So, far as was known, this crime against Dick was the first offense Tip had committed against the law.

He was a tough character, and regarded as one of the worse than worthless young men of Gridley.

Tip was a handy fellow, a jack-of-all-trades, with several at which he might have made an honest living---but he wouldn't.

Yet Tip's father was old John Scammon, the highly respected janitor at the High School, where he had served for some forty years.
"I say, fellows, I wonder if we can let Tip go---now that we know the whole story ?" breathed Dick.
"Say, I'll make it worth yer while," proposed Tip, eagerly.
"How about the law ?" asked Dave Darrin, seriously.

"Have we any right to let the fellow go, when we know he has committed a serious crime ?" "I don't know," replied Prescott.