g was settled.

At three-twenty, just as the band ceased playing, the compact
bunch of Gardiner fans sent up the yell:

"Here they come! Our fellows! The only ones!"

Using their privilege as visiting team, the Gardiner players were
now filing on to the field for a little warming-up practice.

"Throw him down, McCluskey!" tooted the band, derisively. But
the cheers from the wild Gardiner fans nearly drowned out the
instrumental racket. Quickly the visitors had a practice ball
in motion. Now the home fans waited breathlessly.

At last the band played again. "See the Conquering Hero Comes!"

Gridley High School, natty and clean looking in their gray and
black uniforms, with black stockings, caps and belts, came out
on the field. Instantly there was craning of necks to see if
Prescott were among the players.

"There he is!" yelled one of the High School fans. "There's our
Dick! Wow!"

Cheering went up from every Gridley seat. The bleachers contributed
a bedlam of noise. "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow!" blared forth
the band. Girls and women stood up, waving fans, handkerchiefs,
banners. Another round of cheering started. Dick walked quietly,
looking neither to right nor left. Yet the boy was wondering,
in astonishment, if kings usually got such a welcome.

By the time the cheering had ceased, Fred Ripley, also in uniform,
strolled out and walked toward the sub bench.

A hiss greeted Ripley. It was not loud, nor insistent, and presently
died out. But Fred went as white as a sheet, then, with eyes
cast downward, he dropped to his seat at the end of the sub bench.
His chest heaved, for the greeting had unnerved him.

"I wonder why I usually get that sort of thing, while that fellow
Prescott has a band to play him in," muttered Fred.

The bulk of the audience was now quiet, while the three hundred
visiting fans roared out one of their school yells.

Then followed a noisy whooping of the Gridley High School yell.

Coach Luce had walked over to a post behind the sub bench.

Umpire Foley, his mask dangling from his left hand, now summoned
Purcell and the Gardiner captain. A coin spun up in the air.
Gardiner's diamond chieftain won the toss, and chose first chance
at the bat. Purcell's men scattered to their fielding posts,
while the young captain of the home team fastened on his catcher's
mask.

The umpire took a ball from its package, inspected it, then tossed
it to Dick Prescott, who stood