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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/12689-0.txt b/12689-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ba62a7f --- /dev/null +++ b/12689-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7009 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12689 *** + +THE HIGH SCHOOL FRESHMEN +or +Dick & Co.'s First Year Pranks and Sports + +By H. Irving Hancock + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTERS + I. "The High School Sneak" + II. Dick & Co. After the School Board's Scalps + III. Not So Much of a Freshman + IV. Captain of the Hounds + V. The "Muckers" and the "Gentleman" + VI. Fred Offers to Solve the Locker Mystery + VII. Dick's Turn to Get a Jolt + VIII. Only a "Suspended" Freshman Now + IX. Laura Bentley is Wide Awake + X. Tip Scammon Talks---But Not Enough + XI. The Welcome With a Big "W" + XII. Dick & Co. Give Football a New Boost + XIII. "The Oath of the Dub" + XIV. On the Gridiron with Cobber Second + XV. Gridley Faces Disaster + XVI. The Fake Kick, Two Ways + XVII. Dick's "Find" Makes Gridley Shiver +XVIII. Fred Slides into the Freeze + XIX. Dick & Co. Show Some Team Work + XX. Out for That Toboggan + XXI. Thanks Served with Hate + XXII. The Only Freshman at the Senior Ball +XXIII. The Nitroglycerine Mystery Speaks Up + XXIV. The Capture of the Bank Robbers + XXV. Conclusion + + + + +CHAPTER I + +THE HIGH SCHOOL SNEAK + + +"I say you did!" cried Fred Ripley, hotly. Dick Prescott's cheeks +turned a dull red as he replied, quietly, after swallowing a choky +feeling in his throat: + +"I have already told you that I did not do it." + +"Then who did do the contemptible thing?" insisted Ripley, sneeringly. + +Fully forty boys, representing all the different classes at the +Gridley High School, stood looking on at this altercation in the +school grounds. Half a dozen of the girls, too, hovered in the +background, interested, or curious, though not venturing too close +to what might turn out to be a fight in hot blood. + +"If I knew," rejoined Dick, in that same quiet voice, in which +one older in the world's ways might have detected the danger-signal, +"I wouldn't tell you." + +"Bah!" jeered Fred Ripley, hotly. + +"Perhaps you mean that you don't believe me?" said Prescott inquiringly. + +"I don't!" laughed Ripley, shortly, bitterly. + +"Oh!" + +A world of meaning surged up in that exclamation. It was as though +bright, energetic, honest Dick Prescott had been struck a blow +that he could not resent. This, indeed, was the fact. + +"See here, Ripley-----" burst, indignantly, from Dick Prescott's +lips, as his face went white and then glowed a deeper red than +before. + +"Well, kid?" sneered Ripley. + +"If I didn't have a hand---the right hand, at that---that is too +crippled, today, I'd pound your words down your mouth." + +"Oh, your hand?" retorted Ripley, confidently. "The yarn about +that hand is another lie." + +Dick's injured right hand came out of the jacket pocket in which +it had rested. With his left hand he flung down his cap. + +"I'll fight---you---anyway!" Prescott announced, slowly. + +There were a few faint cheers, though some of the older High School +boys looked serious. Fair play was an honored tradition in Gridley. + +Ripley, however, had thrown down his cap at once, hurling his +strapped-up school books aside at the same time. + +"Wait a moment," commanded Frank Thompson, stepping forward. +He was a member of the first class, a member of the school eleven, +and a husky young fellow who could enforce his opinions at need. + +"Get back, Thomp," retorted Ripley. "The cub wants to fight, +and he's got to." + +"Not if he has an injured hand," retorted Frank, quickly. + +"He hasn't," jeered Ripley. "And he's got so fight, if he has +four lame hands." + +"He can fight, then, yes," agreed Thompson. "But remember, Fred, +it's allowable, when a fellow's crippled, to fight by substitute." + +"Substitute?" asked Fred, looking uncomfortable. + +"Yes; I'll take his place, if Prescott will let me," volunteered +Frank Thompson, coolly. + +"You? I guess not," snorted Ripley. "I won't stand for that. +I'm a third classman, and you're a first classman. You're half +as big again as I am, and-----" + +"The odds wouldn't be as bad as you're proposing to take out of +this poor little freshman with the crippled hand," insisted Thompson. +"So get ready to meet me. I'll allow one of my hands to be tied, +if you want." + +Yet even this proposition couldn't be made alluring to Fred Ripley. +He knew Thompson's mettle and strength too well for that. + +Dan Dalzell, another freshman, had been standing back, keeping +quiet as long as he could. + +"See here," proposed Dan, stepping forward, "isn't a freshman +allowed to say something when his friend is insulted?" + +"Go ahead," nodded Thompson, who knew Dan to be one of young Prescott's +close friends. + +"Dick isn't in shape to fight, and I know it," continued Dan +Dalzell, hotly. "But Ripley wants something easy, like a +freshman, so he can have me!" + +"And me," cried Tom Reade, also leaping forward. + +"He can have one with me, too," offered Harry Hazelton. + +"Same here," added Greg Holmes and Dave Darrin. + +All five of the speakers were freshmen, and close chums of Dick +Prescott's. + +"Say, what do you think I want---to fight a whole pack?" demanded +Ripley, hoarsely. + +"Oh, you don't have to fight us all at once," retorted Dave Darrin. +"But you've insulted our friend, and you've taken a sneaking +advantage of him at a time when you _knew_ he couldn't handle +anyone as big as you are. So, Ripley, you're answerable to Prescott's +friends. I'll tell you what you can do. There are five of us. +You can take any one of us that you prefer for the first bout. +When you've thrashed him, you can call for the next, and so on. +But you've got to go through the five of us in turn. If you +don't, I'll call you a coward from now on. You're bigger than +any of us." + +"See here, Cub Darrin," raged Ripley, starting forward, his face +aflame, "I don't allow any freshman to talk that way to me. I +won't fight you, but I'll chastise you, and you can protect yourself +if you know how." + +He made a bound forward, intent on hitting Darrin, who stood his +ground unflinchingly. But Thompson seized the third classman +by the shoulder and shoved him back. + +"Now, stop this, Ripley, and you freshmen, cut it out, too," +warned the athletic first classman. "This is descending to a +low level. We don't want a lot of bickering or mouth-fighting, +and we don't intend to have anything but fair play, either." + +"As this is largely my affair," broke in Dick Prescott, who had +had time to cool down a bit, "let me have a chance to make an +offer." + +"Go ahead," nodded Thompson. + +"Then," proposed Dick, "since you won't let me fight today, why +can't this meeting hold over until my hand is in shape? Then +I'll agree to give Ripley all he wants." + +"That's the only sensible thing I've heard said in five minutes," +declared Frank Thompson, looking about him at other upper classmen. +"Is it the general opinion that the fight hold over for a few +days, or, say, a fortnight?" + +"Yes," came back an eager, approving chorus. + +"Then so be it," proclaimed Frank. "And now, remember, Ripley, +this fight is not to be pulled off until the school agrees to +it. If you pick any trouble with Prescott until you get the word, +or if you try to find any excuse for hitting him while his hand's +out of shape, then you'll answer to the school for your conduct. +You know what that means, don't you?" + +"Humph!" snorted Fred Ripley. "All this fuss about the High School +sneak!" + +Again Dick started forward, but Thompson caught him firmly. + +"Hold on, freshie!" advised the older boy. "Save it up. Bottle +it. You can have all the more fun out of Ripley when your hand +is in shape." + +"His hand is in as good shape as it ever was," retorted Ripley, +scornfully. "And he lies when he says he didn't do this." + +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. + +"Fred, why do you have anything to do with such a low-down fellow +as Prescott?" asked Clara, contemptuously. + +"He's the sneak of the school," uttered Fred, harshly; "but I +can't let even a sneak streak my coat with paint." + +"And he never did such a thing, either!" broke in Laura Bentley, +disdainfully. "Fred Ripley, you accused Dick Prescott of playing +off a lame hand. I know how his hand became crippled. Dick wanted +me to promise not to tell how it happened, but now I'm going to. +Wait and you can hear, both of you." + +"I don't want to, I'm sure," rejoined Clara, with a toss of her +head. "Come along, Fred." + +This pair of students walked away together. They always did, +after school was out. The Ripleys and the Deanes were neighbors. + +The other girls, however, followed Laura, as, with quick, resolute +step, she marched over to where the High School boys still lingered. + +"Boys," began Laura, "Mr. Prescott has been accused of pretending +about a hurt hand. I know how he injured it; and, as he did it-----" + +"Please don't say any more, Miss Bentley," begged Dick, flushing. + +"Yes, I shall," insisted Laura, quietly. "It happened night before +last. Dick Prescott didn't want anything said about it, and neither +did the police, so-----" + +"The police?" chipped in several of the High School boys and girls. + +"Yes, the police wanted it kept quiet, so they could have a chance +to catch the fellow," Laura hastened on. "But they've had time +enough, now, to catch the rascal, if they're ever going to. You +see, it happened this way: Mother had forty-five dollars on hand +that belonged to the church fair fund. So, night before last, +she asked me to take it over to Miss Bond, the treasurer. I was +going through Clinton Street, in one of the dark spots, when a +man jumped out from behind a tree and made a snatch for the purse +that I carried in my hand. + +"Well, somehow---I don't just know how," Laura continued, "I managed +to keep hold of the purse and I screamed, of course. Then some +one came running down the street as fast as he could---and Dick +Prescott leaped at the rascal. It was a hard fight---a fearful +one." + +The girl shuddered even then, in the telling, but she continued: +"The wretch was twice as big as Dick Prescott. I thought Dick +was going to be killed. Twice the fellow broke loose, and started +to run, but what do you think Master Dick was up to?" + +"What?" chorused the interested audience. + +"Master Dick had his mind set on subduing the robber and holding +him for the police. So he tried to stop the wretch from getting +away. At last, however, the fellow hurled Dick backward, so that +he fell. When he got up he was lame. You all may have noticed +that Mr. Prescott limped a bit yesterday?" + +"Yes; he _did_," confirmed Frank Thompson. + +"And his hand was hurt, too---I know that," insisted Laura. "For +he escorted me to Miss Bond's, and then home. When we got there, +I asked my father, who is a doctor, to take Dick into the office. +Father said, afterwards, that Dick's right wrist was sprained, +and his ankle wrenched a bit, too. He said Dick would be doing +well to have the full use of his wrist in a week. Then the police +came, when my father telephoned for them, and the police didn't +want anything said for a while." + +"So you, a fourteen-year-old freshie, are going about at night +trying to waylay footpads, are you?" demanded Thompson, resting +a friendly hand on Dick's shoulder. "But why did you keep so +close-mouthed, afterwards?" demanded the first classman. + +"Well, for one thing, I guess I was a bit ashamed," confessed +Dick, reddening. + +"Ashamed of rushing to beauty's aid?" demanded Frank, laughingly. + +"Nothing like it," Dick protested, growing redder still. "I was +ashamed over having let the footpad get away." + +"What? And he twice your size?" gasped Thompson. "Fellows, what +do you think of the modest cheek of this freshie! Ashamed because +he couldn't bag a full-sized thug!" + +"That kid's the mustard!" broke in another first classman, approvingly. + +"That's what he is!" came from others. + +"Wow! whoop!" + +They began crowding about the confused, blushing freshie, pumping +his uninjured left hand. Then some one shouted: + +"He's all right, from the ground up. He's a Gridley boy! He's +only a freshie in years, but he'll get over that. Now, up with +Dick Prescott! On your shoulders! Give him the High School yell!" + +Before he could even dodge, this High School freshman found himself +going up in the air. With all consideration for his injured hand +the upper classmen rushed him out of the school grounds, onto +the street, holding him aloft in the post of honor. The other +boys followed. Even the few girls followed, waving their handkerchiefs, +while a lusty roar went up: + +"T-E-R-R-O-R-S! Wa-ar! Fam-ine! Pesti-lence! That's us! That's +us! G-R-I-D-L-E-Y---H.S. Rah! rah! rah! rah! _Gri-idley_!" + +"What's all that racket back there?" asked Clara Deane, turning +at the head of the street. "Why, they're yelling and carrying +that odious little Dick Prescott." + +"Must be dragging him off to give him a ducking, as he deserves," +muttered Fred Ripley, gratingly. + +"No, no! It's the school yell, and the girls are waving their +handkerchiefs." + +"Then they must be canonizing the school sneak," returned Ripley, +frowning hard. + +"Well, don't wait to see," urged Clara. "We don't care about +mixing up too much with such a common crowd as the Gridley H.S. +students are." + +"Prescott is nothing but a mucker, but he spoiled my coat, and +I'll make him smart for it!" uttered Fred, his face burning with +sullen rage. + +"You'll only smirch yourself, Fred, by having anything more to do +with such a fellow," Clara warned him. + +"When I'm even with the fellow, I won't have anything more to +do with him," snorted Ripley. "But I'll wait, watch and plan +for years, if I have to, to take all the conceit and meanness +out of that sneak. I'll never quit until I can look at myself +in the glass and tell myself that I've paid back the lowest trick +ever played on me!" + + + + +CHAPTER II + +DICK & CO. GO AFTER THE SCHOOL BOARD'S SCALPS + + +In Gridley High School, sessions began at eight in the morning. +School let out for the day at one in the afternoon. The brighter +students, who could get most of their lessons in school, and +do the rest of the work during the evening, thus had the +afternoon for work or fun. + +Often, though, it happened that there were parties, or school +dances in the evening. Then a portion of the afternoon could +be used for study, if need be. Saturdays, of course, were free +from study for all but the dullest---and the dullest usually don't +bother their heads much about study at any time. + +Gridley was not a large place---just an average little American +city of some thirty thousand inhabitants. It was a much bigger +place than that, though, when it came to the matter of public +spirit. Gridley people were proud of their town. They wanted +everything there to be of the best. Certainly, the Gridley High +School was not surpassed by many in the country. The imposing +building cost some two hundred thousand dollars. The equipment +of the school was as fine as could be put in a building of that +size. Including the principal, there were sixteen teachers, four +of them being men. + +In all the classes combined, there were some two hundred and forty +students, about one hundred of these being girls. Nearly all +of the students were divided between the four regular classes. +There were always a few there taking a postgraduate, or fifth +year of work, for either college or one of the technical schools. + +With such a school and such a staff of teachers as it possessed +the Gridley standard of scholarship was high. The Gridley diploma +was a good one to take to a college or to a "Tech" school. + +Yet this fine high school stood well in the bodily branches of +training. Gridley's H.S. football eleven had played, in the past +four years, forty-nine games with other high school teams, and +had lost but two of these games. The Gridley baseball nine had +played fifty-four games with other high school teams in the same +period, and had met defeat but three times in the four years. + +Athletics, at this school, were not overdone, but were carried +on with a fine insistence and a dogged determination. Up to date, +however, despite the fine work of their boys, the citizens of +the town had been somewhat grudging about affording money for +training athletic teams. What the boys had won on the fields +of sport they had accomplished more without public encouragement +than with it. + +It was now October. Dick Prescott and his five closest friends +were all freshmen. They had been in the school only long enough +to become accustomed to the routine of work and study. They were +still freshmen, and would be until the close of the school year. +As freshmen were rather despised "cubs" Dick and his friends +would be daring, indeed should they dare to do anything, in their +freshman year, to make them very prominent. + +According to a good many Gridley people Dick's father, Eben Prescott, +was accounted the best educated man in town. The elder Prescott +had taken high honors at college; he had afterwards graduated +in law, and, for a while, had tried to build up a practice. Eben +Prescott was not lazy, but he was a student, much given to dreaming. +He had finally been driven to opening a small bookstore. Here, +when not waiting on customers, he could read. Dick's mother had +proved the life of the little business. Had it not been for her +energy and judgment the pair would have found it difficult to +rear even their one child properly. The family lived in five +rooms over the bookstore. + +From the time he first began to go to school it had been plain +that Dick Prescott inherited his mother's energy, plus some of +his own. He had been one of the leaders in study, work and mischief, +at the Central Grammar School. It was while in the grammar school +that a band of boys had been formed who were popularly known as +"Dick & Co." Dick was naturally the head. The other members of +the company were Tom Reade, Dan Dalzell, Harry Hazelton, Greg +Holmes and Dave Darrin. These were the same now all High School +freshmen who had stepped forward and offered to take Dick's place +in fighting Fred Ripley. + +Dick was now fourteen, and so were all his partners, except Tom +Reade, who was a year older. All of Dick's chums were boys belonging +to families of average means. This is but another way of saying +that, as a usual thing, Dick and all his partners would have been +unable to fish up a whole dollar among them all. + +Fred Ripley, on the other hand, usually carried considerable money +with him. Lawyer Ripley usually allowed Fred much more money +than that snobbish young man knew how to make good use of. + +Fred and Clara Deane were undoubtedly the best-dressed pair in +the High School, and the two best supplied with spending money. +There were a few other sons or daughters of well-to-do people +in Gridley High School, but the average attendance came from families +that were only just about well enough off to be able to maintain +their youngsters at higher studies. + +Fred Ripley, despite his mean nature, was not wholly without friends +in the High School. Some of his pocket money he spent on his +closest intimates. Then, too, Fred had rather a shrewd idea as +to those on whom it was safe or best to vent his snobbishness. + +From the start of the school year, Ripley had picked out young +Freshman Prescott as a boy he did not like. Dick's place in the +moneyed scale of life was so lowly that Fred did not hesitate +about treating the other boy in a disagreeable manner. + +A week after the meeting between Fred and Dick the High School +atmosphere had suddenly become charged with intense excitement. +The school eleven had come out of training, had played almost +its last match with the "scrub" team and was now close to the +time for its first regular match. Oakdale H.S. was to be the +first opponent, and Oakdale was just good enough a team to make +the Gridley boys a bit uneasy over the outcome. + +"My remarks this morning," announced Dr. Thornton, on opening +school on Monday, "are not so much directed at the young ladies. +But to the young gentlemen I will say that, when the football +season opens, we usually notice a great falling off in the recitation +marks. This year I hope will be an exception. It has always +been part of my policy to encourage school athletics, but I do +not mind telling you that some members of the Board of Education +notice that school percentages fall off in October and November. +This, I trust, will not be the case this year. If it is I fear +that the Board of Education may take some steps that will result +in making athletics less of a feature among our young men. I +hope that it is not necessary to add anything to this plain appeal +to your good judgment, young gentlemen." + +It _wasn't_. Dr. Thornton was a man of so few and direct words +that the boys gathered on the male side of the big assembly room +looked around at each other in plain dismay. + +"That miserable old Board of Education is equal to shutting down +on us right in the middle of the season," whispered Frank Thompson +to Dent, who sat next him. + +"You know the answer?" Dent whispered back. + +"What?" + +"Give the board no excuse for any such action. Keep up to the +academ. grind." + +"But how do that and train-----" + +A general buzz was going around on the boys' side of the room. +Several of the girls, too, were whispering in some excitement, +for most of the girls were enthusiastic "fans" at all of the +High School games. + +Whispering, provided it was "necessary" and did not disturb others, +was not against the rules. These were no longer school children, +but "young gentlemen" and "young ladies," and allowed more freedom +than in the lower schools. For a few moments Dr. Thornton tolerated +patiently the excited buzz in the big assembly room. Then, at +last, he struck a paper-weight against the top of his desk on +the platform. + +"First period recitations, now," announced the principal. + +Clang! At stroke of the bell there was a hurried clutching of +books and notebooks. The students filed down the aisles, going +quickly to their proper sections, which formed in the hall outside. +The tramp of feet resounded through the building, for some recitation +rooms were on the first floor, some on the second and some on +the third. + +Two minutes later there was quiet in the great building. Recitation +room doors were closed. One passing through the corridors would +have heard only the indistinct murmur of voices from the different +rooms. Within five minutes every one of the instructors detected +the fact that, though discipline was as good as ever, Dr. Thornton's +words had spoiled the morning's recitations. Try as they would, +the young men could not fasten their minds on the work on hand. +The hint that athletics might be stopped had _stung_. + +Dick & Co. were all sitting in IV. English. + +"Mr. Prescott," directed Submaster Morton, "define the principle +of suspense, as employed in writing." + +Dick started, looked bewildered, then rose. + +"It's---it's-----" he began. + +"A little more rapidly, if you please." + +"I studied it last night, sir, but I'm afraid I've clean forgotten +all about that principle," Dick confessed. He sat down, red-faced, +nor was his discomfiture decreased by hearing some of the occupants +of the girls' seats giggle. + +"I shall question you about that at the next recitation. Mr. +Prescott," nodded the submaster. + +"Ye-es, sir. I hope you'll have luck," Dick answered, absently. + +"What's that?" rapped out Mr. Morton. + +Dick, aroused, was on his feet again, like a flash. + +"I beg your pardon, Mr. Morton," he came out straightforwardly. +"That sounded like slang, or disrespect. I beg to assure you, +sir, that neither was intended. The truth is-----" + +"Your mind is busy with other things this morning, I see," smiled +the sub-master. + +"Ye-es, sir." Dick dropped once more into his seat. Ralph Morton +sighed. That very popular young submaster, only three years out +of college, was the hugely admired coach who had led the Gridley +eleven to victory during the last three seasons. He was as disturbed +as anyone could have been over the rumored intention of the Board +of Education to take some unpleasant action regarding High School +athletics. + +It was a terribly unsatisfactory hour in IV. English. Five minutes +before the period was up Mr. Morton dejectedly closed the text-book +from which he had been questioning, and remarked, tersely: + +"At ease!" + +Instantly the buzz of whispering broke forth. It was required +only that not enough noise be made to disturb the students in +adjoining rooms. + +Dick, Tom and Dan sat in the front row. Directly behind them +were the other three members of the "Co." + +"Say," muttered Dan, in a low undertone, "Mr. Morton looks half +glum and half savage this morning, like the rest of us." + +"Seems to," muttered Tom Reade. + +"What do you make of _that_?" challenged Dan. + +"There must be strong foundation for the little hint Dr. Thornton +let fall this morning," guessed Dave Darrin. + +"And Mr. Morton knows it's a straight tip," added Harry Hazelton, +sagely. + +"It'll be a confounded shame, if the Board does anything like +that," glowed Dick Prescott, indignantly. + +"They'll be so many dead ones, if they _do_," flared Tom Reade, +hotly. + +"Yes," agreed Dave Darrin. "But the worst about that Board of +Education is that, though they _are_ dead ones, they're so very +dead that they'll never find it out." + +"Won't they, thought" whispered Dan Dalzell, hotly. "Say, I'm +inclined to think they will! I-----" + +"Dan!" whispered Dick, warningly. + +"Yep; you've guessed right," grinned Dan. "I am hatching a scheme +in my mind. I'm getting up something that will bring even that +dummified Board to its senses." + +"Then you can achieve the impossible," teased Reade. + +"Say, but it's a warm one that's forming this time," whispered +Dan, his eyes dancing. "I'll see you fellows at recess. Not +a word until then. But you-----" + +Ting-ling-ling. The bell connecting with the annunciator at the +principal's desk was trilling in IV. English, as it was in all +the other recitation rooms. IV. English rose, the boys waiting +until the girls had passed from the room. A study-hour in the +big assembly room followed for Dick & Co. Yet, had anyone watched +Dan Dalzell, it would have been found that young man was in the +reference room, and reading, or thumbing---of all volumes in +the English language---the city directory! + +When recess broke, Dick & Co. quickly got together. By twos, +Dick and Dave Darrin leading, they marched down through one of +the side streets, it being permitted to High School pupils to +go outside the yard in the near neighborhood. + +Presently Dick halted before a stone wall. He eyed Dan keenly, +who had been walking just behind with Harry Hazelton. + +"Dan," demanded the leader, "you gave us to understand that your +mind is seething again. Is that true?" + +"Quite true," Dan averred, solemnly. + +"What particular kind of cerebration is oscillating inside of +your intelligence?" Dick queried. + +"Which?" demanded Dan, suspiciously. "No, I never! I'm not that +kind of fellow." + +"In plain, freshman English, then, what's your scheme?" + +"We'll have to get statistics," announced Dalzell, "before I can +come right down to bare facts. When does the Board of Education, +otherwise known as the Grannies' Club, meet?" + +"Tonight, in the Board Room in the High School building," Dick +answered. + +"How many members are there?" + +"Seven," Dick affirmed. + +"That's not too many, then," continued Dan, thoughtfully. + +"Not too many?" repeated Dick Prescott. "What do you mean?" + +"Why, I've been refreshing my general information about this town +by consulting the city directory. From that valuable tome I +discovered that there are just nine undertakers in town." + +"Now, what on earth are you driving at---or driveling at?" asked +Dick Prescott, suspiciously, while the other partners remained +wonderingly, eagerly silent. + +"Why," pursued Dan, "we can summon seven of the undertakers for +our job, and still leave two available for the public service." + +Dick sprang up from the stone wall, tightly gripping Dan Dalzell +by the coat collar. + +"Help me watch this lunatic, fellows," urged Dick, quietly. +"He's dangerous. You've heard him! He's plotting assassination!" + +"Undertakers don't assassinate anyone, do they?" queried Dan, +with an air of mock innocence. + +"What _are_ you plotting, then?" insisted Dick. + +Dan's face broadened into a very pronounced grin. + +"Why, see here, fellows, there seems to be some fire behind Dr. +Thornton's smoke that the Board of Education may get excited over +low recitation marks, and actually---_stop football_!" finished +Dalzell, in a gasp. + +The other five chums snorted. Dan Dalzell was presently able +to control his feelings sufficiently to proceed: + +"No one but actually dead ones would expect an American institution +of the higher learning to exist in these days without football. +Hence, if the Grannies' Club---I mean the School Board---are +planning to stop football, or even believe that it is possible, +then they're sure enough dead ones. Am I right?" + +"Right and sane, after all," nodded Dick. + +"Therefore," pursued Dan, "if the board members are dead ones, +why not go ahead and bury them? Or, at the least, show our kindly +interest in that direction. See here, fellows"---here Dan lowered +his voice to the faintest sort of whisper, while the other partners +gathered close about him---"tonight we fellows can scatter over +the town, and drop into different telephone booths where we're +not known. We can call up seven different undertakers, convey +to them a hint that there's a dead one at the Board Room, and +state that the victim of our call is wanted there at once. + +"What good would that do?" demanded Dick, after a thoughtful pause. + +"Why," proposed Dan Dalzell, "if seven undertakers call, all within +five minutes, won't it be a delicate way of conveying the hint +that a Board of Education that thinks it can stop football is +composed of dead ones? You see, there'll be an undertaker for +each member of the Board. Don't you think the idea---the hint---would +soak through even those seven dull old heads?" + +Tom, Harry and Dave began to chuckle, though they looked puzzled. + +"Well, if you ask _me_," decided Dick, after more thought, "I have +just one answer. The scheme is too grisly. Besides, we've nothing +against the undertakers that should make us willing to waste their +time. Moreover, Dan we're in the High School, and we're expected +to be gentlemen. Now, does your scheme strike you as just the +prank for a lot of gentlemen." + +"Say, don't look the thing over too closely," protested Dan, more +soberly, "or you'll find lots of bad holes in the scheme. Yet, +somehow, we've got to bring it to the attention of the Board that, +if they go against High School football, they're real dead ones." + +"I've just an idea we can do that," spoke Dick Prescott, reflectively. +"We can rig the scheme over, so as to save seven estimable business +men from starting out on fools' errands. And we can drive the +lesson home to the Board just as hard---perhaps harder." + +At these hopeful words from the chief the partners pricked up +their ears, then crowded closer. + +"In the first place," began Dick, "Dan's scheme---beg your pardon, +old fellow---is clumsy, grisly and likely to come back as a club +to hit us over the head. Now, you all know Len Spencer, the +'Morning Blade' reporter. He's a regular 'fan' over the football +and baseball teams, and follows them everywhere in the seasons. +You also know that Len is a pretty good friend of mine. If I +put Len up to a scheme that will furnish him with good 'copy' +for two mornings, he'll put it through for me, and be as mum as +an oyster." + +"How can Len help us in anything?" demanded Dave Darrin, wonderingly. + +"Listen!" ordered Dick Prescott, with a twinkle in his eyes. + +When Dick & Co. hurried back at the close of recess they felt +serene and content. All the partners felt that Dick Prescott, +the most fertile boy in ideas at the Central Grammar School, was +going to be able to save the day for football. For Dick had propounded +a scheme that was sure to work---barring accidents! + +That evening the Board of Education met in dull and stately session. +These meetings were generally so dull and devoid of real news +that the local press was content to get its account from the secretary's +minutes. Tonight was no exception in this respect. No reporter +was present when Chairman Stone rapped for order. Seven excellent +men were these who sat around the long table. Most of them had +made their mark in local business, or in the professions. Yet, +as it happened, none of these excellent men had ever made a mark +in athletics in earlier years. As they appeared to have succeeded +excellently in life without football the members of the Board +were inclined to reason that football must be a bad thing. + +After the session had droned along for three-quarters of an hour, +and all routine business had been transacted, Chairman Stone looked +about at his fellow Board members. + +"Gentlemen," he began, "we have noticed that, during October and +November, the High School percentages, especially those of the +young men, are prone to fall a bit. There can be but one cause +for this---the football craze. There are signs that this stupid +athletic folly will take a greater hold than ever, this year, +on our High School students. I thought it best to ask Dr. Thornton +to caution the students that any such falling-off of percentages +this year might make it necessary for us to forbid High School +football." + +"It was an excellent idea to give such a warning, Mr. Chairman," +nodded Mr. Hegler. + +"So I thought," replied Chairman Stone, complacently. "Yet, while +we have been in session this evening, I have been wondering why +it would not be a good plan to promote scholarship at once by +summarily forbidding football." + +"Even for the balance of this present season?" asked Mr. Chesbritt, +ponderously. + +"Even for the balance of this season," confirmed Mr. Stone. + +There were murmurs of approval. Just at that moment, however, +the door opened suddenly, and Reporter Len Spencer, a bright-faced +young man of twenty-two, hurried in on tip-toe. Then, suddenly, +he halted, looking unutterably astonished. + +"Oh, I beg your pardon, Mr. Chairman and gentlemen," murmured +the reporter. "But I did not expect to find you in session." + +"And why not, Mr. Spencer?" demanded the chairman, crisply. + +"Why, I---er---I---well, to be candid, gentlemen, 'The Blade' +had information that some one had died here." + +"Died here?" gasped Chairman Stone. "Upon my word that would +be a most extraordinary thing to do in the presence of this Board. +Where did you get such very remarkable information, young man?" + +"It was telephoned to 'The Blade' office," Len Spencer replied. + +"By whom?" + +"I---I really don't know," replied the young reporter, looking +much embarrassed. "I don't believe our editor, Mr. Pollock, does, +either. The news came in over the 'phone. Mr. Pollock told me +to rush up here and get all the facts." + +"The facts," retorted Mr. Stone, dryly, "would be most difficult +for the members of this Board to furnish. Indeed, the only fact +in which we are interested would be the name of the person who-----" + +Ting-a-ling-ling! As the telephone bell jangled Chairman Stone +drew the desk instrument toward him, holding the receiver to his +ear. + +"Hullo!" hailed a voice. "Is that the Board of Education's office?" + +"It is," confessed Chairman Stone. + +"Is our reporter, Spencer, there? If so, I would like to talk +with him." + +"Yes, he's right here, Mr. Pollock. And from the extraordinary +information he has brought us, I think he needs a talking-to. Wait +a moment." + +Chairman Stone passed the instrument to Len Spencer. The members +of the Board felt curiosity enough to leave their seats and gather +at the head of the table. They could hear Editor Pollock's voice +as it ran on: + +"Hullo, Spencer. Say, I've just had another 'phone from that +same party. He says that he sent in his information a bit twisted. +What he meant to tell us was that there are _seven dead ones_ in +the Board of Education who know so little about public spirit +and pride in our boys that they are even considering the idea +of forbidding High School football." + +"Oh, that's it, eh?" asked Spencer, solemnly. "Seven dead ones?" + +"Yes; of course you've already discovered that there's no real +tragedy up at the Board, unless they're actually planning some +move against football." + +The seven members of the School Board looked at one another blankly, +wonderingly. + +"Who sent you that message over the 'phone?" questioned the reporter. + +The seven Board members pricked up their ears still more keenly. + +"I don't know," came Editor Pollock's voice. "But I suspect it +came from the Business Men's Club. That's a wide-awake and progressive +crowd, you know, and full of local pride, even in our High School +boys. But, Spencer, I'm in just a bit of a fix. I had already +run out six lines on the bulletin board announcing that a sudden +death had taken place in the School Board meeting. Now, I've +got to run out another bulletin and explain. Spencer, you'd better +come back here on the jump. Good-bye!" + +As the bell rang off, and the reporter laid the instrument back +on the table, he said: + +"Gentlemen, I am ordered back to my office in haste. Yet, before +I go, as a matter of news interest, I think I'd better ask you +whether any action is going to be taken forbidding football in +the High School?" + +"N-n-not to the best of our knowledge," stammered Chairman Stone. +"We have---taken no action along that line." + +"Are you likely to take any such action tonight?" + +"I---I---think not." + +"Thank you, and goodnight, gentlemen. I offer you my apology +and 'The Blade's' for having intruded on you in this fashion." + +As soon as the members of the Board were alone Chairman Stone +glanced about him, and remarked: + +"So, it appears, gentlemen, that, if we do not favor High School +football, we shall be regarded as what are termed 'dead ones'!" + + + + +CHAPTER III + +NOT SO MUCH OF A FRESHMAN + + +The next morning's "Blade" contained a column and a half, written +in Reporter Spencer's most picturesque vein. The headlines ran: +"School Board Hoaxed. Gentle Jokers Convey a Needed Hint. Football +Not to Be Barred in High School. 'Blade' Reporter a First-off +Victim in the Service of Public Spirit." + +It was a fine article, from a High School boy's point of view. +It was an article, too, which, in a city ruled by a lively public +spirit, was likely to tie the hands of a Board of Education that +did not care to fly in the face of public opinion. + +Dick Prescott, before he went in to breakfast, read the article +in secret, with many a chuckle. + +"You seem much interested in the newspaper, Richard," said his +father, when the young freshman came to table, still holding +'The Blade.'" + +"Yes, sir. You know I have set my heart on making the H.S. eleven +just as soon as I strike a higher class. I was afraid the School +Board would abolish the game from our school. Now, I know they +won't." + +"Hm! Let me see 'The Blade.'" + +Mr. Prescott glanced through the article, a faint twinkle showing +in his eyes. + +"The School Board may stop High School football," commented Mr. +Prescott, laying aside the paper. "They _may_, but it would +take a good deal of courage, for that article will start Gridley +on a furor of enthusiasm for the game. I wonder who got up that +hoax." + +"Why, Dad, 'The Blade,' hints at some one down at the Business +Men's Club." + +"Hm! I wonder who wrote the article." + +"Perhaps Len Spencer," replied Dick. "You know, Dad, he's a great +fan for all our H.S. sports." + +"I can just see Jason Stone reading that article at _his_ breakfast +table this morning," smiled Mr. Prescott. "Stone is a great +sail-trimmer, always afraid of the man who casts a vote." + +"What's the matter?" asked Mrs. Prescott, coming in breezily from +the kitchen. + +Dick explained the news to his mother. + +"Abolish football at the High School!" echoed Mrs. Prescott, indignantly. +"And I've been sharing your great wish Dick, to make the team +when you're old enough. They shan't do it, anyway, Dick, until +you've had your chance on the eleven!" + +"No, mother," replied the boy, very quietly; "I don't believe +they will." + +With a sudden rush of recollection of other pranks in which she +had known her son to be engaged in the grammar school days, Mrs. +Prescott shot a sudden, wondering glance at him. But Dick, looking +utterly innocent, was chewing his food. + +Frank Thompson, Ben Badger and Ted Butler, all seniors, and stars +on the H.S. football team, had risen early that morning, every +one of them feeling glum over the dread that the great sport might +be "killed" for them. They were the only members of the eleven +who happened to see "The Blade" early. In consequence, these +three husky young Americans were on the street early. Just as +naturally they ran into each other. + +"Whoop!" yelled Thompson, when he came in sight of his pals. + +"Wow!" observed Ben. + +"And some more!" glowed Butler. + +"Will they stop football _now_?" demanded Thompson. + +"Not while anyone is looking," averred Butler. + +"But say, it was great of the Business Men's Club to make such +a stroke for us," went on Badger, enthusiastically. + +"Yes," admitted Frank Thompson, "if that was where it came from. +I guess it was, all right." + +Arm in arm the three went off down the street, feeling as though +the world had turned right side up once more. + +Dick met his partners on the way to the High School. All were +grinning quietly. + +"You're the genius, Dick," admitted Dan Dalzell, cordially. "My +undertaker scheme would have been ghastly. It would have taken +all the edge off the joke---would have spoiled it, and the joke +would have been a club that would have hit us over the head. +But, say! I wonder if the Grannies' Club will dare to touch our +sacred football now!" + +"Don't waste any time wondering," chuckled Tom Reade. "They wont." + +It was a happy day in the famous old Gridley High School. Actually, +the recitations went off better than they had done on any day +since term opening. + +Dick Prescott was out on the street rather early that afternoon. +He wanted to run across Len Spencer, and chose Main Street as +the most likely thoroughfare for the purpose. He met the reporter +at the head of a little alleyway. + +"Well, Dick, how did you like it?" was the reporter's greeting. + +"Say, it was great!" Dick bubbled over. + +"What do they think down at H.S.?" + +"Think?" repeated young Prescott. "Why, everybody is in ecstasies. +The gloom of yesterday has vanished like the mist from a cheap +cigar. You're suspected of writing the article, too, Len. If +the High School students can find any proof that you did you'll +get a rouser in the way of handsome treatment." + +The two had stepped down just off the street into the alleyway. + +"Does everyone seem to believe that the job was put up at the +Business Men's Club?" Dick asked. + +"Sure thing," nodded Len Spencer. "And no member of the Club +will deny it, either, for the thing has struck the popular side +of the town. Why, by tonight, there'll be at least a dozen of +the members, each confidentially telling his friends that _he_ +conceived the whole trick." + +"That'll make it all the stronger," nodded Dick. "Good thing." + +"Glee!" chuckled Len. "Wouldn't the whole town---including the +Board members---wake up, if they only knew that the whole thing +was planned out by a fourteen-year-old freshie, by name Dick Prescott!" + +"You won't let it out, Len, that I had any hand in it?" asked +Dick, quickly. + +"Oh, not I," promised Len, quickly. "I gave you my word on that, +son, didn't I?" + +"Now, see here," Dick went on, "why can't you push this thing +along one day further? Why don't you interview a lot of the prominent +business men on the absolute necessity of football for keeping +up the H.S. spirit and traditions?" + +"Good idea as far as it goes," assented Len, dubiously. "But +a lot of the business men might prove to be fossilized, and be +against the grand old game." + +"Leave that sort out," hinted Dick, sagely, "and go after the +right kind." + +"How'll I know the right kind?" asked reporter Spencer, thoughtfully. + +"Why, use your head a bit. There's Beck. He's a millionaire, +and one of the big men of the town, isn't he?" + +"Yes; but he may not believe in football." + +"Shucks! Of course Beck believes in football," retorted Dick. +"Doesn't his lumber yard furnish all the wooden goods that are +needed for fences, seats, and all that sort of thing up at the +athletic grounds? Doesn't Beck know that, if he said a word against +football, he never get another order for lumber from the H.S. +Alumni association. Then there's Carleson. He's one of the directors +of the railroad, therefore a big enough man to interview." + +"Where does Carleson come in on hot interest in football?" + +"Use your head," jibed Dick. "Doesn't his railroad have lots +of jobs transporting the football teams to other games, and bringing +other teams here? Don't mobs of fans follow the teams and pay +fare? Why, H.S. football is a dividend-payer to Carleson. Your +own editor, Pollock, will come out for us. Besides the news football +makes for 'The Blade,' just think of the profit from doing all +the poster and ticket printing for us. Then there's Henley, who +sells the team uniforms and other athletic goods _and he's one +of the aldermen_! Why, man alive, there are a score of big men +in town who can't afford to see H.S. football stopped. Here are +some of their names-----" + +Dick rattled it along, giving a long list to Len Spencer, who +jotted down the names. + +"Thank you; old man," said the reporter, cordially. "I'll get +these interviews, and it'll make a corking good second-day story. +Pollock says I can push this as far as I like, for it has struck +a popular vein. But Pollock says he wouldn't have thought of +it, Dick, if you hadn't set the ball rolling." + +"Then he knows the big part that my chums and I took in the game?" +asked Dick, his face showing his concern. + +"Yes; but don't worry. Old Pollock is as mum as the grave about +such things. Now, so long, Dick, old fellow. I've got to run +down to the end of this alley to call on a sick friend. Then +I'll hustle out and get a barrelful of interviews that will cinch +and rivet football on Gridley H.S. for a century to come!" + +As Len Spencer vanished through one of the doorways Dick Prescott +turned toward the street. As he did so, he jumped back. + +"We want you, freshie!" declared Frank Thompson, grimly. "And +we want you badly." + +Badger and Butler, who were just behind the speaker, closed in +firmly around the freshman. + +"We heard, and we didn't feel ashamed to listen," declared +Thompson. "So you're the genius that has been doing giant's +work for football? You are under arrest, freshie---and I hope +you'll come along without making any row." + +Despite the severity of the looks in the faces of these three +seniors, Dick Prescott did not feel very uneasy. He submitted +to walking between Thompson and Butler, while Ben Badger brought +up the rear. The unafraid prisoner was marched along and into +another street, to where the football eleven had its "club room." +This was an unoccupied store, the agent of which allowed the +boys the use of the place, rent free, as long as it remained idle. + +When near this headquarters Ben Badger darted ahead, throwing +open the door, while Frank and Ted marched in with their prisoner. + +"Attention!" roared Ben. + +Nearly all the members and substitutes of the eleven were present. +They were sorting over various bits of football paraphernalia. +Several of them stopped work to look up as Ben Badger slammed +the door shut again. + +"Well, what are you making so much noise about?" demanded one +of the second classmen. "You come in with a roar, and all you +bring with you is---just a poor, insignificant little freshie." + +"Oh, but what a freshman!" thundered Frank Thompson. "Listen, +fellows, what do you suppose this freshman has done?" + +"Lynch him for it, anyway, whatever it is," retorted another. + +"Wait!" commanded Thompson. "And listen." + +There upon Frank detailed what he and his two comrades had overheard +at the head of the alleyway. Instantly the complexion of things +changed. There were cheers and hoarse yells, as the football +men rushed forward, crowding about Dick Prescott. + +"Now I've told all that I heard," wound up Thompson. "We'll have +to ask Mr. Prescott to favor us with the further details, which +I trust he will be inclined to do." + +"Mr. Prescott!" That, instead of "cub," "kid" or "freshie." Had +the enthusiasm been less intense Dick would have been sure that +they were having fun with him. + +"Go on," ordered Ben Badger briefly. "Talk up!" + +To have refused plain orders from a first classman might have +been serious. Dick knew better. Clearing his throat he related +all he could recall of how the plot came to be hatched. Nor was +Dick glory-hunter enough to give himself any more credit than +he did his partners. In his brief account the freshman spread +all the credit for the invention equally over the six members +of Dick & Co. + +"'Twas a great thought, and carried out like a campaign," declared +Ben Badger. There was more cheering. Then Frank Thompson dragged +Dick forward once more before the lined-up team. + +"Fellows," proposed Thompson, "we owe this freshie-----" + +"Stop that!" roared one of the fellows. "Prescott may be +young---painfully young---but he's no freshie." + +"Then," amended Thompson, with grave dignity, "we owe a handsome +reward to this---upper classman. May I tell him what the reward +is to be?" + +"Go ahead, Thomp!" came an answering roar. + +"Then, listen, Prescott. For the great deed you have done for +Gridley H.S. football every member of Dick & Co. deserves undying +fame. As I can't be sure of our ability to confer that, we'll +do the next best thing. In years and class you're all six of +you freshmen. Now, what is expected of a freshman?" + +"Why," laughed Dick, "as I understand it, a freshman is a fellow +who doesn't dare to be fresh." + +"Hear! hear!" yelled a dozen voices. + +"In that respect," proclaimed Thompson, solemnly, "Dick & Co. +shall no longer be freshman at Gridley H.S.! If the spirit seizes +any of you, then go ahead and be fresh---of course, not _too_ +fresh! Mix in with the upper classmen, all of you, if you want +to. Have your opinions, and don't be afraid to let 'em out---if +you can't hold in any longer. To the upper class dances this +winter Dick & Co. shall have a bid---if you'll all learn how to +walk and glide across a waxed floor. Remember, when you're among +the fellows, you don't have to keep in the back freshmen row---but +see to it that you don't encourage general mutiny in your class +against the superior upper classes. Finally, you can get sassy +with all upper classman whenever any of you six want to---all +you'll have to do, further, will be to fight." + +Another round of cheers confirmed Thompson's declaration. + +"Now, fellows, get a move on!" bawled Sam Edgeworth, captain of +the football eleven. "We've barely time to get to the field and +meet Coach Morton punctually." + +"Will you let me make one request?" shouted Dick, over the hubbub. + +"Yes. Go ahead! Get it out quick!" + +"Then please don't let out a word," begged young Prescott, "about +Dick & Co., as we fellows are called, being at the bottom of the +plot against the Board of Education." + +"Not a word!" promised Captain Edgeworth, gravely. + +Then Dick was hustled good-naturedly to the door, Ben Badger once +more springing forward to hold it open. As Dick hurried out onto +the sidewalk a hurricane of cheers followed him. Then, as the +door was closing, came a fierce burst of the High School yell. + +Just as it happened, this parting salute couldn't have been worse +timed. Within four doors Dr. Thornton, the principal, was sauntering +slowly along. He heard tine hubbub, of course, and looked up, +to see Dick Prescott coming out alone, a pleased look on his flushed +face. + +Across the street, just coming out of a store, was Chairman Jason +Stone of the Gridley Board of Education. + +"Young Prescott! Bless my soul!" murmured Dr. Thornton. "Why +are the football team making such a row over that young freshman?" + +In another instant the principal's question all but answered itself. + +"Why, I wonder," muttered the good doctor, "if the enthusiasm +in any way relates to the hoax on the Board. Was Prescott at +the bottom of it? I'll keep it in mind and try to find out!" + +"If the football crew are making all that row over a mere freshman," +thought Chairman Stone, "then young Prescott must be the inventor +of the yarn that has made Gridley wonder whether we of the Board +are so many 'dead ones.' Hm! hm! I'll find out if that's the +case. Such a trick is clearly one that would call for expelling +the young man from the High School!" + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +CAPTION OF THE HOUNDS + + +"Is that mucker going to run today?" + +The questioner was Fred Ripley, and his voice was full of disgust. +He glared at Dick Prescott, who was seated unconcernedly on a +stone wall, awaiting the arrival of Tom Reade and Dan Dalzell, +the only other members of Dick & Co. who were to figure in today's +event. + +"Is who going to run?" asked Ben Badger. + +"That little mucker, Prescott?" insisted Fred. + +"Yes," returned Badger, shortly. + +"Gridley H.S. is getting worse and worse," growled Ripley. +"Athletics ought to be confined to the best sort of fellows +in the school. These little muckers, these nobodies, ought +to be kept out of everything in which the real fellows take part." + +"Don't be a cad, Ripley," retorted Badger, half angrily. + +"Oh, I'm no great stickler for caste, and that sort of thing," +Fred grumbled on. "I'm democratic enough, when it comes to +that, and I associate with a good many fellows whose fathers don't +stand as high in the community as mine does." + +"That's really kind of you," mimicked Ben Badger, with another +look of disgust at the rich lawyer's son. "Of course, you feel +just as though anything that your father may have accomplished +puts you in a rather more elect lot." + +"Of course, it does," retorted Fred, drawing himself up stiffly. +"Still, you know as well as anyone does, Badger, that I'm not +stuck up just on account of family or position. I'm ready to +give the friend's hand to any of the right sort of fellows. But +what is that little mucker, Prescott? His parents peddle books +and newspapers." + +"They run a book and periodical shop, if that is what you mean," +rejoined Ben, disgustedly, as he looked the young snob over for +the third time. "Some mighty big people have done that in times +past. As to position, Prescott's father isn't a rich man, nor +a very successful one, but I wish I could look forward, some day, +to being half as well educated as Dick's father is." + +"A dreamer, a fool, a man who couldn't and didn't succeed," sneered +Fred. "And his son will be a bigger mistake in life. I don't +have anything to do with that kind of people and their friends." + +"I'll wish you good-day, then," broke in Badger, crisply, and +moved away. "I want to be reckoned as one of Dick Prescott's +friends. He's one of the most promising young fellows in Gridley +H.S." + +Ripley let loose an astounded gasp. He stood still where Badger +had left him, boiling over with rage. Had Ripley been wise, he +would have chosen another time for anger. Any trainer or physician +could have told this young snob that just before going off on +a long race is the worst possible time for letting anger get the +best of one. Anger excites the action of the heart to a degree +that makes subsequent running performance a thing of difficulty. + +Gridley H.S. was out for the October paper chase. This was an +annual event, in which the sophomores, or third classmen, acted +as the hares, while the freshmen played the part of the hounds. +The course was six miles across country. Three courses, of equal +length, were laid down, each with a different terminal. It was +known, in advance, only to the hares, which course would be run +over. But, which ever course was taken, it must be followed to +the end. Five minutes' start was allowed to the hares. Then +the hounds were sent after them in full yelp. By starting time +for the hounds the hares were sure to be out of sight. An official +of the first class, who followed the hares at the outset, gave +the call when the five minutes were up. Beginning with that call +the hares were obliged to scatter bits of paper, as they ran, +all the way to the finish of the run. + +All three of the courses were somewhat parallel during the first +five minutes of the run, but, as the hounds had no means of knowing +which course was the right one, the hounds had to divide their +forces until the first of the paper trails was struck. Then the +"baying" of the hounds who found the trail brought the other two +parties of freshmen to them. Usually, four or five upper classmen +ran with the hounds to decide upon "captures" in case of dispute. +A hound overhauling a hare had to throw his arms around the prize, +stopping him fairly for at least fifteen seconds. Then the hare +was sent back, out of the race. Each hound was credited with +the hare he captured. + +Twelve hares ran, also twelve hounds. If the hounds captured +seven or more of the hares ere the race was finished, then the +hounds won. If they captured less than six, the hares won. If +six hares were captured, then the race was a "tie." But, as will +be seen, with the five minutes' start, and the hares averaging +a year more of age, the sophomore class usually won this chase. + +These rules had originated at Gridley, where the High School boys +considered their form of the game superior to the rules usually +followed. + +This year, as in previous years, the sophomores felt confident of +winning. The freshmen hounds averaged rather small in size, +though little was known as to the freshmen running powers or +wind. The sophomores were all good runners. + +The contestants for positions on both teams had been tried out +three days before, by a committee of men from the first class. +The sophomores had not been allowed to see the freshmen run at +these trials. + +The start was to be made at three o'clock on this Monday afternoon. +All the runners were now here, Reade and Dalzell having been +among the last of the freshmen to come up. It was ten minutes +before three. + +"Half of the freshmen are a pretty mucky looking lot, aren't they?" +asked Ripley, as he and Purcell, of the hares, strolled by. + +"I hadn't noticed it," replied Purcell pleasantly. "I thought +them a clean and able looking lot of young fellows." + +"Humph! A pretty cheap lot! I call 'em," rejoined Ripley. + +Dick Prescott heard and flushed slightly. He understood the allusion, +coming from the source that it did. But Dick was bent on making +a good run this afternoon, and kept his temper. + +"Hares on the line!" shouted Frank Thompson, finally. He was +to fire the shots that started the two teams, then was to run +with the hounds to act as one of the judges of possible captures. + +Purcell, who was captain of the hares, led his men forward to +the line laid across the grass. Just before they formed, the +captain gave some whispered instructions. Ben Badger was already +at the line. He was to run with the hares during the first five +minutes, then give the final signal for beginning to scatter the +paper trail. + +"On the line there, quick!" called Thompson, watch in his left +hand, pistol in his right. "Ready!" + +The hares, each with a bag of torn paper hanging over one hip, +bent forward. + +Crack! At the report of the pistol the hares bounded forward. +In barely more than a minute afterwards they were out of sight. + +Then followed some minutes of tedious waiting for the Gridley +freshmen. + +"Hounds to the line!" + +Dick, who had been elected captain of the freshmen team, led his +men forward on all easy lope. Dick took his place at the extreme +left of the pursuing line, with Tom Reade next to him; then Dan +Dalzell. + +"Ready!" A pause of a few seconds. Crack! + +The pistol sent the hounds away. They did not attempt to run +fast. Captain Dick Prescott's orders were against that. The +hounds moved away at an easy lope, for there were miles yet to +be covered. Six miles, in fact, is more than average High School +boys of the lower classes can make at a cross-country jog. +A go-as-you-please gait was therefore allowed. Either hare or +hound might walk when he preferred. + +But for the first five minutes the hounds, who divided into three +squads almost immediately, moved along at an easy jog. Every +eye was alert for the first sign of a paper trail. There were +six upper classmen running with the hounds. Ben Badger was somewhere +ahead, hiding in order not to betray the trail. But, when he +had been passed, Badger would jump up and run with the hounds, +making the seventh judge. + +"I wonder if we've a ghost of a show to win," muttered Tom Reade. + +"Every show in the world---until we're beaten!" replied Dick, +doggedly. "It isn't in the Gridley blood to wonder if we can +win---we've got to win!" + +After that Dick closed his lips firmly. He must save his wind +for the long cross-country. + +On the left the runners were now in a field. The center was moving +along the highway, the right wing being in a field over beyond. + +"Wow-oo! wow-oo! wow-oo!" sounded a deep, far-away chorus. + +"There's the trail, away over to the right!" shouted Captain Dick. +"Come on, fellows!" + +On an oblique line he led them, toward the road. They took a +low stone wall on the leap, vaulting the fence at the other side +of the road. The center squad had already overtaken the discoverers +of the trail. + +"Run easily. Don't try to cover it all in a minute. Save your +wind!" admonished Dick to his own squad. + +The upper classmen judges ran well behind the hounds. It was +needful only that they be near enough to see and decide any disputed +point of capture. + +It was all of twenty-five minutes over a course that led across +fields and through woods, ere the hounds caught the first glimpse +of their quarry. Yet, all along, the paper trail was in evidence. +One of the hares was required to strew the small bits of paper. +When his bag was empty another hare must begin dropping the white +bits. + +"I'll bet Ripley dropped along here---the trail is so mean and +difficult," grunted Reade, disgustedly. + +"There are the hares ahead---I see two of them!" bellowed Dan +Dalzell, lustily. + +A chorus from the hounds responded an instant later. Yes; they +had come in sight of the chase. But the rearmost hares were still +a good half mile away. Then the hares disappeared into a forest, +leaving only the paper trail as evidence of their presence. + +"Brook ahead!" sang out Captain Dick. "Go easily and save some +of your wind for jumping." + +In a minute more they came to it. Most of the hounds knew when +to start on the faster run that must precede the running jump. + +Splash! splash. + +Splash! spla-a-ash! + +Four of the freshmen floundered in the knee-deep water. Well +doused, they must none the less dash out of the cold water and +continue on the chase. + +"Keep a-moving, and you'll soon be dry and warm," Dick called +backward over his shoulder. The four who had been badly wet ran +heavily now, yet afraid of ridicule if they fell out. They were +having their first taste of High School sports, which made no +allowance for quitters. + +Twenty minutes later a low hurrah went up from the freshmen hounds. +Dawson, of the hares, found the pace too swift for him. With +a slight pain in his side he lagged so that one of the hounds +put on an extra spurt, then wound his arms around the sophomore. + +"Fair capture!" bawled one of the judges, and Dawson, dropping +out, sat down until he could get his wind back. + +Within the next twenty minutes four more of the hares fell into +the maws of the hounds. + +Five captures! That was fine. Only two more needed, and less +than two miles to cover. + +The hares were, at this time, again out of sight in the woods +ahead. But Captain Dick, having saved his wind well, now put +on a slightly better spurt and jogged ahead, full of the purpose +of capturing his second hare. One of the "catches" was already +recorded to his credit. + +"There's one of the hares," Dick flashed to himself, as he caught +an indistinct glimpse of a sweater and a moving pair of legs ahead. +"He seems to be losing his wind, too---that fellow." + +In a minute more Dick gave another gasp of discovery. + +"It's Fred Ripley. I suppose it will be bitter medicine for him, +if _I_ make the catch," thought the young captain of the hounds. + +Though he was too manly, too good a sportsman to allow malice +to creep in, Prescott certainly did do his best to overtake the +lagging Fred. + +Gradually, the young captain left the hares behind. But Badger, +who was an easy runner, forged ahead so as to keep the leading +hound in full sight. + +Hearing some one running behind him, Fred Ripley glanced backward +over his shoulder. + +"The mucker!" gritted the lawyer's son. "He mustn't catch me---he +shan't!" + +Yet vainly did Ripley try to put on more speed. He kept it up +for a few yards, then knew that he was failing. That ill-advised +anger before the start was surely telling on him now. Dick still +kept forward, gaining a yard or so every few minutes. + +"Keep back! Don't you dare touch me, you mucker!" hissed Fred +sharply over his shoulder. + +"Mucker?" retorted Prescott. "I'll pay you for that!" + +At a bound he covered the distance, throwing first one arm, then +the other, fairly around Ripley. Fred fought furiously to break +the clasp, but was so winded that he couldn't. + +"Let go of me! Your touch soils!" he cried, hoarsely. + +But Dick still kept his hold, counting: "---twelve, thirteen, +fourteen, fifteen!" + +"Fair capture!" rumbled Ben Badger. + +The other hounds, or their leaders, were stripping by now. Dick, +at the judge's words, loosed his hold on Fred. + +"You cur!" snarled Fred. Then, summoning all his remaining strength, +Ripley hauled off and struck astounded Dick on the face, sending +the captain of the hounds to the ground. + +"Take that, mucker!" shouted the assailant. + +Those of the hounds who had not shot by, halted in sheer amazement. + +Like a flash Dick was on his feet, his eyes flashing, cheeks flushing +crimson. + +"Go on, hounds, go on!" he shouted. "I can take care of this +one disgrace to Gridley H.S.!" + + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE "MUCKER" AND THE "GENTLEMAN" + + +Ben Badger gave Captain Dick a shove. "Go on, Prescott! Go on, +hounds!" roared Badger. "You've only one more capture to make. +Run along, Dick! I'll take care of Ripley. He'll stay right +here until you come back, or else he'll never have the nerve to +show his face at Gridley H.S. again! Run, you hounds!" + +Dick needed no farther urging. + +Though he was naturally wild with anger, inside, he managed to +keep that feeling down and back. He was captain of the hounds. +He had his duty to his team and his class first of all to think +about. + +"Come on, hounds!" he shouted to those who had lagged at sight +of the knock-down. "One more hare in our trap---then we'll be +back here!" + +What he meant by being "back here" everyone present could guess. +In fact, many wondered why there had not sooner been a fight +between the freshman and his determined sophomore enemy. + +Truth to tell, Dick, after that day in the school grounds, had +been inclined to overlook the whole affair. + +He was not afraid of Ripley. It was only that Dick's ordinary +good nature had triumphed. He was not a brawler, yet could stand +out for his rights when a need came. + +A third of a mile further on another yell of triumph floated back +to young Prescott, who had not yet regained the lead. + +In a few moments more the last of the hounds came upon a flushed, +joyous group of freshmen runners. With them were two of the judges +and a sheepish-looking hare. + +The freshmen hounds had won, and had bagged all the hares for +which the game called. Let the five remaining hares keep on running +to the finish, if they would. For the first time in seven years +the freshmen hounds, led by Captain Dick Prescott, had won. + +"Ki-yi-yi-yi-yi!" howled the exultant fourth classmen. "And another +for Dick Prescott." + +"Dick Prescott has other game on his hands now," spoke up Dan +Dalzell, one of the late arrivals. + +"What's the row?" demanded the freshman who had just bagged the +seventh hare. + +"Row? That's just it," nodded Dan. "Prescott caught Ripley---" + +"We saw that." + +"But you didn't see the finish. Ripley, as soon as he was released, +knocked Dick down." + +"And _you_ came on with the hounds, Dick!" demanded Tom Reade, +incredulously. + +"Badger is keeping Ripley on ice until we get back," Dan supplied, +hastily. + +"Then let us get back quick!" begged Reade. + +"Not too fast, though," objected Dan. "Remember, Ripley has been +getting his wind back since he stopped. Give our Dick the +same show." + +No one thought of asking why Dick would need his wind now. To +those who had heard the brief recital of facts it was plain that +there could be but one finish to the afternoon's sport. Prescott's +hand was sound, at last, and he could give an account of himself. + +"Walk slowly, all hands," insisted Dan. "Dick, old fellow, on +the way back, amuse yourself by getting in all the full, deep +breaths that you can." + +"I'll be all right," spoke Dick confidently. + +It did not look that way to many of them. Dick was shorter, and +weighed much less than did the sophomore who was waiting back +there under the trees. Ripley had had a good deal of training +in boxing, and was not a coward when he thought the odds on his +own side. What none of the fellows knew, though, was that the +lawyer's son, ever since that scene in the school yard, had been +at his boxing lessons again with renewed energy. + +"Play him for delay, at first, Dick," whispered Dan. "If Ripley +can rush you, and get you excited, he'll have a better chance +to win out. If you hold him off, hinder him and delay him, before +long he'll lose some of his nerve. A fellow like Ripley will +begin to go all to pieces, once he gets it into his head that +he has a long and hard job before him." + +"I'll do my best," Dick promised. "Hang it, if he hadn't knocked +me down so treacherously, I wouldn't care about fighting. I don't +care so much what he _says_. Fred Ripley's mouth is the weakest +part of him." + +The sophomore was waiting, a sulky frown on his face. A few feet +away Ben Badger, a grim look on his usually good-humored face, +leaned against a tree, his arms folded. + +Even had he wanted to get away from this, Ripley couldn't have +done it. For a sophomore to find any excuse for getting out of +a fight with a freshman would bring down upon the soph all the +wrath and disgust of the disgraced third class. + +"Come on, mucker! Take off your sweater and get ready to take +your real medicine!" snarled Fred, harshly. + +But Dick Prescott, young as he was, was much too wise to allow +himself to be betrayed into anger. Instead, he halted a few feet +away, looking with a significant smile at his enemy. + +"As I understand it," replied Prescott, "the festivities that +are soon to commence are to decide which is the mucker---which +will go down to the ground to eat his fill of dirt." + +Badger, Thompson and Butler took upon themselves the direction +of the coming "affair." + +"See here, Ted, you look after Ripley's interests," proposed Badger. + +"It's a mean job. I'd sooner have the other side of the bet," +grumbled Ted Butler, in an undertone. + +"I'll look after young Prescott," continued Ben Badger. "Thomp +will do all the honors as referee." + +Ripley was already peeling off his sweater. + +"Get down to your fighting rig, Prescott," urged Badger, leading +his principal to one side. "How are you, boy?" he whispered, +anxiously. "Feeling right up to the fighting pitch?" + +"I hate fighting," Dick answered, simply, speaking so that only +his second could hear him. + +"Of course it's necessary sometimes, but I can never quite help +feeling that, at best, it's low-down business." + +"So it is," assented Bed Badger, heartily enough. "But what about +it in the case of a sneak like Ripley? If he didn't have other +fellows' fists to fear he'd be unbearable." + +"He is, anyway," muttered Dick, just before his head was covered +by the sweater that Badger was helping him remove. + +"You've been doing a lot of running this afternoon, gentlemen," +declared Thompson, as the two combatants came toward him. "Do +you each feel as though you had fighting wind left?" + +"I've got as much as the other fellow," replied Dick. + +"Don't you dare refer to me as a 'fellow'!" ordered Ripley, scowling. + +"I'll call you a girl, then, if you prefer," proposed Dick, with +a tantalizing grin. + +"You don't know how to talk to gentlemen," retorted Fred, harshly. + +"Be silent, both of you," ordered Thompson, sternly. "You can +do your talking in another way. + +"Can't begin too soon for me," uttered Ripley. + +"One minute rounds for you, gentlemen," continued Thompson, then +turned to another upper classman, requesting him to hold the watch. +"Now are you ready?" + +Ripley grunted, Dick nodded. + +"Ready, then! Shake hands!" + +"I won't," replied Dick, sturdily, ere Fred could speak. The +latter, though he, too, would have refused, went white with rage. + +"Take your places, then," directed Thompson, briskly. "Ready! +Time!" + +Fred Ripley put up a really splendid guard as he advanced warily +upon the freshman. Dick's guard, at the outset, was not as good. +They feinted for two or three passes, then Ripley let out a short-arm +jab that caught Dick Prescott on the end of the nose. Blood began +to drip. + +Ripley's eyes danced. "I'll black both eyes, too, before I put +you out," he threatened, in a low tone, as he fought in for another +opening. + +"Brag's a good dog," retorted Dick, quietly. The blow, though +it had stung, had served to make him only the more cool. He was +watching, cat-like, for Ripley's style of attack. That style +was a good one, from the "scientific" view-point, if Ripley could +maintain it without excitement and all the while keep his wind. + +But would he? The freshman, though not much of a lover of fighting, +had made some study of the art. Moreover, Dick had a dogged coolness +that went far in the arena. + +Suddenly, Dick let go such a seemingly careless shoulder blow +with his left, straight for Ripley's face, that Fred almost lazily +threw up his right arm to stop it. But to have that right out +of the way was just what Prescott was playing for. Quick as thought +Dick's right flew out, colliding with Ripley's mid-wind with a +force that brought a groan from the taller fighter. Dick might +have followed it up, but he chivalrously sprang back, waiting +for Fred to make the first sign of renewal of combat. + +"Time!" came from the boy with the watch. + +"Kid, you're going to be all right; you've got your horse-sense +with you," glowed Ben Badger, as he hurried Dick back under a +tree. "Let me see what I can do to stop your nose running quite +so red." + +Soon the summons came that took the combatants back to the imaginary +ring. Again they went at it, both sides cautious, for Ripley +was puzzled and a bit afraid. He had not expected this little +freshman to last for a second round. Before the second call of +"time" came Ripley had managed to land two stinging ones on Dick's +left cheek, but the freshman did not go down, nor even wilt under +this treatment. He was proving the fact that he could "take punishment." +Yet Dick did not land anything that hurt his opponent. + +"You didn't half try this time," whispered Ben, as he attended +his man in the "corner" under the tree. + +"Come on, mucker!" yelled Ripley, derisively, when the two were +summoned for the third round. + +"Speak for yourself, fellow," Dick answered, coolly. + +"I'm a gentleman, and a gentleman's son," proclaimed Fred, haughtily. +"You're a mucker, and the son of a mucker!" + +"Time!" + +Dick could stand an ordinary insult with a fair amount of good +nature, when he despised the source of the insult. But now there +was a quiet flash in his eyes that Badger was glad to see. + +Ripley started in to rush things. In quick succession he delivered +half a dozen stout blows. Only one of then landed, and that glancingly. +Ripley was puzzled, but he had no time to guess. For Dick was +not exactly rushing, now. He was merely fighting in close, remembering +that he had two striking hands, and that feinting was sometimes +useful. + +"A-a-a-h!" The murmur went up, eagerly, as the onlookers saw Prescott +land his right fist in solid impact against Ripley's right eye. +Bump! Before Ripley could get back out of such grueling quarters +Dick had landed a second blow over the other eye. Ripley staggered. +A body blow sent him to his knees. Dick backed off but a few +inches. + +"One, two, three, four, five, six-----" droned off the timekeeper. + +Fred Ripley tried to leap up, but, as he did so, Dick's waiting +left caught him a staggering one on the nose that toppled him +over backwards to the ground. + +"One, two, three-----" began the timekeeper, but suddenly broke +off, to call time. + +"Prescott, you're a bird!" declared Ben Badger, exultantly, as +he led his man away. + +"I wouldn't have gone for him so hard," muttered Dick. "But the +fellow started to get nasty with his mouth. Then it was time +to let him have it." + +Frank Thompson went over to Ripley, to see whether the latter +wanted to continue the fight. + +"That mucker took an unfair advantage of me, hitting me when I was +getting up," grumbled Fred, who now looked a good deal battered. + +"Prescott was right within the rules," declared Thompson. "You +would have done the same thing if you had had the chance." + +Fred growled something under his breath. + +"Are you coming back to the ring?" demanded the referee. + +Ripley hesitated. The yellow streak was strong in him, but he +dreaded letting the others see it. + +"I'd rather finish this up some other day," he proposed. + +"You know you can't do that," retorted Thompson, disgustedly. +"You either have to come up to the scratch, or admit yourself +beaten." + +"Admit myself beaten---by that mucker?" gasped Ripley, turning +livid. + +"Then come up at the call of time," directed Thompson, and strode +back to the battle ground. + +The timekeeper called. Dick Prescott returned to his ground. +Ripley stood back, leaning against a tree. He tried hard to +look dignified, but one glance at his nose and eyes was enough +to spoil the effect. + +"Coming, Ripley?" demanded Thompson. + +"Brace up, man, unless you want to admit your thrashing," urged +Ted Butler. + +"I'll attend to that mucker when I feel like it," growled Fred +Ripley. + +The form of the remark was unfortunate for the one who made it, +for it caused one of the freshman class to call out exultantly: + +"He sure doesn't feel like it just now. Look at him!" + +"Come, if you don't hurry in you've get to admit the beating," +muttered Ted Butler. + +Ripley's reply being only a snort, Butler suddenly drew forth +his handkerchief, rolling it rapidly into a ball. + +"In default of a sponge," called Butler, "I throw this up for +my man---I mean principal." + +"Ripley being unable to come to the scratch, the fight is awarded +to Prescott," announced Frank Thompson. + +"Whoop! Hoo-oo-ray!" The freshmen clustered about were wild with +excitement. + +"You'll have a fine time squaring this with the sophomore class," +uttered Ted Butler, disgustedly. "Your class, Ripley, will be +sore enough, anyway, over losing the paper chase for the first +time that any of us can remember. Now, for a soph to be thrashed, +in three rounds, by a little freshman-----" + +Butler didn't finish, but, turning on his heel, walked over to +join the rest. + +There were two sophomores there who had come over at the end of +the paper chase, but neither went to the assistance of his defeated +classman. Ripley, alone, got his sweater back over his head. +The crowd was around Dick Prescott, who felt almost ashamed of +the fight, unavoidable as he knew it to have been. + +When he had finished getting his clothes on, Ripley stalked moodily +past the main group. + +"You mucker," he hissed, "I suppose you feel swelled up over having +had a chance to fight gentleman. You-----" + +"Oh, Ripley, dry up---do!" interjected Ted Butler. "You call +yourself a gentleman, but you talk and act more like well, more +like a pup with the mange!" + +"A pup with the mange! Great!" came the gleeful chorus from a +half score of freshmen. + +"I'm not through with you, yet, Prescott!" Fred Ripley called +back over his shoulder. "I'll settle my score with you at my +convenience!" + +Then, as he put more distance between himself and the other Gridley +High School boys, Ripley added to himself: + +"That settlement shall stop at nothing to put Dick Prescott in +the dust---where he belongs." + +"Oh, freshie, but you've coolness and judgment," cried Thompson, +approvingly. "And you've broken one cad's heart today." + +"I'm sorry if I have," declared Dick, frankly, generously. "I +wouldn't have had any heart in the fight if he hadn't started +in to humiliate me. I wouldn't have cared so much for that, either. +But he started to say something nasty about my parents, and I +have as good parents as ever a boy had. Then I felt I simply +_had_ to fit a plug between Ripley's teeth." + +Fred Ripley had pain in his eyes to help keep him awake that +night. Yet he would have been awake, anyway, for his wicked +brain was seething with plans for the way to "get even" with +Dick Prescott. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +FRED OFFERS TO SOLVE THE LOCKER MYSTERY + + +For a week Gridley High School managed to get along without the +presence of Fred Ripley. That haughty young man was at home, +nursing a pair of black eyes and his wrath. + +Yet, in a whole week, a mean fellow who is rather clever can hatch +a whole lot of mischief. This Dick & Co., and some others, were +presently to discover. + +All outer wraps were left in the basement in locker rooms on which +barred iron doors were locked. In the boys' basement were lockers +A and B. Each locker was in charge of a monitor who carried the +key to his own particular locker room. + +As it happened Dick Prescott was at present monitor of Locker A. + +If during school hours, one of the boys wanted to get his hat +out of a locker the monitor of that locker went to the basement +with him, unlocking the door, and locking it again after the desired +article of apparel had been obtained. + +Thus, in a general way, each monitor was responsible for the safety +of hats, coats, umbrellas, overshoes, etc., that might have been +left in the locker that was in his charge. + +Wednesday, just after one o'clock one of the sophomore boys went +hurriedly up the stairs, a worried look on his face. He went +straight to the principal's office, and was fortunate enough to +find that gentleman still at his desk. + +"What is it, Edwards?" asked the principal, looking up. + +"Dr. Thornton, I've had something strange happen to me, or to +my overcoat, if you prefer to put it that way," replied Edwards. + +"What has gone wrong?" + +"Why, sir, relying on the safety of the looker, I left, at recess +in one of my overcoat pockets, a package containing a jeweled +pin that had been repaired for my mother. Now, sir, on going +down to my coat, I found the pin missing from the pocket." + +"Did you look thoroughly on the floor, Edwards?" + +"Yes, sir; hunted thoroughly." + +"Wait; I'll go down with you," proposed the principal. + +Both principal and student searched thoroughly in the locker. +Dick, as in duty bound, was still there, on guard at the door. + +"Mr. Prescott," asked puzzled Dr. Thornton, did any student have +admittance to the locker after recess today?" + +"None, sir," answered Dick promptly. + +"Hm! And you're absolutely sure, Mr. Edwards, that you left the +little package in your overcoat pocket?" + +"Positive of it, Dr. Thornton." + +"It's so strange that it startles me," admitted the good principal. + +"It startles me a good deal," confessed Edwards, grimly, "to think +what explanation I am to offer my mother." + +"Oh, well, it _must_ turn up," replied Dr. Thornton, though vaguely. +"Anyway, Edwards, there has been no theft. The door is locked, +and the only two keys to it are the one carried by the monitor +and a duplicate which is kept locked in my own desk. You'll probably +find it in one of your pockets." + +"I have been through every pocket in my clothes at least seven +times, sir," insisted the dismayed Edwards. "And that is a rather +valuable pin," he added; "worth, I believe, something, like fifty +dollars." + +"Rest assured that we'll have some good explanation of the mystery +before long," replied the principal as soothingly as he could. + +Edwards went away, sore and disheartened, but there was nothing +more to be said or done. + +Thursday morning Dr. Thornton carried the investigation further, +but absolutely no light could be shed on the missing pin. + +But at recess it was Frank Thompson who came upstairs breathless. + +"Dr. Thornton," he cried, excitedly, "it's my own fault, of course, +but I'm afraid I've seen the last of my watch. It's one that +father carried for a good many years, and at last gave me. The +works are not very expensive, but the case was a gold one." + +"How did you lose it?" inquired the principal, looking up over +the gold rims of his spectacles. + +"Why, I had to hurry to make school this morning, sir, and, as +you know, it's a rather long walk. So I carried my watch in the +little change pocket in my reefer in order to be able to look +at it frequently. I reached the locker just in time not to be +late, and forgot and left my watch in the reefer. When I went +down just now I found the watch gone." + +"Oh, but this is serious!" gasped Dr. Thornton, in dismay. "It +begins to look like an assured fact that there is some thief at +work. Yet Prescott alone has a key to that locker." + +"Prescott is all right. He's no thief," put in Thompson, quickly. + +"I agree with you, Mr. Thompson. I consider Mr. Prescott too +manly a fellow to be mixed up in anything dishonest. Yet something +is wrong---very wrong. For the safety and good name of us all +we must go to the bottom of this mystery." + +That, of course, was all the satisfaction Thompson could expect +at the moment. He went out to the remainder of his recess, feeling +decidedly blue. Nor was Dr. Thornton any less disturbed. + +When recess was over, the entire body of students was questioned +in the general assembly room, but no light was forthcoming. + +"Of course, in view of what has happened," counseled Dr. Thornton, +"the young gentlemen will do well to leave nothing of value in +their coats in the locker rooms. And while nothing distressing, +has yet happened in the young ladies basement, I trust they will +govern themselves by what has happened on the young men's side." + +Dick Prescott felt much concerned over it all, though he did not +imagine that anyone suspected _him_ of any share in the disappearance +of articles of value. + +Friday there were no mishaps, for the very simple reason that +no one left anything of value in the locker rooms. + +On Monday Fred Ripley was back again. With the aid of a little +help from the druggist the haughty young man presented two eyes +that did not show any signs of having been damaged. Fred himself +offered no comment on his absence. He seemed anxious to be on +especially good terms with all of the upper classmen with whom +he usually associated. + +During the first period of the morning Ripley had no recitation +on. He sat at his desk studying. Presently as permitted under +the rules, he whispered softly with the boy seated behind him. + +Then, suddenly, Ripley rose and tip-toed down the aisle to the +desk. The principal himself sat there in charge. + +"Dr. Thornton," began Ripley, in a low voice, "I was away last +week, and so didn't hear all the school news. I have just learned +about the locker room thefts, and so I'm uneasy. Just as the +bell rang I was having trouble with the pearl and diamond scarf-pin +that I often wear. There wasn't time to adjust it, so I dropped +it in my overcoat pocket. I would like to go down to my coat, +now, and get it." + +"Prescott is reciting in IV. Physics," replied Dr. Thornton, rising. +"However, in view of all that has happened, I think we shall +do well to go down and call him out of class. I don't want any +more valuable articles to be missing." + +Principal and student went quietly to the floor below. Dr. Thornton +thrust his head into the physics laboratory and quietly called +Dick out, explaining what was wanted. + +"You'll come, too, won't you, doctor?" asked Ripley. + +The principal nodded without speaking. As the three reached the +barred door, Dick inserted the key, then threw open the door. +Fred marched over to his coat, thrusting his hand into a pocket. + +"By thunder, it's gone!" gasped Fred. + +In an instant Dr. Thornton bounded into the locker room. He himself +explored every pocket in the boy's coat. + +"Strange! strange!" muttered the bewildered principal. + +"All the other thefts happened in this locker, didn't they?" inquired +Ripley, suspiciously. + +"Yes---if thefts they were," admitted Dr. Thornton. + +"Nothing missing from the other locker room?" + +"Nothing." + +"Doctor," went on Ripley, as though loath to utter the words, +I hate to suggest anything of the sort. But---er---but---has the +monitor of this locker been searched after any of +the---er---disappearances?" + +"Ripley, you forget yourself!" cried the principal. + +"What do you mean!" flared Dick, in the same breath, turning crimson, +next going very white. + +"Doctor, I'm sorry," spoke Ripley, with great seeming reluctance, +"but that pin is a costly one. I ask that the monitor be searched!" + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +DICK'S TURN TO GET A JOLT + + +"Ripley, you don't realize what you are saying!" cried Dr. Thornton, +gazing at the sophomore in very evident distress. + +"I only know that I'm all broken up, sir, over losing my costly +pin," persisted Fred. "And I know my father will be angry, and +will raise a row at the School Board's meeting." + +Dick Prescott, standing by, had turned from scarlet to white, +and back again. + +"But Ripley," explained the principal, almost pleadingly, "the +act would be illegal. No one has a lawful right to search the +person of anyone except a properly qualified police officer. +And even the police officer can do so only after he has arrested +a suspected person." + +"Oh, then I suppose, sir, there's no show for me to get any real +justice done in this matter," muttered Fred, with an air of feigned +resignation. + +But by now Dick Prescott felt that he must speak---or explode. + +"Dr. Thornton," he cried, chokingly, "the charge made against +me, or, at least, implied, is an outrageous one. But, as a matter +of justice to me, now that the hint has been cast, I ask that +_you_, sir, search me right here and now." + +"Then you've had time to hide the pin!" muttered Fred, in a very +low voice. + +Dick Prescott heard, but he paid no heed to the fellow. + +"Dr. Thornton, will you search me---_now_?" insisted the young +freshman. + +"But I don't want to, Prescott," appealed the principal. "I haven't +the remotest suspicion of you, anyway, my dear boy." + +"I ask the search, sir, just as a matter of justice," Dick insisted. +"If it were not too strong a word, then I would say that I _demand_ +to be searched here and now." + +Suiting the action to the word, Dick Prescott, standing proudly +erect, raised both arms over his head. + +"Now, please, doctor, just as a matter of simple justice," begged +the young freshman. + +"Oh, very well, then, Mr. Prescott," sighed the principal. "But +I never had a more distasteful task." + +Into one of the side pockets Dr. Thornton projected a shaking +hand. He drew out only some scraps of paper, which he promptly +thrust back. Then he inserted a hand in the jacket pocket on +the other side. + +"Ouch!" suddenly exclaimed the principal, in very real pain. + +He drew the hand out, quickly. A drop of blood oozed up at the +tip of his forefinger. + +"Mr. Prescott," demanded Dr. Thornton, "what is that pointed object +in your pocket?" + +"_What_?" demanded Fred Ripley, tensely. + +Dick himself thrust a hand into that pocket, and drew forth---Fred +Ripley's missing pin. + +"What---why---who-----" gasped the freshman, suffocatingly. + +"Oh, yes, of course," jeered Fred Ripley. "Astonished, aren't +you---you mucker?" + +The last two words Ripley uttered in so low a tone that the principal, +gazing in horrified fascination at the pin that he now held in +his own hands, did not hear. + +"You coward!" cried Dick, hotly, and clenched his fist, intent +on driving it against the sophomore's face. + +But Dr. Thornton knew enough about High School boys' fights, to +galvanize himself into action. Like a flash he bounded between +the two boys. + +"Here, here, Prescott, none of that!" he admonished. + +"I---I beg _your_ pardon, sir," gasped Dick, in a tone which made +it very plain that he did not include his enemy in that apology. + +"May I trouble you for my pin, sir, now that it has been recovered?" +asked Fred, coolly. + +"Why---um!---that depends," replied Dr. Thornton, slowly, speaking +with a painful effort. "If you, or your father, have or would +have any idea of a criminal prosecution, Ripley, then it would +be improper to return your pin. It would have to be turned over +to the police as an exhibit in evidence. _But_ do you intend +anything of that sort, Mr. Ripley?" + +"Why, that's as _you_ say, doctor," replied the sophomore, quickly. +"It's a matter of school discipline, and belongs to your province. +Personally, I know that I would rather not have this matter go +any further." + +"I---I don't know what to do," confessed Dr. Thornton, in anxious +perplexity. "In any event, before doing anything, I think I had +better consult the superintendent and the Board of Education. +Mr. Prescott, I will say, freely, that I am most loath to believe +anything of this sort against you can be possible. There must +be---must be---some---er explanation. I---I---don't want you +to feel that I believe your guilt as yet assured. I---I-----" + +Here Dr. Thornton broke down, dabbing at his eyes with his +handkerchief. Almost unconsciously he passed the pin, which he +was yet holding, to Fred Ripley. + +"Lock the locker door, Mr. Prescott---and give me the key," +requested the principal. + +Dick passed over the key, then spoke, with more composure than +might have been expected under the circumstances: + +"Dr. Thornton, I am as innocent of any thieving as you yourself +can be. Sooner or later the right of this will come out. Then +you will realize that I didn't steal anything. I'll prove myself +innocent yet, sir." + +"I hope so, my boy, I---I---hope so," replied the principal. + +As they ascended, Fred Ripley stepped aside to let the other two +go first. He was afraid to have Dick Prescott behind him just +then. + +No sooner had the trio entered the general assembly room than +it quickly dawned on all the students of both sexes that something +was unusually wrong. + +Dick's face was red as fire. Had he been guilty of the thefts, +he might have been cooler about it all. Conscious innocence often +puts on the appearance of guilt. + +Somehow, Dick got to his seat. He picked up a book, mechanically, +and pretended to be deeply absorbed in study. + +"What's up?" whispered the fellow seated behind Fred. + +Ripley turned enough to raise his eyebrows significantly and let +his questioner see him do it. Instantly all seated near the lawyer's +son became intensely curious. + +Wondering glances strayed from over book-tops, even from the far +corners of the big assembly room. + +Then the curious glanced at Dr. Thornton so often that the much +disturbed principal soon called another teacher to the desk and +left the room. + +At recess, Purcell, of the sophomore class, was found in charge +at the door of Dick's old locker room. Ripley held his tongue +until he was out in the school yard. Then he broke loose before +those who would listen to him---and the number was large. + +Dick & Co. had gathered by themselves in another corner of the +yard. Here, however, they were soon joined by a small mob of +the fellows, especially of the freshman class. Dick had his say. +He didn't want to say much, but he related, in a straightforward +way, what had happened. + +"It's one of Fred Ripley's mean tricks," declared one of the freshmen. +"Fred Ripley can't fool anyone. He put that pin in Dick's pocket +himself." + +"But two thefts---two things were missed last week, when Ripley +wasn't at school at all," spoke one boy, in an undertone. + +"Yes; that's the queer part of it," agreed another boy. "Ripley +couldn't have had anything to do with those other cases." + +This latter was the view that was occurring to Mr. Thornton, as +he sat in the principal's room, poring and pondering over the +whole distressing matter. + +Thompson and the other football leaders came trooping over to +Dick & Co. as soon as they heard the noise. Prescott was a hero +with the football crowd. There was no use in telling them anything +against their little freshie hero. + +"Prescott, it would look foolish to talk much," declared Thompson, +in a voice that was husky from real emotion. "Just give me your +hand, old man!" + +Dick took the proffered hand, pressing it hard and gratefully. +Then the rest of the football squad pressed forward, each insisting +on a hearty handshake. + +"Nobody except those who want to, will stomach this silly charge +against Dick," grunted Tom Reade to Dan Dalzell. "See how it's +turning out? Our old pal and leader is holding a regular reception." + +"'Scuse me," begged Dan, hastily. "There's Laura Bentley beckoning +to me." + +He hastened over to the girl's side. There were tiny drops in +the corners of Laura's eyes that looked like suppressed tears. + +"Dan," she said, coming straight to the point, "we have heard, +of course. What a silly charge! See here, you pals of Dick's +are going to walk home with him from school this noon?" + +"Surest thing that ever happened in the world," declared Dalzell, +fervently. + +"Just so," nodded Laura. "Well, if you won't think it strange +or forward, six of us girls want to walk along with you boys. +That will be a hint that the freshman class, if not the whole +H.S., passes a vote of confidence in Dick Prescott, the most +straightforward fellow in the class or the school." + +"Bully for you, Miss Bentley!" glowed Dan. "We shall be looking +for you young ladies when school lets out." + +When the outside bell rang for reassembling, such a guard of honor +had chosen to gather around Dick, and march in with him, that +it looked more like a triumphal procession. + +"I feel better," sighed the boy, contentedly to himself, as he +dropped into his seat. "What a bully thing a little confidence +is!" + +When school let out, Dick & Co., each partner escorting one of +the freshman girls, strolled down the street. A good many more +of the students chose to drop in behind them. Dick could say +nothing, but his heart swelled with pride. + +"The way to get famous and respected, nowadays, is to steal something, +and to get found out," sneered Fred Ripley, bitterly, to Clara +Deane. + +Straight to his own door did some two score in all of the Gridley +H.S. students escort Dick Prescott. + +"Three cheers for Dick!" proposed some one. + +"And for Dick and Co.!" shouted another voice. + +The cheers were given with gusto. So much noise was made, in +fact, that Mrs. Prescott came to open the door. + +Something in his mother's face---a look of dread and alarm---spoiled +the cheering for Dick. As soon as he could he got inside the +house. + +Little did the young freshman suspect the ordeal that awaited +him here. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +ONLY A "SUSPENDED" FRESHMAN NOW + + +"What's wrong mother? Have you heard-----" the boy began, as +soon as the door was closed. + +"Yes, Richard." + +"But, mother, I am inno-----" + +"Oh, Dick, of course you are! But this fearful suspicion is enough +to kill one who loves you. Come! Your father is in the store. +Dr. Thornton is upstairs. He and---and---a policeman. + +"Policeman!" gasped Dick, paling instantly. "Do they mean to-----" + +"I don't know just what they mean, Dick I'm too dazed to guess," +replied his mother. "But come upstairs." + +As Dick entered their little parlor he was dimly aware that the +High School principal was in the room. But the boy's whole gaze +was centered on a quiet little man---Hemingway, the plain clothes +man from the police station. + +"Don't look scared to death, Prescott," urged Dr. Thornton, with +a faint attempt at a smile. "We want to go through with a little +formality---that is all. This matter at the High School has +puzzled me to such a degree that I left early today and went to +consult with Mr. Hemingway. Now, he thought it best that we come +around here and have a talk with you." + +"I can begin that talk best," pursued Hemingway, "by asking you, +Prescott, whether you have anything that you want to say first-off?" + +"I can't say anything," replied Dick, slowly, "except that I know +nothing as to how any of the articles missed at school came to +vanish. Ripley's pin was found in my pocket today, and I can +only guess that some one---Ripley, perhaps dropped it in my pocket. +Ripley has some feelings of enmity for me, anyway. We had a +fight last week, and---" Dick could not repress a smile---"I thrashed +him so that he was out of school for several days." + +"But Ripley was not at school for the last few days, until today," +broke in Dr. Thornton. "Now, a pin and a watch were missed while +Ripley was not attending school." + +"I know it, sir," Dick nodded. "As to those two articles I cannot +offer even the ghost of an explanation." + +"I don't like to accuse you of taking Ripley's scarf-pin, nor +do I like to suspect him of putting up such a contemptible trick," +explained Dr. Thornton, thoughtfully. "As far as the incident +of the scarf-pin goes I am willing to admit that your explanation +is just as likely to be good as is any other." + +"Prescott, what did you do with the other pin and the watch?" +shot in Policeman Hemingway, suddenly and compellingly. + +It was well done. Had Dick been actually guilty, he might either +have betrayed himself, or gone to stammering. But, as it was, +he smiled, wanly, as he replied: + +"I didn't do anything with them, Mr. Hemingway. I have just been +explaining that." + +"How much money have you about you at this moment?" demanded Hemingway. + +"Two cents, I believe," laughed Dick, beginning to turn out his +pockets. He produced the two copper coins, and held them out +to the special officer. + +"You may have more about you, then, somewhere," hinted the officer. + +"Find it, then," begged Dick, frankly, as he stepped forward. +"Search me. I'll allow it, and shall be glad to have you do it." + +So Policeman Hemingway made the search, with the speed and skill +of an expert. + +"No; you've no more money about you," admitted the policeman. +"You may have some put away, though." + +"Where would it be likely to be?" Dick inquired. + +"In your room, perhaps; in your baggage, or hidden behind books; +oh, there's a lot of places where a boy can hide money in his +own room." + +"Come along and show me a few of them, then, won't you please?" +challenged the young freshman. + +Mrs. Prescott, who had been hovering near the doorway, gave a +gasp of dismay. To her tortured soul this police investigation +seemed to be the acme of disgrace. It all pointed to the arrest +of her boy---to a long term in some jail or reformatory, most +likely. + +"Madame," asked the plain clothes man, stepping to the door, "will +you give your full consent to my searching your son's room---in +the presence of yourself and of Dr. Thornton, of course? I am +obliged to ask your permission, for, without a search warrant +I have no other legal right than that which you may give me." + +"Of course you may search Richard's room," replied his mother, +quickly. "But you'll be wasting your time, for you'll find nothing +incriminating in my boy's room." + +"Of course not, of course not," replied Hemingway, soothingly. +"That is what we most want---_not_ to find anything there. Will +you lead the way, please? Prescott, you may come and see the +search also." + +So the four filed into the little room that served Dick as sleeping +apartment, study-room, den, library and all. Hemingway moved +quickly about, exploring the pockets of Dick's other clothing +hanging there. He delved into, under and behind all of the few +books there. This plain clothes man moved from place to place +with a speed and certainty that spoke of his long years of practice +in this sort of work. + +"There's nothing left but the trunk, now," declared the policeman, +bending over and trying the lock. "The key to this, Prescott!" + +Dick produced the key. Hemingway fitted it in the lock, throwing +up the lid. The trunk was but half filled, mostly with odds and +ends, for Dick was not a boy of many possessions. After a few +moments the policeman deftly produced, from the bottom, a gold +watch. This he laid on the floor without a word, and continued +the search. In another moment he had produced the jeweled pin +that exactly answered the description of the one belonging to +Mrs. Edwards. + +Dick gave a gasp, then a low groan. A heart-broken sob welled +up in Mrs. Prescott's throat. Dr. Thornton turned as white as +chalk. Hemingway, an old actor in such things, did not show what +he felt---if he really felt it at all. + +"These are the missing articles, aren't they?" asked the policeman, +straightening up and passing watch and pin to the High School +principal. + +"I believe them to be," nodded Dr. Thornton, brokenly. + +Mrs. Prescott had staggered forward, weeping and throwing her +arms around her son. + +"O, Richard! Richard, my boy!" was all she could say. + +"Mother, I know nothing about how those things came to be in my +trunk," protested the boy, sturdily. After his first groan the +young freshman, being all grit by nature, straightened up, feeling +that he could look all the world in the eye. Only his mother's +grief, and the knowledge that his father was soon to be hurt, +appealed to the softer side of young Prescott's nature. + +"Mother, I have not stolen anything," the boy said, more solemnly, +after a pause. "I am your son. You believe me, don't you?" + +"I'd stake my life on your innocence when you've given me your +word!" declared that loyal woman. + +"The chief said I was to take your instructions, Dr. Thornton," +hinted Hemingway. + +"Yes; I heard the order given," nodded the now gloomy High +School principal. + +"Shall I arrest young Prescott?" + +At that paralyzing question Dick's mother did not cry out. She +kissed her son, then went just past the open doorway, where she +halted again. + +"I hesitate about seeing any boy start from his first offense with +a criminal record," replied the principal, slowly. "If I were +convinced that this would be the last offense I certainly would +not favor any prosecution. Prescott, could you promise-----" + +"Then you believe, sir, that I stole the things that you hold +in your hand?" demanded the young freshman, steadily. + +"I don't want to believe it," protested Dr. Thornton. "It seems +wicked---monstrous---to believe that any fine, bright, capable +boy like you can be-----" + +Dr. Thornton all but broke down. Then he added, in a hoarse whisper: + +"---a thief." + +"I'm not one," rejoined Dick. "And, not very far into the future +lies the day when I'm going to prove it to you." + +"If you can," replied Dr. Thornton, "you'll make me as happy as +you do yourself and your parents." + +"Let me have the watch and pin to turn over to the chief, doctor," +requested Hemingway, and took the articles. "Now, for the boy-----?" + +"I'm not going to have him arrested," replied the principal, "unless +the superintendent or the Board of Education so direct me." + +From the other side of the doorway could be heard a stifled cry +of delight. + +"Then we may as well be going, doctor. You'll come to the station +with me, won't you?" + +"In one moment," replied the principal. He turned to Dick, sorrowfully +holding out his hand. + +"Prescott, whatever I may do will be the result of long and careful +thought, or at the order of the superintendent or of the Board +of Education. If you really are guilty, I hope you will pause, +think and resolve, ere it is too late, to make a man of yourself +hereafter. If you are innocent, I hope, with all my heart, that +you will succeed in proving it. And to that end you may have +any possible aid that I can give you. Goodbye, Prescott. Goodbye, +madam! May peace be with you." + +Half way down the stairs Dr. Thornton turned around to say: + +"Of course, you quite comprehend, Prescott, that, pending official +action by the school authorities, you must be suspended from the +Gridley High School!" + +As soon as the door had closed Dick half-tottered back into his +room. He did not close the door, but crossed to the window, where +he stood looking out upon a world that had darkened fearfully. + +Then, without having heard a step, Dick Prescott felt his mother's +arms enfold him. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +LAURA BENTLEY IS WIDE AWAKE + + +Suspended! + +That did not mean expulsion, but it did mean that, until the school +authorities had taken definite action on the case, young Prescott +could not again attend H.S., or any other school under the control +of the Board of Education. + +The five other partners of Dick & Co. had faced the school defiantly +when taking Dick's books from his desk and strapping them to bring +home. + +Dan Dalzell thrashed a sophomore for daring to make some allusion +to Prescott's "thefts." Tom Reade tried to thrash another sophomore +for a very similar offense, but Reade got whipped by a very small +margin. That fact, however, did not discourage Reade. He had +entered his protest, anyway. + +Dave Darrin extracted apologies for remarks made, from three different +sophomores. All of the partners were diligent in protecting and +defending the reputation of their chief. + +Every day the "Co." came to see Dick. They made it a point, too, +to appear on the street with him. Not one member of the football +team "went back on" the suspended freshman. All treated him with +the utmost cordiality and faith wherever they met him. Laura +Bentley and some of the other girls of Dick's class stood by him +unwaveringly by chatting with the suspended freshman whenever +and wherever they met him on the street. + +"Pooh, old man, a fellow who has all the brains you displayed +in making that football stroke doesn't need larceny as an aid +to getting ahead in the world," was the way Frank Thompson put +it. + +"Thank you, Thompson. It's always good to have friends," smiled +Dick, wistfully. "But, just now, I appreciate them more than +ever." + +"The football team and its best friends are giving Fred Ripley +the dead cut," pursued Thompson. "And say, you know the junior +class's dance comes off the night after tomorrow night. Juniors +are always invited, but members of other classes have to depend +on favor for invitations. We've fixed it so that Ripley couldn't +get an invite. He tried, though. Now, Prescott, you'll receive +an invitation in tomorrow morning's mail. Fix it to be there, +old man. Do! You'll find yourself flanked by friends. If any +fellow looks at you cross-eyed at the junior dance, the eleven +will throw him out through a window!" + +Dick looked more wistful than ever. He had never had many lessons +in dancing, but he took to the art naturally. Had life been happier +for him just then he would have been glad to take up the invitation. +Besides, Dave Darrin had told him that Laura Bentley was invited +and meant to go. + +"Now, you'll come along, of course," asked Thompson, coaxingly. + +"No-o-o," hesitated Dick, "I don't believe I shall." + +"Oh, nonsense, old man!" + +"I believe I'd rather not," replied Prescott, sadly; "though I'm +tremendously grateful to those who want me to come and who would +try to make it pleasant for me." + +Thompson argued, but it was no use. + +"Why, every one of your partners is going," said Frank. "Here +comes Dave Darrin now. He'll tell you so." + +"Nope," said Dave, with all the energy at his command. "We understand +we're to be invited, and we'd give almost anything to go, but +Dick & Co. don't go unless the Dick part of the firm is with us." + +The junior dance came off, and was a good deal of a success in +many ways. Only one of the ten boys of the freshman class who +were invited attended. Eight girls of the same class were invited, +but only two of them accepted. Laura Bentley decided, at the +last moment, against attending. + +Within ten days two important games came off between the Gridley +H.S. and other crack high school teams. Gridley won both. + +"It would be cheeky in me to go to the game, when I'm suspended---hardly +a H.S. boy, in fact," Dick explained to his partners. "But you go. + +"No, sir!" muttered Greg Holmes. + +"Not if you feel that you can't go," protested Harry Hazelton. +"Dick & Co. go together, or not at all." + +Gridley H.S. won both games by the skin of their teeth. + +"We can't succeed much longer without our mascots," Thompson declared +impressively before all the members of Dick & Co. The six freshmen, +walking along the street together had been rounded up and haled +into the store where the football squad held its "club" meetings. + +"Humph! I'd be a poor mascot for any body," muttered Dick. "I +haven't been able to bring even myself good luck." + +"You just come to a game once, all six of you," begged Ben Badger. +"Then you'll see how we can pile up the score over the enemy! +Don't let it get out of your heads that you're our real, sure-thing +mascots. Why, if it hadn't been for you six youngsters we probably +wouldn't be playing football any more this season." + +Other members of the squad tried to ply their persuasive powers, +but all in vain. Dick Prescott, though not breaking down or wilting +under the suspicion that lay against him, felt convinced that +it would be out of place for him to attend High School affairs +while on the suspended list. + +"Humph!" grunted Thomp. "The only thing I can see for us to do +is to spend a lot of the Athletic Association's money in hiring +a swell detective to come to town and find out who really did +take the things at the old H.S. Then we'd have you with us again, +Dick Prescott." + +Though under such long suspension Dick was not going backward +much in his studies. He had his books at home, and every forenoon +he put in the time faithfully over them. + +One of these November evenings Dick had the good fortune to have +Dave Darrin and Greg Holmes up in his room with him. The other +partners were at home studying. + +Dick and his friends were talking rather dispiritedly, for the +long suspension, without action, was beginning to wear on them +all. Dick's case was now quietly before the Board of Education, +but a result had not yet been reached by that slow-moving body. + Of course, the members of the Board had now more than a good +idea that Dick & Co. had been behind that "dead ones" hoax; but +the members of the Board were trying to do their duty in the +suspension case, and tried not to let any other considerations +weigh with them. + +"We've all heard that old chestnut about the silver lining to +the cloud," observed Dave, dejectedly. "If it's true, then silver +seems to be mighty scarce these days." + +"Richard! Ri-i-ichard!" called the elder Prescott, loudly, from +the foot of the stairs that led up from the store. + +"Yes, sir," cried Dick, bounding to the door and throwing it open. + +"Laura Bentley has called us up on the 'phone. She says she wants +to talk to you quicker'n lightning, whatever speed that may indicate. +She adds, mysteriously, that 'it's the biggest thing that ever +happened!'" + +"Coming, sir!" cried Dick, bounding down the stairs, snatching +at his cap and reefer as he started, though he could not have +told why he picked up these garments. Dave and Greg, acting on +some mysterious impulse, grabbed up their reefers and hats, and +went down the stairs hot-foot after their chum and leader. + +"Hullo!" called Dick, reaching the telephone instrument in the +back room of the store. "Yes, Miss Bentley, this is Prescott." + +"Then listen!" came the swiftly uttered words. Dick discovered +that the girl was breathless with excitement and the largeness +of her news. "Are you listening?" + +"I'll catch every word," Dick replied. + +"Well, I'm at Belle Meade's house. Belle and her mother are here. +Mr. Meade is out. You know where the house is---corner of Clark +Street and Stetson's Alley?" + +"Yes; I know." + +"Well, the room between the dining-room and the parlor is in darkness, +and has been all evening. There's a window in that room that +opens over the alley. The Meade apartment is on the second floor, +you know. Well, Belle was passing that window---in the dark---and +she heard voices down below in the alley. She wouldn't have thought +anything of it, but she heard one of the speakers raise his voice +and say, excitedly: 'See here, I did the trick, didn't I? Ain't +Dick Prescott bounced out of school! Ain't he in disgrace! And +he'll never get out of it!'" + +"Then another voice broke in, in a lower tone, but Belle couldn't +hear what was said. She's back in the dark by that open window +now," Laura Bentley hurried on, breathlessly. "The two parties +are still there, talking. It's hardly a minute's run from where +you are. Can't you get some one in a hurry, run up here and jump +on the parties? _Please_ do, Dick! It'll be the means of clearing +up this whole awful business!" + +"Won't I, though?" answered Dick, breathlessly, into the 'phone. +"I have two chums here now. We'll be there like greased +lightning---and, oh, Miss Bentley, _thank_ you!" + +Neither Dave nor Greg needed to ask any questions, for both had +stood close to the receiver, drinking in every word. Now they +shot out through the front of the store with a speed and turbulence +that made studious Mr. Prescott gasp with amazement. + +"Careful, now, fellows!" warned Dick a few moments later. "We +want to _hear_, as well as _catch_! Softly does it." + +Well practiced in running, not one of the three freshmen was out +of breath by the time that they reached the head of Stetson's +Alley. + +Just before turning the corner at the head of the alley, Dick +and his freshmen chums halted to listen and reconnoiter. + +Peeping cautiously around the corner, Dick, Greg and Dave made +out dimly one figure well down the alley. There was not light +enough there to recognize the fellow. And the three boys could +make out some one past this first fellow, but the second individual +stood well in the dark shadow of the delivery doorway of a store. + +"Let's see if we can't creep up a little nearer," whispered Dick +Prescott, softly. + +"They may see us coming," warned Dave. + +"If they do, we'll just make a jump in and nab them anyway," Dick +rejoined. "Remember the main game---capture!" + +Cautiously, a foot at a time, and in Indian file, the three freshmen +stole down the dark alleyway. Then Dick halted, passing back +a nudge that Dave Darrin passed on to Greg Holmes. + +"Now, ye needn't think ye're goin' to renig," warned the fellow +who was nearer to the boys. "I done the whole job against Prescott, +and I done it as neat as the next one. Why, _you_ never even +thought of the trick of slipping that watch and pin into Prescott's +trunk, did ye? That was _my_ brains. I supplied the brains, +an' you've got to raise the cash to pay for 'em! How did I do +that trick of slippin' the watch an' pin into Prescott's trunk! +Oh, yes! Of course, ye wanter know. Well, I'll tell ye when +ye hand me the rest o' the money for doin' the whole trick---then +I'll tell ye." + +Something in a very low whisper came, in response, from the second +party who was invisible to the prowling freshmen. + +Dick Prescott felt that there was no need of prolonging this scene. +He had heard enough. + +"Now, rush 'em! Grab 'em---and hold 'em!" shouted Dick, suddenly. + +As the three freshmen shot forward into the darkness something +that sounded like an almost hysterical cheer in girls' voices +came from the open, dark window overhead. + +But neither Dick nor his chums paused to give thought to that +at this important moment. + +The unknown who had been doing most of the talking wheeled with +an oath, making a frantic dash to get out of the alley and onto +the street. + +But Dick shot fairly past him, dodging slightly, and made a bound +for the second party to this wicked conference. + +Just beyond the doorway in which this second party had keen standing +was a yard that furnished a second means of exit from the alley. + +It was this second party to the talk that Dick was after. He +left the other fugitive to his two active, quick-witted chums. +They were swift to understand, and grappled, together, with the +rascal fleeing for the street. + +The three went down in a scuffling, fighting heap. + +Like a flash the fellow that Dick was after seemed to melt into +the adjoining back yard. Prescott, in trying to get in after +him in record time, fell flat to the ground just inside the yard. + +Yet, as he went down Prescott grabbed one of his fugitive's trouser +legs near the ankle. + +"Let go!" hissed the other, in too low a voice to be recognized. + +Before Dick, holding on grimly, had time to look upward, the +wretch lifted a cane, bringing it down on Dick's head with ugly +force. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +TIP SCAMMON TALKS---BUT NOT ENOUGH + + +If that ugly blow hadn't proved a glancing one, Dick Prescott +might have been for a long siege of brain fever. + +As it was, he was slightly stunned for the moment. + +By the time he could leap up and look about him, rather dizzily, +his late assailant had made a clean escape. + +"No time to waste on a fellow who's got away," quoth Dick. + +He staggered slightly, at first, as he hurried from the yard back +into the alleyway. + +"Now, you quiet down!" commanded Dave Darrin hoarsely. "No more +from you, Mr. Thug!" + +"Lemme go, or it'll be worse for ye!" threatened a harsh voice +that, nevertheless, had a whine in it. + +"What use to let you go, Tip Scammon?" demanded Darrin. "We know +you, and the police would pick you up again in an hour." + +"Lemme go, and keep yer mouth shut," whined the fellow. "If ye +don't, ye'll be sorry. If ye _do_ lemme go, I'll pay ye for the +accommodation." + +"Yes," retorted Dave, scornfully. "You'd pay us, I suppose, with +money you picked up in some way resembling the trick you played +on Dick Prescott." + +"Well, money's money, ain't it?" demanded Tip, skeptically. + +"Some kinds of money are worse that dirt," growled Greg Holmes. + +This was the conversation, swiftly carried on, that Dick heard +as he stepped back to his friends. + +Scammon was lying on his back on the ground, with Dave seated +across his chest. Greg bent back the wretch's head, holding a +short club that the two freshmen had taken away from Tip in the +scuffle. + +"Where's the other one, Dick?" gasped Dave, as he saw young Prescott +coming back alone. + +"He got away," muttered Dick. "He hit me over the head, and stunned +me for a moment, or I'd be holding onto him yet." + +"Who was he?" demanded Greg, breathlessly. + +"I don't know," Dick admitted. "I'd give a small part of the earth +to know and be sure about it." + +That admission of ignorance was a most unfortunate one. Tip Scammon +heard it, and the fellow grinned inwardly over knowing that his +late companion had not been recognized. + +"What are we going to do with this fellow, Dick?" asked Dave. + +"I'm wondering whether he ought to be arrested or not," Dick replied. +"Fellows, I feel mighty sorry for Tip's father." + +And well might all three feel sorry. So, far as was known, this +crime against Dick was the first offense Tip had committed against +the law. He was a tough character, and regarded as one of the +worse than worthless young men of Gridley. Tip was a handy fellow, +a jack-of-all-trades, with several at which he might have made +an honest living---but he wouldn't. Yet Tip's father was old +John Scammon, the highly respected janitor at the High School, +where he had served for some forty years. + +"I say, fellows, I wonder if we can let Tip go---now that we know +the whole story?" breathed Dick. + +"Say, I'll make it worth yer while," proposed Tip, eagerly. + +"How about the law?" asked Dave Darrin, seriously. "Have we any +right to let the fellow go, when we know he has committed a serious +crime?" + +"I don't know," replied Prescott. "All I'm thinking of is good, +honest old John Scammon." + +"It'd break me old man's heart---sure it would," put in Tip, cunningly. + +At the first cry from Belle and Laura Bentley, however Mrs. Meade, +who was also in the secret, had hurried down into Clark Street. +Just as it happened she had espied a policeman less than a block +away. That officer, posted by Mrs. Meade, now came hurrying +down the alleyway. + +"Oho! Tip, is it?" demanded the policeman. "Let him up, Darrin. +I can handle him. Now, then, what's the row about?" + +Thereupon Dick and his chums had to tell the story. There was +no way out of it. Officer Connors heard a little of it, then +decided: + +"The station house is the place to tell the rest of this. Come +along, Tip. And you youngsters trail along behind." + +Though the station house was not far away, a good-sized crowd +was trailing along by the time they reached the business stand +of the police. Tip was hustled in through the doorway, the three +young freshmen following. Leaning over the railing, smoking and +chatting with the sergeant at the desk, was plain clothes man +Hemingway. + +"Hullo," muttered that latter officer, "what's this?" + +"A slice out of one of your cases, I guess, Hemingway, from what +I've heard," laughed Connors. "According to these boys, Tip is +the fellow who knows the inside game of the High School thefts." + +"Let's have Scammon in the back room, then," urged Hemingway, +leading the way to the guard room. The sergeant, also, followed, +after summoning a reserve policeman to the desk. + +Then followed a sharp grilling by the keen, astute Hemingway. +Dick and his chums told what they had heard Tip say before they +pounced upon him. Tip, who was a round-headed, short, square-shouldered +fellow of twenty-four, possessed more of the cunning of the prize +ring than the cleverness of the keen thief. + +"I've been caught with the packages on me," he admitted, bluntly, +and with some show of bravado. "I guess I can't get outer delivering +'em." + +"Then you stole that pin and the gold watch from the locker at +the High School?" demanded Hemingway, swiftly. + +"Yep." + +"How did you get into the locker room?" shot out Hemingway. + +"Guess!" leered Tip, exhibiting some cheap bravado. + +"Maybe I can find the answer in your clothes," retorted the plain +clothes man. "Stand still." + +The search resulted in the finding of about ten dollars, a knife, +and three queer-looking implements that Hemingway instantly declared +to be pick-locks. + +"You used these tools, and slipped the lock, did you?" asked Hemingway. + +"Didn't have to," grinned Tip. + +"Took an impression of the lock, then, and made a key, did you?" + +"Right-o," drawled Tip. + +"I'll look into your lodgings," muttered Hemingway. "Probably +I'll find you've got a good outfit for that kind of work. I remember +you used to work for a locksmith." + +Tip, however, was not scared. He knew that there was nothing +at his lodgings to betray him. + +"Then you used these picklocks to open Prescott's locked trunk with?" +was Hemingway's next question. + +"'Fraid I did," leered Tip. + +"What time of the day did you get into the Prescott flat?" + +"'Bout ten o'clock, morning of the same day ye went through +Prescott's trunk an' found the goods there." + +"The same goods that you placed in the trunk, Tip, after breaking +into the Prescott flat while Mr. and Mrs. Prescott were down in +their store and young Prescott was at the High School?" + +"That's right," Tip grinned. + +"You picked the lock of young Prescott's trunk, stowed the watch +and pin away in there, and then sprung the lock again?" + +"Why, say, ye muster seen me," declared Scammon, admiringly. + +"The week before that day you must have been at the High School, +helping your father, especially in the basement during session +hours." + +"I sure was," Tip admitted. "I had ter, didn't I, to have a +chance ter get inter the locker room?" + +"What did you say the name of the fellow was who hired you to +do the trick?" swiftly demanded Hemingway, changing the tack. + +"I b'lieve I _didn't_ say," responded Tip, giving a wink that +included all present. + +"Tell me now, then." + +"Not if ye was to hang me for refusing," declared Scammon, with +sudden obstinacy. + +"Yet you've told us everything else," argued the plain clothes +man. + +"Might jest as well tell ye everything else," retorted Tip. "Didn't +these High School kids find the packages on me?" + +"Then tell us who the chap was that you were talking with tonight." + +"Not fer anything ye could give me," asserted Tip Scammon, with +great promptness. + +"Oh, well, then," returned Hemingway, with affected carelessness, +"Prescott can tell us the name of the chap he grappled with in +that back yard." + +"Yep! Let young Prescott tell," agreed Tip with great cheerfulness. +That was as far as the police could get with the prisoner. He +readily admitted all that was known, and he had even gone so +far as to tell how he had stolen the watch and the pin, and how +he had secreted them in Dick's trunk, but beyond that the fellow +would not go further. + +"Did you have anything to do with placing Ripley's pin in Prescott's +pocket?" questioned Hemingway. + +"Nope," declared Tip, in all apparent candor. + +"Know anything about that?" + +"Nope." + +"Then how did you know that that particular morning was the right +morning to hide the other two stolen articles in Prescott's trunk?" + +"I heard, on the street, what was happenin'," declared Tip, +confidently. "So I knew 'twas the right time ter do the rest +of the trick." + +At last Hemingway gave up the attempt to learn the name of the +party with whom Tip had been talking in Stetson's Alley on this +night. Then Tip was led away to a cell. + +"Come on, fellows," muttered Dick to his chums. "Since Tip is +under arrest, anyway, and has confessed, and since the whole thing +is bound to become public, I want to run down to 'The Blade' office, +find Len Spencer, and send him up here to get the whole, straight +story. _With this yarn printed I can go back to school in the +morning_!" + +"Now, see here, Dick," expostulated Dave Darrin, as the three +chums hurried along the street, "in the station house you told +the police you didn't get a look at the other fellow's face." + +"Well, that was straight," Prescott asserted. + +"Do you mean to say you don't know who the fellow was---you really +don't?" persisted Dave Darrin. + +"I don't know," Dick declared flatly. + +"You've a suspicion, just the same," asserted Greg Holmes, dryly. + +"Possibly." + +"Who was it, then?" coaxed Greg Holmes. + +"Was it Fred Ripley?" shot out Dave Darrin. + +"Will you fellows keep a secret, on your solemn honor, if I tell +you one?" Dick questioned. + +Dave and Greg both promised. + +"Well, then," Prescott admitted, "I'm convinced in my own mind +that it was Fred Ripley that I had hold of for an instant tonight. +But I didn't see his face, and I can't prove it. That's why +I'm not going to tell about it. But this fellow wore lavender +striped trousers, just like a pair of Fred's. There is just +a chance or two in a thousand that it wasn't Ripley---and I'm +not going to throw it all over on him when I can't prove it. +Fellows, I know just what it feels like to be under suspicion +when you really didn't do a thing. _It hurts---awfully_!" + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE WELCOME WITH A BIG "W" + + +Ben Badger sat perched aloft among the bare, spreading branches +of a giant maple near one corner of the school grounds. The maple +stood at the curbing of the sidewalk. + +Down below stood nearly a hundred High School boys of Gridley. + +That Ben was on sentry duty was apparent from the eager looks +that those below frequently cast up at him. At times, too, the +general impatience sought relief in questions hurled at Ben. + +Finally, from the lookout aloft came down the rousing hail: + +"Here he comes! fellows! Here he comes! No---here _they_ come! +The whole crowd---Dick & Co.!" + +A flutter passed through the crowd below, vet not one of the Gridley +H.S. boys stirred from the ranks just within the school yard gate. + +Back on the main steps of the High School building nearly three +score of the young ladies were irregularly grouped. They were +silent, but expectant. + +For "The Blade" had been read in many a Gridley home that morning. +The news had traveled fast over Gridley. Though the paper had +contained no announcement that Prescott would return to school, +every High School boy and girl had felt sure of that. + +Down the street, three abreast, came Dick & Co., with proud, firm +stride. Very likely the partners were even more exultant than +was Prescott himself. + +Then the freshman sextette came in full sight from the gateway. + +"Who's this?" yelled Ben Badger in his loudest voice. + +From the crowded tanks below welled up the chorus: + +"Dick & Co.! Dick & Co.! Good old Dick! Bully old Co.!" + +Prescott and his chums halted, thunderstruck by the volume and +force of that unexpected chorus. + +Immediately on top of it rolled out lustily the complicated High +School yell, given with a vim never before heard off the football +field. + +And then: + +"What's the matter with Dick Prescott?" demanded Ben Badger, in +stentorian tones. + +From one half of the H.S. boys came the roaring response: + +"He's the whole cheese." + +Then, from the other half: + +"-----for a _freshman_!" + +Dick & Co. recovering from their amazement, were coming on again +now. Young Prescott's heart thumped hard. He was no popularity-chaser, +but only the fellow who has been down hard, for a while, knows +how good it is to be _up_ once more. + +As Dick neared the gate Ben Badger dropped down out of the bare +maple tree, for Ben had yet other duties on the reception committee. + +He and Frank Thompson suddenly snatched Dick Prescott out of the +ranks of his chums, and hoisted him aloft. This these two husky +first classmen were well able to do. + +Across the school yard they started with him, while the rest of +the fellows followed, giving voice to the High School yell: + +"T-E-R-R-O-R-S! Wa-ar! Fam-ine! Pes-ti-lence! That's us! +That's us! G-R-I-D-L-E-Y H.S.! Rah! rah! rah! rah! Gri-i-id-ley!" + +The girls grouped on the steps parted, letting the leaders and +followers through. + +With the rush as of an army the excited youngsters bore Dick Prescott +up a flight of stairs. Half a dozen of the fellows sprang ahead +of Badger and Thompson, throwing open one of the doors of the +general assembly room. + +Again the High School yell broke loose, sounding, in that confined +space, as though it must jar the rafters loose. + +Dr. Thornton had risen from his chair behind the desk. It was +before coming-in-hour, and there was no rule that commanded quietude +before the bell rang. Yet such a din had never before been heard +in the room. + +But just then Dr. Thornton caught sight of red-faced, happy-looking +Dick Prescott on the shoulders of Badger and Thompson. Then the +principal laughed in sheer good humor. + +Wheeling, Badger and Thompson carried Dick straight up to the +platform, where they deposited their human burden at the edge. + +"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." + +"I don't want to go to one," retorted Miss Deane, promptly. "Co-ed +schools are just like co-ed colleges. The boys may have a good +enough time, but the co-ed girls are shoved into the background. +Co-ed boys pretend they don't know that the co-ed girls are alive. +The High School is better, for a girl, than any co-ed private +school, for in the High School girls are treated on an even footing +with boys." + +"We'll both of us keep that prep. school idea in mind, though," +proposed Ripley, just before the pair entered the school building. + +By the time that this exclusive pair entered the general assembly +room the scene before them was none too pleasing. The congratulatory +crowd being too large for Dick alone, his five partners were holding +separate little receptions for groups, relating how Dick, Dave +and Greg had captured Tip Scammon. Such speculation there was +as to who Tip's unrecognized companion could have been the night +before. As Fred stepped into the big room he was conscious of +many unfriendly glances that were sent in his direction. + +As early as possible Dick Prescott sought out Laura Bentley and +Bell Meade, and to them he expressed his heartiest thanks for +the splendid aid they had given him toward this present happy +moment. + +So great was the clamor, in fact, that, when the gong outside +struck the "minute-call" at 7.59, no one in the assembly room +seemed to hear it. Then came the jingling of the assembly bell +in the big room. A murmur of surprise ran around, for time had +passed rapidly since Dick's appearance. In another moment the +only sound was that of quiet footfalls as the young ladies and +gentlemen of the Gridley H.S. moved to their seats. In a few +seconds more only the ticking of the big clock was heard. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +DICK & CO. GIVE FOOTBALL A NEW BOOST + + +By recess the feeling had quieted down. Dick Prescott was only +a freshman, but it is safe to say that he was the most popular +freshman who had ever "happened" at Gridley H.S. + +However, the noisy spirit of welcome had spent itself Dick & Co. +were given a chance to go away quietly by themselves and talk +over their own affairs. + +Fred Ripley appeared to be the only unhappy boy in the lot. He +kept to himself a good deal, and the scowl on his face threatened +to become chronic. + +Recess was nearly up when Thomp and Captain Sam Edgeworth, of +the eleven, approached Dick & Co. A nod from Edgeworth drew Prescott +away from his chums. + +"Prescott, as you know, we don't usually allow freshmen to mix +much with us in the athletic line. But the fellows feel that +you are a big exception. You couldn't possibly make the team +this year, of course, but we well, we thought you might like a +bit of the social end of the squad. We thought you might like +to come around to our headquarters and see us drill and hear our +talk of the game. Would it interest you any?" + +"Would it?" glowed Dick. "Why, as much as it would please a ragpicker +to be carried off to a palace to live!" + +"Do you care to come around and see us this afternoon?" pursued +Captain Sam. "Say three o'clock." + +"I'd be delighted." + +"Then come around and see us, Prescott. Maybe you'll be interested +in something that you see and hear." + +"I wonder-----" began Dick, wistfully. + +"Well, what?" asked Thomp. + +"Could you possibly include my chums in that invitation? They're +all mightily interested." + +"Yes," nodded Thompson, "they're interested, and they all helped +you to spring that trick on the Board of Education. It's more +than half likely that we owe the continuance of football this +season to Dick & Co." + +"Bring your friends along, then," agreed Captain Sam Edgeworth, +though he solemnly hoped, under his breath, that he wasn't establishing +a fearful precedent by showing such wholesale cordiality to the +usually despised freshmen. + +"We'll use all six of you as our mascots," laughed Thomp. + +"And er---er---" began Dick, a bit diffidently, "we have something +that we've been talking over, and we want to suggest to you---if +you won't think us all too eternally fresh." + +"Anyway, the idea'll have to keep," muttered Edgeworth, as the +gong clanged out. "There goes the end of recess." + +The long lines were quickly filing in at two entrances? and the +work of the school day was on again. + +It was barely a quarter of three when Dick & Co. walking two-and-two, +came in sight of the otherwise unoccupied store that formed the +football headquarters. + +"We're too early," muttered Prescott, consulting his watch. "We'll +have to take a walk around a few blocks yet, fellows." + +"Why?" Dan Dalzell wanted to know. "What difference does a matter +of a few minutes make?" + +"Haven't you had it rubbed into you enough that you're only a +measly freshman?" laughed Dick. "And don't you know a freshman +is called a freshman only because he can't dare to do anything +that looks the least little bit fresh? From an upper classman's +point of view we've had a thumping big privilege accorded us, +and we don't want to spoil it by running it into the ground. +So I vote for a walk that will make us at least two minutes late +going into the football headquarters." + +"My vote goes with yours," nodded Dave Darrin. + +The good sense of it appealed to all the chums, so they strolled +away again, and came back three minutes late, Outside the door +they halted. Some of the awe of the conscious freshman came +upon two or three of the chums. + +"You go in first, Dick," urged Tom Reade. + +"It was you who got the invite, anyway," hinted Greg Holmes. + +Laughing quietly Dick turned the knob of the door. He went in +bravely enough, but some of his chums followed rather sheepishly. + +Fred Ripley, who had dropped in five minutes before, saw them +at once, and scowled. + +"'Ware freshmen!" he called, rather loudly. + +Nearly all the members of the regular and sub teams were present. +Most of them were going through an Indian club drill at the further +end of the room. At Fred's cry several of them turned around +sharply. + +"Oh, that's all right," called out Edgeworth. "These particular +freshmen are privileged. Welcome, Dick & Co.!" + +"Privileged? Welcome?" gasped Ripley, in a tone of huge disgust. +"What on earth is the High School coming to these days?" + +"If you don't like to see them here, Ripley," broke in Thompson, +"you know-----" + +"Oh, well!" growled Fred, with a shrug of his shoulders. Then, +disdaining to look at Dick & Co., this stickler for upper class +exclusiveness turned and stalked out of the store, closing the +door after him with a bang. + +For some minutes Dick and his chums stood quietly against the +wall at one side of the big, almost bare room. Then Edgeworth +called out: + +"Now, fellows, we've had enough of indoor work. We'll take a +brief rest. After that we'll go over to the field and practice +tackles and formations until dark." + +Released from the drills Thomp came over to shake hands with the +freshmen visitors. Edgeworth presently strolled over, and a few +others. + +"By the way, captain," spoke up Thompson, finally, "I think Prescott +told us that the mighty freshmen intellects of Dick & Co. had +been trying out their brains in the effort to get up some new +football stunts." + +"That's so," nodded Sam. + +"Have we time to listen to them?" + +"Yes," decided the football captain; "if it doesn't take them +too long to explain." + +Ben Badger kicked forward an empty packing case. + +"Here's a platform, Prescott. Get up and orate!" he called. + +Dick laughingly held back from the packing case until Badger and +Thomp lifted him bodily and stood him on top of the box. + +"And cut it short, and make it practical," admonished Ted Butler, +"or take the dire consequences!" + +"Why, I don't know, gentlemen of the football team, that it's +much of an idea," Dick began, "but my chums and I have been thinking +over the complaint of the Athletics Committee that you haven't +as much money, this season, as you'd like." + +"Money?" echoed one. "Now, you're whispering. Whoop!" + +"Money---the root of all evil!" shouted another. + +"Get wicked!" adjured a third. + +"What my friends and I had to suggest," Dick went on, "was that, +as we understand it, the folks of the town don't contribute much +cash for upholding the fame of High School athletics." + +"The School Alumni Association does pretty well in that line," +replied Edgeworth. "The public in general do pretty well by buying +tickets rather liberally to our games. It's the expenses that +are the great trouble. You see, Prescott, instead of maintaining +one team, we really have to support two, for the subs are necessary +in order to give us practice. Then the coach's expenses are heavy. +Now, the Alumni Association owns our athletic field, but a lot +of lumber and carpenter work is needed there every year, making +repairs and putting in improvements. Then, when we play high +school teams at a distance from here the railroad expenses eat +up enormously." + +"And we have to play mostly teams at a good distance from here," +laughed Ben Badger, "for we've played the nearby elevens time +and again, and Gridley has eaten up the other fellows in such +big gulps that we have to get on dates, these days, with teams +so far away that they don't know much about us." + +"But there's plenty of money in the town," replied Dick. "The +business men have some of it. The wealthy people have a lot of +it, too. It is a Gridley brag that the people of this city are +public spirited to the last gasp. Now, if you can get public +spirit and money on good speaking terms there wouldn't need to +be any lack of funds for High School athletics." + +"All right," nodded Edgeworth, trying to conceal a slight impatience +"But how are you going to introduce public spirit effectively +to money?" + +"That's what we freshmen have been wondering," Dick replied. +"Now, every student in the Gridley H.S.---boy students and girl +students---gets a share of the reflected glory that comes from +the work of one of the best high school elevens in the United +States. So, as we see it, the whole student body should get together +in the raising of funds. And when I say 'funds,' I don't mean +pennies or dimes." + +"This is becoming interesting," called out Ben Badger. + +"That my chums and I would suggest," Dick continued, "is that +the whole student body of Gridley H.S. be enlisted, and sent out +to scour the town, holding, out a subscription paper that is properly +worded at the top." + +"How worded?" demanded Ted Butler. + +"My freshmen chums and I have prepared a draft of the paper. +May I read what we suggest as a heading for the paper?" + +"Hear! Hear!" cried a dozen. + +"Thank you," Prescott acknowledged, gratefully. Then, drawing +a paper from his pocket, he read as follows: + +_"'Gridley is justly proud of its public spirit, and rejoices +in having the best in several lines. Few if any cities in the +United States possess a High School football team that can down +the eleven from Gridley H.S. We are proud of our High School, +and as proud of its reputation in athletics. We believe that +Gridley prominence in athletics should be fostered in every way, +and we know that real athletics cost money---a lot of it! We, +The Undersigned, therefore subscribe to the Athletic Committee +of Gridley H.S. the amounts of public spirit set down opposite +our names in dollars.'"_ + +After Dick Prescott had ceased reading it took nearly a full minute +for the cleverness of this direct appeal to local pride to strike +home in the minds of the football squad. Then loud applause broke +loose. + +"Freshie!" roared Sam Edgeworth, over the din, "that's genius, +compressed into a hundred words!" + +"It's O.K.!" declared Thompson, with heavy emphasis. + +"Bully!" roared Ben Badger. + +Then one pessimist was heard from: + +"It's good, but it takes something mighty good to force people +to part with their own cash." + +"Don't you think that, with every H.S. boy and girl going around +with the paper, it will force subscriptions?" Dick inquired. + +"Oh, well," granted the pessimist, "I believe it will cost enough +money out of the public to pay all the cost of printing the subscription +papers anyway." + +"If we didn't need that kicker on the team, we'd throw him out +of here," laughed Sam Edgeworth, good-naturedly. + +Then the matter was put to informal vote, and it was decided to +ask the permission of the Athletic Committee to put through the +scheme presented by Dick & Co. + +"And now it's time to be off for the field," proclaimed Sam Edgeworth, +with emphasis. Coach Morton will be waiting for us, and he isn't +the man who enjoys being kept waiting." + +"Come along with us, Dick & Co.," called Thompson. "You'll have +a chance to see whether you approve of our way of handling the +game." + +So Dick and his partners went along. Though they could only stand +at the edge of the field and look on, yet that was rare fun, for +no other freshmen were on the same side of the fence. + +As all six of the boys knew considerable about the theories and +rules of football, and as all of them watched closely the plays +between Gridley H.S. and the subs, they soon saw the reason why +Gridley had one of the most formidable High School teams in the +country. + +"Oh, for the day when _we_ can try to make the team!" uttered +Dick Prescott, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. + +The fund-raising scheme offered by Dick & Co. went before the +Athletic Committee that same evening. It was accepted, as Prescott +and Darrin, hanging about outside the H.S. building, learned an +hour later. + +In three days more the subscription papers had been printed and +were distributed. Every boy and girl in the school received one, +with instructions to bring it back, "filled out"---or take the +consequences. + +Then the canvassing began. + +Would it work? Dick & Co. felt that their own reputations hung +in the balance. And it was bound to be the case that some of +the students, though they took the papers, did a lot of prompt +"kicking" about it. + +_Would it "work"_? + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +"THE OATH OF THE DUB" + + +For a full week the boys and girls of Gridley H.S. scoured the +town, trying their fortune everywhere that money was supposed +to lurk. + +The great Thanksgiving game was coming on. Gridley was to play +the second team of Cobber University. This second team from Cobber +had beaten every high school team it had tackled for the two +preceding years. + +Gridley, in this present year, had not met with a single defeat +in a total of nine games thus far played. In six of the games +the opponents had not scored at all. + +But could Cobber Second be beaten? + +The Cobber eleven was one of the finest in the country. Even +the second team was considered a "terror," as its record of unbroken +victories for two years testified. + +So much awe, in fact, did Cobber Second inspire among the high +school teams that Gridley was the only outfit to be found that +dared take up the proposition of a Thanksgiving Day game with +the college men. + +"Gridley can't win!" the pessimists predicted. + +Even the heartiest well-wishers of Gridley H.S. felt, mournfully, +that too big a contract had been undertaken. + +Dick & Co., however, under the inspiring influence of their leader, +were all to the hopeful. + +"We'll win," Dick proclaimed, "because Gridley needs the game. +When Gridley folks go after anything they won't take 'no' for +an answer. That's the spirit of the town, and the High School +is worthy of all the traditions of the town." + +"Talk's cheap, and brag's a good dog!" sneered Ripley. + +Three sophomores who overheard the remark promptly "bagged" Fred +and threw him over the school yard fence. + +"Come back with any more of that," warned one of the hazers, "and +we'll scour your intellect at the town pump." + +Being a freshman, Prescott didn't say too much. Neither did his +chums. Yet what they did say was bright and hopeful. Their spirit +began to soak through the student body. + +"You see, gentlemen," Coach Morton warned the football squad one +morning at recess, "you've _got_ to win. The school believes +you can do it, and the town is beginning to believe it. If you +lose to Cobber Second you'll forfeit the respect of all the thousands +of Gridley folks who are now saying nice things about you." + +"Write it down," begged Thompson. "We're going to beat Cobber +Second off the gridiron." + +"Good!" cheered Mr. Morton. "That's the talk. And be sure you +live up to it!" + +"We've got to live up to it," asserted Thomp, solemnly. + +"Right-o!" came the enthusiastic approval from as many members +of the student body as could crowd within easy hearing. The girls +were all there, too, for in these days the girls were as much +excited as others over the prospects of winning. + +"Shall I tell coach and students, Cap?" called Thomp to Edgeworth. + +"It won't do any harm," nodded Sam. "Confession will make our +deed more binding." + +"What deed?" demanded Coach Morton, scenting some mystery that +he was not yet in on. + +"Why, you see, sir," proclaimed Thomp, "every member of the team, +and every sub who stands any show to get into the game, has taken +the oath of the dub." + +"'The oath of the dub'?" repeated Sub-master Morton. "That's +a new one on me. + +"It's a new one on us all," admitted Thompson, gravely. "We've +taken the oath, but it's so dreadful that most of us shivered +when it came our turn to recite the patter---the ritual, I mean." + +"What is this 'oath of the dub'?" asked the coach. + +"It's fearful," shivered Thomp. "Any of you fellows feel better +able to explain?" + +He glanced around him at the other visible members and subs of +the school eleven, but they shook their heads and shrank back. + +"Well, then, I'll have to tell you myself," conceded Thomp, with +an air of gloom. "It's a fearful thing. Yet, as I've been through +with it once, one more time can't hurt me---much." + +Thomp made an eloquent pause. Then, reaching his right hand aloft, +his eyes turned toward the sky, he recited, in a deep bass voice: + +"I have pledged my honor, as a gridiron specialist, that +Gridley H.S. shall lug away all the points of the game from Cobber +Second. If we fail, then may everyone who espies me mutter: 'There +goes a dub!' May the word 'dub' haunt me in my waking hours, and +pursue me, mounted on the nightmares of slumber! May my best +friends ever afterward refer to me only as a 'dub.' For if I fail +the school, then am I truly a 'dub,' and there is no help for +me. If I fail, then may I never, so long as life lasts, be permitted +to lose sight of the patent fact that I _am_ a 'dub'! So help +me _Bob_!" + +A roar of laughter and approval went up from all who heard. Coach +Morton tried hard to preserve his gravity, but his sides shook, +and his face reddened from the effort. At last he broke loose. +When he could control his voice Mr. Morton demanded: + +"What genius of the first class invented the 'oath of the dub'?" + +"It wasn't a senior, sir," Thomp confessed. + +"What junior, then?" + +"Not a junior, either." + +"_Who_, then?" insisted the submaster. + +"Tell him, Sam." + +"That oath, Mr. Morton, required and received the concerted brainpower +of-----" + +"Dick & Co.!" shouted the football squad in chorus. + +A good-natured riot followed. + +"Dick & Co. will soon get the notion that they're the whole High +School," growled Fred Ripley to Purcell. + +"They are a big feature of the school," laughed Purcell. "You're +about the only one, Fred, who hasn't discovered it. Rub your +eyes, man, and take another look." + +"Bah!" muttered Ripley, turning away. Just then the gong clanged +the end of recess. + +"Now, that 'the oath of the dub' has been given out," suggested +Dick Prescott to his chums, after school, "we ought to find Len +Spencer and give it to him. He'll print it in tomorrow's 'Blade' +and that will send local pride soaring. That'll help a whole +lot to success with the subscription papers." + +After the papers had been in circulation a week the Athletics +Committee held an evening session, in the room of the Superintendent +of Schools, in the H.S. building. + +By eight o'clock nearly a hundred and fifty of the boys and girls +had assembled. More came in later. + +The subscription papers, and the amounts for which they called, +were turned in to Coach Morton. It was soon noticed that many +of the subscriptions had been paid by check. + +Laura Bentley was the first to turn in a paper. + +"Twenty dollars," she announced, quietly, though with evident pride. + +"Eleven dollars," announced Belle Meade. + +After a good many of the girls had made accounting they boys had +a brief chance. + +When it came Dick Prescott's turn he spoke so quietly that those +nearest him thought he said six dollars. + +_"Sixty dollars?"_ repeated Mr. Morton, more distinctly. "The +best offering yet." + +"I've one more," added Prescott, in the same low voice. + +"Then speak up more loudly," directed the submaster. "There are +a lot of young people here who want to hear." + +"Here," continued Dick, handing in another paper, "is a communication +signed by the members of the city's Common Council. They signed +as individuals. They agree to hire the Gridley Military Band, +of twenty-eight pieces, to be on hand at the Thanksgiving game +and to play for our High School eleven." + +None of Dick's partners had secured less than twenty-five dollars. + +When all the subscriptions had been turned in, and the amount +footed up by Coach Morton, that gentleman announced, in tones +that betrayed excitement: + +"The total subscriptions amount to nineteen hundred and sixty-eight +dollars. That will put us on a fine footing for this year, and +leave a good balance over for next year!" + +Then the enthusiasm broke loose in earnest. Two score of fans +turned, at once, to find Dick & Co., who had started the scheme. +But Dick & Co. had quietly vanished. + +Before it adjourned that night, the Athletics Committee, with +the help of Captain Sam Edgeworth, found one effective way of +rewarding those who had conceived this highly successful subscription +campaign. + +Dick Prescott was appointed cheer-master for the great Thanksgiving +Day game. More, Dick was to name any one of his chums as assistant +cheer-master. + +As the cheer-master bosses the noise that is so indispensable +a part of the game, the honor that had come to young Prescott +was no mean one. No Gridley freshman had ever before achieved +it. + +Dick left to his partners the selection of assistant cheer-master. +_They_ settled on Dave Darrin. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +ON THE GRIDIRON WITH COBBER SECOND + + +Once upon a time Thanksgiving Day was an orgie conducted in honor +of that national bird, the turkey. + +In these happier days, in every live community, the turkey must +wait until the football game has been fought out. Then the adherents +of one eleven eat crow. + +Gridley's great game of the year was scheduled to begin at three +o'clock. + +However, a large part of the fun, at a really "big" game consists +in being on hand an hour ahead of time and hearing and seeing +all the fun that goes on. + +Promptly at the tick of two o'clock the Gridley Band blew its +first blast, to the tune of "Hail, Columbia!" + +The band was stationed close to the ground, in the center of the +stand reserved for the High School student body. Off the right +of the band rose four tiers of bright-faced, wholesome-looking +High School girls. To the left of the band sat the boys. + +Across the field, on a much smaller stand, sat the hundred or +so followers of the team from Cobber. The Cobbers had no band. +Few feminine faces appeared on the Cobber stand. The Cobber +colors, brown and gray, floated here and there on the breeze in +the form of small banners. + +Gridley's stand was brilliant with the crimson and gold banners +of Gridley H.S. These bright-hued bits of bunting waved deliriously +as the band's strains floated forth. + +But as "Hail Columbia" belongs to all Americans, the Cobbers elected +to flash their bunting, too. + +Suddenly the music paused. Then came pressing contempt for the +hostile eleven: "All coons look alike to me!" + +Cobber's friends took the hint in an instant. To a man the visiting +delegation arose, hurling out the Cobber yell in round, deep-chested +notes. + +Just outside the lines, behind a huge megaphone mounted on a tripod, +stood Dick Prescott, cheer-master. At his side was Dave Darrin, +whose duties were likely to prove mainly nominal. + +Dick swung the megaphone from left to right, as he called out +through it: + +"Now, then---number seven!" + +From the boy's side came the prompt response, in slow, measured +cadence, every word of it distinct: + +"C-O-B-B-E-R! Born in misfortune! Reared on trouble. Grew to +be a disgrace---and died in tears!" + +Cobber's friends had to "chew" over that. They had nothing in +their repertory of "sass" that seemed to fill this bill. + +To return an inapt yell would be worse than silence. So the visitors +sat scowling at the field. + +"Score one on Cobber's goat," grinned Dave Darrin. + +Presently, after some whispering on the visitors' stand, this +rather lame one came from the college crowd: + +"C-O-B-B-E-R! C-O-B-W-E-B! Our trap for the foolish little fly!" + +One of the few girls on the visitors' stand rose to wave her brown +and gray banner. She slipped and fell through between the seats. + +Quick as a flash Dave Darrin sprang to the megaphone, swinging +it around at the enemy, and bawling this atrocious pun: + +"Now you spider! But now you can't!" + +That brought a laugh, even from the visitors. The hapless girl, +with the help of some of her male friends, was hoisted up once +more to a seat and safety. + +"Look at the poor girl," laughed Dick to Darrin. "She's wearing +our colors now---crimson face and a gold locket under it." + +"If she wasn't a girl, I'd yell that over to 'em," laughed Dave. + +The band was playing again, in its most rollicking rhythm, the +old air from "Olivette," "Then bob up serenely!" + +The laughter started on the Gridley side, but it spread all the +way around to the Cobber seats. + +As the minutes flew by it became apparent, from a survey of the +filled seats, that at least two thousand, outside of the Cobber +and the Gridley H.S. delegations, were present at the game. This +meant a healthful addition to the athletics fund. + +By and by Cobber recovered its nerve on the seats. Cobber yells +floated forth on the air. Yet, for every sing-song taunt the +visitors found that the home fans had an apt retort. This was +where Dick Prescott's ready wit came in, for it was his task to +call for all the cheers, yells, songs or taunts. + +Two-thirty came. Dick called for the High School song. The band +accompanied, while the entire student body sang. + +At its completion Cobber answered, as might have been expected, +with cat calls. + +Within the next few minutes Dick ran the H.S. boosters through +nearly the whole repertory of cheers and songs. + +Then, just after quarter of three, Dave made an important discovery. + +"Here come the teams," he whispered. + +Dick, without turning to look, swung the megaphone so that its +wide mouth aimed straight at the band leader. + +"You know what now, leader!" + +In a twinkling the musicians rose. A cornetist flared forth with +a bugle call. Down came the leader's baton. The bugle call shaded +off into a single strain from the band. Then out crashed: "See, +the conquering hero comes!" + +With both teams marching onto the field the call was for courtesy. +Gridley H.S. and Cobber rose in their seats. The other spectators, +mostly, also stood up. Cobber Second came marching around in +review before Gridley H.S. seats, and received a rattling volley +of good, staunch old American cheers. + +Gridley H.S. eleven took the other side of the field. With Sam +Edgeworth at their head they went past the visitors' seats, and +received the most thundering welcome that Cobber knew how to give. + +Passing the two grand stands the captains wheeled their men marching +them out into the field. Two footballs bounded from the side +lines, and both teams began preliminary practice plays. + +After that the band played a couple of lively airs. The people +on the grand stands did not pay much heed to the practice work. +They knew that the players were merely warming up. + +Coach Morton came down along the side lines, halting close to the +cheer-master and his assistant. After the first greeting Mr. +Morton turned his eyes anxiously toward the field. + +The day was ideal---not too cold. Though the sun was out, there +was some cloudiness, yet without a sign of rain or snow. The +field was in excellent shape for a fast game. + +"Why, Dick, you're _trembling_!" grunted Dave Darrin, in amazement. + +"I know it," Prescott confessed, half guiltily. + +"What's the matter?" + +"Oh, nothing; only I'm so excited I can't quite keep still." + +"Afraid for _our_ side?" + +"We're going to win!" asserted Dick, stubbornly. + +"Yet you're shaking!" + +"It is buck fever, I guess. O Dave, I _do_ love this grand old +game!" + +Coach Morton half turned, sending a comprehending smile at the +earnest young freshman. + +"I wonder if you'd feel like that," ventured Dave, "if you were +one of our fellows out there on the gridiron." + +"Not for a second," spoke up Prescott, promptly. "I know what +I would be doing though." + +"What?" + +"I'd he Singing inside---singing songs of triumph over the game +we were going to win---the game we just _had_ to win!" + +"You'd be pretty confident," smiled Darrin. + +"Yes, I would," Dick asserted. "I believe it's the only spirit +worth having---the firm conviction that you're going to win, and +that nothing can stop you." + +Coach Morton turned long enough to say: + +"Prescott, I wish you were old enough and big enough to be out +there on our team now. When your time comes I certainly hope +you'll make the eleven. Your spirit is what every high school +needs." + +Blushing a bit, Dick drew the score card out of his pocket. He +knew the Gridley side of it by heart, already, but he wanted to +read it over again. This was the line-up that he saw: + +Gridley H.S. Positions Cobber Second +Evans .....left end..........Paisley +Butler.....left tackle.......Jordrey +Beck.......left guard........Smith +Badger.....center ...........Halsey +Thompson...right guard.......Jennison +Edgeworth..right tackle......Potter +Stearns....right end.........Adams +Winters....quarter-back......Bentley +Jasper.....right half-back...Haddleston +Trent .....left half-back....Dill +Gleason....fullback..........Strope + +"Why isn't Edgeworth in center?" asked Dave, glancing down over +Dick's shoulder. + +"Played down a bit too fine to hold center in a big game like +this," Dick answered. "Edgeworth is a corking center, and I wouldn't +be afraid to see him there today. But Ben Badger is every bit +as good." + +Coach Morton drew in his breath sharply. Referee Henderson had +just signaled to Badger, acting captain for the home team, and +Halsey, captain of the Cobbers, to come in for the toss. The +players halted in their work to await the result of that toss. + +"You call, Halsey," nodded Ben Badger. + +"Up!" warned the referee, and flipped the coin. + +"Tails!" sang Captain Halsey. + +"Heads it is," announced Referee Henderson. + +Ben Badger grinned. + +"It's all starting _our_ way," clicked Dick Prescott, in an undertone. +He seemed lost in a transport of ecstasy. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +GRIDLEY FACES DISASTER + + +"We'll kick from the north end," announced Captain Badger, promptly. + +With a grunt of satisfaction, Gridley loped off for its positions. + +The band broke loose in a wild hurrah of a tune. Spectators belonging +to both sides took up a wild cheer until the referee raised his +right hand for silence. The opposing teams were lined up. + +Darting forward to center field the referee placed the ball, then +ran backwards off the gridiron. + +His whistle went to his lips. It was an instant of strained attention. + +Trill-ll! It was not a cheer, but a subdued, breathless gasp +that rose from the two camps of fans as the opposing lines rushed +at each other. Dick could not help a slight groan, for Adams, +of Cobber, reached the pigskin first. But Adams kicked it off +over the line. Here was Gridley's prompt chance. + +Evans kicked the ball from the twenty-five-yard line. It was +stopped by Huddleston, who started to run with it. Luckless plan! +Gridley's line came thundering down upon him almost ere Huddleston +had stepped off! Bump! The combatants piled into and over each +other. Huddleston was downed on his fifty-yard line. At this +instant Dick bethought himself. Placing his mouth to the megaphone, +he roared: + +"H.S. cheer!" + +It rolled out with full volume while the referee was placing the +ball. By the time it died out Cobber's captain could be heard +calling: + +"Four---nine---thirty-three---eight!" + +Trill-ll! + +Here, the heavier boys from Cobber began to do their fine work, +and Gridley hearts sank. + +Cobber made a first down on three plays. It ended in a bad fumble, +however, for steady Thompson went down over the ball on the Gridley +forty-five-yard line. + +"H.S. cheer once more!" bellowed Dick. + +The High School boys and girls answered with a will, drawing it +out so long as to cause the referee to frown. When it ended Badger's +signals ripped out fast and clear. + +The ball came back to Quarter-back Winters. He started Gridley +faces to glowing again, for Winters did one of the things that +had made the team famous. This was the Gridley fake kick. With +any lesser team it would have been good for twenty-five yards. +Even against the big, alert fellows from Cobber that fake kick +was good for eight yards. But not yet did the full effect of +the move come. For Cobber was off-side and Trent burst through +the line on a spurt that was good for thirty-three yards. + +Two snappy line plays followed that made the Cobber boys feel +the cold sweat ooze. It would have been Gridley's first down, +but a little slip penalized the home players for fifteen yards. + +Most of the people of Gridley back in the seats wore now standing +up in their excitement. They had dreaded much from the bigger +college boys, but now the spectators saw that Gridley could hold +its own for strategy, ruse and speed. + +Cobber lost its temper just a bit, now, before the smiling faces +of these High School boys. Some rough playing followed, but the +home boys kept their tempers. + +Soon Ben Badger signaled another fake kick formation. That was +Gridley's specialty for this game, one long planned and worked +for. Quarter-back Winters again got the ball. With a handsome +forward pass he made it Thompson's, and it went to the enemy's +seven-yard line. + +"Question---four!" appealed Cheer-Master Prescott, through the +megaphone. + +Back from twenty boys on the home stand came the heavy query: + +_"Where's Cobber? +Where's Cobber?"_ + +From all the rest of the H.S. fans came the roaring answer: + +"Lost! Suitable reward and no questions asked!" + +Then the Cobber fans hurled back this hint: + +_"Brag's a great dog, +Brag's a smart dog, +Brag's a good dog, but----- +Look out for the cat!"_ + +Cobber now developed their own famous bulldog tactics. From the +seven-yard line Gridley moved the ball less than two yards in +three plays. Cobber got the ball, and then other things began +to happen. Cobber's big fellows worried the ball back for eleven +yards. Then the visitors, who carried thirty per cent. more +weight, began with heavy mass plays. Gridley began to go down, +to double up and collapse before that heavy, rough play, in +which fatigue, not speed was the object of the opponents. + +It was not scientific play, but it was grueling on the High School +boys. Even confident Dick Prescott's heart began to sink. Coach +Morton was breathing hard. + +Unless Gridley could hold the enemy's rush back effectively enough +to get the ball once more on downs, the college boys seemed likely +to rush it right over the High School goal line. + +Had Cobber tried any kicks, Gridley would have had the ball, and +would have known what to do with it. But Captain Halsey knew that. +He depended, now, wholly on heavy mass rushes and plays. + +Yet the Gridley boys were by no means asleep---or lazy. + +"I won't tire our men all out in the first half," muttered Badger +to himself. "But I won't let them stroll through our line." + +Even the heavy Cobber men, though they advanced doggedly, did +not make any too great progress. + +Down at the Gridley fifteen-yard line the High School boys developed +their greatest stubbornness and strength. So well did they oppose +the college boys that, by preventing progress in three successive +plays, the home boys again got the ball. They could not move +it sufficiently far forward, however. Cobber took the ball again. + +"Better let up on the cheers, don't you think, sir?" Dick inquired. + +"Yes," nodded Coach Morton. "It would only worry our boys now, +and they've got enough on their minds as it is." + +Again Cobber took the offensive. At the next down a man had to +be sent from the field, and a substitute sent out. But the casualty +went to Cobber, not to the High School team. That fact gave the +major part of the audience grim satisfaction. + +"There they go, now!" muttered Dave Darrin, in disgust. "Nothing +is going to stop the big fellows!" + +"They're getting nearer our goal line," Dick admitted. "But a +game is never won until it's finished. Cobber, as yet, hasn't +even gotten the touchdown!" + +A minute later Cobber _had_. To the Gridley onlookers it sent +a shock of dismay. The college men certainly had scored. + +"It's Cobber's beef, not science," Dick stoutly asserted. "Our +fellows play with more speed and real skill. _Say_---look at +that!" + +For Bentley, of the college eleven, had just missed the kick from +field. + +Five points for the visitors! The teams swiftly changed ends +and lined up. The whistle's call sent them off to the fray, for +there were but three minutes left of the first half. + +Cobber won the kick but didn't carry it far. Gridley got down +as far as the enemy's twenty-yard line. Then the smaller High +School boys were fairly pushed back into their own territory, +losing twelve yards of their own side of the field. + +Trill-ll! The first half was over. + +"Sam, can you do better? Do you want to go back on the job?" +asked Ben Badger. + +"No," replied the Gridley captain. "It's been tough on us, but +you've done everything that I could have done. I'm satisfied, +and I believe the coach is." + +"We'll ask him," proposed Badger. + +Morton was hurrying toward his boys. The coach's face was impassive. +For all his looks showed he might have been congratulating himself +on a winning. + +"No; there's no need to change captains," decided the coach. +"It's like changing a horse in mid-stream. I don't see, Badger, +that you're lost any tricks that Edgeworth could have made. + +"What's our weak point?" asked Ben. + +"There isn't much of a weak point, anywhere, as far as your play +goes," Mr. Morton responded. "In many respects your play has +been better than Cobber's. Weight is your poor point." + +Nevertheless the coach made several suggestions in the time that +was allowed him. + +"Whenever you get a proper chance, Captain, and have the ball, +open up the play as much as you can. Don't give Cobber a chance +to bump you any when it can be avoided." + +In the meantime the Cobber fans, as was their right, were hurling +the most abusive cheers and taunts. Dick, as cheer-master, allowed +this to pass until nearly the end of the intermission. At last +he gave the sudden call through the megaphone: + +"Twenty-three!" + +The number sounded ominous; so did the cheer that was designated +by it. The Gridley H.S. boys on the grand stand responded hardly +more than half-heartedly: + +_"Com-pan-nee served first! +That's our steady rule! +Manners the best are taught +In Gridley school! + +"But he who waits laughs best! +'Tis but a distance short +'Twixt laugh and weep--- +Your joy'll be short!"_ + +"H.S. cheer!" exhorted Prescott, at once. + +It came, with a more thundering volley. Yet Gridley folks stirred +uneasily. + +"That's what comes of putting a freshman, without judgment, on +the calling job," muttered Fred Ripley sarcastically. + +The whistle blew. Cobber got the ball, and kept it moving. Once +there was a brief setback when Gridley got the pigskin and sought +to push it back. After four yards, however, Cobber took it and +moved down the field with it. + +It seemed impossible to offer effective resistance to the heavy +college men now. + +Gridley hearts sank from sheer weight. Gridley had met more +than its match! + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE FAKE KICK, TWO WAYS + + +It was almost a touchdown for Cobber when Ben Badger rallied his +men enough to fight the college men back some twenty-odd yards. +But then the tide turned once more, and Cobber began to fight +its way back to the High School goal line. + +The spectators had given up hope, all save those who sat in the +Cobber seats. + +This was to be the first defeat of the season, and the whipping +was to come from worthy foemen. Yet are home folks ever satisfied +to see their own youngsters beaten? + +Defeat was now conceded, however. Even Coach Morton, though his +face did not betray him, had given up all hope. + +Dick, however, kept calling for the cheers and yells. The student +body did their best, but their spirits were low. + +Once Morton turned and frowned, but Freshman Prescott did not +see him. The coach feared that this jubilant racket would get +on the nerves of the Gridley battlers. + +"How many minutes will it take Cobber to cross our line?" murmured +Dave in Dick's ear. + +"They won't do it before next year," Prescott staunchly retorted. + +Just then Cobber lost fifteen yards on penalty, and Gridley H.S. +had the ball at the moment when it was sadly needed. + +"Band, four bars of 'Hot Time in the Old Town!'" yelled Prescott +through the big megaphone. + +The leader's baton fell like a flash. The band itself sharing +in the excitement fairly ripped the air out in gallop time. + +As Ben Badger heard he straightened up for a moment, shaking his +long locks in the wind. A smile crossed his face. Then he bent +over the ball for the pass. + +"Nine---fourteen, eighteen---seven!" he called. + +Evans darted quickly out on his end. Quarter-back Winters moved +his feet somewhat to left. Trent, left half-back, shot swiftly +away to an altered position. + +Captain Halsey, of the college team, saw instantly that it looked +like a long pass and a sprint around Gridley's left end. A football +general must change front swiftly. At the signal, Cobber disposed +itself to bunch against the High School left. + +The whistle blew. Winters got the ball, and made the movements +for a kick. Cobber men, in the air on the jump, halted somewhat +uncertainly, some of them. + +It was a fake kick, and a royally good one. The ball went to +Stearns instead. Out around the right end dashed the little left, +with Gridley support thumping over the ground to back him up. +But Stearns was the best Gridley runner on the field today. +Moreover, he had not been worked as hard as had Evans. + +A nimble dodge, and Stearns was past the first Cobber interference. + +A howl of delight went up from the home fans. + +Then Cobber's secondary defense made a dash for Stearns. The +latter found himself balked, so headed straight for them. Through +the line he made a dash. It was too much for little Stearns. +Down he went, and a groan of disappointment went up from the +Gridley seats. + +Yet only to one knee went the swift little end. He was up and +off again like a shot. One Cobber man wheeled and would have +grabbed the little right end, but there was where Frank Thompson +played for all there was in him. He pitched forward, falling +headlong, and Smith, of Cobber, fell over him. + +It was a sprint, now! For an instant the field close to Stearns +was clear of opposition. + +Wild cheering broke loose. Dick Prescott fairly danced for joy. + +Ah! Here came some of the belated Cobber men, supporting their +fullback. + +There was a heavy crash. Stearns, caught in the midst of the +mixup, went down, but he covered the pigskin! + +Then the linesman hurried up. The news was so good that it flew +from mouth to mouth along the east side boards: + +"Forty-two yards!" + +Cobber's captain gasped. It had been close playing all afternoon. +He had looked for nothing like this. Clearly, Gridley's fake +kick tactics were all of the real thing. + +For the first time Halsey and his best men felt much of their +confidence ooze. + +Down almost over the line, Gridley soon had the ball, while the +home fans were again standing up and cheering. Then a penalty +set the ball back. But Gridley soon had the ball again. + +In two plays the doughty High School boys carried the pigskin +eight yards. Only nine to go! + +As Badger's signals rang out for the third pass, Badger's men +were seen to spread. Another fake kick? + +Then the ball went backward. Winters, of course, took it. Like +magic, while watchful Cobber stood opened up, the Gridley line +closed in again. Artful Dodger Winters still had the ball. Thompson, +Edgeworth, Badger and Beck butted in solidly behind the lithe +quarter-back. The rest of Gridley followed. + +Cheek of cheek! The out-weighed High School boys were giving +Cobber a dose of Cobber medicine. It was a mass-play---a +battering-ram assault. + +And Gridley got it over! An inch past the line Winters tripped +and went down, covering the ball. + +Touchdown! + +Five to five a tie score! + +"Kick the goal!" came the hoarse appeal from the east side seats. + +"Kick as you never kicked before!" + +Gridley fans could fairly hear themselves shake now. Hats were +off and waving. The High School girls stood up, frantically waving +their crimson and gold banners. + +Cool, steady, like one without nerves, Thompson went back into +the field and poised himself for the kick. + +At the whistle the dull thump of a boot against the pigskin was +heard all over the field. The ball arched and soared. Even before +it came toward earth a wild "hurrah!" went up from the east side. +The ball went straight between the bars! + +Score: "Six to five!" + +Badger and his young reliables were quietly smiling, now. Captain +Halsey began to look glum. + +"Four bars of 'Hot Time' once more!" begged Dick Prescott, in +a voice that sounded as if palsy-touched. + +The band blared out while the teams were changing ends. + +Once more Cobber got the ball on the kick-off. A massed rush +was made for Gridley's goal, but it didn't get far. With eleven +minutes left to play, and a lead on the score, Badger had resolved +on using up all the reserve strength, if need be. Gridley had +not yet called on any substitutes, and several capable young "subs" +waited just outside the lines, frantic for a call. Let Cobber +be rough, if that suited the college men. + +Cobber lost the ball on downs. + +Then Gridley took the pigskin. + +"Play for time," was Badger's signaled order. + +Not much in the delay line is possible under a vigilant referee, +yet all the time that strategy _could_ gain was taken advantage of. + +Thrice the ball was fought over the center of the gridiron. Then +it settled slowly toward the High School goal, making slow, stubbornly +fought advances. + +Three minutes left to play! + +Gridley H.S. got the ball once more, under the distance rule. + +Now Badger called out the same signal that had been used for that +most effective fake kick. + +Captain Halsey smiled as he saw the High School fighters spread out +swiftly, just as they had done before. + +Halsey thought he knew this time! That same old ruse of dashing +around the left end; then a fake kick and a dashing race by Stearns. +Halsey's swiftly telegraphed orders disposed his men to meet +the former dodge more effectively. + +The whistle sounded, and the ball was passed. But what Halsey didn't +know was that, the second time this signal was called it meant the +players were to do exactly what they seemed spreading out for. + +So the ball actually went around the left end this time, Evans +making the best sprint that was left in his stiffening muscles. + +He covered twenty-four yards before he was brought to earth. + +Here was where delay came in. While Cobber was fighting stubbornly +to regain the pigskin, the whistle sounded the end of the second +half. + +Gridley had won from the big enemy! + +Now pandemonium broke loose. Two thousand people leaped up and +down, yelling themselves hoarse. + +So many hats went into the air that it was a miracle if every +man recovered his own headgear. + +The band didn't play; the student body didn't sound a yell. What +would have been the use? There was too much noise. + +Dick made a bound, landing beside the band leader. + +"Hustle your men, please! Get out into the field and lead our +men off." + +It needed quick work, for the players were already leaving the +grounds. The wildest fans were getting over the lines, mingling +with the late players. + +But the band got there on the run. Above all the din Ben Badger +was quick to realize the meaning of the new move. He caught his +men back, forming them just behind the forming band. Off marched +the victorious team to the air of "Hot Time!" That brought down +the cheering harder than ever. + +While it lasted, Dick and Dave, by frantic movements, succeeded +in holding a large proportion of the student body back in their +seats. + +As soon as the band had reached the far end of the field, and +the human racket had died down somewhat, Freshman Prescott succeeded +in making himself heard: + +"Now! Our final yell of victory!" + +This was the High School yell, followed, instantly, by the taunting +query: + +"Is there any game you _do_ play, Cobber?" + +But there came no answer from the depths of the gloomy Cobber +fans. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +DICK'S "FIND" MAKES GRIDLEY SHIVER + + +That closed the football season in a blaze of glory. Gridley +H.S. had closed the year without a defeat. + +The day after Thanksgiving football is deader than marbles. Gridley +H.S. boys and girls settled down to study until the holidays came +on. + +The next thing of note that happened in the student world jarred +the whole town. There might have been a much bigger jar, however. + +Dave Darrin often worked, Saturday nights, in the express office. + +One night in early December he was employed there as usual. At +about nine o'clock Dick Prescott and Tom Reade dropped in. + +"Pretty near through, old fellow?" Dick asked. + +"I will be when the 8:50 gets in and the goods are checked up," +replied Dave. "The train is a few minutes late tonight." + +There being no one else at the office, except the night manager +and two clerks, Dick and Reade felt that they would not be in +the way if they waited for Dave. + +Twenty minutes later the wagon drove up with the packages and +cases that had arrived on the 8:50 train. + +"You two can give a hand, if you like," invited Dave, as the packages +were being passed up to the counter, checked and taken care of. + +Prescott and Reade pitched in, working with a will. + +"Here, don't shoot this box through as fast as you've done the +others," counseled Dick, as he picked up a small box, some eighteen +inches long and about a foot square at the end. "The label says, +'Extra fragile. Value two hundred and fifty dollars.'" + +Dave reached out to receive it, as Dick laid it carefully on the +counter. + +"Packages of that value have to be handled with caution," muttered +Dave. "When a fellow puts on a valuation like that, it means +that he intends to make claim for any damage whatever." + +"Hold on," muttered Dick, eyeing the counter. "There's something +leaking from the box now." + +Dave took his hands away, then bent over to have a look with Dick. + +A very tiny puddle of some very thick, syrupy stuff was slowly +forming on the counter. + +"I wonder if the contents _have_ been damaged?" muttered Dave, +uneasily. Then added, in a whisper: + +"The night manager will blame us, and hold me responsible, if +there _is_ any damage." + +Both boys carefully inspected the tiny puddle for a few moments. + +"Say, don't touch the box again," counseled Prescott, uneasily. +"Do you know what that stuff looks to me like, Dave?" + +"What?" + +"Do you remember the thick stuff that Dr. Thornton showed us in +IV. Chemistry the other day?" + +"Great Scott!" breathed Dave Darrin, anxiously. "You don't mean +nitroglycerine?" + +"But I _do_!" Dick nodded, energetically. + +"Wow! Don't stir from here. I'll call the night manager." + +Night Manager Drowan came over at once, eyeing the box and the +tiny pool of thick stuff. + +"I never saw nitroglycerine but once," remarked Mr. Drowan, +nervously. "I should say this stuff looks just like it. We +won't take any chances, anyway. Dave, you go to the telephone, +and notify the police. Your friends can stand guard over the +box so that no one gets a chance to go near it." + +But, while Dave was at the 'phone, Mr. Drowan hung over the box +as though fascinated. + +"It takes fire to set this stuff off, doesn't it?" he asked. + +"No," Dick replied. "If it's nitroglycerine in that box, +a light, sharp blow might be enough to do the trick. At least, +that was about what Dr. Thornton said." + +Dave came back with word that the police would send some one at +once. + +"They asked me whom the stuff was addressed to," Dave continued, +"and I had to admit that I didn't know." + +"It's addressed to Simon Tripps, to be called for. Identification +by letter herewith," read Dick Prescott, from the label. + +"Yes; I have the letter," nodded Mr. Drowan. "It contains the +signature of the party who's to call for the box. That's all +the identification that's asked." + +At this moment Officer Hemingway, in plain clothes, came in, followed +by a policeman in uniform. + +Hemingway took a look at the stuff slowly oozing out of a corner +of the box. + +"My bet is nitroglycerine---what the bank robbers call 'soup,'" +declared Hemingway, almost in a whisper. "All right; we'll take +it up to the station house. Then we'll send for Dr. Thornton, +who is the best chemist hereabouts. As soon as we get this stuff +to the station house I'll hustle back and hide against the coming +of Mr. Tripps. If he comes before I get back, jump on the fellow +and hold him for me, no matter what kind of a fight he puts up." + +Dave gazed after the retreating figures of the policemen. + +"Bright man, that Hemingway," he remarked. "If Tripps shows up, +we are to jump on him and nail him---no matter if he hauls out +two six-shooter and turns 'em on us" + +"We can grab any one man, and hold him," returned Dick, confidently. +"All we've got to do is to get at him from all sides. See here, +Dave, if a fellow comes in and tells you he's Tripps, you repeat +the name as though you weren't sure. As soon as we hear the name, +Tom and I can jump on him from behind, and you can sail in in +front. Eh, Reade?" + +"It sounds good," nodded Tom. "I'll take a chance on it, Dick, +with you to engineer the job." + +In ten minutes Officer Hemingway was back. He stepped into a +cupboard close to the counter, prepared for the coming of Tripps. + +Half an hour later the police station's officer in charge telephoned +that Dr. Thornton had carefully opened the box, and had declared +that it contained four pounds of nitroglycerine. Nor had Dr. +Thornton taken any chances of mistake. He had taken a minute +quantity of the suspected stuff out in the yard back of the station +house, and had exploded it. + +At a moment when the office was empty of patrons Mr. Drowan stepped +into the cupboard for a moment, as though searching for something. + +"How late do you stay open?" whispered Hemingway. + +"Ten o'clock, usually, on Saturday nights, but we'll keep open +as late as you want, officer." + +"Better keep open until midnight, then." + +So they did, Dick telephoning his parents at the store to explain +that he was at the express office helping Dave. + +Midnight came and went. A few minutes after the new day had begun +Hemingway came out of the cupboard. + +"You may as well close up, Drowan," the plain clothes man decided. +"The fellow who calls himself Tripps isn't going to show up. +If he had been going to claim his box he'd have been here before +this." + +"You think he got scared away?" asked the night manager. + +"The fellow was probably keeping watch on this office. He saw +what happened, and decided not to run his neck into a noose. +You'll never have any word from Tripps." + +"Isn't it just barely possible," hinted one of the clerks, "that +the man wanted the stuff for some legitimate purpose?" + +"A man who knows how to use nitroglycerine," retorted Hemingway, +gruffly, "also knows that it's against the law to ship nitroglycerine +unlabeled. He also knows that it's against the law for an express +company to transport the stuff on a car that is part of a passenger +train. So this fellow who calls himself Tripps is a crook. We +haven't caught him, but we've stopped him from using his 'soup' +the way he had intended to use it." + +"Wonder what he did want to do with it?" mused Dick Prescott. + +"There are any one of twenty ways in which the fellow might have +used the stuff criminally," replied the plain clothes man. "Of +course, for one thing, it could be used to blow open a safe with. +But safecracking, nowadays, is done by ordinary robbers, and +they're able to carry in a pocket or a satchel the small quantity +of 'soup' that it takes to blow the lock of a safe door, or the +door off the safe." + +After thinking a few minutes, Hemingway went to the telephone, +calling up the chief of police at the latter's home. The plain +clothes man stated the case, and suggested that the story be told +to "The Blade" editor for publication in the morning issue. Then, +if anyone in town had any definite suspicion why so much nitroglycerine +should be needed in that little city, he could communicate his +suspicions or his facts to the police. + +"The chief agrees to my plan," nodded Hemingway, leaving the 'phone. +"Me for 'The Blade' office." + +"See here," begged Dick, earnestly, "if there's to be a good newspaper +story in this, please let me turn it over to Len Spencer. He's +one of our best newspaper men. He'll write a corking good story +about this business---and, besides, I'm under some personal obligations +to him." + +"So I've heard," replied the plain clothes man, with a twinkle +in his eyes. Hemingway heard a good deal in his saunterings about +Gridley. He had picked up the yarn about Dick & Co., Len Spencer +and the "dead ones." + +"So that 'The Blade' gets it, I don't care who writes the story," +replied the policeman, good-humoredly. + +Dick swiftly called up "The Morning Blade' office. Spencer was +there, and came to the telephone. + +"How's news tonight?" asked Prescott, after naming himself. + +"Duller than a lecture," rejoined Len. + +"Would you like a hot one for the first page?" pursued Dick. + +"Would I? Would a cat lap milk, or a dog run when he had a can +tied to his tail? But don't string me, Dick. There's an absolute +zero on news tonight." + +"Then you stay right where you are for two or three minutes," +Dick begged his reporter friend. "Officer Hemingway and some +others are coming down to see you. You'll want to save three +or four columns, I guess." + +"Oh, now, see here, Dick-----" came Reporter Spencer's voice, +in expostulation. + +"Straight goods," Dick assured him. "When I say that I mean it. +And, this time, I not only mean it, but _know_ it. Wait! We'll +be right down to your office." + +Nor did it take Len Spencer long to realize that he had in hand +the big news sensation of the hour for the people of Gridley. + +Everyone in Gridley either wondered or shivered the next morning +at breakfast table. + +Four pounds of nitroglycerine are enough to work fearful havoc +and mischief. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +FRED SLIDES INTO THE FREEZE + + +Monday's "Blade" contained additional light on the nitroglycerine +affair---or what passed as "light." + +Len Spencer and the local police had discovered that at least +three of the wealthiest men in town had received, during the last +few weeks, threatening letters from cranks. + +These cranks had all demanded money, under pain of severe harm +if they failed to turn over the money. + +It now developed that the police chief and Officer Hemingway had, +some time before, arrested a nearly harmless lunatic, who, it +was believed had written the letters. The man with the unbalanced +mind did not appear dangerous, yet, in view of his threats, he +had been quietly "railroaded" off to all asylum for the insane. + +Now, the arrival of four pounds of nitroglycerine at the local +express office was believed to show that the lunatic had had comrades, +or else that the crazy man had been used merely as a tool. + +Hemingway hurried off to the asylum, to interview the unfortunate +one. All the plain clothes man succeeded in getting, however, +was a rambling talk that didn't make sense. + +Monday's "Blade" announced that the chief of police had been authorized +to offer a reward of five hundred dollars for information leading +to the arrest and conviction of the party or parties behind the +criminal shipment of the giant explosive to Gridley. + +Everyone believed that the frightened rich men had combined to +offer the reward. Many wondered that the offered reward was not +larger. + +All of the student body at the High School were busy talking about +the affair in the big assembly room before the session opened. + +"I see where my parents have made a great mistake," sighed Frank +Thompson. + +"How?" demanded Ben Badger. + +"Instead of wasting my time at the High School they should have +apprenticed me to a good journeyman detective," grumbled Thomp. + +"Oh, but couldn't I use that five hundred, if only my training +had fitted me for such deeds as running down a nitroglycerine +peddler!" + +"It isn't anything to joke about," shuddered one of the girls. +"It's awful! Would four pounds of the dreadful stuff destroy +the town of Gridley?" + +"No," Badger informed her; "but it would be enough to blow up +several wood-piles and destroy a lot of clean Monday wash." + +"There you go joking again," protested the girl, and turned away. + +"Oh, well," declared Fred Ripley, "we must possess ourselves with +patience. We shall soon know the whole truth." + +"Do you really think so?" asked Purcell. + +"It's one of the surest things conceivable," railed Ripley. "That +bright constellation of freshmen known under the musical title +of Dick & Co. will solve the whole affair wit, in forty-eight +hours. Indeed, I'm not sure but Dick & Co., even at this moment, +carry the secret looked in their breasts." + +Fred glanced quickly around him to see how much of a laugh this +had started. To his chagrin he found his bantering had fallen +flat. + +"Oh, well," gaped Dowdell, gazing out of the window near which +he stood, "I know one important fact about the mystery." + +"What's that?" asked half a dozen quickly. + +"None of the five hundred is destined to come my way. + +"That jest saddens a lot of us with the same conviction," muttered +Ted Butler, shaking his head. + +"But this I _do_ know," continued Dowdell, "if the weather continues +cold there'll be some elegant skating before the week is out." + +Gridley did not slumber over the nitroglycerine mystery. Len +Spencer, though he could gain no actual information, managed to +have something interesting on the subject in each morning's "Blade." +The people of Gridley talked of the mystery everywhere. + +There was one other mild sensation this week that lasted for a +part of a day. Tip Scammon came up for his trial. He pleaded +guilty to the thefts from the High School locker room, and also +guilty to the charge of entering the Prescott rooms in order to +hide his loot in Dick's trunk. By way of leniency toward a first +offender the court let Tip off with a sentence of fourteen months +in the penitentiary. This sentence, by good behavior on the part +of Tip, would shrink to ten months of actual imprisonment. + +In every way the police and the prosecuting attorney tried to +make Tip reveal the name of his confederate. But Tip, for reasons +of his own, maintained absolute, dogged silence on this head, +and went to the penitentiary without having named the person who +met him in the alleyway that evening when Tip himself was caught. + +The promise of skating was made good. Wednesday afternoon it +was discovered that the ice in Gaylor's Cove was in splendid condition, +and strong enough to bear. + +Thursday a series of High School racing contests were planned +for Saturday afternoon. There was so much money left over in +the Athletics Committee's treasury that it was voted to offer +a series of individual trophies for boy and girl skaters in different +events. + +Moreover, in these skating events members of the freshman class +were to be allowed to compete. + +"Now, see here, fellows," urged Dick, when he had gotten his partners +aside, "some of the freshman class ought to be winners of some +of the events. We want to give our class a good name. And, out +of the six of us, there ought to be one winner for something. +I wish you'd all do your best to get in shape. You'll all go +over to the cove with me this afternoon, of course." + +They did. More than a hundred of the student body, most of them +boys, were on the ice that afternoon. + +Some went scurrying by for all they were worth. These were training +for the races. + +Others gathered in the less traveled parts of the cove, which +was a large one, and practiced the "fancy" feats. Tom Reade and +Dan Dalzell put themselves in this class. Dick and his other +partners went in for speed. + +Friday afternoon there was an even larger attendance. + +Gaylor's Cove was about half a mile long, with an average width +of a quarter of a mile. At the middle the cove was open for a +long way upon the river. + +At some points on the river proper the ice was strong enough to +bear. Near Gaylor's Cove, however, the river current was so swift +that the river ice at this point looked thin and treacherous. +No one ventured out on the ice just beyond the cove. + +Friday night many a High School boy and girl studied the sky. +There was no sign of storm, nor did the conditions seem to threaten +a thaw. Saturday morning was cold and clear. The temperature, +at noon, was just above freezing point, though not enough so to +bring about a "thaw" in the ice. + +By one o'clock Saturday afternoon Gaylor's Cove was a scene of +great activity. Two thirds of the High School students were there, +most of them on skates. There were three or four hundred other +youngsters, and more than a hundred grown-ups. + +"All we need is the band," laughed Dick Prescott, as he skated +slowly along with Laura Bentley. + +"The click-clack of the skates is enough for me," Laura replied. + +"You are not down in any of the girls' contests, are you?" he +asked. + +"No; does that disappoint you, Dick?" + +"N-no," he said, slowly. "Still, it's fine to see every event +all but crowded." + +"In how many events are you entered?" asked the girl. + +"Only one, the freshman's mile. That will be swift work, and +there are two turns, the way the course is to be laid out." + +"Why didn't you enter more of the freshman events?" Laura asked. + +"Well, it will take a lot of good wind to keep going at a swift +pace for a mile. I want to save all my strength and wind for +that one event." + +"What is the prize in the freshman's mile?" asked Laura, fumbling +in her muff for the card of the day's events. + +"You noticed that handsome Canadian toboggan, didn't you?" + +"The one with the side hand-rails?" Laura asked, looking up brightly +into his face. "Yes; that ought to have been one of the prizes +in the girls' events." + +"Why?" queried Dick, looking a bit disconcerted. + +"Why, those hand-rails are meant for timid girls to take hold +of. A boy would never want a toboggan with hand-rails." + +"Perhaps the fellow who's going to win the freshman's mile expects +to invite some of the young ladies to go out tobogganing with +him," hinted young Prescott. + +"Is it _fixed_ who shall win that race?" demanded Laura, teasingly. + +"Hardly that," Dick rejoined, dryly. + +"Then how do you know the coming owner's intentions, if you don't +know who is going to win the race?" Miss Bentley insisted. + +"Well, you see, it's this way?" Dick admitted, "I've made up my +mind to win that race." + +"So you regard the race as being as good as won by yourself?" +smiled the physician's daughter. + +"It's one of the rules of Dick & Co.," Prescott answered, as they +turned and skated slowly back toward the center of the cove, "when +we go into anything we consider it as good as won from the outset." + +"Well, I like that spirit," Laura admitted. "Faint heart never +yet won anything but a spill." + +Laura had her card out by this time, and was studying it +leisurely, trusting to her companion to guide her. + +"I see Fred Ripley is entered for the grand event in fancy skating," +she observed. + +"Yes; are you interested in him?" + +Something in the directness of the question caused the girl to +bite her lips. + +"Now, that's hardly fair, Dick," she cried, flushing with vexation. +"No; the fact is, I'm hoping he'll lose." + +"Why?" + +"Because, Fred has never been very nice to you, Dick." + +That was direct enough, and Dick flushed with pleasure. + +"Thank you, Laura; that's more handsome than what I said to you." + +"I accept your apology," she laughed. "Look! There goes Fred +Ripley now! How foolish of him." + +Fred was heading straight out of the cove toward the river. He +was a fine skater, and now he was showing off at his best. He +had adapted a "turn promenade" step from roller skating, and +was whirling along, turning and half dancing as he sped along. +It was a graceful, rhythmical performance. Despite the fact +that young Ripley was not widely liked, his present work drew +considerable applause from the spectators. + +That applause acted like incense under the young man's nostrils. +He determined to go farther out, maintaining his present step +unbroken. + +"Look out, Ripley!" warned Thomp. "The ice won't bear out there." + +Fred didn't reply by as much as a look. He kept on out toward +the thin ice. + +Cra-a-ack! Splash! The thin ice had broken. Ripley, moving +backwards, did not realize his fix until his feet; shot into the +water. Down he came on his back, breaking more of the ice. + +A yell, and he was gone below the surface. + +And now everybody seemed shouting at once. A hundred people ran +to and fro, shouting out what ought to be done. + +"Get a rope! Run for a doctor! Bring fence rails! Telephone +for the police!" + +That's the usual way with a crowd, to think up things that others +ought to do. + +Dick Prescott espied Dave Darrin ahead. Dropping Laura's arm +without a word, Dick skated swiftly up to Dave, called Darrin, +then lightning. As he worked young Prescott shot out a few hurried +orders. + +Then another great cry went up. Dick Prescott was sprinting fast +toward the thin ice. Close to where Fred Ripley had gone down +there was another great rent in the ice. + +Dick Prescott was "in the freeze," in quest of his enemy! + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +DICK & CO. SHOW SOME TEAM WORK + + +So suddenly and heavily did he break through the thin ice that +Dick went underneath the surface. + +"Help!" roared Fred, in a frenzy, as he came to the surface. + +The skates on his feet clogged all his movements, and acted like +lead. + +"There's Ripley, but where's Prescott?" shouted several. + +"A-a-ah!" + +That last cry went up as a sound of relief, when Prescott's +brown-haired pate, hatless, bobbed up close to where he had gone down. + +"Good boy, Prescott!" + +"Go in and get Ripley." + +"Save yourself, anyway! Don't be over-foolish!" + +A dozen more cries went up from cove and shore. + +Yet it is doubtful if Prescott heard any of them. + +In the first instant that his eyes came above the level of the +water, Dick took in the details of Ripley's whereabouts. + +Dick had to calculate at lightning speed. + +"O Prescott," gasped Fred, when he saw his would-be rescuer, "can't +you break the ice between us? I can't keep up much longer." + +"Get hold of the edge of the ice, Ripley," called Dick. "Just +rest lightly on it. Don't try to make it bear your weight---it +won't! It'll help hold you up, though, if you keep cool." + +"Cool?" groaned Fred. "I'm freezing. In pity's name get to me +quickly." + +Fred was so wholly self-centered that it didn't occur to him that +the freshman must be just as chilled as he himself was. + +Dick's legs ached with the cold chill of the icy water. He was +free of the weight of skates, however, and he trod water during +the few seconds that he needed for making up his mind what it +was best to do. + +Much depended upon the help that those on shore gave, but Dick +had left his orders with Dave Darrin, and he trusted the shore +end to his capable lieutenant. + +Fred, though hardly more than able to keep himself afloat, managed +to reach the nearest edge of ice. + +He clutched at it eagerly, then, disregarding excellent advice, +he tried to climb out upon it. + +There was another crash. With another yell, Ripley sank again, +to the horror of those on shore. + +But Prescott did not see this. The freshman, after trying to +calculate the exact distance across the intervening ice, dived +below the glassy surface. He was swimming, now, under the ice. +As he swam the freshman kept his eyes open, swimming close +to the ice, yet not touching it. + +So he came up, in the open. But where was Fred? + +"Ripley just sank!" came the hoarse chorus from shore and cove. + +This was serious enough. He who sinks for the second time in +icy waters, especially when hampered by skates, may very likely +not come up again. + +"It must have been about here that he went down," calculated Prescott, +deliberately, as he swam through the open water. "Now, then!" + +Down went Dick. To those looking on, it was heroic---sublime? +Yet it looked as though the rescuer must be dooming himself. + +"One Prescott is worth a dozen Ripleys" murmured one man who, +unable to swim, was obliged to stand looking uselessly on. + +There were still many who were shouting confusing advice as to +what others ought to do. A few were even running about trying +to do something. + +Dave Darrin was actually "on the job." + +He had pressed Dick's other partners into service and as many +of the High School boys as possible. They got off their skates +in a rush. + +"Tom," shouted Dave, "you and Greg get some of the fellows and +rush down as many ties as you can from that pile by the railroad +tracks. Dalzell, you and Harry get down at the edge of send him +your way. Make a raft by laying four ties side by side, and lash +the ends. Do it as quick as a flash. I'll be there by that time." + +Tom and Greg quickly had a dozen men running for railroad ties, +a pile of which stood less than an eighth of a mile away. + +By the time that the man with ropes arrived, and two more behind +him, bringing more, there were a dozen railroad ties on the ice +by the outer edge of the cove. Harry Hazelton and Dan snatched +short lengths of rope and knotted them around either end of the +raft. + +"Some of you men make another raft, just like that one!" shouted +Dave, who, at the time, was busily engaged in making a noose at +one end of a long coil of half-inch rope. + +"Here, you two men get hold of the other end of this," ordered +Dave, running up with the coil of rope. + +Then, hardly waiting to make sure that they had the rope, Dave +turned to Harry and Dan, calling to them to help him push the +raft out beyond the cove. A dozen men and boys tried to help, +all at once, but Dave and Harry saw to it that no speed was lost +by blundering. + +The raft was not difficult to push out over the ice. + +"Now, let me have it alone," shouted Dave. "The ice may break +at any point beyond." + +So Dave tugged and pushed, guiding the small raft before him. + +Cra-ack! Dave and the raft went through the ice, but Darrin quickly +climbed up astride of the ties. + +Out beyond, Dick was holding up Fred Ripley, whom he had found +and brought to the surface. Fred's eyes were nearly closed. +After his second drop below, the Ripley lad was nearly spent. + +Glancing back, Dave saw that another raft was being pushed out +by the two men who held the rope that was noosed under his shoulders. + +"Now, halt where you are!" Dave Darrin shouted back. "Toss me +a long rope that I can throw out to Prescott!" + +The rope came swirling. Dave caught it easily enough. Then, +still sitting on the raft, his legs, of course, in the water, +Darrin recoiled the rope. + +"Can you spare a hand to catch, Dick?" shouted Dave. + +"Surely!" came back the steady answer. + +The coil flew out across the thin ice. One end splashed in the +water. Guiding the all but helpless Fred, Dick swam to the rope's +end. + +Further back the two men who held to the rope connecting with +Dave had seated themselves across the second raft. If the ice +broke at _that_ point they would have little difficulty in making +themselves safe. + +"Ripley, stir yourself!" ordered Dick. "Can you take hold of +this rope, and keep hold of it" Can you climb across the thin +ice, holding onto the rope and being towed if the ice breaks?" + +"I---I---I'm afraid," chattered Ripley. "You come with me!" + +"It'll be a good deal easier if you can go first, and alone," +spoke the freshman, rather sternly. "I think I can keep myself +afloat until you get over to solid ice. Then the rope can be +thrown back to me." + +"I'm afraid, I tell you," insisted Fred, his teeth clicking against +each other. "Can't you see that I'm all in?" + +"You'll have us both all in, if you don't get some courage together," +young Prescott insisted. "Come, be a man, Ripley!" + +"I'm freezing to death here," moaned Ripley, closing his eyes. + +Somehow---he could never tell just how, afterwards, Dick managed +to slip the rope under Fred's shoulders. With infinite effort---for +he had to keep them both afloat, the freshman double-knotted the +rope. + +"Come, now, you've got to help yourself across the ice, while +Dave hauls on the line," urged Dick. + +Fred made a motion as though to bestir himself but he did it so +feebly that Prescott gave him a sharp pinch. + +"Ouch!" flared Fred, now seeming to be wide awake. "Prescott, +you have the upper hand here. Don't be a bully!" + +"I don't want to," spoke Dick, quietly, trying to keep his own +teeth from rattling. "But you've got to stir yourself, or else +I must do it for you. Now, get started over the thin ice. +Dave will haul. Never mind if the ice breaks under you; the rope +is tied around you. You're sure to be hauled to safety if you +help yourself. Now, then, Dave! Begin to haul in!" + +It needed another pinch to make Fred Ripley bestir himself properly. +He half whimpered in protest, but Prescott was past minding _that_. + +Hardly had Ripley gotten his full weight upon the ice than it +broke under him. He splashed into the water with a great howl, +but alert Dave Darrin hauled in just enough of the rope. Ripley +was safe, and could make the next attempt to get out on the ice. + +Meanwhile, Prescott swam to another part of the ice edge. He +rested his hands on that edge, not heavily, but just enough for +some support. At the same time he kept his tired, aching, almost +frozen legs in motion just to keep himself from growing any more +numb. + +Four times Fred Ripley broke through the thin ice, but each time +Dave Darrin, astride the first raft, pulled in on the rope just +in time. + +After getting himself out of the water for the fifth time, Ripley +crawled over stronger ice, and went on past the hole in which +Dave sat on the raft. + +Then Ripley was able to get to his feet, tottering toward the +shore, shaking as though with fever and chills. + +A cheer went up from those who watched. The enthusiasm would +have been vastly greater had not the crowd had its eyes on Dick +Prescott, who must yet be saved if aid could reach him before +his numbed limbs could sustain him no longer. + +"Get that rope off, Ripley," bawled Dave Darrin. "Hurry! I must +throw it to Dick, or he'll go down!" + +"I can't get it off," mumbled Fred, tugging vainly, almost aimlessly, +as he still moved coveward. + +As he was on staunch ice, now, three or four men ran toward him. + One, with a sharp knife, waved the others away and quickly slashed +the noose away from Fred's shoulders. + +"Go on, you pup!" grumbled the man with the knife. "Now, we'll +try to get help to the _man_!" + +Fred was not too far spent to flash angrily at that taunt. + +"You'd better be careful whom you speak to like that!" snarled +Ripley. "You're a low-bred fellow, anyway!" + +But the man who had slashed the rope free didn't even hear. He +had turned toward Darrin, to make sure that Dave could draw the +rope toward him fast enough. + +"One of you people get Ripley's skates off for him, and help him +ashore," called Tom Reade. + +"Why don't _you_?" some one in the crowd answered. + +"Because my job," retorted Reade, "is keeping my eyes on my chum, +ready to help if anything comes up that I can do." + +Four or five hurried to Fred's aid. He had been walking on his +skates, which, at best, is an awkward style of locomotion. Two +men held him up, while two of the H.S. boys quickly took off his +skates. After that Fred, leaning on one of the H.S. boys, made +much quicker time to the shore. + +Here a man with a sleigh waited. + +"Pile him in here," directed the driver. "Dr. Gilbert has gone +up to the Avery House and is getting things ready. I'll have +Ripley back in a jiffy." + +"Oh, that's all right," sang out a boy in the freshman class. +"But the main thing is to hustle back and be ready to take Dick +Prescott." + +"And I'll pray all through the round trip that you may get Prescott +back to shore alive," fervently replied the driver, as he brought +the whip down across the horse's back. + +Dave Darrin, too, was chilled. That was why, when he had drawn +all the rope in and had coiled it, he made a throw that fell short. + +"Courage, Dick, old fellow," he shouted. "I'll get it to you, +in a jiffy." + +Nervously, quickly, Dave hauled in the rope. He coiled rapidly, +yet with care. + +"Now, may Heaven give me the strength to throw this coil far enough +to do the trick!" prayed Dave Darrin, as he made the second cast. + +There was frenzy behind that throw. Hurrah! There was four feet +of rope to spare as it splashed into the open part where Dick +still hung, though he was fast weakening. + +"There's a noose on the end---I fixed it, Dick! Get it over your +head and under your shoulders!" bawled Dave Darrin. + +It was only the coolness of a last desperate hope that enabled +the freshman to adjust the noose sufficiently. + +"All r-r-r-i-ight!" he called, unable to make any further effort +to stop the rattling of his teeth. + +"Come on, then!" cheered Dave. + +It was team play between two freshmen, but it was worked out. +Dick, after a while, reached solid ice. Tom Reade and Dan Dalzell +risked themselves a good deal in going far out to meet him. But +they got their leader and rushed him toward the cove. + +Soon a dozen H.S. boys were running around Dick. Some of them +had him upon their shoulders; others were trying to help. + +As they rushed him across the cove to the sleigh that had just +arrived, the cheering was deafening. + +Others in the crowd had already run up along the road, which was +lined as Dick and Darrin were driven along as fast as the horse +could go. Tom Reade stood on the runners behind. As soon as +the door of the hotel was reached, Reade aided the driver in rushing +the boys inside. + +Even here the cheering followed them in volleys. + +"Come on---into a cold room with you, at first," ordered Dr. Gilbert, +appearing, while a dozen H.S. boys came in his wake. "You don't +want to get near a fire yet. Strip them, both, lads, and rub +them down for all you're worth. Don't mind peeling a little skin +off!" + +Dick and Dave were rushed into a room. With so many hands to +help, they were soon stripped. Then rough Turkish towels were +plied upon them until even their skins began to show the red of +blood and life. + +"Now, wrap blankets about them, and bring them into a warm room," +ordered the doctor. + +As they entered the other room they espied Fred Ripley, already +seated in an arm-chair by the stove, a bowl of something hot in +one hand. + +The driver of the sleigh now came in. + +"You lads will want something warm and dry to put on," he declared. +"Give me your orders. The distance isn't far. I'll drive to +your homes and get the clothes and things that you want." + +"No, thank you," returned Ripley, stiffly. "I've already had +a telephone message sent, and my father's auto will bring out +what I need." + +"But you youngsters will want something?" asked the driver, turning +to the plucky freshmen. + +Dick and Dave stated their requests, Prescott adding: + +"But please be sure to make our parents understand that we're +safe. We don't want them seared to death." + +Fred Ripley took a long swallow of the steaming stuff in his +bowl. As he did so he took a furtive glance in the direction +of the freshmen. + +Was he going to attempt to thank them for having risked their +own lives to help him back to safety? + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +OUT FOR THAT TOBOGGAN! + + +Ben Badger came to the shore edge of the ice, megaphone in hand +announcing in stentorian tones: + +"Our friends are safe---even jolly. The sports will now go on!" + +First on the card was a free-for-all dash of a half mile, standing +start. The trophy was a regulation target revolver. + +Badger, of the first class, and Purcell, of the sophomore, held +the lead and all but tied each other at the outset. Third in +order came Stearns, the agile little right end of the eleven. +When half the distance had been traveled it was noticed that +Stearns was creeping up on the leaders. + +"Look out, Ben, or the little fellow will get you!" roared friends. + +Stearns continued to gain, slowly. Purcell dropped back to third +place. None of the other eight in the race seemed likely to do +anything effective. + +"A little more steam, Ben!" + +"Stearns, you can get it!" + +In the last eighth of the distance Stearns made good. Summoning +all his football wind and speed the little right end closed and +shot ahead. Not once in the remainder of the course did Ben Badger +quite catch up with his smaller opponent. Stearns won by some +fifteen yards. + +The racers came slowly back, breathing harder than usual. As +soon as jovial Ben felt equal to the task of further announcing, +he picked up the megaphone, shouting: + +"As I didn't win, all the further events are postponed!" + +There was stupefied silence for a few moments. Grown people and +the students looked from one to another. Then a guffaw started +that swelled to a chorus of laughter. + +"The next event on the card," called Ben, satisfied with the effect +of his joke, "is the free-for-all fancy skating event. The contestants +will come before the judges one at a time. Each entrant is limited +to two minutes, actual time." + +There should have been some girls entered in this event, but there +were none. Six H.S. boys from the different classes came forward. + +"Fred Ripley loses his chance," muttered some one. + +"He _had_ his chance. A fellow who prefers to skate into the +freeze is counted out," replied Thomp. + +Just as the contestants were moving out Greg Holmes came hurrying +down to the ice. + +"Am I too late?" he called. + +"Not if you think you've got anything good," replied Badger. + +Greg promptly proceeded to put on his skates, covertly watching +the performance of the first fellow to show off. It was good +work that Greg watched, but he thought he could beat it. + +"You'll have to go last on the list," nodded Ben, as Greg came +skating up. + +Greg merely nodded, though inwardly he grinned. "That just suits +me," he told himself. "The fellow who skates last will be freshest +in the minds of the judges." + +When it came Greg's turn he avoided most of the fancy figures +that the other fellows had shown off amid much applause. Still, +Greg showed a bewildering assortment of "eights," "double-eights" +and some magnificent work along the "turn promenade" order that +Ripley had been doing before the accident. + +Then Greg came in, promenading backward on his skates. + +"I'm going to fall," he called to the judges, "but it will be +intentional." + +"Fall it is, then," nodded Sam Edgeworth, one of the judges. + +Greg was moving jauntily along, still doing the backward promenade. +Suddenly one of his skates appeared to catch against the other. +Down went Greg, backwards. Despite his announcement the moment +before, a sympathetic murmur went up from many of the onlookers. + +But Greg, sitting down suddenly as he did, pivoted around like +a streak. Throwing his hands back of his head, he sprang to his +feet. At the first he was doing the forward promenade. The whole +manoeuvre, including the fall, had occupied barely four seconds. +Now, wheeling into the back promenade Greg glided before the +judges. + +"Time," called the holder of the watch. + +"I'm willing," nodded Greg. "And I'm willing any contestant who +wants should try my stunt before the verdict is given." + +The conference between the judges did not last long and Greg got +the decision. + +"The freshman mile will come along later," announced Ben, through +the megaphone. "The committee want to put in a freak race first." + +The "freak" was a quarter mile, nearly go-as-you-please. In this +race each contestant had on his left skate, but no skate on the +right foot. The contestant who reached the finish line first +won---"even if he slides on his back," Ben announced, sagely. + +Tom Reade hurried onto the ice as one of the entrants in this +race. He had practiced it well, and won it easily, securing a +silver medal. Greg's prize had been a gold medal, but over this +fact Tom allowed himself to feel no envy or disappointment. + +Several other events came along in quick succession. Everyone +seemed to forget that the freshman mile had not yet been skated. + +It was called last on the list. Just as the skaters were moving +forward some one detected a figure hurrying down the slope over +the snow. + +"Here comes Dick Prescott!" + +"Is he going into the race after all?" + +A lively burst of cheers greeted the freshman as he reached the +edge of the ice. + +Dick looked as cheery and as rosy as ever. No onlooker could +see that Prescott's late adventure had injured him in the least. + +"Going to race, Dick?" called some one. + +"Surest thing," laughed the freshman, "if I can find my skates. +If not, I'm going to try to borrow a pair of the right size." + +"Here are your skates," called Laura Bentley, gliding forward +over the ice. "I picked them up for you, and I've been holding +'em ever since. + +"That's what I call mighty good of you," glowed Dick. "Thank you +a thousand times." + +Dick sat down on a wooden box. He could have had the services +of half a dozen seniors to fasten on his skates, but he preferred +to do it for himself. + +Clamps adjusted, and skates tested, Dick struck off leisurely, +going up before the starter and judges. These were grouped near +the starting line. + +"Standing start," announced Ben. "Each man exactly to the line. +Pistol signal. False starts barred, and the usual penalties +for fouling. Get on line, all!" + +Then the starter moved forward, pistol in hand. + +"On your marks!" + +"Get set!" + +Bang! + +Dick, at the left end of the line, crouched forward somewhat. +Nearly the whole of his right runner rested on the ice. His +left foot was well forward, the toe of the skate dug well into +the ice. His right arm pointed ahead, his left behind. + +Crack! At the sound of the shot Dick let his right foot spring +into the air. As it came down, ahead, he gave a vigorous thrust +with his left. The style of start was his own, but it worked +to a charm. A hearty cheer went up when the spectators saw that +Dick was leading by five yards. + +At the first turn, however, Prescott's adherents---and they were +many this afternoon---felt a thrill of disappointment. Walter +Hewlett, whose skating had been strong and steady so far, passed +Dick at the turn. + +"Hardly fair, after all," murmured several. "_Of course_, after +what he's been through, no matter how much nerve Prescott may +have, he can't be anything like up to his usual form." + +Had Dick heard them he would have smiled. He knew that the skating +was warming him up and taking away whatever of the chill had been +left. + +As they neared the second turn the distance between Dick and Hewlett +was about fifteen yards. The other freshmen were far enough +behind both not to appear to count. + +Now Prescott turned on steam. He reached the second turn only +eight yards behind Hewlett, and that latter freshman made the +poorer turn. + +Down the home stretch now! Dick began to work deep breathing +for all he was worth. Instead of taking slow, deep breaths, he +breathed rapidly, pumping his lungs full of air. + +That _rapid_ deep breathing started his heart to working faster, +sent the blood bounding through his arteries. + +It would have been exhausting if carried out too long. But now, +on what was left of the home stretch, it acted almost like pumping +oxygen into his lungs. + +Swiftly the distance melted. + +"Hurrah!" rang the yell. "There goes Prescott ahead!" + +Not only ahead, but gaining in the lead. Five yards to the good, +then ten, twelve, fifteen. Dick Prescott shot over the finish +line a good eighteen yards ahead. Then the victor came to a stop, +panting but happy. + +Five minutes later, when all the congratulations were over, he +skated up beside Laura Bentley. + +"You saved my skates for me, Laura, and brought me luck all through. +I want _you_ to have the first ride on that toboggan." + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +THANKS SERVED WITH HATE + + +It didn't take long for the Gridley boys who were most interested +in athletics to figure up that three out of the eight prizes offered +had gone to the freshman class. + +More than that, the three freshmen winners were all members of +the firm of Dick & Co., Limited. + +"Saturday's work, and some other things, show us that Dick & Co. +are going to be heard from a whole lot in the athletics of future +years at this school," Ben told Dick at recess Monday morning. +"Whew! But I'm sorry I'm not going to be here to watch the progress +of you freshmen!" + +Monday afternoon, while he was eating the midday meal, just after +school had been dismissed, Dick received, by messenger, a note +from Lawyer Ripley, asking the young freshman to call at his office +at three o'clock. + +Though actually retired, the wealthy lawyer maintained an office +in one of the big buildings on Main Street. To this office Mr. +Ripley went once in a while, to transact business. + +"As I haven't a dollar in the world," smiled young Prescott, "it +is hardly likely that he has been engaged to bring a suit against +me. Oh, hang it, I know! He means to thank me for hauling Fred +out of the water. What an infernal nuisance!" + +For a few minutes Dick was inclined to disregard the invitation. +He spoke to his mother about it. + +"Have you any good reason for not going?" asked Mrs. Prescott. + +"No, mother; except that I don't like the Ripley crowd particularly. +Then, besides, I have no use for being thanked. I'd have done +as much for a tramp that I had never seen before." + +"I am afraid you have reasons for disliking Fred Ripley," admitted +Mrs. Prescott. "But has the elder Mr. Ripley ever given you any +cause for disliking him?" + +"No; of course not." + +"Then wouldn't it be the part of courtesy for you to go, since +he requests it?" + +"But, if he wants to thank me, why shouldn't he come here?" + +"My boy, it is one of the privileges of older persons to expect +younger ones to come to them." + +"I guess that's right," nodded Dick. "Oh, well, I'll go. But, +if Mr. Ripley has anything to pass in the way of thanks, I hope +he'll cut it short." + +So, at three o'clock, Dick climbed the stairs and knocked at the +office door. + +The lawyer himself opened. + +"Oh, how do you do, Prescott?" demanded Lawyer Ripley, holding +out his hand. "I'm most heartily glad to see you. You didn't +see anything of my indolent son on the street, did you?" + +"No, sir," the freshman answered, adding, to himself: + +"I should hope not!" + +"Come into my private office won't you, Prescott?" asked the lawyer, +leading the way through his outer office. + +The elder Ripley placed a comfortable arm-chair for his freshman +caller, asking him to be seated. + +Though Lawyer Ripley was, ordinarily, a rather pompous and purseproud +sort of man, it was plain that he realized a debt of gratitude, +and meant to pay it as graciously as he knew how to do. + +"You have performed a most valuable service for me, Prescott," +began the lawyer again, in a heavy, solemn voice. + +"You are quite welcome to the service, Mr. Ripley, and I hope +you won't think any more about it," Dick replied. + +"But it is impossible that I forget it," replied the lawyer, raising +his eyebrows in some astonishment. "You saved the life of my +son, my only child." + +"At not very much risk to myself, sir," smiled the freshman. +"I was able, soon after, to go in and win a skating race." + +"At not much risk?" repeated the lawyer. "Why, your life was +in very considerable danger. Do you call that little?" + +"Almost any of the High School fellows would have done it, Mr. +Ripley." + +"But none of them did." + +"Because I happened to be right at hand, and jumped in first---that +was all," Dick insisted. + +"Young man, I am not going to allow you to make little of the +great service that you did me. I---ah, here comes the young man +we've been discussing." The lawyer changed the subject as Fred +entered. "Frederick, you are late, and, on an occasion of this +kind, I could hope that you would be more prompt." + +"My watch was slow," replied Fred Ripley, using one hand to cover +a slight yawn. + +"Don't you see who is here?" demanded his father. + +"Yes, sir." + +"Is that all you have to say?" + +"How do you do?" nodded Dick, for Lawyer Ripley was looking curiously +from one boy to the other. + +"Don't you---er---consider, Frederick, that it would be an excellent +idea if you were to offer your hand to Mr. Prescott?" demanded +the lawyer. + +The ordeal was as distasteful to Dick as it could possibly have +been to the Ripley heir. Yet Dick got quickly up out of his chair, +accepting the slowly proffered hand of the sophomore. + +"That's better," smiled the lawyer. "Now, I'll leave you two +together for the moment." + +The lawyer closed the door behind him as he stepped into the outer +office. + +Fred Ripley glanced covertly at Dick, who had remained standing. +Even as big a sneak as young Ripley had shown himself at times +to be, he knew perfectly well that he owed it, even to himself, +to try to be gracious with the lad who had saved his life. + +But Dick said nothing, nor did he glance particularly at the sophomore. +That made it all the harder for Fred to find something to say. +The clock in the room ticked. Dick, to relieve the awkwardness +of the situation, strolled over to a window and stood looking out. + +That, therefore, was the situation when Lawyer Ripley came back +into the room. + +"What a jovial, friendly pair!" railed the lawyer, who held a +slip of paper in his hand, as he advanced toward the freshman. + +"Prescott," declared the lawyer, "I can't tell you what is in +my heart. I can't even pay you adequately for what you have +done for me and for my boy. But I ask you to accept this as a +slight indication, only, of what I feel." + +Dick took the paper, glancing at it curiously. It was the lawyer's +check for two hundred and fifty dollars. + +"Accept it," begged the lawyer, in a rather pompous voice. "Do +whatever you please with it." + +Dick colored. "Whatever I please with it?" he asked, a bit unsteadily. + +"Yes; certainly, of course," murmured the lawyer. "I have no +doubt whatever that a live? healthy boy can find something to +do with a check like that." + +Flushing still more deeply, while Fred Ripley looked on, at first +enviously, Dick Prescott tore the check into several pieces. +The lawyer stared at him in amazement. + +"I appreciate your intention, Mr. Ripley," Dick went on, his voice +a bit husky, "and I thank you, sir. But I can't take any money." + +"Can't take it?" repeated the astonished lawyer, while Fred Ripley +fairly gasped. + +"I can't accept money, sir, for an act of humanity." + +"Oh! But I think I can convince you, my boy, that you _can_." + +"I'm equally sure that you can't Mr. Ripley," persisted the freshman, +smiling. "But again I thank you for the intention." + +Lawyer Ripley was a good deal of a judge of human character. +He began to feel sure that the freshman was speaking the truth. + +Just at that moment some one entered the outer office. Mr. Ripley +glanced out, then said: + +"I shall have to ask you to excuse me for a few moments. Fred, +of course you have just thanked Mr. Prescott again for his +heroic act?" + +"N-n-no, sir," stammered Fred. + +"When I return I don't want to have to hear another answer like +that," warned the lawyer, sternly. Then he closed the door behind +him. + +Dick turned, with a dry smile. + +"Since you're under orders to thank me, Fred, get it over with +quickly," laughed the freshman. "I'll help you all I can." + +Young Ripley's better nature really was stirred for a moment. + +"Of course I thank you, Prescott," he stammered. "It was a splendid +thing for you to do. I---I don't know as I had any right to expect +it, either, for I've been pretty mean to you." + +"I know," replied Dick, with the same dry smile. "You put Tip +Scammon up to the High School locker thefts, to get me in disgrace, +and unlucky Tip had to go to jail for it." + +Fred Ripley glared at the freshman with terror-stricken eyes. + +Then, without warning, Fred made a leap for ward, to clutch Dick +by the throat. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +THE ONLY FRESHMEN AT THE SENIOR BALL + + +Side-stepping, the freshman put up one arm to ward off further +attack. + +"Come, don't start a fight here, Fred," Dick cautioned the other, +in a low tone. "For one thing, you couldn't win anyway. Besides, +your father would hear the racket and come in." + +"How do you know I put Tip up to that job?" demanded young Ripley, +his face as white as chalk. "Did Tip tell you all about it?" + +"Not a word." + +"Then you don't know," cried Fred, in sudden triumph. + +"If I didn't," grinned Dick, "you've just confessed it." + +"You tricked me---I mean it's a lie." + +"No; it isn't, either," asserted Dick, coolly. "Though the second +chap, in that mix-up in Stetson's alley one night, got away before +I had time to recognize his face in the black darkness there, +yet as I fell and grabbed for the chap's ankle, I noticed his +trousers with the lavender stripe. I had seen those trousers +on you before, Fred, and you're wearing them again at this minute." + +Fred glanced downward, starting. + +"You see," insisted the freshman, "there's no sense in denying +that you put Tip up to the game that got him into the penitentiary." + +"How many have you told this to?" demanded Fred, fright showing +in his face. + +"My chums suspect," Dick answered, frankly. "I'm pretty sure +I haven't told anyone else." + +"Good thing you haven't, then," retorted Fred, recovering some +of his usual impudence. "My father is a lawyer, and he'd know +how to make you smart if you started libelous yarns about me." + +"Your father being a lawyer, I think he would also be likely to +show an investigating turn of mind. You can put it up to your +father if you want to, Fred." + +Young Ripley winced. Prescott laughed lightly. + +"Now, see here, Fred, I don't want to live on bad terms with anyone. +You've got good points, I'm sure you have." + +"Oh, thank you," rejoined the sophomore, with exaggerated sarcasm. + +"And I'll be glad to begin being on good terms with you at any +time, if you should ever really want such a thing," continued +the freshman. "If you were a thoroughly good fellow, wholly on +the level, like Badger, Thomp, Purcell, or any one of scores of +fellows that we know, then I'd hate to know that you didn't like +me. But, as to the kind of fellow you've sometimes shown yourself +to be, Fred, I've been really glad that I wasn't your sort and +didn't appeal to you." + +At this style of talk the sophomore seemed all but crushed with +mortification. + +"Come, Fred," pursued Dick, not waiting for the other to answer, +"be a different sort of chap. Make up your mind to go through +the High School, and through life afterwards, dealing with everybody +on the square. Be pleasant and honest---be a high-class +fellow---and everyone will like you and seek your friendship. +That's all I've got to say." + +"It's quite enough to say," retorted Ripley, but he spoke in a +low voice that had in it no trace of combative energy. + +"Well, boys, how are matters going?" asked Lawyer Ripley, reentering. +"Fred, have you remedied your boorishness by thanking Prescott?" + +"Oh, yes, he has thanked me," Dick replied, cheerily. "And we've +been chatting about---some other matters. And now, Mr. Ripley, +if you will excuse me, I feel that I must run along." + +I have other things that I really must attend to." + +"Won't you be more sensible, and let me make you a duplicate to +the check you tore up?" asked the lawyer. + +"Thank you, sir; but I don't want to; couldn't, in fact. My father +and mother would be ashamed of me if I took home a check for such +a service. Good afternoon, Mr. Ripley. So long, Fred." + +Dick went out of the lawyer's offices almost breezily. Fred even +found the nerve to respond to Dick's parting salutation with something +very close to an air of cordiality. + +The instant he reached the street Dick took in several deep breaths. + +"Whew! It seems mighty good to be in the fresh air once more, +after being in the same room with Fred Ripley," muttered the freshman. + +"Hello, Dickens, kid," called a voice from behind, and an +arm rested on his shoulder. + +"Hello, Ben," replied Prescott, looking around. + +"I just wanted to say that the senior ball comes off Saturday +night of this week. You're going to get one of the few freshman +tickets. The ticket allows you to invite one of the girls. Now, +remember, freshie, we depend upon you to be there." + +Dick started to object. Well enough he knew that there would +be few freshmen at the senior dance, which was the most exclusive +affair in the High School year. + +"You can't kick," rattled on Badger. "You'll get thrashed, if +you do. Didn't I tell you that there'll be very few freshman +tickets sent out? Only six, in fact. Dick & Co. are going to +hog all the freshman tickets. That's largely on account of what +you youngsters have done for football and athletics in general. + Lad, this is the last year that the seniors will have a chance +to see anything of Dick & Co. So you simply can't stay away from +the senior ball. Not a single member of Dick & Co. can be excused +from attending." + +"We'll see about it," replied Dick. + +"No, you won't! It has all been seen to. The six of you are +going to be on hand---with six stunning girls, too!" + +"I thank you, anyway; I thank you all heartily for this very unusual +honor," Dick protested. + +"That's all right, then; it's settled," proclaimed Ben Badger, +with an air of finality. "The dance begins at nine. It's all +stated on the ticket." + +By the next day it _was_ settled that Dick & Co. were going to +attend. Besides the senior class, a good many of the juniors +were also invited. There was to be a fair sprinkling of sophomores, +but of the freshmen Dick & Co. were the only ones invited. + +Up to the middle of the week Fred Ripley felt rather certain that +he was to be invited. Then, feeling less certain, he went to +Thomp and Badger. + +"Say, fellows," began Fred, with a confident air, "I just want +to mention the fact that I haven't received a card to the senior +ball yet." + +"Maybe you will, next year," suggested Thomp coolly. + +Fred flushed, then went white. + +"Oh, very well, if you mean than I'm to be left out," grunted +Ripley. + +"I'm afraid, Fred," hinted Badger, "that you were overlooked until +the full number of soph tickets had been issued. It was an oversight, +of course, but I'm afraid it's too late to remedy it." + +Fred Ripley went away, furious with anger, for he already knew, +as did everyone else in Gridley H.S., that Dick & Co. were to +be among the elect at the senior ball. And Fred had been so sure +of a card to the ball that he had gone to the length of inviting +Clara Deane to accompany him to the affair. That young lady had +most joyously accepted. + +Now, as he walked home with Miss Clara this afternoon, Fred suddenly +broke out: + +"I say, Clara, you don't very much mind if we don't go to the +senior ball, do you?" + +"Yes," Miss Deane retorted. "Why, what's the matter, Fred. Didn't +you receive an invitation?" + +"Of course, I could get an invite," lied young Ripley. "But the +plain truth is, I want to keep out of the affair." + +"Why, what's the matter?" asked Clara, gazing at her escort in +astonishment. + +"Haven't you heard the news?" + +"What news?" + +"That mucker crowd, who call themselves Dick &s Co., have been +invited." + +"There's no harm in that, is there?" asked Clara Deane, quietly. +"Why, they're quite popular young fellows; certainly the best-liked +freshmen." + +"Well, _I_ don't like them," retorted Fred, sullenly. + +"And so, after inviting me to go to the ball with you, now you're +going to invite me to remain at home instead?" + +"Oh, of course, if you really want to go, I'll see about it," +muttered the sophomore. + +But he didn't see about it, nor did Clara Deane again refer to +the matter. However, being an enterprising girl, Miss Deane was +not long in discovering that Fred was not going to the senior +affair for the very good reason that he _couldn't possibly_ get +himself written down on the invitation list. + +Apart from the moral side of the question it is rarely worth +while to lie---to a girl, especially. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +THE NITROGLYCERINE MYSTERY SPEAKS UP + + +In one phase of its social life Gridley H.S. was especially sensible. +Since only a few of the boys could be expected to be able to +afford evening dress suits, it was a rule that none, even the +seniors, should appear at any of the class functions in these +fashionable garments. + +Hence, Dick & Co., when they arrived with their girl friends, +did not feel out of place on the score of clothes. + +Each of the freshmen wore his "Sunday" suit, and each wore a flower +at his lapel. + +Unfortunately, no limitations were placed on the dress of the +girls. Therefore, while some rather plain frocks were in evidence, +many of the girls were rather elaborately attired. + +Laura Bentley, though her father's means rather permitted, did +not "overdo" in respect of dress. Dick felt sure, however, as +he offered his arm, and conducted her out on the floor, that Laura +was quite the prettiest, sweetest-looking girl there. + +All of Dick's chums felt satisfied with their partners of the +evening, for each young man had invited the girl whose company +he was sure to enjoy most. + +Somehow, though they did not feel just out of place at the senior +ball, the six young freshmen and their partners, all of the freshman +class, happened to come together at one end of the hall. + +"What do you all say," proposed Dick, "if, in the grand march, +we freshies keep together, six couples all in one section?" + +"We'll feel more comfortable, surely," grinned Dave Darrin. + +"Why? Are you scared?" asked Laura, looking at him archly. + +"Not so that the band-leader could notice it," replied Dave. +"Yet I think we'd all be making more noise if this were a freshman +dance." + +"But the freshmen don't have a dance until just before commencement +time," put in Belle Meade, who was there with Dave. + +"Anyway, the seniors are not so very important," laughed Laura. +"the average age of the freshman class is about fourteen or fifteen. +The seniors are only three years older Pooh! Who's afraid?" + +"I am," broke in Ben Badger, coming up behind them. "Desperately +afraid." + +"You? Of what?" asked Laura, turning around upon him. + +"Afraid that I'm too late to write my autograph on your dance +card," admitted Ben, with a rueful smile. + +"But you're a senior," murmured Laura. + +"Is that a crime?" demanded Ben, in a tone of wonder. + +"Why, we were planning," put in Belle, "that the freshmen boys +and freshmen girls should dance together this evening." + +"I see a ray of hope," protested Ben. "I'm going to college, +so I shall be a freshman again next year. Isn't that enough to +entitle me to one---square---dance, anyway?" + +Without waiting for another reply, Ben caught up Laura's card, +and looked it over. + +"May I have number nine, please?" he begged. + +"Yes, thank you," Laura answered, so Badger scribbled his name. + +"My hopes are rising," cried Frank Thompson, gliding into the +group. + +Thereupon other seniors and juniors came up. It wasn't long before +Dick & Co. had to bestir themselves in order to be sure of having +dances enough with the girls of their own class. + +"You can retaliate, you know, by going after some of the girls +of the two upper classes," suggested Laura. + +"I don't believe I'll try that," Dick replied. "It's all right +for the upper class boys to want to dance with some of the freshman +girls, especially when the freshman girls are such a charming +lot-----" + +"Our thanks!" And six girls bowed low before him. + +"But it would be regarded, I'm afraid, as rank impudence, if we +little freshmen wanted to dance with senior or junior girls. +When a freshman is in doubt the tip is 'don't!'" + +The orchestra was playing a lively waltz that made most of the +girls and many of the boys tap their feet restlessly. + +The perfume of flowers was in the air. Lively chatter and merry +laughter rang out. + +"This is the brighter side of school life," murmured Dick, +enthusiastically. + +"One of the brighter sides," suggested Laura. "Your remark, as +you made it, sounds ungrateful. It is a delight to be a High +School student. There are no really dark sides to the life." + +"But some sides are much brighter than others," Dick insisted. +"I like study, and am glad I have a chance to go further in it +than most young people get. Yet these class dances give us +something that algebra, or chemistry, or geometry can't supply us." + +"This is the brightest spot of the year," put in Tom Reade, in +a low voice. "It must be the brightness of the girls' eyes that +fill this part of the room with so much radiance." + +"Bravo!" laughed Laura and Belle together. + +"Have you been quiet the last fifteen minutes on purpose to +think that up?" Dave asked enviously. + +"Tom can say lots of nicer things than that," spoke up Bessie +Trenholm, half shyly. + +"Oh, can he?" demanded Harry Hazelton. "Please search your memory +then, Bessie. Let's have a few specimens of what Tom can say +under the influence of luminous eyes." + +Bessie blushed. When she tried to speak she stammered. + +"I---I guess I can't remember anything," she pleaded. + +Freshman laughter rang out merrily at this. But the waltz had +ended, and now the prompter was calling for the grand march. + +"Let's find our places," urged Dan Dalzell. + +"We're on the side, so we might as well remain right where we +are," proposed Dick. "That is, unless the floor manager or some +aide comes along and chases us to the rear of the procession." + +But no one interfered with the freshmen taking their places in +the line just where they stood. + +As the grand march ended the orchestra drew breath once or twice, +then burst forth in a gallop. Dick offered Laura his guidance, +and away they flew together. By the time the gallop ended the +freshman couples were rather well scattered over the hall. + +Dick danced well. He enjoyed himself immensely. So did his partners. +Some of the freshman girls finally drifted off with upper class +partners. + +Toward midnight, Dick, alone, drifted to Dave Darrin and Harry +Hazelton. + +"I haven't a thing to do, now, for four dances, unless some senior +drops dead," Dick remarked. + +"I'm in as bad a plight," admitted Harry. + +"And I," nodded Dave. + +It wasn't many moments ere the other three partners happened along, +all disengaged. + +"We don't want to be wall-flowers," muttered Dick. "It's going +to be more than half an hour from now before any of us are due +to dance again. See here, fellows, what do you say to our getting +our hats and coats and getting out into the air for a while? +A ballroom, isn't the worst place in the world, but I'm so much +a fresh air fellow, that I'm half stifling here." + +"Good! Come along to the coatroom, then," nodded Greg Holmes. + +"Going home?" asked Laura Bentley, in a tone of protest, as she +whirled by on Thompson's arm and saw Dick & Co. headed for the +coatroom. + +She was gone before Dick could answer by word of mouth. But he +saw her regarding him from the other end of the room, and smilingly +shook his head. + +"Feels good to be out, doesn't it?" asked Dan Dalzell, as the +freshman sextette struck the open air. + +"Yes; but what has happened to the blooming town?" demanded Greg +Holmes. + +Even this Main Street of Gridley presented a curious look. It +was a freezingly cold December night and it looked to the freshman +as though the senior ball must be the only live thing left in +the little city. + +All the stores were closed, and had been for some time. All lights +were out in the nearest residences. At first the boys thought +they beheld held a policeman standing in front of the First National +Bank, half a block away, but a closer look revealed the fact that +he was only some belated loiterer---the sole human being in sight +save themselves. + +"Come off this other way, and let's go down the side street," +proposed Dick. + +"Yes; if we're to find signs of life anywhere, it will have to +be on the smaller side streets," observed Greg Holmes. + +Music wafted to them from the hall. + +"There's life going on up there," remarked Dave. "We left it +behind us." + +"It isn't life," laughed Dick, "when some other fellow is dancing +with your girl." + +Along the side street the first corner was at the beginning of +a broad back alley that ran parallel with Main Street. + +Along this alleyway they turned. + +"By looking up at the windows," suggested Prescott, "we may get +some glimpses of the dance that are not so apparent when you're +up in the hall." + +True, as they passed by the rear of the dance hall they caught +some glimpses of moving couples going by the windows, but that +was all. + +"And I want to remark," grunted Tom Reade, "that it's cold +outdoors tonight." + +"An outdoor fellow like you ought not to mind that," chaffed Dick + +"Oh, I'll stand it as long as the rest of you do," challenged +Reade. + +Dick and Dave were in the lead, the other chums coming behind +them in couples. + +So Prescott and Dave Darrin were the first to catch a glimpse +down the short lane that led from the alleyway to the back of +one of the buildings. + +Here stood a man, with cap drawn well down over his forehead. +He was beside an automobile---a big black touring car. + +Dick saw and guessed. He almost jumped. Giving Dave's arm a +quick squeeze, Prescott marched by without appearing to pay any +heed to the man and the autocar. + +Once past the lane, Dick kept on walking, but he turned and walked +backwards. He signed to the other four, putting a finger to his +lips for silence. + +All six of the chums had guessed swiftly what the man and the +auto, at that particular point, must mean! + +"Keep walking, fellows," whispered Dick, as the other startled +freshmen reached him. "And laugh---loudly!" + +Their forced laughter rang out. Then Dick, again at the head +with Dave, started in on the first bars of the latest popular +song. Again the chums understood, and joined in with a will. + +When he had gone two hundred feet further, Dick countermarched +his little force. Still singing they went back by the head of +the lane, but not one member of Dick & Co. allowed himself to +glance down the lane at man or automobile. + +Then the song died out. + +"I say, fellows," called Dave Darrin, banteringly, "we'd better +get back to the hall if we don't want to find other fellows going +home with our girls." + +"I'll fight before I'll let that happen," proclaimed Dick Prescott. + +"Hustle, then!" urged Dan. + +Once out of the alleyway and into the side street the freshmen +halted for an instant. + +"Fellows," spoke Dick Prescott, "you all know what that means? +One lookout in front of the bank, and another at the rear. An +auto at the rear, too. Greg, you hustle to the police station +as fast as you can make your feet fly. No use trying to find +a place open where you can telephone. Come, the rest of you fellows." + +There was a side entrance to the hall from the side street. + +Dick and his four remaining chums ran in at this side door, that +the man in front of the bank might not see them. + +Up the stairs the freshmen rushed. + +"Dave, take care of the orchestra," panted Dick. "The music mustn't +stop for an instant after we get the fellows out." + +Something in the looks of the five freshmen, as they burst into +the hall attracted the attention of nearly everyone present. + +Dick held up his hand as a sign for the dancing to stop. But +Dave Darrin was already up on the platform, talking in the leader's +ear, and the music did not cease. + +As quickly as could be Dick got the upper classmen away from the +girls, at the lower end of the hall. + +"What is it? What can be the matter?" all the girls wanted to +know. + +But Dick called out, loudly enough to make himself heard: + +"Young ladies, it is highly important that the music and the sounds +of moving feet be kept up. Won't you young ladies please dance +with each other until we bet back? Then we'll tell you an interesting +story---if you're good." + +In the meantime Tom Reade was telling Thompson, Badger and Edgeworth, +and as many more as could get close enough, what had happened. + +"See here, fellows," spoke Thomp, "there's a big chance fer the +crowd to win fun and glory for good old Gridley H.S. Seniors and +Dick & Co. will steal down the alleyway, and be upon that lookout +before he can say 'batter-cakes and coffee.' Juniors and sophs +go in a bunch, prepared to catch the lookout on Main Street. +All get your coats and come softly down the _side_ stairs!" + +In many gatherings the speed and comprehension with which all +the Gridley High School boys acted would have been regarded as +marvelous. But they were always in training for athletics. Team +work and the spirit of speed and discipline prevailed among them. + +Almost in a jiffy, so it seemed, the masculine part of the senior +dance party was out on the sidewalk of the side street. + +"Don't you juniors and sophs show yourselves on Main Street for +a full sixty seconds, unless you hear us raise a row at the back +of the bank," advised Dick. + +Somehow, none of the upper classmen seemed to think it strange +for young Prescott thus to take command. He and his chums had +discovered the attempt on the bank, and it seemed natural, just +now, for the freshman leader to lead the whole school. + +On tiptoe Dick and his chums led the way into the alley, the seniors +following just as stealthily. + +When the freshmen were within thirty feet of the lane Dick Prescott +held up his hand, then signed to all hands to make the grand rush +forward. + +Just an instant before the High School boys could start, the earth +suddenly shook and swayed under them, while on the frosty night +air there came a great, sullen, fearsome--- + +BOOM! + +That was the explosion designed to blow open the door of the +bank's vault. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +THE CAPTURE OF THE BANK ROBBERS + + +In answer, a rousing defiance, the Gridley H.S. yell was roared +out. And by this time, seniors Dick & Co. were in full motion. + +"Four---thirteen---eleven!" bellowed Sam Edgeworth. + +The football men heard that signal and understood the application +of it. + +Though the flying wedge is now no longer tolerated in football, +there are other plays evolved from it, and the signal called for +one. Edgeworth himself formed the point of the wedge. + +"Freshies in the center!" he bawled back lustily. + +As the High School crowd rushed around the corner, giving their +vocal chords full play, Dick and his chums were hustled inside +of the inverted "V" formation. + +It was a human battering ram that launched itself into the +lane---filling that narrow passage, choking it. + +One of the bank robbers was still on the lookout duty. At the +first sound he had drawn his revolver, prepared to shoot right +and left. But this avalanche of torsos, arms and legs was more +than the fellow had bargained for. + +If it be true that a community can't be indicted, then it is still +truer that a community can't be murdered. The armed rascal gasped +at the magnitude of his task of defense. + +In another second he had been bowled clean over off his feet, +and a half a dozen seniors were reaching for his weapon. + +As Dick Prescott and his chums got out of the wedge they made +a dash for the automobile. + +At that same instant the air bore to them the battle-yell of juniors +and sophs at the front of the bank. + +The rear door of the building was yanked hastily open. Two masked +men shot the rays of their bulls-eye lanterns out into the lane, +while their right hands held revolvers. + +Bang-bang! Bang-bang! + +The rear door slammed, the robbers retreating behind that barrier. + +In the first moment the High School boys themselves were a good +deal startled, though they didn't make any effort to run. + +Then the news pulsed swiftly through the senior crowd. The noise +hadn't come from pistols. Dick & Co. had shut off any possibility +of automobile flight by falling upon the tires with their pocket +knives. Any robbers that could bluff their way through the crowd +and start the engine would have to hobble along on flat tires! + +The rear lookout of the robber band was now a safe prisoner in +the hands of four stalwart seniors. Ben Badger had the fellow's +revolver. + +Out in front of the bank the juniors and sophs held the enemy +at bay inside. The lookout, after trying to hold up the rush +at the point of the pistol, had turned without firing, and had +tried to get away. But four of the juniors had sprinted after +him and caught him. + +Thus the forces stood. Inside the bank building were at least +two of the robbers, armed and presumably desperate. Yet they +knew they couldn't shoot their way out through a multitude, either +at the front or the back of the building. + +On the other hand, the High School boys didn't care about rushing +into a darkness that was held by armed men. + +Thus the opposing sides stood holding each other at bay until +new actors came upon the scene---the police reserves. + +Four officers ran to the front of the bank. Chief Coy and four +more appeared in the lane among the High School boys. + +"Now, young gentlemen, jump out, if you please!" rang the chief's +order, "We've got to get inside at those fellows, and there may +be a good many bullets flying." + +"Huh!" objected Thomp. "We penned that gang up for you. Now, +are you going to chase us off just as the real fun starts?" + +"If you stay, it'll be at your own risk, then," answered Chief +Coy, with a rather pleased grin, for he had followed the fortunes +of Gridley H.S. on the football gridiron, and well enough he knew +the school grit. + +Pushing their way through, the police made their way to the closed +rear door. + +"Within, there!" summoned Coy, knocking lustily on the door. +"You are surrounded, and may as well give up. Open the door, +and come out, and you'll be safe." + +There was a pause. Then a gruff voice demanded: + +"If we open you don't fire on us?" + +"Not if you come out with your hands held up high." + +"All right, then. Give us time to open the door." + +The light from the police dark lanterns played on the door as +it swung open. Then two very crestfallen robbers, holding their +hands well aloft, came out on the steps. + +The windows of the hall, some distance away, had been thrown up. +A lot of white-gowned girls, some with covered heads, and some +not, looked wonderingly out at the spot lighted up by the dark +lanterns. + +Chief Coy and two of his officers quickly entered the bank. It +was ten minutes before they reappeared. + +"Somebody has done us the good turn of discovering this thing +just in time tonight," announced Coy, with a grave face. "The +vault door is blown entirely off, and the vault is stacked high +with sacks of money. Who first discovered this thing anyway?" + +"Don't you know?" called Ben Badger. + +From a score of throats at once the information broke forth: + +"Dick & Co.!" + +"It'll be a good night's work for Dick & Co., then, when the bank +directors meet" declared Chief Coy. "In three or four minutes +more these robbers would have been going sixty miles an hour with +an automobile loaded down to the guards with real money!" + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +CONCLUSION + + +It isn't all play in a High School. A vast amount of study has +to be mastered. There are nerve-racking examinations. It is +a tremendously busy life despite its sport. + +So here we would better take leave of Gridley H.S. so far as this +volume is concerned. + +It was soon known that, had not Dick & Co. taken their little +walk the robbers would have gotten away with one hundred and twenty +thousand dollars in cash. + +As it was, however, all four men were in the police toils, and +they were presently sent to the penitentiary, where they are serving +long terms. + +The bank directors _did_ vote to reward the H.S. boys as +individuals, but Dick & Co. and all the upper classmen refused +to accept anything for their own pockets. + +In despair, the directors finally hit upon the scheme of subscribing +one thousand dollars to the funds of the Athletics Committee. + +The catching of the bank robbers solved the nitroglycerine mystery. +One of the safe-blowing quartette was recognized by the police +as having been in Gridley at the time when that nitroglycerine +package was received at the express office. Had they gotten their +box in safety the robbers would have entered the bank that night, +and there might have been a different story---one of great loss +to the bank. + +Fred Ripley? His further story belongs to the following volume. + +Dick & Co. went through their freshman year with credit all around. + +When next we meet them we shall find them sophomores, with all +the privileges of upper classmen. We shall meet these young sophomores +in a sparkling tale of High School life and doings, ambitions +and work, sports and pastimes. The next volume will be published +under the title: "_The High School Pitcher; or Dick & Co. on the +Gridley Diamond_." This will be a rousing story of baseball in +particular, but likewise replete with other situations of absorbing +interest to all high school boys and girls. + + +THE END + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The High School Freshmen, by H. Irving Hancock + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12689 *** diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..601f466 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #12689 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/12689) diff --git a/old/12689.txt b/old/12689.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..fc42559 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12689.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7394 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The High School Freshmen, by H. Irving Hancock + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The High School Freshmen + Dick & Co.'s First Year Pranks and Sports + +Author: H. Irving Hancock + +Release Date: June 23, 2004 [EBook #12689] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HIGH SCHOOL FRESHMEN *** + + + + +Produced by Jim Ludwig + + + + +THE HIGH SCHOOL FRESHMEN +or +Dick & Co.'s First Year Pranks and Sports + +By H. Irving Hancock + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTERS + I. "The High School Sneak" + II. Dick & Co. After the School Board's Scalps + III. Not So Much of a Freshman + IV. Captain of the Hounds + V. The "Muckers" and the "Gentleman" + VI. Fred Offers to Solve the Locker Mystery + VII. Dick's Turn to Get a Jolt + VIII. Only a "Suspended" Freshman Now + IX. Laura Bentley is Wide Awake + X. Tip Scammon Talks---But Not Enough + XI. The Welcome With a Big "W" + XII. Dick & Co. Give Football a New Boost + XIII. "The Oath of the Dub" + XIV. On the Gridiron with Cobber Second + XV. Gridley Faces Disaster + XVI. The Fake Kick, Two Ways + XVII. Dick's "Find" Makes Gridley Shiver +XVIII. Fred Slides into the Freeze + XIX. Dick & Co. Show Some Team Work + XX. Out for That Toboggan + XXI. Thanks Served with Hate + XXII. The Only Freshman at the Senior Ball +XXIII. The Nitroglycerine Mystery Speaks Up + XXIV. The Capture of the Bank Robbers + XXV. Conclusion + + + + +CHAPTER I + +THE HIGH SCHOOL SNEAK + + +"I say you did!" cried Fred Ripley, hotly. Dick Prescott's cheeks +turned a dull red as he replied, quietly, after swallowing a choky +feeling in his throat: + +"I have already told you that I did not do it." + +"Then who did do the contemptible thing?" insisted Ripley, sneeringly. + +Fully forty boys, representing all the different classes at the +Gridley High School, stood looking on at this altercation in the +school grounds. Half a dozen of the girls, too, hovered in the +background, interested, or curious, though not venturing too close +to what might turn out to be a fight in hot blood. + +"If I knew," rejoined Dick, in that same quiet voice, in which +one older in the world's ways might have detected the danger-signal, +"I wouldn't tell you." + +"Bah!" jeered Fred Ripley, hotly. + +"Perhaps you mean that you don't believe me?" said Prescott inquiringly. + +"I don't!" laughed Ripley, shortly, bitterly. + +"Oh!" + +A world of meaning surged up in that exclamation. It was as though +bright, energetic, honest Dick Prescott had been struck a blow +that he could not resent. This, indeed, was the fact. + +"See here, Ripley-----" burst, indignantly, from Dick Prescott's +lips, as his face went white and then glowed a deeper red than +before. + +"Well, kid?" sneered Ripley. + +"If I didn't have a hand---the right hand, at that---that is too +crippled, today, I'd pound your words down your mouth." + +"Oh, your hand?" retorted Ripley, confidently. "The yarn about +that hand is another lie." + +Dick's injured right hand came out of the jacket pocket in which +it had rested. With his left hand he flung down his cap. + +"I'll fight---you---anyway!" Prescott announced, slowly. + +There were a few faint cheers, though some of the older High School +boys looked serious. Fair play was an honored tradition in Gridley. + +Ripley, however, had thrown down his cap at once, hurling his +strapped-up school books aside at the same time. + +"Wait a moment," commanded Frank Thompson, stepping forward. +He was a member of the first class, a member of the school eleven, +and a husky young fellow who could enforce his opinions at need. + +"Get back, Thomp," retorted Ripley. "The cub wants to fight, +and he's got to." + +"Not if he has an injured hand," retorted Frank, quickly. + +"He hasn't," jeered Ripley. "And he's got so fight, if he has +four lame hands." + +"He can fight, then, yes," agreed Thompson. "But remember, Fred, +it's allowable, when a fellow's crippled, to fight by substitute." + +"Substitute?" asked Fred, looking uncomfortable. + +"Yes; I'll take his place, if Prescott will let me," volunteered +Frank Thompson, coolly. + +"You? I guess not," snorted Ripley. "I won't stand for that. +I'm a third classman, and you're a first classman. You're half +as big again as I am, and-----" + +"The odds wouldn't be as bad as you're proposing to take out of +this poor little freshman with the crippled hand," insisted Thompson. +"So get ready to meet me. I'll allow one of my hands to be tied, +if you want." + +Yet even this proposition couldn't be made alluring to Fred Ripley. +He knew Thompson's mettle and strength too well for that. + +Dan Dalzell, another freshman, had been standing back, keeping +quiet as long as he could. + +"See here," proposed Dan, stepping forward, "isn't a freshman +allowed to say something when his friend is insulted?" + +"Go ahead," nodded Thompson, who knew Dan to be one of young Prescott's +close friends. + +"Dick isn't in shape to fight, and I know it," continued Dan +Dalzell, hotly. "But Ripley wants something easy, like a +freshman, so he can have me!" + +"And me," cried Tom Reade, also leaping forward. + +"He can have one with me, too," offered Harry Hazelton. + +"Same here," added Greg Holmes and Dave Darrin. + +All five of the speakers were freshmen, and close chums of Dick +Prescott's. + +"Say, what do you think I want---to fight a whole pack?" demanded +Ripley, hoarsely. + +"Oh, you don't have to fight us all at once," retorted Dave Darrin. +"But you've insulted our friend, and you've taken a sneaking +advantage of him at a time when you _knew_ he couldn't handle +anyone as big as you are. So, Ripley, you're answerable to Prescott's +friends. I'll tell you what you can do. There are five of us. +You can take any one of us that you prefer for the first bout. +When you've thrashed him, you can call for the next, and so on. +But you've got to go through the five of us in turn. If you +don't, I'll call you a coward from now on. You're bigger than +any of us." + +"See here, Cub Darrin," raged Ripley, starting forward, his face +aflame, "I don't allow any freshman to talk that way to me. I +won't fight you, but I'll chastise you, and you can protect yourself +if you know how." + +He made a bound forward, intent on hitting Darrin, who stood his +ground unflinchingly. But Thompson seized the third classman +by the shoulder and shoved him back. + +"Now, stop this, Ripley, and you freshmen, cut it out, too," +warned the athletic first classman. "This is descending to a +low level. We don't want a lot of bickering or mouth-fighting, +and we don't intend to have anything but fair play, either." + +"As this is largely my affair," broke in Dick Prescott, who had +had time to cool down a bit, "let me have a chance to make an +offer." + +"Go ahead," nodded Thompson. + +"Then," proposed Dick, "since you won't let me fight today, why +can't this meeting hold over until my hand is in shape? Then +I'll agree to give Ripley all he wants." + +"That's the only sensible thing I've heard said in five minutes," +declared Frank Thompson, looking about him at other upper classmen. +"Is it the general opinion that the fight hold over for a few +days, or, say, a fortnight?" + +"Yes," came back an eager, approving chorus. + +"Then so be it," proclaimed Frank. "And now, remember, Ripley, +this fight is not to be pulled off until the school agrees to +it. If you pick any trouble with Prescott until you get the word, +or if you try to find any excuse for hitting him while his hand's +out of shape, then you'll answer to the school for your conduct. +You know what that means, don't you?" + +"Humph!" snorted Fred Ripley. "All this fuss about the High School +sneak!" + +Again Dick started forward, but Thompson caught him firmly. + +"Hold on, freshie!" advised the older boy. "Save it up. Bottle +it. You can have all the more fun out of Ripley when your hand +is in shape." + +"His hand is in as good shape as it ever was," retorted Ripley, +scornfully. "And he lies when he says he didn't do this." + +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. + +"Fred, why do you have anything to do with such a low-down fellow +as Prescott?" asked Clara, contemptuously. + +"He's the sneak of the school," uttered Fred, harshly; "but I +can't let even a sneak streak my coat with paint." + +"And he never did such a thing, either!" broke in Laura Bentley, +disdainfully. "Fred Ripley, you accused Dick Prescott of playing +off a lame hand. I know how his hand became crippled. Dick wanted +me to promise not to tell how it happened, but now I'm going to. +Wait and you can hear, both of you." + +"I don't want to, I'm sure," rejoined Clara, with a toss of her +head. "Come along, Fred." + +This pair of students walked away together. They always did, +after school was out. The Ripleys and the Deanes were neighbors. + +The other girls, however, followed Laura, as, with quick, resolute +step, she marched over to where the High School boys still lingered. + +"Boys," began Laura, "Mr. Prescott has been accused of pretending +about a hurt hand. I know how he injured it; and, as he did it-----" + +"Please don't say any more, Miss Bentley," begged Dick, flushing. + +"Yes, I shall," insisted Laura, quietly. "It happened night before +last. Dick Prescott didn't want anything said about it, and neither +did the police, so-----" + +"The police?" chipped in several of the High School boys and girls. + +"Yes, the police wanted it kept quiet, so they could have a chance +to catch the fellow," Laura hastened on. "But they've had time +enough, now, to catch the rascal, if they're ever going to. You +see, it happened this way: Mother had forty-five dollars on hand +that belonged to the church fair fund. So, night before last, +she asked me to take it over to Miss Bond, the treasurer. I was +going through Clinton Street, in one of the dark spots, when a +man jumped out from behind a tree and made a snatch for the purse +that I carried in my hand. + +"Well, somehow---I don't just know how," Laura continued, "I managed +to keep hold of the purse and I screamed, of course. Then some +one came running down the street as fast as he could---and Dick +Prescott leaped at the rascal. It was a hard fight---a fearful +one." + +The girl shuddered even then, in the telling, but she continued: +"The wretch was twice as big as Dick Prescott. I thought Dick +was going to be killed. Twice the fellow broke loose, and started +to run, but what do you think Master Dick was up to?" + +"What?" chorused the interested audience. + +"Master Dick had his mind set on subduing the robber and holding +him for the police. So he tried to stop the wretch from getting +away. At last, however, the fellow hurled Dick backward, so that +he fell. When he got up he was lame. You all may have noticed +that Mr. Prescott limped a bit yesterday?" + +"Yes; he _did_," confirmed Frank Thompson. + +"And his hand was hurt, too---I know that," insisted Laura. "For +he escorted me to Miss Bond's, and then home. When we got there, +I asked my father, who is a doctor, to take Dick into the office. +Father said, afterwards, that Dick's right wrist was sprained, +and his ankle wrenched a bit, too. He said Dick would be doing +well to have the full use of his wrist in a week. Then the police +came, when my father telephoned for them, and the police didn't +want anything said for a while." + +"So you, a fourteen-year-old freshie, are going about at night +trying to waylay footpads, are you?" demanded Thompson, resting +a friendly hand on Dick's shoulder. "But why did you keep so +close-mouthed, afterwards?" demanded the first classman. + +"Well, for one thing, I guess I was a bit ashamed," confessed +Dick, reddening. + +"Ashamed of rushing to beauty's aid?" demanded Frank, laughingly. + +"Nothing like it," Dick protested, growing redder still. "I was +ashamed over having let the footpad get away." + +"What? And he twice your size?" gasped Thompson. "Fellows, what +do you think of the modest cheek of this freshie! Ashamed because +he couldn't bag a full-sized thug!" + +"That kid's the mustard!" broke in another first classman, approvingly. + +"That's what he is!" came from others. + +"Wow! whoop!" + +They began crowding about the confused, blushing freshie, pumping +his uninjured left hand. Then some one shouted: + +"He's all right, from the ground up. He's a Gridley boy! He's +only a freshie in years, but he'll get over that. Now, up with +Dick Prescott! On your shoulders! Give him the High School yell!" + +Before he could even dodge, this High School freshman found himself +going up in the air. With all consideration for his injured hand +the upper classmen rushed him out of the school grounds, onto +the street, holding him aloft in the post of honor. The other +boys followed. Even the few girls followed, waving their handkerchiefs, +while a lusty roar went up: + +"T-E-R-R-O-R-S! Wa-ar! Fam-ine! Pesti-lence! That's us! That's +us! G-R-I-D-L-E-Y---H.S. Rah! rah! rah! rah! _Gri-idley_!" + +"What's all that racket back there?" asked Clara Deane, turning +at the head of the street. "Why, they're yelling and carrying +that odious little Dick Prescott." + +"Must be dragging him off to give him a ducking, as he deserves," +muttered Fred Ripley, gratingly. + +"No, no! It's the school yell, and the girls are waving their +handkerchiefs." + +"Then they must be canonizing the school sneak," returned Ripley, +frowning hard. + +"Well, don't wait to see," urged Clara. "We don't care about +mixing up too much with such a common crowd as the Gridley H.S. +students are." + +"Prescott is nothing but a mucker, but he spoiled my coat, and +I'll make him smart for it!" uttered Fred, his face burning with +sullen rage. + +"You'll only smirch yourself, Fred, by having anything more to do +with such a fellow," Clara warned him. + +"When I'm even with the fellow, I won't have anything more to +do with him," snorted Ripley. "But I'll wait, watch and plan +for years, if I have to, to take all the conceit and meanness +out of that sneak. I'll never quit until I can look at myself +in the glass and tell myself that I've paid back the lowest trick +ever played on me!" + + + + +CHAPTER II + +DICK & CO. GO AFTER THE SCHOOL BOARD'S SCALPS + + +In Gridley High School, sessions began at eight in the morning. +School let out for the day at one in the afternoon. The brighter +students, who could get most of their lessons in school, and +do the rest of the work during the evening, thus had the +afternoon for work or fun. + +Often, though, it happened that there were parties, or school +dances in the evening. Then a portion of the afternoon could +be used for study, if need be. Saturdays, of course, were free +from study for all but the dullest---and the dullest usually don't +bother their heads much about study at any time. + +Gridley was not a large place---just an average little American +city of some thirty thousand inhabitants. It was a much bigger +place than that, though, when it came to the matter of public +spirit. Gridley people were proud of their town. They wanted +everything there to be of the best. Certainly, the Gridley High +School was not surpassed by many in the country. The imposing +building cost some two hundred thousand dollars. The equipment +of the school was as fine as could be put in a building of that +size. Including the principal, there were sixteen teachers, four +of them being men. + +In all the classes combined, there were some two hundred and forty +students, about one hundred of these being girls. Nearly all +of the students were divided between the four regular classes. +There were always a few there taking a postgraduate, or fifth +year of work, for either college or one of the technical schools. + +With such a school and such a staff of teachers as it possessed +the Gridley standard of scholarship was high. The Gridley diploma +was a good one to take to a college or to a "Tech" school. + +Yet this fine high school stood well in the bodily branches of +training. Gridley's H.S. football eleven had played, in the past +four years, forty-nine games with other high school teams, and +had lost but two of these games. The Gridley baseball nine had +played fifty-four games with other high school teams in the same +period, and had met defeat but three times in the four years. + +Athletics, at this school, were not overdone, but were carried +on with a fine insistence and a dogged determination. Up to date, +however, despite the fine work of their boys, the citizens of +the town had been somewhat grudging about affording money for +training athletic teams. What the boys had won on the fields +of sport they had accomplished more without public encouragement +than with it. + +It was now October. Dick Prescott and his five closest friends +were all freshmen. They had been in the school only long enough +to become accustomed to the routine of work and study. They were +still freshmen, and would be until the close of the school year. +As freshmen were rather despised "cubs" Dick and his friends +would be daring, indeed should they dare to do anything, in their +freshman year, to make them very prominent. + +According to a good many Gridley people Dick's father, Eben Prescott, +was accounted the best educated man in town. The elder Prescott +had taken high honors at college; he had afterwards graduated +in law, and, for a while, had tried to build up a practice. Eben +Prescott was not lazy, but he was a student, much given to dreaming. +He had finally been driven to opening a small bookstore. Here, +when not waiting on customers, he could read. Dick's mother had +proved the life of the little business. Had it not been for her +energy and judgment the pair would have found it difficult to +rear even their one child properly. The family lived in five +rooms over the bookstore. + +From the time he first began to go to school it had been plain +that Dick Prescott inherited his mother's energy, plus some of +his own. He had been one of the leaders in study, work and mischief, +at the Central Grammar School. It was while in the grammar school +that a band of boys had been formed who were popularly known as +"Dick & Co." Dick was naturally the head. The other members of +the company were Tom Reade, Dan Dalzell, Harry Hazelton, Greg +Holmes and Dave Darrin. These were the same now all High School +freshmen who had stepped forward and offered to take Dick's place +in fighting Fred Ripley. + +Dick was now fourteen, and so were all his partners, except Tom +Reade, who was a year older. All of Dick's chums were boys belonging +to families of average means. This is but another way of saying +that, as a usual thing, Dick and all his partners would have been +unable to fish up a whole dollar among them all. + +Fred Ripley, on the other hand, usually carried considerable money +with him. Lawyer Ripley usually allowed Fred much more money +than that snobbish young man knew how to make good use of. + +Fred and Clara Deane were undoubtedly the best-dressed pair in +the High School, and the two best supplied with spending money. +There were a few other sons or daughters of well-to-do people +in Gridley High School, but the average attendance came from families +that were only just about well enough off to be able to maintain +their youngsters at higher studies. + +Fred Ripley, despite his mean nature, was not wholly without friends +in the High School. Some of his pocket money he spent on his +closest intimates. Then, too, Fred had rather a shrewd idea as +to those on whom it was safe or best to vent his snobbishness. + +From the start of the school year, Ripley had picked out young +Freshman Prescott as a boy he did not like. Dick's place in the +moneyed scale of life was so lowly that Fred did not hesitate +about treating the other boy in a disagreeable manner. + +A week after the meeting between Fred and Dick the High School +atmosphere had suddenly become charged with intense excitement. +The school eleven had come out of training, had played almost +its last match with the "scrub" team and was now close to the +time for its first regular match. Oakdale H.S. was to be the +first opponent, and Oakdale was just good enough a team to make +the Gridley boys a bit uneasy over the outcome. + +"My remarks this morning," announced Dr. Thornton, on opening +school on Monday, "are not so much directed at the young ladies. +But to the young gentlemen I will say that, when the football +season opens, we usually notice a great falling off in the recitation +marks. This year I hope will be an exception. It has always +been part of my policy to encourage school athletics, but I do +not mind telling you that some members of the Board of Education +notice that school percentages fall off in October and November. +This, I trust, will not be the case this year. If it is I fear +that the Board of Education may take some steps that will result +in making athletics less of a feature among our young men. I +hope that it is not necessary to add anything to this plain appeal +to your good judgment, young gentlemen." + +It _wasn't_. Dr. Thornton was a man of so few and direct words +that the boys gathered on the male side of the big assembly room +looked around at each other in plain dismay. + +"That miserable old Board of Education is equal to shutting down +on us right in the middle of the season," whispered Frank Thompson +to Dent, who sat next him. + +"You know the answer?" Dent whispered back. + +"What?" + +"Give the board no excuse for any such action. Keep up to the +academ. grind." + +"But how do that and train-----" + +A general buzz was going around on the boys' side of the room. +Several of the girls, too, were whispering in some excitement, +for most of the girls were enthusiastic "fans" at all of the +High School games. + +Whispering, provided it was "necessary" and did not disturb others, +was not against the rules. These were no longer school children, +but "young gentlemen" and "young ladies," and allowed more freedom +than in the lower schools. For a few moments Dr. Thornton tolerated +patiently the excited buzz in the big assembly room. Then, at +last, he struck a paper-weight against the top of his desk on +the platform. + +"First period recitations, now," announced the principal. + +Clang! At stroke of the bell there was a hurried clutching of +books and notebooks. The students filed down the aisles, going +quickly to their proper sections, which formed in the hall outside. +The tramp of feet resounded through the building, for some recitation +rooms were on the first floor, some on the second and some on +the third. + +Two minutes later there was quiet in the great building. Recitation +room doors were closed. One passing through the corridors would +have heard only the indistinct murmur of voices from the different +rooms. Within five minutes every one of the instructors detected +the fact that, though discipline was as good as ever, Dr. Thornton's +words had spoiled the morning's recitations. Try as they would, +the young men could not fasten their minds on the work on hand. +The hint that athletics might be stopped had _stung_. + +Dick & Co. were all sitting in IV. English. + +"Mr. Prescott," directed Submaster Morton, "define the principle +of suspense, as employed in writing." + +Dick started, looked bewildered, then rose. + +"It's---it's-----" he began. + +"A little more rapidly, if you please." + +"I studied it last night, sir, but I'm afraid I've clean forgotten +all about that principle," Dick confessed. He sat down, red-faced, +nor was his discomfiture decreased by hearing some of the occupants +of the girls' seats giggle. + +"I shall question you about that at the next recitation. Mr. +Prescott," nodded the submaster. + +"Ye-es, sir. I hope you'll have luck," Dick answered, absently. + +"What's that?" rapped out Mr. Morton. + +Dick, aroused, was on his feet again, like a flash. + +"I beg your pardon, Mr. Morton," he came out straightforwardly. +"That sounded like slang, or disrespect. I beg to assure you, +sir, that neither was intended. The truth is-----" + +"Your mind is busy with other things this morning, I see," smiled +the sub-master. + +"Ye-es, sir." Dick dropped once more into his seat. Ralph Morton +sighed. That very popular young submaster, only three years out +of college, was the hugely admired coach who had led the Gridley +eleven to victory during the last three seasons. He was as disturbed +as anyone could have been over the rumored intention of the Board +of Education to take some unpleasant action regarding High School +athletics. + +It was a terribly unsatisfactory hour in IV. English. Five minutes +before the period was up Mr. Morton dejectedly closed the text-book +from which he had been questioning, and remarked, tersely: + +"At ease!" + +Instantly the buzz of whispering broke forth. It was required +only that not enough noise be made to disturb the students in +adjoining rooms. + +Dick, Tom and Dan sat in the front row. Directly behind them +were the other three members of the "Co." + +"Say," muttered Dan, in a low undertone, "Mr. Morton looks half +glum and half savage this morning, like the rest of us." + +"Seems to," muttered Tom Reade. + +"What do you make of _that_?" challenged Dan. + +"There must be strong foundation for the little hint Dr. Thornton +let fall this morning," guessed Dave Darrin. + +"And Mr. Morton knows it's a straight tip," added Harry Hazelton, +sagely. + +"It'll be a confounded shame, if the Board does anything like +that," glowed Dick Prescott, indignantly. + +"They'll be so many dead ones, if they _do_," flared Tom Reade, +hotly. + +"Yes," agreed Dave Darrin. "But the worst about that Board of +Education is that, though they _are_ dead ones, they're so very +dead that they'll never find it out." + +"Won't they, thought" whispered Dan Dalzell, hotly. "Say, I'm +inclined to think they will! I-----" + +"Dan!" whispered Dick, warningly. + +"Yep; you've guessed right," grinned Dan. "I am hatching a scheme +in my mind. I'm getting up something that will bring even that +dummified Board to its senses." + +"Then you can achieve the impossible," teased Reade. + +"Say, but it's a warm one that's forming this time," whispered +Dan, his eyes dancing. "I'll see you fellows at recess. Not +a word until then. But you-----" + +Ting-ling-ling. The bell connecting with the annunciator at the +principal's desk was trilling in IV. English, as it was in all +the other recitation rooms. IV. English rose, the boys waiting +until the girls had passed from the room. A study-hour in the +big assembly room followed for Dick & Co. Yet, had anyone watched +Dan Dalzell, it would have been found that young man was in the +reference room, and reading, or thumbing---of all volumes in +the English language---the city directory! + +When recess broke, Dick & Co. quickly got together. By twos, +Dick and Dave Darrin leading, they marched down through one of +the side streets, it being permitted to High School pupils to +go outside the yard in the near neighborhood. + +Presently Dick halted before a stone wall. He eyed Dan keenly, +who had been walking just behind with Harry Hazelton. + +"Dan," demanded the leader, "you gave us to understand that your +mind is seething again. Is that true?" + +"Quite true," Dan averred, solemnly. + +"What particular kind of cerebration is oscillating inside of +your intelligence?" Dick queried. + +"Which?" demanded Dan, suspiciously. "No, I never! I'm not that +kind of fellow." + +"In plain, freshman English, then, what's your scheme?" + +"We'll have to get statistics," announced Dalzell, "before I can +come right down to bare facts. When does the Board of Education, +otherwise known as the Grannies' Club, meet?" + +"Tonight, in the Board Room in the High School building," Dick +answered. + +"How many members are there?" + +"Seven," Dick affirmed. + +"That's not too many, then," continued Dan, thoughtfully. + +"Not too many?" repeated Dick Prescott. "What do you mean?" + +"Why, I've been refreshing my general information about this town +by consulting the city directory. From that valuable tome I +discovered that there are just nine undertakers in town." + +"Now, what on earth are you driving at---or driveling at?" asked +Dick Prescott, suspiciously, while the other partners remained +wonderingly, eagerly silent. + +"Why," pursued Dan, "we can summon seven of the undertakers for +our job, and still leave two available for the public service." + +Dick sprang up from the stone wall, tightly gripping Dan Dalzell +by the coat collar. + +"Help me watch this lunatic, fellows," urged Dick, quietly. +"He's dangerous. You've heard him! He's plotting assassination!" + +"Undertakers don't assassinate anyone, do they?" queried Dan, +with an air of mock innocence. + +"What _are_ you plotting, then?" insisted Dick. + +Dan's face broadened into a very pronounced grin. + +"Why, see here, fellows, there seems to be some fire behind Dr. +Thornton's smoke that the Board of Education may get excited over +low recitation marks, and actually---_stop football_!" finished +Dalzell, in a gasp. + +The other five chums snorted. Dan Dalzell was presently able +to control his feelings sufficiently to proceed: + +"No one but actually dead ones would expect an American institution +of the higher learning to exist in these days without football. +Hence, if the Grannies' Club---I mean the School Board---are +planning to stop football, or even believe that it is possible, +then they're sure enough dead ones. Am I right?" + +"Right and sane, after all," nodded Dick. + +"Therefore," pursued Dan, "if the board members are dead ones, +why not go ahead and bury them? Or, at the least, show our kindly +interest in that direction. See here, fellows"---here Dan lowered +his voice to the faintest sort of whisper, while the other partners +gathered close about him---"tonight we fellows can scatter over +the town, and drop into different telephone booths where we're +not known. We can call up seven different undertakers, convey +to them a hint that there's a dead one at the Board Room, and +state that the victim of our call is wanted there at once. + +"What good would that do?" demanded Dick, after a thoughtful pause. + +"Why," proposed Dan Dalzell, "if seven undertakers call, all within +five minutes, won't it be a delicate way of conveying the hint +that a Board of Education that thinks it can stop football is +composed of dead ones? You see, there'll be an undertaker for +each member of the Board. Don't you think the idea---the hint---would +soak through even those seven dull old heads?" + +Tom, Harry and Dave began to chuckle, though they looked puzzled. + +"Well, if you ask _me_," decided Dick, after more thought, "I have +just one answer. The scheme is too grisly. Besides, we've nothing +against the undertakers that should make us willing to waste their +time. Moreover, Dan we're in the High School, and we're expected +to be gentlemen. Now, does your scheme strike you as just the +prank for a lot of gentlemen." + +"Say, don't look the thing over too closely," protested Dan, more +soberly, "or you'll find lots of bad holes in the scheme. Yet, +somehow, we've got to bring it to the attention of the Board that, +if they go against High School football, they're real dead ones." + +"I've just an idea we can do that," spoke Dick Prescott, reflectively. +"We can rig the scheme over, so as to save seven estimable business +men from starting out on fools' errands. And we can drive the +lesson home to the Board just as hard---perhaps harder." + +At these hopeful words from the chief the partners pricked up +their ears, then crowded closer. + +"In the first place," began Dick, "Dan's scheme---beg your pardon, +old fellow---is clumsy, grisly and likely to come back as a club +to hit us over the head. Now, you all know Len Spencer, the +'Morning Blade' reporter. He's a regular 'fan' over the football +and baseball teams, and follows them everywhere in the seasons. +You also know that Len is a pretty good friend of mine. If I +put Len up to a scheme that will furnish him with good 'copy' +for two mornings, he'll put it through for me, and be as mum as +an oyster." + +"How can Len help us in anything?" demanded Dave Darrin, wonderingly. + +"Listen!" ordered Dick Prescott, with a twinkle in his eyes. + +When Dick & Co. hurried back at the close of recess they felt +serene and content. All the partners felt that Dick Prescott, +the most fertile boy in ideas at the Central Grammar School, was +going to be able to save the day for football. For Dick had propounded +a scheme that was sure to work---barring accidents! + +That evening the Board of Education met in dull and stately session. +These meetings were generally so dull and devoid of real news +that the local press was content to get its account from the secretary's +minutes. Tonight was no exception in this respect. No reporter +was present when Chairman Stone rapped for order. Seven excellent +men were these who sat around the long table. Most of them had +made their mark in local business, or in the professions. Yet, +as it happened, none of these excellent men had ever made a mark +in athletics in earlier years. As they appeared to have succeeded +excellently in life without football the members of the Board +were inclined to reason that football must be a bad thing. + +After the session had droned along for three-quarters of an hour, +and all routine business had been transacted, Chairman Stone looked +about at his fellow Board members. + +"Gentlemen," he began, "we have noticed that, during October and +November, the High School percentages, especially those of the +young men, are prone to fall a bit. There can be but one cause +for this---the football craze. There are signs that this stupid +athletic folly will take a greater hold than ever, this year, +on our High School students. I thought it best to ask Dr. Thornton +to caution the students that any such falling-off of percentages +this year might make it necessary for us to forbid High School +football." + +"It was an excellent idea to give such a warning, Mr. Chairman," +nodded Mr. Hegler. + +"So I thought," replied Chairman Stone, complacently. "Yet, while +we have been in session this evening, I have been wondering why +it would not be a good plan to promote scholarship at once by +summarily forbidding football." + +"Even for the balance of this present season?" asked Mr. Chesbritt, +ponderously. + +"Even for the balance of this season," confirmed Mr. Stone. + +There were murmurs of approval. Just at that moment, however, +the door opened suddenly, and Reporter Len Spencer, a bright-faced +young man of twenty-two, hurried in on tip-toe. Then, suddenly, +he halted, looking unutterably astonished. + +"Oh, I beg your pardon, Mr. Chairman and gentlemen," murmured +the reporter. "But I did not expect to find you in session." + +"And why not, Mr. Spencer?" demanded the chairman, crisply. + +"Why, I---er---I---well, to be candid, gentlemen, 'The Blade' +had information that some one had died here." + +"Died here?" gasped Chairman Stone. "Upon my word that would +be a most extraordinary thing to do in the presence of this Board. +Where did you get such very remarkable information, young man?" + +"It was telephoned to 'The Blade' office," Len Spencer replied. + +"By whom?" + +"I---I really don't know," replied the young reporter, looking +much embarrassed. "I don't believe our editor, Mr. Pollock, does, +either. The news came in over the 'phone. Mr. Pollock told me +to rush up here and get all the facts." + +"The facts," retorted Mr. Stone, dryly, "would be most difficult +for the members of this Board to furnish. Indeed, the only fact +in which we are interested would be the name of the person who-----" + +Ting-a-ling-ling! As the telephone bell jangled Chairman Stone +drew the desk instrument toward him, holding the receiver to his +ear. + +"Hullo!" hailed a voice. "Is that the Board of Education's office?" + +"It is," confessed Chairman Stone. + +"Is our reporter, Spencer, there? If so, I would like to talk +with him." + +"Yes, he's right here, Mr. Pollock. And from the extraordinary +information he has brought us, I think he needs a talking-to. Wait +a moment." + +Chairman Stone passed the instrument to Len Spencer. The members +of the Board felt curiosity enough to leave their seats and gather +at the head of the table. They could hear Editor Pollock's voice +as it ran on: + +"Hullo, Spencer. Say, I've just had another 'phone from that +same party. He says that he sent in his information a bit twisted. +What he meant to tell us was that there are _seven dead ones_ in +the Board of Education who know so little about public spirit +and pride in our boys that they are even considering the idea +of forbidding High School football." + +"Oh, that's it, eh?" asked Spencer, solemnly. "Seven dead ones?" + +"Yes; of course you've already discovered that there's no real +tragedy up at the Board, unless they're actually planning some +move against football." + +The seven members of the School Board looked at one another blankly, +wonderingly. + +"Who sent you that message over the 'phone?" questioned the reporter. + +The seven Board members pricked up their ears still more keenly. + +"I don't know," came Editor Pollock's voice. "But I suspect it +came from the Business Men's Club. That's a wide-awake and progressive +crowd, you know, and full of local pride, even in our High School +boys. But, Spencer, I'm in just a bit of a fix. I had already +run out six lines on the bulletin board announcing that a sudden +death had taken place in the School Board meeting. Now, I've +got to run out another bulletin and explain. Spencer, you'd better +come back here on the jump. Good-bye!" + +As the bell rang off, and the reporter laid the instrument back +on the table, he said: + +"Gentlemen, I am ordered back to my office in haste. Yet, before +I go, as a matter of news interest, I think I'd better ask you +whether any action is going to be taken forbidding football in +the High School?" + +"N-n-not to the best of our knowledge," stammered Chairman Stone. +"We have---taken no action along that line." + +"Are you likely to take any such action tonight?" + +"I---I---think not." + +"Thank you, and goodnight, gentlemen. I offer you my apology +and 'The Blade's' for having intruded on you in this fashion." + +As soon as the members of the Board were alone Chairman Stone +glanced about him, and remarked: + +"So, it appears, gentlemen, that, if we do not favor High School +football, we shall be regarded as what are termed 'dead ones'!" + + + + +CHAPTER III + +NOT SO MUCH OF A FRESHMAN + + +The next morning's "Blade" contained a column and a half, written +in Reporter Spencer's most picturesque vein. The headlines ran: +"School Board Hoaxed. Gentle Jokers Convey a Needed Hint. Football +Not to Be Barred in High School. 'Blade' Reporter a First-off +Victim in the Service of Public Spirit." + +It was a fine article, from a High School boy's point of view. +It was an article, too, which, in a city ruled by a lively public +spirit, was likely to tie the hands of a Board of Education that +did not care to fly in the face of public opinion. + +Dick Prescott, before he went in to breakfast, read the article +in secret, with many a chuckle. + +"You seem much interested in the newspaper, Richard," said his +father, when the young freshman came to table, still holding +'The Blade.'" + +"Yes, sir. You know I have set my heart on making the H.S. eleven +just as soon as I strike a higher class. I was afraid the School +Board would abolish the game from our school. Now, I know they +won't." + +"Hm! Let me see 'The Blade.'" + +Mr. Prescott glanced through the article, a faint twinkle showing +in his eyes. + +"The School Board may stop High School football," commented Mr. +Prescott, laying aside the paper. "They _may_, but it would +take a good deal of courage, for that article will start Gridley +on a furor of enthusiasm for the game. I wonder who got up that +hoax." + +"Why, Dad, 'The Blade,' hints at some one down at the Business +Men's Club." + +"Hm! I wonder who wrote the article." + +"Perhaps Len Spencer," replied Dick. "You know, Dad, he's a great +fan for all our H.S. sports." + +"I can just see Jason Stone reading that article at _his_ breakfast +table this morning," smiled Mr. Prescott. "Stone is a great +sail-trimmer, always afraid of the man who casts a vote." + +"What's the matter?" asked Mrs. Prescott, coming in breezily from +the kitchen. + +Dick explained the news to his mother. + +"Abolish football at the High School!" echoed Mrs. Prescott, indignantly. +"And I've been sharing your great wish Dick, to make the team +when you're old enough. They shan't do it, anyway, Dick, until +you've had your chance on the eleven!" + +"No, mother," replied the boy, very quietly; "I don't believe +they will." + +With a sudden rush of recollection of other pranks in which she +had known her son to be engaged in the grammar school days, Mrs. +Prescott shot a sudden, wondering glance at him. But Dick, looking +utterly innocent, was chewing his food. + +Frank Thompson, Ben Badger and Ted Butler, all seniors, and stars +on the H.S. football team, had risen early that morning, every +one of them feeling glum over the dread that the great sport might +be "killed" for them. They were the only members of the eleven +who happened to see "The Blade" early. In consequence, these +three husky young Americans were on the street early. Just as +naturally they ran into each other. + +"Whoop!" yelled Thompson, when he came in sight of his pals. + +"Wow!" observed Ben. + +"And some more!" glowed Butler. + +"Will they stop football _now_?" demanded Thompson. + +"Not while anyone is looking," averred Butler. + +"But say, it was great of the Business Men's Club to make such +a stroke for us," went on Badger, enthusiastically. + +"Yes," admitted Frank Thompson, "if that was where it came from. +I guess it was, all right." + +Arm in arm the three went off down the street, feeling as though +the world had turned right side up once more. + +Dick met his partners on the way to the High School. All were +grinning quietly. + +"You're the genius, Dick," admitted Dan Dalzell, cordially. "My +undertaker scheme would have been ghastly. It would have taken +all the edge off the joke---would have spoiled it, and the joke +would have been a club that would have hit us over the head. +But, say! I wonder if the Grannies' Club will dare to touch our +sacred football now!" + +"Don't waste any time wondering," chuckled Tom Reade. "They wont." + +It was a happy day in the famous old Gridley High School. Actually, +the recitations went off better than they had done on any day +since term opening. + +Dick Prescott was out on the street rather early that afternoon. +He wanted to run across Len Spencer, and chose Main Street as +the most likely thoroughfare for the purpose. He met the reporter +at the head of a little alleyway. + +"Well, Dick, how did you like it?" was the reporter's greeting. + +"Say, it was great!" Dick bubbled over. + +"What do they think down at H.S.?" + +"Think?" repeated young Prescott. "Why, everybody is in ecstasies. +The gloom of yesterday has vanished like the mist from a cheap +cigar. You're suspected of writing the article, too, Len. If +the High School students can find any proof that you did you'll +get a rouser in the way of handsome treatment." + +The two had stepped down just off the street into the alleyway. + +"Does everyone seem to believe that the job was put up at the +Business Men's Club?" Dick asked. + +"Sure thing," nodded Len Spencer. "And no member of the Club +will deny it, either, for the thing has struck the popular side +of the town. Why, by tonight, there'll be at least a dozen of +the members, each confidentially telling his friends that _he_ +conceived the whole trick." + +"That'll make it all the stronger," nodded Dick. "Good thing." + +"Glee!" chuckled Len. "Wouldn't the whole town---including the +Board members---wake up, if they only knew that the whole thing +was planned out by a fourteen-year-old freshie, by name Dick Prescott!" + +"You won't let it out, Len, that I had any hand in it?" asked +Dick, quickly. + +"Oh, not I," promised Len, quickly. "I gave you my word on that, +son, didn't I?" + +"Now, see here," Dick went on, "why can't you push this thing +along one day further? Why don't you interview a lot of the prominent +business men on the absolute necessity of football for keeping +up the H.S. spirit and traditions?" + +"Good idea as far as it goes," assented Len, dubiously. "But +a lot of the business men might prove to be fossilized, and be +against the grand old game." + +"Leave that sort out," hinted Dick, sagely, "and go after the +right kind." + +"How'll I know the right kind?" asked reporter Spencer, thoughtfully. + +"Why, use your head a bit. There's Beck. He's a millionaire, +and one of the big men of the town, isn't he?" + +"Yes; but he may not believe in football." + +"Shucks! Of course Beck believes in football," retorted Dick. +"Doesn't his lumber yard furnish all the wooden goods that are +needed for fences, seats, and all that sort of thing up at the +athletic grounds? Doesn't Beck know that, if he said a word against +football, he never get another order for lumber from the H.S. +Alumni association. Then there's Carleson. He's one of the directors +of the railroad, therefore a big enough man to interview." + +"Where does Carleson come in on hot interest in football?" + +"Use your head," jibed Dick. "Doesn't his railroad have lots +of jobs transporting the football teams to other games, and bringing +other teams here? Don't mobs of fans follow the teams and pay +fare? Why, H.S. football is a dividend-payer to Carleson. Your +own editor, Pollock, will come out for us. Besides the news football +makes for 'The Blade,' just think of the profit from doing all +the poster and ticket printing for us. Then there's Henley, who +sells the team uniforms and other athletic goods _and he's one +of the aldermen_! Why, man alive, there are a score of big men +in town who can't afford to see H.S. football stopped. Here are +some of their names-----" + +Dick rattled it along, giving a long list to Len Spencer, who +jotted down the names. + +"Thank you; old man," said the reporter, cordially. "I'll get +these interviews, and it'll make a corking good second-day story. +Pollock says I can push this as far as I like, for it has struck +a popular vein. But Pollock says he wouldn't have thought of +it, Dick, if you hadn't set the ball rolling." + +"Then he knows the big part that my chums and I took in the game?" +asked Dick, his face showing his concern. + +"Yes; but don't worry. Old Pollock is as mum as the grave about +such things. Now, so long, Dick, old fellow. I've got to run +down to the end of this alley to call on a sick friend. Then +I'll hustle out and get a barrelful of interviews that will cinch +and rivet football on Gridley H.S. for a century to come!" + +As Len Spencer vanished through one of the doorways Dick Prescott +turned toward the street. As he did so, he jumped back. + +"We want you, freshie!" declared Frank Thompson, grimly. "And +we want you badly." + +Badger and Butler, who were just behind the speaker, closed in +firmly around the freshman. + +"We heard, and we didn't feel ashamed to listen," declared +Thompson. "So you're the genius that has been doing giant's +work for football? You are under arrest, freshie---and I hope +you'll come along without making any row." + +Despite the severity of the looks in the faces of these three +seniors, Dick Prescott did not feel very uneasy. He submitted +to walking between Thompson and Butler, while Ben Badger brought +up the rear. The unafraid prisoner was marched along and into +another street, to where the football eleven had its "club room." +This was an unoccupied store, the agent of which allowed the +boys the use of the place, rent free, as long as it remained idle. + +When near this headquarters Ben Badger darted ahead, throwing +open the door, while Frank and Ted marched in with their prisoner. + +"Attention!" roared Ben. + +Nearly all the members and substitutes of the eleven were present. +They were sorting over various bits of football paraphernalia. +Several of them stopped work to look up as Ben Badger slammed +the door shut again. + +"Well, what are you making so much noise about?" demanded one +of the second classmen. "You come in with a roar, and all you +bring with you is---just a poor, insignificant little freshie." + +"Oh, but what a freshman!" thundered Frank Thompson. "Listen, +fellows, what do you suppose this freshman has done?" + +"Lynch him for it, anyway, whatever it is," retorted another. + +"Wait!" commanded Thompson. "And listen." + +There upon Frank detailed what he and his two comrades had overheard +at the head of the alleyway. Instantly the complexion of things +changed. There were cheers and hoarse yells, as the football +men rushed forward, crowding about Dick Prescott. + +"Now I've told all that I heard," wound up Thompson. "We'll have +to ask Mr. Prescott to favor us with the further details, which +I trust he will be inclined to do." + +"Mr. Prescott!" That, instead of "cub," "kid" or "freshie." Had +the enthusiasm been less intense Dick would have been sure that +they were having fun with him. + +"Go on," ordered Ben Badger briefly. "Talk up!" + +To have refused plain orders from a first classman might have +been serious. Dick knew better. Clearing his throat he related +all he could recall of how the plot came to be hatched. Nor was +Dick glory-hunter enough to give himself any more credit than +he did his partners. In his brief account the freshman spread +all the credit for the invention equally over the six members +of Dick & Co. + +"'Twas a great thought, and carried out like a campaign," declared +Ben Badger. There was more cheering. Then Frank Thompson dragged +Dick forward once more before the lined-up team. + +"Fellows," proposed Thompson, "we owe this freshie-----" + +"Stop that!" roared one of the fellows. "Prescott may be +young---painfully young---but he's no freshie." + +"Then," amended Thompson, with grave dignity, "we owe a handsome +reward to this---upper classman. May I tell him what the reward +is to be?" + +"Go ahead, Thomp!" came an answering roar. + +"Then, listen, Prescott. For the great deed you have done for +Gridley H.S. football every member of Dick & Co. deserves undying +fame. As I can't be sure of our ability to confer that, we'll +do the next best thing. In years and class you're all six of +you freshmen. Now, what is expected of a freshman?" + +"Why," laughed Dick, "as I understand it, a freshman is a fellow +who doesn't dare to be fresh." + +"Hear! hear!" yelled a dozen voices. + +"In that respect," proclaimed Thompson, solemnly, "Dick & Co. +shall no longer be freshman at Gridley H.S.! If the spirit seizes +any of you, then go ahead and be fresh---of course, not _too_ +fresh! Mix in with the upper classmen, all of you, if you want +to. Have your opinions, and don't be afraid to let 'em out---if +you can't hold in any longer. To the upper class dances this +winter Dick & Co. shall have a bid---if you'll all learn how to +walk and glide across a waxed floor. Remember, when you're among +the fellows, you don't have to keep in the back freshmen row---but +see to it that you don't encourage general mutiny in your class +against the superior upper classes. Finally, you can get sassy +with all upper classman whenever any of you six want to---all +you'll have to do, further, will be to fight." + +Another round of cheers confirmed Thompson's declaration. + +"Now, fellows, get a move on!" bawled Sam Edgeworth, captain of +the football eleven. "We've barely time to get to the field and +meet Coach Morton punctually." + +"Will you let me make one request?" shouted Dick, over the hubbub. + +"Yes. Go ahead! Get it out quick!" + +"Then please don't let out a word," begged young Prescott, "about +Dick & Co., as we fellows are called, being at the bottom of the +plot against the Board of Education." + +"Not a word!" promised Captain Edgeworth, gravely. + +Then Dick was hustled good-naturedly to the door, Ben Badger once +more springing forward to hold it open. As Dick hurried out onto +the sidewalk a hurricane of cheers followed him. Then, as the +door was closing, came a fierce burst of the High School yell. + +Just as it happened, this parting salute couldn't have been worse +timed. Within four doors Dr. Thornton, the principal, was sauntering +slowly along. He heard tine hubbub, of course, and looked up, +to see Dick Prescott coming out alone, a pleased look on his flushed +face. + +Across the street, just coming out of a store, was Chairman Jason +Stone of the Gridley Board of Education. + +"Young Prescott! Bless my soul!" murmured Dr. Thornton. "Why +are the football team making such a row over that young freshman?" + +In another instant the principal's question all but answered itself. + +"Why, I wonder," muttered the good doctor, "if the enthusiasm +in any way relates to the hoax on the Board. Was Prescott at +the bottom of it? I'll keep it in mind and try to find out!" + +"If the football crew are making all that row over a mere freshman," +thought Chairman Stone, "then young Prescott must be the inventor +of the yarn that has made Gridley wonder whether we of the Board +are so many 'dead ones.' Hm! hm! I'll find out if that's the +case. Such a trick is clearly one that would call for expelling +the young man from the High School!" + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +CAPTION OF THE HOUNDS + + +"Is that mucker going to run today?" + +The questioner was Fred Ripley, and his voice was full of disgust. +He glared at Dick Prescott, who was seated unconcernedly on a +stone wall, awaiting the arrival of Tom Reade and Dan Dalzell, +the only other members of Dick & Co. who were to figure in today's +event. + +"Is who going to run?" asked Ben Badger. + +"That little mucker, Prescott?" insisted Fred. + +"Yes," returned Badger, shortly. + +"Gridley H.S. is getting worse and worse," growled Ripley. +"Athletics ought to be confined to the best sort of fellows +in the school. These little muckers, these nobodies, ought +to be kept out of everything in which the real fellows take part." + +"Don't be a cad, Ripley," retorted Badger, half angrily. + +"Oh, I'm no great stickler for caste, and that sort of thing," +Fred grumbled on. "I'm democratic enough, when it comes to +that, and I associate with a good many fellows whose fathers don't +stand as high in the community as mine does." + +"That's really kind of you," mimicked Ben Badger, with another +look of disgust at the rich lawyer's son. "Of course, you feel +just as though anything that your father may have accomplished +puts you in a rather more elect lot." + +"Of course, it does," retorted Fred, drawing himself up stiffly. +"Still, you know as well as anyone does, Badger, that I'm not +stuck up just on account of family or position. I'm ready to +give the friend's hand to any of the right sort of fellows. But +what is that little mucker, Prescott? His parents peddle books +and newspapers." + +"They run a book and periodical shop, if that is what you mean," +rejoined Ben, disgustedly, as he looked the young snob over for +the third time. "Some mighty big people have done that in times +past. As to position, Prescott's father isn't a rich man, nor +a very successful one, but I wish I could look forward, some day, +to being half as well educated as Dick's father is." + +"A dreamer, a fool, a man who couldn't and didn't succeed," sneered +Fred. "And his son will be a bigger mistake in life. I don't +have anything to do with that kind of people and their friends." + +"I'll wish you good-day, then," broke in Badger, crisply, and +moved away. "I want to be reckoned as one of Dick Prescott's +friends. He's one of the most promising young fellows in Gridley +H.S." + +Ripley let loose an astounded gasp. He stood still where Badger +had left him, boiling over with rage. Had Ripley been wise, he +would have chosen another time for anger. Any trainer or physician +could have told this young snob that just before going off on +a long race is the worst possible time for letting anger get the +best of one. Anger excites the action of the heart to a degree +that makes subsequent running performance a thing of difficulty. + +Gridley H.S. was out for the October paper chase. This was an +annual event, in which the sophomores, or third classmen, acted +as the hares, while the freshmen played the part of the hounds. +The course was six miles across country. Three courses, of equal +length, were laid down, each with a different terminal. It was +known, in advance, only to the hares, which course would be run +over. But, which ever course was taken, it must be followed to +the end. Five minutes' start was allowed to the hares. Then +the hounds were sent after them in full yelp. By starting time +for the hounds the hares were sure to be out of sight. An official +of the first class, who followed the hares at the outset, gave +the call when the five minutes were up. Beginning with that call +the hares were obliged to scatter bits of paper, as they ran, +all the way to the finish of the run. + +All three of the courses were somewhat parallel during the first +five minutes of the run, but, as the hounds had no means of knowing +which course was the right one, the hounds had to divide their +forces until the first of the paper trails was struck. Then the +"baying" of the hounds who found the trail brought the other two +parties of freshmen to them. Usually, four or five upper classmen +ran with the hounds to decide upon "captures" in case of dispute. +A hound overhauling a hare had to throw his arms around the prize, +stopping him fairly for at least fifteen seconds. Then the hare +was sent back, out of the race. Each hound was credited with +the hare he captured. + +Twelve hares ran, also twelve hounds. If the hounds captured +seven or more of the hares ere the race was finished, then the +hounds won. If they captured less than six, the hares won. If +six hares were captured, then the race was a "tie." But, as will +be seen, with the five minutes' start, and the hares averaging +a year more of age, the sophomore class usually won this chase. + +These rules had originated at Gridley, where the High School boys +considered their form of the game superior to the rules usually +followed. + +This year, as in previous years, the sophomores felt confident of +winning. The freshmen hounds averaged rather small in size, +though little was known as to the freshmen running powers or +wind. The sophomores were all good runners. + +The contestants for positions on both teams had been tried out +three days before, by a committee of men from the first class. +The sophomores had not been allowed to see the freshmen run at +these trials. + +The start was to be made at three o'clock on this Monday afternoon. +All the runners were now here, Reade and Dalzell having been +among the last of the freshmen to come up. It was ten minutes +before three. + +"Half of the freshmen are a pretty mucky looking lot, aren't they?" +asked Ripley, as he and Purcell, of the hares, strolled by. + +"I hadn't noticed it," replied Purcell pleasantly. "I thought +them a clean and able looking lot of young fellows." + +"Humph! A pretty cheap lot! I call 'em," rejoined Ripley. + +Dick Prescott heard and flushed slightly. He understood the allusion, +coming from the source that it did. But Dick was bent on making +a good run this afternoon, and kept his temper. + +"Hares on the line!" shouted Frank Thompson, finally. He was +to fire the shots that started the two teams, then was to run +with the hounds to act as one of the judges of possible captures. + +Purcell, who was captain of the hares, led his men forward to +the line laid across the grass. Just before they formed, the +captain gave some whispered instructions. Ben Badger was already +at the line. He was to run with the hares during the first five +minutes, then give the final signal for beginning to scatter the +paper trail. + +"On the line there, quick!" called Thompson, watch in his left +hand, pistol in his right. "Ready!" + +The hares, each with a bag of torn paper hanging over one hip, +bent forward. + +Crack! At the report of the pistol the hares bounded forward. +In barely more than a minute afterwards they were out of sight. + +Then followed some minutes of tedious waiting for the Gridley +freshmen. + +"Hounds to the line!" + +Dick, who had been elected captain of the freshmen team, led his +men forward on all easy lope. Dick took his place at the extreme +left of the pursuing line, with Tom Reade next to him; then Dan +Dalzell. + +"Ready!" A pause of a few seconds. Crack! + +The pistol sent the hounds away. They did not attempt to run +fast. Captain Dick Prescott's orders were against that. The +hounds moved away at an easy lope, for there were miles yet to +be covered. Six miles, in fact, is more than average High School +boys of the lower classes can make at a cross-country jog. +A go-as-you-please gait was therefore allowed. Either hare or +hound might walk when he preferred. + +But for the first five minutes the hounds, who divided into three +squads almost immediately, moved along at an easy jog. Every +eye was alert for the first sign of a paper trail. There were +six upper classmen running with the hounds. Ben Badger was somewhere +ahead, hiding in order not to betray the trail. But, when he +had been passed, Badger would jump up and run with the hounds, +making the seventh judge. + +"I wonder if we've a ghost of a show to win," muttered Tom Reade. + +"Every show in the world---until we're beaten!" replied Dick, +doggedly. "It isn't in the Gridley blood to wonder if we can +win---we've got to win!" + +After that Dick closed his lips firmly. He must save his wind +for the long cross-country. + +On the left the runners were now in a field. The center was moving +along the highway, the right wing being in a field over beyond. + +"Wow-oo! wow-oo! wow-oo!" sounded a deep, far-away chorus. + +"There's the trail, away over to the right!" shouted Captain Dick. +"Come on, fellows!" + +On an oblique line he led them, toward the road. They took a +low stone wall on the leap, vaulting the fence at the other side +of the road. The center squad had already overtaken the discoverers +of the trail. + +"Run easily. Don't try to cover it all in a minute. Save your +wind!" admonished Dick to his own squad. + +The upper classmen judges ran well behind the hounds. It was +needful only that they be near enough to see and decide any disputed +point of capture. + +It was all of twenty-five minutes over a course that led across +fields and through woods, ere the hounds caught the first glimpse +of their quarry. Yet, all along, the paper trail was in evidence. +One of the hares was required to strew the small bits of paper. +When his bag was empty another hare must begin dropping the white +bits. + +"I'll bet Ripley dropped along here---the trail is so mean and +difficult," grunted Reade, disgustedly. + +"There are the hares ahead---I see two of them!" bellowed Dan +Dalzell, lustily. + +A chorus from the hounds responded an instant later. Yes; they +had come in sight of the chase. But the rearmost hares were still +a good half mile away. Then the hares disappeared into a forest, +leaving only the paper trail as evidence of their presence. + +"Brook ahead!" sang out Captain Dick. "Go easily and save some +of your wind for jumping." + +In a minute more they came to it. Most of the hounds knew when +to start on the faster run that must precede the running jump. + +Splash! splash. + +Splash! spla-a-ash! + +Four of the freshmen floundered in the knee-deep water. Well +doused, they must none the less dash out of the cold water and +continue on the chase. + +"Keep a-moving, and you'll soon be dry and warm," Dick called +backward over his shoulder. The four who had been badly wet ran +heavily now, yet afraid of ridicule if they fell out. They were +having their first taste of High School sports, which made no +allowance for quitters. + +Twenty minutes later a low hurrah went up from the freshmen hounds. +Dawson, of the hares, found the pace too swift for him. With +a slight pain in his side he lagged so that one of the hounds +put on an extra spurt, then wound his arms around the sophomore. + +"Fair capture!" bawled one of the judges, and Dawson, dropping +out, sat down until he could get his wind back. + +Within the next twenty minutes four more of the hares fell into +the maws of the hounds. + +Five captures! That was fine. Only two more needed, and less +than two miles to cover. + +The hares were, at this time, again out of sight in the woods +ahead. But Captain Dick, having saved his wind well, now put +on a slightly better spurt and jogged ahead, full of the purpose +of capturing his second hare. One of the "catches" was already +recorded to his credit. + +"There's one of the hares," Dick flashed to himself, as he caught +an indistinct glimpse of a sweater and a moving pair of legs ahead. +"He seems to be losing his wind, too---that fellow." + +In a minute more Dick gave another gasp of discovery. + +"It's Fred Ripley. I suppose it will be bitter medicine for him, +if _I_ make the catch," thought the young captain of the hounds. + +Though he was too manly, too good a sportsman to allow malice +to creep in, Prescott certainly did do his best to overtake the +lagging Fred. + +Gradually, the young captain left the hares behind. But Badger, +who was an easy runner, forged ahead so as to keep the leading +hound in full sight. + +Hearing some one running behind him, Fred Ripley glanced backward +over his shoulder. + +"The mucker!" gritted the lawyer's son. "He mustn't catch me---he +shan't!" + +Yet vainly did Ripley try to put on more speed. He kept it up +for a few yards, then knew that he was failing. That ill-advised +anger before the start was surely telling on him now. Dick still +kept forward, gaining a yard or so every few minutes. + +"Keep back! Don't you dare touch me, you mucker!" hissed Fred +sharply over his shoulder. + +"Mucker?" retorted Prescott. "I'll pay you for that!" + +At a bound he covered the distance, throwing first one arm, then +the other, fairly around Ripley. Fred fought furiously to break +the clasp, but was so winded that he couldn't. + +"Let go of me! Your touch soils!" he cried, hoarsely. + +But Dick still kept his hold, counting: "---twelve, thirteen, +fourteen, fifteen!" + +"Fair capture!" rumbled Ben Badger. + +The other hounds, or their leaders, were stripping by now. Dick, +at the judge's words, loosed his hold on Fred. + +"You cur!" snarled Fred. Then, summoning all his remaining strength, +Ripley hauled off and struck astounded Dick on the face, sending +the captain of the hounds to the ground. + +"Take that, mucker!" shouted the assailant. + +Those of the hounds who had not shot by, halted in sheer amazement. + +Like a flash Dick was on his feet, his eyes flashing, cheeks flushing +crimson. + +"Go on, hounds, go on!" he shouted. "I can take care of this +one disgrace to Gridley H.S.!" + + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE "MUCKER" AND THE "GENTLEMAN" + + +Ben Badger gave Captain Dick a shove. "Go on, Prescott! Go on, +hounds!" roared Badger. "You've only one more capture to make. +Run along, Dick! I'll take care of Ripley. He'll stay right +here until you come back, or else he'll never have the nerve to +show his face at Gridley H.S. again! Run, you hounds!" + +Dick needed no farther urging. + +Though he was naturally wild with anger, inside, he managed to +keep that feeling down and back. He was captain of the hounds. +He had his duty to his team and his class first of all to think +about. + +"Come on, hounds!" he shouted to those who had lagged at sight +of the knock-down. "One more hare in our trap---then we'll be +back here!" + +What he meant by being "back here" everyone present could guess. +In fact, many wondered why there had not sooner been a fight +between the freshman and his determined sophomore enemy. + +Truth to tell, Dick, after that day in the school grounds, had +been inclined to overlook the whole affair. + +He was not afraid of Ripley. It was only that Dick's ordinary +good nature had triumphed. He was not a brawler, yet could stand +out for his rights when a need came. + +A third of a mile further on another yell of triumph floated back +to young Prescott, who had not yet regained the lead. + +In a few moments more the last of the hounds came upon a flushed, +joyous group of freshmen runners. With them were two of the judges +and a sheepish-looking hare. + +The freshmen hounds had won, and had bagged all the hares for +which the game called. Let the five remaining hares keep on running +to the finish, if they would. For the first time in seven years +the freshmen hounds, led by Captain Dick Prescott, had won. + +"Ki-yi-yi-yi-yi!" howled the exultant fourth classmen. "And another +for Dick Prescott." + +"Dick Prescott has other game on his hands now," spoke up Dan +Dalzell, one of the late arrivals. + +"What's the row?" demanded the freshman who had just bagged the +seventh hare. + +"Row? That's just it," nodded Dan. "Prescott caught Ripley---" + +"We saw that." + +"But you didn't see the finish. Ripley, as soon as he was released, +knocked Dick down." + +"And _you_ came on with the hounds, Dick!" demanded Tom Reade, +incredulously. + +"Badger is keeping Ripley on ice until we get back," Dan supplied, +hastily. + +"Then let us get back quick!" begged Reade. + +"Not too fast, though," objected Dan. "Remember, Ripley has been +getting his wind back since he stopped. Give our Dick the +same show." + +No one thought of asking why Dick would need his wind now. To +those who had heard the brief recital of facts it was plain that +there could be but one finish to the afternoon's sport. Prescott's +hand was sound, at last, and he could give an account of himself. + +"Walk slowly, all hands," insisted Dan. "Dick, old fellow, on +the way back, amuse yourself by getting in all the full, deep +breaths that you can." + +"I'll be all right," spoke Dick confidently. + +It did not look that way to many of them. Dick was shorter, and +weighed much less than did the sophomore who was waiting back +there under the trees. Ripley had had a good deal of training +in boxing, and was not a coward when he thought the odds on his +own side. What none of the fellows knew, though, was that the +lawyer's son, ever since that scene in the school yard, had been +at his boxing lessons again with renewed energy. + +"Play him for delay, at first, Dick," whispered Dan. "If Ripley +can rush you, and get you excited, he'll have a better chance +to win out. If you hold him off, hinder him and delay him, before +long he'll lose some of his nerve. A fellow like Ripley will +begin to go all to pieces, once he gets it into his head that +he has a long and hard job before him." + +"I'll do my best," Dick promised. "Hang it, if he hadn't knocked +me down so treacherously, I wouldn't care about fighting. I don't +care so much what he _says_. Fred Ripley's mouth is the weakest +part of him." + +The sophomore was waiting, a sulky frown on his face. A few feet +away Ben Badger, a grim look on his usually good-humored face, +leaned against a tree, his arms folded. + +Even had he wanted to get away from this, Ripley couldn't have +done it. For a sophomore to find any excuse for getting out of +a fight with a freshman would bring down upon the soph all the +wrath and disgust of the disgraced third class. + +"Come on, mucker! Take off your sweater and get ready to take +your real medicine!" snarled Fred, harshly. + +But Dick Prescott, young as he was, was much too wise to allow +himself to be betrayed into anger. Instead, he halted a few feet +away, looking with a significant smile at his enemy. + +"As I understand it," replied Prescott, "the festivities that +are soon to commence are to decide which is the mucker---which +will go down to the ground to eat his fill of dirt." + +Badger, Thompson and Butler took upon themselves the direction +of the coming "affair." + +"See here, Ted, you look after Ripley's interests," proposed Badger. + +"It's a mean job. I'd sooner have the other side of the bet," +grumbled Ted Butler, in an undertone. + +"I'll look after young Prescott," continued Ben Badger. "Thomp +will do all the honors as referee." + +Ripley was already peeling off his sweater. + +"Get down to your fighting rig, Prescott," urged Badger, leading +his principal to one side. "How are you, boy?" he whispered, +anxiously. "Feeling right up to the fighting pitch?" + +"I hate fighting," Dick answered, simply, speaking so that only +his second could hear him. + +"Of course it's necessary sometimes, but I can never quite help +feeling that, at best, it's low-down business." + +"So it is," assented Bed Badger, heartily enough. "But what about +it in the case of a sneak like Ripley? If he didn't have other +fellows' fists to fear he'd be unbearable." + +"He is, anyway," muttered Dick, just before his head was covered +by the sweater that Badger was helping him remove. + +"You've been doing a lot of running this afternoon, gentlemen," +declared Thompson, as the two combatants came toward him. "Do +you each feel as though you had fighting wind left?" + +"I've got as much as the other fellow," replied Dick. + +"Don't you dare refer to me as a 'fellow'!" ordered Ripley, scowling. + +"I'll call you a girl, then, if you prefer," proposed Dick, with +a tantalizing grin. + +"You don't know how to talk to gentlemen," retorted Fred, harshly. + +"Be silent, both of you," ordered Thompson, sternly. "You can +do your talking in another way. + +"Can't begin too soon for me," uttered Ripley. + +"One minute rounds for you, gentlemen," continued Thompson, then +turned to another upper classman, requesting him to hold the watch. +"Now are you ready?" + +Ripley grunted, Dick nodded. + +"Ready, then! Shake hands!" + +"I won't," replied Dick, sturdily, ere Fred could speak. The +latter, though he, too, would have refused, went white with rage. + +"Take your places, then," directed Thompson, briskly. "Ready! +Time!" + +Fred Ripley put up a really splendid guard as he advanced warily +upon the freshman. Dick's guard, at the outset, was not as good. +They feinted for two or three passes, then Ripley let out a short-arm +jab that caught Dick Prescott on the end of the nose. Blood began +to drip. + +Ripley's eyes danced. "I'll black both eyes, too, before I put +you out," he threatened, in a low tone, as he fought in for another +opening. + +"Brag's a good dog," retorted Dick, quietly. The blow, though +it had stung, had served to make him only the more cool. He was +watching, cat-like, for Ripley's style of attack. That style +was a good one, from the "scientific" view-point, if Ripley could +maintain it without excitement and all the while keep his wind. + +But would he? The freshman, though not much of a lover of fighting, +had made some study of the art. Moreover, Dick had a dogged coolness +that went far in the arena. + +Suddenly, Dick let go such a seemingly careless shoulder blow +with his left, straight for Ripley's face, that Fred almost lazily +threw up his right arm to stop it. But to have that right out +of the way was just what Prescott was playing for. Quick as thought +Dick's right flew out, colliding with Ripley's mid-wind with a +force that brought a groan from the taller fighter. Dick might +have followed it up, but he chivalrously sprang back, waiting +for Fred to make the first sign of renewal of combat. + +"Time!" came from the boy with the watch. + +"Kid, you're going to be all right; you've got your horse-sense +with you," glowed Ben Badger, as he hurried Dick back under a +tree. "Let me see what I can do to stop your nose running quite +so red." + +Soon the summons came that took the combatants back to the imaginary +ring. Again they went at it, both sides cautious, for Ripley +was puzzled and a bit afraid. He had not expected this little +freshman to last for a second round. Before the second call of +"time" came Ripley had managed to land two stinging ones on Dick's +left cheek, but the freshman did not go down, nor even wilt under +this treatment. He was proving the fact that he could "take punishment." +Yet Dick did not land anything that hurt his opponent. + +"You didn't half try this time," whispered Ben, as he attended +his man in the "corner" under the tree. + +"Come on, mucker!" yelled Ripley, derisively, when the two were +summoned for the third round. + +"Speak for yourself, fellow," Dick answered, coolly. + +"I'm a gentleman, and a gentleman's son," proclaimed Fred, haughtily. +"You're a mucker, and the son of a mucker!" + +"Time!" + +Dick could stand an ordinary insult with a fair amount of good +nature, when he despised the source of the insult. But now there +was a quiet flash in his eyes that Badger was glad to see. + +Ripley started in to rush things. In quick succession he delivered +half a dozen stout blows. Only one of then landed, and that glancingly. +Ripley was puzzled, but he had no time to guess. For Dick was +not exactly rushing, now. He was merely fighting in close, remembering +that he had two striking hands, and that feinting was sometimes +useful. + +"A-a-a-h!" The murmur went up, eagerly, as the onlookers saw Prescott +land his right fist in solid impact against Ripley's right eye. +Bump! Before Ripley could get back out of such grueling quarters +Dick had landed a second blow over the other eye. Ripley staggered. +A body blow sent him to his knees. Dick backed off but a few +inches. + +"One, two, three, four, five, six-----" droned off the timekeeper. + +Fred Ripley tried to leap up, but, as he did so, Dick's waiting +left caught him a staggering one on the nose that toppled him +over backwards to the ground. + +"One, two, three-----" began the timekeeper, but suddenly broke +off, to call time. + +"Prescott, you're a bird!" declared Ben Badger, exultantly, as +he led his man away. + +"I wouldn't have gone for him so hard," muttered Dick. "But the +fellow started to get nasty with his mouth. Then it was time +to let him have it." + +Frank Thompson went over to Ripley, to see whether the latter +wanted to continue the fight. + +"That mucker took an unfair advantage of me, hitting me when I was +getting up," grumbled Fred, who now looked a good deal battered. + +"Prescott was right within the rules," declared Thompson. "You +would have done the same thing if you had had the chance." + +Fred growled something under his breath. + +"Are you coming back to the ring?" demanded the referee. + +Ripley hesitated. The yellow streak was strong in him, but he +dreaded letting the others see it. + +"I'd rather finish this up some other day," he proposed. + +"You know you can't do that," retorted Thompson, disgustedly. +"You either have to come up to the scratch, or admit yourself +beaten." + +"Admit myself beaten---by that mucker?" gasped Ripley, turning +livid. + +"Then come up at the call of time," directed Thompson, and strode +back to the battle ground. + +The timekeeper called. Dick Prescott returned to his ground. +Ripley stood back, leaning against a tree. He tried hard to +look dignified, but one glance at his nose and eyes was enough +to spoil the effect. + +"Coming, Ripley?" demanded Thompson. + +"Brace up, man, unless you want to admit your thrashing," urged +Ted Butler. + +"I'll attend to that mucker when I feel like it," growled Fred +Ripley. + +The form of the remark was unfortunate for the one who made it, +for it caused one of the freshman class to call out exultantly: + +"He sure doesn't feel like it just now. Look at him!" + +"Come, if you don't hurry in you've get to admit the beating," +muttered Ted Butler. + +Ripley's reply being only a snort, Butler suddenly drew forth +his handkerchief, rolling it rapidly into a ball. + +"In default of a sponge," called Butler, "I throw this up for +my man---I mean principal." + +"Ripley being unable to come to the scratch, the fight is awarded +to Prescott," announced Frank Thompson. + +"Whoop! Hoo-oo-ray!" The freshmen clustered about were wild with +excitement. + +"You'll have a fine time squaring this with the sophomore class," +uttered Ted Butler, disgustedly. "Your class, Ripley, will be +sore enough, anyway, over losing the paper chase for the first +time that any of us can remember. Now, for a soph to be thrashed, +in three rounds, by a little freshman-----" + +Butler didn't finish, but, turning on his heel, walked over to +join the rest. + +There were two sophomores there who had come over at the end of +the paper chase, but neither went to the assistance of his defeated +classman. Ripley, alone, got his sweater back over his head. +The crowd was around Dick Prescott, who felt almost ashamed of +the fight, unavoidable as he knew it to have been. + +When he had finished getting his clothes on, Ripley stalked moodily +past the main group. + +"You mucker," he hissed, "I suppose you feel swelled up over having +had a chance to fight gentleman. You-----" + +"Oh, Ripley, dry up---do!" interjected Ted Butler. "You call +yourself a gentleman, but you talk and act more like well, more +like a pup with the mange!" + +"A pup with the mange! Great!" came the gleeful chorus from a +half score of freshmen. + +"I'm not through with you, yet, Prescott!" Fred Ripley called +back over his shoulder. "I'll settle my score with you at my +convenience!" + +Then, as he put more distance between himself and the other Gridley +High School boys, Ripley added to himself: + +"That settlement shall stop at nothing to put Dick Prescott in +the dust---where he belongs." + +"Oh, freshie, but you've coolness and judgment," cried Thompson, +approvingly. "And you've broken one cad's heart today." + +"I'm sorry if I have," declared Dick, frankly, generously. "I +wouldn't have had any heart in the fight if he hadn't started +in to humiliate me. I wouldn't have cared so much for that, either. +But he started to say something nasty about my parents, and I +have as good parents as ever a boy had. Then I felt I simply +_had_ to fit a plug between Ripley's teeth." + +Fred Ripley had pain in his eyes to help keep him awake that +night. Yet he would have been awake, anyway, for his wicked +brain was seething with plans for the way to "get even" with +Dick Prescott. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +FRED OFFERS TO SOLVE THE LOCKER MYSTERY + + +For a week Gridley High School managed to get along without the +presence of Fred Ripley. That haughty young man was at home, +nursing a pair of black eyes and his wrath. + +Yet, in a whole week, a mean fellow who is rather clever can hatch +a whole lot of mischief. This Dick & Co., and some others, were +presently to discover. + +All outer wraps were left in the basement in locker rooms on which +barred iron doors were locked. In the boys' basement were lockers +A and B. Each locker was in charge of a monitor who carried the +key to his own particular locker room. + +As it happened Dick Prescott was at present monitor of Locker A. + +If during school hours, one of the boys wanted to get his hat +out of a locker the monitor of that locker went to the basement +with him, unlocking the door, and locking it again after the desired +article of apparel had been obtained. + +Thus, in a general way, each monitor was responsible for the safety +of hats, coats, umbrellas, overshoes, etc., that might have been +left in the locker that was in his charge. + +Wednesday, just after one o'clock one of the sophomore boys went +hurriedly up the stairs, a worried look on his face. He went +straight to the principal's office, and was fortunate enough to +find that gentleman still at his desk. + +"What is it, Edwards?" asked the principal, looking up. + +"Dr. Thornton, I've had something strange happen to me, or to +my overcoat, if you prefer to put it that way," replied Edwards. + +"What has gone wrong?" + +"Why, sir, relying on the safety of the looker, I left, at recess +in one of my overcoat pockets, a package containing a jeweled +pin that had been repaired for my mother. Now, sir, on going +down to my coat, I found the pin missing from the pocket." + +"Did you look thoroughly on the floor, Edwards?" + +"Yes, sir; hunted thoroughly." + +"Wait; I'll go down with you," proposed the principal. + +Both principal and student searched thoroughly in the locker. +Dick, as in duty bound, was still there, on guard at the door. + +"Mr. Prescott," asked puzzled Dr. Thornton, did any student have +admittance to the locker after recess today?" + +"None, sir," answered Dick promptly. + +"Hm! And you're absolutely sure, Mr. Edwards, that you left the +little package in your overcoat pocket?" + +"Positive of it, Dr. Thornton." + +"It's so strange that it startles me," admitted the good principal. + +"It startles me a good deal," confessed Edwards, grimly, "to think +what explanation I am to offer my mother." + +"Oh, well, it _must_ turn up," replied Dr. Thornton, though vaguely. +"Anyway, Edwards, there has been no theft. The door is locked, +and the only two keys to it are the one carried by the monitor +and a duplicate which is kept locked in my own desk. You'll probably +find it in one of your pockets." + +"I have been through every pocket in my clothes at least seven +times, sir," insisted the dismayed Edwards. "And that is a rather +valuable pin," he added; "worth, I believe, something, like fifty +dollars." + +"Rest assured that we'll have some good explanation of the mystery +before long," replied the principal as soothingly as he could. + +Edwards went away, sore and disheartened, but there was nothing +more to be said or done. + +Thursday morning Dr. Thornton carried the investigation further, +but absolutely no light could be shed on the missing pin. + +But at recess it was Frank Thompson who came upstairs breathless. + +"Dr. Thornton," he cried, excitedly, "it's my own fault, of course, +but I'm afraid I've seen the last of my watch. It's one that +father carried for a good many years, and at last gave me. The +works are not very expensive, but the case was a gold one." + +"How did you lose it?" inquired the principal, looking up over +the gold rims of his spectacles. + +"Why, I had to hurry to make school this morning, sir, and, as +you know, it's a rather long walk. So I carried my watch in the +little change pocket in my reefer in order to be able to look +at it frequently. I reached the locker just in time not to be +late, and forgot and left my watch in the reefer. When I went +down just now I found the watch gone." + +"Oh, but this is serious!" gasped Dr. Thornton, in dismay. "It +begins to look like an assured fact that there is some thief at +work. Yet Prescott alone has a key to that locker." + +"Prescott is all right. He's no thief," put in Thompson, quickly. + +"I agree with you, Mr. Thompson. I consider Mr. Prescott too +manly a fellow to be mixed up in anything dishonest. Yet something +is wrong---very wrong. For the safety and good name of us all +we must go to the bottom of this mystery." + +That, of course, was all the satisfaction Thompson could expect +at the moment. He went out to the remainder of his recess, feeling +decidedly blue. Nor was Dr. Thornton any less disturbed. + +When recess was over, the entire body of students was questioned +in the general assembly room, but no light was forthcoming. + +"Of course, in view of what has happened," counseled Dr. Thornton, +"the young gentlemen will do well to leave nothing of value in +their coats in the locker rooms. And while nothing distressing, +has yet happened in the young ladies basement, I trust they will +govern themselves by what has happened on the young men's side." + +Dick Prescott felt much concerned over it all, though he did not +imagine that anyone suspected _him_ of any share in the disappearance +of articles of value. + +Friday there were no mishaps, for the very simple reason that +no one left anything of value in the locker rooms. + +On Monday Fred Ripley was back again. With the aid of a little +help from the druggist the haughty young man presented two eyes +that did not show any signs of having been damaged. Fred himself +offered no comment on his absence. He seemed anxious to be on +especially good terms with all of the upper classmen with whom +he usually associated. + +During the first period of the morning Ripley had no recitation +on. He sat at his desk studying. Presently as permitted under +the rules, he whispered softly with the boy seated behind him. + +Then, suddenly, Ripley rose and tip-toed down the aisle to the +desk. The principal himself sat there in charge. + +"Dr. Thornton," began Ripley, in a low voice, "I was away last +week, and so didn't hear all the school news. I have just learned +about the locker room thefts, and so I'm uneasy. Just as the +bell rang I was having trouble with the pearl and diamond scarf-pin +that I often wear. There wasn't time to adjust it, so I dropped +it in my overcoat pocket. I would like to go down to my coat, +now, and get it." + +"Prescott is reciting in IV. Physics," replied Dr. Thornton, rising. +"However, in view of all that has happened, I think we shall +do well to go down and call him out of class. I don't want any +more valuable articles to be missing." + +Principal and student went quietly to the floor below. Dr. Thornton +thrust his head into the physics laboratory and quietly called +Dick out, explaining what was wanted. + +"You'll come, too, won't you, doctor?" asked Ripley. + +The principal nodded without speaking. As the three reached the +barred door, Dick inserted the key, then threw open the door. +Fred marched over to his coat, thrusting his hand into a pocket. + +"By thunder, it's gone!" gasped Fred. + +In an instant Dr. Thornton bounded into the locker room. He himself +explored every pocket in the boy's coat. + +"Strange! strange!" muttered the bewildered principal. + +"All the other thefts happened in this locker, didn't they?" inquired +Ripley, suspiciously. + +"Yes---if thefts they were," admitted Dr. Thornton. + +"Nothing missing from the other locker room?" + +"Nothing." + +"Doctor," went on Ripley, as though loath to utter the words, +I hate to suggest anything of the sort. But---er---but---has the +monitor of this locker been searched after any of +the---er---disappearances?" + +"Ripley, you forget yourself!" cried the principal. + +"What do you mean!" flared Dick, in the same breath, turning crimson, +next going very white. + +"Doctor, I'm sorry," spoke Ripley, with great seeming reluctance, +"but that pin is a costly one. I ask that the monitor be searched!" + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +DICK'S TURN TO GET A JOLT + + +"Ripley, you don't realize what you are saying!" cried Dr. Thornton, +gazing at the sophomore in very evident distress. + +"I only know that I'm all broken up, sir, over losing my costly +pin," persisted Fred. "And I know my father will be angry, and +will raise a row at the School Board's meeting." + +Dick Prescott, standing by, had turned from scarlet to white, +and back again. + +"But Ripley," explained the principal, almost pleadingly, "the +act would be illegal. No one has a lawful right to search the +person of anyone except a properly qualified police officer. +And even the police officer can do so only after he has arrested +a suspected person." + +"Oh, then I suppose, sir, there's no show for me to get any real +justice done in this matter," muttered Fred, with an air of feigned +resignation. + +But by now Dick Prescott felt that he must speak---or explode. + +"Dr. Thornton," he cried, chokingly, "the charge made against +me, or, at least, implied, is an outrageous one. But, as a matter +of justice to me, now that the hint has been cast, I ask that +_you_, sir, search me right here and now." + +"Then you've had time to hide the pin!" muttered Fred, in a very +low voice. + +Dick Prescott heard, but he paid no heed to the fellow. + +"Dr. Thornton, will you search me---_now_?" insisted the young +freshman. + +"But I don't want to, Prescott," appealed the principal. "I haven't +the remotest suspicion of you, anyway, my dear boy." + +"I ask the search, sir, just as a matter of justice," Dick insisted. +"If it were not too strong a word, then I would say that I _demand_ +to be searched here and now." + +Suiting the action to the word, Dick Prescott, standing proudly +erect, raised both arms over his head. + +"Now, please, doctor, just as a matter of simple justice," begged +the young freshman. + +"Oh, very well, then, Mr. Prescott," sighed the principal. "But +I never had a more distasteful task." + +Into one of the side pockets Dr. Thornton projected a shaking +hand. He drew out only some scraps of paper, which he promptly +thrust back. Then he inserted a hand in the jacket pocket on +the other side. + +"Ouch!" suddenly exclaimed the principal, in very real pain. + +He drew the hand out, quickly. A drop of blood oozed up at the +tip of his forefinger. + +"Mr. Prescott," demanded Dr. Thornton, "what is that pointed object +in your pocket?" + +"_What_?" demanded Fred Ripley, tensely. + +Dick himself thrust a hand into that pocket, and drew forth---Fred +Ripley's missing pin. + +"What---why---who-----" gasped the freshman, suffocatingly. + +"Oh, yes, of course," jeered Fred Ripley. "Astonished, aren't +you---you mucker?" + +The last two words Ripley uttered in so low a tone that the principal, +gazing in horrified fascination at the pin that he now held in +his own hands, did not hear. + +"You coward!" cried Dick, hotly, and clenched his fist, intent +on driving it against the sophomore's face. + +But Dr. Thornton knew enough about High School boys' fights, to +galvanize himself into action. Like a flash he bounded between +the two boys. + +"Here, here, Prescott, none of that!" he admonished. + +"I---I beg _your_ pardon, sir," gasped Dick, in a tone which made +it very plain that he did not include his enemy in that apology. + +"May I trouble you for my pin, sir, now that it has been recovered?" +asked Fred, coolly. + +"Why---um!---that depends," replied Dr. Thornton, slowly, speaking +with a painful effort. "If you, or your father, have or would +have any idea of a criminal prosecution, Ripley, then it would +be improper to return your pin. It would have to be turned over +to the police as an exhibit in evidence. _But_ do you intend +anything of that sort, Mr. Ripley?" + +"Why, that's as _you_ say, doctor," replied the sophomore, quickly. +"It's a matter of school discipline, and belongs to your province. +Personally, I know that I would rather not have this matter go +any further." + +"I---I don't know what to do," confessed Dr. Thornton, in anxious +perplexity. "In any event, before doing anything, I think I had +better consult the superintendent and the Board of Education. +Mr. Prescott, I will say, freely, that I am most loath to believe +anything of this sort against you can be possible. There must +be---must be---some---er explanation. I---I---don't want you +to feel that I believe your guilt as yet assured. I---I-----" + +Here Dr. Thornton broke down, dabbing at his eyes with his +handkerchief. Almost unconsciously he passed the pin, which he +was yet holding, to Fred Ripley. + +"Lock the locker door, Mr. Prescott---and give me the key," +requested the principal. + +Dick passed over the key, then spoke, with more composure than +might have been expected under the circumstances: + +"Dr. Thornton, I am as innocent of any thieving as you yourself +can be. Sooner or later the right of this will come out. Then +you will realize that I didn't steal anything. I'll prove myself +innocent yet, sir." + +"I hope so, my boy, I---I---hope so," replied the principal. + +As they ascended, Fred Ripley stepped aside to let the other two +go first. He was afraid to have Dick Prescott behind him just +then. + +No sooner had the trio entered the general assembly room than +it quickly dawned on all the students of both sexes that something +was unusually wrong. + +Dick's face was red as fire. Had he been guilty of the thefts, +he might have been cooler about it all. Conscious innocence often +puts on the appearance of guilt. + +Somehow, Dick got to his seat. He picked up a book, mechanically, +and pretended to be deeply absorbed in study. + +"What's up?" whispered the fellow seated behind Fred. + +Ripley turned enough to raise his eyebrows significantly and let +his questioner see him do it. Instantly all seated near the lawyer's +son became intensely curious. + +Wondering glances strayed from over book-tops, even from the far +corners of the big assembly room. + +Then the curious glanced at Dr. Thornton so often that the much +disturbed principal soon called another teacher to the desk and +left the room. + +At recess, Purcell, of the sophomore class, was found in charge +at the door of Dick's old locker room. Ripley held his tongue +until he was out in the school yard. Then he broke loose before +those who would listen to him---and the number was large. + +Dick & Co. had gathered by themselves in another corner of the +yard. Here, however, they were soon joined by a small mob of +the fellows, especially of the freshman class. Dick had his say. +He didn't want to say much, but he related, in a straightforward +way, what had happened. + +"It's one of Fred Ripley's mean tricks," declared one of the freshmen. +"Fred Ripley can't fool anyone. He put that pin in Dick's pocket +himself." + +"But two thefts---two things were missed last week, when Ripley +wasn't at school at all," spoke one boy, in an undertone. + +"Yes; that's the queer part of it," agreed another boy. "Ripley +couldn't have had anything to do with those other cases." + +This latter was the view that was occurring to Mr. Thornton, as +he sat in the principal's room, poring and pondering over the +whole distressing matter. + +Thompson and the other football leaders came trooping over to +Dick & Co. as soon as they heard the noise. Prescott was a hero +with the football crowd. There was no use in telling them anything +against their little freshie hero. + +"Prescott, it would look foolish to talk much," declared Thompson, +in a voice that was husky from real emotion. "Just give me your +hand, old man!" + +Dick took the proffered hand, pressing it hard and gratefully. +Then the rest of the football squad pressed forward, each insisting +on a hearty handshake. + +"Nobody except those who want to, will stomach this silly charge +against Dick," grunted Tom Reade to Dan Dalzell. "See how it's +turning out? Our old pal and leader is holding a regular reception." + +"'Scuse me," begged Dan, hastily. "There's Laura Bentley beckoning +to me." + +He hastened over to the girl's side. There were tiny drops in +the corners of Laura's eyes that looked like suppressed tears. + +"Dan," she said, coming straight to the point, "we have heard, +of course. What a silly charge! See here, you pals of Dick's +are going to walk home with him from school this noon?" + +"Surest thing that ever happened in the world," declared Dalzell, +fervently. + +"Just so," nodded Laura. "Well, if you won't think it strange +or forward, six of us girls want to walk along with you boys. +That will be a hint that the freshman class, if not the whole +H.S., passes a vote of confidence in Dick Prescott, the most +straightforward fellow in the class or the school." + +"Bully for you, Miss Bentley!" glowed Dan. "We shall be looking +for you young ladies when school lets out." + +When the outside bell rang for reassembling, such a guard of honor +had chosen to gather around Dick, and march in with him, that +it looked more like a triumphal procession. + +"I feel better," sighed the boy, contentedly to himself, as he +dropped into his seat. "What a bully thing a little confidence +is!" + +When school let out, Dick & Co., each partner escorting one of +the freshman girls, strolled down the street. A good many more +of the students chose to drop in behind them. Dick could say +nothing, but his heart swelled with pride. + +"The way to get famous and respected, nowadays, is to steal something, +and to get found out," sneered Fred Ripley, bitterly, to Clara +Deane. + +Straight to his own door did some two score in all of the Gridley +H.S. students escort Dick Prescott. + +"Three cheers for Dick!" proposed some one. + +"And for Dick and Co.!" shouted another voice. + +The cheers were given with gusto. So much noise was made, in +fact, that Mrs. Prescott came to open the door. + +Something in his mother's face---a look of dread and alarm---spoiled +the cheering for Dick. As soon as he could he got inside the +house. + +Little did the young freshman suspect the ordeal that awaited +him here. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +ONLY A "SUSPENDED" FRESHMAN NOW + + +"What's wrong mother? Have you heard-----" the boy began, as +soon as the door was closed. + +"Yes, Richard." + +"But, mother, I am inno-----" + +"Oh, Dick, of course you are! But this fearful suspicion is enough +to kill one who loves you. Come! Your father is in the store. +Dr. Thornton is upstairs. He and---and---a policeman. + +"Policeman!" gasped Dick, paling instantly. "Do they mean to-----" + +"I don't know just what they mean, Dick I'm too dazed to guess," +replied his mother. "But come upstairs." + +As Dick entered their little parlor he was dimly aware that the +High School principal was in the room. But the boy's whole gaze +was centered on a quiet little man---Hemingway, the plain clothes +man from the police station. + +"Don't look scared to death, Prescott," urged Dr. Thornton, with +a faint attempt at a smile. "We want to go through with a little +formality---that is all. This matter at the High School has +puzzled me to such a degree that I left early today and went to +consult with Mr. Hemingway. Now, he thought it best that we come +around here and have a talk with you." + +"I can begin that talk best," pursued Hemingway, "by asking you, +Prescott, whether you have anything that you want to say first-off?" + +"I can't say anything," replied Dick, slowly, "except that I know +nothing as to how any of the articles missed at school came to +vanish. Ripley's pin was found in my pocket today, and I can +only guess that some one---Ripley, perhaps dropped it in my pocket. +Ripley has some feelings of enmity for me, anyway. We had a +fight last week, and---" Dick could not repress a smile---"I thrashed +him so that he was out of school for several days." + +"But Ripley was not at school for the last few days, until today," +broke in Dr. Thornton. "Now, a pin and a watch were missed while +Ripley was not attending school." + +"I know it, sir," Dick nodded. "As to those two articles I cannot +offer even the ghost of an explanation." + +"I don't like to accuse you of taking Ripley's scarf-pin, nor +do I like to suspect him of putting up such a contemptible trick," +explained Dr. Thornton, thoughtfully. "As far as the incident +of the scarf-pin goes I am willing to admit that your explanation +is just as likely to be good as is any other." + +"Prescott, what did you do with the other pin and the watch?" +shot in Policeman Hemingway, suddenly and compellingly. + +It was well done. Had Dick been actually guilty, he might either +have betrayed himself, or gone to stammering. But, as it was, +he smiled, wanly, as he replied: + +"I didn't do anything with them, Mr. Hemingway. I have just been +explaining that." + +"How much money have you about you at this moment?" demanded Hemingway. + +"Two cents, I believe," laughed Dick, beginning to turn out his +pockets. He produced the two copper coins, and held them out +to the special officer. + +"You may have more about you, then, somewhere," hinted the officer. + +"Find it, then," begged Dick, frankly, as he stepped forward. +"Search me. I'll allow it, and shall be glad to have you do it." + +So Policeman Hemingway made the search, with the speed and skill +of an expert. + +"No; you've no more money about you," admitted the policeman. +"You may have some put away, though." + +"Where would it be likely to be?" Dick inquired. + +"In your room, perhaps; in your baggage, or hidden behind books; +oh, there's a lot of places where a boy can hide money in his +own room." + +"Come along and show me a few of them, then, won't you please?" +challenged the young freshman. + +Mrs. Prescott, who had been hovering near the doorway, gave a +gasp of dismay. To her tortured soul this police investigation +seemed to be the acme of disgrace. It all pointed to the arrest +of her boy---to a long term in some jail or reformatory, most +likely. + +"Madame," asked the plain clothes man, stepping to the door, "will +you give your full consent to my searching your son's room---in +the presence of yourself and of Dr. Thornton, of course? I am +obliged to ask your permission, for, without a search warrant +I have no other legal right than that which you may give me." + +"Of course you may search Richard's room," replied his mother, +quickly. "But you'll be wasting your time, for you'll find nothing +incriminating in my boy's room." + +"Of course not, of course not," replied Hemingway, soothingly. +"That is what we most want---_not_ to find anything there. Will +you lead the way, please? Prescott, you may come and see the +search also." + +So the four filed into the little room that served Dick as sleeping +apartment, study-room, den, library and all. Hemingway moved +quickly about, exploring the pockets of Dick's other clothing +hanging there. He delved into, under and behind all of the few +books there. This plain clothes man moved from place to place +with a speed and certainty that spoke of his long years of practice +in this sort of work. + +"There's nothing left but the trunk, now," declared the policeman, +bending over and trying the lock. "The key to this, Prescott!" + +Dick produced the key. Hemingway fitted it in the lock, throwing +up the lid. The trunk was but half filled, mostly with odds and +ends, for Dick was not a boy of many possessions. After a few +moments the policeman deftly produced, from the bottom, a gold +watch. This he laid on the floor without a word, and continued +the search. In another moment he had produced the jeweled pin +that exactly answered the description of the one belonging to +Mrs. Edwards. + +Dick gave a gasp, then a low groan. A heart-broken sob welled +up in Mrs. Prescott's throat. Dr. Thornton turned as white as +chalk. Hemingway, an old actor in such things, did not show what +he felt---if he really felt it at all. + +"These are the missing articles, aren't they?" asked the policeman, +straightening up and passing watch and pin to the High School +principal. + +"I believe them to be," nodded Dr. Thornton, brokenly. + +Mrs. Prescott had staggered forward, weeping and throwing her +arms around her son. + +"O, Richard! Richard, my boy!" was all she could say. + +"Mother, I know nothing about how those things came to be in my +trunk," protested the boy, sturdily. After his first groan the +young freshman, being all grit by nature, straightened up, feeling +that he could look all the world in the eye. Only his mother's +grief, and the knowledge that his father was soon to be hurt, +appealed to the softer side of young Prescott's nature. + +"Mother, I have not stolen anything," the boy said, more solemnly, +after a pause. "I am your son. You believe me, don't you?" + +"I'd stake my life on your innocence when you've given me your +word!" declared that loyal woman. + +"The chief said I was to take your instructions, Dr. Thornton," +hinted Hemingway. + +"Yes; I heard the order given," nodded the now gloomy High +School principal. + +"Shall I arrest young Prescott?" + +At that paralyzing question Dick's mother did not cry out. She +kissed her son, then went just past the open doorway, where she +halted again. + +"I hesitate about seeing any boy start from his first offense with +a criminal record," replied the principal, slowly. "If I were +convinced that this would be the last offense I certainly would +not favor any prosecution. Prescott, could you promise-----" + +"Then you believe, sir, that I stole the things that you hold +in your hand?" demanded the young freshman, steadily. + +"I don't want to believe it," protested Dr. Thornton. "It seems +wicked---monstrous---to believe that any fine, bright, capable +boy like you can be-----" + +Dr. Thornton all but broke down. Then he added, in a hoarse whisper: + +"---a thief." + +"I'm not one," rejoined Dick. "And, not very far into the future +lies the day when I'm going to prove it to you." + +"If you can," replied Dr. Thornton, "you'll make me as happy as +you do yourself and your parents." + +"Let me have the watch and pin to turn over to the chief, doctor," +requested Hemingway, and took the articles. "Now, for the boy-----?" + +"I'm not going to have him arrested," replied the principal, "unless +the superintendent or the Board of Education so direct me." + +From the other side of the doorway could be heard a stifled cry +of delight. + +"Then we may as well be going, doctor. You'll come to the station +with me, won't you?" + +"In one moment," replied the principal. He turned to Dick, sorrowfully +holding out his hand. + +"Prescott, whatever I may do will be the result of long and careful +thought, or at the order of the superintendent or of the Board +of Education. If you really are guilty, I hope you will pause, +think and resolve, ere it is too late, to make a man of yourself +hereafter. If you are innocent, I hope, with all my heart, that +you will succeed in proving it. And to that end you may have +any possible aid that I can give you. Goodbye, Prescott. Goodbye, +madam! May peace be with you." + +Half way down the stairs Dr. Thornton turned around to say: + +"Of course, you quite comprehend, Prescott, that, pending official +action by the school authorities, you must be suspended from the +Gridley High School!" + +As soon as the door had closed Dick half-tottered back into his +room. He did not close the door, but crossed to the window, where +he stood looking out upon a world that had darkened fearfully. + +Then, without having heard a step, Dick Prescott felt his mother's +arms enfold him. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +LAURA BENTLEY IS WIDE AWAKE + + +Suspended! + +That did not mean expulsion, but it did mean that, until the school +authorities had taken definite action on the case, young Prescott +could not again attend H.S., or any other school under the control +of the Board of Education. + +The five other partners of Dick & Co. had faced the school defiantly +when taking Dick's books from his desk and strapping them to bring +home. + +Dan Dalzell thrashed a sophomore for daring to make some allusion +to Prescott's "thefts." Tom Reade tried to thrash another sophomore +for a very similar offense, but Reade got whipped by a very small +margin. That fact, however, did not discourage Reade. He had +entered his protest, anyway. + +Dave Darrin extracted apologies for remarks made, from three different +sophomores. All of the partners were diligent in protecting and +defending the reputation of their chief. + +Every day the "Co." came to see Dick. They made it a point, too, +to appear on the street with him. Not one member of the football +team "went back on" the suspended freshman. All treated him with +the utmost cordiality and faith wherever they met him. Laura +Bentley and some of the other girls of Dick's class stood by him +unwaveringly by chatting with the suspended freshman whenever +and wherever they met him on the street. + +"Pooh, old man, a fellow who has all the brains you displayed +in making that football stroke doesn't need larceny as an aid +to getting ahead in the world," was the way Frank Thompson put +it. + +"Thank you, Thompson. It's always good to have friends," smiled +Dick, wistfully. "But, just now, I appreciate them more than +ever." + +"The football team and its best friends are giving Fred Ripley +the dead cut," pursued Thompson. "And say, you know the junior +class's dance comes off the night after tomorrow night. Juniors +are always invited, but members of other classes have to depend +on favor for invitations. We've fixed it so that Ripley couldn't +get an invite. He tried, though. Now, Prescott, you'll receive +an invitation in tomorrow morning's mail. Fix it to be there, +old man. Do! You'll find yourself flanked by friends. If any +fellow looks at you cross-eyed at the junior dance, the eleven +will throw him out through a window!" + +Dick looked more wistful than ever. He had never had many lessons +in dancing, but he took to the art naturally. Had life been happier +for him just then he would have been glad to take up the invitation. +Besides, Dave Darrin had told him that Laura Bentley was invited +and meant to go. + +"Now, you'll come along, of course," asked Thompson, coaxingly. + +"No-o-o," hesitated Dick, "I don't believe I shall." + +"Oh, nonsense, old man!" + +"I believe I'd rather not," replied Prescott, sadly; "though I'm +tremendously grateful to those who want me to come and who would +try to make it pleasant for me." + +Thompson argued, but it was no use. + +"Why, every one of your partners is going," said Frank. "Here +comes Dave Darrin now. He'll tell you so." + +"Nope," said Dave, with all the energy at his command. "We understand +we're to be invited, and we'd give almost anything to go, but +Dick & Co. don't go unless the Dick part of the firm is with us." + +The junior dance came off, and was a good deal of a success in +many ways. Only one of the ten boys of the freshman class who +were invited attended. Eight girls of the same class were invited, +but only two of them accepted. Laura Bentley decided, at the +last moment, against attending. + +Within ten days two important games came off between the Gridley +H.S. and other crack high school teams. Gridley won both. + +"It would be cheeky in me to go to the game, when I'm suspended---hardly +a H.S. boy, in fact," Dick explained to his partners. "But you go. + +"No, sir!" muttered Greg Holmes. + +"Not if you feel that you can't go," protested Harry Hazelton. +"Dick & Co. go together, or not at all." + +Gridley H.S. won both games by the skin of their teeth. + +"We can't succeed much longer without our mascots," Thompson declared +impressively before all the members of Dick & Co. The six freshmen, +walking along the street together had been rounded up and haled +into the store where the football squad held its "club" meetings. + +"Humph! I'd be a poor mascot for any body," muttered Dick. "I +haven't been able to bring even myself good luck." + +"You just come to a game once, all six of you," begged Ben Badger. +"Then you'll see how we can pile up the score over the enemy! +Don't let it get out of your heads that you're our real, sure-thing +mascots. Why, if it hadn't been for you six youngsters we probably +wouldn't be playing football any more this season." + +Other members of the squad tried to ply their persuasive powers, +but all in vain. Dick Prescott, though not breaking down or wilting +under the suspicion that lay against him, felt convinced that +it would be out of place for him to attend High School affairs +while on the suspended list. + +"Humph!" grunted Thomp. "The only thing I can see for us to do +is to spend a lot of the Athletic Association's money in hiring +a swell detective to come to town and find out who really did +take the things at the old H.S. Then we'd have you with us again, +Dick Prescott." + +Though under such long suspension Dick was not going backward +much in his studies. He had his books at home, and every forenoon +he put in the time faithfully over them. + +One of these November evenings Dick had the good fortune to have +Dave Darrin and Greg Holmes up in his room with him. The other +partners were at home studying. + +Dick and his friends were talking rather dispiritedly, for the +long suspension, without action, was beginning to wear on them +all. Dick's case was now quietly before the Board of Education, +but a result had not yet been reached by that slow-moving body. + Of course, the members of the Board had now more than a good +idea that Dick & Co. had been behind that "dead ones" hoax; but +the members of the Board were trying to do their duty in the +suspension case, and tried not to let any other considerations +weigh with them. + +"We've all heard that old chestnut about the silver lining to +the cloud," observed Dave, dejectedly. "If it's true, then silver +seems to be mighty scarce these days." + +"Richard! Ri-i-ichard!" called the elder Prescott, loudly, from +the foot of the stairs that led up from the store. + +"Yes, sir," cried Dick, bounding to the door and throwing it open. + +"Laura Bentley has called us up on the 'phone. She says she wants +to talk to you quicker'n lightning, whatever speed that may indicate. +She adds, mysteriously, that 'it's the biggest thing that ever +happened!'" + +"Coming, sir!" cried Dick, bounding down the stairs, snatching +at his cap and reefer as he started, though he could not have +told why he picked up these garments. Dave and Greg, acting on +some mysterious impulse, grabbed up their reefers and hats, and +went down the stairs hot-foot after their chum and leader. + +"Hullo!" called Dick, reaching the telephone instrument in the +back room of the store. "Yes, Miss Bentley, this is Prescott." + +"Then listen!" came the swiftly uttered words. Dick discovered +that the girl was breathless with excitement and the largeness +of her news. "Are you listening?" + +"I'll catch every word," Dick replied. + +"Well, I'm at Belle Meade's house. Belle and her mother are here. +Mr. Meade is out. You know where the house is---corner of Clark +Street and Stetson's Alley?" + +"Yes; I know." + +"Well, the room between the dining-room and the parlor is in darkness, +and has been all evening. There's a window in that room that +opens over the alley. The Meade apartment is on the second floor, +you know. Well, Belle was passing that window---in the dark---and +she heard voices down below in the alley. She wouldn't have thought +anything of it, but she heard one of the speakers raise his voice +and say, excitedly: 'See here, I did the trick, didn't I? Ain't +Dick Prescott bounced out of school! Ain't he in disgrace! And +he'll never get out of it!'" + +"Then another voice broke in, in a lower tone, but Belle couldn't +hear what was said. She's back in the dark by that open window +now," Laura Bentley hurried on, breathlessly. "The two parties +are still there, talking. It's hardly a minute's run from where +you are. Can't you get some one in a hurry, run up here and jump +on the parties? _Please_ do, Dick! It'll be the means of clearing +up this whole awful business!" + +"Won't I, though?" answered Dick, breathlessly, into the 'phone. +"I have two chums here now. We'll be there like greased +lightning---and, oh, Miss Bentley, _thank_ you!" + +Neither Dave nor Greg needed to ask any questions, for both had +stood close to the receiver, drinking in every word. Now they +shot out through the front of the store with a speed and turbulence +that made studious Mr. Prescott gasp with amazement. + +"Careful, now, fellows!" warned Dick a few moments later. "We +want to _hear_, as well as _catch_! Softly does it." + +Well practiced in running, not one of the three freshmen was out +of breath by the time that they reached the head of Stetson's +Alley. + +Just before turning the corner at the head of the alley, Dick +and his freshmen chums halted to listen and reconnoiter. + +Peeping cautiously around the corner, Dick, Greg and Dave made +out dimly one figure well down the alley. There was not light +enough there to recognize the fellow. And the three boys could +make out some one past this first fellow, but the second individual +stood well in the dark shadow of the delivery doorway of a store. + +"Let's see if we can't creep up a little nearer," whispered Dick +Prescott, softly. + +"They may see us coming," warned Dave. + +"If they do, we'll just make a jump in and nab them anyway," Dick +rejoined. "Remember the main game---capture!" + +Cautiously, a foot at a time, and in Indian file, the three freshmen +stole down the dark alleyway. Then Dick halted, passing back +a nudge that Dave Darrin passed on to Greg Holmes. + +"Now, ye needn't think ye're goin' to renig," warned the fellow +who was nearer to the boys. "I done the whole job against Prescott, +and I done it as neat as the next one. Why, _you_ never even +thought of the trick of slipping that watch and pin into Prescott's +trunk, did ye? That was _my_ brains. I supplied the brains, +an' you've got to raise the cash to pay for 'em! How did I do +that trick of slippin' the watch an' pin into Prescott's trunk! +Oh, yes! Of course, ye wanter know. Well, I'll tell ye when +ye hand me the rest o' the money for doin' the whole trick---then +I'll tell ye." + +Something in a very low whisper came, in response, from the second +party who was invisible to the prowling freshmen. + +Dick Prescott felt that there was no need of prolonging this scene. +He had heard enough. + +"Now, rush 'em! Grab 'em---and hold 'em!" shouted Dick, suddenly. + +As the three freshmen shot forward into the darkness something +that sounded like an almost hysterical cheer in girls' voices +came from the open, dark window overhead. + +But neither Dick nor his chums paused to give thought to that +at this important moment. + +The unknown who had been doing most of the talking wheeled with +an oath, making a frantic dash to get out of the alley and onto +the street. + +But Dick shot fairly past him, dodging slightly, and made a bound +for the second party to this wicked conference. + +Just beyond the doorway in which this second party had keen standing +was a yard that furnished a second means of exit from the alley. + +It was this second party to the talk that Dick was after. He +left the other fugitive to his two active, quick-witted chums. +They were swift to understand, and grappled, together, with the +rascal fleeing for the street. + +The three went down in a scuffling, fighting heap. + +Like a flash the fellow that Dick was after seemed to melt into +the adjoining back yard. Prescott, in trying to get in after +him in record time, fell flat to the ground just inside the yard. + +Yet, as he went down Prescott grabbed one of his fugitive's trouser +legs near the ankle. + +"Let go!" hissed the other, in too low a voice to be recognized. + +Before Dick, holding on grimly, had time to look upward, the +wretch lifted a cane, bringing it down on Dick's head with ugly +force. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +TIP SCAMMON TALKS---BUT NOT ENOUGH + + +If that ugly blow hadn't proved a glancing one, Dick Prescott +might have been for a long siege of brain fever. + +As it was, he was slightly stunned for the moment. + +By the time he could leap up and look about him, rather dizzily, +his late assailant had made a clean escape. + +"No time to waste on a fellow who's got away," quoth Dick. + +He staggered slightly, at first, as he hurried from the yard back +into the alleyway. + +"Now, you quiet down!" commanded Dave Darrin hoarsely. "No more +from you, Mr. Thug!" + +"Lemme go, or it'll be worse for ye!" threatened a harsh voice +that, nevertheless, had a whine in it. + +"What use to let you go, Tip Scammon?" demanded Darrin. "We know +you, and the police would pick you up again in an hour." + +"Lemme go, and keep yer mouth shut," whined the fellow. "If ye +don't, ye'll be sorry. If ye _do_ lemme go, I'll pay ye for the +accommodation." + +"Yes," retorted Dave, scornfully. "You'd pay us, I suppose, with +money you picked up in some way resembling the trick you played +on Dick Prescott." + +"Well, money's money, ain't it?" demanded Tip, skeptically. + +"Some kinds of money are worse that dirt," growled Greg Holmes. + +This was the conversation, swiftly carried on, that Dick heard +as he stepped back to his friends. + +Scammon was lying on his back on the ground, with Dave seated +across his chest. Greg bent back the wretch's head, holding a +short club that the two freshmen had taken away from Tip in the +scuffle. + +"Where's the other one, Dick?" gasped Dave, as he saw young Prescott +coming back alone. + +"He got away," muttered Dick. "He hit me over the head, and stunned +me for a moment, or I'd be holding onto him yet." + +"Who was he?" demanded Greg, breathlessly. + +"I don't know," Dick admitted. "I'd give a small part of the earth +to know and be sure about it." + +That admission of ignorance was a most unfortunate one. Tip Scammon +heard it, and the fellow grinned inwardly over knowing that his +late companion had not been recognized. + +"What are we going to do with this fellow, Dick?" asked Dave. + +"I'm wondering whether he ought to be arrested or not," Dick replied. +"Fellows, I feel mighty sorry for Tip's father." + +And well might all three feel sorry. So, far as was known, this +crime against Dick was the first offense Tip had committed against +the law. He was a tough character, and regarded as one of the +worse than worthless young men of Gridley. Tip was a handy fellow, +a jack-of-all-trades, with several at which he might have made +an honest living---but he wouldn't. Yet Tip's father was old +John Scammon, the highly respected janitor at the High School, +where he had served for some forty years. + +"I say, fellows, I wonder if we can let Tip go---now that we know +the whole story?" breathed Dick. + +"Say, I'll make it worth yer while," proposed Tip, eagerly. + +"How about the law?" asked Dave Darrin, seriously. "Have we any +right to let the fellow go, when we know he has committed a serious +crime?" + +"I don't know," replied Prescott. "All I'm thinking of is good, +honest old John Scammon." + +"It'd break me old man's heart---sure it would," put in Tip, cunningly. + +At the first cry from Belle and Laura Bentley, however Mrs. Meade, +who was also in the secret, had hurried down into Clark Street. +Just as it happened she had espied a policeman less than a block +away. That officer, posted by Mrs. Meade, now came hurrying +down the alleyway. + +"Oho! Tip, is it?" demanded the policeman. "Let him up, Darrin. +I can handle him. Now, then, what's the row about?" + +Thereupon Dick and his chums had to tell the story. There was +no way out of it. Officer Connors heard a little of it, then +decided: + +"The station house is the place to tell the rest of this. Come +along, Tip. And you youngsters trail along behind." + +Though the station house was not far away, a good-sized crowd +was trailing along by the time they reached the business stand +of the police. Tip was hustled in through the doorway, the three +young freshmen following. Leaning over the railing, smoking and +chatting with the sergeant at the desk, was plain clothes man +Hemingway. + +"Hullo," muttered that latter officer, "what's this?" + +"A slice out of one of your cases, I guess, Hemingway, from what +I've heard," laughed Connors. "According to these boys, Tip is +the fellow who knows the inside game of the High School thefts." + +"Let's have Scammon in the back room, then," urged Hemingway, +leading the way to the guard room. The sergeant, also, followed, +after summoning a reserve policeman to the desk. + +Then followed a sharp grilling by the keen, astute Hemingway. +Dick and his chums told what they had heard Tip say before they +pounced upon him. Tip, who was a round-headed, short, square-shouldered +fellow of twenty-four, possessed more of the cunning of the prize +ring than the cleverness of the keen thief. + +"I've been caught with the packages on me," he admitted, bluntly, +and with some show of bravado. "I guess I can't get outer delivering +'em." + +"Then you stole that pin and the gold watch from the locker at +the High School?" demanded Hemingway, swiftly. + +"Yep." + +"How did you get into the locker room?" shot out Hemingway. + +"Guess!" leered Tip, exhibiting some cheap bravado. + +"Maybe I can find the answer in your clothes," retorted the plain +clothes man. "Stand still." + +The search resulted in the finding of about ten dollars, a knife, +and three queer-looking implements that Hemingway instantly declared +to be pick-locks. + +"You used these tools, and slipped the lock, did you?" asked Hemingway. + +"Didn't have to," grinned Tip. + +"Took an impression of the lock, then, and made a key, did you?" + +"Right-o," drawled Tip. + +"I'll look into your lodgings," muttered Hemingway. "Probably +I'll find you've got a good outfit for that kind of work. I remember +you used to work for a locksmith." + +Tip, however, was not scared. He knew that there was nothing +at his lodgings to betray him. + +"Then you used these picklocks to open Prescott's locked trunk with?" +was Hemingway's next question. + +"'Fraid I did," leered Tip. + +"What time of the day did you get into the Prescott flat?" + +"'Bout ten o'clock, morning of the same day ye went through +Prescott's trunk an' found the goods there." + +"The same goods that you placed in the trunk, Tip, after breaking +into the Prescott flat while Mr. and Mrs. Prescott were down in +their store and young Prescott was at the High School?" + +"That's right," Tip grinned. + +"You picked the lock of young Prescott's trunk, stowed the watch +and pin away in there, and then sprung the lock again?" + +"Why, say, ye muster seen me," declared Scammon, admiringly. + +"The week before that day you must have been at the High School, +helping your father, especially in the basement during session +hours." + +"I sure was," Tip admitted. "I had ter, didn't I, to have a +chance ter get inter the locker room?" + +"What did you say the name of the fellow was who hired you to +do the trick?" swiftly demanded Hemingway, changing the tack. + +"I b'lieve I _didn't_ say," responded Tip, giving a wink that +included all present. + +"Tell me now, then." + +"Not if ye was to hang me for refusing," declared Scammon, with +sudden obstinacy. + +"Yet you've told us everything else," argued the plain clothes +man. + +"Might jest as well tell ye everything else," retorted Tip. "Didn't +these High School kids find the packages on me?" + +"Then tell us who the chap was that you were talking with tonight." + +"Not fer anything ye could give me," asserted Tip Scammon, with +great promptness. + +"Oh, well, then," returned Hemingway, with affected carelessness, +"Prescott can tell us the name of the chap he grappled with in +that back yard." + +"Yep! Let young Prescott tell," agreed Tip with great cheerfulness. +That was as far as the police could get with the prisoner. He +readily admitted all that was known, and he had even gone so +far as to tell how he had stolen the watch and the pin, and how +he had secreted them in Dick's trunk, but beyond that the fellow +would not go further. + +"Did you have anything to do with placing Ripley's pin in Prescott's +pocket?" questioned Hemingway. + +"Nope," declared Tip, in all apparent candor. + +"Know anything about that?" + +"Nope." + +"Then how did you know that that particular morning was the right +morning to hide the other two stolen articles in Prescott's trunk?" + +"I heard, on the street, what was happenin'," declared Tip, +confidently. "So I knew 'twas the right time ter do the rest +of the trick." + +At last Hemingway gave up the attempt to learn the name of the +party with whom Tip had been talking in Stetson's Alley on this +night. Then Tip was led away to a cell. + +"Come on, fellows," muttered Dick to his chums. "Since Tip is +under arrest, anyway, and has confessed, and since the whole thing +is bound to become public, I want to run down to 'The Blade' office, +find Len Spencer, and send him up here to get the whole, straight +story. _With this yarn printed I can go back to school in the +morning_!" + +"Now, see here, Dick," expostulated Dave Darrin, as the three +chums hurried along the street, "in the station house you told +the police you didn't get a look at the other fellow's face." + +"Well, that was straight," Prescott asserted. + +"Do you mean to say you don't know who the fellow was---you really +don't?" persisted Dave Darrin. + +"I don't know," Dick declared flatly. + +"You've a suspicion, just the same," asserted Greg Holmes, dryly. + +"Possibly." + +"Who was it, then?" coaxed Greg Holmes. + +"Was it Fred Ripley?" shot out Dave Darrin. + +"Will you fellows keep a secret, on your solemn honor, if I tell +you one?" Dick questioned. + +Dave and Greg both promised. + +"Well, then," Prescott admitted, "I'm convinced in my own mind +that it was Fred Ripley that I had hold of for an instant tonight. +But I didn't see his face, and I can't prove it. That's why +I'm not going to tell about it. But this fellow wore lavender +striped trousers, just like a pair of Fred's. There is just +a chance or two in a thousand that it wasn't Ripley---and I'm +not going to throw it all over on him when I can't prove it. +Fellows, I know just what it feels like to be under suspicion +when you really didn't do a thing. _It hurts---awfully_!" + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE WELCOME WITH A BIG "W" + + +Ben Badger sat perched aloft among the bare, spreading branches +of a giant maple near one corner of the school grounds. The maple +stood at the curbing of the sidewalk. + +Down below stood nearly a hundred High School boys of Gridley. + +That Ben was on sentry duty was apparent from the eager looks +that those below frequently cast up at him. At times, too, the +general impatience sought relief in questions hurled at Ben. + +Finally, from the lookout aloft came down the rousing hail: + +"Here he comes! fellows! Here he comes! No---here _they_ come! +The whole crowd---Dick & Co.!" + +A flutter passed through the crowd below, vet not one of the Gridley +H.S. boys stirred from the ranks just within the school yard gate. + +Back on the main steps of the High School building nearly three +score of the young ladies were irregularly grouped. They were +silent, but expectant. + +For "The Blade" had been read in many a Gridley home that morning. +The news had traveled fast over Gridley. Though the paper had +contained no announcement that Prescott would return to school, +every High School boy and girl had felt sure of that. + +Down the street, three abreast, came Dick & Co., with proud, firm +stride. Very likely the partners were even more exultant than +was Prescott himself. + +Then the freshman sextette came in full sight from the gateway. + +"Who's this?" yelled Ben Badger in his loudest voice. + +From the crowded tanks below welled up the chorus: + +"Dick & Co.! Dick & Co.! Good old Dick! Bully old Co.!" + +Prescott and his chums halted, thunderstruck by the volume and +force of that unexpected chorus. + +Immediately on top of it rolled out lustily the complicated High +School yell, given with a vim never before heard off the football +field. + +And then: + +"What's the matter with Dick Prescott?" demanded Ben Badger, in +stentorian tones. + +From one half of the H.S. boys came the roaring response: + +"He's the whole cheese." + +Then, from the other half: + +"-----for a _freshman_!" + +Dick & Co. recovering from their amazement, were coming on again +now. Young Prescott's heart thumped hard. He was no popularity-chaser, +but only the fellow who has been down hard, for a while, knows +how good it is to be _up_ once more. + +As Dick neared the gate Ben Badger dropped down out of the bare +maple tree, for Ben had yet other duties on the reception committee. + +He and Frank Thompson suddenly snatched Dick Prescott out of the +ranks of his chums, and hoisted him aloft. This these two husky +first classmen were well able to do. + +Across the school yard they started with him, while the rest of +the fellows followed, giving voice to the High School yell: + +"T-E-R-R-O-R-S! Wa-ar! Fam-ine! Pes-ti-lence! That's us! +That's us! G-R-I-D-L-E-Y H.S.! Rah! rah! rah! rah! Gri-i-id-ley!" + +The girls grouped on the steps parted, letting the leaders and +followers through. + +With the rush as of an army the excited youngsters bore Dick Prescott +up a flight of stairs. Half a dozen of the fellows sprang ahead +of Badger and Thompson, throwing open one of the doors of the +general assembly room. + +Again the High School yell broke loose, sounding, in that confined +space, as though it must jar the rafters loose. + +Dr. Thornton had risen from his chair behind the desk. It was +before coming-in-hour, and there was no rule that commanded quietude +before the bell rang. Yet such a din had never before been heard +in the room. + +But just then Dr. Thornton caught sight of red-faced, happy-looking +Dick Prescott on the shoulders of Badger and Thompson. Then the +principal laughed in sheer good humor. + +Wheeling, Badger and Thompson carried Dick straight up to the +platform, where they deposited their human burden at the edge. + +"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." + +"I don't want to go to one," retorted Miss Deane, promptly. "Co-ed +schools are just like co-ed colleges. The boys may have a good +enough time, but the co-ed girls are shoved into the background. +Co-ed boys pretend they don't know that the co-ed girls are alive. +The High School is better, for a girl, than any co-ed private +school, for in the High School girls are treated on an even footing +with boys." + +"We'll both of us keep that prep. school idea in mind, though," +proposed Ripley, just before the pair entered the school building. + +By the time that this exclusive pair entered the general assembly +room the scene before them was none too pleasing. The congratulatory +crowd being too large for Dick alone, his five partners were holding +separate little receptions for groups, relating how Dick, Dave +and Greg had captured Tip Scammon. Such speculation there was +as to who Tip's unrecognized companion could have been the night +before. As Fred stepped into the big room he was conscious of +many unfriendly glances that were sent in his direction. + +As early as possible Dick Prescott sought out Laura Bentley and +Bell Meade, and to them he expressed his heartiest thanks for +the splendid aid they had given him toward this present happy +moment. + +So great was the clamor, in fact, that, when the gong outside +struck the "minute-call" at 7.59, no one in the assembly room +seemed to hear it. Then came the jingling of the assembly bell +in the big room. A murmur of surprise ran around, for time had +passed rapidly since Dick's appearance. In another moment the +only sound was that of quiet footfalls as the young ladies and +gentlemen of the Gridley H.S. moved to their seats. In a few +seconds more only the ticking of the big clock was heard. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +DICK & CO. GIVE FOOTBALL A NEW BOOST + + +By recess the feeling had quieted down. Dick Prescott was only +a freshman, but it is safe to say that he was the most popular +freshman who had ever "happened" at Gridley H.S. + +However, the noisy spirit of welcome had spent itself Dick & Co. +were given a chance to go away quietly by themselves and talk +over their own affairs. + +Fred Ripley appeared to be the only unhappy boy in the lot. He +kept to himself a good deal, and the scowl on his face threatened +to become chronic. + +Recess was nearly up when Thomp and Captain Sam Edgeworth, of +the eleven, approached Dick & Co. A nod from Edgeworth drew Prescott +away from his chums. + +"Prescott, as you know, we don't usually allow freshmen to mix +much with us in the athletic line. But the fellows feel that +you are a big exception. You couldn't possibly make the team +this year, of course, but we well, we thought you might like a +bit of the social end of the squad. We thought you might like +to come around to our headquarters and see us drill and hear our +talk of the game. Would it interest you any?" + +"Would it?" glowed Dick. "Why, as much as it would please a ragpicker +to be carried off to a palace to live!" + +"Do you care to come around and see us this afternoon?" pursued +Captain Sam. "Say three o'clock." + +"I'd be delighted." + +"Then come around and see us, Prescott. Maybe you'll be interested +in something that you see and hear." + +"I wonder-----" began Dick, wistfully. + +"Well, what?" asked Thomp. + +"Could you possibly include my chums in that invitation? They're +all mightily interested." + +"Yes," nodded Thompson, "they're interested, and they all helped +you to spring that trick on the Board of Education. It's more +than half likely that we owe the continuance of football this +season to Dick & Co." + +"Bring your friends along, then," agreed Captain Sam Edgeworth, +though he solemnly hoped, under his breath, that he wasn't establishing +a fearful precedent by showing such wholesale cordiality to the +usually despised freshmen. + +"We'll use all six of you as our mascots," laughed Thomp. + +"And er---er---" began Dick, a bit diffidently, "we have something +that we've been talking over, and we want to suggest to you---if +you won't think us all too eternally fresh." + +"Anyway, the idea'll have to keep," muttered Edgeworth, as the +gong clanged out. "There goes the end of recess." + +The long lines were quickly filing in at two entrances? and the +work of the school day was on again. + +It was barely a quarter of three when Dick & Co. walking two-and-two, +came in sight of the otherwise unoccupied store that formed the +football headquarters. + +"We're too early," muttered Prescott, consulting his watch. "We'll +have to take a walk around a few blocks yet, fellows." + +"Why?" Dan Dalzell wanted to know. "What difference does a matter +of a few minutes make?" + +"Haven't you had it rubbed into you enough that you're only a +measly freshman?" laughed Dick. "And don't you know a freshman +is called a freshman only because he can't dare to do anything +that looks the least little bit fresh? From an upper classman's +point of view we've had a thumping big privilege accorded us, +and we don't want to spoil it by running it into the ground. +So I vote for a walk that will make us at least two minutes late +going into the football headquarters." + +"My vote goes with yours," nodded Dave Darrin. + +The good sense of it appealed to all the chums, so they strolled +away again, and came back three minutes late, Outside the door +they halted. Some of the awe of the conscious freshman came +upon two or three of the chums. + +"You go in first, Dick," urged Tom Reade. + +"It was you who got the invite, anyway," hinted Greg Holmes. + +Laughing quietly Dick turned the knob of the door. He went in +bravely enough, but some of his chums followed rather sheepishly. + +Fred Ripley, who had dropped in five minutes before, saw them +at once, and scowled. + +"'Ware freshmen!" he called, rather loudly. + +Nearly all the members of the regular and sub teams were present. +Most of them were going through an Indian club drill at the further +end of the room. At Fred's cry several of them turned around +sharply. + +"Oh, that's all right," called out Edgeworth. "These particular +freshmen are privileged. Welcome, Dick & Co.!" + +"Privileged? Welcome?" gasped Ripley, in a tone of huge disgust. +"What on earth is the High School coming to these days?" + +"If you don't like to see them here, Ripley," broke in Thompson, +"you know-----" + +"Oh, well!" growled Fred, with a shrug of his shoulders. Then, +disdaining to look at Dick & Co., this stickler for upper class +exclusiveness turned and stalked out of the store, closing the +door after him with a bang. + +For some minutes Dick and his chums stood quietly against the +wall at one side of the big, almost bare room. Then Edgeworth +called out: + +"Now, fellows, we've had enough of indoor work. We'll take a +brief rest. After that we'll go over to the field and practice +tackles and formations until dark." + +Released from the drills Thomp came over to shake hands with the +freshmen visitors. Edgeworth presently strolled over, and a few +others. + +"By the way, captain," spoke up Thompson, finally, "I think Prescott +told us that the mighty freshmen intellects of Dick & Co. had +been trying out their brains in the effort to get up some new +football stunts." + +"That's so," nodded Sam. + +"Have we time to listen to them?" + +"Yes," decided the football captain; "if it doesn't take them +too long to explain." + +Ben Badger kicked forward an empty packing case. + +"Here's a platform, Prescott. Get up and orate!" he called. + +Dick laughingly held back from the packing case until Badger and +Thomp lifted him bodily and stood him on top of the box. + +"And cut it short, and make it practical," admonished Ted Butler, +"or take the dire consequences!" + +"Why, I don't know, gentlemen of the football team, that it's +much of an idea," Dick began, "but my chums and I have been thinking +over the complaint of the Athletics Committee that you haven't +as much money, this season, as you'd like." + +"Money?" echoed one. "Now, you're whispering. Whoop!" + +"Money---the root of all evil!" shouted another. + +"Get wicked!" adjured a third. + +"What my friends and I had to suggest," Dick went on, "was that, +as we understand it, the folks of the town don't contribute much +cash for upholding the fame of High School athletics." + +"The School Alumni Association does pretty well in that line," +replied Edgeworth. "The public in general do pretty well by buying +tickets rather liberally to our games. It's the expenses that +are the great trouble. You see, Prescott, instead of maintaining +one team, we really have to support two, for the subs are necessary +in order to give us practice. Then the coach's expenses are heavy. +Now, the Alumni Association owns our athletic field, but a lot +of lumber and carpenter work is needed there every year, making +repairs and putting in improvements. Then, when we play high +school teams at a distance from here the railroad expenses eat +up enormously." + +"And we have to play mostly teams at a good distance from here," +laughed Ben Badger, "for we've played the nearby elevens time +and again, and Gridley has eaten up the other fellows in such +big gulps that we have to get on dates, these days, with teams +so far away that they don't know much about us." + +"But there's plenty of money in the town," replied Dick. "The +business men have some of it. The wealthy people have a lot of +it, too. It is a Gridley brag that the people of this city are +public spirited to the last gasp. Now, if you can get public +spirit and money on good speaking terms there wouldn't need to +be any lack of funds for High School athletics." + +"All right," nodded Edgeworth, trying to conceal a slight impatience +"But how are you going to introduce public spirit effectively +to money?" + +"That's what we freshmen have been wondering," Dick replied. +"Now, every student in the Gridley H.S.---boy students and girl +students---gets a share of the reflected glory that comes from +the work of one of the best high school elevens in the United +States. So, as we see it, the whole student body should get together +in the raising of funds. And when I say 'funds,' I don't mean +pennies or dimes." + +"This is becoming interesting," called out Ben Badger. + +"That my chums and I would suggest," Dick continued, "is that +the whole student body of Gridley H.S. be enlisted, and sent out +to scour the town, holding, out a subscription paper that is properly +worded at the top." + +"How worded?" demanded Ted Butler. + +"My freshmen chums and I have prepared a draft of the paper. +May I read what we suggest as a heading for the paper?" + +"Hear! Hear!" cried a dozen. + +"Thank you," Prescott acknowledged, gratefully. Then, drawing +a paper from his pocket, he read as follows: + +_"'Gridley is justly proud of its public spirit, and rejoices +in having the best in several lines. Few if any cities in the +United States possess a High School football team that can down +the eleven from Gridley H.S. We are proud of our High School, +and as proud of its reputation in athletics. We believe that +Gridley prominence in athletics should be fostered in every way, +and we know that real athletics cost money---a lot of it! We, +The Undersigned, therefore subscribe to the Athletic Committee +of Gridley H.S. the amounts of public spirit set down opposite +our names in dollars.'"_ + +After Dick Prescott had ceased reading it took nearly a full minute +for the cleverness of this direct appeal to local pride to strike +home in the minds of the football squad. Then loud applause broke +loose. + +"Freshie!" roared Sam Edgeworth, over the din, "that's genius, +compressed into a hundred words!" + +"It's O.K.!" declared Thompson, with heavy emphasis. + +"Bully!" roared Ben Badger. + +Then one pessimist was heard from: + +"It's good, but it takes something mighty good to force people +to part with their own cash." + +"Don't you think that, with every H.S. boy and girl going around +with the paper, it will force subscriptions?" Dick inquired. + +"Oh, well," granted the pessimist, "I believe it will cost enough +money out of the public to pay all the cost of printing the subscription +papers anyway." + +"If we didn't need that kicker on the team, we'd throw him out +of here," laughed Sam Edgeworth, good-naturedly. + +Then the matter was put to informal vote, and it was decided to +ask the permission of the Athletic Committee to put through the +scheme presented by Dick & Co. + +"And now it's time to be off for the field," proclaimed Sam Edgeworth, +with emphasis. Coach Morton will be waiting for us, and he isn't +the man who enjoys being kept waiting." + +"Come along with us, Dick & Co.," called Thompson. "You'll have +a chance to see whether you approve of our way of handling the +game." + +So Dick and his partners went along. Though they could only stand +at the edge of the field and look on, yet that was rare fun, for +no other freshmen were on the same side of the fence. + +As all six of the boys knew considerable about the theories and +rules of football, and as all of them watched closely the plays +between Gridley H.S. and the subs, they soon saw the reason why +Gridley had one of the most formidable High School teams in the +country. + +"Oh, for the day when _we_ can try to make the team!" uttered +Dick Prescott, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. + +The fund-raising scheme offered by Dick & Co. went before the +Athletic Committee that same evening. It was accepted, as Prescott +and Darrin, hanging about outside the H.S. building, learned an +hour later. + +In three days more the subscription papers had been printed and +were distributed. Every boy and girl in the school received one, +with instructions to bring it back, "filled out"---or take the +consequences. + +Then the canvassing began. + +Would it work? Dick & Co. felt that their own reputations hung +in the balance. And it was bound to be the case that some of +the students, though they took the papers, did a lot of prompt +"kicking" about it. + +_Would it "work"_? + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +"THE OATH OF THE DUB" + + +For a full week the boys and girls of Gridley H.S. scoured the +town, trying their fortune everywhere that money was supposed +to lurk. + +The great Thanksgiving game was coming on. Gridley was to play +the second team of Cobber University. This second team from Cobber +had beaten every high school team it had tackled for the two +preceding years. + +Gridley, in this present year, had not met with a single defeat +in a total of nine games thus far played. In six of the games +the opponents had not scored at all. + +But could Cobber Second be beaten? + +The Cobber eleven was one of the finest in the country. Even +the second team was considered a "terror," as its record of unbroken +victories for two years testified. + +So much awe, in fact, did Cobber Second inspire among the high +school teams that Gridley was the only outfit to be found that +dared take up the proposition of a Thanksgiving Day game with +the college men. + +"Gridley can't win!" the pessimists predicted. + +Even the heartiest well-wishers of Gridley H.S. felt, mournfully, +that too big a contract had been undertaken. + +Dick & Co., however, under the inspiring influence of their leader, +were all to the hopeful. + +"We'll win," Dick proclaimed, "because Gridley needs the game. +When Gridley folks go after anything they won't take 'no' for +an answer. That's the spirit of the town, and the High School +is worthy of all the traditions of the town." + +"Talk's cheap, and brag's a good dog!" sneered Ripley. + +Three sophomores who overheard the remark promptly "bagged" Fred +and threw him over the school yard fence. + +"Come back with any more of that," warned one of the hazers, "and +we'll scour your intellect at the town pump." + +Being a freshman, Prescott didn't say too much. Neither did his +chums. Yet what they did say was bright and hopeful. Their spirit +began to soak through the student body. + +"You see, gentlemen," Coach Morton warned the football squad one +morning at recess, "you've _got_ to win. The school believes +you can do it, and the town is beginning to believe it. If you +lose to Cobber Second you'll forfeit the respect of all the thousands +of Gridley folks who are now saying nice things about you." + +"Write it down," begged Thompson. "We're going to beat Cobber +Second off the gridiron." + +"Good!" cheered Mr. Morton. "That's the talk. And be sure you +live up to it!" + +"We've got to live up to it," asserted Thomp, solemnly. + +"Right-o!" came the enthusiastic approval from as many members +of the student body as could crowd within easy hearing. The girls +were all there, too, for in these days the girls were as much +excited as others over the prospects of winning. + +"Shall I tell coach and students, Cap?" called Thomp to Edgeworth. + +"It won't do any harm," nodded Sam. "Confession will make our +deed more binding." + +"What deed?" demanded Coach Morton, scenting some mystery that +he was not yet in on. + +"Why, you see, sir," proclaimed Thomp, "every member of the team, +and every sub who stands any show to get into the game, has taken +the oath of the dub." + +"'The oath of the dub'?" repeated Sub-master Morton. "That's +a new one on me. + +"It's a new one on us all," admitted Thompson, gravely. "We've +taken the oath, but it's so dreadful that most of us shivered +when it came our turn to recite the patter---the ritual, I mean." + +"What is this 'oath of the dub'?" asked the coach. + +"It's fearful," shivered Thomp. "Any of you fellows feel better +able to explain?" + +He glanced around him at the other visible members and subs of +the school eleven, but they shook their heads and shrank back. + +"Well, then, I'll have to tell you myself," conceded Thomp, with +an air of gloom. "It's a fearful thing. Yet, as I've been through +with it once, one more time can't hurt me---much." + +Thomp made an eloquent pause. Then, reaching his right hand aloft, +his eyes turned toward the sky, he recited, in a deep bass voice: + +"I have pledged my honor, as a gridiron specialist, that +Gridley H.S. shall lug away all the points of the game from Cobber +Second. If we fail, then may everyone who espies me mutter: 'There +goes a dub!' May the word 'dub' haunt me in my waking hours, and +pursue me, mounted on the nightmares of slumber! May my best +friends ever afterward refer to me only as a 'dub.' For if I fail +the school, then am I truly a 'dub,' and there is no help for +me. If I fail, then may I never, so long as life lasts, be permitted +to lose sight of the patent fact that I _am_ a 'dub'! So help +me _Bob_!" + +A roar of laughter and approval went up from all who heard. Coach +Morton tried hard to preserve his gravity, but his sides shook, +and his face reddened from the effort. At last he broke loose. +When he could control his voice Mr. Morton demanded: + +"What genius of the first class invented the 'oath of the dub'?" + +"It wasn't a senior, sir," Thomp confessed. + +"What junior, then?" + +"Not a junior, either." + +"_Who_, then?" insisted the submaster. + +"Tell him, Sam." + +"That oath, Mr. Morton, required and received the concerted brainpower +of-----" + +"Dick & Co.!" shouted the football squad in chorus. + +A good-natured riot followed. + +"Dick & Co. will soon get the notion that they're the whole High +School," growled Fred Ripley to Purcell. + +"They are a big feature of the school," laughed Purcell. "You're +about the only one, Fred, who hasn't discovered it. Rub your +eyes, man, and take another look." + +"Bah!" muttered Ripley, turning away. Just then the gong clanged +the end of recess. + +"Now, that 'the oath of the dub' has been given out," suggested +Dick Prescott to his chums, after school, "we ought to find Len +Spencer and give it to him. He'll print it in tomorrow's 'Blade' +and that will send local pride soaring. That'll help a whole +lot to success with the subscription papers." + +After the papers had been in circulation a week the Athletics +Committee held an evening session, in the room of the Superintendent +of Schools, in the H.S. building. + +By eight o'clock nearly a hundred and fifty of the boys and girls +had assembled. More came in later. + +The subscription papers, and the amounts for which they called, +were turned in to Coach Morton. It was soon noticed that many +of the subscriptions had been paid by check. + +Laura Bentley was the first to turn in a paper. + +"Twenty dollars," she announced, quietly, though with evident pride. + +"Eleven dollars," announced Belle Meade. + +After a good many of the girls had made accounting they boys had +a brief chance. + +When it came Dick Prescott's turn he spoke so quietly that those +nearest him thought he said six dollars. + +_"Sixty dollars?"_ repeated Mr. Morton, more distinctly. "The +best offering yet." + +"I've one more," added Prescott, in the same low voice. + +"Then speak up more loudly," directed the submaster. "There are +a lot of young people here who want to hear." + +"Here," continued Dick, handing in another paper, "is a communication +signed by the members of the city's Common Council. They signed +as individuals. They agree to hire the Gridley Military Band, +of twenty-eight pieces, to be on hand at the Thanksgiving game +and to play for our High School eleven." + +None of Dick's partners had secured less than twenty-five dollars. + +When all the subscriptions had been turned in, and the amount +footed up by Coach Morton, that gentleman announced, in tones +that betrayed excitement: + +"The total subscriptions amount to nineteen hundred and sixty-eight +dollars. That will put us on a fine footing for this year, and +leave a good balance over for next year!" + +Then the enthusiasm broke loose in earnest. Two score of fans +turned, at once, to find Dick & Co., who had started the scheme. +But Dick & Co. had quietly vanished. + +Before it adjourned that night, the Athletics Committee, with +the help of Captain Sam Edgeworth, found one effective way of +rewarding those who had conceived this highly successful subscription +campaign. + +Dick Prescott was appointed cheer-master for the great Thanksgiving +Day game. More, Dick was to name any one of his chums as assistant +cheer-master. + +As the cheer-master bosses the noise that is so indispensable +a part of the game, the honor that had come to young Prescott +was no mean one. No Gridley freshman had ever before achieved +it. + +Dick left to his partners the selection of assistant cheer-master. +_They_ settled on Dave Darrin. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +ON THE GRIDIRON WITH COBBER SECOND + + +Once upon a time Thanksgiving Day was an orgie conducted in honor +of that national bird, the turkey. + +In these happier days, in every live community, the turkey must +wait until the football game has been fought out. Then the adherents +of one eleven eat crow. + +Gridley's great game of the year was scheduled to begin at three +o'clock. + +However, a large part of the fun, at a really "big" game consists +in being on hand an hour ahead of time and hearing and seeing +all the fun that goes on. + +Promptly at the tick of two o'clock the Gridley Band blew its +first blast, to the tune of "Hail, Columbia!" + +The band was stationed close to the ground, in the center of the +stand reserved for the High School student body. Off the right +of the band rose four tiers of bright-faced, wholesome-looking +High School girls. To the left of the band sat the boys. + +Across the field, on a much smaller stand, sat the hundred or +so followers of the team from Cobber. The Cobbers had no band. +Few feminine faces appeared on the Cobber stand. The Cobber +colors, brown and gray, floated here and there on the breeze in +the form of small banners. + +Gridley's stand was brilliant with the crimson and gold banners +of Gridley H.S. These bright-hued bits of bunting waved deliriously +as the band's strains floated forth. + +But as "Hail Columbia" belongs to all Americans, the Cobbers elected +to flash their bunting, too. + +Suddenly the music paused. Then came pressing contempt for the +hostile eleven: "All coons look alike to me!" + +Cobber's friends took the hint in an instant. To a man the visiting +delegation arose, hurling out the Cobber yell in round, deep-chested +notes. + +Just outside the lines, behind a huge megaphone mounted on a tripod, +stood Dick Prescott, cheer-master. At his side was Dave Darrin, +whose duties were likely to prove mainly nominal. + +Dick swung the megaphone from left to right, as he called out +through it: + +"Now, then---number seven!" + +From the boy's side came the prompt response, in slow, measured +cadence, every word of it distinct: + +"C-O-B-B-E-R! Born in misfortune! Reared on trouble. Grew to +be a disgrace---and died in tears!" + +Cobber's friends had to "chew" over that. They had nothing in +their repertory of "sass" that seemed to fill this bill. + +To return an inapt yell would be worse than silence. So the visitors +sat scowling at the field. + +"Score one on Cobber's goat," grinned Dave Darrin. + +Presently, after some whispering on the visitors' stand, this +rather lame one came from the college crowd: + +"C-O-B-B-E-R! C-O-B-W-E-B! Our trap for the foolish little fly!" + +One of the few girls on the visitors' stand rose to wave her brown +and gray banner. She slipped and fell through between the seats. + +Quick as a flash Dave Darrin sprang to the megaphone, swinging +it around at the enemy, and bawling this atrocious pun: + +"Now you spider! But now you can't!" + +That brought a laugh, even from the visitors. The hapless girl, +with the help of some of her male friends, was hoisted up once +more to a seat and safety. + +"Look at the poor girl," laughed Dick to Darrin. "She's wearing +our colors now---crimson face and a gold locket under it." + +"If she wasn't a girl, I'd yell that over to 'em," laughed Dave. + +The band was playing again, in its most rollicking rhythm, the +old air from "Olivette," "Then bob up serenely!" + +The laughter started on the Gridley side, but it spread all the +way around to the Cobber seats. + +As the minutes flew by it became apparent, from a survey of the +filled seats, that at least two thousand, outside of the Cobber +and the Gridley H.S. delegations, were present at the game. This +meant a healthful addition to the athletics fund. + +By and by Cobber recovered its nerve on the seats. Cobber yells +floated forth on the air. Yet, for every sing-song taunt the +visitors found that the home fans had an apt retort. This was +where Dick Prescott's ready wit came in, for it was his task to +call for all the cheers, yells, songs or taunts. + +Two-thirty came. Dick called for the High School song. The band +accompanied, while the entire student body sang. + +At its completion Cobber answered, as might have been expected, +with cat calls. + +Within the next few minutes Dick ran the H.S. boosters through +nearly the whole repertory of cheers and songs. + +Then, just after quarter of three, Dave made an important discovery. + +"Here come the teams," he whispered. + +Dick, without turning to look, swung the megaphone so that its +wide mouth aimed straight at the band leader. + +"You know what now, leader!" + +In a twinkling the musicians rose. A cornetist flared forth with +a bugle call. Down came the leader's baton. The bugle call shaded +off into a single strain from the band. Then out crashed: "See, +the conquering hero comes!" + +With both teams marching onto the field the call was for courtesy. +Gridley H.S. and Cobber rose in their seats. The other spectators, +mostly, also stood up. Cobber Second came marching around in +review before Gridley H.S. seats, and received a rattling volley +of good, staunch old American cheers. + +Gridley H.S. eleven took the other side of the field. With Sam +Edgeworth at their head they went past the visitors' seats, and +received the most thundering welcome that Cobber knew how to give. + +Passing the two grand stands the captains wheeled their men marching +them out into the field. Two footballs bounded from the side +lines, and both teams began preliminary practice plays. + +After that the band played a couple of lively airs. The people +on the grand stands did not pay much heed to the practice work. +They knew that the players were merely warming up. + +Coach Morton came down along the side lines, halting close to the +cheer-master and his assistant. After the first greeting Mr. +Morton turned his eyes anxiously toward the field. + +The day was ideal---not too cold. Though the sun was out, there +was some cloudiness, yet without a sign of rain or snow. The +field was in excellent shape for a fast game. + +"Why, Dick, you're _trembling_!" grunted Dave Darrin, in amazement. + +"I know it," Prescott confessed, half guiltily. + +"What's the matter?" + +"Oh, nothing; only I'm so excited I can't quite keep still." + +"Afraid for _our_ side?" + +"We're going to win!" asserted Dick, stubbornly. + +"Yet you're shaking!" + +"It is buck fever, I guess. O Dave, I _do_ love this grand old +game!" + +Coach Morton half turned, sending a comprehending smile at the +earnest young freshman. + +"I wonder if you'd feel like that," ventured Dave, "if you were +one of our fellows out there on the gridiron." + +"Not for a second," spoke up Prescott, promptly. "I know what +I would be doing though." + +"What?" + +"I'd he Singing inside---singing songs of triumph over the game +we were going to win---the game we just _had_ to win!" + +"You'd be pretty confident," smiled Darrin. + +"Yes, I would," Dick asserted. "I believe it's the only spirit +worth having---the firm conviction that you're going to win, and +that nothing can stop you." + +Coach Morton turned long enough to say: + +"Prescott, I wish you were old enough and big enough to be out +there on our team now. When your time comes I certainly hope +you'll make the eleven. Your spirit is what every high school +needs." + +Blushing a bit, Dick drew the score card out of his pocket. He +knew the Gridley side of it by heart, already, but he wanted to +read it over again. This was the line-up that he saw: + +Gridley H.S. Positions Cobber Second +Evans .....left end..........Paisley +Butler.....left tackle.......Jordrey +Beck.......left guard........Smith +Badger.....center ...........Halsey +Thompson...right guard.......Jennison +Edgeworth..right tackle......Potter +Stearns....right end.........Adams +Winters....quarter-back......Bentley +Jasper.....right half-back...Haddleston +Trent .....left half-back....Dill +Gleason....fullback..........Strope + +"Why isn't Edgeworth in center?" asked Dave, glancing down over +Dick's shoulder. + +"Played down a bit too fine to hold center in a big game like +this," Dick answered. "Edgeworth is a corking center, and I wouldn't +be afraid to see him there today. But Ben Badger is every bit +as good." + +Coach Morton drew in his breath sharply. Referee Henderson had +just signaled to Badger, acting captain for the home team, and +Halsey, captain of the Cobbers, to come in for the toss. The +players halted in their work to await the result of that toss. + +"You call, Halsey," nodded Ben Badger. + +"Up!" warned the referee, and flipped the coin. + +"Tails!" sang Captain Halsey. + +"Heads it is," announced Referee Henderson. + +Ben Badger grinned. + +"It's all starting _our_ way," clicked Dick Prescott, in an undertone. +He seemed lost in a transport of ecstasy. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +GRIDLEY FACES DISASTER + + +"We'll kick from the north end," announced Captain Badger, promptly. + +With a grunt of satisfaction, Gridley loped off for its positions. + +The band broke loose in a wild hurrah of a tune. Spectators belonging +to both sides took up a wild cheer until the referee raised his +right hand for silence. The opposing teams were lined up. + +Darting forward to center field the referee placed the ball, then +ran backwards off the gridiron. + +His whistle went to his lips. It was an instant of strained attention. + +Trill-ll! It was not a cheer, but a subdued, breathless gasp +that rose from the two camps of fans as the opposing lines rushed +at each other. Dick could not help a slight groan, for Adams, +of Cobber, reached the pigskin first. But Adams kicked it off +over the line. Here was Gridley's prompt chance. + +Evans kicked the ball from the twenty-five-yard line. It was +stopped by Huddleston, who started to run with it. Luckless plan! +Gridley's line came thundering down upon him almost ere Huddleston +had stepped off! Bump! The combatants piled into and over each +other. Huddleston was downed on his fifty-yard line. At this +instant Dick bethought himself. Placing his mouth to the megaphone, +he roared: + +"H.S. cheer!" + +It rolled out with full volume while the referee was placing the +ball. By the time it died out Cobber's captain could be heard +calling: + +"Four---nine---thirty-three---eight!" + +Trill-ll! + +Here, the heavier boys from Cobber began to do their fine work, +and Gridley hearts sank. + +Cobber made a first down on three plays. It ended in a bad fumble, +however, for steady Thompson went down over the ball on the Gridley +forty-five-yard line. + +"H.S. cheer once more!" bellowed Dick. + +The High School boys and girls answered with a will, drawing it +out so long as to cause the referee to frown. When it ended Badger's +signals ripped out fast and clear. + +The ball came back to Quarter-back Winters. He started Gridley +faces to glowing again, for Winters did one of the things that +had made the team famous. This was the Gridley fake kick. With +any lesser team it would have been good for twenty-five yards. +Even against the big, alert fellows from Cobber that fake kick +was good for eight yards. But not yet did the full effect of +the move come. For Cobber was off-side and Trent burst through +the line on a spurt that was good for thirty-three yards. + +Two snappy line plays followed that made the Cobber boys feel +the cold sweat ooze. It would have been Gridley's first down, +but a little slip penalized the home players for fifteen yards. + +Most of the people of Gridley back in the seats wore now standing +up in their excitement. They had dreaded much from the bigger +college boys, but now the spectators saw that Gridley could hold +its own for strategy, ruse and speed. + +Cobber lost its temper just a bit, now, before the smiling faces +of these High School boys. Some rough playing followed, but the +home boys kept their tempers. + +Soon Ben Badger signaled another fake kick formation. That was +Gridley's specialty for this game, one long planned and worked +for. Quarter-back Winters again got the ball. With a handsome +forward pass he made it Thompson's, and it went to the enemy's +seven-yard line. + +"Question---four!" appealed Cheer-Master Prescott, through the +megaphone. + +Back from twenty boys on the home stand came the heavy query: + +_"Where's Cobber? +Where's Cobber?"_ + +From all the rest of the H.S. fans came the roaring answer: + +"Lost! Suitable reward and no questions asked!" + +Then the Cobber fans hurled back this hint: + +_"Brag's a great dog, +Brag's a smart dog, +Brag's a good dog, but----- +Look out for the cat!"_ + +Cobber now developed their own famous bulldog tactics. From the +seven-yard line Gridley moved the ball less than two yards in +three plays. Cobber got the ball, and then other things began +to happen. Cobber's big fellows worried the ball back for eleven +yards. Then the visitors, who carried thirty per cent. more +weight, began with heavy mass plays. Gridley began to go down, +to double up and collapse before that heavy, rough play, in +which fatigue, not speed was the object of the opponents. + +It was not scientific play, but it was grueling on the High School +boys. Even confident Dick Prescott's heart began to sink. Coach +Morton was breathing hard. + +Unless Gridley could hold the enemy's rush back effectively enough +to get the ball once more on downs, the college boys seemed likely +to rush it right over the High School goal line. + +Had Cobber tried any kicks, Gridley would have had the ball, and +would have known what to do with it. But Captain Halsey knew that. +He depended, now, wholly on heavy mass rushes and plays. + +Yet the Gridley boys were by no means asleep---or lazy. + +"I won't tire our men all out in the first half," muttered Badger +to himself. "But I won't let them stroll through our line." + +Even the heavy Cobber men, though they advanced doggedly, did +not make any too great progress. + +Down at the Gridley fifteen-yard line the High School boys developed +their greatest stubbornness and strength. So well did they oppose +the college boys that, by preventing progress in three successive +plays, the home boys again got the ball. They could not move +it sufficiently far forward, however. Cobber took the ball again. + +"Better let up on the cheers, don't you think, sir?" Dick inquired. + +"Yes," nodded Coach Morton. "It would only worry our boys now, +and they've got enough on their minds as it is." + +Again Cobber took the offensive. At the next down a man had to +be sent from the field, and a substitute sent out. But the casualty +went to Cobber, not to the High School team. That fact gave the +major part of the audience grim satisfaction. + +"There they go, now!" muttered Dave Darrin, in disgust. "Nothing +is going to stop the big fellows!" + +"They're getting nearer our goal line," Dick admitted. "But a +game is never won until it's finished. Cobber, as yet, hasn't +even gotten the touchdown!" + +A minute later Cobber _had_. To the Gridley onlookers it sent +a shock of dismay. The college men certainly had scored. + +"It's Cobber's beef, not science," Dick stoutly asserted. "Our +fellows play with more speed and real skill. _Say_---look at +that!" + +For Bentley, of the college eleven, had just missed the kick from +field. + +Five points for the visitors! The teams swiftly changed ends +and lined up. The whistle's call sent them off to the fray, for +there were but three minutes left of the first half. + +Cobber won the kick but didn't carry it far. Gridley got down +as far as the enemy's twenty-yard line. Then the smaller High +School boys were fairly pushed back into their own territory, +losing twelve yards of their own side of the field. + +Trill-ll! The first half was over. + +"Sam, can you do better? Do you want to go back on the job?" +asked Ben Badger. + +"No," replied the Gridley captain. "It's been tough on us, but +you've done everything that I could have done. I'm satisfied, +and I believe the coach is." + +"We'll ask him," proposed Badger. + +Morton was hurrying toward his boys. The coach's face was impassive. +For all his looks showed he might have been congratulating himself +on a winning. + +"No; there's no need to change captains," decided the coach. +"It's like changing a horse in mid-stream. I don't see, Badger, +that you're lost any tricks that Edgeworth could have made. + +"What's our weak point?" asked Ben. + +"There isn't much of a weak point, anywhere, as far as your play +goes," Mr. Morton responded. "In many respects your play has +been better than Cobber's. Weight is your poor point." + +Nevertheless the coach made several suggestions in the time that +was allowed him. + +"Whenever you get a proper chance, Captain, and have the ball, +open up the play as much as you can. Don't give Cobber a chance +to bump you any when it can be avoided." + +In the meantime the Cobber fans, as was their right, were hurling +the most abusive cheers and taunts. Dick, as cheer-master, allowed +this to pass until nearly the end of the intermission. At last +he gave the sudden call through the megaphone: + +"Twenty-three!" + +The number sounded ominous; so did the cheer that was designated +by it. The Gridley H.S. boys on the grand stand responded hardly +more than half-heartedly: + +_"Com-pan-nee served first! +That's our steady rule! +Manners the best are taught +In Gridley school! + +"But he who waits laughs best! +'Tis but a distance short +'Twixt laugh and weep--- +Your joy'll be short!"_ + +"H.S. cheer!" exhorted Prescott, at once. + +It came, with a more thundering volley. Yet Gridley folks stirred +uneasily. + +"That's what comes of putting a freshman, without judgment, on +the calling job," muttered Fred Ripley sarcastically. + +The whistle blew. Cobber got the ball, and kept it moving. Once +there was a brief setback when Gridley got the pigskin and sought +to push it back. After four yards, however, Cobber took it and +moved down the field with it. + +It seemed impossible to offer effective resistance to the heavy +college men now. + +Gridley hearts sank from sheer weight. Gridley had met more +than its match! + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE FAKE KICK, TWO WAYS + + +It was almost a touchdown for Cobber when Ben Badger rallied his +men enough to fight the college men back some twenty-odd yards. +But then the tide turned once more, and Cobber began to fight +its way back to the High School goal line. + +The spectators had given up hope, all save those who sat in the +Cobber seats. + +This was to be the first defeat of the season, and the whipping +was to come from worthy foemen. Yet are home folks ever satisfied +to see their own youngsters beaten? + +Defeat was now conceded, however. Even Coach Morton, though his +face did not betray him, had given up all hope. + +Dick, however, kept calling for the cheers and yells. The student +body did their best, but their spirits were low. + +Once Morton turned and frowned, but Freshman Prescott did not +see him. The coach feared that this jubilant racket would get +on the nerves of the Gridley battlers. + +"How many minutes will it take Cobber to cross our line?" murmured +Dave in Dick's ear. + +"They won't do it before next year," Prescott staunchly retorted. + +Just then Cobber lost fifteen yards on penalty, and Gridley H.S. +had the ball at the moment when it was sadly needed. + +"Band, four bars of 'Hot Time in the Old Town!'" yelled Prescott +through the big megaphone. + +The leader's baton fell like a flash. The band itself sharing +in the excitement fairly ripped the air out in gallop time. + +As Ben Badger heard he straightened up for a moment, shaking his +long locks in the wind. A smile crossed his face. Then he bent +over the ball for the pass. + +"Nine---fourteen, eighteen---seven!" he called. + +Evans darted quickly out on his end. Quarter-back Winters moved +his feet somewhat to left. Trent, left half-back, shot swiftly +away to an altered position. + +Captain Halsey, of the college team, saw instantly that it looked +like a long pass and a sprint around Gridley's left end. A football +general must change front swiftly. At the signal, Cobber disposed +itself to bunch against the High School left. + +The whistle blew. Winters got the ball, and made the movements +for a kick. Cobber men, in the air on the jump, halted somewhat +uncertainly, some of them. + +It was a fake kick, and a royally good one. The ball went to +Stearns instead. Out around the right end dashed the little left, +with Gridley support thumping over the ground to back him up. +But Stearns was the best Gridley runner on the field today. +Moreover, he had not been worked as hard as had Evans. + +A nimble dodge, and Stearns was past the first Cobber interference. + +A howl of delight went up from the home fans. + +Then Cobber's secondary defense made a dash for Stearns. The +latter found himself balked, so headed straight for them. Through +the line he made a dash. It was too much for little Stearns. +Down he went, and a groan of disappointment went up from the +Gridley seats. + +Yet only to one knee went the swift little end. He was up and +off again like a shot. One Cobber man wheeled and would have +grabbed the little right end, but there was where Frank Thompson +played for all there was in him. He pitched forward, falling +headlong, and Smith, of Cobber, fell over him. + +It was a sprint, now! For an instant the field close to Stearns +was clear of opposition. + +Wild cheering broke loose. Dick Prescott fairly danced for joy. + +Ah! Here came some of the belated Cobber men, supporting their +fullback. + +There was a heavy crash. Stearns, caught in the midst of the +mixup, went down, but he covered the pigskin! + +Then the linesman hurried up. The news was so good that it flew +from mouth to mouth along the east side boards: + +"Forty-two yards!" + +Cobber's captain gasped. It had been close playing all afternoon. +He had looked for nothing like this. Clearly, Gridley's fake +kick tactics were all of the real thing. + +For the first time Halsey and his best men felt much of their +confidence ooze. + +Down almost over the line, Gridley soon had the ball, while the +home fans were again standing up and cheering. Then a penalty +set the ball back. But Gridley soon had the ball again. + +In two plays the doughty High School boys carried the pigskin +eight yards. Only nine to go! + +As Badger's signals rang out for the third pass, Badger's men +were seen to spread. Another fake kick? + +Then the ball went backward. Winters, of course, took it. Like +magic, while watchful Cobber stood opened up, the Gridley line +closed in again. Artful Dodger Winters still had the ball. Thompson, +Edgeworth, Badger and Beck butted in solidly behind the lithe +quarter-back. The rest of Gridley followed. + +Cheek of cheek! The out-weighed High School boys were giving +Cobber a dose of Cobber medicine. It was a mass-play---a +battering-ram assault. + +And Gridley got it over! An inch past the line Winters tripped +and went down, covering the ball. + +Touchdown! + +Five to five a tie score! + +"Kick the goal!" came the hoarse appeal from the east side seats. + +"Kick as you never kicked before!" + +Gridley fans could fairly hear themselves shake now. Hats were +off and waving. The High School girls stood up, frantically waving +their crimson and gold banners. + +Cool, steady, like one without nerves, Thompson went back into +the field and poised himself for the kick. + +At the whistle the dull thump of a boot against the pigskin was +heard all over the field. The ball arched and soared. Even before +it came toward earth a wild "hurrah!" went up from the east side. +The ball went straight between the bars! + +Score: "Six to five!" + +Badger and his young reliables were quietly smiling, now. Captain +Halsey began to look glum. + +"Four bars of 'Hot Time' once more!" begged Dick Prescott, in +a voice that sounded as if palsy-touched. + +The band blared out while the teams were changing ends. + +Once more Cobber got the ball on the kick-off. A massed rush +was made for Gridley's goal, but it didn't get far. With eleven +minutes left to play, and a lead on the score, Badger had resolved +on using up all the reserve strength, if need be. Gridley had +not yet called on any substitutes, and several capable young "subs" +waited just outside the lines, frantic for a call. Let Cobber +be rough, if that suited the college men. + +Cobber lost the ball on downs. + +Then Gridley took the pigskin. + +"Play for time," was Badger's signaled order. + +Not much in the delay line is possible under a vigilant referee, +yet all the time that strategy _could_ gain was taken advantage of. + +Thrice the ball was fought over the center of the gridiron. Then +it settled slowly toward the High School goal, making slow, stubbornly +fought advances. + +Three minutes left to play! + +Gridley H.S. got the ball once more, under the distance rule. + +Now Badger called out the same signal that had been used for that +most effective fake kick. + +Captain Halsey smiled as he saw the High School fighters spread out +swiftly, just as they had done before. + +Halsey thought he knew this time! That same old ruse of dashing +around the left end; then a fake kick and a dashing race by Stearns. +Halsey's swiftly telegraphed orders disposed his men to meet +the former dodge more effectively. + +The whistle sounded, and the ball was passed. But what Halsey didn't +know was that, the second time this signal was called it meant the +players were to do exactly what they seemed spreading out for. + +So the ball actually went around the left end this time, Evans +making the best sprint that was left in his stiffening muscles. + +He covered twenty-four yards before he was brought to earth. + +Here was where delay came in. While Cobber was fighting stubbornly +to regain the pigskin, the whistle sounded the end of the second +half. + +Gridley had won from the big enemy! + +Now pandemonium broke loose. Two thousand people leaped up and +down, yelling themselves hoarse. + +So many hats went into the air that it was a miracle if every +man recovered his own headgear. + +The band didn't play; the student body didn't sound a yell. What +would have been the use? There was too much noise. + +Dick made a bound, landing beside the band leader. + +"Hustle your men, please! Get out into the field and lead our +men off." + +It needed quick work, for the players were already leaving the +grounds. The wildest fans were getting over the lines, mingling +with the late players. + +But the band got there on the run. Above all the din Ben Badger +was quick to realize the meaning of the new move. He caught his +men back, forming them just behind the forming band. Off marched +the victorious team to the air of "Hot Time!" That brought down +the cheering harder than ever. + +While it lasted, Dick and Dave, by frantic movements, succeeded +in holding a large proportion of the student body back in their +seats. + +As soon as the band had reached the far end of the field, and +the human racket had died down somewhat, Freshman Prescott succeeded +in making himself heard: + +"Now! Our final yell of victory!" + +This was the High School yell, followed, instantly, by the taunting +query: + +"Is there any game you _do_ play, Cobber?" + +But there came no answer from the depths of the gloomy Cobber +fans. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +DICK'S "FIND" MAKES GRIDLEY SHIVER + + +That closed the football season in a blaze of glory. Gridley +H.S. had closed the year without a defeat. + +The day after Thanksgiving football is deader than marbles. Gridley +H.S. boys and girls settled down to study until the holidays came +on. + +The next thing of note that happened in the student world jarred +the whole town. There might have been a much bigger jar, however. + +Dave Darrin often worked, Saturday nights, in the express office. + +One night in early December he was employed there as usual. At +about nine o'clock Dick Prescott and Tom Reade dropped in. + +"Pretty near through, old fellow?" Dick asked. + +"I will be when the 8:50 gets in and the goods are checked up," +replied Dave. "The train is a few minutes late tonight." + +There being no one else at the office, except the night manager +and two clerks, Dick and Reade felt that they would not be in +the way if they waited for Dave. + +Twenty minutes later the wagon drove up with the packages and +cases that had arrived on the 8:50 train. + +"You two can give a hand, if you like," invited Dave, as the packages +were being passed up to the counter, checked and taken care of. + +Prescott and Reade pitched in, working with a will. + +"Here, don't shoot this box through as fast as you've done the +others," counseled Dick, as he picked up a small box, some eighteen +inches long and about a foot square at the end. "The label says, +'Extra fragile. Value two hundred and fifty dollars.'" + +Dave reached out to receive it, as Dick laid it carefully on the +counter. + +"Packages of that value have to be handled with caution," muttered +Dave. "When a fellow puts on a valuation like that, it means +that he intends to make claim for any damage whatever." + +"Hold on," muttered Dick, eyeing the counter. "There's something +leaking from the box now." + +Dave took his hands away, then bent over to have a look with Dick. + +A very tiny puddle of some very thick, syrupy stuff was slowly +forming on the counter. + +"I wonder if the contents _have_ been damaged?" muttered Dave, +uneasily. Then added, in a whisper: + +"The night manager will blame us, and hold me responsible, if +there _is_ any damage." + +Both boys carefully inspected the tiny puddle for a few moments. + +"Say, don't touch the box again," counseled Prescott, uneasily. +"Do you know what that stuff looks to me like, Dave?" + +"What?" + +"Do you remember the thick stuff that Dr. Thornton showed us in +IV. Chemistry the other day?" + +"Great Scott!" breathed Dave Darrin, anxiously. "You don't mean +nitroglycerine?" + +"But I _do_!" Dick nodded, energetically. + +"Wow! Don't stir from here. I'll call the night manager." + +Night Manager Drowan came over at once, eyeing the box and the +tiny pool of thick stuff. + +"I never saw nitroglycerine but once," remarked Mr. Drowan, +nervously. "I should say this stuff looks just like it. We +won't take any chances, anyway. Dave, you go to the telephone, +and notify the police. Your friends can stand guard over the +box so that no one gets a chance to go near it." + +But, while Dave was at the 'phone, Mr. Drowan hung over the box +as though fascinated. + +"It takes fire to set this stuff off, doesn't it?" he asked. + +"No," Dick replied. "If it's nitroglycerine in that box, +a light, sharp blow might be enough to do the trick. At least, +that was about what Dr. Thornton said." + +Dave came back with word that the police would send some one at +once. + +"They asked me whom the stuff was addressed to," Dave continued, +"and I had to admit that I didn't know." + +"It's addressed to Simon Tripps, to be called for. Identification +by letter herewith," read Dick Prescott, from the label. + +"Yes; I have the letter," nodded Mr. Drowan. "It contains the +signature of the party who's to call for the box. That's all +the identification that's asked." + +At this moment Officer Hemingway, in plain clothes, came in, followed +by a policeman in uniform. + +Hemingway took a look at the stuff slowly oozing out of a corner +of the box. + +"My bet is nitroglycerine---what the bank robbers call 'soup,'" +declared Hemingway, almost in a whisper. "All right; we'll take +it up to the station house. Then we'll send for Dr. Thornton, +who is the best chemist hereabouts. As soon as we get this stuff +to the station house I'll hustle back and hide against the coming +of Mr. Tripps. If he comes before I get back, jump on the fellow +and hold him for me, no matter what kind of a fight he puts up." + +Dave gazed after the retreating figures of the policemen. + +"Bright man, that Hemingway," he remarked. "If Tripps shows up, +we are to jump on him and nail him---no matter if he hauls out +two six-shooter and turns 'em on us" + +"We can grab any one man, and hold him," returned Dick, confidently. +"All we've got to do is to get at him from all sides. See here, +Dave, if a fellow comes in and tells you he's Tripps, you repeat +the name as though you weren't sure. As soon as we hear the name, +Tom and I can jump on him from behind, and you can sail in in +front. Eh, Reade?" + +"It sounds good," nodded Tom. "I'll take a chance on it, Dick, +with you to engineer the job." + +In ten minutes Officer Hemingway was back. He stepped into a +cupboard close to the counter, prepared for the coming of Tripps. + +Half an hour later the police station's officer in charge telephoned +that Dr. Thornton had carefully opened the box, and had declared +that it contained four pounds of nitroglycerine. Nor had Dr. +Thornton taken any chances of mistake. He had taken a minute +quantity of the suspected stuff out in the yard back of the station +house, and had exploded it. + +At a moment when the office was empty of patrons Mr. Drowan stepped +into the cupboard for a moment, as though searching for something. + +"How late do you stay open?" whispered Hemingway. + +"Ten o'clock, usually, on Saturday nights, but we'll keep open +as late as you want, officer." + +"Better keep open until midnight, then." + +So they did, Dick telephoning his parents at the store to explain +that he was at the express office helping Dave. + +Midnight came and went. A few minutes after the new day had begun +Hemingway came out of the cupboard. + +"You may as well close up, Drowan," the plain clothes man decided. +"The fellow who calls himself Tripps isn't going to show up. +If he had been going to claim his box he'd have been here before +this." + +"You think he got scared away?" asked the night manager. + +"The fellow was probably keeping watch on this office. He saw +what happened, and decided not to run his neck into a noose. +You'll never have any word from Tripps." + +"Isn't it just barely possible," hinted one of the clerks, "that +the man wanted the stuff for some legitimate purpose?" + +"A man who knows how to use nitroglycerine," retorted Hemingway, +gruffly, "also knows that it's against the law to ship nitroglycerine +unlabeled. He also knows that it's against the law for an express +company to transport the stuff on a car that is part of a passenger +train. So this fellow who calls himself Tripps is a crook. We +haven't caught him, but we've stopped him from using his 'soup' +the way he had intended to use it." + +"Wonder what he did want to do with it?" mused Dick Prescott. + +"There are any one of twenty ways in which the fellow might have +used the stuff criminally," replied the plain clothes man. "Of +course, for one thing, it could be used to blow open a safe with. +But safecracking, nowadays, is done by ordinary robbers, and +they're able to carry in a pocket or a satchel the small quantity +of 'soup' that it takes to blow the lock of a safe door, or the +door off the safe." + +After thinking a few minutes, Hemingway went to the telephone, +calling up the chief of police at the latter's home. The plain +clothes man stated the case, and suggested that the story be told +to "The Blade" editor for publication in the morning issue. Then, +if anyone in town had any definite suspicion why so much nitroglycerine +should be needed in that little city, he could communicate his +suspicions or his facts to the police. + +"The chief agrees to my plan," nodded Hemingway, leaving the 'phone. +"Me for 'The Blade' office." + +"See here," begged Dick, earnestly, "if there's to be a good newspaper +story in this, please let me turn it over to Len Spencer. He's +one of our best newspaper men. He'll write a corking good story +about this business---and, besides, I'm under some personal obligations +to him." + +"So I've heard," replied the plain clothes man, with a twinkle +in his eyes. Hemingway heard a good deal in his saunterings about +Gridley. He had picked up the yarn about Dick & Co., Len Spencer +and the "dead ones." + +"So that 'The Blade' gets it, I don't care who writes the story," +replied the policeman, good-humoredly. + +Dick swiftly called up "The Morning Blade' office. Spencer was +there, and came to the telephone. + +"How's news tonight?" asked Prescott, after naming himself. + +"Duller than a lecture," rejoined Len. + +"Would you like a hot one for the first page?" pursued Dick. + +"Would I? Would a cat lap milk, or a dog run when he had a can +tied to his tail? But don't string me, Dick. There's an absolute +zero on news tonight." + +"Then you stay right where you are for two or three minutes," +Dick begged his reporter friend. "Officer Hemingway and some +others are coming down to see you. You'll want to save three +or four columns, I guess." + +"Oh, now, see here, Dick-----" came Reporter Spencer's voice, +in expostulation. + +"Straight goods," Dick assured him. "When I say that I mean it. +And, this time, I not only mean it, but _know_ it. Wait! We'll +be right down to your office." + +Nor did it take Len Spencer long to realize that he had in hand +the big news sensation of the hour for the people of Gridley. + +Everyone in Gridley either wondered or shivered the next morning +at breakfast table. + +Four pounds of nitroglycerine are enough to work fearful havoc +and mischief. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +FRED SLIDES INTO THE FREEZE + + +Monday's "Blade" contained additional light on the nitroglycerine +affair---or what passed as "light." + +Len Spencer and the local police had discovered that at least +three of the wealthiest men in town had received, during the last +few weeks, threatening letters from cranks. + +These cranks had all demanded money, under pain of severe harm +if they failed to turn over the money. + +It now developed that the police chief and Officer Hemingway had, +some time before, arrested a nearly harmless lunatic, who, it +was believed had written the letters. The man with the unbalanced +mind did not appear dangerous, yet, in view of his threats, he +had been quietly "railroaded" off to all asylum for the insane. + +Now, the arrival of four pounds of nitroglycerine at the local +express office was believed to show that the lunatic had had comrades, +or else that the crazy man had been used merely as a tool. + +Hemingway hurried off to the asylum, to interview the unfortunate +one. All the plain clothes man succeeded in getting, however, +was a rambling talk that didn't make sense. + +Monday's "Blade" announced that the chief of police had been authorized +to offer a reward of five hundred dollars for information leading +to the arrest and conviction of the party or parties behind the +criminal shipment of the giant explosive to Gridley. + +Everyone believed that the frightened rich men had combined to +offer the reward. Many wondered that the offered reward was not +larger. + +All of the student body at the High School were busy talking about +the affair in the big assembly room before the session opened. + +"I see where my parents have made a great mistake," sighed Frank +Thompson. + +"How?" demanded Ben Badger. + +"Instead of wasting my time at the High School they should have +apprenticed me to a good journeyman detective," grumbled Thomp. + +"Oh, but couldn't I use that five hundred, if only my training +had fitted me for such deeds as running down a nitroglycerine +peddler!" + +"It isn't anything to joke about," shuddered one of the girls. +"It's awful! Would four pounds of the dreadful stuff destroy +the town of Gridley?" + +"No," Badger informed her; "but it would be enough to blow up +several wood-piles and destroy a lot of clean Monday wash." + +"There you go joking again," protested the girl, and turned away. + +"Oh, well," declared Fred Ripley, "we must possess ourselves with +patience. We shall soon know the whole truth." + +"Do you really think so?" asked Purcell. + +"It's one of the surest things conceivable," railed Ripley. "That +bright constellation of freshmen known under the musical title +of Dick & Co. will solve the whole affair wit, in forty-eight +hours. Indeed, I'm not sure but Dick & Co., even at this moment, +carry the secret looked in their breasts." + +Fred glanced quickly around him to see how much of a laugh this +had started. To his chagrin he found his bantering had fallen +flat. + +"Oh, well," gaped Dowdell, gazing out of the window near which +he stood, "I know one important fact about the mystery." + +"What's that?" asked half a dozen quickly. + +"None of the five hundred is destined to come my way. + +"That jest saddens a lot of us with the same conviction," muttered +Ted Butler, shaking his head. + +"But this I _do_ know," continued Dowdell, "if the weather continues +cold there'll be some elegant skating before the week is out." + +Gridley did not slumber over the nitroglycerine mystery. Len +Spencer, though he could gain no actual information, managed to +have something interesting on the subject in each morning's "Blade." +The people of Gridley talked of the mystery everywhere. + +There was one other mild sensation this week that lasted for a +part of a day. Tip Scammon came up for his trial. He pleaded +guilty to the thefts from the High School locker room, and also +guilty to the charge of entering the Prescott rooms in order to +hide his loot in Dick's trunk. By way of leniency toward a first +offender the court let Tip off with a sentence of fourteen months +in the penitentiary. This sentence, by good behavior on the part +of Tip, would shrink to ten months of actual imprisonment. + +In every way the police and the prosecuting attorney tried to +make Tip reveal the name of his confederate. But Tip, for reasons +of his own, maintained absolute, dogged silence on this head, +and went to the penitentiary without having named the person who +met him in the alleyway that evening when Tip himself was caught. + +The promise of skating was made good. Wednesday afternoon it +was discovered that the ice in Gaylor's Cove was in splendid condition, +and strong enough to bear. + +Thursday a series of High School racing contests were planned +for Saturday afternoon. There was so much money left over in +the Athletics Committee's treasury that it was voted to offer +a series of individual trophies for boy and girl skaters in different +events. + +Moreover, in these skating events members of the freshman class +were to be allowed to compete. + +"Now, see here, fellows," urged Dick, when he had gotten his partners +aside, "some of the freshman class ought to be winners of some +of the events. We want to give our class a good name. And, out +of the six of us, there ought to be one winner for something. +I wish you'd all do your best to get in shape. You'll all go +over to the cove with me this afternoon, of course." + +They did. More than a hundred of the student body, most of them +boys, were on the ice that afternoon. + +Some went scurrying by for all they were worth. These were training +for the races. + +Others gathered in the less traveled parts of the cove, which +was a large one, and practiced the "fancy" feats. Tom Reade and +Dan Dalzell put themselves in this class. Dick and his other +partners went in for speed. + +Friday afternoon there was an even larger attendance. + +Gaylor's Cove was about half a mile long, with an average width +of a quarter of a mile. At the middle the cove was open for a +long way upon the river. + +At some points on the river proper the ice was strong enough to +bear. Near Gaylor's Cove, however, the river current was so swift +that the river ice at this point looked thin and treacherous. +No one ventured out on the ice just beyond the cove. + +Friday night many a High School boy and girl studied the sky. +There was no sign of storm, nor did the conditions seem to threaten +a thaw. Saturday morning was cold and clear. The temperature, +at noon, was just above freezing point, though not enough so to +bring about a "thaw" in the ice. + +By one o'clock Saturday afternoon Gaylor's Cove was a scene of +great activity. Two thirds of the High School students were there, +most of them on skates. There were three or four hundred other +youngsters, and more than a hundred grown-ups. + +"All we need is the band," laughed Dick Prescott, as he skated +slowly along with Laura Bentley. + +"The click-clack of the skates is enough for me," Laura replied. + +"You are not down in any of the girls' contests, are you?" he +asked. + +"No; does that disappoint you, Dick?" + +"N-no," he said, slowly. "Still, it's fine to see every event +all but crowded." + +"In how many events are you entered?" asked the girl. + +"Only one, the freshman's mile. That will be swift work, and +there are two turns, the way the course is to be laid out." + +"Why didn't you enter more of the freshman events?" Laura asked. + +"Well, it will take a lot of good wind to keep going at a swift +pace for a mile. I want to save all my strength and wind for +that one event." + +"What is the prize in the freshman's mile?" asked Laura, fumbling +in her muff for the card of the day's events. + +"You noticed that handsome Canadian toboggan, didn't you?" + +"The one with the side hand-rails?" Laura asked, looking up brightly +into his face. "Yes; that ought to have been one of the prizes +in the girls' events." + +"Why?" queried Dick, looking a bit disconcerted. + +"Why, those hand-rails are meant for timid girls to take hold +of. A boy would never want a toboggan with hand-rails." + +"Perhaps the fellow who's going to win the freshman's mile expects +to invite some of the young ladies to go out tobogganing with +him," hinted young Prescott. + +"Is it _fixed_ who shall win that race?" demanded Laura, teasingly. + +"Hardly that," Dick rejoined, dryly. + +"Then how do you know the coming owner's intentions, if you don't +know who is going to win the race?" Miss Bentley insisted. + +"Well, you see, it's this way?" Dick admitted, "I've made up my +mind to win that race." + +"So you regard the race as being as good as won by yourself?" +smiled the physician's daughter. + +"It's one of the rules of Dick & Co.," Prescott answered, as they +turned and skated slowly back toward the center of the cove, "when +we go into anything we consider it as good as won from the outset." + +"Well, I like that spirit," Laura admitted. "Faint heart never +yet won anything but a spill." + +Laura had her card out by this time, and was studying it +leisurely, trusting to her companion to guide her. + +"I see Fred Ripley is entered for the grand event in fancy skating," +she observed. + +"Yes; are you interested in him?" + +Something in the directness of the question caused the girl to +bite her lips. + +"Now, that's hardly fair, Dick," she cried, flushing with vexation. +"No; the fact is, I'm hoping he'll lose." + +"Why?" + +"Because, Fred has never been very nice to you, Dick." + +That was direct enough, and Dick flushed with pleasure. + +"Thank you, Laura; that's more handsome than what I said to you." + +"I accept your apology," she laughed. "Look! There goes Fred +Ripley now! How foolish of him." + +Fred was heading straight out of the cove toward the river. He +was a fine skater, and now he was showing off at his best. He +had adapted a "turn promenade" step from roller skating, and +was whirling along, turning and half dancing as he sped along. +It was a graceful, rhythmical performance. Despite the fact +that young Ripley was not widely liked, his present work drew +considerable applause from the spectators. + +That applause acted like incense under the young man's nostrils. +He determined to go farther out, maintaining his present step +unbroken. + +"Look out, Ripley!" warned Thomp. "The ice won't bear out there." + +Fred didn't reply by as much as a look. He kept on out toward +the thin ice. + +Cra-a-ack! Splash! The thin ice had broken. Ripley, moving +backwards, did not realize his fix until his feet; shot into the +water. Down he came on his back, breaking more of the ice. + +A yell, and he was gone below the surface. + +And now everybody seemed shouting at once. A hundred people ran +to and fro, shouting out what ought to be done. + +"Get a rope! Run for a doctor! Bring fence rails! Telephone +for the police!" + +That's the usual way with a crowd, to think up things that others +ought to do. + +Dick Prescott espied Dave Darrin ahead. Dropping Laura's arm +without a word, Dick skated swiftly up to Dave, called Darrin, +then lightning. As he worked young Prescott shot out a few hurried +orders. + +Then another great cry went up. Dick Prescott was sprinting fast +toward the thin ice. Close to where Fred Ripley had gone down +there was another great rent in the ice. + +Dick Prescott was "in the freeze," in quest of his enemy! + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +DICK & CO. SHOW SOME TEAM WORK + + +So suddenly and heavily did he break through the thin ice that +Dick went underneath the surface. + +"Help!" roared Fred, in a frenzy, as he came to the surface. + +The skates on his feet clogged all his movements, and acted like +lead. + +"There's Ripley, but where's Prescott?" shouted several. + +"A-a-ah!" + +That last cry went up as a sound of relief, when Prescott's +brown-haired pate, hatless, bobbed up close to where he had gone down. + +"Good boy, Prescott!" + +"Go in and get Ripley." + +"Save yourself, anyway! Don't be over-foolish!" + +A dozen more cries went up from cove and shore. + +Yet it is doubtful if Prescott heard any of them. + +In the first instant that his eyes came above the level of the +water, Dick took in the details of Ripley's whereabouts. + +Dick had to calculate at lightning speed. + +"O Prescott," gasped Fred, when he saw his would-be rescuer, "can't +you break the ice between us? I can't keep up much longer." + +"Get hold of the edge of the ice, Ripley," called Dick. "Just +rest lightly on it. Don't try to make it bear your weight---it +won't! It'll help hold you up, though, if you keep cool." + +"Cool?" groaned Fred. "I'm freezing. In pity's name get to me +quickly." + +Fred was so wholly self-centered that it didn't occur to him that +the freshman must be just as chilled as he himself was. + +Dick's legs ached with the cold chill of the icy water. He was +free of the weight of skates, however, and he trod water during +the few seconds that he needed for making up his mind what it +was best to do. + +Much depended upon the help that those on shore gave, but Dick +had left his orders with Dave Darrin, and he trusted the shore +end to his capable lieutenant. + +Fred, though hardly more than able to keep himself afloat, managed +to reach the nearest edge of ice. + +He clutched at it eagerly, then, disregarding excellent advice, +he tried to climb out upon it. + +There was another crash. With another yell, Ripley sank again, +to the horror of those on shore. + +But Prescott did not see this. The freshman, after trying to +calculate the exact distance across the intervening ice, dived +below the glassy surface. He was swimming, now, under the ice. +As he swam the freshman kept his eyes open, swimming close +to the ice, yet not touching it. + +So he came up, in the open. But where was Fred? + +"Ripley just sank!" came the hoarse chorus from shore and cove. + +This was serious enough. He who sinks for the second time in +icy waters, especially when hampered by skates, may very likely +not come up again. + +"It must have been about here that he went down," calculated Prescott, +deliberately, as he swam through the open water. "Now, then!" + +Down went Dick. To those looking on, it was heroic---sublime? +Yet it looked as though the rescuer must be dooming himself. + +"One Prescott is worth a dozen Ripleys" murmured one man who, +unable to swim, was obliged to stand looking uselessly on. + +There were still many who were shouting confusing advice as to +what others ought to do. A few were even running about trying +to do something. + +Dave Darrin was actually "on the job." + +He had pressed Dick's other partners into service and as many +of the High School boys as possible. They got off their skates +in a rush. + +"Tom," shouted Dave, "you and Greg get some of the fellows and +rush down as many ties as you can from that pile by the railroad +tracks. Dalzell, you and Harry get down at the edge of send him +your way. Make a raft by laying four ties side by side, and lash +the ends. Do it as quick as a flash. I'll be there by that time." + +Tom and Greg quickly had a dozen men running for railroad ties, +a pile of which stood less than an eighth of a mile away. + +By the time that the man with ropes arrived, and two more behind +him, bringing more, there were a dozen railroad ties on the ice +by the outer edge of the cove. Harry Hazelton and Dan snatched +short lengths of rope and knotted them around either end of the +raft. + +"Some of you men make another raft, just like that one!" shouted +Dave, who, at the time, was busily engaged in making a noose at +one end of a long coil of half-inch rope. + +"Here, you two men get hold of the other end of this," ordered +Dave, running up with the coil of rope. + +Then, hardly waiting to make sure that they had the rope, Dave +turned to Harry and Dan, calling to them to help him push the +raft out beyond the cove. A dozen men and boys tried to help, +all at once, but Dave and Harry saw to it that no speed was lost +by blundering. + +The raft was not difficult to push out over the ice. + +"Now, let me have it alone," shouted Dave. "The ice may break +at any point beyond." + +So Dave tugged and pushed, guiding the small raft before him. + +Cra-ack! Dave and the raft went through the ice, but Darrin quickly +climbed up astride of the ties. + +Out beyond, Dick was holding up Fred Ripley, whom he had found +and brought to the surface. Fred's eyes were nearly closed. +After his second drop below, the Ripley lad was nearly spent. + +Glancing back, Dave saw that another raft was being pushed out +by the two men who held the rope that was noosed under his shoulders. + +"Now, halt where you are!" Dave Darrin shouted back. "Toss me +a long rope that I can throw out to Prescott!" + +The rope came swirling. Dave caught it easily enough. Then, +still sitting on the raft, his legs, of course, in the water, +Darrin recoiled the rope. + +"Can you spare a hand to catch, Dick?" shouted Dave. + +"Surely!" came back the steady answer. + +The coil flew out across the thin ice. One end splashed in the +water. Guiding the all but helpless Fred, Dick swam to the rope's +end. + +Further back the two men who held to the rope connecting with +Dave had seated themselves across the second raft. If the ice +broke at _that_ point they would have little difficulty in making +themselves safe. + +"Ripley, stir yourself!" ordered Dick. "Can you take hold of +this rope, and keep hold of it" Can you climb across the thin +ice, holding onto the rope and being towed if the ice breaks?" + +"I---I---I'm afraid," chattered Ripley. "You come with me!" + +"It'll be a good deal easier if you can go first, and alone," +spoke the freshman, rather sternly. "I think I can keep myself +afloat until you get over to solid ice. Then the rope can be +thrown back to me." + +"I'm afraid, I tell you," insisted Fred, his teeth clicking against +each other. "Can't you see that I'm all in?" + +"You'll have us both all in, if you don't get some courage together," +young Prescott insisted. "Come, be a man, Ripley!" + +"I'm freezing to death here," moaned Ripley, closing his eyes. + +Somehow---he could never tell just how, afterwards, Dick managed +to slip the rope under Fred's shoulders. With infinite effort---for +he had to keep them both afloat, the freshman double-knotted the +rope. + +"Come, now, you've got to help yourself across the ice, while +Dave hauls on the line," urged Dick. + +Fred made a motion as though to bestir himself but he did it so +feebly that Prescott gave him a sharp pinch. + +"Ouch!" flared Fred, now seeming to be wide awake. "Prescott, +you have the upper hand here. Don't be a bully!" + +"I don't want to," spoke Dick, quietly, trying to keep his own +teeth from rattling. "But you've got to stir yourself, or else +I must do it for you. Now, get started over the thin ice. +Dave will haul. Never mind if the ice breaks under you; the rope +is tied around you. You're sure to be hauled to safety if you +help yourself. Now, then, Dave! Begin to haul in!" + +It needed another pinch to make Fred Ripley bestir himself properly. +He half whimpered in protest, but Prescott was past minding _that_. + +Hardly had Ripley gotten his full weight upon the ice than it +broke under him. He splashed into the water with a great howl, +but alert Dave Darrin hauled in just enough of the rope. Ripley +was safe, and could make the next attempt to get out on the ice. + +Meanwhile, Prescott swam to another part of the ice edge. He +rested his hands on that edge, not heavily, but just enough for +some support. At the same time he kept his tired, aching, almost +frozen legs in motion just to keep himself from growing any more +numb. + +Four times Fred Ripley broke through the thin ice, but each time +Dave Darrin, astride the first raft, pulled in on the rope just +in time. + +After getting himself out of the water for the fifth time, Ripley +crawled over stronger ice, and went on past the hole in which +Dave sat on the raft. + +Then Ripley was able to get to his feet, tottering toward the +shore, shaking as though with fever and chills. + +A cheer went up from those who watched. The enthusiasm would +have been vastly greater had not the crowd had its eyes on Dick +Prescott, who must yet be saved if aid could reach him before +his numbed limbs could sustain him no longer. + +"Get that rope off, Ripley," bawled Dave Darrin. "Hurry! I must +throw it to Dick, or he'll go down!" + +"I can't get it off," mumbled Fred, tugging vainly, almost aimlessly, +as he still moved coveward. + +As he was on staunch ice, now, three or four men ran toward him. + One, with a sharp knife, waved the others away and quickly slashed +the noose away from Fred's shoulders. + +"Go on, you pup!" grumbled the man with the knife. "Now, we'll +try to get help to the _man_!" + +Fred was not too far spent to flash angrily at that taunt. + +"You'd better be careful whom you speak to like that!" snarled +Ripley. "You're a low-bred fellow, anyway!" + +But the man who had slashed the rope free didn't even hear. He +had turned toward Darrin, to make sure that Dave could draw the +rope toward him fast enough. + +"One of you people get Ripley's skates off for him, and help him +ashore," called Tom Reade. + +"Why don't _you_?" some one in the crowd answered. + +"Because my job," retorted Reade, "is keeping my eyes on my chum, +ready to help if anything comes up that I can do." + +Four or five hurried to Fred's aid. He had been walking on his +skates, which, at best, is an awkward style of locomotion. Two +men held him up, while two of the H.S. boys quickly took off his +skates. After that Fred, leaning on one of the H.S. boys, made +much quicker time to the shore. + +Here a man with a sleigh waited. + +"Pile him in here," directed the driver. "Dr. Gilbert has gone +up to the Avery House and is getting things ready. I'll have +Ripley back in a jiffy." + +"Oh, that's all right," sang out a boy in the freshman class. +"But the main thing is to hustle back and be ready to take Dick +Prescott." + +"And I'll pray all through the round trip that you may get Prescott +back to shore alive," fervently replied the driver, as he brought +the whip down across the horse's back. + +Dave Darrin, too, was chilled. That was why, when he had drawn +all the rope in and had coiled it, he made a throw that fell short. + +"Courage, Dick, old fellow," he shouted. "I'll get it to you, +in a jiffy." + +Nervously, quickly, Dave hauled in the rope. He coiled rapidly, +yet with care. + +"Now, may Heaven give me the strength to throw this coil far enough +to do the trick!" prayed Dave Darrin, as he made the second cast. + +There was frenzy behind that throw. Hurrah! There was four feet +of rope to spare as it splashed into the open part where Dick +still hung, though he was fast weakening. + +"There's a noose on the end---I fixed it, Dick! Get it over your +head and under your shoulders!" bawled Dave Darrin. + +It was only the coolness of a last desperate hope that enabled +the freshman to adjust the noose sufficiently. + +"All r-r-r-i-ight!" he called, unable to make any further effort +to stop the rattling of his teeth. + +"Come on, then!" cheered Dave. + +It was team play between two freshmen, but it was worked out. +Dick, after a while, reached solid ice. Tom Reade and Dan Dalzell +risked themselves a good deal in going far out to meet him. But +they got their leader and rushed him toward the cove. + +Soon a dozen H.S. boys were running around Dick. Some of them +had him upon their shoulders; others were trying to help. + +As they rushed him across the cove to the sleigh that had just +arrived, the cheering was deafening. + +Others in the crowd had already run up along the road, which was +lined as Dick and Darrin were driven along as fast as the horse +could go. Tom Reade stood on the runners behind. As soon as +the door of the hotel was reached, Reade aided the driver in rushing +the boys inside. + +Even here the cheering followed them in volleys. + +"Come on---into a cold room with you, at first," ordered Dr. Gilbert, +appearing, while a dozen H.S. boys came in his wake. "You don't +want to get near a fire yet. Strip them, both, lads, and rub +them down for all you're worth. Don't mind peeling a little skin +off!" + +Dick and Dave were rushed into a room. With so many hands to +help, they were soon stripped. Then rough Turkish towels were +plied upon them until even their skins began to show the red of +blood and life. + +"Now, wrap blankets about them, and bring them into a warm room," +ordered the doctor. + +As they entered the other room they espied Fred Ripley, already +seated in an arm-chair by the stove, a bowl of something hot in +one hand. + +The driver of the sleigh now came in. + +"You lads will want something warm and dry to put on," he declared. +"Give me your orders. The distance isn't far. I'll drive to +your homes and get the clothes and things that you want." + +"No, thank you," returned Ripley, stiffly. "I've already had +a telephone message sent, and my father's auto will bring out +what I need." + +"But you youngsters will want something?" asked the driver, turning +to the plucky freshmen. + +Dick and Dave stated their requests, Prescott adding: + +"But please be sure to make our parents understand that we're +safe. We don't want them seared to death." + +Fred Ripley took a long swallow of the steaming stuff in his +bowl. As he did so he took a furtive glance in the direction +of the freshmen. + +Was he going to attempt to thank them for having risked their +own lives to help him back to safety? + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +OUT FOR THAT TOBOGGAN! + + +Ben Badger came to the shore edge of the ice, megaphone in hand +announcing in stentorian tones: + +"Our friends are safe---even jolly. The sports will now go on!" + +First on the card was a free-for-all dash of a half mile, standing +start. The trophy was a regulation target revolver. + +Badger, of the first class, and Purcell, of the sophomore, held +the lead and all but tied each other at the outset. Third in +order came Stearns, the agile little right end of the eleven. +When half the distance had been traveled it was noticed that +Stearns was creeping up on the leaders. + +"Look out, Ben, or the little fellow will get you!" roared friends. + +Stearns continued to gain, slowly. Purcell dropped back to third +place. None of the other eight in the race seemed likely to do +anything effective. + +"A little more steam, Ben!" + +"Stearns, you can get it!" + +In the last eighth of the distance Stearns made good. Summoning +all his football wind and speed the little right end closed and +shot ahead. Not once in the remainder of the course did Ben Badger +quite catch up with his smaller opponent. Stearns won by some +fifteen yards. + +The racers came slowly back, breathing harder than usual. As +soon as jovial Ben felt equal to the task of further announcing, +he picked up the megaphone, shouting: + +"As I didn't win, all the further events are postponed!" + +There was stupefied silence for a few moments. Grown people and +the students looked from one to another. Then a guffaw started +that swelled to a chorus of laughter. + +"The next event on the card," called Ben, satisfied with the effect +of his joke, "is the free-for-all fancy skating event. The contestants +will come before the judges one at a time. Each entrant is limited +to two minutes, actual time." + +There should have been some girls entered in this event, but there +were none. Six H.S. boys from the different classes came forward. + +"Fred Ripley loses his chance," muttered some one. + +"He _had_ his chance. A fellow who prefers to skate into the +freeze is counted out," replied Thomp. + +Just as the contestants were moving out Greg Holmes came hurrying +down to the ice. + +"Am I too late?" he called. + +"Not if you think you've got anything good," replied Badger. + +Greg promptly proceeded to put on his skates, covertly watching +the performance of the first fellow to show off. It was good +work that Greg watched, but he thought he could beat it. + +"You'll have to go last on the list," nodded Ben, as Greg came +skating up. + +Greg merely nodded, though inwardly he grinned. "That just suits +me," he told himself. "The fellow who skates last will be freshest +in the minds of the judges." + +When it came Greg's turn he avoided most of the fancy figures +that the other fellows had shown off amid much applause. Still, +Greg showed a bewildering assortment of "eights," "double-eights" +and some magnificent work along the "turn promenade" order that +Ripley had been doing before the accident. + +Then Greg came in, promenading backward on his skates. + +"I'm going to fall," he called to the judges, "but it will be +intentional." + +"Fall it is, then," nodded Sam Edgeworth, one of the judges. + +Greg was moving jauntily along, still doing the backward promenade. +Suddenly one of his skates appeared to catch against the other. +Down went Greg, backwards. Despite his announcement the moment +before, a sympathetic murmur went up from many of the onlookers. + +But Greg, sitting down suddenly as he did, pivoted around like +a streak. Throwing his hands back of his head, he sprang to his +feet. At the first he was doing the forward promenade. The whole +manoeuvre, including the fall, had occupied barely four seconds. +Now, wheeling into the back promenade Greg glided before the +judges. + +"Time," called the holder of the watch. + +"I'm willing," nodded Greg. "And I'm willing any contestant who +wants should try my stunt before the verdict is given." + +The conference between the judges did not last long and Greg got +the decision. + +"The freshman mile will come along later," announced Ben, through +the megaphone. "The committee want to put in a freak race first." + +The "freak" was a quarter mile, nearly go-as-you-please. In this +race each contestant had on his left skate, but no skate on the +right foot. The contestant who reached the finish line first +won---"even if he slides on his back," Ben announced, sagely. + +Tom Reade hurried onto the ice as one of the entrants in this +race. He had practiced it well, and won it easily, securing a +silver medal. Greg's prize had been a gold medal, but over this +fact Tom allowed himself to feel no envy or disappointment. + +Several other events came along in quick succession. Everyone +seemed to forget that the freshman mile had not yet been skated. + +It was called last on the list. Just as the skaters were moving +forward some one detected a figure hurrying down the slope over +the snow. + +"Here comes Dick Prescott!" + +"Is he going into the race after all?" + +A lively burst of cheers greeted the freshman as he reached the +edge of the ice. + +Dick looked as cheery and as rosy as ever. No onlooker could +see that Prescott's late adventure had injured him in the least. + +"Going to race, Dick?" called some one. + +"Surest thing," laughed the freshman, "if I can find my skates. +If not, I'm going to try to borrow a pair of the right size." + +"Here are your skates," called Laura Bentley, gliding forward +over the ice. "I picked them up for you, and I've been holding +'em ever since. + +"That's what I call mighty good of you," glowed Dick. "Thank you +a thousand times." + +Dick sat down on a wooden box. He could have had the services +of half a dozen seniors to fasten on his skates, but he preferred +to do it for himself. + +Clamps adjusted, and skates tested, Dick struck off leisurely, +going up before the starter and judges. These were grouped near +the starting line. + +"Standing start," announced Ben. "Each man exactly to the line. +Pistol signal. False starts barred, and the usual penalties +for fouling. Get on line, all!" + +Then the starter moved forward, pistol in hand. + +"On your marks!" + +"Get set!" + +Bang! + +Dick, at the left end of the line, crouched forward somewhat. +Nearly the whole of his right runner rested on the ice. His +left foot was well forward, the toe of the skate dug well into +the ice. His right arm pointed ahead, his left behind. + +Crack! At the sound of the shot Dick let his right foot spring +into the air. As it came down, ahead, he gave a vigorous thrust +with his left. The style of start was his own, but it worked +to a charm. A hearty cheer went up when the spectators saw that +Dick was leading by five yards. + +At the first turn, however, Prescott's adherents---and they were +many this afternoon---felt a thrill of disappointment. Walter +Hewlett, whose skating had been strong and steady so far, passed +Dick at the turn. + +"Hardly fair, after all," murmured several. "_Of course_, after +what he's been through, no matter how much nerve Prescott may +have, he can't be anything like up to his usual form." + +Had Dick heard them he would have smiled. He knew that the skating +was warming him up and taking away whatever of the chill had been +left. + +As they neared the second turn the distance between Dick and Hewlett +was about fifteen yards. The other freshmen were far enough +behind both not to appear to count. + +Now Prescott turned on steam. He reached the second turn only +eight yards behind Hewlett, and that latter freshman made the +poorer turn. + +Down the home stretch now! Dick began to work deep breathing +for all he was worth. Instead of taking slow, deep breaths, he +breathed rapidly, pumping his lungs full of air. + +That _rapid_ deep breathing started his heart to working faster, +sent the blood bounding through his arteries. + +It would have been exhausting if carried out too long. But now, +on what was left of the home stretch, it acted almost like pumping +oxygen into his lungs. + +Swiftly the distance melted. + +"Hurrah!" rang the yell. "There goes Prescott ahead!" + +Not only ahead, but gaining in the lead. Five yards to the good, +then ten, twelve, fifteen. Dick Prescott shot over the finish +line a good eighteen yards ahead. Then the victor came to a stop, +panting but happy. + +Five minutes later, when all the congratulations were over, he +skated up beside Laura Bentley. + +"You saved my skates for me, Laura, and brought me luck all through. +I want _you_ to have the first ride on that toboggan." + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +THANKS SERVED WITH HATE + + +It didn't take long for the Gridley boys who were most interested +in athletics to figure up that three out of the eight prizes offered +had gone to the freshman class. + +More than that, the three freshmen winners were all members of +the firm of Dick & Co., Limited. + +"Saturday's work, and some other things, show us that Dick & Co. +are going to be heard from a whole lot in the athletics of future +years at this school," Ben told Dick at recess Monday morning. +"Whew! But I'm sorry I'm not going to be here to watch the progress +of you freshmen!" + +Monday afternoon, while he was eating the midday meal, just after +school had been dismissed, Dick received, by messenger, a note +from Lawyer Ripley, asking the young freshman to call at his office +at three o'clock. + +Though actually retired, the wealthy lawyer maintained an office +in one of the big buildings on Main Street. To this office Mr. +Ripley went once in a while, to transact business. + +"As I haven't a dollar in the world," smiled young Prescott, "it +is hardly likely that he has been engaged to bring a suit against +me. Oh, hang it, I know! He means to thank me for hauling Fred +out of the water. What an infernal nuisance!" + +For a few minutes Dick was inclined to disregard the invitation. +He spoke to his mother about it. + +"Have you any good reason for not going?" asked Mrs. Prescott. + +"No, mother; except that I don't like the Ripley crowd particularly. +Then, besides, I have no use for being thanked. I'd have done +as much for a tramp that I had never seen before." + +"I am afraid you have reasons for disliking Fred Ripley," admitted +Mrs. Prescott. "But has the elder Mr. Ripley ever given you any +cause for disliking him?" + +"No; of course not." + +"Then wouldn't it be the part of courtesy for you to go, since +he requests it?" + +"But, if he wants to thank me, why shouldn't he come here?" + +"My boy, it is one of the privileges of older persons to expect +younger ones to come to them." + +"I guess that's right," nodded Dick. "Oh, well, I'll go. But, +if Mr. Ripley has anything to pass in the way of thanks, I hope +he'll cut it short." + +So, at three o'clock, Dick climbed the stairs and knocked at the +office door. + +The lawyer himself opened. + +"Oh, how do you do, Prescott?" demanded Lawyer Ripley, holding +out his hand. "I'm most heartily glad to see you. You didn't +see anything of my indolent son on the street, did you?" + +"No, sir," the freshman answered, adding, to himself: + +"I should hope not!" + +"Come into my private office won't you, Prescott?" asked the lawyer, +leading the way through his outer office. + +The elder Ripley placed a comfortable arm-chair for his freshman +caller, asking him to be seated. + +Though Lawyer Ripley was, ordinarily, a rather pompous and purseproud +sort of man, it was plain that he realized a debt of gratitude, +and meant to pay it as graciously as he knew how to do. + +"You have performed a most valuable service for me, Prescott," +began the lawyer again, in a heavy, solemn voice. + +"You are quite welcome to the service, Mr. Ripley, and I hope +you won't think any more about it," Dick replied. + +"But it is impossible that I forget it," replied the lawyer, raising +his eyebrows in some astonishment. "You saved the life of my +son, my only child." + +"At not very much risk to myself, sir," smiled the freshman. +"I was able, soon after, to go in and win a skating race." + +"At not much risk?" repeated the lawyer. "Why, your life was +in very considerable danger. Do you call that little?" + +"Almost any of the High School fellows would have done it, Mr. +Ripley." + +"But none of them did." + +"Because I happened to be right at hand, and jumped in first---that +was all," Dick insisted. + +"Young man, I am not going to allow you to make little of the +great service that you did me. I---ah, here comes the young man +we've been discussing." The lawyer changed the subject as Fred +entered. "Frederick, you are late, and, on an occasion of this +kind, I could hope that you would be more prompt." + +"My watch was slow," replied Fred Ripley, using one hand to cover +a slight yawn. + +"Don't you see who is here?" demanded his father. + +"Yes, sir." + +"Is that all you have to say?" + +"How do you do?" nodded Dick, for Lawyer Ripley was looking curiously +from one boy to the other. + +"Don't you---er---consider, Frederick, that it would be an excellent +idea if you were to offer your hand to Mr. Prescott?" demanded +the lawyer. + +The ordeal was as distasteful to Dick as it could possibly have +been to the Ripley heir. Yet Dick got quickly up out of his chair, +accepting the slowly proffered hand of the sophomore. + +"That's better," smiled the lawyer. "Now, I'll leave you two +together for the moment." + +The lawyer closed the door behind him as he stepped into the outer +office. + +Fred Ripley glanced covertly at Dick, who had remained standing. +Even as big a sneak as young Ripley had shown himself at times +to be, he knew perfectly well that he owed it, even to himself, +to try to be gracious with the lad who had saved his life. + +But Dick said nothing, nor did he glance particularly at the sophomore. +That made it all the harder for Fred to find something to say. +The clock in the room ticked. Dick, to relieve the awkwardness +of the situation, strolled over to a window and stood looking out. + +That, therefore, was the situation when Lawyer Ripley came back +into the room. + +"What a jovial, friendly pair!" railed the lawyer, who held a +slip of paper in his hand, as he advanced toward the freshman. + +"Prescott," declared the lawyer, "I can't tell you what is in +my heart. I can't even pay you adequately for what you have +done for me and for my boy. But I ask you to accept this as a +slight indication, only, of what I feel." + +Dick took the paper, glancing at it curiously. It was the lawyer's +check for two hundred and fifty dollars. + +"Accept it," begged the lawyer, in a rather pompous voice. "Do +whatever you please with it." + +Dick colored. "Whatever I please with it?" he asked, a bit unsteadily. + +"Yes; certainly, of course," murmured the lawyer. "I have no +doubt whatever that a live? healthy boy can find something to +do with a check like that." + +Flushing still more deeply, while Fred Ripley looked on, at first +enviously, Dick Prescott tore the check into several pieces. +The lawyer stared at him in amazement. + +"I appreciate your intention, Mr. Ripley," Dick went on, his voice +a bit husky, "and I thank you, sir. But I can't take any money." + +"Can't take it?" repeated the astonished lawyer, while Fred Ripley +fairly gasped. + +"I can't accept money, sir, for an act of humanity." + +"Oh! But I think I can convince you, my boy, that you _can_." + +"I'm equally sure that you can't Mr. Ripley," persisted the freshman, +smiling. "But again I thank you for the intention." + +Lawyer Ripley was a good deal of a judge of human character. +He began to feel sure that the freshman was speaking the truth. + +Just at that moment some one entered the outer office. Mr. Ripley +glanced out, then said: + +"I shall have to ask you to excuse me for a few moments. Fred, +of course you have just thanked Mr. Prescott again for his +heroic act?" + +"N-n-no, sir," stammered Fred. + +"When I return I don't want to have to hear another answer like +that," warned the lawyer, sternly. Then he closed the door behind +him. + +Dick turned, with a dry smile. + +"Since you're under orders to thank me, Fred, get it over with +quickly," laughed the freshman. "I'll help you all I can." + +Young Ripley's better nature really was stirred for a moment. + +"Of course I thank you, Prescott," he stammered. "It was a splendid +thing for you to do. I---I don't know as I had any right to expect +it, either, for I've been pretty mean to you." + +"I know," replied Dick, with the same dry smile. "You put Tip +Scammon up to the High School locker thefts, to get me in disgrace, +and unlucky Tip had to go to jail for it." + +Fred Ripley glared at the freshman with terror-stricken eyes. + +Then, without warning, Fred made a leap for ward, to clutch Dick +by the throat. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +THE ONLY FRESHMEN AT THE SENIOR BALL + + +Side-stepping, the freshman put up one arm to ward off further +attack. + +"Come, don't start a fight here, Fred," Dick cautioned the other, +in a low tone. "For one thing, you couldn't win anyway. Besides, +your father would hear the racket and come in." + +"How do you know I put Tip up to that job?" demanded young Ripley, +his face as white as chalk. "Did Tip tell you all about it?" + +"Not a word." + +"Then you don't know," cried Fred, in sudden triumph. + +"If I didn't," grinned Dick, "you've just confessed it." + +"You tricked me---I mean it's a lie." + +"No; it isn't, either," asserted Dick, coolly. "Though the second +chap, in that mix-up in Stetson's alley one night, got away before +I had time to recognize his face in the black darkness there, +yet as I fell and grabbed for the chap's ankle, I noticed his +trousers with the lavender stripe. I had seen those trousers +on you before, Fred, and you're wearing them again at this minute." + +Fred glanced downward, starting. + +"You see," insisted the freshman, "there's no sense in denying +that you put Tip up to the game that got him into the penitentiary." + +"How many have you told this to?" demanded Fred, fright showing +in his face. + +"My chums suspect," Dick answered, frankly. "I'm pretty sure +I haven't told anyone else." + +"Good thing you haven't, then," retorted Fred, recovering some +of his usual impudence. "My father is a lawyer, and he'd know +how to make you smart if you started libelous yarns about me." + +"Your father being a lawyer, I think he would also be likely to +show an investigating turn of mind. You can put it up to your +father if you want to, Fred." + +Young Ripley winced. Prescott laughed lightly. + +"Now, see here, Fred, I don't want to live on bad terms with anyone. +You've got good points, I'm sure you have." + +"Oh, thank you," rejoined the sophomore, with exaggerated sarcasm. + +"And I'll be glad to begin being on good terms with you at any +time, if you should ever really want such a thing," continued +the freshman. "If you were a thoroughly good fellow, wholly on +the level, like Badger, Thomp, Purcell, or any one of scores of +fellows that we know, then I'd hate to know that you didn't like +me. But, as to the kind of fellow you've sometimes shown yourself +to be, Fred, I've been really glad that I wasn't your sort and +didn't appeal to you." + +At this style of talk the sophomore seemed all but crushed with +mortification. + +"Come, Fred," pursued Dick, not waiting for the other to answer, +"be a different sort of chap. Make up your mind to go through +the High School, and through life afterwards, dealing with everybody +on the square. Be pleasant and honest---be a high-class +fellow---and everyone will like you and seek your friendship. +That's all I've got to say." + +"It's quite enough to say," retorted Ripley, but he spoke in a +low voice that had in it no trace of combative energy. + +"Well, boys, how are matters going?" asked Lawyer Ripley, reentering. +"Fred, have you remedied your boorishness by thanking Prescott?" + +"Oh, yes, he has thanked me," Dick replied, cheerily. "And we've +been chatting about---some other matters. And now, Mr. Ripley, +if you will excuse me, I feel that I must run along." + +I have other things that I really must attend to." + +"Won't you be more sensible, and let me make you a duplicate to +the check you tore up?" asked the lawyer. + +"Thank you, sir; but I don't want to; couldn't, in fact. My father +and mother would be ashamed of me if I took home a check for such +a service. Good afternoon, Mr. Ripley. So long, Fred." + +Dick went out of the lawyer's offices almost breezily. Fred even +found the nerve to respond to Dick's parting salutation with something +very close to an air of cordiality. + +The instant he reached the street Dick took in several deep breaths. + +"Whew! It seems mighty good to be in the fresh air once more, +after being in the same room with Fred Ripley," muttered the freshman. + +"Hello, Dickens, kid," called a voice from behind, and an +arm rested on his shoulder. + +"Hello, Ben," replied Prescott, looking around. + +"I just wanted to say that the senior ball comes off Saturday +night of this week. You're going to get one of the few freshman +tickets. The ticket allows you to invite one of the girls. Now, +remember, freshie, we depend upon you to be there." + +Dick started to object. Well enough he knew that there would +be few freshmen at the senior dance, which was the most exclusive +affair in the High School year. + +"You can't kick," rattled on Badger. "You'll get thrashed, if +you do. Didn't I tell you that there'll be very few freshman +tickets sent out? Only six, in fact. Dick & Co. are going to +hog all the freshman tickets. That's largely on account of what +you youngsters have done for football and athletics in general. + Lad, this is the last year that the seniors will have a chance +to see anything of Dick & Co. So you simply can't stay away from +the senior ball. Not a single member of Dick & Co. can be excused +from attending." + +"We'll see about it," replied Dick. + +"No, you won't! It has all been seen to. The six of you are +going to be on hand---with six stunning girls, too!" + +"I thank you, anyway; I thank you all heartily for this very unusual +honor," Dick protested. + +"That's all right, then; it's settled," proclaimed Ben Badger, +with an air of finality. "The dance begins at nine. It's all +stated on the ticket." + +By the next day it _was_ settled that Dick & Co. were going to +attend. Besides the senior class, a good many of the juniors +were also invited. There was to be a fair sprinkling of sophomores, +but of the freshmen Dick & Co. were the only ones invited. + +Up to the middle of the week Fred Ripley felt rather certain that +he was to be invited. Then, feeling less certain, he went to +Thomp and Badger. + +"Say, fellows," began Fred, with a confident air, "I just want +to mention the fact that I haven't received a card to the senior +ball yet." + +"Maybe you will, next year," suggested Thomp coolly. + +Fred flushed, then went white. + +"Oh, very well, if you mean than I'm to be left out," grunted +Ripley. + +"I'm afraid, Fred," hinted Badger, "that you were overlooked until +the full number of soph tickets had been issued. It was an oversight, +of course, but I'm afraid it's too late to remedy it." + +Fred Ripley went away, furious with anger, for he already knew, +as did everyone else in Gridley H.S., that Dick & Co. were to +be among the elect at the senior ball. And Fred had been so sure +of a card to the ball that he had gone to the length of inviting +Clara Deane to accompany him to the affair. That young lady had +most joyously accepted. + +Now, as he walked home with Miss Clara this afternoon, Fred suddenly +broke out: + +"I say, Clara, you don't very much mind if we don't go to the +senior ball, do you?" + +"Yes," Miss Deane retorted. "Why, what's the matter, Fred. Didn't +you receive an invitation?" + +"Of course, I could get an invite," lied young Ripley. "But the +plain truth is, I want to keep out of the affair." + +"Why, what's the matter?" asked Clara, gazing at her escort in +astonishment. + +"Haven't you heard the news?" + +"What news?" + +"That mucker crowd, who call themselves Dick &s Co., have been +invited." + +"There's no harm in that, is there?" asked Clara Deane, quietly. +"Why, they're quite popular young fellows; certainly the best-liked +freshmen." + +"Well, _I_ don't like them," retorted Fred, sullenly. + +"And so, after inviting me to go to the ball with you, now you're +going to invite me to remain at home instead?" + +"Oh, of course, if you really want to go, I'll see about it," +muttered the sophomore. + +But he didn't see about it, nor did Clara Deane again refer to +the matter. However, being an enterprising girl, Miss Deane was +not long in discovering that Fred was not going to the senior +affair for the very good reason that he _couldn't possibly_ get +himself written down on the invitation list. + +Apart from the moral side of the question it is rarely worth +while to lie---to a girl, especially. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +THE NITROGLYCERINE MYSTERY SPEAKS UP + + +In one phase of its social life Gridley H.S. was especially sensible. +Since only a few of the boys could be expected to be able to +afford evening dress suits, it was a rule that none, even the +seniors, should appear at any of the class functions in these +fashionable garments. + +Hence, Dick & Co., when they arrived with their girl friends, +did not feel out of place on the score of clothes. + +Each of the freshmen wore his "Sunday" suit, and each wore a flower +at his lapel. + +Unfortunately, no limitations were placed on the dress of the +girls. Therefore, while some rather plain frocks were in evidence, +many of the girls were rather elaborately attired. + +Laura Bentley, though her father's means rather permitted, did +not "overdo" in respect of dress. Dick felt sure, however, as +he offered his arm, and conducted her out on the floor, that Laura +was quite the prettiest, sweetest-looking girl there. + +All of Dick's chums felt satisfied with their partners of the +evening, for each young man had invited the girl whose company +he was sure to enjoy most. + +Somehow, though they did not feel just out of place at the senior +ball, the six young freshmen and their partners, all of the freshman +class, happened to come together at one end of the hall. + +"What do you all say," proposed Dick, "if, in the grand march, +we freshies keep together, six couples all in one section?" + +"We'll feel more comfortable, surely," grinned Dave Darrin. + +"Why? Are you scared?" asked Laura, looking at him archly. + +"Not so that the band-leader could notice it," replied Dave. +"Yet I think we'd all be making more noise if this were a freshman +dance." + +"But the freshmen don't have a dance until just before commencement +time," put in Belle Meade, who was there with Dave. + +"Anyway, the seniors are not so very important," laughed Laura. +"the average age of the freshman class is about fourteen or fifteen. +The seniors are only three years older Pooh! Who's afraid?" + +"I am," broke in Ben Badger, coming up behind them. "Desperately +afraid." + +"You? Of what?" asked Laura, turning around upon him. + +"Afraid that I'm too late to write my autograph on your dance +card," admitted Ben, with a rueful smile. + +"But you're a senior," murmured Laura. + +"Is that a crime?" demanded Ben, in a tone of wonder. + +"Why, we were planning," put in Belle, "that the freshmen boys +and freshmen girls should dance together this evening." + +"I see a ray of hope," protested Ben. "I'm going to college, +so I shall be a freshman again next year. Isn't that enough to +entitle me to one---square---dance, anyway?" + +Without waiting for another reply, Ben caught up Laura's card, +and looked it over. + +"May I have number nine, please?" he begged. + +"Yes, thank you," Laura answered, so Badger scribbled his name. + +"My hopes are rising," cried Frank Thompson, gliding into the +group. + +Thereupon other seniors and juniors came up. It wasn't long before +Dick & Co. had to bestir themselves in order to be sure of having +dances enough with the girls of their own class. + +"You can retaliate, you know, by going after some of the girls +of the two upper classes," suggested Laura. + +"I don't believe I'll try that," Dick replied. "It's all right +for the upper class boys to want to dance with some of the freshman +girls, especially when the freshman girls are such a charming +lot-----" + +"Our thanks!" And six girls bowed low before him. + +"But it would be regarded, I'm afraid, as rank impudence, if we +little freshmen wanted to dance with senior or junior girls. +When a freshman is in doubt the tip is 'don't!'" + +The orchestra was playing a lively waltz that made most of the +girls and many of the boys tap their feet restlessly. + +The perfume of flowers was in the air. Lively chatter and merry +laughter rang out. + +"This is the brighter side of school life," murmured Dick, +enthusiastically. + +"One of the brighter sides," suggested Laura. "Your remark, as +you made it, sounds ungrateful. It is a delight to be a High +School student. There are no really dark sides to the life." + +"But some sides are much brighter than others," Dick insisted. +"I like study, and am glad I have a chance to go further in it +than most young people get. Yet these class dances give us +something that algebra, or chemistry, or geometry can't supply us." + +"This is the brightest spot of the year," put in Tom Reade, in +a low voice. "It must be the brightness of the girls' eyes that +fill this part of the room with so much radiance." + +"Bravo!" laughed Laura and Belle together. + +"Have you been quiet the last fifteen minutes on purpose to +think that up?" Dave asked enviously. + +"Tom can say lots of nicer things than that," spoke up Bessie +Trenholm, half shyly. + +"Oh, can he?" demanded Harry Hazelton. "Please search your memory +then, Bessie. Let's have a few specimens of what Tom can say +under the influence of luminous eyes." + +Bessie blushed. When she tried to speak she stammered. + +"I---I guess I can't remember anything," she pleaded. + +Freshman laughter rang out merrily at this. But the waltz had +ended, and now the prompter was calling for the grand march. + +"Let's find our places," urged Dan Dalzell. + +"We're on the side, so we might as well remain right where we +are," proposed Dick. "That is, unless the floor manager or some +aide comes along and chases us to the rear of the procession." + +But no one interfered with the freshmen taking their places in +the line just where they stood. + +As the grand march ended the orchestra drew breath once or twice, +then burst forth in a gallop. Dick offered Laura his guidance, +and away they flew together. By the time the gallop ended the +freshman couples were rather well scattered over the hall. + +Dick danced well. He enjoyed himself immensely. So did his partners. +Some of the freshman girls finally drifted off with upper class +partners. + +Toward midnight, Dick, alone, drifted to Dave Darrin and Harry +Hazelton. + +"I haven't a thing to do, now, for four dances, unless some senior +drops dead," Dick remarked. + +"I'm in as bad a plight," admitted Harry. + +"And I," nodded Dave. + +It wasn't many moments ere the other three partners happened along, +all disengaged. + +"We don't want to be wall-flowers," muttered Dick. "It's going +to be more than half an hour from now before any of us are due +to dance again. See here, fellows, what do you say to our getting +our hats and coats and getting out into the air for a while? +A ballroom, isn't the worst place in the world, but I'm so much +a fresh air fellow, that I'm half stifling here." + +"Good! Come along to the coatroom, then," nodded Greg Holmes. + +"Going home?" asked Laura Bentley, in a tone of protest, as she +whirled by on Thompson's arm and saw Dick & Co. headed for the +coatroom. + +She was gone before Dick could answer by word of mouth. But he +saw her regarding him from the other end of the room, and smilingly +shook his head. + +"Feels good to be out, doesn't it?" asked Dan Dalzell, as the +freshman sextette struck the open air. + +"Yes; but what has happened to the blooming town?" demanded Greg +Holmes. + +Even this Main Street of Gridley presented a curious look. It +was a freezingly cold December night and it looked to the freshman +as though the senior ball must be the only live thing left in +the little city. + +All the stores were closed, and had been for some time. All lights +were out in the nearest residences. At first the boys thought +they beheld held a policeman standing in front of the First National +Bank, half a block away, but a closer look revealed the fact that +he was only some belated loiterer---the sole human being in sight +save themselves. + +"Come off this other way, and let's go down the side street," +proposed Dick. + +"Yes; if we're to find signs of life anywhere, it will have to +be on the smaller side streets," observed Greg Holmes. + +Music wafted to them from the hall. + +"There's life going on up there," remarked Dave. "We left it +behind us." + +"It isn't life," laughed Dick, "when some other fellow is dancing +with your girl." + +Along the side street the first corner was at the beginning of +a broad back alley that ran parallel with Main Street. + +Along this alleyway they turned. + +"By looking up at the windows," suggested Prescott, "we may get +some glimpses of the dance that are not so apparent when you're +up in the hall." + +True, as they passed by the rear of the dance hall they caught +some glimpses of moving couples going by the windows, but that +was all. + +"And I want to remark," grunted Tom Reade, "that it's cold +outdoors tonight." + +"An outdoor fellow like you ought not to mind that," chaffed Dick + +"Oh, I'll stand it as long as the rest of you do," challenged +Reade. + +Dick and Dave were in the lead, the other chums coming behind +them in couples. + +So Prescott and Dave Darrin were the first to catch a glimpse +down the short lane that led from the alleyway to the back of +one of the buildings. + +Here stood a man, with cap drawn well down over his forehead. +He was beside an automobile---a big black touring car. + +Dick saw and guessed. He almost jumped. Giving Dave's arm a +quick squeeze, Prescott marched by without appearing to pay any +heed to the man and the autocar. + +Once past the lane, Dick kept on walking, but he turned and walked +backwards. He signed to the other four, putting a finger to his +lips for silence. + +All six of the chums had guessed swiftly what the man and the +auto, at that particular point, must mean! + +"Keep walking, fellows," whispered Dick, as the other startled +freshmen reached him. "And laugh---loudly!" + +Their forced laughter rang out. Then Dick, again at the head +with Dave, started in on the first bars of the latest popular +song. Again the chums understood, and joined in with a will. + +When he had gone two hundred feet further, Dick countermarched +his little force. Still singing they went back by the head of +the lane, but not one member of Dick & Co. allowed himself to +glance down the lane at man or automobile. + +Then the song died out. + +"I say, fellows," called Dave Darrin, banteringly, "we'd better +get back to the hall if we don't want to find other fellows going +home with our girls." + +"I'll fight before I'll let that happen," proclaimed Dick Prescott. + +"Hustle, then!" urged Dan. + +Once out of the alleyway and into the side street the freshmen +halted for an instant. + +"Fellows," spoke Dick Prescott, "you all know what that means? +One lookout in front of the bank, and another at the rear. An +auto at the rear, too. Greg, you hustle to the police station +as fast as you can make your feet fly. No use trying to find +a place open where you can telephone. Come, the rest of you fellows." + +There was a side entrance to the hall from the side street. + +Dick and his four remaining chums ran in at this side door, that +the man in front of the bank might not see them. + +Up the stairs the freshmen rushed. + +"Dave, take care of the orchestra," panted Dick. "The music mustn't +stop for an instant after we get the fellows out." + +Something in the looks of the five freshmen, as they burst into +the hall attracted the attention of nearly everyone present. + +Dick held up his hand as a sign for the dancing to stop. But +Dave Darrin was already up on the platform, talking in the leader's +ear, and the music did not cease. + +As quickly as could be Dick got the upper classmen away from the +girls, at the lower end of the hall. + +"What is it? What can be the matter?" all the girls wanted to +know. + +But Dick called out, loudly enough to make himself heard: + +"Young ladies, it is highly important that the music and the sounds +of moving feet be kept up. Won't you young ladies please dance +with each other until we bet back? Then we'll tell you an interesting +story---if you're good." + +In the meantime Tom Reade was telling Thompson, Badger and Edgeworth, +and as many more as could get close enough, what had happened. + +"See here, fellows," spoke Thomp, "there's a big chance fer the +crowd to win fun and glory for good old Gridley H.S. Seniors and +Dick & Co. will steal down the alleyway, and be upon that lookout +before he can say 'batter-cakes and coffee.' Juniors and sophs +go in a bunch, prepared to catch the lookout on Main Street. +All get your coats and come softly down the _side_ stairs!" + +In many gatherings the speed and comprehension with which all +the Gridley High School boys acted would have been regarded as +marvelous. But they were always in training for athletics. Team +work and the spirit of speed and discipline prevailed among them. + +Almost in a jiffy, so it seemed, the masculine part of the senior +dance party was out on the sidewalk of the side street. + +"Don't you juniors and sophs show yourselves on Main Street for +a full sixty seconds, unless you hear us raise a row at the back +of the bank," advised Dick. + +Somehow, none of the upper classmen seemed to think it strange +for young Prescott thus to take command. He and his chums had +discovered the attempt on the bank, and it seemed natural, just +now, for the freshman leader to lead the whole school. + +On tiptoe Dick and his chums led the way into the alley, the seniors +following just as stealthily. + +When the freshmen were within thirty feet of the lane Dick Prescott +held up his hand, then signed to all hands to make the grand rush +forward. + +Just an instant before the High School boys could start, the earth +suddenly shook and swayed under them, while on the frosty night +air there came a great, sullen, fearsome--- + +BOOM! + +That was the explosion designed to blow open the door of the +bank's vault. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +THE CAPTURE OF THE BANK ROBBERS + + +In answer, a rousing defiance, the Gridley H.S. yell was roared +out. And by this time, seniors Dick & Co. were in full motion. + +"Four---thirteen---eleven!" bellowed Sam Edgeworth. + +The football men heard that signal and understood the application +of it. + +Though the flying wedge is now no longer tolerated in football, +there are other plays evolved from it, and the signal called for +one. Edgeworth himself formed the point of the wedge. + +"Freshies in the center!" he bawled back lustily. + +As the High School crowd rushed around the corner, giving their +vocal chords full play, Dick and his chums were hustled inside +of the inverted "V" formation. + +It was a human battering ram that launched itself into the +lane---filling that narrow passage, choking it. + +One of the bank robbers was still on the lookout duty. At the +first sound he had drawn his revolver, prepared to shoot right +and left. But this avalanche of torsos, arms and legs was more +than the fellow had bargained for. + +If it be true that a community can't be indicted, then it is still +truer that a community can't be murdered. The armed rascal gasped +at the magnitude of his task of defense. + +In another second he had been bowled clean over off his feet, +and a half a dozen seniors were reaching for his weapon. + +As Dick Prescott and his chums got out of the wedge they made +a dash for the automobile. + +At that same instant the air bore to them the battle-yell of juniors +and sophs at the front of the bank. + +The rear door of the building was yanked hastily open. Two masked +men shot the rays of their bulls-eye lanterns out into the lane, +while their right hands held revolvers. + +Bang-bang! Bang-bang! + +The rear door slammed, the robbers retreating behind that barrier. + +In the first moment the High School boys themselves were a good +deal startled, though they didn't make any effort to run. + +Then the news pulsed swiftly through the senior crowd. The noise +hadn't come from pistols. Dick & Co. had shut off any possibility +of automobile flight by falling upon the tires with their pocket +knives. Any robbers that could bluff their way through the crowd +and start the engine would have to hobble along on flat tires! + +The rear lookout of the robber band was now a safe prisoner in +the hands of four stalwart seniors. Ben Badger had the fellow's +revolver. + +Out in front of the bank the juniors and sophs held the enemy +at bay inside. The lookout, after trying to hold up the rush +at the point of the pistol, had turned without firing, and had +tried to get away. But four of the juniors had sprinted after +him and caught him. + +Thus the forces stood. Inside the bank building were at least +two of the robbers, armed and presumably desperate. Yet they +knew they couldn't shoot their way out through a multitude, either +at the front or the back of the building. + +On the other hand, the High School boys didn't care about rushing +into a darkness that was held by armed men. + +Thus the opposing sides stood holding each other at bay until +new actors came upon the scene---the police reserves. + +Four officers ran to the front of the bank. Chief Coy and four +more appeared in the lane among the High School boys. + +"Now, young gentlemen, jump out, if you please!" rang the chief's +order, "We've got to get inside at those fellows, and there may +be a good many bullets flying." + +"Huh!" objected Thomp. "We penned that gang up for you. Now, +are you going to chase us off just as the real fun starts?" + +"If you stay, it'll be at your own risk, then," answered Chief +Coy, with a rather pleased grin, for he had followed the fortunes +of Gridley H.S. on the football gridiron, and well enough he knew +the school grit. + +Pushing their way through, the police made their way to the closed +rear door. + +"Within, there!" summoned Coy, knocking lustily on the door. +"You are surrounded, and may as well give up. Open the door, +and come out, and you'll be safe." + +There was a pause. Then a gruff voice demanded: + +"If we open you don't fire on us?" + +"Not if you come out with your hands held up high." + +"All right, then. Give us time to open the door." + +The light from the police dark lanterns played on the door as +it swung open. Then two very crestfallen robbers, holding their +hands well aloft, came out on the steps. + +The windows of the hall, some distance away, had been thrown up. +A lot of white-gowned girls, some with covered heads, and some +not, looked wonderingly out at the spot lighted up by the dark +lanterns. + +Chief Coy and two of his officers quickly entered the bank. It +was ten minutes before they reappeared. + +"Somebody has done us the good turn of discovering this thing +just in time tonight," announced Coy, with a grave face. "The +vault door is blown entirely off, and the vault is stacked high +with sacks of money. Who first discovered this thing anyway?" + +"Don't you know?" called Ben Badger. + +From a score of throats at once the information broke forth: + +"Dick & Co.!" + +"It'll be a good night's work for Dick & Co., then, when the bank +directors meet" declared Chief Coy. "In three or four minutes +more these robbers would have been going sixty miles an hour with +an automobile loaded down to the guards with real money!" + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +CONCLUSION + + +It isn't all play in a High School. A vast amount of study has +to be mastered. There are nerve-racking examinations. It is +a tremendously busy life despite its sport. + +So here we would better take leave of Gridley H.S. so far as this +volume is concerned. + +It was soon known that, had not Dick & Co. taken their little +walk the robbers would have gotten away with one hundred and twenty +thousand dollars in cash. + +As it was, however, all four men were in the police toils, and +they were presently sent to the penitentiary, where they are serving +long terms. + +The bank directors _did_ vote to reward the H.S. boys as +individuals, but Dick & Co. and all the upper classmen refused +to accept anything for their own pockets. + +In despair, the directors finally hit upon the scheme of subscribing +one thousand dollars to the funds of the Athletics Committee. + +The catching of the bank robbers solved the nitroglycerine mystery. +One of the safe-blowing quartette was recognized by the police +as having been in Gridley at the time when that nitroglycerine +package was received at the express office. Had they gotten their +box in safety the robbers would have entered the bank that night, +and there might have been a different story---one of great loss +to the bank. + +Fred Ripley? His further story belongs to the following volume. + +Dick & Co. went through their freshman year with credit all around. + +When next we meet them we shall find them sophomores, with all +the privileges of upper classmen. We shall meet these young sophomores +in a sparkling tale of High School life and doings, ambitions +and work, sports and pastimes. The next volume will be published +under the title: "_The High School Pitcher; or Dick & Co. on the +Gridley Diamond_." This will be a rousing story of baseball in +particular, but likewise replete with other situations of absorbing +interest to all high school boys and girls. + + +THE END + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The High School Freshmen, by H. 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