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the outrageous deed was perpetrated by some schoolboys who held a grudge against Mr. Sparr. They are known to have been present at the blowing up of the old stone bridge, and were seen near the shanty where the sticks of dynamite were kept, and one boy of the town says he saw a young man coming from the shanty with something in his hand. Mr. Sparr has the authorities at work and is piling up his evidence, and the arrest of the rascally schoolboys may be hourly expected. It is said that some of the boys have run away, but the authorities have an idea where they can be located. The town committee is thinking of offering a reward for the capture and conviction of the rascals. For the safety of our citizens, the Weekly Globe-Leader hopes the evil-doers will soon be apprehended."

      No names were mentioned in this account, but everybody in Oakdale and vicinity knew that the boys of Oak Hall were alluded to, and there was much talk over what might be done. Doctor Clay felt the disgrace keenly, and Dave and Roger were equally affected.

      "What are we going to do, Dave?" asked the senator's son.

      "I don't know," returned our hero. "But we've got to do something, that's certain."

      CHAPTER XX

      THE WILD MAN AGAIN

      "Roger, I have an idea!"

      "What is it, Dave?"

      "I may be mistaken, but I've been thinking that perhaps that wild man did the blowing up at the hotel."

      "What makes you think that?" questioned the senator's son, putting down the book he had been trying to study.

      A day had passed after the events recorded in the last chapter, and so far no word had come in concerning Phil and the other runaways. Doctor Clay had sent for a private detective to assist in locating them and also to try, if possible, to clear up the mystery concerning the hotel affair.

      "Well, in the first place, it would be just like a crazy man to do such a thing, wouldn't it?"

      "Perhaps."

      "In the second place, I have heard that the wild man was seen around when the bridge was blown up."

      "Is that so? Who saw him?"

      "Mr. Tyson, the farmer who lives near the bridge."

      "Why didn't he try to capture the fellow?"

      "He did, but in the excitement of the blowing up the wild man slipped him. And that isn't all. Mr. Tyson saw him coming from the vicinity of that shanty where the dynamite was kept."

      "Say, that is certainly interesting!" cried the senator's son. "When did you learn all this?"

      "Less than an hour ago. Mr. Tyson brought some vegetables to the school and I had a talk with him."

      "Did he think the wild man blew up the hotel?"

      "No, he didn't connect the two."

      "Hum! What do you think of doing about it?"

      "I hardly know. I wish we could round up the wild man."

      "Plenty of folks wish that."

      "I think he hangs out somewhere along the river, or on one of the islands."

      "Maybe Nat Poole knows."

      "I hardly think so--although I am sure Nat wants to find the fellow--why, I can't imagine."

      During those trying days, Job Haskers was as harsh and dictatorial to Dave and Roger as ever, and several times he passed sneering remarks about those who were missing.

      "You may think as you please, Doctor Clay," said he to the master of the Hall. "I feel sure in my mind that Lawrence and those other boys are guilty. I do not think Mr. Sparr would accuse them if he was not pretty sure of his ground."

      "Well, he has not dared to have those warrants served," replied the doctor, dryly.

      "Because he is afraid there will be a great deal of money used in the case to fight him."

      "Mr. Haskers, do you stand up for Mr. Sparr? I thought you had had some difficulty yourself with him once?"

      "That was but a small affair. I think he is perfectly honest and that he wants to do what is right."

      "Possibly. But he did not treat Lawrence very fairly in the matter of that dinner that was ordered."

      "That was a mistake, and Mr. Sparr lost as much as he got. Yes, I think those boys guilty, and in the end you will find out that I am right," added Job Haskers as he went off, smiling grimly to himself, as if it was a pleasure to him to have the boys thus accused.

      The next morning came another surprise. On getting up Dave noticed that something was missing from the dormitory. Phil's suit-case was gone, likewise a portion of his clothing, and also the valises of Ben and Buster, and part of their outfits.

      "Well, this beats the Dutch!" exclaimed Roger, on learning the news. "Who took them, do you suppose?"

      "Don't ask me, Roger."

      "Maybe they came themselves and got them," suggested Sam.

      "If they did, wouldn't we hear them?" asked Gus.

      "Talk about a mysterious disappearance," cried Shadow. "Say, this puts me in mind of a story. Once some fellows----"

      "Oh, stow it, Shadow!" cried the senator's son. "Let's get busy and try to find out what this means. Maybe they are back at the school."

      All of the boys dressed hastily and took a look around. But they could find no trace of the runaways. Yet the traveling-bags and the clothing were certainly gone.

      "If I didn't know better, I'd say the place was haunted!" cried Luke.

      "Oh, don't say that!" exclaimed Polly Vane, looking scared. "I don't wish to see any ghosts."

      Doctor Clay was informed of what had occurred, and he had another search conducted. But it was all to no purpose--the things were missing, and that was all there was to it.

      It may well be imagined that with so much going on it was next to impossible for Dave and Roger to study. Yet they did their best, not wishing to drop behind again as they had during the trip to Cave Island. Job Haskers did not let up on them, and many a time they wished he would leave Oak Hall and that they might never see him again.

      One afternoon Roger came to Dave in great haste and beckoned for him to come outside.

      "I think we had better follow Nat Poole," said the senator's son. "I think there is something in the wind."

      "What makes you think that?"

      "Nat has been packing a valise and he has put in the strangest things--some clothing, some bottles of medicine, some rope, and a thing that looks like a crown made of brass."

      "A crown made of brass? Oh, Roger, maybe that wild man--who calls himself the King of Sumatra----"

      "That's the idea, Dave, I see you've caught on. Come on, before Nat gets away from us."

      Our hero needed no further urging, and soon he and Roger were on their way to the gymnasium, where the senator's son had, by pure accident, seen Nat Poole packing the things mentioned in his handbag.

      As they approached, they saw the money-lender's son trundle out a bicycle he owned and mount it, swinging his valise over his shoulder by a strap. He looked back to see if he was being observed, but Dave and Roger were on guard and quickly dove out of sight behind some bushes.

      "We'll have to follow on our own wheels," said Dave.

      Their old bicycles were still in the gymnasium. They were not in very good condition, but the tires were

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