th ended, and also at the finish
of the eighth. Then the North Grammars went to bat for the first
half of the ninth.

"You fellows simply must do something---do a lot," had been Hi's
almost tearful urging as be addressed his fellows at the bench.

It was Bill Rodgers who stood before him as Dick twirled the ball,
awaiting Greg's signal, which came a second later---a drop ball.

Bill swung for it, then looked foolish. Two more bad guesses,
and he was out.

A second man was soon out, and then a third. Not one of the trio
had been able to judge Dick's ball.

Central Grammar had won the first game by the close score of three
to two. That, however, was as good for all purposes as any other
could possibly be.

"What ails you Norths?" amiably remarked Ted Teall. "Is it the
gayness of your uniforms? The red gets in your eyes and keeps
you from seeing the ball."

"You're not funny," glowered Hi Martin. "You're merely a clown."

"Wait until my nine plays yours," retorted Teall genially. "Then
we'll see who looks more like a clown---you or I."

But now there was time, and Dick Prescott and his fellows had
to tell scores of eager inquirers how they came by their new uniforms,
when they had not expected to have any.

"Just what I thought, or as bad, anyway," muttered Martin when
the news was brought to him. "These muckers couldn't buy their
uniforms, as our fellows did. They had to depend upon charity
to make a good appearance on the field."

"Hold on, there, Martin," angrily objected one of the Central
fans. "I suppose it was charity, too, when you gave our fellows
the game, eh? It was mighty kind of you, too."

"Huh!" retorted Hi. "This is only one game lost, and by a hair's
breadth. Wait until the end of the season, and see who carries
the laurels."

"Prescott, what do these letters mean on your jersey?" asked Ted
Teall, halting and squinting at the golden yellow emblems.

"C.G.?" smiled Dick. "That's for Central Grammar, of course.
But the letters have been put on so that they can be easily changed
around to read G.C."

"What'll that stand for?" quizzed Teall, winking at some of the
other fellows.

"Why, we'll change the letters around after we've played this
series, and then the letters will stand for Grammar Champions."

"Oh, I see," grinned Ted. "My, but that will be kind of you,
to give our fellows the jerseys."

"You haven't won them yet," retorted Dick. "The Centrals will
keep their own jerseys an