At Mr.Pollock's suggestion Dick and Dave promptly drew up and signed a paper releasing the Dodge family from any claim.

This paper was also signed by the fathers of the two boys, and forwarded to Lawyer Ripley.
That gentleman man returned the paper to Dick, with a statement that he might have something to communicate at a later date.
Tuesday morning, with many secret misgivings, Coach Morton, who was also one of the submasters of the High School, posted the call for the football squad.

The call was for three o'clock Thursday afternoon, at the gym.
"Humph!" was the audible and only comment of Bayliss, as he stood before the school bulletin board at recess and read the announcement.
"I guess the day for football here has gone by," observed Porter sneeringly.
"Of interest to ragamuffins only," sneered Paulson, as he turned away to join Fremont of the senior class.
"Listen to the wild enthusiasm over upholding the school's honor in athletics," muttered Dave, scowling darkly.
"We knew it was coming," declared Tom Reade.
Abner Cantwell was still principal at Gridley High School, though that violent-tempered and unpopular pedagogue had been engaged, this year, only as "substitute" principal.

There were rumors that Dr.Thornton, the former and much-loved principal, would soon be in sufficiently good health to return.

So the Board of Education had left the way clear for dropping Mr.Cantwell at any moment that it might see fit.
Dick & Co.