"Then the real crowd that you ought to measure are the fellows of
the North Grammar nine. You'd get a fine lot of chest measurements
there, I can promise you."

"Why?" asked Mr. Brown. "Are the North Grammar boys better developed
physically?"

"I can't say about that," Reade replied seriously, "but they're
the only Grammar School fellows in Gridley that have baseball
uniforms, and I understand that they're the chestiest lot of young
fellows that any one ever saw."

"I'll consider the North Grammar boys later, then," nodded Mr.
Brown, smiling. "Now, will each young man oblige me by removing
his coat and vest and stepping forward for the measurements that
I want to take?"

In a notebook Mr. Brown jotted down the measurements that he made.
There being five substitute players, there were fourteen boys
in all whose measurements he recorded.

"That is all," nodded Mr. Brown finally, snapping his notebook
and tucking it away in a pocket. "I am deeply indebted to all
of you young men.

"And now I beg to add," said Old Dut, "that, as all of you youngsters
are in a hurry, there will be no criticism if you see fit to race
through the corridors."