The Grammar School Boys of Gridley | Page 6

appointed sole guardian of her little daughter. At
the same time she had turned some money over to her
husband--common report said ten thousand dollars--on his promise to
go away and not bother her again.
Plainly he had not kept his word. As Dick and his chums glanced down
the quiet side street they saw husband and wife standing facing each
other. The man was scowling, the woman half-tearful, half-defiant.
Behind her, in her left hand, Mrs. Dexter held a small handbag.
"I'd like to be big enough to be able to enjoy the pleasure of thrashing a
fellow like that Dexter!" growled Dave Darrin, his eyes flashing.
"There's a man standing a little way below the pair," announced Dick.
"I wonder what he's doing, for he seems to be watching the couple
intently. I hope he's on Mrs. Dexter's side."
Unconsciously Dick and his friends had halted to watch the
proceedings ahead of them.
"No, I won't," replied Mrs. Dexter sharply, to something that her

husband had said.
Abner Dexter talked rapidly, a black scowl on his face meanwhile.
"No, you won't! You don't dare!" replied the woman, her voice
sounding as though she had summoned all her courage by an effort.
Dexter suddenly sprang closer to the woman. The next instant both
were struggling for possession of the little black bag that she carried.
"Stop!" cried Mrs. Dexter desperately. "Help! He-lp!"
"Fellows, I don't know that we're bound to stand for that," muttered
Dick Prescott quickly. "She's calling for help. Come along."
Dick was off down the street like a streak, the others following, though
Dave was closest to his chum.
"Here, what are you doing, mister?" demanded Dick, as he darted up to
where the pair were struggling.
Dexter would have had the bag in his own possession by this time, had
he not turned to see what the onrush of boys meant.
"None of your business what I'm doing," he replied savagely. "You
schoolboys run along out of this."
"Don't go! Help me," pleaded the woman. "He's trying to rob me!"
"You boys clear out, or it will be worse for you!" growled Dexter.
"The lady wins!" Dick announced coolly, though he was shaking
somewhat from excitement. "You let go of her and her property."
But Dexter, his face black with scowls, still clutched tightly with his
right hand at the little handbag, to which Mrs. Dexter was clinging with
both her hands.
"You let go of that bag," challenged Dick, "or six of us will sail into

you. I think we can handle you. We'll try, anyway."
"Yes; make him let go," begged Mrs. Dexter. "I have money and jewels
here, and he is trying to take them away from me."
"Going to do as the lady wishes?" inquired Dick, stepping closer.
Abner Dexter shot another angry glare at the sextette of Grammar
School boys. They were closing in around him, and it looked as though
they meant business.
"Gus!" called Dexter sharply.
The man who had been standing a short distance away now ran up to
the spot.
"Hullo, what do you want!" asked Dick coolly. "Are you the
understudy in this game of robbery?"
"I'm an officer," retorted the fellow sharply.
"Secretary to some Chinese laundry company, eh?" jeered Dick.
"I'm a police officer," retorted the man sharply, at the same time
displaying a shield.
That put a different look on matters with some of young Prescott's
friends. Dick, however, was a boy not easily daunted.
"If you're an officer," he inquired, "why don't you get busy and do your
duty? Here's a man trying to rob 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