They wanted to make you their catspaw, Hen Dutcher.

Oh, you must feel fine! And the other Central Grammar fellows back in Gridley will be so proud of you!" "You don't have to tell 'em," urged Hen Dutcher pleadingly.
"No; we don't have to," confirmed Tom Reade.

"But we can.

And most likely we will.

We want to separate the wheat from the chaff at the old Central Gram." "But, please don't tell 'em," whined Hen.
"We'll see about that," said Dick Prescott.