diff options
| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:40:34 -0700 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:40:34 -0700 |
| commit | 15c086de5380b85acb29d3e3b69095191db35a71 (patch) | |
| tree | a676943afca4d4ec265012b4c1c4a0ab0bb9f2ce | |
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 12692-0.txt | 6840 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/12692.txt | 7225 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/12692.zip | bin | 0 -> 108890 bytes |
6 files changed, 14081 insertions, 0 deletions
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/12692-0.txt b/12692-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..dafe89b --- /dev/null +++ b/12692-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6840 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12692 *** + +THE HIGH SCHOOL CAPTAIN OF THE TEAM + +or Dick & Co. Leading the Athletic Vanguard + +By H. Irving Hancock + + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTERS + I. "Kicker" Drayne Revolts + II. A Hint from the Girls + III. Putting the Tag on the Sneak + IV. The Traitor Gets His Deserts + V. "Brass" for an Armor Plate + VI. One of the Fallen + VII. Dick Meets the Boy-With-A-Kick + VIII. Dick Puts "A Better Man" in His Place + IX. Could Dave Make Good? + X. Leading the Town to Athletics + XI. The "King Deed" of Daring + XII. The Nerve of the Soldier + XIII. Dick Begins to Feel Old + XIV. Fordham Plays the Gentleman's Game + XV. "We'll Play the Gentleman's Game + XVI. Gridley's Last Charge + XVII. The Long Gray Column +XVIII. The Would-Be Candidates + XIX. Tom Reade Bosses the Job + XX. When the Great News was Given Out + XXI. Gridley Seniors Whoop It Up + XXII. The Message From the Unknown +XXIII. The Plight of the Innocent + XXIV. Dave Gives Points to the Chief of Police + XXV. Conclusion + + + + +CHAPTER I + +"Kicker" Drayne Revolts + + +"I'm going to play quarter-back," declared Drayne stolidly. + +"You?" demanded Captain Dick Prescott, looking at the aspirant +in stolid wonder. + +"Of course," retorted Drayne. "It's the one position I'm best +fitted for of all on the team." + +"Do you mean that you're better fitted for that post than anyone +else on the team?" inquired Prescott. "Or that it's the position +that best fits your talents?" + +"Both," replied Drayne. + +Dick Prescott glanced out over Gridley High School's broad athletic +field. + +A group of the middle men of the line, and their substitutes, +had gathered around Coach Morton. + +On another part of the field Dave Darrin was handling a squad +of new football men, teaching how to rush in and tackle the swinging +lay figure. + +Still others, under Greg Holmes, were practicing punt kicks. + +Drayne's face was flushed, and, though he strove to hide the fact, +there was an anxious look there. + +"I didn't quite understand, Drayne," continued the young captain +of the team, "that you were to take a very important part this +year." + +"Pshaw! I'd like to know why I'm not," returned the other boy +hotly. + +"I think that is regarded as being the general understanding," +continued Dick. He didn't like this classmate, yet he hated to +give offense or to hurt the other's feelings in any way. + +"The general understanding?" repeated Drayne hotly. "Then I can +tell the man who started that understanding." + +"I think I can, too," Prescott answered, smiling patiently. + +"It was you, Dick Prescott! You, the leader of Dick & Co., a +gang that tries to boss everything in the High School! + +"Cool down a bit," advised young Prescott coolly. "You know well +enough that the little band of chums who have been nicknamed Dick +& Co. don't try to run things in the High School. You know, too, +Drayne, if you'll be honest about it, that my chums and I have +sometimes sacrificed our own wishes to what seemed to be the greatest +good of the school." + +"Then who is the man who has worked to put me on the shelf in +football?" insisted the other boy, eyeing Dick menacingly. + +"Yourself, Drayne!" + +"What are you talking about?" cried Drayne, more angry than before. + +"Don't be blind, Drayne," continued the young captain. "And don't +be silly enough to pretend that you don't know just what I mean. +You remember last Thanksgiving Day?" + +"Oh, that?" said Drayne, contemptuously. "Just because I wouldn't +do just what you fellows wished me to do? + +"I was there," pursued Captain Prescott, "and I heard all that +was said, saw all that was done. There was nothing unreasonable +asked of you. Some of the fellows were a good bit worried as +to whether you were really in shape for the game, and they talked +about it among themselves. They didn't intend you to over hear, +but you did, and you took offense. The next thing we knew, you +were hauling off your togs in hot temper, and telling us that +you wouldn't play. You did this in spite of the fact that we +were about to play the last and biggest game of the season." + +"I should say I wouldn't play, under such circumstances! Nor +would you, Prescott, had the same thing happened to you." + +"I have had worse things happen to me," replied Dick coolly. +"I have been hectored to pieces, at times, both on the baseball +and football teams. The hectoring has even gone so far that I +have had to fight, more than once. But never sulked in dressing +quarters and refused to go on the field." + +"No!" taunted Drayne. "And a good reason why. You craved to +get out, always, and make grand stand plays!" + +"I suppose I'm as fond of applause from the grand stand as any +other natural fellow," laughed Dick good-humoredly. "But I'll +tell you one thing, Drayne: I never hear a murmur of what comes +from the grand stand until the game is over. I play for the success +of the team to which I belong, and listening to applause would +take my mind off the plays. But, candidly, what the fellows have +against you, is that you're a quitter. You throw down your togs +at a critical moment, and tell us you won't play, just because +your fearfully sensitive feelings have been hurt. Now, a sportsman +doesn't do that." + +"Oh, it's all right for you to take on that mighty superior air, +and try to lecture me," retorted Drayne gruffly. + +"I'm not lecturing you. But the fellows chose me to lead the +team this year, and the captain is the spokesman of the team. +He also has to attend to its disagreeable business. Don't blame +me, Drayne, and don't blame anyone else-----" + +"Captain Prescott!" sounded the low, but clean-cut, penetrating +voice of Mr. Morton, submaster and football coach of the Gridley +High School. + +"Coming, sir!" answered Dick promptly. + +Then he added, to Drayne: + +"Just blame your own conduct for the decision that was reached +by coach and myself after listening to the instructions of the +alumni Athletics Committee." + +Dick moved away at a loping run, for football practice was limited +to an hour and a half in an afternoon, and he knew there was +no time to be frittered. + +"Oh, you sneak!" quivered Drayne, clenching his hands as he scowled +at the back of the captain. "It was you who brought up the old +dispute. It is you who are keeping me from any decent chance +this last year of mine in the High School. I won't stand it! +I'll shake the dust from my feet on this crowd. I won't remain +in the squad, just for a possible chance to sub in some small +game!" + +His face still hot with what he considered righteous indignation, +Drayne felt better as soon as he had decided to shake the crowd. + +In an instant, however, he changed his mind. A sly, exultant +look came into his eyes. + +"On second thought I believe I won't quit," he grinned to himself. +"I'll stay---I'll drill---and I'll get good and square with this +cheap crowd, captained by a cheap man! Gridley hasn't lost a +game in years. Well, you chaps shall lose more than one game +this year! I'll teach you! I'll make this a year that shall +never be forgotten by humbled Gridley pride!" + +Just what Phin Drayne was planning will doubtless be made plain +ere long. + +Readers of the preceding volumes in this series are already familiar +with nearly all the people, young and old, of both sexes, whom +they are now to meet again. In the first volume, "_The High School +Freshmen_," our readers became acquainted with Dick Prescott, +Dave Darrin, Greg Holmes, Dan Dalzell, Tom Reade and Harry Hazelton, +six young chums who, back in their days in the Central Grammar +School Gridley, had become fast friends, and had become known +as Dick & Co. + +These chums played together, planned together, entered all sports +together. They were inseparable. All were manly young fellows. +When they entered Gridley High School, and caught the fine High +School spirit prevailing there, they made the honor of the school +even more important than their own companionship. + +In the first year at High School the boys, being mere freshmen, could +not expect to enter any of the school's athletic teams. Yet, +as our readers know, Dick and his friends found many a quiet way +to boost local interest and pride in High School athletics. Dick +& Co. also indulged in many merry and startlingly novel pranks. +Dick secured an amateur position as space reporter on "The Blade," +the morning newspaper of the little city, and was assigned, among +other things, to look after the news end of the transactions of +the Board of Education. The "influence" that young Prescott secured +in that way doubtless saved him from having grave trouble, or +being expelled when, owing to Dr. Thornton's ill-health, Abner +Cantwell, a man with an uncontrollable temper, came temporarily +to the principal's chair. To everybody's great delight, at the +beginning of this their senior year, Dr. Thornton had returned +to his position fully restored to his former vigor and health. + +In "_The High School Pitcher_" Dick & Co., then sophomores, were +shown in some fine work with the Gridley High School nine, and +Dick had serious, even dangerous, Trouble, with mean, treacherous +enemies that he made. + +In "_The High School Left End_," Dick & Co., juniors, made their +real entrance into High School athletics by securing places in +the school football eleven. It was in this year that there occurred +the famous strife between the "soreheads" and their enemies, whom +the former termed the "muckers." The "soreheads" were the sons +of certain aristocratic families who resolved to secede from football +in case any of the members of Dick & Co. or of other poor Gridley +families, were allowed to make places on the team. As the group +of "soreheads" contained a few young men who were really absolutely +necessary to the success of the Gridley High School football eleven, +the strife threatened to put Gridley in the back row as far as +football went. + +But Dick, with his characteristic vigor, went after the "soreheads" +in the columns of "The Blade." He covered them with ridicule +and scorn so that the citizens of the town began to take a hand +in the matter as soon as their public pride was aroused. + +The "soreheads" were driven, then, to apply for places in the +football squad. Only those most needed, however, had been admitted, +and the rest had retired in sullen admission of defeat. + +Two of the latter, Bayliss and Bert Dodge, carried matters so +far, however, that they were actually forced out of the High School +and left Gridley to go to a preparatory school elsewhere. + +The hostile attempts of young Ripley, of Dodge, Drayne and others +to injure Dick & Co. have been fully related in the four volumes +of the "_High School Boys' Vacation Series_." This series deals +with the good times enjoyed by Dick & Co. during their first +three summers as high school boys. These stories are replete +with summer athletics, and a host of exciting adventures. The +four volumes of this Vacation Series are published under the titles: +"_The High School Boys' Canoe Club_," "_The High School Boys in +Summer Camp_," "_The High School Boys Fishing Trip_" and "_The +High School Boys' Training Hike_." + +This present year no "sorehead" movement had been attempted. +Every student who honestly wanted to play football presented himself +at the school gymnasium, on the afternoon named by Coach Morton +for the call, including Drayne, who had been one of the original +"soreheads." Drayne afterwards returned to the football fold, +behaving with absurd childishness at the big Thanksgiving game, +as our readers will recall. + +Leaving Coach Morton, Captain Prescott hurried away to take charge +of the practice. + +"Come, Mr. Drayne!" called Coach Morton "Get into the tackling +work, and be sure to mix it up lively." + +"Just a moment, coach, if you please," begged Drayne. + +"Well, Drayne?" asked Mr. Morton + +"Captain Prescott has just been telling me that I'm to be only +a sort of sub this year." + +"Well, he's captain," replied the submaster. + +"Huh! I thought it was all Prescott's fine work!" sneered Phin. + +"You're wrong there, Mr. Drayne," rejoined the coach frankly. +"As a matter of fact, it was I who suggested that you be cast +for light work this year." + +"Oh!" muttered Drayne + +"Yes; if you feel like blaming anyone, blame me, not Prescott. +You know, Drayne, you didn't behave very well last Thanksgiving +Day." + +"I admit that my behavior was unreasonable, sir. But you know, +Mr. Morton, that I'm one of the valuable men." + +"There's a crowd of valuable men this year, Drayne," smiled the +submaster. + +"On the strongest pledge that I can give you, Mr. Morton, will +you allow me to play regular quarter-back this season?" begged +the quitter of the year before. + +"I would give the idea more thought if Prescott recommended it; +but I doubt if he would," answered Mr. Morton slowly. "Personally, +Drayne, I don't approve of putting you on strong this year. The +quitter's reputation Drayne, is one that can't ever be really +lived down, you know." + +Though coach's manner was mild enough, there was look of the resolute +eyes of this famous college athlete that made Phin Drayne realized +how I hopeless it was to expect any consideration from him. + +"All right then Mr. Morton," he replied huskily. "I'll do my +best on a small showing, and take what comes to me." + +Yet, as he walked slowly over to join the tacklers around the +swinging figure, the hot blood came again to young Drayne's face. + +"I'll make this year a year of sorrow Gridley!" he quivered indignantly. +"I'll hang on, and make believe I'm meek as a lamb, but I'll +spoil Gridley's record for this year! There was in olden times +a chap who had a famous knack for getting square with people who +used him the wrong way. I wish I could remember his name at this +moment." + +Drayne couldn't recall the name at the time, but another name +that might have served Drayne to remember at this instant was--- + +Benedict Arnold. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +A Hint from the Girls + + +There had been nothing rapid in Dick Prescott's elevation to the +captaincy of the eleven. + +Back in the grammar school he had started his apprenticeship in +athletics. During his freshman year in High School he had kept +up his training. In his sophomore year he had trained hard for +and had won honors in the baseball nine. In his junior year, +after harder training that ever, he had performed a season's brilliant +work, playing left end in all the biggest games of the season. + +So now, in his senior and last year at Gridley High School he +had come by degrees to the most envied of all possible positions +in school athletics. + +The election to the football captaincy had not been sought by +Dick. In his junior year it had been offered to him, but he had +declined it, feeling that Wadleigh, both by training and judgement, +was better fitted to lead the eleven on the gridiron. But now, +having reached his senior year, Dick was by far the best leader +possible. Coach and football squad alike conceded it, and the +Alumni Association's Athletics Committee had approved. + +Dick Prescott had grown in years since first we saw him, but not +in conceit. Like all who succeed in this world, he had a good +degree of positiveness in his make-up; but from this he left out +strong self-conceit. In all things, as in his school life, he +was prepared to sacrifice himself along whatever lines pointed +to the best good. + +Dave Darrin, of all the chums, was nearly as well fitted as was +Prescott to lead, though not quite. So Dave, with Dick's own +kind of spirit, fell back willingly into second place. This year +Dave was second captain of the eleven, ready to lead to victory +if Dick should become incapacitated. + +Beyond these, any of the four other chums were almost as well +qualified for leadership. Ability to lead was strong in all the +"partners" of Dick & Co. + +While they were on the field that afternoon all of the six worked +as though football were the sole subject on earth that interested +them. That was the Gridley High School way, and it was the spirit +that Coach Morton always succeeded in putting into worthy young +men. Once back in dressing quarters, however, and under the shower +baths, the talk turned but little on football. + +As soon as they had rubbed down and dressed Dick & Co. went outside +and started back to town---on foot. Time could be saved by taking +the street car, but Dick and his friends believed that a brief +walk, after the practice served to keep the kinks out of their +joints and muscles. + +"What ailed old Drayne this afternoon, Dick?" asked Tom Reade. + +"Why, he told me that he had hoped to play quarter this season." + +"Regular quarter?" demanded Dan Dalzell, opening his eyes very +wide. + +"That was what I gathered, from what he said," nodded Dick. + +"Well, of all the nerve!" muttered Hazelton. + +"The star position---for a fellow with a quitter's record!" + +"I was obliged to say something of the sort" smiled Dick, "though +I tried to say it in a way that wouldn't hurt his feelings." + +"You didn't succeed very well in salving his feelings, if his +looks gave any indication." laughed Greg Holmes quietly. + +"Drayne went over to coach afterwards," added Dave Darrin. "Mr. +Morton didn't seem to give the fellow any more satisfaction than +you did, Dick." + +"Who is to be quarter, anyway?" asked Harry Hazelton. + +"Why, Dave is my first and last choice," Prescott answered frankly. +"But, personally, I'm not going to press him any too hard for +the post." + +"Why not?" challenged Greg. + +"Because everyone will say that I'm playing everything in the +interest of Dick & Co." + +"Dave Darrin is head and shoulders above any other possibility +for quarter-back," insisted Greg, with so much conviction that +Darrin, with mock politeness, turned and lifted his cap in acknowledgment +of the compliment. + +"Then coach and the Athletics Committee are intelligent enough +to find it out," answered the young football captain. + +"That suits me," nodded Dave. "I want to play at quarter; yet, +if I can't make everyone concerned feel that I am the man for +the job, then I haven't made good to a sufficient extent to be +allowed to carry off the honors in a satchel." + +"That's my idea, Darrin," answered Dick. "I believe you have made +good, and so good at that, that I'm going to dodge any charge +of favoritism, and leave it to others to see that you're forced +to take what you deserve." + +"Of course I want to play this season, and I'm training hard to +be at my best," said Reade. "Yet when it's all over, and we've +won every game, good old Gridley style, I shall feel mighty happy." + +"Yes," nodded Harry Hazelton, "and the same thing here." + +"That's because you two are not only attending High School, but +also trying to blaze out your future path in life," laughed Dave. + +"Well, the rest of you fellows had better be serious about your +careers in life," urged Tom. "It isn't every pair of fellows, +of course, who've been as fortunate as Harry and I." + +"No; and all fellows can't be suited by the same chances, which +is a good thing," replied Prescott. "For my part, I wouldn't +find much of any cheer in the thought that I was going to be allowed +to carry a transit, a chain or a leveler's rod through life." + +"Well, we don't expect to be working in the baggage department +of our profession forever," protested Harry Hazelton, with so +much warmth that Dave Darrin chuckled. + +Tom and Harry had decided that civil or railroad engineering, +or both, perhaps, combined with some bridge building, offered +them their best chances of pleasant employment in life. + +Mr. Appleton, a local civil engineer with whom the pair had talked +had offered to take them into his office for preliminary training. +because at the High School, Tom and Harry had already qualified +in the mathematical work necessary for a start. + +No practicing civil engineer in these days feels that he has the +time or the inclination to take a beginner into his office and +teach him all of the work from the ground up. On the other hand, +a boy who has been grounded well in algebra, geometry and trigonometry +may then easily enter the office of a practicing civil engineer +and begin with the tools of the profession. Transit manipulation +and readings, the use of the plummet line, the level, compass, +rod, chain and staking work may all be learned thus and a knowledge +of map drawing imparted to a boy who has a natural talent for +the work. + +It undoubtedly is better for the High School boy to go to a technical +school for his course in civil engineering; yet with a foundation +of mathematics and a sufficient amount of determination, the High +School boy may go direct to the engineer's office and pick up +his profession. Boys have done this, and have afterwards reached +honors in their profession. + +So Tom and Harry had their future picked out, as they saw it. +As soon as they had learned enough of the rudiments, both were +resolved to go out to the far West, and there to pick up more, +much more, right in the camps of engineers engaged in surveying +and laying railroads. + +"You fellows can talk about us going to work in the baggage department +of our profession," pursued Tom Meade, a slight flush on his manly +face. "But, Dick, you and Dave are in the dream department, for +you fellows have only a hazy notion that---perhaps---you may be +able to work your way into the government academies at West Point +and Annapolis. As for Greg and Dan, they don't appear to have +even a dream of what they hope to do in future." + +"You fellows haven't been spreading the news that Dave and I want +to go to Annapolis and West Point, have you!" asked Dick seriously. + +"Now, what do you take us for?" protested Tom indignantly "Don't +we understand well enough that you're both trying to keep it close +secret?" + +As the young men turned into Main Street the merry laughter of +a group of girls came to their ears. + +Four of the High School girls of the senior class had stopped +to chat for a moment. + +Laura Bentley and Belle Meade were there, and both turned quickly +to note Dick and Dave. The other girls in the group were Faith +Kendall and Jessie Vance. + +"Here comes the captain who is going to spoil all of Gridley a +chances this year," laughed Miss Vance. + +"Hush, Jess," reproved Belle, while Laura looked much annoyed. + +I see you have a wholly just appreciation of my merits, Miss Jessie," +smiled Dick, as the boys raised their hats. + +"Oh, what I said is nothing but the silly talk of him Dra-----" +began Jessie lightly, but stopped when she again found herself +under the reproving glances of Laura and Belle. + +Dick glanced at one of the girls in turn, his glance beginning +to show curiosity. + +Laura bit her lip; Belle locked highly indignant. + +Prescott opened his month as though to ask a question, them closed +his lips. + +"I guess you might as well tell them, Laura," hinted Faith Kendall. + +"Oh, nonsense." retorted Miss Bentley, flushing. "It's nothing +at all, especially coming from such a source." + +"Then some one has been giving me the roasting that I plainly +deserve?" laughed Captain Prescott. + +"It's all foolish talk, and I'm sorry the girls couldn't hold +their tongues," cried Laura impatiently. + +"Then I won't ask you what it was," suggested Dick, "since you +don't like to tell me voluntarily." + +"You might as well, Laura," urged Faith. + +"It's that Phin-----" began Jessie. + +"Do be quiet, Jess," urged Belle. + +"Why," explained Laura Bentley, "Phin Drayne just passed us, and +stopped to chat when Jessie spoke to him-----" + +"I didn't," objected Miss Vance indignantly. "I only said good +afternoon, and---" + +"I asked Drayne if he had been out to the field for practice," +continued Laura. "He grunted, and said he'd been out to see how +badly things were going." + +"Then, of course, Laura flared up and asked what he meant by such +talk," broke in the irrepressible Jessie. "Then---ouch!" + +For Belle had slyly pinched the talkative one's arm. + +"Mr. Drayne had a great string to offer us," resumed Laura. "He +said football affairs had never been in as bad shape before, and +he predicted that the team would go to pieces in all the strong +games this year." + +"We have a rule of unswerving loyalty in the history of our eleven," +said Prescott, smiling, though a grim light lurked in his eyes. +"I guess Phin was merely practicing some of that loyalty." + +"None of us care what Drayne thinks, anyway," broke in Dave Darrin +contemptuously. "He wants to play as a regular, and he's slated +only as a possible sub. So I suppose he simply can't see how +the eleven is to win without him. But, making allowances for +human nature, I don't believe we need to roast him for his grouch." + +"I didn't think his talk was worth paying any attention to," added +Laura. "I wouldn't have said anything about it, if it hadn't +leaked out." + +Jessie took this rebuke to herself, and flushed, as she rattled +on: + +"I guess it was no more than mere 'sorehead' talk on Phin Drayne's +part, anyway. Mr. Drayne said he had saved a good deal of his +pocket money, lately, and that he was going to win more money +by betting on Gridley's more classy opponents this season." + +"There's a fine and loyal High School fellow for you!" muttered +Greg. + +"Suppose we all change the subject," proposed Dick good-humoredly. + +Two or three minutes later Dick & Co. again lifted their caps, +then continued on their way. + +"Dick," whispered Dave, "on the whole, I'm glad that was repeated +to us." + +"Why?" + +"It ought to put us on our guard?" + +"Guard? Against whom?" + +"I should say against Phin Drayne." + +"But he's merely offering to bet that we can't win our biggest +games this year," smiled Prescott. "That doesn't prove that we +can't win, does it?" + +"Oh, of course not." + +"Any fellow that will lower himself enough to make wagers on sporting +events shows too little judgment to be entitled to have any spending +money," pursued Prescott. "But, if Drayne has money, and is going +to bet, he won't be entitled to any sympathy when he loses, will +he?" + +"Humph!" grunted Dave. "I'd like to have this matter followed +up. Any fellow who is betting against us ought not to be allowed +to play at all." + +"Oh, it was just the talk of a silly, disappointed fellow," argued +Dick. "I suppose a boy is a good deal like a man, always. There +are some men who imagine that it lends importance to themselves +when they talk loudly and offer to wager money. I'm not going +to offer any bets, Dave, but I feel pretty certain that Drayne +is just talking for effect." + +"His offering to bet against his own crowd would be enough to +justify you in dropping Drayne from the squad altogether," hinted +Greg Holmes. + +"Yes, of course," admitted Dick. "But we had enough of football +soreheads last year. Now, wouldn't it make us look like soreheads +if we took any malicious delight in dropping Drayne from the squad +just because he has been blowing off some steam?" + +"But I wouldn't trust him on the job," snapped Dan Dalzell. "I +believe Phin Drayne would sell out any crowd for sheer spite." + +"Even his country?" asked Dick quietly. + +And there the matter dropped, for the time. Had Dick & Co. and +some other High School fellows but known it, however, Drayne +would have borne close watching. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +Putting the Tag on the Sneak + + +Anything that Dick Prescott had charge of went along at leaps +and bounds. Hence the football eleven was in good shape ten days +earlier than Coach Morton could remember to have happened before. + +"Your eleven is all ready to line up in the field, now, Captain," +announced coach, one afternoon not long after, as the squad came +out from dressing quarters for practice. + +"I'm glad you think so, sir," replied Dick, a flush of pleasure +mantling his cheeks. + +"You have every man in fine condition. Condition couldn't be +better, in fact, for those of the men who are likely to get on +the actual battle line. And all the work is well understood, +too. In fact, Captain, you can all but rest on your oars during +the next fortnight, up to your first game." + +"Hadn't we better go on training hard every day, sir?" inquired +the young captain. + +"Not hard," replied coach, shaking his head. "If you do, you'll +get your men down too fine. Now, there's almost more danger in +having your men overtrained than in having them undertrained. +Your men can be trained too hard and go stale." + +"I've heard of that," Dick nodded thoughtfully. + +"Yes," continued coach, "and I've seen school teams that suffered +from training down too fine. Boys can't stand it. They haven't +as much flesh in training down hard, and they haven't as much +endurance as college men, who are older. Captain, you will train +your men lightly, three afternoons a week. For the rest, see +to it that they stick to all training orders, including diet and +hygiene and no tobacco. But don't work any of the men hard, with +an idea of getting them in still better shape. You can't do it." + +"Then I'd like to make a suggestion, Coach." + +"Go ahead, Captain." + +"You never saw a school team, did you, sir, that understood its +signal work any too well?" + +"Never," laughed Mr. Morton. + +"Then I would suggest, sir, that most of our training time, from +now until the season opens, be spent on drilling in the signals. +We ought to keep at practicing the signals. We ought to get +the signals down better than ever a Gridley team had them before, +sir." + +"You've just the right idea, Captain!" cried Mr. Morton heartily, +resting one hand around Dick's shoulders. "I was going to order +that, but I'm glad you anticipated me." + +"Hudson," called out Prescott, "you head a scrub team. Take the +men you want after I've chosen for the school team." + +Dick rapidly made his choice for the school team. He played center +himself, putting Dave Darrin at quarter, Greg Holmes as left tackle +and Tom Reade as right end. Dalzell and Hazelton were left out, +but they understood, quite well, that this was to avoid showing +favoritism by taking all of Dick & Co. on the star team for practice. + +"Let me play quarter, Hudson," whispered Drayne, going over to +the acting captain of the "scrub." + +"Not this afternoon, anyway," smiled Hudson. "I want Dalzell." + +Drayne fell back. He was not chosen at all for the scrub team. +Yet, as he had nearly a score of companions, out of the large +football squad, he had no special reason to feel hurt. Those +who had not been picked for either team lined up at the sides. +There was a chance that some of them might be called out as subs, +though practice in signal work was hardly likely to result in +any of the players being injured. + +Drayne did not appear to take his mild snub very seriously. + +In fact, after his one outbreak before the team captain, and his +subsequent remarks to the girls, Drayne had appeared to fall in +line, satisfied even to be a member of the school's big squad. + +The ball was placed for a snap-back, and Coach Morton sounded +the whistle. + +"Twelve-nine-seventeen---twenty-eight---four!" called Dave Darrin. + +Then the scrimmage was on in earnest. As soon as the play had +properly developed Mr. Morton blew his whistle, for this was +practice only in the signal part. + +Then Hudson took the ball and Dalzell called off: + +"Nine---eight---thirteen---two!" + +Again the ball was put in play, to be stopped after ten seconds. + +So it went on through the afternoon's work. The substitutes on +the side lines watched with deep interest, for they, too, had +to learn all the signal work. + +Within three afternoons of practice Dick had nearly all of his +players so that they knew every signal, and were instantly ready +to execute their parts in whatever was called for. + +But there was no danger of knowing the signals too well. Captain +Prescott still called out the squad and gave signal work unceasingly. + +"The Gridley boys never jumped so swiftly to carry out their signals +before, Captain," spoke Mr. Morton commendingly. + +"I want to have this line of work ahead of anything that Tottenville +can show next Saturday," Dick replied. + +"I guess you have the Tottenville boys beaten all right," nodded +Mr. Morton. + +Tottenville High School always gave one of the stiffest games +that Gridley had to meet. This season Tottenville was first on +the list. Prescott's young men knew that they had a stiff fight. +It was to take place on the Gridley grounds---that was comfort +to the home eleven. + +The entire student body was now feeling the enthusiasm of the +opening of the season on Saturday. + +The townsmen of Gridley had subscribed as liberally as ever to +the athletics fund. There had also been a fine advance sale of +seats, and the Gridley band had been engaged to make the occasion +a lively one. + +"You'll win, if ever the signs were worth anything, Captain," +remarked Mr. Morton to Prescott, at recess Thursday forenoon. + +"Of course we'll win, sir," laughed Dick. "That's the Gridley +way---that's all. We don't know how to be whipped. I've been +taught that ever since I first entered the High School." + +"Pshaw!" muttered Drayne, who was passing. + +"Don't you believe our chances are good, Mr. Drayne?" asked Mr. +Morton, smiling. + +"I look upon the Gridley chances as being so good, sir," replied +Phin, "that, if I weren't a member of the squad, and a student +of the High School, I think I'd be tempted to bet all I could +raise on Tottenville." + +"Betting is too strong a vice for boys, Mr. Drayne," replied the +submaster, rather stiffly. "And doubt of your own comrades isn't +very good school spirit." + +"I was talking, for the moment, as an outsider," replied Phin +Drayne, flushing. + +"Change around then, Mr. Drayne, and consider yourself, like every +other student of this school, as an insider wherever the Gridley +interests are involved." + +Drayne moved away, a half-sneer on his face. + +"I don't like that young man," muttered Mr. Morton confidentially +to the young captain of the team. + +"I have no violent personal admiration for him," Prescott answered. + +Then the bell sounded, calling all the boys and girls back to +their studies. + +At just about the hour of noon, a young caller strode into the +yard, paused an instant, studying the different entrances of the +High School building, then kept straight on and entered. + +"A visitor for Mr. Prescott, in the reception, room," announced +the teacher in charge of the assembly room. + +Bowing his thanks, Dick passed out of the room, crossed the hall, +entered a small room, and turned to greet his caller. + +A fine-looking, broad-shouldered, bronzed young man of nineteen +rose and came forward, holding out his hand. + +"Do you remember me, Mr. Prescott?" asked the caller heartily. + +"I've played football against you, somewhere," replied Dick, studying +the other's face closely. + +"Yes, I guess you have," laughed the other. "I played with Tottenville +last year. I'm captain this season. Jarvis is my name." + +"Oh, I'm downright glad to see you, Mr. Jarvis," Dick went on. +"Be seated, won't you?" + +"Yes; if you wish. Though I've half a notion that what I have +to say may bring you jumping out of your seat in a moment." + +"Anything happened that you want to postpone the game?" inquired +Prescott, taking a chair opposite his caller. + +"No; we're ready for Saturday, and will give you the stiffest +fight that is in us," returned Jarvis. "But see here, Mr. Prescott, +I'll come direct to the point. Is 'thirty-eight, nine, eleven, +four' your team's signal for a play around the left end, after +quarter has passed the ball to tackle and he to the end?" + +Dick started, despite himself, for that was truly the signal for +that play. + +"Really Mr. Jarvis, you don't expect me to tell you our signals!" +laughed Dick, pretending to be unconcerned. + +But Jarvis called off another signal and interpreted it. + +"From your face I begin to feel sure that I'm reeling off the +right signals," pursued the Tottenville youth. "Now, I'll get +still closer to the point, Mr. Prescott." + +From an inside pocket Jarvis drew forth four typewritten pages, +clamped together and neatly folded. + +"Run your eye over these pages, Mr. Prescott, or as far as you +want to go." + +As Dick read down the pages every vestige of color faded from +his face. + +Here was Gridley's whole elaborate signal code, laid down in black +and white to the last detail. It was all flawlessly correct, +too. + +"Mr. Jarvis," said Dick, looking up, "you've been a gentleman +in this matter. This is our signal code, signal for signal. +It's the code on which we relied for our chance to give your team +a thrashing on Saturday. I thank you for your honesty, sir." + +"Why, I always have rather prided myself on a desire to do the +manly thing," smiled Captain Jarvis. + +"May I ask how this came into your possession?" demanded Dick. + +"It was in our family mail box, this morning, and I took it out +on my way to school," replied Jarvis. "You see, the heading on +the first sheet shows that the document purports to give the Gridley +signals." + +"And it does give them, to a dot," groaned Prescott, paling again. + +"So I showed it to our coach, Mr. Matthews, and to some of the +members of the team," continued Mr. Jarvis. "I would have brought +this to you, in any case, and I'm heartily glad to say that every +one of our fellows agreed that it was the only manly thing to +do." + +"You have won the Gridley gratitude," protested Dick. "This code +couldn't have been tabulated by anyone but a member of our own +squad. No one else had access to this list. There's a Benedict +Arnold somewhere in our crowd," continued Dick, with a sudden +rush of righteous passion. "Oh, I wish we could find him. But +this typewriting, I fear, will give us no conclusive evidence. +Was the address on the envelope in which this came also typewritten?" + +"No," replied Mr. Jarvis. "I opened this communication on the +street, while on my way to school. I tossed the envelope away. +Then I fell to studying this document." + +"You must have thought it a hoax," smiled Dick wearily. + +"I did, at first, yes," continued the Tottenville football captain. +"In fact, I was half of that mind when I left Tottenville to +come here. But I was determined to find out the truth of the +matter. Mr. Prescott, I'm very nearly as sorry as you can be, +to have to bring you this evidence that you have a sneak in Gridley +High School." + +"I'd far rather have lost Saturday's game," choked Prescott, "than +to discover that we've such a sneak in Gridley High School. I'm +fearfully upset. I wish I had any kind of evidence on which to +find this sneak." + +"Have you any suspicions?" + +"That would be too much to say yet." + +"Of course, Mr. Prescott," continued the Tottenville youth, "you'll +now have to revise all your signals. It will be a huge undertaking +between now and Saturday. If you wish to postpone the game, I'll +consent. Our coach has authorized me to say this." + +"I think not," replied Dick, "though on behalf of the team I thank +you. I'll have to speak to our coach, and Mr. Morton is in his +classroom, occupied until the close of the school session." + +"I'll meet you anywhere, Mr. Prescott, after school is over." + +"You're mighty good, Mr. Jarvis," murmured Dick gratefully. "Now, +by the way, if we're to catch the sneak who has done this dastardly +thing, we've got to work fast. We ought not to let the traitor +suspect anything until we're ready to act. Mr. Jarvis, do you +mind leaving here promptly, and going to 'The Morning Blade' office? +If you tell Mr. Pollock that you're waiting for me, he'll give +you a chair and plenty to read." + +"I'm off, then," smiled Jarvis, rising and reaching for his hat. + +"I want to shake hands with you, Jarvis, and to thank you again +for your manly conduct in bringing this thing straight to me." + +"Why, that's almost insulting," retorted Jarvis quizzically. +"Why shouldn't an American High School student be a gentleman? +Wouldn't you have done the same for me, if the thing had been +turned around?" + +"Of course," Dick declared hastily. "But I'm glad that this fell +into your hands. If we had gone into the game, relying on this +signal code-----" + +"We'd have burned you to a crisp on the gridiron," laughed Jarvis. +"But what earthly good would it do our school to win a game that +we got by clasping hands with a sneak and a traitor? Can any +school care to win games in that fashion? But now, I'm off for +'The Blade's office---if your Mr. Pollock doesn't throw me out." + +"He won't," Dick replied, "I'm a member of 'The Blade' staff." + +"Don't go back into assembly room with a face betraying as much +as yours does," whispered Captain Jarvis, over his shoulder. + +"Thank you for the tip," Dick responded. + +When young Prescott stepped back into the general assembly room +his face, though not all the color had returned to it, wore a +smiling expression. He stepped jauntily, with his head well up, +as he moved to his seat. + +For fifteen minutes or more Dick made a pretense of studying his +trigonometry hard. Then, picking up a pen with a careless gesture, +he wrote slowly, with an appearance of indifference, this note: + +_"Dear Mr. Morton: Something of the utmost importance has come +up in connection with the football work. Will you, without mentioning +this note, and without doing anything that can sound the warning +to any other student, meet me at 'The Blade' office as soon as +possible after school is dismissed? I shall go to 'The Blade' +office just as soon as I get away from here, and I shall await +you in the greatest anxiety. + +"Prescott."_ + +This note Dick carried forward and left on the general desk. +It was addressed to Mr. Morton, and marked "immediate." + +When the reciting classes returned, and the teachers followed, +Mr. Morton read his note without change of expression. + +A moment later school was dismissed. + +"In a hurry, Dick?" called Dave, racing after his leader as the +young men made a joyous break away from the school building. + +"Yes," breathed Prescott. "Come along, Dave. But I don't want +the others, for I don't want a crowd." + +"Why, what-----" + +"Quiet, now, old fellow," murmured Dick. "You'll have a big enough +surprise in a few moments." + +They got away together before their other chums had a chance +to catch up. + +"From the look in your face, I'd say that there was something +queer in the air," guessed Dave. + +"There is, Darrin. But wait until the moment comes to talk about it." + +Walking rapidly, the two chums came to "The Blade" office. Jarvis, +who had been sitting at the back of the office, rose as the two +Gridley boys entered. Dick quietly introduced Dave to the young +man from Tottenville who greeted him cordially. + +"Now, we're waiting for one more before we talk," smiled Dick +anxiously. + +At that moment the door opened again, and Mr. Morton entered briskly. + +"Now, Captain, what is your news?" called coach, as he came forward. + +"Why, this is one of the Tottenville team, isn't it?" + +"Mr. Morton, Captain Jarvis, of the Tottenville High School team," +replied Dick, and the two shook hands. + +Then Dick drew the typewritten document from his pocket. They +could talk here, for Mr. Pollock had been the only other occupant +of the room, and that editor has just stepped out to the composing +room. + +"Captain Jarvis received this in the mail this morning, sir," +announced Prescott, in a voice that quivered with emotion. + +Coach glanced through the paper, his face showing plainly what +he felt. Then Dick took the paper and passed it to Dave Darrin, +who sat consumed by curiosity. + +"The abominable traitor---whoever he is!" cried Dave, rising +as though he found his chair red hot. "And I think I can come +pretty near putting the tag on the sneak!" + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +The Traitor Gets His Deserts + + +Mr. Morton hesitated a moment, ere he trusted himself to speak. + +"Yes," he murmured. "I fear we all suspect the same young man." + +"Phin Drayne!" cried Dave, in a voice quivering with anger. + +"I didn't intend to name him," resumed the coach. "It's a serious +thing to do." + +"To sell out one's school---I should say 'yes'!" choked Darrin. + +"No; I meant that it is a fearful thing to accuse anyone until +we have proof that can't be disputed," added Mr. Morton gravely, +though his muscles were twitching as though he had been stricken +by palsy. + +"Listen," begged Dick, "while Mr. Jarvis tells you all he knows +of this dastardly business." + +The Tottenville captain repeated his short tale. Then Coach Morton +asked several rapid questions. But there was no more to be told +than Dick Prescott already knew. + +"I'm tremendously sorry about that envelope," protested Jarvis. +"I'd give anything to be able to hand that envelope over to you, +but I'm afraid I'll never see it again." + +"We appreciate your anxiety to help, Mr. Jarvis, as deeply as +we appreciate your manliness in coming to us without an instant's +delay," replied Mr. Morton, earnestly. + +At this moment the office boy entered with the mail sack. + +"Mr. Pollock!" he bellowed, tossing the sack down on the editor's +desk. Then the office boy hurried to the rear of the building, +intent on other duties. + +Mr. Pollock returned to his desk, opening the mail. The football +folks in the further corner lowered their voices almost to whispers. + +"Letter for you, Dick," called Mr. Pollock, tossing aside an envelope. + +Excusing himself, Dick darted over to get his mail. In an instant +he came back, with a flushed face. + +"Here's something that may interest you all," whispered Dick, +shaking as though fever had seized him. + +Mr. Morton took the sheet of paper, from which he read: + +_"Dear Old Gridleyites: If the enclosed is a fake, it won't work. +If there's really a traitor in your camp you ought to know it. +Milton High School doesn't take any games except by the use of +its own fair fighting devices. +Decker, Captain, +Milton High School +Football Team."_ + +"And here's a duplicate set of our signals, returned by our Milton +friends," went on Dick, with almost a sob in his voice. "Fortunately, +Mr. Decker thought to preserve the envelope that contained our +signal code. Here is the envelope, addressed in some person's +handwriting." + +Coach Morton seized the envelope, staring at it hard. He studied +it with the practiced eye of a school teacher accustomed to overlooking +examination papers in all styles of handwriting. + +"The writer has tried to conceal his handwriting," murmured the +coach, rather brokenly. "Yet I think we may succeed in tracing +it back and fixing it on the sender." + +"Oh!" growled Dave Darrin savagely. "I believe I know on whom +to fasten this handwriting right now." + +"I have a possible offender in mind," replied Mr. Morton more +evenly. "In a case of this kind we must proceed with such absolute +caution and reserve that we will not be obliged to retract afterwards +in deep shame and humiliation." + +"I think I've done all that I can, gentlemen," broke in Mr. Jarvis. +"I think it is my place, now, to draw out of this painful business, +and leave it to you whom it most concerns. But I am happy in +the thought that I have been able to be of some service to you. +I will now state that I am authorized to offer to postpone Saturday's +game, if you wish, so that you may have time in, which to train +up under changed signals." + +"If you consent, sir," proposed Dick, turning to the coach, "we'll +go on with Saturday's game just the same. There has been a big +sale of tickets, the band has been engaged, and a good many arrangements +made that will be expensive to cancel." + +"Can you do it?" asked Mr. Morton, looking doubtfully at thee +young captain of the team. "It's Thursday afternoon, now." + +"I feel that we've got to do it, sir," Dick replied doggedly. +"Yes, sir; we'll make it, somehow." + +So the matter was arranged. The Gridleyites followed Jarvis out +to the sidewalk, where they renewed their assurances of regard +for the attitude taken by Tottenville High School. Then Jarvis +hurried away to catch a train home. + +"Now, young gentlemen," proposed Mr. Morton, "we'll go home and +see whether we can engender the idea of eating any lunch, after +this unmasking of villainy in our own crowd. But at half past +two promptly to the minute, meet me at the High School. Remember, +we've practice on for half past three." + +"Of all the mean, contemptible-----" began Darrin, after the submaster +had left them. + +"Stop right there, Dave!" begged his chum. "This is the most +fearful thing we've ever met, and we both want to think carefully +before we trust ourselves to say another word on the shameful +subject." + +So the two chums walked along in silence, soon parting to take +their different ways home. + +At half-past two both chums met Mr. Morton at the High School. +The submaster led the way to the office, producing his keys and +unlocking the door. They had moved in silence so far. + +"Take seats, please," requested Mr. Morton, in a low voice. "I'll +be with you in a moment." + +The submaster then stepped over to a huge filing cabinet. Unlocking +one of the sections, he looked busily through, then came back +with a paper in his hand. + +"I think I know whom you both suspect," began coach. + +"Phin Drayne," spoke Dick, without hesitation. + +"Yes. Well here is Drayne's recent examination paper in modern +literature. It is, of course, in his own handwriting." + +Eagerly the two football men and their coach bent over to compare +Drayne's handwriting with that on the envelope that had come back +from Milton. + +"There has been an attempt at disguise," announced Mr. Morton, +using a magnifying glass over the two specimens of writing. "Yet +I am rather sure, in my own mind, that a handwriting expert would +pronounce both specimens to have been written by the same hand." + +"We've nailed Drayne, then," muttered Darrin vengefully. + +"It looks like it," assented Mr. Morton. "However, we'll go slowly. +For the present I'll put this examination paper with our other +'exhibits' and secure them all carefully in my inside pocket. +Now, then, let us make our pencils fly for a while in getting +up a revised code of signals." + +It was not a long task after all. From the two typewritten copies +Dick copied the first half of the plays, Dave the latter. Then +Coach Morton went over the new sheets, rapidly jotting down new +figures that should make all plain. + +"Ten minutes past three," muttered coach, thrusting all the papers +in his inside pocket and buttoning his coat. "Now, we'll have +to take a car and get up to the field on the jump." + +"But, oh, the task of drilling all the new calls into the fellows +between now and Saturday afternoon!" groaned Dave Darrin, in a +tone that suggested real misery. + +"We'll do it," retorted Captain Dick. "We've got to!" + +"And to make the boys forget all the old calls, so that they won't +mix the signals!" muttered Dave disconsolately. + +"We'll do it!" + +It was Coach Morton who took up the refrain this time. And it +was Prescott who added: + +"We've got to do it. Nothing is impossible, when one must!" + +It was just twenty-five minutes past three when the coach and +his two younger companions turned around the corner of the athletic +grounds and slipped in through the gate. + +Most of the fellows were in the dressing quarters. + +Phin Drayne sat on the edge of a locker chest. One of his feet +lay across the knee of the other leg. He was in the act of unlacing +one of his street shoes when Coach Morton called to him. + +"Me?" asked Phin, looking up quickly. + +"Yes," said Mr. Morton quietly. "I want to post you about something." + +"Oh, all right; right with you, sir," returned Phin, leaping up +and following the coach outside. + +"What is it?" asked Phin, beginning to feel uneasy. + +"Come along where the others can't hear," replied Mr. Morton, +taking hold of Drayne's nearer elbow. + +Phin turned white now. He went along, saying nothing, until Mr. +Morton halted by the outer gate. + +"Pass through, Drayne---and never let us see your face inside +this gate again." + +"But why? What----" + +"Ask your conscience!" snapped back the coach. "You'd better +travel fast! I'm going back to talk to the other fellows!" + +Mr. Morton was gone. For an instant Phin Drayne stood there as +though he would brave out this assertion of authority. Then, +seized by another impulse, he turned and made rapidly for a town-bound +street car that was heading his way. + +"What's up?" asked two or three of the fellows of Dick Prescott. +Perceiving something out of the usual, they spoke in the same +breath. + +"Oh, if there's anything to tell you," spoke Prescott, suppressing +a pretended yawn, "Mr. Morton may tell you----some time." + +But Mr. Morton was soon back. Knocking on the wall for attention, +he told, in as few and as crisp sentences as he could command, +the whole story, as far as known. + +"Now, young gentlemen," wound up the coach, "we must practice +the new signals like wild fire. There's mustn't be a single slip +not a solitary break in our game with Tottenville. And that game +will begin at three-thirty on Saturday! + +"In reverting to Drayne, I wish to impress upon you all, with +the greatest emphasis, that this must be treated by you all with +the utmost secrecy until we are prepared, with proofs, to go further! +If it should turn out that we're wrong in our suspicions, we'll +turn and give Phineas Drayne the biggest and most complete public +apology that a wronged man ever received." + +"All out to practice the new signals!" shouted Prescott, the +young captain of the team. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +"Brass" for an Armor Plate + + +Thursday night and Friday morning more copies of the betrayed +signals poured in upon Captain Dick. + +Wherever these signals had been received by captains of other +school teams, it soon appeared, these captains of rival elevens +had punctually mailed them back. It spoke volumes for the honor +of the American schoolboy, for Gridley High School was feared +far and wide on the gridiron, and there was not an eleven in the +state but would have welcomed an honorable way of beating Prescott's +men. + +Moreover, working on Dick's suggestion, Mr. Morton busied himself +with securing several letters that had been received from Drayne's +father. + +These letters were compared, Friday evening, with the copies of +the signals that had been sent to other elevens. Under a magnifying +glass these collected papers all exhibited one fact that the letters +and the copies of the signal code had been struck off on a machine +having the same peculiarities as to worn faces of certain types. +It was thus rather clearly established that Phin Drayne must +have used the typewriting machine that stood in his father's office. + +Drayne was not at school on Friday. Instead, an excuse of illness +was received from him. + +Nor did Mr. Morton say anything to Dr. Thornton, the principal, +until the end of the school week. + +Just after school had been dismissed, at one o'clock Friday afternoon, +Mr. Morton called Dr. Thornton to the private office, and there +laid before him the charges and the proofs. + +That fine old gentleman was overwhelmed with grief that "one of +his boys" should have done such an utterly mean, wanton and dishonorable +thing. + +"This can't be passed by, Mr. Morton," exclaimed Dr. Thornton +brokenly. "If you will kindly leave the proofs in my hands, I +will see that the whole matter is taken up officially." + +Friday afternoon the football squad met for more practice with +the new signals. Friday evening each young man who was scheduled +as being even likely to play the next day studied over the signals +at home, then, under orders, burned his copy of the code. Saturday +morning the squad met for some more practice, though not much. + +"I believe all of us are in trim now, sir," Captain Prescott reported +to the coach. "I am rather sure all of our men know the new signals +by heart, and there'll be no confusion. But, of course, for the +first game, the old snap of our recent practice will be missing. +It has been a hard blow to us." + +"If we have to lose to-day's game," muttered Mr. Morton, "I'll +be almost satisfied to lose it to Tottenville, after the manly +and straightout conduct of Mr. Jarvis!" + +"That same line of thought would make us content to go through +a losing season, for all the fellows in other towns who received +that betrayed code sent the information right back to us," smiled +Prescott. "But we're not going to lose to-day's game, Mr. Morton, +nor any other day's. Drayne's treachery has just about crazed +the other fellows with anger. They'll win everything ahead of +'em, now, just for spite and disgust, if for no better reason." + +"Sometimes anger serves a good purpose," laughed Mr. Morton. +"But it was pitiful to look at poor old Dr. Thornton yesterday +afternoon. At first I thought he was going to faint. He seemed +suddenly to grow ten years older. It cut him to the quick. He +loves every one of his boys, and to have one of them go bad is +just as painful to him as to see his own son sent to the penitentiary." + +"Is Dr. Thornton coming to the game this afternoon, sir?" + +"Yes; he has never missed one yet, in any year that he has been +principal of Gridley High School." + +"Then we'll make that fine old American gentleman feel all right +again by the grand game that we'll put up," promised Dick vehemently. +"I'll pass the word, and the fellows will strain themselves to +the last drop." + +Orders were issued to the gate tenders to throw Drayne out if +he presented himself at the gate. + +Drayne did put in an appearance, and he got through the gate to +a seat on the grand stand, but it was no fault of the gate tenders. + +Drayne had spent some of his spare money at the costumer's. With +his trim, rather slim figure Phin Drayne made up rather well as +a girl. He wore black---mourning throughout, perhaps in memory +of his departed honor---and a heavy veil covered his face. In +this disguise Drayne sat where he could see what would happen. + +At the outset it was Gridley's kick off, and for the next ten +minutes Tottenville had the ball, fighting stubbornly with it. +But at last, when forced half way down the field between center +and its own goal line, Gridley blocked so well in the three following +plays that the pigskin came to the home eleven. + +Dick bent over, holding the ball for the snapback, while his battle +front formed on each side of him. + +Dave Darrin, quarter-back, raced back a few steps, then halted, +looking keenly, swiftly over the field. + +Phin Drayne drew his breath sharply. Then his heart almost stopped +beating as he listened. + +"Thirty-eight---nine---eleven---four!" sounded Darrin's voice, +sharp and clear. + +"That's the run around the left end!" throbbed Phin Drayne. + +But it wasn't. A fake kick, followed by a cyclonic impact at +the right followed. + +"They've changed the signals!" gulped the guilty masquerader behind +the black veil. "Then they've found out." + +With this came the next disheartening thought: + +"That's the reason, then, why the coach ordered me out of the field +Thursday afternoon. Morton is wise. I wonder if he has told it +all around?" + +Gridley High School was doing some of its brilliant, old-style +play now. Prescott was proving himself an ideal captain, quick-witted, +full of strategy, force, push and dash, yet all the while displaying +the best of cool judgment in sizing up the chances of the hard +battle. + +But that which Phin Drayne noted most of all was that every signal +used had a different meaning from that employed in the code he +had mailed to the captains of the other school teams. + +"It was all found out, and Gridley wasn't hurt," thought Phin, +gnashing his teeth. "Good luck always seems to follow that fellow +Prescott! Can't he be beaten? We shall see! Prescott, my fine +bully, I'm not through with you yet." + +The first half ended without either side scoring. Impartial onlookers +thought that perhaps formidable Tottenville had had rather the +better of it, but no one could tell with certainty which was the +better team. + +When neither side scores in the first half that which remains +to be determined is, which side will show the bigger reserve of +vitality in the second half. + +And now the ball was off again, with twenty-two men pursuing and +fighting for it as though the fate of the nation hung on the result. +Dick, too, soon had things moving at a gait that had all Gridley +standing up and boosting with all the powers of lungs, hands and +feet. + +All that remained to interest Phin Drayne was to discover whether +his late comrades had sufficiently mastered their new signals +not to fail in their team work. + +Once in the second half there was a brief fluster. Two Gridley +men went "woozy" over the same signal. But alert Dave Darrin +rushed in and snatched a clever advantage out of momentary confusion. + +After that there was no more confusion. Gridley took the game +by a single touchdown, failing in the subsequent kick for goal. +Five minutes later time expired. + +Feeling doubly contemptible now, and sick at heart, Phin Drayne +crawled weakly down from the grand stand. He made his way out +in the throng, undetected. He returned to the costumer's, got +off his sneaking garb and donned his own clothing, then slipped +away out through a back door that opened on an alleyway. + +Not until Sunday afternoon did Drayne yield to the desire to +get out of doors. His training life had made outer air a necessity +to him, so he yielded to the desire. But he kept to back streets. + +Just as luck would have it, Drayne came suddenly face to face +with Dr. Thornton. + +The good old principal had a fixed belief which followed the practice +of American law, to the effect that every accused man is innocent +until he has been proved guilty. + +In addition, the doctor had recovered a good deal from his first +depression. Therefore he was able to meet this offending pupil +as he would want to under the circumstances. + +"Good afternoon, Mr. Drayne," was Dr. Thornton's courteous greeting. +"It is beautiful; weather to be out, isn't it?" + +"It is a perfect day, sir," Drayne replied. + +Once he had gotten past the principal the young wretch gave way +to his exultation. + +"No charge has been made, then," he told himself gloatingly. +"If I had been denounced, the Prin. could hardly have been as +gracious. Well, hang it all, what are charges going to amount +to, anyway?" + +At the High School Monday morning, both before school and at recess, +the members of the football squad cut Drayne dead. + +"They suspect me, but they can't prove anything, anyway," chuckled +the traitor to himself. "Brass, Phin, my boy! Brass! That is +bound to win out when the clodhoppers can't prove a blessed thing." + +As none of the students outside of the squad showed any especial +inclination to cut him, Phin felt almost wholly reassured. + +"It would be libelous, anyway, if the gang passed around a word +that they couldn't prove," chuckled Drayne. "So I guess those +that may be doing a heap of thinking will have caution enough +to keep their mouths shut, anyway," + +That afternoon, after luncheon, Phin Drayne took a long tramp +over country roads at the back of the big town. It was five o'clock +when he returned. + +"Here's a note for you, on High School stationery," said Mrs. +Drayne, putting an envelope in her son's hand. "It came some +time ago." + +Something warned the fellow not to open the envelope there. He +took it to his room, where he read the letter. It was from Dr. +Thornton, and said only: + +_"You are directed to appear before the Board of Education at +its stated weekly meeting to-night. This is urgent, and you are +warned not to fail in giving this summons due heed."_ + +In an instant Phin was white with fear. His legs trembled under +him, and cold sweat stood out on his neck, face and forehead. + +For some moments the young man acted as though in danger of collapse. +Then he staggered over to the tap at his washbowl, and gulped +down a glass of water. He paced the room restlessly for a long +time, and finally went over and stood looking out of the window. + +"Young man," he said to himself severely, "you've got to brace, +and brace hard. If you haven't any nerve, then getting square +is too strenuous a game for you? Now, what can that gang prove? +They can suspect, and they can charge, but my denial is fully +as good as any other man's affirmation. Go before the Board of + Education? Of course I will. And I'll make any accuser of mine +look mighty small before that august board of local duffers!" + +Brave words! They cheered the young miscreant, anyway. Phin +ate his supper with something like relish. Afterwards he set +out for the High School building, in which the Board had its offices. +Nor did his courage fail him until he had turned in through the +gate. + +A young man, whistling blithely, came in behind him. It was Dick +Prescott, erect of carriage, and brisk and strong of stride, as +becomes a young athlete whose conscience is clear and wholesome. + +"Hullo, Prescott, what are you doing around here to-night?" hailed +Drayne. + +But Dick seemed not to have heard. Not a note did he drop in +the tune that he was whistling. Springing up the steps ahead, +Dick vanished behind the big door. + +"Oh, of course he goes here to-night," thought Phin, with sudden +disgust. "Prescott scribbles for 'The Blade' and the Board of +Education is one of his stunts each week." + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +One of the Fallen + + +For a few moments Drayne hung about outside, irresolute. Then +his native shrewdness asserted itself. + +"Not to go in, after having been seen here in the yard would be +to confess whatever anyone wants to charge," muttered Phin. "Of +course I'll go in. And I'll just stand there and look more and +more astounded every time that anyone says anything. Brass, +Phin---brass! Oh, I'd like to see anyone down me!" + +So, with all the swagger he could put on, this young Benedict +Arnold of the school stepped into the Board room. As he entered, +the clerk of the Board hastened toward him. + +"Step into this anteroom at the side, Mr. Drayne, until you're +called," the clerk directed. "There will be some routine business +to be transacted first. Then, I believe, the Board has a few +questions it desires to ask you." + +Left by himself, the young man began to be a good bit frightened. +He was brave enough in matters requiring only physical courage. +But in this instance the culprit knew that he had been guilty +of a contemptibly mean act, and the knowledge of it made a moral +coward of him. + +"What are they doing? Trying to sentence, me to solitary confinement?" +wondered the young man, when minute after minute went by without +any call for him. In the Board room he could hear the droning +of voices. + +"And that Dick Prescott is out there, sitting at a reporter's +table, ready to take in all that happens," muttered Phin savagely. +"Won't he enjoy himself, though?" + +At last it seemed to Phin as though a hush fell over those in +the next room. But it was only that voices had been much lowered. + +Then a door opened, the clerk looking in and calling: + +"Mr. Drayne, will you come before the Board now?" + +Phin passed into the larger apartment. Seated in one chair was +Dr. Thornton; in another chair Mr. Morton. And Dick Prescott +was there, but gathering up his writing materials as though about +to go. + +The chairman waited in silence until Prescott had passed out of +the Board room. After the clerk had closed the door the chairman +announced: + +"The Board is now in executive session. Dr. Thornton, we will +listen to the matter which we understand you wish to bring before +us for consideration." + +Composedly Dr. Thornton stepped to the edge of the table, standing +there, resting his left hand on the table as he began to speak. + +In simple words, without any visible emotion, the High School +principal stated what he understood of the receipt of copies of +the football signal code by the captains of rival football elevens. + +Next Mr. Morton took the stand, so to speak, and went much more +into detail. He told what the reader already knows, producing +several of the copies returned by the honorable captains of other +school teams. + +Then Mr. Morton put in evidence, with these copies of the code, +copies of business letters received from Drayne's father, and +presumably written on the Drayne office machine. + +"If you examine these exhibits, gentlemen, I think you will agree +that the betrayed code and the business letters were written on +one and the same machine. The use of the magnifying glass makes +it even more plain." + +Then Mr. Morton sat down. + +"Now, young Mr. Drayne, what have you to say?" demanded the presiding +officer. + +"Why should I say anything, sir?" demand Drayne, with an impudent +assumption of swaggering ease. + +"Then you admit the truth of the charges, Mr. Drayne?" + +"I do not." + +"Then you must really have something to say." + +"I have heard a charge made against me. I am waiting to have +it proved." + +"Do you admit," asked the presiding officer, "that these copies +of the code were written on your father's office machine?" + +"I do not, sir. But, if it be true, is that any proof that I +made those copies of the signal code? Is it argued that I alone +have access to the typewriter in my father's office. For that +matter, if I have an enemy in the High School and I must have +several---wouldn't it be possible for that enemy, or several of +them, to slyly break into my father's office and use that particular +typewriting machine?" + +This was confidently delivered, and it made an undoubted impression +on at least two or three members of the Board. But now Mr. Morton +broke in, quietly: + +"I thought some such attempt as this might be made. So I waited +until I saw what the young man's line of defense might be. Here +is an envelope in which one of the copies was received by the +captain of a rival football team. You will note that the sender, +while understanding something about the use of a type machine, +was plainly a novice in directing an envelope on the typewriter. +So he addressed this envelope in handwriting. Here is the envelope +in question, and here is one of Mr. Drayne's school examination +papers, also in his own handwriting. I will ask the members of +the Board to examine both." + +There was silence, while the copies passed from hand to hand, +Drayne losing color at this point. + +"Be brassy!" he whispered to himself. "You'll pull through, Phin, +old boy." + +"I am sorry to say, Mr. Drayne, that the evidence appears to be +against you," declared the chairman slowly. + +"It may, sir," returned the boy, "but it isn't conclusive evidence." + +"Have you anything more to say, Mr. Morton?" asked the chairman, +looking at the submaster. + +"Plenty, Mr. Chairman, if the Board will listen to me." + +"Proceed, Mr. Morton." + +The football coach thereupon launched into a swiftly spoken tirade +against the "brand of coward and sneak" who would betray his school +in such a fashion. Without naming Phin, Mr. Morton analyzed the +motives and the character of such a sneak, and he did it mercilessly, +although in the most parliamentary language. Nor did he look +toward the boy, but Phin was squirming under the lash, his face +alternately red or ghastly. + +"For such a scoundrel," continued Mr. Morton, "there is no hope +greater than the penitentiary! He is fit for nothing else. Such +a traitor would betray his best friend, or his country. Such +a sneak would be dead to all feelings of generosity. The smallest +meannesses must envelop his soul. Why, sir, the sender of these +copies of the signal code was so mean, so small minded, so sneaking +and so utterly selfish"---how Phin squirmed in his seat!---"that, +in sending the envelopes through the mail he was not even man +enough to pay full postage. Four cents was the postage required +for each envelope, but this small-souled sneak, this ungenerous +leech actually made the receivers pay half of the postage on 'due-postage' +stamps." + +"I didn't!" fairly screamed red-faced Phin, leaping up out of +his chair. "I stuck a four-cent stamp on each envelope myself! +I remem-----" + +Of a sudden he stopped in his impetuous burst of language. A +great hush fell in the room. Phin felt himself reeling with a +new fright. + +"Then," demanded Mr. Morton, in a very low voice, his face white, +"why did you deny having sent out these envelopes containing the +copies of the code?" + +There was a shuffling of feet. Two or three of the Board laughed +harshly. + +"Oh, well!" burst almost incoherently from the trapped boy. "When +you employ such methods as these you make a fellow tell on himself!" + +All his 'brass' was gone now. He looked, indeed, a most pitiable +object as he stood there, his lower jaw drooped and his cheeks +twitching. + +"I think you have said about all, Mr. Drayne, that it is necessary +for you to say," interposed the chairman. "Still, in the interest +of fair play we will allow you to make any further statements that +you may wish to make. Have you anything to offer?" + +"No!" he uttered, at last, gruffly. + +At a sign from the chairman the clerk stepped silently over, took +Phin by one elbow, and led him to the door. Phin passed on out +of the building, stumbling blindly. He got home, somehow, and +into bed. + +In the morning, however, even a sneak is braver. + +"What can they do to me, anyway?" muttered Phin, as he dressed. +"I didn't break any of the laws of the state! All anyone can +do is to cut me. I'll show 'em all how little I care for their +contempt." + +So it was not wholly in awe that Phin Drayne entered the general +assembly room the next morning, a few minutes before opening time. +Several of the students greeted him pleasantly enough. Phin +was quick to conclude that the news had not leaked anyway, beyond +the members of the football squad. + +Then came the opening of the session. The singing books lay on +the desks before the students. Instead, however, of calling out +the page on which the morning's music would be found, Dr. Thornton +held his little gavel in his hand, after giving a preliminary +rap or two on his desk. + +"I have something to say to the students of the school this morning," +began Dr. Thornton, in a low but steady voice. "It is something +which, I am happy to state, I have never before been called upon +to say. + +"One of the most valuable qualities in any man or woman is loyalty. +All of us know, from our studies in history and literature, many +conspicuous and noble examples of loyalty. We have also, in our +mind's eye, some examples of the opposite qualities, disloyalty +and treachery. Outside of sacred history one of the most conspicuous +examples of betrayal was that of Benedict Arnold." + +Every boy and girl now had his eyes turned fixedly on the old +principal. Outside of the football squad no student had any idea +what was coming. Phin tried to look wholly unconscious. + +Dr. Thornton spoke a little more on the meanness of treachery +and betrayal. Then, looking straight over at the middle of the +third aisle on the boys' side of the room, the principal commanded: + +"Mr. Drayne, stand by your desk!" + +Phin was up, hardly knowing how he accomplished the move. Every +pair of eyes in the room was focused on him. + +"Mr. Drayne," continued the principal, and now there was a steely +glitter of contempt in the old man's eyes, "you were displeased +because you did not attain to as high honors on the football eleven +as you had hoped. In revenge you made copies of the code signals +of the team, and mailed a copy to the captain of nearly every +team against which Gridley High School is to play this year." + +There came, from all parts of the room, a gasp of incredulous +amazement. + +"Your infamy, your treachery and betrayal, Mr. Drayne, were +traced back to you," continued the principal. "You were forced +to admit it, last night, before the Board of Education. That +Board has passed sentence in your case. Mr. Drayne, you are found +utterly unfit to associate with the decent manhood and womanhood +to be found in the student body of this High School. By the decision +of the Board you are now expelled from this school. You will +take your books and belongings and leave instantly. You will +never presume to enter through the doors of this school again. +Go, sir!" + +From Phin came an angry snarl of defiance. He tried to shout +out, to tell the principal and his late fellow students how little, +or less than little, he cared about their opinions. + +But the words stuck in his throat. Ere he could try again, a +hiss arose from one quarter of the room. The hiss grew and swelled. +Phin realized, though he dared not look about him any longer, +that the hissing came as much from the girls as from the boys. + +Drayne did not attempt to bend over his desk. Instead, he marched +swiftly down the half of the aisle, then past the platform toward +the door. + +"Mr. Drayne," called Dr. Thornton, "you have not taken your books, +or paper or other desk materials." + +"I leave them, sir," shouted Phin, above the tumult of hissing, +"for the use of some of your many pauper students." + +Then he went out, slamming the door after him. He darted down +to the basement, then waited before the locker door until one +of the monitors came down, unlocked the door, and allowed Phin +to get his hat. But the monitor never looked at him, or spoke. + +Once out of the building, Phin could keep back the choking sob +and tears no longer. Stealing down a side street, where he would +have to pass few people, Phin gave way to his pent-up shame. +Yet in it all there was nothing of repentance. He was angry +with himself---in a fiendish rage toward others. + +Afterwards, he learned that the books and other contents of his +desk were burned in the school yard at recess, to the singing +of a dirge. But, even for the purpose of making a bonfire of +his books the students would not touch the articles with their +hands. They coaxed the janitor to find a pair of tongs, and with +this implement Phin's books and papers were conveyed to the purifying +blaze. + +Behind the door in the privacy of his own room Phin Drayne shook +his fist at the surrounding air. + +"I have one mission in life, now, anyway!" raged the boy. "I've +got some cruel scores to pay. You, Dick Prescott, shall come +in for a large share of the payment! No matter how long I have +to wait and plan, or what I have to risk, you shan't get away +from me!" + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +Dick Meets the Boy-with-a-Kick + + +Evil thoughts can never be cherished, day after day, without leading +the more daring or brutal into some form of crime. + +Phin, the first three or four times he tried to appear on Main +Street, was "spotted" and hissed by High School boys. + +Even the boys of the lower schools heard the news, and took up +the hissing with great zest. + +So Phin was forced to remain indoors during the day, which drove +him out by night, instead. + +Had he been older, and known more of human nature, he would have +known that the hissing would soon die out, and thereafter he would +meet only cold looks. + +At home, be sure Phin was not happy. His mother, a good woman, +suffered in silence, saying little to her son. + +Phin's father, a hard-headed and not over scrupulous man of business, +looked upon the incident of expulsion as a mere phase in life. +He thought it "would do the boy good, and teach him to be more +clever." + +Gridley met Milton High School and scored another victory, Milton +taking only two points on a safety that Gridley was forced to +make. + +And now the game with Chester was looming up ahead. It was due +for the coming Saturday. + +Three times a week, Dick Prescott had his squad out for drill +and practice, though he was careful to follow Mr. Morton's suggestion +not to get the young men trained down "too fine." + +Early one evening in mid-week, Dick sat at his desk in "The Blade" +office, "grinding out" some local copy. He was in a hurry to +finish, for he was due to be in bed soon. Every member of team +and squad was pledged to keep early hours of retiring on every +night but Saturday. + +In another chair, near by, sat Dave Darrin, who dropped in to +speak with his chum, and was now waiting until they could stroll +down Main Street together. + +"I've just thought of something I want to do, Dick," muttered +Dave suddenly. "I'll jump out and attend to it, now. Walk down +Main Street, when you're through, and you'll run into me." + +Prescott, nodding, went on with his writing, turning out page +after page. Then he rose, placing the sheets on News Editor Bradley's +desk. + +"I'm pretty sure you'll find it all right, Mr. Bradley," declared +Dick. "Now, I must get home, for I'm due in bed in half an hour." + +"Training and newspaper work don't go well together," laughed +the news editor. "However, your football season will soon be +over. This time next year you'll be through with High School, +and I hope you'll be with us then altogether." + +"I don't know about that, Mr. Bradley," smiled Dick, picking up +his hat and starting for the door. "But I do know that I like +newspaper work mighty well. When a fellow is writing for a paper +he seems to be alive all the time, and right up to the minute." + +"That youngster may come to us for a while, after he gets out +of High School," called Mr. Pollock, across the room, after Prescott +had, gone out. "But he won't stay long on a small daily. A youngster +with all his hustle is sure to pull out, soon, for one of the +big city dailies. The country towns can't hold 'em." + +Dick went briskly down the street, whistling blithely, as a boy +will do when he's healthy and his conscience is clear. + +A block below another boy, betraying the hang-dog spirit only +too plainly, turned the corner into Main Street. + +It was Phin Drayne, out for one of his night walks. Fearing that +he might be insulted, and get into a fight with some one, Drayne +had armed himself with one of his father's canes. The stick had +a crook for a handle. + +Prescott caught a glimpse of the other boy's face; then he turned +away, hastening on. + +"I'm not even worth looking at," muttered Phin to himself. + +Just as Dick went past, Phin seized the cane by the ferule end, +and lunged out quickly. + +The crook caught neatly around one of Dick's ankles just as the +foot was lifted. + +Like a flash Prescott went down. One less nimble, and having +had less training, might have been in for a split kneecap. But +Dick was too much master of his body and its movements. He went +down to his hands, then touched lightly on his knees. + +Phin laughed sneeringly as Dick sprang up, unhurt. + +"Keep out of my way, after this---you less-than-nothing!" muttered +Dick between his teeth. "I don't want to have to even hit a thing +like you!" + +"You'll show good judgment, Mr. Big-head, if you don't try it," +jeered Drayne, menacing Dick with the cane. + +The color came into Dick's face. Leaping forward, with all the +adroitness of the born tackler, he caught that cane, just as it +descended, and wrenched it out of Phin Drayne's cowardly, hand. + +Crack! Dick broke it in two across his knee, then tossed the +pieces into the street. + +"You'll never be able to do anything better than a sneaky act," +muttered Dick contemptuously, turning to walk on. + +With a smothered cry Phin Drayne leaped forward to strike Prescott +down from behind. + +Dick was around again like a flash, one fist striking up the arm +with which the sneak had aimed his blow. + +"Stand off, and keep away," advised Prescott coldly. + +"I won't; I'll thrash you!" hissed Phin. + +There was nothing for Dick to do but put up his guard, which he +did with great promptness. Drayne danced around him, seeking +a good point at which to close in. + +Prescott had no notion of fighting; neither did he propose to +take an assault meekly. + +"Look out!" yelled Drayne, suddenly rushing in. + +"Certainly," mocked Prescott coolly. + +He shot up Phin's arm as easily as could have been desired. With +his right he parried another blow. + +"Get out of this, and go about your business," advised Dick sternly. + +"Think I'll take any orders from you?" snarled Phin. "I'll-----" + +He continued to crowd in, hammering blows. Dick parried, but +did not attempt to retaliate. The truth was, he felt secretly +sorry for the fellow who had fallen as low as Phin. + +But Drayne was no coward physically, when his blood was up. It +drove him to fever heat, now, to see how easily the captain of +the football team repulsed him. + +"I'll get your wind going, and then I'll hammer you for fair!" +snarled Drayne. + +"Mistake there, somewhere," retorted Dick coolly. + +But Drayne was coming in, harder and harder. Dick simply had +to do something. So, after he had parried more than a score of +blows the young football captain suddenly took a springy step +forward, shot up Phin's guard, and landed a staggering blow on +the nose. Phin began to reel. Dick hit him more lightly on the +chest, yet with force enough to "follow up" and send to his knees. + +"Here, what's this?" called a voice, and a heavy hand seized Dick +by the collar behind, pulling him back. + +It was Heathcote Drayne, Phin's father, a powerful man, who now +held Prescott. + +Phin was quickly upon his feet and start forward. + +From across the street sounded a warning cry, followed by footsteps. + +"Now, I've got you!" cried Phin exultantly. He struck, and landed, +on Dick's cheek. + +"Stop that, Phin!" shouted his father, without letting go of Dick's +collar, however. Phin, however, instead of obeying, aimed another +blow, and would have landed, had not another figure bounded in +and taken the blow, next hurling Phin back against a brick wall. + +It was Len Spencer, "star" reporter of "The Blade," who had thus +interfered. And now Dave Darrin was dancing in front of Heathcote +Drayne, ordering: + +"Let go of Prescott! What sort of fair play is this?" + +"Mind your own business!" ordered Mr. Drayne. "I'm stopping a +fight." + +Not an instant did impulsive Darrin waste in arguing the matter. +He landed his fist just under Heathcote Drayne's left eye, causing +that Heathcote to let go of Dick in a hurry. + +"You young scoundrel!" glared Mr. Drayne, glaring at Dave. + +"Opinions may differ as to who the scoundrel is," retorted Dave +unconcernedly. "My own notions of fair play are against holding +one of the parties in a fight so that the other may hammer him." + +"I'll have you arrested for this assault," stormed Mr. Drayne, +applying a handkerchief to the bruised spot under his eye. "Both +you and Prescott---your ruffian friend for assaulting my son. + +"Go ahead and do it," retorted Dave. "As it happens, your son +did all the assaulting, and Prescott, who didn't care about fighting +with such a thing, only defended himself. We saw it all from +across the street, but we didn't come across to interfere until +we had to." + +"I'll take some of your impudence out of you in the police court," +insisted Mr. Drayne. + +"Yes, I would, if I were you," broke in Len Spencer coolly. "I +saw this whole business, too, and I'll take pleasure in testifying +against you both. Mr. Drayne, you didn't see the start of this +thing, and I did. But you, at least, know that your son is a +moral leper kicked out of the High School because he was not decent +enough to associate with the other students. I wouldn't be surprised +if he gets some of his bad qualities from you, sir" + +"You'll sing a different tune in court," asserted Heathcote Drayne +heatedly. + +"So will you," laughed Len Spencer. "By the way, I see a policeman +down the street. If you want to prefer a charge, Mr. Drayne, +I'll blow my police whistle and bring the officer here." + +Spencer took a whistle from his pocket, moving it toward his lips. + +"Do you want the officer!" challenged the reporter. + +But Mr. Drayne began to see the matter in a somewhat different +light. He knew much about the nature of his son, and here were +two witnesses against him. Besides, one was a trusted staff writer +for the local paper, and the whole affair was likely to result +in a disagreeable publicity. + +"I'll think this all over before I act," returned Mr. Drayne stiffly, +as he took his son by one arm. "Come along, Phin." + +As the Draynes moved away each held a handkerchief to his face. + +"I don't think much of fighting, and I don't like to do it," +muttered Darrin, who was beginning to cool down. "But if Heathcote +Drayne had had to do more fighting when he was younger he might +have known how to train that cub of his to be more of a man." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +Dick Puts "A Better Man" in His Place + + +Of course Dick heard no more from the Draynes. He didn't expect +that he would. + +Phin, however, was noticed no more on the streets of the little +city. Then, in some way, it leaked out that his father had sent +him to a military boarding school where the discipline was credited +with being very rigid. + +"I guess papa has found that his little boy was none too much +of an angel," laughed Dave Darrin when discussing the news with +his chums. + +The first four games of the season went off successfully for Gridley, +though all were hard battles in which only fine leadership and +splendid team work by all saved the day. + +Two of these games had been played on the home grounds, two away +from home. The fifth game of the season was scheduled to be played +on the home grounds. The opponent for this game was to be Hallam +Heights High School. The Hallam boys were a somewhat aristocratic +lot, but not snobbish, and the Gridley young men looked forward +to an exciting and pleasant game. It was the first game ever +played between Gridley and Hallam Heights. Coach Morton talked +about the strangers one rainy afternoon in the gymnasium. + +"I believe you're going to find yourselves up against a hard +proposition," declared coach slowly "These young men attend a High +School where no expense is spared. Some of the wealthy men of the +town engage the physical director, who is one of the best men in +his class. Speight, who was at college with me, is engaged in +addition as the football coach. I remember Speight as one of the +cleverest and most dangerous men we had at college. He could think +up a whole lot of new field tricks overnight. Then again, most of +the Hallam Heights boys are young fellows who go away for athletic +summers. That is, they are young fellows who do a lot of boating, +yachting, riding, tennis, track work, and all the rest of it. +They are young fellows who glory in being in training all the +year around. Speight writes me that he thinks he has the finest, +strongest and most alert boys in the United States." + +"We'll whip them, just the same," announced Dick coolly. + +"Gridley will, if anyone can---I know that," agreed Mr. Morton. +"You've won all four games that you've played this season. Hallam +Heights has played five games and won them all. The Hallam youngsters +are out to capture the record that Gridley has held for some time +that of capturing all the games of the season." + +"Bring 'em on!" begged Darrin. "I wish we had 'em here to play +just as soon as the rain lets up." + +"Don't make the mistake of thinking that, because the Hallam boys +have rich fathers, they're dudes, who can't play on wet ground," +laughed Mr. Morton. + +"If Hallam sends forth such terrors," grinned Dick, rising from +the bench on which he had been sitting, "then we must get in trim +for 'em. Come on, fellows; some of the light speedy exercises. +I'll work you up to all the speed you can take care of, this +afternoon." + +For the next ten minutes Dick was as good as his word. Then, +after a brief breathing spell, Prescott ordered his men to the +running track in the gallery. + +"Three laps at full speed, with a two-minute jog between each +speed burst, and a minute of breathing between each kind of running," +called out Dick. + +Then, after he had seen the fellows started, he turned to the +coach. + +"If I never learned anything else from you, Mr. Morton, I think +I've wholly absorbed the idea that no man is in condition unless +he can run well; and that nothing will make for condition like +judicious running." + +"As to what you've learned from me, Captain Prescott," replied +the coach, "I fully believe that you've learned all that I have +to teach. I wouldn't be afraid to go away on a vacation and leave +the team in your hands." + +"Him!" smiled Dick. "Without you to back me up, Mr. Morton, I'm +afraid some of the fellows might kick over the traces." + +"They wouldn't kick over but once," laughed the coach. "The first +time any fellow did that you'd drop him from the team. And the +fellows know it. I haven't noticed the young men attempting to +frisk you any." + +"One did." + +"I know whom you mean," replied the submaster, his brow clouding. +"But he got out of the team, didn't he?" + +"Yes; but I didn't put him out." + +"You would have put him off the team if it had been left for you +to do it." + +As soon as he thought the squad had had enough exercise to keep +them in tone, Dick dismissed them. + +"But every one of you do his level best to keep in condition all +the time until we get through with Hallam Heights," urged the +young captain. "That applies, too, not only to team members, +but to every man in the squad. If the Hallam fellows are swift +and terrific, we can't tell on whom we may have to pounce for +substitutes." + +This was to be a mid-week game, taking place Wednesday afternoon. +Wednesday morning word reached school that Hudson, who was down +to play right guard, and Dan Dalzell, right end, were both at +home in bed, threatened with pneumonia. In each case the doctor +was hopeful that the attack would be averted, but that didn't +help out the afternoon's game any. + +"Two of our prize men out," muttered Dick anxiously to Dave at +recess. + +"And it's claimed that misfortunes always travel by threes," returned +Darrin, half mournfully. + +"Don't!" shivered Prescott. "Let us off with two misfortunes." + +Afternoon came along, somewhat raw and lowering. Rain might prevent +the game. Less than three quarters of the people who bought seats +in advance appeared at the grounds. The sale of spot seats was +not as brisk by half as it would have been on a pleasanter day. + +But the Hallam Heights boys came along early, bounding and full +of fun and dash. + +They were a fine-looking lot of boys. The Gridley youngsters +took to their opponents instantly. + +"I wonder what's keeping Dick?" muttered Dave Darrin, half anxiously, +in dressing quarters. + +"Anyway, we won't worry about him until we have to," nodded Mr. +Morton. "Our young captain is about the promptest man, as a rule, +in the whole squad." + +"That's just why I am uneasy," grunted Dave. + +Hardly had he spoken when Dick Prescott came in---but limping +slightly! + +And what a rueful countenance the young captain of the team +displayed! + +"Suffering Ebenezer, man, but what has happened?" gasped Dave. + +All the other Gridley youngsters stopped half way in their togging +to listen for the reply. + +"Nothing much," grunted Dick. "Yet it came near to being too +much. A man bumped me, as I was getting on the car, and drove +me against the iron dasher. It was all an accident, due to the +man's clumsiness. But it barked my knee a good bit." + +"Let me see you walk about the room," ordered Coach Morton. He +watched closely, as Dick obeyed. + +"Sit down, Prescott, and draw the trousers leg off on that side. +I want to examine the knee." + +While Mr. Morton went to work the other members of the team crowded +about, anxiety written on all their faces. + +"Does it hurt more when I press?" asked the submaster keenly. +"Ah, I thought so! Prescott, you're not badly hurt for anything +else; but your knee is in no shape to play this afternoon!" + +A wail of dismay went up from the team members. The rueful look +in Dick's face deepened. + +"I was afraid you'd bar me out," he confessed. "I never felt +so ashamed in my life." + +"It wouldn't be of any use for you to play, for that knee wouldn't +stand it in any rough smash," declared the coach, shaking his +head solemnly. + +"It's all off with us, then," groaned one of the fellows. "We may +as well ask Hallam if they'll allow us to hand 'em a score of six +to nothing on a platter, and then stay off the field." + +"Hush your croaking, will you?" demanded Dave Darrin angrily, +glaring about him. "Is that the Gridley way? Do we ever admit +defeat? Whoever croaks had better quit the team altogether." + +Under that rebuke the boy who had ventured the opinion shrank +back abashed. + +"You're sure I'll be in no shape to go on, Coach?" asked Dick +anxiously. + +"Why, of course you could go on," replied Mr. Morton. "And you +could run about some, too, unless your knee got a good deal stiffer. +But you wouldn't be up to Gridley form." + +"Have I any right to go on, with a knee in this shape?" queried +Dick. + +"You certainly haven't," replied Mr. Morton, with great emphasis. + +"Dave," called the young football chief, "you're second captain +of the team. Get in and get busy. Put up the best fight you +can for old Gridley!" + +"Aye, that I will," retorted Dave Darrin, his eyes sparkling, +cheeks glowing. "I'll go in like a pirate chief, and I'll break +the neck of any Gridley man who doesn't do all there is in him +this afternoon." + +"Listen to the fire eater," laughed Fenton. Dave grinned +good-humoredly, but went insistently: + +"All right. If any of you fellows think I take less than the +best you can possibly do, try it out with me." + +Then Darrin came over to rest a hand on Prescott's shoulder. + +"Dick, you'll give me any orders you have before we go on, and +between the halves, won't you?" + +"Not a word," replied Dick promptly. "Dave, you can lead as well +as ever I have done. If you're going to be captain to-day you'll +be captain in earnest. I'll hamper you neither with advice nor +orders." + +With so important a player as Dick Prescott out of the team Dave +had a hard task in rearranging the eleven. In this he sought +direction from Mr. Morton. Rapidly they sketched the new line-up. + +Darrin himself would have to drop quarterback and go to center. +For this latter post Dave was rather light, but he carried the +knack of sturdy assault better than any other man in the team +after Prescott. + +Tom Reade was called to quarter. Shortly afterwards all the details +had been completed. + +"As to style, you'll gather that from the signals," muttered Darrin. +"The only rule is the one we always have---that we can't be beat +and we know we can't." + +There came a rap at the door. Then a bushy mop of football hair +was thrust into the doorway. + +"Talking strategy, signals or anything we shouldn't hear?" asked +the pleasant voice of Forsythe, captain of the Hallam Heights +boys. + +"Not a blessed thing," returned Dave. "Come in, gentlemen." + +Captain Forsythe, in full field toggery, came in, followed by +the members of the visiting team, all as completely attired for +work. + +"We're really not intruding?" asked Forsythe, after he had stepped +into the room. + +"Not the least in the world," responded Dave heartily. "Mr. Forsythe. +let me introduce you to Mr. Morton, our coach, and to Mr. Prescott, +the real captain of this tin-pan crowd of pigskin chasers." + +"Oh, I mistook you for Prescott," replied Forsythe, as he acknowledged +the introductions. + +"No; I'm Darrin, the pewter-plate second captain---the worst you've +got to fear to-day," laughed Dave, as he held out his hand. + +"Why---what----anything happened?" asked Captain Forsythe, looking +truly concerned. + +"Captain Prescott has had his knee injured, and two of our other +crack men are in bed, sick," replied Mr. Morton cheerfully. "Otherwise +we're all quite well." + +"Your captain and two other good men out?" asked Forsythe in real +sympathy. "That doesn't sound fair, for we came over here prepared +to put up the very best we had against you old invincibles. I'm +awfully sorry." + +"Captain Forsythe, we all thank you for your sympathy," Dick +answered, "but Captain Darrin can lead at least as well as I +can. I believe he can do it better. As for the team that we're +putting in the field to-day, if you can beat it, you could as +easily beat anything we could offer at any other time. So, as +far as one may, with such courteous opponents as you are, Gridley +hurls back its defiance and throws down the battle gage! But +play your very best team, Captain Forsythe, and we'll do our +best in return." + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +Could Dave Make Good? + + +Dave Darrin, a good deal disheveled and covered with soil and +perspiration on his face and neck, came striding in after time +had been called on the first half. + +Dave's generalship had kept Hallam Heights from scoring, but Gridley +hadn't put away any points, either. + +"You saw it all from the side lines, Dick?" Dave asked, as the +chums, arm in arm, strolled into dressing quarters. + +"Yes." + +"What are your instructions for the second half." + +"I haven't any." + +"Your advice, then?" + +"I haven't any of that, either. Dave, any fellow who can hold +those young human cyclones back as you've done doesn't need any +pointers in the game." + +"But we simply couldn't score against them," muttered Darrin. +"So I know there's something wrong with my leadership. What +is it?" + +"Nothing whatever, Darrin. It simply means that you're up against +the hardest line to get through that I've ever seen Gridley tackle. +Why, yesterday I was looking over the record of these Hallam +boys, and I find that they've already whipped two college second +teams. But you'll get through them in the next Dave, if there's +any human way of doing it. So that's all I've got to say, for +I'm not out there on the gridiron, and I can't see things from +the side line the same as you can on the ten-yard line. Perhaps +Mr. Morton may have something to offer." + +But the coach hadn't. + +"You're doing as well as any man of Gridley could do, Darrin," +the submaster assured the young second captain. "Of course, with +Prescott at center, and yourself jumping around as quarter-back +the team would be stronger. But in Prescott's enforced absence, +I don't see how you can play any point of the line more forcefully +than you've been doing." + +But Dave, instead of looking puffed up, replied half dejectedly: + +"I was in hopes you could both show me where I'm weak." + +"You're not weak," insisted Coach Morton. + +"That throws me back on thinking hard for myself," muttered Darrin. + +Where a weaker man would have been pleased with such direct praise +Dave felt that he was not doing his duty because he had not been +able to lead as brilliantly as Dick had done in earlier games. + +"Brute strength isn't any good against these Hallam fellows," +Darrin told himself, as he returned to the field. "They're all +A-1 athletes. Even if Gridley played a slugging game, it wouldn't +bear these Hallam boys down. As to speed and scientific points, +they seem to be our masters. Whatever we do against them, it +must be something seldom heard of on the gridiron something that +will be so brand new that they can't get by it." + +Yet twice in the half that followed Gridley barely escaped having +to make a safety to save their goal line. Each time, however, +Dave wriggled out of it. + +When there were but seven minutes left neither team had scored. + +Gridley now had the ball for snap-back at its own twenty-five-yard +line. + +The most that home boosters were hoping for now was that Gridley +would be able to hold down the game to no score. + +Dave had been thinking deeply. He had just found a chance to +mutter orders swiftly. + +Fenton, little, wiry and swift, was to-day playing at left end, +the position that Dick himself had made famous in the year before. + +"Eighteen---three--eleven---seven---nine!" called Tom Reade, crisply. + +The first four figures called off the play that Gridley was to +make, or to pretend to make. But that nine, capping all at the +end, caused a swift flutter in Gridley hearts. For that nine, +at the end of the signal, called for a fake play. + +Yet the instant that the whistle trilled out its command every +Gridley player unlimbered and dashed to the position ordered. + +Only three men on the team understood what was contemplated. +Coach Morton, from the side lines, had looked puzzled from the +moment that he heard the signal. + +Dick Prescott, eager for his chum's success, as well as the team's, +stood as erect as he could beside Mr. Morton, trying to take in +the whole field with one wide, sweeping glance. + +As Tom Reade caught the ball on its backward snap, he straightened +up, tucking the ball under his left arm and making a dash for +Gridley's right end. + +Immediately, of course, Hallam rushed its men toward that point. + +Yet the movements of Gridley's right wing puzzled the visitors. +For all of Dave's right flankers dashed forward, making an effective +interference. + +Surely, reasoned Captain Forsythe, Tom Reade didn't mean to try +to break through by himself with the pigskin. + +That much was a correct guess. Tom didn't intend anything of +the sort. + +All in a flash Reade, as prearranged, dropped the ball, punting +it vigorously. + +Up it went, soaring obliquely over Gridley's left flank and far +beyond. + +Just a second before the ball itself started, little Fenton had +put himself in motion. By the time that the ball was in the air +Fenton was past Hallam's line and scorching down the field. + +Now Forsythe and every Hallam man comprehended all in a flash. + +Fenton had caught the ball with a nicety that brought wild whoops +from the Gridley boosters, now standing on their seats and waving +the Gridley colors. + +"That little fellow looks like a streak of light," yelled one +Gridley booster. + +The description wasn't a bad one. Fenton was doing some of the +finest sprinting conceivable. Before him nothing menaced but +big Harlowe, Hallam's fullback. Harlowe, however, was hurling +himself straight in the impetuous way of little Fenton. + +It looked like a bump. There could be but one result. Fenton +would have to go down to save the ball. + +Harlowe reached out to tackle. + +Fenton came to a quivering stop, just out of reach. Then, almost +instantly, the little left end dashed straight forward again. + +But the move had been enough to fool Harlowe. Of course, he assumed +that Fenton would spring to one side. Harlowe imagined that it +would be a dodge to the left, and Harlowe leaped there to tackle +his man. + +But Fenton, actually going straight ahead, fooled the calculation +of his powerful adversary and got past on the clever trick. + +Harlowe dashed after his sly opponent. But Fenton, still almost +with his first big breath in his lungs, was running as fast as +ever. A man of Harlowe's size was no one to send after a greased +mosquito like Fenton. + +So nothing hindered. Amid the wildest, noisiest rooting, Fenton +stepped it over Hallam's now undefended goal line, reached down +and pressed the pigskin against the earth for a touchdown. + +On the grand stand the noise was deafening. The whistle sounded +and the flushed players of both teams came back to range up for +the kick from field. Dave, his cheeks glowing, took the kick. +He sent a clean one that scored one more point for Gridley. + +The cheering and the playing of the band still continued when +the two elevens again lined up for play during the last five minutes +of the game. The referee was obliged to signal to the leader +to stop his musicians. + +Forsythe looked hot and weary. His expectation of an easy victory +had come to naught. Unless he and ten other Hallam boys could +work wonders in five minutes. + +But they couldn't and didn't. The time keeper brought the game +to a close. + +"Gridley has handed us six to nothing," muttered Forsythe, as +he led his disheartened fellows from the field. "That puts us +with the other second-rate teams in the state." + +"A great lot of orders you needed, didn't you?" was Captain Dick +Prescott's happy greeting as Dave met him beyond the side lines. + +"You won that game for us, just the same," retorted Dave. + +"I?" demanded Dick, in genuine amazement. + +"Yes; you, and no one else." + +"How?" + +"You refused to give me a hint. You threw me down hard, on my +own resources. I saw all those hundreds of people demanding that +Gridley win," retorted Dave. "What could I do? I had to make +the fellows do something like what they've been doing under Dick +Prescott, or confess myself a dub. I couldn't lean on a word +from you, Dick. So you fairly drove me into planning something +that would either carry off the game or make us look like chromos +of football players. You wouldn't say a word, Prescott, that +would take any of the blame on yourself! So didn't you force +me to win!" + +"That's ingenious, but not convincing," retorted Dick, as the +two chums stepped into dressing quarters. "To tell you the truth, +Dave, I think a good many people now believe that you ought to +be the regular captain." + +But Darrin only grinned. He knew better. + +Some of the fellows tried to praise Fenton to his face. + +"Quit! You can't get away with that," chuckled the fast little +left end. "Some one had to take that ball and drop it behind +Hallam's goal line. I was the one who was ordered to do it. +If I hadn't, what would you fellows have said about me?" + +By the time that the Hallam Heights young men were dressed several +of them came to the Gridley quarters, Forsythe at their head. + +"We want to shake hands," laughed Forsythe, "and to make sure +that you have no hard feelings for what we tried to do to you." + +Dick and Darrin took this in laughing goodfellowship. + +"If you call this your dub team to-day," continued Forsythe, a +bit more gloomily, "we shudder to think what would have happened +to us had you put in your regular line-up." + +"There isn't any dub team in Gridley," spoke Dick quickly. "All +of our fellows are trained in the same way, by the same coach, +and we stake all our chances on any line-up that's picked for +the day. It was hard on you, gentlemen, that my knee put me out +for the day. Darrin is twice as crafty as I am." + +"Oh, Darrin is crafty, all right," agreed Forsythe cheerfully. +"But, somehow, I like him for it." + +On some of the side streets Gridley boys were allowed to light +bonfires that evening, and there was general rejoicing of a lively +nature. From the news that had come over concerning the Hallam +Heights team there had been a good deal of fear that Gridley +would, on this day, receive a set-back to its rule of always +winning. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +Leading the Town to Athletics + + +"Mr. Morton, we want a little word with you." + +"All right---anything to please you," laughed the submaster, looking +at Dick and Dave as they came up to him in the yard at recess. + +"We've been thinking over a plan," Dick continued. + +"It has something to do with athletics, then!" guessed the submaster. + +"Yes, sir," nodded Dave. + +"High School athletics, at that," continued Mr. Morton. + +"There you're wrong, sir, for once," smiled Prescott. "Mr. Morton, +we've been thinking of the High School gym. It's a big place. +Pretty nearly three hundred gymnasts could be drilled there at +once." + +"Yes; I know." + +"There's a fine lot of apparatus there," went on Dick. "It cost +thousands and thousands of dollars to put that gym. in shape." + +"And it's worth every dollar of the cost," contended Mr. Morton +firmly. + +"Mr. Morton," challenged Dick, "who paid for it?" + +"The city government," replied the submaster. + +"Where did the city government get the money?" + +"From the citizens, of course." + +"Now, Mr. Morton," went on Prescott, "how many of the citizens +get any direct benefit out of that gym.? Only about a quarter +of a thousand of High School students! Couldn't the city's money +be spent so that a far greater number would have the use of and +benefit from the city's big investment!" + +"Why," replied the submaster, looking puzzled, "the youngsters +in the lower schools have their needs provided for, in some way, +in their own school buildings." + +"True," agreed Dick. "But what of the small army of clerks and +factory employees of Gridley? Aren't they citizens, even if they +haven't the time to attend High School? Haven't our smaller business +fry a right to the health and good spirits that come out of gymnastic +and athletic work? Haven't our typewriters, our salesgirls and +factory girls a right to some of the good things from the gym.? +Aren't they all citizens, and isn't the gym. their property as +much as it's anyone else's!" + +"Excellent," nodded Mr. Morton. "But how do you propose to get +them interested in the use of their property, even if the Board +of Education will permit it?" + +"The willingness of the Board of Education can be dropped out +of sight," argued Dick. "The Board is the servant of the people, +and must do what the people want. What Dave and I want to see +is to have the High School gym. turned over to the young working +people of the city in the evening time. Say, two evenings a week +for young men and two evenings for the young women. We believe +it will result in big gains for Gridley. When you put new life +and brighter blood into the toilers, it increases the wealth of +the whole city, doesn't it?" + +"I declare, I think it ought to," replied Mr. Morton. "But see +here, how are two boys---or, let us say, two boys and a +submaster---going to bring about any such result as this?" + +"By presenting it properly through the leading daily of Gridley," +replied Prescott, with great promptness. + +"Have you received any assurance that Mr. Pollock, of 'The Blade,' +will be for this big scheme of yours?" asked Mr. Morton. + +"When we've explained it all, I don't see how he can help being +for it," rejoined Prescott. "If 'The Blade' takes hold and booms +this idea, day in and day out, it won't be very long before evening +gym. classes will be filled to overflowing. And the Board of +Education would have to give way before the pressure." + +Then Dave took hold of the subject for a while, talking with great +earnestness. Mr. Morton listened with increasing interest. + +"I think, boys, that you've hit upon an idea that will be of great +service to our city," remarked the submaster. "Yet what put all +this into your heads!" + +"Why, sir, it's our last year at the High School," replied Dick, +smiling though speaking with great earnestness. "After four years +of the fine training we've had here, Dave and I feel that it's +our place to do something to leave our mark behind. We've been +talking it all over, and we've hit upon this idea. Will you stand +by us in it?" + +"Why, yes; all that I can, you may be sure. But just what do +you boys expect me to be able to do!" + +"Why, help us form the plans and back us up in them. You are +really the leader in school athletics in this town, Mr. Morton," +explained Prescott. "I can quote you in 'The Blade' as to the +benefits that would result in giving gym. training to workers +who can't attend High School. And, in the spring, after a winter +in the gym., young men and women could form outdoor squads for +running and other outside training. Altogether, sir, we think +we might make Gridley famous as a place where all who possess +any real energy go in to keep it up through public athletics. +And such classes of young men and women could have the use of +our athletics field." + +By the time that recess was over the submaster certainly had enough +thoughts to keep him busy. + +That afternoon Dick and Dave took Mr. Morton around to "The Blade" +office. Right at the outset Mr. Pollock jumped at the idea. + +"Prescott," he cried, "you've sprung a big idea. 'The Blade' +will feature this idea for days to come. You may have a column, +or a column and a half every day, and 'The Blade' will also back +it up on the editorial page. Now, go ahead and get your stuff +in shape. Above all, have interviews with prominent men, especially +employers, setting forth the benefit that ought to come to the +young people and to the city at large. Take as your keynote the +idea that the city's duty is just as great to provide physical +education as it is to supply learning out of textbooks. You'll +know how to go ahead on that line, Prescott." + +By the next day Gridley had something new to talk about. By the +time three days had passed the matter was being discussed with +great seriousness. + +Employers saw, and said that the time young men spent in a gym. +would not be spent in billiard rooms or other resorts of a harmful +or useless character. Young women who went to the gym. would +be home and in bed early, instead of staying up most of the night +at a dance. All who entered the gym. classes would begin to think +about their bodily condition and plan to improve it. Improved +bodies meant a better grade of work and increased pay. + +Dick wrote splendidly on the subject. "The Blade," editorially, +gave Dick & Co. full credit for springing the idea. The Board +of Education, at its next meeting, authorized the superintendent +of schools to throw the High School gym., open evenings for the +purpose indicated. It also voted Mr. Morton an increase of pay +on condition that he take charge of the evening gym. classes for +young men. One of the women teachers was granted a like increase +for assuming charge of the evening gym. classes for young women. + +Dick Prescott, on behalf of the High School boys, guaranteed that +the most skilled in athletics among the High School boys would +be on hand to aid in training the young men, and in getting up +sports and games for the gym. in winter, and for the athletic +field in the spring. + +As soon as the classes were opened they were crowded to their +utmost capacity. All of the younger portion of Gridley seemed +suddenly anxious to go in for athletics. + +"Prescott and his well-known comrades of the High School appear +to be leading in the very vanguard of athletics this year," stated +"The Blade" editorially. + +Dick and his friends could not, however, give as much aid to the +new scheme now as they intended to do later. They were in the +middle of the football season, and that had to be carried through +first of all. + +Yet it was a big evening for Dick, Dave and their chums when the +High School gym. was thrown open for the forming of the gymnastic +class for young men. + +Almost three hundred presented themselves for enrollment. Scores +of the leading citizens were also on hand to see how the new plan +would take. Among these latter was Herr Schimmelpodt, the retired +contractor, who was always such an enthusiastic booster for High +School athletics. + +"I tell you, Bresgott, it vos a fine idea of yours," cried the +big German, as he stood in a corner, looking on, while Dick talked +with him. "This vill keep young folks out of drouble, and put +dem in health. It vill put Gridley to being twice as good a town, +alretty." + +"Hullo, Mr. Schimmelpodt," called a young clerk, passing in trunks +and gym. shoes. "Don't you get into a squad to-night? This would +do you a lot of good." + +"Maype, if I go in for dis sort of thing, I crowd out some young +mans who needs it as much as you do," retorted the German, blinking. + +"But don't you think you need it, also" laughed the clerk? + +"Now, led me see," pondered the German. "Young man, you think +you gan run?" + +"I know I can," laughed the clerk, leaping lightly up and down +on his soft gym. shoes. + +"I yonder if you could reach dot door ofer dere so soon alretty +as I gan?" queried Herr Schimmelpodt. + +"Will you run me a race?" grinned the clerk. + +"Vell, you start, und ve see apout it." + +Tantalizingly, the clerk started. Then he glanced back over his +shoulder. There was a great noise on the floor of the gym. Herr +Sclhimmelpodt had started. He was so big that he made a good +deal of noise when he traveled. But he was going like a streak, +and the clerk began to sprint in earnest. + +It was all in vain, however. With a few great bounds Herr Schimmelpodt +was close enough to reach out one of his big arms and lay hold +of the fleeing clerk. That clerk stopped suddenly, with a jolt. + +"Vy don't you go on running, ain't it?" demanded Herr Schimmelpodt. + +A crowd formed about them. + +The reason why the clerk didn't continue his running was a very +good one. One of the German's big hands encircled the clerk's +thin arm like a bracelet of steel. The clerk struggled, but he +might as well have tried to break out of irons. + +"You vant me to bractise running, so dot I gan catch you, eh?" +grunted the German. "You vant me to eat breakfast sawdust for +a dyspepsia vot I ain't got, huh? You vant me to dake breathing +eggsercises ven I can dake more air into my lungs, alretty, dan +your whole body gan disblace? You vant me to do monkey-tricks +mit a dumb-pell, yen I gan do things like dis?" + +Suiting the action to the word, Herr Schimmelpodt grasped the +clerk by one shoulder and one thigh. Up over his head the German +raised the unhappy young man. Herr Schimmelpodt's arms fell and +rose as he "exercised" with the young man for a wand. + +Everything in the gym. had stopped. All eyes were on this novel +performance. Roars of laughter greeted some new stunts that Herr +Schimmelpodt performed with his human wand. The great German +was the only one who seemed unconscious of the hurricane of laughter +that he was causing. + +At last the German put his victim back on the floor. + +"Yah, young mans, I am much oblige dot you show me how I need +eggsercise. I feel much better alretty." + +Red-faced, the clerk fled to the other side of the room, followed +by the laughter of the other gymnasts. + +Yet Herr Schimmelpodt's good-natured performance had great value. +It taught many of the young men present how far this generation +has fallen behind in matters of personal strength. Mr. Morton +had easier sailing after that. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +The "King Deed" of Daring + + +"Yes; that performance helped a lot." + +Herr Schimmelpodt was prevailed upon, by Mr. Morton, to come around +on another evening to show some further feats with his great strength. + +Around the waist-line the German was flabby; the fat rolled in +heavy ridges. Feeling aware of this defect in personal appearance +Herr Schimmelpodt determined to devote some of his abundant leisure +to getting his belt line into smaller compass. But the German +would not do this before all eyes in the public, gym. So he and +some other well-to-do business men who were conscious that the +years had dealt too generously by them in the matter of flesh, +hired a small hall and converted it into a private gym. + +It was all the doings of Dick & Co., just the same. + +The town was ripe, now, for performances in extraordinary athletics. +Fate willed it that there should be a chance. + +Once a year an opera company of considerable prominence appeared +at Gridley for one evening. + +Whenever this evening came around, it was made the occasion for +a big time in local society. The women of the well-to-do families +turned out in their most dazzling finery. + +This year "Lohengrin" was to be sung at the local opera house. +Dick could have obtained, at "The Blade" office, free seats for +Dave and himself for this Friday night. But they were still in +close training, and there was a game on for the afternoon of the +day following. For that reason nine o'clock found both of the +young men in bed and asleep. + +Near the opera house the street was thronged with carriages. +Carriage after carriage drove up and discharged its load of handsomely +dressed women and their more severely attired escorts. All of +Gridley that could attend the opera were in evening dress. + +During the evening a half gale of wind sprang up. While all was +light and warmth inside, outside the wind howled harder and harder. +By the time that the music lovers began to pour out, the blast +was furious. + +Leaning on the arm of her escort, as her carriage drove up to +the door, one beautifully gowned woman stepped out. Over her +hair was thrown a black, filmy scarf in which nestled a number +of handsome diamonds. + +Just as she reached the curb, but before she could step into the +waiting carriage, this woman gave a shriek of dismay. + +The gale had caught at her diamond-strewn head-covering. Like +a flash that costly creation was caught up from her hair and borne +on the wind. + +Others standing by saw the costly thing whisked obliquely up into +the air. It was still ascending on the blast when it passed +out of the range of vision. + +"O-o-o-oh! My beautiful jeweled scarf!" sobbed the woman hysterically. +The crowd quickly formed about her. She was recognized as Mrs. +Macey, the wife of a wealthy real estate operator. + +"It was careless not to have it fastened more securely, but it's +no use to cry over what can't be helped now, my dear," replied +her husband. "Get into the carriage and I'll see if any trace +can be found of the scarf." + +Still sobbing, Mrs. Macey was helped into the carriage. Then +Mr. Macey enlisted the help of the bystanders. + +In every direction the street was searched. The fronts of the +buildings opposite were examined; the gratings in the sidewalk +were peered through. But there was no trace, anywhere, of the +jeweled scarf. + +"It will be worth two hundred and fifty dollars for anyone to +find it and return it to me," shouted Mr. Macey. That scattered +the searchers more widely still. Presently a woman friend drove +home with Mrs. Macey, while her husband remained to push the search. +He kept at it until two o'clock in the morning, half a hundred +men and boys remaining in the search. + +Then Mr. Macey gave it up. The gaudy, foolish trifle was worth +about five thousand dollars. As the night wore on Mr. Macey began +to have a pessimistic notion that perhaps some one had found the +scarf but had been too "thrifty" to turn in such a precious article +for so small a reward. + +"I guess it may as well be given up," sighed Mr. Macey, after +two in the morning. "I'm going home, anyway." + +The readers of "The Blade" that crisp October morning knew of +Mrs. Macey's loss. + +There was much talk about the matter around the town. People +who walked downtown early that morning peered into gutters and +down through sidewalk gratings. Then, at about seven o'clock +a sensation started, and swiftly grew. + +One man, glancing skyward, had his attention attracted to something +fluttering at the top of the spire of the Methodist church, more +than half a block away from the opera house. It was fabric of +some sort, and one end fluttered in the breeze, though most of +the black material appeared to be wrapped around the tip of the +weather vane in which the spire staff terminated. + +"That's the jeweled scarf, I'll bet a month's pay!" gasped the +discoverer. Then, mindful of the reward, he dashed to the +nearest telephone office, asking "central" to ring insistently +until an answer came over the Macey wire. + +"Hullo, is that you, Mr. Macey?" called the discoverer, a teamster. +"Then come straight up to the Methodist church. I'll be there. +I've discovered the jeweled scarf." + +"How---how many jewels are left on it?" demanded Mr. Macey. + +"Come right up! I'll tell you all about it when you get here." + +Then the teamster rang off, after giving his name. The real estate +man came in a hurry, in a runabout. His wife, pallid and hollow-cheeked, +rode in the car with him. To Mr. Macey the teamster pointed out +the barely visible bit of black fluttering a hundred and sixty +feet above the pavement. + +"Now how about the reward, Mr. Macey?" demanded the teamster. + +"That will be paid you, if you return the scarf to Mrs. Macey," +replied the real estate man dryly. + +The teamster's jaw dropped. For the uppermost eighteen feet of +the spire consisted of a stout flagpole. Below this was the sloping +slate roof of the top of the steeple proper. Only a monkey or +a "steeplejack" could get up there, and on a day like this, with +a half gale still blowing, a steeplejack might be pardoned for +declining the task. + +Swiftly the news spread, and a great crowd collected. Dave Darrin +heard of it right after breakfast, and hurried to get Dick Prescott. +Together the chums joined the crowd. + +"You'll have to get a steeplejack for the job, Mr. Macey," the +chums heard one man advise the real estate operator. + +Only one was known. His home was some forty miles away. Mr. +Macey tried patiently to get the man over the long distance telephone. +Some member of the man's family answered for him. The expert +was away, and would not be home, or available, for three days +to come at least. + +"Never mind, Macey," laughed the friend, consolingly. "It'll +wait. No one in Gridley will take the scarf. It's safe up there." + +"Huh! Is it, though?" snorted the real estate man. "At any minute +the strong wind may unwind it and send it whirling off over the +town. Or the gale may tear it to pieces, scattering the diamonds +over a whole block, and not one in ten of the stones would ever +be found." + +Mrs. Macey sat in the runabout, a picture of mute misery. + +Herr Schimmelpodt elbowed his way through the outskirts of the +crowd and stood absorbing his share in the local excitement. + +"Ach! I am afraid dere is von thing dot you gan't do, Bresgott," +smiled the German. "Ach! By chimminy, though, I don't know yet." + +"I was wondering myself whether I could make a good try at steeple +climbing," laughed Dick eagerly. "The money sounds good to me +anyway." + +"No; I don't know. I think it would be foolish," replied Herr +Schimmelpodt. + +"I believe you could get up there, Dick," muttered Darrin, in +a low voice. + +"Then you could, Dave." + +"I think I could," nodded Darrin. "And, by crickets, if you were +here, Dick, I'd certainly try it." + +"Try it anyway, then," urged Prescott. + +"Not unless you balk at it," returned Darrin. + +"I'm not going to balk at it," retorted Dick, flushing just a +bit. "But you spoke of it first, Dave, and I think you ought +to have first chance at the reward." + +"Tell you what I'll do," proposed Darrin, seriously. "We'll toss +for it, and the winner has the try." + +"I'll go you," nodded Prescott. + +Herr Schimmelpodt, regarding them both seriously, saw that they +meant it. + +"Boys, boys!" he remonstrated. "Don't think of it yet!" + +"Why not?" asked Dick. + +"You would be killed," remonstrated the big German. + +"Is that the best opinion you have of us, after the way you've +been praising us athletes for two years?" laughed Prescott. + +"I'll toss you for it, Dick," nudged Dave. + +"What's this?" demanded Mr. Macey. + +"Prescott and I are going to toss for it, to see who shall have +the first chance to climb the spire and flagstaff," replied Dave. + +"Nonsense! Out of the question," almost exploded Mr. Macey. +"It would be like murder to allow either of you to try. That's +work for a regular steeplejack." + +"Well, what is a steeplejack?" demanded Dick. "He's a fellow +of good muscle and nerve, who can stand being in high places. +Either of us could climb a flagpole from down here in the street. +Why can't either of us go up there, just as well, and climb from +the steeple roof?" + +"Prescott, have you any idea of the strength of the wind up there?" +demanded the real estate man. "It's blowing great guns up there!" + +"Get some one to toss the coin, and either you or I call," insisted +Darrin. + +Some one told Mrs. Macey what was being proposed. + +"Oh, stop them!" she cried, leaning forward from the runabout. +"Boys, boys! Don't do anything wildly rash like that! I'd sooner +lose the scarf than have lives risked." + +"She needn't worry," sneered some one in the crowd. "The High +School dudes are only bluffing. They haven't either o' them the +sand to do a thing like that." + +Both Prescott and Darrin heard. Both flushed, though that was +all the sign they gave. + +"Herr Schimmelpodt, you must have a cent," suggested Dick. "Toss +it, will you, and let Darrin call the turn." + +Grumbling a good deal the German produced the required coin. +He fingered it nervously, for a moment, then flipped it high in +the air. + +"Tails!" called Dave. + +It came down heads. + +"Oh, well, the best two out of three," insisted Dick. + +"That fellow's nerve is going already," laughed some one. "He's +anxious for the other fellow to get the honor." + +There was a grim twitching at the corners of prescott's mouth, +but he said nothing. + +Again the coin was tossed. This time Dick called: + +"Heads!" + +He won. + +"I'm ready," announced Dick quietly. + +"I congratulate you, old fellow," murmured Dave eagerly. "And +I'm going with you to the base of the flagpole! The last climb +is yours you've won it!" + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +The Nerve of the Soldier + + +Again Mrs. Macey sought to interpose. Her husband, too, was at +first against it. + +But, now that the die was fairly cast, Herr Schimmelpodt firmly +championed the boys. + +"Eider von of dem gan do it---easy!" declared the big German. +"You don't know dem boys----vot? Ach, I do. Dey got der brain, +der nerves und der muscle." + +"It's a crime to let such youths attempt the thing," shivered +an anaemic-looking man in the crowd. "Whichever one goes up that +flagstaff will come down again faster. He'll be killed!" + +"Cheer up some more," advised Herr Schimmelpodt stolidly. "It +don't gost you nottings, anyway. If Dick Bresgott preak his neck +soon, I gif him der bulliest funeral dot any boy in Gridley efer +hat." + +"But what good-----" began the nervous man tremulously. + +"Talk ist cheap," retorted Herr Schimmelpodt, with a wink, "mid +dot's all I haf to bay for dot funeral. Dick Bresgott ain't fool +enough yet to preak der only neck he has." + +At this a jolly laugh went around, relieving the tension a bit, +for there were many in the crowd who had begun to feel mighty +serious as soon as they realized that Dick was in earnest. + +Some one brought the janitor of the church. A hardware dealer +near by came along with two coils of rope, which he thought might +be handy. + +Mr. Macey went inside with the janitor and the two chums. A score +or two more would have followed, but the janitor called to Herr +Schimmelpodt to bar the way, which the big German readily did. + +Then the four inside began to climb the winding staircase to the +bell loft. + +"Go slowly, Dick; loaf," counseled Dave. "Don't waste a bit of +your wind foolishly." + +At the bell loft all four paused to look down at the crowd. + +Now up a series of ladders the four were obliged to climb, inside +the spire top. This spire top was thirty-six feet above the floor +of the bell loft; but eight feet from the top of the spire a window +let out upon a narrow iron gallery that ran around the spire. + +"I---I don't believe I'll step out there," faltered Mr. Macey, +who was stout and apoplectic-looking. + +"I don't blame ye any," agreed the janitor. "It ain't just the +place, out there, for a man o' your weight and years." + +"Don't look down at the street, Dick," begged Dave. + +"Why not?" asked Prescott, deliberately disobeying. "If I couldn't +do that without getting dizzy, it would be foolish to climb the +pole." + +"Prescott, you'd better not try it," protested Mr. Macey. "Just +listen to how strong the wind is at this height. I'm afraid you'll +be dashed down to the ground. Gracious! Hear the flagstaff rattle." + +"I expected it," replied Dick, sitting down, inside the spire +top. + +"What are you doing?" demanded the real estate man. + +"Taking off my shoes," Dick replied coolly. + +"Do you really mean to make the attempt?" + +"You don't think a Gridley boy would back out at this late moment?" +queried Dick, in surprise. + +"Ye couldn't stop these younkers, now, by force," chuckled the +janitor. + +"I certainly wouldn't care to try force," remarked Mr. Macey dryly. +"These young men are too well developed." + +Dave was now on the floor, getting off his shoes. + +"What are you going to do, old fellow?" asked Prescott. + +"Going to follow you as far as the top of the spire," replied +Darrin quietly. "Who knows but I may be able to be of some use?" + +Dave stepped out first on the little iron balcony. The crowd +below saw him, but at the distance could not make out clearly +which boy it was. Then Prescott followed. + +"Give me one foot," called Dave, kneeling and making a cup of +his hands. + +Dick placed his foot, then started to climb the sloping surface +of slate, Darrin aiding. + +As Dave straightened to a standing position Dick reached up, getting +hold of the base of the flagstaff. + +"Hold on there, a minute," advised Dave, as his chum stood on +the little ledge at the top of the spire. "And don't be foolish +enough to look down into the street." + +Dave darted inside, picking up the lighter of the ropes. Going +out on the balcony again Darrin tossed one end of the rope to +Dick, who made it fast around the flagpole. + +Using the rope, Dave went easily up and stood beside Prescott. + +"There is a fearful wind here," muttered Dick, as both swayed +while holding to the stout, vibrating mast. "But you can make +it, old fellow." + +It had been the original intention in building the church to use +this mast as a flag pole. Then some doubt had arisen among the +members of the parish. A weather vane had been put at the top +of the pole, and the question of connecting flag tackle had been +left to be decided at a later date. + +Had the flag tackle been there now Dick could have made an easier +problem of the ascent; yet, even with the rope, it would have +been an undertaking from which most men would have shrunk. + +"I'm going to start now," said Dick very quietly. + +"Good luck, Dick, old fellow!" called Dave cheerily. "You'll +get through." + +Darrin still remained standing on top of the spire after Dick +had started to climb. + +The only way that Prescott could move upward was to wrap arms +and legs around the pole. + +How the wind swayed, jarred and vibrated it! Once, when ten feet +of the ascent had been accomplished, Dick felt his heart fail +him. + +A momentary impulse, almost of cowardice, swept over him. + +Then he steeled himself, and went on and up. + +That staff must be more than a mile high, it now seemed to the +boy, hanging there in momentary danger of his life. + +Dave, standing below, looking up, knew far more torment. + +Watching Dick, Darrin began to feel wholly responsible for the +whole awful predicament of his chum. + +"I urged him on to it," thought Dave, with a rush of horror that +his own peril could not have brought to him. "Oh, I hope the +splendid old fellow does make this stunt safely!" + +It seemed as though thousands were packed in the street below, +every face upturned. The breath of the multitude came short and +sharp. Two women and a girl fainted from the strain. + +In a window in the building across the street a photographer poised +his camera. Behind the shutter was a long-angled lens, fitted +for taking pictures at a distance. + +Just as Dick Prescott's arms were within two feet of the weather +vane the photographer exposed his plate. + +Dick, in the meantime, was moving in a sort of dumb way now. +The keenness of his senses had left him. He moved mechanically; +he knew what he was after, and he kept on. Yet he seemed largely +to have lost the power to realize the danger of his position. + +A-a-ah! He was up there now, holding to the weathervane! His +legs curled doggedly around the flagstaff. He had need now to +use all the strength in his legs, for he must use one hand to +disentangle the black scarf, which lay twisted about the vane +just over his head. But it was the right scarf. The glint and +dazzle of the diamonds was in his eyes. + +How the extreme end of that flag pole quivered. It seemed to +the boy as though the pole must bend and snap, what with the pressure +of the heavy wind and the weight of his body! + +Slowly, laboriously, mechanically, like one in a trance, Dick +employed his left hand in patiently disentangling the black web +from the trap in which it had been caught. + +At last the scarf was free. Most cautiously Dick lowered his +left hand, tucking the jeweled fabric carefully into the inner +pocket of his coat. + +"I---I---guess---it safe---in there," he muttered, hardly +realizing that he was saying any thing. + +Dave, from below, had looked on, fascinated. Now that he saw +the major part of the daring feat accomplished, Darrin did not +make the mistake of shouting any advice to his comrade. He knew +that any sudden shout might attract Prescott's attention in a +way to cause him to lose his head. + +Slowly---oh, so slowly! Dick came down. It seemed as though, +at last, he understood his danger to the full and was afraid. +The truth was, Prescott realized that, with all the vibrating +of the staff in the wind, his muscular power was being sapped +out of him. + +Dave Darrin was down again, crouching on top of the spire, when +Dick reached him. + +"Just touch your feet, Dick!" Darrin called coolly. "Then stand +holding to the pole until I get down into the balcony." + +Dick obeyed as one who could no longer think for himself. + +This done, Dave slipped down the spire's slope, by the aid of +the rope, until his feet touched the balcony's floor. Now he +stood with upturned face and arms uplifted. + +"Use the rope and come down, Dick," hailed. Darrin softly. "I'm +here to catch you, if you need it." + +Down came Prescott, holding to the rope, but helped more by Dave's +loyal arms. + +"Help Prescott inside, you two," Dave ordered sharply. Then, +after the men inside the spire top had obeyed, Dave swung himself +in. He left the rope fastened above, for whoever cared to go +and get it. + +Mr. Macey, ashen faced and shaking, stared at Dick in a sort of +fascination. + +"I---I got it," said Dick, when he could control his voice. "Here +it is, safe in my pocket." + +"I forgot to ask," rejoined Mr. Macey tremulously. "I'm sick +of that bauble. Ever since you started aloft, Prescott, I've +been calling myself all sorts of names for being a party to this +thing." + +"Why, it's all right," laughed Dick, only a bit brokenly. "It +was easy enough---with a fellow like Dave to help." + +"Did he go up the flagstaff, too?" demanded Mr. Macey, opening +his eyes wider. + +"No," declared Darrin promptly. "Prescott did it." + +"But good old Dave was right at hand to help," Dick contended +staunchly. + +"Get yourselves together, boys. Then we'll get down out of here," +urged Mr. Macey. "I haven't done anything, but I feel as though +I'd be the one to reel and faint." + +"Take this scarf, now, please," begged Dick, holding open his +coat. + +The real estate man looked over the bauble that had placed two +manly lives in such desperate jeopardy. The fabric was much torn, +but all the precious stones still appeared to be there. + +Mr. Macey folded the scarf and placed it in one of his own inner +pockets. + +"Now, let us get down out of here," begged the real estate man. +"This place is giving me the horrors." + +"You can start ahead, sir," laughed Dave. "But we want time to +put our shoes on." + +Two or three minutes later the four started below, going slowly +over the ladder part of the route. When they struck the winding +staircase they went a bit more rapidly. + +Down in the street it seemed to the watchers as though ages had +passed since the two boys had been seen going inside from the +iron balcony. + +But now, at last, Herr Schimmelpodt heard steps inside, so he +threw open the heavy door at once. + +As Dick and Dave came out again into the sunlight what a mighty +roar of applause and cheering went up. + +Then Herr Schimmelpodt, advancing to the edge of the steps, and +laying one hand over his heart, bowed profoundly and repeatedly. + +That turned the cheering to laughter. The big German held up +his right hand for silence. + +"Ladies und chentlemen," shouted Herr Schimmelpodt, as soon as +he could make him self heard, "I don't vant to bose as a hero!" + +"That's all right," came with a burst of goodhumored laughter. +"You're not!" + +"It vos really nottings vot I did," continued the German, with +another bow. + +"True for you." + +"Maybe," continued Herr Schimmelpodt, "you think I vos afraid +when I climb dot pole. But I wos not---I pledch you mein vord. +It is nottings for me to climb flagpoles. Ven I vos ein poy +in Germany I did it efery day. But I will not dake up your time +mit idle remarks. I repeat dot I am not ein hero." + +The wily old German had played out his purpose. He had turned +the wild cheering, which he knew would have embarrassed Prescott, +into a good-natured laugh. He had diverted the first big burst +of attention away from the boys, much to the relief of the latter. + +But now the crowd bethought itself of the heroes that a crowd +always loves. Hundreds pressed about to shake the bands of Prescott +and Darrin. + +"Get into my car! Stand up in front of Mrs. Macey and myself +until we can get out of this crowd," urged Mr. Macey, bustling +the boys toward the runabout. + +Mrs. Macey, whitefaced, was crying softly and could not speak. +But her husband, with the two boys standing up before him, honked +his horn and turned on the power, starting the car slowly. A +path was thus made for their escape through the crowd, though +the cheering began again. + +"Now, you can put us down, if you will, sir,", suggested Dick, +when they had reached the outer edge of the crowd. + +"Not yet," retorted Mr. Macey. + +"Why not, sir?" + +"You've a little trip to make with me yet." + +"Trip?" + +"Wait a moment, and you'll see." + +Less than two minutes later Mr. Macey drove his car up in front +of one of the banks and jumped out. + +"Come on, boys," he cried. "I want to get that reward off my +mind." + +"You run in, Dick," proposed Dave, on the sidewalk. "I'll wait +for you." + +"You'll go with me," Prescott retorted, "or I won't stir inside." + +So Darrin followed them into the bank. + +"I'm so thankful to see you boys safely out of the scrape," declared +Mr. Macey, inside, "that I'm going to pay the full reward to each +of you." + +"No you won't," retorted Dick very promptly. "You'll pay no more +than you offered. Dave and I'll divide that between us." + +"Not a cent for me!" propounded Darrin, with emphasis. + +"If you don't share the reward evenly, I won't touch a cent of +it either, Dave Darrin," rejoined Dick heatedly. + +Dave tried to have his way, but his chum won. Mr. Macey made +another effort to double the reward, but was overruled. + +So young Prescott received the two hundred and fifty dollars in +crisp, new bills, and as promptly turned half of the sum over +to his chum. + +Now that it was safely over with, it had not been a bad morning's +work! + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +Dick Begins To Feel Old + + +Despite the strain of what they had gone through Dick and Dave +led the Gridley boys through a fierce gridiron battle that same +afternoon, and won again by a score of 13 to 5. + +But the people of Gridley paid little heed to the score that day, +or the next. The sensation that Dick and Dave had supplied was +the talk of the town, to the exclusion of other topics relating to +high School boys. + +Mr. Pollock bought a copy of the photograph showing Dick close +to the weather vane on his climb. A half-tone cut made from this +photograph was printed in "The Blade." + +"This young man is now a member of 'The Blade' staff, reporting +school and other matters," ran the comment under the spirited +picture. "We believe that Mr. Prescott will continue to be a +member of the staff, and to grow with 'The Blade.'" + +"What about that, Dick?" laughed Darrin. + +"I've told Mr. Pollock and Mr. Bradley that I believe my plans +will carry me a good distance away from 'The Blade' office after +this year," replied Dick, with a meaning smile. "If they won't +believe me now, perhaps they'll wake up later." + +The town had not been wanting in croakers at the outset of the +football season, who had predicted that Dick Prescott and his +chums would "drag down" the football team and its fine traditions +from past years. + +But the eleven, mainly under Dick and under Dave's captaincy in +two fierce gridiron battles, had gone right along winning games. + +The last three battles had been fought out to a successful finish +in November. There now remained only the Thanksgiving Day game +to complete the season. + +By all traditions each football team in the country strives to +have its biggest fight take place on Thanksgiving Day. By another +tradition, every team seeks to have this game take place on the +home grounds. + +In the latter respect Gridley lost this year. The game, which +was against Fordham High School, was scheduled to take place at +Fordham. + +Enthusiasm, however, was at top notch. Citizens hired the Gridley +Band to go along with the young men and help out on noise. A +special train in two sections was chartered, for some seven +hundred Gridleyites had voted in favor of an evening dinner on +Thanksgiving Day; they were going along to see the game. + +Fordham had lost two games, against exceptionally strong teams, +earlier in the season, but had of late a fine record. Fordham +had dropped several of its original players, putting in heavier +or better men, and a new coach had been employed. The Fordham +boys were now believed to be able to put up a strenuous game. + +"I hope you're going to win, Prescott," said Mr. Macey, +meeting Dick on the street one afternoon not long before Thanksgiving. + +"Have you any doubts, sir?" smiled the captain of the Gridley +team. + +"Well, you see, Fordham was my native town. I run down there +often, and I know a good deal of what's going on there. Fordham's +second coach has attended the last two games you played, and he +has been stealing all your points that he could get." + +"He has, eh?" muttered Prescott. "That's news to me. Oh, well, +it's legitimate to learn all you can about another team's play." + +"From the reports Fordham has of your play the young men over +in that town are certain that they're enough better to be able +to bring your scalps into camp." + +"Perhaps they'll do it," laughed Dick pleasantly. "We'll admit +that we're about due for a walloping whenever the crowd comes +along that can do it." + +"I am only telling you what I hear from Fordham," continued Mr. +Macey. + +"And I'm glad you did, sir. We'll try to turn the laugh on Fordham." + +"Then you think you can beat 'em?" + +"No, sir. We never think we can. We always know that we can! +That's the Gridley way---the Gridley spirit. We always win our +battles before we go into them, Mr. Macey. We make up our minds +that we can't and won't be beaten. It isn't just brag, though. +We base all our positiveness on the way that we stick to our +training and coaching, and on our discipline. Mr. Macey, this +is the third year that I've been playing on different Gridley +High School teams. I remember a tie game, but no defeats." + +"I guess Fordham will find it a hard enough proposition to down +you young men," remarked Mr. Macey. + +"They're going to discover, sir, that they simply can't do it. +Gridley never goes onto any field to get beaten." + +"Und dot isn't brag, neider," broke in a man who had halted to +listen. "Ven dese young men pack deir togs to go away, dey pack +der winning score in der bag, too. Ach! Don't I know dot? Don't +I make mineself young vonce more by following dese young athletes +about?" + +Herr Schimmelpodt looked utterly shocked that anyone should think +it possible for another High School eleven to take a game from +Gridley. + +Dick soon encountered Dave and told him the news he had gleaned +from Mr. Macey. + +"Been sending their second coach over to watch our play, have +they?" laughed Darrin softly. "That seems to show how much they +fear us in Fordham." + +"I believe we are going to have a stiff game," muttered Prescott. +"Hallam Heights and Fordham are the only two teams that think +enough of the game to hire two coaches." + +"Well, we have Hallam's scalp dangling down at the gym.," laughed +Dave Darrin. + +"And we'll have Fordham's in the same way," predicted Dick confidently. + +It barely occurred to the young captain of the team to wonder +what it would mean for him if the game to Fordham should be lost. +Dick would be the first captain in years who had lost a football +game for Gridley. It would be a mean record to take out of High +School life. But Dick gave no thought to such a possibility. + +"Of course we're going to wallop Fordham," he thought. "I wish +only one thing. I'd like to see the Fordhams play through a stiff +game just once." + +It was too late, however, to give any real thought to this, for +Fordham's next and last game of the season was to be the one with +Gridley. + +"Are you girls going to the game?" asked Dick, when he and his +chum met Laura Bentley and Belle Meade before the post office. + +"Haven't you heard what the girls are doing, Dick?" questioned +Laura, looking at him in some surprise. + +"I have heard that a lot of the girls are going to the game." + +"Just forty-two of us, to be exact," Laura continued. "We girls +and our chaperons are to have one car in the first section. You +see, we've arranged to go right along with the team. We have +our seats all together at Fordham, too." + +"My, what a lot of noise forty-two girls can make in a moment +of enthusiasm!" murmured Dave. + +"We can, if you give us any excuse," advanced Belle. + +"Oh, we'll give you excuse enough. See to it that you keep the +noise up to the grade of our playing." + +"Mr. Confident!" teased Belle. + +"Why, you know, as well as we do, that we'll come home with Fordham's +scalp!" retorted, Darrin. + +"You've heard some of the talk about Fordham's confidence in winning, +haven't you?" asked Laura, a bit anxiously. + +"Yes," nodded Dick. "But that doesn't mean anything. You know +the Gridley record, the Gridley spirit and confidence." + +"Still," objected Belle, "one side has to lose, and the Fordham +boys have all the stuff ready to light bonfires on Thanksgiving +night." + +"Have you any particular friends over in Fordham?" asked Dave +Darrin, with a sudden swift, significant look. + +"No, I haven't," retorted Belle hastily. "And I hope, with all +my heart, that Gridley gains the only points that are allowed. +Yet, sometimes, so much confidence all the while seems just a +bit alarming." + +"I won't say another word, then, until after the game," promised +Darrin meekly. + +"And then-----?" + +"Oh, I'll turn half girl, and say 'I told you so,'" mimicked +Dave good-humoredly. + +It would have been hard to find anyone in Gridley who would have +said openly that he expected the home boys to be beaten; but there +were many who knew that they were more than a bit anxious. Before +the game, anyway, Fordham's brag was just as good as Gridley brag. + +"Won't you be glad, anyway, when the Thanksgiving game is over?" +asked Laura. + +"Yes, and no," smiled Prescott seriously. "When I come back from +Fordham I shall know that I have captained my last game on a High +School team. That tells me that I am getting along in life---that +I am growing old, and shall soon have to think of much more serious +things. But, honestly, I hate awfully to think of all these grand +old High School days coming to an end. I mustn't think too much +about it until after the game. It makes me just a bit blue." + +"Won't you be captain of the basket ball team this winter?" asked +Laura quickly. + +"No; I can't take everything. Hudson will probably head the basket +ball team." + +"Why, I heard that you were going in hard for basket ball." + +"So I am. Mr. Morton is so busy, with the new evening training +classes, that he has asked me to be second coach to the basket +ball crowd. I'll undoubtedly do that." + +"Oh, then you'll still be leading the athletic vanguard at the +High School," murmured Laura, and, somehow, there was a note of +contentment in her voice. + +"I shall be, until I'm through with the High School," Prescott +answered. "But think---just think---how soon that will come +around for all of us!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +Fordham Plays a Slugging Game + + +For half an hour before the first section of the special pulled +out, the Gridley Band played its liveliest tunes. A part of the +time the band played accompaniment to the school airs, which the +crowd took up with lively spirit. + +There is a peculiar enthusiasm which attaches to the Thanksgiving +Day game. This is due partly to the extra holiday spirit of the +affair. Then, too, there is the high tension that precedes the +last game of the season. + +With a team that has won every game to that point, yet often with +great difficulty, the tension of spirits is even higher. + +As the first section of the special rolled in at the railway station +the part of the crowd that was "going" began to break up into +groups headed for the different parts of the train. + +Herr Schimmelpodt went, of course, to the car that carried the +team. The boys wouldn't have been satisfied to start or to travel +without him. The big German had come to be the mascot of Gridley +High School. + +Just before the train started Herr Schimmelpodt waddled out to +the rear platform of the car. + +In his right hand he brandished a massive cane to which the Gridley +High School colors were secured. + +"Now, listen," he bellowed out. "Ve come back our scalps not +wigs! You hear dot, alretty?" + +While the cheering was still going on, and while the band was +crashing out music, the first section pulled out, making room +for the second section. + +A run of a little more than an hour at good speed, and with no +way stops, brought the Gridley invading forces to Fordham. + +At the depot, the local team's second coach awaited the players. +He had two stages at hand, into which the team and subs piled. +A wagon followed, carrying the kits of the Gridley boys. There +were two more stages for the band. All the other travelers had +to depend on the street-car service. + +Finding the stages rather crowded, Dick nudged Darrin, then made +for the kit wagon. + +"I really believe we'll have more comfort, Dave," proposed Prescott, +"if we get aboard this rig and ride on top of the tog bags." + +The suggestion was carried out at once. + +"I'll drive along fast, if you want," proposed the driver, "and +get the togs down to the grounds ahead of your team." + +"If you please," nodded Dick. "Our boys will want everything +ready when they reach the grounds." + +So the two chums were quickly carried beyond the noise and confusion. +A few minutes later the wagon turned in at the Fordham Athletic +grounds. + +The Fordham High School boys were out in the field, practicing. +As seen in their padded togs they were an extra-bulky looking +lot. + +"Great Scott!" grunted Darrin, half disgustedly. "Each one of +those Fordham fellows must weigh close to a ton." + +"The more weight the less speed, anyway," laughed Dick good-humoredly. + +"And, look! I wonder how old some of those fellows are," continued +Darrin. "I wonder if, in this town, men wait until they've made +their fortunes and retired, before they enter High School. Why, +some of these Fordham fellows must have voted for president the +last two times." + +"Hardly as bad as that, I guess," smiled Prescott. "Still, these +Fordham boys do look more like a college eleven than a High School +crowd." + +Dave continued to gaze over at the home team, and to scowl, until +the wagon was halted before dressing quarters. Here the teamster +and another man made short work of carrying in all the tog-bags. + +A few minutes later the other fellows arrived. + +"Say, which team is it we're fighting to-day?" demanded Hudson. +"Harvard, or Yale?" + +There was general grumbling comment. + +"I think," insisted Tom Reade, "that the Fordham team wouldn't +like to stand a searching hunt into the eligibility of some of +their players." + +"They've surely brought in some who are not regular, fair-and-square +High School students," contended Dan Dalzell. + +There was much more talk of this sort, some of the Gridley boys +insisting that Fordham ought to be compelled to account for the +size and seeming age of some of the home players. + +"We're up against a crooked line-up, or I'll give up," muttered +Greg Holmes. + +"Now, see here, fellows," laughed Captain Dick. "I don't believe +in making any fuss beforehand. We'll just go ahead and take what +comes to us." + +"It would be too late to make a kick after we've played," cried +some one. + +"You fellows," continued Dick, "make me think of what I heard +Mr. Pollock say to Wilcox, chairman of the campaign committee +back home." + +"What was that?" demanded half a dozen. + +"Why," chuckled Prescott, "Mr. Pollock said to Wilcox: 'Now, see +here, there's always a chance that the election will go our way. +So never yell fraud until after the election is over.'" + +"I guess that's the wisest philosophy," laughed Coach Morton, +who had taken no part in the previous conversation. + +"If that's the Fordham team," continued Dick, "it's one of pretty +sizable fellows. But we'll do our plain duty, which is to pile +out on to the field and proceed to stroll through any line that +is posted in our way." + +Just before the Gridley youngsters were ready to go out for preliminary +practice the big Fordham fellows came off the field. + +"Hullo!" piped Dave, as the Gridley boys strolled out to the gridiron. +"You ought to feel happy, Dick. There's a big section of West +Point over on the grand stand." + +Nearly two hundred young men in black and gray cadet uniforms +of the United States Military Academy pattern sat in a solid block +at one point on the grand stand. + +"No, they're not West Pointers," sighed Dick. "See here, those +fellows, of course, are students at the Fordham Military institute. +They wear the West Point uniform. And that's the military school +that Phin Drayne went to." + +"The sneak!" grunted Dave. "I wonder if he's over in that bunch, +now." + +"I'm not even enough interested to wonder," returned Prescott. +"He's where he can't do us any harm, anyway." + +"But, if the Fordham boys put anything over us, I'll bet Drayne +has things timed so that the military boys will do a big and +noisy lot of boasting." + +"They will, anyway, if we allow them a chance," answered Dick. +"Now, spread out, fellows," he called, raising his voice. + +In the next moment the ball was in lively play. + +The first time that a fumble was made a jeering chorus sounded +among the military school boys. + +"I expected it," growled Darrin. + +"We don't care, anyway," smiled Dick. "Let 'em hoot! I don't +draw the line until they throw things." + +"If they knew Phin Drayne as we do, they'd throw him first," grimaced +Darrin. + +A minute later another hoot went up. It was plain that the military +school boys had been primed for this. + +But the gray-clad youths, it was very soon evident, were not the +only ones who had come out to make a noise. Half of the Fordham +crowd present joined in the volleys of derision that were showered +down on the practicing boys from Gridley. + +"It's nothing but a mob!" declared Darrin, his eyes flashing. + +"Careful, old fellow," counseled Prescott coolly. "They're trying +to get our nerve before the game begins. Don't let 'em do it." + +This excellent instruction Dick contrived to pass throughout his +team. Thereafter the Gridley boys seemed not to hear the harsh +witticisms that were hurled at them from all sides of the field. + +Just in the nick of time the Gridley Band began playing. That +stopped the annoyance for a while, for Fordham had neglected to +provide a band. + +Yet when the Gridley High School song was started by the band, +and the Gridley boosters joined in the words, the answer from +Fordham came in the form of a "laughing-song," let loose with +such volume that the Gridley offering to the merriment was drowned +out. + +"I hope we can give this rough town a horrible thumping---that's +all," muttered Dave, his eyes flashing. + +"Don't let them capture your 'goat,' and we will," Dick promised, +as quietly as ever. + +The plain hostility of the home crowd was wearing in on more than +one of the Gridley boys. Dick felt obliged to call his eleven +together, and to give them some quiet, homely but forcible advice. +Coach Morton followed, with more in the same line. + +Yet it came as a welcome relief to the Gridley youngsters when +the referee and the other officials came to the field and game +was called. + +Dick Prescott won the toss, and took the kickoff. + +That, of course, sent the ball into Fordham ranks. In an instant +the solid Fordham line emitted a murmur that sounded like a bear's +growl, then came thundering down upon the smaller Gridley youngsters. + +There was a fierce collision, but Gridley held on like a herd +of bulls. The ball was soon down. + +For five minutes or so there was savage playing. Fordham played +a "slugging" game of the worst kind. Several foul tackles were +quickly made by home players, yet so quickly released that the +referee could not be sure and could not inflict a penalty. Sly +blows were struck when the lines came together. + +The average football captain would have claimed penalties, and +fought the matter out. + +But Dick Prescott let matters run by. He was waiting his opportunity. + +So hard was the "slugging," so overbearing and ruthlessly unfair +was the Fordham charge that, at the end of five minutes, Gridley +was forced to make a safety, losing two points at the outset. + +"Yah!" sneered an exultant voice from the ranks of the military +school. "That's the fine Captain Prescott we've heard about!" + +Tom Reade, in togs, was standing among the Gridley subs at the +side line. + +Tom recognized, as did all the Gridley boys, the voice of Phin +Drayne. + +"Yes!" bellowed Tom, facing the gray-clad group. "And that last +speaker was a fellow who was expelled from Gridley High School +for selling out his team!" + +It was a swift shot and a bull's-eye. The Fordham Institute boys +had no answer ready for that. Half of them turned to stare at +Phin Drayne, whose guilty face, with color coming and going in +flashes seemed to admit the truth of Reade's taunt. + +"Dick," growled Darrin, as they moved forward, after the safety, +to Gridley's twenty-five yard line, "these Fordham fellows are +simply ruffians. They're fouling us every second, and they'll +smash half our fellows into the hospital." + +"We'll see about that!" + +Dick Prescott's voice was as quiet and cool as ever, but there +was an ominous flash in his eyes. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +"We'll Play the Gentleman's Game." + + +At the next down Dan Dalzell held up his hand, making a dash for +the referee. + +"I claim a foul!" he called. + +"Captain, this is for you," announced the referee, turning to +Dick. "Be quick, if you've any complaint to make." + +"Come here, Dalzell," called Prescott. "What was the foul?" + +The Fordham players crowded about, muttering in an ugly way---all +except one man, who skulked at the rear. + +"There's the hoodlum," continued Dan excitedly, one hand over +his left breast. He pointed to the Fordham player skulking at +the rear. "That fellow deliberately gave me the elbow over the +heart when we came together." + +"What have you to say, Captain Barnes?" demanded the referee, +turning to the Fordham leader. + +"It's not true," retorted Barnes hotly. "Daniels, come here." + +The matter was argued quickly and hotly, Gridley accusing, Fordham +hotly denying. + +"Can't you Gridley fellows play with anything but your mouths?" +snarled Captain Barnes. + +"We play a straight game," retorted Dick coldly. "We play like +gentlemen." + +"Do you mean that we're not?" demanded Barnes swaggeringly. + +"So far you've played like a lot of sluggers." + +"See here! I've a good mind to thrash you, Prescott!" quivered +Barnes. + +"It's always the truth that stings," retorted Dick, with a cool +smile. + +"My fist would hurt, too." + +"That's what we're asking you to do---to save all your slugging +and bruising tactics until after a straight and gentlemanly game +has been played," retorted Dick, with spirit. + +Barnes clenched his fists, but the referee stepped squarely in +between the rival captains. + +"Cut it!" directed that official tersely. "I'll do all the talking +myself. Captain Barnes, return to your men and tell them that +slugging and tricky work will be watched for more carefully, and +penalized as heavily as the rules allow. If it goes too far I'll +declare the game forfeited to the visiting team." + +"This is a shame!" fumed Barnes. "And the whole charge is a mass +of lies." + +"I'll watch out and see," promised---or threatened---the referee. +"Back to your positions. Captain Barnes, I'll give you thirty +seconds to pass the word around among your men." + +"That black-haired prize-fighter with the mole on his chin tries +to give me his knee every time we meet in a scrimmage," growled +Hudson to Dick. "If he carries it any further, I think I know +a kick that will put his ankle out of business!" + +"Then don't you dare use it," warned Dick sternly. "No matter +what the other fellows do, our team is playing a square, honest +game every minute of both halves!" + +The referee had signaled them to positions. The Gridley boys +leaped into place. + +Play was resumed. In the next three plays Fordham, under the +now more keenly watchful eyes of the officials, failed to make +the required distance, and lost the ball. + +Gridley took the ball, now. In the next two plays, the smaller +fellows advanced the ball some twelve yards. But in the next +three plays following, they lost on downs, and Fordham again carried +the pigskin. + +"The Fordham fellows are passing a lot of whispers every chance +they get," reported alert Dave. + +"I don't care how much they whisper," was Dick's rejoinder. "But +watch out for crooked tricks." + +Minute after minute went by. Gridley got the ball down to the +enemy's fifteen-yard line, then saw it slowly forced back into +their own territory. + +Now Fordham began to "slug" again; yet so cleverly was it done +that the officials could not put their fingers on a definite instance +that could be penalized. + +Bravely fighting, Gridley was none the less driven back. From +the ten-yard line Fordham suddenly made a right end play on which +the whole weight and force of the team was concentrated. In the +mad crush, three or four Gridley boys were "slugged" in the slyest +manner conceivable. Fordham broke through the line, carrying +the pigskin over the goal line with a rush. + +Fordham boosters set up a roar that seemed to make the ground +shake, but the two hundred boys from the military school took +little or no part in the demonstration. Tom Reade's reply to +Phin Drayne had silenced them. + +Swaggering like swashbucklers Fordham followed the ball back for +the kick for goal. It was made, securing six points, which were +added to the two received from Gridley being forced to make that +safety earlier in the game. + +"Of all the miserable gangs of rowdies!" uttered Dave Darrin, +as the teams rested in quarters between the halves. + +"I have two black-and-blue spots to show, I know I have," muttered +Hudson. + +"We'll have some of our men on stretchers, if this thing keeps +up," growled Greg Holmes. + +"What are you going to do about this business, Captain?" demanded +two or three of the fellows, in one breath. + +"As long as we play," replied Dick Prescott, "we'll play the same +gentleman's game, no matter what the other fellows do. We may +quit, but we won't slug. We won't sully Gridley's good name for +honest play. And we won't quit, either, until Mr. Morton orders +us from the field." + +"You have it right, Prescott," nodded the coach. "And I shan't +interfere, either, unless things get a good deal worse than they +have been. But the Fordham work has been shameful, and I don't +blame any of you for feeling that you'd rather forfeit the game +and walk off the field." + +Besides being coach, Mr. Morton was also manager. At his call +the team would have left the field instantly, despite any other +orders from the referee. It always makes a bad showing, however, +for a team to leave the field on a claim of foul playing. + +"All out for the second half!" sounded a voice in the doorway. + +The Gridley boys went, fire in their hearts, flame in their eyes. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +Gridley's Last Charge + + +"Remember, Captain Barnes!" called the referee significantly. + +"Why don't you talk to Prescott, too?" demanded the Fordham captain +sulkily. + +"I don't need to." + +"You----don't---need to?" demanded Barnes, opening his eyes in +pretended wonder. + +"No; Prescott and his fellows have a magnificent reputation for +fair play, and they've won it on merit." + +"You're down on us," growled Captain Barnes. + +"I'm only waiting till I can put my finger on some slugging to +stop the game and hand it to Gridley," retorted the referee, with +a snap. + +"Be mighty careful, fellows; be clever," whispered the Fordham +captain to his most "dependable" men. + +"Are we going to throw the game?" demanded the slugger who had +so angered Hudson. + +"No; but don't get caught at anything. Better not do anything. +We've got those milk-diet infants eight to nothing now. Play +their own kind of kindergarten game as long as we can hold the +score without rough work." + +Barnes's own instructions would have sufficiently stamped his +team, had these orders been heard by anyone else. + +At the beginning of the second half Fordham played a much more +honest game, and Gridley began to pick up hope that fairness might +prevail hereafter. + +Gridley's own game, in the second half, was as swift and scientific +as it had ever been. By sheer good playing and brilliant dashes +Dick and his men carried the ball down the field, losing it once +on downs; but after the first ten minutes of the half they kept +the pigskin wholly in Fordham territory. + +Back and forth surged the battle. Fordham, despite its greatly +superior weight and bulk, was not by any means superior when under +the utmost watchfulness of a referee avowedly anxious to penalize. + +Yet, until the game was nearly over, Fordham managed to keep the +ball away from its own goal line. + +Then, while the lines reformed and Dick bent over to snap back, +Dave Darrin called out a signal that electrified the whole Gridley +line. It called for one of their most daring plays, that Prescott +himself made famous the year before. + +While the start, after the ball was in play, seemed directed toward +the right wing of Gridley, the ball was actually jumped to little +Fenton, at the left end, and Fenton, backed solidly by a superb +interference, got off and away with the ball. In a twinkling +he had it down behind Fordham's goal line. + +Then the ball went back for the kick. The band played a few spirited +measures while the wearied Gridley boosters suddenly rose and +whooped themselves black in the face. + +The kick, too, was won. + +"Oh, well." growled Barnes, "we have two points to the good yet, +and only four minutes and a half left for the game. Don't get +rough, fellows, unless you have to." + +As the Gridley boys sprang to a fresh line-up their eyes were +glowing. + +"Remember, fellows, the time is short, but battles have been won +in two minutes!" + +This was the inspiring message flashed out by Captain Dick Prescott. + +With all the zeal of race horses the Gridley High School boys +flung themselves into their work. + +After a minute and a half of play, Gridley had done so much that, +just before the next snapback Barnes let his sulky eyes flash +about him in a way that was understood. + +Fordham must rush in, now, and hold the enemy back, no matter +at what cost of roughness---if the roughness could be done slyly +enough. + +Then it came, a fierce, frenzied charge. The ball was down again +in an instant, and Hazelton, a Gridley man, lay on the field, +unable to rise. + +Physicians hurried out from the side lines. + +"Broken leg," said one of them, and a stretcher was brought. + +"Have we got to stand this sort of thing?" demanded Hudson, in +a hoarse whisper. "Say the word, and I'll send two of their men +after Hazelton." + +"Don't you do it!" snapped Dick sharply. "It would disgrace our +school colors and our school honor. Don't let knaves make a knave +of you." + +Tom Reade came out on a swift run from the side lines to take +Hazelton's place. + +"We ought to be allowed to carry guns, when we play a team like +this one," blurted Tom indignantly. + +"We'll pay them back in the score," retorted Dick soberly, though +his eyes were flashing. + +Dave, in the meantime, was swiftly passing some orders Dick had +whispered to him. These orders, however, related to plays to +come, and did not call for retaliation on Hazelton's account. + +Play was called sharply. "Pay in the score," became the battle +cry raging in every Gridley boy's heart. + +Four successive plays carried the ball so close to the Fordham +goal line that Barnes and his followers were in despair. + +They still used whatever rough tricks they thought they could +sneak in under the eyes of the game's officials, and some of +these made the Gridley boys ache. + +Then came a signal beginning with "three" which stood for reverse +signal. The numerals that came after the three called for the +same trick that Fenton had put through so splendidly. + +Again the ball started toward the right wing. This time the Fordham +players were sure they understood---and like a flash massed their +defense against Gridley's left. + +But on that reverse signal the ball continued to move at the right. +Before Barnes and his followers could comprehend, another touchdown +had been scored by the visitors. + +And then came the kick for goal, and it was a splendid success. +The kick came just at the end of the second half. That kick +won the game for Dick's sorely pressed team. + +Gridley's score, won by a cleanly played game against bruisers, +stood at twelve to eight! + +Now, indeed, did the Gridley boosters turn themselves loose, the +band leading. + +Barnes and his ruffians skulked back to dressing quarters, there +to abuse the referee, the "Gridley kickers" and everyone and +everything else but themselves. + +It wasn't long before some of the Fordham subs slipped out to +find their cronies and sympathizers in the crowd that was slowly +dissolving. + +Then the word was passed around: + +"Wait and be with us. Barnes is going to stop the Gridleys on +the way to the station. Barnes is going to make Prescott fight +for some things he said on the field! Of course, if you fellows +get generally peevish, and the whole Gridley team gets cleaned +out, there won't be many tears shed." + +So scores of the sort of rabble in whom such an appeal finds +ready response hung about, eager to see what would turn up. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +The Long Gray Column + + +One small urchin there was, so small that he escaped notice as +he hung about hearing the word passed. + +But that urchin was a Gridley boy who had raised the money to +come and see this game. The boy possessed the Gridley spirit. +As fast as his legs would carry him he raced to dressing quarters, +and there told what he had heard. + +"Thank you, kid!" said Dick. "You're a good Gridley boy," and +then he continued: + +"So that's the game, is it They're going to mob us, are they I +guess they can do it---but, fellows, keep in mind to pass some +of the blows back! When we go down in the dirt be sure that some +of the Fordham fellows have something to remember us by for many +a day! I'm glad Hazelton has already been sent forward in an +ambulance." + +As Dick finished dressing and waited for the others, he saw one +of the subs dropping a spiked shoe into an outer jacket pocket. + +"What's that for?" Dick demanded sternly. "A weapon?" + +"Yes," sheepishly admitted the other. + +"Put it in your bag, then, and let it go on the baggage wagon. +Fellows, we'll fight with nothing but fists, and only then if +we're attacked." + +"But those scoundrels will probably use brickbats," argued the +fellow who had tried to drop the spiked shoe into his overcoat +pocket. + +"No matter," rang Dick's voice, low but commanding. "If we have +to, we'll fight for our lives as we fought for the game---on the +square! Good citizens don't carry concealed weapons until called +upon by the authorities to do it." + +"Bully for you, Prescott!" rang the voice of the coach. + +"You here, Mr. Morton?" cried Dick, wheeling and seeking the submaster. +"Mr. Morton, you're not a boy, and you don't want to be mixed +up in such affairs. Why don't you start-----" + +"My place, Captain Prescott, is with the team I'm coaching," replied +the submaster. "And I think the signs are that we're going to +need all the pairs of fists that we have, and, more, too." + +The baggage wagon came to the door. Dick, Dave and Tom coolly +loaded the baggage on. The wagon started off at good speed. + +Then the two stages drove up to the door. + +"Pile in, boys!" called one of the drivers. + +Neither of the stage drivers was in the secret of what was likely +to happen down the road. + +The start was made, the horses moving barely faster than a walk. + +By this time the athletic field was practically deserted. There +was no sign of the presence of the Fordham High School team, +nor of the bad element that Barnes had enlisted. + +It was not until the stages had proceeded nearly four blocks that +Dave, sitting beside Dick on the driver's seat of the first stage, +caught sight of some bobbing heads further up the road. + +"There they are," whispered Dave. "Lying in wait at the next +corner. They'll jump out when we get there." + +"Let them!" muttered Dick. "They'll have to start it---but after +they do-----!" + +The stages had almost reached the next corner. Grinning, or scowling, +according to individual moods, the roughs streamed out into the, +street. + +Gridley boys steeled themselves for a conflict, hopeless in odds +of five to one! + +At this point a clear voice sounded in the distance. + +"A Company, left wheel, march!" + +Around another corner near by came a company of boys from the +Fordham Military Institute. It was followed by a second company, +a third and a fourth. + +Then, by a further series of commands, one company was sent, on +the double quick, to march ahead of the first stage, while another +company fell in behind the second stage, while the other companies +formed and marched on either side of the stages. + +While these hasty maneuvers were being carried out the fine-looking +young cadet major of the battalion lifted his fatigue cap to Dick +Prescott. + +"Captain," called the boyish major, "you gave us such a fine exhibition +of gentlemanly football that we beg leave to show our appreciation +by marching as your escort of honor to the station." + +The rough crowd in the street had fallen back to the sidewalks, +a savage mutter going up at the same time. + +The Military School boys were without arms, save those Nature +had given them, but they, marched in solid ranks and stood for +two hundred pairs of fists! + +So Barnes's last hope of vengeance vanished. Even his own rough +followers turned to eye him in disgust. + +Before they left the grounds some of the Military School boys +had heard a whisper or two of what Barnes planned. + +The soldier is drilled to fair play, and to detestation of cowardice. +These young military students passed the word quickly. They +left the grounds at once, but formed near by, on a side street +near where they learned that Barnes and his rough mob lay in ambush. + +"I declare, that's the neatest, most military thing I ever saw +done!" laughed Dave Darrin. + +"And done by the boys you made fun of as sham West Pointers!" +laughed Dick quizzically. + +"But I didn't mean it," protested Dave, growing very red. "These +are splendid fellows. Evidently they think that they, too, are +entitled to say a word or two about the good name of Fordham." + +"You didn't like the first look of these fellows, Dave, because +they had started to cheer for Fordham High School. But did you +notice that they cheered no more for Fordham after Reade answered +Phin Drayne so forcibly." + +"It's a fact that these men didn't boost any more for Fordham," +assented Dave. "By the way, I have one clear notion in my head!" + +"What is it?" + +"That Phin Drayne isn't marching in these close gray ranks about +us." + +Phin Drayne wasn't. At this moment Phin was back at the military +institute, his face twitching horribly as he packed his clothing +in the trunk in which it had come. + +For, almost instantly after Reade had called out, some of the +military students around Drayne had demanded of him whether there +was a shadow of truth in what Reade had said. + +Phin Drayne's "brass" had deserted him. He knew, anyway, that +these comrades could dig up his past record at Gridley very quickly. + +Drayne knew that his days at Fordham were over. + +"It was all my confounded tongue, too," muttered Phin dejectedly. +"If I had kept my tongue behind my teeth I don't believe any +of the Gridley fellows would have noticed me, or said anything. +Oh, dear! I wonder where I can go next!" + +In the meantime the Gridley High School team and substitutes, +escorted with so much pomp, attracted a great deal of notice in +the streets of Fordham. + +People turned out to cheer them, and to wave handkerchiefs and +ribbons. For Fordham wasn't all bad or rough; not even the High +School. The roughest element in the school had captured football---that +was all. Some of these boys belonged to the wealthier families, +and had been brought up to believe they could do as they pleased. +This was the High School in which Phin Drayne naturally belonged. + +Down at the railway station the Gridley crowd and the Gridley +Band awaited the coming of the team. The fine sight made by the +gray military escort brought a hurricane of cheers from the Gridleyites. + +Just at the nick of time the leader of the band bethought himself, +and signaled his musicians. As the stages drew up the band played, +and the Fordham Military Institute's battalion moved into line +of battalion front. + +Dick feelingly thanked young Major Ransom. + +"Oh, that's all right, Prescott," laughed young Ransom. "If we +hadn't shown up at all you fellows would have given a good +account of yourselves. But we had to do it. Fordham is our +headquarters, too, and the honor of the town, while we live and +study here, means something to all of us. Don't gauge even the +Fordham High School by what happened to-day---or came near +happening. There are some mighty fine fellows and a lot of noble +girls who attend Fordham High School. But Barnes---he's the curse +of the school population of the town." + +Three or four days later Dick asked Darrin: + +"Did you hear the outcome of the Fordham affair?" + +"No," Dave admitted. + +"I just heard it all up at 'The Blade' office. The fact that +the Military School cadets escorted us in such formal manner to +the railway station attracted a lot of attention in Fordham. +The principal of the High School there started a quiet investigation +of his own. Barnes and two other fellows on the Fordham eleven +have been suspended from school until the School Board can take +up their cases and decide whether they ought to be expelled. +The Fordham principal has also made it plain that next year's +team will have to be scanned by him, and that he'll keep out of +the eleven any fellows who don't come up to the tests. There's +a jolly big row on in Fordham, and Barnes isn't having any sympathy +wasted on him you can just bet." + +"It serves him and that whole football crew just right," blazed +Darrin. + +Hazelton's injury kept him out of school only a fortnight. The +supposed break in his leg turned out to be only a sprain. + +While school teams like that commanded by Barnes are rare, they +are found, now and then. Yet the fate of rowdy athletes in the +school world is usually swift and satisfying. Other schools refuse +to compete with schools that are known to put out "rough-house +men." + +Dick & Co. had laid by their togs. They had said farewell to +school athletics. + +In the winter's basket ball they did not intend to take part. +For the baseball nine, that would begin practice soon after the +new year, there was plenty of fine material in the lower classes. + +"I feel almost as if I had been to a funeral," snorted Darrin, +when he came away from the gym. after having turned in all his +togs and paraphernalia. + +"It's time to give the younger fellows a show," sighed Dick. + +"You talk as though we were old men," gibed Dave. + +"In the High School we are," laughed Dick. "We're seniors. In +a few short months more we shall be graduates, unless-----" + +There he stopped, but Darrin didn't need to look at his chum. +Both knew what that pause meant. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +The Would-Be Candidates + + +The big stir came earlier than it had been expected. + +Every boy who has followed such matters in his own interest will +appreciate what the "big stir" means. + +Congressman Spokes, representing the district in which Gridley +lay, had a vacant cadetship at West Point within his gift, and +also a cadetship at Annapolis. + +_"On December 17, at nine A.M., at the town hall in Wilburville, +I will meet all young men who believe themselves to possess the +other proper qualifications for a cadetship at either West Point +or Annapolis."_ + +So ran the Congressman's announcement in the daily press of the +district. + +Every young man had to be of proper age, height, weight and general +good bodily condition. He must, of course, be a citizen of the +United States. + +Every young man was advised to save himself some possible trouble +and disappointment by going, first of all, to his family physician +for a thorough examination. If serious bodily defects were found, +that would save the young man from the trouble of going further +in the matter. + +But at the Wilburville town hall there was to be another physical +examination, which every young man must pass before he would be +admitted to the mental examinations, which were to last into the +evening. + +Dick Prescott read this announcement and thrilled over it. + +For two years or more he had been awaiting this very opportunity. + +Every Congressman once in four years has one of these cadetships +to give to some young man. + +Sometimes the Congressman would give the chance to a boy of high +social connections, or else to the son of an influential politician. +A cadetship was a prize with which the Congress man too often +paid his debts. + +Good old General Daniel E. Sickles was the first Congressman to +formulate the plan of giving the cadetship to the brightest boy +in district, the young man proving his fitness by defeating all +other aspirants in a competitive examination. + +Since that time the custom had grown up of doing this regularly. +It is true, at any rate of most of the states of the Union. +In some western and some southern states the cadetship is still +given as a matter of favor. + +The young man who receives the appointment goes to the United +States Military Academy at West Point. He is now a "candidate" +only. At West Point he is subjected to another searching series +of physical and mental examinations. If he comes out of them +successfully he is admitted to the cadet corps, and becomes a +full-fledged cadet. + +The candidate must report at West Point on the first of March. +If he succeeds in entering the corps, and keeps in it, four years +and three months later the young man is graduated from the Military +Academy. The President now commissions him as a second lieutenant +in the Regular Army. Thus started on his career, the young man +may, in later days, become a general. + +While the cadet is at West Point he is paid a salary that is just +about sufficient for his needs and leaves enough over to enable +him to buy his first set of uniforms and other equipment as an +army officer. + +West Point is no place for idlers, nor for boys who dislike discipline. +It is a severe training that the cadet receives, and the education +furnished him by the United States is a magnificent and costly +one. It costs Uncle Sam more than twenty thousand dollars for +each cadet he educates and graduates from the United States Military +Academy. + +The same general statement is true regarding the United States +Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland. In the latter institution, +however, the cadet learns how to become an officer in the United +States Navy. + +Now, here were both grand opportunities, offered together. + +While Dick Prescott had been waiting, hoping and praying for the +cadetship at West Point; Dave Darrin had been equally wistful +for the chance to go to Annapolis. + +"Our chances have come, old chum!" cried Dick, looking into the +glowing face of Darrin. + +"Yes; and of course an Army or Navy officer should be a brave +man. But now the chance has come, I find myself an utter coward," +confessed Dave. + +"How so?" + +"I'm in a blue funk for fear some other fellow will get it away +from me," confessed Darrin honestly. "And if I fail in this great +ambition of my life, I'm wondering if I'll have the nerve to go +on living afterwards." + +"Brace up!" laughed Dick protestingly. + +"Now, honestly, old fellow, aren't you just badly scared!" Dave +demanded. + +"Whisper, Dave! I am," Dick admitted. + +"Well, there is nothing like having some one that you can confess +everything to, is there?" muttered Darrin. + +"I guess it has done us both good to own up," laughed Dick. "But +see here!" + +"Well?" + +"I simply won't allow myself to be scared." + +"Then you're as keen for West Point as I am for Annapolis," retorted +Darrin suspiciously. + +"Dave, old fellow, you know what the Gridley spirit demands? +You know how we and the rest of the fellows managed to win eternally +in athletics? Just because we made up our minds that defeat was +impossible." + +"That's fine," laughed Dave. "But we'll probably have to buck +up against more fellows than we do on an athletic field. And +probably dozens of them go in with the same determination." + +"I don't care," declared Prescott. "I want that West Point cadetship. +I've wanted it for years, and now the chance has come. I'm going +to have it!" + +Dave Darrin gradually succeeded in working himself into the same +frame of mind. Yet there were many moments when he was tortured +by doubts as to whether the "Gridley spirit" would serve in bucking +a long line of young fellows all equally anxious to get to Annapolis. + +The first step taken by Dick and Dave was to get excused from +the High School for the time. + +Both boys had lists of the studies and standards required for +entrance to the Military Academy or the Naval Academy. Dick and +Dave, each in his own room at home, spent the next few days in +"boning" as neither had ever "boned" before. + +"But we must get three hours in the open air each day, Dave," +Dick insisted. "We mustn't go up for the trial with our nerves +shattered by moping all the time indoors." + +Only Dick & Co., and a very few friends, knew what Dick and Dave +were planning. It was kept a secret. + +The date of the High School senior ball was set for December 17. + +"Can you be back in time to go to the ball?" Laura Bentley asked +Prescott. + +"I'm afraid not, Laura. Besides, when I get back from Wilburville, +I'm afraid I'll feel pretty well tired out." + +"You're not afraid of failing?" asked Laura anxiously. + +"I'm not going to allow myself to fail. Yet, even if I win, I +shall be tired out after the ordeal. Wish the ball could come +a couple of days alter the ordeal. I wanted to go to it and to +dance with you, Laura." + +"I'm sorry you can't go," sighed the girl. + +Darrin, too, had given up all thoughts of attending the senior +ball, and this was the first time that either lad had "skipped" +the class ball. + +"It seems too bad to be away," grumbled Dave. "But I know how +I'll feel on that night. If I carry off the honors for Annapolis, +no mere ball could hold me! I'll need air and space. I'll be +lucky if I don't get arrested on that night for building bonfires +in the streets." + +Dave next sighed dismally and continued: + +"If I don't carry off the Annapolis prize, I'll feel so disappointed +that I won't look anybody in the face! Dick, Dick! It's fearful, +this waiting---and wanting!" + +"It won't seem like the class ball a bit without you two boys," +declared Belle Meade, pouting, the next afternoon. + +"But if we get through," muttered Dave, "think of the gay, splendid +times to which we can invite you at Annapolis and West Point." + +"Indianapolis and Blue Point are far away," murmured Belle, purposely +misnaming both famous places. + +"_Ann_-apolis!" flared Dave + +"_West_ Point!" protested Dick hotly. + +"Don't mind Belle," begged Laura quietly. "She's the worst tease +I know." + +"If I get the appointment to Annapolis," continued Darrin, "you'll +be asking me, next, if I expect to be promoted, after a while, +to he helmsman, or fireman, on some cruiser." + +"Well, would you expect to be!" asked Belle, with an appearance +of great innocence. + +"Don't, Belle," pleaded Laura. "The boy are too much in earnest. +It isn't fair to tease them, now. Wait until they've been at +West Point and Annapolis a couple of years. Then ask them." + +"What would be the use then?" asked Belle dryly. "By that time +our young cadets will have met so many girls that they would have +to think back quite a while before they could remember our names." + +Laura's pretty color lessened for an instant. + +"Don't you believe it," broke in Dick promptly. "Just as soon +as I have a right ask for cards for a West Point hop I'm going +to ask for cards for Miss Bentley and Miss Deane, and their chaperon." + +"The same here, for Annapolis," promised Dave solemnly. "So you +see, girls, you'll have to be prepared to do some traveling in +the near future. + +"But you won't get to Annapolis, anyway, until June," replied +Belle, a bit more gently. "So you won't have any Annapolis hops +until next fall, will you?" + +"Probably not," Dave admitted. + +"But you won't go to Annapolis, anyway," suggested Laura, turning +to Prescott. "There may be some West Point hops between then +and June." + +"I feel pretty sure there will be," nodded Dick cheerily. "And +you girls may be sure of my keeping my promise." + +"And I'll keep mine for the very first hop that comes off at Annapolis +after I get there," Darrin assured them. + +The laugh was on both young men, though neither they nor their +fair young companions knew it. + +The poor "plebe," as the first year's man at either West Point +or Annapolis is known, would be in for a terrible experience at +the hands of his comrades if, during his "plebe" year, he had +the "cheek" to seek to attend a cadet hop. He must wait until +he has entered his second year before he has that privilege. + +This is a wise regulation. In his first year the poor "plebe" +has so bewilderingly much to learn that he simply couldn't spare +any time for the cultivation of the graces of the ballroom. +In his first year, he has dancing lessons, but that is all that +comes his way. + +Greg Holmes came to Prescott with a wistful, rather sad face. + +"How are you coming on, Dick?" Greg asked. + +"Meaning what?" + +"Are you going to be well prepared for the examinations?" + +"As far as being able to pass with a decent percentage," Dick +answered, "I am not all uneasy. All that worries me is the fear +that some other fellow may have a slightly better percentage. +That would ditch me, you know." + +"Oh, you'll win out," predicted Greg loyally. "And I just wish +I had a chance like yours!" + +"Why don't you go in and try for it, then?" urged Dick generously. + +"No use," uttered Greg, shaking his head. "You can beat me on +the scholastic examination, and I know it, Dick. The best I could +hope for would be an appointment as your alternate. And your +alternate to West Point isn't going to stand any show for a cadetship, +Dick Prescott!" + +Besides the candidate each Congressman may appoint one or more +"alternates." These alternates also report at West Point. If +the "principal" fails there, the alternate is given a chance to +make good for the cadetship. + +But Greg Holmes, though he was wildly anxious to go to West Point, +felt certain that it would be useless to go there as Dick Prescott's +alternate. + +"I hate to see you not try at all, Greg," declared Dick. "Why +don't you try? If you beat me out there won't be any hard feelings." + +"I couldn't beat you out, and I don't want to, either," responded +Greg. "But wait! I may have something to tell you later on." + +Dan Dalzell had much the same kind of a talk with Dave Darrin. +Dan felt the call to the sailor's life, but hadn't any notion +that he could slip in ahead of Darrin. + +"Even if I could, Dave, I wouldn't try it," declared Dan earnestly. +"I want badly enough to go to Annapolis, and I admit it. But +I believe you're just about crazy to get there." + +"I am," Dave admitted honestly. "But the prize goes to the best +fellow, Dan. Jump in, old fellow, and have your try at it." + +Dalzell, however, shook his head and remained silent on the subject +after that. + +To both Dick and Dave it seemed as though the next few days simply +refused to budge along on the calendar. Certainly neither of +them had ever known time to pass so slowly before. + +"I hope I'll be able to keep my nerve up until the seventeenth," +groaned Darrin. + +"Surely, you will," grinned Dick. "You've got to!" + +"I've been studying until all the words on a page seem to run +together, and I don't know one word from another," complained +Dave. + +"Then drop study---if you dare to!" + +"I'm thinking of it," proposed Darrin seriously. "Actually, I've +been boning so that the whole thing gets on my nerves, and stays +there like a cargo of lead." + +"Let's pledge ourselves, then, not to study on the fifteenth or +the sixteenth," urged Dick. + +"I'll go you, right off, on that," cried Darrin eagerly. + +"And we'll spend those two days in the open air, roaming around, +and trying to enjoy ourselves," added Prescott. + +"Enjoy ourselves---with all the load of suspense hanging over +our heads?" gasped Darrin. + +"Well, we'll try it anyway." + +To most people in and around Gridley the world, in these few days, +seemed to bob along very much as usual. Dick and Dave, however, +knew better. + +At last came the evening of the sixteenth! Both anxious boys +turned in early, though neither expected to sleep much. Both, +however, were soon in the land of Nod. + +But Dick awoke at half-past four on the morning of the fateful +seventeenth. By five o'clock he knew that he wasn't going to +sleep any more. So he got up and dressed. + +Dave Darrin was in his bath, that same morning, before four o'clock. +Then he, too, dressed, and wondered whether every other fellow +who was going into the contest to-day felt as restless. + +The mothers of both boys were astir almost as early. Mothers +can't take these examinations, but mothers know what a son's +suspense means. + +Dick and Dave met at the station a full twenty minutes before +train time. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +Tom Reade Bosses the Job + + +"Ugh!" shivered Dave, as the chums met on the platform. "It's +cold out here!" + +"Come inside, then, and get warm. But you're a great athlete, +to mind an ordinary December morning," laughed Dick Prescott. + +Together they stepped into the waiting room. + +"What time does our train go?" asked Dave, though he had known the +time of this train for the last week. + +"Seven-forty," replied Dick. + +"And it's seven-twenty, now. Whew, what a await!" + +"I could have stayed home a little longer," nodded Dick. "Only +I told father and mother that I'd feel more like being started +if I got down here this far on the way." + +"Sure thing," nodded Dave sympathetically. "My Dad had to hold +on to me to stop my leaving the house an hour earlier than I did." + +Both boys laughed, though not very heartily. Each was under a +terrific strain---just from wondering! + +"If I get through, and win out to-day," muttered Dick, "I know +I shan't feel half as anxious when it comes time to take the graduating +exams." + +"No," agreed Dave. "Then you'll know you have a chance; but to-day +you can't be sure of that much." + +Five minutes before train time the chums were astonished at seeing +another of the chums walk into the station. It was Tom Reade, +looking as jovial and contented as a youngster could possibly +look. + +"Hullo, Tom!" came from Dick. + +"Howdy, Tom, old man!" was Dave's greeting. + +"Hullo, fellows!" from Reade. + +"Where are you bound?" inquired Dick. + +"Wilburville?" + +"_What_?" + +"Fact!" Reade assured them. + +"Going to the exams.?" Dave demanded quickly. + +"Yep." + +"Why, you never said a word about thinking of West Point," exploded +Prescott. + +"You were making fun of Annapolis only the other day!" asserted +Dave, just as though making fun of Annapolis were one of the capital +crimes. + +"Hang West Point!" exploded Tom Reade. + +"Oh! Then it's Annapolis you're after," grunted Darrin. + +"Sink Annapolis!" exclaimed Reade. + +"Then what on earth are you after?" demanded Dick. + +"Have you any fool idea in your head, Tom, that you can take an +exam and stand a chance of getting Congressman Spokes's job away +from him?" Dave asked. + +Tom threw himself into one of the seats, crossed his feet, thrust +his hands down in his ulster pockets, and surveyed the pair before +he answered: + +"I'll tell you what ails you two. You have a notion that the +sun rises at West Point and sets at Annapolis. Now, I know a +heap better, and I haven't an eye on either place. Can you fellows +guess why I've taken the day off from school and why I'm going +to Wilburville?" + +"We surely can't," declared Dave. + +"Well, then, I'll tell you," promised Tom amiably. "I knew you +two good old chaps would be going to pieces with blue funk to-day. +I knew you'd be chattering inside, and turning all sorts of colors +outside. You'd try to cheer each other, but each of you is too +badly scared to be of any use to the other. So I've come along +to take up your minds, jolly you and stiffen your backbones alternately. +That's my whole job for to-day." + +Looking in some amazement at Reade, the other two chums realized +that good old Tom was telling the truth. + +"Of course, I'll admit," continued Reade, "that, if I were going +on the grill to-day, I'd be worse than either of you. But I'm +not. I wouldn't live in West Point, and I wouldn't be caught +dead at Annapolis, so I shan't have any scares or any nervous +streak to-day. I'll look after you both, the best I can, and +do what little lies in my power to keep your minds off your troubles." + +"Well, who'd ever have thought of a thing like that but Tom Reade?" +gasped Dick gratefully. + +"It's mighty good of you, old chum," declared Darrin fervently. + +"Now, then,"`resumed Reade, uncrossing his legs, "as I'm on the +job to look after you, allow me to remind you that that is your +train whistling at this moment." + +Three very jolly boys, therefore, piled out of the station building +and boarded the train. + +Tom spoke to the conductor a moment before following the others +to seats. + +"You see," spoke Reade, "I'm even going to the trouble to make +sure that this is the right train, and not a belated express." + +"I never though of that," muttered Darrin, turning a bit pale. + +"Great Scott!" gasped Dick. "I can feel the cold sweat oozing +out at the bare thought. Suppose we had been harebrained enough +to get on the wrong train, and be carried so far past that we +couldn't get back to Wilburville by nine o'clock!" + +"Drop all worry. Don't think of anything alarming, or even disconcerting," +chuckled Tom. "I've taken charge of the whole job, and I guarantee +everything. One of the little things I guarantee is that you'll +both win out to-day." + +"In algebra," muttered Darrin, "I hope they won't go too deeply +into quadratic equations-----" + +"Cut it!" ordered Reade severely. "Likewise forget it! Say, +I heard a rattling good story last night. It carries a Dutchman, +a poodle, a dude and an old maid. Let me see if I can remember +just how it runs." + +With that Reade got started. He soon had his two friends started +as well. They laughed until the brakeman at last thrust his head +in and called: + +"Next station, Wilburville!" + +"Stop and get out, young man!" called Tom. "Do you think we don't +know our way?" + +Then into another story plunged Tom Reade. He spun it out, purposely, +until the train slowed up at Wilburville. + +"'Bus right up to the town hall!" cried a driver, sizing the trio +up shrewdly. + +"Thank you; that's our auto over there," nodded Tom, pointing +to a lunch wagon. Reade started the chums at a brisk walk. Of +the first native they met they inquired the way. + +Tom was still talking at forty horse-power when they came to the +town hall. + +"That building holds our fate!" muttered Dave, as they drew near. + +"Stop that!" ordered Tom. "Anyone would think that Annapolis +was all the candy in the land. What are you worrying about, anyway? +Haven't I taken all the responsibility for this thing upon myself? +Haven't I promised you both that you shall find your little toy +appointments in your Christmas stockings? Do you think I'm lying?" + +"But the exams!" groaned Dave. + +"Well, they're competitive," quoted Tom cheerily. + +"That's just what ails 'em!" argued Dave. + +"You make me think of my cousin, Jack Reade, of the militia," +taunted Tom. "He's a captain. Now, Jack wanted to be appointed +assistant inspector general of rifle practice. He was ordered +up for his exam. Poor fellow spent three weeks, days and nights, +boning for that exam. The family had the doctor in twice, for +they were afraid Jack was studying himself crazy. Then the day +came for the exam. Jack went into the ordeal shivering. The +examiner asked Jack to write down his full name, the date of his +birth, and the date of his entry into the militia. Jack answered +all three questions straight, and got a hundred per cent. for +his marking. Yet you fellows talk about exams as though they +were really hard!" + +Still laughing the three passed inside. + +Dick Prescott had firmly resolved to do no more talking about +the ordeal. But Darrin hadn't. So, after the boys had entered +the building, and had climbed to the next floor, where the hall +was, and had taken a look inside, Dave drew back into the corridor. + +"Great guns, did you look inside?" he demanded. "There are a +million boys in there already." + +"Cheer up," soothed Tom. "Most of 'em want to go to West Point." + +Tom fairly forced his chums inside. The boys already there, some +three-score, at least, turned to regard the newcomers curiously. + +"The rest of you may as well go home," announced Tom laughingly. +"My friends have a first mortgage on the jobs you're after." + +Presently, more fellows came in. Then some more, and still more. + +"Let's go down and stand by the door, where we can get more air," +urged Darrin. + +"Yes," agreed Tom. "And we'll throw out any of the rest that +may have a nerve to try to step in here." + +Hardly had they taken their stand by the door when the three chums +received a shock. + +For the next arrivals were Phin Drayne, and his father, Heathcote +Drayne. + +Phin was now in attendance at the Wilburville Academy, and his +father had come down, the evening before, to urge his son to try +for West Point. + +Tom looked the newcomer over with especial disfavor. Young Drayne, +like many another "peculiar" fellow, was an unusually good student. +At any time Drayne would have a very good chance of coming out +even with, or just ahead of, either Dick or Dave. + +The Draynes did not favor our three chums with any greeting, but +walked on down into the hall. + +"Excuse me a minute," murmured Tom. "I want to find out how the +land lies." + +Tom thereupon walked boldly over to the Draynes. + +"May I speak with you just a moment, Mr. Drayne?" asked Tom. + +"Go ahead," replied Mr. Heathcote Drayne, not over-graciously. + +"It is important, sir, that I speak with you aside," Tom went +on. + +Heathcote Drayne scowled, then stepped to one side, turning and +glancing down at Reade. + +"Well, young man, what is it?" + +"I thought it barely possible," continued Tom coolly, "that I +might be able to offer you a hint or two worth while." + +"Worth whose while?" demanded Heathcote Drayne, suspiciously. + +"Yours. Has your son come here to compete for either the West +Point or Annapolis cadetship?" + +"What if he has?" + +"Then has Phin his certificates of good character with him?" demanded +Tom, his blue eyes steely and cold as he looked straight and +significantly at the elder Drayne. + +"Confound your impudence, Reade! What do you mean?" + +"Just this," continued Tom readily. "Only boys of good character +are eligible for West Point or Annapolis. Now, the fact is, your +son was expelled from Gridley High School for a dishonorable action. +Are you content to have your son try for a cadetship, with that +record hanging over his head and enveloping his chances?" + +"Who'll know anything about that record if you don't blab?" demanded +Mr. Drayne. + +"Why, your son would have to state where he had attended school, +and furnish certificates of good character from his teachers," +ran on Reade. "Now, honestly, do you think that Dr. Thornton, +of Gridley High School, would furnish a certificate on which +Congressman Spokes could appoint your boy to West Point or +Annapolis? Because, if you think so," wound up Reade, "go ahead +and put Phin in the running, to be sure." + +With that Tom marched off back to his chums. + +"What have you been up to?" asked Dick curiously. + +"I'm manager for you two half-witted fellows, ain't I?" queried +Reade. + +"What have you been saying to Mr. Drayne?" asked Dave. + +"Just watch father and son, and see how they seem to be enjoying +their talk," chuckled Tom. "There, what do you see now? I thought +it would end like that." + +This was the first time it had occurred to the elder Drayne that +his son's character would be inquired into. In fact, Mr. Drayne +had had half an idea that the United States Military Academy +was a place that made a specialty of reforming wild boys and +making useful citizens of them. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +When the Great News Was Given Out + + +At just nine o'clock Congressman Spokes came on to the platform +followed by two other men. + +One of these latter was a town official, who, in a very few words, +introduced the Member of Congress. + +Congressman Spokes now addressed the young men upon the vocations +they were seeking to enter. He explained that neither the Military +nor the Naval Academy offered an inducement to boys fond only +of their ease and good times. + +"At either school," warned the Congressman "you will find ahead +of you years of the hardest work and the strictest discipline. +No boy whose character is not good can hope to enter these schools +of the nation. It is not worth any boy's while to enter unless +he stands ready to sacrifice everything, his own ideas and prejudices +included, to the service of his country and his flag." + +Congressman Spokes continued in this line for some time. Then +he called for the boys who wished to try for West Point to gather +at the right side of the hall; those for Annapolis at the left +side. + +"This is the first time you and I haven't been on the same side +in everything, old fellow," Dick whispered smilingly, as he and +Dave Darrin parted. + +What a hurried count the interested youngsters made! But Tom +Reade, who didn't belong to either crowd, probably made the most +accurate count. He discovered that sixty-two of the boys had +voted for West Point. Forty-one favored Annapolis. A few young +men present, like Tom, didn't care to go to either government +school. + +"When I am ready to give the word," continued Congressman Spokes, +"the young men who want to go to West Point will file out of the +door at this end of the hall. In the rooms across the corridor +they will find the physicians who are making the physical examinations +for West Point. + +"The Annapolis aspirants will file downstairs and enter through +the first door at the left, where other physicians will make the +physical examinations for Annapolis. + +"The examinations by the physicians here will not be conclusive +for the successful candidates. The final physical examinations, +like the final scholastic examinations, will be made at West Point +and Annapolis. + +"Now, each young gentleman who passes the physical examination +will receive a signed card with his name on it. Such successful +young men are then excused until one o'clock. At one o'clock +sharp the young men who have certificates from the medical examiners +may report for their scholastic examinations. Do not come here, +however, for the scholastic examinations. West Point aspirants +will report at the High School, and those for Annapolis at the +Central Grammar School. + +"Now, at eight o'clock this evening you return here. At that +hour, or as soon there after as possible, announcement will be +made, from this platform, of the names of the successful young +men and their alternates. Now the young men for West Point forward, +the Annapolis hopefuls downstairs!" + +Inside of two minutes the town hall was bare, save for the presence +of Tom Reade, who, with his hands in his pockets, walked about, +whistling. + +In forty-five minutes Dick, flushed an breathless, broke in upon +Tom, as the latter sat waiting patiently for his friends. + +"I've passed the doctors all right," announced Dick, producing +his card. + +"That's all right, then," nodded Tom. "And the rest will be easier." + +Twenty minutes later Dave Darrin join them. + +"I've passed---that part of the trial," he proclaimed. + +"Then, until twelve o'clock, there's nothing to do but go out +and kill time," declared Reade. + +"Twelve o'clock" repeated Dick. "You mean one o'clock." + +"I mean twelve," retorted Tom, with emphasis. "At twelve you +eat; you don't gorge, but you chew and swallow something nourishing. +Then you'll be in fit shape for the little game of the afternoon." + +Both of the chums had reason to realize the weight of their debt +to jovial, helpful Reade; who was banishing care and keeping their +minds off their suspense. In fact time passed quickly until it +was time for Dick and Dave once more to part, to seek their separate +examinations. + +Just forty of the boys who wanted to go to West Point had passed +the doctors as being presumably fit in body and general health. +Twenty-seven of the Annapolis aspirants had passed the doctors. +Already three dozen disappointed young Americans were on their +way home, their dream over. + +Tom Reade chose to walk over to the local High School with Dick. +Dave found his way alone to his place of examination. + +Dick Prescott and the thirty-nine other aspirants were assembled +in one of the class rooms at the High School. On each desk was +a supply of stationery. After the young men had been seated the +examination papers in English were passed around. This examination +Dick thought absurdly easy. He finished his paper early, and +read it through three times while waiting for the papers to be +collected. + +History was a bit harder, but Dick was not especially disturbed +by it. Not quite so with geography. Dick had had no instruction +in this branch since his grammar school days, and, though he had +brushed up much of late on this subject, he found himself compelled +to go slowly and thoughtfully. Arithmetic was not so hard; algebra +a bit more puzzling. + +It was after six o'clock when the examinations were finished, +and all papers in. As fast as each examination was finished, +however, the papers had been hurried off to the examiners and +marked. + +Faithful Tom was waiting as Dick came out in the throng. + +"Congratulations, old fellow!" cried Reade, holding out his hand. + +"You've passed," announced Tom gravely. + +"Why, the examiners haven't fin-----" + +"They don't have to," snorted Tom. "I don't have to wait for +the opinions of mere examiners. You've passed, and won out, I +tell you. Now let's go look for Dave." + +It had been agreed that the three should meet, for supper, at +the same restaurant where they had lunched. Darrin was not there +yet. It was nearly seven o'clock when Dave came in, looking fagged +and worried. + +But Tom was up on his feet in an instant, darting toward Darrin. + +"Didn't I tell you, old fellow?" demanded. Reade. "And my +congratulations!" + +"If you hadn't been such a good fellow all day I might be cross," +sighed Dave. "Whee! But those examiners certainly did turn my +head inside out. Don't you see a few corners of the brain still +sloping over outside?" + +"Cheer up," quoth Tom grimly. "Nothing doing. You haven't brains +enough to overflow. In fact, you've so few brains that I'm going +to do the ordering for your supper." + +"Everything I can do, now, is over with, anyway," muttered Prescott. +"So I'm going to forget my troubles and enjoy this meal." + +Dave tried to, also, but he was more worried, and could not wholly +banish his gloom. + +Tom succeeded in making the meal drag along until about ten minutes +of eight. Then he led his friends from the restaurant and down +the street to the town hall. + +Here, though most of the young men were already on hand, there +was nothing of boisterousness. Some were quiet; others were glum. +All showed how much the result of the examinations meant to them. + +But the time dragged fearfully. It was twenty minutes of nine +when Congressman Spokes appeared on the platform and rapped for +order. He did not have to rap twice. In the stillness that followed +the Congressman's voice sounded thunderous. + +"Young gentlemen, I now have the results from all the examiners, +and the averages have been made up. I am now able to announce +my appointments to West Point and Annapolis." + +Mr. Spokes paused an instant. + +"For West Point," he announced, "My candidate will be-----Richard +Prescott, of Gridley. The alternate will be-----" + +But Dick Prescott didn't catch a syllable of the alternate's name, +for his ears were buzzing. But now, for the first time, Tom Reade +was most unsympathetically silent. + +"For Annapolis, my candidate will be-----David Darrin, of Gridley. +The alternate-----" + +Neither did Darrin hear the name of his alternate. Dave's head +was reeling. He was sure it was a dream. + +"Pinch me, Tom," he begged, in a hoarse whisper, and Reade +complied---heartily. + +"The young men who have won the appointments as candidates and +alternates will please come to see me at once, in the anteroom," +continued Congressman Spokes, who, however, lingered to address +a few words of tactful sympathy to the eager young Americans who +had tried and lost. + +"Come along, now, and let's get this over with as quickly as possible," +grumbled Torn Reade. "This Congressman bores me." + +"Bores you?" repeated Prescott, in a shocked voice. "What on +earth do you mean?" + +"I don't like his nerve," asserted Reade. "Here he is, giving +out as if it were fresh, news that I announced two hours ago." + +Congressman Spokes was waiting in the anteroom to shake hands +with the winners. He congratulated the candidates most heartily, +and cautioned the alternates that they also must be alert, as +one or both of them might yet have a chance to pass on over the +heads of the principal candidates. + +Mr. Spokes then asked from each of the young men the name of his +school principal, the address of his clergyman and of one business +man. These were references to whom Mr. Spokes would write at +once in order to inform himself that the lucky ones were young +men of excellent character. + +Then the Congressman wished the young men all the luck in the +world, and bade them good evening, after informing them that they +would hear, presently, from the Secretary of War with full instructions +for West Point, and from the Secretary of the Navy for Annapolis. + +"Fancy Phin Drayne passing in his references for the character +ordeal!" chuckled Tom Reade, as the three chums walked down the +street. + +"What time does the next train leave for Gridley?" suddenly demanded +Dave. + +"In twelve minutes," answered Tom, after looking at his watch. + +"Let's run, then!" proposed Dave. + +"We can mope, and have five minutes to spare," objected Reade. + +"Let's run, just the same!" urged Dick Prescott. + +The three chums broke into a run that brought them swiftly to +the station, red faced, laughing and happy. + +"Oh, what a difference since the morning!" sang Dick blithely. +"Say, just think! West Point really for mine!" + +"Bosh!" grunted Darrin happily. "I'm going to Annapolis!" + +Then, as by a common impulse Dick and Dave seized Tom Reade by +either hand. + +"Tom," uttered Dick huskily, "we owe you for a lot of the nerve +and confidence that carried us through to-day!" + +"Tom Reade," declared Darrin. tremulously, "you're the best and +most dependable fellow on earth!" + +"Shut up, both of you," growled Reade, in a tone of disgust. +"You're getting as prosy as that Congressman---and that's the +most insulting thing I can think of to say to either of you." + +The train seemed fairly to fly home. It was keeping pace with +the happy spirits of the young men, who, at last, came to realize +that the great good news was actually true. + +Neither Dick nor Dave could think of walking home from the station. +They broke into a run. By and by they discovered that Tom Reade +was, no longer with them. + +"Now isn't that just like old Tom?" laughed Darrin, when he discovered +that their friend was missing. "Well, anyway, I can't wait. +Here's where our roads branch, Dick, old fellow. And say! Aren't +we the lucky simpletons? Good night, old chum!" + +Dick fairly raced into the bookstore conducted by his parents. +He almost upset a customer who was leaving with a package under +his arm. + +"Dad!" whispered Dick, leaning briefly over the counter and laying +a hand on Mr. Prescott's shoulder. "I passed and won! I'm going +to West Point!" + +A look of intense happiness wreathed his father's face and tears +glistened in his eyes. But Dick raced on into the back room, +where he found his mother. + +"All the luck in the land is mine, mother!" he whispered, bending +over and kissing her. "I won out! I go to West Point when the +month of March comes!" + +Mrs. Prescott was upon her feet, her arms around her boy. She +didn't say much, but she didn't need to. After a moment Dick +disengaged himself. + +"Mother, Laura Bentley will be glad to know this news. She's +at the ball of the senior class to-night, but I'll see if I can +get her father on the 'phone, and tell him the news for her." + +But presently it was Laura's own sweet voice that answered over +the wire. + +"You?" demanded Dick. "Why, I thought you'd be at the ball!" + +"Did you think I could be happy all the evening, wondering how +you were coming on with your great wish?" asked Laura quietly. +"Say, oh, Dick! How did you come out?" + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +Gridley Seniors Whoop It Up + + +"Oh, so many, so many congratulations, Dick!" came the response +to Prescott's eagerly imparted information. + +"And so you missed the dance just because you could sympathize +with some one else's worry?" demanded Dick. "But say! The evening +is still young, as dances go. Couldn't you get dressed in a little +while? Then we could both go and celebrate my good luck." + +"I'm dressed," came the demure answer. + +"What? Oh---well, now, that's nice of you-----" + +"I have been expecting this good news," laughed Laura. "And so +I've been dressed all evening, on the chance." + +"And you'll go to the class ball if I come around quickly?" + +"It would be mean of you not to come and take me, Dick!" + +"I'll have to change," declared Dick. "But that never takes a +boy long. Won't I be around to your house in short order, though!" + +Dick rang off and started to bound upstairs, but a new ting-ling +sounded on the 'phone bell. + +"Here's another party been trying to get you," announced central. +"Go ahead." + +"Hullo, Dick," sounded a low, pleased voice. "I hope you've called +up Laura." + +"Just rang off, Dave." + +"Then you know that the girls didn't go to the class ball to-night, +but just dressed and waited on the chance of hearing from us. +I'm on the jump to dress, but I'll meet you there, Dick." + +Dick took only time to explain the change in his night's plans +to his parents. Then he bounded off upstairs, but soon came down +again, looking a bit dandyish in his best, and very happy into +the bargain. + +When Dick arrived at Dr. Bentley's home an automobile stood in +front of the house. Dick recognized it, however, as the doctor's +machine with the doctor's man at the lever. + +The instant that Prescott put his finger on the bell button Laura +herself opened the door. She was radiant of face and exquisite +in ball costume as she threw open the door and stood framed there, +the light behind her. + +"Oh, I'm so glad, Dick, so glad!" came her ready greeting. "Come +in. I'm all ready but the wrap, but father and mother wish to +be among the first to congratulate you." + +In the doctor's office stood Dr. and Mrs. Bentley. They greeted +Dick cordially and expressed delight over his success. + +"But this is only the first ditch taken, you know," spoke Prescott +soberly, though in military phrase. "I have my chance now; that +is all. I have more than four years of hard fight facing me +before I am sure that the Army can be my career." + +"You'll make it, Prescott, just as you've made everything you've +gone after at High School," replied Dr. Bentley heartily. "But, +now that we've congratulated you, we mustn't keep you an instant +longer from your classmates. I had just come in with my car, +and Laura told me, so I directed my man to wait. He'll take you +both along the road in short order. Good night, my boy!" + +Laura brought her wrap, holding it out to Dick. + +"If you're to be a gallant Army officer," she teased, "you must +learn to do this sort of thing gracefully." + +Blushing, Dick did his best. Then the young people went out. +Dick helped his companion into the car, then seated himself beside +her. + +"We're going to pick up Dave and Belle," Laura explained, as the +car moved swiftly away. "Then we'll all go in together." + +One fellow had beaten them to the class ball, and that fellow +was Tom Reade. How he ever did it no one will be able to guess, +but Tom flew home, got into his best, and had reached the ball +before these young people appeared on the scene. + +The happy young candidates-elect went with their companions to +the cloak room. Then, Laura on Dick's arm, and Belle clinging +to Dave, the two couples entered the ballroom. The strains of +a waltz were floating out. Abruptly the music ceased in the +middle of the air, for Reade, standing beside the director, had +motioned him to cease playing. + +"Classmates and friends!" bellowed Reade, "it is my proud opportunity +to-night to be able to be the first to announce to you some wonderful +good news. To-day Dick Prescott, of ours, defeated all other +competitors, and has secured the appointment from this district +to the United States Military Academy!" + +"Wow! Whoop!" That announcement had them all going. There was +one tremendous, increasing din of noise. But Tom, jumping up +and down, waving both arms and scowling fiercely, finally secured +silence. + +"Who's doing this announcing?" he demanded. "Who's master of +ceremonies, if I am not. You just wait---all of you! I'll give +you the cue when to turn the noise-works loose. As I just stated, +it's Dick for West Point, but or, and---it's Dave Darrin for Annapolis +at the same time. Yes, Dave is going to represent this district +at Annapolis!" + +The musicians were on their feet by this time. All with a rush +the sweet, proud strains rang out: + +_"My country, 'tis of thee, +Sweet land of liberty, +Of thee I sing!"_ + +Instantly all stood at attention, the young men all over the hail +holding themselves with especial erectness. Not a voice was heard +until the good old refrain was through. To the two happy chums +"America" had a newer, stronger meaning. The spirited air came +to them with a new meaning that had never been plain before. + +Dick felt the tears in his eyes. Foolish, o course, but +he couldn't help it! And choky Dave furtively wished that he +dared reach for his handkerchief with all those hundreds of eyes +turned on him. + +As the music came to an end the High School boys filled their +lungs for a mighty cheer. Quick as a flash, however, the leader +of the orchestra tapped his baton, then swung it once more, and +the instruments leaped on into: + +"_Columbia, the gem of the ocean_!" + +That was for the Navy, of course, and one didn't have to keep +quiet, either. Words of the song, and cheers, mingled with the +musicians' strains. + +And then it wound up in a cheer and a mad rush of yelling that +must have been heard for a mile. + +An impromptu reception and hand shaking followed, but to Dick +and Dave, and their partners, it had more the look of a mob. + +It was a joyous and big-hearted mob, though, and in time it quieted +down. After a very long interruption the dancing started again, +and Dick and Dave were able to whirl away with their partners. + +As the next dance after that, started there was a sudden halt +by many of the couples, and soon a roar of laughter ascended. +For the orchestra had chosen, as the air, "The Girl I Left Behind +Me." + +This air will always be associated with the United Service---the +Army and Navy. It is a rollicking, jolly, spirited old tune, +as it needs must be for "The Girl I Left Behind Me" is the tune +that is played when the country's defenders, in war time, are +marching away for the front, after just having said the last goodbye +to mother, sister and sweetheart. + +Just now, however, the old air had none of the tragic connected +with it. It was all in the spirit of fun. Laura, blushing furiously, +and Belle striving to appear wholly unconscious, but striving +too hard, lent all the more merriment to the moment. + +"It's that confounded old idiot, Tom Reade," muttered Dave to +his partner. "I wonder how many more such tricks he knows!" + +Presently came "The Army Lancers," and that brought out a right +royal good cheer. Two numbers after that, came "A Life on the +Ocean Wave," and more cheers. + +It was after three in the morning when the gay affair broke up. +But who cared for that? Class balls come but once a year. + +Right after "Home, Sweet Home," which wound up the ball, the orchestra +added a number, "The Star Spangled Banner." + +Both Dick and Dave reached home pretty thoroughly tired out, after +having seen their girl friends home. Neither boy rose much before +noon the day following. + +Dick and Dave remained enrolled at High School until the Christmas +Holidays, then dropped out, having ended the term. + +Each boy had other studies with which he wished to busy +himself---studies that would have a direct bearing on the stiff +entrance examinations at West Point and Annapolis. The rest of +their time, until they reported at their respective National +Academies, they intended to devote to these other studies to make +doubly sure of their success. + +Dick's notification from the Secretary of War arrived on Christmas +morning. + +"The grandest Christmas present. I ever had!" muttered Dick, +gazing at the single sheet, the words on which were couched in +stiff official language. + +Dave Darrin fumed a good deal, for it was nearly a month later +before he received his notification from the Secretary of the +Navy. It came at last, however, and Darrin knew what postponed +happiness means. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +The Message from the Unknown + + +With the Christmas holidays Phin Drayne came home, to stay so +far as school was concerned. + +After his unhappy experience at the Fordham Military Institute, +Phin had found things almost as unpleasant at Wilburville Academy. + +For some reason the boys at Wilburville hadn't taken to him. +Phin had come to the conclusion that he wasn't appreciated anywhere +save at home, so back he came, disgusted with the idea of carrying +his education any further. + +As a natural sequence, Drayne took to lounging about the streets. +High School boys and girls no longer paid any heed to him, so +he did not fear slight or insult. + +Two nights in every week Dick and Dave went faithfully to the +High School gym. to help Mr. Morton with the new evening classes +in training. + +One afternoon Prescott and Darrin encountered good old Dr. Thornton, +the principal, who asked them how they were coming along. + +"We're pretty busy," Dick admitted. "Still, it does seem rather +hard to us not to be connected with the High School any more." + +"Why, you are with us yet, and of us!" cried the principal. "I +carry your names on the rolls, with 'excused' written against +your names. If you don't believe that you're still of my High +School boys, then drop in any day and take your places, for an +hour, or as long as you please, at your old desks. You will find +them still reserved for you." + +"Now, isn't that mighty decent of old Prin.!" demanded Dave, after +the two chums had thanked Dr. Thornton, and had gone on their +way. "So we still belong to old Gridley High School?" + +"We always shall, I reckon," declared Dick. "Gridley High School +has done everything for us, and has given us our start and most +of our pleasures in life." + +"I'm going to drop in, one of these January days," murmured Dave. + +"And so am I. But," added Dick, with a smile, "don't let us be +indiscreet and be roped into going into a recitation. We'll find +the class has been moving ahead while we've been boning over West +Point and Annapolis requirements." + +"At all events, none of them ought to be ahead of us when we've +gone four years further," contended Dave. "At West Point or Annapolis +we have to grind in a way that is never required of mere college +men. We ought to be miles ahead of any fellow who has just finished +at High School and then has put in four years only at college." + +Thus the happy young egotists always talked, nowadays. To them +there was really little in life that did not come through the +government military academies. + +Phin Drayne, lounging about purposely, with the shambling gait, +often saw these happy chums, and scowled after them. + +"Everything seems to come to them!" growled Phin. "What rot it +is to say that this is a square world, and that everyone has the +same chance! Why doesn't something good come my way?" + +The oftener Phin looked in the direction of the chums, and more +particularly of Dick, the blacker did Drayne's thoughts become. + +"Prescott has had everything come his way ever since he entered +High School," growled Phin. "And now the mucker is going off +to West Point, and the government is going to stamp him 'gentleman.' +A gentleman? Pooh! I'd like to show him up, as a bumptious upstart. +Phin scowled fiercely for a moment, before he added: + +"And, by glory, I will do something to him! I'll take the conceit +out of Dick Prescott!" + +At first it was only the purpose that formed in Drayne's dark +mind. But, by dint of much thinking, he began to feel that he +saw the way of working to Prescott's complete disgrace. + +Dick, in the meantime, was still writing occasionally for "The +Blade." + +"I'm afraid you've slipped away from us, Dick," declared Mr. Pollock, +with a wry smile. "If you go to West Point and pass the exams. +there, then newspaper work is going to lose one of its bright, +promising young men." + +"But I always told you that my plans would undoubtedly take me +away from 'The Blade' when my High School life was done with," +Prescott answered. + +"Yes; but why do you want the life of the uniform? That's what +I fail to understand? Why don't you go into something connected +with the pulsing everyday life of the country? Here you are, +going away to bury yourself in a uniform. You'll work, of course; +the Army is no place for loafers. But after all, you're only +preparing for war, and you may be an old, white-haired officer +before we have another war." + +"If that war does come in your life time," returned Dick, "you'll +know what we of the uniforms have been working for all along. +You'll realize, then, that an Army's biggest work isn't fighting, +in time of war, but preparing in time of peace. And you'll thank +every one of us when the time comes." + +"Oh, yes, I suppose so," smiled the editor. "But it all seems +so far away. Now, here is something much more practical right +at hand. Take these burglaries that have been annoying the small +merchants lately. The police don't seem to be able to catch the +fellow. For the last three days I've taken Len Spencer off of +all other work and set him to trying to run down the burglar. +Now, Len isn't afraid of much, and he's one of the brightest +young reporters going. Yet Len admits he's stumped. All the +while the merchants are fearing that the burglar will bring about +bigger losses. Dick Prescott, if you could catch that burglar, +and see him sent off where he belongs, you'd be doing a vastly +greater service to the community than you possibly could by helping +the country prepare for a war that is thirty or forty years away." + +"I wouldn't mind having a crack at the burglar scare, either," +laughed Dick. "But the question is, how am I going to go about +it to catch the fellow? He has baffled all the police, and even +Len Spencer. What show have I for finding the rascal?" + +"Just the same, Dick, I believe you would catch him, if you'd +set your mind and your energies to it. Will you do it? Will +you put in a week trying to run down this burglar and give 'The +Blade' the first chance at the story? I'll agree, in advance, +to pay you for whatever time you'll put in on it for a week, if +even you are not successful in running him down." + +"I'll think it over," Dick replied, with a quiet smile. "I'll +talk it over with Dave." + +"There's another mighty bright young fellow!" cried the editor. +"Now, why can't you get Darrin to go into it with you? I'll +pay Darrin for his time, too." + +Dave, when the project was sprung on him, gave his hearty assent. + +"It won't do any harm to have a try at it, anyway, Dick," urged +Darrin. "It'll wake us up a bit, too. Not that I've any real +and abiding idea that we're going to catch Mr. Burglar." + +"If we're in earnest we're going to catch him," declared Prescott. +"That's the old Gridley High School way, you know. What well +start on we've got to put through." + +Night after night, in that cold January week, Dick and Dave slipped +out late at night, and prowled about through the business district +of Gridley. Very often the chums ran across the police, but both +were known well to the police, and were not challenged. Indeed, +the police soon learned that Dick and Dave were employed by "The +Blade" for the purpose of assisting in the efforts to capture +the mysterious burglar or burglars. + +In that week two more "breaks" happened, and each time the thief +or thieves got away with valuable booty. + +"You youngsters don't seem to be having any luck," remarked Editor +Pollock. "But keep on the case a little longer. I know you'll +land something sooner or later. Keep ahead, just as if you had +to score a touchdown before the half was over." + +So for two nights Dick and Dave kept out, with equally bad luck. + +One night at eleven o'clock Dick answered the home telephone. +He listened in amazement, then tried to find out who his informant +was, but the latter rang off promptly. + +"I believe that is straight," muttered Dick. "At all events, +I'll look into this game for all it's worth. What if we are about +to catch the thief red-handed?" + +Snatching up a heavy walking stick, Dick Prescott hurriedly quitted +the house. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +The Plight of the Innocent + + +If the information that had come over the wire from an unknown +was correct there was not a moment to be lost in telephoning. + +It was a masculine voice that had sounded in the 'phone and the +message was to the effect that the sender of the message had just +observed two men forcing the rear entrance of Kahn's drygoods +store. + +"And hearing that 'The Blade' is trying to catch the burglars +I thought I'd just let you know," the voice had continued. "But +I guess you'll have to be quick if you want a sight of the burglars. +They'll probably get away in quick order." + +Then had come the ring-off, just as Dick had tried to get the +name of his informant. + +Now Dick was sprinting toward the scene by the shortest route +that he could think of. + +Kahn's store was on Main Street, but the rear entrance, used for +the receipt of goods opened in off an alleyway that ran parallel +with Main Street. + +"There can't be much time to spare," muttered Dick, looking hard +for a policeman. + +At this late hour of the night the streets that Dick traveled +in his haste were bare of pedestrians. + +"I wish I had had time to get Dave," though Prescott. "But that +would have lost at least five minutes more. And Dave wasn't going +to be ready to go out until he came around for me nearer midnight." + +Dick was at the head of the alley, now, an moving cautiously, +eyes wide open and ears on the alert. + +How dark it was down in here! Dick wondered, a moment, at the +keenness of vision that had enabled some neighbor to see what +was going on over in this dark place. + +In his pocket, at the time of receiving the message, Prescott +had placed a pocket electric "search-light." + +This he thought of, now, but he did not deem it wise to go flashing +the light about unless he had to. + +"The first point in my information is right, anyway," muttered +Dick. "The rear door of Kahn's is open." + +Moving in the shadow of the building, he had paused not far away +from the door in question. + +"There were two of the fellows, the message said," muttered Dick. +"In that case, I should think one would have been left outside as +a lookout. However, the lookout may be just a little way inside +of the door. It won't do to use my light now. I'll see if I can +slip in and get close to the lookout before the thieves know +there's anyone around." + +A step at a time Prescott softly reached the open door. He paused, +listening intently. + +"I don't hear a sound in there. I guess I'd better take a few +very soft steps inside, and see if I can discover where the rogues +are. That is, unless they have already bagged their booty, and +have gotten away again." + +Just inside of the open door, Dick halted again. He listened, +but there was no sound. + +"These scoundrels are surely the original mice for soft moving," +muttered the boy grimly. "What part of the establishment can +they be in? Hadn't I better slip out and get the police? I can't +learn anything in here unless I use my light." + +Yet Prescott didn't want to turn on that flare. The light was +much more likely to show him up to the burglars than to enable +him to find men who were not making a sound. + +So Dick penetrated a little further, and a little further, listening. +As he moved he was obliged to grope his way. + +At last, however, he found himself confused as to the points of +the compass. In this darkness, he was not even sure which was +the way out. + +"I'll have to use the flash now," concluded Dick. + +Taking the long tube from one of his pockets, he pressed the button +briefly, giving a flash that lasted barely a second. + +"What was that?" muttered the boy, with a start, as the light +went out. + +Clearly enough, now, he heard stealthy steps. He was almost certain, +too, that he distinguished the sound of low whispers. + +"That flash has scared the rascals," throbbed Dick Prescott. +"Now, if I can only locate 'em, and get out first! I may succeed +in getting the police to the scene before both get away. One +of 'em, anyway, I ought to be able to floor with this heavy cane!" + +Transferring the light to his left hand, Dick took a strong grip +of the cane. It did not eyed occur to him to be afraid in here. +He was trying to trap the burglars as a piece of enterprise for +"The Blade," and that was all he thought about. + +Suddenly there was a more decided step in the darkness. It sounded, +too, right in advance of the boy who stood there guessing in the dark. + +"Halt, where you are!" shouted Dick. "And throw up your hands +as high as you can, if you don't want to get drilled! Don't try +to use your weapons, for I have the drop!" + +It was sheer bluff, for the only thing with which Prescott could +claim the drop was his cane. + +Yet, in such circumstances, a bold front is half the battle. + +Prescott bounded forward, boldly, at the same moment turning on +his light. + +The next moment, though he held the light, the cane dropped from +his nerveless fingers. + +"We've got you, Prescott!" roared a voice. "And you? Of all +the thundering big surprises. But we've got you! Stop all nonsense +and get in line to come along with us." + +It was the chief of police, backed by three of his men, whom Dick +now faced. They had thrown their lights on, too, so that there +was now plenty of illumination. + +Nor was this Chief Coy, one of Dick's old time friends, but Chief +Simmons, a new man appointed only a few months before. + +Chief Simmons was almost frantically anxious to catch the burglar +or burglars, for their continued operations reflected upon his +abilities as the new police chief. + +All in a flash young Prescott took in the horrifying idea that +Chief Simmons believed him to be the real burglar. + +"But I-----" began Dick chokingly. + +"Yes, you will!" retorted Chief Simmons. "You can't put up any +fight, and you can't make any denial." + +"I-----" + +"Take him, you men, and handcuff him." roared the chief. "Then +we'll go through the rest of the store, and see what we can learn." + +Dick drew back, with a shudder, as two of the officers came toward +him, intent on carrying out their chief's order. + +"You'd better submit, Prescott," warned the chief sternly. "We're +not in a mood to stand any fooling." + +"But won't you listen-----" began Dick, gasping. + +"I'm not the trial judge," jeered Simmons. "Still, I'll listen +to you all you want, later in the night. Now, stand forward!" + +Dick realized the folly and the uselessness of defying the police. +He moved nearer to the chief, as ordered. And Prescott began +to understand how black the whole affair looked for him. + +But how had it happened? + +He would have given worlds to know. + +"Hold your hands forward, and together," commanded Chief Simmons. + +Quivering, flushing with the shame of the thing, young Prescott +obeyed. The officer who fitted the handcuffs to the boy's wrists +felt ashamed of his work, for he had always been one of Dick's +friends. + +The click of the steel ratchets brought Prescott back to a realization +of things. + +"I'm not much of a catch, chief," muttered the boy. "You'd better +not be content with me alone. Leave me under watch and then the +rest of you had better spread through this place. I think there +are others here---the men you seek." + +"You've confederates here, have you?" demanded Simmons, fixing +his suspicious gaze on the boy. "Judkins, you watch Prescott---and +mind you don't let him give you the slip. The rest of us will +keep on going through this store. You say you think there are +others here, Prescott?" + +"I think so," replied the boy. + +Chief Simmons raised his voice. + +"If there's anyone here-----" he called. + +"There is!" came back in a tone that made Dick Prescott start +and throb with alarm. + +"Who---where---" asked Chief Simmons, excitedly. + +"Right here!" came the voice. "Hold your lights on me!" + +Two flash-lights at once centered their rays on the speaker, and +Dave Darrin bounded forward into the light. + +"So you two have been working this thing as side partners, have +you?" asked Chief Simmons harshly. "Great Scott, how you've fooled +us, then! Like everyone else, we believed you two boys to be +straight. Tell me," commanded Simmons dryly, "is Editor Pollock +in this store-robbing gang, too?" + +"Ask Mr. Pollock yourself," Dave flung back. + +"I will, when I get time," retorted Simmons. "Grab Darrin and put +the irons on his wrists, too!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +Dave Gives Points to the Chief of Police + + +"You clumsy bungler!" spoke Dave Darrin hotly. "Chief, I demand +the right to speak to you for a moment." + +"After you're ironed and taken to the station house," snapped +Mr. Simmons. + +"Chief, you're not afraid to step aside with me and listen to +about ten words?" demanded Darrin scornfully. "And if you don't---if +you go on in your bull-headed way---you'll be the scorn of the +town by morning. Why don't you hear what I've got to say, instead +of letting precious seconds slip by. Come! Over this way!" + +There was something so commanding in Darrin's voice and manner +that Simmons concluded to listen for a moment. + +Keeping his flash-light turned on Darrin, the chief of police +followed Dave. Darrin whispered something in the big man's ear. +In another moment the two were whispering together animatedly. + +"Why didn't you come to the point before, Darrin?" demanded the +chief gruffly. + +"Great Scott, didn't I, as soon as I could postpone your mania +for having me loaded down with police chains?" + +"Yet how do I know you're telling me anything like the truth?" + +"If I'm lying, you can find it out very quickly, can't you?" demanded +Darrin. "But come along, or you'll be too late. Oh, why do all +the biggest slow pokes in creation get appointed to the police +force?" + +"Come along with me, Delmar," ordered Chief Simmons, turning to +one of his policemen. "The rest of you stay here---though you +can pass on into the open air. Then wait there for us." + +"Don't you waste any time on worry, Dick," Dave called back. + +Prescott laughed easily. Whatever Dave had discovered, or thought +he had, Darrin's chum was quite content now to await the result +of all that enthusiasm. + +"We must not make much noise," cautioned Darrin, as he led the +way swiftly, though on tiptoe. "We don't want to scare the other +people cold until we have them cooped so that they can't get away. +But you'd better be ready, in case they're desperate enough to +try shooting!" + +Up the street, to the head of another alley way, Darrin led the +swift chase. + +"Now, softer than ever," he whispered, over his shoulder, without +halting. + +A moment later Dave halted before two stone steps that led down +to a basement junk shop. + +Just as he did so a low voice inside could be heard, saying in +barely audible tones: + +"I'm so anxious to know whether Prescott fell into the trap that +I can hardly wait another minute." + +"You'd better wait until morning, or you'll tumble into something +with your eyes shut, and that will mean both of us nabbed," growled +another voice. + +"Do you think they found Prescott---that they believed in the +appearances against him?" + +"I can't say," came the other low voice. "And I can wait. I'm +not crazy on the subject, as you seem to be." + +"Explain this all over again, to us, won't you?" shouted the chief, +pushing open the door of the junk shop and striding in, backed +by the light and the revolver of Officer Delmar. + +"What?" screamed Phin Drayne, then sank to his knees in the extremity +of his terror. + +"Don't either of you try to put up any fight," warned the chief. +"Delmar, here are my handcuffs to put with your own. Hand me +your light, and then iron both of these fellows securely." + +The owner of the junk shop, a man under thirty, dirty and low +browed, stood cowering back against a bench. The fellow looked +as though he would have fought had there been any chance to draw +a weapon. But he was gazing straight into the muzzle of the police +chief's weapon. + +An instant later both prisoners had been handcuffed, and a pistol +had been taken from the clothing of each. From the junkman, +too, had been taken a ring of keys. + +"One of these fit your door?" demanded Simmons. + +"Yes," growled the scowling one. "The long key." + +"Bring the prisoners along, Delmar," ordered the chief. "I'll +lock up here. We'll come back later for a search." + +Out on the sidewalk Phin Drayne plucked up courage enough to find +his voice. + +"For goodness' sake, let me go, Chief," he begged, falteringly. +"I haven't done anything, although things look against me." + +"I guess we'll be able to put things enough against you," retorted +the police official mockingly. + +"Think of my mother!" pleaded the wild boy. "Think of our family---one +of the most respectable in town. Think of-----" + +"Oh, you're enough to make one tired," broke in Dave Darrin, +in deep disgust. "You thought of Dick Prescott when you put up +the job to have him arrested as a burglar, didn't you?" + +"Why, what do you mean? I didn't do anything to Dick Prescott," +shouted Drayne angrily, or affecting to be angry. + +"Tell that to the marines," quoth Darrin contemptuously. "It +was through following on your trail, Drayne, that I discovered +the whole trick, and also knew just where to take the police to +find you." + +An hour later Chief Simmons was well satisfied that he had laid +the burglar scare in Gridley. + +Not that the new chief had had so very much to do with the result, +either. + +The first move had been to get back to the Kahn store, where Dick +Prescott was promptly freed, with the chief's hearty apologies. + +Over at the police station, by separating Drayne from his accomplice, +Bill Stevens, the junkman, and questioning each separately, the +whole story had come out, chiefly through frenzied confessions. + +Phin Drayne, loafing about town, and with his pocket money nearly +cut off by his father, had formed the acquaintance of Stevens, +who, besides being a junkman, was a very fair locksmith, though +about the latter trade he had never bragged publicly. + +Drayne had been ripe for any move that would place him in more +funds. So, first of all, he and Stevens had entered the commercial +establishment of Drayne, senior. There, thanks to Phin's knowledge +of the premises, they had made a very good-sized "haul." + +After that the pair had operated together frequently. Stevens' +junk shop had offered a handy pace in which to hide the plunder. + +Then, as time went on, and Phin heard, by chance, that Dick and +Dave were trying to catch the burglars in behalf of "The Blade,", +a plan had occurred to Phin by which he might ruin Dick utterly +in the eyes of the community. + +The whole plan had been carefully laid by Stevens and young Drayne. + +On this night, just after Conklin's drug store had been closed +for the night, Stevens had slipped in a key that had opened a +side door for him. Then the door was left closed but unlocked. +At that hour of the night no one was likely to notice anyone +who went in or out at the side door. And Conklin's was equipped +with a public telephone. + +Then down to the alleyway had stolen the evil pair. Kahn's rear +door had been opened with false keys and left ajar. Then Phin +Drayne stole back to the junk shop, while Stevens, whose voice +could not be recognized over the wire by Dick, sent the message. + +Next, back to where he could watch the alleyway, hurried Stevens, +and hid. Stevens saw Dick Prescott slip into the alleyway, then +go inside the store. That was enough for Stevens, who had slipped +back and into the drug store once more, getting the police station +on the wire and 'phoning to the chief that Gridley's burglars +had just entered Kahn's through the rear door. + +Only a block and a half from Kahn's was the police station. Almost +immediately the officers were on the spot, stalking---Dick Prescott. + +But, at the time when Dick left his own home and went down the +street so hurriedly Dave Darrin had been sauntering along, to +call his chum out on their nightly quest for "The Blade." +Seeing Dick move so swiftly, Darrin concluded that something +most unusual was about to happen. So Dave trailed swiftly in +the rear. + +Thus it was that Darrin drew back just in time to see Bill Stevens +slipping away from a hiding place at the head of that alleyway. + +"That does for Prescott," chuckled Stevens, half aloud. + +"Oh, it does, does it?" silently murmured alert Dave, and now +he intently followed Stevens to the drug store, and thence back +to the junk shop. Dave's next swift move was to rush back to +Kahn's with the result already known. + +"Well, did you think the folks of Gridley would continue to believe +such a charge against young Prescott?" demanded Chief Simmons +of the sneak. + +"I knew some wouldn't, but I thought the whole affair would make +such a row that Prescott would never be quite able to hold up +his head in Gridley again," declared Drayne huskily. "But I thought +that it would stop his thinking of going to West Point, anyway." + +"Instead of which," muttered Simmons dryly, "you'll get four +years---or more, Drayne at some place that won't be West Point." + +"Oh, my father won't quite stand for that," returned Phin, a bit +more loftily. "He has money and some family pride." + +"Money doesn't help much for confessed burglars," rejoined Chief +Simmons. + +At that moment Heathcote Drayne, who had been roused out of bed +by a policeman, came in, so white faced that Dick and Dave felt +sorry indeed for the unhappy parent. + +But Dick didn't remain to see the meeting between father and son. +Prescott and his chum hastened around to "The Blade" office. +Gladly enough would both boys have kept Phin's disgrace from +going before the public, but it was too big a story, locally, +and was bound to come out. So Dick wrote a straight account, +after which he and Dave hurried home to get the fag end of a night's +rest. + +Gridley merchants lost but little, in the end, through the series +of burglaries. Most of the plunder was recovered at the junk +shop. + +Bill Stevens was sent to prison for a term of eight years. Phin, +being only seventeen, was allowed to plead his youth. In his +case justice was satisfied with his commitment to a reform school +until he should be twenty-one years of age. + +And so ended the story of the mysterious burglaries. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +Conclusion + + +One evening about a week after these events Dick and Dave were +sitting in the former's room chatting, when Greg Holmes and Dan +Dalzell, apparently in great good humor, broke in upon them. + +"When do you go to West Point, Dick?" queried Greg. + +"I'm ordered to report to the adjutant there on the first of March," +Prescott replied. + +"Mind my running up there with you?" demanded Greg. + +"Why, I'd be tickled to pieces, if you can afford the trip, Greg." + +"Oh, I guess I can," laughed the other boy. "Dad is going to +pay my freight bill." + +"See here, you fellows, you can't have been reading the newspapers +much, since you two were appointed," broke in Dan Dalzell. + +"What have we missed?" challenged Dave. + +"Why, didn't you know a thing about Senator Frayne and his +appointments?" went on Dan Dalzell. "The Senator doesn't appoint +from a single district. He appoints at large from the whole state. +Senator Frayne announced, a while ago, two appointments-at-large, one +for West Point, the other for Annapolis." + +"And we went up to the state capital yesterday," rattled on Greg. +"We went through the examinations. The winners weren't named +until this morning. You'll find it in the evening papers, later +to-day. I go to West Point, and Dan goes to Annapolis." + +"What?" yelled Dick, leaping as high as he could jump. + +"Tell it to us again!" begged Darrin huskily. + +"Oh, it's all a fact, straight and right enough," Greg assured +them happily. + +Then and there the four chums executed a war dance. It seemed +too wonderful to believe. + +"But isn't Gridley the whole show?" demanded Dave presently. +"Four cadetships in the same year to one little city!" + +"Well, we had to win 'em from other comers," retorted Greg. "And +none of us are out of the woods yet. We've got to pass at West +Point and at Annapolis. + +"This is great!" quivered young Prescott. "But wouldn't it be +grand if only Tom Reade and Harry Hazelton had gotten in line, +too, and gone along into the service with us? Then all of the +old Dick & Co. would have been enrolled under the battle flag." + +"But you know what Tom told us," put in Darrin. "He said he wouldn't +live at West Point, and he wouldn't be caught dead at Annapolis. +Tom is all for becoming a great civil engineer---a builder of +railroads and all that sort of thing." + +"Well, Harry Hazelton is just as bad," said Greg. "He's all for +doing engineer stunts in the wilderness, too." + +"Here they come now," announced Dan Dalzell. + +Tom and Harry were heartily glad, of course, to hear of the luck +that had befallen Greg and Dan. + +"We were just wishing that you two had fallen into the same kind +of luck, and that you were going into uniform with us," declared +Dick. + +Reade glared at Prescott. + +"Humph!" muttered Tom. "I thought you were a friend of mine!" + +"I judge it's a mighty good thing we don't all hunger for the +same careers," laughed Harry. "For instance, all young fellows +can't go into the United Service. There aren't jobs enough to +go around. The United States Army is just about big enough to +find with a good magnifying glass. As for the Navy-----" + +"Be careful," warned Darrin touchily. + +"As for the Navy," continued Hazelton, "Congress has a lot of +officers trained and then seems to think that one new battleship +every other year or so ought to keep the country patient." + +"You fellows are going to be downright happy, I know," resumed +Tom. "But so are Harry and I. We finish out our High School +work, and then our chance is ahead of us." + +"To _find_?" queried Dave. + +"No, sir! We've _got_ it," retorted Tom. "It came to us only +recently, and Harry and I have been keeping a bit quiet, but now +it is time to tell the news---just in the circle of Dick & Co." + +By dint of great hustling, and backed by recommendations from +the local civil engineer, Reade and Hazelton had secured a chance, +beginning in the coming July, to join as rodmen the engineering +party that was laying a new railroad over the Rockies, in Colorado. + +Just before the first of March, Dick Prescott and Greg Holmes +slipped quietly away, and reported at West Point. + +But what further happened to Dick and Greg---and there was a lot +of it---must be reserved for the volumes of the new West Point +series. + +The first volume will appear under the title, "_Dick Prescott's +First Year at West Point; Or, Two Chums in the Cadet Gray_." + +Later on Dave Darrin and Dan Dalzell left Gridley and home for +Annapolis. Their adventures will be followed up in the new Annapolis +series. + +The first volume in this series will be entitled: "_Dave Darrin's +First Year at Annapolis; Or, Two Plebes at the Naval Academy_." + +Nor did Tom Reade and Harry Hazelton fail of some very extraordinary +adventures in their chosen career of engineering. Their career +led them into some of the wild spots of the earth. It will all +be told in the Young Engineer series. + +The first volume in this series will appear shortly under the +caption: "_The Young Engineers in Colorado; Or, at Railroad Building +in Earnest_." + +How about the other Gridley folks whose acquaintance has been +so enjoyable? Fred Ripley? Well, as to Fred---when we first +made his acquaintance, he was anything but an agreeable fellow, +but he learned his lesson in time, and, under the wholesome influence +of Dick & Co., but especially of Dick Prescott himself, Fred had +become a different boy. Such is the effect of good example. + +As to the rest, many of them are bound to appear again, as we +follow the fortunes of our Gridley boys through the tales of West +Point, the annals of Annapolis and the doings of the Young Engineer +Boys. + +So here we will leave them all for the moment, soon to renew the +acquaintance of all who had any future share in the lives or thoughts +of the six splendid young Americans who were once known to their +classmates as Dick & Co. + +THE END + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The High School Captain of the Team +by H. Irving Hancock + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12692 *** 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..e4e12af --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #12692 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/12692) diff --git a/old/12692.txt b/old/12692.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7d4bc13 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12692.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7225 @@ +Project Gutenberg's The High School Captain of the Team, 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 Captain of the Team + Dick & Co. Leading the Athletic Vanguard + +Author: H. Irving Hancock + +Release Date: June 23, 2004 [EBook #12692] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAPTAIN OF THE TEAM *** + + + + +Produced by Jim Ludwig + + + + +THE HIGH SCHOOL CAPTAIN OF THE TEAM + +or Dick & Co. Leading the Athletic Vanguard + +By H. Irving Hancock + + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTERS + I. "Kicker" Drayne Revolts + II. A Hint from the Girls + III. Putting the Tag on the Sneak + IV. The Traitor Gets His Deserts + V. "Brass" for an Armor Plate + VI. One of the Fallen + VII. Dick Meets the Boy-With-A-Kick + VIII. Dick Puts "A Better Man" in His Place + IX. Could Dave Make Good? + X. Leading the Town to Athletics + XI. The "King Deed" of Daring + XII. The Nerve of the Soldier + XIII. Dick Begins to Feel Old + XIV. Fordham Plays the Gentleman's Game + XV. "We'll Play the Gentleman's Game + XVI. Gridley's Last Charge + XVII. The Long Gray Column +XVIII. The Would-Be Candidates + XIX. Tom Reade Bosses the Job + XX. When the Great News was Given Out + XXI. Gridley Seniors Whoop It Up + XXII. The Message From the Unknown +XXIII. The Plight of the Innocent + XXIV. Dave Gives Points to the Chief of Police + XXV. Conclusion + + + + +CHAPTER I + +"Kicker" Drayne Revolts + + +"I'm going to play quarter-back," declared Drayne stolidly. + +"You?" demanded Captain Dick Prescott, looking at the aspirant +in stolid wonder. + +"Of course," retorted Drayne. "It's the one position I'm best +fitted for of all on the team." + +"Do you mean that you're better fitted for that post than anyone +else on the team?" inquired Prescott. "Or that it's the position +that best fits your talents?" + +"Both," replied Drayne. + +Dick Prescott glanced out over Gridley High School's broad athletic +field. + +A group of the middle men of the line, and their substitutes, +had gathered around Coach Morton. + +On another part of the field Dave Darrin was handling a squad +of new football men, teaching how to rush in and tackle the swinging +lay figure. + +Still others, under Greg Holmes, were practicing punt kicks. + +Drayne's face was flushed, and, though he strove to hide the fact, +there was an anxious look there. + +"I didn't quite understand, Drayne," continued the young captain +of the team, "that you were to take a very important part this +year." + +"Pshaw! I'd like to know why I'm not," returned the other boy +hotly. + +"I think that is regarded as being the general understanding," +continued Dick. He didn't like this classmate, yet he hated to +give offense or to hurt the other's feelings in any way. + +"The general understanding?" repeated Drayne hotly. "Then I can +tell the man who started that understanding." + +"I think I can, too," Prescott answered, smiling patiently. + +"It was you, Dick Prescott! You, the leader of Dick & Co., a +gang that tries to boss everything in the High School! + +"Cool down a bit," advised young Prescott coolly. "You know well +enough that the little band of chums who have been nicknamed Dick +& Co. don't try to run things in the High School. You know, too, +Drayne, if you'll be honest about it, that my chums and I have +sometimes sacrificed our own wishes to what seemed to be the greatest +good of the school." + +"Then who is the man who has worked to put me on the shelf in +football?" insisted the other boy, eyeing Dick menacingly. + +"Yourself, Drayne!" + +"What are you talking about?" cried Drayne, more angry than before. + +"Don't be blind, Drayne," continued the young captain. "And don't +be silly enough to pretend that you don't know just what I mean. +You remember last Thanksgiving Day?" + +"Oh, that?" said Drayne, contemptuously. "Just because I wouldn't +do just what you fellows wished me to do? + +"I was there," pursued Captain Prescott, "and I heard all that +was said, saw all that was done. There was nothing unreasonable +asked of you. Some of the fellows were a good bit worried as +to whether you were really in shape for the game, and they talked +about it among themselves. They didn't intend you to over hear, +but you did, and you took offense. The next thing we knew, you +were hauling off your togs in hot temper, and telling us that +you wouldn't play. You did this in spite of the fact that we +were about to play the last and biggest game of the season." + +"I should say I wouldn't play, under such circumstances! Nor +would you, Prescott, had the same thing happened to you." + +"I have had worse things happen to me," replied Dick coolly. +"I have been hectored to pieces, at times, both on the baseball +and football teams. The hectoring has even gone so far that I +have had to fight, more than once. But never sulked in dressing +quarters and refused to go on the field." + +"No!" taunted Drayne. "And a good reason why. You craved to +get out, always, and make grand stand plays!" + +"I suppose I'm as fond of applause from the grand stand as any +other natural fellow," laughed Dick good-humoredly. "But I'll +tell you one thing, Drayne: I never hear a murmur of what comes +from the grand stand until the game is over. I play for the success +of the team to which I belong, and listening to applause would +take my mind off the plays. But, candidly, what the fellows have +against you, is that you're a quitter. You throw down your togs +at a critical moment, and tell us you won't play, just because +your fearfully sensitive feelings have been hurt. Now, a sportsman +doesn't do that." + +"Oh, it's all right for you to take on that mighty superior air, +and try to lecture me," retorted Drayne gruffly. + +"I'm not lecturing you. But the fellows chose me to lead the +team this year, and the captain is the spokesman of the team. +He also has to attend to its disagreeable business. Don't blame +me, Drayne, and don't blame anyone else-----" + +"Captain Prescott!" sounded the low, but clean-cut, penetrating +voice of Mr. Morton, submaster and football coach of the Gridley +High School. + +"Coming, sir!" answered Dick promptly. + +Then he added, to Drayne: + +"Just blame your own conduct for the decision that was reached +by coach and myself after listening to the instructions of the +alumni Athletics Committee." + +Dick moved away at a loping run, for football practice was limited +to an hour and a half in an afternoon, and he knew there was +no time to be frittered. + +"Oh, you sneak!" quivered Drayne, clenching his hands as he scowled +at the back of the captain. "It was you who brought up the old +dispute. It is you who are keeping me from any decent chance +this last year of mine in the High School. I won't stand it! +I'll shake the dust from my feet on this crowd. I won't remain +in the squad, just for a possible chance to sub in some small +game!" + +His face still hot with what he considered righteous indignation, +Drayne felt better as soon as he had decided to shake the crowd. + +In an instant, however, he changed his mind. A sly, exultant +look came into his eyes. + +"On second thought I believe I won't quit," he grinned to himself. +"I'll stay---I'll drill---and I'll get good and square with this +cheap crowd, captained by a cheap man! Gridley hasn't lost a +game in years. Well, you chaps shall lose more than one game +this year! I'll teach you! I'll make this a year that shall +never be forgotten by humbled Gridley pride!" + +Just what Phin Drayne was planning will doubtless be made plain +ere long. + +Readers of the preceding volumes in this series are already familiar +with nearly all the people, young and old, of both sexes, whom +they are now to meet again. In the first volume, "_The High School +Freshmen_," our readers became acquainted with Dick Prescott, +Dave Darrin, Greg Holmes, Dan Dalzell, Tom Reade and Harry Hazelton, +six young chums who, back in their days in the Central Grammar +School Gridley, had become fast friends, and had become known +as Dick & Co. + +These chums played together, planned together, entered all sports +together. They were inseparable. All were manly young fellows. +When they entered Gridley High School, and caught the fine High +School spirit prevailing there, they made the honor of the school +even more important than their own companionship. + +In the first year at High School the boys, being mere freshmen, could +not expect to enter any of the school's athletic teams. Yet, +as our readers know, Dick and his friends found many a quiet way +to boost local interest and pride in High School athletics. Dick +& Co. also indulged in many merry and startlingly novel pranks. +Dick secured an amateur position as space reporter on "The Blade," +the morning newspaper of the little city, and was assigned, among +other things, to look after the news end of the transactions of +the Board of Education. The "influence" that young Prescott secured +in that way doubtless saved him from having grave trouble, or +being expelled when, owing to Dr. Thornton's ill-health, Abner +Cantwell, a man with an uncontrollable temper, came temporarily +to the principal's chair. To everybody's great delight, at the +beginning of this their senior year, Dr. Thornton had returned +to his position fully restored to his former vigor and health. + +In "_The High School Pitcher_" Dick & Co., then sophomores, were +shown in some fine work with the Gridley High School nine, and +Dick had serious, even dangerous, Trouble, with mean, treacherous +enemies that he made. + +In "_The High School Left End_," Dick & Co., juniors, made their +real entrance into High School athletics by securing places in +the school football eleven. It was in this year that there occurred +the famous strife between the "soreheads" and their enemies, whom +the former termed the "muckers." The "soreheads" were the sons +of certain aristocratic families who resolved to secede from football +in case any of the members of Dick & Co. or of other poor Gridley +families, were allowed to make places on the team. As the group +of "soreheads" contained a few young men who were really absolutely +necessary to the success of the Gridley High School football eleven, +the strife threatened to put Gridley in the back row as far as +football went. + +But Dick, with his characteristic vigor, went after the "soreheads" +in the columns of "The Blade." He covered them with ridicule +and scorn so that the citizens of the town began to take a hand +in the matter as soon as their public pride was aroused. + +The "soreheads" were driven, then, to apply for places in the +football squad. Only those most needed, however, had been admitted, +and the rest had retired in sullen admission of defeat. + +Two of the latter, Bayliss and Bert Dodge, carried matters so +far, however, that they were actually forced out of the High School +and left Gridley to go to a preparatory school elsewhere. + +The hostile attempts of young Ripley, of Dodge, Drayne and others +to injure Dick & Co. have been fully related in the four volumes +of the "_High School Boys' Vacation Series_." This series deals +with the good times enjoyed by Dick & Co. during their first +three summers as high school boys. These stories are replete +with summer athletics, and a host of exciting adventures. The +four volumes of this Vacation Series are published under the titles: +"_The High School Boys' Canoe Club_," "_The High School Boys in +Summer Camp_," "_The High School Boys Fishing Trip_" and "_The +High School Boys' Training Hike_." + +This present year no "sorehead" movement had been attempted. +Every student who honestly wanted to play football presented himself +at the school gymnasium, on the afternoon named by Coach Morton +for the call, including Drayne, who had been one of the original +"soreheads." Drayne afterwards returned to the football fold, +behaving with absurd childishness at the big Thanksgiving game, +as our readers will recall. + +Leaving Coach Morton, Captain Prescott hurried away to take charge +of the practice. + +"Come, Mr. Drayne!" called Coach Morton "Get into the tackling +work, and be sure to mix it up lively." + +"Just a moment, coach, if you please," begged Drayne. + +"Well, Drayne?" asked Mr. Morton + +"Captain Prescott has just been telling me that I'm to be only +a sort of sub this year." + +"Well, he's captain," replied the submaster. + +"Huh! I thought it was all Prescott's fine work!" sneered Phin. + +"You're wrong there, Mr. Drayne," rejoined the coach frankly. +"As a matter of fact, it was I who suggested that you be cast +for light work this year." + +"Oh!" muttered Drayne + +"Yes; if you feel like blaming anyone, blame me, not Prescott. +You know, Drayne, you didn't behave very well last Thanksgiving +Day." + +"I admit that my behavior was unreasonable, sir. But you know, +Mr. Morton, that I'm one of the valuable men." + +"There's a crowd of valuable men this year, Drayne," smiled the +submaster. + +"On the strongest pledge that I can give you, Mr. Morton, will +you allow me to play regular quarter-back this season?" begged +the quitter of the year before. + +"I would give the idea more thought if Prescott recommended it; +but I doubt if he would," answered Mr. Morton slowly. "Personally, +Drayne, I don't approve of putting you on strong this year. The +quitter's reputation Drayne, is one that can't ever be really +lived down, you know." + +Though coach's manner was mild enough, there was look of the resolute +eyes of this famous college athlete that made Phin Drayne realized +how I hopeless it was to expect any consideration from him. + +"All right then Mr. Morton," he replied huskily. "I'll do my +best on a small showing, and take what comes to me." + +Yet, as he walked slowly over to join the tacklers around the +swinging figure, the hot blood came again to young Drayne's face. + +"I'll make this year a year of sorrow Gridley!" he quivered indignantly. +"I'll hang on, and make believe I'm meek as a lamb, but I'll +spoil Gridley's record for this year! There was in olden times +a chap who had a famous knack for getting square with people who +used him the wrong way. I wish I could remember his name at this +moment." + +Drayne couldn't recall the name at the time, but another name +that might have served Drayne to remember at this instant was--- + +Benedict Arnold. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +A Hint from the Girls + + +There had been nothing rapid in Dick Prescott's elevation to the +captaincy of the eleven. + +Back in the grammar school he had started his apprenticeship in +athletics. During his freshman year in High School he had kept +up his training. In his sophomore year he had trained hard for +and had won honors in the baseball nine. In his junior year, +after harder training that ever, he had performed a season's brilliant +work, playing left end in all the biggest games of the season. + +So now, in his senior and last year at Gridley High School he +had come by degrees to the most envied of all possible positions +in school athletics. + +The election to the football captaincy had not been sought by +Dick. In his junior year it had been offered to him, but he had +declined it, feeling that Wadleigh, both by training and judgement, +was better fitted to lead the eleven on the gridiron. But now, +having reached his senior year, Dick was by far the best leader +possible. Coach and football squad alike conceded it, and the +Alumni Association's Athletics Committee had approved. + +Dick Prescott had grown in years since first we saw him, but not +in conceit. Like all who succeed in this world, he had a good +degree of positiveness in his make-up; but from this he left out +strong self-conceit. In all things, as in his school life, he +was prepared to sacrifice himself along whatever lines pointed +to the best good. + +Dave Darrin, of all the chums, was nearly as well fitted as was +Prescott to lead, though not quite. So Dave, with Dick's own +kind of spirit, fell back willingly into second place. This year +Dave was second captain of the eleven, ready to lead to victory +if Dick should become incapacitated. + +Beyond these, any of the four other chums were almost as well +qualified for leadership. Ability to lead was strong in all the +"partners" of Dick & Co. + +While they were on the field that afternoon all of the six worked +as though football were the sole subject on earth that interested +them. That was the Gridley High School way, and it was the spirit +that Coach Morton always succeeded in putting into worthy young +men. Once back in dressing quarters, however, and under the shower +baths, the talk turned but little on football. + +As soon as they had rubbed down and dressed Dick & Co. went outside +and started back to town---on foot. Time could be saved by taking +the street car, but Dick and his friends believed that a brief +walk, after the practice served to keep the kinks out of their +joints and muscles. + +"What ailed old Drayne this afternoon, Dick?" asked Tom Reade. + +"Why, he told me that he had hoped to play quarter this season." + +"Regular quarter?" demanded Dan Dalzell, opening his eyes very +wide. + +"That was what I gathered, from what he said," nodded Dick. + +"Well, of all the nerve!" muttered Hazelton. + +"The star position---for a fellow with a quitter's record!" + +"I was obliged to say something of the sort" smiled Dick, "though +I tried to say it in a way that wouldn't hurt his feelings." + +"You didn't succeed very well in salving his feelings, if his +looks gave any indication." laughed Greg Holmes quietly. + +"Drayne went over to coach afterwards," added Dave Darrin. "Mr. +Morton didn't seem to give the fellow any more satisfaction than +you did, Dick." + +"Who is to be quarter, anyway?" asked Harry Hazelton. + +"Why, Dave is my first and last choice," Prescott answered frankly. +"But, personally, I'm not going to press him any too hard for +the post." + +"Why not?" challenged Greg. + +"Because everyone will say that I'm playing everything in the +interest of Dick & Co." + +"Dave Darrin is head and shoulders above any other possibility +for quarter-back," insisted Greg, with so much conviction that +Darrin, with mock politeness, turned and lifted his cap in acknowledgment +of the compliment. + +"Then coach and the Athletics Committee are intelligent enough +to find it out," answered the young football captain. + +"That suits me," nodded Dave. "I want to play at quarter; yet, +if I can't make everyone concerned feel that I am the man for +the job, then I haven't made good to a sufficient extent to be +allowed to carry off the honors in a satchel." + +"That's my idea, Darrin," answered Dick. "I believe you have made +good, and so good at that, that I'm going to dodge any charge +of favoritism, and leave it to others to see that you're forced +to take what you deserve." + +"Of course I want to play this season, and I'm training hard to +be at my best," said Reade. "Yet when it's all over, and we've +won every game, good old Gridley style, I shall feel mighty happy." + +"Yes," nodded Harry Hazelton, "and the same thing here." + +"That's because you two are not only attending High School, but +also trying to blaze out your future path in life," laughed Dave. + +"Well, the rest of you fellows had better be serious about your +careers in life," urged Tom. "It isn't every pair of fellows, +of course, who've been as fortunate as Harry and I." + +"No; and all fellows can't be suited by the same chances, which +is a good thing," replied Prescott. "For my part, I wouldn't +find much of any cheer in the thought that I was going to be allowed +to carry a transit, a chain or a leveler's rod through life." + +"Well, we don't expect to be working in the baggage department +of our profession forever," protested Harry Hazelton, with so +much warmth that Dave Darrin chuckled. + +Tom and Harry had decided that civil or railroad engineering, +or both, perhaps, combined with some bridge building, offered +them their best chances of pleasant employment in life. + +Mr. Appleton, a local civil engineer with whom the pair had talked +had offered to take them into his office for preliminary training. +because at the High School, Tom and Harry had already qualified +in the mathematical work necessary for a start. + +No practicing civil engineer in these days feels that he has the +time or the inclination to take a beginner into his office and +teach him all of the work from the ground up. On the other hand, +a boy who has been grounded well in algebra, geometry and trigonometry +may then easily enter the office of a practicing civil engineer +and begin with the tools of the profession. Transit manipulation +and readings, the use of the plummet line, the level, compass, +rod, chain and staking work may all be learned thus and a knowledge +of map drawing imparted to a boy who has a natural talent for +the work. + +It undoubtedly is better for the High School boy to go to a technical +school for his course in civil engineering; yet with a foundation +of mathematics and a sufficient amount of determination, the High +School boy may go direct to the engineer's office and pick up +his profession. Boys have done this, and have afterwards reached +honors in their profession. + +So Tom and Harry had their future picked out, as they saw it. +As soon as they had learned enough of the rudiments, both were +resolved to go out to the far West, and there to pick up more, +much more, right in the camps of engineers engaged in surveying +and laying railroads. + +"You fellows can talk about us going to work in the baggage department +of our profession," pursued Tom Meade, a slight flush on his manly +face. "But, Dick, you and Dave are in the dream department, for +you fellows have only a hazy notion that---perhaps---you may be +able to work your way into the government academies at West Point +and Annapolis. As for Greg and Dan, they don't appear to have +even a dream of what they hope to do in future." + +"You fellows haven't been spreading the news that Dave and I want +to go to Annapolis and West Point, have you!" asked Dick seriously. + +"Now, what do you take us for?" protested Tom indignantly "Don't +we understand well enough that you're both trying to keep it close +secret?" + +As the young men turned into Main Street the merry laughter of +a group of girls came to their ears. + +Four of the High School girls of the senior class had stopped +to chat for a moment. + +Laura Bentley and Belle Meade were there, and both turned quickly +to note Dick and Dave. The other girls in the group were Faith +Kendall and Jessie Vance. + +"Here comes the captain who is going to spoil all of Gridley a +chances this year," laughed Miss Vance. + +"Hush, Jess," reproved Belle, while Laura looked much annoyed. + +I see you have a wholly just appreciation of my merits, Miss Jessie," +smiled Dick, as the boys raised their hats. + +"Oh, what I said is nothing but the silly talk of him Dra-----" +began Jessie lightly, but stopped when she again found herself +under the reproving glances of Laura and Belle. + +Dick glanced at one of the girls in turn, his glance beginning +to show curiosity. + +Laura bit her lip; Belle locked highly indignant. + +Prescott opened his month as though to ask a question, them closed +his lips. + +"I guess you might as well tell them, Laura," hinted Faith Kendall. + +"Oh, nonsense." retorted Miss Bentley, flushing. "It's nothing +at all, especially coming from such a source." + +"Then some one has been giving me the roasting that I plainly +deserve?" laughed Captain Prescott. + +"It's all foolish talk, and I'm sorry the girls couldn't hold +their tongues," cried Laura impatiently. + +"Then I won't ask you what it was," suggested Dick, "since you +don't like to tell me voluntarily." + +"You might as well, Laura," urged Faith. + +"It's that Phin-----" began Jessie. + +"Do be quiet, Jess," urged Belle. + +"Why," explained Laura Bentley, "Phin Drayne just passed us, and +stopped to chat when Jessie spoke to him-----" + +"I didn't," objected Miss Vance indignantly. "I only said good +afternoon, and---" + +"I asked Drayne if he had been out to the field for practice," +continued Laura. "He grunted, and said he'd been out to see how +badly things were going." + +"Then, of course, Laura flared up and asked what he meant by such +talk," broke in the irrepressible Jessie. "Then---ouch!" + +For Belle had slyly pinched the talkative one's arm. + +"Mr. Drayne had a great string to offer us," resumed Laura. "He +said football affairs had never been in as bad shape before, and +he predicted that the team would go to pieces in all the strong +games this year." + +"We have a rule of unswerving loyalty in the history of our eleven," +said Prescott, smiling, though a grim light lurked in his eyes. +"I guess Phin was merely practicing some of that loyalty." + +"None of us care what Drayne thinks, anyway," broke in Dave Darrin +contemptuously. "He wants to play as a regular, and he's slated +only as a possible sub. So I suppose he simply can't see how +the eleven is to win without him. But, making allowances for +human nature, I don't believe we need to roast him for his grouch." + +"I didn't think his talk was worth paying any attention to," added +Laura. "I wouldn't have said anything about it, if it hadn't +leaked out." + +Jessie took this rebuke to herself, and flushed, as she rattled +on: + +"I guess it was no more than mere 'sorehead' talk on Phin Drayne's +part, anyway. Mr. Drayne said he had saved a good deal of his +pocket money, lately, and that he was going to win more money +by betting on Gridley's more classy opponents this season." + +"There's a fine and loyal High School fellow for you!" muttered +Greg. + +"Suppose we all change the subject," proposed Dick good-humoredly. + +Two or three minutes later Dick & Co. again lifted their caps, +then continued on their way. + +"Dick," whispered Dave, "on the whole, I'm glad that was repeated +to us." + +"Why?" + +"It ought to put us on our guard?" + +"Guard? Against whom?" + +"I should say against Phin Drayne." + +"But he's merely offering to bet that we can't win our biggest +games this year," smiled Prescott. "That doesn't prove that we +can't win, does it?" + +"Oh, of course not." + +"Any fellow that will lower himself enough to make wagers on sporting +events shows too little judgment to be entitled to have any spending +money," pursued Prescott. "But, if Drayne has money, and is going +to bet, he won't be entitled to any sympathy when he loses, will +he?" + +"Humph!" grunted Dave. "I'd like to have this matter followed +up. Any fellow who is betting against us ought not to be allowed +to play at all." + +"Oh, it was just the talk of a silly, disappointed fellow," argued +Dick. "I suppose a boy is a good deal like a man, always. There +are some men who imagine that it lends importance to themselves +when they talk loudly and offer to wager money. I'm not going +to offer any bets, Dave, but I feel pretty certain that Drayne +is just talking for effect." + +"His offering to bet against his own crowd would be enough to +justify you in dropping Drayne from the squad altogether," hinted +Greg Holmes. + +"Yes, of course," admitted Dick. "But we had enough of football +soreheads last year. Now, wouldn't it make us look like soreheads +if we took any malicious delight in dropping Drayne from the squad +just because he has been blowing off some steam?" + +"But I wouldn't trust him on the job," snapped Dan Dalzell. "I +believe Phin Drayne would sell out any crowd for sheer spite." + +"Even his country?" asked Dick quietly. + +And there the matter dropped, for the time. Had Dick & Co. and +some other High School fellows but known it, however, Drayne +would have borne close watching. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +Putting the Tag on the Sneak + + +Anything that Dick Prescott had charge of went along at leaps +and bounds. Hence the football eleven was in good shape ten days +earlier than Coach Morton could remember to have happened before. + +"Your eleven is all ready to line up in the field, now, Captain," +announced coach, one afternoon not long after, as the squad came +out from dressing quarters for practice. + +"I'm glad you think so, sir," replied Dick, a flush of pleasure +mantling his cheeks. + +"You have every man in fine condition. Condition couldn't be +better, in fact, for those of the men who are likely to get on +the actual battle line. And all the work is well understood, +too. In fact, Captain, you can all but rest on your oars during +the next fortnight, up to your first game." + +"Hadn't we better go on training hard every day, sir?" inquired +the young captain. + +"Not hard," replied coach, shaking his head. "If you do, you'll +get your men down too fine. Now, there's almost more danger in +having your men overtrained than in having them undertrained. +Your men can be trained too hard and go stale." + +"I've heard of that," Dick nodded thoughtfully. + +"Yes," continued coach, "and I've seen school teams that suffered +from training down too fine. Boys can't stand it. They haven't +as much flesh in training down hard, and they haven't as much +endurance as college men, who are older. Captain, you will train +your men lightly, three afternoons a week. For the rest, see +to it that they stick to all training orders, including diet and +hygiene and no tobacco. But don't work any of the men hard, with +an idea of getting them in still better shape. You can't do it." + +"Then I'd like to make a suggestion, Coach." + +"Go ahead, Captain." + +"You never saw a school team, did you, sir, that understood its +signal work any too well?" + +"Never," laughed Mr. Morton. + +"Then I would suggest, sir, that most of our training time, from +now until the season opens, be spent on drilling in the signals. +We ought to keep at practicing the signals. We ought to get +the signals down better than ever a Gridley team had them before, +sir." + +"You've just the right idea, Captain!" cried Mr. Morton heartily, +resting one hand around Dick's shoulders. "I was going to order +that, but I'm glad you anticipated me." + +"Hudson," called out Prescott, "you head a scrub team. Take the +men you want after I've chosen for the school team." + +Dick rapidly made his choice for the school team. He played center +himself, putting Dave Darrin at quarter, Greg Holmes as left tackle +and Tom Reade as right end. Dalzell and Hazelton were left out, +but they understood, quite well, that this was to avoid showing +favoritism by taking all of Dick & Co. on the star team for practice. + +"Let me play quarter, Hudson," whispered Drayne, going over to +the acting captain of the "scrub." + +"Not this afternoon, anyway," smiled Hudson. "I want Dalzell." + +Drayne fell back. He was not chosen at all for the scrub team. +Yet, as he had nearly a score of companions, out of the large +football squad, he had no special reason to feel hurt. Those +who had not been picked for either team lined up at the sides. +There was a chance that some of them might be called out as subs, +though practice in signal work was hardly likely to result in +any of the players being injured. + +Drayne did not appear to take his mild snub very seriously. + +In fact, after his one outbreak before the team captain, and his +subsequent remarks to the girls, Drayne had appeared to fall in +line, satisfied even to be a member of the school's big squad. + +The ball was placed for a snap-back, and Coach Morton sounded +the whistle. + +"Twelve-nine-seventeen---twenty-eight---four!" called Dave Darrin. + +Then the scrimmage was on in earnest. As soon as the play had +properly developed Mr. Morton blew his whistle, for this was +practice only in the signal part. + +Then Hudson took the ball and Dalzell called off: + +"Nine---eight---thirteen---two!" + +Again the ball was put in play, to be stopped after ten seconds. + +So it went on through the afternoon's work. The substitutes on +the side lines watched with deep interest, for they, too, had +to learn all the signal work. + +Within three afternoons of practice Dick had nearly all of his +players so that they knew every signal, and were instantly ready +to execute their parts in whatever was called for. + +But there was no danger of knowing the signals too well. Captain +Prescott still called out the squad and gave signal work unceasingly. + +"The Gridley boys never jumped so swiftly to carry out their signals +before, Captain," spoke Mr. Morton commendingly. + +"I want to have this line of work ahead of anything that Tottenville +can show next Saturday," Dick replied. + +"I guess you have the Tottenville boys beaten all right," nodded +Mr. Morton. + +Tottenville High School always gave one of the stiffest games +that Gridley had to meet. This season Tottenville was first on +the list. Prescott's young men knew that they had a stiff fight. +It was to take place on the Gridley grounds---that was comfort +to the home eleven. + +The entire student body was now feeling the enthusiasm of the +opening of the season on Saturday. + +The townsmen of Gridley had subscribed as liberally as ever to +the athletics fund. There had also been a fine advance sale of +seats, and the Gridley band had been engaged to make the occasion +a lively one. + +"You'll win, if ever the signs were worth anything, Captain," +remarked Mr. Morton to Prescott, at recess Thursday forenoon. + +"Of course we'll win, sir," laughed Dick. "That's the Gridley +way---that's all. We don't know how to be whipped. I've been +taught that ever since I first entered the High School." + +"Pshaw!" muttered Drayne, who was passing. + +"Don't you believe our chances are good, Mr. Drayne?" asked Mr. +Morton, smiling. + +"I look upon the Gridley chances as being so good, sir," replied +Phin, "that, if I weren't a member of the squad, and a student +of the High School, I think I'd be tempted to bet all I could +raise on Tottenville." + +"Betting is too strong a vice for boys, Mr. Drayne," replied the +submaster, rather stiffly. "And doubt of your own comrades isn't +very good school spirit." + +"I was talking, for the moment, as an outsider," replied Phin +Drayne, flushing. + +"Change around then, Mr. Drayne, and consider yourself, like every +other student of this school, as an insider wherever the Gridley +interests are involved." + +Drayne moved away, a half-sneer on his face. + +"I don't like that young man," muttered Mr. Morton confidentially +to the young captain of the team. + +"I have no violent personal admiration for him," Prescott answered. + +Then the bell sounded, calling all the boys and girls back to +their studies. + +At just about the hour of noon, a young caller strode into the +yard, paused an instant, studying the different entrances of the +High School building, then kept straight on and entered. + +"A visitor for Mr. Prescott, in the reception, room," announced +the teacher in charge of the assembly room. + +Bowing his thanks, Dick passed out of the room, crossed the hall, +entered a small room, and turned to greet his caller. + +A fine-looking, broad-shouldered, bronzed young man of nineteen +rose and came forward, holding out his hand. + +"Do you remember me, Mr. Prescott?" asked the caller heartily. + +"I've played football against you, somewhere," replied Dick, studying +the other's face closely. + +"Yes, I guess you have," laughed the other. "I played with Tottenville +last year. I'm captain this season. Jarvis is my name." + +"Oh, I'm downright glad to see you, Mr. Jarvis," Dick went on. +"Be seated, won't you?" + +"Yes; if you wish. Though I've half a notion that what I have +to say may bring you jumping out of your seat in a moment." + +"Anything happened that you want to postpone the game?" inquired +Prescott, taking a chair opposite his caller. + +"No; we're ready for Saturday, and will give you the stiffest +fight that is in us," returned Jarvis. "But see here, Mr. Prescott, +I'll come direct to the point. Is 'thirty-eight, nine, eleven, +four' your team's signal for a play around the left end, after +quarter has passed the ball to tackle and he to the end?" + +Dick started, despite himself, for that was truly the signal for +that play. + +"Really Mr. Jarvis, you don't expect me to tell you our signals!" +laughed Dick, pretending to be unconcerned. + +But Jarvis called off another signal and interpreted it. + +"From your face I begin to feel sure that I'm reeling off the +right signals," pursued the Tottenville youth. "Now, I'll get +still closer to the point, Mr. Prescott." + +From an inside pocket Jarvis drew forth four typewritten pages, +clamped together and neatly folded. + +"Run your eye over these pages, Mr. Prescott, or as far as you +want to go." + +As Dick read down the pages every vestige of color faded from +his face. + +Here was Gridley's whole elaborate signal code, laid down in black +and white to the last detail. It was all flawlessly correct, +too. + +"Mr. Jarvis," said Dick, looking up, "you've been a gentleman +in this matter. This is our signal code, signal for signal. +It's the code on which we relied for our chance to give your team +a thrashing on Saturday. I thank you for your honesty, sir." + +"Why, I always have rather prided myself on a desire to do the +manly thing," smiled Captain Jarvis. + +"May I ask how this came into your possession?" demanded Dick. + +"It was in our family mail box, this morning, and I took it out +on my way to school," replied Jarvis. "You see, the heading on +the first sheet shows that the document purports to give the Gridley +signals." + +"And it does give them, to a dot," groaned Prescott, paling again. + +"So I showed it to our coach, Mr. Matthews, and to some of the +members of the team," continued Mr. Jarvis. "I would have brought +this to you, in any case, and I'm heartily glad to say that every +one of our fellows agreed that it was the only manly thing to +do." + +"You have won the Gridley gratitude," protested Dick. "This code +couldn't have been tabulated by anyone but a member of our own +squad. No one else had access to this list. There's a Benedict +Arnold somewhere in our crowd," continued Dick, with a sudden +rush of righteous passion. "Oh, I wish we could find him. But +this typewriting, I fear, will give us no conclusive evidence. +Was the address on the envelope in which this came also typewritten?" + +"No," replied Mr. Jarvis. "I opened this communication on the +street, while on my way to school. I tossed the envelope away. +Then I fell to studying this document." + +"You must have thought it a hoax," smiled Dick wearily. + +"I did, at first, yes," continued the Tottenville football captain. +"In fact, I was half of that mind when I left Tottenville to +come here. But I was determined to find out the truth of the +matter. Mr. Prescott, I'm very nearly as sorry as you can be, +to have to bring you this evidence that you have a sneak in Gridley +High School." + +"I'd far rather have lost Saturday's game," choked Prescott, "than +to discover that we've such a sneak in Gridley High School. I'm +fearfully upset. I wish I had any kind of evidence on which to +find this sneak." + +"Have you any suspicions?" + +"That would be too much to say yet." + +"Of course, Mr. Prescott," continued the Tottenville youth, "you'll +now have to revise all your signals. It will be a huge undertaking +between now and Saturday. If you wish to postpone the game, I'll +consent. Our coach has authorized me to say this." + +"I think not," replied Dick, "though on behalf of the team I thank +you. I'll have to speak to our coach, and Mr. Morton is in his +classroom, occupied until the close of the school session." + +"I'll meet you anywhere, Mr. Prescott, after school is over." + +"You're mighty good, Mr. Jarvis," murmured Dick gratefully. "Now, +by the way, if we're to catch the sneak who has done this dastardly +thing, we've got to work fast. We ought not to let the traitor +suspect anything until we're ready to act. Mr. Jarvis, do you +mind leaving here promptly, and going to 'The Morning Blade' office? +If you tell Mr. Pollock that you're waiting for me, he'll give +you a chair and plenty to read." + +"I'm off, then," smiled Jarvis, rising and reaching for his hat. + +"I want to shake hands with you, Jarvis, and to thank you again +for your manly conduct in bringing this thing straight to me." + +"Why, that's almost insulting," retorted Jarvis quizzically. +"Why shouldn't an American High School student be a gentleman? +Wouldn't you have done the same for me, if the thing had been +turned around?" + +"Of course," Dick declared hastily. "But I'm glad that this fell +into your hands. If we had gone into the game, relying on this +signal code-----" + +"We'd have burned you to a crisp on the gridiron," laughed Jarvis. +"But what earthly good would it do our school to win a game that +we got by clasping hands with a sneak and a traitor? Can any +school care to win games in that fashion? But now, I'm off for +'The Blade's office---if your Mr. Pollock doesn't throw me out." + +"He won't," Dick replied, "I'm a member of 'The Blade' staff." + +"Don't go back into assembly room with a face betraying as much +as yours does," whispered Captain Jarvis, over his shoulder. + +"Thank you for the tip," Dick responded. + +When young Prescott stepped back into the general assembly room +his face, though not all the color had returned to it, wore a +smiling expression. He stepped jauntily, with his head well up, +as he moved to his seat. + +For fifteen minutes or more Dick made a pretense of studying his +trigonometry hard. Then, picking up a pen with a careless gesture, +he wrote slowly, with an appearance of indifference, this note: + +_"Dear Mr. Morton: Something of the utmost importance has come +up in connection with the football work. Will you, without mentioning +this note, and without doing anything that can sound the warning +to any other student, meet me at 'The Blade' office as soon as +possible after school is dismissed? I shall go to 'The Blade' +office just as soon as I get away from here, and I shall await +you in the greatest anxiety. + +"Prescott."_ + +This note Dick carried forward and left on the general desk. +It was addressed to Mr. Morton, and marked "immediate." + +When the reciting classes returned, and the teachers followed, +Mr. Morton read his note without change of expression. + +A moment later school was dismissed. + +"In a hurry, Dick?" called Dave, racing after his leader as the +young men made a joyous break away from the school building. + +"Yes," breathed Prescott. "Come along, Dave. But I don't want +the others, for I don't want a crowd." + +"Why, what-----" + +"Quiet, now, old fellow," murmured Dick. "You'll have a big enough +surprise in a few moments." + +They got away together before their other chums had a chance +to catch up. + +"From the look in your face, I'd say that there was something +queer in the air," guessed Dave. + +"There is, Darrin. But wait until the moment comes to talk about it." + +Walking rapidly, the two chums came to "The Blade" office. Jarvis, +who had been sitting at the back of the office, rose as the two +Gridley boys entered. Dick quietly introduced Dave to the young +man from Tottenville who greeted him cordially. + +"Now, we're waiting for one more before we talk," smiled Dick +anxiously. + +At that moment the door opened again, and Mr. Morton entered briskly. + +"Now, Captain, what is your news?" called coach, as he came forward. + +"Why, this is one of the Tottenville team, isn't it?" + +"Mr. Morton, Captain Jarvis, of the Tottenville High School team," +replied Dick, and the two shook hands. + +Then Dick drew the typewritten document from his pocket. They +could talk here, for Mr. Pollock had been the only other occupant +of the room, and that editor has just stepped out to the composing +room. + +"Captain Jarvis received this in the mail this morning, sir," +announced Prescott, in a voice that quivered with emotion. + +Coach glanced through the paper, his face showing plainly what +he felt. Then Dick took the paper and passed it to Dave Darrin, +who sat consumed by curiosity. + +"The abominable traitor---whoever he is!" cried Dave, rising +as though he found his chair red hot. "And I think I can come +pretty near putting the tag on the sneak!" + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +The Traitor Gets His Deserts + + +Mr. Morton hesitated a moment, ere he trusted himself to speak. + +"Yes," he murmured. "I fear we all suspect the same young man." + +"Phin Drayne!" cried Dave, in a voice quivering with anger. + +"I didn't intend to name him," resumed the coach. "It's a serious +thing to do." + +"To sell out one's school---I should say 'yes'!" choked Darrin. + +"No; I meant that it is a fearful thing to accuse anyone until +we have proof that can't be disputed," added Mr. Morton gravely, +though his muscles were twitching as though he had been stricken +by palsy. + +"Listen," begged Dick, "while Mr. Jarvis tells you all he knows +of this dastardly business." + +The Tottenville captain repeated his short tale. Then Coach Morton +asked several rapid questions. But there was no more to be told +than Dick Prescott already knew. + +"I'm tremendously sorry about that envelope," protested Jarvis. +"I'd give anything to be able to hand that envelope over to you, +but I'm afraid I'll never see it again." + +"We appreciate your anxiety to help, Mr. Jarvis, as deeply as +we appreciate your manliness in coming to us without an instant's +delay," replied Mr. Morton, earnestly. + +At this moment the office boy entered with the mail sack. + +"Mr. Pollock!" he bellowed, tossing the sack down on the editor's +desk. Then the office boy hurried to the rear of the building, +intent on other duties. + +Mr. Pollock returned to his desk, opening the mail. The football +folks in the further corner lowered their voices almost to whispers. + +"Letter for you, Dick," called Mr. Pollock, tossing aside an envelope. + +Excusing himself, Dick darted over to get his mail. In an instant +he came back, with a flushed face. + +"Here's something that may interest you all," whispered Dick, +shaking as though fever had seized him. + +Mr. Morton took the sheet of paper, from which he read: + +_"Dear Old Gridleyites: If the enclosed is a fake, it won't work. +If there's really a traitor in your camp you ought to know it. +Milton High School doesn't take any games except by the use of +its own fair fighting devices. +Decker, Captain, +Milton High School +Football Team."_ + +"And here's a duplicate set of our signals, returned by our Milton +friends," went on Dick, with almost a sob in his voice. "Fortunately, +Mr. Decker thought to preserve the envelope that contained our +signal code. Here is the envelope, addressed in some person's +handwriting." + +Coach Morton seized the envelope, staring at it hard. He studied +it with the practiced eye of a school teacher accustomed to overlooking +examination papers in all styles of handwriting. + +"The writer has tried to conceal his handwriting," murmured the +coach, rather brokenly. "Yet I think we may succeed in tracing +it back and fixing it on the sender." + +"Oh!" growled Dave Darrin savagely. "I believe I know on whom +to fasten this handwriting right now." + +"I have a possible offender in mind," replied Mr. Morton more +evenly. "In a case of this kind we must proceed with such absolute +caution and reserve that we will not be obliged to retract afterwards +in deep shame and humiliation." + +"I think I've done all that I can, gentlemen," broke in Mr. Jarvis. +"I think it is my place, now, to draw out of this painful business, +and leave it to you whom it most concerns. But I am happy in +the thought that I have been able to be of some service to you. +I will now state that I am authorized to offer to postpone Saturday's +game, if you wish, so that you may have time in, which to train +up under changed signals." + +"If you consent, sir," proposed Dick, turning to the coach, "we'll +go on with Saturday's game just the same. There has been a big +sale of tickets, the band has been engaged, and a good many arrangements +made that will be expensive to cancel." + +"Can you do it?" asked Mr. Morton, looking doubtfully at thee +young captain of the team. "It's Thursday afternoon, now." + +"I feel that we've got to do it, sir," Dick replied doggedly. +"Yes, sir; we'll make it, somehow." + +So the matter was arranged. The Gridleyites followed Jarvis out +to the sidewalk, where they renewed their assurances of regard +for the attitude taken by Tottenville High School. Then Jarvis +hurried away to catch a train home. + +"Now, young gentlemen," proposed Mr. Morton, "we'll go home and +see whether we can engender the idea of eating any lunch, after +this unmasking of villainy in our own crowd. But at half past +two promptly to the minute, meet me at the High School. Remember, +we've practice on for half past three." + +"Of all the mean, contemptible-----" began Darrin, after the submaster +had left them. + +"Stop right there, Dave!" begged his chum. "This is the most +fearful thing we've ever met, and we both want to think carefully +before we trust ourselves to say another word on the shameful +subject." + +So the two chums walked along in silence, soon parting to take +their different ways home. + +At half-past two both chums met Mr. Morton at the High School. +The submaster led the way to the office, producing his keys and +unlocking the door. They had moved in silence so far. + +"Take seats, please," requested Mr. Morton, in a low voice. "I'll +be with you in a moment." + +The submaster then stepped over to a huge filing cabinet. Unlocking +one of the sections, he looked busily through, then came back +with a paper in his hand. + +"I think I know whom you both suspect," began coach. + +"Phin Drayne," spoke Dick, without hesitation. + +"Yes. Well here is Drayne's recent examination paper in modern +literature. It is, of course, in his own handwriting." + +Eagerly the two football men and their coach bent over to compare +Drayne's handwriting with that on the envelope that had come back +from Milton. + +"There has been an attempt at disguise," announced Mr. Morton, +using a magnifying glass over the two specimens of writing. "Yet +I am rather sure, in my own mind, that a handwriting expert would +pronounce both specimens to have been written by the same hand." + +"We've nailed Drayne, then," muttered Darrin vengefully. + +"It looks like it," assented Mr. Morton. "However, we'll go slowly. +For the present I'll put this examination paper with our other +'exhibits' and secure them all carefully in my inside pocket. +Now, then, let us make our pencils fly for a while in getting +up a revised code of signals." + +It was not a long task after all. From the two typewritten copies +Dick copied the first half of the plays, Dave the latter. Then +Coach Morton went over the new sheets, rapidly jotting down new +figures that should make all plain. + +"Ten minutes past three," muttered coach, thrusting all the papers +in his inside pocket and buttoning his coat. "Now, we'll have +to take a car and get up to the field on the jump." + +"But, oh, the task of drilling all the new calls into the fellows +between now and Saturday afternoon!" groaned Dave Darrin, in a +tone that suggested real misery. + +"We'll do it," retorted Captain Dick. "We've got to!" + +"And to make the boys forget all the old calls, so that they won't +mix the signals!" muttered Dave disconsolately. + +"We'll do it!" + +It was Coach Morton who took up the refrain this time. And it +was Prescott who added: + +"We've got to do it. Nothing is impossible, when one must!" + +It was just twenty-five minutes past three when the coach and +his two younger companions turned around the corner of the athletic +grounds and slipped in through the gate. + +Most of the fellows were in the dressing quarters. + +Phin Drayne sat on the edge of a locker chest. One of his feet +lay across the knee of the other leg. He was in the act of unlacing +one of his street shoes when Coach Morton called to him. + +"Me?" asked Phin, looking up quickly. + +"Yes," said Mr. Morton quietly. "I want to post you about something." + +"Oh, all right; right with you, sir," returned Phin, leaping up +and following the coach outside. + +"What is it?" asked Phin, beginning to feel uneasy. + +"Come along where the others can't hear," replied Mr. Morton, +taking hold of Drayne's nearer elbow. + +Phin turned white now. He went along, saying nothing, until Mr. +Morton halted by the outer gate. + +"Pass through, Drayne---and never let us see your face inside +this gate again." + +"But why? What----" + +"Ask your conscience!" snapped back the coach. "You'd better +travel fast! I'm going back to talk to the other fellows!" + +Mr. Morton was gone. For an instant Phin Drayne stood there as +though he would brave out this assertion of authority. Then, +seized by another impulse, he turned and made rapidly for a town-bound +street car that was heading his way. + +"What's up?" asked two or three of the fellows of Dick Prescott. +Perceiving something out of the usual, they spoke in the same +breath. + +"Oh, if there's anything to tell you," spoke Prescott, suppressing +a pretended yawn, "Mr. Morton may tell you----some time." + +But Mr. Morton was soon back. Knocking on the wall for attention, +he told, in as few and as crisp sentences as he could command, +the whole story, as far as known. + +"Now, young gentlemen," wound up the coach, "we must practice +the new signals like wild fire. There's mustn't be a single slip +not a solitary break in our game with Tottenville. And that game +will begin at three-thirty on Saturday! + +"In reverting to Drayne, I wish to impress upon you all, with +the greatest emphasis, that this must be treated by you all with +the utmost secrecy until we are prepared, with proofs, to go further! +If it should turn out that we're wrong in our suspicions, we'll +turn and give Phineas Drayne the biggest and most complete public +apology that a wronged man ever received." + +"All out to practice the new signals!" shouted Prescott, the +young captain of the team. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +"Brass" for an Armor Plate + + +Thursday night and Friday morning more copies of the betrayed +signals poured in upon Captain Dick. + +Wherever these signals had been received by captains of other +school teams, it soon appeared, these captains of rival elevens +had punctually mailed them back. It spoke volumes for the honor +of the American schoolboy, for Gridley High School was feared +far and wide on the gridiron, and there was not an eleven in the +state but would have welcomed an honorable way of beating Prescott's +men. + +Moreover, working on Dick's suggestion, Mr. Morton busied himself +with securing several letters that had been received from Drayne's +father. + +These letters were compared, Friday evening, with the copies of +the signals that had been sent to other elevens. Under a magnifying +glass these collected papers all exhibited one fact that the letters +and the copies of the signal code had been struck off on a machine +having the same peculiarities as to worn faces of certain types. +It was thus rather clearly established that Phin Drayne must +have used the typewriting machine that stood in his father's office. + +Drayne was not at school on Friday. Instead, an excuse of illness +was received from him. + +Nor did Mr. Morton say anything to Dr. Thornton, the principal, +until the end of the school week. + +Just after school had been dismissed, at one o'clock Friday afternoon, +Mr. Morton called Dr. Thornton to the private office, and there +laid before him the charges and the proofs. + +That fine old gentleman was overwhelmed with grief that "one of +his boys" should have done such an utterly mean, wanton and dishonorable +thing. + +"This can't be passed by, Mr. Morton," exclaimed Dr. Thornton +brokenly. "If you will kindly leave the proofs in my hands, I +will see that the whole matter is taken up officially." + +Friday afternoon the football squad met for more practice with +the new signals. Friday evening each young man who was scheduled +as being even likely to play the next day studied over the signals +at home, then, under orders, burned his copy of the code. Saturday +morning the squad met for some more practice, though not much. + +"I believe all of us are in trim now, sir," Captain Prescott reported +to the coach. "I am rather sure all of our men know the new signals +by heart, and there'll be no confusion. But, of course, for the +first game, the old snap of our recent practice will be missing. +It has been a hard blow to us." + +"If we have to lose to-day's game," muttered Mr. Morton, "I'll +be almost satisfied to lose it to Tottenville, after the manly +and straightout conduct of Mr. Jarvis!" + +"That same line of thought would make us content to go through +a losing season, for all the fellows in other towns who received +that betrayed code sent the information right back to us," smiled +Prescott. "But we're not going to lose to-day's game, Mr. Morton, +nor any other day's. Drayne's treachery has just about crazed +the other fellows with anger. They'll win everything ahead of +'em, now, just for spite and disgust, if for no better reason." + +"Sometimes anger serves a good purpose," laughed Mr. Morton. +"But it was pitiful to look at poor old Dr. Thornton yesterday +afternoon. At first I thought he was going to faint. He seemed +suddenly to grow ten years older. It cut him to the quick. He +loves every one of his boys, and to have one of them go bad is +just as painful to him as to see his own son sent to the penitentiary." + +"Is Dr. Thornton coming to the game this afternoon, sir?" + +"Yes; he has never missed one yet, in any year that he has been +principal of Gridley High School." + +"Then we'll make that fine old American gentleman feel all right +again by the grand game that we'll put up," promised Dick vehemently. +"I'll pass the word, and the fellows will strain themselves to +the last drop." + +Orders were issued to the gate tenders to throw Drayne out if +he presented himself at the gate. + +Drayne did put in an appearance, and he got through the gate to +a seat on the grand stand, but it was no fault of the gate tenders. + +Drayne had spent some of his spare money at the costumer's. With +his trim, rather slim figure Phin Drayne made up rather well as +a girl. He wore black---mourning throughout, perhaps in memory +of his departed honor---and a heavy veil covered his face. In +this disguise Drayne sat where he could see what would happen. + +At the outset it was Gridley's kick off, and for the next ten +minutes Tottenville had the ball, fighting stubbornly with it. +But at last, when forced half way down the field between center +and its own goal line, Gridley blocked so well in the three following +plays that the pigskin came to the home eleven. + +Dick bent over, holding the ball for the snapback, while his battle +front formed on each side of him. + +Dave Darrin, quarter-back, raced back a few steps, then halted, +looking keenly, swiftly over the field. + +Phin Drayne drew his breath sharply. Then his heart almost stopped +beating as he listened. + +"Thirty-eight---nine---eleven---four!" sounded Darrin's voice, +sharp and clear. + +"That's the run around the left end!" throbbed Phin Drayne. + +But it wasn't. A fake kick, followed by a cyclonic impact at +the right followed. + +"They've changed the signals!" gulped the guilty masquerader behind +the black veil. "Then they've found out." + +With this came the next disheartening thought: + +"That's the reason, then, why the coach ordered me out of the field +Thursday afternoon. Morton is wise. I wonder if he has told it +all around?" + +Gridley High School was doing some of its brilliant, old-style +play now. Prescott was proving himself an ideal captain, quick-witted, +full of strategy, force, push and dash, yet all the while displaying +the best of cool judgment in sizing up the chances of the hard +battle. + +But that which Phin Drayne noted most of all was that every signal +used had a different meaning from that employed in the code he +had mailed to the captains of the other school teams. + +"It was all found out, and Gridley wasn't hurt," thought Phin, +gnashing his teeth. "Good luck always seems to follow that fellow +Prescott! Can't he be beaten? We shall see! Prescott, my fine +bully, I'm not through with you yet." + +The first half ended without either side scoring. Impartial onlookers +thought that perhaps formidable Tottenville had had rather the +better of it, but no one could tell with certainty which was the +better team. + +When neither side scores in the first half that which remains +to be determined is, which side will show the bigger reserve of +vitality in the second half. + +And now the ball was off again, with twenty-two men pursuing and +fighting for it as though the fate of the nation hung on the result. +Dick, too, soon had things moving at a gait that had all Gridley +standing up and boosting with all the powers of lungs, hands and +feet. + +All that remained to interest Phin Drayne was to discover whether +his late comrades had sufficiently mastered their new signals +not to fail in their team work. + +Once in the second half there was a brief fluster. Two Gridley +men went "woozy" over the same signal. But alert Dave Darrin +rushed in and snatched a clever advantage out of momentary confusion. + +After that there was no more confusion. Gridley took the game +by a single touchdown, failing in the subsequent kick for goal. +Five minutes later time expired. + +Feeling doubly contemptible now, and sick at heart, Phin Drayne +crawled weakly down from the grand stand. He made his way out +in the throng, undetected. He returned to the costumer's, got +off his sneaking garb and donned his own clothing, then slipped +away out through a back door that opened on an alleyway. + +Not until Sunday afternoon did Drayne yield to the desire to +get out of doors. His training life had made outer air a necessity +to him, so he yielded to the desire. But he kept to back streets. + +Just as luck would have it, Drayne came suddenly face to face +with Dr. Thornton. + +The good old principal had a fixed belief which followed the practice +of American law, to the effect that every accused man is innocent +until he has been proved guilty. + +In addition, the doctor had recovered a good deal from his first +depression. Therefore he was able to meet this offending pupil +as he would want to under the circumstances. + +"Good afternoon, Mr. Drayne," was Dr. Thornton's courteous greeting. +"It is beautiful; weather to be out, isn't it?" + +"It is a perfect day, sir," Drayne replied. + +Once he had gotten past the principal the young wretch gave way +to his exultation. + +"No charge has been made, then," he told himself gloatingly. +"If I had been denounced, the Prin. could hardly have been as +gracious. Well, hang it all, what are charges going to amount +to, anyway?" + +At the High School Monday morning, both before school and at recess, +the members of the football squad cut Drayne dead. + +"They suspect me, but they can't prove anything, anyway," chuckled +the traitor to himself. "Brass, Phin, my boy! Brass! That is +bound to win out when the clodhoppers can't prove a blessed thing." + +As none of the students outside of the squad showed any especial +inclination to cut him, Phin felt almost wholly reassured. + +"It would be libelous, anyway, if the gang passed around a word +that they couldn't prove," chuckled Drayne. "So I guess those +that may be doing a heap of thinking will have caution enough +to keep their mouths shut, anyway," + +That afternoon, after luncheon, Phin Drayne took a long tramp +over country roads at the back of the big town. It was five o'clock +when he returned. + +"Here's a note for you, on High School stationery," said Mrs. +Drayne, putting an envelope in her son's hand. "It came some +time ago." + +Something warned the fellow not to open the envelope there. He +took it to his room, where he read the letter. It was from Dr. +Thornton, and said only: + +_"You are directed to appear before the Board of Education at +its stated weekly meeting to-night. This is urgent, and you are +warned not to fail in giving this summons due heed."_ + +In an instant Phin was white with fear. His legs trembled under +him, and cold sweat stood out on his neck, face and forehead. + +For some moments the young man acted as though in danger of collapse. +Then he staggered over to the tap at his washbowl, and gulped +down a glass of water. He paced the room restlessly for a long +time, and finally went over and stood looking out of the window. + +"Young man," he said to himself severely, "you've got to brace, +and brace hard. If you haven't any nerve, then getting square +is too strenuous a game for you? Now, what can that gang prove? +They can suspect, and they can charge, but my denial is fully +as good as any other man's affirmation. Go before the Board of + Education? Of course I will. And I'll make any accuser of mine +look mighty small before that august board of local duffers!" + +Brave words! They cheered the young miscreant, anyway. Phin +ate his supper with something like relish. Afterwards he set +out for the High School building, in which the Board had its offices. +Nor did his courage fail him until he had turned in through the +gate. + +A young man, whistling blithely, came in behind him. It was Dick +Prescott, erect of carriage, and brisk and strong of stride, as +becomes a young athlete whose conscience is clear and wholesome. + +"Hullo, Prescott, what are you doing around here to-night?" hailed +Drayne. + +But Dick seemed not to have heard. Not a note did he drop in +the tune that he was whistling. Springing up the steps ahead, +Dick vanished behind the big door. + +"Oh, of course he goes here to-night," thought Phin, with sudden +disgust. "Prescott scribbles for 'The Blade' and the Board of +Education is one of his stunts each week." + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +One of the Fallen + + +For a few moments Drayne hung about outside, irresolute. Then +his native shrewdness asserted itself. + +"Not to go in, after having been seen here in the yard would be +to confess whatever anyone wants to charge," muttered Phin. "Of +course I'll go in. And I'll just stand there and look more and +more astounded every time that anyone says anything. Brass, +Phin---brass! Oh, I'd like to see anyone down me!" + +So, with all the swagger he could put on, this young Benedict +Arnold of the school stepped into the Board room. As he entered, +the clerk of the Board hastened toward him. + +"Step into this anteroom at the side, Mr. Drayne, until you're +called," the clerk directed. "There will be some routine business +to be transacted first. Then, I believe, the Board has a few +questions it desires to ask you." + +Left by himself, the young man began to be a good bit frightened. +He was brave enough in matters requiring only physical courage. +But in this instance the culprit knew that he had been guilty +of a contemptibly mean act, and the knowledge of it made a moral +coward of him. + +"What are they doing? Trying to sentence, me to solitary confinement?" +wondered the young man, when minute after minute went by without +any call for him. In the Board room he could hear the droning +of voices. + +"And that Dick Prescott is out there, sitting at a reporter's +table, ready to take in all that happens," muttered Phin savagely. +"Won't he enjoy himself, though?" + +At last it seemed to Phin as though a hush fell over those in +the next room. But it was only that voices had been much lowered. + +Then a door opened, the clerk looking in and calling: + +"Mr. Drayne, will you come before the Board now?" + +Phin passed into the larger apartment. Seated in one chair was +Dr. Thornton; in another chair Mr. Morton. And Dick Prescott +was there, but gathering up his writing materials as though about +to go. + +The chairman waited in silence until Prescott had passed out of +the Board room. After the clerk had closed the door the chairman +announced: + +"The Board is now in executive session. Dr. Thornton, we will +listen to the matter which we understand you wish to bring before +us for consideration." + +Composedly Dr. Thornton stepped to the edge of the table, standing +there, resting his left hand on the table as he began to speak. + +In simple words, without any visible emotion, the High School +principal stated what he understood of the receipt of copies of +the football signal code by the captains of rival football elevens. + +Next Mr. Morton took the stand, so to speak, and went much more +into detail. He told what the reader already knows, producing +several of the copies returned by the honorable captains of other +school teams. + +Then Mr. Morton put in evidence, with these copies of the code, +copies of business letters received from Drayne's father, and +presumably written on the Drayne office machine. + +"If you examine these exhibits, gentlemen, I think you will agree +that the betrayed code and the business letters were written on +one and the same machine. The use of the magnifying glass makes +it even more plain." + +Then Mr. Morton sat down. + +"Now, young Mr. Drayne, what have you to say?" demanded the presiding +officer. + +"Why should I say anything, sir?" demand Drayne, with an impudent +assumption of swaggering ease. + +"Then you admit the truth of the charges, Mr. Drayne?" + +"I do not." + +"Then you must really have something to say." + +"I have heard a charge made against me. I am waiting to have +it proved." + +"Do you admit," asked the presiding officer, "that these copies +of the code were written on your father's office machine?" + +"I do not, sir. But, if it be true, is that any proof that I +made those copies of the signal code? Is it argued that I alone +have access to the typewriter in my father's office. For that +matter, if I have an enemy in the High School and I must have +several---wouldn't it be possible for that enemy, or several of +them, to slyly break into my father's office and use that particular +typewriting machine?" + +This was confidently delivered, and it made an undoubted impression +on at least two or three members of the Board. But now Mr. Morton +broke in, quietly: + +"I thought some such attempt as this might be made. So I waited +until I saw what the young man's line of defense might be. Here +is an envelope in which one of the copies was received by the +captain of a rival football team. You will note that the sender, +while understanding something about the use of a type machine, +was plainly a novice in directing an envelope on the typewriter. +So he addressed this envelope in handwriting. Here is the envelope +in question, and here is one of Mr. Drayne's school examination +papers, also in his own handwriting. I will ask the members of +the Board to examine both." + +There was silence, while the copies passed from hand to hand, +Drayne losing color at this point. + +"Be brassy!" he whispered to himself. "You'll pull through, Phin, +old boy." + +"I am sorry to say, Mr. Drayne, that the evidence appears to be +against you," declared the chairman slowly. + +"It may, sir," returned the boy, "but it isn't conclusive evidence." + +"Have you anything more to say, Mr. Morton?" asked the chairman, +looking at the submaster. + +"Plenty, Mr. Chairman, if the Board will listen to me." + +"Proceed, Mr. Morton." + +The football coach thereupon launched into a swiftly spoken tirade +against the "brand of coward and sneak" who would betray his school +in such a fashion. Without naming Phin, Mr. Morton analyzed the +motives and the character of such a sneak, and he did it mercilessly, +although in the most parliamentary language. Nor did he look +toward the boy, but Phin was squirming under the lash, his face +alternately red or ghastly. + +"For such a scoundrel," continued Mr. Morton, "there is no hope +greater than the penitentiary! He is fit for nothing else. Such +a traitor would betray his best friend, or his country. Such +a sneak would be dead to all feelings of generosity. The smallest +meannesses must envelop his soul. Why, sir, the sender of these +copies of the signal code was so mean, so small minded, so sneaking +and so utterly selfish"---how Phin squirmed in his seat!---"that, +in sending the envelopes through the mail he was not even man +enough to pay full postage. Four cents was the postage required +for each envelope, but this small-souled sneak, this ungenerous +leech actually made the receivers pay half of the postage on 'due-postage' +stamps." + +"I didn't!" fairly screamed red-faced Phin, leaping up out of +his chair. "I stuck a four-cent stamp on each envelope myself! +I remem-----" + +Of a sudden he stopped in his impetuous burst of language. A +great hush fell in the room. Phin felt himself reeling with a +new fright. + +"Then," demanded Mr. Morton, in a very low voice, his face white, +"why did you deny having sent out these envelopes containing the +copies of the code?" + +There was a shuffling of feet. Two or three of the Board laughed +harshly. + +"Oh, well!" burst almost incoherently from the trapped boy. "When +you employ such methods as these you make a fellow tell on himself!" + +All his 'brass' was gone now. He looked, indeed, a most pitiable +object as he stood there, his lower jaw drooped and his cheeks +twitching. + +"I think you have said about all, Mr. Drayne, that it is necessary +for you to say," interposed the chairman. "Still, in the interest +of fair play we will allow you to make any further statements that +you may wish to make. Have you anything to offer?" + +"No!" he uttered, at last, gruffly. + +At a sign from the chairman the clerk stepped silently over, took +Phin by one elbow, and led him to the door. Phin passed on out +of the building, stumbling blindly. He got home, somehow, and +into bed. + +In the morning, however, even a sneak is braver. + +"What can they do to me, anyway?" muttered Phin, as he dressed. +"I didn't break any of the laws of the state! All anyone can +do is to cut me. I'll show 'em all how little I care for their +contempt." + +So it was not wholly in awe that Phin Drayne entered the general +assembly room the next morning, a few minutes before opening time. +Several of the students greeted him pleasantly enough. Phin +was quick to conclude that the news had not leaked anyway, beyond +the members of the football squad. + +Then came the opening of the session. The singing books lay on +the desks before the students. Instead, however, of calling out +the page on which the morning's music would be found, Dr. Thornton +held his little gavel in his hand, after giving a preliminary +rap or two on his desk. + +"I have something to say to the students of the school this morning," +began Dr. Thornton, in a low but steady voice. "It is something +which, I am happy to state, I have never before been called upon +to say. + +"One of the most valuable qualities in any man or woman is loyalty. +All of us know, from our studies in history and literature, many +conspicuous and noble examples of loyalty. We have also, in our +mind's eye, some examples of the opposite qualities, disloyalty +and treachery. Outside of sacred history one of the most conspicuous +examples of betrayal was that of Benedict Arnold." + +Every boy and girl now had his eyes turned fixedly on the old +principal. Outside of the football squad no student had any idea +what was coming. Phin tried to look wholly unconscious. + +Dr. Thornton spoke a little more on the meanness of treachery +and betrayal. Then, looking straight over at the middle of the +third aisle on the boys' side of the room, the principal commanded: + +"Mr. Drayne, stand by your desk!" + +Phin was up, hardly knowing how he accomplished the move. Every +pair of eyes in the room was focused on him. + +"Mr. Drayne," continued the principal, and now there was a steely +glitter of contempt in the old man's eyes, "you were displeased +because you did not attain to as high honors on the football eleven +as you had hoped. In revenge you made copies of the code signals +of the team, and mailed a copy to the captain of nearly every +team against which Gridley High School is to play this year." + +There came, from all parts of the room, a gasp of incredulous +amazement. + +"Your infamy, your treachery and betrayal, Mr. Drayne, were +traced back to you," continued the principal. "You were forced +to admit it, last night, before the Board of Education. That +Board has passed sentence in your case. Mr. Drayne, you are found +utterly unfit to associate with the decent manhood and womanhood +to be found in the student body of this High School. By the decision +of the Board you are now expelled from this school. You will +take your books and belongings and leave instantly. You will +never presume to enter through the doors of this school again. +Go, sir!" + +From Phin came an angry snarl of defiance. He tried to shout +out, to tell the principal and his late fellow students how little, +or less than little, he cared about their opinions. + +But the words stuck in his throat. Ere he could try again, a +hiss arose from one quarter of the room. The hiss grew and swelled. +Phin realized, though he dared not look about him any longer, +that the hissing came as much from the girls as from the boys. + +Drayne did not attempt to bend over his desk. Instead, he marched +swiftly down the half of the aisle, then past the platform toward +the door. + +"Mr. Drayne," called Dr. Thornton, "you have not taken your books, +or paper or other desk materials." + +"I leave them, sir," shouted Phin, above the tumult of hissing, +"for the use of some of your many pauper students." + +Then he went out, slamming the door after him. He darted down +to the basement, then waited before the locker door until one +of the monitors came down, unlocked the door, and allowed Phin +to get his hat. But the monitor never looked at him, or spoke. + +Once out of the building, Phin could keep back the choking sob +and tears no longer. Stealing down a side street, where he would +have to pass few people, Phin gave way to his pent-up shame. +Yet in it all there was nothing of repentance. He was angry +with himself---in a fiendish rage toward others. + +Afterwards, he learned that the books and other contents of his +desk were burned in the school yard at recess, to the singing +of a dirge. But, even for the purpose of making a bonfire of +his books the students would not touch the articles with their +hands. They coaxed the janitor to find a pair of tongs, and with +this implement Phin's books and papers were conveyed to the purifying +blaze. + +Behind the door in the privacy of his own room Phin Drayne shook +his fist at the surrounding air. + +"I have one mission in life, now, anyway!" raged the boy. "I've +got some cruel scores to pay. You, Dick Prescott, shall come +in for a large share of the payment! No matter how long I have +to wait and plan, or what I have to risk, you shan't get away +from me!" + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +Dick Meets the Boy-with-a-Kick + + +Evil thoughts can never be cherished, day after day, without leading +the more daring or brutal into some form of crime. + +Phin, the first three or four times he tried to appear on Main +Street, was "spotted" and hissed by High School boys. + +Even the boys of the lower schools heard the news, and took up +the hissing with great zest. + +So Phin was forced to remain indoors during the day, which drove +him out by night, instead. + +Had he been older, and known more of human nature, he would have +known that the hissing would soon die out, and thereafter he would +meet only cold looks. + +At home, be sure Phin was not happy. His mother, a good woman, +suffered in silence, saying little to her son. + +Phin's father, a hard-headed and not over scrupulous man of business, +looked upon the incident of expulsion as a mere phase in life. +He thought it "would do the boy good, and teach him to be more +clever." + +Gridley met Milton High School and scored another victory, Milton +taking only two points on a safety that Gridley was forced to +make. + +And now the game with Chester was looming up ahead. It was due +for the coming Saturday. + +Three times a week, Dick Prescott had his squad out for drill +and practice, though he was careful to follow Mr. Morton's suggestion +not to get the young men trained down "too fine." + +Early one evening in mid-week, Dick sat at his desk in "The Blade" +office, "grinding out" some local copy. He was in a hurry to +finish, for he was due to be in bed soon. Every member of team +and squad was pledged to keep early hours of retiring on every +night but Saturday. + +In another chair, near by, sat Dave Darrin, who dropped in to +speak with his chum, and was now waiting until they could stroll +down Main Street together. + +"I've just thought of something I want to do, Dick," muttered +Dave suddenly. "I'll jump out and attend to it, now. Walk down +Main Street, when you're through, and you'll run into me." + +Prescott, nodding, went on with his writing, turning out page +after page. Then he rose, placing the sheets on News Editor Bradley's +desk. + +"I'm pretty sure you'll find it all right, Mr. Bradley," declared +Dick. "Now, I must get home, for I'm due in bed in half an hour." + +"Training and newspaper work don't go well together," laughed +the news editor. "However, your football season will soon be +over. This time next year you'll be through with High School, +and I hope you'll be with us then altogether." + +"I don't know about that, Mr. Bradley," smiled Dick, picking up +his hat and starting for the door. "But I do know that I like +newspaper work mighty well. When a fellow is writing for a paper +he seems to be alive all the time, and right up to the minute." + +"That youngster may come to us for a while, after he gets out +of High School," called Mr. Pollock, across the room, after Prescott +had, gone out. "But he won't stay long on a small daily. A youngster +with all his hustle is sure to pull out, soon, for one of the +big city dailies. The country towns can't hold 'em." + +Dick went briskly down the street, whistling blithely, as a boy +will do when he's healthy and his conscience is clear. + +A block below another boy, betraying the hang-dog spirit only +too plainly, turned the corner into Main Street. + +It was Phin Drayne, out for one of his night walks. Fearing that +he might be insulted, and get into a fight with some one, Drayne +had armed himself with one of his father's canes. The stick had +a crook for a handle. + +Prescott caught a glimpse of the other boy's face; then he turned +away, hastening on. + +"I'm not even worth looking at," muttered Phin to himself. + +Just as Dick went past, Phin seized the cane by the ferule end, +and lunged out quickly. + +The crook caught neatly around one of Dick's ankles just as the +foot was lifted. + +Like a flash Prescott went down. One less nimble, and having +had less training, might have been in for a split kneecap. But +Dick was too much master of his body and its movements. He went +down to his hands, then touched lightly on his knees. + +Phin laughed sneeringly as Dick sprang up, unhurt. + +"Keep out of my way, after this---you less-than-nothing!" muttered +Dick between his teeth. "I don't want to have to even hit a thing +like you!" + +"You'll show good judgment, Mr. Big-head, if you don't try it," +jeered Drayne, menacing Dick with the cane. + +The color came into Dick's face. Leaping forward, with all the +adroitness of the born tackler, he caught that cane, just as it +descended, and wrenched it out of Phin Drayne's cowardly, hand. + +Crack! Dick broke it in two across his knee, then tossed the +pieces into the street. + +"You'll never be able to do anything better than a sneaky act," +muttered Dick contemptuously, turning to walk on. + +With a smothered cry Phin Drayne leaped forward to strike Prescott +down from behind. + +Dick was around again like a flash, one fist striking up the arm +with which the sneak had aimed his blow. + +"Stand off, and keep away," advised Prescott coldly. + +"I won't; I'll thrash you!" hissed Phin. + +There was nothing for Dick to do but put up his guard, which he +did with great promptness. Drayne danced around him, seeking +a good point at which to close in. + +Prescott had no notion of fighting; neither did he propose to +take an assault meekly. + +"Look out!" yelled Drayne, suddenly rushing in. + +"Certainly," mocked Prescott coolly. + +He shot up Phin's arm as easily as could have been desired. With +his right he parried another blow. + +"Get out of this, and go about your business," advised Dick sternly. + +"Think I'll take any orders from you?" snarled Phin. "I'll-----" + +He continued to crowd in, hammering blows. Dick parried, but +did not attempt to retaliate. The truth was, he felt secretly +sorry for the fellow who had fallen as low as Phin. + +But Drayne was no coward physically, when his blood was up. It +drove him to fever heat, now, to see how easily the captain of +the football team repulsed him. + +"I'll get your wind going, and then I'll hammer you for fair!" +snarled Drayne. + +"Mistake there, somewhere," retorted Dick coolly. + +But Drayne was coming in, harder and harder. Dick simply had +to do something. So, after he had parried more than a score of +blows the young football captain suddenly took a springy step +forward, shot up Phin's guard, and landed a staggering blow on +the nose. Phin began to reel. Dick hit him more lightly on the +chest, yet with force enough to "follow up" and send to his knees. + +"Here, what's this?" called a voice, and a heavy hand seized Dick +by the collar behind, pulling him back. + +It was Heathcote Drayne, Phin's father, a powerful man, who now +held Prescott. + +Phin was quickly upon his feet and start forward. + +From across the street sounded a warning cry, followed by footsteps. + +"Now, I've got you!" cried Phin exultantly. He struck, and landed, +on Dick's cheek. + +"Stop that, Phin!" shouted his father, without letting go of Dick's +collar, however. Phin, however, instead of obeying, aimed another +blow, and would have landed, had not another figure bounded in +and taken the blow, next hurling Phin back against a brick wall. + +It was Len Spencer, "star" reporter of "The Blade," who had thus +interfered. And now Dave Darrin was dancing in front of Heathcote +Drayne, ordering: + +"Let go of Prescott! What sort of fair play is this?" + +"Mind your own business!" ordered Mr. Drayne. "I'm stopping a +fight." + +Not an instant did impulsive Darrin waste in arguing the matter. +He landed his fist just under Heathcote Drayne's left eye, causing +that Heathcote to let go of Dick in a hurry. + +"You young scoundrel!" glared Mr. Drayne, glaring at Dave. + +"Opinions may differ as to who the scoundrel is," retorted Dave +unconcernedly. "My own notions of fair play are against holding +one of the parties in a fight so that the other may hammer him." + +"I'll have you arrested for this assault," stormed Mr. Drayne, +applying a handkerchief to the bruised spot under his eye. "Both +you and Prescott---your ruffian friend for assaulting my son. + +"Go ahead and do it," retorted Dave. "As it happens, your son +did all the assaulting, and Prescott, who didn't care about fighting +with such a thing, only defended himself. We saw it all from +across the street, but we didn't come across to interfere until +we had to." + +"I'll take some of your impudence out of you in the police court," +insisted Mr. Drayne. + +"Yes, I would, if I were you," broke in Len Spencer coolly. "I +saw this whole business, too, and I'll take pleasure in testifying +against you both. Mr. Drayne, you didn't see the start of this +thing, and I did. But you, at least, know that your son is a +moral leper kicked out of the High School because he was not decent +enough to associate with the other students. I wouldn't be surprised +if he gets some of his bad qualities from you, sir" + +"You'll sing a different tune in court," asserted Heathcote Drayne +heatedly. + +"So will you," laughed Len Spencer. "By the way, I see a policeman +down the street. If you want to prefer a charge, Mr. Drayne, +I'll blow my police whistle and bring the officer here." + +Spencer took a whistle from his pocket, moving it toward his lips. + +"Do you want the officer!" challenged the reporter. + +But Mr. Drayne began to see the matter in a somewhat different +light. He knew much about the nature of his son, and here were +two witnesses against him. Besides, one was a trusted staff writer +for the local paper, and the whole affair was likely to result +in a disagreeable publicity. + +"I'll think this all over before I act," returned Mr. Drayne stiffly, +as he took his son by one arm. "Come along, Phin." + +As the Draynes moved away each held a handkerchief to his face. + +"I don't think much of fighting, and I don't like to do it," +muttered Darrin, who was beginning to cool down. "But if Heathcote +Drayne had had to do more fighting when he was younger he might +have known how to train that cub of his to be more of a man." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +Dick Puts "A Better Man" in His Place + + +Of course Dick heard no more from the Draynes. He didn't expect +that he would. + +Phin, however, was noticed no more on the streets of the little +city. Then, in some way, it leaked out that his father had sent +him to a military boarding school where the discipline was credited +with being very rigid. + +"I guess papa has found that his little boy was none too much +of an angel," laughed Dave Darrin when discussing the news with +his chums. + +The first four games of the season went off successfully for Gridley, +though all were hard battles in which only fine leadership and +splendid team work by all saved the day. + +Two of these games had been played on the home grounds, two away +from home. The fifth game of the season was scheduled to be played +on the home grounds. The opponent for this game was to be Hallam +Heights High School. The Hallam boys were a somewhat aristocratic +lot, but not snobbish, and the Gridley young men looked forward +to an exciting and pleasant game. It was the first game ever +played between Gridley and Hallam Heights. Coach Morton talked +about the strangers one rainy afternoon in the gymnasium. + +"I believe you're going to find yourselves up against a hard +proposition," declared coach slowly "These young men attend a High +School where no expense is spared. Some of the wealthy men of the +town engage the physical director, who is one of the best men in +his class. Speight, who was at college with me, is engaged in +addition as the football coach. I remember Speight as one of the +cleverest and most dangerous men we had at college. He could think +up a whole lot of new field tricks overnight. Then again, most of +the Hallam Heights boys are young fellows who go away for athletic +summers. That is, they are young fellows who do a lot of boating, +yachting, riding, tennis, track work, and all the rest of it. +They are young fellows who glory in being in training all the +year around. Speight writes me that he thinks he has the finest, +strongest and most alert boys in the United States." + +"We'll whip them, just the same," announced Dick coolly. + +"Gridley will, if anyone can---I know that," agreed Mr. Morton. +"You've won all four games that you've played this season. Hallam +Heights has played five games and won them all. The Hallam youngsters +are out to capture the record that Gridley has held for some time +that of capturing all the games of the season." + +"Bring 'em on!" begged Darrin. "I wish we had 'em here to play +just as soon as the rain lets up." + +"Don't make the mistake of thinking that, because the Hallam boys +have rich fathers, they're dudes, who can't play on wet ground," +laughed Mr. Morton. + +"If Hallam sends forth such terrors," grinned Dick, rising from +the bench on which he had been sitting, "then we must get in trim +for 'em. Come on, fellows; some of the light speedy exercises. +I'll work you up to all the speed you can take care of, this +afternoon." + +For the next ten minutes Dick was as good as his word. Then, +after a brief breathing spell, Prescott ordered his men to the +running track in the gallery. + +"Three laps at full speed, with a two-minute jog between each +speed burst, and a minute of breathing between each kind of running," +called out Dick. + +Then, after he had seen the fellows started, he turned to the +coach. + +"If I never learned anything else from you, Mr. Morton, I think +I've wholly absorbed the idea that no man is in condition unless +he can run well; and that nothing will make for condition like +judicious running." + +"As to what you've learned from me, Captain Prescott," replied +the coach, "I fully believe that you've learned all that I have +to teach. I wouldn't be afraid to go away on a vacation and leave +the team in your hands." + +"Him!" smiled Dick. "Without you to back me up, Mr. Morton, I'm +afraid some of the fellows might kick over the traces." + +"They wouldn't kick over but once," laughed the coach. "The first +time any fellow did that you'd drop him from the team. And the +fellows know it. I haven't noticed the young men attempting to +frisk you any." + +"One did." + +"I know whom you mean," replied the submaster, his brow clouding. +"But he got out of the team, didn't he?" + +"Yes; but I didn't put him out." + +"You would have put him off the team if it had been left for you +to do it." + +As soon as he thought the squad had had enough exercise to keep +them in tone, Dick dismissed them. + +"But every one of you do his level best to keep in condition all +the time until we get through with Hallam Heights," urged the +young captain. "That applies, too, not only to team members, +but to every man in the squad. If the Hallam fellows are swift +and terrific, we can't tell on whom we may have to pounce for +substitutes." + +This was to be a mid-week game, taking place Wednesday afternoon. +Wednesday morning word reached school that Hudson, who was down +to play right guard, and Dan Dalzell, right end, were both at +home in bed, threatened with pneumonia. In each case the doctor +was hopeful that the attack would be averted, but that didn't +help out the afternoon's game any. + +"Two of our prize men out," muttered Dick anxiously to Dave at +recess. + +"And it's claimed that misfortunes always travel by threes," returned +Darrin, half mournfully. + +"Don't!" shivered Prescott. "Let us off with two misfortunes." + +Afternoon came along, somewhat raw and lowering. Rain might prevent +the game. Less than three quarters of the people who bought seats +in advance appeared at the grounds. The sale of spot seats was +not as brisk by half as it would have been on a pleasanter day. + +But the Hallam Heights boys came along early, bounding and full +of fun and dash. + +They were a fine-looking lot of boys. The Gridley youngsters +took to their opponents instantly. + +"I wonder what's keeping Dick?" muttered Dave Darrin, half anxiously, +in dressing quarters. + +"Anyway, we won't worry about him until we have to," nodded Mr. +Morton. "Our young captain is about the promptest man, as a rule, +in the whole squad." + +"That's just why I am uneasy," grunted Dave. + +Hardly had he spoken when Dick Prescott came in---but limping +slightly! + +And what a rueful countenance the young captain of the team +displayed! + +"Suffering Ebenezer, man, but what has happened?" gasped Dave. + +All the other Gridley youngsters stopped half way in their togging +to listen for the reply. + +"Nothing much," grunted Dick. "Yet it came near to being too +much. A man bumped me, as I was getting on the car, and drove +me against the iron dasher. It was all an accident, due to the +man's clumsiness. But it barked my knee a good bit." + +"Let me see you walk about the room," ordered Coach Morton. He +watched closely, as Dick obeyed. + +"Sit down, Prescott, and draw the trousers leg off on that side. +I want to examine the knee." + +While Mr. Morton went to work the other members of the team crowded +about, anxiety written on all their faces. + +"Does it hurt more when I press?" asked the submaster keenly. +"Ah, I thought so! Prescott, you're not badly hurt for anything +else; but your knee is in no shape to play this afternoon!" + +A wail of dismay went up from the team members. The rueful look +in Dick's face deepened. + +"I was afraid you'd bar me out," he confessed. "I never felt +so ashamed in my life." + +"It wouldn't be of any use for you to play, for that knee wouldn't +stand it in any rough smash," declared the coach, shaking his +head solemnly. + +"It's all off with us, then," groaned one of the fellows. "We may +as well ask Hallam if they'll allow us to hand 'em a score of six +to nothing on a platter, and then stay off the field." + +"Hush your croaking, will you?" demanded Dave Darrin angrily, +glaring about him. "Is that the Gridley way? Do we ever admit +defeat? Whoever croaks had better quit the team altogether." + +Under that rebuke the boy who had ventured the opinion shrank +back abashed. + +"You're sure I'll be in no shape to go on, Coach?" asked Dick +anxiously. + +"Why, of course you could go on," replied Mr. Morton. "And you +could run about some, too, unless your knee got a good deal stiffer. +But you wouldn't be up to Gridley form." + +"Have I any right to go on, with a knee in this shape?" queried +Dick. + +"You certainly haven't," replied Mr. Morton, with great emphasis. + +"Dave," called the young football chief, "you're second captain +of the team. Get in and get busy. Put up the best fight you +can for old Gridley!" + +"Aye, that I will," retorted Dave Darrin, his eyes sparkling, +cheeks glowing. "I'll go in like a pirate chief, and I'll break +the neck of any Gridley man who doesn't do all there is in him +this afternoon." + +"Listen to the fire eater," laughed Fenton. Dave grinned +good-humoredly, but went insistently: + +"All right. If any of you fellows think I take less than the +best you can possibly do, try it out with me." + +Then Darrin came over to rest a hand on Prescott's shoulder. + +"Dick, you'll give me any orders you have before we go on, and +between the halves, won't you?" + +"Not a word," replied Dick promptly. "Dave, you can lead as well +as ever I have done. If you're going to be captain to-day you'll +be captain in earnest. I'll hamper you neither with advice nor +orders." + +With so important a player as Dick Prescott out of the team Dave +had a hard task in rearranging the eleven. In this he sought +direction from Mr. Morton. Rapidly they sketched the new line-up. + +Darrin himself would have to drop quarterback and go to center. +For this latter post Dave was rather light, but he carried the +knack of sturdy assault better than any other man in the team +after Prescott. + +Tom Reade was called to quarter. Shortly afterwards all the details +had been completed. + +"As to style, you'll gather that from the signals," muttered Darrin. +"The only rule is the one we always have---that we can't be beat +and we know we can't." + +There came a rap at the door. Then a bushy mop of football hair +was thrust into the doorway. + +"Talking strategy, signals or anything we shouldn't hear?" asked +the pleasant voice of Forsythe, captain of the Hallam Heights +boys. + +"Not a blessed thing," returned Dave. "Come in, gentlemen." + +Captain Forsythe, in full field toggery, came in, followed by +the members of the visiting team, all as completely attired for +work. + +"We're really not intruding?" asked Forsythe, after he had stepped +into the room. + +"Not the least in the world," responded Dave heartily. "Mr. Forsythe. +let me introduce you to Mr. Morton, our coach, and to Mr. Prescott, +the real captain of this tin-pan crowd of pigskin chasers." + +"Oh, I mistook you for Prescott," replied Forsythe, as he acknowledged +the introductions. + +"No; I'm Darrin, the pewter-plate second captain---the worst you've +got to fear to-day," laughed Dave, as he held out his hand. + +"Why---what----anything happened?" asked Captain Forsythe, looking +truly concerned. + +"Captain Prescott has had his knee injured, and two of our other +crack men are in bed, sick," replied Mr. Morton cheerfully. "Otherwise +we're all quite well." + +"Your captain and two other good men out?" asked Forsythe in real +sympathy. "That doesn't sound fair, for we came over here prepared +to put up the very best we had against you old invincibles. I'm +awfully sorry." + +"Captain Forsythe, we all thank you for your sympathy," Dick +answered, "but Captain Darrin can lead at least as well as I +can. I believe he can do it better. As for the team that we're +putting in the field to-day, if you can beat it, you could as +easily beat anything we could offer at any other time. So, as +far as one may, with such courteous opponents as you are, Gridley +hurls back its defiance and throws down the battle gage! But +play your very best team, Captain Forsythe, and we'll do our +best in return." + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +Could Dave Make Good? + + +Dave Darrin, a good deal disheveled and covered with soil and +perspiration on his face and neck, came striding in after time +had been called on the first half. + +Dave's generalship had kept Hallam Heights from scoring, but Gridley +hadn't put away any points, either. + +"You saw it all from the side lines, Dick?" Dave asked, as the +chums, arm in arm, strolled into dressing quarters. + +"Yes." + +"What are your instructions for the second half." + +"I haven't any." + +"Your advice, then?" + +"I haven't any of that, either. Dave, any fellow who can hold +those young human cyclones back as you've done doesn't need any +pointers in the game." + +"But we simply couldn't score against them," muttered Darrin. +"So I know there's something wrong with my leadership. What +is it?" + +"Nothing whatever, Darrin. It simply means that you're up against +the hardest line to get through that I've ever seen Gridley tackle. +Why, yesterday I was looking over the record of these Hallam +boys, and I find that they've already whipped two college second +teams. But you'll get through them in the next Dave, if there's +any human way of doing it. So that's all I've got to say, for +I'm not out there on the gridiron, and I can't see things from +the side line the same as you can on the ten-yard line. Perhaps +Mr. Morton may have something to offer." + +But the coach hadn't. + +"You're doing as well as any man of Gridley could do, Darrin," +the submaster assured the young second captain. "Of course, with +Prescott at center, and yourself jumping around as quarter-back +the team would be stronger. But in Prescott's enforced absence, +I don't see how you can play any point of the line more forcefully +than you've been doing." + +But Dave, instead of looking puffed up, replied half dejectedly: + +"I was in hopes you could both show me where I'm weak." + +"You're not weak," insisted Coach Morton. + +"That throws me back on thinking hard for myself," muttered Darrin. + +Where a weaker man would have been pleased with such direct praise +Dave felt that he was not doing his duty because he had not been +able to lead as brilliantly as Dick had done in earlier games. + +"Brute strength isn't any good against these Hallam fellows," +Darrin told himself, as he returned to the field. "They're all +A-1 athletes. Even if Gridley played a slugging game, it wouldn't +bear these Hallam boys down. As to speed and scientific points, +they seem to be our masters. Whatever we do against them, it +must be something seldom heard of on the gridiron something that +will be so brand new that they can't get by it." + +Yet twice in the half that followed Gridley barely escaped having +to make a safety to save their goal line. Each time, however, +Dave wriggled out of it. + +When there were but seven minutes left neither team had scored. + +Gridley now had the ball for snap-back at its own twenty-five-yard +line. + +The most that home boosters were hoping for now was that Gridley +would be able to hold down the game to no score. + +Dave had been thinking deeply. He had just found a chance to +mutter orders swiftly. + +Fenton, little, wiry and swift, was to-day playing at left end, +the position that Dick himself had made famous in the year before. + +"Eighteen---three--eleven---seven---nine!" called Tom Reade, crisply. + +The first four figures called off the play that Gridley was to +make, or to pretend to make. But that nine, capping all at the +end, caused a swift flutter in Gridley hearts. For that nine, +at the end of the signal, called for a fake play. + +Yet the instant that the whistle trilled out its command every +Gridley player unlimbered and dashed to the position ordered. + +Only three men on the team understood what was contemplated. +Coach Morton, from the side lines, had looked puzzled from the +moment that he heard the signal. + +Dick Prescott, eager for his chum's success, as well as the team's, +stood as erect as he could beside Mr. Morton, trying to take in +the whole field with one wide, sweeping glance. + +As Tom Reade caught the ball on its backward snap, he straightened +up, tucking the ball under his left arm and making a dash for +Gridley's right end. + +Immediately, of course, Hallam rushed its men toward that point. + +Yet the movements of Gridley's right wing puzzled the visitors. +For all of Dave's right flankers dashed forward, making an effective +interference. + +Surely, reasoned Captain Forsythe, Tom Reade didn't mean to try +to break through by himself with the pigskin. + +That much was a correct guess. Tom didn't intend anything of +the sort. + +All in a flash Reade, as prearranged, dropped the ball, punting +it vigorously. + +Up it went, soaring obliquely over Gridley's left flank and far +beyond. + +Just a second before the ball itself started, little Fenton had +put himself in motion. By the time that the ball was in the air +Fenton was past Hallam's line and scorching down the field. + +Now Forsythe and every Hallam man comprehended all in a flash. + +Fenton had caught the ball with a nicety that brought wild whoops +from the Gridley boosters, now standing on their seats and waving +the Gridley colors. + +"That little fellow looks like a streak of light," yelled one +Gridley booster. + +The description wasn't a bad one. Fenton was doing some of the +finest sprinting conceivable. Before him nothing menaced but +big Harlowe, Hallam's fullback. Harlowe, however, was hurling +himself straight in the impetuous way of little Fenton. + +It looked like a bump. There could be but one result. Fenton +would have to go down to save the ball. + +Harlowe reached out to tackle. + +Fenton came to a quivering stop, just out of reach. Then, almost +instantly, the little left end dashed straight forward again. + +But the move had been enough to fool Harlowe. Of course, he assumed +that Fenton would spring to one side. Harlowe imagined that it +would be a dodge to the left, and Harlowe leaped there to tackle +his man. + +But Fenton, actually going straight ahead, fooled the calculation +of his powerful adversary and got past on the clever trick. + +Harlowe dashed after his sly opponent. But Fenton, still almost +with his first big breath in his lungs, was running as fast as +ever. A man of Harlowe's size was no one to send after a greased +mosquito like Fenton. + +So nothing hindered. Amid the wildest, noisiest rooting, Fenton +stepped it over Hallam's now undefended goal line, reached down +and pressed the pigskin against the earth for a touchdown. + +On the grand stand the noise was deafening. The whistle sounded +and the flushed players of both teams came back to range up for +the kick from field. Dave, his cheeks glowing, took the kick. +He sent a clean one that scored one more point for Gridley. + +The cheering and the playing of the band still continued when +the two elevens again lined up for play during the last five minutes +of the game. The referee was obliged to signal to the leader +to stop his musicians. + +Forsythe looked hot and weary. His expectation of an easy victory +had come to naught. Unless he and ten other Hallam boys could +work wonders in five minutes. + +But they couldn't and didn't. The time keeper brought the game +to a close. + +"Gridley has handed us six to nothing," muttered Forsythe, as +he led his disheartened fellows from the field. "That puts us +with the other second-rate teams in the state." + +"A great lot of orders you needed, didn't you?" was Captain Dick +Prescott's happy greeting as Dave met him beyond the side lines. + +"You won that game for us, just the same," retorted Dave. + +"I?" demanded Dick, in genuine amazement. + +"Yes; you, and no one else." + +"How?" + +"You refused to give me a hint. You threw me down hard, on my +own resources. I saw all those hundreds of people demanding that +Gridley win," retorted Dave. "What could I do? I had to make +the fellows do something like what they've been doing under Dick +Prescott, or confess myself a dub. I couldn't lean on a word +from you, Dick. So you fairly drove me into planning something +that would either carry off the game or make us look like chromos +of football players. You wouldn't say a word, Prescott, that +would take any of the blame on yourself! So didn't you force +me to win!" + +"That's ingenious, but not convincing," retorted Dick, as the +two chums stepped into dressing quarters. "To tell you the truth, +Dave, I think a good many people now believe that you ought to +be the regular captain." + +But Darrin only grinned. He knew better. + +Some of the fellows tried to praise Fenton to his face. + +"Quit! You can't get away with that," chuckled the fast little +left end. "Some one had to take that ball and drop it behind +Hallam's goal line. I was the one who was ordered to do it. +If I hadn't, what would you fellows have said about me?" + +By the time that the Hallam Heights young men were dressed several +of them came to the Gridley quarters, Forsythe at their head. + +"We want to shake hands," laughed Forsythe, "and to make sure +that you have no hard feelings for what we tried to do to you." + +Dick and Darrin took this in laughing goodfellowship. + +"If you call this your dub team to-day," continued Forsythe, a +bit more gloomily, "we shudder to think what would have happened +to us had you put in your regular line-up." + +"There isn't any dub team in Gridley," spoke Dick quickly. "All +of our fellows are trained in the same way, by the same coach, +and we stake all our chances on any line-up that's picked for +the day. It was hard on you, gentlemen, that my knee put me out +for the day. Darrin is twice as crafty as I am." + +"Oh, Darrin is crafty, all right," agreed Forsythe cheerfully. +"But, somehow, I like him for it." + +On some of the side streets Gridley boys were allowed to light +bonfires that evening, and there was general rejoicing of a lively +nature. From the news that had come over concerning the Hallam +Heights team there had been a good deal of fear that Gridley +would, on this day, receive a set-back to its rule of always +winning. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +Leading the Town to Athletics + + +"Mr. Morton, we want a little word with you." + +"All right---anything to please you," laughed the submaster, looking +at Dick and Dave as they came up to him in the yard at recess. + +"We've been thinking over a plan," Dick continued. + +"It has something to do with athletics, then!" guessed the submaster. + +"Yes, sir," nodded Dave. + +"High School athletics, at that," continued Mr. Morton. + +"There you're wrong, sir, for once," smiled Prescott. "Mr. Morton, +we've been thinking of the High School gym. It's a big place. +Pretty nearly three hundred gymnasts could be drilled there at +once." + +"Yes; I know." + +"There's a fine lot of apparatus there," went on Dick. "It cost +thousands and thousands of dollars to put that gym. in shape." + +"And it's worth every dollar of the cost," contended Mr. Morton +firmly. + +"Mr. Morton," challenged Dick, "who paid for it?" + +"The city government," replied the submaster. + +"Where did the city government get the money?" + +"From the citizens, of course." + +"Now, Mr. Morton," went on Prescott, "how many of the citizens +get any direct benefit out of that gym.? Only about a quarter +of a thousand of High School students! Couldn't the city's money +be spent so that a far greater number would have the use of and +benefit from the city's big investment!" + +"Why," replied the submaster, looking puzzled, "the youngsters +in the lower schools have their needs provided for, in some way, +in their own school buildings." + +"True," agreed Dick. "But what of the small army of clerks and +factory employees of Gridley? Aren't they citizens, even if they +haven't the time to attend High School? Haven't our smaller business +fry a right to the health and good spirits that come out of gymnastic +and athletic work? Haven't our typewriters, our salesgirls and +factory girls a right to some of the good things from the gym.? +Aren't they all citizens, and isn't the gym. their property as +much as it's anyone else's!" + +"Excellent," nodded Mr. Morton. "But how do you propose to get +them interested in the use of their property, even if the Board +of Education will permit it?" + +"The willingness of the Board of Education can be dropped out +of sight," argued Dick. "The Board is the servant of the people, +and must do what the people want. What Dave and I want to see +is to have the High School gym. turned over to the young working +people of the city in the evening time. Say, two evenings a week +for young men and two evenings for the young women. We believe +it will result in big gains for Gridley. When you put new life +and brighter blood into the toilers, it increases the wealth of +the whole city, doesn't it?" + +"I declare, I think it ought to," replied Mr. Morton. "But see +here, how are two boys---or, let us say, two boys and a +submaster---going to bring about any such result as this?" + +"By presenting it properly through the leading daily of Gridley," +replied Prescott, with great promptness. + +"Have you received any assurance that Mr. Pollock, of 'The Blade,' +will be for this big scheme of yours?" asked Mr. Morton. + +"When we've explained it all, I don't see how he can help being +for it," rejoined Prescott. "If 'The Blade' takes hold and booms +this idea, day in and day out, it won't be very long before evening +gym. classes will be filled to overflowing. And the Board of +Education would have to give way before the pressure." + +Then Dave took hold of the subject for a while, talking with great +earnestness. Mr. Morton listened with increasing interest. + +"I think, boys, that you've hit upon an idea that will be of great +service to our city," remarked the submaster. "Yet what put all +this into your heads!" + +"Why, sir, it's our last year at the High School," replied Dick, +smiling though speaking with great earnestness. "After four years +of the fine training we've had here, Dave and I feel that it's +our place to do something to leave our mark behind. We've been +talking it all over, and we've hit upon this idea. Will you stand +by us in it?" + +"Why, yes; all that I can, you may be sure. But just what do +you boys expect me to be able to do!" + +"Why, help us form the plans and back us up in them. You are +really the leader in school athletics in this town, Mr. Morton," +explained Prescott. "I can quote you in 'The Blade' as to the +benefits that would result in giving gym. training to workers +who can't attend High School. And, in the spring, after a winter +in the gym., young men and women could form outdoor squads for +running and other outside training. Altogether, sir, we think +we might make Gridley famous as a place where all who possess +any real energy go in to keep it up through public athletics. +And such classes of young men and women could have the use of +our athletics field." + +By the time that recess was over the submaster certainly had enough +thoughts to keep him busy. + +That afternoon Dick and Dave took Mr. Morton around to "The Blade" +office. Right at the outset Mr. Pollock jumped at the idea. + +"Prescott," he cried, "you've sprung a big idea. 'The Blade' +will feature this idea for days to come. You may have a column, +or a column and a half every day, and 'The Blade' will also back +it up on the editorial page. Now, go ahead and get your stuff +in shape. Above all, have interviews with prominent men, especially +employers, setting forth the benefit that ought to come to the +young people and to the city at large. Take as your keynote the +idea that the city's duty is just as great to provide physical +education as it is to supply learning out of textbooks. You'll +know how to go ahead on that line, Prescott." + +By the next day Gridley had something new to talk about. By the +time three days had passed the matter was being discussed with +great seriousness. + +Employers saw, and said that the time young men spent in a gym. +would not be spent in billiard rooms or other resorts of a harmful +or useless character. Young women who went to the gym. would +be home and in bed early, instead of staying up most of the night +at a dance. All who entered the gym. classes would begin to think +about their bodily condition and plan to improve it. Improved +bodies meant a better grade of work and increased pay. + +Dick wrote splendidly on the subject. "The Blade," editorially, +gave Dick & Co. full credit for springing the idea. The Board +of Education, at its next meeting, authorized the superintendent +of schools to throw the High School gym., open evenings for the +purpose indicated. It also voted Mr. Morton an increase of pay +on condition that he take charge of the evening gym. classes for +young men. One of the women teachers was granted a like increase +for assuming charge of the evening gym. classes for young women. + +Dick Prescott, on behalf of the High School boys, guaranteed that +the most skilled in athletics among the High School boys would +be on hand to aid in training the young men, and in getting up +sports and games for the gym. in winter, and for the athletic +field in the spring. + +As soon as the classes were opened they were crowded to their +utmost capacity. All of the younger portion of Gridley seemed +suddenly anxious to go in for athletics. + +"Prescott and his well-known comrades of the High School appear +to be leading in the very vanguard of athletics this year," stated +"The Blade" editorially. + +Dick and his friends could not, however, give as much aid to the +new scheme now as they intended to do later. They were in the +middle of the football season, and that had to be carried through +first of all. + +Yet it was a big evening for Dick, Dave and their chums when the +High School gym. was thrown open for the forming of the gymnastic +class for young men. + +Almost three hundred presented themselves for enrollment. Scores +of the leading citizens were also on hand to see how the new plan +would take. Among these latter was Herr Schimmelpodt, the retired +contractor, who was always such an enthusiastic booster for High +School athletics. + +"I tell you, Bresgott, it vos a fine idea of yours," cried the +big German, as he stood in a corner, looking on, while Dick talked +with him. "This vill keep young folks out of drouble, and put +dem in health. It vill put Gridley to being twice as good a town, +alretty." + +"Hullo, Mr. Schimmelpodt," called a young clerk, passing in trunks +and gym. shoes. "Don't you get into a squad to-night? This would +do you a lot of good." + +"Maype, if I go in for dis sort of thing, I crowd out some young +mans who needs it as much as you do," retorted the German, blinking. + +"But don't you think you need it, also" laughed the clerk? + +"Now, led me see," pondered the German. "Young man, you think +you gan run?" + +"I know I can," laughed the clerk, leaping lightly up and down +on his soft gym. shoes. + +"I yonder if you could reach dot door ofer dere so soon alretty +as I gan?" queried Herr Schimmelpodt. + +"Will you run me a race?" grinned the clerk. + +"Vell, you start, und ve see apout it." + +Tantalizingly, the clerk started. Then he glanced back over his +shoulder. There was a great noise on the floor of the gym. Herr +Sclhimmelpodt had started. He was so big that he made a good +deal of noise when he traveled. But he was going like a streak, +and the clerk began to sprint in earnest. + +It was all in vain, however. With a few great bounds Herr Schimmelpodt +was close enough to reach out one of his big arms and lay hold +of the fleeing clerk. That clerk stopped suddenly, with a jolt. + +"Vy don't you go on running, ain't it?" demanded Herr Schimmelpodt. + +A crowd formed about them. + +The reason why the clerk didn't continue his running was a very +good one. One of the German's big hands encircled the clerk's +thin arm like a bracelet of steel. The clerk struggled, but he +might as well have tried to break out of irons. + +"You vant me to bractise running, so dot I gan catch you, eh?" +grunted the German. "You vant me to eat breakfast sawdust for +a dyspepsia vot I ain't got, huh? You vant me to dake breathing +eggsercises ven I can dake more air into my lungs, alretty, dan +your whole body gan disblace? You vant me to do monkey-tricks +mit a dumb-pell, yen I gan do things like dis?" + +Suiting the action to the word, Herr Schimmelpodt grasped the +clerk by one shoulder and one thigh. Up over his head the German +raised the unhappy young man. Herr Schimmelpodt's arms fell and +rose as he "exercised" with the young man for a wand. + +Everything in the gym. had stopped. All eyes were on this novel +performance. Roars of laughter greeted some new stunts that Herr +Schimmelpodt performed with his human wand. The great German +was the only one who seemed unconscious of the hurricane of laughter +that he was causing. + +At last the German put his victim back on the floor. + +"Yah, young mans, I am much oblige dot you show me how I need +eggsercise. I feel much better alretty." + +Red-faced, the clerk fled to the other side of the room, followed +by the laughter of the other gymnasts. + +Yet Herr Schimmelpodt's good-natured performance had great value. +It taught many of the young men present how far this generation +has fallen behind in matters of personal strength. Mr. Morton +had easier sailing after that. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +The "King Deed" of Daring + + +"Yes; that performance helped a lot." + +Herr Schimmelpodt was prevailed upon, by Mr. Morton, to come around +on another evening to show some further feats with his great strength. + +Around the waist-line the German was flabby; the fat rolled in +heavy ridges. Feeling aware of this defect in personal appearance +Herr Schimmelpodt determined to devote some of his abundant leisure +to getting his belt line into smaller compass. But the German +would not do this before all eyes in the public, gym. So he and +some other well-to-do business men who were conscious that the +years had dealt too generously by them in the matter of flesh, +hired a small hall and converted it into a private gym. + +It was all the doings of Dick & Co., just the same. + +The town was ripe, now, for performances in extraordinary athletics. +Fate willed it that there should be a chance. + +Once a year an opera company of considerable prominence appeared +at Gridley for one evening. + +Whenever this evening came around, it was made the occasion for +a big time in local society. The women of the well-to-do families +turned out in their most dazzling finery. + +This year "Lohengrin" was to be sung at the local opera house. +Dick could have obtained, at "The Blade" office, free seats for +Dave and himself for this Friday night. But they were still in +close training, and there was a game on for the afternoon of the +day following. For that reason nine o'clock found both of the +young men in bed and asleep. + +Near the opera house the street was thronged with carriages. +Carriage after carriage drove up and discharged its load of handsomely +dressed women and their more severely attired escorts. All of +Gridley that could attend the opera were in evening dress. + +During the evening a half gale of wind sprang up. While all was +light and warmth inside, outside the wind howled harder and harder. +By the time that the music lovers began to pour out, the blast +was furious. + +Leaning on the arm of her escort, as her carriage drove up to +the door, one beautifully gowned woman stepped out. Over her +hair was thrown a black, filmy scarf in which nestled a number +of handsome diamonds. + +Just as she reached the curb, but before she could step into the +waiting carriage, this woman gave a shriek of dismay. + +The gale had caught at her diamond-strewn head-covering. Like +a flash that costly creation was caught up from her hair and borne +on the wind. + +Others standing by saw the costly thing whisked obliquely up into +the air. It was still ascending on the blast when it passed +out of the range of vision. + +"O-o-o-oh! My beautiful jeweled scarf!" sobbed the woman hysterically. +The crowd quickly formed about her. She was recognized as Mrs. +Macey, the wife of a wealthy real estate operator. + +"It was careless not to have it fastened more securely, but it's +no use to cry over what can't be helped now, my dear," replied +her husband. "Get into the carriage and I'll see if any trace +can be found of the scarf." + +Still sobbing, Mrs. Macey was helped into the carriage. Then +Mr. Macey enlisted the help of the bystanders. + +In every direction the street was searched. The fronts of the +buildings opposite were examined; the gratings in the sidewalk +were peered through. But there was no trace, anywhere, of the +jeweled scarf. + +"It will be worth two hundred and fifty dollars for anyone to +find it and return it to me," shouted Mr. Macey. That scattered +the searchers more widely still. Presently a woman friend drove +home with Mrs. Macey, while her husband remained to push the search. +He kept at it until two o'clock in the morning, half a hundred +men and boys remaining in the search. + +Then Mr. Macey gave it up. The gaudy, foolish trifle was worth +about five thousand dollars. As the night wore on Mr. Macey began +to have a pessimistic notion that perhaps some one had found the +scarf but had been too "thrifty" to turn in such a precious article +for so small a reward. + +"I guess it may as well be given up," sighed Mr. Macey, after +two in the morning. "I'm going home, anyway." + +The readers of "The Blade" that crisp October morning knew of +Mrs. Macey's loss. + +There was much talk about the matter around the town. People +who walked downtown early that morning peered into gutters and +down through sidewalk gratings. Then, at about seven o'clock +a sensation started, and swiftly grew. + +One man, glancing skyward, had his attention attracted to something +fluttering at the top of the spire of the Methodist church, more +than half a block away from the opera house. It was fabric of +some sort, and one end fluttered in the breeze, though most of +the black material appeared to be wrapped around the tip of the +weather vane in which the spire staff terminated. + +"That's the jeweled scarf, I'll bet a month's pay!" gasped the +discoverer. Then, mindful of the reward, he dashed to the +nearest telephone office, asking "central" to ring insistently +until an answer came over the Macey wire. + +"Hullo, is that you, Mr. Macey?" called the discoverer, a teamster. +"Then come straight up to the Methodist church. I'll be there. +I've discovered the jeweled scarf." + +"How---how many jewels are left on it?" demanded Mr. Macey. + +"Come right up! I'll tell you all about it when you get here." + +Then the teamster rang off, after giving his name. The real estate +man came in a hurry, in a runabout. His wife, pallid and hollow-cheeked, +rode in the car with him. To Mr. Macey the teamster pointed out +the barely visible bit of black fluttering a hundred and sixty +feet above the pavement. + +"Now how about the reward, Mr. Macey?" demanded the teamster. + +"That will be paid you, if you return the scarf to Mrs. Macey," +replied the real estate man dryly. + +The teamster's jaw dropped. For the uppermost eighteen feet of +the spire consisted of a stout flagpole. Below this was the sloping +slate roof of the top of the steeple proper. Only a monkey or +a "steeplejack" could get up there, and on a day like this, with +a half gale still blowing, a steeplejack might be pardoned for +declining the task. + +Swiftly the news spread, and a great crowd collected. Dave Darrin +heard of it right after breakfast, and hurried to get Dick Prescott. +Together the chums joined the crowd. + +"You'll have to get a steeplejack for the job, Mr. Macey," the +chums heard one man advise the real estate operator. + +Only one was known. His home was some forty miles away. Mr. +Macey tried patiently to get the man over the long distance telephone. +Some member of the man's family answered for him. The expert +was away, and would not be home, or available, for three days +to come at least. + +"Never mind, Macey," laughed the friend, consolingly. "It'll +wait. No one in Gridley will take the scarf. It's safe up there." + +"Huh! Is it, though?" snorted the real estate man. "At any minute +the strong wind may unwind it and send it whirling off over the +town. Or the gale may tear it to pieces, scattering the diamonds +over a whole block, and not one in ten of the stones would ever +be found." + +Mrs. Macey sat in the runabout, a picture of mute misery. + +Herr Schimmelpodt elbowed his way through the outskirts of the +crowd and stood absorbing his share in the local excitement. + +"Ach! I am afraid dere is von thing dot you gan't do, Bresgott," +smiled the German. "Ach! By chimminy, though, I don't know yet." + +"I was wondering myself whether I could make a good try at steeple +climbing," laughed Dick eagerly. "The money sounds good to me +anyway." + +"No; I don't know. I think it would be foolish," replied Herr +Schimmelpodt. + +"I believe you could get up there, Dick," muttered Darrin, in +a low voice. + +"Then you could, Dave." + +"I think I could," nodded Darrin. "And, by crickets, if you were +here, Dick, I'd certainly try it." + +"Try it anyway, then," urged Prescott. + +"Not unless you balk at it," returned Darrin. + +"I'm not going to balk at it," retorted Dick, flushing just a +bit. "But you spoke of it first, Dave, and I think you ought +to have first chance at the reward." + +"Tell you what I'll do," proposed Darrin, seriously. "We'll toss +for it, and the winner has the try." + +"I'll go you," nodded Prescott. + +Herr Schimmelpodt, regarding them both seriously, saw that they +meant it. + +"Boys, boys!" he remonstrated. "Don't think of it yet!" + +"Why not?" asked Dick. + +"You would be killed," remonstrated the big German. + +"Is that the best opinion you have of us, after the way you've +been praising us athletes for two years?" laughed Prescott. + +"I'll toss you for it, Dick," nudged Dave. + +"What's this?" demanded Mr. Macey. + +"Prescott and I are going to toss for it, to see who shall have +the first chance to climb the spire and flagstaff," replied Dave. + +"Nonsense! Out of the question," almost exploded Mr. Macey. +"It would be like murder to allow either of you to try. That's +work for a regular steeplejack." + +"Well, what is a steeplejack?" demanded Dick. "He's a fellow +of good muscle and nerve, who can stand being in high places. +Either of us could climb a flagpole from down here in the street. +Why can't either of us go up there, just as well, and climb from +the steeple roof?" + +"Prescott, have you any idea of the strength of the wind up there?" +demanded the real estate man. "It's blowing great guns up there!" + +"Get some one to toss the coin, and either you or I call," insisted +Darrin. + +Some one told Mrs. Macey what was being proposed. + +"Oh, stop them!" she cried, leaning forward from the runabout. +"Boys, boys! Don't do anything wildly rash like that! I'd sooner +lose the scarf than have lives risked." + +"She needn't worry," sneered some one in the crowd. "The High +School dudes are only bluffing. They haven't either o' them the +sand to do a thing like that." + +Both Prescott and Darrin heard. Both flushed, though that was +all the sign they gave. + +"Herr Schimmelpodt, you must have a cent," suggested Dick. "Toss +it, will you, and let Darrin call the turn." + +Grumbling a good deal the German produced the required coin. +He fingered it nervously, for a moment, then flipped it high in +the air. + +"Tails!" called Dave. + +It came down heads. + +"Oh, well, the best two out of three," insisted Dick. + +"That fellow's nerve is going already," laughed some one. "He's +anxious for the other fellow to get the honor." + +There was a grim twitching at the corners of prescott's mouth, +but he said nothing. + +Again the coin was tossed. This time Dick called: + +"Heads!" + +He won. + +"I'm ready," announced Dick quietly. + +"I congratulate you, old fellow," murmured Dave eagerly. "And +I'm going with you to the base of the flagpole! The last climb +is yours you've won it!" + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +The Nerve of the Soldier + + +Again Mrs. Macey sought to interpose. Her husband, too, was at +first against it. + +But, now that the die was fairly cast, Herr Schimmelpodt firmly +championed the boys. + +"Eider von of dem gan do it---easy!" declared the big German. +"You don't know dem boys----vot? Ach, I do. Dey got der brain, +der nerves und der muscle." + +"It's a crime to let such youths attempt the thing," shivered +an anaemic-looking man in the crowd. "Whichever one goes up that +flagstaff will come down again faster. He'll be killed!" + +"Cheer up some more," advised Herr Schimmelpodt stolidly. "It +don't gost you nottings, anyway. If Dick Bresgott preak his neck +soon, I gif him der bulliest funeral dot any boy in Gridley efer +hat." + +"But what good-----" began the nervous man tremulously. + +"Talk ist cheap," retorted Herr Schimmelpodt, with a wink, "mid +dot's all I haf to bay for dot funeral. Dick Bresgott ain't fool +enough yet to preak der only neck he has." + +At this a jolly laugh went around, relieving the tension a bit, +for there were many in the crowd who had begun to feel mighty +serious as soon as they realized that Dick was in earnest. + +Some one brought the janitor of the church. A hardware dealer +near by came along with two coils of rope, which he thought might +be handy. + +Mr. Macey went inside with the janitor and the two chums. A score +or two more would have followed, but the janitor called to Herr +Schimmelpodt to bar the way, which the big German readily did. + +Then the four inside began to climb the winding staircase to the +bell loft. + +"Go slowly, Dick; loaf," counseled Dave. "Don't waste a bit of +your wind foolishly." + +At the bell loft all four paused to look down at the crowd. + +Now up a series of ladders the four were obliged to climb, inside +the spire top. This spire top was thirty-six feet above the floor +of the bell loft; but eight feet from the top of the spire a window +let out upon a narrow iron gallery that ran around the spire. + +"I---I don't believe I'll step out there," faltered Mr. Macey, +who was stout and apoplectic-looking. + +"I don't blame ye any," agreed the janitor. "It ain't just the +place, out there, for a man o' your weight and years." + +"Don't look down at the street, Dick," begged Dave. + +"Why not?" asked Prescott, deliberately disobeying. "If I couldn't +do that without getting dizzy, it would be foolish to climb the +pole." + +"Prescott, you'd better not try it," protested Mr. Macey. "Just +listen to how strong the wind is at this height. I'm afraid you'll +be dashed down to the ground. Gracious! Hear the flagstaff rattle." + +"I expected it," replied Dick, sitting down, inside the spire +top. + +"What are you doing?" demanded the real estate man. + +"Taking off my shoes," Dick replied coolly. + +"Do you really mean to make the attempt?" + +"You don't think a Gridley boy would back out at this late moment?" +queried Dick, in surprise. + +"Ye couldn't stop these younkers, now, by force," chuckled the +janitor. + +"I certainly wouldn't care to try force," remarked Mr. Macey dryly. +"These young men are too well developed." + +Dave was now on the floor, getting off his shoes. + +"What are you going to do, old fellow?" asked Prescott. + +"Going to follow you as far as the top of the spire," replied +Darrin quietly. "Who knows but I may be able to be of some use?" + +Dave stepped out first on the little iron balcony. The crowd +below saw him, but at the distance could not make out clearly +which boy it was. Then Prescott followed. + +"Give me one foot," called Dave, kneeling and making a cup of +his hands. + +Dick placed his foot, then started to climb the sloping surface +of slate, Darrin aiding. + +As Dave straightened to a standing position Dick reached up, getting +hold of the base of the flagstaff. + +"Hold on there, a minute," advised Dave, as his chum stood on +the little ledge at the top of the spire. "And don't be foolish +enough to look down into the street." + +Dave darted inside, picking up the lighter of the ropes. Going +out on the balcony again Darrin tossed one end of the rope to +Dick, who made it fast around the flagpole. + +Using the rope, Dave went easily up and stood beside Prescott. + +"There is a fearful wind here," muttered Dick, as both swayed +while holding to the stout, vibrating mast. "But you can make +it, old fellow." + +It had been the original intention in building the church to use +this mast as a flag pole. Then some doubt had arisen among the +members of the parish. A weather vane had been put at the top +of the pole, and the question of connecting flag tackle had been +left to be decided at a later date. + +Had the flag tackle been there now Dick could have made an easier +problem of the ascent; yet, even with the rope, it would have +been an undertaking from which most men would have shrunk. + +"I'm going to start now," said Dick very quietly. + +"Good luck, Dick, old fellow!" called Dave cheerily. "You'll +get through." + +Darrin still remained standing on top of the spire after Dick +had started to climb. + +The only way that Prescott could move upward was to wrap arms +and legs around the pole. + +How the wind swayed, jarred and vibrated it! Once, when ten feet +of the ascent had been accomplished, Dick felt his heart fail +him. + +A momentary impulse, almost of cowardice, swept over him. + +Then he steeled himself, and went on and up. + +That staff must be more than a mile high, it now seemed to the +boy, hanging there in momentary danger of his life. + +Dave, standing below, looking up, knew far more torment. + +Watching Dick, Darrin began to feel wholly responsible for the +whole awful predicament of his chum. + +"I urged him on to it," thought Dave, with a rush of horror that +his own peril could not have brought to him. "Oh, I hope the +splendid old fellow does make this stunt safely!" + +It seemed as though thousands were packed in the street below, +every face upturned. The breath of the multitude came short and +sharp. Two women and a girl fainted from the strain. + +In a window in the building across the street a photographer poised +his camera. Behind the shutter was a long-angled lens, fitted +for taking pictures at a distance. + +Just as Dick Prescott's arms were within two feet of the weather +vane the photographer exposed his plate. + +Dick, in the meantime, was moving in a sort of dumb way now. +The keenness of his senses had left him. He moved mechanically; +he knew what he was after, and he kept on. Yet he seemed largely +to have lost the power to realize the danger of his position. + +A-a-ah! He was up there now, holding to the weathervane! His +legs curled doggedly around the flagstaff. He had need now to +use all the strength in his legs, for he must use one hand to +disentangle the black scarf, which lay twisted about the vane +just over his head. But it was the right scarf. The glint and +dazzle of the diamonds was in his eyes. + +How the extreme end of that flag pole quivered. It seemed to +the boy as though the pole must bend and snap, what with the pressure +of the heavy wind and the weight of his body! + +Slowly, laboriously, mechanically, like one in a trance, Dick +employed his left hand in patiently disentangling the black web +from the trap in which it had been caught. + +At last the scarf was free. Most cautiously Dick lowered his +left hand, tucking the jeweled fabric carefully into the inner +pocket of his coat. + +"I---I---guess---it safe---in there," he muttered, hardly +realizing that he was saying any thing. + +Dave, from below, had looked on, fascinated. Now that he saw +the major part of the daring feat accomplished, Darrin did not +make the mistake of shouting any advice to his comrade. He knew +that any sudden shout might attract Prescott's attention in a +way to cause him to lose his head. + +Slowly---oh, so slowly! Dick came down. It seemed as though, +at last, he understood his danger to the full and was afraid. +The truth was, Prescott realized that, with all the vibrating +of the staff in the wind, his muscular power was being sapped +out of him. + +Dave Darrin was down again, crouching on top of the spire, when +Dick reached him. + +"Just touch your feet, Dick!" Darrin called coolly. "Then stand +holding to the pole until I get down into the balcony." + +Dick obeyed as one who could no longer think for himself. + +This done, Dave slipped down the spire's slope, by the aid of +the rope, until his feet touched the balcony's floor. Now he +stood with upturned face and arms uplifted. + +"Use the rope and come down, Dick," hailed. Darrin softly. "I'm +here to catch you, if you need it." + +Down came Prescott, holding to the rope, but helped more by Dave's +loyal arms. + +"Help Prescott inside, you two," Dave ordered sharply. Then, +after the men inside the spire top had obeyed, Dave swung himself +in. He left the rope fastened above, for whoever cared to go +and get it. + +Mr. Macey, ashen faced and shaking, stared at Dick in a sort of +fascination. + +"I---I got it," said Dick, when he could control his voice. "Here +it is, safe in my pocket." + +"I forgot to ask," rejoined Mr. Macey tremulously. "I'm sick +of that bauble. Ever since you started aloft, Prescott, I've +been calling myself all sorts of names for being a party to this +thing." + +"Why, it's all right," laughed Dick, only a bit brokenly. "It +was easy enough---with a fellow like Dave to help." + +"Did he go up the flagstaff, too?" demanded Mr. Macey, opening +his eyes wider. + +"No," declared Darrin promptly. "Prescott did it." + +"But good old Dave was right at hand to help," Dick contended +staunchly. + +"Get yourselves together, boys. Then we'll get down out of here," +urged Mr. Macey. "I haven't done anything, but I feel as though +I'd be the one to reel and faint." + +"Take this scarf, now, please," begged Dick, holding open his +coat. + +The real estate man looked over the bauble that had placed two +manly lives in such desperate jeopardy. The fabric was much torn, +but all the precious stones still appeared to be there. + +Mr. Macey folded the scarf and placed it in one of his own inner +pockets. + +"Now, let us get down out of here," begged the real estate man. +"This place is giving me the horrors." + +"You can start ahead, sir," laughed Dave. "But we want time to +put our shoes on." + +Two or three minutes later the four started below, going slowly +over the ladder part of the route. When they struck the winding +staircase they went a bit more rapidly. + +Down in the street it seemed to the watchers as though ages had +passed since the two boys had been seen going inside from the +iron balcony. + +But now, at last, Herr Schimmelpodt heard steps inside, so he +threw open the heavy door at once. + +As Dick and Dave came out again into the sunlight what a mighty +roar of applause and cheering went up. + +Then Herr Schimmelpodt, advancing to the edge of the steps, and +laying one hand over his heart, bowed profoundly and repeatedly. + +That turned the cheering to laughter. The big German held up +his right hand for silence. + +"Ladies und chentlemen," shouted Herr Schimmelpodt, as soon as +he could make him self heard, "I don't vant to bose as a hero!" + +"That's all right," came with a burst of goodhumored laughter. +"You're not!" + +"It vos really nottings vot I did," continued the German, with +another bow. + +"True for you." + +"Maybe," continued Herr Schimmelpodt, "you think I vos afraid +when I climb dot pole. But I wos not---I pledch you mein vord. +It is nottings for me to climb flagpoles. Ven I vos ein poy +in Germany I did it efery day. But I will not dake up your time +mit idle remarks. I repeat dot I am not ein hero." + +The wily old German had played out his purpose. He had turned +the wild cheering, which he knew would have embarrassed Prescott, +into a good-natured laugh. He had diverted the first big burst +of attention away from the boys, much to the relief of the latter. + +But now the crowd bethought itself of the heroes that a crowd +always loves. Hundreds pressed about to shake the bands of Prescott +and Darrin. + +"Get into my car! Stand up in front of Mrs. Macey and myself +until we can get out of this crowd," urged Mr. Macey, bustling +the boys toward the runabout. + +Mrs. Macey, whitefaced, was crying softly and could not speak. +But her husband, with the two boys standing up before him, honked +his horn and turned on the power, starting the car slowly. A +path was thus made for their escape through the crowd, though +the cheering began again. + +"Now, you can put us down, if you will, sir,", suggested Dick, +when they had reached the outer edge of the crowd. + +"Not yet," retorted Mr. Macey. + +"Why not, sir?" + +"You've a little trip to make with me yet." + +"Trip?" + +"Wait a moment, and you'll see." + +Less than two minutes later Mr. Macey drove his car up in front +of one of the banks and jumped out. + +"Come on, boys," he cried. "I want to get that reward off my +mind." + +"You run in, Dick," proposed Dave, on the sidewalk. "I'll wait +for you." + +"You'll go with me," Prescott retorted, "or I won't stir inside." + +So Darrin followed them into the bank. + +"I'm so thankful to see you boys safely out of the scrape," declared +Mr. Macey, inside, "that I'm going to pay the full reward to each +of you." + +"No you won't," retorted Dick very promptly. "You'll pay no more +than you offered. Dave and I'll divide that between us." + +"Not a cent for me!" propounded Darrin, with emphasis. + +"If you don't share the reward evenly, I won't touch a cent of +it either, Dave Darrin," rejoined Dick heatedly. + +Dave tried to have his way, but his chum won. Mr. Macey made +another effort to double the reward, but was overruled. + +So young Prescott received the two hundred and fifty dollars in +crisp, new bills, and as promptly turned half of the sum over +to his chum. + +Now that it was safely over with, it had not been a bad morning's +work! + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +Dick Begins To Feel Old + + +Despite the strain of what they had gone through Dick and Dave +led the Gridley boys through a fierce gridiron battle that same +afternoon, and won again by a score of 13 to 5. + +But the people of Gridley paid little heed to the score that day, +or the next. The sensation that Dick and Dave had supplied was +the talk of the town, to the exclusion of other topics relating to +high School boys. + +Mr. Pollock bought a copy of the photograph showing Dick close +to the weather vane on his climb. A half-tone cut made from this +photograph was printed in "The Blade." + +"This young man is now a member of 'The Blade' staff, reporting +school and other matters," ran the comment under the spirited +picture. "We believe that Mr. Prescott will continue to be a +member of the staff, and to grow with 'The Blade.'" + +"What about that, Dick?" laughed Darrin. + +"I've told Mr. Pollock and Mr. Bradley that I believe my plans +will carry me a good distance away from 'The Blade' office after +this year," replied Dick, with a meaning smile. "If they won't +believe me now, perhaps they'll wake up later." + +The town had not been wanting in croakers at the outset of the +football season, who had predicted that Dick Prescott and his +chums would "drag down" the football team and its fine traditions +from past years. + +But the eleven, mainly under Dick and under Dave's captaincy in +two fierce gridiron battles, had gone right along winning games. + +The last three battles had been fought out to a successful finish +in November. There now remained only the Thanksgiving Day game +to complete the season. + +By all traditions each football team in the country strives to +have its biggest fight take place on Thanksgiving Day. By another +tradition, every team seeks to have this game take place on the +home grounds. + +In the latter respect Gridley lost this year. The game, which +was against Fordham High School, was scheduled to take place at +Fordham. + +Enthusiasm, however, was at top notch. Citizens hired the Gridley +Band to go along with the young men and help out on noise. A +special train in two sections was chartered, for some seven +hundred Gridleyites had voted in favor of an evening dinner on +Thanksgiving Day; they were going along to see the game. + +Fordham had lost two games, against exceptionally strong teams, +earlier in the season, but had of late a fine record. Fordham +had dropped several of its original players, putting in heavier +or better men, and a new coach had been employed. The Fordham +boys were now believed to be able to put up a strenuous game. + +"I hope you're going to win, Prescott," said Mr. Macey, +meeting Dick on the street one afternoon not long before Thanksgiving. + +"Have you any doubts, sir?" smiled the captain of the Gridley +team. + +"Well, you see, Fordham was my native town. I run down there +often, and I know a good deal of what's going on there. Fordham's +second coach has attended the last two games you played, and he +has been stealing all your points that he could get." + +"He has, eh?" muttered Prescott. "That's news to me. Oh, well, +it's legitimate to learn all you can about another team's play." + +"From the reports Fordham has of your play the young men over +in that town are certain that they're enough better to be able +to bring your scalps into camp." + +"Perhaps they'll do it," laughed Dick pleasantly. "We'll admit +that we're about due for a walloping whenever the crowd comes +along that can do it." + +"I am only telling you what I hear from Fordham," continued Mr. +Macey. + +"And I'm glad you did, sir. We'll try to turn the laugh on Fordham." + +"Then you think you can beat 'em?" + +"No, sir. We never think we can. We always know that we can! +That's the Gridley way---the Gridley spirit. We always win our +battles before we go into them, Mr. Macey. We make up our minds +that we can't and won't be beaten. It isn't just brag, though. +We base all our positiveness on the way that we stick to our +training and coaching, and on our discipline. Mr. Macey, this +is the third year that I've been playing on different Gridley +High School teams. I remember a tie game, but no defeats." + +"I guess Fordham will find it a hard enough proposition to down +you young men," remarked Mr. Macey. + +"They're going to discover, sir, that they simply can't do it. +Gridley never goes onto any field to get beaten." + +"Und dot isn't brag, neider," broke in a man who had halted to +listen. "Ven dese young men pack deir togs to go away, dey pack +der winning score in der bag, too. Ach! Don't I know dot? Don't +I make mineself young vonce more by following dese young athletes +about?" + +Herr Schimmelpodt looked utterly shocked that anyone should think +it possible for another High School eleven to take a game from +Gridley. + +Dick soon encountered Dave and told him the news he had gleaned +from Mr. Macey. + +"Been sending their second coach over to watch our play, have +they?" laughed Darrin softly. "That seems to show how much they +fear us in Fordham." + +"I believe we are going to have a stiff game," muttered Prescott. +"Hallam Heights and Fordham are the only two teams that think +enough of the game to hire two coaches." + +"Well, we have Hallam's scalp dangling down at the gym.," laughed +Dave Darrin. + +"And we'll have Fordham's in the same way," predicted Dick confidently. + +It barely occurred to the young captain of the team to wonder +what it would mean for him if the game to Fordham should be lost. +Dick would be the first captain in years who had lost a football +game for Gridley. It would be a mean record to take out of High +School life. But Dick gave no thought to such a possibility. + +"Of course we're going to wallop Fordham," he thought. "I wish +only one thing. I'd like to see the Fordhams play through a stiff +game just once." + +It was too late, however, to give any real thought to this, for +Fordham's next and last game of the season was to be the one with +Gridley. + +"Are you girls going to the game?" asked Dick, when he and his +chum met Laura Bentley and Belle Meade before the post office. + +"Haven't you heard what the girls are doing, Dick?" questioned +Laura, looking at him in some surprise. + +"I have heard that a lot of the girls are going to the game." + +"Just forty-two of us, to be exact," Laura continued. "We girls +and our chaperons are to have one car in the first section. You +see, we've arranged to go right along with the team. We have +our seats all together at Fordham, too." + +"My, what a lot of noise forty-two girls can make in a moment +of enthusiasm!" murmured Dave. + +"We can, if you give us any excuse," advanced Belle. + +"Oh, we'll give you excuse enough. See to it that you keep the +noise up to the grade of our playing." + +"Mr. Confident!" teased Belle. + +"Why, you know, as well as we do, that we'll come home with Fordham's +scalp!" retorted, Darrin. + +"You've heard some of the talk about Fordham's confidence in winning, +haven't you?" asked Laura, a bit anxiously. + +"Yes," nodded Dick. "But that doesn't mean anything. You know +the Gridley record, the Gridley spirit and confidence." + +"Still," objected Belle, "one side has to lose, and the Fordham +boys have all the stuff ready to light bonfires on Thanksgiving +night." + +"Have you any particular friends over in Fordham?" asked Dave +Darrin, with a sudden swift, significant look. + +"No, I haven't," retorted Belle hastily. "And I hope, with all +my heart, that Gridley gains the only points that are allowed. +Yet, sometimes, so much confidence all the while seems just a +bit alarming." + +"I won't say another word, then, until after the game," promised +Darrin meekly. + +"And then-----?" + +"Oh, I'll turn half girl, and say 'I told you so,'" mimicked +Dave good-humoredly. + +It would have been hard to find anyone in Gridley who would have +said openly that he expected the home boys to be beaten; but there +were many who knew that they were more than a bit anxious. Before +the game, anyway, Fordham's brag was just as good as Gridley brag. + +"Won't you be glad, anyway, when the Thanksgiving game is over?" +asked Laura. + +"Yes, and no," smiled Prescott seriously. "When I come back from +Fordham I shall know that I have captained my last game on a High +School team. That tells me that I am getting along in life---that +I am growing old, and shall soon have to think of much more serious +things. But, honestly, I hate awfully to think of all these grand +old High School days coming to an end. I mustn't think too much +about it until after the game. It makes me just a bit blue." + +"Won't you be captain of the basket ball team this winter?" asked +Laura quickly. + +"No; I can't take everything. Hudson will probably head the basket +ball team." + +"Why, I heard that you were going in hard for basket ball." + +"So I am. Mr. Morton is so busy, with the new evening training +classes, that he has asked me to be second coach to the basket +ball crowd. I'll undoubtedly do that." + +"Oh, then you'll still be leading the athletic vanguard at the +High School," murmured Laura, and, somehow, there was a note of +contentment in her voice. + +"I shall be, until I'm through with the High School," Prescott +answered. "But think---just think---how soon that will come +around for all of us!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +Fordham Plays a Slugging Game + + +For half an hour before the first section of the special pulled +out, the Gridley Band played its liveliest tunes. A part of the +time the band played accompaniment to the school airs, which the +crowd took up with lively spirit. + +There is a peculiar enthusiasm which attaches to the Thanksgiving +Day game. This is due partly to the extra holiday spirit of the +affair. Then, too, there is the high tension that precedes the +last game of the season. + +With a team that has won every game to that point, yet often with +great difficulty, the tension of spirits is even higher. + +As the first section of the special rolled in at the railway station +the part of the crowd that was "going" began to break up into +groups headed for the different parts of the train. + +Herr Schimmelpodt went, of course, to the car that carried the +team. The boys wouldn't have been satisfied to start or to travel +without him. The big German had come to be the mascot of Gridley +High School. + +Just before the train started Herr Schimmelpodt waddled out to +the rear platform of the car. + +In his right hand he brandished a massive cane to which the Gridley +High School colors were secured. + +"Now, listen," he bellowed out. "Ve come back our scalps not +wigs! You hear dot, alretty?" + +While the cheering was still going on, and while the band was +crashing out music, the first section pulled out, making room +for the second section. + +A run of a little more than an hour at good speed, and with no +way stops, brought the Gridley invading forces to Fordham. + +At the depot, the local team's second coach awaited the players. +He had two stages at hand, into which the team and subs piled. +A wagon followed, carrying the kits of the Gridley boys. There +were two more stages for the band. All the other travelers had +to depend on the street-car service. + +Finding the stages rather crowded, Dick nudged Darrin, then made +for the kit wagon. + +"I really believe we'll have more comfort, Dave," proposed Prescott, +"if we get aboard this rig and ride on top of the tog bags." + +The suggestion was carried out at once. + +"I'll drive along fast, if you want," proposed the driver, "and +get the togs down to the grounds ahead of your team." + +"If you please," nodded Dick. "Our boys will want everything +ready when they reach the grounds." + +So the two chums were quickly carried beyond the noise and confusion. +A few minutes later the wagon turned in at the Fordham Athletic +grounds. + +The Fordham High School boys were out in the field, practicing. +As seen in their padded togs they were an extra-bulky looking +lot. + +"Great Scott!" grunted Darrin, half disgustedly. "Each one of +those Fordham fellows must weigh close to a ton." + +"The more weight the less speed, anyway," laughed Dick good-humoredly. + +"And, look! I wonder how old some of those fellows are," continued +Darrin. "I wonder if, in this town, men wait until they've made +their fortunes and retired, before they enter High School. Why, +some of these Fordham fellows must have voted for president the +last two times." + +"Hardly as bad as that, I guess," smiled Prescott. "Still, these +Fordham boys do look more like a college eleven than a High School +crowd." + +Dave continued to gaze over at the home team, and to scowl, until +the wagon was halted before dressing quarters. Here the teamster +and another man made short work of carrying in all the tog-bags. + +A few minutes later the other fellows arrived. + +"Say, which team is it we're fighting to-day?" demanded Hudson. +"Harvard, or Yale?" + +There was general grumbling comment. + +"I think," insisted Tom Reade, "that the Fordham team wouldn't +like to stand a searching hunt into the eligibility of some of +their players." + +"They've surely brought in some who are not regular, fair-and-square +High School students," contended Dan Dalzell. + +There was much more talk of this sort, some of the Gridley boys +insisting that Fordham ought to be compelled to account for the +size and seeming age of some of the home players. + +"We're up against a crooked line-up, or I'll give up," muttered +Greg Holmes. + +"Now, see here, fellows," laughed Captain Dick. "I don't believe +in making any fuss beforehand. We'll just go ahead and take what +comes to us." + +"It would be too late to make a kick after we've played," cried +some one. + +"You fellows," continued Dick, "make me think of what I heard +Mr. Pollock say to Wilcox, chairman of the campaign committee +back home." + +"What was that?" demanded half a dozen. + +"Why," chuckled Prescott, "Mr. Pollock said to Wilcox: 'Now, see +here, there's always a chance that the election will go our way. +So never yell fraud until after the election is over.'" + +"I guess that's the wisest philosophy," laughed Coach Morton, +who had taken no part in the previous conversation. + +"If that's the Fordham team," continued Dick, "it's one of pretty +sizable fellows. But we'll do our plain duty, which is to pile +out on to the field and proceed to stroll through any line that +is posted in our way." + +Just before the Gridley youngsters were ready to go out for preliminary +practice the big Fordham fellows came off the field. + +"Hullo!" piped Dave, as the Gridley boys strolled out to the gridiron. +"You ought to feel happy, Dick. There's a big section of West +Point over on the grand stand." + +Nearly two hundred young men in black and gray cadet uniforms +of the United States Military Academy pattern sat in a solid block +at one point on the grand stand. + +"No, they're not West Pointers," sighed Dick. "See here, those +fellows, of course, are students at the Fordham Military institute. +They wear the West Point uniform. And that's the military school +that Phin Drayne went to." + +"The sneak!" grunted Dave. "I wonder if he's over in that bunch, +now." + +"I'm not even enough interested to wonder," returned Prescott. +"He's where he can't do us any harm, anyway." + +"But, if the Fordham boys put anything over us, I'll bet Drayne +has things timed so that the military boys will do a big and +noisy lot of boasting." + +"They will, anyway, if we allow them a chance," answered Dick. +"Now, spread out, fellows," he called, raising his voice. + +In the next moment the ball was in lively play. + +The first time that a fumble was made a jeering chorus sounded +among the military school boys. + +"I expected it," growled Darrin. + +"We don't care, anyway," smiled Dick. "Let 'em hoot! I don't +draw the line until they throw things." + +"If they knew Phin Drayne as we do, they'd throw him first," grimaced +Darrin. + +A minute later another hoot went up. It was plain that the military +school boys had been primed for this. + +But the gray-clad youths, it was very soon evident, were not the +only ones who had come out to make a noise. Half of the Fordham +crowd present joined in the volleys of derision that were showered +down on the practicing boys from Gridley. + +"It's nothing but a mob!" declared Darrin, his eyes flashing. + +"Careful, old fellow," counseled Prescott coolly. "They're trying +to get our nerve before the game begins. Don't let 'em do it." + +This excellent instruction Dick contrived to pass throughout his +team. Thereafter the Gridley boys seemed not to hear the harsh +witticisms that were hurled at them from all sides of the field. + +Just in the nick of time the Gridley Band began playing. That +stopped the annoyance for a while, for Fordham had neglected to +provide a band. + +Yet when the Gridley High School song was started by the band, +and the Gridley boosters joined in the words, the answer from +Fordham came in the form of a "laughing-song," let loose with +such volume that the Gridley offering to the merriment was drowned +out. + +"I hope we can give this rough town a horrible thumping---that's +all," muttered Dave, his eyes flashing. + +"Don't let them capture your 'goat,' and we will," Dick promised, +as quietly as ever. + +The plain hostility of the home crowd was wearing in on more than +one of the Gridley boys. Dick felt obliged to call his eleven +together, and to give them some quiet, homely but forcible advice. +Coach Morton followed, with more in the same line. + +Yet it came as a welcome relief to the Gridley youngsters when +the referee and the other officials came to the field and game +was called. + +Dick Prescott won the toss, and took the kickoff. + +That, of course, sent the ball into Fordham ranks. In an instant +the solid Fordham line emitted a murmur that sounded like a bear's +growl, then came thundering down upon the smaller Gridley youngsters. + +There was a fierce collision, but Gridley held on like a herd +of bulls. The ball was soon down. + +For five minutes or so there was savage playing. Fordham played +a "slugging" game of the worst kind. Several foul tackles were +quickly made by home players, yet so quickly released that the +referee could not be sure and could not inflict a penalty. Sly +blows were struck when the lines came together. + +The average football captain would have claimed penalties, and +fought the matter out. + +But Dick Prescott let matters run by. He was waiting his opportunity. + +So hard was the "slugging," so overbearing and ruthlessly unfair +was the Fordham charge that, at the end of five minutes, Gridley +was forced to make a safety, losing two points at the outset. + +"Yah!" sneered an exultant voice from the ranks of the military +school. "That's the fine Captain Prescott we've heard about!" + +Tom Reade, in togs, was standing among the Gridley subs at the +side line. + +Tom recognized, as did all the Gridley boys, the voice of Phin +Drayne. + +"Yes!" bellowed Tom, facing the gray-clad group. "And that last +speaker was a fellow who was expelled from Gridley High School +for selling out his team!" + +It was a swift shot and a bull's-eye. The Fordham Institute boys +had no answer ready for that. Half of them turned to stare at +Phin Drayne, whose guilty face, with color coming and going in +flashes seemed to admit the truth of Reade's taunt. + +"Dick," growled Darrin, as they moved forward, after the safety, +to Gridley's twenty-five yard line, "these Fordham fellows are +simply ruffians. They're fouling us every second, and they'll +smash half our fellows into the hospital." + +"We'll see about that!" + +Dick Prescott's voice was as quiet and cool as ever, but there +was an ominous flash in his eyes. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +"We'll Play the Gentleman's Game." + + +At the next down Dan Dalzell held up his hand, making a dash for +the referee. + +"I claim a foul!" he called. + +"Captain, this is for you," announced the referee, turning to +Dick. "Be quick, if you've any complaint to make." + +"Come here, Dalzell," called Prescott. "What was the foul?" + +The Fordham players crowded about, muttering in an ugly way---all +except one man, who skulked at the rear. + +"There's the hoodlum," continued Dan excitedly, one hand over +his left breast. He pointed to the Fordham player skulking at +the rear. "That fellow deliberately gave me the elbow over the +heart when we came together." + +"What have you to say, Captain Barnes?" demanded the referee, +turning to the Fordham leader. + +"It's not true," retorted Barnes hotly. "Daniels, come here." + +The matter was argued quickly and hotly, Gridley accusing, Fordham +hotly denying. + +"Can't you Gridley fellows play with anything but your mouths?" +snarled Captain Barnes. + +"We play a straight game," retorted Dick coldly. "We play like +gentlemen." + +"Do you mean that we're not?" demanded Barnes swaggeringly. + +"So far you've played like a lot of sluggers." + +"See here! I've a good mind to thrash you, Prescott!" quivered +Barnes. + +"It's always the truth that stings," retorted Dick, with a cool +smile. + +"My fist would hurt, too." + +"That's what we're asking you to do---to save all your slugging +and bruising tactics until after a straight and gentlemanly game +has been played," retorted Dick, with spirit. + +Barnes clenched his fists, but the referee stepped squarely in +between the rival captains. + +"Cut it!" directed that official tersely. "I'll do all the talking +myself. Captain Barnes, return to your men and tell them that +slugging and tricky work will be watched for more carefully, and +penalized as heavily as the rules allow. If it goes too far I'll +declare the game forfeited to the visiting team." + +"This is a shame!" fumed Barnes. "And the whole charge is a mass +of lies." + +"I'll watch out and see," promised---or threatened---the referee. +"Back to your positions. Captain Barnes, I'll give you thirty +seconds to pass the word around among your men." + +"That black-haired prize-fighter with the mole on his chin tries +to give me his knee every time we meet in a scrimmage," growled +Hudson to Dick. "If he carries it any further, I think I know +a kick that will put his ankle out of business!" + +"Then don't you dare use it," warned Dick sternly. "No matter +what the other fellows do, our team is playing a square, honest +game every minute of both halves!" + +The referee had signaled them to positions. The Gridley boys +leaped into place. + +Play was resumed. In the next three plays Fordham, under the +now more keenly watchful eyes of the officials, failed to make +the required distance, and lost the ball. + +Gridley took the ball, now. In the next two plays, the smaller +fellows advanced the ball some twelve yards. But in the next +three plays following, they lost on downs, and Fordham again carried +the pigskin. + +"The Fordham fellows are passing a lot of whispers every chance +they get," reported alert Dave. + +"I don't care how much they whisper," was Dick's rejoinder. "But +watch out for crooked tricks." + +Minute after minute went by. Gridley got the ball down to the +enemy's fifteen-yard line, then saw it slowly forced back into +their own territory. + +Now Fordham began to "slug" again; yet so cleverly was it done +that the officials could not put their fingers on a definite instance +that could be penalized. + +Bravely fighting, Gridley was none the less driven back. From +the ten-yard line Fordham suddenly made a right end play on which +the whole weight and force of the team was concentrated. In the +mad crush, three or four Gridley boys were "slugged" in the slyest +manner conceivable. Fordham broke through the line, carrying +the pigskin over the goal line with a rush. + +Fordham boosters set up a roar that seemed to make the ground +shake, but the two hundred boys from the military school took +little or no part in the demonstration. Tom Reade's reply to +Phin Drayne had silenced them. + +Swaggering like swashbucklers Fordham followed the ball back for +the kick for goal. It was made, securing six points, which were +added to the two received from Gridley being forced to make that +safety earlier in the game. + +"Of all the miserable gangs of rowdies!" uttered Dave Darrin, +as the teams rested in quarters between the halves. + +"I have two black-and-blue spots to show, I know I have," muttered +Hudson. + +"We'll have some of our men on stretchers, if this thing keeps +up," growled Greg Holmes. + +"What are you going to do about this business, Captain?" demanded +two or three of the fellows, in one breath. + +"As long as we play," replied Dick Prescott, "we'll play the same +gentleman's game, no matter what the other fellows do. We may +quit, but we won't slug. We won't sully Gridley's good name for +honest play. And we won't quit, either, until Mr. Morton orders +us from the field." + +"You have it right, Prescott," nodded the coach. "And I shan't +interfere, either, unless things get a good deal worse than they +have been. But the Fordham work has been shameful, and I don't +blame any of you for feeling that you'd rather forfeit the game +and walk off the field." + +Besides being coach, Mr. Morton was also manager. At his call +the team would have left the field instantly, despite any other +orders from the referee. It always makes a bad showing, however, +for a team to leave the field on a claim of foul playing. + +"All out for the second half!" sounded a voice in the doorway. + +The Gridley boys went, fire in their hearts, flame in their eyes. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +Gridley's Last Charge + + +"Remember, Captain Barnes!" called the referee significantly. + +"Why don't you talk to Prescott, too?" demanded the Fordham captain +sulkily. + +"I don't need to." + +"You----don't---need to?" demanded Barnes, opening his eyes in +pretended wonder. + +"No; Prescott and his fellows have a magnificent reputation for +fair play, and they've won it on merit." + +"You're down on us," growled Captain Barnes. + +"I'm only waiting till I can put my finger on some slugging to +stop the game and hand it to Gridley," retorted the referee, with +a snap. + +"Be mighty careful, fellows; be clever," whispered the Fordham +captain to his most "dependable" men. + +"Are we going to throw the game?" demanded the slugger who had +so angered Hudson. + +"No; but don't get caught at anything. Better not do anything. +We've got those milk-diet infants eight to nothing now. Play +their own kind of kindergarten game as long as we can hold the +score without rough work." + +Barnes's own instructions would have sufficiently stamped his +team, had these orders been heard by anyone else. + +At the beginning of the second half Fordham played a much more +honest game, and Gridley began to pick up hope that fairness might +prevail hereafter. + +Gridley's own game, in the second half, was as swift and scientific +as it had ever been. By sheer good playing and brilliant dashes +Dick and his men carried the ball down the field, losing it once +on downs; but after the first ten minutes of the half they kept +the pigskin wholly in Fordham territory. + +Back and forth surged the battle. Fordham, despite its greatly +superior weight and bulk, was not by any means superior when under +the utmost watchfulness of a referee avowedly anxious to penalize. + +Yet, until the game was nearly over, Fordham managed to keep the +ball away from its own goal line. + +Then, while the lines reformed and Dick bent over to snap back, +Dave Darrin called out a signal that electrified the whole Gridley +line. It called for one of their most daring plays, that Prescott +himself made famous the year before. + +While the start, after the ball was in play, seemed directed toward +the right wing of Gridley, the ball was actually jumped to little +Fenton, at the left end, and Fenton, backed solidly by a superb +interference, got off and away with the ball. In a twinkling +he had it down behind Fordham's goal line. + +Then the ball went back for the kick. The band played a few spirited +measures while the wearied Gridley boosters suddenly rose and +whooped themselves black in the face. + +The kick, too, was won. + +"Oh, well." growled Barnes, "we have two points to the good yet, +and only four minutes and a half left for the game. Don't get +rough, fellows, unless you have to." + +As the Gridley boys sprang to a fresh line-up their eyes were +glowing. + +"Remember, fellows, the time is short, but battles have been won +in two minutes!" + +This was the inspiring message flashed out by Captain Dick Prescott. + +With all the zeal of race horses the Gridley High School boys +flung themselves into their work. + +After a minute and a half of play, Gridley had done so much that, +just before the next snapback Barnes let his sulky eyes flash +about him in a way that was understood. + +Fordham must rush in, now, and hold the enemy back, no matter +at what cost of roughness---if the roughness could be done slyly +enough. + +Then it came, a fierce, frenzied charge. The ball was down again +in an instant, and Hazelton, a Gridley man, lay on the field, +unable to rise. + +Physicians hurried out from the side lines. + +"Broken leg," said one of them, and a stretcher was brought. + +"Have we got to stand this sort of thing?" demanded Hudson, in +a hoarse whisper. "Say the word, and I'll send two of their men +after Hazelton." + +"Don't you do it!" snapped Dick sharply. "It would disgrace our +school colors and our school honor. Don't let knaves make a knave +of you." + +Tom Reade came out on a swift run from the side lines to take +Hazelton's place. + +"We ought to be allowed to carry guns, when we play a team like +this one," blurted Tom indignantly. + +"We'll pay them back in the score," retorted Dick soberly, though +his eyes were flashing. + +Dave, in the meantime, was swiftly passing some orders Dick had +whispered to him. These orders, however, related to plays to +come, and did not call for retaliation on Hazelton's account. + +Play was called sharply. "Pay in the score," became the battle +cry raging in every Gridley boy's heart. + +Four successive plays carried the ball so close to the Fordham +goal line that Barnes and his followers were in despair. + +They still used whatever rough tricks they thought they could +sneak in under the eyes of the game's officials, and some of +these made the Gridley boys ache. + +Then came a signal beginning with "three" which stood for reverse +signal. The numerals that came after the three called for the +same trick that Fenton had put through so splendidly. + +Again the ball started toward the right wing. This time the Fordham +players were sure they understood---and like a flash massed their +defense against Gridley's left. + +But on that reverse signal the ball continued to move at the right. +Before Barnes and his followers could comprehend, another touchdown +had been scored by the visitors. + +And then came the kick for goal, and it was a splendid success. +The kick came just at the end of the second half. That kick +won the game for Dick's sorely pressed team. + +Gridley's score, won by a cleanly played game against bruisers, +stood at twelve to eight! + +Now, indeed, did the Gridley boosters turn themselves loose, the +band leading. + +Barnes and his ruffians skulked back to dressing quarters, there +to abuse the referee, the "Gridley kickers" and everyone and +everything else but themselves. + +It wasn't long before some of the Fordham subs slipped out to +find their cronies and sympathizers in the crowd that was slowly +dissolving. + +Then the word was passed around: + +"Wait and be with us. Barnes is going to stop the Gridleys on +the way to the station. Barnes is going to make Prescott fight +for some things he said on the field! Of course, if you fellows +get generally peevish, and the whole Gridley team gets cleaned +out, there won't be many tears shed." + +So scores of the sort of rabble in whom such an appeal finds +ready response hung about, eager to see what would turn up. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +The Long Gray Column + + +One small urchin there was, so small that he escaped notice as +he hung about hearing the word passed. + +But that urchin was a Gridley boy who had raised the money to +come and see this game. The boy possessed the Gridley spirit. +As fast as his legs would carry him he raced to dressing quarters, +and there told what he had heard. + +"Thank you, kid!" said Dick. "You're a good Gridley boy," and +then he continued: + +"So that's the game, is it They're going to mob us, are they I +guess they can do it---but, fellows, keep in mind to pass some +of the blows back! When we go down in the dirt be sure that some +of the Fordham fellows have something to remember us by for many +a day! I'm glad Hazelton has already been sent forward in an +ambulance." + +As Dick finished dressing and waited for the others, he saw one +of the subs dropping a spiked shoe into an outer jacket pocket. + +"What's that for?" Dick demanded sternly. "A weapon?" + +"Yes," sheepishly admitted the other. + +"Put it in your bag, then, and let it go on the baggage wagon. +Fellows, we'll fight with nothing but fists, and only then if +we're attacked." + +"But those scoundrels will probably use brickbats," argued the +fellow who had tried to drop the spiked shoe into his overcoat +pocket. + +"No matter," rang Dick's voice, low but commanding. "If we have +to, we'll fight for our lives as we fought for the game---on the +square! Good citizens don't carry concealed weapons until called +upon by the authorities to do it." + +"Bully for you, Prescott!" rang the voice of the coach. + +"You here, Mr. Morton?" cried Dick, wheeling and seeking the submaster. +"Mr. Morton, you're not a boy, and you don't want to be mixed +up in such affairs. Why don't you start-----" + +"My place, Captain Prescott, is with the team I'm coaching," replied +the submaster. "And I think the signs are that we're going to +need all the pairs of fists that we have, and, more, too." + +The baggage wagon came to the door. Dick, Dave and Tom coolly +loaded the baggage on. The wagon started off at good speed. + +Then the two stages drove up to the door. + +"Pile in, boys!" called one of the drivers. + +Neither of the stage drivers was in the secret of what was likely +to happen down the road. + +The start was made, the horses moving barely faster than a walk. + +By this time the athletic field was practically deserted. There +was no sign of the presence of the Fordham High School team, +nor of the bad element that Barnes had enlisted. + +It was not until the stages had proceeded nearly four blocks that +Dave, sitting beside Dick on the driver's seat of the first stage, +caught sight of some bobbing heads further up the road. + +"There they are," whispered Dave. "Lying in wait at the next +corner. They'll jump out when we get there." + +"Let them!" muttered Dick. "They'll have to start it---but after +they do-----!" + +The stages had almost reached the next corner. Grinning, or scowling, +according to individual moods, the roughs streamed out into the, +street. + +Gridley boys steeled themselves for a conflict, hopeless in odds +of five to one! + +At this point a clear voice sounded in the distance. + +"A Company, left wheel, march!" + +Around another corner near by came a company of boys from the +Fordham Military Institute. It was followed by a second company, +a third and a fourth. + +Then, by a further series of commands, one company was sent, on +the double quick, to march ahead of the first stage, while another +company fell in behind the second stage, while the other companies +formed and marched on either side of the stages. + +While these hasty maneuvers were being carried out the fine-looking +young cadet major of the battalion lifted his fatigue cap to Dick +Prescott. + +"Captain," called the boyish major, "you gave us such a fine exhibition +of gentlemanly football that we beg leave to show our appreciation +by marching as your escort of honor to the station." + +The rough crowd in the street had fallen back to the sidewalks, +a savage mutter going up at the same time. + +The Military School boys were without arms, save those Nature +had given them, but they, marched in solid ranks and stood for +two hundred pairs of fists! + +So Barnes's last hope of vengeance vanished. Even his own rough +followers turned to eye him in disgust. + +Before they left the grounds some of the Military School boys +had heard a whisper or two of what Barnes planned. + +The soldier is drilled to fair play, and to detestation of cowardice. +These young military students passed the word quickly. They +left the grounds at once, but formed near by, on a side street +near where they learned that Barnes and his rough mob lay in ambush. + +"I declare, that's the neatest, most military thing I ever saw +done!" laughed Dave Darrin. + +"And done by the boys you made fun of as sham West Pointers!" +laughed Dick quizzically. + +"But I didn't mean it," protested Dave, growing very red. "These +are splendid fellows. Evidently they think that they, too, are +entitled to say a word or two about the good name of Fordham." + +"You didn't like the first look of these fellows, Dave, because +they had started to cheer for Fordham High School. But did you +notice that they cheered no more for Fordham after Reade answered +Phin Drayne so forcibly." + +"It's a fact that these men didn't boost any more for Fordham," +assented Dave. "By the way, I have one clear notion in my head!" + +"What is it?" + +"That Phin Drayne isn't marching in these close gray ranks about +us." + +Phin Drayne wasn't. At this moment Phin was back at the military +institute, his face twitching horribly as he packed his clothing +in the trunk in which it had come. + +For, almost instantly after Reade had called out, some of the +military students around Drayne had demanded of him whether there +was a shadow of truth in what Reade had said. + +Phin Drayne's "brass" had deserted him. He knew, anyway, that +these comrades could dig up his past record at Gridley very quickly. + +Drayne knew that his days at Fordham were over. + +"It was all my confounded tongue, too," muttered Phin dejectedly. +"If I had kept my tongue behind my teeth I don't believe any +of the Gridley fellows would have noticed me, or said anything. +Oh, dear! I wonder where I can go next!" + +In the meantime the Gridley High School team and substitutes, +escorted with so much pomp, attracted a great deal of notice in +the streets of Fordham. + +People turned out to cheer them, and to wave handkerchiefs and +ribbons. For Fordham wasn't all bad or rough; not even the High +School. The roughest element in the school had captured football---that +was all. Some of these boys belonged to the wealthier families, +and had been brought up to believe they could do as they pleased. +This was the High School in which Phin Drayne naturally belonged. + +Down at the railway station the Gridley crowd and the Gridley +Band awaited the coming of the team. The fine sight made by the +gray military escort brought a hurricane of cheers from the Gridleyites. + +Just at the nick of time the leader of the band bethought himself, +and signaled his musicians. As the stages drew up the band played, +and the Fordham Military Institute's battalion moved into line +of battalion front. + +Dick feelingly thanked young Major Ransom. + +"Oh, that's all right, Prescott," laughed young Ransom. "If we +hadn't shown up at all you fellows would have given a good +account of yourselves. But we had to do it. Fordham is our +headquarters, too, and the honor of the town, while we live and +study here, means something to all of us. Don't gauge even the +Fordham High School by what happened to-day---or came near +happening. There are some mighty fine fellows and a lot of noble +girls who attend Fordham High School. But Barnes---he's the curse +of the school population of the town." + +Three or four days later Dick asked Darrin: + +"Did you hear the outcome of the Fordham affair?" + +"No," Dave admitted. + +"I just heard it all up at 'The Blade' office. The fact that +the Military School cadets escorted us in such formal manner to +the railway station attracted a lot of attention in Fordham. +The principal of the High School there started a quiet investigation +of his own. Barnes and two other fellows on the Fordham eleven +have been suspended from school until the School Board can take +up their cases and decide whether they ought to be expelled. +The Fordham principal has also made it plain that next year's +team will have to be scanned by him, and that he'll keep out of +the eleven any fellows who don't come up to the tests. There's +a jolly big row on in Fordham, and Barnes isn't having any sympathy +wasted on him you can just bet." + +"It serves him and that whole football crew just right," blazed +Darrin. + +Hazelton's injury kept him out of school only a fortnight. The +supposed break in his leg turned out to be only a sprain. + +While school teams like that commanded by Barnes are rare, they +are found, now and then. Yet the fate of rowdy athletes in the +school world is usually swift and satisfying. Other schools refuse +to compete with schools that are known to put out "rough-house +men." + +Dick & Co. had laid by their togs. They had said farewell to +school athletics. + +In the winter's basket ball they did not intend to take part. +For the baseball nine, that would begin practice soon after the +new year, there was plenty of fine material in the lower classes. + +"I feel almost as if I had been to a funeral," snorted Darrin, +when he came away from the gym. after having turned in all his +togs and paraphernalia. + +"It's time to give the younger fellows a show," sighed Dick. + +"You talk as though we were old men," gibed Dave. + +"In the High School we are," laughed Dick. "We're seniors. In +a few short months more we shall be graduates, unless-----" + +There he stopped, but Darrin didn't need to look at his chum. +Both knew what that pause meant. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +The Would-Be Candidates + + +The big stir came earlier than it had been expected. + +Every boy who has followed such matters in his own interest will +appreciate what the "big stir" means. + +Congressman Spokes, representing the district in which Gridley +lay, had a vacant cadetship at West Point within his gift, and +also a cadetship at Annapolis. + +_"On December 17, at nine A.M., at the town hall in Wilburville, +I will meet all young men who believe themselves to possess the +other proper qualifications for a cadetship at either West Point +or Annapolis."_ + +So ran the Congressman's announcement in the daily press of the +district. + +Every young man had to be of proper age, height, weight and general +good bodily condition. He must, of course, be a citizen of the +United States. + +Every young man was advised to save himself some possible trouble +and disappointment by going, first of all, to his family physician +for a thorough examination. If serious bodily defects were found, +that would save the young man from the trouble of going further +in the matter. + +But at the Wilburville town hall there was to be another physical +examination, which every young man must pass before he would be +admitted to the mental examinations, which were to last into the +evening. + +Dick Prescott read this announcement and thrilled over it. + +For two years or more he had been awaiting this very opportunity. + +Every Congressman once in four years has one of these cadetships +to give to some young man. + +Sometimes the Congressman would give the chance to a boy of high +social connections, or else to the son of an influential politician. +A cadetship was a prize with which the Congress man too often +paid his debts. + +Good old General Daniel E. Sickles was the first Congressman to +formulate the plan of giving the cadetship to the brightest boy +in district, the young man proving his fitness by defeating all +other aspirants in a competitive examination. + +Since that time the custom had grown up of doing this regularly. +It is true, at any rate of most of the states of the Union. +In some western and some southern states the cadetship is still +given as a matter of favor. + +The young man who receives the appointment goes to the United +States Military Academy at West Point. He is now a "candidate" +only. At West Point he is subjected to another searching series +of physical and mental examinations. If he comes out of them +successfully he is admitted to the cadet corps, and becomes a +full-fledged cadet. + +The candidate must report at West Point on the first of March. +If he succeeds in entering the corps, and keeps in it, four years +and three months later the young man is graduated from the Military +Academy. The President now commissions him as a second lieutenant +in the Regular Army. Thus started on his career, the young man +may, in later days, become a general. + +While the cadet is at West Point he is paid a salary that is just +about sufficient for his needs and leaves enough over to enable +him to buy his first set of uniforms and other equipment as an +army officer. + +West Point is no place for idlers, nor for boys who dislike discipline. +It is a severe training that the cadet receives, and the education +furnished him by the United States is a magnificent and costly +one. It costs Uncle Sam more than twenty thousand dollars for +each cadet he educates and graduates from the United States Military +Academy. + +The same general statement is true regarding the United States +Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland. In the latter institution, +however, the cadet learns how to become an officer in the United +States Navy. + +Now, here were both grand opportunities, offered together. + +While Dick Prescott had been waiting, hoping and praying for the +cadetship at West Point; Dave Darrin had been equally wistful +for the chance to go to Annapolis. + +"Our chances have come, old chum!" cried Dick, looking into the +glowing face of Darrin. + +"Yes; and of course an Army or Navy officer should be a brave +man. But now the chance has come, I find myself an utter coward," +confessed Dave. + +"How so?" + +"I'm in a blue funk for fear some other fellow will get it away +from me," confessed Darrin honestly. "And if I fail in this great +ambition of my life, I'm wondering if I'll have the nerve to go +on living afterwards." + +"Brace up!" laughed Dick protestingly. + +"Now, honestly, old fellow, aren't you just badly scared!" Dave +demanded. + +"Whisper, Dave! I am," Dick admitted. + +"Well, there is nothing like having some one that you can confess +everything to, is there?" muttered Darrin. + +"I guess it has done us both good to own up," laughed Dick. "But +see here!" + +"Well?" + +"I simply won't allow myself to be scared." + +"Then you're as keen for West Point as I am for Annapolis," retorted +Darrin suspiciously. + +"Dave, old fellow, you know what the Gridley spirit demands? +You know how we and the rest of the fellows managed to win eternally +in athletics? Just because we made up our minds that defeat was +impossible." + +"That's fine," laughed Dave. "But we'll probably have to buck +up against more fellows than we do on an athletic field. And +probably dozens of them go in with the same determination." + +"I don't care," declared Prescott. "I want that West Point cadetship. +I've wanted it for years, and now the chance has come. I'm going +to have it!" + +Dave Darrin gradually succeeded in working himself into the same +frame of mind. Yet there were many moments when he was tortured +by doubts as to whether the "Gridley spirit" would serve in bucking +a long line of young fellows all equally anxious to get to Annapolis. + +The first step taken by Dick and Dave was to get excused from +the High School for the time. + +Both boys had lists of the studies and standards required for +entrance to the Military Academy or the Naval Academy. Dick and +Dave, each in his own room at home, spent the next few days in +"boning" as neither had ever "boned" before. + +"But we must get three hours in the open air each day, Dave," +Dick insisted. "We mustn't go up for the trial with our nerves +shattered by moping all the time indoors." + +Only Dick & Co., and a very few friends, knew what Dick and Dave +were planning. It was kept a secret. + +The date of the High School senior ball was set for December 17. + +"Can you be back in time to go to the ball?" Laura Bentley asked +Prescott. + +"I'm afraid not, Laura. Besides, when I get back from Wilburville, +I'm afraid I'll feel pretty well tired out." + +"You're not afraid of failing?" asked Laura anxiously. + +"I'm not going to allow myself to fail. Yet, even if I win, I +shall be tired out after the ordeal. Wish the ball could come +a couple of days alter the ordeal. I wanted to go to it and to +dance with you, Laura." + +"I'm sorry you can't go," sighed the girl. + +Darrin, too, had given up all thoughts of attending the senior +ball, and this was the first time that either lad had "skipped" +the class ball. + +"It seems too bad to be away," grumbled Dave. "But I know how +I'll feel on that night. If I carry off the honors for Annapolis, +no mere ball could hold me! I'll need air and space. I'll be +lucky if I don't get arrested on that night for building bonfires +in the streets." + +Dave next sighed dismally and continued: + +"If I don't carry off the Annapolis prize, I'll feel so disappointed +that I won't look anybody in the face! Dick, Dick! It's fearful, +this waiting---and wanting!" + +"It won't seem like the class ball a bit without you two boys," +declared Belle Meade, pouting, the next afternoon. + +"But if we get through," muttered Dave, "think of the gay, splendid +times to which we can invite you at Annapolis and West Point." + +"Indianapolis and Blue Point are far away," murmured Belle, purposely +misnaming both famous places. + +"_Ann_-apolis!" flared Dave + +"_West_ Point!" protested Dick hotly. + +"Don't mind Belle," begged Laura quietly. "She's the worst tease +I know." + +"If I get the appointment to Annapolis," continued Darrin, "you'll +be asking me, next, if I expect to be promoted, after a while, +to he helmsman, or fireman, on some cruiser." + +"Well, would you expect to be!" asked Belle, with an appearance +of great innocence. + +"Don't, Belle," pleaded Laura. "The boy are too much in earnest. +It isn't fair to tease them, now. Wait until they've been at +West Point and Annapolis a couple of years. Then ask them." + +"What would be the use then?" asked Belle dryly. "By that time +our young cadets will have met so many girls that they would have +to think back quite a while before they could remember our names." + +Laura's pretty color lessened for an instant. + +"Don't you believe it," broke in Dick promptly. "Just as soon +as I have a right ask for cards for a West Point hop I'm going +to ask for cards for Miss Bentley and Miss Deane, and their chaperon." + +"The same here, for Annapolis," promised Dave solemnly. "So you +see, girls, you'll have to be prepared to do some traveling in +the near future. + +"But you won't get to Annapolis, anyway, until June," replied +Belle, a bit more gently. "So you won't have any Annapolis hops +until next fall, will you?" + +"Probably not," Dave admitted. + +"But you won't go to Annapolis, anyway," suggested Laura, turning +to Prescott. "There may be some West Point hops between then +and June." + +"I feel pretty sure there will be," nodded Dick cheerily. "And +you girls may be sure of my keeping my promise." + +"And I'll keep mine for the very first hop that comes off at Annapolis +after I get there," Darrin assured them. + +The laugh was on both young men, though neither they nor their +fair young companions knew it. + +The poor "plebe," as the first year's man at either West Point +or Annapolis is known, would be in for a terrible experience at +the hands of his comrades if, during his "plebe" year, he had +the "cheek" to seek to attend a cadet hop. He must wait until +he has entered his second year before he has that privilege. + +This is a wise regulation. In his first year the poor "plebe" +has so bewilderingly much to learn that he simply couldn't spare +any time for the cultivation of the graces of the ballroom. +In his first year, he has dancing lessons, but that is all that +comes his way. + +Greg Holmes came to Prescott with a wistful, rather sad face. + +"How are you coming on, Dick?" Greg asked. + +"Meaning what?" + +"Are you going to be well prepared for the examinations?" + +"As far as being able to pass with a decent percentage," Dick +answered, "I am not all uneasy. All that worries me is the fear +that some other fellow may have a slightly better percentage. +That would ditch me, you know." + +"Oh, you'll win out," predicted Greg loyally. "And I just wish +I had a chance like yours!" + +"Why don't you go in and try for it, then?" urged Dick generously. + +"No use," uttered Greg, shaking his head. "You can beat me on +the scholastic examination, and I know it, Dick. The best I could +hope for would be an appointment as your alternate. And your +alternate to West Point isn't going to stand any show for a cadetship, +Dick Prescott!" + +Besides the candidate each Congressman may appoint one or more +"alternates." These alternates also report at West Point. If +the "principal" fails there, the alternate is given a chance to +make good for the cadetship. + +But Greg Holmes, though he was wildly anxious to go to West Point, +felt certain that it would be useless to go there as Dick Prescott's +alternate. + +"I hate to see you not try at all, Greg," declared Dick. "Why +don't you try? If you beat me out there won't be any hard feelings." + +"I couldn't beat you out, and I don't want to, either," responded +Greg. "But wait! I may have something to tell you later on." + +Dan Dalzell had much the same kind of a talk with Dave Darrin. +Dan felt the call to the sailor's life, but hadn't any notion +that he could slip in ahead of Darrin. + +"Even if I could, Dave, I wouldn't try it," declared Dan earnestly. +"I want badly enough to go to Annapolis, and I admit it. But +I believe you're just about crazy to get there." + +"I am," Dave admitted honestly. "But the prize goes to the best +fellow, Dan. Jump in, old fellow, and have your try at it." + +Dalzell, however, shook his head and remained silent on the subject +after that. + +To both Dick and Dave it seemed as though the next few days simply +refused to budge along on the calendar. Certainly neither of +them had ever known time to pass so slowly before. + +"I hope I'll be able to keep my nerve up until the seventeenth," +groaned Darrin. + +"Surely, you will," grinned Dick. "You've got to!" + +"I've been studying until all the words on a page seem to run +together, and I don't know one word from another," complained +Dave. + +"Then drop study---if you dare to!" + +"I'm thinking of it," proposed Darrin seriously. "Actually, I've +been boning so that the whole thing gets on my nerves, and stays +there like a cargo of lead." + +"Let's pledge ourselves, then, not to study on the fifteenth or +the sixteenth," urged Dick. + +"I'll go you, right off, on that," cried Darrin eagerly. + +"And we'll spend those two days in the open air, roaming around, +and trying to enjoy ourselves," added Prescott. + +"Enjoy ourselves---with all the load of suspense hanging over +our heads?" gasped Darrin. + +"Well, we'll try it anyway." + +To most people in and around Gridley the world, in these few days, +seemed to bob along very much as usual. Dick and Dave, however, +knew better. + +At last came the evening of the sixteenth! Both anxious boys +turned in early, though neither expected to sleep much. Both, +however, were soon in the land of Nod. + +But Dick awoke at half-past four on the morning of the fateful +seventeenth. By five o'clock he knew that he wasn't going to +sleep any more. So he got up and dressed. + +Dave Darrin was in his bath, that same morning, before four o'clock. +Then he, too, dressed, and wondered whether every other fellow +who was going into the contest to-day felt as restless. + +The mothers of both boys were astir almost as early. Mothers +can't take these examinations, but mothers know what a son's +suspense means. + +Dick and Dave met at the station a full twenty minutes before +train time. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +Tom Reade Bosses the Job + + +"Ugh!" shivered Dave, as the chums met on the platform. "It's +cold out here!" + +"Come inside, then, and get warm. But you're a great athlete, +to mind an ordinary December morning," laughed Dick Prescott. + +Together they stepped into the waiting room. + +"What time does our train go?" asked Dave, though he had known the +time of this train for the last week. + +"Seven-forty," replied Dick. + +"And it's seven-twenty, now. Whew, what a await!" + +"I could have stayed home a little longer," nodded Dick. "Only +I told father and mother that I'd feel more like being started +if I got down here this far on the way." + +"Sure thing," nodded Dave sympathetically. "My Dad had to hold +on to me to stop my leaving the house an hour earlier than I did." + +Both boys laughed, though not very heartily. Each was under a +terrific strain---just from wondering! + +"If I get through, and win out to-day," muttered Dick, "I know +I shan't feel half as anxious when it comes time to take the graduating +exams." + +"No," agreed Dave. "Then you'll know you have a chance; but to-day +you can't be sure of that much." + +Five minutes before train time the chums were astonished at seeing +another of the chums walk into the station. It was Tom Reade, +looking as jovial and contented as a youngster could possibly +look. + +"Hullo, Tom!" came from Dick. + +"Howdy, Tom, old man!" was Dave's greeting. + +"Hullo, fellows!" from Reade. + +"Where are you bound?" inquired Dick. + +"Wilburville?" + +"_What_?" + +"Fact!" Reade assured them. + +"Going to the exams.?" Dave demanded quickly. + +"Yep." + +"Why, you never said a word about thinking of West Point," exploded +Prescott. + +"You were making fun of Annapolis only the other day!" asserted +Dave, just as though making fun of Annapolis were one of the capital +crimes. + +"Hang West Point!" exploded Tom Reade. + +"Oh! Then it's Annapolis you're after," grunted Darrin. + +"Sink Annapolis!" exclaimed Reade. + +"Then what on earth are you after?" demanded Dick. + +"Have you any fool idea in your head, Tom, that you can take an +exam and stand a chance of getting Congressman Spokes's job away +from him?" Dave asked. + +Tom threw himself into one of the seats, crossed his feet, thrust +his hands down in his ulster pockets, and surveyed the pair before +he answered: + +"I'll tell you what ails you two. You have a notion that the +sun rises at West Point and sets at Annapolis. Now, I know a +heap better, and I haven't an eye on either place. Can you fellows +guess why I've taken the day off from school and why I'm going +to Wilburville?" + +"We surely can't," declared Dave. + +"Well, then, I'll tell you," promised Tom amiably. "I knew you +two good old chaps would be going to pieces with blue funk to-day. +I knew you'd be chattering inside, and turning all sorts of colors +outside. You'd try to cheer each other, but each of you is too +badly scared to be of any use to the other. So I've come along +to take up your minds, jolly you and stiffen your backbones alternately. +That's my whole job for to-day." + +Looking in some amazement at Reade, the other two chums realized +that good old Tom was telling the truth. + +"Of course, I'll admit," continued Reade, "that, if I were going +on the grill to-day, I'd be worse than either of you. But I'm +not. I wouldn't live in West Point, and I wouldn't be caught +dead at Annapolis, so I shan't have any scares or any nervous +streak to-day. I'll look after you both, the best I can, and +do what little lies in my power to keep your minds off your troubles." + +"Well, who'd ever have thought of a thing like that but Tom Reade?" +gasped Dick gratefully. + +"It's mighty good of you, old chum," declared Darrin fervently. + +"Now, then,"`resumed Reade, uncrossing his legs, "as I'm on the +job to look after you, allow me to remind you that that is your +train whistling at this moment." + +Three very jolly boys, therefore, piled out of the station building +and boarded the train. + +Tom spoke to the conductor a moment before following the others +to seats. + +"You see," spoke Reade, "I'm even going to the trouble to make +sure that this is the right train, and not a belated express." + +"I never though of that," muttered Darrin, turning a bit pale. + +"Great Scott!" gasped Dick. "I can feel the cold sweat oozing +out at the bare thought. Suppose we had been harebrained enough +to get on the wrong train, and be carried so far past that we +couldn't get back to Wilburville by nine o'clock!" + +"Drop all worry. Don't think of anything alarming, or even disconcerting," +chuckled Tom. "I've taken charge of the whole job, and I guarantee +everything. One of the little things I guarantee is that you'll +both win out to-day." + +"In algebra," muttered Darrin, "I hope they won't go too deeply +into quadratic equations-----" + +"Cut it!" ordered Reade severely. "Likewise forget it! Say, +I heard a rattling good story last night. It carries a Dutchman, +a poodle, a dude and an old maid. Let me see if I can remember +just how it runs." + +With that Reade got started. He soon had his two friends started +as well. They laughed until the brakeman at last thrust his head +in and called: + +"Next station, Wilburville!" + +"Stop and get out, young man!" called Tom. "Do you think we don't +know our way?" + +Then into another story plunged Tom Reade. He spun it out, purposely, +until the train slowed up at Wilburville. + +"'Bus right up to the town hall!" cried a driver, sizing the trio +up shrewdly. + +"Thank you; that's our auto over there," nodded Tom, pointing +to a lunch wagon. Reade started the chums at a brisk walk. Of +the first native they met they inquired the way. + +Tom was still talking at forty horse-power when they came to the +town hall. + +"That building holds our fate!" muttered Dave, as they drew near. + +"Stop that!" ordered Tom. "Anyone would think that Annapolis +was all the candy in the land. What are you worrying about, anyway? +Haven't I taken all the responsibility for this thing upon myself? +Haven't I promised you both that you shall find your little toy +appointments in your Christmas stockings? Do you think I'm lying?" + +"But the exams!" groaned Dave. + +"Well, they're competitive," quoted Tom cheerily. + +"That's just what ails 'em!" argued Dave. + +"You make me think of my cousin, Jack Reade, of the militia," +taunted Tom. "He's a captain. Now, Jack wanted to be appointed +assistant inspector general of rifle practice. He was ordered +up for his exam. Poor fellow spent three weeks, days and nights, +boning for that exam. The family had the doctor in twice, for +they were afraid Jack was studying himself crazy. Then the day +came for the exam. Jack went into the ordeal shivering. The +examiner asked Jack to write down his full name, the date of his +birth, and the date of his entry into the militia. Jack answered +all three questions straight, and got a hundred per cent. for +his marking. Yet you fellows talk about exams as though they +were really hard!" + +Still laughing the three passed inside. + +Dick Prescott had firmly resolved to do no more talking about +the ordeal. But Darrin hadn't. So, after the boys had entered +the building, and had climbed to the next floor, where the hall +was, and had taken a look inside, Dave drew back into the corridor. + +"Great guns, did you look inside?" he demanded. "There are a +million boys in there already." + +"Cheer up," soothed Tom. "Most of 'em want to go to West Point." + +Tom fairly forced his chums inside. The boys already there, some +three-score, at least, turned to regard the newcomers curiously. + +"The rest of you may as well go home," announced Tom laughingly. +"My friends have a first mortgage on the jobs you're after." + +Presently, more fellows came in. Then some more, and still more. + +"Let's go down and stand by the door, where we can get more air," +urged Darrin. + +"Yes," agreed Tom. "And we'll throw out any of the rest that +may have a nerve to try to step in here." + +Hardly had they taken their stand by the door when the three chums +received a shock. + +For the next arrivals were Phin Drayne, and his father, Heathcote +Drayne. + +Phin was now in attendance at the Wilburville Academy, and his +father had come down, the evening before, to urge his son to try +for West Point. + +Tom looked the newcomer over with especial disfavor. Young Drayne, +like many another "peculiar" fellow, was an unusually good student. +At any time Drayne would have a very good chance of coming out +even with, or just ahead of, either Dick or Dave. + +The Draynes did not favor our three chums with any greeting, but +walked on down into the hall. + +"Excuse me a minute," murmured Tom. "I want to find out how the +land lies." + +Tom thereupon walked boldly over to the Draynes. + +"May I speak with you just a moment, Mr. Drayne?" asked Tom. + +"Go ahead," replied Mr. Heathcote Drayne, not over-graciously. + +"It is important, sir, that I speak with you aside," Tom went +on. + +Heathcote Drayne scowled, then stepped to one side, turning and +glancing down at Reade. + +"Well, young man, what is it?" + +"I thought it barely possible," continued Tom coolly, "that I +might be able to offer you a hint or two worth while." + +"Worth whose while?" demanded Heathcote Drayne, suspiciously. + +"Yours. Has your son come here to compete for either the West +Point or Annapolis cadetship?" + +"What if he has?" + +"Then has Phin his certificates of good character with him?" demanded +Tom, his blue eyes steely and cold as he looked straight and +significantly at the elder Drayne. + +"Confound your impudence, Reade! What do you mean?" + +"Just this," continued Tom readily. "Only boys of good character +are eligible for West Point or Annapolis. Now, the fact is, your +son was expelled from Gridley High School for a dishonorable action. +Are you content to have your son try for a cadetship, with that +record hanging over his head and enveloping his chances?" + +"Who'll know anything about that record if you don't blab?" demanded +Mr. Drayne. + +"Why, your son would have to state where he had attended school, +and furnish certificates of good character from his teachers," +ran on Reade. "Now, honestly, do you think that Dr. Thornton, +of Gridley High School, would furnish a certificate on which +Congressman Spokes could appoint your boy to West Point or +Annapolis? Because, if you think so," wound up Reade, "go ahead +and put Phin in the running, to be sure." + +With that Tom marched off back to his chums. + +"What have you been up to?" asked Dick curiously. + +"I'm manager for you two half-witted fellows, ain't I?" queried +Reade. + +"What have you been saying to Mr. Drayne?" asked Dave. + +"Just watch father and son, and see how they seem to be enjoying +their talk," chuckled Tom. "There, what do you see now? I thought +it would end like that." + +This was the first time it had occurred to the elder Drayne that +his son's character would be inquired into. In fact, Mr. Drayne +had had half an idea that the United States Military Academy +was a place that made a specialty of reforming wild boys and +making useful citizens of them. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +When the Great News Was Given Out + + +At just nine o'clock Congressman Spokes came on to the platform +followed by two other men. + +One of these latter was a town official, who, in a very few words, +introduced the Member of Congress. + +Congressman Spokes now addressed the young men upon the vocations +they were seeking to enter. He explained that neither the Military +nor the Naval Academy offered an inducement to boys fond only +of their ease and good times. + +"At either school," warned the Congressman "you will find ahead +of you years of the hardest work and the strictest discipline. +No boy whose character is not good can hope to enter these schools +of the nation. It is not worth any boy's while to enter unless +he stands ready to sacrifice everything, his own ideas and prejudices +included, to the service of his country and his flag." + +Congressman Spokes continued in this line for some time. Then +he called for the boys who wished to try for West Point to gather +at the right side of the hall; those for Annapolis at the left +side. + +"This is the first time you and I haven't been on the same side +in everything, old fellow," Dick whispered smilingly, as he and +Dave Darrin parted. + +What a hurried count the interested youngsters made! But Tom +Reade, who didn't belong to either crowd, probably made the most +accurate count. He discovered that sixty-two of the boys had +voted for West Point. Forty-one favored Annapolis. A few young +men present, like Tom, didn't care to go to either government +school. + +"When I am ready to give the word," continued Congressman Spokes, +"the young men who want to go to West Point will file out of the +door at this end of the hall. In the rooms across the corridor +they will find the physicians who are making the physical examinations +for West Point. + +"The Annapolis aspirants will file downstairs and enter through +the first door at the left, where other physicians will make the +physical examinations for Annapolis. + +"The examinations by the physicians here will not be conclusive +for the successful candidates. The final physical examinations, +like the final scholastic examinations, will be made at West Point +and Annapolis. + +"Now, each young gentleman who passes the physical examination +will receive a signed card with his name on it. Such successful +young men are then excused until one o'clock. At one o'clock +sharp the young men who have certificates from the medical examiners +may report for their scholastic examinations. Do not come here, +however, for the scholastic examinations. West Point aspirants +will report at the High School, and those for Annapolis at the +Central Grammar School. + +"Now, at eight o'clock this evening you return here. At that +hour, or as soon there after as possible, announcement will be +made, from this platform, of the names of the successful young +men and their alternates. Now the young men for West Point forward, +the Annapolis hopefuls downstairs!" + +Inside of two minutes the town hall was bare, save for the presence +of Tom Reade, who, with his hands in his pockets, walked about, +whistling. + +In forty-five minutes Dick, flushed an breathless, broke in upon +Tom, as the latter sat waiting patiently for his friends. + +"I've passed the doctors all right," announced Dick, producing +his card. + +"That's all right, then," nodded Tom. "And the rest will be easier." + +Twenty minutes later Dave Darrin join them. + +"I've passed---that part of the trial," he proclaimed. + +"Then, until twelve o'clock, there's nothing to do but go out +and kill time," declared Reade. + +"Twelve o'clock" repeated Dick. "You mean one o'clock." + +"I mean twelve," retorted Tom, with emphasis. "At twelve you +eat; you don't gorge, but you chew and swallow something nourishing. +Then you'll be in fit shape for the little game of the afternoon." + +Both of the chums had reason to realize the weight of their debt +to jovial, helpful Reade; who was banishing care and keeping their +minds off their suspense. In fact time passed quickly until it +was time for Dick and Dave once more to part, to seek their separate +examinations. + +Just forty of the boys who wanted to go to West Point had passed +the doctors as being presumably fit in body and general health. +Twenty-seven of the Annapolis aspirants had passed the doctors. +Already three dozen disappointed young Americans were on their +way home, their dream over. + +Tom Reade chose to walk over to the local High School with Dick. +Dave found his way alone to his place of examination. + +Dick Prescott and the thirty-nine other aspirants were assembled +in one of the class rooms at the High School. On each desk was +a supply of stationery. After the young men had been seated the +examination papers in English were passed around. This examination +Dick thought absurdly easy. He finished his paper early, and +read it through three times while waiting for the papers to be +collected. + +History was a bit harder, but Dick was not especially disturbed +by it. Not quite so with geography. Dick had had no instruction +in this branch since his grammar school days, and, though he had +brushed up much of late on this subject, he found himself compelled +to go slowly and thoughtfully. Arithmetic was not so hard; algebra +a bit more puzzling. + +It was after six o'clock when the examinations were finished, +and all papers in. As fast as each examination was finished, +however, the papers had been hurried off to the examiners and +marked. + +Faithful Tom was waiting as Dick came out in the throng. + +"Congratulations, old fellow!" cried Reade, holding out his hand. + +"You've passed," announced Tom gravely. + +"Why, the examiners haven't fin-----" + +"They don't have to," snorted Tom. "I don't have to wait for +the opinions of mere examiners. You've passed, and won out, I +tell you. Now let's go look for Dave." + +It had been agreed that the three should meet, for supper, at +the same restaurant where they had lunched. Darrin was not there +yet. It was nearly seven o'clock when Dave came in, looking fagged +and worried. + +But Tom was up on his feet in an instant, darting toward Darrin. + +"Didn't I tell you, old fellow?" demanded. Reade. "And my +congratulations!" + +"If you hadn't been such a good fellow all day I might be cross," +sighed Dave. "Whee! But those examiners certainly did turn my +head inside out. Don't you see a few corners of the brain still +sloping over outside?" + +"Cheer up," quoth Tom grimly. "Nothing doing. You haven't brains +enough to overflow. In fact, you've so few brains that I'm going +to do the ordering for your supper." + +"Everything I can do, now, is over with, anyway," muttered Prescott. +"So I'm going to forget my troubles and enjoy this meal." + +Dave tried to, also, but he was more worried, and could not wholly +banish his gloom. + +Tom succeeded in making the meal drag along until about ten minutes +of eight. Then he led his friends from the restaurant and down +the street to the town hall. + +Here, though most of the young men were already on hand, there +was nothing of boisterousness. Some were quiet; others were glum. +All showed how much the result of the examinations meant to them. + +But the time dragged fearfully. It was twenty minutes of nine +when Congressman Spokes appeared on the platform and rapped for +order. He did not have to rap twice. In the stillness that followed +the Congressman's voice sounded thunderous. + +"Young gentlemen, I now have the results from all the examiners, +and the averages have been made up. I am now able to announce +my appointments to West Point and Annapolis." + +Mr. Spokes paused an instant. + +"For West Point," he announced, "My candidate will be-----Richard +Prescott, of Gridley. The alternate will be-----" + +But Dick Prescott didn't catch a syllable of the alternate's name, +for his ears were buzzing. But now, for the first time, Tom Reade +was most unsympathetically silent. + +"For Annapolis, my candidate will be-----David Darrin, of Gridley. +The alternate-----" + +Neither did Darrin hear the name of his alternate. Dave's head +was reeling. He was sure it was a dream. + +"Pinch me, Tom," he begged, in a hoarse whisper, and Reade +complied---heartily. + +"The young men who have won the appointments as candidates and +alternates will please come to see me at once, in the anteroom," +continued Congressman Spokes, who, however, lingered to address +a few words of tactful sympathy to the eager young Americans who +had tried and lost. + +"Come along, now, and let's get this over with as quickly as possible," +grumbled Torn Reade. "This Congressman bores me." + +"Bores you?" repeated Prescott, in a shocked voice. "What on +earth do you mean?" + +"I don't like his nerve," asserted Reade. "Here he is, giving +out as if it were fresh, news that I announced two hours ago." + +Congressman Spokes was waiting in the anteroom to shake hands +with the winners. He congratulated the candidates most heartily, +and cautioned the alternates that they also must be alert, as +one or both of them might yet have a chance to pass on over the +heads of the principal candidates. + +Mr. Spokes then asked from each of the young men the name of his +school principal, the address of his clergyman and of one business +man. These were references to whom Mr. Spokes would write at +once in order to inform himself that the lucky ones were young +men of excellent character. + +Then the Congressman wished the young men all the luck in the +world, and bade them good evening, after informing them that they +would hear, presently, from the Secretary of War with full instructions +for West Point, and from the Secretary of the Navy for Annapolis. + +"Fancy Phin Drayne passing in his references for the character +ordeal!" chuckled Tom Reade, as the three chums walked down the +street. + +"What time does the next train leave for Gridley?" suddenly demanded +Dave. + +"In twelve minutes," answered Tom, after looking at his watch. + +"Let's run, then!" proposed Dave. + +"We can mope, and have five minutes to spare," objected Reade. + +"Let's run, just the same!" urged Dick Prescott. + +The three chums broke into a run that brought them swiftly to +the station, red faced, laughing and happy. + +"Oh, what a difference since the morning!" sang Dick blithely. +"Say, just think! West Point really for mine!" + +"Bosh!" grunted Darrin happily. "I'm going to Annapolis!" + +Then, as by a common impulse Dick and Dave seized Tom Reade by +either hand. + +"Tom," uttered Dick huskily, "we owe you for a lot of the nerve +and confidence that carried us through to-day!" + +"Tom Reade," declared Darrin. tremulously, "you're the best and +most dependable fellow on earth!" + +"Shut up, both of you," growled Reade, in a tone of disgust. +"You're getting as prosy as that Congressman---and that's the +most insulting thing I can think of to say to either of you." + +The train seemed fairly to fly home. It was keeping pace with +the happy spirits of the young men, who, at last, came to realize +that the great good news was actually true. + +Neither Dick nor Dave could think of walking home from the station. +They broke into a run. By and by they discovered that Tom Reade +was, no longer with them. + +"Now isn't that just like old Tom?" laughed Darrin, when he discovered +that their friend was missing. "Well, anyway, I can't wait. +Here's where our roads branch, Dick, old fellow. And say! Aren't +we the lucky simpletons? Good night, old chum!" + +Dick fairly raced into the bookstore conducted by his parents. +He almost upset a customer who was leaving with a package under +his arm. + +"Dad!" whispered Dick, leaning briefly over the counter and laying +a hand on Mr. Prescott's shoulder. "I passed and won! I'm going +to West Point!" + +A look of intense happiness wreathed his father's face and tears +glistened in his eyes. But Dick raced on into the back room, +where he found his mother. + +"All the luck in the land is mine, mother!" he whispered, bending +over and kissing her. "I won out! I go to West Point when the +month of March comes!" + +Mrs. Prescott was upon her feet, her arms around her boy. She +didn't say much, but she didn't need to. After a moment Dick +disengaged himself. + +"Mother, Laura Bentley will be glad to know this news. She's +at the ball of the senior class to-night, but I'll see if I can +get her father on the 'phone, and tell him the news for her." + +But presently it was Laura's own sweet voice that answered over +the wire. + +"You?" demanded Dick. "Why, I thought you'd be at the ball!" + +"Did you think I could be happy all the evening, wondering how +you were coming on with your great wish?" asked Laura quietly. +"Say, oh, Dick! How did you come out?" + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +Gridley Seniors Whoop It Up + + +"Oh, so many, so many congratulations, Dick!" came the response +to Prescott's eagerly imparted information. + +"And so you missed the dance just because you could sympathize +with some one else's worry?" demanded Dick. "But say! The evening +is still young, as dances go. Couldn't you get dressed in a little +while? Then we could both go and celebrate my good luck." + +"I'm dressed," came the demure answer. + +"What? Oh---well, now, that's nice of you-----" + +"I have been expecting this good news," laughed Laura. "And so +I've been dressed all evening, on the chance." + +"And you'll go to the class ball if I come around quickly?" + +"It would be mean of you not to come and take me, Dick!" + +"I'll have to change," declared Dick. "But that never takes a +boy long. Won't I be around to your house in short order, though!" + +Dick rang off and started to bound upstairs, but a new ting-ling +sounded on the 'phone bell. + +"Here's another party been trying to get you," announced central. +"Go ahead." + +"Hullo, Dick," sounded a low, pleased voice. "I hope you've called +up Laura." + +"Just rang off, Dave." + +"Then you know that the girls didn't go to the class ball to-night, +but just dressed and waited on the chance of hearing from us. +I'm on the jump to dress, but I'll meet you there, Dick." + +Dick took only time to explain the change in his night's plans +to his parents. Then he bounded off upstairs, but soon came down +again, looking a bit dandyish in his best, and very happy into +the bargain. + +When Dick arrived at Dr. Bentley's home an automobile stood in +front of the house. Dick recognized it, however, as the doctor's +machine with the doctor's man at the lever. + +The instant that Prescott put his finger on the bell button Laura +herself opened the door. She was radiant of face and exquisite +in ball costume as she threw open the door and stood framed there, +the light behind her. + +"Oh, I'm so glad, Dick, so glad!" came her ready greeting. "Come +in. I'm all ready but the wrap, but father and mother wish to +be among the first to congratulate you." + +In the doctor's office stood Dr. and Mrs. Bentley. They greeted +Dick cordially and expressed delight over his success. + +"But this is only the first ditch taken, you know," spoke Prescott +soberly, though in military phrase. "I have my chance now; that +is all. I have more than four years of hard fight facing me +before I am sure that the Army can be my career." + +"You'll make it, Prescott, just as you've made everything you've +gone after at High School," replied Dr. Bentley heartily. "But, +now that we've congratulated you, we mustn't keep you an instant +longer from your classmates. I had just come in with my car, +and Laura told me, so I directed my man to wait. He'll take you +both along the road in short order. Good night, my boy!" + +Laura brought her wrap, holding it out to Dick. + +"If you're to be a gallant Army officer," she teased, "you must +learn to do this sort of thing gracefully." + +Blushing, Dick did his best. Then the young people went out. +Dick helped his companion into the car, then seated himself beside +her. + +"We're going to pick up Dave and Belle," Laura explained, as the +car moved swiftly away. "Then we'll all go in together." + +One fellow had beaten them to the class ball, and that fellow +was Tom Reade. How he ever did it no one will be able to guess, +but Tom flew home, got into his best, and had reached the ball +before these young people appeared on the scene. + +The happy young candidates-elect went with their companions to +the cloak room. Then, Laura on Dick's arm, and Belle clinging +to Dave, the two couples entered the ballroom. The strains of +a waltz were floating out. Abruptly the music ceased in the +middle of the air, for Reade, standing beside the director, had +motioned him to cease playing. + +"Classmates and friends!" bellowed Reade, "it is my proud opportunity +to-night to be able to be the first to announce to you some wonderful +good news. To-day Dick Prescott, of ours, defeated all other +competitors, and has secured the appointment from this district +to the United States Military Academy!" + +"Wow! Whoop!" That announcement had them all going. There was +one tremendous, increasing din of noise. But Tom, jumping up +and down, waving both arms and scowling fiercely, finally secured +silence. + +"Who's doing this announcing?" he demanded. "Who's master of +ceremonies, if I am not. You just wait---all of you! I'll give +you the cue when to turn the noise-works loose. As I just stated, +it's Dick for West Point, but or, and---it's Dave Darrin for Annapolis +at the same time. Yes, Dave is going to represent this district +at Annapolis!" + +The musicians were on their feet by this time. All with a rush +the sweet, proud strains rang out: + +_"My country, 'tis of thee, +Sweet land of liberty, +Of thee I sing!"_ + +Instantly all stood at attention, the young men all over the hail +holding themselves with especial erectness. Not a voice was heard +until the good old refrain was through. To the two happy chums +"America" had a newer, stronger meaning. The spirited air came +to them with a new meaning that had never been plain before. + +Dick felt the tears in his eyes. Foolish, o course, but +he couldn't help it! And choky Dave furtively wished that he +dared reach for his handkerchief with all those hundreds of eyes +turned on him. + +As the music came to an end the High School boys filled their +lungs for a mighty cheer. Quick as a flash, however, the leader +of the orchestra tapped his baton, then swung it once more, and +the instruments leaped on into: + +"_Columbia, the gem of the ocean_!" + +That was for the Navy, of course, and one didn't have to keep +quiet, either. Words of the song, and cheers, mingled with the +musicians' strains. + +And then it wound up in a cheer and a mad rush of yelling that +must have been heard for a mile. + +An impromptu reception and hand shaking followed, but to Dick +and Dave, and their partners, it had more the look of a mob. + +It was a joyous and big-hearted mob, though, and in time it quieted +down. After a very long interruption the dancing started again, +and Dick and Dave were able to whirl away with their partners. + +As the next dance after that, started there was a sudden halt +by many of the couples, and soon a roar of laughter ascended. +For the orchestra had chosen, as the air, "The Girl I Left Behind +Me." + +This air will always be associated with the United Service---the +Army and Navy. It is a rollicking, jolly, spirited old tune, +as it needs must be for "The Girl I Left Behind Me" is the tune +that is played when the country's defenders, in war time, are +marching away for the front, after just having said the last goodbye +to mother, sister and sweetheart. + +Just now, however, the old air had none of the tragic connected +with it. It was all in the spirit of fun. Laura, blushing furiously, +and Belle striving to appear wholly unconscious, but striving +too hard, lent all the more merriment to the moment. + +"It's that confounded old idiot, Tom Reade," muttered Dave to +his partner. "I wonder how many more such tricks he knows!" + +Presently came "The Army Lancers," and that brought out a right +royal good cheer. Two numbers after that, came "A Life on the +Ocean Wave," and more cheers. + +It was after three in the morning when the gay affair broke up. +But who cared for that? Class balls come but once a year. + +Right after "Home, Sweet Home," which wound up the ball, the orchestra +added a number, "The Star Spangled Banner." + +Both Dick and Dave reached home pretty thoroughly tired out, after +having seen their girl friends home. Neither boy rose much before +noon the day following. + +Dick and Dave remained enrolled at High School until the Christmas +Holidays, then dropped out, having ended the term. + +Each boy had other studies with which he wished to busy +himself---studies that would have a direct bearing on the stiff +entrance examinations at West Point and Annapolis. The rest of +their time, until they reported at their respective National +Academies, they intended to devote to these other studies to make +doubly sure of their success. + +Dick's notification from the Secretary of War arrived on Christmas +morning. + +"The grandest Christmas present. I ever had!" muttered Dick, +gazing at the single sheet, the words on which were couched in +stiff official language. + +Dave Darrin fumed a good deal, for it was nearly a month later +before he received his notification from the Secretary of the +Navy. It came at last, however, and Darrin knew what postponed +happiness means. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +The Message from the Unknown + + +With the Christmas holidays Phin Drayne came home, to stay so +far as school was concerned. + +After his unhappy experience at the Fordham Military Institute, +Phin had found things almost as unpleasant at Wilburville Academy. + +For some reason the boys at Wilburville hadn't taken to him. +Phin had come to the conclusion that he wasn't appreciated anywhere +save at home, so back he came, disgusted with the idea of carrying +his education any further. + +As a natural sequence, Drayne took to lounging about the streets. +High School boys and girls no longer paid any heed to him, so +he did not fear slight or insult. + +Two nights in every week Dick and Dave went faithfully to the +High School gym. to help Mr. Morton with the new evening classes +in training. + +One afternoon Prescott and Darrin encountered good old Dr. Thornton, +the principal, who asked them how they were coming along. + +"We're pretty busy," Dick admitted. "Still, it does seem rather +hard to us not to be connected with the High School any more." + +"Why, you are with us yet, and of us!" cried the principal. "I +carry your names on the rolls, with 'excused' written against +your names. If you don't believe that you're still of my High +School boys, then drop in any day and take your places, for an +hour, or as long as you please, at your old desks. You will find +them still reserved for you." + +"Now, isn't that mighty decent of old Prin.!" demanded Dave, after +the two chums had thanked Dr. Thornton, and had gone on their +way. "So we still belong to old Gridley High School?" + +"We always shall, I reckon," declared Dick. "Gridley High School +has done everything for us, and has given us our start and most +of our pleasures in life." + +"I'm going to drop in, one of these January days," murmured Dave. + +"And so am I. But," added Dick, with a smile, "don't let us be +indiscreet and be roped into going into a recitation. We'll find +the class has been moving ahead while we've been boning over West +Point and Annapolis requirements." + +"At all events, none of them ought to be ahead of us when we've +gone four years further," contended Dave. "At West Point or Annapolis +we have to grind in a way that is never required of mere college +men. We ought to be miles ahead of any fellow who has just finished +at High School and then has put in four years only at college." + +Thus the happy young egotists always talked, nowadays. To them +there was really little in life that did not come through the +government military academies. + +Phin Drayne, lounging about purposely, with the shambling gait, +often saw these happy chums, and scowled after them. + +"Everything seems to come to them!" growled Phin. "What rot it +is to say that this is a square world, and that everyone has the +same chance! Why doesn't something good come my way?" + +The oftener Phin looked in the direction of the chums, and more +particularly of Dick, the blacker did Drayne's thoughts become. + +"Prescott has had everything come his way ever since he entered +High School," growled Phin. "And now the mucker is going off +to West Point, and the government is going to stamp him 'gentleman.' +A gentleman? Pooh! I'd like to show him up, as a bumptious upstart. +Phin scowled fiercely for a moment, before he added: + +"And, by glory, I will do something to him! I'll take the conceit +out of Dick Prescott!" + +At first it was only the purpose that formed in Drayne's dark +mind. But, by dint of much thinking, he began to feel that he +saw the way of working to Prescott's complete disgrace. + +Dick, in the meantime, was still writing occasionally for "The +Blade." + +"I'm afraid you've slipped away from us, Dick," declared Mr. Pollock, +with a wry smile. "If you go to West Point and pass the exams. +there, then newspaper work is going to lose one of its bright, +promising young men." + +"But I always told you that my plans would undoubtedly take me +away from 'The Blade' when my High School life was done with," +Prescott answered. + +"Yes; but why do you want the life of the uniform? That's what +I fail to understand? Why don't you go into something connected +with the pulsing everyday life of the country? Here you are, +going away to bury yourself in a uniform. You'll work, of course; +the Army is no place for loafers. But after all, you're only +preparing for war, and you may be an old, white-haired officer +before we have another war." + +"If that war does come in your life time," returned Dick, "you'll +know what we of the uniforms have been working for all along. +You'll realize, then, that an Army's biggest work isn't fighting, +in time of war, but preparing in time of peace. And you'll thank +every one of us when the time comes." + +"Oh, yes, I suppose so," smiled the editor. "But it all seems +so far away. Now, here is something much more practical right +at hand. Take these burglaries that have been annoying the small +merchants lately. The police don't seem to be able to catch the +fellow. For the last three days I've taken Len Spencer off of +all other work and set him to trying to run down the burglar. +Now, Len isn't afraid of much, and he's one of the brightest +young reporters going. Yet Len admits he's stumped. All the +while the merchants are fearing that the burglar will bring about +bigger losses. Dick Prescott, if you could catch that burglar, +and see him sent off where he belongs, you'd be doing a vastly +greater service to the community than you possibly could by helping +the country prepare for a war that is thirty or forty years away." + +"I wouldn't mind having a crack at the burglar scare, either," +laughed Dick. "But the question is, how am I going to go about +it to catch the fellow? He has baffled all the police, and even +Len Spencer. What show have I for finding the rascal?" + +"Just the same, Dick, I believe you would catch him, if you'd +set your mind and your energies to it. Will you do it? Will +you put in a week trying to run down this burglar and give 'The +Blade' the first chance at the story? I'll agree, in advance, +to pay you for whatever time you'll put in on it for a week, if +even you are not successful in running him down." + +"I'll think it over," Dick replied, with a quiet smile. "I'll +talk it over with Dave." + +"There's another mighty bright young fellow!" cried the editor. +"Now, why can't you get Darrin to go into it with you? I'll +pay Darrin for his time, too." + +Dave, when the project was sprung on him, gave his hearty assent. + +"It won't do any harm to have a try at it, anyway, Dick," urged +Darrin. "It'll wake us up a bit, too. Not that I've any real +and abiding idea that we're going to catch Mr. Burglar." + +"If we're in earnest we're going to catch him," declared Prescott. +"That's the old Gridley High School way, you know. What well +start on we've got to put through." + +Night after night, in that cold January week, Dick and Dave slipped +out late at night, and prowled about through the business district +of Gridley. Very often the chums ran across the police, but both +were known well to the police, and were not challenged. Indeed, +the police soon learned that Dick and Dave were employed by "The +Blade" for the purpose of assisting in the efforts to capture +the mysterious burglar or burglars. + +In that week two more "breaks" happened, and each time the thief +or thieves got away with valuable booty. + +"You youngsters don't seem to be having any luck," remarked Editor +Pollock. "But keep on the case a little longer. I know you'll +land something sooner or later. Keep ahead, just as if you had +to score a touchdown before the half was over." + +So for two nights Dick and Dave kept out, with equally bad luck. + +One night at eleven o'clock Dick answered the home telephone. +He listened in amazement, then tried to find out who his informant +was, but the latter rang off promptly. + +"I believe that is straight," muttered Dick. "At all events, +I'll look into this game for all it's worth. What if we are about +to catch the thief red-handed?" + +Snatching up a heavy walking stick, Dick Prescott hurriedly quitted +the house. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +The Plight of the Innocent + + +If the information that had come over the wire from an unknown +was correct there was not a moment to be lost in telephoning. + +It was a masculine voice that had sounded in the 'phone and the +message was to the effect that the sender of the message had just +observed two men forcing the rear entrance of Kahn's drygoods +store. + +"And hearing that 'The Blade' is trying to catch the burglars +I thought I'd just let you know," the voice had continued. "But +I guess you'll have to be quick if you want a sight of the burglars. +They'll probably get away in quick order." + +Then had come the ring-off, just as Dick had tried to get the +name of his informant. + +Now Dick was sprinting toward the scene by the shortest route +that he could think of. + +Kahn's store was on Main Street, but the rear entrance, used for +the receipt of goods opened in off an alleyway that ran parallel +with Main Street. + +"There can't be much time to spare," muttered Dick, looking hard +for a policeman. + +At this late hour of the night the streets that Dick traveled +in his haste were bare of pedestrians. + +"I wish I had had time to get Dave," though Prescott. "But that +would have lost at least five minutes more. And Dave wasn't going +to be ready to go out until he came around for me nearer midnight." + +Dick was at the head of the alley, now, an moving cautiously, +eyes wide open and ears on the alert. + +How dark it was down in here! Dick wondered, a moment, at the +keenness of vision that had enabled some neighbor to see what +was going on over in this dark place. + +In his pocket, at the time of receiving the message, Prescott +had placed a pocket electric "search-light." + +This he thought of, now, but he did not deem it wise to go flashing +the light about unless he had to. + +"The first point in my information is right, anyway," muttered +Dick. "The rear door of Kahn's is open." + +Moving in the shadow of the building, he had paused not far away +from the door in question. + +"There were two of the fellows, the message said," muttered Dick. +"In that case, I should think one would have been left outside as +a lookout. However, the lookout may be just a little way inside +of the door. It won't do to use my light now. I'll see if I can +slip in and get close to the lookout before the thieves know +there's anyone around." + +A step at a time Prescott softly reached the open door. He paused, +listening intently. + +"I don't hear a sound in there. I guess I'd better take a few +very soft steps inside, and see if I can discover where the rogues +are. That is, unless they have already bagged their booty, and +have gotten away again." + +Just inside of the open door, Dick halted again. He listened, +but there was no sound. + +"These scoundrels are surely the original mice for soft moving," +muttered the boy grimly. "What part of the establishment can +they be in? Hadn't I better slip out and get the police? I can't +learn anything in here unless I use my light." + +Yet Prescott didn't want to turn on that flare. The light was +much more likely to show him up to the burglars than to enable +him to find men who were not making a sound. + +So Dick penetrated a little further, and a little further, listening. +As he moved he was obliged to grope his way. + +At last, however, he found himself confused as to the points of +the compass. In this darkness, he was not even sure which was +the way out. + +"I'll have to use the flash now," concluded Dick. + +Taking the long tube from one of his pockets, he pressed the button +briefly, giving a flash that lasted barely a second. + +"What was that?" muttered the boy, with a start, as the light +went out. + +Clearly enough, now, he heard stealthy steps. He was almost certain, +too, that he distinguished the sound of low whispers. + +"That flash has scared the rascals," throbbed Dick Prescott. +"Now, if I can only locate 'em, and get out first! I may succeed +in getting the police to the scene before both get away. One +of 'em, anyway, I ought to be able to floor with this heavy cane!" + +Transferring the light to his left hand, Dick took a strong grip +of the cane. It did not eyed occur to him to be afraid in here. +He was trying to trap the burglars as a piece of enterprise for +"The Blade," and that was all he thought about. + +Suddenly there was a more decided step in the darkness. It sounded, +too, right in advance of the boy who stood there guessing in the dark. + +"Halt, where you are!" shouted Dick. "And throw up your hands +as high as you can, if you don't want to get drilled! Don't try +to use your weapons, for I have the drop!" + +It was sheer bluff, for the only thing with which Prescott could +claim the drop was his cane. + +Yet, in such circumstances, a bold front is half the battle. + +Prescott bounded forward, boldly, at the same moment turning on +his light. + +The next moment, though he held the light, the cane dropped from +his nerveless fingers. + +"We've got you, Prescott!" roared a voice. "And you? Of all +the thundering big surprises. But we've got you! Stop all nonsense +and get in line to come along with us." + +It was the chief of police, backed by three of his men, whom Dick +now faced. They had thrown their lights on, too, so that there +was now plenty of illumination. + +Nor was this Chief Coy, one of Dick's old time friends, but Chief +Simmons, a new man appointed only a few months before. + +Chief Simmons was almost frantically anxious to catch the burglar +or burglars, for their continued operations reflected upon his +abilities as the new police chief. + +All in a flash young Prescott took in the horrifying idea that +Chief Simmons believed him to be the real burglar. + +"But I-----" began Dick chokingly. + +"Yes, you will!" retorted Chief Simmons. "You can't put up any +fight, and you can't make any denial." + +"I-----" + +"Take him, you men, and handcuff him." roared the chief. "Then +we'll go through the rest of the store, and see what we can learn." + +Dick drew back, with a shudder, as two of the officers came toward +him, intent on carrying out their chief's order. + +"You'd better submit, Prescott," warned the chief sternly. "We're +not in a mood to stand any fooling." + +"But won't you listen-----" began Dick, gasping. + +"I'm not the trial judge," jeered Simmons. "Still, I'll listen +to you all you want, later in the night. Now, stand forward!" + +Dick realized the folly and the uselessness of defying the police. +He moved nearer to the chief, as ordered. And Prescott began +to understand how black the whole affair looked for him. + +But how had it happened? + +He would have given worlds to know. + +"Hold your hands forward, and together," commanded Chief Simmons. + +Quivering, flushing with the shame of the thing, young Prescott +obeyed. The officer who fitted the handcuffs to the boy's wrists +felt ashamed of his work, for he had always been one of Dick's +friends. + +The click of the steel ratchets brought Prescott back to a realization +of things. + +"I'm not much of a catch, chief," muttered the boy. "You'd better +not be content with me alone. Leave me under watch and then the +rest of you had better spread through this place. I think there +are others here---the men you seek." + +"You've confederates here, have you?" demanded Simmons, fixing +his suspicious gaze on the boy. "Judkins, you watch Prescott---and +mind you don't let him give you the slip. The rest of us will +keep on going through this store. You say you think there are +others here, Prescott?" + +"I think so," replied the boy. + +Chief Simmons raised his voice. + +"If there's anyone here-----" he called. + +"There is!" came back in a tone that made Dick Prescott start +and throb with alarm. + +"Who---where---" asked Chief Simmons, excitedly. + +"Right here!" came the voice. "Hold your lights on me!" + +Two flash-lights at once centered their rays on the speaker, and +Dave Darrin bounded forward into the light. + +"So you two have been working this thing as side partners, have +you?" asked Chief Simmons harshly. "Great Scott, how you've fooled +us, then! Like everyone else, we believed you two boys to be +straight. Tell me," commanded Simmons dryly, "is Editor Pollock +in this store-robbing gang, too?" + +"Ask Mr. Pollock yourself," Dave flung back. + +"I will, when I get time," retorted Simmons. "Grab Darrin and put +the irons on his wrists, too!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +Dave Gives Points to the Chief of Police + + +"You clumsy bungler!" spoke Dave Darrin hotly. "Chief, I demand +the right to speak to you for a moment." + +"After you're ironed and taken to the station house," snapped +Mr. Simmons. + +"Chief, you're not afraid to step aside with me and listen to +about ten words?" demanded Darrin scornfully. "And if you don't---if +you go on in your bull-headed way---you'll be the scorn of the +town by morning. Why don't you hear what I've got to say, instead +of letting precious seconds slip by. Come! Over this way!" + +There was something so commanding in Darrin's voice and manner +that Simmons concluded to listen for a moment. + +Keeping his flash-light turned on Darrin, the chief of police +followed Dave. Darrin whispered something in the big man's ear. +In another moment the two were whispering together animatedly. + +"Why didn't you come to the point before, Darrin?" demanded the +chief gruffly. + +"Great Scott, didn't I, as soon as I could postpone your mania +for having me loaded down with police chains?" + +"Yet how do I know you're telling me anything like the truth?" + +"If I'm lying, you can find it out very quickly, can't you?" demanded +Darrin. "But come along, or you'll be too late. Oh, why do all +the biggest slow pokes in creation get appointed to the police +force?" + +"Come along with me, Delmar," ordered Chief Simmons, turning to +one of his policemen. "The rest of you stay here---though you +can pass on into the open air. Then wait there for us." + +"Don't you waste any time on worry, Dick," Dave called back. + +Prescott laughed easily. Whatever Dave had discovered, or thought +he had, Darrin's chum was quite content now to await the result +of all that enthusiasm. + +"We must not make much noise," cautioned Darrin, as he led the +way swiftly, though on tiptoe. "We don't want to scare the other +people cold until we have them cooped so that they can't get away. +But you'd better be ready, in case they're desperate enough to +try shooting!" + +Up the street, to the head of another alley way, Darrin led the +swift chase. + +"Now, softer than ever," he whispered, over his shoulder, without +halting. + +A moment later Dave halted before two stone steps that led down +to a basement junk shop. + +Just as he did so a low voice inside could be heard, saying in +barely audible tones: + +"I'm so anxious to know whether Prescott fell into the trap that +I can hardly wait another minute." + +"You'd better wait until morning, or you'll tumble into something +with your eyes shut, and that will mean both of us nabbed," growled +another voice. + +"Do you think they found Prescott---that they believed in the +appearances against him?" + +"I can't say," came the other low voice. "And I can wait. I'm +not crazy on the subject, as you seem to be." + +"Explain this all over again, to us, won't you?" shouted the chief, +pushing open the door of the junk shop and striding in, backed +by the light and the revolver of Officer Delmar. + +"What?" screamed Phin Drayne, then sank to his knees in the extremity +of his terror. + +"Don't either of you try to put up any fight," warned the chief. +"Delmar, here are my handcuffs to put with your own. Hand me +your light, and then iron both of these fellows securely." + +The owner of the junk shop, a man under thirty, dirty and low +browed, stood cowering back against a bench. The fellow looked +as though he would have fought had there been any chance to draw +a weapon. But he was gazing straight into the muzzle of the police +chief's weapon. + +An instant later both prisoners had been handcuffed, and a pistol +had been taken from the clothing of each. From the junkman, +too, had been taken a ring of keys. + +"One of these fit your door?" demanded Simmons. + +"Yes," growled the scowling one. "The long key." + +"Bring the prisoners along, Delmar," ordered the chief. "I'll +lock up here. We'll come back later for a search." + +Out on the sidewalk Phin Drayne plucked up courage enough to find +his voice. + +"For goodness' sake, let me go, Chief," he begged, falteringly. +"I haven't done anything, although things look against me." + +"I guess we'll be able to put things enough against you," retorted +the police official mockingly. + +"Think of my mother!" pleaded the wild boy. "Think of our family---one +of the most respectable in town. Think of-----" + +"Oh, you're enough to make one tired," broke in Dave Darrin, +in deep disgust. "You thought of Dick Prescott when you put up +the job to have him arrested as a burglar, didn't you?" + +"Why, what do you mean? I didn't do anything to Dick Prescott," +shouted Drayne angrily, or affecting to be angry. + +"Tell that to the marines," quoth Darrin contemptuously. "It +was through following on your trail, Drayne, that I discovered +the whole trick, and also knew just where to take the police to +find you." + +An hour later Chief Simmons was well satisfied that he had laid +the burglar scare in Gridley. + +Not that the new chief had had so very much to do with the result, +either. + +The first move had been to get back to the Kahn store, where Dick +Prescott was promptly freed, with the chief's hearty apologies. + +Over at the police station, by separating Drayne from his accomplice, +Bill Stevens, the junkman, and questioning each separately, the +whole story had come out, chiefly through frenzied confessions. + +Phin Drayne, loafing about town, and with his pocket money nearly +cut off by his father, had formed the acquaintance of Stevens, +who, besides being a junkman, was a very fair locksmith, though +about the latter trade he had never bragged publicly. + +Drayne had been ripe for any move that would place him in more +funds. So, first of all, he and Stevens had entered the commercial +establishment of Drayne, senior. There, thanks to Phin's knowledge +of the premises, they had made a very good-sized "haul." + +After that the pair had operated together frequently. Stevens' +junk shop had offered a handy pace in which to hide the plunder. + +Then, as time went on, and Phin heard, by chance, that Dick and +Dave were trying to catch the burglars in behalf of "The Blade,", +a plan had occurred to Phin by which he might ruin Dick utterly +in the eyes of the community. + +The whole plan had been carefully laid by Stevens and young Drayne. + +On this night, just after Conklin's drug store had been closed +for the night, Stevens had slipped in a key that had opened a +side door for him. Then the door was left closed but unlocked. +At that hour of the night no one was likely to notice anyone +who went in or out at the side door. And Conklin's was equipped +with a public telephone. + +Then down to the alleyway had stolen the evil pair. Kahn's rear +door had been opened with false keys and left ajar. Then Phin +Drayne stole back to the junk shop, while Stevens, whose voice +could not be recognized over the wire by Dick, sent the message. + +Next, back to where he could watch the alleyway, hurried Stevens, +and hid. Stevens saw Dick Prescott slip into the alleyway, then +go inside the store. That was enough for Stevens, who had slipped +back and into the drug store once more, getting the police station +on the wire and 'phoning to the chief that Gridley's burglars +had just entered Kahn's through the rear door. + +Only a block and a half from Kahn's was the police station. Almost +immediately the officers were on the spot, stalking---Dick Prescott. + +But, at the time when Dick left his own home and went down the +street so hurriedly Dave Darrin had been sauntering along, to +call his chum out on their nightly quest for "The Blade." +Seeing Dick move so swiftly, Darrin concluded that something +most unusual was about to happen. So Dave trailed swiftly in +the rear. + +Thus it was that Darrin drew back just in time to see Bill Stevens +slipping away from a hiding place at the head of that alleyway. + +"That does for Prescott," chuckled Stevens, half aloud. + +"Oh, it does, does it?" silently murmured alert Dave, and now +he intently followed Stevens to the drug store, and thence back +to the junk shop. Dave's next swift move was to rush back to +Kahn's with the result already known. + +"Well, did you think the folks of Gridley would continue to believe +such a charge against young Prescott?" demanded Chief Simmons +of the sneak. + +"I knew some wouldn't, but I thought the whole affair would make +such a row that Prescott would never be quite able to hold up +his head in Gridley again," declared Drayne huskily. "But I thought +that it would stop his thinking of going to West Point, anyway." + +"Instead of which," muttered Simmons dryly, "you'll get four +years---or more, Drayne at some place that won't be West Point." + +"Oh, my father won't quite stand for that," returned Phin, a bit +more loftily. "He has money and some family pride." + +"Money doesn't help much for confessed burglars," rejoined Chief +Simmons. + +At that moment Heathcote Drayne, who had been roused out of bed +by a policeman, came in, so white faced that Dick and Dave felt +sorry indeed for the unhappy parent. + +But Dick didn't remain to see the meeting between father and son. +Prescott and his chum hastened around to "The Blade" office. +Gladly enough would both boys have kept Phin's disgrace from +going before the public, but it was too big a story, locally, +and was bound to come out. So Dick wrote a straight account, +after which he and Dave hurried home to get the fag end of a night's +rest. + +Gridley merchants lost but little, in the end, through the series +of burglaries. Most of the plunder was recovered at the junk +shop. + +Bill Stevens was sent to prison for a term of eight years. Phin, +being only seventeen, was allowed to plead his youth. In his +case justice was satisfied with his commitment to a reform school +until he should be twenty-one years of age. + +And so ended the story of the mysterious burglaries. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +Conclusion + + +One evening about a week after these events Dick and Dave were +sitting in the former's room chatting, when Greg Holmes and Dan +Dalzell, apparently in great good humor, broke in upon them. + +"When do you go to West Point, Dick?" queried Greg. + +"I'm ordered to report to the adjutant there on the first of March," +Prescott replied. + +"Mind my running up there with you?" demanded Greg. + +"Why, I'd be tickled to pieces, if you can afford the trip, Greg." + +"Oh, I guess I can," laughed the other boy. "Dad is going to +pay my freight bill." + +"See here, you fellows, you can't have been reading the newspapers +much, since you two were appointed," broke in Dan Dalzell. + +"What have we missed?" challenged Dave. + +"Why, didn't you know a thing about Senator Frayne and his +appointments?" went on Dan Dalzell. "The Senator doesn't appoint +from a single district. He appoints at large from the whole state. +Senator Frayne announced, a while ago, two appointments-at-large, one +for West Point, the other for Annapolis." + +"And we went up to the state capital yesterday," rattled on Greg. +"We went through the examinations. The winners weren't named +until this morning. You'll find it in the evening papers, later +to-day. I go to West Point, and Dan goes to Annapolis." + +"What?" yelled Dick, leaping as high as he could jump. + +"Tell it to us again!" begged Darrin huskily. + +"Oh, it's all a fact, straight and right enough," Greg assured +them happily. + +Then and there the four chums executed a war dance. It seemed +too wonderful to believe. + +"But isn't Gridley the whole show?" demanded Dave presently. +"Four cadetships in the same year to one little city!" + +"Well, we had to win 'em from other comers," retorted Greg. "And +none of us are out of the woods yet. We've got to pass at West +Point and at Annapolis. + +"This is great!" quivered young Prescott. "But wouldn't it be +grand if only Tom Reade and Harry Hazelton had gotten in line, +too, and gone along into the service with us? Then all of the +old Dick & Co. would have been enrolled under the battle flag." + +"But you know what Tom told us," put in Darrin. "He said he wouldn't +live at West Point, and he wouldn't be caught dead at Annapolis. +Tom is all for becoming a great civil engineer---a builder of +railroads and all that sort of thing." + +"Well, Harry Hazelton is just as bad," said Greg. "He's all for +doing engineer stunts in the wilderness, too." + +"Here they come now," announced Dan Dalzell. + +Tom and Harry were heartily glad, of course, to hear of the luck +that had befallen Greg and Dan. + +"We were just wishing that you two had fallen into the same kind +of luck, and that you were going into uniform with us," declared +Dick. + +Reade glared at Prescott. + +"Humph!" muttered Tom. "I thought you were a friend of mine!" + +"I judge it's a mighty good thing we don't all hunger for the +same careers," laughed Harry. "For instance, all young fellows +can't go into the United Service. There aren't jobs enough to +go around. The United States Army is just about big enough to +find with a good magnifying glass. As for the Navy-----" + +"Be careful," warned Darrin touchily. + +"As for the Navy," continued Hazelton, "Congress has a lot of +officers trained and then seems to think that one new battleship +every other year or so ought to keep the country patient." + +"You fellows are going to be downright happy, I know," resumed +Tom. "But so are Harry and I. We finish out our High School +work, and then our chance is ahead of us." + +"To _find_?" queried Dave. + +"No, sir! We've _got_ it," retorted Tom. "It came to us only +recently, and Harry and I have been keeping a bit quiet, but now +it is time to tell the news---just in the circle of Dick & Co." + +By dint of great hustling, and backed by recommendations from +the local civil engineer, Reade and Hazelton had secured a chance, +beginning in the coming July, to join as rodmen the engineering +party that was laying a new railroad over the Rockies, in Colorado. + +Just before the first of March, Dick Prescott and Greg Holmes +slipped quietly away, and reported at West Point. + +But what further happened to Dick and Greg---and there was a lot +of it---must be reserved for the volumes of the new West Point +series. + +The first volume will appear under the title, "_Dick Prescott's +First Year at West Point; Or, Two Chums in the Cadet Gray_." + +Later on Dave Darrin and Dan Dalzell left Gridley and home for +Annapolis. Their adventures will be followed up in the new Annapolis +series. + +The first volume in this series will be entitled: "_Dave Darrin's +First Year at Annapolis; Or, Two Plebes at the Naval Academy_." + +Nor did Tom Reade and Harry Hazelton fail of some very extraordinary +adventures in their chosen career of engineering. Their career +led them into some of the wild spots of the earth. It will all +be told in the Young Engineer series. + +The first volume in this series will appear shortly under the +caption: "_The Young Engineers in Colorado; Or, at Railroad Building +in Earnest_." + +How about the other Gridley folks whose acquaintance has been +so enjoyable? Fred Ripley? Well, as to Fred---when we first +made his acquaintance, he was anything but an agreeable fellow, +but he learned his lesson in time, and, under the wholesome influence +of Dick & Co., but especially of Dick Prescott himself, Fred had +become a different boy. Such is the effect of good example. + +As to the rest, many of them are bound to appear again, as we +follow the fortunes of our Gridley boys through the tales of West +Point, the annals of Annapolis and the doings of the Young Engineer +Boys. + +So here we will leave them all for the moment, soon to renew the +acquaintance of all who had any future share in the lives or thoughts +of the six splendid young Americans who were once known to their +classmates as Dick & Co. + +THE END + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The High School Captain of the Team +by H. Irving Hancock + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAPTAIN OF THE TEAM *** + +***** This file should be named 12692.txt or 12692.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/2/6/9/12692/ + +Produced by Jim Ludwig + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +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 + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/old/12692.zip b/old/12692.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b7c111a --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12692.zip |