I grinned and reminded him that the handkerchief would fit better
inside my blouse."

"And then?"

"Just then the call sounded, and we had to jump. Dodge handed
me back the handkerchief with a swift apology, and raced away
to join his section."

"And you?"

"I tucked the handkerchief in my blouse."

"Now, do some hard thinking," insisted Holmes. "Did you take
that handkerchief out again until the unlucky time just after
you had turned away from the board after explaining in math.?"

Dick remained silent, while the clock in the room ticked off the
seconds.

"I am sure I did not," he replied firmly. "No; that was the next
time that I took my handkerchief out."

"Huh!" muttered Greg. "We've got our start. And it won't be
far to the end, either. Cheer up, old man!"

At that instant the call for formation sounded. The young men
were ready and turned to leave the room on the jump. As they
did so, Greg muttered in a low tone: