"Why, these fellows, who are not much more than tolerated in the High School, or ought not to be, make the most noise at the meets of the training squads," continued Paulson. "And some of 'em," growled Fremont, "actually have the cheek to carry off honors in scholarship, too. Take Dick Prescott, for instance." "Oh, let the muckers have the scholarship honors, if that's all they want," retorted Bayliss "A gentleman hasn't much need of scholarship, anyway, if he's an all-around, proper fellow in every other respect. But the, gang that call themselves Dick & Co. are a fair sample of the muckers that we have to contend with." "No," objected Fremont; "they're the very worst of the lot in the High School. Why, look at the advertising those fellows get for themselves. And not one of them of good family." "Fellows of good, prominent families don't have to advertise themselves," observed Bayliss sagely. It was plain that by "good" family was meant one of wealth. These young men had little else in the way of a standard. "It makes me cranky," observed Whitney, "to see the way a lot of the girls seem to notice just such fellows as Prescott, Darrin, Reade, Dalzell---fellows who, by rights, ought to be through with their schooling and earning wages as respectful grocery clerks or decent shoe salesmen." "But this talk isn't carrying us anywhere," objected Bayliss. "The question is, what are we going to do with the football problem this year? We don't want to play in the same eleven with the cheap muckers, and have 'em think they're the whole eleven. The call for the football training squad is due to go up some time next week." "Bert Dodge says-----" interrupted Paulson. "Yes, Dodge is the fellow I wish we had here with us today," interposed Bayliss. "Dodge is the one we ought to listen to." "Poor Dodge has his own troubles today," murmured Hudson. "Yes; I know---poor fellow," nodded Bayliss. "I wish we fellows could help him, but we can't." "I was talking with Dodge yesterday, before his own troubles broke loose," went on Hudson. "Dodge's idea is that we ought all to keep away when the football squad is called. Then Coach Morton may get an idea of how things are going, and he may see just what he ought to do." "But suppose the muckers all answer the call in force?" inquired Trenholm. "What are we to do then?" "We're to keep out of the squad this year," responded Bayliss promptly. "See here, either we fellows organize the Gridley High School eleven ourselves, and decide who shall play in it, or else we stay out and let the muckers go ahead and pile up a record of lost games this year." "That's hard on good old Gridley High School," murmured Hudson.