"Right you are!" declared Phil, promptly, and the others said practically the same.
They waited until the other boys had retired once more, and then, at a signal from Dave, all filed silently into the hallway again and tiptoed their way to the room below. Soon, they were inside and had the light lit, and also a lantern which belonged to Ben's bicycle, and which he had chanced to have on hand.
Silently and with great care the boys went over the many things that had been scattered over the floor--wearing apparel, books, pads, papers, and various articles of more or less value. Presently Phil gave a low cry.
"Look at this!" And he held up several sheets of paper. In one corner were the words:
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.
"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 class, 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."