“I suppose, Mr. Cantwell, that some of the students thought that a very funny trick that was played on you this morning.  While I am speaking of it, I wish to assure you, sir, that I had no hand in the outrage.”

“I am very glad to hear you say that, Mr. Ripley.  Some day I hope I shall have a notion who did originate the practical joke.”

“I don’t believe you would have to guess very long, sir,” Ripley hinted.

“What do you mean?”

“Why, sir, whenever anything of that sort is hatched up in this school, it’s generally a pretty safe guess that Dick & Co. are at the bottom of it all.”

“Dick & Co.?” repeated Mr. Cantwell.

“Dick Prescott and his chums, sir,” replied Ripley, rapidly naming the five partners.  Then, having accomplished what he wanted, Fred sauntered out.

“I’ll look into this further,” thought Mr. Cantwell, angrily.  “If I can satisfy myself that Prescott was at the bottom of this wicked hoax then I—–­I may find it possible to make him want to cut his High School course short!”

Mrs. Cantwell was waiting at the gate.

“What on earth, Abner, did you mean by sending me this great cartload of pennies?” demanded the principal’s spouse.  “Here I’ve taken it up to the bank, and find they won’t accept it—–­not in this form, anyway.  Now, I’ve carried it this far, Abner, and you may carry it the rest of the way home.”

“Why—–­er—–­er—–­” stammered the principal.

“Mr. Getchel brought the satchel to me, and told me it was money
you had sent me.   But I want to say, Abner, that of all the-----”

At this moment the principal picked up the hateful satchel and the pair passed out of hearing of four young freshmen who had hidden near to learn what the mystery of the satchel meant.  It was not long, either, before the further joke had become known to a great many of the students.

CHAPTER II

DICK TAKES UP HIS PEN

Dick had no sooner ventured out on the street after dinner than he encountered the news of Mrs. Cantwell’s meeting with her husband.

But Dick did not linger long to discuss the matter.  His pockets now contained, in place of pennies, a few banknotes and many dimes, pennies and nickels, amounting in all to thirty-six dollars.  He was headed for “The Blade” office to settle with Mr. Pollock.

“I think I can tell you a little story now, that may be worth a paragraph or two,” Dick announced after he had counted out the money and had turned it over to the editor.

“You played a little joke on your new and not wholly popular principal, didn’t you?” Mr. Pollock asked, his eyes twinkling.

“Yes; has the thing reached you already?”

“I don’t know the whole story of the joke,” Mr. Pollock replied, “but perhaps I can tell you one side of it that you don’t know.”