with them."

"You boys will be sorry for making unfounded charges of this sort,"
called back the black-moustached prisoner angrily. "Wait and see if
you're not."

"Cut out the gloom, man!" ordered the uniformed policeman, giving his
captive a twist that hurt. "Don't be trying to frighten small boys."

At the station house the crowd hung about outside.

"Going inside, Dick!" asked Dave eagerly.

"No one has asked us to. I guess we'd better wait out here unless we're
invited inside."

The young woman, whose pocketbook had been taken, went inside. She
identified her property and made a charge against the pick-pocket. Both
prisoners again heard the name of Dick Prescott mentioned.

The crowd melted after a little. Later the two prisoners were taken
before Justice Lee. Mr. Slim was sent away for six months on the charge
of pocket picking. The thick set captive in the gray overcoat, because
he could not give a good account of himself, was sentenced to ninety
days in the workhouse for vagrancy. Police and court were determined to
do all in their power to protect the Christmas shoppers.

* * * * *

"Now, as to our camping plans," Dick resumed, a little later in the
afternoon. "You fellows who aren't yet sure that you can get leave to
go, will have to keep right on the trail until that permission is given.
You can say that some of us are going, and that may help you some at
home."

"It may help the rest," suggested Dan Dalzell mournfully, "but nothing
will do me any good. I'm dished. No camping out in winter is going to
come my way."

"Oh, I wouldn't be too sure," urged Dick. "But, at least, you can be
sure you won't go if you don't try some more coaxing."

"Say, you come and do the coaxing yourself to-night, when dad is home,"
begged Dan.

"I will, if you think it will do any good, Danny," Prescott agreed.

"At any rate, your little speech can't put the matter any further back
than it stands right now," Dalzell declared. "And, oh, dear! I do want
so badly to go with you fellows! I never wanted anything as much
before."

"Say, we'll all go together, early this evening," proposed Dick, his
eyes now snapping. "We'll call in a body at the house of each fellow who
hasn't yet secured leave to go on the winter camping party. We will all
present the case. Perhaps we can put it through for the whole six. If we
can't all go there won't be nearly as much fun."

Very soon, indeed, after