CHAPTER XI

THE WELCOME WITH A BIG “W”

Ben Badger sat perched aloft among the bare, spreading branches of a giant maple near one corner of the school grounds.  The maple stood at the curbing of the sidewalk.

Down below stood nearly a hundred High School boys of Gridley.

That Ben was on sentry duty was apparent from the eager looks that those below frequently cast up at him.  At times, too, the general impatience sought relief in questions hurled at Ben.

Finally, from the lookout aloft came down the rousing hail: 

“Here he comes! fellows!  Here he comes!  No—–­here they come!  The whole crowd—–­Dick & Co.!”

A flutter passed through the crowd below, vet not one of the Gridley H.S. boys stirred from the ranks just within the school yard gate.

Back on the main steps of the High School building nearly three score of the young ladies were irregularly grouped.  They were silent, but expectant.

For “The Blade” had been read in many a Gridley home that morning.  The news had traveled fast over Gridley.  Though the paper had contained no announcement that Prescott would return to school, every High School boy and girl had felt sure of that.

Down the street, three abreast, came Dick & Co., with proud, firm stride.  Very likely the partners were even more exultant than was Prescott himself.

Then the freshman sextette came in full sight from the gateway.

“Who’s this?” yelled Ben Badger in his loudest voice.

From the crowded tanks below welled up the chorus: 

“Dick & Co.!  Dick & Co.!  Good old Dick!  Bully old Co.!”

Prescott and his chums halted, thunderstruck by the volume and force of that unexpected chorus.

Immediately on top of it rolled out lustily the complicated High School yell, given with a vim never before heard off the football field.

And then: 

“What’s the matter with Dick Prescott?” demanded Ben Badger, in stentorian tones.

From one half of the H.S. boys came the roaring response: 

“He’s the whole cheese.”

Then, from the other half: 

“-----for a freshman!”

Dick & Co. recovering from their amazement, were coming on again now.  Young Prescott’s heart thumped hard.  He was no popularity-chaser, but only the fellow who has been down hard, for a while, knows how good it is to be up once more.

As Dick neared the gate Ben Badger dropped down out of the bare maple tree, for Ben had yet other duties on the reception committee.

He and Frank Thompson suddenly snatched Dick Prescott out of the ranks of his chums, and hoisted him aloft.  This these two husky first classmen were well able to do.

Across the school yard they started with him, while the rest of the fellows followed, giving voice to the High School yell: