The High School Captain of the Team; or, Dick & Co. Leading the Athletic Vanguard

" Drayn

quarter-back," decl

ck Prescott, looking at th

It's the one position I'm best

than anyone else on the team?" inquired Prescott. "Or

replie

t over Gridley High Scho

e line, and their substitutes,

ndling a squad of new football men, teaching ho

Greg Holmes, were pr

hough he strove to hide the fact,

ed the young captain of the team, "that you

ow why I'm not," retur

," continued Dick. He didn't like this classmate, yet he hat

d Drayne hotly. "Then I can tell the

," Prescott answere

eader of Dick & Co., a gang that tries

nicknamed Dick & Co. don't try to run things in the High School. You know, too, Drayne, if you'll be honest about it

ut me on the shelf in football?" insiste

elf, D

about?" cried Drayne,

"And don't be silly enough to pretend that you don't kn

usly. "Just because I wouldn't do j

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,

ch circumstances! Nor would you, Presco

times, both on the baseball and football teams. The hectoring has even gone so far that I have ha

eason why. You craved to get out, a

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

n that mighty superior air, and try t

and the captain is the spokesman of the team. He also has to attend to its

cut, penetrating voice of Mr. Morton, submaster

!" answered

added, t

was reached by coach and myself after listening to

tice was limited to an hour and a half in an after

ld 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'l

th what he considered

soon as he had decid

hanged his mind. A sly, exul

with this cheap crowd, captained by a cheap man! Gridley hasn't lost a game in years. Well, you chaps shall lose more

s planning will doubtles

ain. In the first volume, "The High School Freshmen," our readers became acquainted with Dick Prescott, Dave Darrin, Greg Holmes, Dan Dalzell, Tom Reade an

were manly young fellows. When they entered Gridley High School, and caught the fine High School spir

s. 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 trou

some fine work with the Gridley High School nine, and Dick had serious

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

of "The Blade." He covered them with ridicule and scorn so that the citizens of the

football squad. Only those most needed, however, had been ad

far, however, that they were actually forced out of the High S

he 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

school gymnasium, on the afternoon named by Coach Morton for the call, including Drayne, who had been one of the original "soreheads." Dr

in Prescott hurried away to

orton "Get into the tackling work,

oach, if you plea

yne?" aske

en telling me that I'm to be

ptain," replie

s all Prescott's fine

ch frankly. "As a matter of fact, it was I who sug

uttered

ke blaming anyone, b

didn't behave very w

a

avior was unreasonab

t I'm one of th

able men this year, Dray

rton, will you allow me to play regular quarter-back

wered Mr. Morton slowly. "Personally, Drayne, I don't approve of putting you on strong this y

lute eyes of this famous college athlete that made Phin Drayne re

ed huskily. "I'll do my best on a sma

tacklers around the swinging figure, the h

ek as a lamb, but I'll spoil Gridley's record for this year! There was in olden times a chap who had a famous k

me, but another name that might have serv

ict A