Foxy's father was the storekeeper in the Twentieth, and this brought within Foxy's reach possibilities of influence that gave him an immense advantage over Hughie.

By means of bull's-eyes and "lickerish" sticks, Foxy could win the allegiance of all the smaller boys and many of the bigger ones, while with the girls, both big and small, his willingness to please and his smooth manners won from many affection, and from the rest toleration, although Betsy Dan Campbell asserted that whenever Foxy Ross came near her she felt something creeping up her backbone.
With the teacher, too, Foxy was a great favorite.

He gave her worshipful reverence and many gifts from his father's store, eloquent of his devotion.

He was never detected in mischief, and was always ready to expose the misdemeanors of the other boys.

Thus it came that Foxy was the paramount influence within the school.
Outside, his only rival was Hughie, and at times Hughie's rivalry became dangerous.