"The total subscriptions amount to nineteen hundred and sixty-eight dollars. That will put us on a fine footing for this year, and leave a good balance over for next year!"
Then the enthusiasm broke loose in earnest. Two score of fans turned, at once, to find Dick & Co., who had started the scheme. But Dick & Co. had quietly vanished.
Before it adjourned that night, the Athletics Committee, with the help of Captain Sam Edgeworth, found one effective way of rewarding those who had conceived this highly successful subscription campaign.
Dick Prescott was appointed cheer-master for the great Thanksgiving Day game. More, Dick was to name any one of his chums as assistant cheer-master.
As the cheer-master bosses the noise that is so indispensable a part of the game, the honor that had come to young Prescott was no mean one. No Gridley freshman had ever before achieved it.
Dick left to his partners the selection of assistant cheer-master. They settled on Dave Darrin.
CHAPTER XIV
ON THE GRIDIRON WITH COBBER SECOND
Once upon a time Thanksgiving Day was an orgie conducted in honor of that national bird, the turkey.
In these happier days, in every live community, the turkey must wait until the football game has been fought out. Then the adherents of one eleven eat crow.