The police party being large enough to take care of everything, it was not many minutes more before the High School boys were back in the hall. It took half an hour, however, for the young men to gratify the natural curiosity of the girls. At last the orchestra leader, tiring of the long delay, passed the word to his musicians. Then the music pealed out for that good, stirring old eulogy:
"For he's a jolly good fellow!"
In an instant bright-faced boys and girls caught up the refrain, making the hall shake with the din of their voices.
In the midst of it Thomp and Badger made a rush for Dick Prescott, caught him, and rushed him to the platform. But they had to hold him there.
"Speech! speech!" roared the boy and girl assemblage. There was a volley of hand-clapping.
But Dick, as soon as he could make himself heard, responded:
"You've got my number—-nothing but the freshman class. When a freshman is in doubt he doesn't dare do it!"
Suddenly turning, Dick bolted for the floor once more. Then the next number on the dance programme began, and laughter reigned.
But these events had not been in the dance programme, and it was now late. For an hour or more the chaperons had been fretting, so they brought the dance to a close. Then followed the merry bustle of departure, the hasty goodbyes, the rattling of wheels through the sleeping town and all was quiet in Gridley.
But many a household was awakened to hear the story of the attempted burglary and the part that Dick & Co. had taken in preventing it.