"It'll save him annoyance if he knows you girls are not being stared at by curious rowdies." Dick quickly helped the girls aboard the car, then nodded to the conductor to ring the bell.

A second later Dick was bounding back to his chum's side.
Fred Ripley was on his feet, scowling at Dave Darrin.

The latter, though his fists were not up, was plainly in an attitude where he could quickly defend himself.
"That was an unprovoked assault, you rowdy!" Fred exclaimed wrathfully.
"I'd trust to any committee of _gentlemen_ to exonerate me," Dave answered coolly.

"You acted the rowdy, Ripley, and you'd show more sense if you admitted it and reformed." "What did he do ?" demanded one of the curious ones in the crowd.
"He addressed a young lady with offensive familiarity," Dave replied hotly.
"What did _you_ do ?" demanded another in the crowd.
"I knocked him down," Dave admitted coolly.
"Well, that's about the proper thing to do," declared another bystander.

"The Ripley kid has no kick coming to him.