Readers of “The High School Pitcher” will recollect how, in their sophomore year, Dick and Co. made their first real start in High School athletics; how Dick became the star pitcher for the nine, and how the other chums all found places on the nine, either as star players or as “subs.”  In this volume also was told the story of Fred’s moral disasters under the tyranny of Tip Scammon, Who threatened to “tell.”  How Dick & Co. were largely entitled to the credit for bringing the Gridley High School nine through a season’s great record on the diamond was all told in this second volume.  Dick’s good fortune in getting a position as “space” reporter on “The Morning Blade” was also described, and some of his adventures as reporter were told.  The culmination of Fred Ripley’s scoundrelism, and his detection by his stern old lawyer father, were narrated at length.  Perhaps many of our readers will remember, the unpopular principal of the High School, Mr. Abner Cantwell; and the swimming episode, in which every High School boy took part, afterwards meekly awaiting the impossible expulsion of all the boys of the High School student body.  Our readers will recall that Mr. Cantwell had succeeded the former principal, Dr. Thornton, whom the boys had almost idolized, and that much of Mr. Cantwell’s trouble was due to his ungovernable temper.

During the first two years of High School life, Dick & Co. had become increasingly popular.  True, since these six chums were all the sons of families in very moderate circumstances, Dick & Co. had been disliked by some of the little groups of students who came from wealthier families, and who believed that High School life should be rather governed by a select few representing the move “aristocratic” families of the little city.

Good-humored avoidance is excellent treatment to accord a snob, and this, as far as possible, had been the plan of Dick & Co. and of the other average boy at the High School.

“Let us see,” broke in Dick, suddenly, “who are the soreheads in the football line?”

“Well, Davis and Cassleigh, of the senior class, for two,” replied Dave Darrin.

“Dodge, Fremont and Bayliss, also first classmen,” suggested Reade.

“Trenholm and Grayson, also seniors,” brought in Greg Holmes.

“Then there are Porter, Drayne and Whitney,” added Dave.  “They’re of this year’s Juniors.”

“And Hudson and Paulson, also of our junior class,” nodded Harry Hazelton.

Dick Prescott had rapidly written down the names.  Now he was studying the list carefully.

“They’re all good football men,” sighed Dick.  “All men whose aid in the football squad is much needed.”

“Drayne is the stuck-up chap, who uses the broad ‘a’ in his speech, and carries his nose up at an angle of forty-five degrees,” chuckled Dan Dalzell.  “He’s the fellow I mortally offended by nicknaming him ‘Sewers,’ to mimic his name of ‘Drayne.’”