The High School Pitcher; or, Dick & Co. on the Gridley Diamond

ing what I mean. But the matter went beyond this school room. An account of the hoax was published in the morning paper, and that holds me up to severe ridicule. I trus

h hoaxes are attempted I shall do all in my power t

ent. So he choked down his rising words and called for the morning singing. Yet, as Mr. Cantwell uttered his

ed on the way to a recitation. "But if he has--humph--it won't be long before he f

ake care of myself. If any trouble is to come, I think I can tak

wever, when Mr. Cantwell took his accustomed walk after dinner, he met several acqua

trouble on hand with these young jackanapes! The idea of their making me--the principal--ridiculous in the town! No school principal c

their school chief. But, if they had, Dr. Thornton would have admitted the joke good-humoredly and would have taken outside chaffing with a good nature that would have di

al electrified the assembled students by saying

ll be glad to have Mr. Prescott

Dick, though without any

as usual. Had Mr. Cantwell known more about boy nature he would have suspected that

olly turning the pages of his

called the pri

the book, slipping it into his desk,

at until I am ready t

isn't necessary

on, sir," Dick replied, looking extremely innoc

t to see that the building was being emptied of students, but of course he faile

ick that was full of sympathy, though the submaster, who was a very decent man and teacher, did not by any means intend to foster mutiny in the hea

he and the young soph had

scott," announced the principal, "

not one of those schoolboys who, when brought to task by authority, try to put on a don't-care look. Dick

rmed as to the hoax that was perp

e pennies, I think, sir?" re

oung man," retorted Mr. Cantwell

am fully info

s at the bottom of i

a look that was meant to make

tly. "I know at least several

were one

y. "I think I had as much to do with what y

" fired the principal

ardon, sir. I ca

, Mr. Prescott?" de

l launched his mos

ich no sign of disrespect could be detected, "it would stri

s face again turning deathly white with inward rage. "You, w

eturned the other'

chools cannot be compelled by a teacher to bear tales that implicate another student. I have ad

he principal, rising s

I shall not do it. If you make it necessary, I shall have to take

ck, but the latter still

und himself threatened with an angry outburst. As his temper had often betra

ott, until I have given this

ting in silence for a few moments, drew his history again from his de

en to one of the class rooms, where he had paced up and down until he felt

ision for a while. I shall give it most careful thought. In the meantime, I trust, very sincerely, that you will not be caught in any

s soon as Mr. Cantwell began to talk to him. As young Prescott passe

class, came out of various places of hiding. As he went down the stairs Dick

d. But, a moment later, when Mr. Cantwell looked out of the window, he was much surpris

imself, and jotted down the names of Darrin, Reade and Holmes. The two

se young Prescott fully expected to have sentence pronounced, or at least to be directed to remai

Prin. can be up to?"

homeward that ear

"It may be that Mr. Cantwell is

uired Reade, "what are yo

shall fight back with the

well cherished a hope of being able to keep the position for a good many years to come. Yet this would depend on the attitude of the Board of Education. In order not to take any step that would bring censure from the Board, Mr. Cantwell had decided to attend

well, murmured, eagerly to himself. "After all,

Prescott stepped in

again?" asked Mr. Po

replied. "I've come

are the food of a newsp

to report the Board of Ed

ried reporter in that way. But Spencer generally drops around, at the time the Board is expected to adjourn, o

he didn't have to report t

d be delighted at not ha

report the meeting

would starve on that

n the whole evening

o learn that we didn

worth space to

meetings, and take my chances on the

to waste your time in that fashion,"

ted," acknowledged Dick, and

year before. All the members had been re-elected at the last city election, though some of them by small majorities. Mr. Gadsby, one of the

r, and they shook hands cordially. Mr. Gadsby had been one of the members of the Board who had been most anx

red Mr. Gadsby in a low voice. "Most excellent idea, my dear fellow. Keeps you i

f a rather troublesome element in the school. Suspension or expulsion may be necessary in order to give the best ideas of good discipline

murmured Mr. Gadsby. "You can't go wrong then. But--er-

er his coat tails, as he felt the war

ncipal offend

paused, and looked

t is Prescott, of the sop

who sat at a small side table, a little pile o

gh School, has also taken a position with 'The Morning Blade.' Among other things to which he will attend, after this, Cantwell, is the matter of school doings in th

'?" murmured Mr. Can

an, Gadsby, that thi

ng to be taken here se

y great power

zen, and a useful man in the community. Yet Mr. Pollock is--er--Cantwell--er--that is, a bit 'touchy.' No matter if Pollock's reporter is a schoolboy, if we treated the boy with any lack of consideration, then Pollock would most certainly take umbrage at what he would choose to consider a slight upon himself, received through his representative. So

rincipal, though he added

, right now, if I had a little Worcester

irman Stone, rapping the table with his gavel. "Mr.

you, Mr. Chairma

ntwell?" demanded Gadsby, as the

nsider my statement a little more befor

hile some of the members were stil

aken it all in. He was grinning inside now. He had taken upon himself the work of reporting thes

about, now?" Dick asked himself, with an

about as dull and une

make a few live para

Blade's" news e

k when young Prescott left the morning new

discovered that his culprit was present as a member of the press! I guess Mr. Gadsby must have passed him a strong hint. But I must be careful not to have any malice in the matter. Some evening

head. It came out of the dark alley that the sophomore was passin