"Welcome to our city!" yelled Badger, sonorously.
"Mr. Prescott," greeted Dr. Thornton, holding out his hand, "I am heartily glad to see you back here."
"No more pleased, sir, than I am to be here," returned the young freshman. "And I must thank you, doctor, for the promptness with which you sent the note around to me informing me that the suspension had automatically ended."
While the cheering was going on out in the yard, and while Dick was being carried in triumph into the building, Fred Ripley and Clara Deane had just turned in out of a side street and come within view of the demonstration.
"They're shouting out something about Prescott," murmured Clara.
"Oh, I suppose the mucker has been allowed to sneak back into school," returned Ripley, in disgust.
"It's a shame to allow that class of young fellows in a high school," declared Miss Deane. "If a higher education is necessary for such people, they ought to be sent to a special school of their own."
"If Gridley H.S. goes on being cheapened I shall go to some good private prep. school somewhere," hinted Fred.
"That would be a splendid idea," glowed Clara. "I wouldn't mind going to some good seminary myself."
"If we do, let us hope we can find a town that will contain both schools," suggested Fred, with an attempt at gallantry. "For that matter, Clara, there are co-ed private schools, you know."