ncil.

That Board meeting was about as dull and uneventful as the average.
Yet Dick managed to make a few live paragraphs out of it that
Guilford, "The Blade's" news editor, accepted.

It still lacked some minutes of ten o'clock when young Prescott
left the morning newspaper office and started briskly homeward.

"I didn't catch that Board-reporting idea a day too soon," the
boy told himself, laughing. "Mr. Cantwell was certainly on hand
for mischief to-night. But how quickly he made his get-away when
he discovered that his culprit was present as a member of the
press! I guess Mr. Gadsby must have passed him a strong hint.
But I must be careful not to have any malice in the matter.
Some evening when Mr. Cantwell does come before the Board with
some report I must take pains to give him and his report a nice
little notice and ask 'The Blade' folks to be sure to print it.
Then---gracious!"

Utterly startled, Dick heard and saw an ugly brickbat whizz by
his head. It came out of the dark alley that the sophomore was
passing at that moment. And now came another, aimed straight
for his head!

CHAPTER IV

DAVE WARNS TIP SCAMMON

There wasn't time to jump out of the way of that second flying
missile.

By an instinct of self-preservation young Prescott, instead of
trying to leap out of the way, just collapsed, going down to his
knees.

As he sank the missile struck the top of his cap, carrying it
from his head.

"Hi! Stop that, you blamed rascal!"

It was Dave Darrin's voice that rang out, as that young man came
rushing down the street behind Prescott.

Dick in another second was on his feet, crouching low, and running
full tilt into the alleyway.

It was Dick's way---to run at danger, instead of away from it.

At his first bound into the alley, Prescott dimly made out some
fellow running at the further end.

There was an outlet of escape down there---two of them, in fact,
as the indignant pursuer knew. So he put on speed, but soon was
obliged to halt, finding that his unknown enemy had gotten away.
Here Dick was joined by breathless Dave Darrin, who had followed
swiftly.

"You go through there, Dave; I'll take the other way," urged Dick,
again starting in pursuit.

The unknown one, however, had taken advantage of those few seconds
of delay to get safely beyond chase. So the chums met, soon,
in a side street.

"His line of retreat was good," muttered Dick, rather disgustedly.

"Who was