Here, however, they were soon joined by a small mob of the fellows, especially of the freshman class.

Dick had his say.
He didn't want to say much, but he related, in a straightforward way, what had happened.
"It's one of Fred Ripley's mean tricks," declared one of the freshmen.
"Fred Ripley can't fool anyone.

He put that pin in Dick's pocket himself." "But two thefts---two things were missed last week, when Ripley wasn't at school at all," spoke one boy, in an undertone.
"Yes; that's the queer part of it," agreed another boy.

"Ripley couldn't have had anything to do with those other cases." This latter was the view that was occurring to Mr.Thornton, as he sat in the principal's room, poring and pondering over the whole distressing matter.
Thompson and the other football leaders came trooping over to Dick & Co.

as soon as they heard the noise.