H. Irving Hancock

“ Rousing himself, by a supreme effort of the will, the young football player staggered toward the window. It was the rope, which Dave had lowered for him. And thoughtful Darrin had swiftly knotted a strong slip-noose at the end.
Dick had just strength and consciousness enough left to slip this noose over his head and down under his armpits, drawing the noose tight. Then—-so fast was the hot air and smoke overcoming him that he had to fight for it!—-Dick forced his way to the sill and gave a hard tug at the rope. Then he reeled, falling back senseless upon the floor. ”

“ Now, see here, Purcell, we High School fellows are fortunate in having one of the very best coaches that ever a High School squad did have. Mr. Morton knows what he's doing. He knows how to bring out condition, and how to teach the game. He lays down the rules that furnish the sole means of success at football. And you—-one of our most valuable fellows—-are following some of his instructions—-when they don't conflict with your comfort or with your own ideas about training. ”

“ But I hope you're right, Laura. I'd sooner be dead, at this instant, than to feel that my cowardice would ever throw the slightest stain on the grand old Flag. I try to be generous in my opinions of others. I think I can stand almost any man except—-the coward!"
"I'm not a bit afraid of either one of you, on that score," broke in Belle warmly.
"That's very kind of you," nodded Dave. "But of course you don't know any more about our bravery than we do ourselves. It has never been proven."
"How many young men have been killed in football this year?" ”

“ The wisdom of this plan was soon apparent, for it was Dave Darrin who discovered the next footprint. He summoned Dick Prescott with a sharp hiss.
"Yes; all right," nodded Dick, joining his comrade and gazing down at one of the narrow bootmarks. "But don't send a long signal again, Dave. We might be close, and warn some one out of our way."
"What shall we do, then?"
"We'll look frequently at each other, and the fellow who discovers anything will make signs to the other." ”

“ Old Schimmelpodt brought the beggar Prescott over here in an auto. That's how the fellow managed to get into the game, after all. Well, what of it all, anyway?"
"That car is running along slowly, and it has a full-sized crowd in it," muttered Bayliss, going closer to his crony. "Wadleigh, Prescott and Darrin—-and maybe the chauffeur is a thick friend of theirs."
"What on earth are you driving at?" demanded Dodge, glancing up.
"Bert, I don't believe I'm wholly stuck on the scheme of us driving back to Gridley. There are too many lonely spots along the road. ”

“ Yet, in his hatred for Dick and Dave, young Dodge resolved upon a daring stroke. He enlisted Bayliss, and the pair sought to "cut out" Prescott and Darrin with Laura and Belle.
Neither Dick nor Dave was in love. Both were too sensible for that. Both knew that love affairs were for men old enough to know their own minds. Yet the friendship between the four young people had been a very proper and wholesome affair, and much pleasure had been derived on all sides. ”

“ Here was where his gym. training and all his football practice came in splendidly. Every muscle was strong, every nerve true to its duty!
Not once did Prescott fear that he would lose his grip and fall to the street below.
Up above, at the roof's edge, stood Darrin, directing as though from quarter-deck or military-top. Dave had to lean rather far out, at that great height, but it did not make him dizzy.
"There! The grand old chap has landed on the window-sill! He has gone inside!" cried Dave, turning to his comrades. "Now we can wait until we feel a signal-pull on the rope." ”

“ Then we'll play them the best two out of three games for the honor of representing Gridley High School this year."
"Bright, but not practicable," objected Dick patiently. "The trouble is that, if two such teams were formed and matched, neither team, in the event of its victory, would have all of the best gridiron stuff that the High School contains. No, no; what we want, if possible, is some plan that will bring the whole student body together, all differences forgotten and with the sole purpose of getting up the best eleven that Gridley can possibly send out against the world." ”

“ Dick Prescott shook his head emphatically.
"By Jove, Dick, I believe you're right," suddenly exclaimed Dave
Darrin.
"So you see my point, old fellow?"
"I'm sure I do."
"I'm going to get examined for spectacles, then," sighed Dan plaintively.
"I can't see a thing."
"Why, you ninny," retorted Dave scornfully, "the football 'soreheads' have been developing that classy feeling. They wear better clothes than we do, and have more pocket money. Many of their fathers don't work for a living. In other words, the fellows on Dick's list belong to what they consider a privileged and aristocratic set. ”

“ But the boys, unable to hold in any longer, had let out a concerted though half-suppressed "whoop!" and now came running to the spot.
"Who kicked my hat off?" demanded the principal, pointing tragically to the piece of headgear, through the crown and past the rim of which the picket now stood up as though in triumph.
"You—-you got in the way of—-the ball, sir," explained Drayne, trying hard to keep from roaring out with laughter.
"But some one kicked the ball my way," insisted the principal, with utter sternness. "Don't tell me that no one did! ”

“ Dave quietly.
Dick looked up suddenly from his list.
"Fellows," he announced, "I've made one discovery."
"Out with it!" ordered Dan.
"Perhaps you can guess for yourselves what I have just found."
"We can't," admitted Hazelton meekly. "Please tell us, and save us racking our brains."
"Well, it's curious," continued Dick slowly, "but every one of these fellows—-I believe you've given me all the names of the 'soreheads'"
"We have," affirmed Tom Reade.
"Well, I've just noted that every fellow on my sorehead roll of honor belongs to one of our families of wealth in Gridley." ”

“ Darrin nodding, the two chums ran down the stairs to the bookstore.
Dick caught up the transmitter and answered.
"That you, Dick?" sounded the impatient voice of News Editor Bradley.
"This is Dick Prescott, Mr. Bradley."
"Then, for goodness' sake, can you hustle up here?"
"Of course I can."
"Ask your father if you can take up a late night job for me. Then come on the jump. My men are all out, and everything is at odds and ends in the way of news. I can't get a single man, and I wish I had three at this minute."
"Dave Darrin is here. Can I bring him along?" ”

“ On the other mornings, football aspirants were pledged to run without the coach.
Yet, with all this, studies had to be kept up to a high average, for no man on the "unset" list could hope to be permitted to play football.
Hard work? Yes. But discipline, above all. And discipline is priceless to the young man who really hopes to get ahead in life!
"You're not playing fair," Dave cried reproachfully to his chum one day.
"Why not?" Prescott questioned mildly.
"You're using hair tonic!" Darrin asserted, with mock seriousness, as he gazed at Dick's bushy mop of football hair. ”

“ We won't try to make the High School team if the muckers are allowed the same show. We'll have a select crowd on the eleven, this year, or else all of our set will stay off."
"The muckers have some good football men among them, too," grumbled Bert. "Of course for that gang that call themselves Dick & Co we can't any more than make guesses. But some of them would be handy on an eleven I guess."
"Yes; if they were not muckers," agreed Bayliss loftily. "But there are enough of our own kind to make as good an eleven as Gridley High School ever had." ”

“ He advanced, his fists clenched. "If you're going to say anything against my father or mother, Bert Dodge, then stop before you say it! Before I break your neck!"
"Stop, both of you," interjected Hemingway, springing between the white-faced High School boys. "No blows are going to be struck while members of the police department are around. Dodge, of course, you're upset and nervous, but you're not acting the way a gentleman should, even under such circumstances." ”

“ Dick insisted. "And mighty sorry, too."
"You couldn't help it."
"I know it, but that hardly lessens my regret. I don't enjoy the thought of having destroyed anyone else's property, even if I couldn't help it and can't be blamed.
"Prescott said he didn't know I was there!" exclaimed Mr. Cantwell angrily to himself. "Bosh! That boy has been a thorn in my side ever since I became principal of the school. Of course he saw me—-and he kicked wonderfully straight! Oh, how I wish I could make him wear this hat every day during the balance of the school year! ”

“ No, we're not," objected Hazelton fiercely. "If the snobs don't want to play with any of us on the team, then we don't want to play if they come in."
"Gently, gently!" urged Dick. "Think of the honor of your school before you tie your hands up with any of your own mean, small pride. ”

“ Nothing in Wadleigh's face or tone betrayed worry; intense earnestness alone was stamped on his bearing.
"Now, remember, fellows, don't get a spirit of defense grafted on you," were Wadleigh's last words before the second half began. "Remember, its to be a general assault all the time. If you get on the defensive nothing can save us from losing."
No sooner was the ball in motion than Gridley's line bore down upon the enemy. So determined was the assault that Filmore found itself obliged to give ground, stubbornly, for a while. ”

“ The crowd began to cheer. It started in as a Gridley cheer. Then, above everything else, rang the Filmore yell of defiance.
Just at this moment Coach Morton strode into the room. Almost in a twinkling he learned of the new complication that had arisen.
"Captain Wadleigh, who is to play in Drayne's stead" demanded the coach rather briskly.
"Under certain conditions," broke in Wayne, "I'll agree to play."
"We wouldn't have you under all the conditions in the world!" retorted Mr. Morton. "A football eleven must be an organization of the finest discipline!" ”

“ Some of the other late "soreheads," who had escaped the full meed of humiliation—-Davis, Cassleigh, Fremont, Porter and others—-actually sighed with relief when they found what they had escaped in the way of ridicule and contempt.
"The whole thing teaches us one principle," muttered Fremont to Porter.
"What is that?"
"Never tackle the popular idol in any mob. If you can't get along with him, avoid him—-but don't try to buck him!"
"Humph!" retorted Porter. "If you mean Prescott and his gang—-Dick & Co., as the fellows call them—-I can follow one part of your advice by avoiding them. ”

“ Bert Dodge sulked along to school, alone that Friday morning. Bayliss, however, after a night of wakefulness, had decided to "eat crow."
So, as Dick, Dave and Greg Holmes were strolling along schoolward,
Bayliss overhauled them.
"Good morning, fellows," he called, briskly, with an offhand attempt at geniality.
All three of the chums looked up at him, then glanced away again.
"Oh, I say, now, don't keep it up," coaxed Bayliss. "We High School fellows all want to be decent enough friends. And how's the football? I don't suppose the squad is full yet. ”

“ It doesn't draw as hard as the Army does."
"The dickens it doesn't!" ejaculated Dave Darrin.
"No; the Navy doesn't catch young enthusiasm the way the Army does. You won't have so many fellows to compete with as I shall," said Dick.
"I'll have twice as many—-three times as many," flared Darrin.
"The Naval Academy is the only real and popular school in the
United Service."
"Well, we won't quarrel," laughed young Prescott. "When the time comes we'll probably find smarter young fellows ahead of us, headed for both academies."
"If you do fail on West Point——-?" quizzed Dave. ”

“ We mean it! Prescott for captain! No other fellow has done as much for Gridley High School football!"
"Then I'll tell you some reasons, fellows, why I don't fit the position," Dick went on, speaking easily now as his self-confidence came to him. "In the first place, I'm a junior, and this is my first year at football. Now, a captain should be a whole wagon-load in the way of judgment. That means a fellow who has played in a previous season. For that reason, all other things being equal, the captain should be one of the seniors who played the gridiron game last year." ”

“ Bert and Bayliss hastily purchased tickets, then boarded the handiest car. The train proved to contain few people except the Gridley student body and boosters from that town.
"Here, what are you fellows doing in here?" angrily demanded Purcell, as the cronies entered one of the cars.
"We're going to ride to Gridley, if you've no objections," replied
Bert, with sulky defiance.
"No, sir; not in this car!" declared Purcell promptly. "Too many decent people here. The cattle car for yours!"
"Oh, shut up!" retorted Dodge, trying to shove into a vacant seat. ”