ob his wife, just because she happens to
have more money than he has."

"A man can't legally steal from his wife, nor a woman from her husband,"
retorted the policeman bullyingly. "There is no crime being committed
here. But if you boys try to interfere you'll be disturbing the peace,
and I'll run you all in."

Mrs. Dexter looked bewildered and frightened. She even let go of the
handbag with one hand. Dick saw this, and quickly broke in:

"Mrs. Dexter, don't you let Mr. Dexter have that handbag unless you want
to do it. We'll stand by you."

"Oh, will you?" glared the policeman. "You boys run along, or I'll
gather you all in."

"Where are you a policeman?" inquired Dick Prescott, eyeing the fellow
with interest. "You're not a Gridley officer, for I know every one of
them."

"Never you mind where I'm from," jeered the man harshly. "I'm a
policeman. That'll have to be enough for you youngsters. If you don't
trot fast down the street I'll gather you in."

Some of Dick's chums were now inclined to feel that they had broken in
at the wrong place, but not so their young leader.

"You haven't any right to make arrests in Gridley," retorted Dick
defiantly. "And, even if you had, you couldn't stop us from defending a
woman. Tom, you and Greg stand by me. Dave, you lead the rest. We'll
make Dexter let go of his wife's property and let her alone. If this man
who says he's an officer interferes, Greg, Tom and I will devote our
attention to him!"

"Great!" snarled Dexter jeeringly. "You're all young jailbirds!"

"Are you going to let go of Mrs. Dexter's property?" challenged Dick.

"I'm not."

"Come on, fellows--let's sail into him."

Dick was an able general, having his small force under good discipline.
There was a sudden rush of boys. True, they averaged only thirteen years
of age, but there were six of them, and they were determined.

Dexter let go of the handbag in a hurry. He had to do so, in order to
defend himself.

At the same moment the man named as "Gus" jumped into the fray.

"Three to each man!" yelled Dick, and thus the force was divided.

The self-styled policeman reached out with the flat of his hand,
knocking Greg Holmes off his feet. But, as he did so, Dick dropped down
in front of the man, wrapping both arms around the fellow's knees. Then
Dick rose. It required the exertion of all his strength, but he
succeeded in toppling Gus over onto his back.

At the same time Abner Dexter was having al