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

from th

in Dick Prescott's elevation

p his training. In his sophomore year he had trained hard for and had won honors in the baseball nine. In his junior year, after

gh School he had come by degrees to the most envi

g that Wadleigh, both by training and judgement, was better fitted to lead the eleven on the gridiron. But now, having reached his senior year, D

, he had a good degree of positiveness in his make-up; but from this he left out strong self-conceit. In all th

te. So Dave, with Dick's own kind of spirit, fell back willingly into second place. This year Da

ost as well qualified for leadership. Ability to l

rested them. That was the Gridley High School way, and it was the spirit that Coach Morton always succeeded in putting into w

--on foot. Time could be saved by taking the street car, but Dick and his friends believed t

ne this afternoon, D

he had hoped to play

anded Dan Dalzell, ope

thered, from what h

the nerve!" mu

-for a fellow with

something of the sor

a way that wouldn't

g his feelings, if his looks gave any i

ve Darrin. "Mr. Morton didn't seem to give the f

rter, anyway?" as

ott answered frankly. "But, personally, I'm no

" challen

hat I'm playing everything i

er-back," insisted Greg, with so much conviction that Darrin, with mock

e are intelligent enough to find it ou

everyone concerned feel that I am the man for the job, then I haven't made go

and so good at that, that I'm going to dodge any charge of favoritism, a

be at my best," said Reade. "Yet when it's all over, and we've w

y Hazelton, "and t

ing High School, but also trying to blaze o

your careers in life," urged Tom. "It isn't every pair of f

lied Prescott. "For my part, I wouldn't find much of any cheer in the thought that I

partment of our profession forever," protested Harry H

g, or both, perhaps, combined with some bridge building, of

take them into his office for preliminary training. because at the High School,

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

with a foundation of mathematics and a sufficient amount of determination, the High School boy may go direct to the en

nough of the rudiments, both were resolved to go out to the far West, and there to pick up

ut, 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 t

that Dave and I want to go to Annapolis and

indignantly "Don't we understand well enough t

Street the merry laughter of a g

ls of the senior class had

turned quickly to note Dick and Dave. The other gir

ng to spoil all of Gridley a chanc

ed Belle, while Laur

tion of my merits, Miss Jessie," smil

---" began Jessie lightly, but stopped when she again fou

girls in turn, his glance b

p; Belle locked

as though to ask a quest

well tell them, Laura,

y, flushing. "It's nothing at all, e

e the roasting that I plainly de

rry the girls couldn't hold their

s," suggested Dick, "since you d

well, Laura,

Phin---" be

t, Jess," u

n Drayne just passed us, and stopped

Vance indignantly. "I only

r practice," continued Laura. "He grunted, and sai

ked what he meant by such talk," broke i

ly pinched the ta

ootball affairs had never been in as bad shape before, and he predicte

ven," said Prescott, smiling, though a grim light lurked in his

regular, and he's slated only as a possible sub. So I suppose he simply can't see how the eleven is to win

attention to," added Laura. "I wouldn't have s

e to herself, and flus

. Drayne said he had saved a good deal of his pocket money, lately, and that he was

oyal High School fell

r

the subject," propose

k & Co. again lifted their cap

"on the whole, I'm glad

hy

o put us on

Agains

ay against

in our biggest games this year," smiled Prescott

f cour

le judgment to be entitled to have any spending money," pursued Prescott. "But, if Drayne h

atter followed up. Any fellow who is betting ag

always. There are some men who imagine that it lends importance to themselves when they talk loudly and offer to wa

ld be enough to justify you in dropping Drayne

r. Now, wouldn't it make us look like soreheads if we took any malicious delight i

apped Dan Dalzell. "I believe Phin Drayne

ntry?" asked

& Co. and some other High School fellows but known