ll you fight Purcell like a man, if we do?" asked another voice.

"Run Cantwell out! He isn't fit to be here!" yelled another voice.

Mr. Drake, the only submaster in the room at the time, was pushing
his way forward.

"Calmly, boys, calmly," called Drake. "Don't do anything you'll
be sorry for afterwards."

But those who were more hot headed were still pressing forward.
It looked as though they were trying to get close enough to lay
hands on the now trembling principal.

Under the circumstances, Mr. Cantwell did the very worst thing
he could have done. He pushed three or four boys aside and made
a break across the assembly room. Once out in the corridor, the
principal dove into his private office, turning the key after
him. Secure, now, and his anger once more boiling up, Mr. Cantwell
rang his telephone bell. Calling for the police station, he called
for Chief Coy and reported that mutiny and violence had broken
loose in the High School.

"That seems almost incredible," replied Chief Coy. "But I'll
come on the run with some of my men."

Several of the fellows made a move to follow the principal out
into the corridor. Dick Prescott swung the door shut and threw
himself against it. Dave Darrin and Tom Reade rushed to his support.
The other chums got to him as quickly as they could.

"Nothing rash, fellows!" urged Dick. "Remember, we don't make
the laws, or execute them. This business will be settled more
to our satisfaction if we don't put ourselves in the wrong."

"Pull that fellow Prescott away from the door!" called Fred Ripley,
anxious to start any kind of trouble against Dick & Co. Submaster
Drake, forcing his way through the throng, calming the hottest-headed
ones, turned an accusing look on Fred. The latter saw it and
slunk back into the crowd.

Bristow, still holding his handkerchief to his head, darted out
of the building.

Submaster Morton and Luce, bearing the excitement, came up from
class rooms on the ground floor. They entered by the same door
through which Bristow had left.

Over on the other side of the room, fearing that a violent riot
was about to start, some of the girls began to scream. The women
teachers present hurried among the girls, quieting them by reassuring
words.

"Now, young gentlemen," called Mr. Drake, "we'll consider all
this rumpus done with. Discipline reigns and Gridley's good name
must be preserved!"

This brought a cheer from many, for Mr. Drake wa