The Hilltop Boys

ast at seven, went through a drill from eight to nine and then went into the general

several of the boys gave Jack sly winks and it was quit

to drill, Dick Pe

you did in the afternoon when you stood in the road and directed the two fellows

ld not have known anything of it," rep

if you did soak him with the contents of the water jug," laug

nd the subject was

imself came to Jack an

u. I would like to know how you suspected us, however. Have you

but if fellows will talk of their plans they

chuckle. "I never thought of that. I s

u can hear a whisper farther

that. That's some

among the rest, were standing in front of the main building when Peter Herring, a

ho are you anyhow?

for a moment seemed greatly agitated but he

ther i

ed the other in the same disagr

pointedly, and then turned awa

putation for bullying and also of toadying to the richer boys and snubbing the poor ones. "T

g a look at Jack which boded no good for the

him who his father was?" asked Harry of Arthur whe

ry when spoken to in that tone. Herring is a

white and was evidently under a considerable agita

ur. "It is certainly no business of our

a little snap, "but I can

the boys being good friends and though havin

having this conversation Her

father is as good as yours. I'll give

Merritt. "You're always pi

something crooked about Sheldon or his family and I'm going to find it. I don't assoc

rich man's son and Jack Sheldon were walking together arm in arm. "Pe

snarled Herring,

apped Merritt, ha

utting his arm in the new boy's. "No one of any account pays any attention to him

Jack answered, "but--" and then

do in your classes need not be afraid of Pete Herring's condemnation. I

," laughed the other, who in his examination that mornin

to come and the regular routine was not as strictly observed as it would be later, new boys being

greater part went into the lower classes and would make the material of which the Academy would be composed at a la

t had been in operation for a month, the boys knowing what was expected of them and the profes

uch was expected of him and that there were others who desired to over

e little attention to those who were not, keeping on goo

the week than they had known at the beginning and many of them decided that it w

from him was that he lived in another county, some ten miles distant, that he was the only child of a worthy widow and tha

can to the legitimate fun of the Hilltops and does not waste his coin on foolish things. If he is poor he is not a miser and if he has to work for his schooling that is his business. If Dick Percival

, and the majority echoed his sentiment, the few that remained silent and indulge

to co