Most of those present, however, had not been struck by the unusualness of his speech.
Dick and Dave looked hard at each other.

Both boys wanted to make the team as pitchers.

Yet now it seemed most certain that Fred Ripley must stand out head and shoulders over any other candidates for the Gridley box.
Dick's face shone with enthusiasm, none the less.

If he couldn't make the nine this year, he could at least feel that Gridley High School was already well on toward the lead over all competing school nines.
"I wish it were somebody else," muttered Dave, huskily, in his chum's ear.
"Gridley is fixed for lead, anyway," replied Dick, "if Ripley can always keep in such form as that." "Can Ripley do it again ?" shouted one Gridley senior.
"Try it, and see, Ripley," urged Mr.Luce, again swinging his bat.
Fred had been holding the returned ball for a minute or two.
His face was flushed, his eyes glowing.

Never before had he made such a hit among his schoolmates.