and he was sent away to the penitentiary for a short term. Tip,
however, refused to the last to name his accomplice. Dick knew
that Ripley was the accomplice, but kept his silence, preferring
to fight all his own battles by himself.

So Fred Ripley was now a junior, in good standing as far as scholarship
and school record went.

So far, during this new year, Ripley had managed to smother his
hatred for Dick & Co., especially for Dick himself.

Lessons and recitations on this early December morning went off
as usual. In time the hands of the clock moved around to one
o'clock in the afternoon, at which time the High School closed
for the day.

The partners of Dick & Co. went down the steps of the building
and all soon found their way through the surging crowds of escaped
students. This sextette turned down one of the streets and trudged
along together. At first several of the other High School boys
walked along near them. Finally, however, the crowd thinned away
until only Dick & Co. were together.

"Dan," said Dick, smilingly, "something struck you hard this morning,
when Mr. Cantwell asked us all to bring the music-money on Monday."

"He didn't say exactly 'money,'" retorted Dan Dalzell, quickly.
"What Prin. did say was that each one of us was to bring fifteen
_pennies_."