The High School Freshmen; or, Dick & Co.'s First Year Pranks and Sports

lade" contained a col

most picturesque vei

Gentle Jokers Convey a

High School. 'Blade'

Service of P

too, which, in a city ruled by a lively public spirit, was likely to tie the han

n to breakfast, read the articl

ichard," said his father, when the young fres

ust as soon as I strike a higher class. I was afraid the School Boa

me see 'T

gh the article, a faint tw

e the paper. "They may, but it would take a good deal of courage, for that article wi

e,' hints at some on

s Cl

r who wrote

Dick. "You know, Dad, he's a gr

fast table this morning," smiled Mr. Prescott. "Stone is a gr

Mrs. Prescott, coming in

ed the news

I've been sharing your great wish Dick, to make the team when you're old enough

e boy, very quietly; "I

son to be engaged in the grammar school days, Mrs. Prescott shot a sudden, won

m feeling glum over the dread that the great sport might be "killed" for them. They were the only members of the eleven who happened to see

pson, when he came i

obser

more!" glo

football now?" d

ne is looking,"

Men's Club to make such a stroke for

Thompson, "if that w

t was, al

he street, feeling as though the wor

he way to the High School.

uld have taken all the edge off the joke--would have spoiled it, and the joke would have been a club that would

wondering," chuckled T

School. Actually, the recitations went off bette

to run across Len Spencer, and chose Main Street as the most likely thoroug

you like it?" was the

great!" Dick

ey think do

ed like the mist from a cheap cigar. You're suspected of writing the article, too, Len. If the High

own just off the stre

to believe that the

n's Club?"

thing has struck the popular side of the town. Why, by tonight, there'll be at least a doze

the stronger," nodd

rd members--wake up, if they only knew that the whole thing was p

t, Len, that I had a

, qu

quickly. "I gave you my w

further? Why don't you interview a lot of the prominent business men on the

usly. "But a lot of the business men might prove t

inted Dick, sagely, "and

t kind?" asked reporter

Beck. He's a millionaire, and one o

ay not believe

s, and all that sort of thing up at the athletic grounds? Doesn't Beck know that, if he said a word against football, he never get another order for

n come in on hot in

a dividend-payer to Carleson. Your own editor, Pollock, will come out for us. Besides the news football makes for 'The Blade,' just think of the profit from doing all the poster and ticket printing for us. Then there's H

g a long list to Len Spencer

king good second-day story. Pollock says I can push this as far as I like, for it has struck a popul

chums and I took in the game?" asked

llow. I've got to run down to the end of this alley to call on a sick friend. Then I'll hustle out and

he doorways Dick Prescott turned toward

lared Frank Thompson, griml

st behind the speaker, closed

ou're the genius that has been doing giant's work for football? You are un

son and Butler, while Ben Badger brought up the rear. The unafraid prisoner was marched along and into another street, to where the football eleven

ted ahead, throwing open the door, while F

on!" roa

and substitutes of th

er various bits of f

ped work to look up

or shu

of the second classmen. "You come in with a roar, and all you

rank Thompson. "Listen, fellows, what

nyway, whatever it i

nded Thompson

of the alleyway. Instantly the complexion of things changed. There were cheers an

We'll have to ask Mr. Prescott to favor us with the fu

eshie." Had the enthusiasm been less intense Dick wo

d Ben Badger br

he could recall of how the plot came to be hatched. Nor was Dick glory-hunter enough to give himself any more credit than he did

, and carried out like

more cheering. Then

e more before th

d Thompson, "we ow

lows. "Prescott may be young--pain

"we owe a handsome reward to this--upper class

mp!" came an a

Dick & Co. deserves undying fame. As I can't be sure of our ability to confer that, we'll do the nex

rstand it, a freshman is a fell

" yelled a d

nions, and don't be afraid to let 'em out--if you can't hold in any longer. To the upper class dances this winter Dick & Co. shall have a bid--if you'll all learn how to walk and glide across a waxed floor. Remember, when you're among the fellows, you don't have to k

eers confirmed Thom

captain of the football eleven. "We've barely time

one request?" shouted

ead! Get it

t, "about Dick & Co., as we fellows are called, being at

omised Captain E

ard to hold it open. As Dick hurried out onto the sidewalk a hurricane of cheers foll

Dr. Thornton, the principal, was sauntering slowly along. He heard tine hubbub, of course

st coming out of a st

Gridley Board

Dr. Thornton. "Why are the football team m

principal's question

in any way relates to the hoax on the Board. Was Prescott at

e the inventor of the yarn that has made Gridley wonder whether we of the Board are so many 'dead ones.' Hm! hm! I'll fi