The High School Freshmen; or, Dick & Co.'s First Year Pranks and Sports

scott's cheeks turned a dull red as he replied, qui

told you that

ntemptible thing?" insi

t this altercation in the school grounds. Half a dozen of the girls, too, hovered in the background, in

e, in which one older in the world's ways might hav

ed Fred Rip

ou don't believe me?" sa

hed Ripley, sho

O

hough bright, energetic, honest Dick Prescott had been struck

om Dick Prescott's lips, as his face went wh

d?" sneer

d, at that--that is too crippled, today

ley, confidently. "The yarn a

e jacket pocket in which it had rested.

anyway!" Prescott

the older High School boys looked serious. F

cap at once, hurling his strapped-u

was a member of the first class, a member of the school eleven,

d Ripley. "The cub wants t

njured hand," retor

. "And he's got so fight,

"But remember, Fred, it's allowable, when

ked Fred, lookin

lace, if Prescott wil

hompson

for that. I'm a third classman, and you're a first

oor little freshman with the crippled hand," insisted Thompson. "So ge

ion couldn't be made a

mettle and strength

, had been standing back, kee

ward, "isn't a freshman allowed to say

who knew Dan to be one of y

ntinued Dan Dalzell, hotly. "But Ripley wants som

Tom Reade, also

ith me, too," offe

ded Greg Holmes

ers were freshmen, an

sco

nk I want--to fight a

y, ho

ne as big as you are. So, Ripley, you're answerable to Prescott's friends. I'll tell you what you can do. There are five of us. You can take any one of us that you prefer for the first bout. Wh

, "I don't allow any freshman to talk that way to me. I won't fight you

stood his ground unflinchingly. But Thompson seized t

first classman. "This is descending to a low level. We don't want a lot of bicker

k Prescott, who had had time to cool down a

," nodded

day, why can't this meeting hold over until my hand is

Frank Thompson, looking about him at other upper classmen. "Is it the gen

ck an eager, a

es to it. If you pick any trouble with Prescott until you get the word, or if you try to find any excuse for hitting hi

pley. "All this fuss abo

forward, but Thomps

ve it up. Bottle it. You can have all the more

was," retorted Ripley, scornfully. "And

e garment was fashionably made and of the best material, for Ripley's father was a wealthy l

it there when donning the coat to leave school at one o'clock that day. Fred knew that Dick had been

auntering over to where the fluttering group of girls wai

o with such a low-down fellow as Pre

ed Fred, harshly; "but I can't let ev

cused Dick Prescott of playing off a lame hand. I know how his hand became crippled. Dick wanted me

rejoined Clara, with a toss o

r. They always did, after school was out.

with quick, resolute step, she marched over

accused of pretending about a hurt hand. I k

more, Miss Bentley,"

d night before last. Dick Prescott didn't want anyth

in several of the High

going to. You see, it happened this way: Mother had forty-five dollars on hand that belonged to the church fair fund. So, night before last, she asked me to take it over to Miss Bo

purse and I screamed, of course. Then some one came running down the street as fast as

wice as big as Dick Prescott. I thought Dick was going to be killed. Twice the fel

sed the inter

stop the wretch from getting away. At last, however, the fellow hurled Dick backward, so that he f

" confirmed F

or, to take Dick into the office. Father said, afterwards, that Dick's right wrist was sprained, and his ankle wrenched a bit, too. He said Dick would be doing w

ootpads, are you?" demanded Thompson, resting a friendly hand on Dick's shoulder.

, I guess I was a bi

redd

o beauty's aid?" dema

rowing redder still. "I was ashamed

ws, what do you think of the modest cheek of this fresh

!" broke in another fir

he is!" cam

! wh

d, blushing freshie, pumping his unin

nly a freshie in years, but he'll get over that. Now, up with D

s injured hand the upper classmen rushed him out of the school grounds, onto the street, holding him aloft in the post

ence! That's us! That's us! G-R-I-D-L-E

e, turning at the head of the street. "Why, they're y

e him a ducking, as he deserves,

yell, and the girls are w

ing the school sneak," ret

n't care about mixing up too much with such a

led my coat, and I'll make him smart for it!"

, by having anything more to do wi

tch and plan for years, if I have to, to take all the conceit and meanness out of that sneak. I'll never quit