I never put them in. You may see that they are at the top of the
page, which had a wide margin. All the other pages had, but this
one now has not. The title has been erased and written in at the top.
Some one has tampered with the manuscript. You can see for yourself,
Doctor."
"Yes, but who would do this, Sheldon? You certainly do not accuse
me of doing it? Or any of the professors?"
"Hardly, Doctor," with a smile, "but some one has done it."
"But why should they, Sheldon, especially as both poems are your
own? What reason would any one have to do this? If the inserted
lines belonged to another poem so that you might be accused of
plagiarism, then there would be some color to this argument, but
the whole thing is yours."
"It is strange," said Jack, going back to his seat, all the boys
seeming to be greatly puzzled, and talking to each other about
the matter in low and earnest tones.
"I will now read the poem which took second prize," said the doctor,
and proceeded to read Percival's poem, very much to the latter's
surprise and delight.
"Well, I came somewhere near you, at any rate, Jack," he said, "but
I never expected to come in second."
There were other poems read, one receiving a prize and the best
honorable mention, the boys being thoroughly satisfied with the
awards, and cheering the winners loudly.
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