into Dick's face. But Sam saw the
movement, knocked up the bully's arm, and the soda went into Nick Pell's
ear.

"Hi, stop!" roared Nick Pell, as the soda trickled down his neck. "What
did you do that for?"

"It was Sam Rover's fault," answered Sobber.

"My brand new collar is spoilt!"

"Charge it to your crony," said Tom.

"I'll fix you fellows!" roared the bully, and raised the empty soda
glass over Dick's head. But now Tom rushed in and wrenched the glass
from Sobber's hand. In the meantime the girl behind the counter had
become more frightened than ever and she ran to the back of the store to
summon assistance.

It looked as if there might be a regular fight, but in a few seconds the
proprietor of the store appeared, armed with a mop stick he had picked
up. He happened to be the father of the girl, and she told him how Tad
Sobber had caught her by the hair.

"See here," began the candy store keeper, and flourished his mop stick
at the bully. Then Sobber retreated from the establishment and Nick Pell
did likewise, and both started on a run up the street.

"What do you cadets mean by coming in here and annoying my daughter?"
demanded the storekeeper hotly. "If you can't behave yourselves, you had
better keep away."

"We didn't hurt your daughter," said Sam.

"My brother here did what he could to save her from annoyance," said
Tom.

"Oh, I know you cadets! You are all tarred with the same brush!"
muttered the storekeeper. "I want you to get out--and stay out!"

"Yes, but----" began Dick.

"No 'buts' about it, young man. I want you to get out."

"Father, he made the other boy let go of my curls," explained the girl.
"He caught the other boy by the ear."

"That may be, Fanny, but these young bloods are all alike. I don't want
their trade. They must clear out, and stay away."

"Come on, fellows," said Dick. "We'll not stay if we are not wanted." He
turned again to the storekeeper. "But I want you to remember one thing:
We had nothing to do with annoying your daughter."

"Did they pay for the soda?" asked the man suddenly.

"No," replied the girl.

"Then this crowd has got to pay," went on the storekeeper, unreasonably.
"How much was it?"

"Ten cents."

"We haven't bought anything and we'll not pay for anything," said Sam.

"Not a cent shall I pay," put in Songbird.

"Did vos a outrages!" burst out Hans. "Of you insult us some more I vos
call a bolicemans alretty!" And he puffed up his chest