Dick and his friends were talking rather dispiritedly, for the long suspension, without action, was beginning to wear on them all.  Dick’s case was now quietly before the Board of Education, but a result had not yet been reached by that slow-moving body.  Of course, the members of the Board had now more than a good idea that Dick & Co. had been behind that “dead ones” hoax; but the members of the Board were trying to do their duty in the suspension case, and tried not to let any other considerations weigh with them.

“We’ve all heard that old chestnut about the silver lining to the cloud,” observed Dave, dejectedly.  “If it’s true, then silver seems to be mighty scarce these days.”

“Richard!  Ri-i-ichard!” called the elder Prescott, loudly, from the foot of the stairs that led up from the store.

“Yes, sir,” cried Dick, bounding to the door and throwing it open.

“Laura Bentley has called us up on the ’phone.  She says she wants to talk to you quicker’n lightning, whatever speed that may indicate.  She adds, mysteriously, that ’it’s the biggest thing that ever happened!’”

“Coming, sir!” cried Dick, bounding down the stairs, snatching at his cap and reefer as he started, though he could not have told why he picked up these garments.  Dave and Greg, acting on some mysterious impulse, grabbed up their reefers and hats, and went down the stairs hot-foot after their chum and leader.

“Hullo!” called Dick, reaching the telephone instrument in the back room of the store.  “Yes, Miss Bentley, this is Prescott.”

“Then listen!” came the swiftly uttered words.  Dick discovered that the girl was breathless with excitement and the largeness of her news.  “Are you listening?”

“I’ll catch every word,” Dick replied.

“Well, I’m at Belle Meade’s house.  Belle and her mother are here.  Mr. Meade is out.  You know where the house is—–­corner of Clark Street and Stetson’s Alley?”

“Yes; I know.”

“Well, the room between the dining-room and the parlor is in darkness, and has been all evening.  There’s a window in that room that opens over the alley.  The Meade apartment is on the second floor, you know.  Well, Belle was passing that window—–­in the dark—–­and she heard voices down below in the alley.  She wouldn’t have thought anything of it, but she heard one of the speakers raise his voice and say, excitedly:  ’See here, I did the trick, didn’t I?  Ain’t Dick Prescott bounced out of school!  Ain’t he in disgrace!  And he’ll never get out of it!’”

“Then another voice broke in, in a lower tone, but Belle couldn’t hear what was said.  She’s back in the dark by that open window now,” Laura Bentley hurried on, breathlessly.  “The two parties are still there, talking.  It’s hardly a minute’s run from where you are.  Can’t you get some one in a hurry, run up here and jump on the parties? Please do, Dick!  It’ll be the means of clearing up this whole awful business!”