Then I can examine
the poor chap comfortably."

Though seemingly "out of his head," the sufferer succeeded in throwing
his arms about a great deal.

Then, suddenly, Dick, who had been following and watching with wide-open
eyes, called out lustily:

"Dr. Bentley, your overcoat is open, your chain is hanging with no watch
on it, and your scarf pin is gone!"

That announcement electrified the situation. Dr. Bentley glanced down
swiftly, then threw one hand up to his necktie.

"My purse is gone from my chatelaine!" cried one of the women who had
been helping.

"My purse is gone, too!"

It was amazing to see how quickly the sufferer from the fit galvanized
into action. He straightened up suddenly, gave himself a violent wrench
and shook himself free of those who had sought to aid him.

With a bound the fellow was off and away. As he sprang he spat from his
mouth the piece of soap that had supplied the foam to his lips.

"Catch him, fellows!" yelled Dick.

But only Tom and young Prescott were near enough to the path of flight.
Tom Reade leaped valiantly in, but was shoved off and sent spinning by
one of the burly fists of the rough.

It was up to Dick to make the catch.

Dick had his skates, strapped together, swinging from his right wrist.
He swung the skates back to strike at the fugitive. Ere he could do it
the man drove a big, hammer-like fist straight between Dick Prescott's
eyes in a way that sent that boy down like a log.

The impact of that blow was heard by all.

CHAPTER III

THE CAMPAIGN TO COAX PARENTS

In another moment the fleeing one had darted around the corner.

Five members of Dick & Co., angry all the way through, were the first to
reach that corner.

"There he goes, down the alley-way to the livery stable!" roared Dave
Darrin. "After him, fellows!"

But by the time that the five reached the stable yard the fugitive was
out of sight. Men hurried up, and a quick search was made of the
neighborhood. It was soon certain, however, that the fellow had made
good use of his time and had gotten away. Two policemen who were among
the latest arrivals on the scene gave it as their opinion that further
chase would be worse than useless.

So Dick's chums turned back, to see how their leader had fared.

Dr. Bentley was leaning over the boy, who, white and lifeless, lay at
the edge of the sidewalk.

"Take him to the drug store, doctor," urged one of the women.

"He'll revive quicker