The Grammar School Boys of Gridley | Page 7

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 all he could do, for three
very determined schoolboys were assailing him. At last Dexter turned
to retreat, but Dan Dalzell thrust a foot before him and tripped him.
"All down!" yelled Dan. "Set 'em up in the other alley!"
Though downed for the moment, the two men were disposed to make a
livelier fight of it than ever. It was a brisk, picturesque,
rough-and-tumble fight that followed, in which the young boys got a
deal of rough handling.
Frightened, yet fascinated, Mrs. Dexter tottered against the fence and
stood looking on.
Things might yet have fared badly with Dick and his friends had not a
newcomer arrived on the scene. He came running, and proved to be
Policeman Whalen in uniform.
"Here! What's on?" demanded the Gridley officer. "Let up on kicking
them boys! I want you!"
With that Whalen, who was a big and powerful man, grabbed Abner
Dexter by the coat collar and pulled him to his feet. With this prisoner
in tow, he moved up and seized Gus in similar fashion.
"Now, what's the row?" demanded Officer Whalen.

"Arrest these boys for assault!" quivered Dexter in a passion.
"Yes, arrest them!" insisted Gus. "I'm an officer, too, and I was trying
to take them in."
"You didn't seem to be having very good luck at it," grinned Whalen.
"But I know these boys, and they're all good lads."
"Arrest them, just the same! They were assaulting me," insisted Dexter
angrily.
"And what were you doing?" insisted Whalen wonderingly.
"He was trying to steal jewels and money from his wife," interposed
Dick Prescott.
"Bah!" growled Dexter. "A man can't steal from his wife."
"But he can assault her," returned Policeman Whalen. "And a man can
disturb the peace with his wife, just as handily as he can anywhere else.
Mrs. Dexter, are these lads telling the truth?"
"Oh, yes, officer! My husband was trying to take this satchel away
from me, and he knew that it contains my jewels and thirty-five
hundred dollars in cash."
"Do you want him arrested?"
"Yes; I--I'm afraid I shall have to have him arrested, or he'll go right on
annoying me."
"Will you appear against him, Mrs. Dexter?"
"Yes."
"Then I'll take him along. And what about this fellow?"
"Me?" demanded Gus with offended dignity. "I'm a police officer."

"What's your name?"
"August Driggs."
"Where are you a policeman?"
"In Templeton."
"Why were you lads fighting Officer Driggs?" inquired Whalen
blandly.
Dick supplied some of the details, Dave others. Mrs. Dexter confirmed
the statements that they made.
"I guess I'll take you along, too, Driggs," announced Policeman
Whalen.
"But I'm a police officer!" protested Driggs aghast.
"Police officers can be arrested like anyone else, when they break the
law," announced Policeman Whalen dryly. "Come along, the two of
you! Mrs. Dexter, you wouldn't like to be seen walking along with us,
but I'll ask you to be at the station house inside of five minutes."
"I'll be there, officer," promised the woman.
"Do you want us, too?" inquired Dick. He and all of his friends were
eager to see the affair through to the finish.
"No; I know where to find you lads, if you're wanted," grinned
Policeman Whalen. "I don't want a big crowd following. Mrs. Dexter,
ma'am, I'll be looking for you to be on hand sharp."
With that the