collar. "Sit down at that table."

"I won't!"

"You will!"

Driggs lifted Dick fairly off his feet, shaking him roughly. A
thirteen-year-old boy didn't have much chance against a brute of
Driggs's strength. The latter slammed the boy into a seat at the table.

"Now, pick up that pen!"

Dick picked it up, but aimed it at the wall opposite, hurling it
forcibly.

With an oath Ab. Dexter went over and picked up the pen.

"He's broken the nibs," growled Ab., coming back with the pen. "No
matter, I have a pencil. If he breaks the point of that it can be
sharpened again. Here's the pencil."

"Now, pick up that pencil," commanded Driggs hoarsely, "and write just
what Dexter tells you to write. When you've written it you'll sign it.
Then Dexter will enclose it with a letter from himself in which he'll
tell Mrs. Dexter just where to meet him and pay over the money. If it
ain't paid over, then slam you go into the hole that I've dug for you
out back of here, and the dirt will go falling in on your face.
Now--write!"

However slight a notion Dick might have concerning Dexter's nerve, he
did not doubt that Driggs was really "bad." Here was a brute who might
very likely carry out his threats. Yet Dick, in addition to possessing
an amazing lot of grit for a boy of his age, had also a great amount of
stubbornness about doing the right thing and not doing a wicked one.

"I don't know what you'll do to me, Driggs," the boy retorted, "and
probably I can't hinder you any. But if you think I'm going to obey
nasty loafers like you two, then you've made a poor guess."

"What's that?" roared Driggs. "I'll teach you!"

He caught Dick Prescott up with both hands, shaking the boy until it
seemed as though all the breath had left the youngster's body. Next,
Driggs held his victim with one hand while with the other he struck
blows that all but rendered the Grammar School boy unconscious.

"Here, don't kill the boy just yet, Driggs," ordered Dexter.

"You mind your own business, now, Ab.," retorted Driggs, his face purple
with passion. "Your milk-and-water way doesn't do any good. I'm in
charge, now, and I'm sole boss as to what shall be done to this baby if
he doesn't take our orders!"

Again Dick received a severe mauling. He tried to fight back, but Driggs
held him off at arm's length. At last Driggs lifted the boy once more by
his coat collar.

"Now, I'll finish you!" roared the brute. "That is, unless you holler
out, might