher.

"I know something about your doings in the past--doings which are of
no credit to you. If you disgrace Ben and me by degrading us in
classes, we'll disgrace you by telling all we know."

"And what do you know?" demanded Job Haskers, hastily.

"We know a good deal," put in Ben.

"All about your dealing with the poor widow, Mrs. Breen," added the
shipowner's son. "How you still owe her for board, and how you
borrowed money to publish a book that was never issued."

"Who told you that?" cried Job Haskers, stepping back in
consternation. "Who told you that I had borrowed money from her, and
that I owed her for board?"

"Never mind who told us," said Ben. "We know it is true."

"And you went to that lawyer, eh?" stormed Professor Haskers. "You
got him to threaten a suit, didn't you? I got his letter only this
afternoon."

"We went to no lawyer," answered Phil.

"I know better! I see it all now! You want to get me into trouble--to
disgrace me here!" Job Haskers began to pace the floor. "It is--er--a
mistake. I meant to pay that lady but it--er--slipped my mind. And the
book has been issued, but the publishers have not--er--seen fit to
push it, that is why you and the world at large have not heard of
it."

"Mr. Haskers, we haven't told anybody about this," went on Phil,
pointedly. "You can settle with that lawyer, whoever he may be,--and
we'll not say a word to anybody--that is, providing you'll give us a
fair chance in our lessons."

"Ha! maybe you wish me to pass you without an examination," cried the
teacher, cunningly.

"No, sir!" answered Phil, stoutly.

"We simply ask for more time, that is all," added Ben. "We don't ask
any favor. We can make up the lessons if you will give us as much time
as the other teachers would give us."

"You have not told anybody of this--this--er--affair of Mrs. Breen?"

"No."

"It is all a mistake, but I should not like it to get abroad. It would
hurt my reputation a great deal. I shall settle the matter in the
near future. I do not owe that lady as much as the lawyer says I
do,--but that is not your affair." Job Haskers continued to pace the
floor. "Now about your lessons," he continued, after a pause. "If
I--er--thought that I had really been too hard on you----" He paused.

"You certainly have been hard," said Phil.

"And if you really need more time----"

"Give us two weeks more and we'll be all right," put in Ben.

"And if--e