But when the submaster coach turned and saw Parkinson butting
his head against the punching bag he called out:

"What's the matter, Parkinson?"

"Subbing for you, sir!"

That turned the good-natured laugh of a few on Mr. Luce. Most
of those present, however, had not been struck by the unusualness
of his speech.

Dick and Dave looked hard at each other. Both boys wanted to
make the team as pitchers. Yet now it seemed most certain that
Fred Ripley must stand out head and shoulders over any other
candidates for the Gridley box.

Dick's face shone with enthusiasm, none the less. If he couldn't
make the nine this year, he could at least feel that Gridley High
School was already well on toward the lead over all competing
school nines.

"I wish it were somebody else," muttered Dave, huskily, in his
chum's ear.

"Gridley is fixed for lead, anyway," replied Dick, "if Ripley
can always keep in such form as that."

"Can Ripley do it again?" shouted one Gridley senior.