ould also be loyal to your High School.
In matters of loyalty one can't always act on spite or impulse."

"Humph!" muttered Fred, stalking away.

His keen disappointment was welling up inside. With the vent
of speech the suffering of the arrogant boy had become greater.
Now, Fred's whole desire was to get away by himself, where he
could nurse his rage in secret. There were no more yells of "Oh,
you Rip!" He had done some splendid pitching, and had made the
team, for that matter, but he was not to be one of the season's
stars. This latter fact, added to his deserved unpopularity,
filled his spirit with gall as he hastened toward the dressing
rooms. There he quickly got into his street clothes and as hastily
quitted the athletic field.

Therein Fred Ripley made a mistake, as he generally did in other
things. In sport all can't win. It is more of an art to be a
cheerful, game loser than to bow to the plaudits of the throng.

"Mr. Prescott," demanded Coach Luce, "how long have you been
working under Pop Gint's training?"

"Between four and five weeks, sir."

"And Darrin the same length of time?"

"Yes, sir," nodded Dave.

"Then, unless you two find something a whole lot better to do
in life, you could do worse than to keep in mind the idea of
trying for positions on the national teams when you're older."

"I think we have something better in view, Mr. Luce," Dick answered
smilingly. "Eh, Dave?"

"Yes," nodded Darrin and speaking emphatically. "Athletics and
sports are good for what they bring to a fellow in the way of
health and training. But a fellow ought to use the benefits as
a physical foundation in some other kind of life where he can
be more useful."

"I suppose you two, then, have it all mapped out as to what you're
going to do in life?"

"Not quite," Dick replied. "But I think I know what we'd like
to do when we're through with our studies."

There were other try-outs that afternoon, but the great interest
was over. Gridley fans were satisfied that the High School had
a pitching trio that it would be difficult to beat anywhere except
on the professional diamond.

"If anything _should_ happen to Prescott and Darrin just before
any of _the big games_," muttered Ripley, darkly, to himself, "then
I'd have my chance, after all! Can't I get my head to working
and find a way to _make_ something happen?"

CHAPTER XIII

THE RIOT CALL AND OTHER LITTLE THINGS

"To your seat, Mr.