A good many more of the students chose to drop in behind them.

Dick could say nothing, but his heart swelled with pride.
"The way to get famous and respected, nowadays, is to steal something, and to get found out," sneered Fred Ripley, bitterly, to Clara Deane.
Straight to his own door did some two score in all of the Gridley H.S.students escort Dick Prescott.
"Three cheers for Dick!" proposed some one.
"And for Dick and Co.!" shouted another voice.
The cheers were given with gusto.

So much noise was made, in fact, that Mrs.Prescott came to open the door.
Something in his mother's face---a look of dread and alarm---spoiled the cheering for Dick.

As soon as he could he got inside the house.
Little did the young freshman suspect the ordeal that awaited him here..