"But when they do compel me to down them——"
"I will acknowledge that you always do a good job," said Rattleton, with an approving grin.
"Mr. Scott believed that I should be severe with Flemming and Thornton," admitted Frank; "but I knew that Thornton was dragged into the business by Flemming, without having any real heart for what he was doing. If I were to expose Flemming, it would implicate Thornton, and that seemed too much of a retaliation. I thought the whole matter over carefully, and decided to give the fellows a chance. Then Mr. Scott went to them and nearly frightened the life out of them by saying he meant to expose them to the faculty. That brought them to their knees immediately."
Rattleton expressed his satisfaction by a vigorous pantomime.
"Finally," continued Frank, "when they had begged and promised, Mr. Scott agreed to let up on them if they would come to me, offer apologies, and give me their pledge to let me alone in the future."
"And that is how they happened to be here to-day?"
"Yes."
"Why was the door locked?"
"I locked it to prevent any of the fellows from dropping in on us while we were talking the matter over."