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+    <title>
+      The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Grammar School Boys of Gridley, by H. Irving Hancock.
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+<pre>
+
+Project Gutenberg's The Grammar School Boys of Gridley, by H. Irving Hancock
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Grammar School Boys of Gridley
+       or, Dick & Co. Start Things Moving
+
+Author: H. Irving Hancock
+
+Release Date: August 13, 2007 [EBook #22307]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS OF GRIDLEY ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Huub Bakker and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+</pre>
+
+
+
+
+
+<div class='center'>
+<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Front matter">
+<tr><td align='left'><img src="images/cover.jpg" width="255" height="400" alt="Cover" title="Cover" />
+</td><td align='center'><br /><img src="images/illus01.png" width="262" height="400" alt="&quot;Now, I&#39;m Going to Settle With You.&quot;" title="&quot;Now, I&#39;m Going to Settle With You.&quot;" />
+<br /><span class="caption">&quot;Now, I&#39;m Going to Settle With You.&quot;</span>
+</td></tr>
+</table></div>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h1>The Grammar School Boys<br /> of Gridley</h1>
+
+<h3>OR</h3>
+
+<h2>Dick &amp; Co. Start Things Moving</h2>
+
+<h3>By</h3>
+
+<h2>H. IRVING HANCOCK</h2>
+
+<div class='center'><br />
+Author of The Grammar School Boys Snowbound, The Grammar School
+Boys in the Woods, The High School Boys' Series, The West Point
+Series, The Annapolis Series, The Young Engineers'
+Series, The Boys of the Army Series, The
+Motor Boat Club Series, Etc., Etc.
+<br />
+<br /><br />
+Illustrated<br />
+<br /><br /><br />
+P H I L A D E L P H I A<br />
+HENRY ALTEMUS COMPANY</div>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+
+
+
+<h2>CONTENTS</h2>
+
+
+
+<div class='center'>
+<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents and Book spine image">
+<tr><td align='left'><img src="images/spine.jpg" width="59" height="400" alt="Spine" title="Spine" />
+</td><td align='left'><div class='center'>
+<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents">
+<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><span class="smcap">Chapter</span></td><td align='right'><span class="smcap">Page</span></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td align='right'>I.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">"Old Dut" Tells a Story&mdash;Dick Another</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_7'>7</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='right'>II.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Brush on the Street</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_20'>20</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='right'>III.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Football&mdash;Without Rules</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_39'>39</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='right'>IV.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Ab. Dexter's Temper is Squally</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_53'>53</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='right'>V.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Football Uniforms in Sight</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_63'>63</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='right'>VI.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">On the Trail of the Cab</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_73'>73</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='right'>VII.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Dick Leads a Spirited Rush</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_80'>80</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='right'>VIII.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Two Accidents&mdash;Or Traps?</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_90'>90</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='right'>IX.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">An Awesome River Discovery</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_104'>104</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='right'>X.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Problem in Footprints</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_115'>115</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='right'>XI.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Dan Sees Bears&mdash;In His Mind</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_124'>124</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='right'>XII.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Boy With the Oakum Taste</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_130'>130</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='right'>XIII.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Great Football Pow-Pow</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_142'>142</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='right'>XIV.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Dick Steps Into a Death-Trap</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_154'>157</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='right'>XV.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">What Grammar School Boys Can Do</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_161'>161</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='right'>XVI.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Out for Hallowe'en Fun</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_170'>170</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='right'>XVII.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Newest Trick of All</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_180'>180</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='right'>XVIII.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Carrying Fun To the Danger Limit</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_187'>187</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='right'>XIX.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Ben Wants To Know Who "Blabbed"</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_198'>198</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='right'>XX.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Dick's Accuser Gets Two Answers</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_208'>208</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='right'>XXI.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Ab. Dexter Makes a New Move</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_218'>218</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='right'>XXII.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Tricked Into Bad Company</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_226'>226</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='right'>XXIII.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Dick Makes His Stand for Honor</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_235'>235</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='right'>XXIV.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Conclusion</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_247'>247</a></td></tr>
+</table></div>
+</td></tr>
+</table></div>
+
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>The Grammar School Boys<br />of Gridley</h2>
+
+
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span></p>
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>CHAPTER I</h2>
+
+<h3>"OLD DUT" TELLS A STORY&mdash;DICK ANOTHER&mdash;&mdash;</h3>
+
+<p>"Master Prescott, what are you doing?"</p>
+
+<p>The voice of Mr. E. Dutton Jones rasped out rather sharply, jarring on
+the generally studious air of the eighth-grade room of the Central
+Grammar School.</p>
+
+<p>"What were you doing, Master Prescott?" repeated the stern voice of the
+principal.</p>
+
+<p>Dick Prescott had glanced up, somewhat startled and confused. By this
+time every boy's and girl's eyes had turned away from text-books toward
+Dick Prescott.</p>
+
+<p>"I was whispering, sir," confessed Dick.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, was that all?" demanded the somewhat ironical voice of Mr. E.
+Dutton Jones, more commonly known as "Old Dut."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, sir."</p>
+
+<p>"To whom were you whispering?"</p>
+
+<p>"To Master Hazelton."</p>
+
+<p>"If I am intruding on no confidences, what <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span>were you whispering about?"
+continued Old Dut.</p>
+
+<p>"I&mdash;&mdash;" began Dick, and then his face turned still more red under the
+curious gaze of some fifty boys and girls. "I was telling Master
+Hazelton a funny story."</p>
+
+<p>"Do you think it was very funny?" inquired Old Dut.</p>
+
+<p>"The story? Yes, sir."</p>
+
+<p>The broad grin that promptly spread over Harry Hazelton's face seemed to
+confirm Dick's claim as to the humorous quality of the story.</p>
+
+<p>"Master Prescott," adjudged the principal, "you may rise in your seat
+and tell the story to the whole class, myself included. On this dull,
+rainy day I feel certain that we all need a good laugh."</p>
+
+<p>A smile that grew to a titter in some quarters of the room greeted Dick
+as he struggled half-shamefacedly to his feet.</p>
+
+<p>"Go on with the story," encouraged Old Dut. "Or, rather, begin at the
+beginning. That's the right way to serve up a story."</p>
+
+<p>"I&mdash;I'd rather not tell the story, sir," protested young Prescott.</p>
+
+<p>"Why not?" demanded the principal sharply.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, because, sir&mdash;I'd rather not. That's all."</p>
+
+<p>Principal Jones frequently employed that <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span>grilling way of questioning one
+of his pupils, and his implied sarcasm had a very effective way of
+making young offenders squirm before the class.</p>
+
+<p>Whispering, in itself, is not a criminal offense, yet it often has a sad
+effect on the discipline of a schoolroom, and of late Old Dut had been
+much annoyed by whisperers.</p>
+
+<p>"So you won't tell us all that choice story, eh, Master Prescott?"
+insisted the principal, half coaxingly.</p>
+
+<p>"On account of its being such a very personal one I'd rather not, sir,"
+Dick answered, still standing by his desk. "I might hurt some one's
+feelings."</p>
+
+<p>"Too bad!" murmured Old Dut. "And just after we had all been enlivened
+by the hope of hearing something really funny! I know your rare quality
+of humor, Master Prescott, and I had promised myself a treat. My own
+disappointment in the matter may be cured, but what about the boys and
+girls of this class? I know that they are all still eager to hear a
+really funny story."</p>
+
+<p>Old Dut paused, glancing impressively about the room. Dick, shifting
+first to one foot and then to the other, had not yet succeeded in
+parting with much of the fiery color that had flamed up to his cheeks,
+temples and forehead.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Master Prescott," announced the principal, "the class shall not be
+deprived of its expected treat. I will tell a story, and I think you
+will find some of the elements of humor in it. Will you kindly step this
+way?"</p>
+
+<p>Dick went forward, head up and chest thrown out, a look almost of
+defiance in his clear, blue eyes as a titter ran around the room.</p>
+
+<p>"Stand right here beside me," coaxed Old Dut. "Now, let me see if I can
+remember the story. Yes; I believe I can. It runs something like this."</p>
+
+<p>Then Old Dut began his story. It was a very ordinary one that had to do
+with a boy's disobedience of his father's commands. But it had a
+"woodshed" end to it.</p>
+
+<p>"So," continued Old Dut, "Johnson took his boy out to the shed. There,
+with a sigh as though his heart were breaking, the old man seated
+himself on the chopping block. He gathered his son across his
+knee&mdash;about like this."</p>
+
+<p>Here Principal Jones suddenly caught Dick Prescott and brought that lad
+across his own knee. The expectant class now tittered loudly.</p>
+
+<p>"I can't tell this story unless I have quiet," announced Old Dut,
+glancing up and around the room with a reproachful look.</p>
+
+<p>Then, after clearing his throat, the principal resumed:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"'Johnny,' said the old man huskily, 'I know what my duty in the matter
+really is. I ought to give you a good spanking, like this (<i>whack!</i>).
+But I haven't the heart to give you such a blow as you deserve. (Whack!)
+But the next time (whack!), I'm going to give you (whack!) just such a
+good one (whack! whack!) as you deserve. (Whack! whack!) So, remember,
+Johnny (whack!), and don't let me catch you (whack!) disobeying me
+again. (Whack! whack!)."</p>
+
+<p>Each "whack" Old Dut emphasized by bringing down his own broad right
+hand on Dick's unprotected body.</p>
+
+<p>A few flashing eyes there were in the young audience, and a few
+sympathetic glances from the girls, but, for the most part, the class
+was now in a loud roar of laughter.</p>
+
+<p>"That's the story," announced Old Dut, gently restoring Dick Prescott to
+his feet. "I think you all see the point to it. Perhaps there's a moral
+to it, also. I really don't know."</p>
+
+<p>Pallor due to a sense of outraged dignity now struggled for a place in
+the red that covered Dick Prescott's face.</p>
+
+<p>"You may go to your seat, Master Prescott."</p>
+
+<p>Dick marched there, without a glance backward.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, that we've had our little indulgence <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span>in humor," announced Old Dut
+dryly, "we will all return to our studies."</p>
+
+<p>There was silence again in the room, during which the rain outside began
+to come down in a flood.</p>
+
+<p>"I'll get the fellows to-night&mdash;for that&mdash;and we'll carry Old Dut's
+front gate off and throw it in the river!" ran vengefully through Dave
+Darrin's mind.</p>
+
+<p>"Old Dut needn't look for his late posies to bloom until the frost comes
+this year," reflected Greg Holmes, while he pored, apparently, over the
+many-colored map of Asia. "I'll get some of the fellows out to-night,
+and we'll make a wreck scene in Old Dut's flower beds."</p>
+
+<p>Dick said nothing, even to himself, as he picked up his much-thumbed
+book on physiology and turned the pages. He was smarting not only from
+the indignity to which he had been treated, but quite as much from the
+masterful way in which Old Dut had punctuated that "funny story" with
+his broad right hand.</p>
+
+<p>Once in a while Old Dut cast a sly glance in Dick's direction.</p>
+
+<p>"That young man will bear watching," mused the principal, as he caught a
+sudden flash in Prescott's eye, as the latter glanced up.</p>
+
+<p>The recitation in arithmetic soon came along. This was one of Dick's
+favorite studies, and,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> wholly forgetting his late experience, so it
+seemed, he covered himself with glory in his blackboard demonstration of
+an intricate problem in interest and discount.</p>
+
+<p>Then the class settled down to twenty minutes' more study.</p>
+
+<p>"Master Prescott," broke in Old Dut's voice, at last, "did you think my
+story a funny one?"</p>
+
+<p>"Pretty fair, sir," answered Dick, looking up and straight into the eyes
+of the principal.</p>
+
+<p>"Only 'pretty fair,' eh? Could you tell me a funnier story?"</p>
+
+<p>"I'm pretty sure I could, yes, sir," answered Dick, with great
+promptness. "Only&mdash;<i>I don't believe I'm big enough yet!</i>"</p>
+
+<p>There was a moment's hush. Then the class caught the spirit of the
+answer. A few titters sounded, cautiously&mdash;to be followed instantly by
+an explosion of laughter. Even Old Dut had to join in the laugh.</p>
+
+<p>"That young man will bear watching," thought the principal grimly. "He's
+my best pupil, and one of the most mischievous. I'd rather have any
+youngster mischievous than stupid."</p>
+
+<p>Glancing at the clock, Principal Jones swung around, running a finger
+down a line of push buttons in the wall back of his seat. In this
+fashion did he announce to the schoolrooms of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span>the seven lower grades
+that morning recess time had come. Then he swung back.</p>
+
+<p>"Attention, class!" he called. Tap! sounded a bell. The eighth-grade
+boys and girls rose, standing by their seats.</p>
+
+<p>Tap! At the second bell the lines filed out in orderly fashion to the
+coatrooms, at the sides of the schoolroom.</p>
+
+<p>But many of the young people soon came back. It was raining heavily
+outdoors on this September morning. True, the boys' and girls' basements
+served as playrooms in bad weather, but the basements were always
+crowded at such times, and many of the young people preferred to pass
+the recess time in the schoolroom.</p>
+
+<p>"Old Dut's getting rather too fresh these days," growled Greg Holmes to
+his chum. Then whispered in Dick's ear:</p>
+
+<p>"We'll get hunk with him to-night. Some of us will go around and play
+the wreck scene in his flower gardens."</p>
+
+<p>"Nothing doing," retorted Dick briefly.</p>
+
+<p>"I know a good one," whispered Dave Darrin, his dark eyes flashing with
+anticipated mischief. "We'll switch Old Dut's new gate off and play
+Moses in the bulrushes at the river bank."</p>
+
+<p>"Say," demanded Dick, gazing curiously at his tempters, "since when have
+you thought I <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span>don't know enough to pay back my own grudges!"</p>
+
+<p>"Have you got a scheme?" demanded Tom Reade eagerly, while Harry
+Hazelton and Dan Dalzell, sure that Dick had a "corker" of a scheme,
+grinned as happily as though they had already seen it put through with a
+rush.</p>
+
+<p>"Have you got a scheme?" insisted Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"Maybe," replied Dick evasively.</p>
+
+<p>"Any of you fellows going down to the basement?" asked Hazelton after a
+moment.</p>
+
+<p>"What's the use?" questioned Dick. "Tramp down three flights of stairs,
+and then climb the flights again in ten minutes."</p>
+
+<p>With that Dick sauntered into the schoolroom. Old Dut was seated at his
+desk, a half dozen of the girls standing about, eating apples or candy,
+and talking with the principal.</p>
+
+<p>"Only girls over there by Prin's desk," thought Dick with some
+dissatisfaction. He wandered about for a few minutes, but at last went
+up to Old Dut's desk as though being reluctantly drawn there by some
+magnet.</p>
+
+<p>"Get next," nudged Dave Darrin, poking Hazelton in the side. As Dave
+sauntered over to the desk Harry followed. Tom Reade seemed interested
+in the scene. Greg Holmes and Dan Dalzell strolled over, arm in arm.</p>
+
+<p>Seeing such an invasion of boys, the girls <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span>gave back for a few feet,
+though they did not quit the scene.</p>
+
+<p>"Funny the Detroits didn't win the championship this year, isn't it?"
+Dick asked innocently.</p>
+
+<p>"The Detroits haven't any show," returned Darrin half disgustedly.
+"They've got nearly a month to play yet, but the Detroits are no good
+this year."</p>
+
+<p>"If all the Detroits were in a class with Pendleton, their new pitcher,
+this year," Dick contended, "the Detroits would show class enough."</p>
+
+<p>Old Dut looked up with interest. A thoroughly skilled and capable
+teacher, he had always believed in encouraging sports and athletics.</p>
+
+<p>"That Pendleton fellow is more than a wonder with a ball," Dick went on
+warmly. "I saw him pitch a game against the New Yorks this summer, and I
+dreamed about it for a week after."</p>
+
+<p>"What's Pendleton's strong point?" followed up Dave Darrin.</p>
+
+<p>"Everything in the pitching line," Dick answered.</p>
+
+<p>"But what is his best point of all, Prescott?" broke in Old Dut.</p>
+
+<p>Even that experienced school principal had tumbled into the trap that
+Dick Prescott had so ingeniously laid for him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Well, sir," replied Dick, wheeling around to the principal, every trace
+of resentment gone from his young face, "I should say that Pendleton's
+most noticeable trick is the way he twists and handles the ball when
+he's getting ready to drive in his curve. I watched Pendleton's work
+that day, and I think I stole the principle on which he uses his right
+wrist."</p>
+
+<p>"Show me," unsuspiciously invited Old Dut.</p>
+
+<p>Dick started to curve an imaginary ball in his right hand, then glanced
+over the principal's desk. A small, but thick, heavy book lay there.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I should say," Prescott resumed, "that Pendleton handles the ball
+about like this."</p>
+
+<p>Picking up the book, Dick used both hands in trying to give it the right
+preliminary curve.</p>
+
+<p>"But his delivery is, of course, the great feature," the lad went on.
+"When Pendleton has the ball curved just right, he raises his right and
+lets it go like this!"</p>
+
+<p>Dick was facing the bevy of girls. They were so certain he was going to
+hurl the book in their direction that they scattered with little cries
+of alarm.</p>
+
+<p>So forcefully had young Prescott prepared for the throw that the book
+did leave his hand, though the boy made a frantic effort&mdash;apparently&mdash;to
+recover the missile.</p>
+
+<p>Not toward the retreating girls, however, did <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span>the book fly. It spun
+nearly at right angles, and&mdash;&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>Smack! it went, full into the face of Principal E. Dutton Jones.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I beg your pardon, sir!" cried Dick in a voice ringing with
+remorse. "That must hurt you very much, sir."</p>
+
+<p>"It is nothing," replied Old Dut gamely, though the unexpected shock had
+nearly taken his breath. Then he put one hand up to his injured face.
+"Why, I believe my nose is bleeding," he added, making a quick dive for
+his handkerchief.</p>
+
+<p>In truth the nose was bleeding. Old Dut made a specialty of low-cut
+vests and white, immaculate shirt-fronts. Before the handkerchief was in
+place, three bright, crimson drops had fallen, rendering the shirt-front
+a gruesome sight to look at.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, sir, I hope you will excuse me," followed up Dick.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, yes; certainly," dryly returned the principal, as he rose and made
+for his private room. There was a handbowl in there, with hot and cold
+water, and the principal of the Central Grammar School of Gridley was
+soon busy repairing his personal appearance.</p>
+
+<p>No sooner had he vanished behind the open door than Dave Darrin, Tom
+Reade, Dan Dalzell,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> Greg Holmes, Harry Hazelton and several other boys
+grinned broadly in their huge delight. Dick Prescott, however, admirable
+actor that he was, still wore a look of concern on his rather fine young
+face.</p>
+
+<p>"One thing I've learned to-day, which I ought to have known before,"
+grimly mused Old Dut, as he sopped a wet towel to his injured nose.
+"Dick Prescott doesn't need any guardian. He can look out for himself!"</p>
+
+<p>"Wasn't it awful?" repeated a girl's voice out in the schoolroom.</p>
+
+<p>"No," replied her companion. "I don't think it was. After what he did it
+served him just right!"</p>
+
+<p>"I'm getting the usual sympathy that is awarded to the vanquished,"
+smiled Old Dut to himself. "That's Laura Bentley's voice. She didn't
+laugh when I was having my innings with Dick. She flushed up and looked
+indignant."</p>
+
+<p>Before Old Dut felt that he was in shape to present himself, all of the
+eight grades had received seven minutes' additional recess.</p>
+
+<p>At last studies were resumed. Old Dut, however, noted that whenever one
+of the boys or girls looked up and caught sight of his expansive,
+crimsoned shirt-front, a smile always followed.</p>
+
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>CHAPTER II</h2>
+
+<h3>A BRUSH ON THE STREET</h3>
+
+
+<p>By the time that the noon dismissal bell rang the rain had ceased, and
+the sun was struggling out.</p>
+
+<p>Out in the coatroom Dick snatched his hat from the nail as though he
+were in haste to get away.</p>
+
+<p>"I'll race you home, as far as we go together," proposed Dave Darrin.</p>
+
+<p>"Go you!" hovered on the tip of Prescott's tongue, but just then another
+thought popped into Dick's mind. It was a manly idea, and he had learned
+to act promptly on such impulses.</p>
+
+<p>"Wait a moment," he answered Darrin. "I've got something to do."</p>
+
+<p>With that Dick marched back into the schoolroom. Old Dut, looking up
+from the books that he was placing in a tidy pile on the platform desk,
+smiled.</p>
+
+<p>"I came back to ask, sir, if your nose pains?"</p>
+
+<p>Old Dut shot a keen glance at young Prescott, for long experience had
+taught the school-teacher that malice sometimes lurks behind the most
+innocent question from a boy. Then he answered:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I'm glad to be able to report, Master Prescott, that my nose is causing
+me no trouble whatever."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm very glad of that, sir. I've been a bit uncomfortable, since
+recess, thinking that perhaps my&mdash;that my act had broken your nose, and
+that you were just too game to let any one know. I'm glad no real harm
+was done, sir."</p>
+
+<p>Then Dick turned, anxious to get out into the open as quickly as
+possible.</p>
+
+<p>"One moment, Master Prescott!"</p>
+
+<p>Dick wheeled about again.</p>
+
+<p>"Are you sure that the book-throwing was an accident?"</p>
+
+<p>"I&mdash;I am afraid it wasn't, sir," Dick confessed, reddening.</p>
+
+<p>"Then, if you threw the book into my face on purpose, why did you do
+it!"</p>
+
+<p>"I was a good deal provoked, Mr. Jones."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! Provoked over the funny story that I told you this forenoon?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not over the story, sir; but your manner of telling it."</p>
+
+<p>Old Dut had hard work to keep back the smile that struggled for an
+appearance on his face.</p>
+
+<p>"Revenge, was it, Master Prescott?"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I felt that it was due me, Mr. Jones, to get even for the show
+that you made of me before the class."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Master Prescott, we won't go into the details of whether I was
+justified in illustrating my story this morning in the manner that I
+did, or whether you were right in coming back at me after the fashion
+that you did. But I am going to offer one thought for your
+consideration. It is this&mdash;that the man who devotes too much thought to
+'getting even' with other folks is likely to let slip a lot of good,
+solid chances for getting ahead in the world. I don't blame any fellow
+for protecting his own rights and dignity, but just think over what I
+said, won't you, about the chap who spends too much of his time thinking
+up ways to get even with others?"</p>
+
+<p>"There's a good idea in that, sir," Dick assented.</p>
+
+<p>"Of course you've heard, Master Prescott, that 'revenge is sweet?'"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes; I have."</p>
+
+<p>"And I believe, Master Prescott, that the saying is often true. But did
+it ever strike you, in this connection, that sweet things often make one
+sick at his stomach? I believe this is just as true of revenge as it is
+of other sweets. And now run along, or you won't have time to do justice
+to the pudding that your mother has undoubtedly been baking for you this
+morning."</p>
+
+<p>As Dick hastened from the room he found <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span>Dave Darrin waiting for him. Out
+in the corridor beyond these two encountered Holmes, Dalzell, Hazelton
+and Reade, for these six boys of the "top grade" generally stuck
+together in all things concerning school life.</p>
+
+<p>"Was Old Dut blowing you up for showing him how to pitch a book?"
+inquired Greg.</p>
+
+<p>"No; Old Dut doesn't seem to hold that in for me very hard," smiled
+Prescott. "But he was giving me something to think over."</p>
+
+<p>"Huh!" muttered Greg, as the boys walked down the outer steps. "I'd like
+to give him something to think about. Why did you get so crusty when I
+sprang the idea of doing the wreck scene in his flower beds to-night?"</p>
+
+<p>"Because the idea was too kiddish," returned Dick. "Besides, Old Dut was
+talking to me a good deal along such lines."</p>
+
+<p>"Did you go and tell him what I wanted to do?" flared Greg.</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't. But Old Dut pinned me down and asked me whether that book
+throwing were really an accident, and I had to admit that it wasn't.
+Now, listen!"</p>
+
+<p>Dick thereupon repeated his conversation with Principal Jones.</p>
+
+<p>"He's a wise man, all right," nodded Harry Hazelton.</p>
+
+<p>"I guess so," nodded Dave Darrin. "After <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span>all, it would look rather
+kiddish in us to go slipping up to his front yard in the dark night,
+lifting off his front gate and carrying it down to the river."</p>
+
+<p>"It would be stealing, or wasting, property, also," agreed Tom Reade.</p>
+
+<p>"So, fellows," resumed Dick, "I guess&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Hullo! What's going on down there?" broke in Darrin hastily, as all six
+of the Grammar School boys looked ahead.</p>
+
+<p>A woman's scream had caught their ear.</p>
+
+<p>"It's Mrs. Dexter," muttered Hazelton.</p>
+
+<p>"And that rascally husband of hers," added Greg Holmes.</p>
+
+<p>"Some new row, of course," broke in Dan Dalzell.</p>
+
+<p>"It's a shame!" burst from Dick.</p>
+
+<p>"That Dexter fellow ought to be hung," growled Tom Reade. "He's always
+bothering that woman, and she's one of the nicest ever. But now he won't
+let her alone, just because her grandfather had to die and leave Mrs.
+Dexter a lot of money."</p>
+
+<p>The little city of Gridley was quite familiar with the domestic troubles
+of the Dexters. The woman was young and pretty, and good-hearted. Abner
+Dexter, on the other hand, was good-looking and shiftless. He had
+married Jennie Bolton because he believed her family to be <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span>wealthy, and
+Dexter considered himself too choice for work. But the Bolton money had
+all belonged to the grandfather, who, a keen judge of human nature, had
+guessed rightly the nature of Abner Dexter and had refused to let him
+have any money.</p>
+
+<p>Dexter had left his wife and little daughter some two years before the
+opening of this story. Three months before old man Bolton had died,
+leaving several hundred thousand dollars to Mrs. Dexter. Then Dexter had
+promptly reappeared. But Mrs. Dexter no longer wanted this shiftless,
+extravagant man about, and had told him so plainly. Dexter had
+threatened to make trouble, and the wife had thereupon gone to court and
+had herself appointed sole guardian of her little daughter. At the same
+time she had turned some money over to her husband&mdash;common report said
+ten thousand dollars&mdash;on his promise to go away and not bother her
+again.</p>
+
+<p>Plainly he had not kept his word. As Dick and his chums glanced down the
+quiet side street they saw husband and wife standing facing each other.
+The man was scowling, the woman half-tearful, half-defiant. Behind her,
+in her left hand, Mrs. Dexter held a small handbag.</p>
+
+<p>"I'd like to be big enough to be able to enjoy the pleasure of thrashing
+a fellow like that Dexter!" growled Dave Darrin, his eyes flashing.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"There's a man standing a little way below the pair," announced Dick. "I
+wonder what he's doing, for he seems to be watching the couple intently.
+I hope he's on Mrs. Dexter's side."</p>
+
+<p>Unconsciously Dick and his friends had halted to watch the proceedings
+ahead of them.</p>
+
+<p>"No, I won't," replied Mrs. Dexter sharply, to something that her husband
+had said.</p>
+
+<p>Abner Dexter talked rapidly, a black scowl on his face meanwhile.</p>
+
+<p>"No, you won't! You don't dare!" replied the woman, her voice sounding
+as though she had summoned all her courage by an effort.</p>
+
+<p>Dexter suddenly sprang closer to the woman. The next instant both were
+struggling for possession of the little black bag that she carried.</p>
+
+<p>"Stop!" cried Mrs. Dexter desperately. "Help! He-lp!"</p>
+
+<p>"Fellows, I don't know that we're bound to stand for that," muttered
+Dick Prescott quickly. "She's calling for help. Come along."</p>
+
+<p>Dick was off down the street like a streak, the others following, though
+Dave was closest to his chum.</p>
+
+<p>"Here, what are you doing, mister?" demanded Dick, as he darted up to
+where the pair were struggling.</p>
+
+<p>Dexter would have had the bag in his own <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span>possession by this time, had he
+not turned to see what the onrush of boys meant.</p>
+
+<p>"None of your business what I'm doing," he replied savagely. "You
+schoolboys run along out of this."</p>
+
+<p>"Don't go! Help me," pleaded the woman. "He's trying to rob me!"</p>
+
+<p>"You boys clear out, or it will be worse for you!" growled Dexter.</p>
+
+<p>"The lady wins!" Dick announced coolly, though he was shaking somewhat
+from excitement. "You let go of her and her property."</p>
+
+<p>But Dexter, his face black with scowls, still clutched tightly with his
+right hand at the little handbag, to which Mrs. Dexter was clinging with
+both her hands.</p>
+
+<p>"You let go of that bag," challenged Dick, "or six of us will sail into
+you. I think we can handle you. We'll try, anyway."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes; make him let go," begged Mrs. Dexter. "I have money and jewels
+here, and he is trying to take them away from me."</p>
+
+<p>"Going to do as the lady wishes?" inquired Dick, stepping closer.</p>
+
+<p>Abner Dexter shot another angry glare at the sextette of Grammar School
+boys. They were closing in around him, and it looked as though they
+meant business.</p>
+
+<p>"Gus!" called Dexter sharply.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The man who had been standing a short distance away now ran up to the
+spot.</p>
+
+<p>"Hullo, what do you want!" asked Dick coolly. "Are you the understudy in
+this game of robbery?"</p>
+
+<p>"I'm an officer," retorted the fellow sharply.</p>
+
+<p>"Secretary to some Chinese laundry company, eh?" jeered Dick.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm a police officer," retorted the man sharply, at the same time
+displaying a shield.</p>
+
+<p>That put a different look on matters with some of young Prescott's
+friends. Dick, however, was a boy not easily daunted.</p>
+
+<p>"If you're an officer," he inquired, "why don't you get busy and do your
+duty? Here's a man trying to rob his wife, just because she happens to
+have more money than he has."</p>
+
+<p>"A man can't legally steal from his wife, nor a woman from her husband,"
+retorted the policeman bullyingly. "There is no crime being committed
+here. But if you boys try to interfere you'll be disturbing the peace,
+and I'll run you all in."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Dexter looked bewildered and frightened. She even let go of the
+handbag with one hand. Dick saw this, and quickly broke in:</p>
+
+<p>"Mrs. Dexter, don't you let Mr. Dexter have that handbag unless you want
+to do it. We'll stand by you."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Oh, will you?" glared the policeman. "You boys run along, or I'll
+gather you all in."</p>
+
+<p>"Where are you a policeman?" inquired Dick Prescott, eyeing the fellow
+with interest. "You're not a Gridley officer, for I know every one of
+them."</p>
+
+<p>"Never you mind where I'm from," jeered the man harshly. "I'm a
+policeman. That'll have to be enough for you youngsters. If you don't
+trot fast down the street I'll gather you in."</p>
+
+<p>Some of Dick's chums were now inclined to feel that they had broken in
+at the wrong place, but not so their young leader.</p>
+
+<p>"You haven't any right to make arrests in Gridley," retorted Dick
+defiantly. "And, even if you had, you couldn't stop us from defending a
+woman. Tom, you and Greg stand by me. Dave, you lead the rest. We'll
+make Dexter let go of his wife's property and let her alone. If this man
+who says he's an officer interferes, Greg, Tom and I will devote our
+attention to him!"</p>
+
+<p>"Great!" snarled Dexter jeeringly. "You're all young jailbirds!"</p>
+
+<p>"Are you going to let go of Mrs. Dexter's property?" challenged Dick.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm not."</p>
+
+<p>"Come on, fellows&mdash;let's sail into him."</p>
+
+<p>Dick was an able general, having his small <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span>force under good discipline.
+There was a sudden rush of boys. True, they averaged only thirteen years
+of age, but there were six of them, and they were determined.</p>
+
+<p>Dexter let go of the handbag in a hurry. He had to do so, in order to
+defend himself.</p>
+
+<p>At the same moment the man named as "Gus" jumped into the fray.</p>
+
+<p>"Three to each man!" yelled Dick, and thus the force was divided.</p>
+
+<p>The self-styled policeman reached out with the flat of his hand,
+knocking Greg Holmes off his feet. But, as he did so, Dick dropped down
+in front of the man, wrapping both arms around the fellow's knees. Then
+Dick rose. It required the exertion of all his strength, but he
+succeeded in toppling Gus over onto his back.</p>
+
+<p>At the same time Abner Dexter was having all he could do, for three very
+determined schoolboys were assailing him. At last Dexter turned to
+retreat, but Dan Dalzell thrust a foot before him and tripped him.</p>
+
+<p>"All down!" yelled Dan. "Set 'em up in the other alley!"</p>
+
+<p>Though downed for the moment, the two men were disposed to make a
+livelier fight of it than ever. It was a brisk, picturesque,
+rough-and-tumble fight that followed, in which the young boys got a deal
+of rough handling.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Frightened, yet fascinated, Mrs. Dexter tottered against the fence and
+stood looking on.</p>
+
+<p>Things might yet have fared badly with Dick and his friends had not a
+newcomer arrived on the scene. He came running, and proved to be
+Policeman Whalen in uniform.</p>
+
+<p>"Here! What's on?" demanded the Gridley officer. "Let up on kicking them
+boys! I want you!"</p>
+
+<p>With that Whalen, who was a big and powerful man, grabbed Abner Dexter
+by the coat collar and pulled him to his feet. With this prisoner in
+tow, he moved up and seized Gus in similar fashion.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, what's the row?" demanded Officer Whalen.</p>
+
+<p>"Arrest these boys for assault!" quivered Dexter in a passion.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, arrest them!" insisted Gus. "I'm an officer, too, and I was trying
+to take them in."</p>
+
+<p>"You didn't seem to be having very good luck at it," grinned Whalen.
+"But I know these boys, and they're all good lads."</p>
+
+<p>"Arrest them, just the same! They were assaulting me," insisted Dexter
+angrily.</p>
+
+<p>"And what were you doing?" insisted Whalen wonderingly.</p>
+
+<p>"He was trying to steal jewels and money from his wife," interposed Dick
+Prescott.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Bah!" growled Dexter. "A man can't steal from his wife."</p>
+
+<p>"But he can assault her," returned Policeman Whalen. "And a man can
+disturb the peace with his wife, just as handily as he can anywhere
+else. Mrs. Dexter, are these lads telling the truth?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, yes, officer! My husband was trying to take this satchel away from
+me, and he knew that it contains my jewels and thirty-five hundred
+dollars in cash."</p>
+
+<p>"Do you want him arrested?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes; I&mdash;I'm afraid I shall have to have him arrested, or he'll go right
+on annoying me."</p>
+
+<p>"Will you appear against him, Mrs. Dexter?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes."</p>
+
+<p>"Then I'll take him along. And what about this fellow?"</p>
+
+<p>"Me?" demanded Gus with offended dignity. "I'm a police officer."</p>
+
+<p>"What's your name?"</p>
+
+<p>"August Driggs."</p>
+
+<p>"Where are you a policeman?"</p>
+
+<p>"In Templeton."</p>
+
+<p>"Why were you lads fighting Officer Driggs?" inquired Whalen blandly.</p>
+
+<p>Dick supplied some of the details, Dave others. Mrs. Dexter confirmed
+the statements that they made.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I guess I'll take you along, too, Driggs," announced Policeman Whalen.</p>
+
+<p>"But I'm a police officer!" protested Driggs aghast.</p>
+
+<p>"Police officers can be arrested like anyone else, when they break the
+law," announced Policeman Whalen dryly. "Come along, the two of you!
+Mrs. Dexter, you wouldn't like to be seen walking along with us, but
+I'll ask you to be at the station house inside of five minutes."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll be there, officer," promised the woman.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you want us, too?" inquired Dick. He and all of his friends were
+eager to see the affair through to the finish.</p>
+
+<p>"No; I know where to find you lads, if you're wanted," grinned Policeman
+Whalen. "I don't want a big crowd following. Mrs. Dexter, ma'am, I'll be
+looking for you to be on hand sharp."</p>
+
+<p>With that the broad-backed policeman started off with two savage
+prisoners in tow.</p>
+
+<p>"Say, if we're to have any dinner and get back to school on time, we'll
+have to be moving fast," declared Dan Dalzell.</p>
+
+<p>"I thought we were surely going to get into a lot of trouble," muttered
+Hazelton, as the youngsters moved along rapidly. "But Whalen knew his
+business."</p>
+
+<p>"I hope the judge can send that Dexter fellow <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span>up for a good, long time,"
+muttered Dick. "He's been annoying that poor woman all the time lately."</p>
+
+<p>"Just because she has her grandfather's money at last," grumbled Dave
+Darrin.</p>
+
+<p>Soon the youngsters came to a point where they had to separate. But all
+hands were back at school on time. The work of the afternoon was duly
+progressing when the telephone bell at the principal's desk rang.</p>
+
+<p>Old Dut held what proved to be a mysterious conversation for a few
+moments. Then he wound up with:</p>
+
+<p>"All right. I'll send them right over."</p>
+
+<p>Ringing off, Old Dut glanced at Dick.</p>
+
+<p>"Master Prescott, it appears that you, Darrin, Reade, Holmes, Dalzell
+and Hazelton saw some trouble on the street this noon."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, sir."</p>
+
+<p>"All six of you are wanted, at once, down at court, to give evidence.
+You are excused. If you get through at court early enough, come back to
+finish your afternoon's work."</p>
+
+<p>Six Grammar School boys rose and filed out quietly. How enviously the
+other boys in the room stared after them! How curiously the girls
+glanced at the young heroes who were now wanted on the government's
+business!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Say," ventured Dan as soon as they got outside, "I hope the judge
+orders Dexter hanged."</p>
+
+<p>"He'll hardly do that," retorted Dave. "A street row is hardly a hanging
+offense. If it were, there'd be a lot of fellows missing from the
+Central Grammar School."</p>
+
+<p>"So we're called in to help decide the case?" asked Greg, puffing up.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, get busy with some brains!" scoffed Dick airily. "We haven't
+anything to do with deciding the case. That's what the judge is paid
+for. But we're wanted just to tell what we know. Say, you fellows, be
+careful you don't get so rattled that you try to tell a lot of things
+that you don't know."</p>
+
+<p>In due time they reached the court building. Grown suddenly very quiet
+and almost scared, these six thirteen-year-old boys filed upstairs. A
+policeman stood before the door of the courtroom.</p>
+
+<p>"May we go in?" whispered Dick.</p>
+
+<p>"Of course," nodded the policeman. "Take your hats off."</p>
+
+<p>The officer conducted the sextette of young witnesses inside, past a
+group or two of loungers who made up the usual police-court audience,
+and thence on before the bench.</p>
+
+<p>At one side, at this end of the room, sat Dexter and Driggs. Right in
+front of the clerk of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span>the court were seated Mrs. Dexter and a lawyer.
+Officer Whalen lounged near the two prisoners.</p>
+
+<p>"These are the lads, your honor," nodded Policeman Whalen, after giving
+Dick &amp; Co. a keen looking over.</p>
+
+<p>"Swear them, Mr. Clerk," said the Justice.</p>
+
+<p>Solemnly the six youngsters held up their right hands and took the oath.
+Then Justice Lee began to question them. From Dick, first, he drew out
+the story of the dispute in the street. Then the others told the same
+story.</p>
+
+<p>"Why did you boys interfere?" asked the justice of Prescott.</p>
+
+<p>"Because, sir," Dick answered, "we didn't want to see a woman
+ill-treated on the street."</p>
+
+<p>"A very good reason," nodded Justice Lee approvingly. "But weren't you
+afraid of Driggs, here, who is really a police officer?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, sir; I didn't believe that a police officer had any more right than
+any one else to break the law."</p>
+
+<p>"You boys have acted very sensibly," nodded Justice Lee. "Dexter, do you
+wish to question any of these young witnesses?"</p>
+
+<p>Dexter shook his head, scowling.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you, Driggs?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, your honor. 'Twouldn't be any use."</p>
+
+<p>"You're right about that, I imagine," nodded the justice. "Boys, the
+court wishes to express <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span>its pleasure over your good sense, and to praise
+you for your chivalry and courage. You did just right&mdash;as the court
+hopes you will always do under similar circumstances. Dexter, stand up.
+Driggs, also."</p>
+
+<p>The two prisoners arose, sullen enough in their appearance.</p>
+
+<p>"Dexter, you have been guilty of disturbing the peace. I do not believe
+a mere fine sufficient in your case. I therefore sentence you to serve
+thirty days in jail. Driggs, your primary offense was about as great as
+Dexter's, but your offense is worse, for you are a police officer, and
+you tried to throw the strength of your position around the acts of the
+prisoner. The court therefore sentences you to sixty days in jail."</p>
+
+<p>"We both wish to appeal, your honor," cried Dexter, his face aflame.</p>
+
+<p>"Dexter's bail will then be fixed at two hundred dollars; Driggs's at
+four hundred dollars. Are you prepared to furnish bail?"</p>
+
+<p>"I will furnish the cash for both of us," announced Abner Dexter,
+drawing a roll of banknotes from a pocket.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Dexter and her lawyer filed out while this matter was being
+arranged with the clerk of the court. Dick and his friends, at a sign
+from the court, left the room as soon as they had received their fees as
+witnesses.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"So he pays the money, Dexter does, and walks out?" grunted Dan Dalzell.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, no," Dick answered. "Dexter and his friend have to be tried over
+again in a higher court. That money is just their forfeit in case they
+don't show up for trial."</p>
+
+<p>"They won't," predicted Greg.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know," murmured Dick. "Six hundred dollars would be a lot of
+money to lose."</p>
+
+<p>By hastening, the Grammar School boys were back in school for the last
+hour of the session.</p>
+
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span></p>
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>CHAPTER III</h2>
+
+<h3>FOOTBALL&mdash;WITHOUT RULES</h3>
+
+
+<p>School was out for the day. Three quarters of the boys belonging to the
+four upper grades made a bee line for a field about a block away. The
+magnet was a football that Dave Darrin proudly carried tucked under his
+left arm.</p>
+
+<p>"I wanter play!"</p>
+
+<p>"Let me try just one good kick with it, Dave!"</p>
+
+<p>"Take a stroll," advised Darrin laconically. "How can I blow up the ball
+and talk to you fellows, too?"</p>
+
+<p>"Hurry up, then. We want to give the ball a fierce old kick."</p>
+
+<p>"No kids in this," announced Dave, rather loftily. "Only fellows in the
+eighth and seventh grades. Fellows in the grades below the seventh are
+only kids and would get hurt."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, say!"</p>
+
+<p>"That isn't fair!"</p>
+
+<p>The protests were many and vigorous from sixth and fifth-grade boys, but
+Darrin, ignoring them all, went placidly on inflating the pigskin. At
+last the task was completed.</p>
+
+<p>"Hurrah! Now, Dave, give it a boost and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span>let us all have some fun!" cried
+the boys. But Darrin coolly tucked the ball under one arm.</p>
+
+<p>"Dick Prescott has a few remarks to make first," Dave announced.</p>
+
+<p>"Dick going to make a speech?"</p>
+
+<p>"Cut it, and start the ball moving!"</p>
+
+<p>"Won't you fellows interrupt your music lessons long enough to listen to
+an idea that some of us have been talking over?" called Dick. "Now,
+fellows, you know this is the time when the crack Gridley High School
+football team is hard at work. We're all proud of the Gridley High
+School eleven. A lot of you fellows expect to go to High School, and I
+know you'd all like a chance to play on Gridley High's eleven."</p>
+
+<p>"Set the ball moving!"</p>
+
+<p>"Wait a minute," Dick insisted. "Now, fellows, no Grammar School in
+Gridley has ever had an eleven."</p>
+
+<p>"How could we," came a discontented wail, "if we have to stand here and
+see Dave just do nothing but hold the ball?"</p>
+
+<p>"Fellows," Dick went on impressively, "it's time to have Grammar School
+football teams here in Gridley. Central Grammar ought to have one, North
+Grammar one and South Grammar one. Then our three Grammar Schools could
+play a championship series among themselves."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Hooray! Give the ball a throw, Dave!"</p>
+
+<p>"So, fellows," Dick continued, "a lot of us think we ought to organize a
+football team at once. Then we can challenge North Grammar and South
+Grammar. We can practise the rest of this month, and next month we can
+play off our games. What do you say?"</p>
+
+<p>"Hooray!"</p>
+
+<p>"We'll have two teams," called Dave. "We'll call one team the Rangers
+and the other the Rustlers. Now, let's make Dick captain of the
+Rangers."</p>
+
+<p>"All right!"</p>
+
+<p>"And Tom Craig captain of the Rustlers."</p>
+
+<p>"Good!"</p>
+
+<p>"All right, then," nodded Dave. "Dick, you pick out the Rangers; Craig,
+you go ahead with the Rustlers. After we've practised a few times we'll
+pick the best men from both elevens, and make up the Central Grammar
+eleven. Get busy, captains!"</p>
+
+<p>Forthwith the choosing began. Dick chose all his chums for his own
+eleven. And no boy lower than seventh grade was allowed on either team.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, who'll be referee?" demanded Dick. "Captain Craig, have you any
+choice?"</p>
+
+<p>"Have we got any fellows, not on either team, who really know the
+rules?" asked Tom Craig dubiously.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>There was a hush, for this was surely a stumbling block. It seemed clear
+that a referee ought to know the rules of the game.</p>
+
+<p>"What's up, kids?" called a friendly voice.</p>
+
+<p>The speaker was Len Spencer, a young man who had been graduated from the
+High School the June before, and who was now serving his apprenticeship
+as reporter on one of the two local daily papers, the morning "Blade."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, see here, Len!" called Dick joyously. "You're just the right fellow
+for us. You know the football rules?"</p>
+
+<p>"I have a speaking acquaintance with 'em," laughed Len.</p>
+
+<p>Dick rapidly outlined what was being planned, adding:</p>
+
+<p>"You can put that in the 'Blade' to-morrow morning, Len, and state our
+challenge to North and South Grammars. Won't you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Surely."</p>
+
+<p>"But we want to practise this afternoon," Dick continued earnestly, "and
+we haven't any referee. Len, can't you spare us a little time? Won't you
+boss the first practice for us?"</p>
+
+<p>"All right," agreed Len, after a little thought. "I'll tackle it for a
+while. Have you got your teams picked?"</p>
+
+<p>"Teams all picked, and the ball ready. We'll have to place stones for
+goal posts, though."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Hustle and do it, then," commanded Len. "I can't stay here forever."</p>
+
+<p>Five minutes later the field was as ready as it could be made.</p>
+
+<p>"Captains will now attend the toss-up," ordered Len Spencer, producing a
+coin from one of his pockets. "Heads for Craig, tails for Prescott."</p>
+
+<p>It fell head up, and Craig chose his goal, and also the first kick-off.</p>
+
+<p>Dick had been busily engaged in making up his line and backfield. There
+was some delay while Tom Craig accomplished this same thing.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, one thing that all you youngsters want to remember," declared Len,
+"is that no player can play off-side. All ready?"</p>
+
+<p>Both young football captains called out that they were. Len had provided
+himself with a pocket whistle loaned by one of the fifth-grade boys.</p>
+
+<p>Trill-ll! Tom Craig kicked the ball himself, but it was a poor kick. The
+pigskin soon struck the ground.</p>
+
+<p>"I'll try that over again," announced Tom.</p>
+
+<p>But Dick and his own fighting line had already started. Dick, at center,
+with Dave on his right hand and Greg Holmes on his left, snatched up the
+ball and started with it for the Rustlers' goal.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>A bunch of Rustlers opposed and tackled Prescott. Dick succeeded, by the
+help of Dave and Greg, in breaking through the line, but the Rustlers
+turned and were after him. Down went Dick, but he had the pigskin under
+him.</p>
+
+<p>"Take it away from him, fellows!" panted Craig. But Len blew his
+whistle, following up the signal by some sharp commands that brought the
+struggle to a close.</p>
+
+<p>"Prescott's side have the ball," declared Len, "and will now play off a
+snap-back. And, boys, one thing I must emphasize. I've told you that
+under the rules no man may play off-side. So, hereafter, if I find any
+of you off-side, I'm going to penalize that eleven."</p>
+
+<p>Dick was whispering to some of his players, for, without any code of
+signals, he must thus instruct his fellows in the play that was to be
+made with the ball.</p>
+
+<p>Then the whistle sounded. The Rangers put the ball through the Rustlers'
+line, and onward for some fifteen yards before the ball was once more
+down.</p>
+
+<p>"Good work, Prescott," nodded Len Spencer. "Now, pass your orders for
+the next play, then hustle into line and snap-back."</p>
+
+<p>Len placed the whistle between his lips and was about to blow it when
+Dave Darrin darted forward, holding up one hand.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"What's the trouble?" asked Len.</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Referee, count the men on the other team."</p>
+
+<p>"Fifteen players," summed up Len. "That's too many. Captain Craig,
+you'll have to shed four men."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, let him have 'em all," begged Dick serenely. "Craig'll need 'em all
+to keep us from breaking through with the ball."</p>
+
+<p>At blast of the whistle the pigskin was promptly in play again, both
+teams starting in with Indian yells. There was plenty of enthusiasm, but
+little or no skill. The thing became so mixed up that Len ran closer.</p>
+
+<p>A human heap formed. Greg Holmes was somewhere down near the bottom of
+that mix-up, holding on to the ball for all he was worth. Over him
+sprawled struggling Rangers and fighting Rustlers. Other players, from
+both teams, darted forward, hurling themselves onto the heap with
+immense enthusiasm.</p>
+
+<p>"The ball is down," remarked one eager young spectator disgustedly. "Len
+oughter blow his whistle."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, where's the whistle?" demanded other close-by spectators.</p>
+
+<p>From somewhere away down toward the bottom of the heap came Len
+Spencer's muffled remark:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I'll blow the whistle all right, if half a hundred of you Indians will
+get off my face for a minute!"</p>
+
+<p>"Come out of that tangle, all of you," ordered Tom Craig, after pulling
+himself out of the squirming heap of boys. "It's against the rules to
+smother the referee to death. He has to be killed painlessly."</p>
+
+<p>When the tangle had been straightened out Greg Holmes was found to be
+still doubled up, holding doggedly to the pigskin that had been his to
+guard.</p>
+
+<p>"Get ready for the next snap-back," ordered Captain Dick.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't do anything of the sort," countermanded Len. "I can see that what
+you youngsters need more than play, just at present, is a working
+knowledge of the rules. So listen, and I'll introduce you to a few
+principles of the game."</p>
+
+<p>After ten minutes of earnest talk Len Spencer allowed the ball to be put
+once more in play.</p>
+
+<p>At one time it was discovered that Craig, reinforced by enthusiastic
+onlookers from the sidelines, had seventeen men in his team. Dick, on
+the other hand, kept an alert eye to see that no more than eleven ranged
+up with his team.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, that's enough for the first day," called out Len at last. "Neither
+side won, but the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span>Rangers had by far the better of it. Now, before you
+fellows play to-morrow I advise you all to do some earnest studying of
+the rules of the game."</p>
+
+<p>"Don't make too much fun of us in the 'Blade,' will you, Mr. Spencer?"
+begged Dick. "We really want to get a good Central Grammar eleven at
+work. We want to play the other Grammar Schools in town."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, no one but a fool could find it in his heart to make fun of boys
+who display as much earnestness as you youngsters showed to-day,"
+Spencer replied soothingly.</p>
+
+<p>"It's the first time we ever tried real play, you know," Dick went on.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes; and you'll have to do a lot more practising before you can
+convince any one that you are doing any real playing," Len nodded. "Go
+after the rules. Memorize 'em. And watch the High School crowd play
+football. That will teach you a lot."</p>
+
+<p>"I know we need it," Dick sighed. "But then, you see, Grammar School
+football is a brand-new thing."</p>
+
+<p>"Why, now I come to think of it, I don't believe I ever did hear before
+of a Grammar School eleven," Len Spencer admitted.</p>
+
+<p>At least twenty other boys followed Dick and his chums from the field on
+the way home.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Say, Dick," called Tom Craig, "is the Central Grammar team going to
+have a uniform?"</p>
+
+<p>"Why, I suppose we must have one," Dick answered.</p>
+
+<p>"Where are we going to get the money?"</p>
+
+<p>Dick looked blank at that. A football uniform costs at least a few
+dollars, and who ever heard of an average Grammar School boy having a
+few dollars, all his own to spend?</p>
+
+<p>"I hadn't thought of that," muttered Prescott. "Oh, well, we'll have to
+find some way of getting uniforms. We've got to have 'em. That's all
+there is to it."</p>
+
+<p>"'Where there's a will there's a way,'" quoted Tom Reade blithely.</p>
+
+<p>But most of the fellows shook their heads.</p>
+
+<p>"We can't get uniforms," declared several of the older eighth-grade
+boys.</p>
+
+<p>"Then, if we can't we'll have to play without uniforms," Dick
+maintained. "We've got to play somehow. I hope you fellows won't go and
+lose your enthusiasm. Let's all hang together for football."</p>
+
+<p>One by one the other boys dropped off, until only Dick and his five
+chums were left at a corner on Main Street.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm afraid a lot of the fellows will go and let their enthusiasm cool
+over night," declared Harry Hazelton.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Remember, fellows, we've got to have our football eleven, and we've got
+to keep at it until we can really play a good game," insisted Dick.</p>
+
+<p>"But what if most all the fellows drop out?" demanded Dan Dalzell. "You
+know, that's the trouble with Grammar School fellows. They don't stick."</p>
+
+<p>"There are six of us, and we'll all stick," proclaimed Dick. "That means
+that we've got to get only five other fellows to stick. Surely we can do
+that, if we've got hustle enough in us to play football at all."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, we'll have our eleven somehow," insisted Dave positively.</p>
+
+<p>"How about our uniforms?" Tom Reade wanted to know.</p>
+
+<p>"We'll have them, too," asserted Dick. "I don't know just how we'll do
+it, but we'll manage."</p>
+
+<p>Dick Prescott and his chums were in much better spirits after that brief
+consultation. Then they separated, each going to his home for supper.</p>
+
+<p>Dick's father and mother were proprietors of the most popular bookstore
+in Gridley. It stood on one of the side streets, just a little way down
+from Main Street. Over the store were the living rooms of the family.
+Dick was an only child.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>After stowing away such an evening meal as only a healthy boy knows how
+to take care of, Dick reached for his cap.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm going out to meet the fellows, mother, if you don't mind," said
+young Prescott.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm sorry to say that there's just one matter that will delay you for
+perhaps twenty minutes," replied Mrs. Prescott. "Mrs. Davis was in and
+ordered some books this afternoon. She wants them delivered this
+evening, so I said I'd send you around with them. That won't bother you
+much, will it?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not so much but that I'll get over it," laughed the boy. "Maybe I'll
+pick up one or two of the fellows, anyway."</p>
+
+<p>"Richard, I'd rather you'd deliver the books before you meet any of your
+friends," urged Mrs. Prescott. "The books are worth about ten dollars,
+and if you have some of your friends along you may begin skylarking, and
+some of the books may get damaged."</p>
+
+<p>"All right, mother. I'll go alone."</p>
+
+<p>Off Dick started with the bundle, whistling blithely. All his thoughts
+were centered on the forming of the Central Grammar eleven, and that
+plan now looked like a winner.</p>
+
+<p>"We won't let the High School fellows have all the fun," young Prescott
+mused as he hurried along.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>He reached the rather large and handsome Davis house, rang the bell,
+delivered his books and then started back. His evening, up to nine
+o'clock, was now his own to do with as he pleased.</p>
+
+<p>Suddenly the thought of the happenings at noon came back to his mind.</p>
+
+<p>"What a mean fellow that Dexter is!" muttered the Grammar School boy.
+"I've heard folks say that Dexter is mean enough, and scoundrel enough,
+to kill his wife one of these days. Whew! I should think it would hurt
+to be so all-fired mean, and to have everyone despising you, as folks
+seem to despise Dexter. I hope the upper court will give him six months
+in jail, instead of one."</p>
+
+<p>Prescott was moving along a dark street now. It bordered a broad field,
+back of which stood a deep grove. At the street end of the field was a
+neat, solid, stone wall.</p>
+
+<p>Had Dick been looking ahead all the time he would have seen a man,
+coming down the street, start, take a swift look at the boy, and then
+dart behind a tree. But Prescott did not see until he reached the tree.
+Then the man stepped out.</p>
+
+<p>"Prescott!" uttered Abner Dexter hoarsely, "I've been wanting to see you
+again!"</p>
+
+<p>"That's more than I can say about you," retorted Dick, trying to edge
+away.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"No! You don't get away from me like that!" hissed Ab. Dexter sharply,
+twisting a hand on Dick's collar. Lifting the boy from his feet, Dexter
+hurled him over the wall into the field.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, I'm going to settle with you, young meddler!" announced Dexter,
+vaulting the wall and throwing himself upon Dick. "When I get through
+with you you'll never feel like meddling with any one again!"</p>
+
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span></p>
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2>
+
+<h3>AB. DEXTER'S TEMPER IS SQUALLY</h3>
+
+
+<p>"You're taking a lot upon yourself!" ventured Dick Prescott angrily.</p>
+
+<p>"That's all right," laughed Dexter savagely. "Come along with me and
+I'll show you something really funny."</p>
+
+<p>With that the man caught young Prescott up, starting across the field
+with him. Dick fought and struggled, but a grown man was too powerful
+for one thirteen-year-old boy.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't make any noise," warned Dexter, as he ran with his "catch," "or
+I'll make you wish you hadn't opened your mouth!"</p>
+
+<p>If he feared that Dick would call for help, this high-handed one was
+reckoning without a knowledge of the kind of boy he had to deal with.
+For Dick, though he was just a little more than slightly alarmed, would
+have been ashamed to call out for help.</p>
+
+<p>"You think you're having a lot of fun," sputtered young Prescott
+angrily, "but you'll be sorry for this before you are through!"</p>
+
+<p>"Through with whom?" demanded Dexter blandly, now.</p>
+
+<p>"Before you're through with me. You'll find <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span>that you can't act like this
+around Gridley. Justice Lee will get hold of you again, first thing you
+know."</p>
+
+<p>"Huh! I'll talk to you about that in a few minutes!"</p>
+
+<p>"See here, where are you taking me?"</p>
+
+<p>"Wherever I please."</p>
+
+<p>"Then I don't know about that, either, Dexter. I've about made up my
+mind that I won't go any further with you."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, you won't, eh, boy! Well, just help yourself, if you can."</p>
+
+<p>By this time Dexter had crossed the field and had run well inside of the
+grove.</p>
+
+<p>Dick wriggled, getting one hand free&mdash;and then he struck Dexter a
+stinging blow in the face.</p>
+
+<p>"Confound you!" growled the other. "I see that I've got to tame you, you
+young hornet!"</p>
+
+<p>"You put me down, or I'll sting worse than a hornet," threatened Dick
+angrily. "I'm not a doormat that you can wipe your feet on."</p>
+
+<p>"We'll see about that!" muttered Dexter, halting suddenly and throwing
+Dick savagely to the ground. He followed this up by sitting on the
+Grammar School boy.</p>
+
+<p>Whack! Whack! Dexter struck him so savagely, both blows in the face,
+that Prescott gasped.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I've got a few hundred more of those in reserve if you want 'em&mdash;or
+need 'em," Dick's captor advised him grimly. He still sat on the boy,
+looking down at him in the darkness with evil satisfaction.</p>
+
+<p>"It doesn't take one long to find your number, Dexter," observed the boy
+undauntedly. "Your specialty is frightening women and pounding boys who
+offend you."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, a lot of you boys hammered me this noon, didn't you!"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes; and I wish I had a couple of the fellows here now," retorted Dick
+with spirit. "We'd soon make a coward like you seem small. You'd be on
+your knees, begging, if I had a couple of my chums here to help me."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, you haven't got 'em, and I'll do all the talking that amounts to
+anything. Dick Prescott, you're the worst and freshest boy in Gridley!"</p>
+
+<p>"Such a statement, coming from a fellow like you, amounts to high
+praise, Dexter," Dick retorted doughtily.</p>
+
+<p>"None of your impudence, now, Dick Prescott! I've stood all the
+insolence from you that I'm going to allow."</p>
+
+<p>"My! How big the man talks to the small boy!" taunted Dick. "And he had
+to drag the boy away off here, so that there wouldn't be a <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span>chance of
+another boy coming along. A man of your caliber, Dexter, may be brave
+enough to face one boy, when he's angry enough, but you wouldn't dare
+say 'boo' if one of my boy friends were here to back me up."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll stop that sort of impudence right now," growled Dexter, stung more
+deeply by the taunts than he would have been willing to let the boy
+guess. "I'm pretty savage in my mind against you, at any rate, and I may
+as well let some of it out!"</p>
+
+<p>Whack! smack! thump! Dexter began savagely to vent all of his bottled-up
+spite against young Prescott, striking him repeatedly, and with such
+force that the lad was soon aching all over.</p>
+
+<p>Dick fought back as best he could, but, pinned down as he was, and in
+the grip of one three times as strong as himself, Dick could get in an
+effective blow only now and then. Such blows as he did land only served
+to fan Dexter's wrath to greater fury&mdash;and the boy suffered accordingly.</p>
+
+<p>It would have been a brutal beating, under any circumstances, that Dick
+received. In his helpless condition it was doubly brutal.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, do you think you've got enough to hold you for a while?" Ab.
+Dexter demanded, as he paused, panting.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I'm just thinking about the time when you'll get it all back with
+interest!" snapped young Prescott.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, then you haven't had enough&mdash;<i>yet</i>?"</p>
+
+<p>"I had enough before you began."</p>
+
+<p>"But you haven't learned to keep a civil tongue in your head?"</p>
+
+<p>"Dexter," retorted the lad, speaking more earnestly than he was aware,
+"I try to keep not only a civil tongue, but a pleasant manner for every
+human being who tries to act decently. With you it's different. Before
+to-day I didn't know much about you. What little I did know wasn't to
+your credit. But now I know you to belong to nothing better than the
+scum of the earth. No human being with any self-respect could be decent
+with you!"</p>
+
+<p>"You're getting worse than ever, are you?" sneered Dexter. "I see that
+my work is only half started."</p>
+
+<p>With that Ab. Dexter threw himself upon the boy again, giving him an
+even more lively beating than before.</p>
+
+<p>Dick Prescott, panting with his struggles, disdained to cry out, but
+saved all his strength to fight back.</p>
+
+<p>At last, all but exhausted, Ab. Dexter paused.</p>
+
+<p>"You got a little better lesson that time," boasted the wretch.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"And I got a small lunch while you were taking your dinner," retorted
+Prescott, no more daunted than before. "Your nose is bleeding and your
+lip is cut!"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I know it! I'm going to take that out of you presently."</p>
+
+<p>"Are you enjoying yourself, Dexter?" asked the boy tauntingly.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes. And before I get through with you, I'm going to make sure that
+you'll never interfere in my affairs again."</p>
+
+<p>"Do you mean that you expect I'll stand off the next time that I see you
+trying to frighten your wife into supporting a lazy loafer in style?"
+Dick asked dryly.</p>
+
+<p>"Hang you! You haven't learned your lesson yet, have you?"</p>
+
+<p>"If you're trying to make me 'respect' you, Dexter, you've acted the
+wrong way all through to-day. You're entitled to no more respect than an
+Indian would show a rattlesnake."</p>
+
+<p>Ab. Dexter's face was ablaze with wrath. He had expected to make this
+Grammar School boy beg for mercy before things had gone half as far as
+they had. Dick Prescott's undaunted pluck bewildered the mean bully.</p>
+
+<p>"I'll make you shut up, boy, before I'm through with you!" he warned the
+lad.</p>
+
+<p>"There's just one way to do that, Dexter!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Eh?"</p>
+
+<p>"You'll have to knock me out."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll do that, then!"</p>
+
+<p>It would be wrong to seek to give the reader an impression that young
+Prescott was not afraid, and did not mind his two thrashings. He was
+afraid that Dexter would go to great lengths, yet Dick would not give
+the bully satisfaction by admitting any fear.</p>
+
+<p>"What you've got to do, before I get through with you," Dexter
+announced, "is to beg my pardon and to promise that you'll never again
+interfere with me."</p>
+
+<p>"You'll wait a long while, then," jeered Dick, "and you'll get strong
+man's cramp in both arms!"</p>
+
+<p>"And you've got to do more than promise that much," continued the bully.
+"You've got to promise, solemnly, to help me in some plans that I have
+for the future."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh? Plans against your wife, I suppose."</p>
+
+<p>"Very likely," half admitted Dexter. "Whatever the plans are, you're
+going to help me in them."</p>
+
+<p>"You're going about in a fine way, Dexter, to get my cheerful help."</p>
+
+<p>"Never mind about the cheerful part of it," snarled the man. "You're
+going to help me, and I'm going to tame you."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Gracious! What a fine, large tail our cat is growing," laughed Dick,
+though his voice did not ring very mirthfully.</p>
+
+<p>Dexter, still astride his young captive, raised his fist. Prescott did
+not flinch, and it suddenly struck the fellow that he was going about
+his business in the wrong way. Dexter had never looked for a young
+Grammar School boy to be so firm and undaunted.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, don't be a fool, Prescott," he began, trying a new tack.</p>
+
+<p>"You ought to be a fine teacher in the subject of good sense," suggested
+Dick mockingly.</p>
+
+<p>"I think I can be."</p>
+
+<p>"Fire away, then."</p>
+
+<p>"Prescott, you don't have much spending money, do you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not enough to worry the bank with."</p>
+
+<p>"You'd like more?"</p>
+
+<p>"Of course."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm going to find it for you."</p>
+
+<p>"You are&mdash;or do you mean that your wife is?"</p>
+
+<p>Ab. Dexter winked. He had not looked for the youngster to be so keen.</p>
+
+<p>"Prescott, take it from an older man. It doesn't make so much
+difference, in this world, where the money comes from, if a fellow only
+has it."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I guess, from your actions, that's about the way you feel about it,
+Dexter," rejoined the boy.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't you feel the same way?"</p>
+
+<p>"No; I'd like to be worth a million dollars, Dexter, but I don't believe
+I ever shall be."</p>
+
+<p>"Why not?"</p>
+
+<p>"Because the opportunities for getting a million honestly are not very
+plentiful, and I wouldn't have a dollar&mdash;or a million&mdash;with a stain on
+it!"</p>
+
+<p>"You simpleton!" sneered Dexter.</p>
+
+<p>"There are a few of us left in the world," Dick retorted complacently.
+"But you, Dexter, you wouldn't care whether it was money or slime, as
+long as you could spend it!"</p>
+
+<p>"You're talking nonsense, boy," argued Dexter, restraining himself as
+best he could. "Now, see here, I'm sorry I thumped you. I've got a lot
+of use for a boy with as much sand and grit as you've shown. I can use
+you, and I can show you how to make a nice little lot of money by
+helping me in something that I have on hand. So come on. Get up and walk
+along with me while we talk it over."</p>
+
+<p>Dexter rose, and Dick got to his feet as nimbly as he could. He ached,
+though, fortunately, he was not badly crippled by the pummeling that he
+had received.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Come on, now, and let's take a little walk," urged the man
+persuasively.</p>
+
+<p>But Dick Prescott glared back at the bully with all the contempt in the
+world in his look.</p>
+
+<p>"Nothing doing in the way of walking together, Dexter," announced the
+boy.</p>
+
+<p>"Why not?"</p>
+
+<p>"Folks might see me with you."</p>
+
+<p>"Suppose they did!"</p>
+
+<p>"Then they'd imagine that I knew you. Dexter, a boy who hopes to grow up
+and become a useful citizen can't be too careful about the company he
+keeps."</p>
+
+<p>"You confounded little imp! You're not tamed yet."</p>
+
+<p>Dexter's foot struck against a stick lying on the ground. Snatching this
+weapon up and uttering a cry of rage, he sprang forward to fell the boy
+with the club.</p>
+
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span></p>
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>CHAPTER V</h2>
+
+<h3>FOOTBALL UNIFORMS IN SIGHT</h3>
+
+
+<p>Had Dick turned to run Ab. Dexter would have darted after him. The bully
+possessed much longer legs and prided himself on his speed.</p>
+
+<p>To Dexter's amazement, however, Dick did not flinch or turn.</p>
+
+<p>Perhaps there was not time enough. Again, perhaps young Prescott saw two
+other figures moving in the darkness.</p>
+
+<p>At all events, the man suddenly felt the stick fly from his hand. Then,
+before he could regain his self-possession, two boyish figures crouched
+swiftly one on each side of him.</p>
+
+<p>Dexter felt his knees gripped. In the same instant two boys rose
+suddenly, holding on, and the bully toppled over backward.</p>
+
+<p>"Never hit a man when he's down," quoth the dry voice of Greg Holmes.
+"But, if he isn't even any sort of a man, it doesn't matter!"</p>
+
+<p>Thump! Greg brought his not very big fist down on Dexter's nose. It was
+an ugly blow, delivered before the bully could recover from his own
+amazement.</p>
+
+<p>Dave Darrin, the other boy, did not even wait <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span>to speak. He began to rain
+down blows on the prostrate enemy.</p>
+
+<p>"Here, stop that, Davey!" urged Dick, darting forward. "Don't hit the
+cur any more."</p>
+
+<p>"But he was going to club you," argued Dave, hitting two more blows.</p>
+
+<p>"Stop this, boys! Let up! I'll clear out," begged Ab. Dexter.</p>
+
+<p>Dick, finding that neither of his chums was much inclined to stop the
+merited punishment, darted in and forcibly dragged Darrin off Dexter's
+prostrate form.</p>
+
+<p>"Let me have him, for a minute or two yet," coaxed Greg Holmes. "You
+know, Dick, he was going to club you."</p>
+
+<p>"I know it," rejoined young Prescott doggedly. "He did thrash me twice,
+and it hurt. I don't believe in soiling our hands on anything like this
+fellow, when it can be helped. Besides, we're too many."</p>
+
+<p>Though Dave and Greg had now both been pulled off their prey, they
+hovered over Dexter, who seemed afraid to rise for fear it would lead to
+a renewed onslaught.</p>
+
+<p>"Stand back, fellows," coaxed Dick, pushing them gently. "Dexter, I told
+you you'd be a booby in any fight where you couldn't have it all your
+own way. I was right about it. Get up, now&mdash;and make your fly-away while
+I'm still <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span>able to hold these two bulldogs in leash. Hustle now!"</p>
+
+<p>Dick emphasized his advice with a kick, but it was not a vicious one.
+Ab. Dexter looked up in wonder. Then he rose, crouchingly, next made a
+sprinter's start and bolted.</p>
+
+<p>"Humph! We can never get him now," uttered Dave Darrin disgustedly.
+"Whew! I wish I could run as fast as that."</p>
+
+<p>"You can learn," replied Dick.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes; in about ten years!"</p>
+
+<p>"Dave, you could learn to run a heap faster than you do, and in a mighty
+short time."</p>
+
+<p>"How?"</p>
+
+<p>"Just start in to train. Get someone who knows something about it to
+give you pointers on running. Pshaw! I believe our whole crowd ought to
+start in to learn to run. To run, really, I mean. If I had been a faster
+runner to-night I might have gotten away from that bully. I might have
+saved myself from a good many aches that I've got just now."</p>
+
+<p>"You aching?" questioned Darrin. "What makes you ache?"</p>
+
+<p>"Dexter gave me two hard thrashings before you fellows got along."</p>
+
+<p>"He did?" sputtered Dave vengefully. "O Dick, why did you ever let him
+get away from us?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I'm glad I did something to the sneak while I had the chance," declared
+Greg Holmes.</p>
+
+<p>"First of all, tell me how you fellows came to find me," suggested Dick
+Prescott.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, that's easy enough to account for," Dave replied. "Greg and I were
+on Main Street looking for you. Then we went down to the store. Your
+mother told us that you'd gone to Mrs. Davis's with a package of books,
+so we set out to meet you on your return. And right over there, on the
+street, we came across a little girl, white, scared and half crying. She
+said she had seen a man grab you up, throw you over the wall&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, that happened," nodded Prescott.</p>
+
+<p>"And the little kiddie said she saw the man jump over the wall, grab you
+up and start for the woods. She was sure the wicked man was going to
+kill you."</p>
+
+<p>"Dexter was mad enough, but he lacked the sand for going that far, I
+guess," remarked Prescott.</p>
+
+<p>"He might not be without the sand," argued Dave. "I've got a notion that
+Dexter, while a coward, perhaps, about some things, would go about as
+far as his anger drove him. I'm glad we came along, anyway."</p>
+
+<p>"So am I. You fellows sneaked in so quietly in the dark, that I didn't
+see you until just before <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span>you tackled Dexter. Well, there's no great
+harm done, thanks to you, Dave, and to you, Greg. Let's get back to Main
+Street."</p>
+
+<p>As the youngsters crossed the field and strolled up the street, Dick
+gave an accurate account of what had befallen him.</p>
+
+<p>"So the sneak wanted to pay you to help him in some dirty sort of work?"
+demanded Dave, his dark eyes ablaze with disgust.</p>
+
+<p>"I imagine it must have been dirty work, since Dexter had planned it
+out," Dick admitted, smiling.</p>
+
+<p>"The hound! But then, see here, Dick; if Dexter wanted you to help him
+in anything of that sort, it means that he's going to try to bother that
+poor wife of his again."</p>
+
+<p>"It looks that way, Dave."</p>
+
+<p>"Then we ought to warn Mrs. Dexter, so that she can be on her guard
+against the worthless rascal."</p>
+
+<p>"I've been thinking of that, Dave. Yes; I'm sure we must go and give
+Mrs. Dexter a hint. It wouldn't be right not to tell her of what may be
+ahead of her."</p>
+
+<p>"We might go around to her house to-morrow afternoon after school, eh?"
+proposed Greg.</p>
+
+<p>"Football practice to-morrow afternoon," retorted Dave Darrin dryly.</p>
+
+<p>"Besides, to-morrow afternoon might be too <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span>late," urged Dick. "Fellows,
+when we have a message like this, which may be of great importance to
+some other human being, there's no time for doing the errand
+like&mdash;<i>now</i>!"</p>
+
+<p>"That's right, too," approved Dave. "It won't take us more than five
+minutes to reach Mrs. Dexter's house. Let's head for there at the next
+corner?"</p>
+
+<p>That being agreed to, the three chums set out at a brisk walk. A few
+minutes later Dick was pulling the doorbell of Mrs. Dexter's new home,
+while Dave and Greg stood just a little below him on the steps.</p>
+
+<p>It was a pretty little house, of ten rooms; not as large a house as Mrs.
+Dexter might have been able to afford, but one that was a happy contrast
+to the three-room flat in which Mrs. Dexter had lived when obliged to
+support herself at dressmaking. As yet there were but two servants on
+the place&mdash;a woman who did the house-work and a hired man, who slept in
+a room over the little barn at the rear of the house.</p>
+
+<p>"Will you ask Mrs. Dexter if she can see us, please?" asked Dick,
+lifting his cap, when the woman-of-all-work opened the door. "Kindly
+tell her that we have news for her which we think may be very
+important."</p>
+
+<p>"Come in, boys," replied the housekeeper, doubtless pleased by Dick's
+deference in raising <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span>his cap, an example in which he had been promptly
+followed by Dave and Greg.</p>
+
+<p>The woman showed them into a little parlor. Mrs. Dexter soon came down
+and greeted them.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm very glad you boys have called on me," she said. "You and your
+other friends did me a service to-day that I can't forget. I was on the
+way to the bank to leave the jewels and the money when you helped me so
+handsomely."</p>
+
+<p>"We've come, Mrs. Dexter," said Dick, "to tell you what happened
+to-night. It may be the means of saving you from further trouble with
+Mr. Dexter."</p>
+
+<p>Then Dick told the story of his adventure that evening. Dave and Greg
+added a few words at the end.</p>
+
+<p>"So we think," summed up Dick, "that Mr. Dexter may not yet be through
+with his schemes against you. Excuse us, Mrs. Dexter, but don't you
+think it would be well to have a man sleep in the house&mdash;one that you
+can depend on if Dexter comes here to make trouble?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, indeed. My hired man is a straight-forward fellow. I'll have him
+stay around here more, and I'll have a room fitted up in the house for
+him. Mr. Dexter isn't usually extremely brave. I imagine that the hired
+man can take care of him if he puts in an appearance. At all <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span>events, I
+shall feel safer for having a man in the house."</p>
+
+<p>Their errand being done, the three Grammar School boys would have risen
+to go, but Mrs. Dexter detained them, asking many questions about their
+school life.</p>
+
+<p>Then, somehow, the story came out of the newly organized Central Grammar
+football squad.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, but that is going to be fine!" cried Mrs. Dexter. "Manly sports
+always make boys stronger, and give them a better sense of fair play
+when such a sense is needed. You'll have uniforms, of course. What will
+your uniforms be like?"</p>
+
+<p>"That's one of the points we haven't decided on yet," smiled Dick. "The
+uniforms will have to come, in good time."</p>
+
+<p>"Your football organization has a treasurer, of course?"</p>
+
+<p>"He's a luxury we don't need yet," laughed Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"Why not?"</p>
+
+<p>"Because there isn't any treasury."</p>
+
+<p>"Yet there will be, of course&mdash;that is, if&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>Suddenly Mrs. Dexter looked mightily pleased and clapped her hands.</p>
+
+<p>"I've stumbled on to one of your secrets, boys," she cried. "You haven't
+any treasury, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span>and you're still wondering where the money can come from
+to pay for uniforms. Well, you needn't wonder any longer. All of you
+boys who helped me to-day are interested in the football plan. You did
+me a very great service to-day, and you've done me another one to-night.
+Now I'm going to buy the football uniforms. How much will they cost&mdash;ten
+dollars apiece?"</p>
+
+<p>"Five or six ought to buy as good uniforms as we'll need," replied Dick
+Prescott, reddening. "But, Mrs. Dexter, we don't want&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Let me have my own way, won't you?" she pleaded plaintively. "It's such
+a very new thing for me to be able to have my own way. I'm going to
+write the check, to-night, to pay for the uniforms. Don't stop me,
+please don't."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Dexter rose and went over to a little desk, where she sat fingering
+her checkbook.</p>
+
+<p>"Now please give me some idea of what such uniforms cost. I want to do
+it nicely for you boys. Excuse me just a moment, though."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Dexter touched a bell on her desk and the housekeeper entered.</p>
+
+<p>"Jane, when I put Myra to bed this evening, she showed signs of a cough.
+I don't want the child to get croupy and not know anything about it.
+Just run up and watch Myra, won't you, without waking her? Then come
+down and let me know, after a few minutes."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The housekeeper started upstairs. Mrs. Dexter returned to the subject of
+football uniforms, while the three boys, red-faced and reluctant,
+answered her questions. They appreciated her kindness, but they did not
+want her to pay for the uniforms. To Dick and his chums it looked too
+much like begging.</p>
+
+<p>A shriek sounded upstairs. Then Jane came rushing down.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, ma'am!" she cried in dismay. "Myra's gone&mdash;her bed's empty, and the
+clothes that she wore have been taken from the chair!"</p>
+
+<p>While Mrs. Dexter turned deathly pale and tottered, Dick Prescott leaped
+up, exclaiming:</p>
+
+<p>"It's the work of Dexter. That's the scheme he had!"</p>
+
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span></p>
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2>
+
+<h3>ON THE TRAIL OF THE CAB</h3>
+
+
+<p>"The wretch has stolen Myra! I didn't I think he would dare do that,"
+cried the woman.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Dexter had never made any effort to secure a divorce from her
+worthless husband. After he had abandoned her she had appeared in court
+and had had herself appointed sole guardian and custodian of little
+Myra. Under the law, therefore, Dexter, if he stole Myra away from the
+mother, could be arrested and punished for abduction.</p>
+
+<p>At this frantic moment, however, Mrs. Dexter was not thinking of
+punishments. All she wanted was to get her child back in her own
+keeping.</p>
+
+<p>"Isn't it possible there's a mistake?" demanded Greg of the dismayed
+housekeeper. "The little one may have gotten up out of bed. She may be
+in some other part of the house."</p>
+
+<p>"Not much!" interjected the housekeeper. "The child's jacket and coat
+are gone from a hook near by."</p>
+
+<p>After the first moment of fright Mrs. Dexter had raced upstairs; now she
+came down again.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Myra's really gone," she cried, sobbing. "And no one but Dexter would
+think of stealing her from me. He has done it for spite&mdash;or as the means
+of extorting more money from me."</p>
+
+<p>"A man could hardly go through the streets carrying a child that didn't
+want to be carried. The child could cry out and attract attention,"
+guessed Dick.</p>
+
+<p>"Myra wouldn't cry out. She would be cowed by her father's threats. She
+always was afraid of him," wailed Mrs. Dexter.</p>
+
+<p>"Are you going to appeal to the police?" Dick asked.</p>
+
+<p>"I&mdash;I must."</p>
+
+<p>"Then you're losing time, Mrs. Dexter&mdash;and there's your telephone. We
+boys will go out into the streets and see if we can find any trace&mdash;pick
+up any word. When we came along there was a cab standing in front of the
+Grahams. But I suppose that cab belonged to some of their visitors."</p>
+
+<p>"The Grahams have been out of town for the last few days," broke in Mrs.
+Dexter. "There has been no one at their house, except one old man who
+acts as care-taker."</p>
+
+<p>"Then Dexter may have had that cab waiting for him," flashed young
+Prescott. "Come along, fellows! Let's see what we can find out."</p>
+
+<p>Dave and Greg were at the street door ahead <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span>of their young leader. None
+of the boys paused longer, for Mrs. Dexter was already at her telephone.</p>
+
+<p>Out in the street the three Grammar School lads raced along the sidewalk
+until they reached the house of the Graham family. The cab was gone.</p>
+
+<p>"We can find that cab anywhere," declared Dick. "Any one else would
+recognize it. It had one brown, or dark horse, and one gray horse."</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't notice the driver," stated Darrin.</p>
+
+<p>"He was sitting inside the cab," spoke up Greg. "I didn't get a good
+look at him, either."</p>
+
+<p>"Going to race on into Main Street?" asked Dave, as the three came to a
+street corner.</p>
+
+<p>"Dexter would hardly drive right into the clutches of the police, would
+he?" pondered Prescott. "No; I think it'll turn out that he went the
+opposite way, out of town."</p>
+
+<p>Saying this, Dick headed for the outskirts of Gridley, still keeping
+along at a dog-trot. Dave and Greg didn't talk now; they were husbanding
+their store of "wind."</p>
+
+<p>After a short time all three boys had to slow down to a walk. That "pain
+in the side," which seizes all boys who try to run far without training
+and practice, had caught them. Still, they moved along as fast as they
+could go.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Excuse me, mister," hailed Dick, halting the first man they met, who
+came strolling toward them, smoking a pipe, "have you seen a cab go by?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes."</p>
+
+<p>"Oldish cab?" broke in Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"One gray horse and one dark or brown?" breathed Greg.</p>
+
+<p>"Yep."</p>
+
+<p>"How long ago?" asked all three.</p>
+
+<p>"'Bout two minutes ago. Why?"</p>
+
+<p>"Which way did it go?" breathed Dick anxiously.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, the driver stopped me," explained the man, taking out his pipe,
+"and asked if there was a drug store ahead in this part of the town. I
+told him he'd find one on the next block, around the next corner to the
+left. So&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you!" came politely from three breathless boys, and off they
+started again on a trot.</p>
+
+<p>"Any one sick?" called the man after them. "Huh! Curious how excited
+those boys are!"</p>
+
+<p>"Two minutes! I'm afraid horses will leave us far behind with that
+start," groaned Dick.</p>
+
+<p>Then they turned around the corner. Ahead of them, in front of the
+little drug store, or rather, just past the entrance, stood the cab that
+occupied all their thoughts at the present time.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"There it is!" breathed Dick excitedly, as though forgetful of the fact
+that his chums had eyes also. "Come along&mdash;over on the other side of the
+street&mdash;in the dark."</p>
+
+<p>In a twinkling all three lads had crossed stealthily to the further side
+of the little street.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, for a policeman!" appealed Dick. "Or any full-grown man, who would
+listen to us and have the grit to give us a strong hand."</p>
+
+<p>"If Dexter has the little girl, and that's his cab, what has he taken
+her into a drug store for?" whispered Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"We don't know that he has taken her into the store. We don't know
+anything until we see it," was Dick's answer. "Dexter didn't stop for a
+trifle. He isn't buying Myra a glass of soda, or anything like that."</p>
+
+<p>The three boys were stealing down the street, on the further side,
+keeping close in the shadow of the buildings. They did not wish to risk
+being seen until they had had a chance for a good look at the cab and
+its possible contents.</p>
+
+<p>Dick's reason for crossing the street had been that he had first caught
+sight of the driver standing on the sidewalk beside the cab. If he could
+get down close to the cab, and have that vehicle between himself and the
+driver, Dick hoped that he would have a chance to steal across the
+street and look inside the rig.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>By good luck, combined with stealth, Dick, Dave and Greg succeeded in
+gaining a point on the street opposite the cab.</p>
+
+<p>"Careful, now," whispered Dick, "one bad move might spoil everything."</p>
+
+<p>On tip-toe they crossed. At a point midway in the street they halted a
+brief instant. From this point they could make out the unmistakable form
+of Ab. Dexter at the back of the drug store, walking to and fro as if
+waiting for something.</p>
+
+<p>No word was spoken. Still on tip-toe the boys went on until they stood
+by one of the doors of the cab.</p>
+
+<p>Dave and Greg made way for Dick to get up close and peer into the
+vehicle.</p>
+
+<p>Young Prescott gave a start of exultation as he made out a little,
+wrapped-up human bundle huddled on the back seat. It was little
+four-year-old Myra. She had collapsed into a heap and was very softly
+sobbing to herself, wholly unaware of what might be passing outside.</p>
+
+<p>On the further side of the cab, standing on the sidewalk, Dick caught
+sight of the man whom he presumed to be the driver. The fellow was
+standing staring fixedly ahead.</p>
+
+<p>"If he had been looking the other way he would have caught us coming
+down the street," flashed through Prescott's mind.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Then he turned, nodding swiftly, silently, at his companions.</p>
+
+<p>They had found Myra, these Grammar School lads, but in a desperate
+fight, Dexter and the driver would prove overwhelming odds. The pair of
+rascals could knock these youngsters senseless and whip up the horses
+for a dash.</p>
+
+<p>What was to be done?</p>
+
+<p>In sheer nervousness Dave Darrin began to try the handle of the cab
+door. Then, understanding coming to him, Dave tried in earnest to see
+whether he could unfasten the door with out making the least noise.</p>
+
+<p>All three of the lads realized that it was a ticklish moment. Even Myra,
+if startled, might give the scream that would betray and defeat them.</p>
+
+<p>Steadily Dave worked at his problem. Dick and Greg, quivering, stood
+alertly on guard on either side of him.</p>
+
+<p>Squeak! That cab-door handle needed oiling sadly. Even under Darrin's
+cautious handling it gave forth a noise that sounded startling in the
+stillness.</p>
+
+<p>"What's that?" they heard the driver mutter, as he started. Then came
+the sound of footsteps, as the driver wheeled and ran around behind the
+cab.</p>
+
+<p>He was bearing down straight upon them!</p>
+
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span></p>
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2>
+
+<h3>DICK LEADS A SPIRITED RUSH</h3>
+
+
+<p>"Hustle, Dave&mdash;into the cab!" shouted Dick Prescott lustily.</p>
+
+<p>Darrin obeyed like a flash, pulling the door shut.</p>
+
+<p>"What are you young monkeys doing here?" yelled the driver hoarsely.
+Then, as he caught better sight of them, he snarled:</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I know you boys! You belong to the Butt-insky family!"</p>
+
+<p>The driver's next remark was "ouch!" as Greg darted in and struck him
+fairly at the belt line. In the same instant young Prescott managed to
+trip the fellow.</p>
+
+<p>"Boss!" bawled the driver, as he struck the pavement.</p>
+
+<p>"Into the cab with you, Greg!" shouted Dick.</p>
+
+<p>Dave swung the door open, and in the same instant Greg bolted inside,
+while Dick Prescott made a single bound at the front wheel, from which
+he mounted to the driver's seat.</p>
+
+<p>"None of that!" yelled the driver, getting upon his feet and moving
+forward. At the same moment another man came to the door of the drug
+store.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>That man was&mdash;must have been&mdash;Abner Dexter. He wore the same clothes
+that Dick remembered, but over his head and face were drawn a wig and
+beard that made him look some one else.</p>
+
+<p>Whish! Dick's left hand clutched at the reins, but his right hand
+grasped the whip. That useful implement described an arc downward and
+caught the driver roundly, judging by the yell that the fellow let out.</p>
+
+<div class="figleft" style="width: 262px;">
+<img src="images/illus02.png" width="262" height="400" alt="The Whip Caught the Driver Roundly." title="The Whip Caught the Driver Roundly." />
+<span class="caption">The Whip Caught the Driver Roundly.</span>
+</div>
+
+<p>"Gid-dap!" yelled young Prescott, completing the swing of the whip by
+bringing it down across the horses' backs.</p>
+
+<p>The startled animals leaped forward, the lurch almost throwing Dick from
+the box; in fact, it nearly overturned the cab.</p>
+
+<p>But the vehicle soon righted itself, and Dick, somewhat scared, yet
+steady, pulled the horses down to a steady trot and reined them in
+closer together.</p>
+
+<p>The disguised man who had come out of the drug store succeeded in
+resting one hand for an instant on the body of the cab. But the
+springing horses carried it away from him. For a few rods the man
+pursued, the smarting driver bringing up the rear.</p>
+
+<p>Then both pursuers halted, panting, cursing, at the same time, as only
+foul-mouthed ruffians can.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Inside, Myra was shrieking with fright.</p>
+
+<p>"We're your mother's friends, Myra, and are taking you back to her,"
+explained Dave, holding the small child on his knee and trying to quiet
+her.</p>
+
+<p>Greg Holmes, in the meantime, was more concerned with looking out of the
+window.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, say," muttered Greg. "Dick ain't driving to Mrs. Dexter's, not by
+a long shot. He seems to be heading straight into the business part of
+the town."</p>
+
+<p>"You leave Dick Prescott alone to know what he's doing," advised Dave
+Darrin calmly.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes; I guess that's right," assented Greg.</p>
+
+<p>"Dick is the longest-headed fellow in our school."</p>
+
+<p>"Except me," grinned Greg modestly.</p>
+
+<p>"You? Huh! I'm glad you're not outside on the box."</p>
+
+<p>"I reckon it's the first time Dick ever drove cab horses."</p>
+
+<p>"He'll do it right, anyway."</p>
+
+<p>"But I wonder why he isn't going to the Dexter house," pursued young
+Holmes.</p>
+
+<p>Then Myra took fright again.</p>
+
+<p>"Take me home!" she cried. "I want to see my mamma!"</p>
+
+<p>From that she passed into wild sobbing, taxing all Dave Darrin's powers
+to ease her mind.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"You're going home, Myra," he wound up. "You're going to see your
+mother."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"My papa is a bad man!"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, he's not here now," smiled Dave. "Did you ever hear of Dick
+Prescott?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes; he's a nice boy."</p>
+
+<p>"You're right he is," added Dave with enthusiasm. "Well, Dick is up
+outside, driving the horses, and he'll take us home by the way that it's
+best to go."</p>
+
+<p>"Here we are in Main Street," announced Greg wonderingly.</p>
+
+<p>Dave thought he began to understand Prescott's plan, but he said
+nothing. A few moments later the cab turned down one of the side
+streets, then halted before a cluster of lights.</p>
+
+<p>"The police station!" exploded Greg.</p>
+
+<p>"Of course," nodded Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"Why 'of course'?"</p>
+
+<p>"Because it's part of Dick's plan."</p>
+
+<p>"Come out, fellows," called Dick. "We're at the end of our trip, thank
+goodness."</p>
+
+<p>Greg opened the door, Dave stepping out with Myra in his arms.</p>
+
+<p>"My mamma doesn't live here," cried the child uneasily.</p>
+
+<p>"No, but it's all right," Dave urged soothingly. "You come right along
+and see if it isn't."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Dick led the way up the police-station steps. In the office three
+uniformed members of the force were talking excitedly. One of them was
+the night lieutenant, Janeway.</p>
+
+<p>"I tell you, Lieutenant, the thing was done so slickly that the child
+ain't going to be found to-night," one of the patrolmen was saying.</p>
+
+<p>"If you're talking about Myra Dexter, guess again," laughed young
+Prescott. "Here she is now."</p>
+
+<p>Three astounded policemen turned to regard the happy-faced Grammar
+School boys.</p>
+
+<p>"Then she wasn't stolen at all?" demanded one of the patrolmen. "Just
+strolled away and got lost, eh?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, no!" Dick retorted. "Myra was stolen, all right; but we stole her
+back again."</p>
+
+<p>"How?"</p>
+
+<p>"We took her away from her father and a cab-driver," chuckled Greg
+Holmes.</p>
+
+<p>"Stop telling us any nonsense like that," interposed the lieutenant
+sternly. "Tell us where you found the child."</p>
+
+<p>Dick related the story briefly. The policemen were at first inclined to
+doubt the story, but one of them glanced outside and saw the cab.</p>
+
+<p>"If you'll let me offer a suggestion," went on Dick, "there's a mother
+at home who is nearly crazy with grief. Hadn't you better call Mrs.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span>
+Dexter on the telephone and tell her that Myra is safe with you?"</p>
+
+<p>The lieutenant quickly wheeled to his 'phone, calling for Mrs. Dexter's
+number. One of the policemen, in the meantime, received Myra in his
+arms.</p>
+
+<p>"Mrs. Dexter?" called the lieutenant into the transmitter. "This is the
+police station. We have your little girl here, all safe and sound. How
+was she found? Three schoolboys, Dick Prescott, Dave Dar&mdash;&mdash; Oh, you
+know the names? Well, they trailed the cab to where it had stopped
+outside of a drug store. They knocked the driver down and got away with
+the cab. How did three boys manage to do such a deed? Wait! I'll let
+Master Prescott himself tell you over the 'phone."</p>
+
+<p>The lieutenant wheeled about.</p>
+
+<p>"Where in the name of mischief are those boys?" he demanded. The two
+policemen turned in equal confusion. Certain it was that the Grammar
+School boys had bolted.</p>
+
+<p>So the lieutenant sent out to find a driver, and one of his policemen
+got inside with Myra, to take her home. The policeman was also
+instructed to remain on guard outside through the night, in case Dexter
+and his confederate should feel inclined to make another attempt to
+abduct the little one.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Dick and his chums, after leaving the station house silently, had run
+until they found themselves around the corner on Main Street.</p>
+
+<p>"We don't want to be thanked any more by Mrs. Dexter to-night," Dick
+ventured to his friends.</p>
+
+<p>"We certainly don't," agreed Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"What'll we do now?" asked Greg.</p>
+
+<p>"We'll go home," suggested young Prescott. "Our folks will be wondering
+where we are."</p>
+
+<p>"Whee! But we'll have a lot to tell the folks!" chuckled Greg. "When my
+mother hears what we've been through to-night the chances are ten to one
+that she'll make me stay in nights."</p>
+
+<p>"Not if she pauses to think what you did to help another mother out,"
+hinted Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, good night, fellows," called Dick as he reached his corner.
+"We've had a bully time, but that won't get us up early in the morning."</p>
+
+<p>The bookstore was due to close at nine o'clock, but it was twenty-five
+minutes after that hour when Dick swung in through the front door.</p>
+
+<p>"Mother, here's the boy," called Mr. Prescott, being the first to espy
+the returning son. "Young man, you'll have to give your mother a good
+account of yourself. She's been worrying about you."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I knew Dick was in no great danger," laughed Mrs. Prescott, coming
+forward to kiss her son, now that her worry had ended pleasantly. "But,
+Richard, you're still a bit young to stay out so late."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I suppose, mother, that depends a bit upon what I've been doing,
+doesn't it?"</p>
+
+<p>"Why, has anything happened out of the usual?"</p>
+
+<p>"I'll tell you about it," agreed the lad.</p>
+
+<p>"Wait until I put up the shutters and lock the door," directed his
+father. "Then we'll all go upstairs."</p>
+
+<p>Gathered on the floor above, the Prescotts listened in amazement to what
+their son narrated.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, I never heard of so much happening before in one day," gasped Mrs.
+Prescott.</p>
+
+<p>"It never happened to me, before, anyway," laughed Dick. "However, I
+hope I've brought home a good excuse for being out a little late."</p>
+
+<p>"Dick," broke in his father solemnly, "the next time any such train of
+events happens you have my permission to be out until&mdash;let me see. Well,
+say, until quarter of ten. But don't let such things happen too often.
+And now, to bed with you!"</p>
+
+<p>"Dick is not going to bed just yet," interposed his mother. "A boy who
+has been as active as he has to-night is bound to be hungry. Come with
+me to the pantry."</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span></p>
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2>
+
+<h3>TWO ACCIDENTS&mdash;OR TRAPS?</h3>
+
+
+<p>Before Gridley left its breakfast tables the following morning Dick
+Prescott and his chums were rather famous.</p>
+
+<p>For the editor of the "Blade" had played up the Dexter abduction for the
+big local story in the morning's issue.</p>
+
+<p>Dick saw it, of course, and felt a curious thrill when he saw his own
+name in big block type. The names of Dave and Greg were also there.</p>
+
+<p>"I'll read the yarn to you while you eat," smiled his father. "This is a
+great day for you, lad. You're tasting, for the first time, the
+sensation of looming large in the public eye."</p>
+
+<p>Dick read the story over twice for himself before starting for school.
+Yet the first thrill was missing.</p>
+
+<p>"Pshaw! Len Spencer, or someone, has made a hero tale out of a boys'
+lark," muttered the Grammar School boy. "It sounded fine, at first, but
+that just shows how ready a fellow is to believe he's smarter than other
+folks. Whee! But we'll get a choice lot of teasing out of the fellows at
+school to-day!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Prescott was glad, that morning, that he contrived to pick up Dave and
+Greg on the way to school.</p>
+
+<p>"Get yourselves braced," Dick warned his friends. "All the fellows will
+be out to roast us for being 'heroes.' Oh, we'll catch it."</p>
+
+<p>No sooner had the three turned the corner that led down to the school
+than one of their class-mates "spotted" them.</p>
+
+<p>"Here come Dick &amp; Co!" roared the discoverer. "Turn out! Give 'em a
+welcome! Dick &amp; Co.&mdash;lost children trapped and trained! See the real,
+bony-fido heroes! 'Ray! Now, then, altogether&mdash;<i>ouch!</i>"</p>
+
+<p>The spouter found himself suddenly flat on his back on the sidewalk,
+having been sent there by a vigorous trip from Tom Reade.</p>
+
+<p>"All that ails you, Hen Dutcher, is that you didn't get your name in the
+paper," called Tom denouncingly. "But you will, one of these days. It'll
+be in the police-court news, though. Sixty days for vagrancy!"</p>
+
+<p>"Say, do you know what I'll do to you?" demanded young Dutcher,
+clenching his fists and advancing upon Reade.</p>
+
+<p>"Nothing," asserted Tom calmly. "That's all you ever do, except make a
+noise with your mouth. I never hear your mouth making any noise, though,
+when recitation in arithmetic is going on."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"You think you're smart, don't you?" glowered Hen Dutcher.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't think you are, anyway," retorted Tom, turning on his heel.</p>
+
+<p>Dan Dalzell and Harry Hazelton were at hand, and now the whole of Dick &amp;
+Co. presented a rather solid front. Some of the other boys wanted to do
+some "guying," but Tom's prompt and vigorous rebuke to Dutcher had
+cooled the ardor of a lot of would-be teasers.</p>
+
+<p>The bell rang soon, calling all inside. School opened as usual, but
+after a little Old Dut glanced up, looking keenly at Dick and two of the
+latter's friends.</p>
+
+<p>"I am glad to be able to tell you all," began the principal, "that three
+of my boys, last night&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>As he paused all eyes were turned toward three boys who were turning
+different shades of red.</p>
+
+<p>"Three of my boys," continued Old Dut, "did their school credit by
+displaying the qualities of good citizenship. You all know whom I mean.
+Master Prescott, do you care to rise and tell us something of the events
+of last night?"</p>
+
+<p>"I'd rather not, sir," pleaded Prescott.</p>
+
+<p>"Master Darrin?" pursued Old Dut.</p>
+
+<p>"I feel like Master Prescott, only more so," replied Dave, turning
+redder still.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Master Holmes?"</p>
+
+<p>"By the advice of my lawyer," rejoined Greg solemnly, "I have nothing to
+say."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm glad to see that our young men are modest, as well as brave,"
+continued Old Dut.</p>
+
+<p>Some of the boys had been staring expectantly, some of the girls
+admiringly. Laura Bentley, the doctor's daughter, looked secretly
+pleased when she heard Dick decline to tell of his adventures.</p>
+
+<p>"First class in American history will now recite," announced Old Dut,
+and the work of the day had begun. Yet, somehow, most of the pupils
+seemed to have forgotten whatever they had previously known of the
+campaign against Richmond.</p>
+
+<p>At recess Dick, Dave and Greg, flanked by their three other chums,
+managed to keep clear of tormentors.</p>
+
+<p>When school was out at noon, however, one boy called out:</p>
+
+<p>"Are we going to have football practice this afternoon, Dick?"</p>
+
+<p>"He can't waste the time," sang out Hen Dutcher derisively. "He has a
+job going a-heroing."</p>
+
+<p>Tom Reade turned sharply, but this time there was no need of his darting
+at the tormentor. Six boys had promptly caught up Hen&mdash;two <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span>by the legs,
+two at the body and two more at the shoulders. Rushing Hen to the
+nearest tree, they promptly and soundly spanked him by the very simple
+method of holding his legs apart and swinging his body smartly against
+the tree-trunk.</p>
+
+<p>"You kids think ye're smart!" growled Hen ruefully, as he rubbed
+himself.</p>
+
+<p>"Everyone knows you're not, Hen," retorted one of the late spankers.
+"You're only stupidly fresh."</p>
+
+<p>Hen quickly subsided and vanished.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes; we ought to have football practice this afternoon," Dick answered,
+when the question was put to him again. "We have no time to lose if
+we're going to play this season. How many of you fellows have studied
+the rules?"</p>
+
+<p>"I have," answered several.</p>
+
+<p>"But, say," broke in one boy, "we can just as well give up the idea of
+having uniforms. We fellows can't raise the cash."</p>
+
+<p>"Mrs. Dexter has offered to buy the uniforms," put in Greg incautiously.</p>
+
+<p>"Has she?"</p>
+
+<p>A whoop of delight went up from some of the boys.</p>
+
+<p>"She'll be able to buy us bully ones; she has lots of money these days,"
+declared one listener.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes; Mrs. Dexter offered to supply the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span>money," Dick admitted. "But,
+fellows, I want you all to think that over. I, for one, shall vote
+against getting our uniforms that way."</p>
+
+<p>"Why?" came a chorus.</p>
+
+<p>"Because, fellows, if we haven't brains and industry enough to get our
+uniforms ourselves we've no business togging up at all. We can play
+pretty good football, for that matter, with nothing but the ball
+itself."</p>
+
+<p>Some sided with Dick; others were in favor of letting any one who was
+willing provide the field togs for the Central Grammar School eleven.</p>
+
+<p>Dick didn't stop to argue long. He was hungry for his dinner. On Main
+Street he parted from his chums, pursuing his way home alone. He had not
+gone far when he had to pass a new building in process of erection.
+Three stories had already been built up, and the workmen were now
+engaged in putting on the fourth and last story.</p>
+
+<p>Dick was just passing the main entrance of the new building when he
+heard a warning rattle above. Instinct made him dart into the entrance.</p>
+
+<p>Nor did he move an instant too soon. Some thirty bricks fell to the
+sidewalk with a great clatter. Among them landed a heavy hod.</p>
+
+<p>"My! But that was a close shave!" quivered <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span>the boy. "A second or two
+later and my head would have been split open!"</p>
+
+<p>He darted out, but did not stop until he had reached the middle of the
+road.</p>
+
+<p>"Hey!" Prescott shouted up to the top of the building, but no one
+answered.</p>
+
+<p>"Be careful, up there, where you dump your bricks!" called Dick once
+more.</p>
+
+<p>A customer coming out of a store next door caught sight of the bricks
+and the hod.</p>
+
+<p>"What's the matter, Prescott?" called the man.</p>
+
+<p>"Some workman was careless, and let that hod and all the bricks fall,"
+Dick answered. "I heard them coming, and got in out of the shower just
+in time."</p>
+
+<p>"No workman did that," muttered the man, after staring in bewilderment
+for a moment. "The men are all off, getting their dinner."</p>
+
+<p>"Then who could have done it?" Dick wanted to know.</p>
+
+<p>"Humph! If you have any enemies, Prescott, I'd say that trick was done
+by some one who didn't care how badly you were hurt."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, nonsense!" rejoined Dick. "I don't believe any one hates me badly
+enough to do a thing like that."</p>
+
+<p>"Didn't you have some trouble with a couple of men yesterday?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Why, yes; but&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>Dick halted suddenly, looking puzzled. Could it be possible, after all,
+that this was a "delicate" attention from Ab. Dexter?</p>
+
+<p>For Dexter had no need to be afraid of walking the streets of Gridley.
+His wife had refused to procure a warrant for him on the charge of
+attempted abduction of Myra. She was unwilling that her child should
+bear the disgrace of having a father in prison.</p>
+
+<p>Three other men had drawn close and halted. To them the first man
+explained what had happened.</p>
+
+<p>"Come on!" cried one of the newcomers, hastening into the building. "One
+of you stay out on the sidewalk; another go to the back of the building.
+We'll soon find out whether there's any one in the building."</p>
+
+<p>Dick joined, as the person most interested, in the swift, thorough
+search that was made.</p>
+
+<p>No other human being than the searchers, however, was to be found in the
+building.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't believe any one threw it at me," said Dick thoughtfully, after
+all hands had returned to the street. "The hod must have been left
+standing near the edge of the building&mdash;perhaps against the top of a
+ladder. Then the breeze up there may have jarred it out of place. At any
+rate, I'm not hurt, and no harm is done. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span>But I wish to thank all of you
+gentlemen for taking the trouble to make the search."</p>
+
+<p>"Humph!" muttered one of the men, after Dick had hurried away. "The idea
+of a hod being left standing, and then being blown over into the street
+doesn't satisfy me!"</p>
+
+<p>Dick was late reaching home. What he had in the way of dinner he had to
+force down hurriedly, and then start for school once more.</p>
+
+<p>After school that afternoon most of the boys of seventh and eighth
+grades turned up at the field, eager for more football work.</p>
+
+<p>"It seems to me," announced Dick thoughtfully, "that there is no sense
+in kicking a ball around the field aimlessly. There isn't much use in
+rushes or mass plays, either, until we know what we are doing and can do
+it according to the rules. So, fellows, what do you say to seeing who
+knows the rules best? Let's have a drill in rules."</p>
+
+<p>Many of the youngsters objected to that as being too tame. Yet Dick's
+idea carried the day, after all. Some of the fellows went away, thinking
+this sort of procedure too much like a lesson and too little like fun.
+After nearly an hour's discussion of the rules two elevens were formed
+and there was time for some play.</p>
+
+<p>Dick &amp; Co. left the field together. On the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span>way home young Prescott spoke
+of the falling of the bricks at noon.</p>
+
+<p>"That wasn't any accident," spoke up Dave, with an air of great
+conviction.</p>
+
+<p>"You think some one did that on purpose?"</p>
+
+<p>"I'm sure of it," Dave asserted.</p>
+
+<p>"Who could have done it?"</p>
+
+<p>"Who but Ab. Dexter?"</p>
+
+<p>"Wrong!" volunteered Tom Reade. "Up at the field a man in a buggy hauled
+up to watch the play. He happened to mention that he had seen Dexter
+over in Stayton this noon. Stayton is nine miles away from here."</p>
+
+<p>"Then of course it wasn't Dexter," declared Dick.</p>
+
+<p>"It must have been that other fellow," suggested Greg.</p>
+
+<p>"You mean that special officer, Driggs?" inquired Dick.</p>
+
+<p>"Of course. And I'll tell you where else we saw that fellow Driggs. He
+was the driver of the cab last night. I've just placed that voice of
+his."</p>
+
+<p>"Then Driggs was disguised last night, the same as Dexter was."</p>
+
+<p>"Of course."</p>
+
+<p>"And I can tell you something else," continued Tom Reade. "I know what
+Dexter was doing in the drug store last night. I met Len <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span>Spencer this
+noon. Len had been investigating."</p>
+
+<p>"What did Dexter want in the drug store?" asked Prescott.</p>
+
+<p>"Soothing syrup. Len says he guesses that Ab. Dexter was afraid Myra
+would make too much noise before he got through the night, and that
+Dexter must have meant to drug the child into quietness."</p>
+
+<p>"It ought not to have taken Dexter all that time just to get a bottle of
+soothing syrup," suggested Prescott.</p>
+
+<p>"It did, in this case," Reade declared. "The druggist thought there was
+something queer in Dexter's manner, and so he questioned him sharply as
+to what Dexter wanted to do with the stuff. Dexter got confused, next
+angry, and the druggist had about made up his mind not to sell the
+stuff."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I hope we've heard the last of that precious pair, Driggs and
+Dexter," murmured Dalzell plaintively.</p>
+
+<p>"Mrs. Dexter holds the key to that situation," remarked Dick
+thoughtfully. "If she lets Dexter have money, from time to time, he'll
+still hang around. If she won't let him have money, and has herself
+guarded from him, then by and by he'll get tired. Then he'll clear out
+for new scenes and try some other scheme of getting <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span>a living without
+working. Mrs. Dexter&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Sh!" warned Harry Hazelton. "Speaking of angels, here she comes now."</p>
+
+<p>"Boys, I've been looking for you," cried Mrs. Dexter, halting before
+them. "We didn't come to an understanding last night about the uniforms
+for your football team."</p>
+
+<p>"How's Myra to-day?" asked Dick, anxious to shelve the other topic.</p>
+
+<p>"She's all right to-day, except that the child is very nervous. That is
+natural, of course, after her bad scare last night."</p>
+
+<p>"Aren't you afraid to leave her alone?"</p>
+
+<p>"Myra isn't alone. She has Jane to look after her, and Special Officer
+Grimsby is in the house. I have hired Mr. Grimsby to live at my house
+for the present. He's a brave man, and will stop any nonsense that may
+be tried by certain people."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, we must be getting along," urged Prescott. "It is very near our
+supper time, and&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"But about the uniforms?" persisted Mrs. Dexter.</p>
+
+<p>"Mrs. Dexter, the fellows appreciate your offer very highly. It pleased
+them all to know that you made it."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm glad to hear that," smiled Mrs. Dexter.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"But, ma'am," Prescott continued just as earnestly, "while the fellows
+all feel extremely grateful, they would rather you didn't think of doing
+anything of the sort. The fellows feel that if they're smart enough to
+wear football uniforms, they're smart enough to get 'em. It would take
+all feeling of hustle out of the team if some one else smoothed the way
+for them like that."</p>
+
+<p>"I see," half assented Mrs. Dexter reluctantly.</p>
+
+<p>"Therefore, ma'am, if you will accept our gratitude for your offer, and
+agree to the notion of the fellows that they'll do best if they do their
+own hustling, we'll all be mightily pleased as well as grateful."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, well, then," replied the good woman, "we'll simply consider that
+the matter is postponed. I can't agree, as easily as this, to drop what
+I have considered my privilege."</p>
+
+<p>As soon as could be, Dick &amp; Co. made their escape.</p>
+
+<p>They met again for a little while in the evening. Nothing of any real
+moment happened while they were together.</p>
+
+<p>While Dave Darrin was on his way home, however, and going along a dark
+part of the street, something whizzed by his head, striking the sidewalk
+just ahead.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Quit your fooling!" yelled Dave, wheeling about angrily.</p>
+
+<p>No human being, however, was in sight. Dave ran back, some two hundred
+feet in all, but could see no one on the little street, nor in any
+hiding place near by.</p>
+
+<p>Then Dave went back to inspect the missile. It was a stone, slightly
+larger than his two fists together.</p>
+
+<p>"Whew!" whistled Dave inwardly. "That thing wasn't meant for any joke,
+either!"</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>CHAPTER IX</h2>
+
+<h3>AN AWESOME RIVER DISCOVERY</h3>
+
+
+<p>"Want to come, fellows?" asked Greg, halting Dick and Dave on Main
+Street Saturday morning.</p>
+
+<p>"Where?" asked Dick.</p>
+
+<p>"Jim Haynes told me I might take his big canoe this morning."</p>
+
+<p>"So you're going canoeing?" queried Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"Yep; and better'n that, too," glowed Greg. "You know Payson, the
+farmer, up the river?"</p>
+
+<p>"Of course."</p>
+
+<p>"This being an apple year, Payson told me I could have a few barrels of
+apples if I'd pick 'em and pay him twenty cents a barrel. His orchard is
+right along the river bank. Isn't that a cinch?"</p>
+
+<p>"I'd like to go," rejoined Dick wistfully. "But I can't, very well. You
+see, I've got to work in the store this afternoon. Dad is going to be
+away."</p>
+
+<p>"Your mother'll let you go, if you tell her what a fine time you can
+have."</p>
+
+<p>"That wouldn't be quite fair," replied Dick, shaking his head. "Mother
+would let me go, I know; but the trouble with her," he added, with <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span>a
+smile, "is that she's always too easy. And I know there's more work to
+do in the store this afternoon than she can handle alone."</p>
+
+<p>"I'd go in a minute," Dave chipped in, "but you see I've agreed to go to
+the express office this afternoon and help check up bundles. I'm to get
+a quarter for it."</p>
+
+<p>"Huh," returned Greg candidly. "I'm disappointed about you two. It takes
+money to buy apples, even at twenty cents a barrel. You two generally
+have some money."</p>
+
+<p>"I've got five cents," laughed Dave. "Here it is."</p>
+
+<p>"I've got a whole quarter, as it happens," added Dick, producing the
+coin. "I'm not going to be mean, either."</p>
+
+<p>"Whew, but I'll have a job pulling the canoe alone," muttered Greg
+ruefully. "And it isn't much fun picking apples all alone. However, I'm
+going. Maybe Harry Hazelton can go with me. Tom can't and Dan won't.
+I'll see that you two get your shares of apples for the money you've
+turned over to me."</p>
+
+<p>"My share will be half a hat full," laughed Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"And then some more, and still some more," added Greg readily. "I won't
+forget that you two financed my expedition."</p>
+
+<p>"I wish awfully that I could go with you, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span>Greg," spoke Dick truthfully.
+"But it wouldn't be fair for me to think of leaving everything at the
+store for mother to do this afternoon."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, that's all right," nodded Greg.</p>
+
+<p>"And you can bet that I wish I were going with you," supplemented
+Darrin. "But I get a lot of snaps like this one at the express office,
+and there are too many fellows hanging around there looking for my
+chance. It isn't the easiest thing in the world for a fellow to pick up
+silver quarters, Greg."</p>
+
+<p>"Don't I know!" muttered Holmes.</p>
+
+<p>So Greg went on his way.</p>
+
+<p>"Say, wouldn't that be a great way to put in the afternoon?" sighed
+Dave. "These fine September days get into a fellow's blood and make him
+itch for the river and the fields."</p>
+
+<p>"Don't tempt me," begged Dick Prescott plaintively. "I'm trying to do
+the square thing by mother, and I do want to go with Greg!"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, well, a fellow can't always act on the square and have a good time,
+too," philosophized Dave. "On the whole, I guess I'd rather have the
+satisfaction of acting on the square."</p>
+
+<p>Afternoon toil brought its rewards, however. Five members of Dick &amp; Co.,
+released from further responsibilities, met as usual on Main Street that
+evening. They strolled about, met other fellows from the Central
+Grammar, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span>discussed football and talked over all the other topics dear to
+the hearts of Grammar School boys.</p>
+
+<p>"I wonder how Greg got along this afternoon?" suggested Dave. "Any of
+you hear?"</p>
+
+<p>The others shook their heads.</p>
+
+<p>"We could go down to his house and ask him, only it would look as though
+we were just hunting for apples," said Dick.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Greg knows us better'n that," declared Tom Reade. "And Greg will
+simply bring the apples to us, if we don't go to his house. What' say if
+we take a trip down Greg's way? Maybe we'll meet him coming up to find
+the crowd."</p>
+
+<p>This counsel prevailing, the five set out on a direct walk to Greg's
+home. A block away they met Mr. Holmes coming in their direction.</p>
+
+<p>"You're just the ones I wanted to see, boys," was Mr. Holmes's greeting.
+"Where's Greg?"</p>
+
+<p>"We were going down to the house to find him, sir," Dick responded.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm a good deal worried," confessed Mr. Holmes. "Greg went up river
+this afternoon, after apples, and he hasn't been home yet."</p>
+
+<p>"Not home yet?" gasped Dave Darrin.</p>
+
+<p>Then he and Dick gazed at each other in an amazement that quickly turned
+in both hearts to a sickening fear.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Dave recalled the stone flying past his head; Dick remembered the flying
+hod of bricks. And Greg had been the third of their party who had
+blocked Ab. Dexter's plans!</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Greg's all right," spoke up Tom Reade cheerily.</p>
+
+<p>"Then why isn't he home?" demanded Mr. Holmes. "He has had time to
+paddle down from Payson's three times since dark."</p>
+
+<p>There was no gainsaying this statement. All five of the youngsters
+plainly showed their uneasiness.</p>
+
+<p>"Maybe Jim Haynes knows something about the canoe," suggested Dan
+Dalzell.</p>
+
+<p>"No; for Jim has just left our house," replied Mr. Holmes. "Jim came
+over to see what luck my boy had had. I'm growing more worried every
+minute. I think I'll go down to the river."</p>
+
+<p>"We'll go with you, sir, if you don't mind," urged Dick.</p>
+
+<p>"I'll be glad to have you, boys."</p>
+
+<p>But the trip to the river did not lessen their worry. At the boathouse,
+where Jim Haynes kept his canoe, Jim's craft was the only one absent.</p>
+
+<p>"There won't be any sleep in our house to-night until Greg gets home,"
+spoke Mr. Holmes plaintively. He saw by their faces that Greg's <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span>five
+chums were equally uneasy. Yet all five dreaded equally to mention the
+bare thought that Greg might have fallen in with violence at the hands
+of cowardly Ab. Dexter.</p>
+
+<p>"What in the wide world are we going to do?" whispered Dave aside to
+Dick.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, dear, I don't really know. At any rate, we'll have to leave that to
+Mr. Holmes."</p>
+
+<p>"Boys," spoke that gentleman suddenly, "who owns that gasoline launch
+yonder?"</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Edward Atwater," Dick answered.</p>
+
+<p>"That looks like a powerful reflector light on the bow."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, it is, sir," Dave volunteered.</p>
+
+<p>"Where does Mr. Atwater live?"</p>
+
+<p>"On Benson Avenue," Tom Reade replied.</p>
+
+<p>"Boys, I'm going over and see if I can induce Mr. Atwater to take us up
+the river to-night."</p>
+
+<p>"May we go, too, sir?" begged Dick anxiously.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes; if you get your parents' permission. We may be up the river late
+to-night."</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Holmes turned on his heel, going away at a walk that was close to a
+run.</p>
+
+<p>The five members of Dick &amp; Co. scurried homeward. Every one of them
+secured permission to go with Mr. Holmes, and to be out as late as
+necessary. Dan Dalzell, the last of the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span>five to get back to the
+boathouse, was there for some minutes ere Mr. Holmes turned up with Mr.
+Atwater.</p>
+
+<p>The owner of the roomy launch speedily had things in running order. The
+"Napoleon," with the reflector light going brightly, turned out of the
+berth and headed up the river.</p>
+
+<p>"My notion, Mr. Holmes," called the owner, sitting over the steering
+gear, "is that we had better go rather slowly. If you'll turn that light
+from side to side we ought to be able to scan the whole river as we
+move."</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Holmes was already busy swinging the light on its pivot. Behind,
+peering ahead in all directions, crouched Dick Prescott and his chums.</p>
+
+<p>They had gone about a mile upstream when Dick suddenly called out:</p>
+
+<p>"Turn the light to the right again, Mr. Holmes, please. Yes; there it
+is. Don't you make out a canoe over close by the shore?"</p>
+
+<p>"Turn over there, Mr. Atwater," called Mr. Holmes, his hands shaking as
+he tried to hold the light steadily on the floating object that Dick's
+keen vision had picked up.</p>
+
+<p>"Is&mdash;is that Jim Haynes's canoe?" asked Mr. Holmes in a choking voice,
+as the launch swung in close to the drifting craft.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, sir," spoke Dick huskily. "See, there's an 'H' in a circle on the
+bow."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Mr. Atwater ran up so close that the boys reached over and held the
+canoe by its rim. There could be no doubt that it was Haynes's canoe.
+All of the boys recognized it.</p>
+
+<p>"There are no apples in the canoe," murmured Tom Reade.</p>
+
+<p>"You glutton!" muttered Dan Dalzell angrily.</p>
+
+<p>"No; I wasn't thinking of that," Tom retorted indignantly. "But there
+being no apples shows that Greg didn't get as far as getting any. If
+anything happened, then it happened before he had time to load the canoe
+with apples."</p>
+
+<p>"And that must have been hours ago," spoke Mr. Holmes with a noise in
+his throat that was curiously like a sob.</p>
+
+<p>Silently Dick and Dave fished for the bowline of the canoe, then went
+back and made it fast astern.</p>
+
+<p>"What now?" queried Mr. Atwater, looking at Greg's father.</p>
+
+<p>"I think, perhaps, we had better go on up to Mr. Payson's," suggested
+Mr. Holmes. "It isn't too late to call on him, and he will be able to
+tell us whether Greg showed up at his house at all."</p>
+
+<p>The launch was soon alongside the little landing at Mr. Payson's place.
+Taking a lantern <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span>from the boat, Dick and his friends explored the
+orchard for signs of Greg until Mr. Holmes returned.</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Payson tells me that he didn't see my boy," stated Mr. Holmes.
+"What can we do now, I wonder?"</p>
+
+<p>"I should think, sir," Dick suggested, "that it's plain enough that Greg
+didn't try to go home by the river. The canoe may have gotten adrift,
+and he may have started toward home on foot. Some of us, I think, ought
+to follow the road. We may find Greg somewhere along the road, injured
+as a result of some accident."</p>
+
+<p>"That's a good idea," nodded Mr. Holmes. "Yet I shall want Mr. Atwater
+to keep on searching along the river, and some of you boys ought to be
+with him, using your sharp eyes."</p>
+
+<p>A conference was held at the landing. Tom Reade and Harry Hazelton
+boarded the "Napoleon," after which Mr. Holmes and the other boys set
+out for the road.</p>
+
+<p>Truth to tell, neither those aboard the launch nor those who slowly
+followed the road back to Gridley had much hope of encountering news of
+the missing Greg.</p>
+
+<p>"He has fallen in with Ab. Dexter or Driggs," whispered Dave to Dick
+when they were so far from Mr. Holmes that the latter could not overhear
+them.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"That's the way I feel about it," nodded young Prescott. "First, the
+affair of the bricks for mine; then the big stone that whizzed by within
+an inch of your head at night. And now Greg, the third of us to spoil
+the abduction plan, is mysteriously missing."</p>
+
+<p>"There's some scoundrelly plan back of all three affairs," replied Dave
+Darrin with conviction. "Yet why should Dexter take all this trouble to
+punish boys?"</p>
+
+<p>"First of all, because we interfered with him, and spoiled his bold
+stroke," guessed Dick Prescott. "Next, through hitting so mysteriously
+at us all, he probably hopes to scare Mrs. Dexter out of her life. If
+Dexter gets her thoroughly nervous and cowed probably she'll buy him off
+with a lot of her inherited money. That fellow Dexter would do anything
+on earth to escape the penalty of having to work for his living."</p>
+
+<p>"The mean rascal!" was all Dave could mutter, and he said it with
+pent-up savagery.</p>
+
+<p>Wherever a light showed along the country road the seekers after Greg
+knocked at doors. Invariably the answer was the same&mdash;no tidings.</p>
+
+<p>It was after one o'clock Sunday morning when the Grammar School boys
+returned to their several homes, discouraged and heartsick.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Of course the "Blade" got wind of the affair and had Len Spencer and
+another reporter out working on the mystery.</p>
+
+<p>The police, too, took a hand, though there was an absolute lack of clues
+upon which to work.</p>
+
+<p>Broad daylight came Sunday morning, and still no Greg Holmes accounted
+for. Now, the police took a further hand by beginning to drag the river.</p>
+
+<p>The mystery continued throughout that long, dreary day. The Grammar
+School boys felt as though "there had been a death in the family." Len
+Spencer was aware of the suspicions against Ab. Dexter, but, through
+fear of the libel law, he was restrained from putting his suspicions
+into print until there was some real proof against Dexter.</p>
+
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span></p>
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>CHAPTER X</h2>
+
+<h3>A PROBLEM IN FOOTPRINTS</h3>
+
+
+<p>Monday morning dawned bright and clear.</p>
+
+<p>Yet, at 7.40, the fire alarm whistle blew "twenty-two," the signal for
+"no school."</p>
+
+<p>Some boys heard the whistle and wondered. Dick &amp; Co., minus Greg, who
+were gathered on Main Street at the time, did not wonder.</p>
+
+<p>Two minutes later a series of long, loud blasts rang out, the signal to
+call the populace to fire headquarters.</p>
+
+<p>"Just what we thought," guessed Dick, as he, Dave, Dan, Tom and Harry
+started on a run. "There's no school because there's to be a general
+hunt for Greg."</p>
+
+<p>The volunteer firemen of Gridley were among the first to reach fire
+headquarters. The few regulars of the fire department could not leave
+their posts. They must be on hand in case of fires starting.</p>
+
+<p>But the police, the local militia officers and a few fire-department
+officials were quickly gathered and ready to lead searching parties. As
+swiftly as could be, the fire chief detailed <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span>the leaders for the parties
+that were to go in the various directions.</p>
+
+<p>The boys of Gridley were left to join which ever searching parties they
+chose.</p>
+
+<p>"Which crowd shall we go with?" asked Tom Reade.</p>
+
+<p>"I think we'd better go with the crowd that's going up the river road,"
+hinted Dick. "Have the rest of you any better plan?"</p>
+
+<p>No member of Dick &amp; Co. had a better suggestion to make, so Dick's plan
+prevailed.</p>
+
+<p>There were some twenty men in the party that went up along the river
+road, and more than a dozen boys. Captain Hall, of the Gridley militia
+company, commanded this expedition.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, just as soon as we get out into the country," explained Captain
+Hall, as they started, "we shall do well to spread out. We can cover a
+wide range of ground, and yet keep within hearing of each other, so that
+we can signal."</p>
+
+<p>The first part of the road was covered rapidly. Out in the rural part
+Captain Hall halted his searching party and disposed of the men and boys
+under his command.</p>
+
+<p>The line, when it moved forward again, extended into the fields for a
+considerable distance on each side of the road. Everyone had a complete
+description of Greg's clothing and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span>hat when he had last left home. All
+were instructed, also, to look for a gunny sack, or any fragments
+thereof, for Greg had carried such a sack with him on his expedition up
+the river, and this sack had not yet been found.</p>
+
+<p>"Even a shred of that sack, if found, may form a most important clue,"
+added Captain Hall impressively. "I'll keep to the road. If a searcher
+finds anything that he regards as a clue, let him pass the word along to
+me as rapidly as possible. Then we'll halt the whole line, on each side,
+until that clue has been investigated. Don't any of you boys&mdash;or men,
+either, for that matter&mdash;get any idea that he's just tramping for
+pleasure. There is no telling who may have the luck to find a clue that
+will soon lead to the end of the search. Now, forward!"</p>
+
+<p>It was with a sincere good will and much straining of eyes that the hunt
+started. It proved to be slow work. Every now and then some seeker came
+across what he thought might prove a clue, and then the line halted.</p>
+
+<p>Many times footprints were the cause of halting the line. One set of
+footprints that a man found, and on which he passed the signal, proved,
+when measured by Captain Hall's tape measure, to be the prints of a pair
+of number-ten boots.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Greg Holmes, a thirteen-year-old boy, hadn't feet of that size,"
+remarked the militia officer almost sharply. "We know that young Holmes
+wears a number four boot."</p>
+
+<p>Still the line dragged on. Noon came, finding the searching party about
+a mile above Payson's and in wilder country. Some of the men were
+decidedly hungry, as were also all of the boys.</p>
+
+<p>Captain Hall's whistle blew sharply, bringing in his forces.</p>
+
+<p>"We never thought, of course, of provisioning this expedition," said the
+officer, with a smile. "Do you see that farmhouse ahead? Spread out your
+line again, and look for me to signal when we come up with that
+farmhouse. If the folks living there have any food that they will sell,
+I'll pay for it, and we'll halt a few minutes to stoke up for more
+steam."</p>
+
+<p>There was a cheer at this announcement, after which the line spread out
+again. Ten minutes later a halt was made at the farmhouse, and the
+flanks of the searching party came in. The farmer's wife, it turned out,
+had an assortment of food that she was willing to sell at a rather good
+price. On this assorted stuff the searchers fed, washing it all down
+with glasses of milk. Then the search was taken up once more.</p>
+
+<p>"We're moving about a mile an hour now," Dave called across to Dick, as
+the Grammar <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span>School boys, away out on the right flank, tramped through a
+stretch of woods. "Greg may be a hundred miles from here at this minute.
+Question&mdash;what day in the week shall we have the luck to come up with
+him?"</p>
+
+<p>"We're doing the best we can," Dick called back.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't pass along that old chestnut that 'angels can do no better,'"
+grimaced Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, could they?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know. But do you expect that we'll ever find Greg, moving along
+in this fashion?"</p>
+
+<p>"Honestly, I don't," Dick called across. "But we're following the scheme
+laid down by wiser and older heads than ours, and I haven't any better
+plan to suggest. Have you?"</p>
+
+<p>"I&mdash;&mdash;" began Dave, but finished with: "Hang that branch! It flew back
+and hit me!"</p>
+
+<p>"Look where you're going," called Prescott, as he climbed over a wall.
+"For your information, Dave, I'll say that we're coming to a road now."</p>
+
+<p>Tom Reade, on Dick's right hand, and Harry Hazelton, on Dave's left,
+were also jumping into the road, which they started to cross hurriedly.</p>
+
+<p>"Halt!" cried Prescott, and stood like one transfixed, staring down at
+the ground.</p>
+
+<p>"What have you found?" jeered Tom. "A gold mine?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Better&mdash;I believe!" cried Dick joyously. "Hustle here, fellows!
+No&mdash;don't crowd too close or you'll trample it out."</p>
+
+<p>"What do you see?" demanded Hazelton.</p>
+
+<p>"This," answered Prescott, pointing down to the ground. His chums
+peered, too, and made out a very distinct footprint in the soft soil of
+this wild, little-used road through the woods.</p>
+
+<p>"There's been a horse and wagon along here, too," Dick went on
+excitedly. "See the fresh wheeltracks, and the marks of the horse's
+hoofs?"</p>
+
+<p>"But only that one bootprint," objected Tom. "It doesn't seem to me that
+it means much."</p>
+
+<p>Dick gazed reproachfully at his grouped chums, his eyes blazing with
+excitement in the meantime.</p>
+
+<p>"Say, don't you fellows remember how Greg ripped off the lower part of
+his left bootheel at football practice Friday afternoon?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," admitted Dan Dalzell. "But how does this print prove&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"I see!" broke in Dave Darrin tremulously. "This print, at the rear end,
+is from the same sort of heel."</p>
+
+<p>"It surely is," nodded Dick. "Dan, you wear a number-four shoe like
+Greg's. Come here and let me measure the length of your left shoe with
+this string. Sit down first."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Young Prescott took the measure with his string, then applied it to the
+print in the ground.</p>
+
+<p>"Same length, you see," flashed Dick triumphantly. "Fellows, that's Greg
+Holmes's footprint! You see, the print looks old, as though it had been
+made a couple of days ago. Yet there's been no rain and it isn't washed
+away. The footprint looks just about as old as the horse's hoof mark."</p>
+
+<p>"Then you think that Greg took a carriage as far as here?" demanded Tom
+Reade dubiously.</p>
+
+<p>"He was brought here in some sort of wagon!"</p>
+
+<p>"Go on and read the rest of the page to us," begged Dan Dalzell, still
+skeptical.</p>
+
+<p>"This was as far as Dexter, or whoever had Greg, wanted to bring him in
+the wagon," Dick continued, still scanning the ground, while employing
+his hands to wave away whichever of his chums attempted to come too
+close. "Probably Greg was taken somewhere not far from here. He may be
+mighty close to us now, fellows. Let's see. The footprint points
+straight ahead of us."</p>
+
+<p>"Why isn't there more than one print?" insisted Harry Hazelton.</p>
+
+<p>"Because Greg was probably lifted, so that he wouldn't leave too much of
+a trail."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Then why aren't there more prints, especially of the man or men who
+lifted Greg?" questioned Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"The men didn't intend to leave any trail at all," replied Dick,
+thinking hard. "Probably the first man down from the wagon landed on
+that hummock of grass there." Dick moved forward. "Yes, siree! Just look
+here, fellows&mdash;don't crowd too close to it and blot it out. See, there
+isn't a sharply lined footprint here, but there's a pressing down of the
+grass, as if some considerable weight had been pressed upon it."</p>
+
+<p>Dick now moved slowly forward, the others on his flanks.</p>
+
+<p>"Here's another footprint&mdash;the right foot, but Greg's size," he soon
+called.</p>
+
+<p>Not one of the Grammar School boys but felt the full force of the
+excitement now.</p>
+
+<p>"Say!" exploded Tom Reade suddenly. "We've plumb forgotten to pass the
+signal along to the others in the line."</p>
+
+<p>"It's too late now. They're too far ahead of us," Dick announced.
+"Besides, if Greg isn't far from here, and if his captors are with him,
+we don't want to raise too much of a racket and scare the captors away."</p>
+
+<p>"I wish they'd go away, the captors, if they're around here," grinned
+Dalzell. "Maybe they <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span>have guns, and would be cranky enough to use 'em on
+us, sooner'n give Greg up."</p>
+
+<p>"If you're afraid, Dan, turn around and go back," advised Dick quietly,
+as he moved slowly forward. "The rest of you keep a sharp lookout for
+more prints around here."</p>
+
+<p>"Who's afraid?" snapped Dan, his grin fading.</p>
+
+<p>"Here's another footprint!" called Reade, who had ranged slightly ahead
+of the others.</p>
+
+<p>Dick was quickly at the spot.</p>
+
+<p>"That was made by Greg's left shoe," Prescott swiftly declared.</p>
+
+<p>"Correct," nodded Tom Reade. "Say, fellows, we are on Greg's trail!"</p>
+
+<p>The enthusiasm was "catching" by this time. The little line narrowed and
+the Grammar School boys pressed forward, tingling with the mystery and
+excitement of this problem written on the face of old Mother Earth!</p>
+
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span></p>
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>CHAPTER XI</h2>
+
+<h3>DAN SEES BEARS&mdash;IN HIS MIND</h3>
+
+
+<p>In twenty minutes, studying the ground harder than any one of the five
+had ever scanned a problem in arithmetic, the Grammar School boys had
+advanced some three hundred feet. Their course had taken them into the
+woods on the further side of the bridle path.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't see any footprints around here," half grumbled Tom Reade.</p>
+
+<p>"No," Dick replied, "because the ground is hard and stony here. This
+isn't the place to look for prints. But we may find some other sign at
+any&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Stop right where you are!" ordered Dave excitedly.</p>
+
+<p>All halted at once, gazing up the hillside, where Dave pointed.</p>
+
+<p>"Fellows, there's a big rock cropping up, and do you see that hole
+leading into it?"</p>
+
+<p>"Looks like a bear's hole," suggested Dan, with another grin.</p>
+
+<p>"Cheer up!" advised Dick, smiling. "There haven't been any bears in this
+part of the country in a century. But come on, fellows! That place is
+worth looking into."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Willingly enough all trotted up the slope to the hole in the rock,
+though, truth to tell, all the boys were rather footsore by this time.</p>
+
+<p>The hole in the wall of rock proved to be some three feet in diameter.
+Dick struck a match and peered in.</p>
+
+<p>"This tunnel seems to go in as far as I can see with the help of the
+match," young Prescott announced. "Fellows, some of us will have to
+crawl in here and see what we can find."</p>
+
+<p>"Better not," advised Dan. "Greg isn't in there. And if that hole isn't
+the home of a bear then it's snakes. Ugh!"</p>
+
+<p>"I'll go in with you, Dick," agreed Dave. "As for Dan, you stay
+out&mdash;'fraidcat'!"</p>
+
+<p>"No more afraid than you are!" retorted Dalzell, stung into sudden
+spirit. "If you rascals are going to crawl in there, then I'm going with
+you. Can't take 'no' for an answer."</p>
+
+<p>"If Dalzell finds any wild animals in that hole he'll feel like Daniel
+in the lions' den," chuckled Reade.</p>
+
+<p>"I wish we had something to make a torch of," grumbled Dick. "It's slow
+work and a lot of nuisance to be lighting two or three matches every
+minute."</p>
+
+<p>"Do I get a chance to go in there with you?" demanded Dan.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know whether you do or not," grimaced Dick. "You're such a
+scared-cat that&mdash;&mdash;"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Say that again, and you don't get&mdash;this," grinned Dalzell, hauling an
+object out into daylight. It proved to be a pocket electric lamp.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, you jewel!" glowed Dick.</p>
+
+<p>"Am I a scared-cat?" insisted Dan, returning the lamp to his pocket.</p>
+
+<p>"Nothing of the sort!" Dick declared readily.</p>
+
+<p>"How about you, Dave?" demanded Dan, wheeling upon his other tormentor.</p>
+
+<p>"I never admired any one's courage as much as I do yours, Danny boy,"
+laughed Darrin.</p>
+
+<p>"All right, then. You can use the lamp," conceded Dalzell, bringing it
+forth from his pocket and handing it over to Dick.</p>
+
+<p>"Let's all hurry and get in there," proposed Tom Reade.</p>
+
+<p>"Nothing like it!" rejoined Dick. "Wouldn't it be fine if we all crawled
+in there and Dexter and Driggs really happened to be in the
+neighborhood? They might come along and pen us all in there! Tom, you
+and Harry will have to stay outside on guard&mdash;and keep your eyes wide
+open."</p>
+
+<p>"Hazelton can keep his ears wide open," suggested Reade. "His ears are
+the generous, wide-open kind, anyway."</p>
+
+<p>Dick had already thrown himself on his knees, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span>and, holding the lamp
+ahead of him, he crawled in as fast as he could over the rough, rocky
+floor of the tunnel.</p>
+
+<p>Dave Darrin was right behind the leader. Third in line came Dan Dalzell,
+who comforted himself with the thought that, if Dick and Dave
+encountered anything dangerous, he (Dan) would have loads of time to
+crawl out again before the danger could assail him.</p>
+
+<p>For more than a dozen feet the tunnel ran irregularly into the rock.
+Suddenly Dick uttered an excited shout.</p>
+
+<p>"Whh-a-at's the matter?" almost chattered Dalzell. "What's hit you?"</p>
+
+<p>"There's a regular cave here," Dick called back. "A fine, big place!"</p>
+
+<p>At this moment Dave, too, straightened up as he stepped into the cave
+proper.</p>
+
+<p>"What's going on in there?" Tom Reade called in through the tunnel.</p>
+
+<p>"Stay where you are," Dalzell called back, "and don't let us get bagged
+in here by any one."</p>
+
+<p>Then Dan straightened up on his feet and took several curious looks
+about him while Dick flashed the light.</p>
+
+<p>"Say, this is bigger'n a barn in here, only not so high!" gasped Dan.</p>
+
+<p>"I wonder why nobody ever knew of this dandy place before?" mused Dave.
+"And the air's good in here, too."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"The air's good enough," Dick assented hurriedly. "But what we came here
+for was to see whether we can find Greg. Come on, fellows&mdash;be quick."</p>
+
+<p>"This leads to nothing, after all," sighed Dave Darrin at last.</p>
+
+<p>"There may be other parts to the cave that we haven't found yet,"
+advanced young Prescott. "Now, halt, everyone! Quiet! Greg?"</p>
+
+<p>Dick's voice echoed in the place. Away off in one corner something
+seemed to be stirring.</p>
+
+<p>"What's that?" asked Dick quickly.</p>
+
+<p>"Time to beat it!" muttered Dan. "We've disturbed some animal that lives
+here."</p>
+
+<p>"Sh!" ordered Prescott, holding up one hand. "Greg!"</p>
+
+<p>Against their ear-drums came again, rather faintly, the sound of
+something moving.</p>
+
+<p>"If you're Greg, you keep on making the noise until I locate you," urged
+Dick. "Fellows, you stay right where you are. Don't move."</p>
+
+<p>Once more that sound of something moving came to the boys, and Dick, on
+tip-toe, moving softly, ranged toward the direction from which he
+believed the noise had come. As Dick moved away from them with the
+light, Dave and Dan found themselves in comparative darkness.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"If that's you, Greg, keep on making all the noise you can," directed
+young Prescott, as he neared one of the jutting ledges of rock.</p>
+
+<p>A distant snort came as though in answer.</p>
+
+<p>"If that's you, Greg, you can do it again," cried Dick in a low, eager
+voice. "If it's you, do it just four times."</p>
+
+<p>Then Dick halted, realizing in the stillness that he could hear his own
+heart beating rapidly.</p>
+
+<p>Again came the snort&mdash;one, two, three&mdash;four times. Then it stopped.</p>
+
+<p>"Dave! Dan!" quivered Dick's voice. "Come running! It's Greg."</p>
+
+<p>There was a sound of running feet&mdash;then a thump. Dave Darrin was still
+coming, but Dan had tripped over some little obstacle and had fallen
+flat.</p>
+
+<p>"Hold on, there, you two!" howled Dan. "I've hurt my knee. Wait until I
+reach you."</p>
+
+<p>But Dave and Dick paid no heed. Once more they had heard the snorts, and
+had made a dash for a low ledge of rock, from behind which they believed
+the sounds to have come.</p>
+
+<p>Then both young leaders of the Grammar School boys gave a joyous whoop,
+mingled with dismay.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>CHAPTER XII</h2>
+
+<h3>THE BOY WITH THE OAKUM TASTE</h3>
+
+
+<p>"Hustle, Dan! We've found him!" rang Dave Darrin's voice, echoing
+through the rock-bound spaces.</p>
+
+<p>"Greg, old fellow, you've had us worried," gasped Dick Prescott, sinking
+to the stone floor beside his friend.</p>
+
+<p>Greg lay on the floor, tightly bound hand and foot, a gag of oakum stuck
+in his mouth and securely held there by cloth tightly strapped in place.</p>
+
+<p>"Get your knife open, Dave, while I hold the light," ordered Dick.
+"We've got to have Greg free at once. See how white and sick he looks."</p>
+
+<p>Slash! Dave cut away the gag first of all, picking out all he could of
+the gag.</p>
+
+<p>"Ugh!" sputtered young Holmes, spitting out shreds of oakum. "You bet
+I'm sick!"</p>
+
+<p>"How do you feel?" Dick asked anxiously, as Dave rolled Greg over and
+began to cut away the cords at the lad's wrists.</p>
+
+<p>"Sick!" muttered Greg. "Sick of the very taste of that oakum stuff. Did
+you ever eat any oakum?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Can't say that I did," laughed Dick merrily, now that he knew at last
+that his chum was safe.</p>
+
+<p>"You haven't missed much," growled Greg.</p>
+
+<p>"There, your hands are free," announced practical Dave. "How long have
+you been here, Holmesy?"</p>
+
+<p>"Since Saturday afternoon."</p>
+
+<p>"Had anything to eat?" Dick wanted to know.</p>
+
+<p>"No; and I'll have to get the taste of that vile oakum out of my mouth
+before I can endure the taste of food," uttered Greg dismally.</p>
+
+<p>Darrin had made the last slash at Greg's foot-lashings.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, get up, old fellow!"</p>
+
+<p>Both helped young Holmes to his feet, but he would have fallen had not
+Dick caught him.</p>
+
+<p>"Circulation's all stopped," muttered Greg disgustedly. "No wonder! The
+scoundrels must have tied me as tight as they knew how. Ugh! That fierce
+oakum taste!"</p>
+
+<p>"Say, you'll be the hero of the town when you get home, Greg,"
+proclaimed Dan Dalzell, who had groped his way to the spot.</p>
+
+<p>"Hero? With that oakum taste in my mouth?" sputtered young Holmes.
+"Bosh! I'd sooner have a good gargle than be two heroes!"</p>
+
+<p>While Dick supported the rescued boy, Dave <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span>Darrin was rubbing Greg's
+legs roughly up and down to promote better circulation.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, take a few steps," advised Dave. "See how you can go."</p>
+
+<p>Supported by Dick's arm, Greg did fairly well in the way of walking. Of
+course every step that he took helped restore the circulation.</p>
+
+<p>"Wow! There's going to be an exciting time in Gridley," grinned Dan
+Dalzell.</p>
+
+<p>"What day is it now?" inquired Greg.</p>
+
+<p>"Monday&mdash;afternoon," Prescott answered.</p>
+
+<p>"My folks must be stirred up."</p>
+
+<p>"They're crazy," Dan supplied very impressively.</p>
+
+<p>"How far is this place from Gridley?"</p>
+
+<p>"Six miles. Don't you know where you are, Greg!"</p>
+
+<p>"Haven't an idea in the world."</p>
+
+<p>"How did you get here? What happened?"</p>
+
+<p>"Wait a little while," begged Greg. "I've just got to spit all the oakum
+taste out of my mouth before I want to do much talking."</p>
+
+<p>By this time they were at the tunnel that led outside.</p>
+
+<p>"Hullo, Tom!" called Dick through the tunnel.</p>
+
+<p>"Hullo yourself, and see how you like it!" came from outside.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Tom," cried Dick joyously, "we've found Greg! We're bringing him with
+us."</p>
+
+<p>"Can't he bring himself?" demanded Reade. Then, in a suddenly scared
+voice:</p>
+
+<p>"Is he&mdash;dead?"</p>
+
+<p>"Dead sore on oakum as a food," laughed Dan, grinning broadly.</p>
+
+<p>Dick, holding the light, was piloting Greg through the tunnel. In a few
+moments all were outside. Tom and Harry danced a jig for sheer joy.</p>
+
+<p>"Greg, aren't you thirsty?" demanded Dick, as young Holmes stood
+blinking in the bright sunlight.</p>
+
+<p>"I shall be, as soon as I get the oakum washed out of my mouth,"
+grimaced Greg. "Whew! What a vile taste that sort of stuff has!"</p>
+
+<p>"Folks in the good old town won't believe us when we get back," muttered
+Darrin.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, they will; they'll have to," insisted Dan, producing some articles
+from one of his pockets. "Here are some of the cords you cut from Greg's
+wrists and ankles, and here's some of the oakum."</p>
+
+<p>"Throw that oakum stuff away, or else hide it. Please do," begged young
+Holmes, making a wry face.</p>
+
+<p>"Come on. There's no time to be lost," advised Dick. "We've got a long
+way to go, and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span>Greg needs the exercise. Besides, he's thirsty and
+hungry&mdash;or ought to be."</p>
+
+<p>Within five minutes the Grammar School boys came across a spring. There
+Greg knelt and took in several mouthfuls, one after another, for the
+purpose of rinsing his mouth of that nauseating oakum taste. Then, at
+last, he swallowed water freely.</p>
+
+<p>"My, but it's good to be out in the world again," breathed Greg happily.
+"But how did you fellows find me?"</p>
+
+<p>"The whole town turned out to search," Dick explained. "There was no
+school to-day. And we came across clues that led us here. That's enough,
+from our side. Now, tell us how you came to be in such a fix."</p>
+
+<p>At this point the Grammar School boys came out on the highway.</p>
+
+<p>"Better each put a few stones in your pockets, fellows," advised Dick
+Prescott, stooping. "If we should meet any one we don't want to meet,
+stones might not prove such bad ammunition. Now, Greg, start in and tell
+us what happened."</p>
+
+<p>"You know that big clump of bushes near the landing at Payson's?" asked
+young Holmes.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, Saturday afternoon I landed, tied the canoe and then, with a
+gunny sack on my arm, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span>started toward the orchard. Just as I was going by
+the bushes I heard a little noise. Before I could turn I was thrown
+flat. Then a man was on top of me, holding my nose ground into the
+dirt."</p>
+
+<p>"Dexter? Driggs?" questioned Prescott.</p>
+
+<p>"I couldn't see who it was. Next thing my own gunny sack was forced over
+my head. I could feel, now, that there were two men working over me.
+Then my hands were yanked behind me and tied. Next my feet. I forgot to
+say that when I was thrown I was hurled in among the bushes. Well, after
+I had been bound a dark cloth of some kind was passed around the sack
+over my eyes."</p>
+
+<p>"Didn't you holler?" asked Dan, his mouth wide open.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes. While the cloth was being tied tight I thought it was time to
+start in to yell. At the first sound a pair of hands gripped me around
+the throat. Whee! I thought I was being hanged, certainly! I must have
+been black in the face when that scoundrel let up on choking me. Well, I
+took the choking as a hint that I wasn't expected to make any noise.
+After that I was thrown on my back, but I couldn't see anything. One
+man, who had rather soft hands&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Dexter," guessed Dick.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Most likely. Well, he sat with one hand across my throat, and I didn't
+think it was my time to yell, so I lay quiet. After a while I heard a
+wagon coming along. Then I was lifted into the wagon and a lot of old
+sacking was thrown over the whole length of my body. I guess it was the
+same sacking that you found me lying on in the cave. Then the wagon
+started and I had a long ride. At last we branched off into what I guess
+was a sort of bridle path. Not so very long after the wagon stopped and
+I was lifted down to my feet. I walked a little way, guided by one of
+the men, and then they lifted me up and carried me. Then I felt them
+poking me through that tunnel. After that I saw some kind of a light,
+dimly, through the cloths over my head, and then I was thrown down where
+you found me. The light was out then, and the cloths were taken off my
+head. Then that sickening gag was jammed into my mouth."</p>
+
+<p>"Didn't you offer any kick?" inquired Dan.</p>
+
+<p>"Where was the use?" sighed Greg. "I knew that men who had gone to all
+that trouble to bother me wouldn't waste any time listening to what I
+might have to say."</p>
+
+<p>"Then you don't know," inquired Dick, "if Dexter and Driggs were the
+men?"</p>
+
+<p>"They didn't speak once, from the time they <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span>grabbed me up to the time
+when they left me in the cave," Greg answered. "Hours after that I must
+have fallen asleep. I woke up to hear their voices a little way off.
+They were talking in whispers. I couldn't hear all that was said, but
+I'm certain in my own mind that the two were Dexter and Driggs."</p>
+
+<p>"Did you make out anything that they were talking about?" pressed Dick.</p>
+
+<p>"Here and there I caught some of it. I heard one man scolding the other
+about throwing bricks and shying a stone; and so that must have been
+what happened to you, Dick, and to you, Dave. I'm pretty sure it was
+Dexter who was doing the scolding. Later I heard him say it was foolish,
+and this carrying me off was much more to the purpose&mdash;that a thing like
+my being carried away would do a heap more to 'scare that woman' and
+make her understand that she had some one she couldn't afford to fool
+with. Next the other man broke in and said that lugging me away was
+foolish, and only a cause of trouble. But the other man broke in, with a
+laugh, and said he'd make 'that woman' pay handsomely to have me set
+free. He said she had always been a tender-hearted woman, and would
+spend plenty of money to save the life of a boy who had helped her. Then
+the two men, I judged from the sounds, left <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span>the cave. Any way, I haven't
+heard any sound of them since then. I&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>Here Greg stopped suddenly, clutching at a tree that he was passing.</p>
+
+<p>"Fellows, I feel about all in," he remarked brokenly. "I'm awfully
+dizzy, too."</p>
+
+<p>"You're played out, starved and all used up&mdash;that's what ails you,"
+exclaimed Dick sympathetically. "We'll halt here and give you a chance
+to rest."</p>
+
+<p>In five minutes Greg declared himself fit to go on again. Dave and Dick
+walked on either side of him, half supporting him.</p>
+
+<p>"There's a house ahead, and a telephone wire running into it," said
+young Prescott. "We'll try to get that far, and then we'll telephone
+into Gridley."</p>
+
+<p>That much of the trip was made, with a couple of short halts for rest.
+Dick went up to the front door of the farmhouse and knocked loudly. It
+was the farmer himself who came to the door.</p>
+
+<p>"We've found the boy that all the searching parties were out looking
+for," Dick announced. "May we use your telephone to send the word into
+Gridley?"</p>
+
+<p>"You sure can," rejoined the farmer. "Come this way." Then, with a side
+glance at young Holmes, "I guess you're him."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," nodded Greg.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"And you hain't had a bite to eat for a day or two?"</p>
+
+<p>"No."</p>
+
+<p>"Mother," called the farmer, leading the way into the living room,
+"here's that missing youngster that there's been all the fuss over. He's
+hungry. You know what treatment that calls for."</p>
+
+<p>Dick, in the meantime, had espied the telephone and was engaged in
+ringing up. He called for the police station and sent the news to the
+chief.</p>
+
+<p>"And say that I'm hitching up a team and am going to bring you all in,"
+added the farmer. So Prescott added that item of information.</p>
+
+<p>"Hark! Hear that?" broke in Dick a minute later, while nearly all the
+others were talking at once. Despite the distance there came to their
+ears the sound of Gridley's fire alarm whistle, sounding the recall for
+all searching parties.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, goodness knows I'd like to offer you a lot more to eat, young
+man," said the farmer's gray-haired wife, patting Greg's head. "But,
+after fasting so long you don't want to eat too much at first. What
+you've had ought to be enough until you've had your drive and are at
+home with your own folks."</p>
+
+<p>"I feel fine, ma'am," responded young Holmes gratefully. "I don't know
+how to thank <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span>you. And I'm glad you stopped my eating too much for my own
+good. I'll be all right now, when I get home."</p>
+
+<p>The farmer drove up to the door and called out. All of Greg's friends
+wanted to help him outdoors, but he insisted that he could walk all by
+himself. Into the farm wagon piled the Grammar School boys, after having
+thanked the woman of the house most heartily.</p>
+
+<p>"This is a lot better'n walking, after all," murmured Greg gratefully.</p>
+
+<p>Even with his late start the boys were ahead of the searchers under
+Captain Hall, who had heard the signal and were now returning.</p>
+
+<p>"Turn down one of the side streets, will you, please?" begged Greg, as
+the party neared the outskirts of Gridley. "I don't feel exactly like
+meeting a whole crowd."</p>
+
+<p>For, even at a distance, it could be seen that Gridley was swarming with
+thousands of people who had not joined the searching parties.</p>
+
+<p>Thus Greg was delivered at his own home, and the other members of Dick &amp;
+Co. were up on Main Street before the news had spread of young Holmes's
+return.</p>
+
+<p>All sensational events are dead as soon as they have been discussed for
+a few hours. The police authorities visited Greg at his home and
+questioned him, then reluctantly decided that <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span>there was not enough
+evidence for issuing a warrant for Abner Dexter and his man Driggs. But
+the news came over, from Driggs's own town, that the fellow had been
+dropped from the police force there.</p>
+
+<p>On Tuesday morning school went on as usual, and in the afternoon the
+boys of the Central Grammar went at their football practice as though
+nothing had happened.</p>
+
+<p>Before the practice game Dick called a meeting in the field, at which he
+and Dave Darrin were authorized to challenge the North and South Grammar
+Schools to a series of games.</p>
+
+<p>Within the next three days both schools had been heard from, and there
+seemed every prospect of keen rivalry between the boys of the three
+schools.</p>
+
+<p>Many days went along ere Dick &amp; Co. heard again from Dexter or the
+latter's henchman. Yet events were shaping that were destined to mark
+important pages in the history of Gridley.</p>
+
+<p>Except for football, in fact, things were now so quiet that Dick
+Prescott had not an inkling of the startling events that were ahead of
+him.</p>
+
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span></p>
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2>
+
+<h3>A GREAT FOOTBALL POW-WOW</h3>
+
+
+<p>"I have important news to communicate," began Old Dut dryly, after
+tapping the bell for the beginning of the afternoon session.</p>
+
+<p>Dick and some of his friends looked up rather placidly, for they knew
+what the news was to be.</p>
+
+<p>"All lovers of football in the Central Grammar School," continued the
+principal, "are requested to meet in the usual field immediately after
+the close of school. The purpose is to form a league and to arrange for
+games between the three Grammar Schools of Gridley. I will add that I am
+glad that so much interest in athletics is being displayed by our young
+men. To show my pleasure, I will add that if any of the young men in
+this school are so unfortunate as to incur checks this afternoon that
+would keep them in after school they may serve out the checks to-morrow
+instead. First class in geography! For the next twenty minutes the boys
+of this class are requested to remember that football is not geography!"</p>
+
+<p>Excited as many of the youngsters were, and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span>great as was the temptation
+to whisper, it happened that not a boy in the eighth grade received a
+check or a demerit, as it is usually called, for any form of bad conduct
+that afternoon. Immediately at the close of school the almost solid
+legion of boys of the seventh and eighth grades started on a run for the
+big field in which they had been practising of late.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, we'll have to wait a few minutes for the fellows from the other
+schools," announced Dick when he had marshaled his forces in the field.
+"It will take them longer to get here."</p>
+
+<p>"Here come some of the North Grammar boys!" called a lookout, a few
+minutes later. "Hi Martin is one of them."</p>
+
+<p>"Welcome to the North Grammar," called Dick, as Hi Martin and two other
+boys made their appearance on the field. A dozen more boys from the same
+school could be seen straggling along in the rear by twos and threes.</p>
+
+<p>"My, but you fellows have brought a mob," was Hi's greeting.</p>
+
+<p>"We invited all of the fellows of the two top grades," Dick explained.</p>
+
+<p>"A small, select committee would have been better," remarked Hi. "When
+you have too big a crowd you can't hear each other, for everyone is
+talking at once. So you fellows of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span>the Central Grammar think you can
+play football, do you?"</p>
+
+<p>"We don't know," laughed Prescott. "We want to find out."</p>
+
+<p>"Huh!"</p>
+
+<p>"Here come a dozen fellows from the South Grammar," announced another
+lookout.</p>
+
+<p>"Huh! They're coming in a mob, too," uttered Martin in some disdain.
+"There's at least thirty in their crowd."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, you Norths have brought at least fifteen," observed Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"But only three of us are a committee," retorted Hi Martin. "The other
+fellows are just hangers on&mdash;camp followers, so to speak."</p>
+
+<p>"Don't get too chesty, Hi," objected one of the outside dozen from the
+North Grammar.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't try to give me any orders, Ben Lollard," snapped Martin. "We got
+all our orders from the school before we started."</p>
+
+<p>"Who represents the South Grammar?" called Dick as the new comers
+trooped on to the field.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, aren't there enough of us here?" demanded Ted Teall.</p>
+
+<p>"But Martin, of the North Grammar, thinks each school ought to be
+represented by a committee," explained Dick.</p>
+
+<p>"Committee of three," amended Hi Martin.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Huh! That's a dude arrangement," rejoined Ted Teall.</p>
+
+<p>"We have some sense of dignity at the North Grammar," snapped Hi Martin,
+flushing.</p>
+
+<p>"And you carry it around with you all the time," jeered young Teall.</p>
+
+<p>Things began to look badly for the success of the league. Many of the
+North Grammar boys came from rather well-to-do families, and not a few
+of these boys considered themselves infinitely superior to the class of
+boys that helped to make up the Centrals and Souths.</p>
+
+<p>"Let's not have any disagreements," urged Dick coaxingly.</p>
+
+<p>"Then keep these Souths in check," grumbled Hi Martin.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't let the Norths get too fresh just because they have clean collars
+every day," advised Ted Teall.</p>
+
+<p>"Fresh? It takes a South Grammar boy to be fresh," sputtered Hi.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, does it?" sneered Ted. "Dude!"</p>
+
+<p>"Mucker!" responded Hi cheerfully.</p>
+
+<p>"Say, if you could only use your hands as well as you do your mouths,"
+sneered Ted, "ten&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"We do," announced Hi Martin, bounding over in front of Teall.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Fight! Fight!" howled half a hundred boys gleefully.</p>
+
+<p>Ted Teall was more than willing, and Hi looked as though he were afraid
+only of soiling his hands in touching a South Grammar boy. Dick,
+however, darted in between the pair, and Darrin, Reade and Dalzell
+followed.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, stop all this fooling, fellows," begged Dick. "We all know that
+Ted and Hi can fight. What we want to find out is whether there are
+brains and muscle enough in town to get three football elevens together.
+Ted, put your hands in your pockets. Hi, you move back. We don't want
+any fighting here."</p>
+
+<p>"Then that cub will have to stop calling names," retorted Teall.</p>
+
+<p>"You started it yourself," retorted Martin.</p>
+
+<p>"You're another!"</p>
+
+<p>"Fight! Fight!" yelled many of the young onlookers.</p>
+
+<p>Ted was willing, and Martin not unwilling. Crowds surged forward,
+threatening to push the North and South champions to close quarters.</p>
+
+<p>"Let's go home, if nobody ain't going to do nuthing," remarked one South
+disgustedly.</p>
+
+<p>"Stop all this, fellows&mdash;please do," begged Dick once more. "Ted and Hi,
+you two show your good sense by shaking hands."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Shake hands with that?" demanded Hi scornfully, glaring at Teall.</p>
+
+<p>"Shake hands with a high-collared dude?" muttered Ted. "I'd get mobbed
+for disgracing my part of the town."</p>
+
+<p>"You are a disgrace, anyway," snapped back Hi.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, you get back, Martin, and let us get down to real football,"
+directed Darrin, pushing Martin back several feet. "No; you needn't
+glare at me. I won't fight you, at all events, until the football season
+is over."</p>
+
+<p>Dalzell was backing up Dave in an effort to keep Martin back. Reade and
+Hazelton now placed themselves in front of young Teall.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, come to order, please!" called Dick.</p>
+
+<p>"Hey, Prescott! Who asked you to preside?" hailed a South Grammar boy.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know that I want to, either," Prescott answered, with a smile.
+"But some one has to start the meeting. As soon as you come to order you
+can choose any one you want for presiding officer. All I'm trying to do
+is to get the thing started. Come to order, please."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll meet you on Main Street any Saturday you like, Hi Martin!" called
+Ted belligerently.</p>
+
+<p>"I wouldn't go out of my way to meet anything like you," shot back
+Martin.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Order! Order!" insisted Dick. "Come to order, fellows!"</p>
+
+<p>By the aid of his chums and a few other friends, and a great deal of
+"sh! sh!" all through the crowd, Dick at last got the meeting into a
+semblance of quiet.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, as I said before," Prescott went on, "all the reason I had for
+taking the chair&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Where is it?"</p>
+
+<p>"What did you take it for?"</p>
+
+<p>"&mdash;&mdash;was to get the meeting started," Dick went on. "Now that we're at
+least as quiet as some of the very small boys here will allow us to be,
+suppose you nominate some one to preside over this meeting."</p>
+
+<p>"Dick Prescott is good enough for us," sang out several Central Grammar
+boys.</p>
+
+<p>"Hi Martin!" came from the North squad.</p>
+
+<p>"Ted Teall!" insisted the South boys.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, whom do you want?" insisted Dick patiently.</p>
+
+<p>"Dick Prescott!" "Hi Martin!" "Ted Teall!"</p>
+
+<p>"Don't waste time trying to choose a chairman, Dick," advised Dave.
+"Just hold on to the job yourself, and try to get something through the
+meeting."</p>
+
+<p>But a clamor went up on all sides that lasted fully a minute.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Chairman!" shouted Tom Reade as soon as quiet came.</p>
+
+<p>"Reade," acknowledged Prescott, with a bow in Tom's direction.</p>
+
+<p>"Will you kindly state the object of the meeting?"</p>
+
+<p>"The object of the meeting," Prescott went on, "is to see whether each
+of the three Grammar Schools in this town is able and willing to
+organize a football team. The object, further, is to see whether we can
+form the three teams into a league and play off a series of games for
+the championship this fall."</p>
+
+<p>"Who's going to run the league?" demanded Ted Teall.</p>
+
+<p>"That's for this meeting to decide," Dick answered. "I would suggest
+that each school nominate a committee of three to represent it in a
+council of nine made up from the three schools. That the council choose
+a chairman and that the council have full charge of league
+arrangements."</p>
+
+<p>"Is Hi Martin going to be in that council?" called a South boy.</p>
+
+<p>"I presume so, fellows," responded the chair. "Martin is already a
+member of a committee of three chosen at the North Grammar."</p>
+
+<p>"But we haven't any committee of three," objected a Central boy.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"We can soon straighten that out," piped up Tom Reade. "I'm going to
+make a motion, and it's addressed only to the fellows of the Central
+Grammar. I move that Dick Prescott, Dave Darrin and Greg Holmes
+represent the Central."</p>
+
+<p>"All in favor say 'aye,'" directed Prescott.</p>
+
+<p>The motion was carried with a rush, there being no dissenting voices.</p>
+
+<p>"I would now suggest," Dick continued, "that the South Grammar fellows
+put forward their committee of three. Then the council can get together,
+and soon be able to report back to the whole crowd."</p>
+
+<p>But Ted Teall, who had been talking rapidly in undertones to several of
+the Souths, now yelled back:</p>
+
+<p>"No, sir-ree! That doesn't go. South Grammar wants the whole thing put
+through in town-meeting style. Let every fellow here have his say."</p>
+
+<p>"Will that be agreeable to the North Grammar?" asked Dick, glancing at
+Martin.</p>
+
+<p>"Not much," retorted Hi. "South Grammar has twice as many fellows here
+as we have, and Central has a bigger crowd present than both other
+schools put together. Let's have committees and organize 'em into a
+council."</p>
+
+<p>"We Souths won't stand for anything but town-meeting style," bawled Ted
+Teall.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"But we haven't enough fellows for that," objected Hi strenuously.</p>
+
+<p>"Why didn't you bring more?" jeered Ted. "Did the rest of your fellows
+have to go home to put on clean collars and practise on the piano?"</p>
+
+<p>"We shan't get anywhere unless the Souths put forward a more gentlemanly
+fellow to speak for them," remarked Hi with stiff dignity.</p>
+
+<p>"Fight!" yelled one boy hopefully.</p>
+
+<p>The surging and pushing began all over again, but Dick managed to make
+his voice carry over the hubbub.</p>
+
+<p>"Fellows, what ails you all?" he cried. "Are we going to have it said
+that the Grammar School fellows of Gridley haven't brains and manners
+enough to get together and discuss an ordinary question or two?"</p>
+
+<p>"What about uniforms?" spoke up a member of Hi's committee.</p>
+
+<p>"Central hopes to have uniforms," replied Dick.</p>
+
+<p>"North Grammar is going to have uniforms," shouted Hi Martin, "and we
+want to make it plain, right now, that we won't play with any team that
+isn't uniformed."</p>
+
+<p>This cast a damper on the Souths, who knew, to a boy, that they couldn't
+hope to raise money enough to buy football uniforms.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Aw," retorted Ted Teall scornfully, "what's the use of playing football
+with dudes that don't dare go on to the field if they haven't nifty
+uniforms and clean collars?"</p>
+
+<p>"That's our stand," retorted Hi with intense dignity. "North Grammar
+will play no un-uniformed teams."</p>
+
+<p>"And South Grammar won't play any dudes," shouted Ted defiantly. "We
+want real meat to play against&mdash;no mush!"</p>
+
+<p>"Let's hear what Central Grammar proposes on this question?" put in Hi
+Martin hopefully. "Prescott, you said your school would be uniformed."</p>
+
+<p>"Let's go home, fellows," proposed Ted, turning away and stalking off.
+For a moment the other Souths hesitated. Then, with a yell, they started
+off after their leader.</p>
+
+<p>"Good riddance to muckers!" shouted a North boy derisively.</p>
+
+<p>"Come to order, please," begged Dick. "Any one who calls names is out of
+order. It's bad practice."</p>
+
+<p>"Who asked you to run this meeting, anyway, Dick Prescott?" snapped
+Martin.</p>
+
+<p>"No one in particular, and I'm willing you should preside if you want
+to, Martin."</p>
+
+<p>"The Centrals ain't any better stuff than the Souths," observed one of
+the Norths slightingly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Cut that out!" cried Dave, his eyes flashing. He stepped forward,
+looking for the fellow who had made the remark.</p>
+
+<p>"I call upon the North Grammar delegation to step aside and confer for a
+few minutes," announced Hi. He led his own schoolmates some two hundred
+feet away.</p>
+
+<p>"Say, the whole scheme's gone to pieces," grumbled Tom Reade
+disgustedly.</p>
+
+<p>"Wait, and we'll see," answered Prescott hopefully.</p>
+
+<p>The North Grammar boys talked matters over among themselves for two or
+three minutes.</p>
+
+<p>"There, see!" grumbled Greg. "Hi Martin is leading his crowd away.
+They're all quitters!"</p>
+
+<p>"That always seems to be the way with Grammar School fellows," sighed
+Dick. "High School fellows do big things, but you can't ever get Grammar
+School boys to stick together long enough to do anything!"</p>
+
+<p>So Grammar School football died an almost painless death.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>CHAPTER XIV</h2>
+
+<h3>DICK STEPS INTO A DEATH-TRAP</h3>
+
+
+<p>"Hullo, Dave!"</p>
+
+<p>"Hullo, Dick. I've been looking for you. My, but you're dressed up
+to-night. Going to a party that I haven't heard about?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not exactly," laughed Dick. "I'm going to call on Mrs. Dexter."</p>
+
+<p>"Oho!"</p>
+
+<p>"She sent a note that she'd like to have me call this evening. What it's
+about I don't know."</p>
+
+<p>"Then I can guess," offered Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"What?"</p>
+
+<p>"Mrs. Dexter was set on getting football uniforms for us. When the
+league dropped out at the bottom that spoiled her chance. Mrs. Dexter
+feels that she's under obligations, and so has sent for you in order to
+find what she can do in the place of buying uniforms."</p>
+
+<p>"Do you think that's it?" questioned young Prescott, looking bothered.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm sure of it."</p>
+
+<p>"Then I wish I weren't going up there to-night."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Have you got to?" asked Darrin.</p>
+
+<p>"It would hardly look polite if I didn't go. But I'll tell you what,
+Dave."</p>
+
+<p>"What?"</p>
+
+<p>"You come along with me."</p>
+
+<p>"Not much!"</p>
+
+<p>"Why not?"</p>
+
+<p>"First place, I'm not invited. Second place, I'm not dressed up, and you
+are. Extra, I don't want to look as though I were trotting up there
+after a reward."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm not, either," Dick retorted with considerable spirit.</p>
+
+<p>"I know you're not, but you can say 'no' for both of us, and for Greg
+thrown in."</p>
+
+<p>"Then you won't come with me?"</p>
+
+<p>"I'll feel more comfortable down here on Main Street," laughed Dave. "If
+you get back early enough you can tell me about it."</p>
+
+<p>"If Mrs. Dexter doesn't want anything except to talk about rewarding
+us," grunted Prescott, "I can promise you that I'll be back bright and
+early."</p>
+
+<p>"So long, then, and good luck!"</p>
+
+<p>"What?"</p>
+
+<p>"Good luck in getting away, I mean."</p>
+
+<p>So Dick pursued his course alone, and feeling a good deal more
+uncomfortable, now that he had a suspicion of Mrs. Dexter's business.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Up at the pretty little Dexter cottage things had been moving serenely
+of late. Ab. Dexter had not been heard from, and his wife imagined that
+the fellow had gone to other parts. For weeks she had kept a special
+policeman in the house at night. On this particular evening the man
+wanted to be away at a lodge meeting, and Mrs. Dexter had felt that it
+was wholly safe to let him go, more especially, as resourceful Dick
+Prescott would put in part of the evening there.</p>
+
+<p>When the bell rang, Jane being upstairs with little Myra, Mrs. Dexter
+herself opened the front door.</p>
+
+<p>Then she sprang back suddenly, stifling a dismayed little scream, for
+Abner Dexter stood facing her.</p>
+
+<p>"Didn't expect me, did you?" jeered the fellow, pushing his way into the
+hall. "Jennie, I'm at the end of my rope, and of my patience, too. I'm
+broke&mdash;have hardly a dollar in the world, and now you've got to do your
+duty and provide for me in the way that a rich wife should. In there
+with you!"</p>
+
+<p>Ab. pushed her into a little room just beyond the parlor, and stepped in
+after her.</p>
+
+<p>"Nice, comfortable place you have here, while I'm wondering where my
+next meal is coming from!" sneered the fellow.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Abner, I gave you ten thousand dollars, and you promised to leave me
+alone," protested the woman, afraid of the evil look that she now saw in
+her worthless husband's face.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I haven't any of that money, and I've got to have more," retorted
+Dexter emphatically. "Jennie, I want twenty-five thousand dollars. Give
+me that, and I'll leave the country for good."</p>
+
+<p>"I&mdash;I couldn't trust you," she faltered.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't talk that way to me!"</p>
+
+<p>"I have good reason to, Abner, and you know it."</p>
+
+<p>"You thought I had forgotten you, didn't you?" he sneered harshly.</p>
+
+<p>"I hoped that you had at last made up your mind to let me alone,"
+replied the woman, trying to summon a bravery that she did not feel.</p>
+
+<p>"I haven't forgotten you. Jennie, you will have to find and turn over to
+me the twenty-five thousand dollars that I want. You will never know any
+peace until you do do it, and you will never see me again after you have
+given me the money. Now, aren't you going to be sensible?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," she flashed. "I'm going to be too sensible to listen to you any
+longer. You have been watching this house, and you came to-night <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span>because
+you knew I was alone. If you won't go, at least I shall not stay here to
+listen to you."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, yes, you will," replied the man angrily, barring the doorway.</p>
+
+<p>At that instant the telephone bell in a niche in the hallway sounded.</p>
+
+<p>"Let me answer that call," cried Mrs. Dexter.</p>
+
+<p>"No, I won't!"</p>
+
+<p>Then both heard, with very different feelings, a voice speaking these
+words:</p>
+
+<p>"Central, I am Dick Prescott, at Mrs. Dexter's. I shall probably be
+interfered with. Call up the police station in a hurry and say that
+Dexter is here, threatening Mrs. Dexter, who is without defense. I&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>Slam! Dick felt himself seized by the collar. He was banged up roughly
+against the wall.</p>
+
+<p>"You young hound!" blazed Ab. Dexter.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't hurt him!" screamed Mrs. Dexter.</p>
+
+<p>"I'll do as I please with this young hound!" snarled Dexter hoarsely.
+"What right has he interfering with me in this manner? Come along, you
+meddling youngster!"</p>
+
+<p>As the telephone connection was still open, the girl at central office
+was able to hear every word.</p>
+
+<p>Ab. Dexter, still gripping struggling Prescott by the collar, dragged
+him down the hallway and into the same room where he had recently <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span>been
+talking with his unfortunate wife. Mrs. Dexter followed, pleading.</p>
+
+<p>"What are you doing here?" blazed Dexter, giving Dick a shaking that
+made his teeth rattle.</p>
+
+<p>"I sent for him, Abner. I wanted to find how I could best reward him
+for&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"For interfering with me on another occasion&mdash;yes, I know!" finished her
+husband, glaring at her. "You'd spend a lot of money on any one who
+tried to injure me, but you wouldn't give me a cent to keep me from
+starving!"</p>
+
+<p>As Dexter rattled off this charge he worked himself up into a passion.
+He shook Dick again, until he espied a closet in the room, in the lock
+of which was the key.</p>
+
+<p>"In there for you!" snarled Dexter, still shaking Prescott and dragging
+him across the room. Slam! Into the closet went Dick. Click! went the
+lock, and Dexter thrust the key into his pocket.</p>
+
+<p>"I'll take command of things here, as I ought to," growled the man. "As
+for you, Jennie, here's another closet on the other side of the room.
+Come, for I don't want to hurt you."</p>
+
+<p>Frightened badly now, the woman obeyed the impulse of Dexter's hand on
+her arm. She sank, cowering, into the other closet. Dexter turned the
+key in that lock also.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Now, are you going to come to your senses?" He called through the
+locked door to his wife.</p>
+
+<p>"If you mean am I going to give you any more money, I am not!" came Mrs.
+Dexter's reply, in a firmer tone, for she had been stung anew into
+defiance.</p>
+
+<p>"Then good night&mdash;and good-bye!" he laughed harshly.</p>
+
+<p>Both captives heard the scratching of a match. Dexter held the small
+flame against a drapery until it was burning freely.</p>
+
+<p>He had no intention of having his wife burn up in the house, for, dead,
+her money would be lost to him forever. He planned only to scare her
+into nervous collapse. But Jane, the housekeeper, did not liberate the
+captives in the two closets as Dexter had expected. Instead, as the
+housekeeper came to the head of the stairs, heard the crackling of
+flames and smelled the rising smoke, she fell on the landing in a faint.</p>
+
+<p>"Dick! Dick!" screamed Mrs. Dexter's voice. "The house is afire. Can't
+you break down the door and save us both?"</p>
+
+<p>"I'm trying to," shouted back young Prescott above the din of his own
+blows. "I'm trying to&mdash;but I'm afraid this door is too strong for me!"</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>CHAPTER XV</h2>
+
+<h3>WHAT GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS CAN DO</h3>
+
+
+<p>Inside of a minute Dick Prescott was both gasping and despairing.</p>
+
+<p>Outside the volume of smoke was increasing. Some of it worked in through
+the cracks around the door.</p>
+
+<p>Coughing, choking, trembling in a cold chill of dread, Dick continued
+frantically to hurl himself against the door.</p>
+
+<p>"Can't you get out, Dick?"</p>
+
+<p>"I'm awfully afraid I can't."</p>
+
+<p>"Nor can I," screamed back Mrs. Dexter, though she was doing nothing
+besides beating a feeble tattoo with her soft fists against the panels
+of the door of her prison. "Jane! Jane!"</p>
+
+<p>But the housekeeper still lay in a death-like faint above. As for Myra,
+she slept as only a tired small child can sleep.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Dick, you must break down your door!" screamed the woman. "Myra&mdash;my
+child&mdash;upstairs. She'll be burned to death!"</p>
+
+<p>"I'll keep on trying, ma'am, as long as I have any life left," Dick
+promised, chokingly.</p>
+
+<p>Brave words! Young as he was, Dick Prescott <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span>was not of the kind to die a
+coward's death. Yet, in his own mind he was convinced that the door was
+too stout for him.</p>
+
+<p>"You can't save us, can you?" called Mrs. Dexter's own choking tones
+finally.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm still trying, ma'am."</p>
+
+<p>"But you don't expect to succeed. Tell me the truth."</p>
+
+<p>"I shan't give up, ma'am, but I am afraid that all the chances are
+against us!"</p>
+
+<p>Bang! Bang! went Dick's shoulders against the panels. He was aching now
+from his hopeless exertions.</p>
+
+<p>Yet, every time that he paused he heard the crackling of the flames
+outside. The sound told him that the woodwork had caught at last.</p>
+
+<p>"Dick!"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, ma'am."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm quite calm now."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm glad to hear that, Mrs. Dexter."</p>
+
+<p>"I've stopped thinking of myself, Dick. I know that my little Myra is
+asleep. She'll suffocate, and won't wake up to know any pain."</p>
+
+<p>"But where's your housekeeper?"</p>
+
+<p>"She must have slipped out after she put Myra to bed. There's no hope
+for us, Dick. We must go as bravely as we can. But, my poor boy, I can't
+tell you how sorry I am that helping me has brought you to such a
+plight."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"But you forget, Mrs. Dexter. Central will send a policeman. He will
+find out what's wrong here and save us."</p>
+
+<p>"Don't try to comfort me with false hopes, Dick. You and I both know
+that the policeman can't get here in time to save us."</p>
+
+<p>This had, indeed, occurred to Dick some moments before, but he wanted to
+help Mrs. Dexter to keep her courage up as long as possible.</p>
+
+<p>"Dick," called a subdued voice, "your mother taught you to pray?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, yes, ma'am."</p>
+
+<p>"Then you know how to pray now&mdash;the last chance you'll have."</p>
+
+<p>"All right, then," young Prescott shot back to her, "and I'll keep on
+working while I pray!"</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Dexter did not speak again. The smoke, passing into the closet, had
+proved too much for her, and she had collapsed on the floor.</p>
+
+<p>But Dick, naturally stronger, and with robust lungs, was still fighting
+bravely, though he was conscious that he was growing feebler and that
+air was harder to get.</p>
+
+<p>Then there came to his ears two sounds of the sweetest description. The
+first noise was that of running feet. The second was Dave Darrin's voice
+shouting:</p>
+
+<p>"Fellows, there's some fearful work going on <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span>here. And here's the fire!
+Move like lightning! Bring water from the kitchen&mdash;in anything."</p>
+
+<p>There was a sound of many running feet. Then Dick called, huskily:</p>
+
+<p>"Dave, are you there?"</p>
+
+<p>"Dick, where are you?"</p>
+
+<p>"In this closet&mdash;locked in!"</p>
+
+<p>"But there doesn't seem to be any key," quivered Darrin.</p>
+
+<p>"No; Dexter took that away with him."</p>
+
+<p>"Did he set this&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes; but listen! Mrs. Dexter is locked up in the closet opposite."</p>
+
+<p>Dave crossed the room in a flash. Finding the key in the lock of the
+other closet door, Dave Darrin turned it and found Mrs. Dexter lying on
+the floor.</p>
+
+<p>"Fellows!" bawled Dave hoarsely. "Never mind the water. Come here&mdash;on
+the jump!"</p>
+
+<p>Half a dozen boys ran back into the room, just in time to see Dave
+struggling to drag Mrs. Dexter out to the front porch.</p>
+
+<p>"One of you help me," directed Darrin. "The others batter down that
+closet door over there. Dick Prescott is locked up there, and there is
+no key."</p>
+
+<p>"Here's a hatchet," cried another boy, running in from the kitchen.
+"Clear the way and let me at the door."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The boy was Greg Holmes. He brought the hatchet down with telling force
+at each blow, smashing all the paneling around the lock. In a very few
+moments Greg had the door open, and he and Dave helped catch Dick as the
+latter fell forward, dizzy and all but unconscious.</p>
+
+<p>"Rush him out on to the front porch!" ordered Dave. "Then we'll come
+back and fight the fire!"</p>
+
+<p>"Has&mdash;has anyone turned in an alarm?" inquired Dick, as he reached the
+porch and took in a life-saving breath of the pure, cool air.</p>
+
+<p>"No," admitted Dave. "We forgot that. But I'll run and do it now."</p>
+
+<p>"What's the matter? Fire?" called a man from the next yard.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," Dave yelled back. "Run and turn in an alarm, won't you?"</p>
+
+<p>"I surely will," came the answer.</p>
+
+<p>This left Dave free to remain and do what he could.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm all right now," declared Dick, getting up out of the chair into
+which he had been dropped, though he was not yet any too strong. "Dave,
+you and the other fellows fight the fire the best you can. Greg, you
+come upstairs with me, and we'll find Myra and get her out of the
+smoke."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>At the head of the stairs Prescott and Holmes found Jane, still in a
+faint.</p>
+
+<p>"We'll need more help to get her downstairs," muttered Dick. "Greg, you
+find Myra, bundle her in blankets and rush down with her. I'll stay here
+until you come back."</p>
+
+<p>When Greg, after darting downstairs with the child, returned, he had two
+other boys with him. It took all four to get Jane down and outside to
+one of the porch chairs.</p>
+
+<p>"This is work for the doctor," announced Dick, looking from Jane to Mrs.
+Dexter. "You other fellows jump in to get the fire out, and I'll 'phone
+for Dr. Bentley. He's Mrs. Dexter's doctor."</p>
+
+<p>While making that comment, Dick darted back to the telephone. As seconds
+were precious here, he merely called up central and stated what was
+wanted. Then he ran to join the others.</p>
+
+<p>"There's a hose outside this window. I've seen it before," called
+Prescott, opening the window and jumping outside. Then:</p>
+
+<p>"Dave!"</p>
+
+<p>"Here I am, Dick."</p>
+
+<p>"Here's the hose. I'll pass the nozzle in and then turn the water on."</p>
+
+<p>"Bully for you, Handy Andy!"</p>
+
+<p>Sizz-zz! Dave directed the stream against the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span>liveliest flames. It was
+only a lawn-sprinkling hose that he held, but even that threw a lot of
+water.</p>
+
+<p>Dick climbed in through the window again.</p>
+
+<p>"We'll hold things down until the firemen get here," he announced
+energetically.</p>
+
+<p>So busy had all been that only two or three out of the ten boys present
+had noticed that the fire-alarm whistle had called off the box number
+some time previously.</p>
+
+<p>Finally, with a screeching of whistles and a clanging of gongs, a part
+of the Gridley Fire Department hauled up outside.</p>
+
+<p>While hosemen fastened a line to a hydrant, and nozzlemen dragged the
+lengths in through the wide-open front door, the chief ran ahead of
+them.</p>
+
+<p>"Where's the fire?" he called, and made his way inside.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, you boys are dandies!" remarked the chief grimly. Then he ran out
+to the front door.</p>
+
+<p>"Shut that stream off!" the chief bellowed hoarsely. "A lot of Grammar
+School boys have put the fire out with a lawn hose."</p>
+
+<p>Two or three minutes later the policeman whom Prescott had summoned
+arrived, out of breath. Two minutes after that Dr. Bentley's auto
+stopped at the door.</p>
+
+<p>Both unconscious women were revived, and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span>Myra, who had not once awakened
+in all the excitement, was taken up and tucked in bed.</p>
+
+<p>"How did you get into the house, Dick?" Mrs. Dexter at last found time
+to inquire.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, the door was open just a crack, ma'am, when I got here. I heard
+Dexter threatening you, and realized that you must be alone. I knew I
+couldn't do much alone, so I sneaked in as softly as I could and got to
+the telephone."</p>
+
+<p>As soon as he found himself with only his boy friends about, Dick
+demanded to know how they had arrived so opportunely.</p>
+
+<p>"That's easy enough," Dave Darrin explained. "Just after you left me I
+ran into Greg, Tom, Dan and Harry. I told them where you'd gone, and
+what the business would probably turn out to be. Then&mdash;then&mdash;well, we
+got so awfully curious that we made up our minds to stroll up here to
+the corner and wait until you came out. Then we ran into four other
+fellows from our school, and there was a mob of us. To kill time we
+walked down past. As we went past we saw smoke coming out of one of the
+open windows on the ground floor. Then Bert Johnson remembered that he
+had seen Ab. Dexter come out and hurry away. It didn't take us long,
+then, to make up our minds to get into the house. We found the front
+door unlocked, and the rest was easy."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"We'll get out of here as soon as we can now," hinted Dick.</p>
+
+<p>"Why?" Dalzell wanted to know, "This is the center of all the excitement
+in town to-night."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," Prescott replied, "but as soon as Mrs. Dexter thinks of it she'll
+send for us and offer more thanks and rewards. We can get away 'most any
+time now. And there comes her special policeman. Dexter won't be back
+to-night, anyway."</p>
+
+<p>So the Grammar School boys slipped away, but they had added another page
+to the history of Gridley.</p>
+
+<p>Dexter, with his usual luck, appeared to have made a safe retreat. The
+police paid a visit to his former cave up the road, but did not catch
+him there, although a police guard was kept at the cave for three days.</p>
+
+<p>But Dick received a postal card, on the back of which was printed:</p>
+
+<p>"If you ever interfere with me again, I promise you that your luck is at
+an end!"</p>
+
+<p>The message was unsigned, but the message was postmarked at Gridley.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>CHAPTER XVI</h2>
+
+<h3>OUT FOR HALLOWE'EN FUN</h3>
+
+
+<p>"There'll be loads of fun to-night," proclaimed Dan Dalzell, his eyes
+sparkling with mischief, as he danced up and down in the schoolyard at
+forenoon recess.</p>
+
+<p>"Why?" asked Dick innocently.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't you know what day this is?" Dan insisted.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes; and I also know that to-night will be Hallowe'en."</p>
+
+<p>"Then don't you know that there are going to be several barrels of fun
+uncorked in this old burg to-night?"</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't know that barrels were ever 'uncorked,'" replied Dick
+judicially.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, pshaw! This isn't the first class in language!" retorted Dan
+disdainfully. "You're going to be out to see the fun, aren't you?"</p>
+
+<p>"I suppose likely I shall be out on the street a little while after
+supper," Prescott admitted.</p>
+
+<p>"Hear the young saint!" taunted Dan derisively, appealing to a group of
+boys. "No one would ever suppose that Dick Prescott had ever gotten up
+any mischief&mdash;hey?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Dick will have one or two tricks ready for us to trim our enemies
+with to-night," replied Ben Alvord. "Don't worry!"</p>
+
+<p>"Sure! Dick never yet went back on the crowd," declared Wrecker Lane.
+"He's got a few good ones ready right now."</p>
+
+<p>"Have you, Dick?" demanded a chorus of eager voices.</p>
+
+<p>"Tell us one or two of the tricks now," pressed "Hoof" Sadby.</p>
+
+<p>But Dick shook his head.</p>
+
+<p>"Come on out with it!" coaxed Spoff Henderson.</p>
+
+<p>"Ain't he the mean one&mdash;keeping it all to himself?"</p>
+
+<p>"If Dick has anything hidden in his sleeve," broke in Tom Reade, "he'd
+show a lot of sense, wouldn't he, telling it to a lot of you fellows
+with loose-jointed tongues? Why, it would be in the evening paper, and
+the folks we want to torment would be at their gates waiting for us."</p>
+
+<p>"We won't tell&mdash;won't breathe a word! Honest!" came in instant denial.</p>
+
+<p>"I'll tell you just one thing, fellows, if you think you really can keep
+it to yourselves," grinned Dick.</p>
+
+<p>"Go ahead!"</p>
+
+<p>"Don't trust these talkative Indians with anything in advance, Dick,"
+protested Tom Reade.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Yes, yes&mdash;go ahead!" cried the boys.</p>
+
+<p>"You won't tell, fellows, will you?" Dick fenced.</p>
+
+<p>"Cross our hearts we won't."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, then, fellows, the truth is that you are all on the wrong scent.
+I haven't thought up a blessed prank for to-night."</p>
+
+<p>"Aw!" came an unbelieving chorus.</p>
+
+<p>"Let's make him tell. Get hold of him. We'll paddle Dick Prescott until
+he'll be glad to tell."</p>
+
+<p>There was a rush, but Dave and Tom got in front of Dick.</p>
+
+<p>"Who wants to try the paddle first?" asked Dave, his fists clenching, as
+he faced the mischievous Grammar School boys.</p>
+
+<p>"But I haven't thought of a thing, fellows," protested Prescott.</p>
+
+<p>"Say, I want some of you fellows to help me take off old Pond's gate
+to-night," called Toby Ross. "We can take it down and hang it on the
+fountain in the square. That'll be a good mile from his house, and old
+Pond will be awful mad, because he'll have to tote it all the way back
+himself. He's too stingy to hire a teamster to take it back."</p>
+
+<p>"And that's your idea of fun is it?" demanded Dick.</p>
+
+<p>"Sure!" grinned Toby.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"It might be for a seven-year-old, but it sounds pretty stupid for an
+eighth grader."</p>
+
+<p>"What do you want me to do, then&mdash;set old Pond's house a-fire?" queried
+Toby with an injured air.</p>
+
+<p>"We'll have to take down a lot of signs and change 'em," proposed Ned
+Allen.</p>
+
+<p>"What do you think of that, Dick?" asked Spoff Henderson.</p>
+
+<p>"That sounds kiddish, too, doesn't it?" objected Dick. "And the trick is
+at least three times as old as Gridley."</p>
+
+<p>"We can slip in at the back of George Farmer's place," suggested Wrecker
+Lane. "You know, he's always bragging about the fine milk he serves.
+Well, if we can get in at the cooling trough in his yard we can empty
+half the milk out of each big can and fill it up with water. Then won't
+he hear a row from his customers about watered milk?"</p>
+
+<p>That brought a guffaw from some of the youngsters, but Dick shook his
+head.</p>
+
+<p>"That's kiddish, too," he remarked.</p>
+
+<p>"Say, what do you call kiddish tricks?" Hoof Sadby wanted to know.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, things that have been done, over and over again, by small boys.
+All the tricks you fellows have named have been done by our
+grandfathers. That's why I call 'em kiddish. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span>A fellow who can't think up
+a new one is only a kid. Use your brains, fellows."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, if you're so all-fired smart, you tell us a new one that has some
+ginger in it," growled Wrecker.</p>
+
+<p>"I told you that I hadn't any," retorted Dick. "I admit that I'm dull.
+But, if I do play any tricks to-night, they'll have to be just a little
+bit new. Boys of our age haven't any business traveling around with
+Hallowe'en jokes that are so old that they've voted and worn whiskers
+for forty years. It isn't showing proper respect for old age."</p>
+
+<p>"Dick has a few new ones in his tank. Don't you worry about that,"
+muttered some of the wise ones. "You just find Dick &amp; Co. on the street
+to-night, and stick to 'em, and you'll see plenty of fun happening."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll tell you something else that we fellows are growing a bit too old
+for, too, if you want to know," Dick offered presently, for the crowd
+still insisted on hanging out close to this usually fertile leader in
+fun.</p>
+
+<p>"Fire away," groaned Spoff.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, then, I mean the kind of tricks that destroy people's property.
+The fellow that shies a stone through the window of some one he doesn't
+like, or who carries off gates, or tramples flower beds is only a cheap
+penny pirate."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>That was rather daring, for Dick's condemnation had touched rather
+closely some forms of mischief that boys always imagine as belonging to
+them on Hallowe'en night.</p>
+
+<p>However, the general opinion was against quarreling with Dick. Without
+him and his chums on the streets, the Grammar School boys knew that
+there wouldn't be as much sport.</p>
+
+<p>"You're trying to think up some good ones, aren't you?" asked Dave, as
+he and Dick were about to part on the homeward way at noon.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, of course; but I hope you other fellows have brains that are
+working faster than mine is to-day."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, you'll have something ready by to-night," laughed Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"I hope so."</p>
+
+<p>That afternoon the boys and girls in Old Dut's room did not appear to
+have their minds very much on their lessons. A man of Old Dut's
+experience knew why.</p>
+
+<p>"I'll stay at home and sit tight on my place to-night," murmured the
+principal to himself. "Like as not I'm slated to be one of the biggest
+Hallowe'en victims."</p>
+
+<p>When Dick reached Main Street that evening he found himself instantly
+the center of a crowd of at least twenty boys from the Central Grammar.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"What'll we do, Dick?" came the hail.</p>
+
+<p>"Anything you like," agreed Prescott.</p>
+
+<p>"But what have you thought up?"</p>
+
+<p>"Nothing."</p>
+
+<p>"Cut that!"</p>
+
+<p>"Honest, fellows, I haven't."</p>
+
+<p>"Never mind," sang out Dave. "We fellows will just roam around town for
+a while and see what is happening. Something will pop into our minds,
+and then we can have a bit of mischief."</p>
+
+<p>"Hullo!" muttered Toby. "Say! Just look at Hoof!"</p>
+
+<p>"Whatcher got there, Hoof?" demanded a laughing chorus.</p>
+
+<p>For Hoof Sadby, looking more sheepish than ever before in his life, had
+appeared on the scene carrying a baby. It was a real, live one, too&mdash;his
+year-and-a-half-old brother, to be exact.</p>
+
+<p>"Say, don't guy me too much, fellows," begged Hoof sadly. "I'm in a
+pickle, sure. Pop and mother are going to a sociable to-night. That is,
+they've already gone. And they said&mdash;&mdash;" Hoof paused. "They said&mdash;&mdash;" he
+tried again. Then, in final desperation he shot it out quickly. "They
+said I'd have to stay home, and&mdash;mind the baby!"</p>
+
+<p>"Isn't that a shame?" came a sympathetic chorus, but a few of the
+fellows laughed.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"It's a boy, any way," argued Hoof, rather brokenly, "and a smart little
+fellow, too. Now, if he's going to grow up right as a boy the kid ought
+to start in early. So I've wrapped him up warm and have brought him out
+with me."</p>
+
+<p>"What are you going to do with him, Hoof?"</p>
+
+<p>"I'm going to tote the little fellow around to see the fun&mdash;if you
+fellows can stand having me with you," announced Hoof sadly, rather
+pleadingly.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, of course you can come, can't he, fellows?" appealed Dick.</p>
+
+<p>"If you're sure that the youngster won't catch cold," agreed Tom Reade.
+"A baby is a human being, you know, and has some rights of his own."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I won't let the little shaver catch cold," promised Hoof. "See how
+warmly I've got him wrapped up."</p>
+
+<p>As some of the fellows crowded about their encumbered mate, baby laughed
+and tried to reach them.</p>
+
+<p>"He's a good fellow, if he is young," spoke up Greg. "Bring him along,
+Hoof."</p>
+
+<p>So that was settled, and the crowd turned down one of the side streets.
+These darker thoroughfares, as all knew by experience, were safer for
+Hallowe'en pranks. The dark places <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span>were the easiest ones in which to
+escape when pursuit offered.</p>
+
+<p>Nor had the Grammar School crowd been strolling along more than
+two minutes when Dick suddenly halted them by holding up one hand.</p>
+
+<p>"What is it?" whispered several, mysteriously, as they crowded about the
+leader.</p>
+
+<p>"There's Mose Waterman's house, and it's all dark there," murmured Dick.
+"And it's the same over at Mr. Gordon's. Now, you know, Waterman and
+Gordon have never spoken to each other since they had that law suit."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, yes!"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, the warm weather lately has led Mose Waterman to leave his porch
+chairs out later'n usual. Now, fellows, suppose we lift the chairs from
+Waterman's porch and put 'em over on Gordon's porch. That wouldn't be
+far for Waterman to go after 'em, but do you think he'd do it? Never! He
+will growl, and swear that Gordon stole the chairs. And Mr. Gordon is
+too angry with Mose Waterman to take the chairs back. So it'll give us
+fun for a fortnight strolling by in the day time and noticing whether
+Waterman has his chairs back."</p>
+
+<p>"Wow!" "Whoop!" "And you said, Dick"&mdash;reproachfully&mdash;"that you couldn't
+think up anything!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Half a dozen figures moved swiftly and stealthily. In a twinkling the
+transfer of porch chairs from Waterman's house to Gordon's had been
+made. The young mischief-makers passed on, looking for more nonsense.
+But that joke became almost classic in Gridley. For days and days after
+that Waterman and Gordon glared at each other from their front windows,
+or whenever they met on the street. But neither would touch the chairs,
+and neighbors grinned every time they passed and saw the chairs still on
+the Gordon porch. One night, in November, however, Gordon took the
+chairs as far as the middle of the road. An hour later Mose Waterman
+slipped out from his unlighted house and carried the chairs back and
+into his own house. The neighbors had had their hearty laughs, however.</p>
+
+<p>"Say, I'll bet that's the best thing done to-night," chuckled Toby Ross,
+as the "gang" pressed on to new scenes and new laughs.</p>
+
+<p>But it wasn't quite the best thing done that night as later events
+showed.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>CHAPTER XVII</h2>
+
+<h3>THE NEWEST TRICK OF ALL</h3>
+
+
+<p>"Here's where old Miss Lowthry lives," muttered Ned Allen, halting
+before a gate leading into the grounds surrounding a cosy little
+cottage.</p>
+
+<p>"It wouldn't be very manly to do anything to scare lone women, would
+it?" demanded Dick.</p>
+
+<p>"She's an old maid," protested Toby.</p>
+
+<p>"That's no crime," insisted Dick.</p>
+
+<p>"She has no use for boys," breathed Ben Alvord, complainingly.</p>
+
+<p>"From some things that boys do, I don't altogether blame her," chuckled
+young Prescott.</p>
+
+<p>"And&mdash;say! Don't Miss Lowthry hate babies!" grunted Wrecker Lane. "You
+remember Fred Porter? His folks used to live in that next house. When
+Fred was a baby they say he used to cry something awful. Well, once in
+the summer, after Fred had cried every night for a week, and Miss
+Lowthry had to hear it all through her open windows, what did she do but
+go to the health board and ask that the Porters be ordered to make their
+baby stop crying. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span>There was an awful fuss about it, and Miss Lowthry
+made some talk about all babies being brats."</p>
+
+<p>"They are not," denied Hoof Sadby indignantly.</p>
+
+<p>"That's what I'm trying to tell you," went on Wrecker calmly. "That's
+why I have no use for old maids that hate babies. Now, there are some
+old maids that are really fine. But Miss Lowthry!"</p>
+
+<p>"Wrecker, you live right near here," murmured Dick suddenly.</p>
+
+<p>"'Course I do."</p>
+
+<p>"Then come aside. I want to whisper something to you."</p>
+
+<p>Then Dick talked in whispers with Wrecker for a few moments. The other
+boy was seen by the curious suddenly to double up with laughter. From
+that attitude Wrecker recovered, only to start off on the run.</p>
+
+<p>"Say, what is it?" demanded a dozen cautious voices as Dick came back to
+the crowd.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, see here, fellows, don't want to know too much. Just stay around
+and see what happens, and you'll all enjoy it as much as Miss Lowthry
+does."</p>
+
+<p>"Then it's against her?" breathed Ben Alvord. "Good! great!"</p>
+
+<p>"Now, you, Dave, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span>stay here with me," Dick went on, disposing of his
+forces with the air of a general. "The rest of you fellows scoot across
+the lawn and hide in the bushes. Hide so that you can't be seen from the
+street or from the front door of the cottage, either. Then just wait and
+see what happens."</p>
+
+<p>Tom Reade and Greg managed to get the crowd started. Then Dick called,
+softly:</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, say, Hoof! I'll hold the baby for you a while. You must be tired."</p>
+
+<p>Hoof started, and glared suspiciously. But he knew that Dick was "always
+on the square," and so, after swallowing hard, passed the tiny, bundled
+youngster over to Prescott's waiting arms. "Say, be careful what you do
+with him," pleaded Sadby. "He's a fine little fellow."</p>
+
+<p>Then the crowd hid. How they watched and waited! Miss Lowthry's sitting
+room was lighted, and the boys could see her, seated in a rocking chair,
+reading a book.</p>
+
+<p>It seemed ages ere Wrecker Lane returned. When he came he brought a
+basket. Some soft fragments of blanket rested in the bottom of it.</p>
+
+<p>"Just the thing," chuckled Dick softly, placing the baby in the basket.
+"Now, skip over there, Wrecker, and hide with the fellows in the
+bushes."</p>
+
+<p>Dick waited until Wrecker Lane vanished.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Now, come along, Dave," chuckled Prescott. "You ring the bell just as I
+place the basket on the steps. Then we'll both hot-foot it to join the
+fellows."</p>
+
+<p>A few moments later Dick and Dave scurried to cover, snuggling down
+among a lot of Grammar School boys who were holding their handkerchiefs
+wedged in their mouths.</p>
+
+<p>Then they heard the front door open, saw Miss Lowthry peer out, and then
+heard her utter a shriek, followed with:</p>
+
+<p>"Mercy me! Who has dared to leave a foundling on my step?"</p>
+
+<p>And then, as she bent over and poked the pieces of blanket aside:</p>
+
+<p>"Mercy! What a horridly homely brat!"</p>
+
+<p>"It isn't!" exploded Hoof, in an undertone, as he snatched the
+handkerchief from his mouth. "Gracious! Wouldn't I like to pinch her!"</p>
+
+<p>But Miss Lowthry must have recognized her duty as a citizen, for she
+picked up the basket and bore it into the house, slamming the door
+behind her.</p>
+
+<p>"Wow! Oh, dear! oh, dear!" laughed a lot of mischievous youngsters
+hidden in the bushes.</p>
+
+<p>"Look!" whispered Dave Darrin. "She has taken the basket into her
+sitting room. She's placed it on a table. There she goes to the
+telephone. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span>Whee! See how she's working her arm, jerking that telephone
+bell crank!"</p>
+
+<p>Some conversation that the young peepers, of course, couldn't hear
+passed over the telephone. Then Miss Lowthry hung up the receiver and
+thrust her forefingers into her ears as she turned to stare at the human
+contents of the basket on the table.</p>
+
+<p>"The poor kid's hollering," muttered Hoof. "Can you blame it?"</p>
+
+<p>All that followed, and which the boys could see through the lighted
+windows of the room interested them mightily. But at last they heard a
+heavy step on the sidewalk. Then one of the blue-coated guardians of
+Gridley's peace turned in at the gate, went up to the door and rang the
+bell.</p>
+
+<p>"She sent for the police," chuckled Dick Prescott.</p>
+
+<p>"Of course," grinned Dave.</p>
+
+<p>The peeping boys saw the officer step through into the old maid's
+sitting room. Miss Lowthry pointed at the basket in a highly dramatic
+way. The policeman bent over to take a kindly look at the tiny youngster
+therein, then adjusting the pieces of blanket, he lifted the basket.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, it's time to do your turn, Hoof," whispered Dick, giving young
+Sadby a nudge. "Slip over the fence and do it right."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Miss Lowthry followed the policeman to the door, opening it for him and
+letting him out.</p>
+
+<p>"Boo-hoo!" sounded a heart-broken voice out on the sidewalk, in the
+darkness beyond. Then, as the policeman stepped down from the steps,
+Hoof suddenly let out a wail and darted into the yard.</p>
+
+<p>"Say, Mister Cop, have you got it?" demanded Hoof eagerly.</p>
+
+<p>"Got what?" demanded the policeman.</p>
+
+<p>"My baby brother! You see, Mister Cop, some fellows took my baby brother
+and carried him off for a joke."</p>
+
+<p>Then Hoof came into the pale light that was shed just past the open
+front door. There were tears in his eyes, all right, for an onion was
+one of the things that "Wrecker" Lane had brought from home. Hoof had
+rubbed a slice of the onion on the skin under his eyes, and the tears
+that he wanted to show were genuine enough.</p>
+
+<p>"Is this your brother?" demanded the policeman, lowering the basket he
+was carrying.</p>
+
+<p>The Sadby baby had begun to cry again, but at sight of Hoof the little
+fellow stopped suddenly, crowed and reached out with its little hands.</p>
+
+<p>"After that do you have to ask if that's my kid brother?" demanded Hoof
+Sadby proudly.</p>
+
+<p>"I guess it is, all right, Sadby," replied the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span>policeman. "I know you.
+Well, if this is your brother, please take him off my hands&mdash;and
+welcome. You see, Miss Lowthry, it was nothing but the humorous prank of
+some boys. This is Hallowe'en."</p>
+
+<p>"Boys!" sniffed Miss Lowthry, glaring. "Humph! I think I could eat a
+couple of boys, right now, if I could see them skinned alive and then
+boiled."</p>
+
+<p>Hoof, once he had possession of the basket, raced away as though nothing
+else on earth mattered. This was good policy for, if he lingered, the
+policeman might begin to ask questions.</p>
+
+<p>When the door had closed and the officer was gone, Dick and his crowd
+slipped out from concealment, joining Hoof and his baby brother.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, me, oh, my!" groaned Dave Darrin, stifling with laughter. "We must
+play this on some more folks."</p>
+
+<p>"But say," warned Dick Prescott, "don't you think that, by the time
+we've played this on three or four more people, the policeman will begin
+to be suspicious of Hoof's wailing accents and his great joy at finding
+his kid brother?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, we'll have to try it again, anyway," urged Tom Reade. "I know just
+the people to work it on. You know Mr. and Mrs Crossleigh? They live
+around on the next street. They haven't any children, and they're big
+cranks."</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>CHAPTER XVIII</h2>
+
+<h3>CARRYING "FUN" TO THE DANGER LIMIT</h3>
+
+
+<p>The Hallowe'eners hidden across the street, and Hoof Sadby posted up the
+street, ready to come on the scene and do his part when needed, Tom
+Reade and Greg Holmes crept up to the front porch of the Crossleigh
+home, deposited the basket, rang and then bolted.</p>
+
+<p>In a short time a dim light was visible through the stained glass of the
+front door. Then that barrier itself was opened, and Mr. Crossleigh, a
+man past middle age, and in dressing-gown and slippers, came out.</p>
+
+<p>Seeing no one, and coming further out, Mr. Crossleigh almost kicked the
+basket. But he recovered in time, and bent down.</p>
+
+<p>The peepers, not far away, heard him utter an exclamation of amazement.
+Then:</p>
+
+<p>"Wife!" he called back into the house. "Come and see who's here!"</p>
+
+<p>"Who is it?" hailed a voice from inside. "Cousin Jenny?"</p>
+
+<p>"No; it isn't."</p>
+
+<p>"Who? The minister?"</p>
+
+<p>"No; you just come and see."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Then Mrs. Crossleigh came down the hallway and out on to the porch.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, who do you think it is?" chuckled Mr. Crossleigh, lifting the
+basket.</p>
+
+<p>"Henry Crossleigh, where on earth&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Don't ask me where it came from, wife. I found it here on the stoop
+when I answered the bell."</p>
+
+<p>"Well of all the&mdash;&mdash;" gasped the woman in wonder.</p>
+
+<p>"Ain't it!" agreed her husband.</p>
+
+<p>"It's&mdash;it's&mdash;why, I do believe it's a real cute little shaver,"
+continued the woman hesitatingly.</p>
+
+<p>"Fine little fellow, I should say, though I'm no judge," continued Mr.
+Crossleigh.</p>
+
+<p>"And it isn't crying a bit. Do you suppose it's a foundling, left on our
+stoop, as we sometimes read of in the papers, Henry?"</p>
+
+<p>"That's just what it is, of course. Folks don't leave small children
+around for a joke, wife."</p>
+
+<p>"And have we got to take it in and keep it?"</p>
+
+<p>"The law doesn't compel us to."</p>
+
+<p>"But&mdash;Henry&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"What is it, wife?"</p>
+
+<p>"Do you suppose&mdash;we've never had any children. Do you think we
+could&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"We can do whatever you say, wife," nodded<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figleft" style="width: 262px;">
+<img src="images/illus03.png" width="262" height="400" alt="&quot;Is This the Brother You're Looking For?&quot;" title="&quot;Is This the Brother You're Looking For?&quot;" />
+<span class="caption">&quot;Is This the Brother You're Looking For?&quot;</span>
+</div>
+
+<p>Mr. Crossleigh. "If you say that you want to&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>Here he came to a pause. The new idea was so wholly strange that he
+couldn't grasp it all at once.</p>
+
+<p>Here Hoof Sadby, straining his ears from the distance, judged that it
+was high time for him to use his slice of onion. Then his doleful voice
+was heard as he came wailing along.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, who's that out there?" cried Mrs. Crossleigh.</p>
+
+<p>"Say, have you got my baby brother!" demanded Hoof, halting at the
+gateway, then running forward for a minute. "Some fellers&mdash;&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Is this the brother you're looking for?" asked Mr. Crossleigh, stepping
+toward Hoof, basket in hand.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes!" snapped Hoof, giving a pretended gulp of joy. But, truth to tell,
+he felt so ashamed of himself that he was a poor actor at this moment.
+Had the Crossleighs been more suspicious they would have detected
+something sham in Hoof's beginning grief and his swift change to joy.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, thank you, sir," awkwardly sobbed Hoof, taking the basket. "I know
+the fellows that did this to me. They think this is a good Hallowe'en
+joke."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm glad, boy, that you didn't have a longer hunt," remarked Mr.
+Crossleigh. "Good night!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Then Hoof and the peepers across the way saw Mr. Crossleigh throw an arm
+around his wife's waist and draw her into the house, closing the door.</p>
+
+<p>"Say, who said they were cranks?" demanded Greg Holmes, when the abashed
+Hallowe'eners had gathered a little way down the street. "Why, those
+folks would have been only too glad to take the little shaver in
+and&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Adopt it," supplied Dan Dalzell.</p>
+
+<p>Truth to tell, Dick and all the Grammar School boys had seen the
+beginning of a scene that made their joke look small.</p>
+
+<p>"If I ever catch any fellow trying to sneak the Crossleigh's gate,"
+warned Dave loftily, "I'll give that fellow all that's coming his way!"</p>
+
+<p>"They're the right sort of people," confessed Dick. "Fellows, we've all
+got to make it our business to see that the Crossleighs are never
+bothered again by fellows out for larks. Say, they showed us that
+playing a joke with a baby is only a clownish trick, didn't they?"</p>
+
+<p>"I'm going home," announced Hoof. "This little shaver has been out long
+enough. It's time he was in his crib."</p>
+
+<p>To this no objection was offered. As Wrecker <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span>Lane was near his home he
+ran off with the basket, which he tossed into the yard, after which he
+overtook his companions.</p>
+
+<p>"What are we going to do, now?" Ben Alvord wanted to know.</p>
+
+<p>"Let's prowl around and see what other Hallowe'eners are doing,"
+proposed Dick.</p>
+
+<p>Apparently there was enough going on. The Grammar School boys came
+across one party of grown young men who had climbed to the top of a
+blacksmith shop and had hoisted a wagon into place on the ridge pole. At
+another point they came across a group of High School boys who, with
+bricks done up in fancy paper, and with a confectioner's label pasted on
+the package, were industriously circulating these sham sweets by tying
+the packages to door-knobs, ringing the bells and then hurrying away. In
+another part of the town the Grammar School boys came upon a bevy of
+schoolgirls engaged in the ancient pastime of "hanging baskets."</p>
+
+<p>In time Dick and the rest of the crowd found themselves down by the
+railroad, not far from the railway station. Lights shone out from the
+office where the night operator was handling train orders and other
+telegrams.</p>
+
+<p>"What can we do here?" demanded Ben Alvord.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know," returned Dave.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"It's a bad place to play tricks," advised Dick. "Railway people are in
+a serious line of business, and they don't stand for much nonsense."</p>
+
+<p>"Green is the night operator, and I don't forget the switching he gave
+some of us a year ago," muttered Ben Alvord bitterly.</p>
+
+<p>"What were you doing?" asked Dick.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, just catching on and off a night freight that was being made up in
+the yard."</p>
+
+<p>"And taking a big chance of getting hurt?" asked Dick. "I don't know
+that I blame Green much for taking the quickest course he knew of
+getting you out of harm's way."</p>
+
+<p>"He had no right to switch us with a stick," insisted Ben.</p>
+
+<p>"You're right he hadn't," spoke up another youngster. "I was there, and
+I got some of that switch across my legs, too. Whew! I can feel the
+sting yet."</p>
+
+<p>"I guess it's about time that Green heard from us," insisted Ben.</p>
+
+<p>"If I were you I wouldn't do anything around here," advised Dick.</p>
+
+<p>"You're right," nodded Dave. "And I guess, Ben, you fellows didn't get a
+bit more than you deserved."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll show old Green whether we did," snapped Ben.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Don't you think of it," warned Greg Holmes. "It's a serious business to
+monkey with railroad property. Besides, anything serious might put in
+danger the lives of people traveling on the railroad."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, keep quiet and do some thinking," retorted young Alvord. "Any of
+you fellows that never eat anything but milk, and are 'fraidcats, can
+cut out of this. I tell you, I'm going to get hunk with Green, and
+fellows with sand, who want to see it, can stay. The milksops can go
+home and to bed."</p>
+
+<p>Not a boy stirred away just then. It isn't boy nature to withdraw under
+taunts.</p>
+
+<p>"Say, Ben, I'll tell you something you dassent do," dared one of the
+boys.</p>
+
+<p>"It'll have to be something pretty big that I don't dare do," boasted
+young Alvord.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you dast to pick up a stone and smash one of the red or green lights
+over there?"</p>
+
+<p>The lights referred to were the signal lights for passing trains.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't do that!" protested Dick Prescott sharply. "That certainly would
+be downright criminal!"</p>
+
+<p>"Milksop!" retorted Ben. "I dast to do anything that I want to."</p>
+
+<p>"I think I dare do anything that's decent," retorted Dick quietly. "But
+I don't pretend <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span>that I'm brave enough to commit crimes, if you call
+breaking the law bravery."</p>
+
+<p>"Crime?" sneered Ben. "Bosh! This is only fun, and getting square with a
+man who has been mean to some of us."</p>
+
+<p>"If you don't take Dick's advice, and cut out the trick, you'll be
+mighty sorry afterwards," urged Tom Reade. "Come on, fellows. Let's move
+along and find some fun that is more decent."</p>
+
+<p>"Babies!" jeered Ben Alvord. "You haven't nerve enough to stand up for
+your rights and pay Green back for the way he treats the fellows when he
+loses his temper. You're babies! Go on. Those who aren't babies will
+stay right here and see what happens."</p>
+
+<p>"You're talking boldly enough, now, Ben Alvord, but you'll be whining
+to-morrow, instead. Come on, fellows; let's have nothing to do with the
+scheme," cried Dick.</p>
+
+<p>"Babies!" sneered Ben again. "You fellows who want to be classed with
+the babies can go. The fellows with nerve can stay right here."</p>
+
+<p>"Come along, then," urged Dick, and he and his chums started away. At
+the corner, just before turning up the street that led away from the
+railway station Dick turned to see if others than his chums were coming
+along. But Dick &amp; <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span>Co. proved to be the only ones who had left the scene.</p>
+
+<p>There were others who wanted to go with Dick Prescott, but they didn't
+care to risk being taunted with being "babies." So they stood by Ben,
+though nervously.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you s'pose we'll get in jail?" whispered one of Ben's followers
+nervously.</p>
+
+<p>"Humph! You'd better run along with the babies," jeered Ben Alvord. "I
+guess it's time that some of you were in your cradles, anyway."</p>
+
+<p>"Shut up! We're standing by you, aren't we?" Wrecker Lane demanded.</p>
+
+<p>"Are you ready, then?" inquired Ben, glancing around at those who had
+stayed with him.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," replied Toby.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, take good aim!" warned Ben, in a conspirator's tone. "Remember, we
+can't wait, this time, for any repeat shots. All you fellows ready?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," came the response.</p>
+
+<p>"When I say 'three,' then," ordered Ben. "All ready! One, two, three!"</p>
+
+<p>Through the air whizzed a volley of stones.</p>
+
+<p>Crash! Both the red and the green lights went out, the glass flying in
+splinters.</p>
+
+<p>Guessing what had happened, Operator Green dashed out hotfoot in
+pursuit.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>CHAPTER XIX</h2>
+
+<h3>BEN WANTS TO KNOW WHO "BLABBED"</h3>
+
+
+<p>"Cheese it! Scoot!" sounded the unnecessary warning.</p>
+
+<p>A crowd of boys, engaged in mischief, doesn't have to wait to be
+instructed in the art of vanishing.</p>
+
+<p>By the time that Mr. Green, swift though he was, got out into the open,
+Ben and the other stone-throwers had scattered in as many different
+directions as there were boys in the party.</p>
+
+<p>For a moment Night Operator Green halted, baffled, for every one of the
+fugitives had found safe cover.</p>
+
+<p>"They've run down to the street, and are making off," decided the night
+operator, with bad judgment. "I'll catch some of them yet."</p>
+
+<p>Whereupon he sprinted down to the corner and turned up the street. True
+enough he beheld a clump of boys, but they were gathered around one of
+their number and talking earnestly.</p>
+
+<p>"Stop, you young heathen! Stay right where you are, if you know what's
+good for you!" yelled the angered operator.</p>
+
+<p>None of the six boys moved more than was necessary in order for them to
+get a view of the charging operator.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Now, I've got you;" roared Mr. Green swooping down upon Dick &amp; Co.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, Mr Green?" inquired Dick unafraid, as he had a right to be.</p>
+
+<p>"I want all your names!" growled the operator. "Your right names, too!"</p>
+
+<p>"I guess you know all of our names now, if you take a good look at us,"
+smiled Prescott.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I do," nodded Mr. Green grimly. "I wouldn't have thought it of any
+of you boys, either. But there's no telling what boys won't do
+nowadays."</p>
+
+<p>"What are we supposed to have done?" Dick queried.</p>
+
+<p>"You're the youngsters who threw a volley of stones and broke the
+railroad signal lights."</p>
+
+<p>"Guess again!" suggested Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"Aren't the lights broken, and didn't I catch you moving away from the
+scene?" glared Mr. Green.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes; but didn't you hear some other boys getting away at the same
+time?" demanded Prescott.</p>
+
+<p>"Um! I&mdash;er&mdash;suppose I did."</p>
+
+<p>"Doesn't it strike you that the boys who broke your signal lights were
+the ones who ran away so fast?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Then you boys didn't do it!"</p>
+
+<p>"We certainly didn't."</p>
+
+<p>"Who were the boys, then!"</p>
+
+<p>"Excuse me, Mr. Green, but you'll have to find that out for yourself."</p>
+
+<p>"Who were they?" pressed the operator.</p>
+
+<p>"As I said before, Mr. Green, you'll have to find that out for
+yourself."</p>
+
+<p>"Then I guess I'll take you youngsters in on the charge. You know that I
+belong to the railway police, don't you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes; and I also know," smiled Dick steadily, "that, if you don't
+succeed in proving your charge, you'll lay both yourself and the
+railroad liable to damages for false arrest."</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Green looked a bit uneasy. This is a point of law intended to
+restrain officers of the law from making arrests without evidence.</p>
+
+<p>"For the last time, will you tell me the names of the boys who threw the
+stones?"</p>
+
+<p>"No," Dick rejoined, "for we don't know exactly what boys did the
+throwing."</p>
+
+<p>"Name the boys you suspect, then."</p>
+
+<p>"Nothing doing," Dave Darrin interposed, with emphasis.</p>
+
+<p>"Then I'll have to take you boys in."</p>
+
+<p>"That's your privilege&mdash;and your risk, as Dick has explained," laughed
+Dave.</p>
+
+<p>Green fidgeted. He didn't want to make <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span>any mistakes, but he did wish
+that these Grammar School boys could be scared more easily.</p>
+
+<p>"Will you come back to the station with me, without going in arrest?"
+asked the operator.</p>
+
+<p>"Why?" questioned Prescott, pointedly.</p>
+
+<p>"Because I'm going to send for the chief of police, and I shall want him
+to talk with you," Green answered.</p>
+
+<p>"The chief of police knows where to find any of us when he wants to,"
+hinted Darrin.</p>
+
+<p>"If Mr. Green asks us to go to the railway station with him, without
+being placed under arrest, I don't see what harm that can do, fellows.
+What do you say if we accept Mr. Green's invitation?"</p>
+
+<p>"All right," agreed some of the six. Even Dave consented.</p>
+
+<p>Ten minutes later the chief of police was on hand. He inspected the
+broken lights just before the operator placed out new ones. Mr. Green
+stated what he knew of the affair. Then the chief turned to Dick &amp; Co.
+He put many questions. Some of these Dick and his friends answered
+promptly. They even told how they had spoken against the proposed prank,
+and how they had left when they had found that the other boys couldn't
+be stopped. But as to the matter of naming the other boys all six
+refused.</p>
+
+<p>"We're not tell-tales," Dick explained.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Justice Lee can make you tell," warned the chief of police.</p>
+
+<p>"Can he?" inquired Dick. "Can he make us testify as to our suspicions?
+And wouldn't warrants have to be issued for us before we could be taken
+to court?"</p>
+
+<p>"No; the judge could issue summons for you all."</p>
+
+<p>"But could he make us testify as to suspicions&mdash;things we didn't
+actually see?" propounded Dick Prescott.</p>
+
+<p>The chief chewed the ends of his moustache.</p>
+
+<p>"It's a criminal act to destroy the signal lights of a railway," the
+police officer went on. "You ought to tell us, to serve the ends of
+justice."</p>
+
+<p>"Do you know what would happen to us?" Dick demanded.</p>
+
+<p>"What?"</p>
+
+<p>"Every other fellow in town would point his finger at us and cry
+'tell-tale!' We'd get thrashed whenever we showed our heads outdoors."</p>
+
+<p>"The police can protect you," declared the chief.</p>
+
+<p>"Have you ever had policemen enough yet to prevent boys from fighting in
+Gridley?" challenged Dick, though his tone was respectful. "Besides, the
+thrashings wouldn't be anything <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span>to the scorn and contempt that we'd meet
+everywhere."</p>
+
+<p>"You ought to tell us," insisted the chief of police. "You're helping to
+defeat the ends of justice."</p>
+
+<p>"Aren't men clever enough to catch a few boy offenders, without
+demanding that other boys 'queer' themselves with every fellow in town?"
+insisted Dick.</p>
+
+<p>"Justice Lee will make you tell, then," promised the chief, with a shake
+of his head.</p>
+
+<p>"He can't!" spoke Dick with spirit. "I'll go to prison, and stay there,
+before I'll turn blab. So will my friends."</p>
+
+<p>"That's just what we'll do," nodded Dave, his eyes flashing.</p>
+
+<p>The chief chewed his moustache thoughtfully. At last he spoke.</p>
+
+<p>"You boys can go now. I know where to find you when I want you."</p>
+
+<p>Dick &amp; Co. lost no time in getting away from this uncomfortable
+examination.</p>
+
+<p>"Prescott and Darrin are regular little schoolboy lawyers, Green,"
+laughed the chief. "We can't make them tell a thing."</p>
+
+<p>"But the judge ought to be able to."</p>
+
+<p>"Perhaps Justice Lee has the power, Green, but we'd only make heroes of
+Prescott, Darrin and the rest if we made martyrs of them in <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span>court. It
+would stir up a lot of bad feeling in the town, too, and after that
+every boy would feel that he had a grudge against you railway people.
+You'd be annoyed in loads of ways that the police couldn't very well
+stop. Prescott scored a hit with me when he said that a lot of grown men
+ought to be able to catch a lot of boy offenders. Green, the best thing
+to do is to put the case up to your railway company."</p>
+
+<p>"The boys who threw the stones must be found and punished!" insisted the
+operator firmly.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes; I agree with you on that point. But you'd better go about in a
+regular way. Wire your headquarters and ask that a railway detective be
+sent here on the case. My department will give your detective all proper
+aid in the matter."</p>
+
+<p>One of the earliest trains, the next morning, brought Detective Briscoe.
+That official, however, worked very quietly. No one guessed who or what
+he was until he was ready to strike.</p>
+
+<p>Ned Allen, Ben Alvord, Toby Ross, Wrecker Lane and Spoff Henderson were
+badly scared that same next morning. They met on the way to school and
+took blood-curdling oaths as to secrecy.</p>
+
+<p>Then, in the school yard, Ben Alvord hunted up Prescott.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Dick, you didn't give our names last night, did you?"</p>
+
+<p>"No," Prescott replied.</p>
+
+<p>"You won't name us, either, will you?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, sirree!"</p>
+
+<p>So the light-smashers felt more comfortable. By the day following they
+breathed easily&mdash;until they reached school.</p>
+
+<p>The boys were in the yard, playing until the gong rang for morning
+session. A buggy drove up, and Detective Briscoe and two policemen in
+plain clothes got out.</p>
+
+<p>"Trouble!" was the word whispered. Ben Alvord and his fellows turned
+pale. But the gong rang. Glad of any chance to bolt, Ben, Spoff, Ned,
+Toby and Wrecker fled to the basement to get into line.</p>
+
+<p>Briscoe and the two policemen appeared in Old Dut's room. The detective
+drew some papers from his pocket, inquiring:</p>
+
+<p>"You have boys here by the names of Allen, Alvord, Ross, Lane and
+Henderson, haven't you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," nodded Old Dut.</p>
+
+<p>"Ask them to step forward, please."</p>
+
+<p>Pallid and shaking a bit, the five came forward.</p>
+
+<p>"Boys," announced Detective Briscoe, "I am sorry to say that Justice Lee
+wants to see you <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span>about a little matter on Hallowe'en. Get your hats and
+coats and come along."</p>
+
+<p>An awed hush crept over the eighth grade room after the youngsters had
+left.</p>
+
+<p>"I hope," declared Old Dut to his class, "that the young men haven't
+been doing anything very wrong."</p>
+
+<p>Under Justice Lee's questioning the five broke down, one after another
+and confessed.</p>
+
+<p>"Young men," said Justice Lee severely, "this is a more serious offense
+than probably any of you understand. Destroying railway signals is
+always likely to lead to destruction of property and even loss of life.
+I advise the parents of these young men to explain to them carefully and
+earnestly what a criminal thing these boys have done. If any of you
+young men are ever brought before me again, on such a charge, I shall
+send the offenders to a reformatory, there to remain until they are
+twenty-one. For this first offense I trust that the parents will act as
+my allies. On this occasion, therefore, I shall let the young men off
+with a fine of ten dollars each."</p>
+
+<p>The fines were paid. Ben and his comrades reached school just as the
+afternoon session was closing. All five of the culprits were in an
+angry, defiant frame of mind.</p>
+
+<p>"Whoop! There's Ben Alvord," shouted one <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span>of the eighth grade boys, as
+Central Grammar "let out." "Hullo, Ben! What did they do to you?"</p>
+
+<p>"How long you got to go up for, Ben?" jeered another.</p>
+
+<p>The five were quickly surrounded and eagerly questioned.</p>
+
+<p>"That judge was too fresh!" declared Alvord wrathfully. "He called us
+criminals, and gave us a fierce scolding. He made our folks pay ten
+dollars apiece."</p>
+
+<p>"That don't cost you anything," grinned one of the boys.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't it, though?" Ben demanded angrily. "I had ten dollars and forty
+cents saved up for a bicycle. Dad said that, as long as I liked such
+expensive amusements, I could just pay the fine out of my bicycle money.
+So, now, I've got only forty cents left. And all because some fellows
+can't keep their mouths shut!"</p>
+
+<p>"What do you mean by that, Ben?" demanded three or four fellows.</p>
+
+<p>"I mean that Dick Prescott and his gang had to go and blab on us!"
+charged Ben Alvord. "There he is, now, the sneak!"</p>
+
+<p>There was a great bobbing of heads. All eyes, and most of them accusing
+eyes, were turned on Dick &amp; Co.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>CHAPTER XX</h2>
+
+<h3>DICK'S ACCUSER GETS TWO ANSWERS</h3>
+
+
+<p>Dick took a step forward, his face grave but his eyes steady as he faced
+his accuser.</p>
+
+<p>"Ben, I know you're sore, but if you say that I, or any of my friends
+told on you, then you're going too far."</p>
+
+<p>"You did!" asserted young Alvord. "You blabbed!"</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't, and we didn't; not one of us."</p>
+
+<p>"That's all right to say after you're caught," flared Ben.</p>
+
+<p>"Then you call us liars?" flashed Dave Darrin, pushing his way forward,
+his fists clenched.</p>
+
+<p>"You are, if you say you didn't blab!" panted Ben.</p>
+
+<p>"Fight! fight!" chorused some of the boys.</p>
+
+<p>"Get back, Dave, and keep cool," warned Dick, pushing his chum to the
+rear. "This thing started with me, and it's my affair first of all. Ben
+Alvord, look at me! I don't want to fight. I don't believe in fighting
+when it can be helped. I know you're sore, too, for you've just had a
+rough time of it after what you thought was fun on Hallowe'en. But
+you're <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span>going too far when you say we blabbed on you, for we didn't."</p>
+
+<p>"Who did, then?" sneered Ben.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know. I'm not the chief of police. But, just because you can't
+think who told on you, you needn't come along and accuse us."</p>
+
+<p>"I say you did tell&mdash;you or some of your gang!" retorted Ben.</p>
+
+<p>"It sounds likely enough. No one else knew," muttered a boy on the
+outskirts of the crowd.</p>
+
+<p>"Of course Dick Prescott or some of his gang told on us," insisted Ben
+Alvord angrily.</p>
+
+<p>Dick took a step closer to his accuser.</p>
+
+<p>"Then, Ben, you're a liar!" Prescott announced coolly.</p>
+
+<p>"Punch him!" urged another boy, giving Ben a shove toward Dick.</p>
+
+<p>"You bet I will!" snapped Alvord. "I don't allow a sneak to call me a
+liar."</p>
+
+<p>"You can have a fight, if you insist on it," agreed Dick promptly. "You
+can have it right away, too, and it will last as long as you want. But
+this is no place. Let's go up to the field where we used to practise
+football."</p>
+
+<p>"Whoop! Come on!" The crowd of Grammar School boys surged around the
+prospective fighters. A big procession started up the road.</p>
+
+<p>"See here, this whole crowd can't come. So many will get us into
+trouble," shouted Dave.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I'll name ten of Dick's friends, and Ben can name ten of his friends.
+No one else will be allowed to come."</p>
+
+<p>Dave quickly called off his list of boys.</p>
+
+<p>"Choose me, Ben!" "Choose me!" urged two score boys whom Dave had not
+named. Ben looked around, trying to select those whom he thought most
+friendly to himself.</p>
+
+<p>Then the procession started again, containing only the chosen ones.
+Others wanted to go, but knew they would be driven back by the selected
+twenty friends.</p>
+
+<p>The field was quickly reached. Ben Alvord was cooling, now. He would
+have drawn out of the fight, but knew that he couldn't get out without
+discredit. So Ben pulled off his jacket, took off his collar and tie and
+made ready.</p>
+
+<p>Dick, who was almost wholly free from anger, made similar preparations.
+After a good deal of disputing Hoof Sadby was agreed upon as a referee
+satisfactory to both sides. Dave, of course, seconded Dick, while Alvord
+chose Toby Ross.</p>
+
+<p>"Get your men forward," ordered Hoof. "Want to shake hands before you
+start?"</p>
+
+<p>"No," growled Ben sullenly.</p>
+
+<p>"Time, then! Get busy!"</p>
+
+<p>Dick threw himself on guard. He was not an <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span>amazingly good boxer, but he
+had been through a few schoolboy fights.</p>
+
+<p>"I'll knock your head off and wind it up!" blazed Ben, darting forward.</p>
+
+<p>Instead of carrying out his programme, Ben received a blow on the nose
+that staggered him.</p>
+
+<p>"No fair!" howled Ben, retreating. "I hadn't my guard up."</p>
+
+<p>"Your fault, then," mocked Dick.</p>
+
+<p>"All fair," chimed in Hoof. "Stop talking and mix it up."</p>
+
+<p>Ben soon advanced once more, rather disconcerted by the wholly steady
+bearing of Dick Prescott.</p>
+
+<p>This time Alvord tried to foul by hitting below the belt. Dick
+sidestepped and drove in a blow against Ben's left eye.</p>
+
+<p>"My! That was a socker!" yelled some of the spectators.</p>
+
+<p>"You're hitting too hard. It ain't fair," wailed Ben, backing off.</p>
+
+<p>"If all you want is gymnastics you don't need me," mocked Dick. "Fight,
+if you're going to. If you're not, then get out of this."</p>
+
+<p>"Mix it up!" ordered Hoof tersely, and the crowd took up the cry.</p>
+
+<p>Ben suddenly let loose. For a few moments he kept young Prescott pretty
+busy. Not all of Ben's blows were fended off, either. Dick's <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span>face began
+to show red spots from the hard impacts of Alvord's tough little fists.</p>
+
+<p>"Good boy, Ben! Go in and wind up his clock!" came the gleeful advice.
+"You've got him started. Keep him going!"</p>
+
+<p>Just then a blow under the chin sent Ben down to the ground.</p>
+
+<p>"Keep back, Prescott. Don't hit him while he's down," cried several. But
+this Dick had no intention of doing. Panting slightly, he waited for Ben
+to get to his feet. This Alvord soon did, drawing away crouchingly.</p>
+
+<p>"Got enough?" hailed Dick.</p>
+
+<p>"I'll show you!" raged Ben, rushing forward.</p>
+
+<p>Dick met him half-way, in a leap. Now it was Prescott on the offensive,
+and he forced Ben all over the field, to the tune of encouraging yells.
+Ben tried to save his face, but couldn't. Then Dick hammered his body.
+Young Alvord lost all his coolness, and began to windmill his hands.
+That settled it, of course. Any boy who forsakes his guard to take to
+windmilling is as good as whipped. Dick watched his chance, then drove
+in a blow on Ben's jaw that felled him flat.</p>
+
+<p>"O-o-oh!" wailed Ben, holding to his jaw with both hands.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you give it up?" demanded Hoof.</p>
+
+<p>"No!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Then get up and go on with the fight."</p>
+
+<p>"I will when I'm ready."</p>
+
+<p>"You will, now, or I'll decide against you," warned Hoof.</p>
+
+<p>"That booby broke my jaw," groaned Ben.</p>
+
+<p>"You wag it pretty well, for a broken jaw," jeered Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"Get up, Ben!"</p>
+
+<p>"If you don't you're thrashed!"</p>
+
+<p>"Don't give up like a baby!"</p>
+
+<p>"Get up and fight," ordered Hoof. "One!"</p>
+
+<p>Ben lay on the ground, glaring about him in sullen silence.</p>
+
+<p>"Going to get up?" demanded Hoof. "Two!"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Ben, don't let Prescott whip you as easily as that," implored
+several of Alvord's backers.</p>
+
+<p>"Get up!" commanded Hoof, putting the toe of his boot lightly against
+Alvord's body. "Three!"</p>
+
+<p>Still Ben refused to stir.</p>
+
+<p>"Dick Prescott wins the fight," announced Hoof judicially. "Ben refused
+three times to get up and go on."</p>
+
+<p>As soon as Prescott began to don his discarded coat, Ben got to his
+feet.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, I have something to say to you, Alvord," announced Dave, going
+over to the worsted one. "You insulted six of us and called <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span>us liars.
+Dick is only one. You'll have to fight the rest of us, one a day, or
+else apologize before the crowd."</p>
+
+<p>"I won't apologize," glared Ben.</p>
+
+<p>"All right, then. You'll fight me after school to-morrow," Darrin
+declared.</p>
+
+<p>"And me the day after," challenged Greg Holmes. Reade, Dalzell and
+Hazelton all put in their claims for dates.</p>
+
+<p>"You think you're going to bully me, don't you?" grunted Ben.</p>
+
+<p>"No," Dave answered. "But when a fellow lies about me I'm going to make
+him fight or apologize."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know whether I will fight you, or not," snarled Ben.</p>
+
+<p>"Then you'll get a thrashing just the same, and be called a coward by
+every decent fellow in school," flared Dave.</p>
+
+<p>Ben quailed a bit inwardly. He had had all the fighting he wanted for
+the present.</p>
+
+<p>"That Prescott fellow is no good, anyway," sniffed Ben, as he walked
+homeward with Toby Ross, the only one of the late spectators who had
+stood by him.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, may-be he didn't tell on us," suggested Toby.</p>
+
+<p>"'Course he did!"</p>
+
+<p>"Dick has always acted pretty decently."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Huh! If neither he nor any of his gang told, then who did?" demanded
+Ben, as though that settled it.</p>
+
+<p>"Ben Alvord, what have you been doing?" demanded his mother, as Ben
+showed up at the kitchen door.</p>
+
+<p>"Why?"</p>
+
+<p>"Your face is all bruised. Have you been fighting?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, ma'am. I had to. I thumped Dick Prescott for telling on us and
+getting us all arrested."</p>
+
+<p>"Did Dick say that he told on you?" asked Mrs. Alvord.</p>
+
+<p>"No, ma'am."</p>
+
+<p>"Denied it, didn't he?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes'm."</p>
+
+<p>"And I guess Dick told the truth. I know who did tell on all you boys,"
+announced his mother.</p>
+
+<p>"Who?" demanded Ben sullenly.</p>
+
+<p>"Your little brother, Will."</p>
+
+<p>Willie Alvord was only between four and five; not yet old enough to go
+to school.</p>
+
+<p>"I got it all out of the baby this afternoon," continued Mrs. Alvord. "I
+saw him playing with a new baseball bat, and I made him tell me where he
+got it. It seems that Willie heard you and Toby, and the other boys
+talking about <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span>your Hallowe'en pranks yesterday morning before you went
+to school. Then, later, Willie was out in the street playing, when 'a
+nice man'&mdash;as Willie called him&mdash;came along and got to talking with him.
+The man talked about you, it seems, Ben, and he made believe he didn't
+think Willie's big brother was very smart. Then Willie up and boasted of
+your smartness down at the railroad. The 'nice man' took Willie to the
+corner and bought him some candy and a baseball bat, and kept on talking
+about you and Toby, and the rest, and of course Willie told the 'nice
+man' all he'd heard about the railroad business."</p>
+
+<p>"That 'nice man' must have been the detective," growled Ben. "Oh, he's a
+real 'nice man.' If Willie was larger I'd take the baseball bat to him
+for talking too much!"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, you won't," warned his mother dryly. "Willie is only a baby, and
+didn't know what he was saying. But you'd better go and apologize to
+Dick Prescott."</p>
+
+<p>"Huh!" was Ben's undutiful retort. Then he went outside with Toby.</p>
+
+<p>"So Dick didn't tell?" mused Toby. "It was your kid brother?"</p>
+
+<p>"Don't you tell that to any one!" warned Ben Alvord, flushing.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, you'll have to tell it yourself," protested <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span>Toby. "You'll surely
+have to beg Dick Prescott's pardon after what you said to him before the
+whole crowd. If you don't, then I'll tell myself. I'm not going to see
+Dick blamed for what he didn't do."</p>
+
+<p>"If you blab to any one," warned Ben angrily, "I'll give you a good
+thrashing."</p>
+
+<p>"Try it, and perhaps you'll get more of what Dick gave you this
+afternoon," Toby shot back as he walked through the gate.</p>
+
+<p>Toby was as good as his word. He told the news at school the next day,
+and Ben Alvord's stock went even lower. After school that afternoon Dave
+Darrin made Ben apologize. So did Reade, Holmes, Hazelton and Dalzell.
+It was a bitter pill for young Alvord to swallow. The fights that the
+other chums had claimed were now called off. They felt Ben to be beneath
+their notice.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>CHAPTER XXI</h2>
+
+<h3>AB. DEXTER MAKES A NEW MOVE</h3>
+
+
+<p>"Did you hear the latest from Ab. Dexter?" asked Dave, as he met Dick
+one Saturday afternoon in November.</p>
+
+<p>"No; nothing very good, was it?"</p>
+
+<p>"That's hardly to be expected," laughed Dave, as the two chums came to a
+halt on a street corner. "Did you happen to remember that Dexter and
+Driggs were due to come up for trial in court this afternoon?"</p>
+
+<p>"No; I had forgotten the date."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, this was the day. Justice Lee, if you remember, bound them over
+to answer at court."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes; I remember that."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, neither of them showed up, and so the court declared forfeited
+the cash bail that Dexter put up for the pair."</p>
+
+<p>"The money ought to be worth more to the county than both men put
+together," laughed Dick.</p>
+
+<p>"I guess that's the way the court looked at it."</p>
+
+<p>"I hope Dexter and Driggs are both a mighty long way from Gridley, and
+that they will stay. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span>Mrs. Dexter isn't having any bother at all, these
+days, is she?"</p>
+
+<p>"You ought to be the one to know that," teased Dave. "You're the one she
+sends for whenever she takes it into her head that she wants to reward
+us for some jolly good fun that we had in helping her."</p>
+
+<p>"I had a note from Mrs. Dexter a few days ago," Dick went on. "Maybe I
+forgot to tell you about it. She wanted me to call on her, and I wrote
+back that I was awfully sorry but that my evenings just then had to be
+put in getting ready for the monthly exams. I haven't heard a word from
+her since then."</p>
+
+<p>"She's a fine woman," nodded Dave, "but she certainly has the reward
+habit in bad shape."</p>
+
+<p>"Feels some like snow, doesn't it?" inquired Dick, looking up at a
+lead-colored sky.</p>
+
+<p>"It'll rain," predicted Dave. "It isn't yet cold enough for snow."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll be mighty glad when the snow comes."</p>
+
+<p>"Maybe I won't," uttered Darrin. "That's the best time of the
+year&mdash;winter."</p>
+
+<p>"Unless you call summer the finest time."</p>
+
+<p>"Of course in summer we have the long vacation and plenty of time to
+have fun."</p>
+
+<p>"Better duck," advised Dick suddenly. "Here comes Mrs. Dexter now."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Looks as though she'd been crying, too," murmured Dave, scanning the
+approaching woman.</p>
+
+<p>"Then we won't scoot," advised Dick, changing front instantly. "It
+doesn't look very fine to run away from any one who's in trouble."</p>
+
+<p>Strangely enough Mrs. Dexter didn't appear, at first, to want to talk
+with the boys. She nodded, smiled wanly and said:</p>
+
+<p>"Good afternoon, boys! Are things dull to-day?"</p>
+
+<p>"Just quiet, Mrs. Dexter," Dick answered.</p>
+
+<p>Then Dave, with some of his usual impulsiveness, put in, earnestly:</p>
+
+<p>"You look as though you had heard bad news, Mrs. Dexter."</p>
+
+<p>The woman had started to go on her way. Then she turned about again.</p>
+
+<p>"Perhaps I have heard bad news," she smiled wearily.</p>
+
+<p>"It isn't anything that we could help you about, is it?" asked Dick. He
+felt that he was taking a liberty in putting the question, yet he could
+not hold his inquiry back.</p>
+
+<p>"I&mdash;I am afraid not, this time," she answered slowly. "Besides, I don't
+want to see any of you get into any more trouble on my account."</p>
+
+<p>"Then it's&mdash;it's Mr. Dexter?" hazarded Dave.</p>
+
+<p>The woman swallowed hard, seemed to be trying to choke back something,
+and then replied:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Yes."</p>
+
+<p>"Has he dared to get troublesome again?" flashed Dick.</p>
+
+<p>"N-n-n-o matter. Please don't ask me. You can't help me any this time."</p>
+
+<p>Once more Mrs. Dexter looked as though she would follow her way, but
+some other instinct prompted her to add:</p>
+
+<p>"Don't think I don't appreciate my excellent young friends. But you
+can't help me this time. No one can. Mr. Dexter is too dangerous a man,
+and when he threatens disaster, and says he'll wait patiently a year to
+bring it about, he means every word that he says."</p>
+
+<p>"Whew! So he has threatened that, has he?" Dick inquired.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes. I guess I may as well tell you the rest of it. Well, this morning
+I received a letter from Mr. Dexter. He wanted more money before. Now he
+puts his demand at thirty thousand dollars. He says that, if I don't
+arrange to meet him and turn over the cash, he'll wait patiently for a
+year or more, if necessary, but that he'll watch and find his chance to
+burn my home down and destroy Myra and me in it."</p>
+
+<p>"Dexter threatened that, did he?" chuckled Dave Darrin, almost merrily.
+"Why Dexter <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span>hasn't the nerve to do such a thing. Excuse me, Mrs. Dexter,
+but all that fellow is good for is frightening timid women."</p>
+
+<p>"I wish I could believe that," sighed the woman nervously.</p>
+
+<p>"You have a special policeman still in the house, haven't you, Mrs.
+Dexter?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes. He's there, now, watching over Myra."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, at the worst," pursued Dick, "hire a second man and put him on
+guard nights outside the house, and you'll never hear from
+Dexter&mdash;except by mail, anyway. But how does the man expect you to send
+him word about the money? Did he give you any address?"</p>
+
+<p>"He told me to put an advertisement, worded in a certain way, in the
+morning 'Blade.'"</p>
+
+<p>"And&mdash;pardon me&mdash;you've been up and inserted the advertisement?"
+questioned Dick.</p>
+
+<p>"Ye-es."</p>
+
+<p>"And have arranged to get the money?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes; I've seen Mr. Dodge at the bank."</p>
+
+<p>"When are you to meet Dexter!"</p>
+
+<p>"When he sees my advertisement in the 'Blade' to-morrow he'll send me
+word where to meet him."</p>
+
+<p>"You ought to send a detective, instead," blazed Dave Darrin.</p>
+
+<p>"If I did, Dexter would wait his time and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span>then destroy my child and
+myself," answered the woman, her under-lip quivering.</p>
+
+<p>"You don't really believe that, do you?" asked Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"No; I know it."</p>
+
+<p>"You haven't been to see a lawyer, have you?" inquired Prescott.</p>
+
+<p>"No; I don't dare that, for a lawyer would advise, as you did, sending a
+detective to keep the appointment, and then Mr. Dexter would be put in
+prison. I don't want Myra to grow up with the shame of having a father
+in prison. I&mdash;I am glad that Dexter jumped his bail on the other little
+charge."</p>
+
+<p>"I see just this much about it, Mrs. Dexter," followed Dick. "But&mdash;you
+don't mind my speaking, do you?"</p>
+
+<p>"No; I like to hear you, for you boys have already saved me some
+heartaches."</p>
+
+<p>"What I was going to say, Mrs. Dexter, is that, no matter how much money
+you give that man, he'll always keep bothering you as long as you have
+any left. A man who won't work can't be very brave, and a man who
+doesn't work can spend an awful lot of money. If you surrender to Dexter
+I'm sure you'll have to keep on giving in just as long as you have any
+money left."</p>
+
+<p>"Then you think I ought not to give him the money, and that I ought to
+hire another good man to guard the house outside?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Yes; if you 're really afraid. It'll be cheaper to hire another man
+than to give all your fortune away."</p>
+
+<p>"But I've put the advertisement in the 'Blade.'"</p>
+
+<p>"There's time enough to take it out."</p>
+
+<p>"I&mdash;I believe I'll do that," murmured Mrs. Dexter. Talking with the boys
+had given her a new little rise in courage.</p>
+
+<p>"That's what I'd do if it were my case," added Darrin.</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you! I'll go right up and take the advertisement out at once."</p>
+
+<p>As though afraid that her courage might fail her, if she delayed, Mrs.
+Dexter turned and walked rapidly back in the direction whence she had
+just come.</p>
+
+<p>"There flies a pot of money out of Dexter's window!" grinned Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm far from being sorry," returned Prescott.</p>
+
+<p>Though neither boy had paid any heed to the fact a cab had moved slowly
+down Main Street past them while Mrs. Dexter was talking. The curtains
+were drawn just enough to make the interior of the vehicle a black
+shadow. Lolling on the back seat, with one curtain adjusted just <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span>so that
+he could look out sufficiently, sat a man, disguised somewhat, though
+none the less Abner Dexter.</p>
+
+<p>"My wife has been up to the 'Blade' office and has put an advertisement
+in," muttered Dexter. "Now, she's talking to those two meddlesome boys.
+About me, I wonder? Blazes! There she is, turning about again. I wonder
+if she's going back to take that advertisement out?"</p>
+
+<p>The cab turned a corner. Then, on directions from inside, the driver
+moved his horses along at a brisk trot. The same cab was passing near
+the "Blade" office when Mrs. Dexter went there for a second time.</p>
+
+<p>The next morning Ab. Dexter and Driggs unfolded a copy of the "Blade"
+between them.</p>
+
+<p>"I've got a misgiving that we won't find the advertisement," muttered
+Dexter gloomily. "No, sir. It isn't here, Driggs. Hang the woman, and
+twenty times hang those meddling youngsters! Driggs, I never shall win
+while those confounded boys are loose in Gridley!"</p>
+
+<p>"We'll take real care of 'em this time," muttered Driggs, with an oath.</p>
+
+<p>"We will!" confirmed Dexter. "We'll stop their troubling us!"</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>CHAPTER XXII</h2>
+
+<h3>TRICKED INTO BAD COMPANY</h3>
+
+
+<p>The heads of fifty eighth grade pupils were bent over as many broad
+volumes on geography. It was study period; recitation would be called in
+five minutes.</p>
+
+<p>Old Dut looked up from a report blank over which he had been poring, to
+shoot out this question:</p>
+
+<p>"Why doesn't the tide rise and fall in inland rivers?"</p>
+
+<p>It was a habit of Old Dut's to throw out questions like this in study
+time, for the purpose of waking up some of the intellects that needed
+rousing.</p>
+
+<p>"Master Holmes, you may answer that," proclaimed the principal.</p>
+
+<p>Greg started out of a brown study at hearing his name spoken. He had a
+vague recollection of having heard a question asked. But his mind was
+still far away, so he did not realize the enormity of his offense as he
+replied:</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know, but I'll be the goat. What's the answer?"</p>
+
+<p>A gasp of amazement sounded around the room.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Master Gregory Holmes," uttered Old Dut sternly, "ten checks for that
+impertinence. And go and stand in the corner by the piano. Turn your
+back to the school that you've insulted!"</p>
+
+<p>At that moment there came a rap on the door. Then a young man entered,
+handing a sealed envelope to the principal.</p>
+
+<p>"Master Prescott, put your books away and come here," directed Old Dut.</p>
+
+<p>The class looked on wonderingly, while Dick obeyed.</p>
+
+<p>"Here is a note from your mother, which requests that you be allowed to
+go home at once, as your father has been injured in an accident. I hope,
+my boy, that it is nothing serious," said the principal in a low tone.
+"Your mother has sent a carriage in order that you may get home sooner.
+Go at once, Master Prescott, and may you learn that the news is not too
+bad."</p>
+
+<p>Old Dut held out the note, but Dick barely saw it. Instead, he turned
+and ran to the coat room, caught up his coat and cap and sped
+downstairs. The messenger had already started downstairs.</p>
+
+<p>"There's the rig," announced the messenger, as Dick appeared on the
+steps.</p>
+
+<p>Alongside a surrey was drawn up. A rain curtain and side panels covered
+the rear seat, but the driver, a silent individual, who had a <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span>full,
+heavy red beard and wore smoked glasses over his eyes moved to make room
+for Dick on the front seat.</p>
+
+<p>"How badly is dad hurt?" demanded Dick breathlessly, as he bundled
+himself in on the front seat.</p>
+
+<p>"Can't say," replied the driver, in a low, weak voice. "I was only hired
+to come after you."</p>
+
+<p>"Hurry!" appealed Dick. The driver nodded, and started the horse away
+briskly.</p>
+
+<p>Young Prescott was fearfully worried. His mother was a woman of cool,
+calm judgment. She was not likely to send a driver after him unless his
+father's injuries were dangerous.</p>
+
+<p>"I hope dad isn't going to die," breathed the boy to himself. "If he
+must, then I hope I get home in time before he goes."</p>
+
+<p>So absorbed was he in his own gloomy thoughts that Dick gave no heed to
+the road that was taken. Nor had the surrey gone far when the rain
+curtain behind parted, but Prescott did not see that.</p>
+
+<p>Yet he had no suspicion of foul play until a pair of hands from behind
+gripped him about the throat.</p>
+
+<p>In a twinkling Dick was drawn over the back of the front seat. Then he
+vanished behind the curtain.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Anybody in the street see that done, Driggs?" whispered the voice of
+Abner Dexter.</p>
+
+<p>"Nary one," retorted Driggs, in a more natural voice than he had used
+before.</p>
+
+<p>Though Dick Prescott was half strangled he heard both voices, now, and
+they sounded wholly natural to him. Driggs was disguised, but Dexter had
+taken no such pains.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, you keep mighty quiet, or you'll be worse off than you thought
+your father was," snarled Ab. Dexter. He had Dick jammed down on the
+floor, the boy's head just above the man's lap. Dexter's fingers kept
+their fearful grip at the boy's throat.</p>
+
+<p>Not that Dick didn't fight back. He fought with all his strength. Yet
+that was not for long. Dexter had taken a foul hold and had the boy at
+his mercy. The gripping at the throat continued until Dick's muscles
+relaxed and he was still.</p>
+
+<p>"He'll come back to his senses, though, in a minute," uttered Dexter to
+himself. He drew out a big handkerchief and a bottle. There was an odor
+of something sickishly sweet in the air for a moment, as the
+handkerchief was pressed to the boy's nostrils.</p>
+
+<p>All the time Driggs had continued to drive onward at a brisk trot.</p>
+
+<p>"I've got to open up this curtain a bit, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span>Driggs," called Ab. Dexter, in
+a not-too-loud voice. "I don't want to whiff in much of the stuff that
+I'm giving the youngster."</p>
+
+<p>Yet, though some air was admitted to the rear part of the surrey Dexter
+took pains not to expose himself to the possibly too-curious glance of
+any passer on the street. At the same time the man bent over Dick, to
+note any signs of returning consciousness.</p>
+
+<p>At last, seeing that second inhalation of the drug had rendered Dick
+wholly senseless, Dexter drew another handkerchief from a pocket, and
+with this he gagged the boy. Then, a moment later, he reached down and
+tied the youngster's hands.</p>
+
+<p>It was in a direction very different from that of Dick's home that the
+surly, silent Driggs was driving. Before long he was out in the suburbs
+of the town, traveling up the back country into the hills.</p>
+
+<p>"The cub will learn, this time," mused Dexter savagely. "If he doesn't,
+it will be because he's too stubborn to learn anything. And, in that
+case&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>After the first half hour the road grew wilder. After going some two
+miles up into the hills Driggs turned off at the right, following a road
+used only in winter, and then principally by wood-cutters. Thus on,
+farther and farther into <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span>the woods, and turning, now and then, off into
+branching roads.</p>
+
+<p>Though given an occasional whiff of the stuff from the bottle, that kept
+him senseless, Dick was allowed to regain his wits after the surrey had
+branched off over the forest roads.</p>
+
+<p>"Keep quiet and be a good boy," admonished Dexter grimly. "You don't
+want any more of the stuff, do you? Too much of it might wind you up for
+good. We don't want to go that far&mdash;if you've got sense enough to be of
+use to us at last."</p>
+
+<p>"Where on earth are they taking me&mdash;and what for?" wondered Dick,
+struggling against the nausea that the inhaling of the drug had caused.
+"What's Dexter's newest piece of villainy, I wonder? Whew! But that was
+a slick trick! Anyway, dad can't be hurt at all. Mother would never pick
+them as the messengers to send for me! I'm glad dad's all right, anyway,
+even if I may happen to have a rough time ahead of me."</p>
+
+<p>The messenger who had entered the schoolroom, it may be said in passing,
+was not in the plot, nor had he been aware that there was any one at all
+in the rear part of the surrey. That messenger had been picked up on the
+street, by Driggs, and had been offered a quarter to take the note
+upstairs to the principal's class room, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span>"because," Driggs had explained,
+"I don't dare leave my horse."</p>
+
+<p>"How on earth did this rascally pair ever manage to write a note that
+would look enough like mother's handwriting!" was Dick's next puzzle.</p>
+
+<p>As this, of course, was beyond his fathoming, Dick's next and very
+natural thought was:</p>
+
+<p>"What on earth do these scoundrels want of me? I don't believe they have
+brought me away just for vengeance."</p>
+
+<p>"A nice ride like this, off amid the beauties of nature, is a whole lot
+better than spending your time over dull school books, isn't it?" Dexter
+asked mockingly.</p>
+
+<p>But Dick could gain no idea as to the kind of country through which he
+was passing, more than that the surrey was moving over rough road.
+Jammed down where he was he could see nothing but the half dark interior
+of the vehicle.</p>
+
+<p>At last Driggs began to whistle softly. That being a signal, Ab. Dexter
+again produced the bottle. There was the same sickening odor as a wet
+handkerchief was placed against Dick's nostrils. Then he lost track of
+what was happening.</p>
+
+<p>"Whoa!" called Driggs and willingly enough the horse stopped. There was
+a ripping aside <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span>of the rubber side panels to the carriage, after which
+Driggs stood on the ground to receive the senseless boy as Dexter passed
+him out.</p>
+
+<p>"Into the house, I suppose?" inquired Driggs.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," nodded Dexter.</p>
+
+<p>"Go ahead, then, with the key, and open up."</p>
+
+<p>The house stood at some distance from the road, and, in summer time,
+would have been hidden from the road. The house had not been occupied in
+a quarter of a century by any lawful tenant. It was a two story affair,
+and had been originally built for the superintendent of a lumber and
+milling camp. Beyond was a brook that had been dammed, furnishing good
+water-power for all the year excepting in the summer months. By the old
+water course lay the ruins of what had once been a saw-mill.</p>
+
+<p>Running up the short flight of steps to the front door of the
+dilapidated old dwelling off in the forests, Ab. Dexter produced a rusty
+iron key and swung the door open.</p>
+
+<p>"Where you going to put him?" asked Driggs.</p>
+
+<p>"In the rear apartments, upstairs," answered Dexter, with a laugh.</p>
+
+<p>Accordingly Dick was carried upstairs and into a roomy back apartment.
+There were inside shutters that Dexter swung open while <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span>Driggs dropped
+the breathing though unconscious Grammar School boy on the floor.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, you'd better get that borrowed rig back in the part of the world
+where it belongs," advised Ab. Dexter.</p>
+
+<p>"I will," nodded Driggs. "But&mdash;say!"</p>
+
+<p>"Well?"</p>
+
+<p>"That Prescott boy is young, but he's tricky."</p>
+
+<p>"I know that, don't I?"</p>
+
+<p>"Then, when he comes to, you won't let him play any trick on you that
+will give him a chance to bolt from here?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not I," promised Dexter. "You needn't worry. There are too many
+thousands of dollars at stake. Run along, Driggs. I'll do my part, here
+on the scene."</p>
+
+<p>Driggs went out. He had a long drive ahead of him. The point at which he
+intended to abandon the stolen surrey was nearly ten miles from the
+present spot. For the horse and surrey had been stolen from a farmer
+known to be away for the day with his family. Driggs meant to abandon
+the rig two or three miles from the farmer's home, and then return on a
+bicycle which he had hidden near the spot.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as Driggs had gone, Dexter bent over, tying Prescott's hands
+more securely.</p>
+
+<p>Soon after that Dick, still lying on the floor, opened his eyes.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>CHAPTER XXIII</h2>
+
+<h3>DICK MAKES HIS STAND FOR HONOR</h3>
+
+
+<p>Ab. Dexter's harsh voice jarred on the air.</p>
+
+<p>"Welcome to our city, Prescott," he laughed.</p>
+
+<p>Dick's first discovery was that the gag was gone from his mouth. He made
+an effort to use his hands, but discovered that these were more securely
+tied than ever.</p>
+
+<p>"I hope you'll enjoy this little visit with us," laughed Dexter,
+changing his voice, which now sounded almost pleasant.</p>
+
+<p>"I'd enjoy it a lot more," retorted Dick dryly, "if I had my chums here
+with me."</p>
+
+<p>"I, too, wish we had them here," nodded Dexter. "But they'd be tied up,
+just as you are. You don't seem a bit curious as to why you're here."</p>
+
+<p>"No," Dick admitted.</p>
+
+<p>"Marvelous youth, in whom the instinct of curiosity is dead!"</p>
+
+<p>"Whatever your game in bringing me here, I can guess that it's one that
+wouldn't interest honest men."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, you're going to turn 'fresh,' are you?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Dick did not reply. Dexter drew a cigar out from a vest pocket, as he
+stood leaning against a decaying mantel, and lighted it. This imitation
+of a man smoked in silence for a few moments, during which Prescott did
+not offer to speak.</p>
+
+<p>Going over to the table, and drawing a newspaper from one of his
+pockets, Dexter sat down to read. He did not take off his coat, for the
+room was chilly.</p>
+
+<p>Dick did not move, nor did he offer to speak. In his present bad plight
+he would have been glad enough to talk with anything living, even with
+so despicable a human object as Ab. Dexter.</p>
+
+<p>"But he'd only torment me, and try to scare me, too, probably," thought
+Dick. "I won't give him any chance that I can help."</p>
+
+<p>It was wholly natural that the boy's obstinate silence, which endured
+for the next hour, should anger the man.</p>
+
+<p>At last, after having consumed two cigars and read a lot of stuff in the
+paper in which he was not interested, Dexter rose and stepped over to
+the boy.</p>
+
+<p>"Having pleasant thoughts, eh?" he demanded.</p>
+
+<p>"Better than yours, I'm sure," retorted the boy dryly.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Yes; because my thoughts, at least, are clean and honest ones."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, you little saint!" jeered Ab.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm hardly a saint, and am not sure that I'd care to be one. But at
+least I'm happier and better off than a bigger fellow who'd be a big
+scoundrel if he weren't too big a coward!"</p>
+
+<p>"You mean that for me, do you?" snarled Dexter.</p>
+
+<p>"You may have it if you like it!"</p>
+
+<p>"You insolent little puppy!" snapped Ab., giving emphasis to his wrath
+by kicking him.</p>
+
+<p>"I see that I was wrong," said Prescott quietly. "I intimated that you
+are a coward. I apologize. Only a brave man would kick a helpless boy."</p>
+
+<p>The quiet irony of the speech made even Ab. Dexter flush.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I wasn't kicking a boy. I was kicking his freshness," explained
+Dexter, in a harsh voice. "And I'll kick a lot more of that freshness,
+if I have to."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't doubt it. Women and boys are your choice for fighting material.
+And, if I had some of my chums here, you'd find kicking boys too
+perilous a sport."</p>
+
+<p>"You won't have them here," laughed Ab. coarsely. "You're the only one
+of the six that I want, so the others can stay in Gridley."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"But they won't," declared Dick. "At least, not long, after they
+discover that I'm missing."</p>
+
+<p>"They'll never discover you, unless you go back to town by my
+permission," jeered Dexter. "Here, I'll show you something."</p>
+
+<p>Bending over, he seized the boy by his coat collar, next lifting and
+dragging Dick to a window at the rear.</p>
+
+<p>"Look out, and tell me what you see," commanded the jailer.</p>
+
+<p>"I see the woods, and a few other things," Dick replied. "And&mdash;yes, I
+know where I am. This is the house at Bannerman's old mill. I was up
+this way last year after nuts."</p>
+
+<p>"You know, then, that you're a good way from where folks would look for
+you."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I'm not so sure of that, Dexter. Dave Darrin and the rest of the
+fellows know all of this country. We've all tramped through here before.
+They're very likely to think of this place within the next day or two."</p>
+
+<p>"If they don't get here before dark, and if you haven't done, by that
+time, what I brought you here to do, then they won't find you."</p>
+
+<p>"No?" challenged Dick Prescott.</p>
+
+<p>"Look again, and tell me what you see outside. Do you see that place
+where Driggs has been digging? Do you see the hole he started, and the
+shovel beside it? Can you guess how <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span>we could dig that hole deeper, and
+put something away in it?"</p>
+
+<p>There was a derisive smile on young Prescott's face as he started to
+look. Then his expression changed. He did not start, cry out nor turn
+pale, but that smile vanished.</p>
+
+<p>"You see it, don't you?" demanded Ab. Dexter, watching the boy's face.</p>
+
+<p>"You want to scare me about that hole, I suppose?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes; if you haven't gotten around completely to my way of thinking
+before dark to-night Driggs may have to finish his digging."</p>
+
+<p>"Does he need exercise?"</p>
+
+<p>"You've guessed what I mean," declared Dexter, "although you pretend to
+misunderstand me."</p>
+
+<p>"Humph!"</p>
+
+<p>"Look out, Prescott, that you don't put us in an ugly temper."</p>
+
+<p>But Dick had found his courage by this time. He laughed merrily, though
+it was forced.</p>
+
+<p>"What are you laughing at?" asked the other.</p>
+
+<p>"At the very idea, Dexter, of your having nerve enough to do a thing
+like that! Why, there are boys in the primary school in Gridley who have
+more real sand than you have."</p>
+
+<p>For answer the scoundrel seized the boy, hurling him across the room.
+Dick tottered. Being <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span>unable to use his hands to aid himself, he fell to
+the floor and lay there.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you know what you ought to be doing, Dexter?" inquired Dick, as soon
+as he had smothered his wrath a bit.</p>
+
+<p>"Well?"</p>
+
+<p>"You ought to be training puppies for the dog circus. Not by fear, you
+know, for you really couldn't scare anything. But, in training puppies
+by the golden rule you'd be at your best!"</p>
+
+<p>"I'll train you before I get through with you," snarled the rascal.</p>
+
+<p>"There's only one thing you need to make you rather funny," remarked
+Dick.</p>
+
+<p>"What is that?"</p>
+
+<p>"All you need to make you funny, Dexter, is a little more wit."</p>
+
+<p>Ab. stepped over and administered another kick.</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you," acknowledged Prescott politely.</p>
+
+<p>"Much obliged, are you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes; a kick from you is an honor. Only a handshake or a compliment
+would hurt."</p>
+
+<p>Dexter's face showed his wrath. He would have retorted, but he felt his
+helplessness in a battle of wits alone against Dick Prescott.</p>
+
+<p>For a moment or two Ab. left the room. Dick <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span>began immediately to test
+the security of the cords at his wrists. He found himself only too well
+tied. Dick glanced searchingly about, intent on finding something that
+promised help or escape.</p>
+
+<p>But Ab. came back, carrying an oil heater and a book. Placing the
+lighted heater beside the table Dexter sat down and opened the book.</p>
+
+<p>"I knew you had cold feet," laughed Dick. "I've been waiting for you to
+seek some way of warming up."</p>
+
+<p>Ab. scowled, but went on reading his book. This time the silence was an
+extremely long one. It was not broken, in fact, until Dick had lost all
+track of time, and knew only that there was still some daylight left. At
+last a whistle sounded outside.</p>
+
+<p>Dropping the book, Dexter made his way out into the hall, and thence
+downstairs. Again Dick began to tug at the cords around his wrists. Then
+Dexter came into the room, followed by Driggs.</p>
+
+<p>"Well," asked Driggs, "has the young cub come to his senses yet?"</p>
+
+<p>"I haven't tried him," responded Ab. sourly. "You can take him in hand
+if you want, Driggs."</p>
+
+<p>"You hain't told him what we want?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Not a word," Ab. answered. "You can take him in hand. Don't stand any
+nonsense, either."</p>
+
+<p>"It ain't exactly my way to stand nonsense," growled Driggs, who was a
+good deal more courageous than Dexter. "As a first step I'll untie his
+hands. The boy can't make any fight against the two of us."</p>
+
+<p>Instead of untying, however, Driggs opened his clasp knife, and cut the
+cords at Dick's wrists, after which he untied the big handkerchief that
+had also been tied there.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, get on your feet, Prescott."</p>
+
+<p>Dick obeyed, taking his time about it. No matter what was about to
+happen Dick knew that he could take better care of himself standing up.</p>
+
+<p>"Exercise your hands and arms a bit, if you want to," continued Driggs.
+"You may find that circulation has been stopped."</p>
+
+<p>This Dick knew well enough. As his hands might be of extreme use to him
+in the very near future he followed the last bit of advice.</p>
+
+<p>"Go get your writing materials," said Driggs, turning to Ab.</p>
+
+<p>Dexter left the room, soon returning with paper, envelopes and a pen
+thrust down into a bottle of ink.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, I'll tell you what you've got to do, boy," Driggs continued. "Or
+maybe you can tell him that better, Dexter."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"You're going to write a letter to Mrs. Dexter," stated Ab. "In that
+letter you're going to tell her that you're hopelessly in my power, and
+that you realize how foolish it is for her to refuse my demands any
+longer. So you're to advise her that the best thing for her&mdash;and the
+only hope of saving your life as well as hers&mdash;is for her to pay me that
+forty thousand dollars&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"You've gone up ten in your price, haven't you?" asked Dick with a
+momentary lack of caution.</p>
+
+<p>"So-ho!" muttered Ab. "Mrs. Dexter did tell you about my last letter
+when you were talking on Main Street last Saturday. And I suppose you
+advised her to go back to the 'Blade' office and withdraw the
+advertisement that my letter had frightened her into paying for."</p>
+
+<p>Dick bit his lips in silence.</p>
+
+<p>"Did you advise her that way, or didn't you?" insisted Ab. angrily.</p>
+
+<p>"Whatever she and I may have said to each other is not going to be
+repeated here," Prescott answered.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, it isn't Mr. High-and-mighty?" sneered Driggs, going closer to the
+boy and laying a <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span>hard hand on him. "See here, youngster, you may have an
+idea that Dexter isn't very dangerous. You'll have a different notion
+about me, if I turn myself loose on you. Now, you get suddenly
+respectful. Answer straight, and do just what we tell you&mdash;or I'll take
+you in hand."</p>
+
+<p>"I won't write any such letter as you order me to," retorted Dick
+stubbornly.</p>
+
+<p>"You won't? I tell you you will!" roared Driggs, gripping Prescott by
+the collar. "Sit down at that table."</p>
+
+<p>"I won't!"</p>
+
+<p>"You will!"</p>
+
+<p>Driggs lifted Dick fairly off his feet, shaking him roughly. A
+thirteen-year-old boy didn't have much chance against a brute of
+Driggs's strength. The latter slammed the boy into a seat at the table.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, pick up that pen!"</p>
+
+<p>Dick picked it up, but aimed it at the wall opposite, hurling it
+forcibly.</p>
+
+<p>With an oath Ab. Dexter went over and picked up the pen.</p>
+
+<p>"He's broken the nibs," growled Ab., coming back with the pen. "No
+matter, I have a pencil. If he breaks the point of that it can be
+sharpened again. Here's the pencil."</p>
+
+<p>"Now, pick up that pencil," commanded <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span>Driggs hoarsely, "and write just
+what Dexter tells you to write. When you've written it you'll sign it.
+Then Dexter will enclose it with a letter from himself in which he'll
+tell Mrs. Dexter just where to meet him and pay over the money. If it
+ain't paid over, then slam you go into the hole that I've dug for you
+out back of here, and the dirt will go falling in on your face.
+Now&mdash;write!"</p>
+
+<p>However slight a notion Dick might have concerning Dexter's nerve, he
+did not doubt that Driggs was really "bad." Here was a brute who might
+very likely carry out his threats. Yet Dick, in addition to possessing
+an amazing lot of grit for a boy of his age, had also a great amount of
+stubbornness about doing the right thing and not doing a wicked one.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know what you'll do to me, Driggs," the boy retorted, "and
+probably I can't hinder you any. But if you think I'm going to obey
+nasty loafers like you two, then you've made a poor guess."</p>
+
+<p>"What's that?" roared Driggs. "I'll teach you!"</p>
+
+<p>He caught Dick Prescott up with both hands, shaking the boy until it
+seemed as though all the breath had left the youngster's body. Next,
+Driggs held his victim with one hand while with the other he struck
+blows that all <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span>but rendered the Grammar School boy unconscious.</p>
+
+<p>"Here, don't kill the boy just yet, Driggs," ordered Dexter.</p>
+
+<p>"You mind your own business, now, Ab.," retorted Driggs, his face purple
+with passion. "Your milk-and-water way doesn't do any good. I'm in
+charge, now, and I'm sole boss as to what shall be done to this baby if
+he doesn't take our orders!"</p>
+
+<p>Again Dick received a severe mauling. He tried to fight back, but Driggs
+held him off at arm's length. At last Driggs lifted the boy once more by
+his coat collar.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, I'll finish you!" roared the brute. "That is, unless you holler
+out, mighty quick, that you're ready to write all that we tell you to
+write."</p>
+
+<p>"That won't happen this year!" Dick flashed back recklessly.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, it won't, eh? Then so much the worse for you. I won't waste another
+second's time in coaxing you. Do you want to change your mind before I
+start?"</p>
+
+<p>"No!" the Grammar School boy retorted doggedly.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>CHAPTER XXIV</h2>
+
+<h3>CONCLUSION</h3>
+
+
+<p>At heart young Prescott was frightened enough. Yet he was also aroused
+to a fury of resistance.</p>
+
+<p>With an ugly growl Driggs started in to shake the lad once more. Just at
+this moment, however, Dick found a chance on which he had been doing
+some frenzied calculating.</p>
+
+<p>As he hung from Driggs's outstretched hand Dick's foot was just about on
+a level with one of the fellow's knees. Dick drew his foot back like a
+flash, delivering a lusty kick.</p>
+
+<p>The blow glanced. Even at that Driggs's knee-cap suffered. With a groan
+of pain Driggs let go and stood by to rub his injured knee.</p>
+
+<p>"You young fiend!" hissed Ab. Dexter, grabbing Dick by the collar.</p>
+
+<p>Driggs tried two or three limping steps.</p>
+
+<p>"Anything broken there?" demanded Ab. anxiously.</p>
+
+<p>"No; but I've got to have cold water to bandage it with, right away,"
+replied Driggs. "Give me hold of the young pest's collar, and I'll hold
+him all right until you get in again. But hustle with the water."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>By this time Driggs had sunk into one of the chairs. Ab. dragged the boy
+to him and the other ruffian took vindictive hold.</p>
+
+<p>"I'll settle with you, you little varmint, after I get my knee attended
+to," growled Driggs. "If you try any more tricks I'll let even my knee
+go and choke the life out of you."</p>
+
+<div class="figleft" style="width: 262px;">
+<img src="images/illus04.png" width="262" height="400" alt="Dick Caught Up the Other Chair." title="Dick Caught Up the Other Chair." />
+<span class="caption">Dick Caught Up the Other Chair.</span>
+</div>
+
+<p>Dexter hurried from the room. Dick, who felt that seconds must be made
+to count now, turned like a flash, sinking his teeth in the wrist of the
+hand that gripped his collar.</p>
+
+<p>"You young&mdash;&mdash;" began Driggs, in a wild temper, starting to rise from
+the chair as the pain forced him to let go of Dick's collar.</p>
+
+<p>But Prescott, moving only two steps, caught up the other chair, bringing
+it down on the head of the ugly rascal.</p>
+
+<p>"Dexter! Dexter&mdash;quick!" roared Driggs. "The boy's getting away!"</p>
+
+<p>It was dark now, in the lower hall, as Dick, darting down the stairs,
+made out the form of Ab. Dexter as the latter hastened in through the
+outer door.</p>
+
+<p>"Out of the way, or I'll hurt you with Driggs's knife!" panted the
+fleeing boy.</p>
+
+<p>In that instant Abner Dexter proved Dick's suspicion that he was at
+bottom a coward. Ab. drew up close to the wall, and Dick, with the speed
+of the hunted deer, dashed from the house.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[249]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>
+"It may take Ab. a little while to find that I haven't got Driggs's
+knife," grinned the boy.</p>
+
+<p>For more than a quarter of a mile Dick Prescott ran at the best speed
+that he could summon. Then, after glancing back, he slowed down to a
+walk, breathing hard. It was fortunate that he knew these forests so
+well, or he might have been at a loss to find the path leading in the
+most direct way to Gridley.</p>
+
+<p>Finally he came out on a more traveled road. After keeping along for
+another half mile or so he heard a horse behind him and the sound of
+wheels as well.</p>
+
+<p>"I won't take any chance on that," muttered the boy. Bounding over a
+stone wall he lay low until the vehicle came up. Peering between the
+stones of the wall Dick made out an unmistakable farmer.</p>
+
+<p>"Hey, there!" cried Dick, leaping up and bounding over the wall. "Give
+me a ride, please, mister!"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I swan! Who are ye&mdash;dropping from the skies that-a-fashion?"
+demanded the astounded driver, reining up.</p>
+
+<p>"Grammar School boy from Gridley," Dick replied. "Going that way?"</p>
+
+<p>"I guess I've seen you before," murmured the farmer, as Prescott went
+closer. "Your pa runs a bookstore, don't he?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[252]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Yes. Are you going to Gridley?"</p>
+
+<p>"Straight."</p>
+
+<p>"Then please take me."</p>
+
+<p>Not waiting for an answer Dick climbed up to the seat.</p>
+
+<p>"How do you come so far out of the way?" asked the farmer, as he started
+the horse.</p>
+
+<p>"I'd tell you, but for one thing," Dick laughed.</p>
+
+<p>"What's that, son?"</p>
+
+<p>"You wouldn't believe me."</p>
+
+<p>"Wouldn't believe old Prescott's boy?" demanded the farmer. "Well, I
+would if the boy is half as square as his dad."</p>
+
+<p>Thus encouraged Dick began to tell his story. Some past events the
+farmer already knew. This inclined him very strongly to believe Dick's
+strange tale.</p>
+
+<p>Once in Gridley the farmer drove the Grammar School boy straight to the
+police station.</p>
+
+<p>"Dick Prescott?" shouted the chief. "Boy, your parents are crazy over
+your disappearance. What part of the skies did you drop from? And I've
+four of my men out trying to track you! Tell me what has happened."</p>
+
+<p>"I will if you'll walk around to the store with me," Dick offered,
+smiling. "But the first thing I'm going to start to do is to show my
+father and mother that I'm safe."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[253]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The farmer good-naturedly offered to drive them both around to the
+Prescott store. On the way Dick told some of his story. The rest had to
+wait until he had shown himself to his parents. Then Mr. and Mrs.
+Prescott heard the story, too.</p>
+
+<p>"This isn't really a case for me," said the chief of police. "It's for
+the sheriff. I must get him on the 'phone."</p>
+
+<p>The news spread with great rapidity. Dave Darrin, Greg Holmes and all
+the other chums of Dick &amp; Co. were on hand by the time that Dick had
+finished a belated supper with splendid appetite.</p>
+
+<p>"May I go out on the street with the fellows?" Dick asked his mother.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes; if you'll keep on the lighted parts of the streets," smiled his
+mother. "Although I'm not very much afraid of any more trouble
+overtaking you when you have all your friends with you."</p>
+
+<p>Later that night a party of sheriff's searchers came upon Driggs, not
+far from the old mill site. The fellow, fearing prompt pursuit, had
+endeavored to get away, but the pain in his stiffening knee had
+prevented his going very far. Ab. Dexter had started with his injured
+confederate, but had finally played the sneak and fled. However, Dexter,
+too was caught later that <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[254]</a></span>night, while endeavoring to board a train two
+stations away from Gridley.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Dexter, of course, was notified as to what had happened.</p>
+
+<p>For this latest outrage against Dick the rascally pair were not tried.
+This was for the very simple reason that Dick would have furnished the
+sole evidence for the prosecution, and the law would have required
+another witness to corroborate young Prescott's testimony.</p>
+
+<p>However, both men were held as fugitives from justice, for having jumped
+their bail on their original trial. Both were now held without bail and
+were presently tried before the higher court.</p>
+
+<p>Both were found guilty, of course. As it is the privilege of the court
+of resort to impose a heavier punishment than the original one appealed
+from, Dexter and Driggs were both sent to jail for a year&mdash;the highest
+penalty possible under the circumstances.</p>
+
+<p>"That man will bother me worse than ever as soon as he gets out,"
+complained Mrs. Dexter to Dick and Dave one day.</p>
+
+<p>"If he finds you," added Dick, by way of a hint.</p>
+
+<p>"If he finds me? What you mean by that?"</p>
+
+<p>"Mrs. Dexter, you're not obliged to live in Gridley. Why don't you slip
+away from here, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[255]</a></span>one of these near days, without letting a soul know
+where you and your little girl are going. With all your money you could
+go to Europe or to the Pacific Coast. At a great distance from here you
+can live securely. Dexter will never have any money if he has to earn
+it. Go a few thousand miles from here, and, even if Dexter found out
+where you were, he wouldn't be able to reach you. No&mdash;don't tell even us
+where you are going."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Dexter followed that very sensible advice. She and Myra vanished
+completely one day not long after.</p>
+
+<p>Before that good but timid woman went away, however, she did her best to
+provide some suitable reward for the Grammar School boys who had proved
+her staunchest friends and protectors, but they refused to consider any
+reward.</p>
+
+<p>Dexter, when at last at liberty, must have known of his wife's flights
+to parts unknown, for he never revisited Gridley, and was not again
+heard of there.</p>
+
+<p>Dick Prescott's last and greatest adventure placed him securely on the
+pinnacle of local fame. Where, in all the world, was there another
+Grammar School boy who had been through as much, or shown as much
+daring?</p>
+
+<p>Even that shrewd and rather dryly spoken judge of boys and girls Old
+Dut, took the latest <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[256]</a></span>happenings as the text for a little address to the
+members of his class. He wound up by saying:</p>
+
+<p>"In a few months more this present class will have passed on, some going
+to High School and many more to their life employment. This present
+class will be gone, and another class here in its place. Yet I believe I
+can say in all truthfulness that I shall remember this present class
+always with pride as the class containing the bravest and brightest
+boys&mdash;and the finest girls&mdash;of any class that has been graduated from
+the Central Grammar School."</p>
+
+<p>It is not our purpose, however, to take leave of Dick Prescott and our
+other young friends. There was too much yet ahead of them&mdash;absorbing
+happenings that merit being recorded in other volumes. We shall meet
+Dick, Dave, Greg, Tom and all of the chums once more in the next volume,
+which is published under the title: "The Grammar School Boys Snowbound;
+Or, Dick &amp; Co. at Winter Sports." Here we shall find them amid stranger
+and even more thrilling adventures.</p>
+
+
+<h2><span class="smcap">The End</span></h2>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>HENRY ALTEMUS COMPANY'S</h2>
+
+<h3>CATALOGUE OF</h3>
+
+<h2>
+The Best and Least Expensive<br />
+Books for Real Boys<br />
+and Girls<br />
+</h2>
+
+<hr style='width: 25%;' />
+
+<p>Really good and new stories for boys and girls are not plentiful. Many
+stories, too, are so highly improbable as to bring a grin of derision to
+the young reader's face before he has gone far. The name of ALTEMUS is a
+distinctive brand on the cover of a book, always ensuring the buyer of
+having a book that is up-to-date and fine throughout. No buyer of an
+ALTEMUS book is ever disappointed.</p>
+
+<p>Many are the claims made as to the inexpensiveness of books. Go into any
+bookstore and ask for an Altemus book. Compare the price charged you for
+Altemus books with the price demanded for other juvenile books. You will
+at once discover that a given outlay of money will buy more of the
+ALTEMUS books than of those published by other houses.</p>
+
+<p>Every dealer in books carries the ALTEMUS books.</p>
+
+<hr style='width: 25%;' />
+
+<div class='center'>Sold by all booksellers or sent postpaid on receipt of price<br />
+
+<br />
+<big><b>Henry Altemus Company</b></big><br />
+<b>1326-1336 Vine Street, Philadelphia</b><br />
+</div>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>The Motor Boat Club Series</h2>
+
+<h3>By H. IRVING HANCOCK</h3>
+
+
+<p>The keynote of these books is manliness. The stories are wonderfully
+entertaining, and they are at the same time sound and wholesome. No boy
+will willingly lay down an unfinished book in this series.</p>
+
+
+
+<div class='center'>
+<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="The Motor Boat Club Series">
+<tr><td align='left'>1 THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB OF THE KENNEBEC; Or, The Secret of Smugglers' Island.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>2 THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB AT NANTUCKET; Or, The Mystery of the Dunstan Heir.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>3 THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB OFF LONG ISLAND; Or, A Daring Marine Game at Racing Speed.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>4 THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB AND THE WIRELESS; Or, The Dot, Dash and Dare Cruise.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>5 THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB IN FLORIDA; Or, Laying the Ghost of Alligator Swamp.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>6 THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB AT THE GOLDEN GATE; Or, A Thrilling Capture in the Great Fog.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>7 THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB ON THE GREAT LAKES; Or, The Flying Dutchman of the Big Fresh Water.</td></tr>
+</table></div>
+<div class='center'><br />Cloth, Illustrated &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;     Price, per Volume, 50c.</div>
+
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>The Range and Grange Hustlers</h2>
+
+<h3>By FRANK GEE PATCHIN</h3>
+
+
+<p>Have you any idea of the excitements, the glories of life on great
+ranches in the West? Any bright boy will "devour" the books of this
+series, once he has made a start with the first volume.</p>
+
+
+
+<div class='center'>
+<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="The Range and Grange Hustlers">
+<tr><td align='left'>1 THE RANGE AND GRANGE HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH; Or, The Boy Shepherds of the Great Divide.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>2 THE RANGE AND GRANGE HUSTLERS' GREATEST ROUND-UP; Or, Pitting Their Wits Against a Packers' Combine.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>3 THE RANGE AND GRANGE HUSTLERS ON THE PLAINS; Or, Following the Steam Plows Across the Prairie.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>4 THE RANGE AND GRANGE HUSTLERS AT CHICAGO; Or, The Conspiracy of the Wheat Pit.</td></tr>
+</table></div>
+
+
+<div class='center'><br />Cloth, Illustrated &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;     Price, per Volume, 50c.</div>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>Submarine Boys Series</h2>
+
+<h3>By VICTOR G. DURHAM</h3>
+
+
+
+<div class='center'>
+<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Submarine Boys Series">
+<tr><td align='left'>1 THE SUBMARINE BOYS ON DUTY; Or, Life on a Diving Torpedo Boat.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>2 THE SUBMARINE BOYS' TRIAL TRIP; Or, "Making Good" as Young Experts.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>3 THE SUBMARINE BOYS AND THE MIDDIES; Or, The Prize Detail at Annapolis.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>4 THE SUBMARINE BOYS AND THE SPIES; Or, Dodging the Sharks of the Deep.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>5 THE SUBMARINE BOYS' LIGHTNING CRUISE; Or, The Young Kings of the Deep.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>6 THE SUBMARINE BOYS FOR THE FLAG; Or, Deeding Their Lives to Uncle Sam.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>7 THE SUBMARINE BOYS AND THE SMUGGLERS; Or, Breaking Up the New Jersey Customs Frauds.</td></tr>
+</table></div>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>The Square Dollar Boys Series</h2>
+
+<h3>By H. IRVING HANCOCK</h3>
+
+
+
+
+<div class='center'>
+<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="The Square Dollar Boys Series">
+<tr><td align='left'>1 THE SQUARE DOLLAR BOYS WAKE UP; Or, Fighting the Trolley Franchise Steal.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>2 THE SQUARE DOLLAR BOYS SMASH THE RING; Or, In the Lists Against the Crooked Land Deal.</td></tr>
+</table></div>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>The College Girls Series</h2>
+
+<h3>By JESSIE GRAHAM FLOWER, A.M.</h3>
+
+
+
+
+<div class='center'>
+<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="The College Girls Series">
+<tr><td align='left'>1 GRACE HARLOWE'S FIRST YEAR AT OVERTON COLLEGE.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>2 GRACE HARLOWE'S SECOND YEAR AT OVERTON COLLEGE.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>3 GRACE HARLOWE'S THIRD YEAR AT OVERTON COLLEGE.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>4 GRACE HARLOWE'S FOURTH YEAR AT OVERTON COLLEGE.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>5 GRACE HARLOWE'S RETURN TO OVERTON CAMPUS.</td></tr>
+</table></div>
+
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>Dave Darrin Series</h2>
+
+<h3>By H. IRVING HANCOCK</h3>
+
+
+<div class="center">1 DAVE DARRIN AT VERA CRUZ; Or, Fighting With the
+U. S. Navy in Mexico.</div>
+
+<hr style='width: 25%;' />
+
+<div class='center'>All these books are bound in Cloth and will be sent postpaid on receipt
+of only 50 cents each.</div>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>Pony Rider Boys Series</h2>
+
+<h3>By FRANK GEE PATCHIN</h3>
+
+
+<div class='center'>These tales may be aptly described the best books for boys and girls.<br /><br /></div>
+
+<div class='center'>
+<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Pony Rider Boys Series">
+<tr><td align='left'>1 THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN THE ROCKIES; Or, The Secret of the Lost Claim.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>2 THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN TEXAS; Or, The Veiled Riddle of the Plains.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>3 THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN MONTANA; Or, The Mystery of the Old Custer
+Trail.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>4 THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN THE OZARKS; Or, The Secret of Ruby Mountain.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>5 THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN THE ALKALI; Or, Finding a Key to the Desert
+Maze.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>6 THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN NEW MEXICO; Or, The End of the Silver Trail.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>7 THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN THE GRAND CANYON; Or, The Mystery of Bright
+Angel Gulch.</td></tr>
+</table></div>
+
+
+
+<div class='center'><br />Cloth, Illustrated &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;     Price, per Volume, 50c.</div>
+
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>The Boys of Steel Series</h2>
+
+<h3>By JAMES R. MEARS</h3>
+
+
+<div class='center'>Each book presents vivid picture of this great industry. Each story is
+full of adventure and fascination.<br /><br /></div>
+
+<div class='center'>
+<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="The Boys of Steel Series">
+<tr><td align='left'>1 THE IRON BOYS IN THE MINES; Or, Starting at the Bottom of the Shaft.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>2 THE IRON BOYS AS FOREMEN; Or, Heading the Diamond Drill Shift.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>3 THE IRON BOYS ON THE ORE BOATS; Or, Roughing It on the Great Lakes.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>4 THE IRON BOYS IN THE STEEL MILLS; Or, Beginning Anew in the Cinder
+Pits.</td></tr>
+</table></div>
+<div class='center'><br />Cloth, Illustrated &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;     Price, per Volume, 50c.</div>
+
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>The Madge Morton Books</h2>
+
+<h3>By AMY D. V. CHALMERS</h3>
+
+
+
+
+<div class='center'>
+<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="The Madge Morton Books">
+<tr><td align='left'>1 MADGE MORTON&mdash;CAPTAIN OF THE MERRY MAID.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>2 MADGE MORTON'S SECRET.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>3 MADGE MORTON'S TRUST.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>4 MADGE MORTON'S VICTORY.</td></tr>
+</table></div>
+
+<div class='center'><br />Cloth, Illustrated &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;     Price, per Volume, 50c.</div>
+
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>West Point Series</h2>
+
+<h3>By H. IRVING HANCOCK</h3>
+
+
+<div class='center'>The principal characters in these narratives are manly, young Americans
+whose doings will inspire all boy readers.<br /><br /></div>
+
+
+<div class='center'>
+<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="West Point Series">
+<tr><td align='left'>1 DICK PRESCOTT'S FIRST YEAR AT WEST POINT; Or, Two Chums in the Cadet Gray.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>2 DICK PRESCOTT'S SECOND YEAR AT WEST POINT; Or, Finding the Glory of the Soldier's Life.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>3 DICK PRESCOTT'S THIRD YEAR AT WEST POINT; Or, Standing Firm for Flag and Honor.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>4 DICK PRESCOTT'S FOURTH YEAR AT WEST POINT; Or, Ready to Drop the Gray for Shoulder Straps.</td></tr>
+</table></div>
+
+<div class='center'><br />Cloth, Illustrated &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;     Price, per Volume, 50c.</div>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>Annapolis Series</h2>
+
+<h3>By H. IRVING HANCOCK</h3>
+
+
+<div class='center'>The Spirit of the new Navy is delightfully and truthfully depicted in
+these volumes.<br /><br /></div>
+
+
+<div class='center'>
+<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Annapolis Series">
+<tr><td align='left'>1 DAVE DARRIN'S FIRST YEAR AT ANNAPOLIS; Or, Two Plebe Midshipmen at the U. S. Naval Academy.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>2 DAVE DARRIN'S SECOND YEAR AT ANNAPOLIS; Or, Two Midshipmen as Naval Academy "Youngsters."</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>3 DAVE DARRIN'S THIRD YEAR AT ANNAPOLIS; Or, Leaders of the Second Class Midshipmen.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>4 DAVE DARRIN'S FOURTH YEAR AT ANNAPOLIS; Or, Headed for Graduation and the Big Cruise.</td></tr>
+</table></div>
+
+<div class='center'><br />Cloth, Illustrated &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;     Price, per Volume, 50c.</div>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>The Young Engineers Series</h2>
+
+<h3>By H. IRVING HANCOCK</h3>
+
+
+<p>The heroes of these stories are known to readers of the High School Boys
+Series. In this new series Tom Reade and Harry Hazelton prove worthy of
+all the traditions of Dick &amp; Co.</p>
+
+
+<div class='center'>
+<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="The Young Engineers Series">
+<tr><td align='left'>1 THE YOUNG ENGINEERS IN COLORADO; Or, At Railroad Building in Earnest.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>2 THE YOUNG ENGINEERS IN ARIZONA; Or, Laying Tracks on the "Man-Killer" Quicksand.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>3 THE YOUNG ENGINEERS IN NEVADA; Or, Seeking Fortune on the Turn of a Pick.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>4 THE YOUNG ENGINEERS IN MEXICO; Or, Fighting the Mine Swindlers.</td></tr>
+</table></div>
+
+<div class='center'><br />Cloth, Illustrated &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;     Price, per Volume, 50c.</div>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>Boys in the Army Series</h2>
+
+<h3>By H. IRVING HANCOCK</h3>
+
+
+<p>These books breathe the life and spirit of the United States Army of
+to-day, and the life, just as it is, is described by a master pen.</p>
+
+
+<div class='center'>
+<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Boys in the Army Series">
+<tr><td align='left'>1 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS IN THE RANKS; Or, Two Recruits in the United States Army.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>2 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS ON FIELD DUTY; Or, Winning Corporal's Chevrons.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>3 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS AS SERGEANTS; Or, Handling Their First Real Commands.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>4 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS IN THE PHILIPPINES; Or, Following the Flag Against the Moros.</td></tr>
+</table></div>
+
+<div class='center'><br />(<i>Other volumes to follow rapidly.</i>)
+<br />
+<br />Cloth, Illustrated &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;     Price, per Volume, 50c.</div>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>Battleship Boys Series</h2>
+
+<h3>By FRANK GEE PATCHIN</h3>
+
+
+<div class='center'>These stories throb with the life of young Americans on to-day's huge
+drab Dreadnaughts.<br /><br /></div>
+
+
+
+<div class='center'>
+<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Battleship Boys Series">
+<tr><td align='left'>1 THE BATTLESHIP BOYS AT SEA; Or, Two Apprentices in Uncle Sam's Navy.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>2 THE BATTLESHIP BOYS FIRST STEP UPWARD; Or, Winning Their Grades as Petty Officers.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>3 THE BATTLESHIP BOYS IN FOREIGN SERVICE; Or, Earning New Ratings in European Seas.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>4 THE BATTLESHIP BOYS IN THE TROPICS; Or, Upholding the American Flag in a Honduras Revolution.</td></tr>
+</table></div>
+
+<div class='center'><br />(<i>Other volumes to follow rapidly.</i>)<br />
+<br />
+<br />Cloth, Illustrated &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;     Price, per Volume, 50c.</div>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>The Meadow-Brook Girls Series</h2>
+
+<h3>By JANET ALDRIDGE</h3>
+
+
+<div class='center'>Real live stories pulsing with the vibrant atmosphere of outdoor life.<br /><br /></div>
+
+
+
+<div class='center'>
+<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="The Meadow-Brook Girls Series">
+<tr><td align='left'>1 THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS UNDER CANVAS.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>2 THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS ACROSS COUNTRY.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>3 THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS AFLOAT.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>4 THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS IN THE HILLS.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>5 THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS BY THE SEA.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>6 THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS ON THE TENNIS COURTS.</td></tr>
+</table></div>
+
+
+<div class='center'><br />Cloth, Illustrated &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;     Price, per Volume, 50c.</div>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>High School Boys Series</h2>
+
+<h3>By H. IRVING HANCOCK</h3>
+
+
+<div class='center'>In this series of bright, crisp books a new note has been struck.<br />
+<br />
+Boys of every age under sixty will be interested in these fascinating
+volumes.</div>
+
+
+
+<div class='center'>
+<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="High School Boys Series">
+<tr><td align='left'>1 THE HIGH SCHOOL FRESHMEN; Or, Dick &amp; Co.'s First Year Pranks and Sports.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>2 THE HIGH SCHOOL PITCHER; Or, Dick &amp; Co. on the Gridley Diamond.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>3 THE HIGH SCHOOL LEFT END; Or, Dick &amp; Co. Grilling on the Football Gridiron.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>4 THE HIGH SCHOOL CAPTAIN OF THE TEAM; Or, Dick &amp; Co. Leading the Athletic Vanguard.</td></tr>
+</table></div>
+
+<div class='center'><br />Cloth, Illustrated &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;     Price, per Volume, 50c.</div>
+
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>Grammar School Boys Series</h2>
+
+<h3>By H. IRVING HANCOCK</h3>
+
+
+<div class='center'>This series of stories, based on the actual doings of grammar school
+boys, comes near to the heart of the average American boy.<br /><br /></div>
+
+
+
+<div class='center'>
+<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Grammar School Boys Series">
+<tr><td align='left'>1 THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS OF GRIDLEY; Or, Dick &amp; Co. Start Things Moving.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>2 THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS SNOWBOUND; Or, Dick &amp; Co. at Winter Sports.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>3 THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS IN THE WOODS; Or, Dick &amp; Co. Trail Fun and Knowledge.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>4 THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS IN SUMMER ATHLETICS; Or, Dick &amp; Co. Make Their Fame Secure.</td></tr>
+</table></div>
+
+<div class='center'><br />Cloth, Illustrated &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;     Price, per Volume, 50c.</div>
+
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>High School Boys' Vacation Series</h2>
+
+<h3>By H. IRVING HANCOCK</h3>
+
+
+<p>"Give us more Dick Prescott books!"</p>
+
+<p>This has been the burden of the cry from young readers of the country
+over. Almost numberless letters have been received by the publishers,
+making this eager demand; for Dick Prescott, Dave Darrin, Tom Reade, and
+the other members of Dick &amp; Co. are the most popular high school boys in
+the land. Boys will alternately thrill and chuckle when reading these
+splendid narratives.</p>
+
+
+
+<div class='center'>
+<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="High School Boys' Vacation Series">
+<tr><td align='left'>1 THE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS' CANOE CLUB; Or, Dick &amp; Co.'s Rivals on Lake Pleasant.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>2 THE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS IN SUMMER CAMP; Or, The Dick Prescott Six Training for the Gridley Eleven.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>3 THE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS' FISHING TRIP; Or, Dick &amp; Co. in the Wilderness.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>4 THE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS' TRAINING HIKE; Or, Dick &amp; Co. Making Themselves "Hard as Nails."</td></tr>
+</table></div>
+
+<div class='center'><br />Cloth, Illustrated &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;     Price, per Volume, 50c.</div>
+
+
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>The Circus Boys Series</h2>
+
+<h3>By EDGAR B. P. DARLINGTON</h3>
+
+
+<div class='center'>Mr. Darlington's books breathe forth every phase of an intensely
+interesting and exciting life.<br /><br /></div>
+
+
+
+<div class='center'>
+<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="The Circus Boys Series">
+<tr><td align='left'>1 THE CIRCUS BOYS ON THE FLYING RINGS; Or, Making the Start in the Sawdust Life.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>2 THE CIRCUS BOYS ACROSS THE CONTINENT; Or, Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>3 THE CIRCUS BOYS IN DIXIE LAND; Or, Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>4 THE CIRCUS BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI; Or, Afloat with the Big Show on the Big River.</td></tr>
+</table></div>
+
+<div class='center'><br />Cloth, Illustrated &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;     Price, per Volume, 50c.</div>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+
+<h2>The High School Girls Series</h2>
+
+<h3>By JESSIE GRAHAM FLOWER, A. M.</h3>
+
+
+<div class='center'>These breezy stones of the American High School Girl take the reader
+fairly by storm.<br /><br /></div>
+
+
+
+<div class='center'>
+<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="The High School Girls Series">
+<tr><td align='left'>1 GRACE HARLOWE'S PLEBE YEAR AT HIGH SCHOOL; Or, The Merry Doings of the Oakdale Freshman Girls.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>2 GRACE HARLOWE'S SOPHOMORE YEAR AT HIGH SCHOOL; Or, The Record of the Girl Chums in Work and Athletics.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>3 GRACE HARLOWE'S JUNIOR YEAR AT HIGH SCHOOL; Or, Fast Friends in the Sororities.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>4 GRACE HARLOWE'S SENIOR YEAR AT HIGH SCHOOL; Or, The Parting of the Ways.</td></tr>
+</table></div>
+
+
+<div class='center'><br />Cloth, Illustrated &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;     Price, per Volume, 50c.</div>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>The Automobile Girls Series</h2>
+
+<h3>By LAURA DENT CRANE</h3>
+
+
+<p>No girl's library&mdash;no family book-case can be considered at all complete
+unless it contains these sparkling twentieth-century books.</p>
+
+<div class='center'>
+<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="The Automobile Girls Series">
+<tr><td align='left'>1 THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS AT NEWPORT; Or, Watching the Summer Parade.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>2 THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS IN THE BERKSHIRES; Or, The Ghost of Lost Man's
+Trail.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>3 THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS ALONG THE HUDSON; Or, Fighting Fire in Sleepy
+Hollow.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>4 THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS AT CHICAGO; Or, Winning Out Against Heavy Odds.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>5 THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS AT PALM BEACH; Or, Proving Their Mettle Under
+Southern Skies.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>6 THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS AT WASHINGTON; Or, Checkmating the Plots of
+Foreign Spies.</td></tr>
+</table></div>
+
+<div class='center'><br />Cloth, Illustrated &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;     Price, per Volume, 50c.</div>
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<div class='tnote'><h3>Transcriber's Notes</h3>
+<p>Obvious punctuation errors repaired.</p>
+
+<p>Some of the book lists above were 'unpacked' to match the style of the remaining book lists.</p>
+
+</div>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<pre>
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Grammar School Boys of Gridley, by 
+H. Irving Hancock
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS OF GRIDLEY ***
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+</body>
+</html>
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+Project Gutenberg's The Grammar School Boys of Gridley, by H. Irving Hancock
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Grammar School Boys of Gridley
+       or, Dick & Co. Start Things Moving
+
+Author: H. Irving Hancock
+
+Release Date: August 13, 2007 [EBook #22307]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS OF GRIDLEY ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Huub Bakker and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: "Now, I'm Going to Settle With You."
+
+_Frontispiece._]
+
+
+
+
+The Grammar School Boys of Gridley
+
+OR
+
+
+Dick & Co. Start Things Moving
+
+By
+
+H. IRVING HANCOCK
+
+Author of The Grammar School Boys Snowbound, The Grammar School
+Boys in the Woods, The High School Boys' Series, The West Point
+Series, The Annapolis Series, The Young Engineers' Series,
+The Boys of the Army Series, The Motor Boat Club Series, Etc., Etc.
+
+Illustrated
+
+PHILADELPHIA
+
+HENRY ALTEMUS COMPANY
+
+Copyright, 1911, by Howard E. Altemus
+
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+CHAPTER                                     PAGE
+
+I. "Old Dut" Tells a Story--Dick Another      7
+
+II. A Brush on the Street                     20
+
+III. Football--Without Rules                  39
+
+IV. Ab. Dexter's Temper is Squally            53
+
+V. Football Uniforms in Sight                 63
+
+VI. On the Trail of the Cab                   73
+
+VII. Dick Leads a Spirited Rush               80
+
+VIII. Two Accidents--Or Traps?                90
+
+IX. An Awesome River Discovery               104
+
+X. A Problem in Footprints                   115
+
+XI. Dan Sees Bears--In His Mind              124
+
+XII. The Boy With the Oakum Taste            130
+
+XIII. A Great Football Pow-Pow               142
+
+XIV. Dick Steps Into a Death-Trap            154
+
+XV. What Grammar School Boys Can Do          161
+
+XVI. Out for Hallowe'en Fun                  170
+
+XVII. The Newest Trick of All                180
+
+XVIII. Carrying Fun To the Danger Limit      187
+
+XIX. Ben Wants To Know Who "Blabbed"         198
+
+XX. Dick's Accuser Gets Two Answers          208
+
+XXI. Ab. Dexter Makes a New Move             218
+
+XXII. Tricked Into Bad Company               226
+
+XXIII. Dick Makes His Stand for Honor        235
+
+XXIV. Conclusion                             247
+
+
+
+
+The Grammar School Boys of Gridley
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+"OLD DUT" TELLS A STORY--DICK ANOTHER
+
+
+"Master Prescott, what are you doing?"
+
+The voice of Mr. E. Dutton Jones rasped out rather sharply, jarring on
+the generally studious air of the eighth-grade room of the Central
+Grammar School.
+
+"What were you doing, Master Prescott?" repeated the stern voice of the
+principal.
+
+Dick Prescott had glanced up, somewhat startled and confused. By this
+time every boy's and girl's eyes had turned away from text-books toward
+Dick Prescott.
+
+"I was whispering, sir," confessed Dick.
+
+"Oh, was that all?" demanded the somewhat ironical voice of Mr. E.
+Dutton Jones, more commonly known as "Old Dut."
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"To whom were you whispering?"
+
+"To Master Hazelton."
+
+"If I am intruding on no confidences, what were you whispering about?"
+continued Old Dut.
+
+"I----" began Dick, and then his face turned still more red under the
+curious gaze of some fifty boys and girls. "I was telling Master
+Hazelton a funny story."
+
+"Do you think it was very funny?" inquired Old Dut.
+
+"The story? Yes, sir."
+
+The broad grin that promptly spread over Harry Hazelton's face seemed to
+confirm Dick's claim as to the humorous quality of the story.
+
+"Master Prescott," adjudged the principal, "you may rise in your seat
+and tell the story to the whole class, myself included. On this dull,
+rainy day I feel certain that we all need a good laugh."
+
+A smile that grew to a titter in some quarters of the room greeted Dick
+as he struggled half-shamefacedly to his feet.
+
+"Go on with the story," encouraged Old Dut. "Or, rather, begin at the
+beginning. That's the right way to serve up a story."
+
+"I--I'd rather not tell the story, sir," protested young Prescott.
+
+"Why not?" demanded the principal sharply.
+
+"Well, because, sir--I'd rather not. That's all."
+
+Principal Jones frequently employed that grilling way of questioning one
+of his pupils, and his implied sarcasm had a very effective way of
+making young offenders squirm before the class.
+
+Whispering, in itself, is not a criminal offense, yet it often has a sad
+effect on the discipline of a schoolroom, and of late Old Dut had been
+much annoyed by whisperers.
+
+"So you won't tell us all that choice story, eh, Master Prescott?"
+insisted the principal, half coaxingly.
+
+"On account of its being such a very personal one I'd rather not, sir,"
+Dick answered, still standing by his desk. "I might hurt some one's
+feelings."
+
+"Too bad!" murmured Old Dut. "And just after we had all been enlivened
+by the hope of hearing something really funny! I know your rare quality
+of humor, Master Prescott, and I had promised myself a treat. My own
+disappointment in the matter may be cured, but what about the boys and
+girls of this class? I know that they are all still eager to hear a
+really funny story."
+
+Old Dut paused, glancing impressively about the room. Dick, shifting
+first to one foot and then to the other, had not yet succeeded in
+parting with much of the fiery color that had flamed up to his cheeks,
+temples and forehead.
+
+"Master Prescott," announced the principal, "the class shall not be
+deprived of its expected treat. I will tell a story, and I think you
+will find some of the elements of humor in it. Will you kindly step this
+way?"
+
+Dick went forward, head up and chest thrown out, a look almost of
+defiance in his clear, blue eyes as a titter ran around the room.
+
+"Stand right here beside me," coaxed Old Dut. "Now, let me see if I can
+remember the story. Yes; I believe I can. It runs something like this."
+
+Then Old Dut began his story. It was a very ordinary one that had to do
+with a boy's disobedience of his father's commands. But it had a
+"woodshed" end to it.
+
+"So," continued Old Dut, "Johnson took his boy out to the shed. There,
+with a sigh as though his heart were breaking, the old man seated
+himself on the chopping block. He gathered his son across his
+knee--about like this."
+
+Here Principal Jones suddenly caught Dick Prescott and brought that lad
+across his own knee. The expectant class now tittered loudly.
+
+"I can't tell this story unless I have quiet," announced Old Dut,
+glancing up and around the room with a reproachful look.
+
+Then, after clearing his throat, the principal resumed:
+
+"'Johnny,' said the old man huskily, 'I know what my duty in the matter
+really is. I ought to give you a good spanking, like this (_whack!_).
+But I haven't the heart to give you such a blow as you deserve. (Whack!)
+But the next time (whack!), I'm going to give you (whack!) just such a
+good one (whack! whack!) as you deserve. (Whack! whack!) So, remember,
+Johnny (whack!), and don't let me catch you (whack!) disobeying me
+again. (Whack! whack!)."
+
+Each "whack" Old Dut emphasized by bringing down his own broad right
+hand on Dick's unprotected body.
+
+A few flashing eyes there were in the young audience, and a few
+sympathetic glances from the girls, but, for the most part, the class
+was now in a loud roar of laughter.
+
+"That's the story," announced Old Dut, gently restoring Dick Prescott to
+his feet. "I think you all see the point to it. Perhaps there's a moral
+to it, also. I really don't know."
+
+Pallor due to a sense of outraged dignity now struggled for a place in
+the red that covered Dick Prescott's face.
+
+"You may go to your seat, Master Prescott."
+
+Dick marched there, without a glance backward.
+
+"Now, that we've had our little indulgence in humor," announced Old Dut
+dryly, "we will all return to our studies."
+
+There was silence again in the room, during which the rain outside began
+to come down in a flood.
+
+"I'll get the fellows to-night--for that--and we'll carry Old Dut's
+front gate off and throw it in the river!" ran vengefully through Dave
+Darrin's mind.
+
+"Old Dut needn't look for his late posies to bloom until the frost comes
+this year," reflected Greg Holmes, while he pored, apparently, over the
+many-colored map of Asia. "I'll get some of the fellows out to-night,
+and we'll make a wreck scene in Old Dut's flower beds."
+
+Dick said nothing, even to himself, as he picked up his much-thumbed
+book on physiology and turned the pages. He was smarting not only from
+the indignity to which he had been treated, but quite as much from the
+masterful way in which Old Dut had punctuated that "funny story" with
+his broad right hand.
+
+Once in a while Old Dut cast a sly glance in Dick's direction.
+
+"That young man will bear watching," mused the principal, as he caught a
+sudden flash in Prescott's eye, as the latter glanced up.
+
+The recitation in arithmetic soon came along. This was one of Dick's
+favorite studies, and, wholly forgetting his late experience, so it
+seemed, he covered himself with glory in his blackboard demonstration of
+an intricate problem in interest and discount.
+
+Then the class settled down to twenty minutes' more study.
+
+"Master Prescott," broke in Old Dut's voice, at last, "did you think my
+story a funny one?"
+
+"Pretty fair, sir," answered Dick, looking up and straight into the eyes
+of the principal.
+
+"Only 'pretty fair,' eh? Could you tell me a funnier story?"
+
+"I'm pretty sure I could, yes, sir," answered Dick, with great
+promptness. "Only--_I don't believe I'm big enough yet!_"
+
+There was a moment's hush. Then the class caught the spirit of the
+answer. A few titters sounded, cautiously--to be followed instantly by
+an explosion of laughter. Even Old Dut had to join in the laugh.
+
+"That young man will bear watching," thought the principal grimly. "He's
+my best pupil, and one of the most mischievous. I'd rather have any
+youngster mischievous than stupid."
+
+Glancing at the clock, Principal Jones swung around, running a finger
+down a line of push buttons in the wall back of his seat. In this
+fashion did he announce to the schoolrooms of the seven lower grades
+that morning recess time had come. Then he swung back.
+
+"Attention, class!" he called. Tap! sounded a bell. The eighth-grade
+boys and girls rose, standing by their seats.
+
+Tap! At the second bell the lines filed out in orderly fashion to the
+coatrooms, at the sides of the schoolroom.
+
+But many of the young people soon came back. It was raining heavily
+outdoors on this September morning. True, the boys' and girls' basements
+served as playrooms in bad weather, but the basements were always
+crowded at such times, and many of the young people preferred to pass
+the recess time in the schoolroom.
+
+"Old Dut's getting rather too fresh these days," growled Greg Holmes to
+his chum. Then whispered in Dick's ear:
+
+"We'll get hunk with him to-night. Some of us will go around and play
+the wreck scene in his flower gardens."
+
+"Nothing doing," retorted Dick briefly.
+
+"I know a good one," whispered Dave Darrin, his dark eyes flashing with
+anticipated mischief. "We'll switch Old Dut's new gate off and play
+Moses in the bulrushes at the river bank."
+
+"Say," demanded Dick, gazing curiously at his tempters, "since when have
+you thought I don't know enough to pay back my own grudges!"
+
+"Have you got a scheme?" demanded Tom Reade eagerly, while Harry
+Hazelton and Dan Dalzell, sure that Dick had a "corker" of a scheme,
+grinned as happily as though they had already seen it put through with a
+rush.
+
+"Have you got a scheme?" insisted Dave.
+
+"Maybe," replied Dick evasively.
+
+"Any of you fellows going down to the basement?" asked Hazelton after a
+moment.
+
+"What's the use?" questioned Dick. "Tramp down three flights of stairs,
+and then climb the flights again in ten minutes."
+
+With that Dick sauntered into the schoolroom. Old Dut was seated at his
+desk, a half dozen of the girls standing about, eating apples or candy,
+and talking with the principal.
+
+"Only girls over there by Prin's desk," thought Dick with some
+dissatisfaction. He wandered about for a few minutes, but at last went
+up to Old Dut's desk as though being reluctantly drawn there by some
+magnet.
+
+"Get next," nudged Dave Darrin, poking Hazelton in the side. As Dave
+sauntered over to the desk Harry followed. Tom Reade seemed interested
+in the scene. Greg Holmes and Dan Dalzell strolled over, arm in arm.
+
+Seeing such an invasion of boys, the girls gave back for a few feet,
+though they did not quit the scene.
+
+"Funny the Detroits didn't win the championship this year, isn't it?"
+Dick asked innocently.
+
+"The Detroits haven't any show," returned Darrin half disgustedly.
+"They've got nearly a month to play yet, but the Detroits are no good
+this year."
+
+"If all the Detroits were in a class with Pendleton, their new pitcher,
+this year," Dick contended, "the Detroits would show class enough."
+
+Old Dut looked up with interest. A thoroughly skilled and capable
+teacher, he had always believed in encouraging sports and athletics.
+
+"That Pendleton fellow is more than a wonder with a ball," Dick went on
+warmly. "I saw him pitch a game against the New Yorks this summer, and I
+dreamed about it for a week after."
+
+"What's Pendleton's strong point?" followed up Dave Darrin.
+
+"Everything in the pitching line," Dick answered.
+
+"But what is his best point of all, Prescott?" broke in Old Dut.
+
+Even that experienced school principal had tumbled into the trap that
+Dick Prescott had so ingeniously laid for him.
+
+"Well, sir," replied Dick, wheeling around to the principal, every trace
+of resentment gone from his young face, "I should say that Pendleton's
+most noticeable trick is the way he twists and handles the ball when
+he's getting ready to drive in his curve. I watched Pendleton's work
+that day, and I think I stole the principle on which he uses his right
+wrist."
+
+"Show me," unsuspiciously invited Old Dut.
+
+Dick started to curve an imaginary ball in his right hand, then glanced
+over the principal's desk. A small, but thick, heavy book lay there.
+
+"Well, I should say," Prescott resumed, "that Pendleton handles the ball
+about like this."
+
+Picking up the book, Dick used both hands in trying to give it the right
+preliminary curve.
+
+"But his delivery is, of course, the great feature," the lad went on.
+"When Pendleton has the ball curved just right, he raises his right and
+lets it go like this!"
+
+Dick was facing the bevy of girls. They were so certain he was going to
+hurl the book in their direction that they scattered with little cries
+of alarm.
+
+So forcefully had young Prescott prepared for the throw that the book
+did leave his hand, though the boy made a frantic effort--apparently--to
+recover the missile.
+
+Not toward the retreating girls, however, did the book fly. It spun
+nearly at right angles, and----
+
+Smack! it went, full into the face of Principal E. Dutton Jones.
+
+"Oh, I beg your pardon, sir!" cried Dick in a voice ringing with
+remorse. "That must hurt you very much, sir."
+
+"It is nothing," replied Old Dut gamely, though the unexpected shock had
+nearly taken his breath. Then he put one hand up to his injured face.
+"Why, I believe my nose is bleeding," he added, making a quick dive for
+his handkerchief.
+
+In truth the nose was bleeding. Old Dut made a specialty of low-cut
+vests and white, immaculate shirt-fronts. Before the handkerchief was in
+place, three bright, crimson drops had fallen, rendering the shirt-front
+a gruesome sight to look at.
+
+"Oh, sir, I hope you will excuse me," followed up Dick.
+
+"Oh, yes; certainly," dryly returned the principal, as he rose and made
+for his private room. There was a handbowl in there, with hot and cold
+water, and the principal of the Central Grammar School of Gridley was
+soon busy repairing his personal appearance.
+
+No sooner had he vanished behind the open door than Dave Darrin, Tom
+Reade, Dan Dalzell, Greg Holmes, Harry Hazelton and several other boys
+grinned broadly in their huge delight. Dick Prescott, however, admirable
+actor that he was, still wore a look of concern on his rather fine young
+face.
+
+"One thing I've learned to-day, which I ought to have known before,"
+grimly mused Old Dut, as he sopped a wet towel to his injured nose.
+"Dick Prescott doesn't need any guardian. He can look out for himself!"
+
+"Wasn't it awful?" repeated a girl's voice out in the schoolroom.
+
+"No," replied her companion. "I don't think it was. After what he did it
+served him just right!"
+
+"I'm getting the usual sympathy that is awarded to the vanquished,"
+smiled Old Dut to himself. "That's Laura Bentley's voice. She didn't
+laugh when I was having my innings with Dick. She flushed up and looked
+indignant."
+
+Before Old Dut felt that he was in shape to present himself, all of the
+eight grades had received seven minutes' additional recess.
+
+At last studies were resumed. Old Dut, however, noted that whenever one
+of the boys or girls looked up and caught sight of his expansive,
+crimsoned shirt-front, a smile always followed.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+A BRUSH ON THE STREET
+
+
+By the time that the noon dismissal bell rang the rain had ceased, and
+the sun was struggling out.
+
+Out in the coatroom Dick snatched his hat from the nail as though he
+were in haste to get away.
+
+"I'll race you home, as far as we go together," proposed Dave Darrin.
+
+"Go you!" hovered on the tip of Prescott's tongue, but just then another
+thought popped into Dick's mind. It was a manly idea, and he had learned
+to act promptly on such impulses.
+
+"Wait a moment," he answered Darrin. "I've got something to do."
+
+With that Dick marched back into the schoolroom. Old Dut, looking up
+from the books that he was placing in a tidy pile on the platform desk,
+smiled.
+
+"I came back to ask, sir, if your nose pains?"
+
+Old Dut shot a keen glance at young Prescott, for long experience had
+taught the school-teacher that malice sometimes lurks behind the most
+innocent question from a boy. Then he answered:
+
+"I'm glad to be able to report, Master Prescott, that my nose is causing
+me no trouble whatever."
+
+"I'm very glad of that, sir. I've been a bit uncomfortable, since
+recess, thinking that perhaps my--that my act had broken your nose, and
+that you were just too game to let any one know. I'm glad no real harm
+was done, sir."
+
+Then Dick turned, anxious to get out into the open as quickly as
+possible.
+
+"One moment, Master Prescott!"
+
+Dick wheeled about again.
+
+"Are you sure that the book-throwing was an accident?"
+
+"I--I am afraid it wasn't, sir," Dick confessed, reddening.
+
+"Then, if you threw the book into my face on purpose, why did you do
+it!"
+
+"I was a good deal provoked, Mr. Jones."
+
+"Oh! Provoked over the funny story that I told you this forenoon?"
+
+"Not over the story, sir; but your manner of telling it."
+
+Old Dut had hard work to keep back the smile that struggled for an
+appearance on his face.
+
+"Revenge, was it, Master Prescott?"
+
+"Well, I felt that it was due me, Mr. Jones, to get even for the show
+that you made of me before the class."
+
+"Master Prescott, we won't go into the details of whether I was
+justified in illustrating my story this morning in the manner that I
+did, or whether you were right in coming back at me after the fashion
+that you did. But I am going to offer one thought for your
+consideration. It is this--that the man who devotes too much thought to
+'getting even' with other folks is likely to let slip a lot of good,
+solid chances for getting ahead in the world. I don't blame any fellow
+for protecting his own rights and dignity, but just think over what I
+said, won't you, about the chap who spends too much of his time thinking
+up ways to get even with others?"
+
+"There's a good idea in that, sir," Dick assented.
+
+"Of course you've heard, Master Prescott, that 'revenge is sweet?'"
+
+"Yes; I have."
+
+"And I believe, Master Prescott, that the saying is often true. But did
+it ever strike you, in this connection, that sweet things often make one
+sick at his stomach? I believe this is just as true of revenge as it is
+of other sweets. And now run along, or you won't have time to do justice
+to the pudding that your mother has undoubtedly been baking for you this
+morning."
+
+As Dick hastened from the room he found Dave Darrin waiting for him. Out
+in the corridor beyond these two encountered Holmes, Dalzell, Hazelton
+and Reade, for these six boys of the "top grade" generally stuck
+together in all things concerning school life.
+
+"Was Old Dut blowing you up for showing him how to pitch a book?"
+inquired Greg.
+
+"No; Old Dut doesn't seem to hold that in for me very hard," smiled
+Prescott. "But he was giving me something to think over."
+
+"Huh!" muttered Greg, as the boys walked down the outer steps. "I'd like
+to give him something to think about. Why did you get so crusty when I
+sprang the idea of doing the wreck scene in his flower beds to-night?"
+
+"Because the idea was too kiddish," returned Dick. "Besides, Old Dut was
+talking to me a good deal along such lines."
+
+"Did you go and tell him what I wanted to do?" flared Greg.
+
+"I didn't. But Old Dut pinned me down and asked me whether that book
+throwing were really an accident, and I had to admit that it wasn't.
+Now, listen!"
+
+Dick thereupon repeated his conversation with Principal Jones.
+
+"He's a wise man, all right," nodded Harry Hazelton.
+
+"I guess so," nodded Dave Darrin. "After all, it would look rather
+kiddish in us to go slipping up to his front yard in the dark night,
+lifting off his front gate and carrying it down to the river."
+
+"It would be stealing, or wasting, property, also," agreed Tom Reade.
+
+"So, fellows," resumed Dick, "I guess----"
+
+"Hullo! What's going on down there?" broke in Darrin hastily, as all six
+of the Grammar School boys looked ahead.
+
+A woman's scream had caught their ear.
+
+"It's Mrs. Dexter," muttered Hazelton.
+
+"And that rascally husband of hers," added Greg Holmes.
+
+"Some new row, of course," broke in Dan Dalzell.
+
+"It's a shame!" burst from Dick.
+
+"That Dexter fellow ought to be hung," growled Tom Reade. "He's always
+bothering that woman, and she's one of the nicest ever. But now he won't
+let her alone, just because her grandfather had to die and leave Mrs.
+Dexter a lot of money."
+
+The little city of Gridley was quite familiar with the domestic troubles
+of the Dexters. The woman was young and pretty, and good-hearted. Abner
+Dexter, on the other hand, was good-looking and shiftless. He had
+married Jennie Bolton because he believed her family to be wealthy, and
+Dexter considered himself too choice for work. But the Bolton money had
+all belonged to the grandfather, who, a keen judge of human nature, had
+guessed rightly the nature of Abner Dexter and had refused to let him
+have any money.
+
+Dexter had left his wife and little daughter some two years before the
+opening of this story. Three months before old man Bolton had died,
+leaving several hundred thousand dollars to Mrs. Dexter. Then Dexter had
+promptly reappeared. But Mrs. Dexter no longer wanted this shiftless,
+extravagant man about, and had told him so plainly. Dexter had
+threatened to make trouble, and the wife had thereupon gone to court and
+had herself appointed sole guardian of her little daughter. At the same
+time she had turned some money over to her husband--common report said
+ten thousand dollars--on his promise to go away and not bother her
+again.
+
+Plainly he had not kept his word. As Dick and his chums glanced down the
+quiet side street they saw husband and wife standing facing each other.
+The man was scowling, the woman half-tearful, half-defiant. Behind her,
+in her left hand, Mrs. Dexter held a small handbag.
+
+"I'd like to be big enough to be able to enjoy the pleasure of thrashing
+a fellow like that Dexter!" growled Dave Darrin, his eyes flashing.
+
+"There's a man standing a little way below the pair," announced Dick. "I
+wonder what he's doing, for he seems to be watching the couple intently.
+I hope he's on Mrs. Dexter's side."
+
+Unconsciously Dick and his friends had halted to watch the proceedings
+ahead of them.
+
+"No, I won't," replied Mrs. Dexter sharply, to something that her husband
+had said.
+
+Abner Dexter talked rapidly, a black scowl on his face meanwhile.
+
+"No, you won't! You don't dare!" replied the woman, her voice sounding
+as though she had summoned all her courage by an effort.
+
+Dexter suddenly sprang closer to the woman. The next instant both were
+struggling for possession of the little black bag that she carried.
+
+"Stop!" cried Mrs. Dexter desperately. "Help! He-lp!"
+
+"Fellows, I don't know that we're bound to stand for that," muttered
+Dick Prescott quickly. "She's calling for help. Come along."
+
+Dick was off down the street like a streak, the others following, though
+Dave was closest to his chum.
+
+"Here, what are you doing, mister?" demanded Dick, as he darted up to
+where the pair were struggling.
+
+Dexter would have had the bag in his own possession by this time, had he
+not turned to see what the onrush of boys meant.
+
+"None of your business what I'm doing," he replied savagely. "You
+schoolboys run along out of this."
+
+"Don't go! Help me," pleaded the woman. "He's trying to rob me!"
+
+"You boys clear out, or it will be worse for you!" growled Dexter.
+
+"The lady wins!" Dick announced coolly, though he was shaking somewhat
+from excitement. "You let go of her and her property."
+
+But Dexter, his face black with scowls, still clutched tightly with his
+right hand at the little handbag, to which Mrs. Dexter was clinging with
+both her hands.
+
+"You let go of that bag," challenged Dick, "or six of us will sail into
+you. I think we can handle you. We'll try, anyway."
+
+"Yes; make him let go," begged Mrs. Dexter. "I have money and jewels
+here, and he is trying to take them away from me."
+
+"Going to do as the lady wishes?" inquired Dick, stepping closer.
+
+Abner Dexter shot another angry glare at the sextette of Grammar School
+boys. They were closing in around him, and it looked as though they
+meant business.
+
+"Gus!" called Dexter sharply.
+
+The man who had been standing a short distance away now ran up to the
+spot.
+
+"Hullo, what do you want!" asked Dick coolly. "Are you the understudy in
+this game of robbery?"
+
+"I'm an officer," retorted the fellow sharply.
+
+"Secretary to some Chinese laundry company, eh?" jeered Dick.
+
+"I'm a police officer," retorted the man sharply, at the same time
+displaying a shield.
+
+That put a different look on matters with some of young Prescott's
+friends. Dick, however, was a boy not easily daunted.
+
+"If you're an officer," he inquired, "why don't you get busy and do your
+duty? Here's a man trying to rob his wife, just because she happens to
+have more money than he has."
+
+"A man can't legally steal from his wife, nor a woman from her husband,"
+retorted the policeman bullyingly. "There is no crime being committed
+here. But if you boys try to interfere you'll be disturbing the peace,
+and I'll run you all in."
+
+Mrs. Dexter looked bewildered and frightened. She even let go of the
+handbag with one hand. Dick saw this, and quickly broke in:
+
+"Mrs. Dexter, don't you let Mr. Dexter have that handbag unless you want
+to do it. We'll stand by you."
+
+"Oh, will you?" glared the policeman. "You boys run along, or I'll
+gather you all in."
+
+"Where are you a policeman?" inquired Dick Prescott, eyeing the fellow
+with interest. "You're not a Gridley officer, for I know every one of
+them."
+
+"Never you mind where I'm from," jeered the man harshly. "I'm a
+policeman. That'll have to be enough for you youngsters. If you don't
+trot fast down the street I'll gather you in."
+
+Some of Dick's chums were now inclined to feel that they had broken in
+at the wrong place, but not so their young leader.
+
+"You haven't any right to make arrests in Gridley," retorted Dick
+defiantly. "And, even if you had, you couldn't stop us from defending a
+woman. Tom, you and Greg stand by me. Dave, you lead the rest. We'll
+make Dexter let go of his wife's property and let her alone. If this man
+who says he's an officer interferes, Greg, Tom and I will devote our
+attention to him!"
+
+"Great!" snarled Dexter jeeringly. "You're all young jailbirds!"
+
+"Are you going to let go of Mrs. Dexter's property?" challenged Dick.
+
+"I'm not."
+
+"Come on, fellows--let's sail into him."
+
+Dick was an able general, having his small force under good discipline.
+There was a sudden rush of boys. True, they averaged only thirteen years
+of age, but there were six of them, and they were determined.
+
+Dexter let go of the handbag in a hurry. He had to do so, in order to
+defend himself.
+
+At the same moment the man named as "Gus" jumped into the fray.
+
+"Three to each man!" yelled Dick, and thus the force was divided.
+
+The self-styled policeman reached out with the flat of his hand,
+knocking Greg Holmes off his feet. But, as he did so, Dick dropped down
+in front of the man, wrapping both arms around the fellow's knees. Then
+Dick rose. It required the exertion of all his strength, but he
+succeeded in toppling Gus over onto his back.
+
+At the same time Abner Dexter was having all he could do, for three very
+determined schoolboys were assailing him. At last Dexter turned to
+retreat, but Dan Dalzell thrust a foot before him and tripped him.
+
+"All down!" yelled Dan. "Set 'em up in the other alley!"
+
+Though downed for the moment, the two men were disposed to make a
+livelier fight of it than ever. It was a brisk, picturesque,
+rough-and-tumble fight that followed, in which the young boys got a deal
+of rough handling.
+
+Frightened, yet fascinated, Mrs. Dexter tottered against the fence and
+stood looking on.
+
+Things might yet have fared badly with Dick and his friends had not a
+newcomer arrived on the scene. He came running, and proved to be
+Policeman Whalen in uniform.
+
+"Here! What's on?" demanded the Gridley officer. "Let up on kicking them
+boys! I want you!"
+
+With that Whalen, who was a big and powerful man, grabbed Abner Dexter
+by the coat collar and pulled him to his feet. With this prisoner in
+tow, he moved up and seized Gus in similar fashion.
+
+"Now, what's the row?" demanded Officer Whalen.
+
+"Arrest these boys for assault!" quivered Dexter in a passion.
+
+"Yes, arrest them!" insisted Gus. "I'm an officer, too, and I was trying
+to take them in."
+
+"You didn't seem to be having very good luck at it," grinned Whalen.
+"But I know these boys, and they're all good lads."
+
+"Arrest them, just the same! They were assaulting me," insisted Dexter
+angrily.
+
+"And what were you doing?" insisted Whalen wonderingly.
+
+"He was trying to steal jewels and money from his wife," interposed Dick
+Prescott.
+
+"Bah!" growled Dexter. "A man can't steal from his wife."
+
+"But he can assault her," returned Policeman Whalen. "And a man can
+disturb the peace with his wife, just as handily as he can anywhere
+else. Mrs. Dexter, are these lads telling the truth?"
+
+"Oh, yes, officer! My husband was trying to take this satchel away from
+me, and he knew that it contains my jewels and thirty-five hundred
+dollars in cash."
+
+"Do you want him arrested?"
+
+"Yes; I--I'm afraid I shall have to have him arrested, or he'll go right
+on annoying me."
+
+"Will you appear against him, Mrs. Dexter?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Then I'll take him along. And what about this fellow?"
+
+"Me?" demanded Gus with offended dignity. "I'm a police officer."
+
+"What's your name?"
+
+"August Driggs."
+
+"Where are you a policeman?"
+
+"In Templeton."
+
+"Why were you lads fighting Officer Driggs?" inquired Whalen blandly.
+
+Dick supplied some of the details, Dave others. Mrs. Dexter confirmed
+the statements that they made.
+
+"I guess I'll take you along, too, Driggs," announced Policeman Whalen.
+
+"But I'm a police officer!" protested Driggs aghast.
+
+"Police officers can be arrested like anyone else, when they break the
+law," announced Policeman Whalen dryly. "Come along, the two of you!
+Mrs. Dexter, you wouldn't like to be seen walking along with us, but
+I'll ask you to be at the station house inside of five minutes."
+
+"I'll be there, officer," promised the woman.
+
+"Do you want us, too?" inquired Dick. He and all of his friends were
+eager to see the affair through to the finish.
+
+"No; I know where to find you lads, if you're wanted," grinned Policeman
+Whalen. "I don't want a big crowd following. Mrs. Dexter, ma'am, I'll be
+looking for you to be on hand sharp."
+
+With that the broad-backed policeman started off with two savage
+prisoners in tow.
+
+"Say, if we're to have any dinner and get back to school on time, we'll
+have to be moving fast," declared Dan Dalzell.
+
+"I thought we were surely going to get into a lot of trouble," muttered
+Hazelton, as the youngsters moved along rapidly. "But Whalen knew his
+business."
+
+"I hope the judge can send that Dexter fellow up for a good, long time,"
+muttered Dick. "He's been annoying that poor woman all the time lately."
+
+"Just because she has her grandfather's money at last," grumbled Dave
+Darrin.
+
+Soon the youngsters came to a point where they had to separate. But all
+hands were back at school on time. The work of the afternoon was duly
+progressing when the telephone bell at the principal's desk rang.
+
+Old Dut held what proved to be a mysterious conversation for a few
+moments. Then he wound up with:
+
+"All right. I'll send them right over."
+
+Ringing off, Old Dut glanced at Dick.
+
+"Master Prescott, it appears that you, Darrin, Reade, Holmes, Dalzell
+and Hazelton saw some trouble on the street this noon."
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"All six of you are wanted, at once, down at court, to give evidence.
+You are excused. If you get through at court early enough, come back to
+finish your afternoon's work."
+
+Six Grammar School boys rose and filed out quietly. How enviously the
+other boys in the room stared after them! How curiously the girls
+glanced at the young heroes who were now wanted on the government's
+business!
+
+"Say," ventured Dan as soon as they got outside, "I hope the judge
+orders Dexter hanged."
+
+"He'll hardly do that," retorted Dave. "A street row is hardly a hanging
+offense. If it were, there'd be a lot of fellows missing from the
+Central Grammar School."
+
+"So we're called in to help decide the case?" asked Greg, puffing up.
+
+"Oh, get busy with some brains!" scoffed Dick airily. "We haven't
+anything to do with deciding the case. That's what the judge is paid
+for. But we're wanted just to tell what we know. Say, you fellows, be
+careful you don't get so rattled that you try to tell a lot of things
+that you don't know."
+
+In due time they reached the court building. Grown suddenly very quiet
+and almost scared, these six thirteen-year-old boys filed upstairs. A
+policeman stood before the door of the courtroom.
+
+"May we go in?" whispered Dick.
+
+"Of course," nodded the policeman. "Take your hats off."
+
+The officer conducted the sextette of young witnesses inside, past a
+group or two of loungers who made up the usual police-court audience,
+and thence on before the bench.
+
+At one side, at this end of the room, sat Dexter and Driggs. Right in
+front of the clerk of the court were seated Mrs. Dexter and a lawyer.
+Officer Whalen lounged near the two prisoners.
+
+"These are the lads, your honor," nodded Policeman Whalen, after giving
+Dick & Co. a keen looking over.
+
+"Swear them, Mr. Clerk," said the Justice.
+
+Solemnly the six youngsters held up their right hands and took the oath.
+Then Justice Lee began to question them. From Dick, first, he drew out
+the story of the dispute in the street. Then the others told the same
+story.
+
+"Why did you boys interfere?" asked the justice of Prescott.
+
+"Because, sir," Dick answered, "we didn't want to see a woman
+ill-treated on the street."
+
+"A very good reason," nodded Justice Lee approvingly. "But weren't you
+afraid of Driggs, here, who is really a police officer?"
+
+"No, sir; I didn't believe that a police officer had any more right than
+any one else to break the law."
+
+"You boys have acted very sensibly," nodded Justice Lee. "Dexter, do you
+wish to question any of these young witnesses?"
+
+Dexter shook his head, scowling.
+
+"Do you, Driggs?"
+
+"No, your honor. 'Twouldn't be any use."
+
+"You're right about that, I imagine," nodded the justice. "Boys, the
+court wishes to express its pleasure over your good sense, and to praise
+you for your chivalry and courage. You did just right--as the court
+hopes you will always do under similar circumstances. Dexter, stand up.
+Driggs, also."
+
+The two prisoners arose, sullen enough in their appearance.
+
+"Dexter, you have been guilty of disturbing the peace. I do not believe
+a mere fine sufficient in your case. I therefore sentence you to serve
+thirty days in jail. Driggs, your primary offense was about as great as
+Dexter's, but your offense is worse, for you are a police officer, and
+you tried to throw the strength of your position around the acts of the
+prisoner. The court therefore sentences you to sixty days in jail."
+
+"We both wish to appeal, your honor," cried Dexter, his face aflame.
+
+"Dexter's bail will then be fixed at two hundred dollars; Driggs's at
+four hundred dollars. Are you prepared to furnish bail?"
+
+"I will furnish the cash for both of us," announced Abner Dexter,
+drawing a roll of banknotes from a pocket.
+
+Mrs. Dexter and her lawyer filed out while this matter was being
+arranged with the clerk of the court. Dick and his friends, at a sign
+from the court, left the room as soon as they had received their fees as
+witnesses.
+
+"So he pays the money, Dexter does, and walks out?" grunted Dan Dalzell.
+
+"Oh, no," Dick answered. "Dexter and his friend have to be tried over
+again in a higher court. That money is just their forfeit in case they
+don't show up for trial."
+
+"They won't," predicted Greg.
+
+"I don't know," murmured Dick. "Six hundred dollars would be a lot of
+money to lose."
+
+By hastening, the Grammar School boys were back in school for the last
+hour of the session.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+FOOTBALL--WITHOUT RULES
+
+
+School was out for the day. Three quarters of the boys belonging to the
+four upper grades made a bee line for a field about a block away. The
+magnet was a football that Dave Darrin proudly carried tucked under his
+left arm.
+
+"I wanter play!"
+
+"Let me try just one good kick with it, Dave!"
+
+"Take a stroll," advised Darrin laconically. "How can I blow up the ball
+and talk to you fellows, too?"
+
+"Hurry up, then. We want to give the ball a fierce old kick."
+
+"No kids in this," announced Dave, rather loftily. "Only fellows in the
+eighth and seventh grades. Fellows in the grades below the seventh are
+only kids and would get hurt."
+
+"Oh, say!"
+
+"That isn't fair!"
+
+The protests were many and vigorous from sixth and fifth-grade boys, but
+Darrin, ignoring them all, went placidly on inflating the pigskin. At
+last the task was completed.
+
+"Hurrah! Now, Dave, give it a boost and let us all have some fun!" cried
+the boys. But Darrin coolly tucked the ball under one arm.
+
+"Dick Prescott has a few remarks to make first," Dave announced.
+
+"Dick going to make a speech?"
+
+"Cut it, and start the ball moving!"
+
+"Won't you fellows interrupt your music lessons long enough to listen to
+an idea that some of us have been talking over?" called Dick. "Now,
+fellows, you know this is the time when the crack Gridley High School
+football team is hard at work. We're all proud of the Gridley High
+School eleven. A lot of you fellows expect to go to High School, and I
+know you'd all like a chance to play on Gridley High's eleven."
+
+"Set the ball moving!"
+
+"Wait a minute," Dick insisted. "Now, fellows, no Grammar School in
+Gridley has ever had an eleven."
+
+"How could we," came a discontented wail, "if we have to stand here and
+see Dave just do nothing but hold the ball?"
+
+"Fellows," Dick went on impressively, "it's time to have Grammar School
+football teams here in Gridley. Central Grammar ought to have one, North
+Grammar one and South Grammar one. Then our three Grammar Schools could
+play a championship series among themselves."
+
+"Hooray! Give the ball a throw, Dave!"
+
+"So, fellows," Dick continued, "a lot of us think we ought to organize a
+football team at once. Then we can challenge North Grammar and South
+Grammar. We can practise the rest of this month, and next month we can
+play off our games. What do you say?"
+
+"Hooray!"
+
+"We'll have two teams," called Dave. "We'll call one team the Rangers
+and the other the Rustlers. Now, let's make Dick captain of the
+Rangers."
+
+"All right!"
+
+"And Tom Craig captain of the Rustlers."
+
+"Good!"
+
+"All right, then," nodded Dave. "Dick, you pick out the Rangers; Craig,
+you go ahead with the Rustlers. After we've practised a few times we'll
+pick the best men from both elevens, and make up the Central Grammar
+eleven. Get busy, captains!"
+
+Forthwith the choosing began. Dick chose all his chums for his own
+eleven. And no boy lower than seventh grade was allowed on either team.
+
+"Now, who'll be referee?" demanded Dick. "Captain Craig, have you any
+choice?"
+
+"Have we got any fellows, not on either team, who really know the
+rules?" asked Tom Craig dubiously.
+
+There was a hush, for this was surely a stumbling block. It seemed clear
+that a referee ought to know the rules of the game.
+
+"What's up, kids?" called a friendly voice.
+
+The speaker was Len Spencer, a young man who had been graduated from the
+High School the June before, and who was now serving his apprenticeship
+as reporter on one of the two local daily papers, the morning "Blade."
+
+"Oh, see here, Len!" called Dick joyously. "You're just the right fellow
+for us. You know the football rules?"
+
+"I have a speaking acquaintance with 'em," laughed Len.
+
+Dick rapidly outlined what was being planned, adding:
+
+"You can put that in the 'Blade' to-morrow morning, Len, and state our
+challenge to North and South Grammars. Won't you?"
+
+"Surely."
+
+"But we want to practise this afternoon," Dick continued earnestly, "and
+we haven't any referee. Len, can't you spare us a little time? Won't you
+boss the first practice for us?"
+
+"All right," agreed Len, after a little thought. "I'll tackle it for a
+while. Have you got your teams picked?"
+
+"Teams all picked, and the ball ready. We'll have to place stones for
+goal posts, though."
+
+"Hustle and do it, then," commanded Len. "I can't stay here forever."
+
+Five minutes later the field was as ready as it could be made.
+
+"Captains will now attend the toss-up," ordered Len Spencer, producing a
+coin from one of his pockets. "Heads for Craig, tails for Prescott."
+
+It fell head up, and Craig chose his goal, and also the first kick-off.
+
+Dick had been busily engaged in making up his line and backfield. There
+was some delay while Tom Craig accomplished this same thing.
+
+"Now, one thing that all you youngsters want to remember," declared Len,
+"is that no player can play off-side. All ready?"
+
+Both young football captains called out that they were. Len had provided
+himself with a pocket whistle loaned by one of the fifth-grade boys.
+
+Trill-ll! Tom Craig kicked the ball himself, but it was a poor kick. The
+pigskin soon struck the ground.
+
+"I'll try that over again," announced Tom.
+
+But Dick and his own fighting line had already started. Dick, at center,
+with Dave on his right hand and Greg Holmes on his left, snatched up the
+ball and started with it for the Rustlers' goal.
+
+A bunch of Rustlers opposed and tackled Prescott. Dick succeeded, by the
+help of Dave and Greg, in breaking through the line, but the Rustlers
+turned and were after him. Down went Dick, but he had the pigskin under
+him.
+
+"Take it away from him, fellows!" panted Craig. But Len blew his
+whistle, following up the signal by some sharp commands that brought the
+struggle to a close.
+
+"Prescott's side have the ball," declared Len, "and will now play off a
+snap-back. And, boys, one thing I must emphasize. I've told you that
+under the rules no man may play off-side. So, hereafter, if I find any
+of you off-side, I'm going to penalize that eleven."
+
+Dick was whispering to some of his players, for, without any code of
+signals, he must thus instruct his fellows in the play that was to be
+made with the ball.
+
+Then the whistle sounded. The Rangers put the ball through the Rustlers'
+line, and onward for some fifteen yards before the ball was once more
+down.
+
+"Good work, Prescott," nodded Len Spencer. "Now, pass your orders for
+the next play, then hustle into line and snap-back."
+
+Len placed the whistle between his lips and was about to blow it when
+Dave Darrin darted forward, holding up one hand.
+
+"What's the trouble?" asked Len.
+
+"Mr. Referee, count the men on the other team."
+
+"Fifteen players," summed up Len. "That's too many. Captain Craig,
+you'll have to shed four men."
+
+"Oh, let him have 'em all," begged Dick serenely. "Craig'll need 'em all
+to keep us from breaking through with the ball."
+
+At blast of the whistle the pigskin was promptly in play again, both
+teams starting in with Indian yells. There was plenty of enthusiasm, but
+little or no skill. The thing became so mixed up that Len ran closer.
+
+A human heap formed. Greg Holmes was somewhere down near the bottom of
+that mix-up, holding on to the ball for all he was worth. Over him
+sprawled struggling Rangers and fighting Rustlers. Other players, from
+both teams, darted forward, hurling themselves onto the heap with
+immense enthusiasm.
+
+"The ball is down," remarked one eager young spectator disgustedly. "Len
+oughter blow his whistle."
+
+"Yes, where's the whistle?" demanded other close-by spectators.
+
+From somewhere away down toward the bottom of the heap came Len
+Spencer's muffled remark:
+
+"I'll blow the whistle all right, if half a hundred of you Indians will
+get off my face for a minute!"
+
+"Come out of that tangle, all of you," ordered Tom Craig, after pulling
+himself out of the squirming heap of boys. "It's against the rules to
+smother the referee to death. He has to be killed painlessly."
+
+When the tangle had been straightened out Greg Holmes was found to be
+still doubled up, holding doggedly to the pigskin that had been his to
+guard.
+
+"Get ready for the next snap-back," ordered Captain Dick.
+
+"Don't do anything of the sort," countermanded Len. "I can see that what
+you youngsters need more than play, just at present, is a working
+knowledge of the rules. So listen, and I'll introduce you to a few
+principles of the game."
+
+After ten minutes of earnest talk Len Spencer allowed the ball to be put
+once more in play.
+
+At one time it was discovered that Craig, reinforced by enthusiastic
+onlookers from the sidelines, had seventeen men in his team. Dick, on
+the other hand, kept an alert eye to see that no more than eleven ranged
+up with his team.
+
+"Now, that's enough for the first day," called out Len at last. "Neither
+side won, but the Rangers had by far the better of it. Now, before you
+fellows play to-morrow I advise you all to do some earnest studying of
+the rules of the game."
+
+"Don't make too much fun of us in the 'Blade,' will you, Mr. Spencer?"
+begged Dick. "We really want to get a good Central Grammar eleven at
+work. We want to play the other Grammar Schools in town."
+
+"Oh, no one but a fool could find it in his heart to make fun of boys
+who display as much earnestness as you youngsters showed to-day,"
+Spencer replied soothingly.
+
+"It's the first time we ever tried real play, you know," Dick went on.
+
+"Yes; and you'll have to do a lot more practising before you can
+convince any one that you are doing any real playing," Len nodded. "Go
+after the rules. Memorize 'em. And watch the High School crowd play
+football. That will teach you a lot."
+
+"I know we need it," Dick sighed. "But then, you see, Grammar School
+football is a brand-new thing."
+
+"Why, now I come to think of it, I don't believe I ever did hear before
+of a Grammar School eleven," Len Spencer admitted.
+
+At least twenty other boys followed Dick and his chums from the field on
+the way home.
+
+"Say, Dick," called Tom Craig, "is the Central Grammar team going to
+have a uniform?"
+
+"Why, I suppose we must have one," Dick answered.
+
+"Where are we going to get the money?"
+
+Dick looked blank at that. A football uniform costs at least a few
+dollars, and who ever heard of an average Grammar School boy having a
+few dollars, all his own to spend?
+
+"I hadn't thought of that," muttered Prescott. "Oh, well, we'll have to
+find some way of getting uniforms. We've got to have 'em. That's all
+there is to it."
+
+"'Where there's a will there's a way,'" quoted Tom Reade blithely.
+
+But most of the fellows shook their heads.
+
+"We can't get uniforms," declared several of the older eighth-grade
+boys.
+
+"Then, if we can't we'll have to play without uniforms," Dick
+maintained. "We've got to play somehow. I hope you fellows won't go and
+lose your enthusiasm. Let's all hang together for football."
+
+One by one the other boys dropped off, until only Dick and his five
+chums were left at a corner on Main Street.
+
+"I'm afraid a lot of the fellows will go and let their enthusiasm cool
+over night," declared Harry Hazelton.
+
+"Remember, fellows, we've got to have our football eleven, and we've got
+to keep at it until we can really play a good game," insisted Dick.
+
+"But what if most all the fellows drop out?" demanded Dan Dalzell. "You
+know, that's the trouble with Grammar School fellows. They don't stick."
+
+"There are six of us, and we'll all stick," proclaimed Dick. "That means
+that we've got to get only five other fellows to stick. Surely we can do
+that, if we've got hustle enough in us to play football at all."
+
+"Oh, we'll have our eleven somehow," insisted Dave positively.
+
+"How about our uniforms?" Tom Reade wanted to know.
+
+"We'll have them, too," asserted Dick. "I don't know just how we'll do
+it, but we'll manage."
+
+Dick Prescott and his chums were in much better spirits after that brief
+consultation. Then they separated, each going to his home for supper.
+
+Dick's father and mother were proprietors of the most popular bookstore
+in Gridley. It stood on one of the side streets, just a little way down
+from Main Street. Over the store were the living rooms of the family.
+Dick was an only child.
+
+After stowing away such an evening meal as only a healthy boy knows how
+to take care of, Dick reached for his cap.
+
+"I'm going out to meet the fellows, mother, if you don't mind," said
+young Prescott.
+
+"I'm sorry to say that there's just one matter that will delay you for
+perhaps twenty minutes," replied Mrs. Prescott. "Mrs. Davis was in and
+ordered some books this afternoon. She wants them delivered this
+evening, so I said I'd send you around with them. That won't bother you
+much, will it?"
+
+"Not so much but that I'll get over it," laughed the boy. "Maybe I'll
+pick up one or two of the fellows, anyway."
+
+"Richard, I'd rather you'd deliver the books before you meet any of your
+friends," urged Mrs. Prescott. "The books are worth about ten dollars,
+and if you have some of your friends along you may begin skylarking, and
+some of the books may get damaged."
+
+"All right, mother. I'll go alone."
+
+Off Dick started with the bundle, whistling blithely. All his thoughts
+were centered on the forming of the Central Grammar eleven, and that
+plan now looked like a winner.
+
+"We won't let the High School fellows have all the fun," young Prescott
+mused as he hurried along.
+
+He reached the rather large and handsome Davis house, rang the bell,
+delivered his books and then started back. His evening, up to nine
+o'clock, was now his own to do with as he pleased.
+
+Suddenly the thought of the happenings at noon came back to his mind.
+
+"What a mean fellow that Dexter is!" muttered the Grammar School boy.
+"I've heard folks say that Dexter is mean enough, and scoundrel enough,
+to kill his wife one of these days. Whew! I should think it would hurt
+to be so all-fired mean, and to have everyone despising you, as folks
+seem to despise Dexter. I hope the upper court will give him six months
+in jail, instead of one."
+
+Prescott was moving along a dark street now. It bordered a broad field,
+back of which stood a deep grove. At the street end of the field was a
+neat, solid, stone wall.
+
+Had Dick been looking ahead all the time he would have seen a man,
+coming down the street, start, take a swift look at the boy, and then
+dart behind a tree. But Prescott did not see until he reached the tree.
+Then the man stepped out.
+
+"Prescott!" uttered Abner Dexter hoarsely, "I've been wanting to see you
+again!"
+
+"That's more than I can say about you," retorted Dick, trying to edge
+away.
+
+"No! You don't get away from me like that!" hissed Ab. Dexter sharply,
+twisting a hand on Dick's collar. Lifting the boy from his feet, Dexter
+hurled him over the wall into the field.
+
+"Now, I'm going to settle with you, young meddler!" announced Dexter,
+vaulting the wall and throwing himself upon Dick. "When I get through
+with you you'll never feel like meddling with any one again!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+AB. DEXTER'S TEMPER IS SQUALLY
+
+
+"You're taking a lot upon yourself!" ventured Dick Prescott angrily.
+
+"That's all right," laughed Dexter savagely. "Come along with me and
+I'll show you something really funny."
+
+With that the man caught young Prescott up, starting across the field
+with him. Dick fought and struggled, but a grown man was too powerful
+for one thirteen-year-old boy.
+
+"Don't make any noise," warned Dexter, as he ran with his "catch," "or
+I'll make you wish you hadn't opened your mouth!"
+
+If he feared that Dick would call for help, this high-handed one was
+reckoning without a knowledge of the kind of boy he had to deal with.
+For Dick, though he was just a little more than slightly alarmed, would
+have been ashamed to call out for help.
+
+"You think you're having a lot of fun," sputtered young Prescott
+angrily, "but you'll be sorry for this before you are through!"
+
+"Through with whom?" demanded Dexter blandly, now.
+
+"Before you're through with me. You'll find that you can't act like this
+around Gridley. Justice Lee will get hold of you again, first thing you
+know."
+
+"Huh! I'll talk to you about that in a few minutes!"
+
+"See here, where are you taking me?"
+
+"Wherever I please."
+
+"Then I don't know about that, either, Dexter. I've about made up my
+mind that I won't go any further with you."
+
+"Oh, you won't, eh, boy! Well, just help yourself, if you can."
+
+By this time Dexter had crossed the field and had run well inside of the
+grove.
+
+Dick wriggled, getting one hand free--and then he struck Dexter a
+stinging blow in the face.
+
+"Confound you!" growled the other. "I see that I've got to tame you, you
+young hornet!"
+
+"You put me down, or I'll sting worse than a hornet," threatened Dick
+angrily. "I'm not a doormat that you can wipe your feet on."
+
+"We'll see about that!" muttered Dexter, halting suddenly and throwing
+Dick savagely to the ground. He followed this up by sitting on the
+Grammar School boy.
+
+Whack! Whack! Dexter struck him so savagely, both blows in the face,
+that Prescott gasped.
+
+"I've got a few hundred more of those in reserve if you want 'em--or
+need 'em," Dick's captor advised him grimly. He still sat on the boy,
+looking down at him in the darkness with evil satisfaction.
+
+"It doesn't take one long to find your number, Dexter," observed the boy
+undauntedly. "Your specialty is frightening women and pounding boys who
+offend you."
+
+"Well, a lot of you boys hammered me this noon, didn't you!"
+
+"Yes; and I wish I had a couple of the fellows here now," retorted Dick
+with spirit. "We'd soon make a coward like you seem small. You'd be on
+your knees, begging, if I had a couple of my chums here to help me."
+
+"Well, you haven't got 'em, and I'll do all the talking that amounts to
+anything. Dick Prescott, you're the worst and freshest boy in Gridley!"
+
+"Such a statement, coming from a fellow like you, amounts to high
+praise, Dexter," Dick retorted doughtily.
+
+"None of your impudence, now, Dick Prescott! I've stood all the
+insolence from you that I'm going to allow."
+
+"My! How big the man talks to the small boy!" taunted Dick. "And he had
+to drag the boy away off here, so that there wouldn't be a chance of
+another boy coming along. A man of your caliber, Dexter, may be brave
+enough to face one boy, when he's angry enough, but you wouldn't dare
+say 'boo' if one of my boy friends were here to back me up."
+
+"I'll stop that sort of impudence right now," growled Dexter, stung more
+deeply by the taunts than he would have been willing to let the boy
+guess. "I'm pretty savage in my mind against you, at any rate, and I may
+as well let some of it out!"
+
+Whack! smack! thump! Dexter began savagely to vent all of his bottled-up
+spite against young Prescott, striking him repeatedly, and with such
+force that the lad was soon aching all over.
+
+Dick fought back as best he could, but, pinned down as he was, and in
+the grip of one three times as strong as himself, Dick could get in an
+effective blow only now and then. Such blows as he did land only served
+to fan Dexter's wrath to greater fury--and the boy suffered accordingly.
+
+It would have been a brutal beating, under any circumstances, that Dick
+received. In his helpless condition it was doubly brutal.
+
+"Now, do you think you've got enough to hold you for a while?" Ab.
+Dexter demanded, as he paused, panting.
+
+"I'm just thinking about the time when you'll get it all back with
+interest!" snapped young Prescott.
+
+"Oh, then you haven't had enough--_yet_?"
+
+"I had enough before you began."
+
+"But you haven't learned to keep a civil tongue in your head?"
+
+"Dexter," retorted the lad, speaking more earnestly than he was aware,
+"I try to keep not only a civil tongue, but a pleasant manner for every
+human being who tries to act decently. With you it's different. Before
+to-day I didn't know much about you. What little I did know wasn't to
+your credit. But now I know you to belong to nothing better than the
+scum of the earth. No human being with any self-respect could be decent
+with you!"
+
+"You're getting worse than ever, are you?" sneered Dexter. "I see that
+my work is only half started."
+
+With that Ab. Dexter threw himself upon the boy again, giving him an
+even more lively beating than before.
+
+Dick Prescott, panting with his struggles, disdained to cry out, but
+saved all his strength to fight back.
+
+At last, all but exhausted, Ab. Dexter paused.
+
+"You got a little better lesson that time," boasted the wretch.
+
+"And I got a small lunch while you were taking your dinner," retorted
+Prescott, no more daunted than before. "Your nose is bleeding and your
+lip is cut!"
+
+"Yes, I know it! I'm going to take that out of you presently."
+
+"Are you enjoying yourself, Dexter?" asked the boy tauntingly.
+
+"Yes. And before I get through with you, I'm going to make sure that
+you'll never interfere in my affairs again."
+
+"Do you mean that you expect I'll stand off the next time that I see you
+trying to frighten your wife into supporting a lazy loafer in style?"
+Dick asked dryly.
+
+"Hang you! You haven't learned your lesson yet, have you?"
+
+"If you're trying to make me 'respect' you, Dexter, you've acted the
+wrong way all through to-day. You're entitled to no more respect than an
+Indian would show a rattlesnake."
+
+Ab. Dexter's face was ablaze with wrath. He had expected to make this
+Grammar School boy beg for mercy before things had gone half as far as
+they had. Dick Prescott's undaunted pluck bewildered the mean bully.
+
+"I'll make you shut up, boy, before I'm through with you!" he warned the
+lad.
+
+"There's just one way to do that, Dexter!"
+
+"Eh?"
+
+"You'll have to knock me out."
+
+"I'll do that, then!"
+
+It would be wrong to seek to give the reader an impression that young
+Prescott was not afraid, and did not mind his two thrashings. He was
+afraid that Dexter would go to great lengths, yet Dick would not give
+the bully satisfaction by admitting any fear.
+
+"What you've got to do, before I get through with you," Dexter
+announced, "is to beg my pardon and to promise that you'll never again
+interfere with me."
+
+"You'll wait a long while, then," jeered Dick, "and you'll get strong
+man's cramp in both arms!"
+
+"And you've got to do more than promise that much," continued the bully.
+"You've got to promise, solemnly, to help me in some plans that I have
+for the future."
+
+"Oh? Plans against your wife, I suppose."
+
+"Very likely," half admitted Dexter. "Whatever the plans are, you're
+going to help me in them."
+
+"You're going about in a fine way, Dexter, to get my cheerful help."
+
+"Never mind about the cheerful part of it," snarled the man. "You're
+going to help me, and I'm going to tame you."
+
+"Gracious! What a fine, large tail our cat is growing," laughed Dick,
+though his voice did not ring very mirthfully.
+
+Dexter, still astride his young captive, raised his fist. Prescott did
+not flinch, and it suddenly struck the fellow that he was going about
+his business in the wrong way. Dexter had never looked for a young
+Grammar School boy to be so firm and undaunted.
+
+"Now, don't be a fool, Prescott," he began, trying a new tack.
+
+"You ought to be a fine teacher in the subject of good sense," suggested
+Dick mockingly.
+
+"I think I can be."
+
+"Fire away, then."
+
+"Prescott, you don't have much spending money, do you?"
+
+"Not enough to worry the bank with."
+
+"You'd like more?"
+
+"Of course."
+
+"I'm going to find it for you."
+
+"You are--or do you mean that your wife is?"
+
+Ab. Dexter winked. He had not looked for the youngster to be so keen.
+
+"Prescott, take it from an older man. It doesn't make so much
+difference, in this world, where the money comes from, if a fellow only
+has it."
+
+"I guess, from your actions, that's about the way you feel about it,
+Dexter," rejoined the boy.
+
+"Don't you feel the same way?"
+
+"No; I'd like to be worth a million dollars, Dexter, but I don't believe
+I ever shall be."
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"Because the opportunities for getting a million honestly are not very
+plentiful, and I wouldn't have a dollar--or a million--with a stain on
+it!"
+
+"You simpleton!" sneered Dexter.
+
+"There are a few of us left in the world," Dick retorted complacently.
+"But you, Dexter, you wouldn't care whether it was money or slime, as
+long as you could spend it!"
+
+"You're talking nonsense, boy," argued Dexter, restraining himself as
+best he could. "Now, see here, I'm sorry I thumped you. I've got a lot
+of use for a boy with as much sand and grit as you've shown. I can use
+you, and I can show you how to make a nice little lot of money by
+helping me in something that I have on hand. So come on. Get up and walk
+along with me while we talk it over."
+
+Dexter rose, and Dick got to his feet as nimbly as he could. He ached,
+though, fortunately, he was not badly crippled by the pummeling that he
+had received.
+
+"Come on, now, and let's take a little walk," urged the man
+persuasively.
+
+But Dick Prescott glared back at the bully with all the contempt in the
+world in his look.
+
+"Nothing doing in the way of walking together, Dexter," announced the
+boy.
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"Folks might see me with you."
+
+"Suppose they did!"
+
+"Then they'd imagine that I knew you. Dexter, a boy who hopes to grow up
+and become a useful citizen can't be too careful about the company he
+keeps."
+
+"You confounded little imp! You're not tamed yet."
+
+Dexter's foot struck against a stick lying on the ground. Snatching this
+weapon up and uttering a cry of rage, he sprang forward to fell the boy
+with the club.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+FOOTBALL UNIFORMS IN SIGHT
+
+
+Had Dick turned to run Ab. Dexter would have darted after him. The bully
+possessed much longer legs and prided himself on his speed.
+
+To Dexter's amazement, however, Dick did not flinch or turn.
+
+Perhaps there was not time enough. Again, perhaps young Prescott saw two
+other figures moving in the darkness.
+
+At all events, the man suddenly felt the stick fly from his hand. Then,
+before he could regain his self-possession, two boyish figures crouched
+swiftly one on each side of him.
+
+Dexter felt his knees gripped. In the same instant two boys rose
+suddenly, holding on, and the bully toppled over backward.
+
+"Never hit a man when he's down," quoth the dry voice of Greg Holmes.
+"But, if he isn't even any sort of a man, it doesn't matter!"
+
+Thump! Greg brought his not very big fist down on Dexter's nose. It was
+an ugly blow, delivered before the bully could recover from his own
+amazement.
+
+Dave Darrin, the other boy, did not even wait to speak. He began to rain
+down blows on the prostrate enemy.
+
+"Here, stop that, Davey!" urged Dick, darting forward. "Don't hit the
+cur any more."
+
+"But he was going to club you," argued Dave, hitting two more blows.
+
+"Stop this, boys! Let up! I'll clear out," begged Ab. Dexter.
+
+Dick, finding that neither of his chums was much inclined to stop the
+merited punishment, darted in and forcibly dragged Darrin off Dexter's
+prostrate form.
+
+"Let me have him, for a minute or two yet," coaxed Greg Holmes. "You
+know, Dick, he was going to club you."
+
+"I know it," rejoined young Prescott doggedly. "He did thrash me twice,
+and it hurt. I don't believe in soiling our hands on anything like this
+fellow, when it can be helped. Besides, we're too many."
+
+Though Dave and Greg had now both been pulled off their prey, they
+hovered over Dexter, who seemed afraid to rise for fear it would lead to
+a renewed onslaught.
+
+"Stand back, fellows," coaxed Dick, pushing them gently. "Dexter, I told
+you you'd be a booby in any fight where you couldn't have it all your
+own way. I was right about it. Get up, now--and make your fly-away while
+I'm still able to hold these two bulldogs in leash. Hustle now!"
+
+Dick emphasized his advice with a kick, but it was not a vicious one.
+Ab. Dexter looked up in wonder. Then he rose, crouchingly, next made a
+sprinter's start and bolted.
+
+"Humph! We can never get him now," uttered Dave Darrin disgustedly.
+"Whew! I wish I could run as fast as that."
+
+"You can learn," replied Dick.
+
+"Yes; in about ten years!"
+
+"Dave, you could learn to run a heap faster than you do, and in a mighty
+short time."
+
+"How?"
+
+"Just start in to train. Get someone who knows something about it to
+give you pointers on running. Pshaw! I believe our whole crowd ought to
+start in to learn to run. To run, really, I mean. If I had been a faster
+runner to-night I might have gotten away from that bully. I might have
+saved myself from a good many aches that I've got just now."
+
+"You aching?" questioned Darrin. "What makes you ache?"
+
+"Dexter gave me two hard thrashings before you fellows got along."
+
+"He did?" sputtered Dave vengefully. "O Dick, why did you ever let him
+get away from us?"
+
+"I'm glad I did something to the sneak while I had the chance," declared
+Greg Holmes.
+
+"First of all, tell me how you fellows came to find me," suggested Dick
+Prescott.
+
+"Oh, that's easy enough to account for," Dave replied. "Greg and I were
+on Main Street looking for you. Then we went down to the store. Your
+mother told us that you'd gone to Mrs. Davis's with a package of books,
+so we set out to meet you on your return. And right over there, on the
+street, we came across a little girl, white, scared and half crying. She
+said she had seen a man grab you up, throw you over the wall----"
+
+"Yes, that happened," nodded Prescott.
+
+"And the little kiddie said she saw the man jump over the wall, grab you
+up and start for the woods. She was sure the wicked man was going to
+kill you."
+
+"Dexter was mad enough, but he lacked the sand for going that far, I
+guess," remarked Prescott.
+
+"He might not be without the sand," argued Dave. "I've got a notion that
+Dexter, while a coward, perhaps, about some things, would go about as
+far as his anger drove him. I'm glad we came along, anyway."
+
+"So am I. You fellows sneaked in so quietly in the dark, that I didn't
+see you until just before you tackled Dexter. Well, there's no great
+harm done, thanks to you, Dave, and to you, Greg. Let's get back to Main
+Street."
+
+As the youngsters crossed the field and strolled up the street, Dick
+gave an accurate account of what had befallen him.
+
+"So the sneak wanted to pay you to help him in some dirty sort of work?"
+demanded Dave, his dark eyes ablaze with disgust.
+
+"I imagine it must have been dirty work, since Dexter had planned it
+out," Dick admitted, smiling.
+
+"The hound! But then, see here, Dick; if Dexter wanted you to help him
+in anything of that sort, it means that he's going to try to bother that
+poor wife of his again."
+
+"It looks that way, Dave."
+
+"Then we ought to warn Mrs. Dexter, so that she can be on her guard
+against the worthless rascal."
+
+"I've been thinking of that, Dave. Yes; I'm sure we must go and give
+Mrs. Dexter a hint. It wouldn't be right not to tell her of what may be
+ahead of her."
+
+"We might go around to her house to-morrow afternoon after school, eh?"
+proposed Greg.
+
+"Football practice to-morrow afternoon," retorted Dave Darrin dryly.
+
+"Besides, to-morrow afternoon might be too late," urged Dick. "Fellows,
+when we have a message like this, which may be of great importance to
+some other human being, there's no time for doing the errand
+like--_now_!"
+
+"That's right, too," approved Dave. "It won't take us more than five
+minutes to reach Mrs. Dexter's house. Let's head for there at the next
+corner?"
+
+That being agreed to, the three chums set out at a brisk walk. A few
+minutes later Dick was pulling the doorbell of Mrs. Dexter's new home,
+while Dave and Greg stood just a little below him on the steps.
+
+It was a pretty little house, of ten rooms; not as large a house as Mrs.
+Dexter might have been able to afford, but one that was a happy contrast
+to the three-room flat in which Mrs. Dexter had lived when obliged to
+support herself at dressmaking. As yet there were but two servants on
+the place--a woman who did the house-work and a hired man, who slept in
+a room over the little barn at the rear of the house.
+
+"Will you ask Mrs. Dexter if she can see us, please?" asked Dick,
+lifting his cap, when the woman-of-all-work opened the door. "Kindly
+tell her that we have news for her which we think may be very
+important."
+
+"Come in, boys," replied the housekeeper, doubtless pleased by Dick's
+deference in raising his cap, an example in which he had been promptly
+followed by Dave and Greg.
+
+The woman showed them into a little parlor. Mrs. Dexter soon came down
+and greeted them.
+
+"I'm very glad you boys have called on me," she said. "You and your
+other friends did me a service to-day that I can't forget. I was on the
+way to the bank to leave the jewels and the money when you helped me so
+handsomely."
+
+"We've come, Mrs. Dexter," said Dick, "to tell you what happened
+to-night. It may be the means of saving you from further trouble with
+Mr. Dexter."
+
+Then Dick told the story of his adventure that evening. Dave and Greg
+added a few words at the end.
+
+"So we think," summed up Dick, "that Mr. Dexter may not yet be through
+with his schemes against you. Excuse us, Mrs. Dexter, but don't you
+think it would be well to have a man sleep in the house--one that you
+can depend on if Dexter comes here to make trouble?"
+
+"Yes, indeed. My hired man is a straight-forward fellow. I'll have him
+stay around here more, and I'll have a room fitted up in the house for
+him. Mr. Dexter isn't usually extremely brave. I imagine that the hired
+man can take care of him if he puts in an appearance. At all events, I
+shall feel safer for having a man in the house."
+
+Their errand being done, the three Grammar School boys would have risen
+to go, but Mrs. Dexter detained them, asking many questions about their
+school life.
+
+Then, somehow, the story came out of the newly organized Central Grammar
+football squad.
+
+"Oh, but that is going to be fine!" cried Mrs. Dexter. "Manly sports
+always make boys stronger, and give them a better sense of fair play
+when such a sense is needed. You'll have uniforms, of course. What will
+your uniforms be like?"
+
+"That's one of the points we haven't decided on yet," smiled Dick. "The
+uniforms will have to come, in good time."
+
+"Your football organization has a treasurer, of course?"
+
+"He's a luxury we don't need yet," laughed Dave.
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"Because there isn't any treasury."
+
+"Yet there will be, of course--that is, if----"
+
+Suddenly Mrs. Dexter looked mightily pleased and clapped her hands.
+
+"I've stumbled on to one of your secrets, boys," she cried. "You haven't
+any treasury, and you're still wondering where the money can come from
+to pay for uniforms. Well, you needn't wonder any longer. All of you
+boys who helped me to-day are interested in the football plan. You did
+me a very great service to-day, and you've done me another one to-night.
+Now I'm going to buy the football uniforms. How much will they cost--ten
+dollars apiece?"
+
+"Five or six ought to buy as good uniforms as we'll need," replied Dick
+Prescott, reddening. "But, Mrs. Dexter, we don't want----"
+
+"Let me have my own way, won't you?" she pleaded plaintively. "It's such
+a very new thing for me to be able to have my own way. I'm going to
+write the check, to-night, to pay for the uniforms. Don't stop me,
+please don't."
+
+Mrs. Dexter rose and went over to a little desk, where she sat fingering
+her checkbook.
+
+"Now please give me some idea of what such uniforms cost. I want to do
+it nicely for you boys. Excuse me just a moment, though."
+
+Mrs. Dexter touched a bell on her desk and the housekeeper entered.
+
+"Jane, when I put Myra to bed this evening, she showed signs of a cough.
+I don't want the child to get croupy and not know anything about it.
+Just run up and watch Myra, won't you, without waking her? Then come
+down and let me know, after a few minutes."
+
+The housekeeper started upstairs. Mrs. Dexter returned to the subject of
+football uniforms, while the three boys, red-faced and reluctant,
+answered her questions. They appreciated her kindness, but they did not
+want her to pay for the uniforms. To Dick and his chums it looked too
+much like begging.
+
+A shriek sounded upstairs. Then Jane came rushing down.
+
+"Oh, ma'am!" she cried in dismay. "Myra's gone--her bed's empty, and the
+clothes that she wore have been taken from the chair!"
+
+While Mrs. Dexter turned deathly pale and tottered, Dick Prescott leaped
+up, exclaiming:
+
+"It's the work of Dexter. That's the scheme he had!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+ON THE TRAIL OF THE CAB
+
+
+"The wretch has stolen Myra! I didn't I think he would dare do that,"
+cried the woman.
+
+Mrs. Dexter had never made any effort to secure a divorce from her
+worthless husband. After he had abandoned her she had appeared in court
+and had had herself appointed sole guardian and custodian of little
+Myra. Under the law, therefore, Dexter, if he stole Myra away from the
+mother, could be arrested and punished for abduction.
+
+At this frantic moment, however, Mrs. Dexter was not thinking of
+punishments. All she wanted was to get her child back in her own
+keeping.
+
+"Isn't it possible there's a mistake?" demanded Greg of the dismayed
+housekeeper. "The little one may have gotten up out of bed. She may be
+in some other part of the house."
+
+"Not much!" interjected the housekeeper. "The child's jacket and coat
+are gone from a hook near by."
+
+After the first moment of fright Mrs. Dexter had raced upstairs; now she
+came down again.
+
+"Myra's really gone," she cried, sobbing. "And no one but Dexter would
+think of stealing her from me. He has done it for spite--or as the means
+of extorting more money from me."
+
+"A man could hardly go through the streets carrying a child that didn't
+want to be carried. The child could cry out and attract attention,"
+guessed Dick.
+
+"Myra wouldn't cry out. She would be cowed by her father's threats. She
+always was afraid of him," wailed Mrs. Dexter.
+
+"Are you going to appeal to the police?" Dick asked.
+
+"I--I must."
+
+"Then you're losing time, Mrs. Dexter--and there's your telephone. We
+boys will go out into the streets and see if we can find any trace--pick
+up any word. When we came along there was a cab standing in front of the
+Grahams. But I suppose that cab belonged to some of their visitors."
+
+"The Grahams have been out of town for the last few days," broke in Mrs.
+Dexter. "There has been no one at their house, except one old man who
+acts as care-taker."
+
+"Then Dexter may have had that cab waiting for him," flashed young
+Prescott. "Come along, fellows! Let's see what we can find out."
+
+Dave and Greg were at the street door ahead of their young leader. None
+of the boys paused longer, for Mrs. Dexter was already at her telephone.
+
+Out in the street the three Grammar School lads raced along the sidewalk
+until they reached the house of the Graham family. The cab was gone.
+
+"We can find that cab anywhere," declared Dick. "Any one else would
+recognize it. It had one brown, or dark horse, and one gray horse."
+
+"I didn't notice the driver," stated Darrin.
+
+"He was sitting inside the cab," spoke up Greg. "I didn't get a good
+look at him, either."
+
+"Going to race on into Main Street?" asked Dave, as the three came to a
+street corner.
+
+"Dexter would hardly drive right into the clutches of the police, would
+he?" pondered Prescott. "No; I think it'll turn out that he went the
+opposite way, out of town."
+
+Saying this, Dick headed for the outskirts of Gridley, still keeping
+along at a dog-trot. Dave and Greg didn't talk now; they were husbanding
+their store of "wind."
+
+After a short time all three boys had to slow down to a walk. That "pain
+in the side," which seizes all boys who try to run far without training
+and practice, had caught them. Still, they moved along as fast as they
+could go.
+
+"Excuse me, mister," hailed Dick, halting the first man they met, who
+came strolling toward them, smoking a pipe, "have you seen a cab go by?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Oldish cab?" broke in Dave.
+
+"One gray horse and one dark or brown?" breathed Greg.
+
+"Yep."
+
+"How long ago?" asked all three.
+
+"'Bout two minutes ago. Why?"
+
+"Which way did it go?" breathed Dick anxiously.
+
+"Why, the driver stopped me," explained the man, taking out his pipe,
+"and asked if there was a drug store ahead in this part of the town. I
+told him he'd find one on the next block, around the next corner to the
+left. So----"
+
+"Thank you!" came politely from three breathless boys, and off they
+started again on a trot.
+
+"Any one sick?" called the man after them. "Huh! Curious how excited
+those boys are!"
+
+"Two minutes! I'm afraid horses will leave us far behind with that
+start," groaned Dick.
+
+Then they turned around the corner. Ahead of them, in front of the
+little drug store, or rather, just past the entrance, stood the cab that
+occupied all their thoughts at the present time.
+
+"There it is!" breathed Dick excitedly, as though forgetful of the fact
+that his chums had eyes also. "Come along--over on the other side of the
+street--in the dark."
+
+In a twinkling all three lads had crossed stealthily to the further side
+of the little street.
+
+"Oh, for a policeman!" appealed Dick. "Or any full-grown man, who would
+listen to us and have the grit to give us a strong hand."
+
+"If Dexter has the little girl, and that's his cab, what has he taken
+her into a drug store for?" whispered Dave.
+
+"We don't know that he has taken her into the store. We don't know
+anything until we see it," was Dick's answer. "Dexter didn't stop for a
+trifle. He isn't buying Myra a glass of soda, or anything like that."
+
+The three boys were stealing down the street, on the further side,
+keeping close in the shadow of the buildings. They did not wish to risk
+being seen until they had had a chance for a good look at the cab and
+its possible contents.
+
+Dick's reason for crossing the street had been that he had first caught
+sight of the driver standing on the sidewalk beside the cab. If he could
+get down close to the cab, and have that vehicle between himself and the
+driver, Dick hoped that he would have a chance to steal across the
+street and look inside the rig.
+
+By good luck, combined with stealth, Dick, Dave and Greg succeeded in
+gaining a point on the street opposite the cab.
+
+"Careful, now," whispered Dick, "one bad move might spoil everything."
+
+On tip-toe they crossed. At a point midway in the street they halted a
+brief instant. From this point they could make out the unmistakable form
+of Ab. Dexter at the back of the drug store, walking to and fro as if
+waiting for something.
+
+No word was spoken. Still on tip-toe the boys went on until they stood
+by one of the doors of the cab.
+
+Dave and Greg made way for Dick to get up close and peer into the
+vehicle.
+
+Young Prescott gave a start of exultation as he made out a little,
+wrapped-up human bundle huddled on the back seat. It was little
+four-year-old Myra. She had collapsed into a heap and was very softly
+sobbing to herself, wholly unaware of what might be passing outside.
+
+On the further side of the cab, standing on the sidewalk, Dick caught
+sight of the man whom he presumed to be the driver. The fellow was
+standing staring fixedly ahead.
+
+"If he had been looking the other way he would have caught us coming
+down the street," flashed through Prescott's mind.
+
+Then he turned, nodding swiftly, silently, at his companions.
+
+They had found Myra, these Grammar School lads, but in a desperate
+fight, Dexter and the driver would prove overwhelming odds. The pair of
+rascals could knock these youngsters senseless and whip up the horses
+for a dash.
+
+What was to be done?
+
+In sheer nervousness Dave Darrin began to try the handle of the cab
+door. Then, understanding coming to him, Dave tried in earnest to see
+whether he could unfasten the door with out making the least noise.
+
+All three of the lads realized that it was a ticklish moment. Even Myra,
+if startled, might give the scream that would betray and defeat them.
+
+Steadily Dave worked at his problem. Dick and Greg, quivering, stood
+alertly on guard on either side of him.
+
+Squeak! That cab-door handle needed oiling sadly. Even under Darrin's
+cautious handling it gave forth a noise that sounded startling in the
+stillness.
+
+"What's that?" they heard the driver mutter, as he started. Then came
+the sound of footsteps, as the driver wheeled and ran around behind the
+cab.
+
+He was bearing down straight upon them!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+DICK LEADS A SPIRITED RUSH
+
+
+"Hustle, Dave--into the cab!" shouted Dick Prescott lustily.
+
+Darrin obeyed like a flash, pulling the door shut.
+
+"What are you young monkeys doing here?" yelled the driver hoarsely.
+Then, as he caught better sight of them, he snarled:
+
+"Oh, I know you boys! You belong to the Butt-insky family!"
+
+The driver's next remark was "ouch!" as Greg darted in and struck him
+fairly at the belt line. In the same instant young Prescott managed to
+trip the fellow.
+
+"Boss!" bawled the driver, as he struck the pavement.
+
+"Into the cab with you, Greg!" shouted Dick.
+
+Dave swung the door open, and in the same instant Greg bolted inside,
+while Dick Prescott made a single bound at the front wheel, from which
+he mounted to the driver's seat.
+
+"None of that!" yelled the driver, getting upon his feet and moving
+forward. At the same moment another man came to the door of the drug
+store.
+
+That man was--must have been--Abner Dexter. He wore the same clothes
+that Dick remembered, but over his head and face were drawn a wig and
+beard that made him look some one else.
+
+Whish! Dick's left hand clutched at the reins, but his right hand
+grasped the whip. That useful implement described an arc downward and
+caught the driver roundly, judging by the yell that the fellow let out.
+
+"Gid-dap!" yelled young Prescott, completing the swing of the whip by
+bringing it down across the horses' backs.
+
+The startled animals leaped forward, the lurch almost throwing Dick from
+the box; in fact, it nearly overturned the cab.
+
+But the vehicle soon righted itself, and Dick, somewhat scared, yet
+steady, pulled the horses down to a steady trot and reined them in
+closer together.
+
+The disguised man who had come out of the drug store succeeded in
+resting one hand for an instant on the body of the cab. But the
+springing horses carried it away from him. For a few rods the man
+pursued, the smarting driver bringing up the rear.
+
+Then both pursuers halted, panting, cursing, at the same time, as only
+foul-mouthed ruffians can.
+
+Inside, Myra was shrieking with fright.
+
+"We're your mother's friends, Myra, and are taking you back to her,"
+explained Dave, holding the small child on his knee and trying to quiet
+her.
+
+Greg Holmes, in the meantime, was more concerned with looking out of the
+window.
+
+"Why, say," muttered Greg. "Dick ain't driving to Mrs. Dexter's, not by
+a long shot. He seems to be heading straight into the business part of
+the town."
+
+"You leave Dick Prescott alone to know what he's doing," advised Dave
+Darrin calmly.
+
+"Yes; I guess that's right," assented Greg.
+
+"Dick is the longest-headed fellow in our school."
+
+"Except me," grinned Greg modestly.
+
+"You? Huh! I'm glad you're not outside on the box."
+
+"I reckon it's the first time Dick ever drove cab horses."
+
+"He'll do it right, anyway."
+
+"But I wonder why he isn't going to the Dexter house," pursued young
+Holmes.
+
+Then Myra took fright again.
+
+"Take me home!" she cried. "I want to see my mamma!"
+
+From that she passed into wild sobbing, taxing all Dave Darrin's powers
+to ease her mind.
+
+[Illustration: The Whip Caught the Driver Roundly.]
+
+"You're going home, Myra," he wound up. "You're going to see your
+mother."
+
+"My papa is a bad man!"
+
+"Well, he's not here now," smiled Dave. "Did you ever hear of Dick
+Prescott?"
+
+"Yes; he's a nice boy."
+
+"You're right he is," added Dave with enthusiasm. "Well, Dick is up
+outside, driving the horses, and he'll take us home by the way that it's
+best to go."
+
+"Here we are in Main Street," announced Greg wonderingly.
+
+Dave thought he began to understand Prescott's plan, but he said
+nothing. A few moments later the cab turned down one of the side
+streets, then halted before a cluster of lights.
+
+"The police station!" exploded Greg.
+
+"Of course," nodded Dave.
+
+"Why 'of course'?"
+
+"Because it's part of Dick's plan."
+
+"Come out, fellows," called Dick. "We're at the end of our trip, thank
+goodness."
+
+Greg opened the door, Dave stepping out with Myra in his arms.
+
+"My mamma doesn't live here," cried the child uneasily.
+
+"No, but it's all right," Dave urged soothingly. "You come right along
+and see if it isn't."
+
+Dick led the way up the police-station steps. In the office three
+uniformed members of the force were talking excitedly. One of them was
+the night lieutenant, Janeway.
+
+"I tell you, Lieutenant, the thing was done so slickly that the child
+ain't going to be found to-night," one of the patrolmen was saying.
+
+"If you're talking about Myra Dexter, guess again," laughed young
+Prescott. "Here she is now."
+
+Three astounded policemen turned to regard the happy-faced Grammar
+School boys.
+
+"Then she wasn't stolen at all?" demanded one of the patrolmen. "Just
+strolled away and got lost, eh?"
+
+"Oh, no!" Dick retorted. "Myra was stolen, all right; but we stole her
+back again."
+
+"How?"
+
+"We took her away from her father and a cab-driver," chuckled Greg
+Holmes.
+
+"Stop telling us any nonsense like that," interposed the lieutenant
+sternly. "Tell us where you found the child."
+
+Dick related the story briefly. The policemen were at first inclined to
+doubt the story, but one of them glanced outside and saw the cab.
+
+"If you'll let me offer a suggestion," went on Dick, "there's a mother
+at home who is nearly crazy with grief. Hadn't you better call Mrs.
+Dexter on the telephone and tell her that Myra is safe with you?"
+
+The lieutenant quickly wheeled to his 'phone, calling for Mrs. Dexter's
+number. One of the policemen, in the meantime, received Myra in his
+arms.
+
+"Mrs. Dexter?" called the lieutenant into the transmitter. "This is the
+police station. We have your little girl here, all safe and sound. How
+was she found? Three schoolboys, Dick Prescott, Dave Dar---- Oh, you
+know the names? Well, they trailed the cab to where it had stopped
+outside of a drug store. They knocked the driver down and got away with
+the cab. How did three boys manage to do such a deed? Wait! I'll let
+Master Prescott himself tell you over the 'phone."
+
+The lieutenant wheeled about.
+
+"Where in the name of mischief are those boys?" he demanded. The two
+policemen turned in equal confusion. Certain it was that the Grammar
+School boys had bolted.
+
+So the lieutenant sent out to find a driver, and one of his policemen
+got inside with Myra, to take her home. The policeman was also
+instructed to remain on guard outside through the night, in case Dexter
+and his confederate should feel inclined to make another attempt to
+abduct the little one.
+
+Dick and his chums, after leaving the station house silently, had run
+until they found themselves around the corner on Main Street.
+
+"We don't want to be thanked any more by Mrs. Dexter to-night," Dick
+ventured to his friends.
+
+"We certainly don't," agreed Dave.
+
+"What'll we do now?" asked Greg.
+
+"We'll go home," suggested young Prescott. "Our folks will be wondering
+where we are."
+
+"Whee! But we'll have a lot to tell the folks!" chuckled Greg. "When my
+mother hears what we've been through to-night the chances are ten to one
+that she'll make me stay in nights."
+
+"Not if she pauses to think what you did to help another mother out,"
+hinted Dave.
+
+"Well, good night, fellows," called Dick as he reached his corner.
+"We've had a bully time, but that won't get us up early in the morning."
+
+The bookstore was due to close at nine o'clock, but it was twenty-five
+minutes after that hour when Dick swung in through the front door.
+
+"Mother, here's the boy," called Mr. Prescott, being the first to espy
+the returning son. "Young man, you'll have to give your mother a good
+account of yourself. She's been worrying about you."
+
+"Oh, I knew Dick was in no great danger," laughed Mrs. Prescott, coming
+forward to kiss her son, now that her worry had ended pleasantly. "But,
+Richard, you're still a bit young to stay out so late."
+
+"I suppose, mother, that depends a bit upon what I've been doing,
+doesn't it?"
+
+"Why, has anything happened out of the usual?"
+
+"I'll tell you about it," agreed the lad.
+
+"Wait until I put up the shutters and lock the door," directed his
+father. "Then we'll all go upstairs."
+
+Gathered on the floor above, the Prescotts listened in amazement to what
+their son narrated.
+
+"Why, I never heard of so much happening before in one day," gasped Mrs.
+Prescott.
+
+"It never happened to me, before, anyway," laughed Dick. "However, I
+hope I've brought home a good excuse for being out a little late."
+
+"Dick," broke in his father solemnly, "the next time any such train of
+events happens you have my permission to be out until--let me see. Well,
+say, until quarter of ten. But don't let such things happen too often.
+And now, to bed with you!"
+
+"Dick is not going to bed just yet," interposed his mother. "A boy who
+has been as active as he has to-night is bound to be hungry. Come with
+me to the pantry."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+TWO ACCIDENTS--OR TRAPS?
+
+
+Before Gridley left its breakfast tables the following morning Dick
+Prescott and his chums were rather famous.
+
+For the editor of the "Blade" had played up the Dexter abduction for the
+big local story in the morning's issue.
+
+Dick saw it, of course, and felt a curious thrill when he saw his own
+name in big block type. The names of Dave and Greg were also there.
+
+"I'll read the yarn to you while you eat," smiled his father. "This is a
+great day for you, lad. You're tasting, for the first time, the
+sensation of looming large in the public eye."
+
+Dick read the story over twice for himself before starting for school.
+Yet the first thrill was missing.
+
+"Pshaw! Len Spencer, or someone, has made a hero tale out of a boys'
+lark," muttered the Grammar School boy. "It sounded fine, at first, but
+that just shows how ready a fellow is to believe he's smarter than other
+folks. Whee! But we'll get a choice lot of teasing out of the fellows at
+school to-day!"
+
+Prescott was glad, that morning, that he contrived to pick up Dave and
+Greg on the way to school.
+
+"Get yourselves braced," Dick warned his friends. "All the fellows will
+be out to roast us for being 'heroes.' Oh, we'll catch it."
+
+No sooner had the three turned the corner that led down to the school
+than one of their class-mates "spotted" them.
+
+"Here come Dick & Co!" roared the discoverer. "Turn out! Give 'em a
+welcome! Dick & Co.--lost children trapped and trained! See the real,
+bony-fido heroes! 'Ray! Now, then, altogether--_ouch!_"
+
+The spouter found himself suddenly flat on his back on the sidewalk,
+having been sent there by a vigorous trip from Tom Reade.
+
+"All that ails you, Hen Dutcher, is that you didn't get your name in the
+paper," called Tom denouncingly. "But you will, one of these days. It'll
+be in the police-court news, though. Sixty days for vagrancy!"
+
+"Say, do you know what I'll do to you?" demanded young Dutcher,
+clenching his fists and advancing upon Reade.
+
+"Nothing," asserted Tom calmly. "That's all you ever do, except make a
+noise with your mouth. I never hear your mouth making any noise, though,
+when recitation in arithmetic is going on."
+
+"You think you're smart, don't you?" glowered Hen Dutcher.
+
+"I don't think you are, anyway," retorted Tom, turning on his heel.
+
+Dan Dalzell and Harry Hazelton were at hand, and now the whole of Dick &
+Co. presented a rather solid front. Some of the other boys wanted to do
+some "guying," but Tom's prompt and vigorous rebuke to Dutcher had
+cooled the ardor of a lot of would-be teasers.
+
+The bell rang soon, calling all inside. School opened as usual, but
+after a little Old Dut glanced up, looking keenly at Dick and two of the
+latter's friends.
+
+"I am glad to be able to tell you all," began the principal, "that three
+of my boys, last night----"
+
+As he paused all eyes were turned toward three boys who were turning
+different shades of red.
+
+"Three of my boys," continued Old Dut, "did their school credit by
+displaying the qualities of good citizenship. You all know whom I mean.
+Master Prescott, do you care to rise and tell us something of the events
+of last night?"
+
+"I'd rather not, sir," pleaded Prescott.
+
+"Master Darrin?" pursued Old Dut.
+
+"I feel like Master Prescott, only more so," replied Dave, turning
+redder still.
+
+"Master Holmes?"
+
+"By the advice of my lawyer," rejoined Greg solemnly, "I have nothing to
+say."
+
+"I'm glad to see that our young men are modest, as well as brave,"
+continued Old Dut.
+
+Some of the boys had been staring expectantly, some of the girls
+admiringly. Laura Bentley, the doctor's daughter, looked secretly
+pleased when she heard Dick decline to tell of his adventures.
+
+"First class in American history will now recite," announced Old Dut,
+and the work of the day had begun. Yet, somehow, most of the pupils
+seemed to have forgotten whatever they had previously known of the
+campaign against Richmond.
+
+At recess Dick, Dave and Greg, flanked by their three other chums,
+managed to keep clear of tormentors.
+
+When school was out at noon, however, one boy called out:
+
+"Are we going to have football practice this afternoon, Dick?"
+
+"He can't waste the time," sang out Hen Dutcher derisively. "He has a
+job going a-heroing."
+
+Tom Reade turned sharply, but this time there was no need of his darting
+at the tormentor. Six boys had promptly caught up Hen--two by the legs,
+two at the body and two more at the shoulders. Rushing Hen to the
+nearest tree, they promptly and soundly spanked him by the very simple
+method of holding his legs apart and swinging his body smartly against
+the tree-trunk.
+
+"You kids think ye're smart!" growled Hen ruefully, as he rubbed
+himself.
+
+"Everyone knows you're not, Hen," retorted one of the late spankers.
+"You're only stupidly fresh."
+
+Hen quickly subsided and vanished.
+
+"Yes; we ought to have football practice this afternoon," Dick answered,
+when the question was put to him again. "We have no time to lose if
+we're going to play this season. How many of you fellows have studied
+the rules?"
+
+"I have," answered several.
+
+"But, say," broke in one boy, "we can just as well give up the idea of
+having uniforms. We fellows can't raise the cash."
+
+"Mrs. Dexter has offered to buy the uniforms," put in Greg incautiously.
+
+"Has she?"
+
+A whoop of delight went up from some of the boys.
+
+"She'll be able to buy us bully ones; she has lots of money these days,"
+declared one listener.
+
+"Yes; Mrs. Dexter offered to supply the money," Dick admitted. "But,
+fellows, I want you all to think that over. I, for one, shall vote
+against getting our uniforms that way."
+
+"Why?" came a chorus.
+
+"Because, fellows, if we haven't brains and industry enough to get our
+uniforms ourselves we've no business togging up at all. We can play
+pretty good football, for that matter, with nothing but the ball
+itself."
+
+Some sided with Dick; others were in favor of letting any one who was
+willing provide the field togs for the Central Grammar School eleven.
+
+Dick didn't stop to argue long. He was hungry for his dinner. On Main
+Street he parted from his chums, pursuing his way home alone. He had not
+gone far when he had to pass a new building in process of erection.
+Three stories had already been built up, and the workmen were now
+engaged in putting on the fourth and last story.
+
+Dick was just passing the main entrance of the new building when he
+heard a warning rattle above. Instinct made him dart into the entrance.
+
+Nor did he move an instant too soon. Some thirty bricks fell to the
+sidewalk with a great clatter. Among them landed a heavy hod.
+
+"My! But that was a close shave!" quivered the boy. "A second or two
+later and my head would have been split open!"
+
+He darted out, but did not stop until he had reached the middle of the
+road.
+
+"Hey!" Prescott shouted up to the top of the building, but no one
+answered.
+
+"Be careful, up there, where you dump your bricks!" called Dick once
+more.
+
+A customer coming out of a store next door caught sight of the bricks
+and the hod.
+
+"What's the matter, Prescott?" called the man.
+
+"Some workman was careless, and let that hod and all the bricks fall,"
+Dick answered. "I heard them coming, and got in out of the shower just
+in time."
+
+"No workman did that," muttered the man, after staring in bewilderment
+for a moment. "The men are all off, getting their dinner."
+
+"Then who could have done it?" Dick wanted to know.
+
+"Humph! If you have any enemies, Prescott, I'd say that trick was done
+by some one who didn't care how badly you were hurt."
+
+"Oh, nonsense!" rejoined Dick. "I don't believe any one hates me badly
+enough to do a thing like that."
+
+"Didn't you have some trouble with a couple of men yesterday?"
+
+"Why, yes; but----"
+
+Dick halted suddenly, looking puzzled. Could it be possible, after all,
+that this was a "delicate" attention from Ab. Dexter?
+
+For Dexter had no need to be afraid of walking the streets of Gridley.
+His wife had refused to procure a warrant for him on the charge of
+attempted abduction of Myra. She was unwilling that her child should
+bear the disgrace of having a father in prison.
+
+Three other men had drawn close and halted. To them the first man
+explained what had happened.
+
+"Come on!" cried one of the newcomers, hastening into the building. "One
+of you stay out on the sidewalk; another go to the back of the building.
+We'll soon find out whether there's any one in the building."
+
+Dick joined, as the person most interested, in the swift, thorough
+search that was made.
+
+No other human being than the searchers, however, was to be found in the
+building.
+
+"I don't believe any one threw it at me," said Dick thoughtfully, after
+all hands had returned to the street. "The hod must have been left
+standing near the edge of the building--perhaps against the top of a
+ladder. Then the breeze up there may have jarred it out of place. At any
+rate, I'm not hurt, and no harm is done. But I wish to thank all of you
+gentlemen for taking the trouble to make the search."
+
+"Humph!" muttered one of the men, after Dick had hurried away. "The idea
+of a hod being left standing, and then being blown over into the street
+doesn't satisfy me!"
+
+Dick was late reaching home. What he had in the way of dinner he had to
+force down hurriedly, and then start for school once more.
+
+After school that afternoon most of the boys of seventh and eighth
+grades turned up at the field, eager for more football work.
+
+"It seems to me," announced Dick thoughtfully, "that there is no sense
+in kicking a ball around the field aimlessly. There isn't much use in
+rushes or mass plays, either, until we know what we are doing and can do
+it according to the rules. So, fellows, what do you say to seeing who
+knows the rules best? Let's have a drill in rules."
+
+Many of the youngsters objected to that as being too tame. Yet Dick's
+idea carried the day, after all. Some of the fellows went away, thinking
+this sort of procedure too much like a lesson and too little like fun.
+After nearly an hour's discussion of the rules two elevens were formed
+and there was time for some play.
+
+Dick & Co. left the field together. On the way home young Prescott spoke
+of the falling of the bricks at noon.
+
+"That wasn't any accident," spoke up Dave, with an air of great
+conviction.
+
+"You think some one did that on purpose?"
+
+"I'm sure of it," Dave asserted.
+
+"Who could have done it?"
+
+"Who but Ab. Dexter?"
+
+"Wrong!" volunteered Tom Reade. "Up at the field a man in a buggy hauled
+up to watch the play. He happened to mention that he had seen Dexter
+over in Stayton this noon. Stayton is nine miles away from here."
+
+"Then of course it wasn't Dexter," declared Dick.
+
+"It must have been that other fellow," suggested Greg.
+
+"You mean that special officer, Driggs?" inquired Dick.
+
+"Of course. And I'll tell you where else we saw that fellow Driggs. He
+was the driver of the cab last night. I've just placed that voice of
+his."
+
+"Then Driggs was disguised last night, the same as Dexter was."
+
+"Of course."
+
+"And I can tell you something else," continued Tom Reade. "I know what
+Dexter was doing in the drug store last night. I met Len Spencer this
+noon. Len had been investigating."
+
+"What did Dexter want in the drug store?" asked Prescott.
+
+"Soothing syrup. Len says he guesses that Ab. Dexter was afraid Myra
+would make too much noise before he got through the night, and that
+Dexter must have meant to drug the child into quietness."
+
+"It ought not to have taken Dexter all that time just to get a bottle of
+soothing syrup," suggested Prescott.
+
+"It did, in this case," Reade declared. "The druggist thought there was
+something queer in Dexter's manner, and so he questioned him sharply as
+to what Dexter wanted to do with the stuff. Dexter got confused, next
+angry, and the druggist had about made up his mind not to sell the
+stuff."
+
+"Well, I hope we've heard the last of that precious pair, Driggs and
+Dexter," murmured Dalzell plaintively.
+
+"Mrs. Dexter holds the key to that situation," remarked Dick
+thoughtfully. "If she lets Dexter have money, from time to time, he'll
+still hang around. If she won't let him have money, and has herself
+guarded from him, then by and by he'll get tired. Then he'll clear out
+for new scenes and try some other scheme of getting a living without
+working. Mrs. Dexter----"
+
+"Sh!" warned Harry Hazelton. "Speaking of angels, here she comes now."
+
+"Boys, I've been looking for you," cried Mrs. Dexter, halting before
+them. "We didn't come to an understanding last night about the uniforms
+for your football team."
+
+"How's Myra to-day?" asked Dick, anxious to shelve the other topic.
+
+"She's all right to-day, except that the child is very nervous. That is
+natural, of course, after her bad scare last night."
+
+"Aren't you afraid to leave her alone?"
+
+"Myra isn't alone. She has Jane to look after her, and Special Officer
+Grimsby is in the house. I have hired Mr. Grimsby to live at my house
+for the present. He's a brave man, and will stop any nonsense that may
+be tried by certain people."
+
+"Well, we must be getting along," urged Prescott. "It is very near our
+supper time, and----"
+
+"But about the uniforms?" persisted Mrs. Dexter.
+
+"Mrs. Dexter, the fellows appreciate your offer very highly. It pleased
+them all to know that you made it."
+
+"I'm glad to hear that," smiled Mrs. Dexter.
+
+"But, ma'am," Prescott continued just as earnestly, "while the fellows
+all feel extremely grateful, they would rather you didn't think of doing
+anything of the sort. The fellows feel that if they're smart enough to
+wear football uniforms, they're smart enough to get 'em. It would take
+all feeling of hustle out of the team if some one else smoothed the way
+for them like that."
+
+"I see," half assented Mrs. Dexter reluctantly.
+
+"Therefore, ma'am, if you will accept our gratitude for your offer, and
+agree to the notion of the fellows that they'll do best if they do their
+own hustling, we'll all be mightily pleased as well as grateful."
+
+"Oh, well, then," replied the good woman, "we'll simply consider that
+the matter is postponed. I can't agree, as easily as this, to drop what
+I have considered my privilege."
+
+As soon as could be, Dick & Co. made their escape.
+
+They met again for a little while in the evening. Nothing of any real
+moment happened while they were together.
+
+While Dave Darrin was on his way home, however, and going along a dark
+part of the street, something whizzed by his head, striking the sidewalk
+just ahead.
+
+"Quit your fooling!" yelled Dave, wheeling about angrily.
+
+No human being, however, was in sight. Dave ran back, some two hundred
+feet in all, but could see no one on the little street, nor in any
+hiding place near by.
+
+Then Dave went back to inspect the missile. It was a stone, slightly
+larger than his two fists together.
+
+"Whew!" whistled Dave inwardly. "That thing wasn't meant for any joke,
+either!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+AN AWESOME RIVER DISCOVERY
+
+
+"Want to come, fellows?" asked Greg, halting Dick and Dave on Main
+Street Saturday morning.
+
+"Where?" asked Dick.
+
+"Jim Haynes told me I might take his big canoe this morning."
+
+"So you're going canoeing?" queried Dave.
+
+"Yep; and better'n that, too," glowed Greg. "You know Payson, the
+farmer, up the river?"
+
+"Of course."
+
+"This being an apple year, Payson told me I could have a few barrels of
+apples if I'd pick 'em and pay him twenty cents a barrel. His orchard is
+right along the river bank. Isn't that a cinch?"
+
+"I'd like to go," rejoined Dick wistfully. "But I can't, very well. You
+see, I've got to work in the store this afternoon. Dad is going to be
+away."
+
+"Your mother'll let you go, if you tell her what a fine time you can
+have."
+
+"That wouldn't be quite fair," replied Dick, shaking his head. "Mother
+would let me go, I know; but the trouble with her," he added, with a
+smile, "is that she's always too easy. And I know there's more work to
+do in the store this afternoon than she can handle alone."
+
+"I'd go in a minute," Dave chipped in, "but you see I've agreed to go to
+the express office this afternoon and help check up bundles. I'm to get
+a quarter for it."
+
+"Huh," returned Greg candidly. "I'm disappointed about you two. It takes
+money to buy apples, even at twenty cents a barrel. You two generally
+have some money."
+
+"I've got five cents," laughed Dave. "Here it is."
+
+"I've got a whole quarter, as it happens," added Dick, producing the
+coin. "I'm not going to be mean, either."
+
+"Whew, but I'll have a job pulling the canoe alone," muttered Greg
+ruefully. "And it isn't much fun picking apples all alone. However, I'm
+going. Maybe Harry Hazelton can go with me. Tom can't and Dan won't.
+I'll see that you two get your shares of apples for the money you've
+turned over to me."
+
+"My share will be half a hat full," laughed Dave.
+
+"And then some more, and still some more," added Greg readily. "I won't
+forget that you two financed my expedition."
+
+"I wish awfully that I could go with you, Greg," spoke Dick truthfully.
+"But it wouldn't be fair for me to think of leaving everything at the
+store for mother to do this afternoon."
+
+"Oh, that's all right," nodded Greg.
+
+"And you can bet that I wish I were going with you," supplemented
+Darrin. "But I get a lot of snaps like this one at the express office,
+and there are too many fellows hanging around there looking for my
+chance. It isn't the easiest thing in the world for a fellow to pick up
+silver quarters, Greg."
+
+"Don't I know!" muttered Holmes.
+
+So Greg went on his way.
+
+"Say, wouldn't that be a great way to put in the afternoon?" sighed
+Dave. "These fine September days get into a fellow's blood and make him
+itch for the river and the fields."
+
+"Don't tempt me," begged Dick Prescott plaintively. "I'm trying to do
+the square thing by mother, and I do want to go with Greg!"
+
+"Oh, well, a fellow can't always act on the square and have a good time,
+too," philosophized Dave. "On the whole, I guess I'd rather have the
+satisfaction of acting on the square."
+
+Afternoon toil brought its rewards, however. Five members of Dick & Co.,
+released from further responsibilities, met as usual on Main Street that
+evening. They strolled about, met other fellows from the Central
+Grammar, discussed football and talked over all the other topics dear to
+the hearts of Grammar School boys.
+
+"I wonder how Greg got along this afternoon?" suggested Dave. "Any of
+you hear?"
+
+The others shook their heads.
+
+"We could go down to his house and ask him, only it would look as though
+we were just hunting for apples," said Dick.
+
+"Oh, Greg knows us better'n that," declared Tom Reade. "And Greg will
+simply bring the apples to us, if we don't go to his house. What' say if
+we take a trip down Greg's way? Maybe we'll meet him coming up to find
+the crowd."
+
+This counsel prevailing, the five set out on a direct walk to Greg's
+home. A block away they met Mr. Holmes coming in their direction.
+
+"You're just the ones I wanted to see, boys," was Mr. Holmes's greeting.
+"Where's Greg?"
+
+"We were going down to the house to find him, sir," Dick responded.
+
+"I'm a good deal worried," confessed Mr. Holmes. "Greg went up river
+this afternoon, after apples, and he hasn't been home yet."
+
+"Not home yet?" gasped Dave Darrin.
+
+Then he and Dick gazed at each other in an amazement that quickly turned
+in both hearts to a sickening fear.
+
+Dave recalled the stone flying past his head; Dick remembered the flying
+hod of bricks. And Greg had been the third of their party who had
+blocked Ab. Dexter's plans!
+
+"Oh, Greg's all right," spoke up Tom Reade cheerily.
+
+"Then why isn't he home?" demanded Mr. Holmes. "He has had time to
+paddle down from Payson's three times since dark."
+
+There was no gainsaying this statement. All five of the youngsters
+plainly showed their uneasiness.
+
+"Maybe Jim Haynes knows something about the canoe," suggested Dan
+Dalzell.
+
+"No; for Jim has just left our house," replied Mr. Holmes. "Jim came
+over to see what luck my boy had had. I'm growing more worried every
+minute. I think I'll go down to the river."
+
+"We'll go with you, sir, if you don't mind," urged Dick.
+
+"I'll be glad to have you, boys."
+
+But the trip to the river did not lessen their worry. At the boathouse,
+where Jim Haynes kept his canoe, Jim's craft was the only one absent.
+
+"There won't be any sleep in our house to-night until Greg gets home,"
+spoke Mr. Holmes plaintively. He saw by their faces that Greg's five
+chums were equally uneasy. Yet all five dreaded equally to mention the
+bare thought that Greg might have fallen in with violence at the hands
+of cowardly Ab. Dexter.
+
+"What in the wide world are we going to do?" whispered Dave aside to
+Dick.
+
+"Oh, dear, I don't really know. At any rate, we'll have to leave that to
+Mr. Holmes."
+
+"Boys," spoke that gentleman suddenly, "who owns that gasoline launch
+yonder?"
+
+"Mr. Edward Atwater," Dick answered.
+
+"That looks like a powerful reflector light on the bow."
+
+"Yes, it is, sir," Dave volunteered.
+
+"Where does Mr. Atwater live?"
+
+"On Benson Avenue," Tom Reade replied.
+
+"Boys, I'm going over and see if I can induce Mr. Atwater to take us up
+the river to-night."
+
+"May we go, too, sir?" begged Dick anxiously.
+
+"Yes; if you get your parents' permission. We may be up the river late
+to-night."
+
+Mr. Holmes turned on his heel, going away at a walk that was close to a
+run.
+
+The five members of Dick & Co. scurried homeward. Every one of them
+secured permission to go with Mr. Holmes, and to be out as late as
+necessary. Dan Dalzell, the last of the five to get back to the
+boathouse, was there for some minutes ere Mr. Holmes turned up with Mr.
+Atwater.
+
+The owner of the roomy launch speedily had things in running order. The
+"Napoleon," with the reflector light going brightly, turned out of the
+berth and headed up the river.
+
+"My notion, Mr. Holmes," called the owner, sitting over the steering
+gear, "is that we had better go rather slowly. If you'll turn that light
+from side to side we ought to be able to scan the whole river as we
+move."
+
+Mr. Holmes was already busy swinging the light on its pivot. Behind,
+peering ahead in all directions, crouched Dick Prescott and his chums.
+
+They had gone about a mile upstream when Dick suddenly called out:
+
+"Turn the light to the right again, Mr. Holmes, please. Yes; there it
+is. Don't you make out a canoe over close by the shore?"
+
+"Turn over there, Mr. Atwater," called Mr. Holmes, his hands shaking as
+he tried to hold the light steadily on the floating object that Dick's
+keen vision had picked up.
+
+"Is--is that Jim Haynes's canoe?" asked Mr. Holmes in a choking voice,
+as the launch swung in close to the drifting craft.
+
+"Yes, sir," spoke Dick huskily. "See, there's an 'H' in a circle on the
+bow."
+
+Mr. Atwater ran up so close that the boys reached over and held the
+canoe by its rim. There could be no doubt that it was Haynes's canoe.
+All of the boys recognized it.
+
+"There are no apples in the canoe," murmured Tom Reade.
+
+"You glutton!" muttered Dan Dalzell angrily.
+
+"No; I wasn't thinking of that," Tom retorted indignantly. "But there
+being no apples shows that Greg didn't get as far as getting any. If
+anything happened, then it happened before he had time to load the canoe
+with apples."
+
+"And that must have been hours ago," spoke Mr. Holmes with a noise in
+his throat that was curiously like a sob.
+
+Silently Dick and Dave fished for the bowline of the canoe, then went
+back and made it fast astern.
+
+"What now?" queried Mr. Atwater, looking at Greg's father.
+
+"I think, perhaps, we had better go on up to Mr. Payson's," suggested
+Mr. Holmes. "It isn't too late to call on him, and he will be able to
+tell us whether Greg showed up at his house at all."
+
+The launch was soon alongside the little landing at Mr. Payson's place.
+Taking a lantern from the boat, Dick and his friends explored the
+orchard for signs of Greg until Mr. Holmes returned.
+
+"Mr. Payson tells me that he didn't see my boy," stated Mr. Holmes.
+"What can we do now, I wonder?"
+
+"I should think, sir," Dick suggested, "that it's plain enough that Greg
+didn't try to go home by the river. The canoe may have gotten adrift,
+and he may have started toward home on foot. Some of us, I think, ought
+to follow the road. We may find Greg somewhere along the road, injured
+as a result of some accident."
+
+"That's a good idea," nodded Mr. Holmes. "Yet I shall want Mr. Atwater
+to keep on searching along the river, and some of you boys ought to be
+with him, using your sharp eyes."
+
+A conference was held at the landing. Tom Reade and Harry Hazelton
+boarded the "Napoleon," after which Mr. Holmes and the other boys set
+out for the road.
+
+Truth to tell, neither those aboard the launch nor those who slowly
+followed the road back to Gridley had much hope of encountering news of
+the missing Greg.
+
+"He has fallen in with Ab. Dexter or Driggs," whispered Dave to Dick
+when they were so far from Mr. Holmes that the latter could not overhear
+them.
+
+"That's the way I feel about it," nodded young Prescott. "First, the
+affair of the bricks for mine; then the big stone that whizzed by within
+an inch of your head at night. And now Greg, the third of us to spoil
+the abduction plan, is mysteriously missing."
+
+"There's some scoundrelly plan back of all three affairs," replied Dave
+Darrin with conviction. "Yet why should Dexter take all this trouble to
+punish boys?"
+
+"First of all, because we interfered with him, and spoiled his bold
+stroke," guessed Dick Prescott. "Next, through hitting so mysteriously
+at us all, he probably hopes to scare Mrs. Dexter out of her life. If
+Dexter gets her thoroughly nervous and cowed probably she'll buy him off
+with a lot of her inherited money. That fellow Dexter would do anything
+on earth to escape the penalty of having to work for his living."
+
+"The mean rascal!" was all Dave could mutter, and he said it with
+pent-up savagery.
+
+Wherever a light showed along the country road the seekers after Greg
+knocked at doors. Invariably the answer was the same--no tidings.
+
+It was after one o'clock Sunday morning when the Grammar School boys
+returned to their several homes, discouraged and heartsick.
+
+Of course the "Blade" got wind of the affair and had Len Spencer and
+another reporter out working on the mystery.
+
+The police, too, took a hand, though there was an absolute lack of clues
+upon which to work.
+
+Broad daylight came Sunday morning, and still no Greg Holmes accounted
+for. Now, the police took a further hand by beginning to drag the river.
+
+The mystery continued throughout that long, dreary day. The Grammar
+School boys felt as though "there had been a death in the family." Len
+Spencer was aware of the suspicions against Ab. Dexter, but, through
+fear of the libel law, he was restrained from putting his suspicions
+into print until there was some real proof against Dexter.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+A PROBLEM IN FOOTPRINTS
+
+
+Monday morning dawned bright and clear.
+
+Yet, at 7.40, the fire alarm whistle blew "twenty-two," the signal for
+"no school."
+
+Some boys heard the whistle and wondered. Dick & Co., minus Greg, who
+were gathered on Main Street at the time, did not wonder.
+
+Two minutes later a series of long, loud blasts rang out, the signal to
+call the populace to fire headquarters.
+
+"Just what we thought," guessed Dick, as he, Dave, Dan, Tom and Harry
+started on a run. "There's no school because there's to be a general
+hunt for Greg."
+
+The volunteer firemen of Gridley were among the first to reach fire
+headquarters. The few regulars of the fire department could not leave
+their posts. They must be on hand in case of fires starting.
+
+But the police, the local militia officers and a few fire-department
+officials were quickly gathered and ready to lead searching parties. As
+swiftly as could be, the fire chief detailed the leaders for the parties
+that were to go in the various directions.
+
+The boys of Gridley were left to join which ever searching parties they
+chose.
+
+"Which crowd shall we go with?" asked Tom Reade.
+
+"I think we'd better go with the crowd that's going up the river road,"
+hinted Dick. "Have the rest of you any better plan?"
+
+No member of Dick & Co. had a better suggestion to make, so Dick's plan
+prevailed.
+
+There were some twenty men in the party that went up along the river
+road, and more than a dozen boys. Captain Hall, of the Gridley militia
+company, commanded this expedition.
+
+"Now, just as soon as we get out into the country," explained Captain
+Hall, as they started, "we shall do well to spread out. We can cover a
+wide range of ground, and yet keep within hearing of each other, so that
+we can signal."
+
+The first part of the road was covered rapidly. Out in the rural part
+Captain Hall halted his searching party and disposed of the men and boys
+under his command.
+
+The line, when it moved forward again, extended into the fields for a
+considerable distance on each side of the road. Everyone had a complete
+description of Greg's clothing and hat when he had last left home. All
+were instructed, also, to look for a gunny sack, or any fragments
+thereof, for Greg had carried such a sack with him on his expedition up
+the river, and this sack had not yet been found.
+
+"Even a shred of that sack, if found, may form a most important clue,"
+added Captain Hall impressively. "I'll keep to the road. If a searcher
+finds anything that he regards as a clue, let him pass the word along to
+me as rapidly as possible. Then we'll halt the whole line, on each side,
+until that clue has been investigated. Don't any of you boys--or men,
+either, for that matter--get any idea that he's just tramping for
+pleasure. There is no telling who may have the luck to find a clue that
+will soon lead to the end of the search. Now, forward!"
+
+It was with a sincere good will and much straining of eyes that the hunt
+started. It proved to be slow work. Every now and then some seeker came
+across what he thought might prove a clue, and then the line halted.
+
+Many times footprints were the cause of halting the line. One set of
+footprints that a man found, and on which he passed the signal, proved,
+when measured by Captain Hall's tape measure, to be the prints of a pair
+of number-ten boots.
+
+"Greg Holmes, a thirteen-year-old boy, hadn't feet of that size,"
+remarked the militia officer almost sharply. "We know that young Holmes
+wears a number four boot."
+
+Still the line dragged on. Noon came, finding the searching party about
+a mile above Payson's and in wilder country. Some of the men were
+decidedly hungry, as were also all of the boys.
+
+Captain Hall's whistle blew sharply, bringing in his forces.
+
+"We never thought, of course, of provisioning this expedition," said the
+officer, with a smile. "Do you see that farmhouse ahead? Spread out your
+line again, and look for me to signal when we come up with that
+farmhouse. If the folks living there have any food that they will sell,
+I'll pay for it, and we'll halt a few minutes to stoke up for more
+steam."
+
+There was a cheer at this announcement, after which the line spread out
+again. Ten minutes later a halt was made at the farmhouse, and the
+flanks of the searching party came in. The farmer's wife, it turned out,
+had an assortment of food that she was willing to sell at a rather good
+price. On this assorted stuff the searchers fed, washing it all down
+with glasses of milk. Then the search was taken up once more.
+
+"We're moving about a mile an hour now," Dave called across to Dick, as
+the Grammar School boys, away out on the right flank, tramped through a
+stretch of woods. "Greg may be a hundred miles from here at this minute.
+Question--what day in the week shall we have the luck to come up with
+him?"
+
+"We're doing the best we can," Dick called back.
+
+"Don't pass along that old chestnut that 'angels can do no better,'"
+grimaced Dave.
+
+"Well, could they?"
+
+"I don't know. But do you expect that we'll ever find Greg, moving along
+in this fashion?"
+
+"Honestly, I don't," Dick called across. "But we're following the scheme
+laid down by wiser and older heads than ours, and I haven't any better
+plan to suggest. Have you?"
+
+"I----" began Dave, but finished with: "Hang that branch! It flew back
+and hit me!"
+
+"Look where you're going," called Prescott, as he climbed over a wall.
+"For your information, Dave, I'll say that we're coming to a road now."
+
+Tom Reade, on Dick's right hand, and Harry Hazelton, on Dave's left,
+were also jumping into the road, which they started to cross hurriedly.
+
+"Halt!" cried Prescott, and stood like one transfixed, staring down at
+the ground.
+
+"What have you found?" jeered Tom. "A gold mine?"
+
+"Better--I believe!" cried Dick joyously. "Hustle here, fellows!
+No--don't crowd too close or you'll trample it out."
+
+"What do you see?" demanded Hazelton.
+
+"This," answered Prescott, pointing down to the ground. His chums
+peered, too, and made out a very distinct footprint in the soft soil of
+this wild, little-used road through the woods.
+
+"There's been a horse and wagon along here, too," Dick went on
+excitedly. "See the fresh wheeltracks, and the marks of the horse's
+hoofs?"
+
+"But only that one bootprint," objected Tom. "It doesn't seem to me that
+it means much."
+
+Dick gazed reproachfully at his grouped chums, his eyes blazing with
+excitement in the meantime.
+
+"Say, don't you fellows remember how Greg ripped off the lower part of
+his left bootheel at football practice Friday afternoon?"
+
+"Yes," admitted Dan Dalzell. "But how does this print prove----"
+
+"I see!" broke in Dave Darrin tremulously. "This print, at the rear end,
+is from the same sort of heel."
+
+"It surely is," nodded Dick. "Dan, you wear a number-four shoe like
+Greg's. Come here and let me measure the length of your left shoe with
+this string. Sit down first."
+
+Young Prescott took the measure with his string, then applied it to the
+print in the ground.
+
+"Same length, you see," flashed Dick triumphantly. "Fellows, that's Greg
+Holmes's footprint! You see, the print looks old, as though it had been
+made a couple of days ago. Yet there's been no rain and it isn't washed
+away. The footprint looks just about as old as the horse's hoof mark."
+
+"Then you think that Greg took a carriage as far as here?" demanded Tom
+Reade dubiously.
+
+"He was brought here in some sort of wagon!"
+
+"Go on and read the rest of the page to us," begged Dan Dalzell, still
+skeptical.
+
+"This was as far as Dexter, or whoever had Greg, wanted to bring him in
+the wagon," Dick continued, still scanning the ground, while employing
+his hands to wave away whichever of his chums attempted to come too
+close. "Probably Greg was taken somewhere not far from here. He may be
+mighty close to us now, fellows. Let's see. The footprint points
+straight ahead of us."
+
+"Why isn't there more than one print?" insisted Harry Hazelton.
+
+"Because Greg was probably lifted, so that he wouldn't leave too much of
+a trail."
+
+"Then why aren't there more prints, especially of the man or men who
+lifted Greg?" questioned Dave.
+
+"The men didn't intend to leave any trail at all," replied Dick,
+thinking hard. "Probably the first man down from the wagon landed on
+that hummock of grass there." Dick moved forward. "Yes, siree! Just look
+here, fellows--don't crowd too close to it and blot it out. See, there
+isn't a sharply lined footprint here, but there's a pressing down of the
+grass, as if some considerable weight had been pressed upon it."
+
+Dick now moved slowly forward, the others on his flanks.
+
+"Here's another footprint--the right foot, but Greg's size," he soon
+called.
+
+Not one of the Grammar School boys but felt the full force of the
+excitement now.
+
+"Say!" exploded Tom Reade suddenly. "We've plumb forgotten to pass the
+signal along to the others in the line."
+
+"It's too late now. They're too far ahead of us," Dick announced.
+"Besides, if Greg isn't far from here, and if his captors are with him,
+we don't want to raise too much of a racket and scare the captors away."
+
+"I wish they'd go away, the captors, if they're around here," grinned
+Dalzell. "Maybe they have guns, and would be cranky enough to use 'em on
+us, sooner'n give Greg up."
+
+"If you're afraid, Dan, turn around and go back," advised Dick quietly,
+as he moved slowly forward. "The rest of you keep a sharp lookout for
+more prints around here."
+
+"Who's afraid?" snapped Dan, his grin fading.
+
+"Here's another footprint!" called Reade, who had ranged slightly ahead
+of the others.
+
+Dick was quickly at the spot.
+
+"That was made by Greg's left shoe," Prescott swiftly declared.
+
+"Correct," nodded Tom Reade. "Say, fellows, we are on Greg's trail!"
+
+The enthusiasm was "catching" by this time. The little line narrowed and
+the Grammar School boys pressed forward, tingling with the mystery and
+excitement of this problem written on the face of old Mother Earth!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+DAN SEES BEARS--IN HIS MIND
+
+
+In twenty minutes, studying the ground harder than any one of the five
+had ever scanned a problem in arithmetic, the Grammar School boys had
+advanced some three hundred feet. Their course had taken them into the
+woods on the further side of the bridle path.
+
+"I don't see any footprints around here," half grumbled Tom Reade.
+
+"No," Dick replied, "because the ground is hard and stony here. This
+isn't the place to look for prints. But we may find some other sign at
+any----"
+
+"Stop right where you are!" ordered Dave excitedly.
+
+All halted at once, gazing up the hillside, where Dave pointed.
+
+"Fellows, there's a big rock cropping up, and do you see that hole
+leading into it?"
+
+"Looks like a bear's hole," suggested Dan, with another grin.
+
+"Cheer up!" advised Dick, smiling. "There haven't been any bears in this
+part of the country in a century. But come on, fellows! That place is
+worth looking into."
+
+Willingly enough all trotted up the slope to the hole in the rock,
+though, truth to tell, all the boys were rather footsore by this time.
+
+The hole in the wall of rock proved to be some three feet in diameter.
+Dick struck a match and peered in.
+
+"This tunnel seems to go in as far as I can see with the help of the
+match," young Prescott announced. "Fellows, some of us will have to
+crawl in here and see what we can find."
+
+"Better not," advised Dan. "Greg isn't in there. And if that hole isn't
+the home of a bear then it's snakes. Ugh!"
+
+"I'll go in with you, Dick," agreed Dave. "As for Dan, you stay
+out--'fraidcat'!"
+
+"No more afraid than you are!" retorted Dalzell, stung into sudden
+spirit. "If you rascals are going to crawl in there, then I'm going with
+you. Can't take 'no' for an answer."
+
+"If Dalzell finds any wild animals in that hole he'll feel like Daniel
+in the lions' den," chuckled Reade.
+
+"I wish we had something to make a torch of," grumbled Dick. "It's slow
+work and a lot of nuisance to be lighting two or three matches every
+minute."
+
+"Do I get a chance to go in there with you?" demanded Dan.
+
+"I don't know whether you do or not," grimaced Dick. "You're such a
+scared-cat that----"
+
+"Say that again, and you don't get--this," grinned Dalzell, hauling an
+object out into daylight. It proved to be a pocket electric lamp.
+
+"Oh, you jewel!" glowed Dick.
+
+"Am I a scared-cat?" insisted Dan, returning the lamp to his pocket.
+
+"Nothing of the sort!" Dick declared readily.
+
+"How about you, Dave?" demanded Dan, wheeling upon his other tormentor.
+
+"I never admired any one's courage as much as I do yours, Danny boy,"
+laughed Darrin.
+
+"All right, then. You can use the lamp," conceded Dalzell, bringing it
+forth from his pocket and handing it over to Dick.
+
+"Let's all hurry and get in there," proposed Tom Reade.
+
+"Nothing like it!" rejoined Dick. "Wouldn't it be fine if we all crawled
+in there and Dexter and Driggs really happened to be in the
+neighborhood? They might come along and pen us all in there! Tom, you
+and Harry will have to stay outside on guard--and keep your eyes wide
+open."
+
+"Hazelton can keep his ears wide open," suggested Reade. "His ears are
+the generous, wide-open kind, anyway."
+
+Dick had already thrown himself on his knees, and, holding the lamp
+ahead of him, he crawled in as fast as he could over the rough, rocky
+floor of the tunnel.
+
+Dave Darrin was right behind the leader. Third in line came Dan Dalzell,
+who comforted himself with the thought that, if Dick and Dave
+encountered anything dangerous, he (Dan) would have loads of time to
+crawl out again before the danger could assail him.
+
+For more than a dozen feet the tunnel ran irregularly into the rock.
+Suddenly Dick uttered an excited shout.
+
+"Whh-a-at's the matter?" almost chattered Dalzell. "What's hit you?"
+
+"There's a regular cave here," Dick called back. "A fine, big place!"
+
+At this moment Dave, too, straightened up as he stepped into the cave
+proper.
+
+"What's going on in there?" Tom Reade called in through the tunnel.
+
+"Stay where you are," Dalzell called back, "and don't let us get bagged
+in here by any one."
+
+Then Dan straightened up on his feet and took several curious looks
+about him while Dick flashed the light.
+
+"Say, this is bigger'n a barn in here, only not so high!" gasped Dan.
+
+"I wonder why nobody ever knew of this dandy place before?" mused Dave.
+"And the air's good in here, too."
+
+"The air's good enough," Dick assented hurriedly. "But what we came here
+for was to see whether we can find Greg. Come on, fellows--be quick."
+
+"This leads to nothing, after all," sighed Dave Darrin at last.
+
+"There may be other parts to the cave that we haven't found yet,"
+advanced young Prescott. "Now, halt, everyone! Quiet! Greg?"
+
+Dick's voice echoed in the place. Away off in one corner something
+seemed to be stirring.
+
+"What's that?" asked Dick quickly.
+
+"Time to beat it!" muttered Dan. "We've disturbed some animal that lives
+here."
+
+"Sh!" ordered Prescott, holding up one hand. "Greg!"
+
+Against their ear-drums came again, rather faintly, the sound of
+something moving.
+
+"If you're Greg, you keep on making the noise until I locate you," urged
+Dick. "Fellows, you stay right where you are. Don't move."
+
+Once more that sound of something moving came to the boys, and Dick, on
+tip-toe, moving softly, ranged toward the direction from which he
+believed the noise had come. As Dick moved away from them with the
+light, Dave and Dan found themselves in comparative darkness.
+
+"If that's you, Greg, keep on making all the noise you can," directed
+young Prescott, as he neared one of the jutting ledges of rock.
+
+A distant snort came as though in answer.
+
+"If that's you, Greg, you can do it again," cried Dick in a low, eager
+voice. "If it's you, do it just four times."
+
+Then Dick halted, realizing in the stillness that he could hear his own
+heart beating rapidly.
+
+Again came the snort--one, two, three--four times. Then it stopped.
+
+"Dave! Dan!" quivered Dick's voice. "Come running! It's Greg."
+
+There was a sound of running feet--then a thump. Dave Darrin was still
+coming, but Dan had tripped over some little obstacle and had fallen
+flat.
+
+"Hold on, there, you two!" howled Dan. "I've hurt my knee. Wait until I
+reach you."
+
+But Dave and Dick paid no heed. Once more they had heard the snorts, and
+had made a dash for a low ledge of rock, from behind which they believed
+the sounds to have come.
+
+Then both young leaders of the Grammar School boys gave a joyous whoop,
+mingled with dismay.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+THE BOY WITH THE OAKUM TASTE
+
+
+"Hustle, Dan! We've found him!" rang Dave Darrin's voice, echoing
+through the rock-bound spaces.
+
+"Greg, old fellow, you've had us worried," gasped Dick Prescott, sinking
+to the stone floor beside his friend.
+
+Greg lay on the floor, tightly bound hand and foot, a gag of oakum stuck
+in his mouth and securely held there by cloth tightly strapped in place.
+
+"Get your knife open, Dave, while I hold the light," ordered Dick.
+"We've got to have Greg free at once. See how white and sick he looks."
+
+Slash! Dave cut away the gag first of all, picking out all he could of
+the gag.
+
+"Ugh!" sputtered young Holmes, spitting out shreds of oakum. "You bet
+I'm sick!"
+
+"How do you feel?" Dick asked anxiously, as Dave rolled Greg over and
+began to cut away the cords at the lad's wrists.
+
+"Sick!" muttered Greg. "Sick of the very taste of that oakum stuff. Did
+you ever eat any oakum?"
+
+"Can't say that I did," laughed Dick merrily, now that he knew at last
+that his chum was safe.
+
+"You haven't missed much," growled Greg.
+
+"There, your hands are free," announced practical Dave. "How long have
+you been here, Holmesy?"
+
+"Since Saturday afternoon."
+
+"Had anything to eat?" Dick wanted to know.
+
+"No; and I'll have to get the taste of that vile oakum out of my mouth
+before I can endure the taste of food," uttered Greg dismally.
+
+Darrin had made the last slash at Greg's foot-lashings.
+
+"Now, get up, old fellow!"
+
+Both helped young Holmes to his feet, but he would have fallen had not
+Dick caught him.
+
+"Circulation's all stopped," muttered Greg disgustedly. "No wonder! The
+scoundrels must have tied me as tight as they knew how. Ugh! That fierce
+oakum taste!"
+
+"Say, you'll be the hero of the town when you get home, Greg,"
+proclaimed Dan Dalzell, who had groped his way to the spot.
+
+"Hero? With that oakum taste in my mouth?" sputtered young Holmes.
+"Bosh! I'd sooner have a good gargle than be two heroes!"
+
+While Dick supported the rescued boy, Dave Darrin was rubbing Greg's
+legs roughly up and down to promote better circulation.
+
+"Now, take a few steps," advised Dave. "See how you can go."
+
+Supported by Dick's arm, Greg did fairly well in the way of walking. Of
+course every step that he took helped restore the circulation.
+
+"Wow! There's going to be an exciting time in Gridley," grinned Dan
+Dalzell.
+
+"What day is it now?" inquired Greg.
+
+"Monday--afternoon," Prescott answered.
+
+"My folks must be stirred up."
+
+"They're crazy," Dan supplied very impressively.
+
+"How far is this place from Gridley?"
+
+"Six miles. Don't you know where you are, Greg!"
+
+"Haven't an idea in the world."
+
+"How did you get here? What happened?"
+
+"Wait a little while," begged Greg. "I've just got to spit all the oakum
+taste out of my mouth before I want to do much talking."
+
+By this time they were at the tunnel that led outside.
+
+"Hullo, Tom!" called Dick through the tunnel.
+
+"Hullo yourself, and see how you like it!" came from outside.
+
+"Tom," cried Dick joyously, "we've found Greg! We're bringing him with
+us."
+
+"Can't he bring himself?" demanded Reade. Then, in a suddenly scared
+voice:
+
+"Is he--dead?"
+
+"Dead sore on oakum as a food," laughed Dan, grinning broadly.
+
+Dick, holding the light, was piloting Greg through the tunnel. In a few
+moments all were outside. Tom and Harry danced a jig for sheer joy.
+
+"Greg, aren't you thirsty?" demanded Dick, as young Holmes stood
+blinking in the bright sunlight.
+
+"I shall be, as soon as I get the oakum washed out of my mouth,"
+grimaced Greg. "Whew! What a vile taste that sort of stuff has!"
+
+"Folks in the good old town won't believe us when we get back," muttered
+Darrin.
+
+"Yes, they will; they'll have to," insisted Dan, producing some articles
+from one of his pockets. "Here are some of the cords you cut from Greg's
+wrists and ankles, and here's some of the oakum."
+
+"Throw that oakum stuff away, or else hide it. Please do," begged young
+Holmes, making a wry face.
+
+"Come on. There's no time to be lost," advised Dick. "We've got a long
+way to go, and Greg needs the exercise. Besides, he's thirsty and
+hungry--or ought to be."
+
+Within five minutes the Grammar School boys came across a spring. There
+Greg knelt and took in several mouthfuls, one after another, for the
+purpose of rinsing his mouth of that nauseating oakum taste. Then, at
+last, he swallowed water freely.
+
+"My, but it's good to be out in the world again," breathed Greg happily.
+"But how did you fellows find me?"
+
+"The whole town turned out to search," Dick explained. "There was no
+school to-day. And we came across clues that led us here. That's enough,
+from our side. Now, tell us how you came to be in such a fix."
+
+At this point the Grammar School boys came out on the highway.
+
+"Better each put a few stones in your pockets, fellows," advised Dick
+Prescott, stooping. "If we should meet any one we don't want to meet,
+stones might not prove such bad ammunition. Now, Greg, start in and tell
+us what happened."
+
+"You know that big clump of bushes near the landing at Payson's?" asked
+young Holmes.
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Well, Saturday afternoon I landed, tied the canoe and then, with a
+gunny sack on my arm, started toward the orchard. Just as I was going by
+the bushes I heard a little noise. Before I could turn I was thrown
+flat. Then a man was on top of me, holding my nose ground into the
+dirt."
+
+"Dexter? Driggs?" questioned Prescott.
+
+"I couldn't see who it was. Next thing my own gunny sack was forced over
+my head. I could feel, now, that there were two men working over me.
+Then my hands were yanked behind me and tied. Next my feet. I forgot to
+say that when I was thrown I was hurled in among the bushes. Well, after
+I had been bound a dark cloth of some kind was passed around the sack
+over my eyes."
+
+"Didn't you holler?" asked Dan, his mouth wide open.
+
+"Yes. While the cloth was being tied tight I thought it was time to
+start in to yell. At the first sound a pair of hands gripped me around
+the throat. Whee! I thought I was being hanged, certainly! I must have
+been black in the face when that scoundrel let up on choking me. Well, I
+took the choking as a hint that I wasn't expected to make any noise.
+After that I was thrown on my back, but I couldn't see anything. One
+man, who had rather soft hands----"
+
+"Dexter," guessed Dick.
+
+"Most likely. Well, he sat with one hand across my throat, and I didn't
+think it was my time to yell, so I lay quiet. After a while I heard a
+wagon coming along. Then I was lifted into the wagon and a lot of old
+sacking was thrown over the whole length of my body. I guess it was the
+same sacking that you found me lying on in the cave. Then the wagon
+started and I had a long ride. At last we branched off into what I guess
+was a sort of bridle path. Not so very long after the wagon stopped and
+I was lifted down to my feet. I walked a little way, guided by one of
+the men, and then they lifted me up and carried me. Then I felt them
+poking me through that tunnel. After that I saw some kind of a light,
+dimly, through the cloths over my head, and then I was thrown down where
+you found me. The light was out then, and the cloths were taken off my
+head. Then that sickening gag was jammed into my mouth."
+
+"Didn't you offer any kick?" inquired Dan.
+
+"Where was the use?" sighed Greg. "I knew that men who had gone to all
+that trouble to bother me wouldn't waste any time listening to what I
+might have to say."
+
+"Then you don't know," inquired Dick, "if Dexter and Driggs were the
+men?"
+
+"They didn't speak once, from the time they grabbed me up to the time
+when they left me in the cave," Greg answered. "Hours after that I must
+have fallen asleep. I woke up to hear their voices a little way off.
+They were talking in whispers. I couldn't hear all that was said, but
+I'm certain in my own mind that the two were Dexter and Driggs."
+
+"Did you make out anything that they were talking about?" pressed Dick.
+
+"Here and there I caught some of it. I heard one man scolding the other
+about throwing bricks and shying a stone; and so that must have been
+what happened to you, Dick, and to you, Dave. I'm pretty sure it was
+Dexter who was doing the scolding. Later I heard him say it was foolish,
+and this carrying me off was much more to the purpose--that a thing like
+my being carried away would do a heap more to 'scare that woman' and
+make her understand that she had some one she couldn't afford to fool
+with. Next the other man broke in and said that lugging me away was
+foolish, and only a cause of trouble. But the other man broke in, with a
+laugh, and said he'd make 'that woman' pay handsomely to have me set
+free. He said she had always been a tender-hearted woman, and would
+spend plenty of money to save the life of a boy who had helped her. Then
+the two men, I judged from the sounds, left the cave. Any way, I haven't
+heard any sound of them since then. I----"
+
+Here Greg stopped suddenly, clutching at a tree that he was passing.
+
+"Fellows, I feel about all in," he remarked brokenly. "I'm awfully
+dizzy, too."
+
+"You're played out, starved and all used up--that's what ails you,"
+exclaimed Dick sympathetically. "We'll halt here and give you a chance
+to rest."
+
+In five minutes Greg declared himself fit to go on again. Dave and Dick
+walked on either side of him, half supporting him.
+
+"There's a house ahead, and a telephone wire running into it," said
+young Prescott. "We'll try to get that far, and then we'll telephone
+into Gridley."
+
+That much of the trip was made, with a couple of short halts for rest.
+Dick went up to the front door of the farmhouse and knocked loudly. It
+was the farmer himself who came to the door.
+
+"We've found the boy that all the searching parties were out looking
+for," Dick announced. "May we use your telephone to send the word into
+Gridley?"
+
+"You sure can," rejoined the farmer. "Come this way." Then, with a side
+glance at young Holmes, "I guess you're him."
+
+"Yes," nodded Greg.
+
+"And you hain't had a bite to eat for a day or two?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Mother," called the farmer, leading the way into the living room,
+"here's that missing youngster that there's been all the fuss over. He's
+hungry. You know what treatment that calls for."
+
+Dick, in the meantime, had espied the telephone and was engaged in
+ringing up. He called for the police station and sent the news to the
+chief.
+
+"And say that I'm hitching up a team and am going to bring you all in,"
+added the farmer. So Prescott added that item of information.
+
+"Hark! Hear that?" broke in Dick a minute later, while nearly all the
+others were talking at once. Despite the distance there came to their
+ears the sound of Gridley's fire alarm whistle, sounding the recall for
+all searching parties.
+
+"Now, goodness knows I'd like to offer you a lot more to eat, young
+man," said the farmer's gray-haired wife, patting Greg's head. "But,
+after fasting so long you don't want to eat too much at first. What
+you've had ought to be enough until you've had your drive and are at
+home with your own folks."
+
+"I feel fine, ma'am," responded young Holmes gratefully. "I don't know
+how to thank you. And I'm glad you stopped my eating too much for my own
+good. I'll be all right now, when I get home."
+
+The farmer drove up to the door and called out. All of Greg's friends
+wanted to help him outdoors, but he insisted that he could walk all by
+himself. Into the farm wagon piled the Grammar School boys, after having
+thanked the woman of the house most heartily.
+
+"This is a lot better'n walking, after all," murmured Greg gratefully.
+
+Even with his late start the boys were ahead of the searchers under
+Captain Hall, who had heard the signal and were now returning.
+
+"Turn down one of the side streets, will you, please?" begged Greg, as
+the party neared the outskirts of Gridley. "I don't feel exactly like
+meeting a whole crowd."
+
+For, even at a distance, it could be seen that Gridley was swarming with
+thousands of people who had not joined the searching parties.
+
+Thus Greg was delivered at his own home, and the other members of Dick &
+Co. were up on Main Street before the news had spread of young Holmes's
+return.
+
+All sensational events are dead as soon as they have been discussed for
+a few hours. The police authorities visited Greg at his home and
+questioned him, then reluctantly decided that there was not enough
+evidence for issuing a warrant for Abner Dexter and his man Driggs. But
+the news came over, from Driggs's own town, that the fellow had been
+dropped from the police force there.
+
+On Tuesday morning school went on as usual, and in the afternoon the
+boys of the Central Grammar went at their football practice as though
+nothing had happened.
+
+Before the practice game Dick called a meeting in the field, at which he
+and Dave Darrin were authorized to challenge the North and South Grammar
+Schools to a series of games.
+
+Within the next three days both schools had been heard from, and there
+seemed every prospect of keen rivalry between the boys of the three
+schools.
+
+Many days went along ere Dick & Co. heard again from Dexter or the
+latter's henchman. Yet events were shaping that were destined to mark
+important pages in the history of Gridley.
+
+Except for football, in fact, things were now so quiet that Dick
+Prescott had not an inkling of the startling events that were ahead of
+him.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+A GREAT FOOTBALL POW-WOW
+
+
+"I have important news to communicate," began Old Dut dryly, after
+tapping the bell for the beginning of the afternoon session.
+
+Dick and some of his friends looked up rather placidly, for they knew
+what the news was to be.
+
+"All lovers of football in the Central Grammar School," continued the
+principal, "are requested to meet in the usual field immediately after
+the close of school. The purpose is to form a league and to arrange for
+games between the three Grammar Schools of Gridley. I will add that I am
+glad that so much interest in athletics is being displayed by our young
+men. To show my pleasure, I will add that if any of the young men in
+this school are so unfortunate as to incur checks this afternoon that
+would keep them in after school they may serve out the checks to-morrow
+instead. First class in geography! For the next twenty minutes the boys
+of this class are requested to remember that football is not geography!"
+
+Excited as many of the youngsters were, and great as was the temptation
+to whisper, it happened that not a boy in the eighth grade received a
+check or a demerit, as it is usually called, for any form of bad conduct
+that afternoon. Immediately at the close of school the almost solid
+legion of boys of the seventh and eighth grades started on a run for the
+big field in which they had been practising of late.
+
+"Now, we'll have to wait a few minutes for the fellows from the other
+schools," announced Dick when he had marshaled his forces in the field.
+"It will take them longer to get here."
+
+"Here come some of the North Grammar boys!" called a lookout, a few
+minutes later. "Hi Martin is one of them."
+
+"Welcome to the North Grammar," called Dick, as Hi Martin and two other
+boys made their appearance on the field. A dozen more boys from the same
+school could be seen straggling along in the rear by twos and threes.
+
+"My, but you fellows have brought a mob," was Hi's greeting.
+
+"We invited all of the fellows of the two top grades," Dick explained.
+
+"A small, select committee would have been better," remarked Hi. "When
+you have too big a crowd you can't hear each other, for everyone is
+talking at once. So you fellows of the Central Grammar think you can
+play football, do you?"
+
+"We don't know," laughed Prescott. "We want to find out."
+
+"Huh!"
+
+"Here come a dozen fellows from the South Grammar," announced another
+lookout.
+
+"Huh! They're coming in a mob, too," uttered Martin in some disdain.
+"There's at least thirty in their crowd."
+
+"Well, you Norths have brought at least fifteen," observed Dave.
+
+"But only three of us are a committee," retorted Hi Martin. "The other
+fellows are just hangers on--camp followers, so to speak."
+
+"Don't get too chesty, Hi," objected one of the outside dozen from the
+North Grammar.
+
+"Don't try to give me any orders, Ben Lollard," snapped Martin. "We got
+all our orders from the school before we started."
+
+"Who represents the South Grammar?" called Dick as the new comers
+trooped on to the field.
+
+"Well, aren't there enough of us here?" demanded Ted Teall.
+
+"But Martin, of the North Grammar, thinks each school ought to be
+represented by a committee," explained Dick.
+
+"Committee of three," amended Hi Martin.
+
+"Huh! That's a dude arrangement," rejoined Ted Teall.
+
+"We have some sense of dignity at the North Grammar," snapped Hi Martin,
+flushing.
+
+"And you carry it around with you all the time," jeered young Teall.
+
+Things began to look badly for the success of the league. Many of the
+North Grammar boys came from rather well-to-do families, and not a few
+of these boys considered themselves infinitely superior to the class of
+boys that helped to make up the Centrals and Souths.
+
+"Let's not have any disagreements," urged Dick coaxingly.
+
+"Then keep these Souths in check," grumbled Hi Martin.
+
+"Don't let the Norths get too fresh just because they have clean collars
+every day," advised Ted Teall.
+
+"Fresh? It takes a South Grammar boy to be fresh," sputtered Hi.
+
+"Oh, does it?" sneered Ted. "Dude!"
+
+"Mucker!" responded Hi cheerfully.
+
+"Say, if you could only use your hands as well as you do your mouths,"
+sneered Ted, "ten----"
+
+"We do," announced Hi Martin, bounding over in front of Teall.
+
+"Fight! Fight!" howled half a hundred boys gleefully.
+
+Ted Teall was more than willing, and Hi looked as though he were afraid
+only of soiling his hands in touching a South Grammar boy. Dick,
+however, darted in between the pair, and Darrin, Reade and Dalzell
+followed.
+
+"Now, stop all this fooling, fellows," begged Dick. "We all know that
+Ted and Hi can fight. What we want to find out is whether there are
+brains and muscle enough in town to get three football elevens together.
+Ted, put your hands in your pockets. Hi, you move back. We don't want
+any fighting here."
+
+"Then that cub will have to stop calling names," retorted Teall.
+
+"You started it yourself," retorted Martin.
+
+"You're another!"
+
+"Fight! Fight!" yelled many of the young onlookers.
+
+Ted was willing, and Martin not unwilling. Crowds surged forward,
+threatening to push the North and South champions to close quarters.
+
+"Let's go home, if nobody ain't going to do nuthing," remarked one South
+disgustedly.
+
+"Stop all this, fellows--please do," begged Dick once more. "Ted and Hi,
+you two show your good sense by shaking hands."
+
+"Shake hands with that?" demanded Hi scornfully, glaring at Teall.
+
+"Shake hands with a high-collared dude?" muttered Ted. "I'd get mobbed
+for disgracing my part of the town."
+
+"You are a disgrace, anyway," snapped back Hi.
+
+"Now, you get back, Martin, and let us get down to real football,"
+directed Darrin, pushing Martin back several feet. "No; you needn't
+glare at me. I won't fight you, at all events, until the football season
+is over."
+
+Dalzell was backing up Dave in an effort to keep Martin back. Reade and
+Hazelton now placed themselves in front of young Teall.
+
+"Now, come to order, please!" called Dick.
+
+"Hey, Prescott! Who asked you to preside?" hailed a South Grammar boy.
+
+"I don't know that I want to, either," Prescott answered, with a smile.
+"But some one has to start the meeting. As soon as you come to order you
+can choose any one you want for presiding officer. All I'm trying to do
+is to get the thing started. Come to order, please."
+
+"I'll meet you on Main Street any Saturday you like, Hi Martin!" called
+Ted belligerently.
+
+"I wouldn't go out of my way to meet anything like you," shot back
+Martin.
+
+"Order! Order!" insisted Dick. "Come to order, fellows!"
+
+By the aid of his chums and a few other friends, and a great deal of
+"sh! sh!" all through the crowd, Dick at last got the meeting into a
+semblance of quiet.
+
+"Now, as I said before," Prescott went on, "all the reason I had for
+taking the chair----"
+
+"Where is it?"
+
+"What did you take it for?"
+
+"----was to get the meeting started," Dick went on. "Now that we're at
+least as quiet as some of the very small boys here will allow us to be,
+suppose you nominate some one to preside over this meeting."
+
+"Dick Prescott is good enough for us," sang out several Central Grammar
+boys.
+
+"Hi Martin!" came from the North squad.
+
+"Ted Teall!" insisted the South boys.
+
+"Well, whom do you want?" insisted Dick patiently.
+
+"Dick Prescott!" "Hi Martin!" "Ted Teall!"
+
+"Don't waste time trying to choose a chairman, Dick," advised Dave.
+"Just hold on to the job yourself, and try to get something through the
+meeting."
+
+But a clamor went up on all sides that lasted fully a minute.
+
+"Mr. Chairman!" shouted Tom Reade as soon as quiet came.
+
+"Reade," acknowledged Prescott, with a bow in Tom's direction.
+
+"Will you kindly state the object of the meeting?"
+
+"The object of the meeting," Prescott went on, "is to see whether each
+of the three Grammar Schools in this town is able and willing to
+organize a football team. The object, further, is to see whether we can
+form the three teams into a league and play off a series of games for
+the championship this fall."
+
+"Who's going to run the league?" demanded Ted Teall.
+
+"That's for this meeting to decide," Dick answered. "I would suggest
+that each school nominate a committee of three to represent it in a
+council of nine made up from the three schools. That the council choose
+a chairman and that the council have full charge of league
+arrangements."
+
+"Is Hi Martin going to be in that council?" called a South boy.
+
+"I presume so, fellows," responded the chair. "Martin is already a
+member of a committee of three chosen at the North Grammar."
+
+"But we haven't any committee of three," objected a Central boy.
+
+"We can soon straighten that out," piped up Tom Reade. "I'm going to
+make a motion, and it's addressed only to the fellows of the Central
+Grammar. I move that Dick Prescott, Dave Darrin and Greg Holmes
+represent the Central."
+
+"All in favor say 'aye,'" directed Prescott.
+
+The motion was carried with a rush, there being no dissenting voices.
+
+"I would now suggest," Dick continued, "that the South Grammar fellows
+put forward their committee of three. Then the council can get together,
+and soon be able to report back to the whole crowd."
+
+But Ted Teall, who had been talking rapidly in undertones to several of
+the Souths, now yelled back:
+
+"No, sir-ree! That doesn't go. South Grammar wants the whole thing put
+through in town-meeting style. Let every fellow here have his say."
+
+"Will that be agreeable to the North Grammar?" asked Dick, glancing at
+Martin.
+
+"Not much," retorted Hi. "South Grammar has twice as many fellows here
+as we have, and Central has a bigger crowd present than both other
+schools put together. Let's have committees and organize 'em into a
+council."
+
+"We Souths won't stand for anything but town-meeting style," bawled Ted
+Teall.
+
+"But we haven't enough fellows for that," objected Hi strenuously.
+
+"Why didn't you bring more?" jeered Ted. "Did the rest of your fellows
+have to go home to put on clean collars and practise on the piano?"
+
+"We shan't get anywhere unless the Souths put forward a more gentlemanly
+fellow to speak for them," remarked Hi with stiff dignity.
+
+"Fight!" yelled one boy hopefully.
+
+The surging and pushing began all over again, but Dick managed to make
+his voice carry over the hubbub.
+
+"Fellows, what ails you all?" he cried. "Are we going to have it said
+that the Grammar School fellows of Gridley haven't brains and manners
+enough to get together and discuss an ordinary question or two?"
+
+"What about uniforms?" spoke up a member of Hi's committee.
+
+"Central hopes to have uniforms," replied Dick.
+
+"North Grammar is going to have uniforms," shouted Hi Martin, "and we
+want to make it plain, right now, that we won't play with any team that
+isn't uniformed."
+
+This cast a damper on the Souths, who knew, to a boy, that they couldn't
+hope to raise money enough to buy football uniforms.
+
+"Aw," retorted Ted Teall scornfully, "what's the use of playing football
+with dudes that don't dare go on to the field if they haven't nifty
+uniforms and clean collars?"
+
+"That's our stand," retorted Hi with intense dignity. "North Grammar
+will play no un-uniformed teams."
+
+"And South Grammar won't play any dudes," shouted Ted defiantly. "We
+want real meat to play against--no mush!"
+
+"Let's hear what Central Grammar proposes on this question?" put in Hi
+Martin hopefully. "Prescott, you said your school would be uniformed."
+
+"Let's go home, fellows," proposed Ted, turning away and stalking off.
+For a moment the other Souths hesitated. Then, with a yell, they started
+off after their leader.
+
+"Good riddance to muckers!" shouted a North boy derisively.
+
+"Come to order, please," begged Dick. "Any one who calls names is out of
+order. It's bad practice."
+
+"Who asked you to run this meeting, anyway, Dick Prescott?" snapped
+Martin.
+
+"No one in particular, and I'm willing you should preside if you want
+to, Martin."
+
+"The Centrals ain't any better stuff than the Souths," observed one of
+the Norths slightingly.
+
+"Cut that out!" cried Dave, his eyes flashing. He stepped forward,
+looking for the fellow who had made the remark.
+
+"I call upon the North Grammar delegation to step aside and confer for a
+few minutes," announced Hi. He led his own schoolmates some two hundred
+feet away.
+
+"Say, the whole scheme's gone to pieces," grumbled Tom Reade
+disgustedly.
+
+"Wait, and we'll see," answered Prescott hopefully.
+
+The North Grammar boys talked matters over among themselves for two or
+three minutes.
+
+"There, see!" grumbled Greg. "Hi Martin is leading his crowd away.
+They're all quitters!"
+
+"That always seems to be the way with Grammar School fellows," sighed
+Dick. "High School fellows do big things, but you can't ever get Grammar
+School boys to stick together long enough to do anything!"
+
+So Grammar School football died an almost painless death.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+DICK STEPS INTO A DEATH-TRAP
+
+
+"Hullo, Dave!"
+
+"Hullo, Dick. I've been looking for you. My, but you're dressed up
+to-night. Going to a party that I haven't heard about?"
+
+"Not exactly," laughed Dick. "I'm going to call on Mrs. Dexter."
+
+"Oho!"
+
+"She sent a note that she'd like to have me call this evening. What it's
+about I don't know."
+
+"Then I can guess," offered Dave.
+
+"What?"
+
+"Mrs. Dexter was set on getting football uniforms for us. When the
+league dropped out at the bottom that spoiled her chance. Mrs. Dexter
+feels that she's under obligations, and so has sent for you in order to
+find what she can do in the place of buying uniforms."
+
+"Do you think that's it?" questioned young Prescott, looking bothered.
+
+"I'm sure of it."
+
+"Then I wish I weren't going up there to-night."
+
+"Have you got to?" asked Darrin.
+
+"It would hardly look polite if I didn't go. But I'll tell you what,
+Dave."
+
+"What?"
+
+"You come along with me."
+
+"Not much!"
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"First place, I'm not invited. Second place, I'm not dressed up, and you
+are. Extra, I don't want to look as though I were trotting up there
+after a reward."
+
+"I'm not, either," Dick retorted with considerable spirit.
+
+"I know you're not, but you can say 'no' for both of us, and for Greg
+thrown in."
+
+"Then you won't come with me?"
+
+"I'll feel more comfortable down here on Main Street," laughed Dave. "If
+you get back early enough you can tell me about it."
+
+"If Mrs. Dexter doesn't want anything except to talk about rewarding
+us," grunted Prescott, "I can promise you that I'll be back bright and
+early."
+
+"So long, then, and good luck!"
+
+"What?"
+
+"Good luck in getting away, I mean."
+
+So Dick pursued his course alone, and feeling a good deal more
+uncomfortable, now that he had a suspicion of Mrs. Dexter's business.
+
+Up at the pretty little Dexter cottage things had been moving serenely
+of late. Ab. Dexter had not been heard from, and his wife imagined that
+the fellow had gone to other parts. For weeks she had kept a special
+policeman in the house at night. On this particular evening the man
+wanted to be away at a lodge meeting, and Mrs. Dexter had felt that it
+was wholly safe to let him go, more especially, as resourceful Dick
+Prescott would put in part of the evening there.
+
+When the bell rang, Jane being upstairs with little Myra, Mrs. Dexter
+herself opened the front door.
+
+Then she sprang back suddenly, stifling a dismayed little scream, for
+Abner Dexter stood facing her.
+
+"Didn't expect me, did you?" jeered the fellow, pushing his way into the
+hall. "Jennie, I'm at the end of my rope, and of my patience, too. I'm
+broke--have hardly a dollar in the world, and now you've got to do your
+duty and provide for me in the way that a rich wife should. In there
+with you!"
+
+Ab. pushed her into a little room just beyond the parlor, and stepped in
+after her.
+
+"Nice, comfortable place you have here, while I'm wondering where my
+next meal is coming from!" sneered the fellow.
+
+"Abner, I gave you ten thousand dollars, and you promised to leave me
+alone," protested the woman, afraid of the evil look that she now saw in
+her worthless husband's face.
+
+"Well, I haven't any of that money, and I've got to have more," retorted
+Dexter emphatically. "Jennie, I want twenty-five thousand dollars. Give
+me that, and I'll leave the country for good."
+
+"I--I couldn't trust you," she faltered.
+
+"Don't talk that way to me!"
+
+"I have good reason to, Abner, and you know it."
+
+"You thought I had forgotten you, didn't you?" he sneered harshly.
+
+"I hoped that you had at last made up your mind to let me alone,"
+replied the woman, trying to summon a bravery that she did not feel.
+
+"I haven't forgotten you. Jennie, you will have to find and turn over to
+me the twenty-five thousand dollars that I want. You will never know any
+peace until you do do it, and you will never see me again after you have
+given me the money. Now, aren't you going to be sensible?"
+
+"Yes," she flashed. "I'm going to be too sensible to listen to you any
+longer. You have been watching this house, and you came to-night because
+you knew I was alone. If you won't go, at least I shall not stay here to
+listen to you."
+
+"Oh, yes, you will," replied the man angrily, barring the doorway.
+
+At that instant the telephone bell in a niche in the hallway sounded.
+
+"Let me answer that call," cried Mrs. Dexter.
+
+"No, I won't!"
+
+Then both heard, with very different feelings, a voice speaking these
+words:
+
+"Central, I am Dick Prescott, at Mrs. Dexter's. I shall probably be
+interfered with. Call up the police station in a hurry and say that
+Dexter is here, threatening Mrs. Dexter, who is without defense. I----"
+
+Slam! Dick felt himself seized by the collar. He was banged up roughly
+against the wall.
+
+"You young hound!" blazed Ab. Dexter.
+
+"Don't hurt him!" screamed Mrs. Dexter.
+
+"I'll do as I please with this young hound!" snarled Dexter hoarsely.
+"What right has he interfering with me in this manner? Come along, you
+meddling youngster!"
+
+As the telephone connection was still open, the girl at central office
+was able to hear every word.
+
+Ab. Dexter, still gripping struggling Prescott by the collar, dragged
+him down the hallway and into the same room where he had recently been
+talking with his unfortunate wife. Mrs. Dexter followed, pleading.
+
+"What are you doing here?" blazed Dexter, giving Dick a shaking that
+made his teeth rattle.
+
+"I sent for him, Abner. I wanted to find how I could best reward him
+for----"
+
+"For interfering with me on another occasion--yes, I know!" finished her
+husband, glaring at her. "You'd spend a lot of money on any one who
+tried to injure me, but you wouldn't give me a cent to keep me from
+starving!"
+
+As Dexter rattled off this charge he worked himself up into a passion.
+He shook Dick again, until he espied a closet in the room, in the lock
+of which was the key.
+
+"In there for you!" snarled Dexter, still shaking Prescott and dragging
+him across the room. Slam! Into the closet went Dick. Click! went the
+lock, and Dexter thrust the key into his pocket.
+
+"I'll take command of things here, as I ought to," growled the man. "As
+for you, Jennie, here's another closet on the other side of the room.
+Come, for I don't want to hurt you."
+
+Frightened badly now, the woman obeyed the impulse of Dexter's hand on
+her arm. She sank, cowering, into the other closet. Dexter turned the
+key in that lock also.
+
+"Now, are you going to come to your senses?" He called through the
+locked door to his wife.
+
+"If you mean am I going to give you any more money, I am not!" came Mrs.
+Dexter's reply, in a firmer tone, for she had been stung anew into
+defiance.
+
+"Then good night--and good-bye!" he laughed harshly.
+
+Both captives heard the scratching of a match. Dexter held the small
+flame against a drapery until it was burning freely.
+
+He had no intention of having his wife burn up in the house, for, dead,
+her money would be lost to him forever. He planned only to scare her
+into nervous collapse. But Jane, the housekeeper, did not liberate the
+captives in the two closets as Dexter had expected. Instead, as the
+housekeeper came to the head of the stairs, heard the crackling of
+flames and smelled the rising smoke, she fell on the landing in a faint.
+
+"Dick! Dick!" screamed Mrs. Dexter's voice. "The house is afire. Can't
+you break down the door and save us both?"
+
+"I'm trying to," shouted back young Prescott above the din of his own
+blows. "I'm trying to--but I'm afraid this door is too strong for me!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+WHAT GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS CAN DO
+
+
+Inside of a minute Dick Prescott was both gasping and despairing.
+
+Outside the volume of smoke was increasing. Some of it worked in through
+the cracks around the door.
+
+Coughing, choking, trembling in a cold chill of dread, Dick continued
+frantically to hurl himself against the door.
+
+"Can't you get out, Dick?"
+
+"I'm awfully afraid I can't."
+
+"Nor can I," screamed back Mrs. Dexter, though she was doing nothing
+besides beating a feeble tattoo with her soft fists against the panels
+of the door of her prison. "Jane! Jane!"
+
+But the housekeeper still lay in a death-like faint above. As for Myra,
+she slept as only a tired small child can sleep.
+
+"Oh, Dick, you must break down your door!" screamed the woman. "Myra--my
+child--upstairs. She'll be burned to death!"
+
+"I'll keep on trying, ma'am, as long as I have any life left," Dick
+promised, chokingly.
+
+Brave words! Young as he was, Dick Prescott was not of the kind to die a
+coward's death. Yet, in his own mind he was convinced that the door was
+too stout for him.
+
+"You can't save us, can you?" called Mrs. Dexter's own choking tones
+finally.
+
+"I'm still trying, ma'am."
+
+"But you don't expect to succeed. Tell me the truth."
+
+"I shan't give up, ma'am, but I am afraid that all the chances are
+against us!"
+
+Bang! Bang! went Dick's shoulders against the panels. He was aching now
+from his hopeless exertions.
+
+Yet, every time that he paused he heard the crackling of the flames
+outside. The sound told him that the woodwork had caught at last.
+
+"Dick!"
+
+"Yes, ma'am."
+
+"I'm quite calm now."
+
+"I'm glad to hear that, Mrs. Dexter."
+
+"I've stopped thinking of myself, Dick. I know that my little Myra is
+asleep. She'll suffocate, and won't wake up to know any pain."
+
+"But where's your housekeeper?"
+
+"She must have slipped out after she put Myra to bed. There's no hope
+for us, Dick. We must go as bravely as we can. But, my poor boy, I can't
+tell you how sorry I am that helping me has brought you to such a
+plight."
+
+"But you forget, Mrs. Dexter. Central will send a policeman. He will
+find out what's wrong here and save us."
+
+"Don't try to comfort me with false hopes, Dick. You and I both know
+that the policeman can't get here in time to save us."
+
+This had, indeed, occurred to Dick some moments before, but he wanted to
+help Mrs. Dexter to keep her courage up as long as possible.
+
+"Dick," called a subdued voice, "your mother taught you to pray?"
+
+"Oh, yes, ma'am."
+
+"Then you know how to pray now--the last chance you'll have."
+
+"All right, then," young Prescott shot back to her, "and I'll keep on
+working while I pray!"
+
+Mrs. Dexter did not speak again. The smoke, passing into the closet, had
+proved too much for her, and she had collapsed on the floor.
+
+But Dick, naturally stronger, and with robust lungs, was still fighting
+bravely, though he was conscious that he was growing feebler and that
+air was harder to get.
+
+Then there came to his ears two sounds of the sweetest description. The
+first noise was that of running feet. The second was Dave Darrin's voice
+shouting:
+
+"Fellows, there's some fearful work going on here. And here's the fire!
+Move like lightning! Bring water from the kitchen--in anything."
+
+There was a sound of many running feet. Then Dick called, huskily:
+
+"Dave, are you there?"
+
+"Dick, where are you?"
+
+"In this closet--locked in!"
+
+"But there doesn't seem to be any key," quivered Darrin.
+
+"No; Dexter took that away with him."
+
+"Did he set this----"
+
+"Yes; but listen! Mrs. Dexter is locked up in the closet opposite."
+
+Dave crossed the room in a flash. Finding the key in the lock of the
+other closet door, Dave Darrin turned it and found Mrs. Dexter lying on
+the floor.
+
+"Fellows!" bawled Dave hoarsely. "Never mind the water. Come here--on
+the jump!"
+
+Half a dozen boys ran back into the room, just in time to see Dave
+struggling to drag Mrs. Dexter out to the front porch.
+
+"One of you help me," directed Darrin. "The others batter down that
+closet door over there. Dick Prescott is locked up there, and there is
+no key."
+
+"Here's a hatchet," cried another boy, running in from the kitchen.
+"Clear the way and let me at the door."
+
+The boy was Greg Holmes. He brought the hatchet down with telling force
+at each blow, smashing all the paneling around the lock. In a very few
+moments Greg had the door open, and he and Dave helped catch Dick as the
+latter fell forward, dizzy and all but unconscious.
+
+"Rush him out on to the front porch!" ordered Dave. "Then we'll come
+back and fight the fire!"
+
+"Has--has anyone turned in an alarm?" inquired Dick, as he reached the
+porch and took in a life-saving breath of the pure, cool air.
+
+"No," admitted Dave. "We forgot that. But I'll run and do it now."
+
+"What's the matter? Fire?" called a man from the next yard.
+
+"Yes," Dave yelled back. "Run and turn in an alarm, won't you?"
+
+"I surely will," came the answer.
+
+This left Dave free to remain and do what he could.
+
+"I'm all right now," declared Dick, getting up out of the chair into
+which he had been dropped, though he was not yet any too strong. "Dave,
+you and the other fellows fight the fire the best you can. Greg, you
+come upstairs with me, and we'll find Myra and get her out of the
+smoke."
+
+At the head of the stairs Prescott and Holmes found Jane, still in a
+faint.
+
+"We'll need more help to get her downstairs," muttered Dick. "Greg, you
+find Myra, bundle her in blankets and rush down with her. I'll stay here
+until you come back."
+
+When Greg, after darting downstairs with the child, returned, he had two
+other boys with him. It took all four to get Jane down and outside to
+one of the porch chairs.
+
+"This is work for the doctor," announced Dick, looking from Jane to Mrs.
+Dexter. "You other fellows jump in to get the fire out, and I'll 'phone
+for Dr. Bentley. He's Mrs. Dexter's doctor."
+
+While making that comment, Dick darted back to the telephone. As seconds
+were precious here, he merely called up central and stated what was
+wanted. Then he ran to join the others.
+
+"There's a hose outside this window. I've seen it before," called
+Prescott, opening the window and jumping outside. Then:
+
+"Dave!"
+
+"Here I am, Dick."
+
+"Here's the hose. I'll pass the nozzle in and then turn the water on."
+
+"Bully for you, Handy Andy!"
+
+Sizz-zz! Dave directed the stream against the liveliest flames. It was
+only a lawn-sprinkling hose that he held, but even that threw a lot of
+water.
+
+Dick climbed in through the window again.
+
+"We'll hold things down until the firemen get here," he announced
+energetically.
+
+So busy had all been that only two or three out of the ten boys present
+had noticed that the fire-alarm whistle had called off the box number
+some time previously.
+
+Finally, with a screeching of whistles and a clanging of gongs, a part
+of the Gridley Fire Department hauled up outside.
+
+While hosemen fastened a line to a hydrant, and nozzlemen dragged the
+lengths in through the wide-open front door, the chief ran ahead of
+them.
+
+"Where's the fire?" he called, and made his way inside.
+
+"Well, you boys are dandies!" remarked the chief grimly. Then he ran out
+to the front door.
+
+"Shut that stream off!" the chief bellowed hoarsely. "A lot of Grammar
+School boys have put the fire out with a lawn hose."
+
+Two or three minutes later the policeman whom Prescott had summoned
+arrived, out of breath. Two minutes after that Dr. Bentley's auto
+stopped at the door.
+
+Both unconscious women were revived, and Myra, who had not once awakened
+in all the excitement, was taken up and tucked in bed.
+
+"How did you get into the house, Dick?" Mrs. Dexter at last found time
+to inquire.
+
+"Why, the door was open just a crack, ma'am, when I got here. I heard
+Dexter threatening you, and realized that you must be alone. I knew I
+couldn't do much alone, so I sneaked in as softly as I could and got to
+the telephone."
+
+As soon as he found himself with only his boy friends about, Dick
+demanded to know how they had arrived so opportunely.
+
+"That's easy enough," Dave Darrin explained. "Just after you left me I
+ran into Greg, Tom, Dan and Harry. I told them where you'd gone, and
+what the business would probably turn out to be. Then--then--well, we
+got so awfully curious that we made up our minds to stroll up here to
+the corner and wait until you came out. Then we ran into four other
+fellows from our school, and there was a mob of us. To kill time we
+walked down past. As we went past we saw smoke coming out of one of the
+open windows on the ground floor. Then Bert Johnson remembered that he
+had seen Ab. Dexter come out and hurry away. It didn't take us long,
+then, to make up our minds to get into the house. We found the front
+door unlocked, and the rest was easy."
+
+"We'll get out of here as soon as we can now," hinted Dick.
+
+"Why?" Dalzell wanted to know, "This is the center of all the excitement
+in town to-night."
+
+"Yes," Prescott replied, "but as soon as Mrs. Dexter thinks of it she'll
+send for us and offer more thanks and rewards. We can get away 'most any
+time now. And there comes her special policeman. Dexter won't be back
+to-night, anyway."
+
+So the Grammar School boys slipped away, but they had added another page
+to the history of Gridley.
+
+Dexter, with his usual luck, appeared to have made a safe retreat. The
+police paid a visit to his former cave up the road, but did not catch
+him there, although a police guard was kept at the cave for three days.
+
+But Dick received a postal card, on the back of which was printed:
+
+"If you ever interfere with me again, I promise you that your luck is at
+an end!"
+
+The message was unsigned, but the message was postmarked at Gridley.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+OUT FOR HALLOWE'EN FUN
+
+
+"There'll be loads of fun to-night," proclaimed Dan Dalzell, his eyes
+sparkling with mischief, as he danced up and down in the schoolyard at
+forenoon recess.
+
+"Why?" asked Dick innocently.
+
+"Don't you know what day this is?" Dan insisted.
+
+"Yes; and I also know that to-night will be Hallowe'en."
+
+"Then don't you know that there are going to be several barrels of fun
+uncorked in this old burg to-night?"
+
+"I didn't know that barrels were ever 'uncorked,'" replied Dick
+judicially.
+
+"Oh, pshaw! This isn't the first class in language!" retorted Dan
+disdainfully. "You're going to be out to see the fun, aren't you?"
+
+"I suppose likely I shall be out on the street a little while after
+supper," Prescott admitted.
+
+"Hear the young saint!" taunted Dan derisively, appealing to a group of
+boys. "No one would ever suppose that Dick Prescott had ever gotten up
+any mischief--hey?"
+
+"Oh, Dick will have one or two tricks ready for us to trim our enemies
+with to-night," replied Ben Alvord. "Don't worry!"
+
+"Sure! Dick never yet went back on the crowd," declared Wrecker Lane.
+"He's got a few good ones ready right now."
+
+"Have you, Dick?" demanded a chorus of eager voices.
+
+"Tell us one or two of the tricks now," pressed "Hoof" Sadby.
+
+But Dick shook his head.
+
+"Come on out with it!" coaxed Spoff Henderson.
+
+"Ain't he the mean one--keeping it all to himself?"
+
+"If Dick has anything hidden in his sleeve," broke in Tom Reade, "he'd
+show a lot of sense, wouldn't he, telling it to a lot of you fellows
+with loose-jointed tongues? Why, it would be in the evening paper, and
+the folks we want to torment would be at their gates waiting for us."
+
+"We won't tell--won't breathe a word! Honest!" came in instant denial.
+
+"I'll tell you just one thing, fellows, if you think you really can keep
+it to yourselves," grinned Dick.
+
+"Go ahead!"
+
+"Don't trust these talkative Indians with anything in advance, Dick,"
+protested Tom Reade.
+
+"Yes, yes--go ahead!" cried the boys.
+
+"You won't tell, fellows, will you?" Dick fenced.
+
+"Cross our hearts we won't."
+
+"Well, then, fellows, the truth is that you are all on the wrong scent.
+I haven't thought up a blessed prank for to-night."
+
+"Aw!" came an unbelieving chorus.
+
+"Let's make him tell. Get hold of him. We'll paddle Dick Prescott until
+he'll be glad to tell."
+
+There was a rush, but Dave and Tom got in front of Dick.
+
+"Who wants to try the paddle first?" asked Dave, his fists clenching, as
+he faced the mischievous Grammar School boys.
+
+"But I haven't thought of a thing, fellows," protested Prescott.
+
+"Say, I want some of you fellows to help me take off old Pond's gate
+to-night," called Toby Ross. "We can take it down and hang it on the
+fountain in the square. That'll be a good mile from his house, and old
+Pond will be awful mad, because he'll have to tote it all the way back
+himself. He's too stingy to hire a teamster to take it back."
+
+"And that's your idea of fun is it?" demanded Dick.
+
+"Sure!" grinned Toby.
+
+"It might be for a seven-year-old, but it sounds pretty stupid for an
+eighth grader."
+
+"What do you want me to do, then--set old Pond's house a-fire?" queried
+Toby with an injured air.
+
+"We'll have to take down a lot of signs and change 'em," proposed Ned
+Allen.
+
+"What do you think of that, Dick?" asked Spoff Henderson.
+
+"That sounds kiddish, too, doesn't it?" objected Dick. "And the trick is
+at least three times as old as Gridley."
+
+"We can slip in at the back of George Farmer's place," suggested Wrecker
+Lane. "You know, he's always bragging about the fine milk he serves.
+Well, if we can get in at the cooling trough in his yard we can empty
+half the milk out of each big can and fill it up with water. Then won't
+he hear a row from his customers about watered milk?"
+
+That brought a guffaw from some of the youngsters, but Dick shook his
+head.
+
+"That's kiddish, too," he remarked.
+
+"Say, what do you call kiddish tricks?" Hoof Sadby wanted to know.
+
+"Why, things that have been done, over and over again, by small boys.
+All the tricks you fellows have named have been done by our
+grandfathers. That's why I call 'em kiddish. A fellow who can't think up
+a new one is only a kid. Use your brains, fellows."
+
+"Well, if you're so all-fired smart, you tell us a new one that has some
+ginger in it," growled Wrecker.
+
+"I told you that I hadn't any," retorted Dick. "I admit that I'm dull.
+But, if I do play any tricks to-night, they'll have to be just a little
+bit new. Boys of our age haven't any business traveling around with
+Hallowe'en jokes that are so old that they've voted and worn whiskers
+for forty years. It isn't showing proper respect for old age."
+
+"Dick has a few new ones in his tank. Don't you worry about that,"
+muttered some of the wise ones. "You just find Dick & Co. on the street
+to-night, and stick to 'em, and you'll see plenty of fun happening."
+
+"I'll tell you something else that we fellows are growing a bit too old
+for, too, if you want to know," Dick offered presently, for the crowd
+still insisted on hanging out close to this usually fertile leader in
+fun.
+
+"Fire away," groaned Spoff.
+
+"Well, then, I mean the kind of tricks that destroy people's property.
+The fellow that shies a stone through the window of some one he doesn't
+like, or who carries off gates, or tramples flower beds is only a cheap
+penny pirate."
+
+That was rather daring, for Dick's condemnation had touched rather
+closely some forms of mischief that boys always imagine as belonging to
+them on Hallowe'en night.
+
+However, the general opinion was against quarreling with Dick. Without
+him and his chums on the streets, the Grammar School boys knew that
+there wouldn't be as much sport.
+
+"You're trying to think up some good ones, aren't you?" asked Dave, as
+he and Dick were about to part on the homeward way at noon.
+
+"Yes, of course; but I hope you other fellows have brains that are
+working faster than mine is to-day."
+
+"Oh, you'll have something ready by to-night," laughed Dave.
+
+"I hope so."
+
+That afternoon the boys and girls in Old Dut's room did not appear to
+have their minds very much on their lessons. A man of Old Dut's
+experience knew why.
+
+"I'll stay at home and sit tight on my place to-night," murmured the
+principal to himself. "Like as not I'm slated to be one of the biggest
+Hallowe'en victims."
+
+When Dick reached Main Street that evening he found himself instantly
+the center of a crowd of at least twenty boys from the Central Grammar.
+
+"What'll we do, Dick?" came the hail.
+
+"Anything you like," agreed Prescott.
+
+"But what have you thought up?"
+
+"Nothing."
+
+"Cut that!"
+
+"Honest, fellows, I haven't."
+
+"Never mind," sang out Dave. "We fellows will just roam around town for
+a while and see what is happening. Something will pop into our minds,
+and then we can have a bit of mischief."
+
+"Hullo!" muttered Toby. "Say! Just look at Hoof!"
+
+"Whatcher got there, Hoof?" demanded a laughing chorus.
+
+For Hoof Sadby, looking more sheepish than ever before in his life, had
+appeared on the scene carrying a baby. It was a real, live one, too--his
+year-and-a-half-old brother, to be exact.
+
+"Say, don't guy me too much, fellows," begged Hoof sadly. "I'm in a
+pickle, sure. Pop and mother are going to a sociable to-night. That is,
+they've already gone. And they said----" Hoof paused. "They said----" he
+tried again. Then, in final desperation he shot it out quickly. "They
+said I'd have to stay home, and--mind the baby!"
+
+"Isn't that a shame?" came a sympathetic chorus, but a few of the
+fellows laughed.
+
+"It's a boy, any way," argued Hoof, rather brokenly, "and a smart little
+fellow, too. Now, if he's going to grow up right as a boy the kid ought
+to start in early. So I've wrapped him up warm and have brought him out
+with me."
+
+"What are you going to do with him, Hoof?"
+
+"I'm going to tote the little fellow around to see the fun--if you
+fellows can stand having me with you," announced Hoof sadly, rather
+pleadingly.
+
+"Why, of course you can come, can't he, fellows?" appealed Dick.
+
+"If you're sure that the youngster won't catch cold," agreed Tom Reade.
+"A baby is a human being, you know, and has some rights of his own."
+
+"Oh, I won't let the little shaver catch cold," promised Hoof. "See how
+warmly I've got him wrapped up."
+
+As some of the fellows crowded about their encumbered mate, baby laughed
+and tried to reach them.
+
+"He's a good fellow, if he is young," spoke up Greg. "Bring him along,
+Hoof."
+
+So that was settled, and the crowd turned down one of the side streets.
+These darker thoroughfares, as all knew by experience, were safer for
+Hallowe'en pranks. The dark places were the easiest ones in which to
+escape when pursuit offered.
+
+Nor had the Grammar School crowd been strolling along more than
+two minutes when Dick suddenly halted them by holding up one hand.
+
+"What is it?" whispered several, mysteriously, as they crowded about the
+leader.
+
+"There's Mose Waterman's house, and it's all dark there," murmured Dick.
+"And it's the same over at Mr. Gordon's. Now, you know, Waterman and
+Gordon have never spoken to each other since they had that law suit."
+
+"Yes, yes!"
+
+"Well, the warm weather lately has led Mose Waterman to leave his porch
+chairs out later'n usual. Now, fellows, suppose we lift the chairs from
+Waterman's porch and put 'em over on Gordon's porch. That wouldn't be
+far for Waterman to go after 'em, but do you think he'd do it? Never! He
+will growl, and swear that Gordon stole the chairs. And Mr. Gordon is
+too angry with Mose Waterman to take the chairs back. So it'll give us
+fun for a fortnight strolling by in the day time and noticing whether
+Waterman has his chairs back."
+
+"Wow!" "Whoop!" "And you said, Dick"--reproachfully--"that you couldn't
+think up anything!"
+
+Half a dozen figures moved swiftly and stealthily. In a twinkling the
+transfer of porch chairs from Waterman's house to Gordon's had been
+made. The young mischief-makers passed on, looking for more nonsense.
+But that joke became almost classic in Gridley. For days and days after
+that Waterman and Gordon glared at each other from their front windows,
+or whenever they met on the street. But neither would touch the chairs,
+and neighbors grinned every time they passed and saw the chairs still on
+the Gordon porch. One night, in November, however, Gordon took the
+chairs as far as the middle of the road. An hour later Mose Waterman
+slipped out from his unlighted house and carried the chairs back and
+into his own house. The neighbors had had their hearty laughs, however.
+
+"Say, I'll bet that's the best thing done to-night," chuckled Toby Ross,
+as the "gang" pressed on to new scenes and new laughs.
+
+But it wasn't quite the best thing done that night as later events
+showed.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+THE NEWEST TRICK OF ALL
+
+
+"Here's where old Miss Lowthry lives," muttered Ned Allen, halting
+before a gate leading into the grounds surrounding a cosy little
+cottage.
+
+"It wouldn't be very manly to do anything to scare lone women, would
+it?" demanded Dick.
+
+"She's an old maid," protested Toby.
+
+"That's no crime," insisted Dick.
+
+"She has no use for boys," breathed Ben Alvord, complainingly.
+
+"From some things that boys do, I don't altogether blame her," chuckled
+young Prescott.
+
+"And--say! Don't Miss Lowthry hate babies!" grunted Wrecker Lane. "You
+remember Fred Porter? His folks used to live in that next house. When
+Fred was a baby they say he used to cry something awful. Well, once in
+the summer, after Fred had cried every night for a week, and Miss
+Lowthry had to hear it all through her open windows, what did she do but
+go to the health board and ask that the Porters be ordered to make their
+baby stop crying. There was an awful fuss about it, and Miss Lowthry
+made some talk about all babies being brats."
+
+"They are not," denied Hoof Sadby indignantly.
+
+"That's what I'm trying to tell you," went on Wrecker calmly. "That's
+why I have no use for old maids that hate babies. Now, there are some
+old maids that are really fine. But Miss Lowthry!"
+
+"Wrecker, you live right near here," murmured Dick suddenly.
+
+"'Course I do."
+
+"Then come aside. I want to whisper something to you."
+
+Then Dick talked in whispers with Wrecker for a few moments. The other
+boy was seen by the curious suddenly to double up with laughter. From
+that attitude Wrecker recovered, only to start off on the run.
+
+"Say, what is it?" demanded a dozen cautious voices as Dick came back to
+the crowd.
+
+"Now, see here, fellows, don't want to know too much. Just stay around
+and see what happens, and you'll all enjoy it as much as Miss Lowthry
+does."
+
+"Then it's against her?" breathed Ben Alvord. "Good! great!"
+
+"Now, you, Dave, stay here with me," Dick went on, disposing of his
+forces with the air of a general. "The rest of you fellows scoot across
+the lawn and hide in the bushes. Hide so that you can't be seen from the
+street or from the front door of the cottage, either. Then just wait and
+see what happens."
+
+Tom Reade and Greg managed to get the crowd started. Then Dick called,
+softly:
+
+"Oh, say, Hoof! I'll hold the baby for you a while. You must be tired."
+
+Hoof started, and glared suspiciously. But he knew that Dick was "always
+on the square," and so, after swallowing hard, passed the tiny, bundled
+youngster over to Prescott's waiting arms. "Say, be careful what you do
+with him," pleaded Sadby. "He's a fine little fellow."
+
+Then the crowd hid. How they watched and waited! Miss Lowthry's sitting
+room was lighted, and the boys could see her, seated in a rocking chair,
+reading a book.
+
+It seemed ages ere Wrecker Lane returned. When he came he brought a
+basket. Some soft fragments of blanket rested in the bottom of it.
+
+"Just the thing," chuckled Dick softly, placing the baby in the basket.
+"Now, skip over there, Wrecker, and hide with the fellows in the
+bushes."
+
+Dick waited until Wrecker Lane vanished.
+
+"Now, come along, Dave," chuckled Prescott. "You ring the bell just as I
+place the basket on the steps. Then we'll both hot-foot it to join the
+fellows."
+
+A few moments later Dick and Dave scurried to cover, snuggling down
+among a lot of Grammar School boys who were holding their handkerchiefs
+wedged in their mouths.
+
+Then they heard the front door open, saw Miss Lowthry peer out, and then
+heard her utter a shriek, followed with:
+
+"Mercy me! Who has dared to leave a foundling on my step?"
+
+And then, as she bent over and poked the pieces of blanket aside:
+
+"Mercy! What a horridly homely brat!"
+
+"It isn't!" exploded Hoof, in an undertone, as he snatched the
+handkerchief from his mouth. "Gracious! Wouldn't I like to pinch her!"
+
+But Miss Lowthry must have recognized her duty as a citizen, for she
+picked up the basket and bore it into the house, slamming the door
+behind her.
+
+"Wow! Oh, dear! oh, dear!" laughed a lot of mischievous youngsters
+hidden in the bushes.
+
+"Look!" whispered Dave Darrin. "She has taken the basket into her
+sitting room. She's placed it on a table. There she goes to the
+telephone. Whee! See how she's working her arm, jerking that telephone
+bell crank!"
+
+Some conversation that the young peepers, of course, couldn't hear
+passed over the telephone. Then Miss Lowthry hung up the receiver and
+thrust her forefingers into her ears as she turned to stare at the human
+contents of the basket on the table.
+
+"The poor kid's hollering," muttered Hoof. "Can you blame it?"
+
+All that followed, and which the boys could see through the lighted
+windows of the room interested them mightily. But at last they heard a
+heavy step on the sidewalk. Then one of the blue-coated guardians of
+Gridley's peace turned in at the gate, went up to the door and rang the
+bell.
+
+"She sent for the police," chuckled Dick Prescott.
+
+"Of course," grinned Dave.
+
+The peeping boys saw the officer step through into the old maid's
+sitting room. Miss Lowthry pointed at the basket in a highly dramatic
+way. The policeman bent over to take a kindly look at the tiny youngster
+therein, then adjusting the pieces of blanket, he lifted the basket.
+
+"Now, it's time to do your turn, Hoof," whispered Dick, giving young
+Sadby a nudge. "Slip over the fence and do it right."
+
+Miss Lowthry followed the policeman to the door, opening it for him and
+letting him out.
+
+"Boo-hoo!" sounded a heart-broken voice out on the sidewalk, in the
+darkness beyond. Then, as the policeman stepped down from the steps,
+Hoof suddenly let out a wail and darted into the yard.
+
+"Say, Mister Cop, have you got it?" demanded Hoof eagerly.
+
+"Got what?" demanded the policeman.
+
+"My baby brother! You see, Mister Cop, some fellows took my baby brother
+and carried him off for a joke."
+
+Then Hoof came into the pale light that was shed just past the open
+front door. There were tears in his eyes, all right, for an onion was
+one of the things that "Wrecker" Lane had brought from home. Hoof had
+rubbed a slice of the onion on the skin under his eyes, and the tears
+that he wanted to show were genuine enough.
+
+"Is this your brother?" demanded the policeman, lowering the basket he
+was carrying.
+
+The Sadby baby had begun to cry again, but at sight of Hoof the little
+fellow stopped suddenly, crowed and reached out with its little hands.
+
+"After that do you have to ask if that's my kid brother?" demanded Hoof
+Sadby proudly.
+
+"I guess it is, all right, Sadby," replied the policeman. "I know you.
+Well, if this is your brother, please take him off my hands--and
+welcome. You see, Miss Lowthry, it was nothing but the humorous prank of
+some boys. This is Hallowe'en."
+
+"Boys!" sniffed Miss Lowthry, glaring. "Humph! I think I could eat a
+couple of boys, right now, if I could see them skinned alive and then
+boiled."
+
+Hoof, once he had possession of the basket, raced away as though nothing
+else on earth mattered. This was good policy for, if he lingered, the
+policeman might begin to ask questions.
+
+When the door had closed and the officer was gone, Dick and his crowd
+slipped out from concealment, joining Hoof and his baby brother.
+
+"Oh, me, oh, my!" groaned Dave Darrin, stifling with laughter. "We must
+play this on some more folks."
+
+"But say," warned Dick Prescott, "don't you think that, by the time
+we've played this on three or four more people, the policeman will begin
+to be suspicious of Hoof's wailing accents and his great joy at finding
+his kid brother?"
+
+"Oh, we'll have to try it again, anyway," urged Tom Reade. "I know just
+the people to work it on. You know Mr. and Mrs Crossleigh? They live
+around on the next street. They haven't any children, and they're big
+cranks."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII
+
+CARRYING "FUN" TO THE DANGER LIMIT
+
+
+The Hallowe'eners hidden across the street, and Hoof Sadby posted up the
+street, ready to come on the scene and do his part when needed, Tom
+Reade and Greg Holmes crept up to the front porch of the Crossleigh
+home, deposited the basket, rang and then bolted.
+
+In a short time a dim light was visible through the stained glass of the
+front door. Then that barrier itself was opened, and Mr. Crossleigh, a
+man past middle age, and in dressing-gown and slippers, came out.
+
+Seeing no one, and coming further out, Mr. Crossleigh almost kicked the
+basket. But he recovered in time, and bent down.
+
+The peepers, not far away, heard him utter an exclamation of amazement.
+Then:
+
+"Wife!" he called back into the house. "Come and see who's here!"
+
+"Who is it?" hailed a voice from inside. "Cousin Jenny?"
+
+"No; it isn't."
+
+"Who? The minister?"
+
+"No; you just come and see."
+
+Then Mrs. Crossleigh came down the hallway and out on to the porch.
+
+"Now, who do you think it is?" chuckled Mr. Crossleigh, lifting the
+basket.
+
+"Henry Crossleigh, where on earth----"
+
+"Don't ask me where it came from, wife. I found it here on the stoop
+when I answered the bell."
+
+"Well of all the----" gasped the woman in wonder.
+
+"Ain't it!" agreed her husband.
+
+"It's--it's--why, I do believe it's a real cute little shaver,"
+continued the woman hesitatingly.
+
+"Fine little fellow, I should say, though I'm no judge," continued Mr.
+Crossleigh.
+
+"And it isn't crying a bit. Do you suppose it's a foundling, left on our
+stoop, as we sometimes read of in the papers, Henry?"
+
+"That's just what it is, of course. Folks don't leave small children
+around for a joke, wife."
+
+"And have we got to take it in and keep it?"
+
+"The law doesn't compel us to."
+
+"But--Henry----"
+
+"What is it, wife?"
+
+"Do you suppose--we've never had any children. Do you think we
+could----"
+
+"We can do whatever you say, wife," nodded
+
+[Illustration: "Is This the Brother You're Looking For?"]
+
+Mr. Crossleigh. "If you say that you want to----"
+
+Here he came to a pause. The new idea was so wholly strange that he
+couldn't grasp it all at once.
+
+Here Hoof Sadby, straining his ears from the distance, judged that it
+was high time for him to use his slice of onion. Then his doleful voice
+was heard as he came wailing along.
+
+"Why, who's that out there?" cried Mrs. Crossleigh.
+
+"Say, have you got my baby brother!" demanded Hoof, halting at the
+gateway, then running forward for a minute. "Some fellers----
+
+"Is this the brother you're looking for?" asked Mr. Crossleigh, stepping
+toward Hoof, basket in hand.
+
+"Yes!" snapped Hoof, giving a pretended gulp of joy. But, truth to tell,
+he felt so ashamed of himself that he was a poor actor at this moment.
+Had the Crossleighs been more suspicious they would have detected
+something sham in Hoof's beginning grief and his swift change to joy.
+
+"Oh, thank you, sir," awkwardly sobbed Hoof, taking the basket. "I know
+the fellows that did this to me. They think this is a good Hallowe'en
+joke."
+
+"I'm glad, boy, that you didn't have a longer hunt," remarked Mr.
+Crossleigh. "Good night!"
+
+Then Hoof and the peepers across the way saw Mr. Crossleigh throw an arm
+around his wife's waist and draw her into the house, closing the door.
+
+"Say, who said they were cranks?" demanded Greg Holmes, when the abashed
+Hallowe'eners had gathered a little way down the street. "Why, those
+folks would have been only too glad to take the little shaver in
+and----"
+
+"Adopt it," supplied Dan Dalzell.
+
+Truth to tell, Dick and all the Grammar School boys had seen the
+beginning of a scene that made their joke look small.
+
+"If I ever catch any fellow trying to sneak the Crossleigh's gate,"
+warned Dave loftily, "I'll give that fellow all that's coming his way!"
+
+"They're the right sort of people," confessed Dick. "Fellows, we've all
+got to make it our business to see that the Crossleighs are never
+bothered again by fellows out for larks. Say, they showed us that
+playing a joke with a baby is only a clownish trick, didn't they?"
+
+"I'm going home," announced Hoof. "This little shaver has been out long
+enough. It's time he was in his crib."
+
+To this no objection was offered. As Wrecker Lane was near his home he
+ran off with the basket, which he tossed into the yard, after which he
+overtook his companions.
+
+"What are we going to do, now?" Ben Alvord wanted to know.
+
+"Let's prowl around and see what other Hallowe'eners are doing,"
+proposed Dick.
+
+Apparently there was enough going on. The Grammar School boys came
+across one party of grown young men who had climbed to the top of a
+blacksmith shop and had hoisted a wagon into place on the ridge pole. At
+another point they came across a group of High School boys who, with
+bricks done up in fancy paper, and with a confectioner's label pasted on
+the package, were industriously circulating these sham sweets by tying
+the packages to door-knobs, ringing the bells and then hurrying away. In
+another part of the town the Grammar School boys came upon a bevy of
+schoolgirls engaged in the ancient pastime of "hanging baskets."
+
+In time Dick and the rest of the crowd found themselves down by the
+railroad, not far from the railway station. Lights shone out from the
+office where the night operator was handling train orders and other
+telegrams.
+
+"What can we do here?" demanded Ben Alvord.
+
+"I don't know," returned Dave.
+
+"It's a bad place to play tricks," advised Dick. "Railway people are in
+a serious line of business, and they don't stand for much nonsense."
+
+"Green is the night operator, and I don't forget the switching he gave
+some of us a year ago," muttered Ben Alvord bitterly.
+
+"What were you doing?" asked Dick.
+
+"Oh, just catching on and off a night freight that was being made up in
+the yard."
+
+"And taking a big chance of getting hurt?" asked Dick. "I don't know
+that I blame Green much for taking the quickest course he knew of
+getting you out of harm's way."
+
+"He had no right to switch us with a stick," insisted Ben.
+
+"You're right he hadn't," spoke up another youngster. "I was there, and
+I got some of that switch across my legs, too. Whew! I can feel the
+sting yet."
+
+"I guess it's about time that Green heard from us," insisted Ben.
+
+"If I were you I wouldn't do anything around here," advised Dick.
+
+"You're right," nodded Dave. "And I guess, Ben, you fellows didn't get a
+bit more than you deserved."
+
+"I'll show old Green whether we did," snapped Ben.
+
+"Don't you think of it," warned Greg Holmes. "It's a serious business to
+monkey with railroad property. Besides, anything serious might put in
+danger the lives of people traveling on the railroad."
+
+"Oh, keep quiet and do some thinking," retorted young Alvord. "Any of
+you fellows that never eat anything but milk, and are 'fraidcats, can
+cut out of this. I tell you, I'm going to get hunk with Green, and
+fellows with sand, who want to see it, can stay. The milksops can go
+home and to bed."
+
+Not a boy stirred away just then. It isn't boy nature to withdraw under
+taunts.
+
+"Say, Ben, I'll tell you something you dassent do," dared one of the
+boys.
+
+"It'll have to be something pretty big that I don't dare do," boasted
+young Alvord.
+
+"Do you dast to pick up a stone and smash one of the red or green lights
+over there?"
+
+The lights referred to were the signal lights for passing trains.
+
+"Don't do that!" protested Dick Prescott sharply. "That certainly would
+be downright criminal!"
+
+"Milksop!" retorted Ben. "I dast to do anything that I want to."
+
+"I think I dare do anything that's decent," retorted Dick quietly. "But
+I don't pretend that I'm brave enough to commit crimes, if you call
+breaking the law bravery."
+
+"Crime?" sneered Ben. "Bosh! This is only fun, and getting square with a
+man who has been mean to some of us."
+
+"If you don't take Dick's advice, and cut out the trick, you'll be
+mighty sorry afterwards," urged Tom Reade. "Come on, fellows. Let's move
+along and find some fun that is more decent."
+
+"Babies!" jeered Ben Alvord. "You haven't nerve enough to stand up for
+your rights and pay Green back for the way he treats the fellows when he
+loses his temper. You're babies! Go on. Those who aren't babies will
+stay right here and see what happens."
+
+"You're talking boldly enough, now, Ben Alvord, but you'll be whining
+to-morrow, instead. Come on, fellows; let's have nothing to do with the
+scheme," cried Dick.
+
+"Babies!" sneered Ben again. "You fellows who want to be classed with
+the babies can go. The fellows with nerve can stay right here."
+
+"Come along, then," urged Dick, and he and his chums started away. At
+the corner, just before turning up the street that led away from the
+railway station Dick turned to see if others than his chums were coming
+along. But Dick & Co. proved to be the only ones who had left the scene.
+
+There were others who wanted to go with Dick Prescott, but they didn't
+care to risk being taunted with being "babies." So they stood by Ben,
+though nervously.
+
+"Do you s'pose we'll get in jail?" whispered one of Ben's followers
+nervously.
+
+"Humph! You'd better run along with the babies," jeered Ben Alvord. "I
+guess it's time that some of you were in your cradles, anyway."
+
+"Shut up! We're standing by you, aren't we?" Wrecker Lane demanded.
+
+"Are you ready, then?" inquired Ben, glancing around at those who had
+stayed with him.
+
+"Yes," replied Toby.
+
+"Now, take good aim!" warned Ben, in a conspirator's tone. "Remember, we
+can't wait, this time, for any repeat shots. All you fellows ready?"
+
+"Yes," came the response.
+
+"When I say 'three,' then," ordered Ben. "All ready! One, two, three!"
+
+Through the air whizzed a volley of stones.
+
+Crash! Both the red and the green lights went out, the glass flying in
+splinters.
+
+Guessing what had happened, Operator Green dashed out hotfoot in
+pursuit.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX
+
+BEN WANTS TO KNOW WHO "BLABBED"
+
+
+"Cheese it! Scoot!" sounded the unnecessary warning.
+
+A crowd of boys, engaged in mischief, doesn't have to wait to be
+instructed in the art of vanishing.
+
+By the time that Mr. Green, swift though he was, got out into the open,
+Ben and the other stone-throwers had scattered in as many different
+directions as there were boys in the party.
+
+For a moment Night Operator Green halted, baffled, for every one of the
+fugitives had found safe cover.
+
+"They've run down to the street, and are making off," decided the night
+operator, with bad judgment. "I'll catch some of them yet."
+
+Whereupon he sprinted down to the corner and turned up the street. True
+enough he beheld a clump of boys, but they were gathered around one of
+their number and talking earnestly.
+
+"Stop, you young heathen! Stay right where you are, if you know what's
+good for you!" yelled the angered operator.
+
+None of the six boys moved more than was necessary in order for them to
+get a view of the charging operator.
+
+"Now, I've got you;" roared Mr. Green swooping down upon Dick & Co.
+
+"Well, Mr Green?" inquired Dick unafraid, as he had a right to be.
+
+"I want all your names!" growled the operator. "Your right names, too!"
+
+"I guess you know all of our names now, if you take a good look at us,"
+smiled Prescott.
+
+"Yes, I do," nodded Mr. Green grimly. "I wouldn't have thought it of any
+of you boys, either. But there's no telling what boys won't do
+nowadays."
+
+"What are we supposed to have done?" Dick queried.
+
+"You're the youngsters who threw a volley of stones and broke the
+railroad signal lights."
+
+"Guess again!" suggested Dave.
+
+"Aren't the lights broken, and didn't I catch you moving away from the
+scene?" glared Mr. Green.
+
+"Yes; but didn't you hear some other boys getting away at the same
+time?" demanded Prescott.
+
+"Um! I--er--suppose I did."
+
+"Doesn't it strike you that the boys who broke your signal lights were
+the ones who ran away so fast?"
+
+"Then you boys didn't do it!"
+
+"We certainly didn't."
+
+"Who were the boys, then!"
+
+"Excuse me, Mr. Green, but you'll have to find that out for yourself."
+
+"Who were they?" pressed the operator.
+
+"As I said before, Mr. Green, you'll have to find that out for
+yourself."
+
+"Then I guess I'll take you youngsters in on the charge. You know that I
+belong to the railway police, don't you?"
+
+"Yes; and I also know," smiled Dick steadily, "that, if you don't
+succeed in proving your charge, you'll lay both yourself and the
+railroad liable to damages for false arrest."
+
+Mr. Green looked a bit uneasy. This is a point of law intended to
+restrain officers of the law from making arrests without evidence.
+
+"For the last time, will you tell me the names of the boys who threw the
+stones?"
+
+"No," Dick rejoined, "for we don't know exactly what boys did the
+throwing."
+
+"Name the boys you suspect, then."
+
+"Nothing doing," Dave Darrin interposed, with emphasis.
+
+"Then I'll have to take you boys in."
+
+"That's your privilege--and your risk, as Dick has explained," laughed
+Dave.
+
+Green fidgeted. He didn't want to make any mistakes, but he did wish
+that these Grammar School boys could be scared more easily.
+
+"Will you come back to the station with me, without going in arrest?"
+asked the operator.
+
+"Why?" questioned Prescott, pointedly.
+
+"Because I'm going to send for the chief of police, and I shall want him
+to talk with you," Green answered.
+
+"The chief of police knows where to find any of us when he wants to,"
+hinted Darrin.
+
+"If Mr. Green asks us to go to the railway station with him, without
+being placed under arrest, I don't see what harm that can do, fellows.
+What do you say if we accept Mr. Green's invitation?"
+
+"All right," agreed some of the six. Even Dave consented.
+
+Ten minutes later the chief of police was on hand. He inspected the
+broken lights just before the operator placed out new ones. Mr. Green
+stated what he knew of the affair. Then the chief turned to Dick & Co.
+He put many questions. Some of these Dick and his friends answered
+promptly. They even told how they had spoken against the proposed prank,
+and how they had left when they had found that the other boys couldn't
+be stopped. But as to the matter of naming the other boys all six
+refused.
+
+"We're not tell-tales," Dick explained.
+
+"Justice Lee can make you tell," warned the chief of police.
+
+"Can he?" inquired Dick. "Can he make us testify as to our suspicions?
+And wouldn't warrants have to be issued for us before we could be taken
+to court?"
+
+"No; the judge could issue summons for you all."
+
+"But could he make us testify as to suspicions--things we didn't
+actually see?" propounded Dick Prescott.
+
+The chief chewed the ends of his moustache.
+
+"It's a criminal act to destroy the signal lights of a railway," the
+police officer went on. "You ought to tell us, to serve the ends of
+justice."
+
+"Do you know what would happen to us?" Dick demanded.
+
+"What?"
+
+"Every other fellow in town would point his finger at us and cry
+'tell-tale!' We'd get thrashed whenever we showed our heads outdoors."
+
+"The police can protect you," declared the chief.
+
+"Have you ever had policemen enough yet to prevent boys from fighting in
+Gridley?" challenged Dick, though his tone was respectful. "Besides, the
+thrashings wouldn't be anything to the scorn and contempt that we'd meet
+everywhere."
+
+"You ought to tell us," insisted the chief of police. "You're helping to
+defeat the ends of justice."
+
+"Aren't men clever enough to catch a few boy offenders, without
+demanding that other boys 'queer' themselves with every fellow in town?"
+insisted Dick.
+
+"Justice Lee will make you tell, then," promised the chief, with a shake
+of his head.
+
+"He can't!" spoke Dick with spirit. "I'll go to prison, and stay there,
+before I'll turn blab. So will my friends."
+
+"That's just what we'll do," nodded Dave, his eyes flashing.
+
+The chief chewed his moustache thoughtfully. At last he spoke.
+
+"You boys can go now. I know where to find you when I want you."
+
+Dick & Co. lost no time in getting away from this uncomfortable
+examination.
+
+"Prescott and Darrin are regular little schoolboy lawyers, Green,"
+laughed the chief. "We can't make them tell a thing."
+
+"But the judge ought to be able to."
+
+"Perhaps Justice Lee has the power, Green, but we'd only make heroes of
+Prescott, Darrin and the rest if we made martyrs of them in court. It
+would stir up a lot of bad feeling in the town, too, and after that
+every boy would feel that he had a grudge against you railway people.
+You'd be annoyed in loads of ways that the police couldn't very well
+stop. Prescott scored a hit with me when he said that a lot of grown men
+ought to be able to catch a lot of boy offenders. Green, the best thing
+to do is to put the case up to your railway company."
+
+"The boys who threw the stones must be found and punished!" insisted the
+operator firmly.
+
+"Yes; I agree with you on that point. But you'd better go about in a
+regular way. Wire your headquarters and ask that a railway detective be
+sent here on the case. My department will give your detective all proper
+aid in the matter."
+
+One of the earliest trains, the next morning, brought Detective Briscoe.
+That official, however, worked very quietly. No one guessed who or what
+he was until he was ready to strike.
+
+Ned Allen, Ben Alvord, Toby Ross, Wrecker Lane and Spoff Henderson were
+badly scared that same next morning. They met on the way to school and
+took blood-curdling oaths as to secrecy.
+
+Then, in the school yard, Ben Alvord hunted up Prescott.
+
+"Dick, you didn't give our names last night, did you?"
+
+"No," Prescott replied.
+
+"You won't name us, either, will you?"
+
+"No, sirree!"
+
+So the light-smashers felt more comfortable. By the day following they
+breathed easily--until they reached school.
+
+The boys were in the yard, playing until the gong rang for morning
+session. A buggy drove up, and Detective Briscoe and two policemen in
+plain clothes got out.
+
+"Trouble!" was the word whispered. Ben Alvord and his fellows turned
+pale. But the gong rang. Glad of any chance to bolt, Ben, Spoff, Ned,
+Toby and Wrecker fled to the basement to get into line.
+
+Briscoe and the two policemen appeared in Old Dut's room. The detective
+drew some papers from his pocket, inquiring:
+
+"You have boys here by the names of Allen, Alvord, Ross, Lane and
+Henderson, haven't you?"
+
+"Yes," nodded Old Dut.
+
+"Ask them to step forward, please."
+
+Pallid and shaking a bit, the five came forward.
+
+"Boys," announced Detective Briscoe, "I am sorry to say that Justice Lee
+wants to see you about a little matter on Hallowe'en. Get your hats and
+coats and come along."
+
+An awed hush crept over the eighth grade room after the youngsters had
+left.
+
+"I hope," declared Old Dut to his class, "that the young men haven't
+been doing anything very wrong."
+
+Under Justice Lee's questioning the five broke down, one after another
+and confessed.
+
+"Young men," said Justice Lee severely, "this is a more serious offense
+than probably any of you understand. Destroying railway signals is
+always likely to lead to destruction of property and even loss of life.
+I advise the parents of these young men to explain to them carefully and
+earnestly what a criminal thing these boys have done. If any of you
+young men are ever brought before me again, on such a charge, I shall
+send the offenders to a reformatory, there to remain until they are
+twenty-one. For this first offense I trust that the parents will act as
+my allies. On this occasion, therefore, I shall let the young men off
+with a fine of ten dollars each."
+
+The fines were paid. Ben and his comrades reached school just as the
+afternoon session was closing. All five of the culprits were in an
+angry, defiant frame of mind.
+
+"Whoop! There's Ben Alvord," shouted one of the eighth grade boys, as
+Central Grammar "let out." "Hullo, Ben! What did they do to you?"
+
+"How long you got to go up for, Ben?" jeered another.
+
+The five were quickly surrounded and eagerly questioned.
+
+"That judge was too fresh!" declared Alvord wrathfully. "He called us
+criminals, and gave us a fierce scolding. He made our folks pay ten
+dollars apiece."
+
+"That don't cost you anything," grinned one of the boys.
+
+"Don't it, though?" Ben demanded angrily. "I had ten dollars and forty
+cents saved up for a bicycle. Dad said that, as long as I liked such
+expensive amusements, I could just pay the fine out of my bicycle money.
+So, now, I've got only forty cents left. And all because some fellows
+can't keep their mouths shut!"
+
+"What do you mean by that, Ben?" demanded three or four fellows.
+
+"I mean that Dick Prescott and his gang had to go and blab on us!"
+charged Ben Alvord. "There he is, now, the sneak!"
+
+There was a great bobbing of heads. All eyes, and most of them accusing
+eyes, were turned on Dick & Co.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX
+
+DICK'S ACCUSER GETS TWO ANSWERS
+
+
+Dick took a step forward, his face grave but his eyes steady as he faced
+his accuser.
+
+"Ben, I know you're sore, but if you say that I, or any of my friends
+told on you, then you're going too far."
+
+"You did!" asserted young Alvord. "You blabbed!"
+
+"I didn't, and we didn't; not one of us."
+
+"That's all right to say after you're caught," flared Ben.
+
+"Then you call us liars?" flashed Dave Darrin, pushing his way forward,
+his fists clenched.
+
+"You are, if you say you didn't blab!" panted Ben.
+
+"Fight! fight!" chorused some of the boys.
+
+"Get back, Dave, and keep cool," warned Dick, pushing his chum to the
+rear. "This thing started with me, and it's my affair first of all. Ben
+Alvord, look at me! I don't want to fight. I don't believe in fighting
+when it can be helped. I know you're sore, too, for you've just had a
+rough time of it after what you thought was fun on Hallowe'en. But
+you're going too far when you say we blabbed on you, for we didn't."
+
+"Who did, then?" sneered Ben.
+
+"I don't know. I'm not the chief of police. But, just because you can't
+think who told on you, you needn't come along and accuse us."
+
+"I say you did tell--you or some of your gang!" retorted Ben.
+
+"It sounds likely enough. No one else knew," muttered a boy on the
+outskirts of the crowd.
+
+"Of course Dick Prescott or some of his gang told on us," insisted Ben
+Alvord angrily.
+
+Dick took a step closer to his accuser.
+
+"Then, Ben, you're a liar!" Prescott announced coolly.
+
+"Punch him!" urged another boy, giving Ben a shove toward Dick.
+
+"You bet I will!" snapped Alvord. "I don't allow a sneak to call me a
+liar."
+
+"You can have a fight, if you insist on it," agreed Dick promptly. "You
+can have it right away, too, and it will last as long as you want. But
+this is no place. Let's go up to the field where we used to practise
+football."
+
+"Whoop! Come on!" The crowd of Grammar School boys surged around the
+prospective fighters. A big procession started up the road.
+
+"See here, this whole crowd can't come. So many will get us into
+trouble," shouted Dave.
+
+"I'll name ten of Dick's friends, and Ben can name ten of his friends.
+No one else will be allowed to come."
+
+Dave quickly called off his list of boys.
+
+"Choose me, Ben!" "Choose me!" urged two score boys whom Dave had not
+named. Ben looked around, trying to select those whom he thought most
+friendly to himself.
+
+Then the procession started again, containing only the chosen ones.
+Others wanted to go, but knew they would be driven back by the selected
+twenty friends.
+
+The field was quickly reached. Ben Alvord was cooling, now. He would
+have drawn out of the fight, but knew that he couldn't get out without
+discredit. So Ben pulled off his jacket, took off his collar and tie and
+made ready.
+
+Dick, who was almost wholly free from anger, made similar preparations.
+After a good deal of disputing Hoof Sadby was agreed upon as a referee
+satisfactory to both sides. Dave, of course, seconded Dick, while Alvord
+chose Toby Ross.
+
+"Get your men forward," ordered Hoof. "Want to shake hands before you
+start?"
+
+"No," growled Ben sullenly.
+
+"Time, then! Get busy!"
+
+Dick threw himself on guard. He was not an amazingly good boxer, but he
+had been through a few schoolboy fights.
+
+"I'll knock your head off and wind it up!" blazed Ben, darting forward.
+
+Instead of carrying out his programme, Ben received a blow on the nose
+that staggered him.
+
+"No fair!" howled Ben, retreating. "I hadn't my guard up."
+
+"Your fault, then," mocked Dick.
+
+"All fair," chimed in Hoof. "Stop talking and mix it up."
+
+Ben soon advanced once more, rather disconcerted by the wholly steady
+bearing of Dick Prescott.
+
+This time Alvord tried to foul by hitting below the belt. Dick
+sidestepped and drove in a blow against Ben's left eye.
+
+"My! That was a socker!" yelled some of the spectators.
+
+"You're hitting too hard. It ain't fair," wailed Ben, backing off.
+
+"If all you want is gymnastics you don't need me," mocked Dick. "Fight,
+if you're going to. If you're not, then get out of this."
+
+"Mix it up!" ordered Hoof tersely, and the crowd took up the cry.
+
+Ben suddenly let loose. For a few moments he kept young Prescott pretty
+busy. Not all of Ben's blows were fended off, either. Dick's face began
+to show red spots from the hard impacts of Alvord's tough little fists.
+
+"Good boy, Ben! Go in and wind up his clock!" came the gleeful advice.
+"You've got him started. Keep him going!"
+
+Just then a blow under the chin sent Ben down to the ground.
+
+"Keep back, Prescott. Don't hit him while he's down," cried several. But
+this Dick had no intention of doing. Panting slightly, he waited for Ben
+to get to his feet. This Alvord soon did, drawing away crouchingly.
+
+"Got enough?" hailed Dick.
+
+"I'll show you!" raged Ben, rushing forward.
+
+Dick met him half-way, in a leap. Now it was Prescott on the offensive,
+and he forced Ben all over the field, to the tune of encouraging yells.
+Ben tried to save his face, but couldn't. Then Dick hammered his body.
+Young Alvord lost all his coolness, and began to windmill his hands.
+That settled it, of course. Any boy who forsakes his guard to take to
+windmilling is as good as whipped. Dick watched his chance, then drove
+in a blow on Ben's jaw that felled him flat.
+
+"O-o-oh!" wailed Ben, holding to his jaw with both hands.
+
+"Do you give it up?" demanded Hoof.
+
+"No!"
+
+"Then get up and go on with the fight."
+
+"I will when I'm ready."
+
+"You will, now, or I'll decide against you," warned Hoof.
+
+"That booby broke my jaw," groaned Ben.
+
+"You wag it pretty well, for a broken jaw," jeered Dave.
+
+"Get up, Ben!"
+
+"If you don't you're thrashed!"
+
+"Don't give up like a baby!"
+
+"Get up and fight," ordered Hoof. "One!"
+
+Ben lay on the ground, glaring about him in sullen silence.
+
+"Going to get up?" demanded Hoof. "Two!"
+
+"Oh, Ben, don't let Prescott whip you as easily as that," implored
+several of Alvord's backers.
+
+"Get up!" commanded Hoof, putting the toe of his boot lightly against
+Alvord's body. "Three!"
+
+Still Ben refused to stir.
+
+"Dick Prescott wins the fight," announced Hoof judicially. "Ben refused
+three times to get up and go on."
+
+As soon as Prescott began to don his discarded coat, Ben got to his
+feet.
+
+"Now, I have something to say to you, Alvord," announced Dave, going
+over to the worsted one. "You insulted six of us and called us liars.
+Dick is only one. You'll have to fight the rest of us, one a day, or
+else apologize before the crowd."
+
+"I won't apologize," glared Ben.
+
+"All right, then. You'll fight me after school to-morrow," Darrin
+declared.
+
+"And me the day after," challenged Greg Holmes. Reade, Dalzell and
+Hazelton all put in their claims for dates.
+
+"You think you're going to bully me, don't you?" grunted Ben.
+
+"No," Dave answered. "But when a fellow lies about me I'm going to make
+him fight or apologize."
+
+"I don't know whether I will fight you, or not," snarled Ben.
+
+"Then you'll get a thrashing just the same, and be called a coward by
+every decent fellow in school," flared Dave.
+
+Ben quailed a bit inwardly. He had had all the fighting he wanted for
+the present.
+
+"That Prescott fellow is no good, anyway," sniffed Ben, as he walked
+homeward with Toby Ross, the only one of the late spectators who had
+stood by him.
+
+"Well, may-be he didn't tell on us," suggested Toby.
+
+"'Course he did!"
+
+"Dick has always acted pretty decently."
+
+"Huh! If neither he nor any of his gang told, then who did?" demanded
+Ben, as though that settled it.
+
+"Ben Alvord, what have you been doing?" demanded his mother, as Ben
+showed up at the kitchen door.
+
+"Why?"
+
+"Your face is all bruised. Have you been fighting?"
+
+"Yes, ma'am. I had to. I thumped Dick Prescott for telling on us and
+getting us all arrested."
+
+"Did Dick say that he told on you?" asked Mrs. Alvord.
+
+"No, ma'am."
+
+"Denied it, didn't he?"
+
+"Yes'm."
+
+"And I guess Dick told the truth. I know who did tell on all you boys,"
+announced his mother.
+
+"Who?" demanded Ben sullenly.
+
+"Your little brother, Will."
+
+Willie Alvord was only between four and five; not yet old enough to go
+to school.
+
+"I got it all out of the baby this afternoon," continued Mrs. Alvord. "I
+saw him playing with a new baseball bat, and I made him tell me where he
+got it. It seems that Willie heard you and Toby, and the other boys
+talking about your Hallowe'en pranks yesterday morning before you went
+to school. Then, later, Willie was out in the street playing, when 'a
+nice man'--as Willie called him--came along and got to talking with him.
+The man talked about you, it seems, Ben, and he made believe he didn't
+think Willie's big brother was very smart. Then Willie up and boasted of
+your smartness down at the railroad. The 'nice man' took Willie to the
+corner and bought him some candy and a baseball bat, and kept on talking
+about you and Toby, and the rest, and of course Willie told the 'nice
+man' all he'd heard about the railroad business."
+
+"That 'nice man' must have been the detective," growled Ben. "Oh, he's a
+real 'nice man.' If Willie was larger I'd take the baseball bat to him
+for talking too much!"
+
+"Well, you won't," warned his mother dryly. "Willie is only a baby, and
+didn't know what he was saying. But you'd better go and apologize to
+Dick Prescott."
+
+"Huh!" was Ben's undutiful retort. Then he went outside with Toby.
+
+"So Dick didn't tell?" mused Toby. "It was your kid brother?"
+
+"Don't you tell that to any one!" warned Ben Alvord, flushing.
+
+"Why, you'll have to tell it yourself," protested Toby. "You'll surely
+have to beg Dick Prescott's pardon after what you said to him before the
+whole crowd. If you don't, then I'll tell myself. I'm not going to see
+Dick blamed for what he didn't do."
+
+"If you blab to any one," warned Ben angrily, "I'll give you a good
+thrashing."
+
+"Try it, and perhaps you'll get more of what Dick gave you this
+afternoon," Toby shot back as he walked through the gate.
+
+Toby was as good as his word. He told the news at school the next day,
+and Ben Alvord's stock went even lower. After school that afternoon Dave
+Darrin made Ben apologize. So did Reade, Holmes, Hazelton and Dalzell.
+It was a bitter pill for young Alvord to swallow. The fights that the
+other chums had claimed were now called off. They felt Ben to be beneath
+their notice.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI
+
+AB. DEXTER MAKES A NEW MOVE
+
+
+"Did you hear the latest from Ab. Dexter?" asked Dave, as he met Dick
+one Saturday afternoon in November.
+
+"No; nothing very good, was it?"
+
+"That's hardly to be expected," laughed Dave, as the two chums came to a
+halt on a street corner. "Did you happen to remember that Dexter and
+Driggs were due to come up for trial in court this afternoon?"
+
+"No; I had forgotten the date."
+
+"Well, this was the day. Justice Lee, if you remember, bound them over
+to answer at court."
+
+"Yes; I remember that."
+
+"Well, neither of them showed up, and so the court declared forfeited
+the cash bail that Dexter put up for the pair."
+
+"The money ought to be worth more to the county than both men put
+together," laughed Dick.
+
+"I guess that's the way the court looked at it."
+
+"I hope Dexter and Driggs are both a mighty long way from Gridley, and
+that they will stay. Mrs. Dexter isn't having any bother at all, these
+days, is she?"
+
+"You ought to be the one to know that," teased Dave. "You're the one she
+sends for whenever she takes it into her head that she wants to reward
+us for some jolly good fun that we had in helping her."
+
+"I had a note from Mrs. Dexter a few days ago," Dick went on. "Maybe I
+forgot to tell you about it. She wanted me to call on her, and I wrote
+back that I was awfully sorry but that my evenings just then had to be
+put in getting ready for the monthly exams. I haven't heard a word from
+her since then."
+
+"She's a fine woman," nodded Dave, "but she certainly has the reward
+habit in bad shape."
+
+"Feels some like snow, doesn't it?" inquired Dick, looking up at a
+lead-colored sky.
+
+"It'll rain," predicted Dave. "It isn't yet cold enough for snow."
+
+"I'll be mighty glad when the snow comes."
+
+"Maybe I won't," uttered Darrin. "That's the best time of the
+year--winter."
+
+"Unless you call summer the finest time."
+
+"Of course in summer we have the long vacation and plenty of time to
+have fun."
+
+"Better duck," advised Dick suddenly. "Here comes Mrs. Dexter now."
+
+"Looks as though she'd been crying, too," murmured Dave, scanning the
+approaching woman.
+
+"Then we won't scoot," advised Dick, changing front instantly. "It
+doesn't look very fine to run away from any one who's in trouble."
+
+Strangely enough Mrs. Dexter didn't appear, at first, to want to talk
+with the boys. She nodded, smiled wanly and said:
+
+"Good afternoon, boys! Are things dull to-day?"
+
+"Just quiet, Mrs. Dexter," Dick answered.
+
+Then Dave, with some of his usual impulsiveness, put in, earnestly:
+
+"You look as though you had heard bad news, Mrs. Dexter."
+
+The woman had started to go on her way. Then she turned about again.
+
+"Perhaps I have heard bad news," she smiled wearily.
+
+"It isn't anything that we could help you about, is it?" asked Dick. He
+felt that he was taking a liberty in putting the question, yet he could
+not hold his inquiry back.
+
+"I--I am afraid not, this time," she answered slowly. "Besides, I don't
+want to see any of you get into any more trouble on my account."
+
+"Then it's--it's Mr. Dexter?" hazarded Dave.
+
+The woman swallowed hard, seemed to be trying to choke back something,
+and then replied:
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Has he dared to get troublesome again?" flashed Dick.
+
+"N-n-n-o matter. Please don't ask me. You can't help me any this time."
+
+Once more Mrs. Dexter looked as though she would follow her way, but
+some other instinct prompted her to add:
+
+"Don't think I don't appreciate my excellent young friends. But you
+can't help me this time. No one can. Mr. Dexter is too dangerous a man,
+and when he threatens disaster, and says he'll wait patiently a year to
+bring it about, he means every word that he says."
+
+"Whew! So he has threatened that, has he?" Dick inquired.
+
+"Yes. I guess I may as well tell you the rest of it. Well, this morning
+I received a letter from Mr. Dexter. He wanted more money before. Now he
+puts his demand at thirty thousand dollars. He says that, if I don't
+arrange to meet him and turn over the cash, he'll wait patiently for a
+year or more, if necessary, but that he'll watch and find his chance to
+burn my home down and destroy Myra and me in it."
+
+"Dexter threatened that, did he?" chuckled Dave Darrin, almost merrily.
+"Why Dexter hasn't the nerve to do such a thing. Excuse me, Mrs. Dexter,
+but all that fellow is good for is frightening timid women."
+
+"I wish I could believe that," sighed the woman nervously.
+
+"You have a special policeman still in the house, haven't you, Mrs.
+Dexter?"
+
+"Yes. He's there, now, watching over Myra."
+
+"Well, at the worst," pursued Dick, "hire a second man and put him on
+guard nights outside the house, and you'll never hear from
+Dexter--except by mail, anyway. But how does the man expect you to send
+him word about the money? Did he give you any address?"
+
+"He told me to put an advertisement, worded in a certain way, in the
+morning 'Blade.'"
+
+"And--pardon me--you've been up and inserted the advertisement?"
+questioned Dick.
+
+"Ye-es."
+
+"And have arranged to get the money?"
+
+"Yes; I've seen Mr. Dodge at the bank."
+
+"When are you to meet Dexter!"
+
+"When he sees my advertisement in the 'Blade' to-morrow he'll send me
+word where to meet him."
+
+"You ought to send a detective, instead," blazed Dave Darrin.
+
+"If I did, Dexter would wait his time and then destroy my child and
+myself," answered the woman, her under-lip quivering.
+
+"You don't really believe that, do you?" asked Dave.
+
+"No; I know it."
+
+"You haven't been to see a lawyer, have you?" inquired Prescott.
+
+"No; I don't dare that, for a lawyer would advise, as you did, sending a
+detective to keep the appointment, and then Mr. Dexter would be put in
+prison. I don't want Myra to grow up with the shame of having a father
+in prison. I--I am glad that Dexter jumped his bail on the other little
+charge."
+
+"I see just this much about it, Mrs. Dexter," followed Dick. "But--you
+don't mind my speaking, do you?"
+
+"No; I like to hear you, for you boys have already saved me some
+heartaches."
+
+"What I was going to say, Mrs. Dexter, is that, no matter how much money
+you give that man, he'll always keep bothering you as long as you have
+any left. A man who won't work can't be very brave, and a man who
+doesn't work can spend an awful lot of money. If you surrender to Dexter
+I'm sure you'll have to keep on giving in just as long as you have any
+money left."
+
+"Then you think I ought not to give him the money, and that I ought to
+hire another good man to guard the house outside?"
+
+"Yes; if you 're really afraid. It'll be cheaper to hire another man
+than to give all your fortune away."
+
+"But I've put the advertisement in the 'Blade.'"
+
+"There's time enough to take it out."
+
+"I--I believe I'll do that," murmured Mrs. Dexter. Talking with the boys
+had given her a new little rise in courage.
+
+"That's what I'd do if it were my case," added Darrin.
+
+"Thank you! I'll go right up and take the advertisement out at once."
+
+As though afraid that her courage might fail her, if she delayed, Mrs.
+Dexter turned and walked rapidly back in the direction whence she had
+just come.
+
+"There flies a pot of money out of Dexter's window!" grinned Dave.
+
+"I'm far from being sorry," returned Prescott.
+
+Though neither boy had paid any heed to the fact a cab had moved slowly
+down Main Street past them while Mrs. Dexter was talking. The curtains
+were drawn just enough to make the interior of the vehicle a black
+shadow. Lolling on the back seat, with one curtain adjusted just so that
+he could look out sufficiently, sat a man, disguised somewhat, though
+none the less Abner Dexter.
+
+"My wife has been up to the 'Blade' office and has put an advertisement
+in," muttered Dexter. "Now, she's talking to those two meddlesome boys.
+About me, I wonder? Blazes! There she is, turning about again. I wonder
+if she's going back to take that advertisement out?"
+
+The cab turned a corner. Then, on directions from inside, the driver
+moved his horses along at a brisk trot. The same cab was passing near
+the "Blade" office when Mrs. Dexter went there for a second time.
+
+The next morning Ab. Dexter and Driggs unfolded a copy of the "Blade"
+between them.
+
+"I've got a misgiving that we won't find the advertisement," muttered
+Dexter gloomily. "No, sir. It isn't here, Driggs. Hang the woman, and
+twenty times hang those meddling youngsters! Driggs, I never shall win
+while those confounded boys are loose in Gridley!"
+
+"We'll take real care of 'em this time," muttered Driggs, with an oath.
+
+"We will!" confirmed Dexter. "We'll stop their troubling us!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII
+
+TRICKED INTO BAD COMPANY
+
+
+The heads of fifty eighth grade pupils were bent over as many broad
+volumes on geography. It was study period; recitation would be called in
+five minutes.
+
+Old Dut looked up from a report blank over which he had been poring, to
+shoot out this question:
+
+"Why doesn't the tide rise and fall in inland rivers?"
+
+It was a habit of Old Dut's to throw out questions like this in study
+time, for the purpose of waking up some of the intellects that needed
+rousing.
+
+"Master Holmes, you may answer that," proclaimed the principal.
+
+Greg started out of a brown study at hearing his name spoken. He had a
+vague recollection of having heard a question asked. But his mind was
+still far away, so he did not realize the enormity of his offense as he
+replied:
+
+"I don't know, but I'll be the goat. What's the answer?"
+
+A gasp of amazement sounded around the room.
+
+"Master Gregory Holmes," uttered Old Dut sternly, "ten checks for that
+impertinence. And go and stand in the corner by the piano. Turn your
+back to the school that you've insulted!"
+
+At that moment there came a rap on the door. Then a young man entered,
+handing a sealed envelope to the principal.
+
+"Master Prescott, put your books away and come here," directed Old Dut.
+
+The class looked on wonderingly, while Dick obeyed.
+
+"Here is a note from your mother, which requests that you be allowed to
+go home at once, as your father has been injured in an accident. I hope,
+my boy, that it is nothing serious," said the principal in a low tone.
+"Your mother has sent a carriage in order that you may get home sooner.
+Go at once, Master Prescott, and may you learn that the news is not too
+bad."
+
+Old Dut held out the note, but Dick barely saw it. Instead, he turned
+and ran to the coat room, caught up his coat and cap and sped
+downstairs. The messenger had already started downstairs.
+
+"There's the rig," announced the messenger, as Dick appeared on the
+steps.
+
+Alongside a surrey was drawn up. A rain curtain and side panels covered
+the rear seat, but the driver, a silent individual, who had a full,
+heavy red beard and wore smoked glasses over his eyes moved to make room
+for Dick on the front seat.
+
+"How badly is dad hurt?" demanded Dick breathlessly, as he bundled
+himself in on the front seat.
+
+"Can't say," replied the driver, in a low, weak voice. "I was only hired
+to come after you."
+
+"Hurry!" appealed Dick. The driver nodded, and started the horse away
+briskly.
+
+Young Prescott was fearfully worried. His mother was a woman of cool,
+calm judgment. She was not likely to send a driver after him unless his
+father's injuries were dangerous.
+
+"I hope dad isn't going to die," breathed the boy to himself. "If he
+must, then I hope I get home in time before he goes."
+
+So absorbed was he in his own gloomy thoughts that Dick gave no heed to
+the road that was taken. Nor had the surrey gone far when the rain
+curtain behind parted, but Prescott did not see that.
+
+Yet he had no suspicion of foul play until a pair of hands from behind
+gripped him about the throat.
+
+In a twinkling Dick was drawn over the back of the front seat. Then he
+vanished behind the curtain.
+
+"Anybody in the street see that done, Driggs?" whispered the voice of
+Abner Dexter.
+
+"Nary one," retorted Driggs, in a more natural voice than he had used
+before.
+
+Though Dick Prescott was half strangled he heard both voices, now, and
+they sounded wholly natural to him. Driggs was disguised, but Dexter had
+taken no such pains.
+
+"Now, you keep mighty quiet, or you'll be worse off than you thought
+your father was," snarled Ab. Dexter. He had Dick jammed down on the
+floor, the boy's head just above the man's lap. Dexter's fingers kept
+their fearful grip at the boy's throat.
+
+Not that Dick didn't fight back. He fought with all his strength. Yet
+that was not for long. Dexter had taken a foul hold and had the boy at
+his mercy. The gripping at the throat continued until Dick's muscles
+relaxed and he was still.
+
+"He'll come back to his senses, though, in a minute," uttered Dexter to
+himself. He drew out a big handkerchief and a bottle. There was an odor
+of something sickishly sweet in the air for a moment, as the
+handkerchief was pressed to the boy's nostrils.
+
+All the time Driggs had continued to drive onward at a brisk trot.
+
+"I've got to open up this curtain a bit, Driggs," called Ab. Dexter, in
+a not-too-loud voice. "I don't want to whiff in much of the stuff that
+I'm giving the youngster."
+
+Yet, though some air was admitted to the rear part of the surrey Dexter
+took pains not to expose himself to the possibly too-curious glance of
+any passer on the street. At the same time the man bent over Dick, to
+note any signs of returning consciousness.
+
+At last, seeing that second inhalation of the drug had rendered Dick
+wholly senseless, Dexter drew another handkerchief from a pocket, and
+with this he gagged the boy. Then, a moment later, he reached down and
+tied the youngster's hands.
+
+It was in a direction very different from that of Dick's home that the
+surly, silent Driggs was driving. Before long he was out in the suburbs
+of the town, traveling up the back country into the hills.
+
+"The cub will learn, this time," mused Dexter savagely. "If he doesn't,
+it will be because he's too stubborn to learn anything. And, in that
+case----"
+
+After the first half hour the road grew wilder. After going some two
+miles up into the hills Driggs turned off at the right, following a road
+used only in winter, and then principally by wood-cutters. Thus on,
+farther and farther into the woods, and turning, now and then, off into
+branching roads.
+
+Though given an occasional whiff of the stuff from the bottle, that kept
+him senseless, Dick was allowed to regain his wits after the surrey had
+branched off over the forest roads.
+
+"Keep quiet and be a good boy," admonished Dexter grimly. "You don't
+want any more of the stuff, do you? Too much of it might wind you up for
+good. We don't want to go that far--if you've got sense enough to be of
+use to us at last."
+
+"Where on earth are they taking me--and what for?" wondered Dick,
+struggling against the nausea that the inhaling of the drug had caused.
+"What's Dexter's newest piece of villainy, I wonder? Whew! But that was
+a slick trick! Anyway, dad can't be hurt at all. Mother would never pick
+them as the messengers to send for me! I'm glad dad's all right, anyway,
+even if I may happen to have a rough time ahead of me."
+
+The messenger who had entered the schoolroom, it may be said in passing,
+was not in the plot, nor had he been aware that there was any one at all
+in the rear part of the surrey. That messenger had been picked up on the
+street, by Driggs, and had been offered a quarter to take the note
+upstairs to the principal's class room, "because," Driggs had explained,
+"I don't dare leave my horse."
+
+"How on earth did this rascally pair ever manage to write a note that
+would look enough like mother's handwriting!" was Dick's next puzzle.
+
+As this, of course, was beyond his fathoming, Dick's next and very
+natural thought was:
+
+"What on earth do these scoundrels want of me? I don't believe they have
+brought me away just for vengeance."
+
+"A nice ride like this, off amid the beauties of nature, is a whole lot
+better than spending your time over dull school books, isn't it?" Dexter
+asked mockingly.
+
+But Dick could gain no idea as to the kind of country through which he
+was passing, more than that the surrey was moving over rough road.
+Jammed down where he was he could see nothing but the half dark interior
+of the vehicle.
+
+At last Driggs began to whistle softly. That being a signal, Ab. Dexter
+again produced the bottle. There was the same sickening odor as a wet
+handkerchief was placed against Dick's nostrils. Then he lost track of
+what was happening.
+
+"Whoa!" called Driggs and willingly enough the horse stopped. There was
+a ripping aside of the rubber side panels to the carriage, after which
+Driggs stood on the ground to receive the senseless boy as Dexter passed
+him out.
+
+"Into the house, I suppose?" inquired Driggs.
+
+"Yes," nodded Dexter.
+
+"Go ahead, then, with the key, and open up."
+
+The house stood at some distance from the road, and, in summer time,
+would have been hidden from the road. The house had not been occupied in
+a quarter of a century by any lawful tenant. It was a two story affair,
+and had been originally built for the superintendent of a lumber and
+milling camp. Beyond was a brook that had been dammed, furnishing good
+water-power for all the year excepting in the summer months. By the old
+water course lay the ruins of what had once been a saw-mill.
+
+Running up the short flight of steps to the front door of the
+dilapidated old dwelling off in the forests, Ab. Dexter produced a rusty
+iron key and swung the door open.
+
+"Where you going to put him?" asked Driggs.
+
+"In the rear apartments, upstairs," answered Dexter, with a laugh.
+
+Accordingly Dick was carried upstairs and into a roomy back apartment.
+There were inside shutters that Dexter swung open while Driggs dropped
+the breathing though unconscious Grammar School boy on the floor.
+
+"Now, you'd better get that borrowed rig back in the part of the world
+where it belongs," advised Ab. Dexter.
+
+"I will," nodded Driggs. "But--say!"
+
+"Well?"
+
+"That Prescott boy is young, but he's tricky."
+
+"I know that, don't I?"
+
+"Then, when he comes to, you won't let him play any trick on you that
+will give him a chance to bolt from here?"
+
+"Not I," promised Dexter. "You needn't worry. There are too many
+thousands of dollars at stake. Run along, Driggs. I'll do my part, here
+on the scene."
+
+Driggs went out. He had a long drive ahead of him. The point at which he
+intended to abandon the stolen surrey was nearly ten miles from the
+present spot. For the horse and surrey had been stolen from a farmer
+known to be away for the day with his family. Driggs meant to abandon
+the rig two or three miles from the farmer's home, and then return on a
+bicycle which he had hidden near the spot.
+
+As soon as Driggs had gone, Dexter bent over, tying Prescott's hands
+more securely.
+
+Soon after that Dick, still lying on the floor, opened his eyes.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII
+
+DICK MAKES HIS STAND FOR HONOR
+
+
+Ab. Dexter's harsh voice jarred on the air.
+
+"Welcome to our city, Prescott," he laughed.
+
+Dick's first discovery was that the gag was gone from his mouth. He made
+an effort to use his hands, but discovered that these were more securely
+tied than ever.
+
+"I hope you'll enjoy this little visit with us," laughed Dexter,
+changing his voice, which now sounded almost pleasant.
+
+"I'd enjoy it a lot more," retorted Dick dryly, "if I had my chums here
+with me."
+
+"I, too, wish we had them here," nodded Dexter. "But they'd be tied up,
+just as you are. You don't seem a bit curious as to why you're here."
+
+"No," Dick admitted.
+
+"Marvelous youth, in whom the instinct of curiosity is dead!"
+
+"Whatever your game in bringing me here, I can guess that it's one that
+wouldn't interest honest men."
+
+"Oh, you're going to turn 'fresh,' are you?"
+
+Dick did not reply. Dexter drew a cigar out from a vest pocket, as he
+stood leaning against a decaying mantel, and lighted it. This imitation
+of a man smoked in silence for a few moments, during which Prescott did
+not offer to speak.
+
+Going over to the table, and drawing a newspaper from one of his
+pockets, Dexter sat down to read. He did not take off his coat, for the
+room was chilly.
+
+Dick did not move, nor did he offer to speak. In his present bad plight
+he would have been glad enough to talk with anything living, even with
+so despicable a human object as Ab. Dexter.
+
+"But he'd only torment me, and try to scare me, too, probably," thought
+Dick. "I won't give him any chance that I can help."
+
+It was wholly natural that the boy's obstinate silence, which endured
+for the next hour, should anger the man.
+
+At last, after having consumed two cigars and read a lot of stuff in the
+paper in which he was not interested, Dexter rose and stepped over to
+the boy.
+
+"Having pleasant thoughts, eh?" he demanded.
+
+"Better than yours, I'm sure," retorted the boy dryly.
+
+"Yes?"
+
+"Yes; because my thoughts, at least, are clean and honest ones."
+
+"Oh, you little saint!" jeered Ab.
+
+"I'm hardly a saint, and am not sure that I'd care to be one. But at
+least I'm happier and better off than a bigger fellow who'd be a big
+scoundrel if he weren't too big a coward!"
+
+"You mean that for me, do you?" snarled Dexter.
+
+"You may have it if you like it!"
+
+"You insolent little puppy!" snapped Ab., giving emphasis to his wrath
+by kicking him.
+
+"I see that I was wrong," said Prescott quietly. "I intimated that you
+are a coward. I apologize. Only a brave man would kick a helpless boy."
+
+The quiet irony of the speech made even Ab. Dexter flush.
+
+"Well, I wasn't kicking a boy. I was kicking his freshness," explained
+Dexter, in a harsh voice. "And I'll kick a lot more of that freshness,
+if I have to."
+
+"I don't doubt it. Women and boys are your choice for fighting material.
+And, if I had some of my chums here, you'd find kicking boys too
+perilous a sport."
+
+"You won't have them here," laughed Ab. coarsely. "You're the only one
+of the six that I want, so the others can stay in Gridley."
+
+"But they won't," declared Dick. "At least, not long, after they
+discover that I'm missing."
+
+"They'll never discover you, unless you go back to town by my
+permission," jeered Dexter. "Here, I'll show you something."
+
+Bending over, he seized the boy by his coat collar, next lifting and
+dragging Dick to a window at the rear.
+
+"Look out, and tell me what you see," commanded the jailer.
+
+"I see the woods, and a few other things," Dick replied. "And--yes, I
+know where I am. This is the house at Bannerman's old mill. I was up
+this way last year after nuts."
+
+"You know, then, that you're a good way from where folks would look for
+you."
+
+"Oh, I'm not so sure of that, Dexter. Dave Darrin and the rest of the
+fellows know all of this country. We've all tramped through here before.
+They're very likely to think of this place within the next day or two."
+
+"If they don't get here before dark, and if you haven't done, by that
+time, what I brought you here to do, then they won't find you."
+
+"No?" challenged Dick Prescott.
+
+"Look again, and tell me what you see outside. Do you see that place
+where Driggs has been digging? Do you see the hole he started, and the
+shovel beside it? Can you guess how we could dig that hole deeper, and
+put something away in it?"
+
+There was a derisive smile on young Prescott's face as he started to
+look. Then his expression changed. He did not start, cry out nor turn
+pale, but that smile vanished.
+
+"You see it, don't you?" demanded Ab. Dexter, watching the boy's face.
+
+"You want to scare me about that hole, I suppose?"
+
+"Yes; if you haven't gotten around completely to my way of thinking
+before dark to-night Driggs may have to finish his digging."
+
+"Does he need exercise?"
+
+"You've guessed what I mean," declared Dexter, "although you pretend to
+misunderstand me."
+
+"Humph!"
+
+"Look out, Prescott, that you don't put us in an ugly temper."
+
+But Dick had found his courage by this time. He laughed merrily, though
+it was forced.
+
+"What are you laughing at?" asked the other.
+
+"At the very idea, Dexter, of your having nerve enough to do a thing
+like that! Why, there are boys in the primary school in Gridley who have
+more real sand than you have."
+
+For answer the scoundrel seized the boy, hurling him across the room.
+Dick tottered. Being unable to use his hands to aid himself, he fell to
+the floor and lay there.
+
+"Do you know what you ought to be doing, Dexter?" inquired Dick, as soon
+as he had smothered his wrath a bit.
+
+"Well?"
+
+"You ought to be training puppies for the dog circus. Not by fear, you
+know, for you really couldn't scare anything. But, in training puppies
+by the golden rule you'd be at your best!"
+
+"I'll train you before I get through with you," snarled the rascal.
+
+"There's only one thing you need to make you rather funny," remarked
+Dick.
+
+"What is that?"
+
+"All you need to make you funny, Dexter, is a little more wit."
+
+Ab. stepped over and administered another kick.
+
+"Thank you," acknowledged Prescott politely.
+
+"Much obliged, are you?"
+
+"Yes; a kick from you is an honor. Only a handshake or a compliment
+would hurt."
+
+Dexter's face showed his wrath. He would have retorted, but he felt his
+helplessness in a battle of wits alone against Dick Prescott.
+
+For a moment or two Ab. left the room. Dick began immediately to test
+the security of the cords at his wrists. He found himself only too well
+tied. Dick glanced searchingly about, intent on finding something that
+promised help or escape.
+
+But Ab. came back, carrying an oil heater and a book. Placing the
+lighted heater beside the table Dexter sat down and opened the book.
+
+"I knew you had cold feet," laughed Dick. "I've been waiting for you to
+seek some way of warming up."
+
+Ab. scowled, but went on reading his book. This time the silence was an
+extremely long one. It was not broken, in fact, until Dick had lost all
+track of time, and knew only that there was still some daylight left. At
+last a whistle sounded outside.
+
+Dropping the book, Dexter made his way out into the hall, and thence
+downstairs. Again Dick began to tug at the cords around his wrists. Then
+Dexter came into the room, followed by Driggs.
+
+"Well," asked Driggs, "has the young cub come to his senses yet?"
+
+"I haven't tried him," responded Ab. sourly. "You can take him in hand
+if you want, Driggs."
+
+"You hain't told him what we want?"
+
+"Not a word," Ab. answered. "You can take him in hand. Don't stand any
+nonsense, either."
+
+"It ain't exactly my way to stand nonsense," growled Driggs, who was a
+good deal more courageous than Dexter. "As a first step I'll untie his
+hands. The boy can't make any fight against the two of us."
+
+Instead of untying, however, Driggs opened his clasp knife, and cut the
+cords at Dick's wrists, after which he untied the big handkerchief that
+had also been tied there.
+
+"Now, get on your feet, Prescott."
+
+Dick obeyed, taking his time about it. No matter what was about to
+happen Dick knew that he could take better care of himself standing up.
+
+"Exercise your hands and arms a bit, if you want to," continued Driggs.
+"You may find that circulation has been stopped."
+
+This Dick knew well enough. As his hands might be of extreme use to him
+in the very near future he followed the last bit of advice.
+
+"Go get your writing materials," said Driggs, turning to Ab.
+
+Dexter left the room, soon returning with paper, envelopes and a pen
+thrust down into a bottle of ink.
+
+"Now, I'll tell you what you've got to do, boy," Driggs continued. "Or
+maybe you can tell him that better, Dexter."
+
+"You're going to write a letter to Mrs. Dexter," stated Ab. "In that
+letter you're going to tell her that you're hopelessly in my power, and
+that you realize how foolish it is for her to refuse my demands any
+longer. So you're to advise her that the best thing for her--and the
+only hope of saving your life as well as hers--is for her to pay me that
+forty thousand dollars----"
+
+"You've gone up ten in your price, haven't you?" asked Dick with a
+momentary lack of caution.
+
+"So-ho!" muttered Ab. "Mrs. Dexter did tell you about my last letter
+when you were talking on Main Street last Saturday. And I suppose you
+advised her to go back to the 'Blade' office and withdraw the
+advertisement that my letter had frightened her into paying for."
+
+Dick bit his lips in silence.
+
+"Did you advise her that way, or didn't you?" insisted Ab. angrily.
+
+"Whatever she and I may have said to each other is not going to be
+repeated here," Prescott answered.
+
+"Oh, it isn't Mr. High-and-mighty?" sneered Driggs, going closer to the
+boy and laying a hard hand on him. "See here, youngster, you may have an
+idea that Dexter isn't very dangerous. You'll have a different notion
+about me, if I turn myself loose on you. Now, you get suddenly
+respectful. Answer straight, and do just what we tell you--or I'll take
+you in hand."
+
+"I won't write any such letter as you order me to," retorted Dick
+stubbornly.
+
+"You won't? I tell you you will!" roared Driggs, gripping Prescott by
+the collar. "Sit down at that table."
+
+"I won't!"
+
+"You will!"
+
+Driggs lifted Dick fairly off his feet, shaking him roughly. A
+thirteen-year-old boy didn't have much chance against a brute of
+Driggs's strength. The latter slammed the boy into a seat at the table.
+
+"Now, pick up that pen!"
+
+Dick picked it up, but aimed it at the wall opposite, hurling it
+forcibly.
+
+With an oath Ab. Dexter went over and picked up the pen.
+
+"He's broken the nibs," growled Ab., coming back with the pen. "No
+matter, I have a pencil. If he breaks the point of that it can be
+sharpened again. Here's the pencil."
+
+"Now, pick up that pencil," commanded Driggs hoarsely, "and write just
+what Dexter tells you to write. When you've written it you'll sign it.
+Then Dexter will enclose it with a letter from himself in which he'll
+tell Mrs. Dexter just where to meet him and pay over the money. If it
+ain't paid over, then slam you go into the hole that I've dug for you
+out back of here, and the dirt will go falling in on your face.
+Now--write!"
+
+However slight a notion Dick might have concerning Dexter's nerve, he
+did not doubt that Driggs was really "bad." Here was a brute who might
+very likely carry out his threats. Yet Dick, in addition to possessing
+an amazing lot of grit for a boy of his age, had also a great amount of
+stubbornness about doing the right thing and not doing a wicked one.
+
+"I don't know what you'll do to me, Driggs," the boy retorted, "and
+probably I can't hinder you any. But if you think I'm going to obey
+nasty loafers like you two, then you've made a poor guess."
+
+"What's that?" roared Driggs. "I'll teach you!"
+
+He caught Dick Prescott up with both hands, shaking the boy until it
+seemed as though all the breath had left the youngster's body. Next,
+Driggs held his victim with one hand while with the other he struck
+blows that all but rendered the Grammar School boy unconscious.
+
+"Here, don't kill the boy just yet, Driggs," ordered Dexter.
+
+"You mind your own business, now, Ab.," retorted Driggs, his face purple
+with passion. "Your milk-and-water way doesn't do any good. I'm in
+charge, now, and I'm sole boss as to what shall be done to this baby if
+he doesn't take our orders!"
+
+Again Dick received a severe mauling. He tried to fight back, but Driggs
+held him off at arm's length. At last Driggs lifted the boy once more by
+his coat collar.
+
+"Now, I'll finish you!" roared the brute. "That is, unless you holler
+out, mighty quick, that you're ready to write all that we tell you to
+write."
+
+"That won't happen this year!" Dick flashed back recklessly.
+
+"Oh, it won't, eh? Then so much the worse for you. I won't waste another
+second's time in coaxing you. Do you want to change your mind before I
+start?"
+
+"No!" the Grammar School boy retorted doggedly.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV
+
+CONCLUSION
+
+
+At heart young Prescott was frightened enough. Yet he was also aroused
+to a fury of resistance.
+
+With an ugly growl Driggs started in to shake the lad once more. Just at
+this moment, however, Dick found a chance on which he had been doing
+some frenzied calculating.
+
+As he hung from Driggs's outstretched hand Dick's foot was just about on
+a level with one of the fellow's knees. Dick drew his foot back like a
+flash, delivering a lusty kick.
+
+The blow glanced. Even at that Driggs's knee-cap suffered. With a groan
+of pain Driggs let go and stood by to rub his injured knee.
+
+"You young fiend!" hissed Ab. Dexter, grabbing Dick by the collar.
+
+Driggs tried two or three limping steps.
+
+"Anything broken there?" demanded Ab. anxiously.
+
+"No; but I've got to have cold water to bandage it with, right away,"
+replied Driggs. "Give me hold of the young pest's collar, and I'll hold
+him all right until you get in again. But hustle with the water."
+
+By this time Driggs had sunk into one of the chairs. Ab. dragged the boy
+to him and the other ruffian took vindictive hold.
+
+"I'll settle with you, you little varmint, after I get my knee attended
+to," growled Driggs. "If you try any more tricks I'll let even my knee
+go and choke the life out of you."
+
+Dexter hurried from the room. Dick, who felt that seconds must be made
+to count now, turned like a flash, sinking his teeth in the wrist of the
+hand that gripped his collar.
+
+"You young----" began Driggs, in a wild temper, starting to rise from
+the chair as the pain forced him to let go of Dick's collar.
+
+But Prescott, moving only two steps, caught up the other chair, bringing
+it down on the head of the ugly rascal.
+
+"Dexter! Dexter--quick!" roared Driggs. "The boy's getting away!"
+
+It was dark now, in the lower hall, as Dick, darting down the stairs,
+made out the form of Ab. Dexter as the latter hastened in through the
+outer door.
+
+"Out of the way, or I'll hurt you with Driggs's knife!" panted the
+fleeing boy.
+
+In that instant Abner Dexter proved Dick's suspicion that he was at
+bottom a coward. Ab. drew up close to the wall, and Dick, with the speed
+of the hunted deer, dashed from the house.
+
+
+[Illustration: Dick Caught Up the Other Chair.]
+
+
+"It may take Ab. a little while to find that I haven't got Driggs's
+knife," grinned the boy.
+
+For more than a quarter of a mile Dick Prescott ran at the best speed
+that he could summon. Then, after glancing back, he slowed down to a
+walk, breathing hard. It was fortunate that he knew these forests so
+well, or he might have been at a loss to find the path leading in the
+most direct way to Gridley.
+
+Finally he came out on a more traveled road. After keeping along for
+another half mile or so he heard a horse behind him and the sound of
+wheels as well.
+
+"I won't take any chance on that," muttered the boy. Bounding over a
+stone wall he lay low until the vehicle came up. Peering between the
+stones of the wall Dick made out an unmistakable farmer.
+
+"Hey, there!" cried Dick, leaping up and bounding over the wall. "Give
+me a ride, please, mister!"
+
+"Well, I swan! Who are ye--dropping from the skies that-a-fashion?"
+demanded the astounded driver, reining up.
+
+"Grammar School boy from Gridley," Dick replied. "Going that way?"
+
+"I guess I've seen you before," murmured the farmer, as Prescott went
+closer. "Your pa runs a bookstore, don't he?"
+
+"Yes. Are you going to Gridley?"
+
+"Straight."
+
+"Then please take me."
+
+Not waiting for an answer Dick climbed up to the seat.
+
+"How do you come so far out of the way?" asked the farmer, as he started
+the horse.
+
+"I'd tell you, but for one thing," Dick laughed.
+
+"What's that, son?"
+
+"You wouldn't believe me."
+
+"Wouldn't believe old Prescott's boy?" demanded the farmer. "Well, I
+would if the boy is half as square as his dad."
+
+Thus encouraged Dick began to tell his story. Some past events the
+farmer already knew. This inclined him very strongly to believe Dick's
+strange tale.
+
+Once in Gridley the farmer drove the Grammar School boy straight to the
+police station.
+
+"Dick Prescott?" shouted the chief. "Boy, your parents are crazy over
+your disappearance. What part of the skies did you drop from? And I've
+four of my men out trying to track you! Tell me what has happened."
+
+"I will if you'll walk around to the store with me," Dick offered,
+smiling. "But the first thing I'm going to start to do is to show my
+father and mother that I'm safe."
+
+The farmer good-naturedly offered to drive them both around to the
+Prescott store. On the way Dick told some of his story. The rest had to
+wait until he had shown himself to his parents. Then Mr. and Mrs.
+Prescott heard the story, too.
+
+"This isn't really a case for me," said the chief of police. "It's for
+the sheriff. I must get him on the 'phone."
+
+The news spread with great rapidity. Dave Darrin, Greg Holmes and all
+the other chums of Dick & Co. were on hand by the time that Dick had
+finished a belated supper with splendid appetite.
+
+"May I go out on the street with the fellows?" Dick asked his mother.
+
+"Yes; if you'll keep on the lighted parts of the streets," smiled his
+mother. "Although I'm not very much afraid of any more trouble
+overtaking you when you have all your friends with you."
+
+Later that night a party of sheriff's searchers came upon Driggs, not
+far from the old mill site. The fellow, fearing prompt pursuit, had
+endeavored to get away, but the pain in his stiffening knee had
+prevented his going very far. Ab. Dexter had started with his injured
+confederate, but had finally played the sneak and fled. However, Dexter,
+too was caught later that night, while endeavoring to board a train two
+stations away from Gridley.
+
+Mrs. Dexter, of course, was notified as to what had happened.
+
+For this latest outrage against Dick the rascally pair were not tried.
+This was for the very simple reason that Dick would have furnished the
+sole evidence for the prosecution, and the law would have required
+another witness to corroborate young Prescott's testimony.
+
+However, both men were held as fugitives from justice, for having jumped
+their bail on their original trial. Both were now held without bail and
+were presently tried before the higher court.
+
+Both were found guilty, of course. As it is the privilege of the court
+of resort to impose a heavier punishment than the original one appealed
+from, Dexter and Driggs were both sent to jail for a year--the highest
+penalty possible under the circumstances.
+
+"That man will bother me worse than ever as soon as he gets out,"
+complained Mrs. Dexter to Dick and Dave one day.
+
+"If he finds you," added Dick, by way of a hint.
+
+"If he finds me? What you mean by that?"
+
+"Mrs. Dexter, you're not obliged to live in Gridley. Why don't you slip
+away from here, one of these near days, without letting a soul know
+where you and your little girl are going. With all your money you could
+go to Europe or to the Pacific Coast. At a great distance from here you
+can live securely. Dexter will never have any money if he has to earn
+it. Go a few thousand miles from here, and, even if Dexter found out
+where you were, he wouldn't be able to reach you. No--don't tell even us
+where you are going."
+
+Mrs. Dexter followed that very sensible advice. She and Myra vanished
+completely one day not long after.
+
+Before that good but timid woman went away, however, she did her best to
+provide some suitable reward for the Grammar School boys who had proved
+her staunchest friends and protectors, but they refused to consider any
+reward.
+
+Dexter, when at last at liberty, must have known of his wife's flights
+to parts unknown, for he never revisited Gridley, and was not again
+heard of there.
+
+Dick Prescott's last and greatest adventure placed him securely on the
+pinnacle of local fame. Where, in all the world, was there another
+Grammar School boy who had been through as much, or shown as much
+daring?
+
+Even that shrewd and rather dryly spoken judge of boys and girls Old
+Dut, took the latest happenings as the text for a little address to the
+members of his class. He wound up by saying:
+
+"In a few months more this present class will have passed on, some going
+to High School and many more to their life employment. This present
+class will be gone, and another class here in its place. Yet I believe I
+can say in all truthfulness that I shall remember this present class
+always with pride as the class containing the bravest and brightest
+boys--and the finest girls--of any class that has been graduated from
+the Central Grammar School."
+
+It is not our purpose, however, to take leave of Dick Prescott and our
+other young friends. There was too much yet ahead of them--absorbing
+happenings that merit being recorded in other volumes. We shall meet
+Dick, Dave, Greg, Tom and all of the chums once more in the next volume,
+which is published under the title: "The Grammar School Boys Snowbound;
+Or, Dick & Co. at Winter Sports." Here we shall find them amid stranger
+and even more thrilling adventures.
+
+
+The End
+
+
+HENRY ALTEMUS COMPANY'S
+CATALOGUE OF
+The Best and Least Expensive
+Books for Real Boys
+and Girls
+
+Really good and new stories for boys and girls are not plentiful. Many
+stories, too, are so highly improbable as to bring a grin of derision to
+the young reader's face before he has gone far. The name of ALTEMUS is a
+distinctive brand on the cover of a book, always ensuring the buyer of
+having a book that is up-to-date and fine throughout. No buyer of an
+ALTEMUS book is ever disappointed.
+
+Many are the claims made as to the inexpensiveness of books. Go into any
+bookstore and ask for an Altemus book. Compare the price charged you for
+Altemus books with the price demanded for other juvenile books. You will
+at once discover that a given outlay of money will buy more of the
+ALTEMUS books than of those published by other houses.
+
+Every dealer in books carries the ALTEMUS books.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Sold by all booksellers or sent postpaid on receipt of price.
+
+Henry Altemus Company
+
+1326-1336 Vine Street, Philadelphia
+
+
+The Motor Boat Club Series
+
+By H. IRVING HANCOCK
+
+The keynote of these books is manliness. The stories are wonderfully
+entertaining, and they are at the same time sound and wholesome. No boy
+will willingly lay down an unfinished book in this series.
+
+1 THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB OF THE KENNEBEC; Or, The Secret of Smugglers'
+Island.
+
+2 THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB AT NANTUCKET; Or, The Mystery of the Dunstan Heir.
+
+3 THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB OFF LONG ISLAND; Or, A Daring Marine Game at
+Racing Speed.
+
+4 THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB AND THE WIRELESS; Or, The Dot, Dash and Dare
+Cruise.
+
+5 THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB IN FLORIDA; Or, Laying the Ghost of Alligator
+Swamp.
+
+6 THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB AT THE GOLDEN GATE; Or, A Thrilling Capture in the
+Great Fog.
+
+7 THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB ON THE GREAT LAKES; Or, The Flying Dutchman of the
+Big Fresh Water.
+
+Cloth, Illustrated      Price, per Volume, 50c.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+The Range and Grange Hustlers
+
+By FRANK GEE PATCHIN
+
+Have you any idea of the excitements, the glories of life on great
+ranches in the West? Any bright boy will "devour" the books of this
+series, once he has made a start with the first volume.
+
+1 THE RANGE AND GRANGE HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH; Or, The Boy Shepherds of
+the Great Divide.
+
+2 THE RANGE AND GRANGE HUSTLERS' GREATEST ROUND-UP; Or, Pitting Their
+Wits Against a Packers' Combine.
+
+3 THE RANGE AND GRANGE HUSTLERS ON THE PLAINS; Or, Following the Steam
+Plows Across the Prairie.
+
+4 THE RANGE AND GRANGE HUSTLERS AT CHICAGO; Or, The Conspiracy of the
+Wheat Pit.
+
+Cloth, Illustrated      Price, per Volume, 50c.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+Submarine Boys Series
+
+By VICTOR G. DURHAM
+
+1 THE SUBMARINE BOYS ON DUTY; Or, Life on a Diving Torpedo Boat.
+
+2 THE SUBMARINE BOYS' TRIAL TRIP; Or, "Making Good" as Young Experts.
+
+3 THE SUBMARINE BOYS AND THE MIDDIES; Or, The Prize Detail at Annapolis.
+
+4 THE SUBMARINE BOYS AND THE SPIES; Or, Dodging the Sharks of the Deep.
+
+5 THE SUBMARINE BOYS' LIGHTNING CRUISE; Or, The Young Kings of the Deep.
+
+6 THE SUBMARINE BOYS FOR THE FLAG; Or, Deeding Their Lives to Uncle Sam.
+
+7 THE SUBMARINE BOYS AND THE SMUGGLERS; Or, Breaking Up the New Jersey
+Customs Frauds.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+The Square Dollar Boys Series
+
+By H. IRVING HANCOCK
+
+1 THE SQUARE DOLLAR BOYS WAKE UP; Or, Fighting the Trolley Franchise
+Steal.
+
+2 THE SQUARE DOLLAR BOYS SMASH THE RING; Or, In the Lists Against the
+Crooked Land Deal.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+The College Girls Series
+
+By JESSIE GRAHAM FLOWER, A.M.
+
+1 GRACE HARLOWE'S FIRST YEAR AT OVERTON COLLEGE.
+
+2 GRACE HARLOWE'S SECOND YEAR AT OVERTON COLLEGE.
+
+3 GRACE HARLOWE'S THIRD YEAR AT OVERTON COLLEGE.
+
+4 GRACE HARLOWE'S FOURTH YEAR AT OVERTON COLLEGE.
+
+5 GRACE HARLOWE'S RETURN TO OVERTON CAMPUS.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+Dave Darrin Series
+
+By H. IRVING HANCOCK
+
+1 DAVE DARRIN AT VERA CRUZ; Or, Fighting With the U. S. Navy in Mexico.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+All these books are bound in Cloth and will be sent postpaid on receipt
+of only 50 cents each.
+
+Pony Rider Boys Series
+
+By FRANK GEE PATCHIN
+
+These tales may be aptly described the best books for boys and girls.
+
+1 THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN THE ROCKIES; Or, The Secret of the Lost Claim.
+
+2 THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN TEXAS; Or, The Veiled Riddle of the Plains.
+
+3 THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN MONTANA; Or, The Mystery of the Old Custer
+Trail.
+
+4 THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN THE OZARKS; Or, The Secret of Ruby Mountain.
+
+5 THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN THE ALKALI; Or, Finding a Key to the Desert
+Maze.
+
+6 THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN NEW MEXICO; Or, The End of the Silver Trail.
+
+7 THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN THE GRAND CANYON; Or, The Mystery of Bright
+Angel Gulch.
+
+Cloth, Illustrated        Price, per Volume, 50c.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+The Boys of Steel Series
+
+By JAMES R. MEARS
+
+Each book presents vivid picture of this great industry. Each story is
+full of adventure and fascination.
+
+1 THE IRON BOYS IN THE MINES; Or, Starting at the Bottom of the Shaft.
+
+2 THE IRON BOYS AS FOREMEN; Or, Heading the Diamond Drill Shift.
+
+3 THE IRON BOYS ON THE ORE BOATS; Or, Roughing It on the Great Lakes.
+
+4 THE IRON BOYS IN THE STEEL MILLS; Or, Beginning Anew in the Cinder
+Pits.
+
+Cloth, Illustrated        Price, per Volume, 50c.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+The Madge Morton Books
+
+By AMY D. V. CHALMERS
+
+1 MADGE MORTON--CAPTAIN OF THE MERRY MAID.
+
+2 MADGE MORTON'S SECRET.
+
+3 MADGE MORTON'S TRUST.
+
+4 MADGE MORTON'S VICTORY.
+
+Cloth, Illustrated        Price, per Volume, 50c.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+West Point Series
+
+By H. IRVING HANCOCK
+
+The principal characters in these narratives are manly, young Americans
+whose doings will inspire all boy readers.
+
+1 DICK PRESCOTT'S FIRST YEAR AT WEST POINT; Or, Two Chums in the Cadet
+Gray.
+
+2 DICK PRESCOTT'S SECOND YEAR AT WEST POINT; Or, Finding the Glory of
+the Soldier's Life.
+
+3 DICK PRESCOTT'S THIRD YEAR AT WEST POINT; Or, Standing Firm for Flag
+and Honor.
+
+4 DICK PRESCOTT'S FOURTH YEAR AT WEST POINT; Or, Ready to Drop the Gray
+for Shoulder Straps.
+
+Cloth, Illustrated      Price, per Volume, 50c.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+Annapolis Series
+
+By H. IRVING HANCOCK
+
+The Spirit of the new Navy is delightfully and truthfully depicted in
+these volumes.
+
+1 DAVE DARRIN'S FIRST YEAR AT ANNAPOLIS; Or, Two Plebe Midshipmen at the
+U. S. Naval Academy.
+
+2 DAVE DARRIN'S SECOND YEAR AT ANNAPOLIS; Or, Two Midshipmen as Naval
+Academy "Youngsters."
+
+3 DAVE DARRIN'S THIRD YEAR AT ANNAPOLIS; Or, Leaders of the Second Class
+Midshipmen.
+
+4 DAVE DARRIN'S FOURTH YEAR AT ANNAPOLIS; Or, Headed for Graduation and
+the Big Cruise.
+
+Cloth, Illustrated      Price, per Volume, 50c.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+The Young Engineers Series
+
+By H. IRVING HANCOCK
+
+The heroes of these stories are known to readers of the High School Boys
+Series. In this new series Tom Reade and Harry Hazelton prove worthy of
+all the traditions of Dick & Co.
+
+1 THE YOUNG ENGINEERS IN COLORADO; Or, At Railroad Building in Earnest.
+
+2 THE YOUNG ENGINEERS IN ARIZONA; Or, Laying Tracks on the "Man-Killer"
+Quicksand.
+
+3 THE YOUNG ENGINEERS IN NEVADA; Or, Seeking Fortune on the Turn of a
+Pick.
+
+4 THE YOUNG ENGINEERS IN MEXICO; Or, Fighting the Mine Swindlers.
+
+Cloth, Illustrated      Price, per Volume, 50c.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+Boys of the Army Series
+
+By H. IRVING HANCOCK
+
+These books breathe the life and spirit of the United States Army of
+to-day, and the life, just as it is, is described by a master pen.
+
+1 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS IN THE RANKS; Or, Two Recruits in the United States
+Army.
+
+2 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS ON FIELD DUTY; Or, Winning Corporal's Chevrons.
+
+3 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS AS SERGEANTS; Or, Handling Their First Real Commands.
+
+4 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS IN THE PHILIPPINES; Or, Following the Flag Against
+the Moros.
+
+(_Other volumes to follow rapidly._)
+
+Cloth, Illustrated      Price, per Volume, 50c.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+Battleship Boys Series
+
+By FRANK GEE PATCHIN
+
+These stories throb with the life of young Americans on to-day's huge
+drab Dreadnaughts.
+
+1 THE BATTLESHIP BOYS AT SEA; Or, Two Apprentices in Uncle Sam's Navy.
+
+2 THE BATTLESHIP BOYS FIRST STEP UPWARD; Or, Winning Their Grades as
+Petty Officers.
+
+3 THE BATTLESHIP BOYS IN FOREIGN SERVICE; Or, Earning New Ratings in
+European Seas.
+
+4 THE BATTLESHIP BOYS IN THE TROPICS; Or, Upholding the American Flag in
+a Honduras Revolution.
+
+(_Other volumes to follow rapidly._)
+
+Cloth, Illustrated      Price, per Volume, 50c.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+The Meadow-Brook Girls Series
+
+By JANET ALDRIDGE
+
+Real live stories pulsing with the vibrant atmosphere of outdoor life.
+
+1 THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS UNDER CANVAS.
+
+2 THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS ACROSS COUNTRY.
+
+3 THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS AFLOAT.
+
+4 THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS IN THE HILLS.
+
+5 THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS BY THE SEA.
+
+6 THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS ON THE TENNIS COURTS.
+
+Cloth, Illustrated        Price, per Volume, 50c.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+High School Boys Series
+
+By H. IRVING HANCOCK
+
+In this series of bright, crisp books a new note has been struck.
+
+Boys of every age under sixty will be interested in these fascinating
+volumes.
+
+1 THE HIGH SCHOOL FRESHMEN; Or, Dick & Co.'s First Year Pranks and
+Sports.
+
+2 THE HIGH SCHOOL PITCHER; Or, Dick & Co. on the Gridley Diamond.
+
+3 THE HIGH SCHOOL LEFT END; Or, Dick & Co. Grilling on the Football
+Gridiron.
+
+4 THE HIGH SCHOOL CAPTAIN OF THE TEAM; Or, Dick & Co. Leading the
+Athletic Vanguard.
+
+Cloth, Illustrated      Price, per Volume, 50c.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+Grammar School Boys Series
+
+By H. IRVING HANCOCK
+
+This series of stories, based on the actual doings of grammar school
+boys, comes near to the heart of the average American boy.
+
+1 THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS OF GRIDLEY; Or, Dick & Co. Start Things
+Moving.
+
+2 THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS SNOWBOUND; Or, Dick & Co. at Winter Sports.
+
+3 THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS IN THE WOODS; Or, Dick & Co. Trail Fun and
+Knowledge.
+
+4 THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS IN SUMMER ATHLETICS; Or, Dick & Co. Make Their
+Fame Secure.
+
+Cloth, Illustrated      Price, per Volume, 50c.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+High School Boys' Vacation Series
+
+By H. IRVING HANCOCK
+
+"Give us more Dick Prescott books!"
+
+This has been the burden of the cry from young readers of the country
+over. Almost numberless letters have been received by the publishers,
+making this eager demand; for Dick Prescott, Dave Darrin, Tom Reade, and
+the other members of Dick & Co. are the most popular high school boys in
+the land. Boys will alternately thrill and chuckle when reading these
+splendid narratives.
+
+1 THE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS' CANOE CLUB; Or, Dick & Co.'s Rivals on Lake
+Pleasant.
+
+2 THE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS IN SUMMER CAMP; Or, The Dick Prescott Six
+Training for the Gridley Eleven.
+
+3 THE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS' FISHING TRIP; Or, Dick & Co. in the Wilderness.
+
+4 THE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS' TRAINING HIKE; Or, Dick & Co. Making Themselves
+"Hard as Nails."
+
+Cloth, Illustrated      Price, per Volume, 50c.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+The Circus Boys Series
+
+By EDGAR B. P. DARLINGTON
+
+Mr. Darlington's books breathe forth every phase of an intensely
+interesting and exciting life.
+
+1 THE CIRCUS BOYS ON THE FLYING RINGS; Or, Making the Start in the
+Sawdust Life.
+
+2 THE CIRCUS BOYS ACROSS THE CONTINENT; Or, Winning New Laurels on the
+Tanbark.
+
+3 THE CIRCUS BOYS IN DIXIE LAND; Or, Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny
+South.
+
+4 THE CIRCUS BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI; Or, Afloat with the Big Show on
+the Big River.
+
+Cloth, Illustrated      Price, per Volume, 50c.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+The High School Girls Series
+
+By JESSIE GRAHAM FLOWER, A. M.
+
+These breezy stories of the American High School Girl take the reader
+fairly by storm.
+
+1 GRACE HARLOWE'S PLEBE YEAR AT HIGH SCHOOL; Or, The Merry Doings of the
+Oakdale Freshman Girls.
+
+2 GRACE HARLOWE'S SOPHOMORE YEAR AT HIGH SCHOOL; Or, The Record of the
+Girl Chums in Work and Athletics.
+
+3 GRACE HARLOWE'S JUNIOR YEAR AT HIGH SCHOOL; Or, Fast Friends in the
+Sororities.
+
+4 GRACE HARLOWE'S SENIOR YEAR AT HIGH SCHOOL; Or, The Parting of the
+Ways.
+
+Cloth, Illustrated      Price, per Volume, 50c.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+The Automobile Girls Series
+
+By LAURA DENT CRANE
+
+No girl's library--no family book-case can be considered at all complete
+unless it contains these sparkling twentieth-century books.
+
+1 THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS AT NEWPORT; Or, Watching the Summer Parade.
+
+2 THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS IN THE BERKSHIRES; Or, The Ghost of Lost Man's
+Trail.
+
+3 THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS ALONG THE HUDSON; Or, Fighting Fire in Sleepy
+Hollow.
+
+4 THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS AT CHICAGO; Or, Winning Out Against Heavy Odds.
+
+5 THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS AT PALM BEACH; Or, Proving Their Mettle Under
+Southern Skies.
+
+6 THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS AT WASHINGTON; Or, Checkmating the Plots of
+Foreign Spies.
+
+Cloth, Illustrated        Price, per Volume, 50c.
+*/
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Grammar School Boys of Gridley, by 
+H. Irving Hancock
+
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author	Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org>	2025-10-15 01:48:16 -0700
committer	Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org>	2025-10-15 01:48:16 -0700
commit	6da64a476d8eea36593015f13a59d70d82342ce9 (patch)
tree	3c2fd49aa50f1cad10dca1d3928a36ab706f9a7b