_JOB HASKERS, Publisher,_
ALBANY, N. Y.
"It"s the same paper!" cried Dave. "He tore the corner off so that just the letters "_blisher_" remained."
"That"s pretty good evidence," said Roger.
"I should say it was!" cried Ben. "Wonder what he will have to say about it, when we confront him with it?"
"Let us look for more evidence, while we are at it," came from Buster.
And then the midnight search continued.
CHAPTER x.x.x
THE EXPOSURE--GOOD-BY TO OAK HALL
"Doctor Clay, we must see you about something that is very important."
Thus spoke Dave, the next morning, as he and his chums filed into the doctor"s private office after the opening of the school. Job Haskers was not at his cla.s.s, but in his room, straightening out his things, while some men had been sent up, to get rid of the tree-top and repair the window. The storm was a thing of the past, and no other damage of importance had been done.
"Very well, boys," returned the master of the school, kindly. "Come in and let me know what it is."
The students came in, rather awkwardly it must be admitted, for they had much on their minds and did not know just how the worthy doctor would take it. But they had decided on a course of action, and they had given their word to stick together to the end. Dave, as the natural leader, had been chosen spokesman.
"Doctor Clay, we want to bring up a subject of great importance,"
said Dave. "Important to us, and to you, and to the whole school. The boys have asked me to speak for them and for myself."
"About what?" demanded the master, somewhat shortly.
"About Mr. Haskers and how he has treated us."
"What has he done now?"
"It isn"t what he has done now, Doctor Clay, it is what he did some time ago--did his best to get us into grave trouble," answered Dave, warmly. "You"ll remember the letter Mr. Sparr got, stating we were guilty of trying to blow up his hotel. We are now satisfied that Mr.
Haskers penned that letter--in fact, we have the evidence to prove it."
"Impossible!"
"No, sir, it is true, and I dare him to deny it. It is an absolute fact, Doctor Clay, and we have come here this morning to inform you that we can no longer attend a school where he is a teacher," went on Dave, firmly.
"But--but you--er--you astound me, Porter! Tell me what you know, or think you know."
In a plain, straightforward manner Dave mentioned the letter and the printing that had appeared on it. Then he told how he and his chums had searched the bedroom after the tree-top crash and found the sheets of paper with that same printing, and he produced them.
"And we also found these, in a corner of the broken writing-desk," he continued. "Some writing by Mr. Haskers, in which he practiced backhand. This writing is just like that which appears in the letter Mr. Sparr got. Compare the two and you will see we are right. Wilbur Poole said Mr. Haskers saw him blow up the hotel, and he told the truth, even if he is weak-minded."
"But why should Mr. Haskers do such an outrageous thing?" asked the master of Oak Hall.
"I will tell you why, sir," returned Dave, and related the affair of the Widow Breen. "That made him very sore on us, and he wanted to get us out of the school. At first he tried it by overworking us in our lessons, and when he found that that didn"t work he tried this game of making out that we were criminals."
"Yes, but--but would a teacher of mine stoop so low?" murmured the worthy doctor, shaking his head doubtfully.
"No ordinary teacher would, Dr. Clay. But Mr. Haskers is not an ordinary man--he is very dictatorial and harsh, and he hates boys even though he has to teach them. He isn"t a bit like Mr. Dale, or the others."
"We never had any trouble with any teacher but Haskers," put in Phil.
"And if we have to leave Oak Hall I"m going to get my father to sue Haskers for damages," added Roger.
A talk lasting the best part of an hour followed, and at last the worthy doctor had his eyes opened to the unworthiness of his a.s.sistant. He scanned the sheets of paper and the writing the boys had brought with interest.
"You are right--this is Mr. Haskers"s hand," he said, slowly. "But is it the same hand that wrote that villainous letter to Mr. Sparr?"
"Compare the two and you will see that we are right," answered Dave.
"I will," answered the doctor; and a little later he set off for Oakdale in his buggy, going alone.
The boys walked down to the gymnasium, resolved to keep out of all cla.s.ses until the matter had been settled. They had impressed it on Doctor Clay"s mind that either Job Haskers must leave the school or they would do so.
It was nearly noon when the master of Oak Hall came back, driving slowly and looking very thoughtful. The boys met him at the entrance to the grounds and he told them to come to the office, and closed the door carefully behind them.
"You were right," he said, almost brokenly. "I have been deceived by this--this--I do not know what to call him! It will make a great stir when the truth is known--and it will hurt the school," he added, with a sigh.
"Why should we make a stir about it?" asked Dave, quickly. "Let him go, that is all we ask. He can resign."
"No, the truth must come out," was the firm reply. "He shall not shelter himself behind you, even for the benefit of the school. I have already told the authorities the facts in the case. If they wish to arrest him they can do so, and you may appear against him, if you wish."
"When will you tell him?" asked Phil, as there came a brief pause.
"At once! And I wish you to be present and hear what is said,"
returned Doctor Clay. He rang a bell and a servant appeared. "Tell Mr.
Haskers to come here immediately."
There was silence after this, the boys not knowing what to say, and the master of the school being busy with his thoughts. Presently the door opened and Job Haskers came in, with a look of curiosity on his face.
"You sent for me, Doctor?" he inquired.
"I did, Mr. Haskers," was the cold reply. "I want your resignation, and I want it at once!"
The master of Oak Hall had gotten to his feet and the two men stood facing each other. Doctor Clay had his jaw set, and never had the students seen him look so determined. He was no longer a kindly schoolmaster, he was a judge, and a stern judge at that.
"You--you want my resignation?" faltered Job Haskers.
"Yes, and at once."
"Why?"