"So Fred's paying Tip money, and Tip knows it's blackmail?" muttered
the sophomore. "That can mean just one thing then. When Tip
held his tongue before and at his trial, last year, he was looking
ahead to the time when he could extort money by threatening Fred.
And now Tip's doing it. That must be the way he gets his living.
Whew, but Ripley must be allowed a heap of spending money if
he can stand that sort of drain!"

How Dick came to be on hand at the time can be easily explained.
Earlier in the evening he had been at "The Blade" office. Mr.
Pollock had asked him to go out on a news story that could be
obtained by calling upon a citizen at his home. The story would
be longer than Dick usually succeeded in turning in. It looked
attractive to a boy who wanted to earn money, so the sophomore
eagerly accepted the assignment.

As it happened, Dick had had to wait a long time at the house
at which he called before the man he wanted to see returned home.
Dick was on his way to "The Blade" office when he caught sight
of Tip Scammon. The latter did not see or hear the sophomore
approaching.

So Dick halted, darting behind a tree.

"Now, what's Tip doing down here, near the Ripley place?" wondered
Prescott. "He must be waiting to see Fred. Then they must have
an appointment. Dave always thought that Tip ambushed me with
those brickbats at Fred Ripley's order. There may be something
of that sort in the wind again. I guess I've got a right to listen."