The High School Captain of the Team | Page 4

young Drayne's face.
"I'll make this year a year of sorrow Gridley!" he quivered indignantly.
"I'll hang on, and make believe I'm meek as a lamb, but I'll spoil
Gridley's record for this year! There was in olden times a chap who had
a famous knack for getting square with people who used him the wrong
way. I wish I could remember his name at this moment."
Drayne couldn't recall the name at the time, but another name that
might have served Drayne to remember at this instant was---
Benedict Arnold.

CHAPTER II
A Hint from the Girls
There had been nothing rapid in Dick Prescott's elevation to the
captaincy of the eleven.

Back in the grammar school he had started his apprenticeship in
athletics. During his freshman year in High School he had kept up his
training. In his sophomore year he had trained hard for and had won
honors in the baseball nine. In his junior year, after harder training that
ever, he had performed a season's brilliant work, playing left end in all
the biggest games of the season.
So now, in his senior and last year at Gridley High School he had come
by degrees to the most envied of all possible positions in school
athletics.
The election to the football captaincy had not been sought by Dick. In
his junior year it had been offered to him, but he had declined it, feeling
that Wadleigh, both by training and judgement, was better fitted to lead
the eleven on the gridiron. But now, having reached his senior year,
Dick was by far the best leader possible. Coach and football squad alike
conceded it, and the Alumni Association's Athletics Committee had
approved.
Dick Prescott had grown in years since first we saw him, but not in
conceit. Like all who succeed in this world, he had a good degree of
positiveness in his make-up; but from this he left out strong self-conceit.
In all things, as in his school life, he was prepared to sacrifice himself
along whatever lines pointed to the best good.
Dave Darrin, of all the chums, was nearly as well fitted as was Prescott
to lead, though not quite. So Dave, with Dick's own kind of spirit, fell
back willingly into second place. This year Dave was second captain of
the eleven, ready to lead to victory if Dick should become
incapacitated.
Beyond these, any of the four other chums were almost as well
qualified for leadership. Ability to lead was strong in all the "partners"
of Dick & Co.
While they were on the field that afternoon all of the six worked as
though football were the sole subject on earth that interested them. That
was the Gridley High School way, and it was the spirit that Coach

Morton always succeeded in putting into worthy young men. Once
back in dressing quarters, however, and under the shower baths, the
talk turned but little on football.
As soon as they had rubbed down and dressed Dick & Co. went outside
and started back to town---on foot. Time could be saved by taking the
street car, but Dick and his friends believed that a brief walk, after the
practice served to keep the kinks out of their joints and muscles.
"What ailed old Drayne this afternoon, Dick?" asked Tom Reade.
"Why, he told me that he had hoped to play quarter this season."
"Regular quarter?" demanded Dan Dalzell, opening his eyes very wide.
"That was what I gathered, from what he said," nodded Dick.
"Well, of all the nerve!" muttered Hazelton.
"The star position---for a fellow with a quitter's record!"
"I was obliged to say something of the sort" smiled Dick, "though I
tried to say it in a way that wouldn't hurt his feelings."
"You didn't succeed very well in salving his feelings, if his looks gave
any indication." laughed Greg Holmes quietly.
"Drayne went over to coach afterwards," added Dave Darrin. "Mr.
Morton didn't seem to give the fellow any more satisfaction than you
did, Dick."
"Who is to be quarter, anyway?" asked Harry Hazelton.
"Why, Dave is my first and last choice," Prescott answered frankly.
"But, personally, I'm not going to press him any too hard for the post."
"Why not?" challenged Greg.
"Because everyone will say that I'm playing everything in the interest

of Dick & Co."
"Dave Darrin is head and shoulders above any other possibility for
quarter-back," insisted Greg, with so much conviction that Darrin, with
mock politeness, turned and lifted his cap in acknowledgment of the
compliment.
"Then coach and the Athletics Committee are intelligent enough to find
it out," answered the young football captain.
"That suits me," nodded Dave. "I want to play at quarter; yet, if I can't
make everyone concerned feel that I am the man