CHAPTER II
A Hint from the Girls
There had been nothing rapid in Dick Prescott's elevation to thecaptaincy of the eleven.
Back in the grammar school he had started his apprenticeship inathletics. During his freshman year in High School he had keptup his training. In his sophomore year he had trained hard forand had won honors in the baseball nine. In his junior year,after harder training that ever, he had performed a season's brilliantwork, playing left end in all the biggest games of the season.
So now, in his senior and last year at Gridley High School hehad come by degrees to the most envied of all possible positionsin school athletics.
The election to the football captaincy had not been sought byDick. In his junior year it had been offered to him, but he haddeclined 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 leaderpossible. Coach and football squad alike conceded it, and theAlumni Association's Athletics Committee had approved.
Dick Prescott had grown in years since first we saw him, but notin conceit. Like all who succeed in this world, he had a gooddegree of positiveness in his make-up; but from this he left outstrong self-conceit. In all things, as in his school life, hewas prepared to sacrifice himself along whatever lines pointedto the best good.
Dave Darrin, of all the chums, was nearly as well fitted as wasPrescott to lead, though not quite. So Dave, with Dick's ownkind of spirit, fell back willingly into second place. This yearDave was second captain of the eleven, ready to lead to victoryif Dick should become incapacitated.
Beyond these, any of the four other chums were almost as wellqualified 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 workedas though football were the sole subject on earth that interestedthem. That was the Gridley High School way, and it was the spiritthat Coach Morton always succeeded in putting into worthy youngmen. Once back in dressing quarters, however, and under the showerbaths, the talk turned but little on football.
As soon as they had rubbed down and dressed Dick & Co. went outsideand started back to town---on foot. Time could be saved by takingthe street car, but Dick and his friends believed that a briefwalk, after the practice served to keep the kinks out of theirjoints 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 verywide.
"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, "thoughI tried to say it in a way that wouldn't hurt his feelings."
"You didn't succeed very well in salving his feelings, if hislooks 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 thanyou 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 forthe post."
"Why not?" challenged Greg.
"Because everyone will say that I'm playing everything in theinterest of Dick & Co."
"Dave Darrin is head and shoulders above any other possibilityfor quarter-back," insisted Greg, with so much conviction thatDarrin, with mock politeness, turned and lifted his cap in acknowledgmentof the compliment.
"Then coach and the Athletics Committee are intelligent enoughto 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 forthe job, then I haven't made good to a sufficient extent to beallowed to carry off the honors in a satchel."
"That's my idea, Darrin," answered Dick. "I believe you have madegood, and so good at that, that I'm going to dodge any chargeof favoritism, and leave it to others to see that you're forcedto take what you deserve."
"Of course I want to play this season, and I'm training hard tobe at my best," said Reade. "Yet when it's all over, and we'vewon every game, good old Gridley style, I shall feel mighty happy."
"Yes," nodded Harry Hazelton, "and the same thing here."
"That's because you two are not only attending High School, butalso trying to blaze out your future path in life," laughed Dave.
"Well, the rest of you fellows had better be serious about yourcareers in life," urged Tom. "It isn't every pair of fellows,of course, who've been as fortunate as Harry and I."
"No; and all fellows can't be suited by the same chances, whichis a good thing," replied Prescott. "For my part, I wouldn'tfind much of any cheer in the thought that I was going to be allowedto carry a transit, a chain or a leveler's rod through life."
"Well, we don't expect to be working in the baggage departmentof our profession forever," protested Harry Hazelton, with somuch warmth that Dave Darrin chuckled.
Tom and Harry had decided that civil or railroad engineering,or both, perhaps, combined with some bridge building, offeredthem their best chances of pleasant employment in life.
Mr. Appleton, a local civil engineer with whom the pair had talkedhad offered to take them into his office for preliminary training.because at the High School, Tom and Harry had already qualifiedin the mathematical work necessary for a start.
No practicing civil engineer in these days feels that he has thetime or the inclination to take a beginner into his office andteach him all of the work from the ground up. On the other hand,a boy who has been grounded well in algebra, geometry and trigonometrymay then easily enter the office of a practicing civil engineerand begin with the tools of the profession. Transit manipulationand readings, the use of the plummet line, the level, compass,rod, chain and staking work may all be learned thus and a knowledgeof map drawing imparted to a boy who has a natural talent forthe work.
It undoubtedly is better for the High School boy to go to a technicalschool for his course in civil engineering; yet with a foundationof mathematics and a sufficient amount of determination, the HighSchool boy may go direct to the engineer's office and pick uphis profession. Boys have done this, and have afterwards reachedhonors in their profession.
So Tom and Harry had their future picked out, as they saw it.As soon as they had learned enough of the rudiments, both wereresolved to go out to the far West, and there to pick up more,much more, right in the camps of engineers engaged in surveyingand laying railroads.
"You fellows can talk about us going to work in the baggage departmentof our profession," pursued Tom Meade, a slight flush on his manlyface. "But, Dick, you and Dave are in the dream department, foryou fellows have only a hazy notion that---perhaps---you may beable to work your way into the government academies at West Pointand Annapolis. As for Greg and Dan, they don't appear to haveeven a dream of what they hope to do in future."
"You fellows haven't been spreading the news that Dave and I wantto go to Annapolis and West Point, have you!" asked Dick seriously.
"Now, what do you take us for?" protested Tom indignantly "Don'twe understand well enough that you're both trying to keep it closesecret?"
As the young men turned into Main Street the merry laughter ofa group of girls came to their ears.
Four of the High School girls of the senior class had stoppedto chat for a moment.
Laura Bentley and Belle Meade were there, and both turned quicklyto note Dick and Dave. The other girls in the group were FaithKendall and Jessie Vance.
"Here comes the captain who is going to spoil all of Gridley achances this year," laughed Miss Vance.
"H
ush, Jess," reproved Belle, while Laura looked much annoyed.
I see you have a wholly just appreciation of my merits, Miss Jessie,"smiled Dick, as the boys raised their hats.
"Oh, what I said is nothing but the silly talk of him Dra-----"began Jessie lightly, but stopped when she again found herselfunder the reproving glances of Laura and Belle.
Dick glanced at one of the girls in turn, his glance beginningto show curiosity.
Laura bit her lip; Belle locked highly indignant.
Prescott opened his month as though to ask a question, them closedhis lips.
"I guess you might as well tell them, Laura," hinted Faith Kendall.
"Oh, nonsense." retorted Miss Bentley, flushing. "It's nothingat all, especially coming from such a source."
"Then some one has been giving me the roasting that I plainlydeserve?" laughed Captain Prescott.
"It's all foolish talk, and I'm sorry the girls couldn't holdtheir tongues," cried Laura impatiently.
"Then I won't ask you what it was," suggested Dick, "since youdon't like to tell me voluntarily."
"You might as well, Laura," urged Faith.
"It's that Phin-----" began Jessie.
"Do be quiet, Jess," urged Belle.
"Why," explained Laura Bentley, "Phin Drayne just passed us, andstopped to chat when Jessie spoke to him-----"
"I didn't," objected Miss Vance indignantly. "I only said goodafternoon, and---"
"I asked Drayne if he had been out to the field for practice,"continued Laura. "He grunted, and said he'd been out to see howbadly things were going."
"Then, of course, Laura flared up and asked what he meant by suchtalk," broke in the irrepressible Jessie. "Then---ouch!"
For Belle had slyly pinched the talkative one's arm.
"Mr. Drayne had a great string to offer us," resumed Laura. "Hesaid football affairs had never been in as bad shape before, andhe predicted that the team would go to pieces in all the stronggames this year."
"We have a rule of unswerving loyalty in the history of our eleven,"said Prescott, smiling, though a grim light lurked in his eyes."I guess Phin was merely practicing some of that loyalty."
"None of us care what Drayne thinks, anyway," broke in Dave Darrincontemptuously. "He wants to play as a regular, and he's slatedonly as a possible sub. So I suppose he simply can't see howthe eleven is to win without him. But, making allowances forhuman nature, I don't believe we need to roast him for his grouch."
"I didn't think his talk was worth paying any attention to," addedLaura. "I wouldn't have said anything about it, if it hadn'tleaked out."
Jessie took this rebuke to herself, and flushed, as she rattledon:
"I guess it was no more than mere 'sorehead' talk on Phin Drayne'spart, anyway. Mr. Drayne said he had saved a good deal of hispocket money, lately, and that he was going to win more moneyby betting on Gridley's more classy opponents this season."
"There's a fine and loyal High School fellow for you!" mutteredGreg.
"Suppose we all change the subject," proposed Dick good-humoredly.
Two or three minutes later Dick & Co. again lifted their caps,then continued on their way.
"Dick," whispered Dave, "on the whole, I'm glad that was repeatedto us."
"Why?"
"It ought to put us on our guard?"
"Guard? Against whom?"
"I should say against Phin Drayne."
"But he's merely offering to bet that we can't win our biggestgames this year," smiled Prescott. "That doesn't prove that wecan't win, does it?"
"Oh, of course not."
"Any fellow that will lower himself enough to make wagers on sportingevents shows too little judgment to be entitled to have any spendingmoney," pursued Prescott. "But, if Drayne has money, and is goingto bet, he won't be entitled to any sympathy when he loses, willhe?"
"Humph!" grunted Dave. "I'd like to have this matter followedup. Any fellow who is betting against us ought not to be allowedto play at all."
"Oh, it was just the talk of a silly, disappointed fellow," arguedDick. "I suppose a boy is a good deal like a man, always. Thereare some men who imagine that it lends importance to themselveswhen they talk loudly and offer to wager money. I'm not goingto offer any bets, Dave, but I feel pretty certain that Drayneis just talking for effect."
"His offering to bet against his own crowd would be enough tojustify you in dropping Drayne from the squad altogether," hintedGreg Holmes.
"Yes, of course," admitted Dick. "But we had enough of footballsoreheads last year. Now, wouldn't it make us look like soreheadsif we took any malicious delight in dropping Drayne from the squadjust because he has been blowing off some steam?"
"But I wouldn't trust him on the job," snapped Dan Dalzell. "Ibelieve Phin Drayne would sell out any crowd for sheer spite."
"Even his country?" asked Dick quietly.
And there the matter dropped, for the time. Had Dick & Co. andsome other High School fellows but known it, however, Draynewould have borne close watching.