Thereupon the three young men together and separately, told of the disappearance of their beloved chair, the missing clock, the appearance of the mahogany timepiece, and their ineffectual search for clews.
"And if Langridge didn't have a hand in it, I'll eat my hat, saving the presence of you ladies," declared Tom. "Only I can't get Sid or Phil to agree with me."
"What about, eating your hat?" demanded the quarter-back. "Don't let us interfere with that pleasure. Go ahead. If yours isn't enough, you may have a couple of bites out of mine."
"Oh, you know what I mean," declared Tom, in a little huff.
"If you mean about Langridge, I don't agree with you," put in Sid. "He never had his finger in this pie."
"Right, Oh!" exclaimed Phil, and then the discussion started all over again, and lasted until the girls declared that they must return to Fairview.
"Well, what do you think of it, fellows?" asked Tom, some time later, when the three chums were on their way back to their rooms. "Think Langridge will start anything?"
"No," was Sid's opinion. "I guess he'll be glad to let well enough alone."
"I suppose you think I didn't do exactly right
