Produced by Jim Ludwig
or Dick & Co. Leading the Athletic Vanguard
By H. Irving Hancock
CHAPTERS
I. "Kicker" Drayne Revolts
II. A Hint from the Girls
III. Putting the Tag on the Sneak
IV. The Traitor Gets His Deserts
V. "Brass" for an Armor Plate
VI. One of the Fallen
VII. Dick Meets the Boy-With-A-Kick
VIII. Dick Puts "A Better Man" in His Place
IX. Could Dave Make Good?
X. Leading the Town to Athletics
XI. The "King Deed" of Daring
XII. The Nerve of the Soldier
XIII. Dick Begins to Feel Old
XIV. Fordham Plays the Gentleman's Game
XV. "We'll Play the Gentleman's Game
XVI. Gridley's Last Charge
XVII. The Long Gray Column
XVIII. The Would-Be Candidates
XIX. Tom Reade Bosses the Job
XX. When the Great News was Given Out
XXI. Gridley Seniors Whoop It Up
XXII. The Message From the Unknown
XXIII. The Plight of the Innocent
XXIV. Dave Gives Points to the Chief of Police
XXV. Conclusion
"Kicker" Drayne Revolts
"I'm going to play quarter-back," declared Drayne stolidly.
"You?" demanded Captain Dick Prescott, looking at the aspirantin stolid wonder.
"Of course," retorted Drayne. "It's the one position I'm bestfitted for of all on the team."
"Do you mean that you're better fitted for that post than anyoneelse on the team?" inquired Prescott. "Or that it's the positionthat best fits your talents?"
"Both," replied Drayne.
Dick Prescott glanced out over Gridley High School's broad athleticfield.
A group of the middle men of the line, and their substitutes,had gathered around Coach Morton.
On another part of the field Dave Darrin was handling a squadof new football men, teaching how to rush in and tackle the swinginglay figure.
Still others, under Greg Holmes, were practicing punt kicks.
Drayne's face was flushed, and, though he strove to hide the fact,there was an anxious look there.
"I didn't quite understand, Drayne," continued the young captainof the team, "that you were to take a very important part thisyear."
"Pshaw! I'd like to know why I'm not," returned the other boyhotly.
"I think that is regarded as being the general understanding,"continued Dick. He didn't like this classmate, yet he hated togive offense or to hurt the other's feelings in any way.
"The general understanding?" repeated Drayne hotly. "Then I cantell the man who started that understanding."
"I think I can, too," Prescott answered, smiling patiently.
"It was you, Dick Prescott! You, the leader of Dick & Co., agang that tries to boss everything in the High School!
"Cool down a bit," advised young Prescott coolly. "You know wellenough that the little band of chums who have been nicknamed Dick& Co. don't try to run things in the High School. You know, too,Drayne, if you'll be honest about it, that my chums and I havesometimes sacrificed our own wishes to what seemed to be the greatestgood of the school."
"Then who is the man who has worked to put me on the shelf infootball?" insisted the other boy, eyeing Dick menacingly.
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