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

No end to miracles!

Bruno was sleeping in. Elmer, who had not slept a wink since the incident,could only marvel at his roommate's tranquillity.

There was a knock at the door. Elmer answered it to admit the office messenger.

"Greetings, Alien Elmer," the boy pronounced. "I am the bearer of a message from Earth."

"For me?" Elmer quavered.

"Nope, for Walton. From Mission Control."

Elmer breathed a deep sigh of relief. "Bruno, wake up. There's a message for you from Mr. Sturgeon."

Bruno rolled over and yawned. "I'm too tired. He'll have to wait."

"Oh no, he won't," said the messenger. "The place is crawling with cops."

Bruno bounded out of bed and began to dress.

"I just knew that you and your unsavoury friend had to be behind that uproar last night," growled George. "This came for you." He handed Boots a message from the office.

"Doesn't bother me a bit," shrugged Boots with as much false confidence as he could muster. "I intend to put the blame squarely where it belongs — on you."

"You wouldn't dare!" cried George, but Boots was already out the door and gone.

He ran full tilt to the Faculty Building, where he narrowly avoided another collision: Bruno was running from the other direction.

"Are you as scared as I am?" asked Boots.

"Me? Scared?" lied Bruno. "Never worry about what you can't avoid, I always say." He cleared his throat. "I hear there were cops here this morning."

"Oh no!" moaned Boots. "Expelled and arrested."

"It's only our first offence," Bruno offered hopefully. "Maybe we'll just get bawled out."

"I hope I do get arrested," said Boots grimly. "I'd like to have iron bars between me and The Fish. When Cathy dumped that water on his head ... " He shuddered — then grinned and added, "I just about cheered!"

"And when Francisco asked if he was The Fish . . . We may be in big trouble," chuckled Bruno, "but it sure was funny! And Miss Scrimmage shooting at the balloon ... "

"And the way it conked Elmer Drimsdale!" howled Boots.

"And then that looney from the UFO Society called The Fish an old geezer!" screeched Bruno.

"And now The Fish is going to kill us!" screamed Boots.

"And the cops are after us!" moaned Bruno.

The laughter died abruptly as the boys were jolted from the hilarious past into the uncomfortable present.

"Why put it off?" said Boots sadly. "We'd better get in there."

They entered the Faculty Building and found the outer office deserted.

"What do we do now?" asked Boots.

Bruno shrugged and knocked as lightly as he could on the Headmaster's door. "Maybe no one's here," he whispered.

"Come in," said a voice they recognized only too well.

Bruno and Boots walked into the office like two prisoners about to face a firing squad. Mr. Sturgeon, Francisco Diaz, and a small, dark gentleman were waiting for them. 

Mr. Sturgeon spoke first. "Sir, here are Bruno Walton and Melvin O'Neal, the two boys who rescued Francisco from the balloon. Boys, this is Ambassador Diaz."