The High School Freshmen | Page 6

ever, Dr. Thornton's words had spoiled the morning's recitations. Try as they would, the young men could not fasten their minds on the work on hand. The hint that athletics might be stopped had stung.
Dick & Co. were all sitting in IV. English.
"Mr. Prescott," directed Submaster Morton, "define the principle of suspense, as employed in writing."
Dick started, looked bewildered, then rose.
"It's---it's-----" he began.
"A little more rapidly, if you please."
"I studied it last night, sir, but I'm afraid I've clean forgotten all about that principle," Dick confessed. He sat down, red-faced, nor was his discomfiture decreased by hearing some of the occupants of the girls' seats giggle.
"I shall question you about that at the next recitation. Mr. Prescott," nodded the submaster.
"Ye-es, sir. I hope you'll have luck," Dick answered, absently.
"What's that?" rapped out Mr. Morton.
Dick, aroused, was on his feet again, like a flash.
"I beg your pardon, Mr. Morton," he came out straightforwardly. "That sounded like slang, or disrespect. I beg to assure you, sir, that neither was intended. The truth is-----"
"Your mind is busy with other things this morning, I see," smiled the sub-master.
"Ye-es, sir." Dick dropped once more into his seat. Ralph Morton sighed. That very popular young submaster, only three years out of college, was the hugely admired coach who had led the Gridley eleven to victory during the last three seasons. He was as disturbed as anyone could have been over the rumored intention of the Board of Education to take some unpleasant action regarding High School athletics.
It was a terribly unsatisfactory hour in IV. English. Five minutes before the period was up Mr. Morton dejectedly closed the text-book from which he had been questioning, and remarked, tersely:
"At ease!"
Instantly the buzz of whispering broke forth. It was required only that not enough noise be made to disturb the students in adjoining rooms.
Dick, Tom and Dan sat in the front row. Directly behind them were the other three members of the "Co."
"Say," muttered Dan, in a low undertone, "Mr. Morton looks half glum and half savage this morning, like the rest of us."
"Seems to," muttered Tom Reade.
"What do you make of _that_?" challenged Dan.
"There must be strong foundation for the little hint Dr. Thornton let fall this morning," guessed Dave Darrin.
"And Mr. Morton knows it's a straight tip," added Harry Hazelton, sagely.
"It'll be a confounded shame, if the Board does anything like that," glowed Dick Prescott, indignantly.
"They'll be so many dead ones, if they do," flared Tom Reade, hotly.
"Yes," agreed Dave Darrin. "But the worst about that Board of Education is that, though they are dead ones, they're so very dead that they'll never find it out."
"Won't they, thought" whispered Dan Dalzell, hotly. "Say, I'm inclined to think they will! I-----"
"Dan!" whispered Dick, warningly.
"Yep; you've guessed right," grinned Dan. "I am hatching a scheme in my mind. I'm getting up something that will bring even that dummified Board to its senses."
"Then you can achieve the impossible," teased Reade.
"Say, but it's a warm one that's forming this time," whispered Dan, his eyes dancing. "I'll see you fellows at recess. Not a word until then. But you-----"
Ting-ling-ling. The bell connecting with the annunciator at the principal's desk was trilling in IV. English, as it was in all the other recitation rooms. IV. English rose, the boys waiting until the girls had passed from the room. A study-hour in the big assembly room followed for Dick & Co. Yet, had anyone watched Dan Dalzell, it would have been found that young man was in the reference room, and reading, or thumbing---of all volumes in the English language---the city directory!
When recess broke, Dick & Co. quickly got together. By twos, Dick and Dave Darrin leading, they marched down through one of the side streets, it being permitted to High School pupils to go outside the yard in the near neighborhood.
Presently Dick halted before a stone wall. He eyed Dan keenly, who had been walking just behind with Harry Hazelton.
"Dan," demanded the leader, "you gave us to understand that your mind is seething again. Is that true?"
"Quite true," Dan averred, solemnly.
"What particular kind of cerebration is oscillating inside of your intelligence?" Dick queried.
"Which?" demanded Dan, suspiciously. "No, I never! I'm not that kind of fellow."
"In plain, freshman English, then, what's your scheme?"
"We'll have to get statistics," announced Dalzell, "before I can come right down to bare facts. When does the Board of Education, otherwise known as the Grannies' Club, meet?"
"Tonight, in the Board Room in the High School building," Dick answered.
"How many members are there?"
"Seven," Dick affirmed.
"That's not too many, then," continued Dan, thoughtfully.
"Not too many?" repeated Dick Prescott. "What do you mean?"
"Why, I've been refreshing my general information about this town by consulting the city directory. From that valuable tome I discovered that there are just nine undertakers in town."
"Now, what on