CHAPTER XXII.
TOM TELLS THE BIG SECRET "Take 'em to the horse trough!" roared more than one voice.
So Dodge and Bayliss, the centre---of a jeering, resolute crowd, were dragged down the street a short distance.

The crowd swelled in numbers.
"Stand Dodge on the edge of the trough, and make him read the paper!" shouted one man.
That was accordingly done.

Bert was shaking so that he had to be supported in the place chosen for him.
Bayliss was whimpering in abject terror.
"Now, read this in the 'Blade,' Dodge," ordered a tormentor, shoving a paper forward.

"Read it aloud." Bert began, in a wavering voice.
"Louder!" yelled a score of voices from different points in the crowd.
Bert tried to obey, but his voice was shaky.
However, he read the article through to the end, while the crowd waited ominously.
"Heroes, weren't you ?" jeered many voices when white-faced Bert had finished the reading.
"Duck him!" came the answer.
Bert was well splashed in the water of the trough.

Then Bayliss shared the same fate.
"Now---git! Travel fast---both of you!" came the order.
Nor did Bert or Bayliss need any further commands.