Macdonald Hall #1: This Can't Be Happening at Macdonald Hall!

Expelled ?

At precisely 9:00 on Sunday morning a knock sounded at the door of room 201. Bruno was still in bed, but Elmer was awake and dressed, taking care of the new algae eater in his fish tank. He dried his hands and opened the door.

There stood the school messenger, one of the freshmen. "Boy, Drimsdale/' he said, "are you ever introuble!" He handed Elmer a note which ordered him to present himself at the Headmaster's office in one hour's time.

Elmer collapsed in a heap on his bed. "I knew it," he moaned. "Someone must have seen my telescope at the window last night and reported that I was up after lights-out. My telescope will probably be confiscated — I may even be punished! I've never been punished in my whole life!" In agony, he hugged his pillow — and his hand closed on a pair of silk panties. Elmer screamed so loudly that Bruno bounded out of bed in alarm.

"What are these?" cried Elmer, waving the panties in Bruno's face. 

"If you don't know," Bruno replied, "then I can't help you. I can only assure you that they're not mine." 

"But where did they come from?" Elmer shrieked. "How did they get here?" 

Bruno pretended to think about it for a moment. Then he stared at his roommate in horror. "Elmer! You?" 

"What do you mean, me?" 

"The panty raid at Miss Scrimmage's last night," said Bruno. "It was you! I wouldn't have believed it — I thought you said girls were so icky." 

"What panty raid? I'm innocent!" Elmer screamed. 

"Am I going to get blamed for something I don't even know about?"

"Into each life some rain must fall," said Bruno philosophically. "Whatever you sow, you must reap." 

The messenger had continued to Dormitory 1. Boots took the note from him and woke George. "Note for you, George. From Mr. Sturgeon's office."

George yawned sleepily. "Oh, that must be about my allowance from Papa." He accented the second syllable. "He always sends it by special messenger. I can hardly wait to see if I got the raise I asked for." 

Boots smiled. "Maybe you'll get even more than you asked for," 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 visitor's 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 small key and a pen and pencil set, all clearly mono- grammed. 

"I believe these belong to you," the Headmaster said grimly. 

"Y-yes sir," George stammered, now thoroughly confused. Elmer was speechless. 

"These items were gathered at Miss Scrimmage's last night after a disgraceful episode during which some articles of — er — underwear were stolen." George began to sweat. "The discovery of these items." Mr. Sturgeon continued, "has led everyone to conclude that you two were the raiders. Unfortunately I have no alternative but to agree." He smiled grimly. "You were even identified by name by several of the young ladies." 

George began to sweat even more. He reached for his handkerchief to wipe his forehead — and pulled out a pair of pink panties. "Yipes!" he cried. 

"That will do," said Mr. Sturgeon. "I rather think that that strange substitute for a pocket handkerchief completes the case against you."