Less than three quarters of the people who bought seats in advance appeared at the grounds.

The sale of spot seats was not as brisk by half as it would have been on a pleasanter day.
But the Hallam Heights boys came along early, bounding and full of fun and dash.
They were a fine-looking lot of boys.

The Gridley youngsters took to their opponents instantly.
"I wonder what's keeping Dick ?" muttered Dave Darrin, half anxiously, in dressing quarters.
"Anyway, we won't worry about him until we have to," nodded Mr.
Morton.

"Our young captain is about the promptest man, as a rule, in the whole squad." "That's just why I am uneasy," grunted Dave.
Hardly had he spoken when Dick Prescott came in---but limping slightly! And what a rueful countenance the young captain of the team displayed! "Suffering Ebenezer, man, but what has happened ?" gasped Dave.
All the other Gridley youngsters stopped half way in their togging to listen for the reply.
"Nothing much," grunted Dick.

"Yet it came near to being too much.