So young Prescott received the two hundred and fifty dollars in crisp, new bills, and as promptly turned half of the sum over to his chum.

Now that it was safely over with, it had not been a bad morning’s work!

CHAPTER XIII

Dick Begins To Feel Old

Despite the strain of what they had gone through Dick and Dave led the Gridley boys through a fierce gridiron battle that same afternoon, and won again by a score of 13 to 5.

But the people of Gridley paid little heed to the score that day, or the next.  The sensation that Dick and Dave had supplied was the talk of the town, to the exclusion of other topics relating to high School boys.

Mr. Pollock bought a copy of the photograph showing Dick close to the weather vane on his climb.  A half-tone cut made from this photograph was printed in “The Blade.”

“This young man is now a member of ‘The Blade’ staff, reporting school and other matters,” ran the comment under the spirited picture.  “We believe that Mr. Prescott will continue to be a member of the staff, and to grow with ‘The Blade.’”

“What about that, Dick?” laughed Darrin.

“I’ve told Mr. Pollock and Mr. Bradley that I believe my plans will carry me a good distance away from ‘The Blade’ office after this year,” replied Dick, with a meaning smile.  “If they won’t believe me now, perhaps they’ll wake up later.”

The town had not been wanting in croakers at the outset of the football season, who had predicted that Dick Prescott and his chums would “drag down” the football team and its fine traditions from past years.

But the eleven, mainly under Dick and under Dave’s captaincy in two fierce gridiron battles, had gone right along winning games.

The last three battles had been fought out to a successful finish in November.  There now remained only the Thanksgiving Day game to complete the season.

By all traditions each football team in the country strives to have its biggest fight take place on Thanksgiving Day.  By another tradition, every team seeks to have this game take place on the home grounds.

In the latter respect Gridley lost this year.  The game, which was against Fordham High School, was scheduled to take place at Fordham.

Enthusiasm, however, was at top notch.  Citizens hired the Gridley Band to go along with the young men and help out on noise.  A special train in two sections was chartered, for some seven hundred Gridleyites had voted in favor of an evening dinner on Thanksgiving Day; they were going along to see the game.

Fordham had lost two games, against exceptionally strong teams, earlier in the season, but had of late a fine record.  Fordham had dropped several of its original players, putting in heavier or better men, and a new coach had been employed.  The Fordham boys were now believed to be able to put up a strenuous game.