ne. But I wish to thank all of you
gentlemen for taking the trouble to make the search."

"Humph!" muttered one of the men, after Dick had hurried away. "The idea
of a hod being left standing, and then being blown over into the street
doesn't satisfy me!"

Dick was late reaching home. What he had in the way of dinner he had to
force down hurriedly, and then start for school once more.

After school that afternoon most of the boys of seventh and eighth
grades turned up at the field, eager for more football work.

"It seems to me," announced Dick thoughtfully, "that there is no sense
in kicking a ball around the field aimlessly. There isn't much use in
rushes or mass plays, either, until we know what we are doing and can do
it according to the rules. So, fellows, what do you say to seeing who
knows the rules best? Let's have a drill in rules."

Many of the youngsters objected to that as being too tame. Yet Dick's
idea carried the day, after all. Some of the fellows went away, thinking
this sort of procedure too much like a lesson and too little like fun.
After nearly an hour's discussion of the rules two elevens were formed
and there was time for some play.

Dick & Co. left the field together. On the way home young Prescott spoke
of the falling of the bricks at noon.

"That wasn't any accident," spoke up Dave, with an air of great
conviction.

"You think some one did that on purpose?"

"I'm sure of it," Dave asserted.

"Who could have done it?"

"Who but Ab. Dexter?"

"Wrong!" volunteered Tom Reade. "Up at the field a man in a buggy hauled
up to watch the play. He happened to mention that he had seen Dexter
over in Stayton this noon. Stayton is nine miles away from here."

"Then of course it wasn't Dexter," declared Dick.

"It must have been that other fellow," suggested Greg.

"You mean that special officer, Driggs?" inquired Dick.

"Of course. And I'll tell you where else we saw that fellow Driggs. He
was the driver of the cab last night. I've just placed that voice of
his."

"Then Driggs was disguised last night, the same as Dexter was."

"Of course."

"And I can tell you something else," continued Tom Reade. "I know what
Dexter was doing in the drug store last night. I met Len Spencer this
noon. Len had been investigating."

"What did Dexter want in the drug store?" asked Prescott.

"Soothing syrup. Len says he guesses that Ab. Dexter was afraid Myra
would make too much noise before he got t