n do, fellows.
What do you say if we accept Mr. Green's invitation?"

"All right," agreed some of the six. Even Dave consented.

Ten minutes later the chief of police was on hand. He inspected the
broken lights just before the operator placed out new ones. Mr. Green
stated what he knew of the affair. Then the chief turned to Dick & Co.
He put many questions. Some of these Dick and his friends answered
promptly. They even told how they had spoken against the proposed prank,
and how they had left when they had found that the other boys couldn't
be stopped. But as to the matter of naming the other boys all six
refused.

"We're not tell-tales," Dick explained.

"Justice Lee can make you tell," warned the chief of police.

"Can he?" inquired Dick. "Can he make us testify as to our suspicions?
And wouldn't warrants have to be issued for us before we could be taken
to court?"

"No; the judge could issue summons for you all."

"But could he make us testify as to suspicions--things we didn't
actually see?" propounded Dick Prescott.

The chief chewed the ends of his moustache.

"It's a criminal act to destroy the signal lights of a railway," the
police officer went on. "You ought to tell us, to serve the ends of
justice."

"Do you know what would happen to us?" Dick demanded.

"What?"

"Every other fellow in town would point his finger at us and cry
'tell-tale!' We'd get thrashed whenever we showed our heads outdoors."

"The police can protect you," declared the chief.

"Have you ever had policemen enough yet to prevent boys from fighting in
Gridley?" challenged Dick, though his tone was respectful. "Besides, the
thrashings wouldn't be anything to the scorn and contempt that we'd meet
everywhere."

"You ought to tell us," insisted the chief of police. "You're helping to
defeat the ends of justice."

"Aren't men clever enough to catch a few boy offenders, without
demanding that other boys 'queer' themselves with every fellow in town?"
insisted Dick.

"Justice Lee will make you tell, then," promised the chief, with a shake
of his head.

"He can't!" spoke Dick with spirit. "I'll go to prison, and stay there,
before I'll turn blab. So will my friends."

"That's just what we'll do," nodded Dave, his eyes flashing.

The chief chewed his moustache thoughtfully. At last he spoke.

"You boys can go now. I know where to find you when I want you."

Dick & Co. lost no time in getting away from this uncomfortable