in the primary school in Gridley who have
more real sand than you have."

For answer the scoundrel seized the boy, hurling him across the room.
Dick tottered. Being unable to use his hands to aid himself, he fell to
the floor and lay there.

"Do you know what you ought to be doing, Dexter?" inquired Dick, as soon
as he had smothered his wrath a bit.

"Well?"

"You ought to be training puppies for the dog circus. Not by fear, you
know, for you really couldn't scare anything. But, in training puppies
by the golden rule you'd be at your best!"

"I'll train you before I get through with you," snarled the rascal.

"There's only one thing you need to make you rather funny," remarked
Dick.

"What is that?"

"All you need to make you funny, Dexter, is a little more wit."

Ab. stepped over and administered another kick.

"Thank you," acknowledged Prescott politely.

"Much obliged, are you?"

"Yes; a kick from you is an honor. Only a handshake or a compliment
would hurt."

Dexter's face showed his wrath. He would have retorted, but he felt his
helplessness in a battle of wits alone against Dick Prescott.

For a moment or two Ab. left the room. Dick began immediately to test
the security of the cords at his wrists. He found himself only too well
tied. Dick glanced searchingly about, intent on finding something that
promised help or escape.

But Ab. came back, carrying an oil heater and a book. Placing the
lighted heater beside the table Dexter sat down and opened the book.

"I knew you had cold feet," laughed Dick. "I've been waiting for you to
seek some way of warming up."

Ab. scowled, but went on reading his book. This time the silence was an
extremely long one. It was not broken, in fact, until Dick had lost all
track of time, and knew only that there was still some daylight left. At
last a whistle sounded outside.

Dropping the book, Dexter made his way out into the hall, and thence
downstairs. Again Dick began to tug at the cords around his wrists. Then
Dexter came into the room, followed by Driggs.

"Well," asked Driggs, "has the young cub come to his senses yet?"

"I haven't tried him," responded Ab. sourly. "You can take him in hand
if you want, Driggs."

"You hain't told him what we want?"

"Not a word," Ab. answered. "You can take him in hand. Don't stand any
nonsense, either."

"It ain't exactly my way to stand nonsense," growled Driggs, who was a
good deal more courageous than Dexter. "