"I'll try it," nodded Purcell. "Though I can't guess how it will
turn out. Of course, if Rip gives us the black scowl we'll have
to conclude that no help is wanted."

It was tried, however, at recess. Purcell went about it with
the tact that often comes to the easy going and big hearted.
Soon Purcell had Dick and Dave with Fred and himself. Then the
other chums drifted up. Two or three other fellows came along.
After some sulkiness at first Fred talked eagerly, if nervously.
On the whole, he seemed grateful.

When Dick reached home that day he felt staggered with astonishment.
Waiting for him was a note from Lawyer Ripley, asking the boy
to be at the latter's office at half-past two.

"I shall take it as a very great favor," the note ran on, "and,
from what I know of you, I feel certain that you will be glad
to aid me in a matter that is of vast importance to me."

"What on earth is coming?" wondered Dick. But he made up his
mind to comply with the request.

Promptly to the minute Dick reached the street door of the office
building. Here he encountered Dave Darrin and Dalzell.

"You, too?" asked Dick.

"It looks as though all of Dick & Co. had been summoned," replied
Dave Darrin.

On entering the lawyer's office they found their other three chums
there ahead of them. Tip Scammon was there, also, looking far
from downcast.

Lawyer Ripley looked very grave. He looked, too, like a man who
had a serious task to perform, and who meant to go about it courageously.

"Young gentlemen, I thank you all," said the lawyer slowly. "I
am pursuing a matter in which I feel certain that I need your
help. There has been some evil connection between Scammon and
my son. What it is Scammon has refused to tell me. I will first
of all tell you what I _do_ know. I am telling you, of course,
on the assumption that you are all young men of honor, and that
you will treat a father's confidence as men of honor should do."

The boys bowed, wondering what was coming. Lawyer Ripley thereupon
plunged into a narration of the happenings of the day before,
telling it all with a lawyer's exactness of statement.

"And now I will ask you," wound up Mr. Ripley, "whether you can
tell me anything about the hold that Scammon seems to have exercised
over my son?"

"That's an embarrassing question, sir," Dick replied, after there
had been a long pause.

"Do you know the nature of that hold?"

"Yes, sir."

"May I ask how you