“I was talking, for the moment, as an outsider,” replied Phin Drayne, flushing.

“Change around then, Mr. Drayne, and consider yourself, like every other student of this school, as an insider wherever the Gridley interests are involved.”

Drayne moved away, a half-sneer on his face.

“I don’t like that young man,” muttered Mr. Morton confidentially to the young captain of the team.

“I have no violent personal admiration for him,” Prescott answered.

Then the bell sounded, calling all the boys and girls back to their studies.

At just about the hour of noon, a young caller strode into the yard, paused an instant, studying the different entrances of the High School building, then kept straight on and entered.

“A visitor for Mr. Prescott, in the reception, room,” announced the teacher in charge of the assembly room.

Bowing his thanks, Dick passed out of the room, crossed the hall, entered a small room, and turned to greet his caller.

A fine-looking, broad-shouldered, bronzed young man of nineteen rose and came forward, holding out his hand.

“Do you remember me, Mr. Prescott?” asked the caller heartily.

“I’ve played football against you, somewhere,” replied Dick, studying the other’s face closely.

“Yes, I guess you have,” laughed the other.  “I played with Tottenville last year.  I’m captain this season.  Jarvis is my name.”

“Oh, I’m downright glad to see you, Mr. Jarvis,” Dick went on.  “Be seated, won’t you?”

“Yes; if you wish.  Though I’ve half a notion that what I have to say may bring you jumping out of your seat in a moment.”

“Anything happened that you want to postpone the game?” inquired Prescott, taking a chair opposite his caller.

“No; we’re ready for Saturday, and will give you the stiffest fight that is in us,” returned Jarvis.  “But see here, Mr. Prescott, I’ll come direct to the point.  Is ’thirty-eight, nine, eleven, four’ your team’s signal for a play around the left end, after quarter has passed the ball to tackle and he to the end?”

Dick started, despite himself, for that was truly the signal for that play.

“Really Mr. Jarvis, you don’t expect me to tell you our signals!” laughed Dick, pretending to be unconcerned.

But Jarvis called off another signal and interpreted it.

“From your face I begin to feel sure that I’m reeling off the right signals,” pursued the Tottenville youth.  “Now, I’ll get still closer to the point, Mr. Prescott.”

From an inside pocket Jarvis drew forth four typewritten pages, clamped together and neatly folded.

“Run your eye over these pages, Mr. Prescott, or as far as you want to go.”

As Dick read down the pages every vestige of color faded from his face.

Here was Gridley’s whole elaborate signal code, laid down in black and white to the last detail.  It was all flawlessly correct, too.