red and his father w

me, and not only at home, but will

few moments. Then catching the appealing look in his son's face, the elder Ripley agreed to

f prompt habit in business, maile

s own room, danced several

but if you come in second to me, I'll try to keep in such co

olt. In one of his text-books he ran across a piece o

me time. Bring ten. O

iler, Tip Scammon!" fl

the Scammon rascal. Nor did Fred change his mind. Besides, this afterno

came. Tip scowled and hung about in the neighborhood until after four o

g of "Peace on Earth" and all that goes with it. The stores were radiant with decorations a

, when "The Blade" was paying him two and a half to three dollars a week, Prescott invited his chum in to have a hot soda. While they were still in the place Lau

er of great enthusiasm during the next few m

om just after the holidays to some time in April every fellow will be busy trying

tch for the school

t," declared

arrin may take it all away from me. There are eight men down for pit

r. Why can't you make the position of pit

," Dave laughed goodhumoredly. "The only reason I put my nam

candidates for pi

ey's one,"

ttered Miss Bentley

no fool of a pitc

te him, then,

wh

rything," returned Laura

es my real opinion, but

why you shouldn't say i

ey?" Laura w

alking about another behind his back. The other reas

you doing?" d

d, "Ripley knows my opi

you doing thi

quartette left the soda fountain. "Do you care to go

isn't it?" smiled Dick. "Just go

re to come with us---

you," Dick hastily added.

with the High School girls. Laura and Belle did make some small purchases of

corner, the girls intending to take a car to pay a little

orner and signed to Dave to come over. The two gi

Everett declining to tire the boy's arm too much at the first drill. So young Ripley, after a twelv

s, though he did not see Dick or Dave. Bel

!" he called,

her last name only, but it is not the act of a gentleman. Belle resented it

re the astonished Fred. Dave's eyes were flashing in a

s a young woman in that fam

ay about it?" deman

e Darrin's only

e of Fred's face. The latter stag

uttered Dave, in a low to

ning of this encounter. Dick understood how awkward the situation would be for t

e, in protest. "I want to make sure t

him annoyance if he knows you girls are

nodded to the conductor to ring the bell. A secon

The latter, though his fists were not up, was plainl

assault, you rowdy!" F

," Dave answered coolly. "You acted the rowdy, Ripley, a

anded one of the curi

y with offensive familiar

?" demanded anot

down," Dave a

eclared another bystander. "The Ripley kid has

ressed forward about him. Ripley's face went white with rage whe

, and leave me alone!

r. Then some one gave the junior a shove t

s dread of too much of a scene coming to his aid.

him to the h

y, by a crowd on Main Street, Ripley could never rega

cing almost enviously at Prescott, as the latter, seated at a reporter's table, slowly wrote the few little local items that h

, "I'm afraid I ought to give you a tip, even t

d Prescott, "it might be well to

y chum, anyway. So here goes. When we were in the department store, do you remember th

Prescot

Bentley say to Belle that the yarn she pi

mean?" queried Dick, l

going to get a Christm

ans

d a present fro

," laughed Dave, "now that you're

e money now," murmured Dick, breath

el

oes one give a g

don't know," floundered Dave hopelessly. "Anyway, I

too, Dav

do you

buying some of tha

ey're planning to put up on us for a Christmas job? Some