Produced by Jim Ludwig
or Dick & Co. Grilling on the Football Gridiron
By H. Irving Hancock
CHAPTERS
I. Sulking in the Football Camp
II. The Start of the Dodge Mystery
III. Dick Stumbles on Something
IV. The 'Soreheads' in Conclave
V. At the End of the Trail
VI. The Small Soul of a Gentleman
VII. The Football Notice Goes Up
VIII. Dick Fires Both Barrels
IX. Bayliss Gets Some Advice
X. Two Girls Turn the Laugh
XI. Does Football Teach Real Nerve
XII. Dick, Like Caesar, Refuses the Crown
XIII. Bert Dodge "Starts Something"
XIV. The "Strategy" of a School Traitor
XV. A "Fear" for the Plotter
XVI. "The Cattle Car for Yours"
XVII. Facing the "School Cut"
XVIII. "Prin." Gets in the Practice
XIX. Laura and Belle Have a Secret
XX. In the Line of Daring
XXI. The Price of Bravery
XXII. The Thanksgiving Day Game
XXIII. Sulker and Real Man
XXIV. Conclusion
"Football is all at sixes and sevens, this year," muttered Dave
Darrin disconsolately.
"I can tell you something more than that," added Tom Reade mysteriously.
"What?" asked Dick Prescott, looking at Reade with interest, forit was unusual for Reade to employ that tone or air.
"Two members of the Athletics Committee have intimated to Coach
Morton that they'd rather see football passed by this year."
"What?" gasped Dick. He was staring hard now.
"Fact," nodded Tom. "At least, I believe it to be a fact."
"There must be something wrong with that news," put in Greg Holmesanxiously.
"No; I think it's all straight enough," persisted Tom, shakinghis head to silence Holmes. "It came to me straight enough, thoughI don't feel at liberty to tell you who told me."
All six members of Dick & Co. were present. The scene of themeeting was Dick Prescott's own room at his home over the bookstorekept by his parents. The hour was about nine o'clock in the evening.It was Friday evening of the first week of the new school year.The fellows had dropped in to talk over the coming footballseason, because the week had been one of mysterious unrest inthe football squad at Gridley High School.
Just what the trouble was, where it lay or how it had startedwas puzzling the whole High School student body. The squad wasnot yet duly organized. This was never attempted until in thesecond week of the school year. Yet it was always the rule thatthe new seniors who, during their junior year, had made good recordson either the school eleven, or the second eleven, should formthe nucleus of the new pigskin squad. Added to these, were thenew juniors, formerly of the sophomore class, who had shown themost general promise in athletics during the preceding schoolyear.
Gridley High School aimed to lead—-to be away at the top—-inall school athletics. The "Gridley spirit," which would not acceptdefeat in sports, was proverbial throughout the state.
And so, though the football squad was not yet formally organizedfor training and practice, yet, up to the last few days, it hadbeen expected that a finer gridiron crowd than usual would presentitself for weeding, sifting and trainin