r with Ripley?" y

r answered

! He's a

ak. But he could pitch ball! He could give great aid in bring

is momentary relapse into the old college enthusiasm had made h

and saw Parkinson butting his head a

e matter,

g for y

Mr. Luce. Most of those present, however, had n

am as pitchers. Yet now it seemed most certain that Fred Ripley must sta

e the nine this year, he could at least feel that Gridley High Schoo

else," muttered Dave, h

y," replied Dick, "if Ripley can

again?" shouted

ey," urged Mr. Luce, a

flushed, his eyes glowing. Never before had he made such a hit among his

nt delight of the High School boys. In fact he d

ther one

n his arm shot out. Again the coach struck for what looked a fair ball, yet

ed left. He moistened his fingers, wet the ball, and let dr

n a tone of satisf

'll do this afternoo

n your work before you've really begun it any othe

an to ripple around the gym. The very idea of any fellow tryin

r the gym. and to throw the ball to anyone he named. Except for the f

ly to one side of the gym. A nois

you ever learn t

taugh

hiding that thousand-candle

greatest work I e

ter the nine has been

ever get it d

o the boy who had l

tty fair pitcher, w

the pitcher you showed us to

last season," Fred replied importantly. "I've studied out a lot of new

Dick & Co. For once, these six very popu

. Self-satisfied Prescott," Fred told himself jubilantly.

's crack pitcher, the nine also carries two relief pitchers. You and Dave have a chance to be the relief pitch

so much like a veteran, then he knows other styles of tossing, too. I'm glad for Gridle

half decent fellow," Harry

in groups. Of course the pitching they had seen was the sole theme. Ripley didn't have to wa

ill be the most talk

s year," Parkinson dec

g in athletics just because of the real old Gridley High School spirit. Gridley's boys always

way home ere the l

hall or shall not pitch. I'll never see him get a big game to pitch in. Oh, but this blow to-day has hurt Dick Prescott worse than a blow over the head with an iron stake could. I've wiped

ardly have been more cast down than he was. Dick always went into any sport to win a

g and the surprise at the gym. So they strolled, together, on Main

s mostly about Ripley, or "Rip," a

popular among them. But now, as the coming star of the High School nine,

was so much of a craze among them that these girls didn't have to ask a

om it had so long been denied, but