to get blamed for something I donât even know about?â
âInto each life some rain must fall,â said Bruno philosophically. âWhatever you sow, you must reap.â
* * *
The messenger had continued to Dormitory 1. Boots took the note from him and woke George. âNote for you, George. From Mr. Sturgeonâs office.â
George yawned sleepily. âOh, that must be about my allowance from Papa.â He accented the second syllable. âHe always sends it by special messenger. I can hardly wait to see if I got the raise I asked for.â
Boots smiled. âMaybe youâll get even more than you asked for,â he said.
When George reached the office the door was open; so he knocked, then went right in. As he entered the room, he was surprised to see Elmer Drimsdale seated meekly on the bench. George walked towards the visitorâs chair, but Mr. Sturgeon motioned to him to sit beside Elmer. George was puzzled. Mr. Sturgeon opened his top desk drawer and pulled out a plastic bag. From it he took out one rodent skull, one Toronto Horticultural Society membership card and a labelled test tube. He made a second pile with a money clip, a cell phone and a pen and pencil set, all clearly monogrammed.
âI believe these belong to you,â the Headmaster said grimly.
âY-yes sir,â George stammered, now thoroughly confused. Elmer was speechless.
âThese items were gathered at Miss Scrimmageâs last night after a disgraceful episode during which some articles of â er â underwear were stolen.â George began to sweat. âThe discovery of these items,â Mr. Sturgeon continued, âhas led everyone to conclude that you two were the raiders. Unfortunately I have no alternative but to agree.â He smiled grimly. âYou were even identified by name by several of the young ladies.â
George began to sweat even more. He reached for his handkerchief to wipe his forehead â and pulled out a pair of pink panties. âYipes!â he cried.
âThat will do,â said Mr. Sturgeon. âI rather think that that strange substitute for a pocket handkerchief completes the case against you.â
âBut, sir,â pleaded George, âI have no idea how that got into my pocket!â
Mr. Sturgeonâs smile changed. âThen I imagine your thinking is a little slow, Wexford-Smyth. Iâm quite certain that
I
know how it got there.â
âI found some things like that under my pillow,â Elmer gasped.
âIâm not surprised to hear that,â said Mr. Sturgeon. âIt seems that you two boys have been very nicely framed.â
For the first time since he had received the summons Elmer felt a surge of hope. He still had very little idea of what he had been framed
for
, but so long as he wasnât going to be punished, his world looked as if it would keep on turning.
âMelvin!â George exclaimed. âIt was Melvin, wasnât it, sir? And that uncouth friend of his, Bruno Walton?â
âBruno,â echoed Elmer sadly. âIâve had enough of Bruno to last me a lifetime!â
âIs Walton harassing you?â asked Mr. Sturgeon.
Elmer shook his head. âOh no, sir. Itâs just that heâs so â unrestrained. And Iâm so â I guess I seem dull to him, sir. I donât think he likes me.â
âMelvin is certainly harassing me, sir,â George broke in. âHe should be punished, if you ask me.â
âI fail to recall asking you,â said Mr. Sturgeon, giving George his infamous grey look. Then he leaned back in his chair. âBoys, I would like to try an experiment. This is what I want you to do.â
* * *
Elmer Drimsdale, head down and feet dragging, returned to his room and flopped down on his bed.
âWhatâs the matter, Elm?â asked Bruno, bursting with curiosity. âArenât you going to crack the old
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