paper, then back again to the handle,
comparing the two impressions. Presently he glanced at Bill and then at
Gus, nodding; he turned to Malatesta.

"We do not wish to let such an unfortunate circumstance as this become
hurtful to the school by making it public. The janitor will be here in a
moment. He will accompany you to your room and you will obtain your
property and leave at once. When you return this way I shall give you
the sum paid us for your tuition. The school will make good the damage
you caused. Ah, here is Royce now." The president proceeded to instruct
the janitor.

Lambert, followed by Bill and Gus, returned at once to the dormitory,
after a word of caution from Doctor Field, and, aside from the fact that
Malatesta left before the school was fully awake, the students knew
nothing.

The injury to the shop was kept as secret as possible. In a few days the
work went on as before, only one other fellow besides Lambert knowing
there had been a smash-up. So that incident was closed, but out of it,
or as a part of it, more serious circumstances showed that Malatesta,
wherever he may have gone, had by no means forgotten the feud that now
included Bill and Gus as well as Tony.

Gus was never questioned as to his possession of a revolver which made
his wild west method of intimidating Malatesta possible. Probably the
Doctor believed the cigar case had been used again.

CHAPTER XIV

FISTICUFFS

Siebold, a keen-witted fellow and an athlete, was the leading spirit
among the sophomores of Marshallton Tech. He was class president, stood
easily at the head of his classes, if head there was, and in most things
he admittedly surpassed his fellows. His people being well-to-do, he
indulged in all the little "side kicks," as the boys termed sports,
social diversions and the like.

A really fine chap was Siebold, though he possessed one unfortunate
failing--he persisted in holding to a grudge; and he had never forgiven
Bill and Gus for that hazing fiasco, nor for bringing down the scorn of
the school on what had been considered a harmless kind of fun.

Of course, the school had a debating society, of which the membership
was from all classes. Bill joined it; Gus did not, and it was the only
thing in which they acted separately, with the exception of the
gymnasium. Bill was sorry he had joined the society, for upon being
chosen one of the three sp