The High School Captain of the Team | Page 2

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