riding, tennis, track work, and all the rest of it.
They are young fellows who glory in being in training all the
year around. Speight writes me that he thinks he has the finest,
strongest and most alert boys in the United States."

"We'll whip them, just the same," announced Dick coolly.

"Gridley will, if anyone can---I know that," agreed Mr. Morton.
"You've won all four games that you've played this season. Hallam
Heights has played five games and won them all. The Hallam youngsters
are out to capture the record that Gridley has held for some time
that of capturing all the games of the season."

"Bring 'em on!" begged Darrin. "I wish we had 'em here to play
just as soon as the rain lets up."

"Don't make the mistake of thinking that, because the Hallam boys
have rich fathers, they're dudes, who can't play on wet ground,"
laughed Mr. Morton.

"If Hallam sends forth such terrors," grinned Dick, rising from
the bench on which he had been sitting, "then we must get in trim
for 'em. Come on, fellows; some of the light speedy exercises.
I'll work you up to all the speed you can take care of, this
afternoon."

For the next ten minutes Dick was as good as his word. Then,
after a brief breathing spell, Prescott ordered his men to the
running track in the gallery.

"Three laps at full speed, with a two-minute jog between each
speed burst, and a minute of breathing between each kind of running,"
called out Dick.

Then, after he had seen the fellows started, he turned to the
coach.

"If I never learned anything else from you, Mr. Morton, I think
I've wholly absorbed the idea that no man is in condition unless
he can run well; and that nothing will make for condition like
judicious running."

"As to what you've learned from me, Captain Prescott," replied
the coach, "I fully believe that you've learned all that I have
to teach. I wouldn't be afraid to go away on a vacation and leave
the team in your hands."

"Him!" smiled Dick. "Without you to back me up, Mr. Morton, I'm
afraid some of the fellows might kick over the traces."

"They wouldn't kick over but once," laughed the coach. "The first
time any fellow did that you'd drop him from the team. And the
fellows know it. I haven't noticed the young men attempting to
frisk you any."

"One did."

"I know whom you mean," replied the submaster, his brow clouding.
"But he got out of the team, didn't he?"

"Yes; but I didn't put him out."

"You would