his heart on being Gridley's best man in the box. But now-----

Dick & Co. all felt that they needed the open air after the grilling
and the surprise at the gym. So they strolled, together, on Main
Street, for nearly an hour ere they parted and went home to supper.

The next day the talk at school was mostly about Ripley, or "Rip,"
as he was now more intimately called.

Even the girls took more notice of him. Formerly Fred hadn't
been widely popular among them. But now, as the coming star of
the High School nine, and a new wonder in the school firmament,
he had a new interest for them.

Half the girls, or more, were "sincere fans" at the ball games.
Baseball was so much of a craze among them that these girls didn't
have to ask about the points of the game. They knew the diamond
and most of its rules.

Incense was sweet to the boy to whom it had so long been denied,
but of course it turned "Rip's" head.




CHAPTER XI

THE THIRD PARTY'S AMAZEMENT