knew the state of affairs had any idea that
Dick Prescott would be able to stand in the box against Gardiner.
But the young pitcher boarded a trolley car, accompanied by Dave
Darrin, and both reached the Athletic Field before two o'clock.
Dr. Bentley was there soon after. In the Gridley dressing room,
Dick's left leg was bared, while Coach Luce drew off his coat
and rolled up his shirt sleeves. Under the physician's direction
the coach administered a very thorough massage, following this
with an alcohol rubbing.

When it was all over Dick rose to exhibit the motions of that
leg before the eyes of the doubtful physician.

CHAPTER XVII

WHEN THE HOME FANS QUIVERED

"Is Prescott going to toss!"

"They say not."

"It's a shame."

"And there's a suspicion," whispered one of the High School speakers,
"that the other name of the shame is Fred Ripley."

"He ought to be lynched!"

"But he claims that an attempt was made against him, also."

"Ripley never was strong on the truth."

Though the gossip about Fred Ripley was not general, the anxiety
over Pitcher Prescott was heard on all sides.

"It'll be a sure hoodoo if Prescott can't pitch the season's first
game," declared a man who seldom missed a High School game on
the home diamond.

Before three o'clock the grand stand was comfortably filled.
The cheaper seats beyond held about as many spectators as they
were built to hold.

The attendance, that day, was nearly three thousand. Gardiner
had sent a delegation of nearly one-tenth of this number.

Before three o'clock the band began to play. Whenever the musicians
launched into a popular baseball ditty the crowd joined with the
words.

"Prescott is going to pitch!"

"No, he isn't."

"The word has just been passed around. Besides, his name's down
on the score card."

"The score cards were printed yesterday."

Finally, curiosity could stand it no longer. A committee left
the grand stand to go toward the dressing rooms building. But
a policeman waved them back.

"None but players and officials allowed in there," declared the
officer.

"We want to find out whether Prescott is going to pitch," urged
the spokesman.

"I heard something about that," admitted the policeman.

"What was it? Quick!"

"Let me see. Oh! Prescott wants to pitch; the coach is half
willing, but the doctor ain't certain."

This was the best they could do, so the committee returned to
their seats. But nothin