On the other hand, if I cautioned his father, there'd be an awful
row at the Ripley home. Either way, Fred Ripley would go to pieces.
He'd lose what little nerve he ever had. After that he'd be
no good at pitching. He'd go plumb to pieces. That might leave
me the chance to be Gridley's crack pitcher this year. Oh, I'd
like to be the leading pitcher of the High School nine! But I
don't want to win the honor in any way that I'm not positive is
wholly square and honorable."

Then, after a few moments more of thought:

"Besides, I'm loyal to good old Gridley High School. I want to
see our nine have the best pitcher it can get---no matter who
he is!"

By some it might be argued that Dick Prescott was under a moral
obligation to go and caution Lawyer Ripley. But Dick hated talebearers.
He acted up to the best promptings of his own best conscience,
which is all any honorable man can do.




CHAPTER XII

TRYING OUT THE PITCHERS


"Oh, you Rip!"