CHAPTER XX.
A TIN CAN FOR THE YELLOW DOG With Ripley in the box Gridley won its third game of the season, beating Brayton High School by a score of five to two.
"It ought to have been a whitewash against a small-fry crowd like Brayton," Coach Luce confided to Captain Purcell.
"What was our weak spot, Coach ?" "Have you an opinion, Captain ?" asked the coach.
"Yes, but I'm afraid I'm wrong." "What is your idea ?" "Why, it seemed to me, Mr.Luce, that Ripley went stiff at just the wrong times.

Yet I hate to say that, and I am afraid I'm unfair, for Rip surely does throw in some wonderful balls." "You've struck my idea, anyway," responded Mr.Luce.

"Please don't say anything about it to the other men.

But, between ourselves, Captain, I think we'll do well to give Ripley few and unimportant chances this season.

Most people can't see where real grit comes in, in baseball" "Yet you think the lack of grit, or stamina, is just what ails Rip ?" asked Captain Purcell keenly.
"You can judge, from what I've said," replied Coach Luce.
"I'm glad then, Coach, for it shows I wasn't so far off the track in my own private judgment." Yet, to hear Fred Ripley tell about the game, it wasn't such a small affair.