one o'clock
Ripley swung , so as to display the tail of a short topcoat that was one of his treasures . The garment was fashionably made and of the best material , for Ripley 's father was a wealthy lawyer in Gridley , and the young Ripley hopeful had all the most costly things a boy can prize . Along the tail of the coat some miscreant had daubed a streak of fresh white paint . Ripley had found it there when donning the coat to leave school at one o'clock that day . Fred knew that Dick had been in the coat room after recess , and , as he disliked the freshman , Ripley had accused Dick of the deed . Having fired his parting shot , Fred turned on his heel , sauntering over to where the fluttering group of girls waited . One of them , Clara Deane , stepped forward to meet him .