“All they had to do was to be decent fellows,” mused Tom.  “But the strain of decency proved to be too severe for them.”

In the High School yard that Thursday morning there was one unending strain of rejoicing.

Some of the other late “soreheads,” who had escaped the full meed of humiliation—–­Davis, Cassleigh, Fremont, Porter and others—–­actually sighed with relief when they found what they had escaped in the way of ridicule and contempt.

“The whole thing teaches us one principle,” muttered Fremont to Porter.

“What is that?”

“Never tackle the popular idol in any mob.  If you can’t get along with him, avoid him—–­but don’t try to buck him!”

“Humph!” retorted Porter.  “If you mean Prescott and his gang—–­Dick & Co., as the fellows call them—–­I can follow one part of your advice by avoiding them.  I never did and never could like that mucker Prescott!”

The fact of interest to Dick would have been that he appeared to enjoy the respect of at least ninety-five per cent. of the student body of the High School.

Surely that percentage of popularity is enough for anyone.  The fellow can get along without the approbation of a few “soreheads”!

CHAPTER XVIII

“PRIN.”  GETS IN THE PRACTICE

If Dodge and Bayliss devoted any time to farewells among their late fellow-students before quitting Gridley the fact did not seem to leak out.

Yet despite the absence of two young men who considered themselves of such great importance the Gridley High School appeared to go on about the same as ever.

It was the season of football, and nearly of the school’s interest and enthusiasm seemed to spend itself in that direction.  Coach Morton did all in his power to push the team on to perfection; the other teachers worked harder than ever to keep the interest of the students sufficiently on their studies.  The girls, as well as the boys, suffered from the infection of the gridiron microbe.

Five more games with other High School teams were fought out, and now Gridley had an unbroken record of victories so far for the season.

Such a history can often be built up in the athletics of a High School, but it has to be a school attended by the cream of young manhood and having an abundance of public interest and enthusiasm behind it all.

Not at any time in the season did Coach Morton allow the training work to slacken.  Regularly the entire squad turned out for field work.  If the afternoon proved to be stormy, then four blasts on the city fire alarm, at either two o’clock or two-thirty, notified the young men that they were to report at the gym. instead.  There, the work, though different, was just as severe.  The result was that every youngster in the squad “reeked” with good condition all through the season.