Dick knew better. Clearing his throat he related
all he could recall of how the plot came to be hatched. Nor was
Dick glory-hunter enough to give himself any more credit than
he did his partners. In his brief account the freshman spread
all the credit for the invention equally over the six members
of Dick & Co.
"'Twas a great thought, and carried out like a campaign," declared
Ben Badger. There was more cheering. Then Frank Thompson dragged
Dick forward once more before the lined-up team.
"Fellows," proposed Thompson, "we owe this freshie-----"
"Stop that!" roared one of the fellows. "Prescott may be
young---painfully young---but he's no freshie."
"Then," amended Thompson, with grave dignity, "we owe a handsome
reward to this---upper classman. May I tell him what the reward
is to be?"
"Go ahead, Thomp!" came an answering roar.
"Then, listen, Prescott. For the great deed you have done for
Gridley H.S. football every member of Dick & Co. deserves undying
fame. As I can't be sure of our ability to confer that, we'll
do the next best thing. In years and class you're all six of
you freshmen. Now, what is expected of a freshman?"
"Why," laughed Dick, "as I understand it, a freshman is a fellow
who doesn't dare to be fresh."
"Hear! hear!" yelled a dozen voices.
"In that respect," proclaimed Thompson, solemnly, "Dick & Co.
shall no longer be freshman at Gridley H.S.! If the spirit seizes
any of you, then go ahead and be fresh---of course, not _too_
fresh! Mix in with the upper classmen, all of you, if you want
to.
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