Part 13 (1/2)

”Dr. Thornton, will you search me---_now_?” insisted the young freshman.

”But I don't want to, Prescott,” appealed the princ.i.p.al. ”I haven't the remotest suspicion of you, anyway, my dear boy.”

”I ask the search, sir, just as a matter of justice,” d.i.c.k insisted.

”If it were not too strong a word, then I would say that I _demand_ to be searched here and now.”

Suiting the action to the word, d.i.c.k Prescott, standing proudly erect, raised both arms over his head.

”Now, please, doctor, just as a matter of simple justice,” begged the young freshman.

”Oh, very well, then, Mr. Prescott,” sighed the princ.i.p.al. ”But I never had a more distasteful task.”

Into one of the side pockets Dr. Thornton projected a shaking hand. He drew out only some sc.r.a.ps of paper, which he promptly thrust back. Then he inserted a hand in the jacket pocket on the other side.

”Ouch!” suddenly exclaimed the princ.i.p.al, in very real pain.

He drew the hand out, quickly. A drop of blood oozed up at the tip of his forefinger.

”Mr. Prescott,” demanded Dr. Thornton, ”what is that pointed object in your pocket?”

”_What_?” demanded Fred Ripley, tensely.

d.i.c.k himself thrust a hand into that pocket, and drew forth---Fred Ripley's missing pin.

”What---why---who-----” gasped the freshman, suffocatingly.

”Oh, yes, of course,” jeered Fred Ripley. ”Astonished, aren't you---you mucker?”

The last two words Ripley uttered in so low a tone that the princ.i.p.al, gazing in horrified fascination at the pin that he now held in his own hands, did not hear.

”You coward!” cried d.i.c.k, hotly, and clenched his fist, intent on driving it against the soph.o.m.ore's face.

But Dr. Thornton knew enough about High School boys' fights, to galvanize himself into action. Like a flash he bounded between the two boys.

”Here, here, Prescott, none of that!” he admonished.

”I---I beg _your_ pardon, sir,” gasped d.i.c.k, in a tone which made it very plain that he did not include his enemy in that apology.

”May I trouble you for my pin, sir, now that it has been recovered?”

asked Fred, coolly.

”Why---um!---that depends,” replied Dr. Thornton, slowly, speaking with a painful effort. ”If you, or your father, have or would have any idea of a criminal prosecution, Ripley, then it would be improper to return your pin. It would have to be turned over to the police as an exhibit in evidence. _But_ do you intend anything of that sort, Mr. Ripley?”

”Why, that's as _you_ say, doctor,” replied the soph.o.m.ore, quickly.

”It's a matter of school discipline, and belongs to your province.

Personally, I know that I would rather not have this matter go any further.”

”I---I don't know what to do,” confessed Dr. Thornton, in anxious perplexity. ”In any event, before doing anything, I think I had better consult the superintendent and the Board of Education.

Mr. Prescott, I will say, freely, that I am most loath to believe anything of this sort against you can be possible. There must be---must be---some---er explanation. I---I---don't want you to feel that I believe your guilt as yet a.s.sured. I---I-----”