so of toadying to the
richer boys and snubbing the poor ones. "That hit you. Did you hear how
he said 'a gentleman,' my boy? Your father is something dif----"

"Mind your business!" snapped Herring, darting a look at Jack which
boded no good for the latter and then walking away with a sulky air.

"Did you notice how Jack flushed when Herring asked him who his father
was?" asked Harry of Arthur when Jack had left them. "There is some
mystery there."

"I don't see it. Jack would naturally be angry when spoken to in that
tone. Herring is a bully and no gentleman, as Jack indicated."

"That's true enough, but Jack turned red and then white and was
evidently under a considerable agitation. There is some mystery, take my
word for it."

"Well, suppose there is?" rejoined Arthur. "It is certainly no business
of ours and I am not going to meddle with it."

"Well, neither am I," with a little snap, "but I can have my opinion,
can't I?"

"Certainly," and there was nothing more said, the boys being good
friends and though having little differences at times, never quarreled.

While Arthur and Harry were having this conversation Herring said
angrily to Merritt:

"What did you want to say that for? My father is as good as yours. I'll
give it to Sheldon for talking back to me."

"You started it," growled Merritt. "You're always picking on the new
fellows."

"So are you," snapped Herring. "You're a regular bully. Never mind,
though. There is something crooked about Sheldon or his family and I'm
going to find it. I don't associate with tramp berry pickers and the
rest of the boys won't when I find out things."

"Dick Percival goes with him," muttered Merritt, pointing to where the
rich man's son and Jack Sheldon were walking together arm in arm.
"Percival is a swell and his father is richer than yours and a lot
more----"

"A lot more what?" snarled Herring, clenching his fist.

"Respectable!" snapped Merritt, hastily retreating.

"Don't mind what a fellow like Herring says, Jack," said Dick Percival,
kindly, putting his arm in the new boy's. "No one of any account pays
any attention to him. A fellow that can show the nerve you can has
nothing to fear from Pete Herring."

"I am not afraid of him, Dick," Jack answered, "but----" and then he
stopped and went on in silence.

"It's all right," said Dick, at length. "A boy that stands as high
as you do in your classes need not be afraid of Pete Herring's
condemnation. I