"This will do the trick! Now to find Hiram and Sam."
He hurried to tell his crony, who was being visited by Sam, and once more the three put their heads together, to work the ruin of our hero.
Joe easily obtained permission to go to town to send his message. He was rather surprised on looking in his pocket for his father's telegram, not to find it, but concluded that he had left it in his room. He did not really need it, anyhow, as he knew the contents perfectly well.
The telegraph office was closed when he reached it, but the operator lived near by, and agreed to open his place, and tick off the message. This delayed Joe, however, and he was rather late getting back to the school. He did not see a teacher to report to him, as he had been bidden to do, but hurried to his own room.
He was tired and soon fell asleep, noting that Tom was already in bed and slumbering. Joe did not look for his lost message.
There was a thundering knock at Joe's door the next morning. It awoke him and Tom.
"What's the matter?" he asked. "Fire!"
"Fire! No. Haven't you heard the hews?" asked the voice of Peaches. "There's a big row on."
