, reaching the telephone instrument in the
back room of the store. "Yes, Miss Bentley, this is Prescott."

"Then listen!" came the swiftly uttered words. Dick discovered
that the girl was breathless with excitement and the largeness
of her news. "Are you listening?"

"I'll catch every word," Dick replied.

"Well, I'm at Belle Meade's house. Belle and her mother are here.
Mr. Meade is out. You know where the house is---corner of Clark
Street and Stetson's Alley?"

"Yes; I know."

"Well, the room between the dining-room and the parlor is in darkness,
and has been all evening. There's a window in that room that
opens over the alley. The Meade apartment is on the second floor,
you know. Well, Belle was passing that window---in the dark---and
she heard voices down below in the alley. She wouldn't have thought
anything of it, but she heard one of the speakers raise his voice
and say, excitedly: 'See here, I did the trick, didn't I? Ain't
Dick Prescott bounced out of school! Ain't he in disgrace! And
he'll never get out of it!'"

"Then another voice broke in, in a lower tone, but Belle couldn't
hear what was said. She's back in the dark by that open window
now," Laura Bentley hurried on, breathlessly. "The two parties
are still there, talking. It's hardly a minute's run from where
you are. Can't you get some one in a hurry, run up here and jump
on the parties? _Please_ do, Dick! It'll be the means of clearing
up this whole awful business!"

"Won't I, though?" answered Dick, breathlessly, into the 'phone.
"I have two chums here now. We'll be there like greased
lightning---and, oh, Miss Bentley, _thank_ you!"

Neither Dave nor Greg needed to ask any questions, for both had
stood close to the receiver, drinking in every word. Now they
shot out through the front of the store with a speed and turbulence
that made studious Mr. Prescott gasp with amazement.

"Careful, now, fellows!" warned Dick a few moments later. "We
want to _hear_, as well as _catch_! Softly does it."

Well practiced in running, not one of the three freshmen was out
of breath by the time that they reached the head of Stetson's
Alley.

Just before turning the corner at the head of the alley, Dick
and his freshmen chums halted to listen and reconnoiter.

Peeping cautiously around the corner, Dick, Greg and Dave made
out dimly one figure well down the alley. There was not light
enough there to recognize the fellow. And the thr