it, anyway?" Dave indignantly inquired.

"I don't know. I didn't see."

"Do you suppose it could have been Tip Scammon?" asked Dave, shrewdly.

"Is Tip Scammon back from the penitentiary?"

"Got back this afternoon, and has been showing himself around town
this evening," nodded Dave. "Say, I wonder if he could have been
the one who ambushed you?"

"I don't like to throw suspicion on anyone," Dick replied. "Still,
I can't imagine anyone else who would have as much temptation
to try to lay me up. Tip Scammon acted as Fred Ripley's tool,
last year, in trying to make me out a High School thief. Tip
was sent away, and Fred didn't have to suffer at all, because
Tip wouldn't betray his employer. But Tip must have felt sore
at me many a time when he was breaking rock at the penitentiary."

The two chums walked slowly back to Main Street, still talking.

"I saw you ahead of me, on the street," Dave rattled on. "I was
trying to overtake you, without calling, when that thing came
whizzing by your head. Say, Dick, I wonder---"

"What?" demanded Prescott.

"Oh, of course, it's a crazy notion. But I was wondering if Mr.
Cantwell could have it in for you so hard that he'd put anyone
up to lying in ambush for you."

Dick started, then thought a few moments. "No," he decided. "Cantwell
may be erratic, and he certainly has a treacherous temper, and
some mean ways. But this was hardly the sort of trick he'd go
in for."

"Then it was Tip Scammon, all by himself," declared Darrin, with
great conviction.

"But to go back to Mr. Cantwell," Dick resumed, with a grin, "I
must tell you something really funny. Prin. went to School Board
tonight with a long, bright knife sharpened for me. But he didn't
do a thing."

Then Prescott confessed to being a "Blade" representative, and
told of the principal's visit to the Board, and of his hurried
departure.

Dave laughed heartily, though what seemed to amaze him most of
all was that Dick had found a chance to write for pay.

"Of course you can do it, Dick," continued his loyal friend, "but
I never thought that anyone as young as you ever got the chance."

"It came my way," Dick went on, "and I'm mighty glad it did.
So-----"

"Wow!" muttered Dave, suddenly, then started off at a sprint,
as he muttered:

"Here's Tip Scammon now!"

Both boys moved along on a hot run. Tip was walking slowly along
Main Street, giving a very good imitation of one unconcerned.

He tur