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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7dce08e --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #67805 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/67805) diff --git a/old/67805-0.txt b/old/67805-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 485c586..0000000 --- a/old/67805-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,8430 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of Rivals for the Team, by Ralph Henry -Barbour - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: Rivals for the Team - A Story of School Life and Football - -Author: Ralph Henry Barbour - -Illustrator: C. M. Relyea - -Release Date: April 9, 2022 [eBook #67805] - -Language: English - -Produced by: Donald Cummings and the Online Distributed Proofreading - Team at https://www.pgdp.net - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RIVALS FOR THE TEAM *** - - - - - - RIVALS FOR - THE TEAM - - - - -[Illustration: “‘Go it, you Winslow.’”] - - - - - RIVALS FOR - THE TEAM - - A STORY OF SCHOOL - LIFE AND FOOTBALL - - - BY - RALPH HENRY BARBOUR - - AUTHOR OF “DANFORTH PLAYS THE GAME,” “THE PURPLE - PENNANT,” ETC. - - - [Illustration] - - - ILLUSTRATED BY - C. M. RELYEA - - - D. APPLETON AND COMPANY - NEW YORK LONDON - 1916 - - - - - Copyright, 1916, by - D. APPLETON AND COMPANY - - - Printed in the United States of America - - - - -CONTENTS - - - CHAPTER PAGE - - I. AFTER PRACTICE 1 - II. PLAYERS AND COACH 12 - III. A MOONLIGHT PLUNGE 22 - IV. “I’M ORDWAY” 29 - V. HUGH FINDS A WORD 42 - VI. THE AWKWARD SQUAD 54 - VII. HIS GRACE, THE DUKE 65 - VIII. BATTLE! 77 - IX. CATHCART, PROCTOR 90 - X. HANRIHAN PROMISES 106 - XI. THIRTEEN TO TEN 118 - XII. TWO IN A CANOE 136 - XIII. BACK TO THE FOLD 149 - XIV. BERT CONFIDES 164 - XV. GRAFTON SCORES 178 - XVI. A BROKEN RIB 192 - XVII. FRIENDS IN NEED 203 - XVIII. BENCHED 220 - XIX. BEHIND THE BOATHOUSE 234 - XX. “HOBO” WINS FAME 248 - XXI. HUGH MOVES AGAIN 260 - XXII. POP ELUCIDATES 270 - XXIII. IN THE LIME-LIGHT 283 - XXIV. HUGH GOES TO THE VILLAGE 298 - XXV. BOWLES ATTENDS A FOOTBALL GAME 311 - XXVI. HUGH IS UNMASKED 326 - - - - -LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS - - - “‘Go it, you Winslow’” _Frontispiece_ - - FACING - PAGE - - “‘I’m Ordway’” 38 - - “That avenue of escape was out of the question” 92 - - “‘You’re off,’ said Hugh. ‘May I have that, please?’” 288 - - - - -RIVALS FOR THE TEAM - - - - -CHAPTER I - -AFTER PRACTICE - - -“I’d hate to live up here in summer, Bert,” said Ted Trafford, -carefully easing his five feet and ten inches of tired, aching body to -the window-seat and turning a perspiring face to the faint breeze that -entered. “It must be hotter than Tophet.” - -“Well, it’s up high enough to get the air, isn’t it?” - -“Oh, it’s high enough, all right! If I had to climb those three flights -of stairs a dozen times a day――――” - -“Wonder why slate stairs seem harder than others,” said Nick Blake, -fanning himself with a magazine. - -“Because they _are_ harder, naturally.” Ted looked about the study. “It -isn’t so bad, though, when you get here. And I dare say it’ll be fine -in winter. You haven’t an open fireplace, though.” - -“I had one last year in 19. It was only a bother. If I had a fire the -ashes got all over the shop. Besides, it was always so warm in the room -that when I wanted one I had to keep all the windows open. There’s -dandy steam heat in Lothrop.” - -“There is in Trow, but――――” - -“Oh, get out, Ted!” interrupted Nick. “I’ve been in your study when the -thermometer wasn’t over fifty! Everyone knows that Trow’s a regular -barn in cold weather.” - -“Well, some days, when the wind’s a certain way――――” - -“Trow’s older than this, isn’t it?” asked Bert Winslow. He had yielded -the window-seat to his visitors and was stretched out on the leather -cushions of a Morris chair, the back of which he had lowered to the -last notch. It was very warm in Number 29, for the study was on the -top floor of the building and overhead the September sun had been -shining all day on the slate roof. Then, too, since the Fall Term did -not begin for two days yet, all but a few of the rooms were closed and -what little breeze there was found scant circulation. Bert had opened -the door and windows of 32, across the corridor, and that helped to -some extent, but Lothrop Hall seemed to have caught all the heat of the -past summer and to be bent on hoarding it on the top floor. - -“Why, yes,” Ted was replying. “Trow was the first of the new buildings. -It’s been built about twelve years, I think. I dare say the heating is -better here and in Manning. Still, I never have any trouble keeping -warm. You chaps over here are a pampered lot, anyway, with your common -room and your library and your recreation room and――and your shower -baths and all the rest of it! Sybarites, that’s what you are!” - -“Don’t judge us all, Ted, by this palatial suite,” begged Nick. “Some -of us live in monastic simplicity, in one bare little room.” - -“I’ve seen your bare little room,” replied Ted, smiling. “You’re a lot -of mollycoddles, the bunch of you. What time is it?” - -Nick, stretched at the other end of the seat, his cheek on the -windowsill and his gaze fixed on the shadowed stretches of the campus -below, moved his hand toward his fob only to let it fall idly again. - -“Look yourself, you lazy beggar,” he murmured. - -“Seventeen to five,” said Bert, dropping his watch back with a sigh. -Ted digested the information in silence for several minutes. Nick -continued his somnolent regard of the campus and Bert thoughtfully -tapped together the toes of his rubber-soled shoes. - -“More than an hour to supper,” said Ted finally. “Not that I’m -particularly hungry, though. It’s too hot to eat. Honest, fellows, I -believe it’s hotter up here than it is in New York! If this last week -is a sample of New England summer weather I don’t see why folks come -here the way they do.” - -“It’s the fine, pure air,” muttered Nick. - -“Air! That’s the trouble. There isn’t any. This place is hotter than -Broadway on the Fourth of July!” - -“There’s a breeze now,” said Nick. “Get it?” - -“Sure; it almost blew out the door,” replied Ted sarcastically. “Come -on over to my place. It’s a heap cooler, I’ll bet.” - -“I’m too tired to move,” protested his host. “We can go downstairs, if -you like. I dare say it’s cooler in the common room.” - -“Who’s with you this year?” asked Ted, his gaze traveling to the open -door of the bedroom at the left. - -“Fellow by the name of Ordway, or something. Comes from Maryland. Upper -middler, I think.” - -“How’d you happen to go in with him? Thought you liked rooming alone.” - -“So I do, but I’ve had my eye on this suite ever since I came over from -Manning. Gus Livingstone and I had it all fixed to take it together and -applied last fall for it. Then, when Gus didn’t come back after winter -vacation, I tried to get Nick to come in with me, and――――” - -“I wanted to hard enough,” said Nick, without turning, “but my dad -kicked like a steer. He said seven hundred was too much for his pocket.” - -“Wow!” exclaimed Ted. “Is that what this stands you? Seven hundred -each?” - -Bert nodded. “Yes, it’s high in price and elevation too.” - -“What do you pay downstairs, Nick?” - -“Three hundred. That’s what you pay, isn’t it?” - -“Two-fifty. Seven hundred for room and board, a hundred and fifty for -tuition and a couple of hundred for incidentals; total, ten hundred and -fifty a year! Say, Bert, I’ll bet your old man will be mighty glad when -you’re through here!” - -“Then it’ll be college,” answered Bert, “and I guess that won’t be much -cheaper. We do cost our folks a lot of money, though, don’t we?” - -“We’re worth it, though,” said Nick. “At least, some of us are.” - -Ted Trafford laughed. “I’m worth two-fifty and you’re worth three, eh? -And Bert’s worth seven. Well, it’s a peach of a suite, all right, Bert, -but I’d just as lief have my dive. Besides, I’ve got it to myself. When -you have another chap with you he always wants to cut up when you want -to plug. Not for mine, thanks!” - -“Single blessedness for me, too,” murmured Nick. “When I was in Manning -in junior year I roomed with young Fessenden and we nearly got fired -because we were always scrapping. He was a quarrelsome little brute!” - -“What happened to him? Did you kill him finally?” - -“No, but I wanted to lots of times. He quit the next year. Went to some -school in Pennsylvania. His folks wanted him nearer home, he said. I -don’t see why they should!” - -“Hope you like your new chum, Bert,” said Ted. “Broadway’s a funny -name, though, eh?” - -“Ordway,” Bert corrected. “I dare say we’ll get along. I have a nice -disposition.” - -Nick giggled and Bert gazed across at him speculatively. “Of course -everyone knows why Nick rooms alone,” he added. “He’s too mean to live -with.” - -Nick raised his head to answer, but thought better of it. A vagrant -breeze crept through the windows and the boys said, “A-ah!” in -ecstatic chorus. - -“Listen,” said Nick, suddenly propping himself up on the cushions. -“I’ve got a good scheme!” - -“Shoot!” replied Ted, yawning widely. - -“After supper we’ll beat it down to the pool and go in! Will you?” - -“Ugh! Mud and frogs!” said Bert. - -“Mud and frogs your eye! It’s dandy if you don’t go to wading around. -We don’t have to stay in the pool, anyway. Rules don’t apply before -term begins. We can go in the river. No one will see us.” - -“Safest thing,” said Ted, “is to find a canoe and upset, the way we did -a couple of years ago. Pete used to go crazy and threaten to report us, -but he couldn’t prove it wasn’t an accident.” - -“Aren’t any canoes out yet, I guess,” said Bert. “And the boat house is -locked.” - -“Never mind your old canoes,” said Nick. “That’s an underhand scheme, -anyway. Fair and open’s my motto! Oh, say, but that water’s going to -feel good!” - -“That isn’t such an awfully rotten idea,” said Ted. “I’m blessed if I -know where to look for my trunks, though.” - -“You don’t need ’em. It’ll be dark by half-past seven.” - -“Not with a moon shining, you silly chump,” said Bert. “You can take -a pair of running trunks of mine, Ted. Only, worse luck, I’ll have to -unpack that box over there.” He pulled himself from the chair with a -sigh of resignation and kicked experimentally at the lid of the packing -case. “Wonder where I can find a hatchet,” he muttered. “Got anything I -can bust this lid off with, Nick?” - -“Got a screwdriver I use on my typewriter,” responded Nick helpfully. - -“What time is it?” inquired Ted again. - -“Find out, you lazy beast,” replied Bert. “Tell me how to get this -thing open, you chaps.” - -“Pick it up and drop it on the floor a few times,” said Ted. - -“Bore a hole and put a dynamite cartridge in,” suggested Nick. - -“Oh, all right, then you go without the trunks,” said Bert, returning -to his chair. “I’d like to know why I pounded a million dollars’ -worth of nails into it, anyway.” There was no solution forthcoming, -it seemed. Nick had returned to his study of the world outside and -Ted had picked up the discarded magazine and was idly looking at the -pictures. Bert sighed again and stretched his arms overhead. Then he -said “_Ouch!_” suddenly and loudly and ruefully rubbed a shoulder. Ted -looked over and grinned. - -“Sore?” he asked. - -“Sore as a boil! You wouldn’t think a fellow would get so soft in -summer, swimming and playing tennis and everything. I wish Bonner would -let us off tomorrow. I think he might. It wouldn’t hurt him to give us -a day’s rest.” - -“He’s going to give us the afternoon off,” replied Ted. “Only morning -practice tomorrow. You can thank me for it, Bert. It was my pretty -little thought.” - -“He wouldn’t have seen me on the field tomorrow, anyway,” remarked -Nick. “I’m going down to the junction to meet Guy at three-something. -Come on with me.” - -“I wouldn’t make that trip in this weather for the King of England, -much less Guy Murtha,” responded Bert impressively. - -“I’ll buy you ice cream,” tempted Nick. Bert shook his head. - -“Will you come, Ted?” asked Nick. - -“I will――not! I love Guy like a brother, _but_――――” - -“Oh, you fellows make me weary!” sighed Nick. “No sporting blood at -all! No――――” - -“Is that your idea of sporting?” jeered Ted. “Get on a hot, stuffy -little one-horse train and dawdle down to Needham Junction, four miles -away, in something like half an hour? I’ve made that trip once this -fall and, Fortune aiding me, I shan’t make it again!” - -“Come on to supper,” said Bert. “It’s almost a quarter of. It will be -cooler over there on the steps than it is here, too.” - -“Just when I was beginning to get comfortable,” mourned Nick. “Say, -Ted, did you do this last year?” - -“Sure! Do what?” - -“Come up for early practice.” - -“I did. And we had ten days of it last fall instead of only a week. You -fellows needn’t kick!” - -“I do kick, though, Teddy, old scout! Look here, you! I gave up a -whole week of the best sort of fun at Deal Beach to come up here and -frizzle and fry in my juices and chase a contemptible football over -a sun-smitten cow-pasture! Needn’t kick, eh? Why, man, back there -there’s a nice cool breeze off the ocean and a band playing moosics and -piles of eats and――and nothing to do but play around! And just because -I’m――I’m patriotic enough and unselfish enough to leave all that you -lie there like a ton of bricks and tell me I needn’t kick! I do kick! -I’m kicking!” - -“I hear you,” murmured Ted. “Go on kicking. Nobody’s going to miss you -if you go back to Deal Beach tomorrow. We could have got on well enough -without you, anyhow. You were simply asked because we thought you’d -feel hurt if you weren’t.” - -“I like your nerve!” gasped Nick. “My word! Who’s been doing the work -for five days out there? Trying to get drive into you chaps is like -pulling teeth! Why, you miserable sandy-haired――――” - -“Oh, come on,” begged Bert. “I’m getting hungry. Anyone want to wash -up? Come along if you do. You’ll have to wipe your hands on your -handkerchiefs, though. They haven’t given us any towels yet.” - -“What’s the good of washing if we’re going in swimming later?” asked -Nick, sprawling off the window-seat. - -“Because for once, old son, you’re dining with gentlemen,” Ted -answered, gripping the smaller youth by the shoulders and propelling -him towards the door in the wake of Bert. - -“Honest?” wailed Nick. “I’d much rather dine with you, Ted!” - - - - -CHAPTER II - -PLAYERS AND COACH - - -A few minutes later the three boys were crossing the campus unhurriedly -and with an impressive disregard of “Keep Off the Grass” signs. And -three good-looking, healthy, well-set-up youths they were. Their bare -heads――there wasn’t a hat among them――showed three distinctly different -colors. Ted Trafford’s hair was sandy, Bert Winslow’s black, Nick -Blake’s reddish-brown. Between sandy hair and brown lay a matter of -four inches in height, with black hair halving the difference. In build -the trio were again at variance. Ted was a big, broad-bodied chap, -Bert was slenderer, without being thin, and Nick was at once short and -slight. Although Nick was only five months Bert’s junior――and Bert was -seventeen――his smallness made him appear much younger. He had a thin -face, deeply tanned, and gray eyes. Nick’s usual expression was one of -intense, even somber, thoughtfulness. He had, in fact, the appearance -of a boy with a deep and secret sorrow. But in his case appearances -were deceptive, or, if he had a sorrow, it was merely that there are -only a certain number of ways to create mischief and that he had pretty -well exhausted them all. - -Bert Winslow was a very normal-looking fellow with good features, a -healthy color under his tan and a pair of eyes so darkly blue that -they seemed black. Ted’s features were more rugged, like his body, -and, if such a thing is possible, his complexion was as sandy as his -hair. He had a wealth of freckles and two rather sleepy-looking brown -eyes very far apart. Ted’s countenance expressed good nature first, -and after that a sort of quiet purposefulness. One wouldn’t have -expected brilliant mental feats of Ted, but one would have expected -him to succeed where physical strength and dogged determination were -demanded. Ted thought slowly, reached conclusions only after some -effort, and then stuck immovably to his conclusions. He had been three -years at Grafton School and during that time his great ambition had -been to captain the football team in his senior year. He had attained -that ambition and had now substituted another, which was, to put it in -his own words, “Knock the tar out of Mt. Morris in November!” Having -accomplished or failed in that, Ted would undoubtedly drag another -ambition from the recesses of his mind. But at present that was -enough. With Ted it was always “one thing at a time.” - -Between them, the three boys loitering across the grass represented -just three-elevenths of the Grafton School Football Team. Captain -Trafford played right tackle, Bert Winslow was left half-back and -Nick Blake was quarter. Ted had played on the School Team ever since -he had entered the lower middle class, which meant two years. Bert, -who was now an upper-middler, had made his position only last season, -beating out Siedhof in the final contests. Nick had been second-string -quarter-back last year and now, owing to the graduation of Balch, -had automatically succeeded to the position. Barring unforeseen and -unexpected accidents, each of the trio was certain of playing the -coming season through as first-choice. - -At Grafton the school buildings stood in a row midway across the -campus, a three-acre expanse of level turf intersected by gravel paths -shaded by elms and surrounded by an ancient fence of granite posts and -squared timbers, the latter thoughtlessly set with an angle uppermost. -In shape the campus was a square with one corner rounded off where -Crumbie Street changed its mind about continuing northward and swung -westward to River Street and, a half mile beyond that, the station. -River Street marked the westerly limits of the school property all the -way to the river, which, in its turn, formed the southerly boundary. -The campus proper ended at School Street, but successive purchases -had added many more acres between it and the Needham River, so that -now the school property extended in an unbroken strip some two blocks -wide from Needham Street, at the back, all the way down to the river. -What was virtually a continuation of the campus lay to the south of -School Street, but, since it was of later acquisition, it was, for some -unknown reason, called “the green.” A tree-bordered path led through -the middle of the green to Front Street, and, across that quiet road, -an ornamental gateway of old brick and sandstone and lacy ironwork. Set -in the right-hand pillar was a bronze tablet bearing the inscription: -“Lothrop Field. In Memory of Charles Parkinson Lothrop, Class of 1911.” - -Beyond the gateway the land sloped gently to the river, and here was -the Field House, near at hand as one entered, the tennis courts to the -right, the diamond beyond them, the running track to the left of the -gate, with the School Team gridiron inclosed in the blue-gray ribbon, -and, further toward the river, the practice field. Beyond that again, -near where Crumbie Street crossed by an old covered bridge on its way -to Needham, stood the boat house. - -But we are too far afield, for our present destination is that of -the three boys whom we left crossing the campus. At one corner of -the green, where River and School Streets intersect, stood two -old-fashioned white dwelling houses. The one nearer River Street -had been just there when the land was bought by the School, but the -second had stood at the other end of the green and had been moved to -its present location to make room for tennis courts. When, however, -a few years later, Lothrop Field had been presented to the School -the tennis courts were transferred thither and now, save for the two -white-clapboarded, many-dormered houses, the green was only a pleasant, -shady expanse of close-cropped sward. The old houses, used now as -dormitories since the buildings in the campus failed to meet the -requirements of the ever-increasing student body, still retained the -names of their former owners. The larger one, nearer the side street, -was known as Morris House, the other as Fuller. - -At a few minutes before six this afternoon the front steps and the -adjacent turf――there was no such thing as a porch or piazza on either -dwelling――were sprinkled with boys. There seemed to be at least two -dozen of them. As a matter of fact, until Ted, Bert and Nick joined -them, they numbered exactly seventeen. In age they varied from sixteen -to twenty, although only one of them, John Driver, commonly known -as “Pop,” had attained the latter age. Pop was, as he laughingly -explained it, “doing the four-year course in six.” That was a slight -exaggeration, for Pop had been at Grafton only four years, was now a -senior and would undoubtedly be graduated next June whether he was -willing or not! He was big and slow; slow to move, slow to speak and -slow to anger. He played right guard in a steady, highly-satisfactory -if not brilliant fashion. - -Since this was Tuesday, the fellows who had gathered from various and, -in some instances, distant parts of the country for early football -practice, had been at Grafton six days. Those six days had been busy -ones. There had been morning and afternoon sessions on each day and -the weather had been almost unreasonably hot. More than one of the -candidates showed the result of those strenuous days in his tired face -and fagged movements. Not one of the twenty who had been bidden had, -however, failed to respond. Those summons meant a week less of vacation -time and an added week of hard labor, but it also meant honor, for only -the most likely of last year’s first and second players had been called -on. While the fellows were occupying their rooms in the dormitories, -neither of the big dining halls in Lothrop and Manning were open and so -they were being served with meals at Morris where, in a room and at a -table designed to accommodate only the dozen or fourteen residents of -the two houses, they were packed in like sardines in a box. - -However, none minded that so long as there was plenty of food on the -dishes and plenty of milk in the big pitchers. Mr. Bonner, the coach, -arrived just as the crowd had squeezed themselves to the two tables -and had begun their onslaught. Somehow he didn’t look quite like the -popular conception of a football coach. He was of only medium size and -height and had the preoccupied expression of a business man with his -mind on the day’s sales. In age he was twenty-eight or -nine, had a -somewhat narrow face, brown hair and eyes and wore a closely-trimmed -mustache that was several shades lighter than his hair. The reason for -the mustache was apparent when, on close observation, what seemed at -first to be a natural crease running from one corner of his mouth was -seen to be a deep, white scar. The mustache didn’t hide the whole of -that scar but it concealed the most of it. David Bonner had acquired it -in a certain hard-fought game when he was playing end in his junior -year at Amherst, and there was a story at Grafton to the effect that -his opponent in that contest had subsequently fared much worse than Mr. -Bonner had. However, as the coach was a remarkably even-tempered man, -that may have been merely an invention of someone’s imagination. - -Supper proceeded with as much and probably no more noise than is -usual when twenty fairly hungry youths are left to their own devices -at table. There was a good deal of loud talk, some far from silent -mastication, much rattling and clashing of dishes and, it is not to -be denied, some horse-play toward the end of the meal. Two capable -if not over-neat waitresses flitted in and out and did their best to -supply the demands on the kitchen. Now and then Coach Bonner’s voice -was raised in warning, but for the most part that gentleman attended -closely to the business of consuming his supper, and it was not until -cold rice pudding had appeared as the final course that he entered -into the conversation to any extent. By that time many of the fellows, -having either picked the raisins from their portion of the dessert or -engulfed it with the aid of much milk and sugar, had moved back from -the tables to loll more comfortably half in, half off their chairs. -The four windows were wide open and a slight breeze was swaying the -curtain-cords, but the heat of the day still lingered. - -“I’ll trouble you for the milk, Willard,” said the coach, eyeing his -pudding with but slight enthusiasm. “Thanks. Traf, I’ve been thinking -that maybe it would be well to cut out practise tomorrow. You fellows -have been at it pretty hard and this weather is trying. I thought it -might be cooler tomorrow, but that sunset says not. What do you think?” - -“Oh, we ought to be able to stand a little work in the morning, if we -don’t do any in the afternoon. Still, it’s just as you like, Coach. It -is awfully hot for football, and that’s a fact.” - -“Have a heart, Ted!” implored Derry. - -“That’s the scheme, sir,” exclaimed Nick Blake. “It’s going to be -hotter than ever tomorrow.” Nick expertly thrust some bread crumbs down -Pop Driver’s neck. “We’d all be better for a rest, sir. Just look at -Pop here! Overcome by the heat, Mr. Bonner!” - -Pop, squirming and muttering, really looked as if something was vastly -wrong with him, but the coach didn’t seem inclined to accept Nick’s -theory. He studied Pop’s spasms a moment in thoughtful silence and then -pushed back his chair. - -“We’ll cut it out for tomorrow, then,” he announced as he stood up. -“And, by the way, Mrs. Fair will give us our breakfasts in the -morning, but we’ll have to shift for ourselves at noon.” - -“They’re going to serve cold lunch in Manning at noon, sir,” said one -of the boys. “I guess we can get in on that.” - -“All right. Next practise, then, will be Thursday at three-thirty. -Traf, you look me up tomorrow evening, will you? There are one or two -things――and bring Quinn along with you, please. Don’t stay around here, -fellows. Give Mrs. Fair a chance to get these tables cleaned off. Good -night.” - - - - -CHAPTER III - -A MOONLIGHT PLUNGE - - -Coach Bonner passed out briskly and the fellows, with much scraping -of chairs and good-natured horseplay, followed. Twilight was settling -over the world. The sun had just dropped behind the distant spires -and tree-tops of the village and on Mt. Grafton, the sugar-loaf hill -behind the school, its last rays rested on the spindley observatory -crowning the rocky summit. The campus was fast filling with shadows, -and along the streets and walks the lamps made lemon-yellow points in -the purple dusk. In Manning and Trow and Lothrop lights glowed wanly at -the entrances, but School Hall and the gymnasium were dark. Doubtless -there were lights, too, in the Principal’s residence, far to the right, -but the clustering maples hid all of that but the roof. A faint breeze -fluttered from the southwest, but the evening was still oppressively -hot. By twos and threes and in larger groups the fellows wandered away, -some turning their steps toward the village, a half-mile distant, -others seeking the dormitories. Bert, Nick and Ted, however, still -loitered on the steps of Morris, waiting for the moon to rise, and with -them loitered Pop Driver. - -“It’s frightfully hot over in my room,” observed the latter, sprawling -his big form over the steps. “I’m on the wrong side of the building -tonight.” - -Bert prodded Nick with his foot. “Guess I’ll bunk in with you, old -man,” he said. - -“You’ll bunk on the window-seat, then. Why don’t you sleep in one of -the rooms across the hall? No one would care.” - -“Perhaps I will. Where’s that moon? Coming along with us, Pop?” - -“I guess so. I’d like to stay in the water all night.” - -“There’s the moon now, isn’t it?” asked Ted lazily. - -“Someone lighted up in Fuller,” replied Bert. “Let’s go along down. We -don’t have to have the moon, anyhow.” - -“It’s a lot more fun,” said Nick drowsily, settling back against Bert’s -knees. “Say, fellows, isn’t it nice that school begins day after -tomorrow? Aren’t you all tickled to death?” - -“Let’s not talk about it,” yawned Pop. - -“No, come on and get that swim,” agreed Ted, getting to his feet and -ungently tousling Bert’s hair. “If we wait for the moon we never will -get in. And I’m hot and uncomfortable and――――” - -“Something’s happened to the moon,” murmured Nick. “Probably got a -hot-box.” - -“What about towels?” Bert got up, letting Nick subside violently -against the steps. - -“We can dry off on the float,” said Ted. “Come on. All in!” - -Nick, rubbing the back of his head, arose with groans and protests and -draped himself against Pop Driver. - -“Nick wants to be carried,” he whimpered. “Pop, please carry Nick. He’s -so ’ittle!” - -Pop complacently gathered the other in his big arms and bore him away -around the corner of the house, Nick babbling nonsense. “Pop likes to -carry his ’ittle Nick, doesn’t he? Pop loves his ’ittle Nick.” - -“Pop loves him to death,” grunted Pop, depositing him suddenly in a -barberry hedge. There arose a piercing wail from Nick as he came into -contact with the thorns, the sound of cracking shrubbery and the thud -of Pop’s feet as he hurried off into the darkness. - -“Oh, you big brute!” shouted Nick. “You wait till I get hold of you! -I’m full of stickers! Which way did that big, ugly hippopotamus go, -Ted?” - -“Straight on into the engulfing gloom,” answered Bert. “Look out for -that clothes-line, Nick.” - -“Pop!” called Nick sweetly. “Pop, come back to me, darling! Honest, -Pop, I haven’t a thing in my hands! I just want to love you!” - -“I’m busy,” responded Pop from the darkness ahead. “I got some of those -old thorns myself.” - -“Oh, Pop, I’m _so_ sorry! Do they hurt, Pop? Come back here and let me -drive them in for you!” - -Peace was restored by the time they were passing the tennis courts. -Eastward, above the trees beyond the little river, a silvery radiance -heralded the moon. They skirted the running track and made their way -to where, dimly, the dark form of the boathouse loomed ahead of them. -When they reached it Pop experimentally tried all the doors, but found -them fast. They disrobed in the shadow of the building and then, making -certain that there were no passers on the road, a few rods distant, -they raced down the float and plunged into the water with whoops of -glee. When their heads emerged the moon had topped the trees and, -save where the shadow of the covered bridge lay across it, the stream -was bathed in silver. The water was warm, but far cooler than the -air, and Pop grunted ecstatically as he rolled over on his back and -floated lazily, blinking at the moon. It was then that Nick obtained -his revenge. Sinking very quietly, he swam across under water, emerged -behind the unsuspecting Pop, and―― - -“_Glug-gug-gug!_” observed Pop, as his head went suddenly under and his -feet flashed white in the radiance. When he arose again, sputtering and -gasping, Nick was far across the stream, paddling gently and crooning a -little song. - - “There was an old man and his name was Pop. - His head went down and his feet went up!” - -Stirring moments then, ending in the terrestrial flight of Nick, Pop -begging him to come back and be drowned! Finally they all gathered -under the bridge and lolled on a crosspiece and dabbled their legs in -the cool water and talked. Once a team went past overhead, and once an -automobile sped across, roaring fearsomely and threatening to bring the -old structure down on top of them. Then quiet again, and the winding -stretch of the river below, black and silver. With the rising of the -moon the little breeze had found courage and now blew cooler from the -west. Nine o’clock struck in the village and they splashed back into -the water and swam to the float. Half an hour later they parted in -front of Trow, Ted and Pop turning in there and Bert and Nick going on -to Lothrop. - -Nick turned off at the top of the second flight and Bert continued to -his room. But when he had donned pajamas the latter descended again, -the slate steps gratefully cool to his bare feet, and he and Nick -stretched out on the window-seat and talked while the breeze blew past -them and softly rustled the papers on the table. Ten o’clock struck. -The conversation became fitful. Once Nick snored frankly and then -jerked himself awake again, and replied brightly to an observation of -Bert’s made five minutes before. Through the window they could look for -nearly a mile over fields and tree-bordered roads. A little way off the -buildings of a small farm were clustered about the black shadows of a -group of elms. Beyond that two streaks of silver glittered where the -moon glinted on the railroad tracks. Bert wondered if, after all, the -view from this side of the building was not more attractive than that -from the front, wondered what sort of a chap this new roommate of his -would turn out to be, wondered if he had not taken a pretty big chance -in accepting him sight-unseen, wondered why Nick didn’t wake himself -up with his own snoring, wondered―― - -Some time in the early morning he disentangled himself from the -encumbering Nick and groped his way down to his own room. He didn’t -remember much about it afterwards, though. - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -“I’M ORDWAY” - - -Bert, for one, found himself at a loose end the next morning. He -lingered as long as possible over breakfast, but the day promised to be -even hotter than the one before, and his appetite was soon satisfied. -He and Nick sat for a while in the shade of the trees near the middle -gate, but the heat soon drove them indoors, and Bert climbed up to -Number 29 and unenthusiastically wrenched the lid from the packing case -there and set about the distribution of the contents. The few pictures -were deposited against a wall, since it was best to see what his -roommate was bringing before deciding as to the disposition of them. -His books he found place for and he laid some extra clothing in the -dresser drawers in the bedroom on the right. He had selected that room -in preference to the one on the other side since Lothrop stood at right -angles to the other buildings in the row and from “29b” one had an -uninterrupted view along the fronts of Trow, School and Manning. Only -the gymnasium, hiding behind the shoulder of the last dormitory, was -out of sight. From the other bedroom, “29a,” much of this view was cut -off by a corner of Trow, and Bert acted on the basis of “first come, -first served.” - -The study was a good-sized square room, lighted by two windows -set in a dormer, beneath which was a wide and comfortable seat. A -bright-hued rug occupied the center of the floor and the walls were -papered attractively to the height of the picture molding in tones of -golden-brown. Above the molding was a foot of white plaster, and two -plastered beams ran the length of the ceiling. The furniture was of -brown mission; two study desks, a table in the center of the room, a -Morris chair upholstered in brown leather beside it, two armchairs, two -sidechairs, and a settle. The desks were supplied with green-shaded -droplights. - -The bedrooms were identical. Each had a single dormer window. Blue -two-tone paper covered the walls and a rug flanked the single white -iron bed. A dresser, a washstand and a chair completed the furnishings. -There was generous closet room. - -Bert was glad when Nick came in at eleven and gave him an excuse for -stopping his half-hearted labors. Nick was down to a pair of soiled -flannel trousers, supported by a most disreputable leather strap that -scarcely deserved the name of belt, a white tennis shirt, open at the -throat, and a pair of brown canvas “sneakers.” And he looked as though -he thought he still had far too much on as he stretched himself out on -the window-seat, sprawled one foot over the edge, and hung the other -across the sill. - -“Four or five fellows came a while ago,” he announced. “Leddy and Ayer -and some others. Hairwig, too. Hairwig looks like he’d been sitting in -the sun all summer. Tanned to beat the band.” - -Hairwig’s real name was Helwig, and he was instructor in physics and -chemistry. Being a German, the boys had at first called him Herr -Helwig, and later had shortened it to Hairwig. The news of his advent -didn’t, however, greatly interest Bert, who inquired: - -“Any of our masters shown up?” - -“Haven’t seen any. I told you, didn’t I, that I ran across Smiles in -New York one day? He was all dolled up. Said he was going out west -somewhere to teach at a summer school. He seemed real glad to see me, -too. Smiles is a good old sport.” - -“He isn’t old.” - -“N-no, but Latin instructors always seem old. They know so plaguey -much! Who do you think will be proctor up here this year?” - -“Cathcart, I suppose. He’s the only senior on the floor. Wonder if -we’re going to have a big junior class.” - -“Whopping, I heard; eighty-something. Know anyone coming up?” - -Bert shook his head. “No, and I’m glad I don’t. You always have to look -after them, and they’re nuisances.” - -“You’ll have to do the guide and mentor act for your friend Ordway,” -reminded Nick, with a malicious grin. “Did you say he was an upper -middler?” - -“Yes.” - -“I’d hate to enter a school in the middle like that,” reflected Nick. -“I should think it would be hard.” - -“I don’t see why.” - -“Well, you don’t know anyone, in the first place. It would take most -of the year to get acquainted, and then you’d only have one year left. -Going to put him up for Lit?” - -“I suppose so, if he wants me to. You have to do that much for a -roommate, I guess.” - -“When’s he coming?” - -“Don’t know and don’t care. Want to buy a good racket?” - -“How much?” - -“Dollar and a half.” - -Nick accepted the proffered article and viewed it dubiously. - -“I’d have to have it restrung.” - -“Why would you? There’s only one string gone. Take it along and try it.” - -“Give you a dollar.” - -“I guess you would! It cost seven. Hand it over here, you Shylock.” - -“Dollar and a quarter, then.” - -“Cash?” - -“Dollar down and the balance――――” - -“Some time?” - -“No, next month; honest.” - -“All right, but you’re getting it dirt cheap. Where’s the dollar?” - -“Downstairs. You don’t think I carry all that money around with me, do -you?” - -“All right, but we’ll stop in for it before you forget it. Are you -really going over to the Junction to meet Guy?” - -“Surest thing you know! Want to come along?” - -“I wouldn’t make the trip on that hot, dusty old train for a thousand -dollars!” - -“You ought to, though. You ought to go over and meet your new chum.” - -Bert grunted. “I’m likely to! I’ve been wondering if he will bring any -pictures and truck like that. I hope, if he does, he won’t have the -usual rot. This is too good a study to fill up with chromos. Something -tells me, Nick, that I’m an awful idiot to go in with some fellow I’ve -never seen. Bet you anything he will be a fresh kid.” - -Nick chuckled. “I decline the wager, Bert. Also, I agree with you that -you’re taking a chance. Still, you can’t tell. Where does he come from?” - -“Somewhere in Maryland.” - -“Baltimore? I knew a fellow who lived in Baltimore, and he was a -crackajack.” - -“No, some place I never heard of. I forget it now. I suppose that makes -him a Southerner, doesn’t it?” - -“Of course. Anything against Southerners?” - -“No, only they’re a bit stuck up. If he tries it with me I’ll shut him -up mighty quick!” - -“Bert, your disposition is entirely ruined. I guess it’s the weather. -I’m glad I’m not What’s-his-name, Ordway.” - -“If you’d had the decency to come in with me――――” - -“Don’t blame me, old scout. Write to dad about it. I wanted to, all -right. Put something on and let’s do something.” - -“What is there to do?” - -“I’ll play you a set of tennis. It won’t be bad if we take it easily.” - -“Tennis! I see myself racing around a court a day like this! How hot is -it, anyway?” - -“About two hundred in the shade. Then why stay in the shade? Say, Bert, -what sort of a captain is Ted going to make?” - -“Good.” - -“I wonder!” - -“Don’t see why not. He’s popular, and he’s a good player――――” - -“Yes, but he isn’t awfully――oh, you know what I mean; he isn’t exactly -brilliant, eh?” - -“He doesn’t need to be. Bonner will look after that part of it.” - -“Well, I never saw any sparks flying from Bonner, for that matter,” -returned Nick dryly. - -“What’s the good of being brilliant, as you call it? In football, I -mean. It’s knowledge of the game that does the business. And Bonner -certainly knows football; and so does Ted.” - -“Yes, that’s so. All right. We’ll hope for the best. Come on down and -I’ll find that old dollar. Then we’ll go over and see Leddy. He’s -probably trying to unpack, and he oughtn’t to do it in this weather.” - -They managed to kill time until luncheon was served in Manning, and -after that they joined a crowd in the common room there and remained -until it was time for Nick to go to the station to take the train for -Needham Junction. Mr. Russell, Greek instructor, having arrived, Bert -went over to Trow to consult him about his new work. Greek had been -hard sledding for Bert the year before and he viewed the first four -books of Hellenica with misgiving. The consultation in the master’s -study in Trow took up the better part of a half hour, for “J. P.,” as -Mr. Russell was called, was not to be hurried. When he finally got away -Bert climbed up to Pop Driver’s room on the floor above and found Ted -Trafford and Roy Dresser in possession. Roy was Pop’s roommate. Pop, he -explained, had gone to the village to buy some lemons. They had drawn -lots and Pop had lost. If he didn’t die of sunstroke before he got back -there was going to be a lemonade of magnificence. Bert decided to wait -around. - -But Pop tarried and after awhile Ted discovered that it was after four -o’clock and hurried out. They could hear him taking the stairs three -at a time. Bert abandoned hope of that lemonade and followed Ted, Roy -Dresser apologizing for Pop and adding that if Bert would keep his ears -open he, Roy, would yell across when the lemons arrived. - -It seemed a trifle cooler in the campus and the shadow of Lothrop -stretched far along the red brick walk that ran, the main artery of -travel, along the fronts of the buildings. A locomotive shrieked -despairingly a mile or so away and Bert knew that the first of the two -trains on which the bulk of the returning students would arrive was -nearing the station. Again his thoughts reverted to Ordway and again he -wondered pessimistically what sort of a youth fate was going to impose -upon him. Ordway might not come until six-thirty, however; many fellows -didn’t; and Bert rather hoped he would be of their number. He was -disposed to postpone the inevitable. - -The rooms in Lothrop had been thrown open, doors and windows alike, -and the corridors were far cooler than they had been since he had -taken possession of Number 29. Quite a draft of air was blowing down -the staircase well. In the study, he put away the last few belongings, -placed the packing-case outside for removal to the store-room, and -finally, lowering the shades at the windows through which the afternoon -sun was shining hotly, took up his schedule and, stretching himself -on the window-seat, studied it dubiously. Mathematics 4, Greek 3, -English 4, French 1, History 3a; eighteen hours altogether, aside -from Physical Training. From the latter, however, he was exempt so -long as he was in training with the football team. Eighteen hours was -the least required for the third year, and he was expected to select -another study. He mentally pondered the respective merits of physics -and chemistry. Physics was known as a “snap course,” but Bert was in -favor of leaving it for his senior year. The same with chemistry. He -rather leaned toward German, but Mr. Teschner, or “Jules,” as he was -usually called, was a hard taskmaster and his classes were not viewed -with much enthusiasm. Still, unless he took physics or chemistry it -would have to be German, and after a few minutes of cogitation he wrote -German 1 on the card in his hand. The schedule had yet to be approved -and he wondered whether he would be allowed to go in so heavily for -languages. The schedule was a bit top-heavy in that way, with thirteen -hours of the twenty-one given to Greek, German, and French. Probably -they would make him substitute physics for German. He slipped the -card in his pocket, with a sigh for the vexations of life, and became -aware that Lothrop Hall was at last inhabited. Steps scuffed on the -stairs, voices sounded, bags and trunks thumped. The invasion had -begun in earnest. Half inclined to go down and see if Guy Murtha had -arrived, he nevertheless found himself too lazy to stir and so when, a -few moments later, footsteps drew near the open door he was still -sprawled on his back. - -“This must be it, Bowles,” said a voice. “Yes, twenty-nine. Oh, I beg -your pardon!” - -Bert sat up and slid his feet to the floor. In the doorway stood a -slim, pleasant-faced youth, and behind him a very serious-looking -man held an extremely large kit-bag, an umbrella, and a folded gray -overcoat. The youth advanced toward Bert, smiling and removing a gray -glove. - -“I fancy you are Winslow,” he said. “I’m Ordway. I believe we share -these quarters, eh?” - -[Illustration: “‘I’m Ordway.’”] - -Bert shook hands. “Glad to know you,” he replied. “Beastly hot, isn’t -it? That’s your room over there.” He glanced inquiringly at the second -arrival who, still holding his burdens, had paused just inside the -door. But if he looked for an introduction none was forthcoming. -Ordway, who had now removed both gloves and tossed them nonchalantly to -the table, evidently had no thought of making his companion known. - -“Ripping view from here,” he said, glancing from the window. Then, -turning: “In there, Bowles,” he directed, and nodded toward the open -door of the bedroom. “Just dump them, will you? I’ll look after them -myself.” - -Bag and coat and umbrella disappeared, Bert’s gaze following their -bearer curiously. Ordway had thrust his hands in his pockets and was -leisurely examining the study. His manner was a queer mixture of quiet -assurance and diffidence. When he had shaken hands he had reddened -perceptibly, but now he was looking the place over just as though, as -Bert silently told himself, he had ordered the whole thing. “I like -this,” he said, after a moment. “Rather jolly, isn’t it?” - -Bert was spared a reply, for just then the mysterious Bowles appeared -in the bedroom doorway. “Shan’t I unpack the bag, sir?” he asked. - -“No, never mind it, thanks.” Ordway consulted a watch. “I fancy you’d -better beat it, Bowles. Your train leaves in fifteen minutes, you know.” - -“Yes, sir, but there’s another one, sir, a bit later.” - -“Are you sure of that?” Ordway glanced inquiringly at Bert. “He’s -wrong, eh?” - -“Yes, the next one doesn’t go until seven-five. If he wants to get -this one he will have to hustle. It’s a good ten minutes’ walk to the -station.” - -“Thanks. This gentleman’s right, Bowles. You’d better start along. You -know your way, eh? Tell mother I’m quite all right; everything’s very -jolly.” The boy walked to the door with the man and pulled a leather -purse from his pocket. “Better treat yourself to a bit of a jinks when -you get to town. You’ll have four hours to wait, you know. Good-by, -Bowles.” - -“Thank you, Master Hugh. Good-by, sir. I hung the coat in the closet, -sir, and the keys are on the dresser.” - -“Right, Bowles. Now beat it or you’ll miss that train. Good-by.” - -Ordway sauntered back to the study, smiling. “Bowles always gets -time-tables twisted,” he chuckled. “Rum chap that way. Bet you anything -you like he will miss that train.” - -“He’s got twelve minutes,” said Bert. “Is he a――a servant?” - -“Bowles? Yes, he’s been looking after me ever since I was out of the -nursery. He’s a little bit of all right, Bowles.” Ordway seated himself -on the farther end of the seat, looked interestedly about the campus, -no longer silent and empty, and finally turned his gaze to Bert. -Again the color crept into his cheeks and he said diffidently, almost -stammeringly: - -“I say, Winslow, I hope you’re going to like me, you know.” - - - - -CHAPTER V - -HUGH FINDS A WORD - - -Half an hour later, having left his new roommate to the business of -unpacking his trunk, Bert was in Number 12, and he and Nick and Guy -Murtha, their host, were talking it over. - -“We saw him on the train just after we left the city,” Guy was saying. -“Some of us had been in the diner and when we came back through the -parlor car we saw this chap and the man with him. They had a table -and the kid was eating a lunch out of a box and the chap in the derby -hat was waiting on him, or, anyway, that’s how it looked. He’d take a -sandwich out of the box and put it on the kid’s plate and then he’d -move the mustard nearer and sort of fuss over the table. He wasn’t -eating a thing himself. I suppose he ate at second table!” - -Guy was a tall fellow of eighteen, a senior and captain of the nine. -He was not a handsome youth; rather plain, in fact; but he had so many -likable qualities that one soon forgot that his nose was short and -broad, that his heavy eyebrows met above it, that his mouth was large -and somewhat loose and that his pale eyes, of a washed-out blue, were -too small. He had a jolly laugh and a pleasant, deep voice that won -friends. - -Nick chuckled. “When they got off at the Junction the man got confused -and tried to get back on the express again, and your friend stood in -the middle of the platform, with his hands in his pockets, and shouted: -‘Bowles, you silly ass, came back here!’ Everyone laughed like the -dickens.” - -“He’s English,” said Bert dismally. - -“Bowles? Rawther!” - -“Ordway, too. I asked him. He was born in England; I forget where; is -there a place called Pants?” - -“Not in England, dear boy,” remonstrated Nick. “It would be Trousers.” - -“Hants, you mean,” said Guy. “Somewhere in the south of England.” - -“That’s it, Hants. His father is English, he says, and his mother -American. They live in Maryland now.” - -“Nice-looking chap,” said Guy. - -Bert nodded. “Yes,” he agreed doubtfully. “Yes, he’s a nice-looking -kid, but――――” His voice dwindled to silence. Nick laughed. - -“Cheer up, old scout! He can’t be awfully British if he has an American -mama and lives in ‘Maryland, my Maryland.’ Bet you the sodas he will be -singing ‘Dixie’ when you get back!” - -“More likely ‘Rule Britannia’ or ‘God Save the King,’” replied Bert -ruefully. After a moment: “He’s got awfully smooth manners,” he added -grudgingly. “Makes me feel like a――an Indian.” - -“Wish he might have kept Bowles here with him,” said Nick regretfully. -“It would have given Lothrop a lot of class!” - -“I liked what I saw of him,” said Guy, “and I guess you’ll take to him -when you know him better, Bert. Anyway, he’s a gentleman. You might -have been saddled with a regular mucker, you know. We get one now and -then.” - -“Stop looking at me,” said Nick. - -“Oh, he’s a gentleman, all right,” laughed Bert. “That’s the trouble. -I’ve got to live up to him, don’t you see? I dare say he will put on -a dinner jacket and stuff his handkerchief up his sleeve. He makes me -feel like an awfully rough, uncivilized sort of fellow.” - -“Does he wear a wrist watch?” asked Nick. - -“No, he has it on a fob. And, say, fellows, if you want to see some -swell things, come up and give his dresser the once-over! Solid silver -everything! Crest, too. Oh, we’re going to be pretty classy in 29 this -year, I can tell you!” And Bert sighed. - -“I’ll have to look up my crest,” observed Nick thoughtfully. - -“Your crest!” jeered Bert. - -“That’s what I said. I’ve got a peachy one. Dad had someone make -it for him and put it on the automobile doors. It was the proper -caper that year to have your crest on your auto, and Dad doesn’t let -anyone put anything over on him. I told him I thought a cake of soap, -rampant, surrounded by the motto, ‘Won’t dry the skin,’ would be rather -appropriate, but he didn’t like it. Dad makes soap, you know.” - -“Yes, I do know,” replied Guy. “I tried some of it once. And it didn’t -dry the skin, either. It took it off.” - -“Well, you’re not supposed to wash your hands with laundry soap,” said -Nick. “Of course, if you’re used to that sort, though, and don’t know -any better――――” - -“I suppose,” said Guy gravely, “you’ll have to sort of look after -Ordway, Bert, now that he hasn’t any valet; lay out his things in the -morning, you know, and put his studs in, and all that.” - -“Fine!” approved Nick. “Maybe he will give you a tip now and then. Say, -did you pipe the gray suede gloves he wore? Think of gloves on a day -like this! Still, _noblesse oblige_, eh, what?” - -“I noticed the stunning Norfolk suit he wore,” said Guy. “I’ll bet that -wasn’t cut out by any village tailor down in Maryland.” - -“Rawther not!” drawled Nick. “I fawncy he goes across every year and -gets togged out in Bond Street. What ho, old top!” - -“Well, I guess I’ll go back and pilot him down to supper,” said Bert. -“Mind if I bring him down here afterwards, Guy? Or, say, you fellows -come up, will you? I――I sort of funk the job of talking up to his level -all evening!” - -“You bet we’ll come,” agreed Nick. “I want to meet him. Something tells -me that he and I have a lot of mutual acquaintances amongst royalty in -dear old England.” - -“Well, don’t come up there and act the fool,” warned Bert. “He’s new -yet and not used to our simple, democratic ways.” - -“Oh, I won’t shock him,” chuckled Nick. “Nothing like that, dear boy, -’pon honor. You’ll see that he and I will get along like a house on -fire. Say, what’s his front name, the one you take hold by?” - -“Hugh,” answered Bert from the doorway, “Hugh Brodwick Ordway. Some -name, what?” - -“Rawther!” - -“Cut it,” laughed Guy, “or we’ll all be talking that way! I feel it -coming on. We’ll come up after supper, Bert, and help you entertain, -although when I’m going to get my things unpacked――――” - -“I’ll help you, Guy,” Nick volunteered. “I’m a remarkable little -unpacker. A misplace for everything and everything misplaced, is my -motto. Bye-bye, Bert. Give my love to Broadway――I should say Ordway. -Tell him I’ll be around later and cheer him up!” - -Hugh Ordway was not, however, singing either ‘Dixie’ or anything else -when Bert got back to Number 29. He was sitting at the window, attired -principally in a bathrobe, gazing a trifle disconsolately, or so Bert -thought, out over the campus. He turned as Bert entered. - -“I say, Winslow, what about a bath?” he asked. “Is there a tub on this -floor?” - -“Yes, but it’s five minutes to supper time, Ordway. You’d better leave -it till afterwards.” - -The other reflected. “Very well,” he said. “And, another thing.” He -hesitated. “Do I put on――er――do I dress, you know?” - -“Well, I wouldn’t go down in that thing,” said Bert gravely. - -“No, but just regular things, eh? You see, I really don’t know much -about American prep schools. I dare say I’ll make an awful ass of -myself,” he added ruefully. - -“Wear whatever you like. Sweaters are the only things barred. I’ll wait -for you and show you the way.” - -“Thanks,” was the grateful reply. “That’s decent of you. I won’t be -a minute.” He disappeared into the bedroom and, judging from the -sounds, managed a very good substitute for that prohibited bath. Still, -although he wasn’t back in a minute, Bert didn’t have long to wait. -Ordway returned in a blue serge suit and patent leather shoes. He was -certainly, thought Bert, a mighty good-looking chap; straight, well -formed, with a clear, fair complexion, nice brown eyes and hair of the -same color. His nose was a bit aquiline and his chin was at once round -and strong looking. Bert, studying him as he paused to make certain -that he had placed a handkerchief in his pocket, decided that he was -far more American than English in appearance, whatever his character -might prove. - -Bert moved to the door, while Ordway was securing the missing article -of attire, and pulled it open. “All right?” he asked. - -“Yes, thanks.” - -Bert unconsciously stepped aside for the other to pass out first. -Afterwards, going down the stairs, he was angry with himself for -having done so. - -“I’m just as good as he is, for all his airs,” he told himself, “and -I’m the older, too.” - -The big dining hall which ran across the north end of the building and -accommodated one hundred students and faculty members at its fourteen -tables, was well filled when they entered. Bert led Ordway toward the -table at the far end of the room at which he had sat last term only -to find that, in the confusion incident to the beginning of school, -all the seats there had been taken. There were not two empty chairs -together anywhere near by and, in the end, Bert and Ordway were obliged -to sit at separate tables, the latter, as Bert saw, being sandwiched in -between Pop Driver and a lower middle boy named Keller. Bert’s own seat -placed him amongst fellows whom he knew only well enough to speak to, -and he was frankly bored and left the room as soon as he had satisfied -a not enthusiastic hunger. Ordway, however, was still at table when -Bert went out, and the latter, desiring to accept Nate Leddy’s -invitation to go canoeing, nevertheless listened to the voice of duty -and waited in the corridor for his friend’s appearance. Ordway came out -finally and Bert suggested that they take a stroll around the grounds. - -“Did you get enough feed?” he asked politely. - -“Yes, thanks. Awfully good chow, too, I think.” - -“Chow?” asked Bert. - -“Food, I meant. I say, Winslow, I wish you’d help me break myself of -using――er――English expressions like that, you know. I want to talk like -the rest of you chaps. Of course, I know a lot of American slang now, -but I don’t seem to always get it in right, someway. Now what do you -say for ‘chow’?” - -“‘Eats,’ I guess,” laughed Bert. “You’ll be talking like the rest of us -quick enough. Don’t worry. Besides, what’s it matter?” - -“Well, a chap doesn’t like to seem _different_, if you know what I -mean. And, anyway, I’m as much American as English.” - -“You’re not if you were born in England.” - -“Oh, I say, Winslow, a chap can’t control that! I might have been born -in France, you know. Fact is, I came rather near it! But that wouldn’t -have made me a Frenchie, eh?” - -“No, but your father’s English and you were born in England. That makes -you a British citizen, doesn’t it?” - -“Oh, yes, but――――” He paused. Then, confidentially: “Fact is, Winslow, -I’m awfully fond of this country, don’t you know, and as long as I’m -going to be here at Grafton two years I’d like to――to be like the rest -of you, if you know what I mean. Of course, I _am_ English. There’s no -getting around that. But my mother’s American as anything. Her family -has lived in Maryland for a hundred and fifty years, I think it is, and -I always consider myself about half American, too. On the other side, -now, they’re always taking me for a Yankee.” - -Bert laughed. “They might on the other side, but they wouldn’t here, -Ordway! This is School Hall. The recitation rooms and offices are on -the first two floors. On the third floor there’s the assembly room -where you attend chapel in the morning and hear lectures and things. On -the floor above are the clubrooms: The Forum, the Literary, the Glee, -and the Banjo and Mandolin. And the _Campus_, the monthly paper, has -its rooms there, too. The building beyond is Manning. That’s where the -juniors live. It’s about like Lothrop, only it has ten more rooms.” - -“The juniors live by themselves, eh? How young are they?” - -“Oh, we have ’em as young as twelve now and then, but that’s unusual. -They’re thirteen and fourteen, mostly. The rooms downstairs on this -end are Jules’s. That’s Mr. Teschner, French and German instructor. He -and Mrs. Teschner have four rooms there, separate from the rest of -the hall. Then Mrs. Prouty, the matron, lives on the floor above, just -over them. ‘Mother Prouty,’ the fellows call her. Mr. Gring is on that -floor, and Mr. Sargent on the floor above. They call Gring ‘Cupid’ and -Sargent ‘Pete.’ All the faculty have pet names. Doctor Duncan――that’s -his cottage there behind the trees――is ‘Charlie.’ Then there’s ‘Nell’; -you’ll have him in math; his name is Nellis; and Mr. Smiley is called -‘Smiles,’ and Mr. Gibbs is ‘Gusty,’ and Mr. Rumford is ‘Jimmy,’ and Mr. -Russell is ‘J. P.,’ and so on.” - -“I’ll have to learn them, won’t I?” asked Ordway soberly. “That’s the -gymnasium there, isn’t it? I fancy it isn’t open, eh?” - -“I don’t believe so.” - -“I had a lot of fun in the summer looking at the catalogue and -wondering what things would really be like. You know, you Americans -have――――” - -“‘You Americans’?” asked Bert quizzically. - -Ordway laughed and colored. “I mean, _we_ Americans have a way of -laying it on a bit thick, if you know what I mean. Can’t always believe -all you read in the advertisements, you know. That’s why I fancied -this place might not be quite up to specifications. It is, though. -Everything’s just about the way the catalogue gives it.” - -“I guess so. Let’s go back to the room. That’s about all there is to -see. Except Morris and Fuller over there. The two white houses at the -corner. They’re dormitories, too. Morris has twelve fellows and Fuller -eight. Some chaps like them, but I never thought I’d care for them. -It’s getting a lot cooler, isn’t it?” - -“Yes, the breeze is bully. You’d say ‘bully,’ wouldn’t you?” he added -doubtfully. - -“I guess so,” laughed Bert. “Or ‘great,’ or ‘fine and dandy.’ What -would you say?” - -“Oh,” replied the other vaguely, “we might say it was ‘ripping,’ or -‘topping,’ or ‘a little bit of all right.’ ‘Bully’ wasn’t the word I -meant, though. It was――――” He hesitated. Then, “Corking!” he exclaimed -triumphantly. “That’s the word!” - -“You’ll do,” Bert laughed. “Come on up.” - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -THE AWKWARD SQUAD - - -The school year began the next morning at half past seven when the -bell on School Hall rang its imperative summons to chapel. Hugh -Ordway, sitting beside Bert in one of the yellow settees in the back -of assembly hall――precedent gave the back seats to the upper-class -fellows at chapel and to the lower-class boys at other times――observed -everything with lively interest. When, the short service over, the -fellows rustled back into their seats to listen to the Principal’s -talk, Bert whispered to Hugh: “You’d better try for the Glee Club, old -man, if you can sing like that.” - -Hugh flushed, but made no answer. - -Doctor Duncan, middle-aged, tall, sallow, bearded, and near-sighted, -arose to the clapping of hands and moved to the front of the platform. -His little speech was the same, almost word for word, that the -seniors had heard three times already, but the juniors huddled in -the front rows listened with flattering attention and were, we will -trust, properly impressed. The Principal’s advice was excellent and -they certainly couldn’t do better than follow it. Then came a few -announcements: Mr. Gibbs had been detained at home by illness and -pending his return to duty his classes in History would be taken by -Mr. Gring; German 1 would be held in Room F instead of H, as formerly; -seniors and upper middlers whose courses had not been as yet approved -would submit them to Mr. Rumford during the morning; the reception to -students would be held that evening at the Principal’s residence, and -it was hoped that all would attend. - -Dr. Duncan bowed, removed his spectacles and substituted his -shell-rimmed glasses, and said, “Dismissed,” and the hall emptied. -Breakfast was at eight o’clock and the first recitation period was -at nine. Neither Bert nor Hugh had a first-hour class and they took -advantage of that to wait on Mr. Rumford, Assistant Principal and -instructor in history, with their schedules. Bert’s misgivings proved -not idle, for the German course was changed to physics. Hugh had -elected physics, chemistry, and history in addition to the regular -studies for his year and his card was promptly approved. At ten they -went into Mathematics 4 together and at eleven they had Greek. In the -afternoon there were two more periods for Bert――French and History, -and one, the latter, for Hugh. - -They came out of Mr. Gring’s class together and hurried to the room -to leave their books and change to football togs. Hugh, who had -the evening before announced his desire to play football and been -unblushingly encouraged by Nick, had provided himself with a most -complete supply of clothing and paraphernalia, including a head-guard -and a football! He confessed that he hadn’t been certain about the -necessity for the last article, but had decided to be on the safe side. -He looked remarkably spick-and-span in his brand-new regalia when they -sallied forth again, a violent contrast to his companion, whose togs -were battle-scarred and weather-worn and not, it must be confessed, -overclean. - -All Grafton, in togs or out, was flocking toward Lothrop Field, and -Hugh’s immaculate costume was no longer spectacular once they had -joined the throng, since at least half the entering class appeared -to have donned football attire quite as fresh and unsullied as his. -The juniors were not allowed to try for the School Team but, under -the direction of Mr. Sargent, Athletic Director, were trained in the -science of the game and later herded into a first or second junior -eleven and held notable contests. Still later, the upper-middle and -lower-middle classes formed teams and they and the first juniors -battled for the class championship, a much-coveted prize. - -Already a few tennis enthusiasts were busy on the courts as Bert and -his companion passed through the gate, and Hugh stopped a moment to -watch. “I dare say a chap doesn’t have much time for tennis if he plays -football,” he remarked questioningly. - -“None at all,” said Bert. “Do you play?” - -“A bit. It’s a rip――a corking game, I think. If I don’t have any luck -with football I’ll have to go in for it. I saw a notice up about a Fall -Tournament, I think.” - -“Yes, they have one in a week or two. We’ve got some rather decent -players here. Last year we didn’t do a thing to Mount Morris.” - -“You mean to say you beat them, eh?” - -“We certainly did! They didn’t have a chance. By the way, have you a -racket?” - -“Oh, yes; thanks.” - -“I sold a peach to Nick yesterday for a dollar and a quarter. I was -thinking maybe you might have liked it.” - -“That’s awfully good of you,” replied the other gratefully, “but I’m -fixed very well for rackets. I brought three along.” - -“Three! Then I guess you wouldn’t have needed that one. There’s your -crowd over there, Hugh. You wait with them, and Bonner will be after -you in a few minutes.” - -“They’re the rookies, eh? Right, old chap. See you later, then.” - -What happened to Hugh that afternoon Bert didn’t have much time to -discover, for the regulars had a pretty busy session. But afterwards, -back in 29, Hugh recounted his experiences with a quiet drollery that -brought many chuckles from Bert. - -“It was all rather different from what I’d thought,” said Hugh, -reflectively rubbing a sore knee. “A chap named Hannigan――――” - -“Hanrihan,” corrected Bert. “Sub tackle.” - -“Well, he took a lot of us over on the other side of the tennis courts -and made us do the most astonishing things, do you know? We’d chuck the -ball around, one to another, and then when someone would drop it, you -know, instead of picking it up he’d have to fall over on the wobbly -thing!” He rubbed his knee again. “I had to do it myself a number of -times. A bit awkward I felt, too. The silly ball had a way of not being -there when you dropped down for it. And this chap Hanrihan was most -awfully impatient with us, do you know? Some of the things he said -were quite rude. I fancy he didn’t mean anything, though. I dare say -we were a bit trying. There was a fat Johnnie with us who was always -trying to catch the ball in his mouth and, of course, his mouth wasn’t -big enough. Hannigan――I should say Hanrihan――told me he was a tub of -butter. Queer thing to call him, I think. I wondered why a tub of -butter. Because he was fat, eh?” - -“Yes. You mustn’t mind what they say to you, Hugh. It’s part of the -game.” - -“I didn’t. Of course, I understood that. Then he had us line up and -start off when he rolled the ball and run like a ballywhack. But you’ve -been through with all that, eh?” - -“Yes. Not just what you expected, then?” - -“Well, I’ll tell you, Bert. You see, on the other side we don’t -practise quite that way. I mean we――well, we don’t――aren’t so serious -about it, if you know what I mean. Take rugger, for instance――――” - -“I beg your pardon?” interrupted Bert, puzzled. - -“Eh? Oh, rugger――Rugby, you know. We rather make play of it. Of course, -we do practise, but not the way you American――I should say _we_ -American――chaps do. But I dare say it isn’t so hard when you’ve learned -a bit, eh?” - -“I’m afraid it is,” replied Bert. “The more you know and the better -player you are the harder grind you have to go through. If you make -the School Team you work like a slave for a good six weeks.” - -“Really? But what for?” - -“Why to beat Mount Morris, of course. And any others we can before -that.” - -“Yes, of course, but――――” Hugh hesitated, with a perplexed frown on his -face. “Mind you, I’ve seen football played, and I got beastly nervous -and excited about it, but what I’m trying to get at is this, old chap: -suppose, now, you didn’t work so hard in getting ready for the other -chap, what would happen?” - -“We’d get licked, I suppose.” - -“You wouldn’t like that, eh?” - -“Like it? I should say not! Mount Morris beat us last year, twelve to -three, and this place was like a――a morgue for a week afterwards. This -year we’re going to rub it into her.” - -“That’s what I gathered,” said Hugh. “I mean, those fellows I saw play -last Autumn didn’t seem to be having much sport, you know; didn’t -appear to be there for――for the fun they’d get out of it, if you know -what I mean. It looked to me very much like hard work. The only time -they showed any pleasure was when they scored on the other chaps. Then -they’d wave their arms and jump up and down like mad. And a thousand -or so Johnnies in the seats would cheer themselves hoarse. But that was -’varsity football, and I fancied you fellows here at prep school would -go in more for the fun of it.” - -“Oh, we get plenty of fun out of it,” said Bert. “We all like it, or -we wouldn’t do it. That is――――” He hesitated. “Maybe some of us do -go in for football more for the glory than the sport,” he went on -thoughtfully. “I guess it’s got to be rather a――a fashion. It’s like -this, Hugh. A fellow who makes his School Team is a bit important and -he gets some reputation and fellows like to know him. And then, when he -goes up to college he finds it easier. If he keeps on making good he -meets fellows he wants to know, fellows who can help him, you see, and -he probably makes one of the sophomore societies and――there he is.” - -“Yes?” said Hugh questioningly. - -“I don’t mean that all the fellows who try for the team think about all -that. They don’t. Lots of them play football because they love it. But -now, take Ted Trafford, for instance. Ted’s a bully sort of a fellow, -but he isn’t――well, brilliant. Ted started out with the intention of -doing just what he has done, that is, being captain of the team in his -senior year. Ted’s going to Princeton next fall. He will get there with -the――the prestige of having captained the Grafton School Football -Team, and it’s going to be a lot easier for him. If Ted went up there -unknown he would have hard work getting anywhere, probably. He’s just -a big, good-looking, good-natured fellow, and he isn’t a smart student -and he wouldn’t shine at anything outside of football. His folks aren’t -wealthy, although I guess they have enough money to live on, and they -haven’t any special social position in New York, I suppose. But that -won’t matter in Ted’s case because he will go up there and make the -freshman team and then get on the ’varsity and make a name for himself. -He will meet fellows of money and position that way, have a good time -in college and fall into something soft when he gets through.” - -“I see,” said Hugh. “It’s that way to some extent, I fancy, on the -other side. I mean that if a chap makes a name for himself at school -he finds it easier getting in when he goes up to Oxford or Cambridge. -It’s quite natural.” He was silent a moment. Then: “I dare say that -explains why you chaps go in for sports so seriously. You’re working -for something, eh?” - -“No, that isn’t quite right,” objected Bert. “I didn’t mean you to -think that every fellow has that idea in his head. I guess more than -half of us take part in athletics because we want to. I know that in -my case I never thought of getting any advantages by it. In fact, I -don’t believe I ever thought the thing out before. I play football just -as I play tennis or hockey or anything else, because I like the game, -like mixing with a lot of good fellows, like to do what I can for the -School.” - -“And like to beat Mount Morris,” said Hugh, smiling. - -“You bet!” - -“That’s the part of it that seems a bit odd, now. As I make it out you -don’t care so much for playing football as you do for winning from the -other chap, the rival school, you know. If you do win it’s all awfully -jolly and everyone’s as happy as a lark. If you lose, why, you all draw -long faces and feel sort of disgraced.” - -“That’s rather exaggerated, but you get the idea. And why not? Don’t -you like to win when you start out to?” - -“Oh, rather! But playing a game is playing a game, old chap. It isn’t -business or war, is it? Why not play for the fun of it? Try as hard as -you like and then if you don’t win――er――forget it!” Hugh was palpably -proud of his bit of slang. - -“That’s all right,” replied Bert. “I’ve heard a lot about your English -sportsmanship and all that, but I notice that when we go over to your -side of the pond and beat you, you don’t like it a bit and you come -back at us with charges of professionalism.” - -“I didn’t know we did,” said Hugh. “If we do, maybe it’s because you go -into it so hard that――that you look like professionals! You know you do -go a pretty long way sometimes to beat the other chap.” - -“Oh, rot! If you’re out to beat a fellow, beat him. That’s my idea.” - -“Yes, I know, but there are some things a chap wouldn’t do to win, -aren’t there? He wouldn’t cheat, for instance, and he wouldn’t take -advantage of――of technicalities, if you know what I mean. Oh, I dare -say I’ll come around to your way of looking at it after a bit,” Hugh -added cheerfully. “Anyway, I’m going to keep on plugging along at -football, because, maybe, you know, after a while I’ll really think -it’s fun!” - -“Meaning that you don’t now?” laughed Bert. - -Hugh smiled and shook his head. “I’m afraid I don’t――yet. Beastly -grind, I’d call it now. I say, isn’t it time for eats?” - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -“HIS GRACE, THE DUKE” - - -Hugh Ordway was a success from the start. Everyone who met him found -him interesting and attractive. They didn’t put it in just that way. -Nick said: “His Grace, the Duke of Glyndestoke, is a little bit of -all-right.” Pop Driver said, “A clever lad, that Ordway. Bring him over -some evening, Bert.” Tom Hanrihan said, “Ordway’s got the stuff in -him, Coach. He’ll bear watching. Doesn’t know a thing about football, -but he’s a regular wonder at doing what he’s told to. Makes some of -the others over there look like regular bone-heads.” Mr. Rumford, -House Master at Lothrop Hall, confided to Mrs. Rumford at dinner one -evening during the first week of school that “Ordway, in 29, is a most -interesting boy, my dear. I wish you’d remember to have him in for -dinner some Sunday. The fellow actually thinks for himself.” - -Perhaps of equal importance, however, was Bert’s verdict, since, -willy-nilly, the two boys were doomed to daily companionship. Bert’s -verdict was delivered to himself three days after Hugh’s advent. “He’s -a queer duffer, but I like him,” said Bert. What was doubtless equally -fortunate was the fact that Bert’s liking was returned and perhaps with -more enthusiasm. Hugh had felt rather strange, and, although he had -tried not to show it, a little bit homesick at first, and Bert, more -from a sense of duty than from affection at that stage, had taken him -under his wing and done everything possible to make things easy for -him. As Nick had remarked, entering school in the third year had its -difficulties. Your classmates had formed their associations and your -position was a good deal like that of a fifth hand at whist. You were -not especially needed, and, while welcome enough to look on, there was -no place for you at the table. But Bert’s efforts, coupled with Hugh’s -personality, had succeeded, to continue the metaphor, in squeezing the -newcomer up to the table. If at present Hugh was not actually taking -part in the game, at least he was where he could enjoy seeing it. And -for this Hugh was grateful. - -As a matter of fact, he had come to Grafton with many misgivings. He -had spent most of his sixteen years in England, only coming across -to this country at long intervals and for brief stays. At such times -his mother’s house on the East Shore in Maryland had been opened up -for two or three months, infrequently for a longer period, and Hugh -had lived a life not greatly different from his life in England. His -father, a member of Parliament, and holding a position under the -government, seldom accompanied them across. Within the last three -years Hugh’s visits in the United States had occurred annually and had -lasted longer, for his mother, whose idea it was to have Hugh educated -in America, thought it well for him to know the country better than he -did. Consequently, they had traveled a good deal last year and the year -before, accompanied invariably by a tutor. That would not have been -an American youth’s notion of ideal sight-seeing, but Hugh had been -brought up with, first a governess, and, subsequently, a tutor at his -elbow, and was thoroughly used to having them around. Nevertheless, -when, last year, the Balliol College tutor had been left behind and -a young, red-headed, and extremely energetic graduate of Yale had -appeared at Shorefields and taken the boy in charge, Hugh had welcomed -the change. - -That fall and during part of the following winter Hugh had been coached -for Grafton School. He had, for instance, a far more mature outlook -but Mr. Fairway wouldn’t hear of it. Why waste a year, he asked, when, -with a little harder work, he could enter the upper middle? Hugh, who -had no great enthusiasm for the program in any case, agreed that to -waste a year would be a criminal matter and set diligently to work -unlearning not a little of what his English tutor had taught him. When, -in January, they had returned to London he was pronounced ready for -Grafton, his name was entered for admission the next September and he -had contracted a certain amount of pleasurable anticipation, most of -which, however, evaporated before he was once more headed across the -ocean in August. By that time a realization of the fact that this New -England preparatory school for which he was booked was quite dissimilar -to any school of which he had knowledge, that the fellows he would meet -there were different from him in manners and point of view, that, in -short, he was taking a plunge into a strange pool filled with strange -fishes, filled him with alarm. That he managed to conceal any sign of -it was creditable. But he had found the school not so different, after -all, from those he knew of, and the fellows were far less strange in -their ways, views and speech than he had expected. Perhaps he did not -actually give Bert the credit for bringing all this about, but he did -somehow arrive at the conclusion that his roommate had worked something -in the nature of a miracle in his behalf, and his gratitude, although -not expressed in words, was deep and evident. Gratitude even when out -of proportion to benefits bestowed is pleasant to the recipient, and -doubtless the fact that Hugh was grateful and wanted Bert to know it -had something to do with the latter’s liking for the younger boy. - -That difference in age――it was in reality a matter of eight months――was -not greatly apparent. In some ways Hugh seemed older than Bert. He -had expected to enter the lower-middle class, on life and things in -general. Bert sometimes felt annoyingly young and thoughtless during -their discussions. Hugh had studied so many things out that Bert had -never even considered, and studied them out, too, to a conclusion -which, right or wrong, was at least something to tie to. Bert’s -convictions were few and concerned matters close at hand. Hugh’s -had to do with the most extraordinary things: American politics, -the British foreign policy, income taxation, home rule for Ireland, -back-court versus net play in tennis, woman suffrage, the abolition -of the stymie in golf, fancy waistcoats, farming as a profession, and -many, many more. Once Bert asked curiously if all English fellows -bothered themselves with as many things as Hugh did and failed to get -any information because Hugh forgot the question in trying to establish -himself as only a half-Englishman. (“Fifty-fifty,” suggested Bert, -which expression on being explained was seized on joyfully by Hugh and -added to his rapidly increasing collection of slang phrases.) - -Next to Bert, Hugh’s liking was given to Nick Blake, and then to Pop -Driver, and after that, I suspect, to Guy Murtha. But Hugh had a -fine capacity for liking everyone he met, finding, often to Bert’s -amusement, qualities worthy of admiration in the fellows whom Bert -had long since set down as utterly hopeless. Nick and Guy were daily -visitors at Number 29, and many quite remarkable discussions took place -up there under the roof, discussions usually conducted principally by -Hugh and Guy, with Nick supplying a light comedy seasoning and Bert -acting the rôle of audience and, generally, deciding the matter in the -end. For, although frequently Bert found the argument too deep for him, -he could sum up and award a verdict like a judge of the Supreme Court! - -That study up there was a very attractive room now. Hugh had not -brought a great deal with him in the way of pictures, but what he -had brought were interesting and, as Nick said, gave tone. Bert’s -wall decorations ran to “shingles” and framed posters, although he -was the proud possessor of a good etching of sheep by Monks, and a -rather jolly coaching print. Then there was a six-foot silk banner -of vivid scarlet, with the word “Grafton” in gray letters, along -one wall, and a captured Mount Morris pennant, green and white, and -showing battle marks, over the window-seat. The pillows were the usual -strange collections of all hues and styles, many of them, of course, -running to scarlet-and-gray. Hugh’s contributions were photographs, -some quite large and all handsomely framed. The one that produced the -most interest on the part of visitors was the picture of his home in -England. It was just like the baronial manors and lordly castles you -read about, Nick declared, and when he got enormously rich he was going -to buy one just like it. It was a stone building, with the stones set -in a peculiarly haphazard fashion, and it rambled over the best part -of an acre, or seemed to. There were turrets and battlements, and much -very orderly ivy, and the remains of a moat, and many stately trees -and a “front yard,” as Nick called it, that looked like two or three -perfectly level golf links thrown into one! That photograph was a -never-ceasing source of joy to Nick, and if he was there when a new -visitor arrived he always haled the latter up to see it. - -“Our ancestral home,” he would explain, to Hugh’s embarrassment, -“Lockley Manor, Glyndestoke, Hants, England, by Jove!” - -There was a smaller photograph of the home in Maryland, but that was -less impressive and more like what Nick had seen. The two or three -English country views interested him more. “This,” he would inform the -newcomer, “is a view of the spinney back of the home farm. And here we -have the bridge at Glyndestoke, with the Old Inn in the distance. Right -there is where Ordway catches his salmon for breakfast. Every morning -when it’s rainy enough he saunters down that road there accompanied by -the head gamekeeper and two or three assistant gamekeepers and a few -dozen gillies and fishes up a salmon. That is, he gets the salmon on -the hook, but, bless your simple heart, he doesn’t pull him in. Oh, -dear no! Rather not! I should say otherwise and vastly to the contrary. -That’s where the first assistant gamekeeper has his innings, d’ye see? -The first assistant gamekeeper takes the rod and plays the fish while -the head gamekeeper stands ready with the landing-net. It’s all very -simple, you see. Nothing irksome about it all. Ordway seldom gets tired -fishing. He――――” - -“Oh, I say, Nick, cut it out, like a good chap!” Hugh would beg. “Stuff -a pillow in his mouth, someone, please!” - -Nick had various sobriquets for Hugh. Sometimes he was “Your Grace,” -sometimes “The Duke of Glyndestoke,” sometimes just “’Ighness.” -Eventually, though, it was Nick who discovered in the school catalogue, -when that was issued in October, that Hugh’s full name as there set -down was Hugh Oswald Brodwick Ordway, and, in consequence of the -initials, promptly dubbed him “Hobo!” - -Possibly it was its absolute incongruity that made that nickname -instantly popular. At all events, while Hugh’s more intimate friends -did not ordinarily call him “Hobo,” others and the school in general -did. But that was later, when Hugh, greatly to his surprise, found -himself a rather important person at Grafton. - -Meanwhile, in that first fortnight of the fall term, Hugh was a very -busy youth. He pegged away unfalteringly at football and began to like -it, in spite of the drudgery. He weathered two cuts in the squad and -saw other fellows with far more experience released to private life -or their class teams. When, the second Saturday after the opening of -the term, Grafton played the local high school and won without trouble -by the score of 26–0, Hugh saw the game from the stand, and, with Guy -Murtha to elucidate obscure points, enjoyed it vastly. High School -presented a team badly in need of practice and Grafton ran rings about -her and could have scored at least twice more had Coach Bonner thought -fit to let her do so. But when the third period was a few minutes old -and the score was 20–0, he began to send in second-string players, with -the result that Grafton’s offensive powers waned perceptibly. One more -touchdown was secured against the opponent in the last few minutes of -the final period when Siedhof, who had substituted Bert Winslow at -left half, secured the ball after High School had blocked Nate Leddy’s -try-at-goal. Siedhof picked the ball literally from a High School -forward’s hands and in some miraculous manner swung around and dodged -and feinted his way through a crowded field and over six white lines -to a score. Leddy missed the goal and play ended soon after. Grafton -showed the benefit of those ten days of ante-season practice so long -as her first-string men were in the line-up, and, on the whole, coach, -captain, players, and supporters were well satisfied with the showing -made in that first contest. - -Hugh gained more knowledge of the finer points of football that -evening when Nick, Pop Driver, Guy and Bert threshed it all out in -Number 29. Much of the discussion went over his head, but he awoke to -the realization that there was a great deal more to football than -meets the eyes of the spectator. Nick and Bert argued for ten minutes -over one play which had gone awry. Bert declared that it shouldn’t -have been called for in the circumstances and Nick proved, to his own -satisfaction at least, that it was fundamentally, psychologically, -scientifically correct. Whereupon Pop, who had listened without -comment, informed Nick that he was wrong. And, for some reason, Nick -and everyone else accepted the dictum without question. Much technical -talk followed, and Hugh was soon beyond his depth, but he tried hard -to understand and stored up a fine collection of questions to ask Bert -later. - -But other interests besides football demanded Hugh’s attention. He was -nominated for election to “Lit” by Bert and seconded by Nick and Pop. -The Literary Society and The Forum were the rival social and debating -clubs. Secret organizations of any sort were tabooed at Grafton, -although there was, or was said to be, a certain lower middle-class -society known as “Thag” which was supposed to exist in defiance of the -law. If it really existed outside the imaginations of lower middlers -it was of such slight consequence that faculty winked at it. Hugh -might have been put up for The Forum instead of “Lit” had he wished, -for Guy was an enthusiastic member of the older club and did his best -to get Hugh’s permission to nominate him. Hugh, though, with no real -preference, felt that he ought to allow Bert to decide the matter for -him, and Bert naturally claimed his chum for his own society. - -Hugh was also elected, much less formally, to the Canoe Club, and, at -Bert’s urging, attended several trials for the Glee Club, to which he -was eventually admitted. The elections to The Forum and the Literary -Society took place in January, but candidates were meanwhile admitted -to a quasi-membership that gave them the use of the club rooms and -allowed them to attend meetings, without participation in debates or -affairs. - -In the class rooms Hugh progressed well, for the fiery-locked Mr. -Fairway had done his work thoroughly. In fact, Hugh began his career at -Grafton most satisfactorily, and progressed serenely and pleasantly and -without especial incident along the stream of school life until, just -two weeks to a day after his arrival, he struck his first snag. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -BATTLE! - - -It was the custom for the juniors to hold a meeting shortly after the -beginning of the school year and elect class officials, and it was -also the custom of the lower middle and upper middle fellows to take -quite a flattering interest in the affair. Perhaps it would be more -correct to say that the lower middlers were interested in the meeting -and the upper middlers were interested in the lower middlers. Just why -the second-year boys held it incumbent to do all in their power to -prevent the juniors from getting together successfully it is difficult -to say; but they did. The upper middlers’ part in the proceedings was -theoretically to see that the first-year fellows had fair play, but -what they actually did was to have a good-natured mix-up with the lower -middlers. Consequently the evening of junior meeting was looked forward -to with pleasurable anticipation by the whole school, unless we omit a -portion of the junior class whose disposition was entirely peaceable. - -The juniors did their best to hold the meeting in secret, but someone -outside the class invariably got wind of it in time to give the alarm. -Faculty had on one or two occasions, when the fun had become rather -too noisy, threatened to prohibit the ceremony, but at the time of -this story it was still observed. This fall it was arranged among the -juniors that they were to meet at five o’clock on Wednesday afternoon -in assembly hall. But the watchful lower middlers prevented that by -the simple expedient of locking both doors on the inside and leaving -the keys in, departing by way of a window and by means of a rope. By -the time Mr. Crump, the head janitor, had pushed out one of the keys -and fitted a new one it was too late for the meeting and the juniors -retired in defeat. Subsequently they allowed it to leak out that the -postponed assembly would take place in the same room on Saturday -evening, and, for some reason, their story was believed. - -But on Thursday evening at about eight o’clock cries of “Lower middle, -all out!” echoed through the dormitories and books were abandoned -and green eye-shades tossed aside. In a few minutes it became known -that the juniors had stolen a march and were safely barricaded in the -gymnasium! Lower middle hastened to the scene in force, and upper -middle followed swiftly. The seniors, forgetting dignity, likewise -repaired to the gathering to play the part of spectators. As Roy -Dresser remarked to Ted Trafford as they secured positions of vantage -against the end wall of Manning, it looked very much as though, in the -words of the country newspapers, “a good time was to be had by all.” - -Lower middle tried doors and windows and found them impregnable. They -were denied even a glimpse of the proceedings inside, for the juniors -had carefully draped blankets against the windows. Lower middle held -a conference of war and upper middle jeered. Upper middle not only -jeered but made remarks calculated to displease the enemy. Lower middle -replied in kind and the seniors applauded both sides. And there the -matter would have rested until the juniors had finished their meeting -and sallied forth had not an ambitious lower middler taken it into his -head to try to reach the second story by means of a copper rain-spout. -Why that should have annoyed upper middle I don’t know, but upper -middle resented the trespass and surged forward. The attack was so -unexpected that lower middle gave way and the ambitious climber was -pulled, struggling, from his place halfway up the metal pipe. He reached -the ranks of his friends no worse for the adventure, but lower middle -felt that her rights had been interfered with and the fun commenced. - -Up and down in front of the gymnasium the battle waged, the two classes -fairly even in numbers. For the first few minutes it was a mere matter -of pushing and shoving, one throng against the other, lower middle -giving way only to close ranks again and force upper middle back. The -seniors, laughing and impartially encouraging the belligerents, watched -appreciatively. And in the meanwhile, quite forgotten, the juniors -proceeded undisturbed with their election. - -Afterwards lower middle declared that upper middle had started the -real trouble, and upper middle stoutly laid the blame on her opponent. -At all events, what was to be expected happened and someone, losing -his temper for the instant, struck a blow. His adversary accepted -the challenge. Others at once adopted the new tactics and cries of -“Fight! Fight!” arose from both factions, and those behind surged -eagerly forward. At first it was only those in the front ranks who -became engaged, but the others soon got into action and presently some -ninety-odd youths were hard at it. More than one old score was settled, -doubtless, in the ensuing five minutes. The seniors, scattering away -from the field of battle, viewed proceedings dubiously. This was -more than precedent called for, and if a master happened to put in an -appearance there would be trouble for all concerned. - -It was Ted Trafford and Joe Leslie, the latter senior class president, -who finally, calling for volunteers, attempted to put an end to -hostilities. It was no easy task, however, for while many of the -belligerents were fighting for the sheer love of it, keeping their -tempers in check, there were others who were mad clear through and who -had to be literally dragged apart. Pop Driver performed lustily for the -peace party, his simple way of tripping up one adversary and holding -the other proving peculiarly efficacious. But at that it is doubtful if -the seniors could have ended the battle for a long time if Guy Murtha, -who had intercepted a blow meant for someone else and was ruefully -nursing a bruised cheek, had not hit on the expedient of raising the -warning cry of “_Faculty, fellows, faculty!_” Fortunately, there was no -truth in the announcement, but it did the business. Panting for breath, -upper and lower middlers drew apart, searching the half-darkness with -anxious gaze, ready to disappear as soon as they discovered from which -direction danger threatened. Leslie took advantage of the lull to read -the riot act and his words of counsel had effect. Upper middle bitterly -laid the onus on lower middle and lower middle indignantly returned -the charge. - -“Never mind who started it,” said Leslie impatiently. “You fellows beat -it to your rooms before you get caught. You’re a lot of silly idiots to -do a thing like this, anyway, and it would serve you all right if you -got what you deserve. Hanrihan, you ought to know better than to let -this happen!” - -“Someone jumped on me,” replied Tom Hanrihan cheerfully. “I didn’t -start it, Joe.” - -“Well, get away from here before anything happens. Come on, seniors.” - -Nursing bruised faces and knuckles, holding handkerchiefs to bleeding -noses, the participants in the recent fracas began to disperse, slowly, -however, since neither side wished to be the first to withdraw. Still, -the incident would have been closed there and then had not the juniors -seen fit to throw open the gymnasium door at that moment and burst -triumphantly forth. That was too much for the sore and smarting lower -middlers to endure with equanimity. There was a murmur of displeasure -and then a howl of rage and the lower middlers surged up the steps and -literally crushed the juniors back through the portals. - -“You like it so well in there you can stay there!” they shouted. -“It’s all night for you fellows! You don’t get out! Keep ’em in, lower -middle!” - -But that was not so easy, since there were plenty of windows, and it -didn’t take the juniors long to remember the fact. The sight of figures -skulking away in the darkness soon apprised the guardians of the portal -of what was happening and shouts of “Windows, fellows, windows!” was -heard and half their number left the portico to intercept the escaping -prisoners. That presented upper middle with an excellent opportunity to -take a hand again and she seized it eagerly. In a twinkling the doorway -was cleared of lower middlers and the juniors came forth. Lower middle, -resenting upper middle’s interference, again rallied and tried to force -the portico, only to be thrice hurled back before superior numbers. -As occasion occurred, the juniors fled to the safety of Manning, or -tried to, for not a few were caught and held prisoners by the enemy. -Jeers and taunts were exchanged, while the seniors once more attempted -to persuade the warring factions to cease hostilities. Finally upper -middlers and such juniors as remained with them sallied down the steps -in force and the battle broke forth again. It was a running fight -now, for the juniors fled helter skelter for the nearby dormitory, -protected by upper middlers, while the lower middlers tried to capture -them. Confusion reigned supreme. - -Hugh, who had taken part in the proceedings with zest and had sustained -a lump as large as a bantam’s egg over one eye and a set of sore -knuckles, became separated from his friends somewhere between Manning -and School Hall. A minute before he had been battling with Nick at his -side and his back against the rubbish barrel at the corner, but now -Nick had disappeared and although the combat waged behind and before -him, he was alone and unchallenged. That, thought Hugh, would never -do. For the glory of upper middle he must find an adversary. So he -raced down the bricks toward the steps of School Hall, where he could -discern under the lamplight a group of fellows struggling strenuously. -He slowed up as he approached in order to distinguish friend from foe, -but, to his surprise, someone pinioned his arms from behind and he was -thrust rudely into the group in front of the door. - -“Here’s another, fellows!” panted his captor. “Get him!” - -Before he knew it he was being forced up the steps and through the door -of School Hall, struggling but helpless, someone holding his arms at -his sides and someone’s hand gripped chokingly about his neck. Down the -corridor to the stairs, up the stairs, along another corridor and, at -last, into a classroom. Then the uncomfortable grasp on his neck was -removed, the door slammed, a key turned outside and Hugh, breathless -and dizzy but still unconquered, wheeled around with ready fists. - -The room, one of the smaller ones, was unlighted save for what radiance -came through the window from the lamps along the path below, but Hugh -could see two other figures in the gloom and he was eager for battle. - -“Come on,” he challenged. “I’ll take you both!” - -“I――I don’t want to fight, thanks,” said a mild voice from the -darkness. “I――I――――” - -“Are you a junior?” asked the other occupant of the gloom. - -“No, are you?” replied Hugh. - -“Yes, they collared me and Twining just as we were coming around the -corner. We climbed out of a window in the gym and were trying to get to -Manning. Do you suppose they mean to keep us here long?” - -“So that’s it, eh?” mused Hugh. “I thought you were upper middle -fellows when I saw you scuffling down there. Well, they’ve got us to -rights, haven’t they?” He made his way to the window, raised the lower -sash and looked out. Everything was quiet below, a fact explainable by -the unmistakable presence on the walk further along near Manning of two -masters in conference. Hugh pulled his head in quickly for fear they -might look up and see him. - -“They’ve all gone,” he announced to his fellow prisoners, “and Mr. -Smiley and one of the other masters are down there.” - -“Then if we call to them they’ll let us out,” said the youth who wasn’t -Twining. - -“Yes, but――――” Hugh thought a moment. Then: “All right,” he agreed. -But when he put his head through the window again the masters had -disappeared. “They’ve gone now,” he reported. “Try that door and see if -it’s really locked, one of you chaps.” - -“Yes, it is,” was the answer from Twining, who had a thin, piping voice -and sounded as though he might be only about thirteen. “Don’t you think -they’ll come back pretty soon and let us out?” - -“I fancy so. They’ll wait until things quiet down, I dare say. All we -can do is wait.” Hugh felt his way to a chair and seated himself and -the others followed his example. There was silence for a minute or two -during which Hugh felt admiringly of the lump over his left eye. Then -Twining spoke with something like a sniffle. - -“I don’t think it’s fair for them to do this,” he complained. “We -juniors have to be in by nine o’clock and I guess it must be more than -that now, isn’t it?” - -“Must be,” agreed Hugh. “Can’t you get in without being seen?” - -“No,” replied the other junior disgustedly. “They lock the door about a -quarter past and you have to ring. We’ll get the dickens!” - -“Well, it’s all in a lifetime,” returned Hugh philosophically. “Anyway, -you chaps held your meeting. That ought to comfort you, eh?” - -“I dare say, but it isn’t very nice to have to spend the night up here.” - -“That’s the idea,” exclaimed Hugh. “Stay up here and they won’t know -you weren’t in, will they?” - -They seemed doubtful about that. Twining was of the opinion that Mr. -Gring, who was master on his floor, would somehow learn of his absence. -“He finds out everything, Cupid does,” he sniffled. “Besides, I can’t -sleep here in this hard seat all night.” - -“Try the floor then, old chap. That’s what I shall do if they don’t -come back and let us out.” - -“But they will, of course,” said the other of the two. “They wouldn’t -dare not to, would they?” - -“I really can’t――――” Then Hugh amended his answer. “Search me,” he -said. They talked desultorily for a while. Hugh learned that the second -and presumably older boy was named Struthers. Struthers boasted of -the junior class’s success in pulling the meeting off and told how he -had put lower middle off the track by writing a note to one of their -members announcing the affair for Saturday night and purposely dropping -it in the corridor of School Hall. Struthers chuckled a lot about that, -but Twining appeared incapable of seeing humor in anything just now. He -was all for putting his head out the window and calling for help, but -Hugh vetoed that plan and threatened to punch the first one who tried -it. - -“A silly-looking lot we’d be,” he said disgustedly, “if the masters had -to come up here and free us! We’d be laughed at all over school. If -they don’t let us out pretty soon I’ll see if I can climb around to the -next window. It’s only about four or five feet from this one, and if -there’s anything to hold on to I can do it.” - -“You might fall and hurt yourself,” sniffed Twining. - -“I don’t think so. It isn’t far to the ground, for that matter. If we -could find a rope or something I might be able to drop. Anyone got a -vesta?” - -“A vest on?” asked Struthers. “No, but we could tie our jackets -together and――――” - -“I said a vesta, a match,” laughed Hugh. “Tying our jackets together -isn’t a bad idea, though. If I can’t make it by the window――――” - -He stopped and listened. Ten o’clock was sounding. - -“Now we’ll all be hung together,” he said cheerfully. “If I get caught -coming in after ten I’ll get ballywhack too. I’m going to have a look -at that window.” - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -CATHCART, PROCTOR - - -Hugh thrust his body through the window again. No one was in sight -along the front. By leaning well out he could see the lighted windows -of Number 29 Lothrop, and he smiled as he reflected that Bert was -probably wondering what had become of his roommate. Then he viewed the -next window, some five feet distant. - -The sills were broad and extended a few inches beyond the casements, -but Hugh doubted that he would be able to stretch his legs far enough -to reach, even could he find anything to hold on to. He crawled out on -the sill, to the alarm of the hysterical Twining, and, while keeping -a firm hold of the window sash, felt about over the bricks in search -of some projection to cling to. In the end he had to return to the -classroom defeated. That avenue of escape was out of the question. The -distance to the ground didn’t look far, but it must be, he realized, -about twenty feet, and that meant a drop of fifteen feet, enough to -shake one up considerably. But by knotting their coats together it -might be done. - -[Illustration: “That avenue of escape was out of the question.”] - -“Let me have your coats, fellows,” he said, pulling his own off. -They emptied the pockets first, stowing the treasures away in their -trousers, and then handed the garments over. Hugh tied the three sleeve -to sleeve, testing each knot, but when the task was completed the -result was disappointing, for the improvised rope measured only about -five feet in length, a portion of which would have to remain across the -sill and, since there was nothing to tie it to, be held by the juniors. -Hugh studied a moment. Then he unbelted his trousers. - -“I don’t know how strong these things are,” he said, “but I fancy -they’ll stand the strain all right.” - -He made a pile of his pocket contents on the floor and knotted the end -of one leg to a sleeve of a coat, adding another three feet to the -length of the whole. - -“Now,” he said cheerfully, “you chaps lay hold of this end, d’ye see? -Pull it tight across the sill and you won’t have any trouble. Better -sit down on the floor, the two of you, eh? That’s the idea. If you -happen to find you can’t hold on, or the thing starts to rip, shout out -to me so I can drop. All right now?” - -“Y-yes,” replied Struthers doubtfully. “I hope we can hold it!” - -“So do I,” replied Hugh grimly as he squirmed his body across the sill. -“If you can’t I’ll get down quicker than I fancy. Hold tight now. I’m -going to put my weight on it.” - -There was a breathless moment of suspense, a moment during which the -garments made threatening sounds of giving at the seams, and then -Hugh’s head disappeared from sight, the two boys on the floor, feet -braced against the wall, held on for dear life and―――― - -“All right!” called a cautious voice from outside. There was a sound of -a thud on the bricks and the two juniors simultaneously toppled over -backwards. - -There was one thing, though, which Hugh had neglected to take into -consideration, and that was the probability of the door of School Hall -being locked. And when, a bit jarred but quite unhurt, he climbed the -steps and tried it, he realized the fact, for the portal was fast. -Flattening himself against the door in the shadow, he wondered how -he had bettered the condition of his fellow prisoners. They couldn’t -follow him by the window, of course, and he, it seemed, was unable to -unlock the door to the corridor for them! And, to add interest to the -situation, he was sensible of being most unconventionally clad――or, -rather, unclad――and didn’t at all relish standing down there in the -light and calling up for his trousers to be thrown to him! Meanwhile it -was quite within the possibilities that one of the masters might come -prowling past and find him! - -But something had to be done, and the only thing that occurred to -him was to try the windows in the hope of finding one unlatched. So, -making certain that no one was in sight, he scuttled from his place -of concealment and fled around to the back of the building, where the -possibility of being observed at his burglarous task was not so great. -It was as dark as pitch back there, but after waiting a minute to -accustom his sight to the gloom he was able to discern a window. The -sill was at the height of his chin and he wondered whether, even if he -was lucky enough to find one unlatched, he could get through it. - -The first resisted all his pushing and heaving, and so with the second -and third, but when he thrust upward on the next the sash gave readily, -but with a fearsome screech that brought his heart to his mouth. After -waiting a moment there in the darkness, however, he pushed the window -as high as he could reach and then set about the next step. There was -nothing to put his feet on, but by getting his arms over the sill he -finally managed to work his body up and was soon inside. - -The first thing he did was to walk squarely into a desk, and after that -it seemed to him hours before he found the door into the corridor. Once -outside, his troubles were by no means over, for when he had at last -discovered the stairway and descended the first flight he couldn’t -think in which direction the room he sought lay. He found it at last, -though, turned the key and entered to be greeted by exclamations of -mingled relief and displeasure. It was Struthers who expressed relief, -and Twining who voiced displeasure. - -“Seems to me you took your time,” said the latter. “You must think it’s -lots of fun waiting up here――――” - -“Stow it!” interrupted Hugh, his temper not improved by the adventures -of the past ten minutes. “It would serve you jolly right to make you -shin down the coats and trousers!” - -Twining subsided to mutters and Hugh clothed himself again and rescued -his treasures from the floor. When he had finished, the two juniors -were already outside. - -“You can’t get out the door,” said Hugh. “It’s locked. Keep with me and -we’ll slip out a window at the back.” - -Twining again demurred, but Struthers promptly sat on him, and a -minute later they were outside. - -“Now you chaps see if you can find a window unlocked. That’s what I’m -going to do. I don’t fancy having it known that I was locked up in -School Hall by a lot of fresh lower class chaps. Good night.” - -“Good night,” replied Struthers, “and much obliged, Ordway.” - -Twining, however, was already creeping off in the darkness, wasting no -time on amenities. Hugh felt a strong desire to overtake the youngster -and cuff him, but in the end he only shrugged his shoulders and -considered his own plight. He carefully closed the window before he -turned away to seek Lothrop, and when he did he kept along at the back -of Trow to avoid the lights in front. It was well after ten o’clock now -and most of the windows were dark, but here and there a light still -shone. Mr. Russell’s study on the first floor of Trow was illumined and -the curtains were raised, and as Hugh, bending low, passed beneath them -he fervently hoped that the Greek master would not take it into his -head to approach a casement just then. - -The ground floor of Lothrop was given over to public rooms save where, -at the farther end, Mr. Rumford had his suite of five rooms and bath. -Along the front, between the two entrances, were the library, the -common room and the recreation room. At the back were rooms occupied by -the superintendent of buildings, Mr. Craig, and by the head janitor, -Mr. Crump, a store room and a serving room. The nearer end of the -building was taken up by the big dining hall. There were ten windows in -the latter and Hugh hoped to find one of the number unlatched. He kept -away from the front of the building, for it was disconcertingly light -there, and tried the first window on the end. It was fast, however, -and so was the next one. Then, to his consternation, the ground began -to slope away to the level of the basement floor at the rear of the -building, for the kitchen and laundry and various other service rooms -were above ground at the back. This brought the third window almost -head-high and placed the fourth beyond his reach, and the third window -was locked as fast as the others! - -He knew nothing of the lay of the land below-stairs and feared to -try his fortunes there. Consequently there was nothing to do but -risk detection while trying the windows along the front or to ring a -door-bell and be reported by Mr. Crump. He had little liking for either -alternative and hesitated a moment in the shadow at the corner before -emerging into the publicity of the walk which, while deserted, was in -plain view of Trow. After all, though, it was, he reflected, no hanging -matter, and so he presently emerged quite boldly and, as he passed -along the front of the dormitory, tried each window. He had progressed -as far as the library when his perseverance was at last rewarded. A -sash gave readily to his pressure and in a twinkling he was inside. - -Lights in the corridor shone through the open doors and he had no -trouble, after he had silently closed the window again and fastened it, -in making his way between chairs and tables. At the door nearest to the -stairs he paused and looked out. No one was in sight and he swiftly -stepped into the corridor, around the corner and through the swinging -door that gave on the stairs. He stepped lightly, for he knew that -on each floor a master’s bedroom was separated from him by only the -thickness of a wall. It was when he had reached the fourth floor and -had his hand on the door there that he recalled the fact that directly -across the hallway was Number 34, inhabited by Cathcart. Cathcart was -a proctor and, so it was said, a most conscientious one. He would -have done better, as he now realized, to have gained the floor by the -other stairway. However, Cathcart’s door was tightly closed and it -was more than likely that Cathcart was sound asleep. So Hugh pushed -the swinging portal softly ajar, slipped through and turned along the -corridor toward 29. Halfway, he thought he heard a sound behind him, -but he didn’t stop or turn. He scuttled into 29――Bert had thoughtfully -left the door unlocked――and the instant the latch had slipped into -place behind him tore off his coat and fumbled at his belt. The study -was empty and dark, but a light shone from Bert’s bedroom and as Hugh -hurried into his own apartment a sibilant voice came to him. - -“That you, Hugh?” - -“Yes.” Hugh was slipping out of his trousers. “I’ll be in in a minute.” -He kicked off his shoes and tugged at his tie. - -“Where the dickens have you been?” demanded Bert, more loudly. Hugh -heard his bed creak and a moment later his bare feet on the floor. And -that instant there was a gentle knock on the door. - -Hugh flung things from him wildly and dived for his bed. There was -silence. Then the knock was repeated, and: - -“Winslow!” came Cathcart’s cautious voice from beyond the portal. - -After a moment’s hesitation Bert, making a good deal of noise about it, -went to the door and flung it open. Hugh, the covers pulled to his -chin, held his breath and listened. - -“Hello, Wallace.” That was Bert’s voice, surprised and sleepy. “What’s -up?” - -“Sorry to disturb you,” said Cathcart, pushing past Bert and closing -the door behind him, “but someone just came up the stairs and entered -this room.” - -“Nonsense,” replied Bert, suppressing a yawn. “You probably heard me -coming from the bathroom.” - -“I didn’t only hear, I saw,” said Cathcart quietly. “You don’t usually -visit the bathroom with all your clothes on, I suppose.” - -“Not usually, old man, but I couldn’t find my bathrobe. I suppose it’s -somewhere around――――” - -“Is Ordway here?” demanded the proctor. - -“I suppose so. We went to bed rather early. Oh, Hugh!” - -“Yes?” asked Hugh startledly. “Did you call, Bert?” - -“Yes, Cathcart asked if you were here. It’s all right, I guess.” - -“If you don’t mind,” murmured Cathcart. He crossed to Hugh’s room and -looked in. “Would you mind turning on a light, please, Bert?” - -Bert obeyed grumblingly and Cathcart viewed the bedroom. Hugh’s coat -lay on the floor near the foot of the bed, his trousers were in front -of the dresser, one shoe was on top the trousers and the other a yard -away and his shirt hung limply from the footrail. Cathcart took it all -in silently and gravely. Then: - -“How long have you been in bed, Ordway?” he asked. - -“Eh? In bed? Oh, really, I can’t say. What time is it now?” - -“You just came in, as a matter of fact, didn’t you?” - -“Now look here, Cathcart,” interrupted Bert persuasively. “You’re all -wrong, old man. You were dreaming, probably. You can see easily enough -that Ordway and I have been in bed for a long time.” - -“Does he usually leave his things around like that?” asked the proctor. - -“I’m afraid he does. He’s an untidy beggar. You are, aren’t you, Hugh?” - -“Perfectly rotten,” replied Hugh cheerfully. “Still, you know, they’re -awfully easy to find in case of――er――fire or anything.” - -Cathcart smiled wanly. Then he shook his head. “I’m sorry, Ordway,” he -said, “but I’ll have to report you. Good night, fellows.” - -“But, I say――――” began Hugh. - -“Look here, Cathcart, have a heart,” pleaded Bert. “You can’t prove -anything against him. Why, look at him! You say someone came in here -a minute ago. Now you know very well Ordway couldn’t undress in that -time!” - -“I don’t think I said he entered a minute ago, Bert. However, if Ordway -cares to get out of bed and show me that he has his pajamas on――――” He -viewed Hugh inquiringly. - -“Pajamas,” said Hugh indignantly. “Why, I say, I never wear ’em, you -know. Beastly uncomfortable things, pajamas.” - -“Indeed? May I look in here?” Cathcart opened the closet door. On a -hook inside hung a pair of white pajamas with broad blue stripes. -“Yours, I think, Ordway?” - -Hugh nodded. “Right-o, Cathcart,” he said. “You win. What’s the -penalty?” - -“I can’t say,” replied the proctor. “I guess it won’t amount to much. -I wouldn’t try it again, though, Ordway. They’re rather strict here -about being out of hall after hours. Probably you can give a good -explanation.” - -“Oh, yes, I can,” said Hugh. “Only,” he added under his breath, “I’m -switched if I’m going to!” - -“I’m sorry, fellows,” said Cathcart again, regretfully. “You know I -have to do it, though. Good night.” - -“Good night,” said Hugh. “Duty is duty, eh, what?” - -“Good night,” returned Bert morosely. “It doesn’t seem to me, Wallace, -that you need to be so confounded snoopy, though! Of course you’re a -proctor, and all that, but a fellow doesn’t have to go out of his way -to look for trouble!” - -“I didn’t go out of my way, Bert,” replied Cathcart quietly. “I was -awake and heard steps on the stairs and then heard the door pushed -open. It was my place to see who was coming up.” - -“Then, if you saw him,” said Bert crossly, “what was the good of coming -down here and making all this fuss?” - -“I saw only his back, and the light was dim. I couldn’t be certain -whether it was you or Ordway.” - -“Oh!” Bert shot a glance at Hugh, now sitting up in bed and hugging his -knees. “Then――then perhaps it will interest you, Wallace, to learn that -it wasn’t Ordway, after all! It happened to be me, old man. Put that in -your pipe and smoke it!” And Bert viewed the other truculently. - -Cathcart smiled gently and shook his head. “That won’t do, Bert,” he -said. “Ordway’s owned up, you see.” - -“Because he thought I didn’t want to be reported. Besides, he didn’t -own up. He only said――――” - -“Oh, come, Bert! What’s the use?” asked Cathcart. “I know it was -Ordway.” - -“You do? Even when I say it wasn’t? When I say it was me? You’re mighty -smart, aren’t you?” - -Cathcart colored and frowned. “Very well,” he said stiffly. “I’ll -report you both and you can settle it between you. I’m not quite such a -fool as you seem to think, Winslow.” - -“I’m not _thinking_,” replied Bert impolitely. - -“Stow it, you chaps,” Hugh broke in. “Be fair, Bert. Cathcart’s only -doing what he has to. Much obliged for lying, old chap, but I don’t -really mind being reported. It’s all right, Cathcart,” he added -reassuringly. “I’m the culprit. Sorry to get you out of bed.” - -Bert opened his mouth to speak, thought better of it and shrugged. -Cathcart nodded to Hugh and went out. When the door was closed behind -him and Bert had turned the key with a venomous click he strode back to -Hugh’s room and eyed him wrathfully. - -“Why the dickens did you have to butt in?” he demanded. “I could have -made him believe it was me in another minute. You haven’t got as much -sense as――a――as a――――” - -“Proctor?” suggested Hugh helpfully. Bert grunted. Hugh threw the -clothes aside and swung his feet to the floor. “Mind tossing me those -pajamas?” he asked. “Thanks. Now, look here, old chap――――” - -“You’ll get the very dickens, that’s what you’ll get,” interrupted -Bert. “Where were you? How did you get in? Didn’t you know――――” - -“Yes, old dear, I knew all about it. The degrading truth is that a -half-dozen of those beastly lower middle chaps got me and a couple of -juniors and locked us up in a classroom in School Hall and I had to -shin down the coats and trousers――――” - -“Shin down the _what_?” - -Hugh smiled. “The coats and trousers. We tied our coats together, you -know,――and my trousers, too,――and I got down that way and got in a -window at the back and unlocked the door. Then I climbed in through the -library.” - -“Who were the lower middlers?” demanded Bert hotly. - -“Couldn’t see them. Dare say I shouldn’t have known them if I had. It -was all over in a jiffy. Someone grabbed me from behind, another chap -throttled me and the whole lot pushed me upstairs. Next thing I knew -I was locked in that room with a pair of silly juniors named Twining -and Struthers. Struthers wasn’t so bad, but Twining was a mean little -bounder. I say, you’ve a remarkable looking mouth, old chap!” - -“And you’ve got a fine-looking lump over that eye! You’ll make a big -hit with the faculty when you’re called up tomorrow!” - -“I can say I ran into a door,” replied Hugh untroubledly. “I did once, -you know, and had just such a lump.” - -“Huh! And I suppose running into the door skinned your knuckles, too?” - -“I’ll keep that hand behind me,” laughed Hugh. “Anyway, it was a――a――it -was some scrap, wasn’t it?” - - - - -CHAPTER X - -HANRIHAN PROMISES - - -“The beauty of being on probation,” observed Nick, “is that a fellow is -able to give his entire time to the improvement of his mind. I recall -that during my junior year being on pro was very helpful to me. It -allowed me to do a lot of studying that I wouldn’t have been able to -accomplish otherwise, and so, without doubt, preserved me to Grafton -posterity. If it hadn’t been for that thoughtful act on the part of -faculty you might not have me with you this evening, fellows.” - -“Faculty has a heap to answer for,” said Guy sadly. - -“I don’t mind――much,” said Hugh. “It knocks me out of football, though, -doesn’t it?” - -“Yes, and the worst of it is,” said Pop Driver, “that you’ll have to go -to gym and do your four hours per week.” - -“I don’t think I shall mind that, really. I fancy it’s dumb bells and -clubs and that sort of thing, eh?” - -“Yes, and bar bells and free arm movements, which are tiresome things, -and chest weights. _Creak――creak――creak――creak!_ I hate the thought of -the things.” And Nick disgustedly shook his head. - -“You got off easily, if you want to know it,” said Bert. “Two weeks -isn’t anything. Usually it’s a month at least. The only thing that -saved you from getting it harder was that faculty is up in the air -about last night’s rumpus. It has a sort of an idea that a lot of -things went on it doesn’t know about and that if justice was done half -the school would be on pro.” - -“They’re always easier with a new fellow,” said Guy. “Two weeks will -soon pass, Hugh. Take my advice, though, and try for B’s in everything. -That always makes them happy and they’ll let you off easy.” - -“B’s?” exclaimed Bert. “Why B’s? Hugh gets an A-minus in about -everything now! By the way, fellows, Jimmy’s been pussy-footing it all -over school today trying to find out what really happened last night. -He cornered me in lower hall after French this morning and said he had -heard the juniors had held a very successful meeting. You know the way -he smiles when he wants to――to lull your suspicions?” - -“Wow!” applauded Nick. “That’s langwidge!” - -“So I said yes, I’d heard they had. And then he asked: ‘You――ah――you -weren’t present then yourself, Winslow?’ And I said no, I didn’t think -the juniors allowed any of the other class fellows at their meeting. -Innocent, I was. So he said, ‘H’m, yes, very true, Winslow,’ and I beat -it. What gets me is that they didn’t hear the racket and come out. I -suppose, though, they thought it was the usual rumpus.” - -“There are some mighty funny-looking faces around today,” observed Pop. -“Phillips couldn’t see at all out of one eye, and――――” - -“Phillips isn’t anything,” cut in Nick. “You should see Downer! He’s -positively disreputable! I told him so, too. Told him he oughtn’t to -appear among gentlemen looking as he did. He was quite short-tempered -about it.” - -“I wonder if they’ll do anything,” pondered Bert. - -“Someone said he’d heard they were going to stop junior meeting after -this,” replied Guy. “It would be a good thing if they did. Such -behavior is most――er――reprehensible.” - -“Piffle!” scoffed Nick. “You were just dying to get into it yourself -last night, you old hypocrite!” - -“I did get into it,” said Guy grimly. “And I got this for my pains.” He -laid a finger on his bruise. “Pop was the one who put ’em to rights. -Pop went into it like a whirlwind. _Thump!_ Down goes a lower! _Bang!_ -Down goes an upper! Great stuff, Pop!” - -“You fellows could have fought all night,” replied Pop calmly, “for all -I cared, only I thought it would be rather a silly piece of business -for half of you to get nabbed and put on pro. To come right down to -hunks, though, it was a pretty rank piece of business for grown kids to -pummel each other for no reason at all. You upper middlers ought to be -proud of it.” - -“Well, we didn’t start it,” said Nick aggrievedly. “One of those chaps -punched one of us and so we punched back.” - -“It’s always the other fellow who starts things, I notice. If you and -Bert and Kinley and a few more had been caught at it a fat chance the -team would have had!” - -“That’s so,” agreed Guy. “I understand that Bonner was extremely -eloquent this afternoon.” - -“He flayed us,” said Bert grimly. “He has a nasty tongue sometimes.” - -“It struck me he was mighty easy with you,” said Pop unfeelingly. “When -you’re on the School Team, Bert, you’re supposed to behave yourself -and not act like a kid.” - -“Oh, chuck it, Pop,” returned Bert shortly. “I’ve been lectured enough. -You’re as cheerful as a raven.” - -“After all,” said Nick, “’is ’Ighness is the only one should kick. He’s -dished on football for two weeks, anyway, and that queers him utterly -for this year. If anyone has a right to grouch it’s Hugh, and he’s the -most cheerful of the lot.” - -“Do you really think it lets me out for the year?” asked Hugh sadly. “I -was hoping that maybe, if it was only two weeks, they’d let me back on -the――the――grinds.” - -“The what?” demanded Nick. “Oh, the scrubs! Grinds isn’t bad, though! -That’s what they do, all right.” - -“Hope on, hope ever,” said Guy. “Put it up to Ted some time. Maybe he -will fix it for you. Who’s going to captain the second this year, Pop?” - -“I don’t know. I suppose it will be Ben Myatt.” - -“Honest? Poor old Bennie! He’s been trying for the first team for three -years now. I hoped he would make it this time.” - -“Perhaps he will, but I doubt it. Ben just doesn’t reach to the first. -He’s a clever player, too.” - -“Better than Tom Hanrihan, in my estimation,” said Nick. “I’d like to -see Ben make it this time.” - -“So would I,” agreed Pop, “but he isn’t the player Tom is. Tom’s got -the zip, you know. Ben’s too good-natured, I guess.” - -“There’s something in that,” mused Guy. “Remember Powell, who pitched -for us year before last, Pop? He was a nifty twirler, all right, and -had a fast one that would fool you two times out of three, but you -simply couldn’t rile him, and when things got away from us Powell was -no earthly use in the box. When you’re a run or two behind along in the -eighth or ninth you want just nine fellows in the field who are mad -clear through!” - -“I say,” exclaimed Hugh, “you’re spoofin’, what?” - -“Nary a spoof, Duke,” replied Guy. “Getting your mad up is what does -the business. I don’t mean you’re to show it or froth at the mouth, you -understand, but you want to have it inside you. Then when your chance -comes you bust out and something happens.” - -“Really?” marveled Hugh. “I’ve always thought quite the contrary. It -seems to me, you know, that a chap who keeps his temper is the one who -can do the best.” - -“Sure! I said that. _Have_ a temper, but keep it! Am I right, Pop?” - -“Yes, I think so. I know that when a fellow plays football he has to -sort of seethe inside before he can really do much.” - -“Did you ever seethe?” asked Nick incredulously. - -“I’ve been mad enough to bite,” said Pop, smiling. “Haven’t you?” - -“Me? Great Scott, yes! But you’re such a sleepy, unemotional beggar, -Pop, that I didn’t suppose you ever felt that way. Bert and I, now, -being sort of temperamental――――” - -“I always get mad,” confessed Bert, “the first time a fellow tackles me -or gives me a jolt. I’ve got a rotten temper, anyway.” - -“Good reason to play football, then,” said Pop. “Football’s a fine -thing for temper.” - -“I fancy I’d never make a player, then,” remarked Hugh ruefully. “I -don’t get angry very easily, you see.” - -His regret was so evident that the others laughed, and Nick said: -“Don’t worry about that, ’Ighness. You’ll get over it bravely when you -come to play. Just let a couple of fellows sit on your head and another -one twist your ankle for you and you’ll be mad enough to eat dirt!” - -Nothing came of Thursday night’s affair. Possibly faculty didn’t -quite know where to begin, since fully two-thirds of the school was -concerned. The fracas went down in history as the Junior Meeting Riot, -and the _Campus_, the school monthly, managed to get a lot of sly fun -out of it in its next issue. Leslie and several other more prominent -members of the senior class were taken to task for allowing matters -to go as far as they had, which, considering the fact that they had -sustained various injuries in their efforts to promote peace, was -rather unkind. In the end faculty prohibited future interference with -junior meeting and, lest the temptation should prove too great for the -lower middlers, provided that the meeting should take place in Manning -common room. - -Hugh took his punishment philosophically, although he really regretted -having to give up trying for the football team. He had just begun to -find something besides hard work in the daily practice, and, while he -hadn’t for a moment counted on making the first, he had entertained -hopes of finding a place on the second team. It was Tom Hanrihan who -took the matter hardest. Tom, a big, raw-boned, good-hearted chap of -eighteen, took his commission of coaching the “rookies” very seriously, -and Hugh’s defection grieved him sadly. The talk that Hugh had received -from Jimmy, otherwise the assistant principal, Mr. Rumford, was nothing -to what Hanrihan had to say to him Saturday morning. Hanrihan told Hugh -quite explicitly how many kinds of an idiot he was and would listen to -no excuses. - -“You seem to think all we have to do is waste time on you fellows and -then you can drop out whenever it pleases you. Making a football team -isn’t any cinch, Ordway, when you’ve got only nine weeks to do it. You -haven’t any right to take up our time if you don’t mean to stick it -out.” - -“But I did mean to stick it out,” expostulated Hugh. “It wasn’t my -fault if those beggars got me and――――” - -“You shouldn’t have given them the chance. You shouldn’t have had -anything to do with that scrap, anyway. (This despite the fact that the -speaker had a very puffy and discolored left eye!) When a fellow goes -out for the team he’s supposed to look after himself. He’s trying for -the――the biggest thing in school, and he ought to realize it. You had -a good chance to make good. I as much as told you that a dozen times. -(If he had, Hugh didn’t recall it!) You showed some gumption, and you -were quick and handled a ball nicely. Now you’ve gone and spoiled it -all. Honest, Ordway, I’d like to punch your head for you!” - -“Oh, very well, do it,” replied Hugh meekly. “I’m sorry. That’s all I -can say, Hanrihan.” - -“A lot of good being sorry does,” snorted the other. - -“It’s only two weeks, Mr. Rumford said, and I thought that possibly I -could get back again,” said Hugh wistfully. - -“Get back! Lay off two weeks and get back! That’s likely! By that time -we’ll be in the middle of the season. Who do you suppose is going to -take time to coach you individually, Ordway?” - -“Well,” and Hugh smiled ingratiatingly at Hanrihan, “you could, you -know, if you cared to!” - -“I could!” Hanrihan stared in amazement. “Well, you’re certainly a -cheeky youngster, Ordway! What the dickens should I do it for? You -don’t suppose the team’s going to pot just because you’re out, do you?” - -“N-no, of course not. I didn’t mean that.” Hugh colored in his quick -fashion. “Only, I thought that possibly――if I sort of watched practice -and saw what was being done, why, after I was off probation, you might -sort of――sort of show me, if you know what I mean!” - -“Huh! You’ll have to get Bonner to let you back first. And I don’t -think he will.” Hanrihan paused. “He might, though, if I put it up to -him. Confound you, Ordway, you seem to think you can do as you please -and play hob all around and then――then get folks to square things for -you! You _are_ a cheeky youngster, and no mistake!” - -“I dare say,” replied Hugh, “but you’ll speak to Mr. Bonner, eh? You -know yourself it wasn’t my fault, old chap, now don’t you?” - -“Well, no, I suppose it wasn’t――in a way,” acknowledged Hanrihan more -graciously. “Well, I’ll see if we can do anything. But look here, now. -You keep in shape, do you understand? And keep in right with faculty. -No more nonsense, Ordway!” - -“Right-o! And thanks awfully, Hanrihan.” - -“Don’t thank me until it happens――if it does,” grumbled the other. -“I’ll let you know if――if anything comes up. So long.” - -That conversation left Hugh hopeful again, but when he recounted it -to Bert the latter threw cold water on the project. “Tom will do his -part,” he said, “but there isn’t a chance that Bonner will let you -back. I know him too well. I’m sorry, Hugh. I wish he would. But I -wouldn’t expect too much if I were you.” - -“I shan’t,” replied Hugh untroubledly. “But there isn’t any harm in -hoping, eh? Even if you don’t get what you want you’ve had the fun of -wishing for it, if you know what I mean!” - - - - -CHAPTER XI - -THIRTEEN TO TEN - - -Being on probation didn’t prevent Hugh from seeing the game that -Saturday afternoon, and he and Guy and a lower middle youth named -Stiles sat together through the best part of two hours and watched -Grafton play two twelve-minute and two ten-minute periods with the -Leeds High School team. It was unseasonably warm for the first week -in October and the players felt the heat. The game dragged along -uninterestingly until, in the final period, Coach Bonner put in a -number of second-string players. That brought the two teams nearer -equality and, although there was no more scoring, the last ten minutes -contained several exciting incidents. Weston, at quarter-back in place -of Nick, got away on a sixty-five-yard run and all but scored. A -Leeds left end pulled down a forward pass for a twelve-yard gain that -momentarily looked like a touchdown. Keyes, the only one of the back -field to play the game through, fooled the enemy with a short punt that -almost resulted in a score when a Leeds player dropped the ball and it -was pulled out of the air by Siedhof. But in the end the score remained -as at the finish of the first half, 13 to 0, in favor of the home team, -and Grafton dawdled back to the campus not greatly impressed. - -Hugh parted from Guy and Stiles and went on up to his study. Bert was -not yet back, and, after thoughtfully staring from the window at the -passing groups below, he went out and down the corridor to Number 34. -His rap on the half-opened door elicited a response and he entered -to find the single occupant of the room minus coat and waistcoat, -perched at the window and surrounded by books and papers. Cathcart -was tall and thin, with a fair complexion and a good deal of unruly -red-brown hair. Just now, a green shade over his eyes and a pair of -black rubber spectacles on his nose, he presented an amusing vision -as he glanced near-sightedly across. Cathcart was eighteen, a senior -and an acknowledged “grind.” It was said of him that faculty had -almost broken his heart in his lower middle year by refusing to let -him take more than twenty-one hours a week. He got as much pleasure -out of studying as Bert Winslow did from football or Guy Murtha from -baseball, and was absolutely unable to get the point of view of the -fellow who considered study a disagreeable thing to be avoided as much -as possible. It was not until Hugh was halfway across the room, which -combined study and bedroom, that Cathcart recognized him. When he did -he untangled himself slowly, distributing sheets of paper around the -floor, and slid to his feet. - -“Hello,” he said doubtfully. - -“Hello,” answered the visitor. - -Then, without further remarks, they set to rescuing the scattered -papers. This gave them time to consider the situation and when they -faced each other again Cathcart said: “About the other night, Ordway: I -hope you didn’t think there was anything personal in what I did?” - -“Not for a moment, Cathcart. I’d have done just what you did, you know. -That’s quite all right, I assure you.” - -“Well, I’m glad you take it that way, really. You see, being proctor -has its drawbacks. I wasn’t anxious for it, but it makes a big -difference in my expenses for the year, you see. I get my room a good -deal cheaper, and that’s rather nice in my case. I was glad faculty let -you off as easily as they did, Ordway.” - -“Thanks, yes, they were really very decent to me. Where I made my -mistake, Cathcart, was in not coming up the other stairway.” Hugh -smiled. “You wouldn’t have heard me then, I fancy.” - -“I don’t think I would,” agreed the other. “I――I wish you had. Someone -said you got shut up in the gym, I believe?” - -“In School Hall.” Hugh narrated his adventures on Thursday evening. - -“But if you had shouted out the window someone would surely have heard -you,” said Cathcart. - -“Yes, but I didn’t want to give those lower middle beggars the -satisfaction, if you know what I mean. And I rather funked having it -get around that I’d been such a silly ass, too! I say, I’m keeping you -from work, eh?” - -“No, you’re not, really. Push those books aside and make yourself -comfortable. I wish you’d tell me whether Bert has it in for me, -Ordway.” - -“Oh, I don’t think so! He was a bit crumby that night, but he soon gets -over it.” - -“I hope so. I like Bert. I suppose I’ll have to make up my mind to -getting a few of the fellows down on me before the year’s over. Bound -to, I guess. It’s hard to make them realize that it’s my duty to report -things. They don’t think anything about it if it’s one of the masters, -but they resent it if it’s a proctor. How do you like the school, -Ordway? I suppose it’s different from your schools in England.” - -“I fancy so. I never went to an English school, though; never went to -any school before I came here. Of course I’ve heard lots about the -English schools; I know quite a few chaps at Rugby and Charterhouse and -Winchester; and I rather fancy we’re a bit different here. But I like -it very much. Fact is, Cathcart, I was in a regular blue funk about -coming here. I rather thought the chaps would rag me a lot, you know, -but they haven’t. Nick Blake does, but I don’t mind Nick a bit. Of -course, I am different, I fancy; rather stupid about a lot of things; -and I’m only just beginning to understand that you chaps don’t mean -more than about half you say. It puzzled me a lot at first, you know. -You have a way of poking fun at things, if you know what I mean, that -sounds odd until you understand that it _is_ fun. I didn’t; not at -first. I’m learning, though.” - -“I suppose we are different,” acknowledged Cathcart, “in some ways. -Sometimes I think we don’t take things seriously enough, Ordway, we -fellows here at Grafton. Not that Grafton is much different from other -preparatory schools, though.” - -“That’s what I like,” said Hugh eagerly. “I think your way of not -taking things seriously is awfully jolly. It isn’t that you really -don’t――don’t _know_ that they’re serious――when they are――but you simply -don’t take them so. As I say, I’ve never been to an English school, but -I’m sure you fellows over here get a lot more fun than we do on the -other side. Just at first some of the fun seemed to me to be rather――I -say, I hope you won’t mind it, old chap, but it seemed a bit silly, if -you know what I mean.” - -“I think a lot of our fun is,” replied Cathcart, “but it’s generally -fairly harmless. Of course, the other night was different, but that was -exceptional here. We aren’t in the habit of blacking each other’s eyes, -you see.” - -“But I liked that! That was――was so jolly spontaneous, eh? Some of the -fun seems a bit――well, a bit studied, but that wasn’t. A lot of chaps -have been awfully apologetic about that affair, and I don’t see why. -On the other side we’d have thought nothing about it, and the masters -wouldn’t have noticed it, I fancy. But we’re a bit more used to using -our fists than you chaps, I think. I say, though, here I am talking -like ‘a bloomin’ Britisher,’ as Nick says, when I’m really just as much -American as I am English.” - -“Are you really? That explains it, then. There’s something about you -that doesn’t seem entirely English, Ordway. You don’t _look_ terribly -English, for one thing.” - -“My mother is American,” said Hugh. “Her family has lived in Maryland -ever since the place was settled, I fancy. I’ve been over here off -and on, you know, ever since I was a kid. It’s queer, Cathcart, but -sometimes I feel as if I was all American and sometimes as if I was all -English! Queer game, eh?” - -“Jekyll and Hyde idea?” asked the other, with a smile. “But don’t ask -me which is Jekyll!” - -“I won’t,” laughed Hugh. “Don’t want to embarrass you. What’s that -stuff you’re digging at?” - -“Benson’s ‘Medieval History,’” replied Cathcart. “It’s very interesting.” - -“But, I say, we don’t have that, do we?” - -“No, I’m just taking it up as a reading course. I have a good deal of -spare time this term and next, you see.” - -“Fancy that! I dare say you’re a regular shark at study, eh? Honor Man -and all that?” - -“Well, yes, I was Honor Man three terms last year and two the year -before and one in my junior year. It isn’t hard, you know.” - -“Do you go in for games at all? Tennis or golf or anything?” - -“N-no, not now. I play tennis a little, but I haven’t done much at it -since spring. There doesn’t seem to be much time.” - -“Yes, but look here, old chap, tennis would do you a jolly sight more -good than Whatshisname’s ‘Medieval History’!” - -“I don’t feel the need of it, Ordway. You see I have gym work during -the fall and winter terms and then in spring I go in for tennis a -couple of times a week.” - -“You need more than that. Look here, I’m out of football for a couple -of weeks anyhow, Cathcart. What do you say we have a try at tennis some -day? What hours do you have in the mornings?” - -“I’m pretty full every morning but Thursday and Saturday,” replied the -other doubtfully. “I wouldn’t be much of a fellow for you to play with, -Ordway. I’m terribly stale. Fact is, I only do it in spring because I -have to.” - -“Oh, I’m no marvel, old chap! Anyway, that doesn’t matter, does it? We -can have some sport. What time Thursday, now?” - -Cathcart laughed. “Well, eleven to twelve, if you really want me to -play.” - -“Eleven to twelve is all right for me. Don’t forget. Got a good racket?” - -“Why, come to think of it, I don’t believe I know where it is. Seems to -me someone borrowed it last term. I’ll have a look for it, though.” - -“Don’t bother too much about it. I’ve got one you may use and welcome. -I say, I hope you don’t think me awfully cheeky to come in and take up -your time, eh?” - -“I don’t, indeed, Ordway! I think it mighty nice of you. I was rather -afraid you held it in for me, you see.” - -“Oh, rot! As though I would! Thursday at eleven, then? I’ll stop here -for you, eh?” - -“Yes, do, for I might forget it. Thursday’s a good way off, though, -and if you find time you might drop in again. It’s good to talk with a -fellow who doesn’t spout football every minute!” - -“Right-o! And come across to 29, Cathcart, will you? There are heaps of -things I’d like to talk about.” - -Hugh usually had his last recitation at one, and that left him a long -afternoon to get through with. One could always study, but when the -weather was fair, and it held fair that autumn well into November, -staying indoors was not what he wanted. He had one or two set-to’s at -tennis with various acquaintances but by three o’clock he was always on -hand at the first team gridiron, following the play and trying his best -to profit by what he saw. There was no cheering news from Hanrihan, -however, that week, nor had Hugh taken Guy’s advice and spoken to Ted -Trafford about his reinstatement. He didn’t feel up to doing that, -but would have been highly pleased had Bert or Nick done it for him. -Neither did, though, so far as he learned. They seemed to accept his -termination with football as final for that fall. The only incidents of -importance that week were the tennis with Wallace Cathcart on Thursday -and the football game with St. James’ Academy on Saturday. - -The tennis was something of a surprise to Hugh. He secretly thought -rather well of himself as a player, although he never boasted, and had -expected to have the rather awkward appearing Cathcart at his mercy. -But things turned out differently and Hugh had to work hard for the -two sets they played. In spite of the fact that his opponent didn’t -take the game seriously and had not, according to his statement, played -since the preceding spring, he was able to give Hugh a hard tussle. -Cathcart had a bewildering serve when, towards the middle of the first -set, he began to get command of it, and he possessed a remarkably -clever way of getting about the court. Weak on backhand strokes, he -wisely avoided them whenever possible and spun the ball across low and -hard from the face of his racket in a way that made Hugh admire and -marvel. - -When, at the end of the first set, won by Hugh, 6–4, they rested a -minute, Hugh took Cathcart to task. “I say, old chap, it’s a crying -shame for you not to play more. Why, you’re a natural tennis player, -’pon my word you are! Look here, why don’t you, eh?” - -“I don’t know.” Cathcart, breathing hard from his exertions, thought -a moment. “I really believe I could play fairly decently if I put my -mind on it and practiced. And it is good fun. I’d forgotten what fun it -was, Ordway. Do you think you could show me how to get those backhand -returns? Or wouldn’t you care to?” - -“Glad to! The trouble is you funk ’em, you know.” - -“I’m afraid of them. If I can’t get into position to take them on the -right I let them go. I’m awfully weak on backhand work.” - -“Practice is all you need, then. That’s a perfectly spif――a perfectly -corking serve of yours! I have to take it almost at the backline, do -you know? Shall we go on?” - -In the second set Cathcart won the second and fourth on his service -and then, losing the sixth to Hugh, took advantage of the latter’s -momentary let-down and made the set four-all. After that, though, he -tired and Hugh had no difficulty in winning the ninth and tenth games -and capturing the set by the previous score. - -Cathcart agreed to play again Saturday morning, but begged off the next -day, having discovered some work he ought to do. Hugh took Ned Stiles -on instead, but had poor sport. - -The St. James game in the afternoon was a rattling good one. For the -first time that season Coach Bonner put his full strength into the -field at the start. Dresser was at left end, Franklin at left tackle, -Kinley at left guard, Musgrave at center, Driver at right guard, -Trafford at right tackle, Tray at right end, Blake at quarter, Winslow -at left half, Vail at right half, and Keyes at full. St. James was -a heavy team, averaging a year more in age, perhaps, and surely ten -pounds more in weight, and played close-formation football in a very -clever manner. Grafton’s game this year, so far as one could determine -at this stage, was to be a combination of wide-open and old-style -football. She had an experienced trio in Musgrave, Driver and Trafford, -a fair guard in Kinley and a good tackle in Franklin. Roy Dresser, at -left end, was almost certain of his position, but Tray, on the other -wing, was less satisfactory. In the back-field, Blake and Winslow had -seen two years of service on the first and second teams, Vail was a -newcomer in football, although a senior, and Keyes had made the team at -the end of the preceding season. The back-field was rather lighter than -Mr. Bonner could have wished for, but it was fast and “scrappy.” So far -it gave promise of being a good defensive eleven, with its offensive -abilities still to be proved. - -Today’s game showed up many weak points, for St. James was a hard -enough proposition to cause Grafton to make use of everything she -knew. It was St. James who scored first, shortly after the kick-off, -when Nick misjudged a punt in front of his goal and a brown-stockinged -player fell on the pigskin near the twenty-yard line. Grafton gave back -slowly, but the visitors made it first down on the nine yards. Then two -tries failed to gain more than as many feet and the St. James full-back -booted the ball over very prettily. - -Grafton came back hard and forced the playing for the remainder of the -period but was unable to get a score. In the second quarter, Nick began -a march from the middle of the field to the Brown’s goal that would not -be denied and Keyes was eventually pushed over for a touchdown. Keyes -failed at the goal. St. James gained on rushes against Kinley when she -got the ball back, but the half ended with the score 6 to 3 in the -home team’s favor. - -When the third period opened Trafford kicked off and St. James again -started her smashing at tackle and guard on the left, but the gains -grew shorter there and she switched to the other wing and finally -got her left half around Tray for a twenty-yard sprint that laid the -pigskin in dangerous proximity to the Scarlet-and-Gray goal. Some hard -fighting followed, with St. James digging her cleats valiantly and -smashing at everything in sight. Hugh got very excited at this period -of the contest and squirmed about on his seat in a most un-English -manner. Grafton took the ball away on her twelve yards and the stands -cheered with joy and relief. - -But the joy was short-lived, for Keyes punted miserably from behind -his goal line and the ball was St. James’ again near the twenty-yards. -She got five on the very first play between Kinley and Franklin and -followed it with three more off Franklin. The latter was hurt in the -play and Parker took his place. St. James lost slightly on a run -around end, but gained her distance on the next down when a fake kick -developed into a line-plunge through center. - -Grafton, flocking along the edge of the field, implored her warriors to -“Hold ’em!” But with less than ten yards to go and four downs at her -command the prospect looked extremely good for the visitor. A plunge at -Kinley was stopped for no gain. Then a complicated crisscross play sent -a half-back past Captain Trafford for three yards, Tray being boxed to -the king’s taste. Grafton began to breathe easier then, but the third -down added two yards more when the St. James full-back tore through -Kinley. That brought the ball to the five-yard line, and the Brown team -arranged itself for a try at goal. Ted Trafford diagnosed the play as -a fake and Nick hustled his back-field close in. When the ball went -back it was caught by a half who faked an end run and then, when the -left wing of the Grafton line had been drawn in, threw across to his -right end. That youth had only to drop across the line to score the -touchdown. In fact drop was all he could do, for Bert tackled him the -moment the ball settled into his hands. The punt-out landed the pigskin -directly in front of the crossbar and St. James added another point, -bringing her total to 10. The whistle sounded a moment later. - -Grafton had now to score at least five points to win. A field goal and -a safety would do it, or two field goals or a touchdown, but with only -ten minutes left none of those seemed very likely. When, however, Nick -had sent Vail around the enemy’s right flank for some eighteen yards -and followed it by breaking through the Brown’s center himself for six -more, putting the ball on the St. James’ thirty-two yards just three -minutes after the last period had begun, the Grafton supporters became -more hopeful. Keyes smashed into the line twice for a total of five, -and it was first down on the enemy’s twenty-seven yards. Then, when the -Scarlet-and-Gray scented a touchdown or, at the least, a field-goal, -Vail fumbled a pass and a St. James forward squirmed through and -snuggled the pigskin beneath him. - -St. James kicked on second down and Bert caught on his own forty-three -yards and ran back five. Grafton opened her line wide and passed -obliquely to Vail and the right half dodged past two white marks before -he was stopped. Delayed passes brought short gains and the pigskin -was on the Brown’s forty. Keyes got two off left tackle, Bert failed -to gain at the center and Keyes punted to St. James’ five-yard line. -Tray stopped the quarter for little gain and St. James kicked from -behind her goal after one weak attempt at rushing. Nick caught near the -sideline at about the thirty-two yards and started a run that wrought -Grafton to a condition of frenzied excitement. He passed four of the -enemy, running straight along the white boundary, dodged a half-back -near the fifteen yards and was only stopped when the St. James quarter -forced him out at the eight yards. - -Grafton cheered exultantly and shouted “Touchdown! Touchdown!” and -Coach Bonner, thus far chary of substitutes, sped four into the -line-up. Yetter went in for Kinley, Weston for Nick Blake, Milford for -Tray, and Zanetti for Vail. It was Zanetti who made the first try and -gained two yards on a wide end run. That brought the ball directly in -front of goal. From a kick formation Bert plunged at left guard and -when the resulting confusion of bodies had been untangled the pigskin -lay almost on the three yards. With the crowd yelling like mad, Keyes -again went back and held out his hands, Nick called his signals and -Roy Dresser, on an end-around play, carried the ball across the line -almost unmolested, the fake attack on the center fooling the defenders -completely! - -Just to prove that he could kick a goal, even if he had failed in his -previous attempt, Keyes put it over from a wide angle, and Grafton’s -score was 13. The period came to an end a minute or so later, the final -score, 13 to 10, and St. James cheered a bit disgruntledly and Grafton -quite contentedly. - -Hugh, having passed through a succession of thrills that had left him -rather limp, loitered back to the tennis courts and, finding a seat -on a stone roller, watched a game of doubles without seeing much of -it. The contest he had just witnessed had settled his conviction that -he wouldn’t be at all happy unless he was allowed to return to the -football field and try for a place on the scrubs. Just now he felt -quite certain that, given the opportunity, he could prove his right to -a position there, and, while the white balls darted to and fro across -the nets unseen by him and the voices of the players fell on deaf ears, -he drew beautiful mental pictures in all of which he, Hugh Oswald -Brodwick Ordway, clad in canvas and leather, stood out very prominently. - -After a while he discovered that the courts were almost deserted and -that he was shivering, and so, plunging hands in pockets in Grafton -fashion, he tramped thoughtfully back to Lothrop. - - - - -CHAPTER XII - -TWO IN A CANOE - - -“What do you think about when you are running with the ball as you were -yesterday?” asked Hugh. - -“Think about?” repeated Nick. “Why, I don’t know. Nothing, I guess. -There isn’t time. You just――just run like the dickens and watch for -the opponents and get ready to straight-arm them or side-step them or -something, you know, and keep on going until they nab you. Then you -hold on to the ball hard and try to drop easy and get your head out of -the way. I suppose you really do do a whole lot of thinking, ’Ighness, -but it’s sort of like a dream. That is, you can’t remember afterwards. -I’ve heard fellows who have made long runs, maybe the length of the -field, or pretty near, tell afterwards just what they thought and -planned, but I don’t believe them. They made that up afterwards. You -don’t do much planning. You couldn’t, anyway. You get the ball and look -for a place to turn in. Then a fellow smashes at you and you dodge him -if you can or you put your hand out and let him have it hard. And then -two or three others are coming at you and you swing in, maybe, or you -swing out, and you get by them somehow――you never know quite how――and -you beat it as hard as you can for the goal line. And about that time -the quarter or a half makes for you and you try to get past him, and -you do or you don’t. Mostly you don’t!” - -“It must be jolly exciting,” mused Hugh. “I thought they had you two or -three times yesterday before they had.” - -“So did I. I missed my guess with that quarter of theirs. I thought -that if I kept near the side line he would think I meant to turn in and -then I’d keep on straight. But he didn’t fall for it.” - -“Why, then you did think, after all, didn’t you?” - -Nick looked puzzled. “I guess I must have,” he acknowledged. “I guess -you’d call it unconscious cerebration. Here we are!” - -It was afternoon of Sunday, the day succeeding the St. James game, and -Nick and Hugh were going canoeing. A backwater of the river formed a -little cove in the southwest corner of the playing field and save when -the water was very high there was a slope of coarse sand and gravel -there which was facetiously called the Beach, just as the cove was -known as the Pool. It provided a fairly good place for swimming, since -the water was not deep, although the mud was somewhat of a drawback; -and it made a convenient haven for canoes. They were drawn up on the -grass under the well-nigh leafless branches of a grove of maple and ash -trees, a flotilla of some twenty brightly hued craft. Nick’s canoe, -which he owned in partnership with Bert, was easily located, for it -was the only white one in the lot. It had a neat stripe of gold along -its side and the name in gilt letters at the bow: _Omeomi_. Hugh had -been fooled by that name, to Nick’s delight, pronouncing it Om-e-om-e, -believing the statement that it was an Indian word. Nick, however, -pronounced it “O me! O my!” - -Hugh took a paddle and seated himself in the bow and Nick pushed off -and guided the gleaming craft out of the cove and around a point of -alders to the river. There he headed up stream, against a barely -perceptible current. - -“Now dig if you like,” he called, and Hugh dipped his paddle very -awkwardly and tried his best to perform as he had seen Nick and others -perform. But this was his first attempt and he wasn’t very successful. -Nick let him toil for several minutes. Then: - -“’Ighness,” he said, “if you want to learn to paddle you’ll have to -start right. Put your left hand further down and―――― Hold on! Don’t -lean over like that or we’ll have to walk home! Put your hand just -above the end of the blade. That’s it. Now, instead of reaching out -close to the bow, start your stroke farther off and sort of pull it -in. If you don’t you’re pushing the bow to the right every stroke, -don’t you see? Personally, I don’t mind, but the next chap might not -like to have to keep straightening out every time. That’s better, -but your stroke’s too long, ’Ighness. Shorten it up. Shorter still. -That’s more like it. Don’t try to push when the blade’s behind you, -because it doesn’t do any good. It rather slows the canoe up, in fact. -Forces the stern down and makes it drag more water. Get your drive at -the beginning of the stroke, then let up as the paddle passes you and -finish the stroke quickly. Try it.” - -Hugh tried it, at first with amusing results, and Nick had to dig hard -at times to keep the craft in its course. But after a while the bow -paddler became more adept. Then Nick tried to teach him to turn his -blade as it left the water, but that trick was for the present beyond -the novice. Once Hugh lost his paddle entirely and they had to float -downstream after it. They went some two miles in the direction of -Needham Falls, by which time the neighboring town was in sight across -the fields, and then pulled the nose of the canoe up on the bank and -rested. The afternoon was still and the October sunlight warm, and -Hugh, for one, was ready for the respite. They laid themselves full -length on a bed of yellowing marsh grass, pillowing their heads in -their clasped hands, and pulled their caps over their eyes. - -“Paddling a canoe’s harder work than I fancied,” mused Hugh, conscious -of lame muscles. - -“You’ll soon get onto it. The next time you’d better try the stern.” - -“I suppose that’s more difficult.” - -“A little. You’ve got to steer, too, you see. But it isn’t hard once -you’ve got the hang of it. Funny you’ve never done any canoeing.” - -“Yes, I dare say. I’ve punted a bit, and I’ve rowed some, but you don’t -find many canoes on the other side except on the Thames. And mother was -always rather shy about letting me go on the water.” - -“It must be dandy on that Thames of yours,” said Nick. “I’ve read about -the races, you know, and all that; houseboats lined up along the shore -and Johnnies in flannels paddling about and colored lanterns and so on. -Must be great!” - -“I dare say. I never saw but one boat race. That was the time -you――we――the American crew beat us――them.” - -“You’re getting mixed, ’Ighness!” laughed Nick. “You don’t know whether -you’re United States or English.” - -“It’s a bit confusing,” agreed Hugh. “Of course, I really am English, -because my father is English and I was born over there. But sometimes -it seems awfully much as though I weren’t, you know! Since I’ve been -here I feel as if I really belonged, if you know――――” - -“If I know what you mean; I do, old man. Just the same, Hugh, you’d be -in an awful mess if we ever went to war with England, wouldn’t you? -What would you do then?” - -Hugh shook his head soberly. “I don’t know, really. I fancy, though, -I’d stick with dad. I couldn’t do anything else, could I?” - -“I don’t see how you could. Wouldn’t it be touching when you and I -met on the trampled field of battle? ‘Why, hello, ’Ighness!’ I’d say. -‘How’s the boy? Take that!’ And I’d biff you one on the side of the -head. And you’d say, smiling pleasantly: ‘Well, well, if it isn’t me -old friend Nick! I’m chawmed to meet you, Nick. Pardon me, but I’ve got -to hand you this!’ And then you’d stick a bayonet into my ribs. Or, -no, you wouldn’t, either, because you’d be an officer, I guess; maybe -Field Marshal Ordway; and so you’d let me have it with a sword! And -then you’d get the Victoria Cross for bravery.” - -“Maybe you’d be an officer, too,” Hugh suggested, smiling. - -“Oh, I should! I’d be General Blake, Commander of the United States -Expeditionary Forces; and so, instead of beating you over the bean with -the butt end of my rusty trifle――er, trusty rifle, I’d slash off your -head with my bejeweled sword. There’d be some style to that, eh?” - -“Don’t see what good the V. C. would do me under the circumstances,” -objected Hugh. “I’m not keen for that programme, Nick. I say, isn’t it -getting late? Hadn’t we better nip it?” - -“Almost half-past four, by ginger! Never mind, we’ve got the current -with us going back, and you can rest up. How are the shoulders and -sturdy biceps, Duke?” - -“Rather lame, thanks.” - -“Don’t mention it. Chawmed, I’m sure. Tumble in and I’ll shove her off.” - -The next day the second team became an official fact. Mr. Crowley, the -assistant athletic director, took charge of the coaching and the squad -of nineteen started in at training table in Manning that noon. Ben -Myatt was chosen captain. As usual, Hugh went over to the field after -school in the afternoon and looked on. He had secretly hoped to make -an end position on the second, but there were Bellows and Forbes in -the coveted places, and no word had come from Hanrihan. He began to -believe, with Bert, that his chances for this year were at an end. - -The first was going through signal drill, Nick driving one squad and -Weston the other. Behind each line-up a few sweatered substitutes -followed. Neil Ayer was at quarter for the second, further down the -field, and Mr. Crowley, familiarly known as “Dinny,” with a half-dozen -unplaced candidates, looked on. There was just a suspicion of frost in -the air today, and the fact told on the players. There was more vim in -their movements as, in response to the voices of the quarter-backs, -they trotted up and down with the balls. Coach Bonner and Jim Quinn, -the manager, were conversing in front of the bench, and Davy Richards, -the trainer, was mending a head-guard discarded by one of the players -a few minutes before. Hugh wondered what Mr. Bonner would say if he -broached the subject of reinstatement. At the worst he could only scowl -and say no. And he might say yes! But――well, Coach Bonner wasn’t the -sort of man one felt like making suggestions to! Besides, Hanrihan had -told Hugh to wait. - -There were few onlookers about the first team gridiron today, for the -upper and lower middlers were playing the first of the class games -on the further field and the crowd was over there. Hugh was debating -whether to follow or to remain here in the hope of getting some word -from Hanrihan when that youth came to the bench. In front of him -the second team squad, players and followers, came to a breathless -pause after a forward pass and Mr. Crowley, short, square, red-faced, -criticized gruffly. At that moment Hugh became conscious of someone at -his shoulder and heard Mr. Smiley’s deep and pleasant voice. - -“What do you think of them, Ordway?” asked the Latin instructor. - -“Smiles” was a fine, upstanding man well under forty, clean-shaven, -tanned, gray-eyed. Although he lived in the master’s suite on the -third floor of Lothrop, Hugh had never had more than a nod or a “Good -morning” from him and was rather surprised that Smiles knew his name. - -“They look rather fit, sir,” replied the boy. - -“Yes. I hope Mr. Crowley will turn us out a good second. A lot depends -on the scrubs. I understand they’ve chosen Myatt for captain. A fine -fellow and a good player. Too bad he’s never made the varsity team. -When he was a lower middler we all looked to see him captain this year. -He lacks something, though.” - -“I heard a fellow say Myatt was too good-natured, sir.” - -“I wonder! Meaning easy-going, I suppose. Perhaps. Well, he may be -able to do more for us where he is than if he were on the first. Ah, -we’re to have a scrimmage I see. I suppose you don’t play our kind of -football, Ordway.” - -“I was trying, sir. I went out for the team, but――――” - -“Couldn’t quite get the hang of it?” - -“I had to stop, sir. I’m on probation.” - -“To be sure. I remember now. Too bad. Well, you’ll have your class team -to try for when you get squared again.” - -“Y-yes, sir,” agreed Hugh dubiously, “but――but I was hoping to get back -with the second. Hanrihan said he thought I might. Do you――do you think -so, sir?” - -“Hm. I’m afraid the second will be rather far along then. When do you -expect to get off?” - -“This week, sir, I hope.” - -“Well, in that case――have you spoken to Mr. Crowley?” - -“No, sir, I didn’t quite like to, if you know what I mean.” - -The master smiled. “I think I do, Ordway. But I don’t see how you -expect to get back unless you ask.” - -“Hanrihan told me he would try to――to arrange it.” - -“But Tom Hanrihan hasn’t anything to do with the second team, I’m -afraid, Ordway.” - -“I fancy not, sir. I thought perhaps I’d speak to Mr. Bonner.” - -“Mr. Bonner has no more to do with it than Hanrihan. See Mr. Crowley. -He will hear what you have to say. You know him, I suppose.” - -Hugh shook his head. “No, sir, I don’t.” - -“Well, wait until he comes off and we’ll speak to him. He’s coming -now, I think. We’ll take the bull by the horns.” Mr. Smiley chuckled, -and Hugh had to smile, too, for the simile was unflatteringly apt. -Mr. Crowley did remind one remarkably of a bull! “‘_Audentes fortuna -iuvat_,’ Ordway, if you haven’t forgotten your Latin.” - -Hugh followed the master to where the second team coach was approaching -the bench in company with Ben Myatt. Hugh lagged a little, for, while -it might be true that fortune favored the brave, it was equally -true that Mr. Crowley didn’t know him from Adam and might think him -decidedly fresh. There was a word or two of greeting between the men, -during which Myatt slipped away, and then Mr. Smiley turned to Hugh. - -“This is Ordway, Mr. Crowley. He’s looking for a job and thinks you may -have an opening for a bright young man.” - -“Looking for a job?” said the coach, shaking hands. “What sort of a -job, my boy?” - -Hugh reddened. “I’d like to get back on the second, sir,” he explained -embarrassedly. “You see, I was getting on fairly well until I went on -probation, and――――” - -“Oh, yes, Hanrihan mentioned you, I think. Ordway, is it?” - -“Yes, sir. I thought maybe you might let me have another try, Mr. -Crowley, if you know what――――” - -“Are you square with the office now?” demanded the other. - -“Not today, sir, but I shall be by Friday, I fancy.” - -“Then you come and see me Friday, Ordway.” - -“Thank you.” - -“But don’t come unless you can play. And if you do come”――and here Mr. -Crowley scowled fearsomely――“see that you stay. We haven’t any room for -cut-ups on the team, Ordway. You won’t be of any use to me unless you -can stay straight with the faculty.” Mr. Crowley dismissed Hugh and -his affairs with a nod and turned back to Mr. Smiley. Hugh dropped out -of hearing and presently the master rejoined him. - -“Are you going to watch the scrimmage?” asked the latter. “If so, -suppose we sit down over there. Your friend at court seems to have -provided for you, after all. I’m glad you’re to get back.” - -“Thank you, sir. It was good of you to――to――――” - -“Not at all, Ordway, but I shall expect you to make the most of your -chance and become a distinguished member of the team.” The master -smiled. “When you slam the ball across the line I shall proudly recall -the slight assistance I rendered and partake of the credit. Now then, -first kicks off to the second. ‘The trumpet hoarse rings out the bloody -signal for the war!’ Well kicked, Trafford!” - - - - -CHAPTER XIII - -BACK TO THE FOLD - - -Bert was as surprised as he was delighted when Hugh informed him after -practice that Mr. Crowley had virtually promised him a place with the -second team. At first Bert insisted that his chum had misunderstood, -but, on having the conversation repeated, acknowledged that Hugh had -good grounds for encouragement. “I never heard of its being done -before, Hugh,” he said. “Tom Hanrihan must have a drag with Dinny, and -no mistake. You’ll have to work like the dickens to stay on. Think you -can do it?” - -“I fancy I can do as well as some of those chaps there now,” answered -Hugh placidly. - -“Bellows isn’t bad at end, I guess,” mused Bert, “but Forbes oughtn’t -to be hard to beat. You’re trying for end, aren’t you?” - -“I wanted to play end, but I wasn’t there long enough to get placed -more than once or twice. End’s about all I can play, I fancy. I’m not -heavy enough for tackle or guard or back.” - -“You’d make a good quarter if you had more experience,” said Bert -thoughtfully. “And they might use you for a running back. You’re quick, -I guess.” - -“I’d be laid flat if I ran into Ted Trafford or Pop, though,” laughed -Hugh. “Pop could take me up and throw me clear over the goal. I fancy -end is my place, if I can get it.” - -Nick was equally pleased and, like Bert, seemed to think that fortune -had been unusually kind to Hugh. “But you’re a lucky guy, anyway, Duke. -Some fellows are born to good fortune, I guess, and you’re one of them. -That was nice of Smiles, though, wasn’t it? Don’t you like him, Hugh?” - -“Very much. We had a topping time. And, I say, you chaps, he knows an -awful lot of football!” - -Bert and Nick laughed. “Why shouldn’t he?” asked Bert. “He played it -for three or four years and came near making the all-America team, -didn’t he, Nick?” - -“So they say. Anyway, I’ll bet he was a dandy guard. When he first came -here he used to help with the coaching. That was before Dinny came.” - -“And after. Dinny didn’t coach the elevens until the first fall we were -here.” - -“I didn’t know that. I thought Dinny was always a football coach.” - -“No, they got him because Pete had too much to do. Dinny was supposed -to give all his time to the track team and nine. Then they got Davy to -look after the track fellows and so Dinny took hold of the second team.” - -“I should think that Mr. Smiley would be a ripping football coach,” -said Hugh. - -“Yes,” agreed Nick. “He took hold of the upper middlers two years ago -and they ran away with everything and even held the first team to no -score once. Remember, Bert?” - -“That was three years ago, though, because I was a junior then. That -was some team, Nick, wasn’t it?” - -“Yes. Remember how it beat Grammar School thirty-four to nothing, or -something like that? And Grammar School made a big howl about it and -wrote to the paper that we’d played a lot of first team fellows against -them.” - -“Has Mr. Smiley anything to do with athletics here?” asked Hugh. “He -said something that――――” - -“Chairman of the Faculty Athletic Committee,” replied Nick. “He and -Gring and Pete Sargent are the committee. You must have made a hit with -him or he wouldn’t have gone to Dinny with you. I like Smiles. Wish I -was still taking Latin.” - -“I dare say it wouldn’t do you any harm,” said Bert unkindly. - -“Nor much good. All a fellow needs is enough to pass his college exams. -After that he forgets it as fast as he knows how. Well, meanwhile -there’s a bunch of German waiting for me downstairs. You’re a lucky dog -not to have the stuff, Bert.” - -“I get it next year. What are you reading?” - -“‘Das Edel Blüt.’ It’s tough, if you ask me. When there was a perfectly -good, gentlemanly language like Latin, why did someone have to go and -invent German? Well, I’m off.” - -Hugh was summoned to the office Thursday and listened to a brief homily -by Mr. Rumford. When he emerged he was once more in good standing. -Since, however, it was by that time almost five o’clock, it was -too late to report to Mr. Crowley that day, and Hugh dropped in on -Wallace Cathcart and spent the rest of the time until supper arguing -whether a college education was essential to success in life. While -Hugh could beat his host at tennis, and had done it twice since their -first meeting, he was no match for him in the present controversy, -and Cathcart won the debate easily, proving conclusively that a high -school education was all that was required by the average person. And -this in the face of the fact that Cathcart had his plans all laid for a -full college course and two years of graduate study! - -Hugh reported to Mr. Crowley the next afternoon dressed for play. The -second team coach viewed him with an unflattering lack of enthusiasm. -“Are you square with the office?” he asked. Hugh assured him that he -was. Mr. Crowley glanced doubtfully about the field and then grunted. -“All right. Get in there and catch some of those punts.” That was all. -Evidently, Hugh reflected, his advent was not a matter of as much -importance to Mr. Crowley as it was to him. - -His appearance with the squad aroused not a little surprise among his -team-mates. In one or two cases, he thought, it aroused resentment -as well. He knew few of the fellows save by sight. Neil Ayer, the -first-choice quarter-back, was a speaking acquaintance, and so, to a -lesser extent, was Hauser, who played left half. But the rest were -practically strangers to him. He was relieved to find that his enforced -idleness had not cost him what skill he had acquired, and he couldn’t -see but that he caught, threw and handled the pigskin generally as -well as half the fellows in the squad. Mr. Crowley made him known to -Captain Myatt later, and Myatt, who was a big, likable chap, won Hugh’s -instant affection by being very nice to him. One would have thought -from Myatt’s words that Hugh was doing him the biggest sort of a favor -by joining the squad. Hugh didn’t get into signal work, for he didn’t -know the code, but he trudged along behind and listened and watched -and picked up a good deal of useful knowledge that afternoon. Later, -when the second took the field to play two ten-minute periods with -the first, Hugh and three others were sent off out of the way with a -football and put in the time punting and catching. At supper time, -armed with his napkin-ring and a bottle of marmalade, his private -property, he joined the training table in Manning. - -There were just twenty youths at the long table which was set up in -a corner of the big dining hall in the junior dormitory, and Mr. -Crowley presided at the head. Hugh felt a bit strange at supper that -first evening and was conscious of the puzzled regard of some of his -companions. Doubtless they wondered at his sudden advent with the team. -There was no ill-feeling in evidence, however, and Hugh got through the -meal without much conversation and felt somewhat relieved when chairs -were pushed back. At training table, in order that no one should hurry -through his meal at the risk of indigestion, it was a rule that all -must remain until the coach gave the word. Consequently, if one did -bolt his food it profited him nothing since he was obliged to sit there -and watch his neighbors finish, and fellows who had the “quick lunch” -habit soon got over it. Mr. Crowley made occasional exceptions to the -rule, but one had to put forward a pretty convincing plea. - -Tonight the team left the table together and Hugh passed down the -corridor in the rear of the group. When he reached the entrance several -of the second team members had paused just outside the doorway and -Hugh’s passage was blocked. After pausing an instant for the others to -go on down the steps or move aside, he said: “I beg your pardon,” and -edged through. A short, broad-bodied youth glanced around and instantly -pulled a companion out of the way. - -“Gangway, Charley!” he exclaimed. “Let the British Aristocracy pass. My -word, we fawncy ourself a bit, eh, what?” - -Hugh recognized the speaker as Brewster Longley, the team’s center. He -was broad of shoulder and hip, short-necked and short-limbed, with a -round face surmounted by very black hair which, close-cropped, looked -like the bristles of a blacking brush. He was called “Brew” Longley and -was a very clever center. Hugh’s brief glance expressed surprise as he -passed down the steps. He had never spoken to Longley and the latter’s -unexpected “ragging” disconcerted him. As he went off along the path -he heard an amused laugh from the occupants of the steps and resented -it. He had half a mind to turn back. But the next instant his flash of -anger left him and he mentally shrugged his shoulders and dismissed the -incident. - -Bert was not at home when Hugh reached the study, but he came in soon -after looking cross and worried. Hugh’s efforts at conversation were -not successful, for Bert answered in monosyllables and showed an -evident disinclination to talk. Animated by good resolutions regarding -study, for he meant to keep his present class standing if it was -possible and so follow the earnest advice of Mr. Rumford, Hugh got his -books together and seated himself at his table. But it was hard to get -his mind on lessons when Bert was wandering aimlessly from bedroom -to study and from study back to bedroom. Finally Hugh ventured a -good-natured protest and to his bewilderment Bert turned on him angrily. - -“Oh, dry up!” he snarled. “If you don’t like my moving around you take -your books in your room. I’ve got as much right here as you have.” - -“I didn’t say you hadn’t,” replied Hugh, after the first moment of -astonishment. “What are you so waxy about? I only asked you not to――――” - -“Well, I’ll walk around here just as much as I please,” growled the -other. “You make me weary, anyhow, you and your airs! I didn’t ask to -have a blooming Britisher wished on me, if you care to know it!” - -“And I didn’t ask to be put in with a bear,” replied Hugh mildly. -“What’s wrong with you, anyhow, old chap? Anything I’ve done?” - -“There isn’t anything wrong,” responded Bert crossly, “except that a -fellow likes a certain amount of freedom in his own rooms. You seem to -think you own this place!” - -“Piffle! Go ahead and walk if it does you any good.” Hugh smiled as he -turned back to his book. Probably Bert was looking for grievances, for -that smile instead of bringing peace produced a fresh outburst. - -“You bet I’ll walk! And let me tell you another thing, Ordway. I had -this room picked out long before you ever thought of coming here, and -if another chap hadn’t quit school you wouldn’t be here. Anyone would -think from the airs you put on that this dormitory was built especially -for you.” - -“Then let me tell you something, Bert,” said Hugh, losing patience at -last. “My mother wanted me to take this room by myself and she engaged -it last spring. Later the secretary wrote that they had had another -application for it and would I mind sharing the suite. And I said I -wouldn’t, although the mater was dead against it. So if you think I’m -here through any kindness of yours you’re all wrong.” - -Bert stared in surprise. “I don’t believe it,” he said at last. “They -wouldn’t rent this suite to one fellow. They never do.” - -“They did, however. If you don’t believe me I can show you the paper. -It’s in my dispatch-box in there. Mind you, I’m not fussing about it, -but I’m hanged if you can tell me I got in here because you said so!” - -“Oh, I suppose you’re such a swell they let down the rules for you,” -sneered Bert. “I dare say they thought you were the Prince of Wales, -with your silly valet and your coat-of-arms and all the rest of the -piffle! You make me mighty tired, if you want to know.” - -“Sorry,” said Hugh shortly. “But I don’t see what’s going to be done -about it. I’m plaguey sure I’m not going to get out of here to oblige -you, old chap.” - -“All right, but as long as you stay you can be mighty sure that I’m -going to do as I please here, you pig-headed Britisher!” - -“Right-o! And now let’s stop chinning, if you don’t mind.” - -Bert grumbled a bit and at last, with a good deal of noisy slamming of -books, settled down to study. They didn’t speak again that evening. -Later Bert took himself off to visit somewhere in the building and -Hugh went to bed with a book. He didn’t read a great deal, though, -for Bert’s remarks had stung. When you are making a hard try to be as -American and democratic as you possibly can, it is discouraging to be -accused of putting on side. In Hugh’s case it hurt. Looking back, he -could see now that he had made a bad beginning by appearing on the -scene with Bowles in attendance, but he had supposed that Bert and -the others had forgotten that incident. As for the coat-of-arms――what -Bert really meant was crest――that seemed a small matter. It was on his -brushes and silver toilet things, and he had some writing paper that -bore it. But he never used the paper and he certainly never paraded -the toilet articles. After a while he got out of bed, pulled his bag -from the closet and ruthlessly dumped brushes and comb and shoehorn -and buttonhook and three or four other articles into it and shoved the -bag back in the closet. The next morning he combed his hair with his -fingers, not very successfully, and after English he hurried off to the -village and outfitted anew at the drug store, becoming the owner of two -military brushes with imitation mahogany backs, a black rubber comb, a -five-cent buttonhook made of nickel, and a papier-mâché shoehorn. He -didn’t know what more he could do unless he gave up wearing his watch, -which had the crest above his monogram, or left off a small seal-ring -which offended in the same way. - -Bert had apparently forgotten his ill-humor of the night before and was -the same as usual, except that he seemed rather quiet and depressed. -Hugh, however, found it hard to forget so readily, for he was fond of -his roommate and the latter’s remarks still rankled. But Hugh tried to -hide the fact and Bert never suspected it. That afternoon Hugh believed -that he had discovered the reason for his chum’s ill-humor, for Bert -didn’t get into the scrimmage with the second team until it was almost -over, Zanetti and Siedhof playing at left half by turns. Hugh was again -left out of the second team line-up, but he was able to follow the -scrimmaging fairly closely from where he and three other fellows were -punting and catching beyond the west goal. - -Later he walked back with Pop, and Pop, after a silence that lasted -until they had crossed the green, asked: “What’s wrong with Bert, Duke? -He’s as grouchy as a bear and is playing like a silly idiot. Bonner -gave him an awful dressing-down after practice yesterday. And of course -he had to go and lose his temper and sass Bonner back and there was the -dickens to pay for a while. Bonner made him apologize. I was afraid at -first that Bert wouldn’t do it. Did he tell you about it?” - -“Not a word. He was beastly ugly last evening, though. I didn’t know -what the dickens was up. We had a regular row.” - -“He has a rotten temper. Gets over it quick, though. I thought at one -time Bonner was going to fire him from the squad. He will have to brace -up and get onto himself or he will find that Siedhof has his place. -Bonner isn’t the sort you can fool with much.” - -“I wish he wouldn’t flare up the way he does,” said Hugh. “He says -perfectly rotten things when he’s waxy.” - -Pop nodded. “He’s as mean as a little yellow pup when he gets started. -Come on over a while, Duke, and tell me how you’re getting on. What’s -Crowley going to do with you, by the way? The end positions are -settled, aren’t they?” - -“Yes, but Bert thinks I might beat out that chap Forbes. I dare say -I’ll sit on the bench a good deal, though. What sort of a team has -Rotan College, Pop?” - -“‘Rotten’ College? Oh, good enough to lay us out, I guess. They’ll win -about twelve to nothing. Still, it’ll be a good game. There’s a big -mucker named Lambert who plays left guard for them. Lambert and I had -quite a merry little party last year and I’m honest enough to own up -that he got the best of it. I’m looking forward with much pleasure to -meeting him again on Saturday.” Pop smiled grimly. “If he tries what he -tried last year he won’t play more than a couple of periods, I guess.” - -“Pop, you must control that horrid temper of yours,” said Hugh gravely. - -Pop grinned. “I will. I’m not going to start anything, Duke, but if -Lambert gets gay he will run against something hard this time. Last -year I stood a lot of jolts from him, and Bonner saw it, and after -the game――they beat us seven to three――he said, ‘If I had caught you -slugging back at that fellow I’d have pulled you out, Pop.’ ‘Sure, I -knew that,’ I told him. ‘That’s the only reason he got away with it.’ -So the other day Bonner said, ‘You’ll play against Lambert again -next Saturday.’ And I said, yes, I was expecting to. And Bonner said, -looking away off into the distance, ‘He used you sort of roughly last -year, didn’t he?’ ‘He sure did,’ said I. ‘Well, we mustn’t have any -rough stuff, Pop, you know. If I catch you at it you’ll come out.’ ‘All -right,’ said I. ‘Are you likely to be looking?’ ‘Well, I’m not going to -keep my eyes on you all the time,’ he said, ‘and my sight isn’t what -it was when I was younger, but if the umpire should call my attention -to anything you’d have to come out, Pop. So if I were you I’d be a bit -careful!’ And I’m going to be.” - -Hugh laughed as Pop pushed him through the doorway of Number 20. “I’m -not going to miss that game, whatever happens,” he declared. “And if -they send me out to carry you off, Pop, I’ll be very gentle with you.” - -“Huh!” growled the other. “Carry _me_ off, eh? If Lambert doesn’t act -like a perfect gentleman he will be smiling in his sleep and listening -to the birdies singing about the middle of the second quarter!” - - - - -CHAPTER XIV - -BERT CONFIDES - - -Bert wasn’t very good company that week. In the evenings he made a -great pretence of studying, but Hugh’s stolen glances showed that his -friend’s thoughts were far from his books. At times Bert was as gay -as you please, but the gayety didn’t last long and while it did last -struck Hugh as being decidedly forced. For the most part Bert was -silent and morose. There were no more bickerings, but it was more to -Hugh’s credit than Bert’s, for the latter on more than one occasion -showed himself ready to quarrel on any provocation. As a result Hugh -was less at home than usual. He spent much time with Pop Driver and -Roy Dresser, over in Trow, and often dropped down the corridor to -hobnob with Cathcart before bedtime. There was one good thing about -the proctor and that was that you could always depend on finding him -in his room except when he had a recitation. Now and then Hugh visited -Nick, but Nick, unlike Cathcart, was almost never in. A couple of -evenings Hugh went over to Lit for awhile, but he had a feeling that -it was better taste to remain away from the society’s room until he -was a full-fledged member. He very much wished that Bert would confide -in him, so that whatever the trouble was they might talk it over like -sensible beings. Somehow, he didn’t believe that gridiron difficulties -quite explained his friend’s condition of mind. Instead, he shrewdly -suspected that Bert’s poor performances in practice of late were the -result of some secret worry and not the cause of it. All that Hugh -could be certain of was that studies had nothing to do with it, for, -while Bert was not a particularly studious fellow, he nevertheless -managed to maintain an average standing and was seldom in trouble with -the office. - -Bert went back to left half on Wednesday and stayed there until the -Rotan game. But even Hugh could see that he was having a hard time of -it to keep Siedhof out, and there were times when no one could have -criticized Coach Bonner had he pulled Bert back to the bench. Nick -confided to Hugh one day that Bert was frightfully off his game, adding -regretfully, “It’s got so I think twice before I give him the ball. -And Bonner’s getting on to me, too. Bert’s got to brace up Saturday or -Billy Siedhof will have his place. I’d like to know what the dickens -is wrong with him! The best thing for him would be to get Davy to lay -him off for three or four days. I suggested it to him yesterday and he -nearly bit my head off. Ted’s got his eye on him, too, and Ted’s so set -on winning this year that he’d fire his grandmother if she didn’t play -well! Look here, ’Ighness, why don’t you sort of drop a hint to Bert, -eh? I’ve tried it and only escaped death by instant flight.” - -“So you want me to die, eh? I’d do it, only――well, Bert gets mad so -easily now that it wouldn’t be much good.” - -“I guess it wouldn’t. Well, it’s his funeral and he will have to make -his own arrangements. Still, I hate to see him making such a mess of -things without any reason that anyone can see. What the dickens _is_ -the matter, Duke? Has he hinted anything to you?” - -“No, he hasn’t. All I know is――――” Hugh hesitated a moment. “I don’t -_know_ anything, but this morning when I got the mail and took it up -there was a letter for Bert from his father――I know the postmark and -the writing, you see――and one from Needham, and he didn’t like either -of them.” - -“That isn’t much of a clue. He doesn’t like anything just at present. -He doesn’t even like his fodder; doesn’t eat enough to keep alive. -Oh, well, it will blow over, I guess. And I’ve got enough to worry -about as it is, with a left side of the line that’s letting everything -pile through it. Saturday’s game is going to be a slaughter of the -innocents, Duke, you take it from me.” - -Hugh, like Nick, had his own troubles during the next few days, for -Coach Crowley tried him out at right end on the second, and as an end -Hugh had much to learn. Just why, after the first ten-minute fiasco, -Mr. Crowley sent him back again Hugh couldn’t understand. Hugh was -boxed time after time, while the first team backs romped past, allowed -himself to be drawn out of the play by the cunning Dresser until that -youth laughed when he caught Hugh’s anxious regard, and twice overran -the ball on kicks and felt like forty kinds of a fool. But Crowley -yanked him hither and thither, bellowed things that he couldn’t more -than half understand, threatened him with the bench regularly every -second play――and kept him at it. Hugh told himself Thursday afternoon, -as he made his way tiredly out of the field house and back to Lothrop, -that he had forever settled his chances with the second and that he was -not half sorry. But later, when he had eaten ravenously and rested, he -decided that he was sorry, awfully sorry, and he neglected his next -day’s Greek and mathematics while he frowningly studied a chapter -entitled “How to Play the End Positions” in a book on football. After a -half-hour of it he sighed and closed the volume. - -“The chap who wrote that may know all about it, but he doesn’t play -Dinny’s kind of football,” he reflected. “What I want is a book that -will tell me how to keep Roy and Franklin from making me look like a -guy! Still, I fancy Crowley won’t try me there again unless both Forbes -and Bellows and that other chap get killed.” - -But Hugh was wrong. The next day he was again back at the right end of -the line and again Ayer yelped at him and Coach Crowley bellowed and -Captain Myatt barked. But he did a little better today, just enough, -probably, to keep Mr. Crowley from having him instantly drawn and -quartered or immersed in boiling oil. Roy Dresser, who played left end -on the first, found it harder to entice his opponent away from the -play, and Franklin, at left tackle, discovered that he couldn’t always -fool him. Still, Hugh missed an easy tackle on one occasion and let -Nick slip past for a long gain while he ruefully picked himself from -the ground and scraped the mud from his face. Mr. Crowley almost ate -him for that and Neil Ayer evinced every desire to officiate with the -vinegar and salt. That was a bad day for the second, on the whole, for -the first ran up five scores in the twenty minutes of scrimmaging. -What troubled Hugh quite as much as his own defects was the sorry -performance put up by Bert on the enemy team. Bert fumbled miserably -twice, and, while he usually gained when he had the ball, played in -such a half-hearted manner that Coach Bonner was “on his neck” half the -time. In the last of the second period, when substitutions on each team -were numerous, Bert went out in favor of Siedhof. Hugh, too, severed -his connection with the game then, and Forbes got back to his own. - -On the bench, dragging the sleeves of his sweater across his chest, -Hugh ventured a remark to Bert, but the result was not encouraging. -Bert only growled. After that Hugh watched Forbes and earnestly tried -not to indulge in uncharitable thoughts. But he couldn’t help feeling -exultant when Vail and Bert swept around their left end, Vail carrying -the pigskin, and spurned the recumbent form of Forbes underfoot. That -was encouraging to Hugh. Even Forbes, it seemed, was by no means beyond -the cunning wiles of the enemy. Then Davy Richards, the trainer, who -had been up the field administering to a dislocated finger, hurried -indignantly back to the bench and sent them scurrying to the showers. - -That evening Hugh went back to the football book and discovered a -trifle more of sense in what he read. After all, he concluded, perhaps -the writer might last five minutes at end under Crowley. There was -no work for the first team regulars on Friday, but the second-string -players were lined up against the second for one twelve-minute -period and barely saved their bacon by slipping Derry across the -field unnoticed for a forward pass that brought a touchdown. Hugh -congratulated himself that that play took place on the other side and -that it was Bellows and not he who had to face the irate Mr. Crowley. -Three minutes later, on the second’s thirty-five, first team tried the -same trick on the other side and Hugh was fortunate enough to knock -the ball down before the opposing left end could get it. For that he -got a slap on the back from Myatt, a grin from Quarterback Ayer, and -a grunt from Coach Crowley. Not much in the way of reward, perhaps, -after all the scoldings he had suffered, but quite sufficient in Hugh’s -estimation. Even though he was informed a minute later that he was -the worst end that had ever donned canvas he refused to be dejected. -“That,” he told himself hearteningly as he watched the opposing -tackle and waited for the signal, “isn’t so. If I were as bad as that -I wouldn’t be here.” Then he was trying to block off a big tackle, -while Ayer’s voice shrilled “_In! In!_” and everything was excitedly -confused and glorious. After another moment Hauser yanked him to his -feet at the risk of dislocating his arm and Myatt shoved him into -position again, and Quinn was crying: “Third down! Four to go!” and -Ayer was barking his signals: “Manson back! 47――35――16!” - -The game ended when Manson’s punt had dropped into the arms of a -first-team back, and, muddy and warm and panting, they trotted up to -the field house. It was worth all the hard knocks and harder words -to feel the tingling rain of the hissing shower on naked body, and -afterwards, Hugh, deliciously weary, slowly pulled his clothes on and -went half asleep in the task of tying a shoelace and heard the babel of -voices as in a dream until Ben Myatt, scantily wrapped in a monstrous -bath towel, sank to the bench beside him with a deep sigh and murmured: -“They didn’t do much with our wing today, Ordway, did they?” - -And Hugh, emerging from his luxurious drowse, shook his head proudly -and answered: “Rather not!” After which, with a supreme effort of the -will, he finished tying that lace and got to his feet. Encountering -the eyes of Forbes he smiled kindly but pityingly. It was too bad that -Forbes was out of it. He was sorry for Forbes. But as events proved he -need not have been. - -He found Bert lying on the window-seat scribbling on a scratch-pad when -he got back to Lothrop. Perhaps the afternoon’s rest had benefited the -first-team player, for he was undeniably in better humor. - -“What did they do to you, Hugh?” he asked as he tore a sheet from the -pad and crumpled it in his hand. “Were they brutal?” - -“Hardly! They scored once, but they wouldn’t have pulled that if we -hadn’t been asleep. Derry took a pass about a foot from the side line -and ran thirty yards.” - -Bert laughed. “What were you fellows doing to let him get off like -that? You must have been asleep!” - -“I fancy we were,” acknowledged Hugh ruefully as he seated himself -in the Morris chair and stretched tired legs across the rug. “I was -awfully glad it wasn’t on my side.” - -“I’ll bet you were! Who played halves for them?” - -“Kinds was one. The other fellow I don’t know. Small and dark and -awfully quick and squirmy.” - -“Fearing. He’s going to make a bully half some day. He’s only a lower -middler.” There was a pause and then: “Say, Hugh,” Bert went on -carelessly, “you don’t happen to have any money you don’t want to use -for a while, I suppose?” - -“Money? How much?” - -“Oh, a beast of a lot; thirty dollars. Twenty would do, I guess. It -would do for a while, anyway.” Bert was much too casual to deceive the -other and Hugh looked regretful. - -“No, I haven’t more than six or seven, Bert. How soon would you have to -have it?” - -“Oh, it doesn’t matter. I only thought that if you did happen to have -it――――” - -“I know, but I fancy I could get it in a few days. Only thing is the -mater’s away just now.” He frowned thoughtfully. “What are you going to -do, Bert? Buy something?” - -“Sort of. It doesn’t matter a bit.” He yawned elaborately, tossed aside -the block of paper and sat up. “I’d have to have it by Monday, anyway. -Thanks just the same.” - -“Monday! But this is Friday, and――――” - -“I know. Don’t bother. I tell you it doesn’t matter, Hugh.” - -“Yes, but――if you want it――I say, now, I might telegraph, eh? But I -dare say you could get it from home as soon as I could.” - -“Well, the fact is――――” Bert hesitated. “My dad’s shut down on me and -won’t send me a cent beyond my allowance; and that’s only ten a month. -Of course, he will come around in time; maybe in a month; but I’ve got -to have――that is, I――I need twenty or thirty right now. I’ve sort of -promised a man to let him have it Monday. It――it’s a debt. An old one. -Things I bought last winter. Now he’s acting nasty and threatens to go -to faculty if I don’t settle up.” - -“But I thought we weren’t allowed to have any debts!” - -Bert shrugged. “We aren’t supposed to, except by special arrangement. -But most every fellow has things charged here in the village or over in -Needham. Of course you’re supposed to settle at the end of term, and I -meant to, but I was hard up and couldn’t. This Shylock bothered me all -summer with bills and letters and things and I told him I’d pay when I -got back. Well, I tried to, but dad got angry and said I was spending -too much money and I’d have to get along on my allowance. And he told -mother not to let me have it. So it’s a rotten outlook. Of course, if I -can’t pay him right now, I can’t, and that’s all there is to it. Only -if he _should_ go to Charlie I’d get fired as quick as a wink.” - -“That’s too bad,” said Hugh sympathetically. “We’ll simply have to -dig up the money somewhere. Toss me that block, will you? And your -pencil? Thanks. Now, let’s see. ‘Please send six pounds’――no, ‘thirty -dollars――――’” Hugh nibbled the pencil reflectively. “I’ve got about six -dollars, though, so I’ll just ask for twenty-five. Thirty’s enough, old -chap? You’re certain?” - -“Yes, but I don’t believe you’d better, Hugh. I don’t know, after all, -when I can pay it back. Maybe not until Christmas. I always get some -extra money then. I guess Fallow and Turner will wait.” - -“But there’d be no hurry about paying it back, Bert,” the other -protested. “And my mother won’t mind sending it the least bit. I -haven’t asked for any extra tin for a long time. You just sit tight, -old dear, and leave it to me. ‘Please send twenty-five dollars at once. -Important. Well. Love.’ That ought to do it. I say, though, maybe I’d -better ask mother to telegraph it, eh? Then she’d surely get it here -by Monday. Unless, that is, this doesn’t get to her in time. You see, -she went away to make some visits the other day. She ought to be in -Philadelphia tomorrow, but if she stayed over in New York――I fancy I’ll -send a couple of these just to be on the safe side. Bound to fetch her -that way, what?” - -“It’s awfully decent of you,” said Bert gratefully. “Hope I’ll be able -to do as much for you some day.” - -“I hope you won’t need to,” laughed Hugh. “How do I get these off? I -can telephone, can’t I?” - -“Yes, and they’ll charge it to the school and you can settle with the -office. I ought to offer to pay them myself, Hugh, but I’m just about -strapped. You could add it to the rest, though.” - -“Oh, rot! I’ll nip down and get them off now. If mother gets one of -these tomorrow morning we might hear by afternoon, eh?” - -When Hugh got back Bert was whistling merrily in his room. - -“They said they’d get them off right away,” Hugh announced from the -doorway. “So that’s all right, eh?” - -“Yes,” replied Bert. “And I hope―――― Well, anyway, I’m awfully much -obliged, Hugh. To tell the truth I’ve been scared to death for a week -for fear Fallow would turn up here at school.” - -“Well, it won’t matter if he does now,” responded Hugh cheerfully. -“Is――is that what’s been bothering you lately, old chap?” - -Bert nodded. “Did you notice it?” he asked, mildly surprised. - -“Did I notice it? Well, rather! You’ve been as――as grouchy as a bear.” - -“Have I?” asked the other penitently. “I guess I have. I’m sorry, Hugh. -I guess I was particularly nasty the other night, wasn’t I?” - -“Well, you weren’t exactly sweet-tempered,” chuckled Hugh. - -“I guess I was a regular beast. I wish you’d――er――forget it.” - -“All right. I fancy I lost my temper a bit too.” - -“I didn’t mean”――Bert spoke from behind a towel――“what I said about -rooming with you, Hugh. I――I’m sorry I was such a cad.” - -“Oh, don’t talk so sick,” muttered Hugh, backing away from the door. “I -didn’t pay any attention to it. Now shut up. I’ve got to wash.” - - - - -CHAPTER XV - -GRAFTON SCORES - - -The second team were not exempted from work on Saturday, rather to -their annoyance, and it wasn’t until the Rotan College game was nearly -half over that they were dismissed and allowed to flock over to the -first-team gridiron and crowd into seats at the end of the stand. - -Rotan had already scored once and the board announced “Grafton -0――Visitors 7.” - -Rotan was a small college, but it rather specialized in football and -its teams were invariably clever. Naturally the eleven blue-stockinged -youths averaged superior to Grafton in age, size, weight and -experience, and a defeat for the home team was a foregone conclusion. -Rotan had played a mid-season contest at Grafton regularly every fall -for six years, and in that period Grafton’s best performance was a -0 to 0 game four years previous. Rotan was a light team, as college -teams went, but it knew a lot of football and provided just the -experience that Coach Bonner desired for his charges at that period of -development. - -It was soon apparent to the second team members that their champions -were in for a severe drubbing today. Rotan was using a wide-open -formation and running her backs around the Grafton wings about as -she pleased, varying this pastime by an occasional short punt and -a quarter-back plunge at the center. The Rotan backs were tall and -heavy and hard to stop even when the home-team players were fortunate -enough to get to them. But it was the dazzling unexpectedness of the -attack that was principally accountable for the helplessness of the -Scarlet-and-Gray. Rotan’s forwards would string across the field -almost from side line to side line, her backs would retreat ten and -even twelve yards behind them, there would come a quick, short signal, -the ball would go back, the back-field would start on the run to one -side or the other, the ball would be caught by one or another of the -moving backs, Grafton would come plunging through and then――well, then -a blue-armed youth would be suddenly seen running blithely away with -the pigskin tucked to his body and not a Graftonian nearer than five -yards! How they did it not even the spectators could see. They seemed -to possess an absolutely uncanny ability to guess where the openings -were to be. Hanser, who was Hugh’s neighbor on one side, muttered -disgustedly when a Rotan half had taken the ball over three white lines -and placed it twenty yards from the home team’s goal. - -“Why doesn’t Ted play his ends deeper?” he asked. “What’s the idea of -tearing through and not knowing where the ball is? They can’t stop ’em -that way. What’s Bonner thinking of, I’d like to know.” - -“It looks to me,” said Bellows, from further along, “as if those -fellows started before the ball. You watch this time, Frank.” - -“I have watched, and they don’t. They’ve got it down pretty fine, -that’s all. That full-back does start before the ball, but he runs -back a little and he’s all right. Then when the ball is snapped he -straightens out again and half the time he doesn’t get into the play at -all. If one of those chaps would only fumble once it would be a cinch!” - -“They won’t, though. They’re wizards at it. Watch the way they put -Kinley out every time. Musgrave too.” - -“Yes, and look at our ends. Might as well be sitting on the bench for -all the good they do. If I was Ted I’d close the line up and make them -show their hand more. That was Neil Ayer. They’ll have to quit that -foolishness now, though. They won’t be able to run the ends inside the -twenty.” - -Rotan didn’t try to. She closed up and piled her backs at the left of -the Grafton line and made three past Kinley and Franklin. She repeated -the play for two more and then tried a skin-tackle play off Ted -Trafford that worked for a scant yard. With four to go on fourth down -her full-back dropped behind to the thirty yards and held his long arms -out. But he didn’t kick when the ball came to him. Instead, there was a -straight heave across the center and for a breathless instant it seemed -that the visitors had again scored. But the end, who had managed to -post himself behind the goal line, couldn’t hold the ball when it came -to him and the pigskin changed hands. - -Hugh watched interestedly then to see how Pop Driver and the -redoubtable Lambert were getting on. But the play was at the far end -of the field and details were beyond his vision. Two tries netted the -Scarlet-and-Gray less than five yards and Keyes punted high and far. -Roy Dresser nailed the Rotan quarter on the enemy’s thirty-eight and -once more Rotan started her open game. Four yards, eight yards, six -yards, and the linesmen scampered with the chain. So far Rotan had not -once tried a forward pass in the middle of the field, but when two -tries netted but seven yards, she gave a remarkable exhibition of her -ability in that department. The full-back went back to kicking position -and the ball sped fast and true to him. Then, with two backs forming -a tandem interference, he sped to the left. Tray, the Grafton right -end, failed to get through and it was Ted Trafford who almost upset -the runner well behind his line. But Ted’s tackle just failed and the -full-back stopped short, turned and heaved the pigskin far down the -field and to the right, where his own right end, quite uncovered, was -waiting. Nick Blake brought down the runner on his thirty-six yards -and won a salvo of applause. But after that there was no hope. Rotan -snaked through the Grafton left side, ran both ends, faked two kicks, -and finally, when the defenders fully expected a forward pass, massed -on the center of the line and piled through Musgrave for the second -touchdown. Rotan failed at goal and a moment later the half was at an -end. - -“Thirteen to nothing, eh?” muttered Hanser, his eyes on the scoreboard. -“I guess I can pretty nearly predict the final score, Ordway. About -thirty-two to a goose-egg, I reckon. Rotan ought to be able to score -three more touchdowns and kick at least one goal.” - -“Maybe we’ll buck up in the next half,” said Hugh hopefully. - -“We’ll have to do a lot of bucking,” grunted Hanser as he pulled -himself from the seat. “I’m going down to look for a fellow. Keep my -seat, will you?” - -School and village had turned out well for the game, and Rotan had -brought some half-hundred students with her, and so between halves -there was a good deal of cheering from both sides of the field, and the -visiting contingent sang a couple of songs and were politely applauded. -Then Hanser ploughed his way back to his seat, the teams trotted around -the corner of the stand and Rotan lined up for the kick-off. - -Bert Winslow, playing back with Nick, caught the ball and ran it a good -twelve yards before he was spilled. Then Grafton, evidently smarting -under the coach’s remarks in the field house, went at it with a new -vim. Unable in the first half to make much headway through the blue -line, she began to bear down hard on the ends and tackles. The first -attempt gained many yards, but it was across the field instead of down -it, and the pigskin came to a pause on the same line from which it had -started. But the next attempt proved more successful, for, with Keyes -carrying, the pigskin slipped around the Rotan left end for a first -down. Then Bert plowed through between center and right guard for four -and Roy Dresser, on an end-around play, added another five. Keyes -plugged through on the left for enough to make the distance. By this -time Grafton was shouting enthusiastically in the stand and the ball -was past the center of the field and in Rotan territory. - -Bert again made four on a delayed pass around the opponent’s right -wing, and once more Keyes, from kick formation, ran wide for a scant -gain. With four to go, Nick slipped straight ahead for two and then -Keyes faked a kick and made it first down. The ball was near Rotan -thirty-five yards now and visions of a touchdown floated before the -Grafton supporters. But when two tries had failed to yield more than -four yards and Keyes got a forward pass away to Roy Dresser and that -youth failed even to touch it, a punt was in order. Rotan caught on -her five yards but failed to gain. Then, since the play was now nearly -opposite his end of the stand, Hugh could watch the doings of Pop and -his adversary. And they were well worth noting. - -Lambert was a big, rawboned fellow with a shock of yellow-brown hair -which, since he had lost his head-guard, made a vivid note of color. -It was evident to Hugh that both Pop and Lambert were engaged in a -private and personal rivalry that was of absorbing interest to them. -And both youths looked as if they had had hard wear. Lambert sported -a strip of plaster across his nose like a saddle and Pop had one very -discolored eye. On offense Lambert played well outside of Pop Driver, -for the Grafton line was no longer attempting to stretch as wide as the -opponent’s, and, theoretically at least, it was Captain Trafford who -should have engaged the shock-haired left guard. But Hugh noted with -amusement that almost every time it was Pop who tried conclusions with -Lambert, often, as it appeared, most impolitely ignoring the center’s -efforts to interest him. Hugh couldn’t see anything that looked like -slugging, however, in spite of the visible marks of combat. It was -merely a very pretty struggle for supremacy, with the honors fairly -even, Hugh concluded. But a few minutes later, when Rotan, having -failed at a run around Roy Dresser’s end and lost three yards on a -forward pass that went awry, finally punted to midfield and the two -teams lined up close to the fifty-yard line, he began to have his -doubts. With the ball in Grafton’s possession and the lines playing -close and compact, Lambert and Pop faced each other at arm’s length. -On the first play, a direct plunge at the guard position on the left, -Hugh, watching Pop and his adversary rather than the runner, saw -the rivals clash together and Lambert’s fist, under cover of the -confusion, jerk upwards to Pop’s chin. He almost, he thought, heard -the thud of the blow. He saw Pop’s head go back and Pop reel for an -instant. Then the Rotan line buckled and the whistle shrilled. Hugh -turned to Hanser, but it was evident that the incident had escaped -him just as it had apparently escaped everyone else, including the -officials. - -“That chap Lambert there is slugging like the mischief,” said Hugh. - -“Is he?” Hanser chuckled. “He’d better not try it on with Pop Driver, -then. Pop’s sore with him, anyway, after last year’s game.” - -“I fancy he’s sorer now,” replied Hugh dryly, “for Lambert just drove -his fist under Pop’s chin.” - -“Lambert did?” asked Hanser incredulously. “Did you see him?” - -“Rather!” - -“Then it’s good-by, Lambert, all right, all right! Pop’ll get him -before long.” - -But the next play drew Pop further out and set him to boxing the -opposing tackle, and he and Lambert didn’t get together. Grafton lost -on an attempt at a skin-tackle play and Keyes went back to kicking -position. When the ball was passed from center Pop met the onslaught of -Lambert with all the weight of his body and bore him back far behind -his own line, to the annoyance of Lambert and the amusement of those -who watched. When the ball was sailing down the field Lambert was -still giving ground before Pop. Infuriated, he drew back his arm as -they separated and aimed a blow. But Pop ducked inside his guard and -Lambert’s fist shot harmlessly into air. For the space of two or three -seconds the two players stood there, their faces close, and Hugh could -see Pop’s lips move. Then, as a Rotan player shoved in between them, -Pop drew off and trotted down the field. Hugh wondered what he had said -to Lambert. - -Rotan came back with a vengeance and eight plays put the pigskin back -where it had been. Then another long forward pass was successful and -once more Grafton was defending her last ditch. This time the enemy -had harder work getting across that last line, but cross it she did -eventually, her full-back dragging half the defending team with him -as he won the final three yards on a plunge through Yetter, who had -taken Kinley’s place at left guard. It was a fine mêlée, that play, -a confused jumble of writhing, pushing, panting bodies, and when the -whistle blew half the twenty-two contestants were heaped in a gorgeous -pyramid above the ball. One by one they were pulled to their feet while -the referee squirmed under the pile and located the pigskin a good -six inches past the line. But they didn’t all get up, either, for one -player with blue-stockinged legs remained prone on the trampled sod, -and when, a moment later, they raised his head and swashed the big -sponge over his face Hugh caught sight of a mass of yellow-brown hair. - -“It’s Lambert!” he said awedly. - -Hanser nodded. “I told you Pop would get him,” he replied. “You can’t -put your fist in Pop’s face like that and get away with it――not unless -you smile when you do it! I guess Lambert’s through. Yes, there he -goes. Looks a bit groggy, doesn’t he? And unless I’m mistaken he’s -wondering whether the goal post fell on him or he was trampled by a -stone-crusher.” Hanser chuckled. “He just tried it once too often, -that’s all.” - -“I didn’t see anything,” said Hugh wonderingly. - -“Nor anyone else, I guess, except Lambert, and he saw stars. Pop waited -until he could do it right and get away with it. If Pop handed him one -you can bet he deserved it, for Pop Driver’s as clean a player as there -is.” - -Lambert, supported by a team-mate, was walking off the field, his legs -decidedly wobbly and his head showing an inclination to fall over on -his chest, and a substitute was being sent in. Then Rotan punted out, -caught neatly, and sent a clean kick over the bar for another point, -and the scoreboard changed its figures to 20. - -There was no more scoring in that period and none in the last -until well toward the end. Coach Bonner had sprinkled substitutes -liberally by that time, and Rotan, too, was represented by a number of -second-string players. The visitor evidently concluded that she had -piled up a sufficient score and was bent only on holding her adversary -where she was. She punted on second down frequently and managed to -keep the ball in Grafton territory until there were but six minutes -left to play. Then a fumble by a substitute Rotan half-back changed -the complexion of affairs, for Parker, who had taken Franklin’s place -at left tackle, shot through and dropped on the pigskin and it was -Grafton’s on the enemy’s thirty-two yards! - -Weston, second-choice quarter, dashed on with instructions and Nick -Blake yielded his head-guard and trotted off. In the stands, Grafton -sympathizers demanded a touchdown. The Scarlet-and-Gray began an -attack on the left of the Rotan center, where Lambert had yielded to -a substitute, and first Keyes and then Bert and Vail tore through for -short but substantial gains. Down to the twenty yards went the ball, -Rotan hurrying on two fresh players to bolster her line. A forward pass -gained four yards and Bert got six past left tackle. Weston carried -the ball on a delayed play straight through center for three more. But -on her seven yards, under the shadow of her goal, Rotan stiffened. Two -plunges at the left gained little, for the secondary defense stopped -the runner in each case, and Keyes dropped back to kick. Everything -favored a score then, but luck was against the home team, for Musgrave -passed miserably and all Keyes could do was make the catch safe and try -to gain a scant two or three yards before the enemy bowled him over. - -It was fourth down now, with twelve to go, and, after a hurried -conference, Weston again sent Keyes back. But although a try-at-goal -was to be expected, Rotan was not to be caught napping, and she placed -her back-field players to guard against a forward pass. But the ball -never reached Keyes. Instead, it slanted off to Bert and, while the -big full-back gave a clever exhibition of a youth kicking an imaginary -pigskin, Bert circled wide to his right, Vail leading the way, and -turned in sharply where Tray had cleared the hole. There was an instant -of doubt, for a Rotan back dived for the runner and almost stopped -him, but Bert squirmed on, wrested himself free, crossed the five-yard -line unchallenged, and plunged on in a confused medley of friends and -foes. He was almost across when the Rotan quarter-back smashed into -him. Bert faltered then and gave back, but the next instant the drive -behind him carried him on again above the enemy and buried him from -sight well over the goal line. - -Grafton waved and shouted and exulted, and continued to shout until -Weston was lying on the sod with the ball between his hands and Keyes -was cautiously measuring the distance and studying the cant. And -afterwards, when the ball had slanted off at a weird tangent, avoiding -the goal widely, Grafton shouted again, for what mattered it if Keyes -had missed? They had scored on Rotan, scored against a far bigger and -more experienced team, and the figures on the score-board were 6 and 20! - -Something that did matter, however, although few paid heed to it just -then, was the fact that Bert had laid where he had fallen until Davy, -beckoning two substitutes from the bench, had had him borne away to the -field house. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI - -A BROKEN RIB - - -On the whole, Grafton was satisfied with that game. She had made larger -scores against Rotan in the past, to be sure, but on those occasions -the college team had been undoubtedly weaker than she had been today. -Even Coach Bonner, who was not easily satisfied, acknowledged to Ted -Trafford that the Scarlet-and-Gray eleven had done well to hold Rotan -to three scores. Ted wanted credit, too, for the six points his team -had won, but Mr. Bonner shrugged his shoulders then. “There was too -much luck in that touchdown, Traf,” he said. “Defensively the team did -very well. Let it go at that!” - -Hugh climbed the stairs to the infirmary on the second floor of Manning -after supper that night to inquire about Bert, as to whose injury many -and various rumors were afloat. Mrs. Prouty, the matron, gave him -permission to see the patient and Hugh found the invalid in the act -of finishing a fairly substantial meal. Bert greeted the caller quite -cheerfully. - -“You needn’t tiptoe,” he laughed, “and you needn’t look like an -undertaker. I’m not dead yet, Duke. It’s only a cracked rib. The Doc -says I’ll be all right in a couple of weeks and can play before that if -I’ll wear a pad. Still, it’s kind of tough luck.” - -“I’m glad it’s no worse,” said Hugh. “They had all sorts of stories -about you at table tonight. You played a ripping――a corking game, old -chap.” - -“Well, I played better than I’ve been playing, that’s sure. It was a -dandy game and we did mighty well to hold them to twenty, Hugh, to say -nothing of scoring on them. Have you heard yet?” - -“Heard?” asked Hugh. - -“About the money, I mean.” - -“Oh, I say, I forgot all about it! There wasn’t anything in the box, -though. Would they put a telegram in the box?” - -“They usually telephone it to you. Maybe your mother didn’t get your -message in time, though. You think she’s at either one of those places, -don’t you?” - -“Why, yes. I ought to have received a letter from her today. She -almost always writes so that I get it Saturday. We’ll surely hear by -Monday, Bert.” - -“Well, I hope so. If that fellow wants to make trouble for me he can do -it to the King’s taste.” - -“He won’t, though, if he knows he’s going to get his money, eh? You sit -tight, old chap, and don’t worry.” - -“Oh, I’m tight, all right,” answered Bert, with a grin. “They’ve got -me strapped and plastered and bandaged until I can hardly breathe! I’m -coming back Monday; Doc said I might. This isn’t so bad, though, and -Mother Prouty’s a corker.” - -“You’ve got it all to yourself, haven’t you?” asked Hugh, viewing the -two empty cots. “If you get lonesome I’ll develop a mysterious illness -and get lugged over here. I dare say I’d better be toddling along now, -though. Do they let you read?” - -“Why not? I don’t have to use my ribs to read, do I? By the way, I wish -you’d drop around tomorrow morning and bring my geometry and Greek -reader. And you might fetch a paper, too. Good night.” - -In the corridor below Hugh encountered Pop, a rather damaged looking -Pop, with a puffy green and purple left eye and a long scratch on his -nose. When he learned that Hugh had just come from the infirmary he -turned back. - -“I guess I won’t go up then,” he said. “How is he? What’s the damage?” - -Hugh told him as they left the building and turned their steps toward -Trow, and Pop expressed relief. “Some fellow said he’d broken his -collar-bone. A rib isn’t so bad. Davy’ll have him bundled up and -playing in a few days. What did you think of the game?” - -“A little bit of all right, Pop! And, I say, you certainly did for -Lambert, what?” - -“Lambert? No.” - -Hugh laughed. “Oh, no; you didn’t wallop the beggar, not half! Served -him jolly right, of course; I saw him give you that punch under the -chin, you know. I wish, though, you’d tell me what you said to him that -time you two had your heads together.” - -“Do you? Well, I said, ‘Lambert, if you make me lose my temper you’ll -go home in an ambulance. Now quit it!’ He did, too. We didn’t have any -trouble after that.” - -“You mean you didn’t! _He_ looked jolly well troubled when they took -him off. Hanser said you’d get him.” - -“Sorry to disappoint Hanser,” replied Pop, “but as a matter of fact I -didn’t mix it up with Lambert once.” - -“You didn’t? Then what happened to him?” - -“He told me afterwards――I saw him in the field house――that someone -kicked him in the head. He had rather a bad bruise.” - -“Oh!” murmured Hugh. “Well, I fancied――you know you said――――” - -“Yes, I know I did. But I got to thinking it over. You see, I wanted to -play the game through, for one thing, and if I’d been caught slugging -I wouldn’t have. And then, too, I――well, I sort of wanted to see if I -_could_ keep my temper. After all, I guess the rough-stuff doesn’t get -you anything.” - -“Rather looks as though Hanser and I misjudged you, Pop,” laughed Hugh. -Then, soberly: “I say, though, I’m rather glad you didn’t. Of course he -deserved something, but――somehow――if you know what I mean――――” - -“I get you, Steve! As you’d probably say, it isn’t cricket. Coming up?” - -“Thanks, no, not tonight. I’m rather keen on writing a letter to the -governor. Good night, Pop.” - -The letter wasn’t written until the next day, though, for Cathcart -dropped in to inquire after Bert and remained to talk awhile, and -before he left Nick and Guy arrived on a similar mission. Nick was -in extremely high spirits, in spite of the fact that two of his -fingers were bound together with surgeon’s tape, and, after Cathcart -had removed his restraining presence, became so hilarious and playful -that Guy and Hugh were forced to improvise a straight-jacket from a -pair of Bert’s discarded football pants. Subsequently, Nick reclined, -neatly trussed, on the window-seat and proclaimed: “I am but mad -north-northwest: when the wind is southerly I know a hawk from a -handsaw!” Then he began on Hood’s “The Bridge of Sighs,” and, reaching -the lines, - - “Mad from life’s history, - Glad to death’s mystery, - Swift to be hurled―― - Anywhere, anywhere, - Out of the world!” - -he rolled himself off the cushion and reached the floor with a most -terrific bump. After that they gagged him and sat on him. - -Sunday turned out frosty and clear, with a blue, blue sky overhead and -scarlet and russet leaves rustling along the paths. In the afternoon -Hugh and Pop ascended Mount Grafton to the observatory on top and held -their caps while they climbed the winding stairway and looked for -miles over the world. Then they found a sunny crevice in the great -pink granite ledge beneath and sat there for a long time, looking -down on the roofs of the school buildings below them, and discussed -many weighty matters. It was not until, comfortably tired and very -hungry, they returned to school that Hugh got that letter written. When -he had finished it, however, and it lay sealed and addressed on the -table, instead of taking it downstairs and dropping it in the mail-box -he slipped it between the leaves of a book and put the book in the -table drawer. In the morning he would hand the letter directly to the -postman, a custom that puzzled Bert and moved him to sarcasm. - -There was no reply to his telegram the next forenoon and Hugh was -troubled on Bert’s account. The latter moved back to Lothrop and -attended classes as usual that morning, but, perhaps because he was -uncomfortably bandaged and it hurt him when he took a deep breath, -or perhaps because he was worried over the non-arrival of that -money-order, he was in rather a cantankerous mood. Hugh dispatched -another message to his mother before he went to the field in the -afternoon, addressing it to his home on the chance that she had changed -her plans and returned to Shorefields. Fortunately, no irate creditor -put in an appearance, and Bert took hope and accompanied Hugh to the -field to watch practice. - -Hugh found a surprise awaiting him. They had, it seemed, transferred -Hanser to the first team and, since that left the second long on ends -and short on half-backs, Hugh was informed that he was to substitute -Brunswick or Peet behind the line. “Never played half, have you?” -inquired Mr. Crowley brusquely. “Thought not. Well, keep your eyes open -and study the signals. You’re likely to get a chance to show what you -can do today or tomorrow.” - -The chance came that afternoon, for Peet, who had taken Hanser’s place, -failed to satisfy the coach and was pulled out five minutes after the -game with the first team began. Hugh, watching Mr. Crowley anxiously, -was half inclined to hope that his choice would fall on the other -substitute, Boynton, for Hugh wasn’t at all convinced of his ability -to play half-back. Possibly, however, the coach wanted to know just -how bad Hugh would prove, for after a quick glance along the bench he -motioned to him. - -“Hi, Ordway! Get in there at right half. Use your head, now, and don’t -ball up your signals. Tell Ayer to watch their guard-tackle hole on the -left. Get it? On the _left_!” - -Well, on the whole, or “taking it by and large,” as Pop would have -said, Hugh didn’t do so badly that afternoon. He did get his signals -mixed once and he soon proved himself much too light for line-bucking. -But on several occasions when the play was outside of tackle he made -good gains, once reeling off fifteen yards before he was thumped to the -ground by Vail. And on defense he rather did himself proud, working -very smoothly with Forbes, who was back at right end, and Spalding, -the right tackle, when the play came that way. He made the mistakes of -ignorance and he once fumbled a two-yard pass from the quarter, saving -the situation, however, by recovering the ball for a slight loss of -ground. Mr. Crowley cornered him in the dressing room after practice -and told him of a great many things that he had done wrong and advised -him to brush up on the signals. And when the coach had taken himself -off, growling, Captain Myatt salved his wounds with a smile and a “Good -work, Ordway! Hang to it!” - -There was one thing that that afternoon’s experience did for Hugh, in -any event. It convinced him that he didn’t want to play end again and -that he did want to play half-back. He would go on being an end this -year, he told himself, but next fall he would go out for a half-back -position and refuse anything else. Playing end wasn’t bad fun, but -there was something about having the ball in the crook of your elbow or -snuggled to your stomach and pitting your wits and speed and strength -against the enemy, that was ten times more exciting. Of course, as soon -as Bert got into harness again Hanser would be returned to the second -and Hugh would be back elbowing Forbes for the outpost position. But -next year! - -He said all this to Bert that evening, being far too full of the -afternoon’s adventure to want to study, and Bert, while granting that -there was no comparison in his mind between playing half-back and end, -advised Hugh to stick to his trade. “You didn’t do half badly, Duke, -for you’re certainly just about as quick as they make ’em. Sort of -reminded me today of a cat, the way you jumped off and squirmed around -there. But you’re not heavy enough to keep going, you see. It’s the -foot or two feet or yard that a fellow makes after he’s tackled that -counts. If it was all around-the-end work you’d be rather a star, but -it isn’t. Down near goal you’d have to put your head down and buck the -line, old man. And someone like Ted or Musgrave would stop you so soon -you’d go backward. You stick to being a good end, at least until you’ve -put on weight and grown a bit.” - -“I say, I’m not so awfully much smaller than you are,” protested Hugh. - -“You’re twenty pounds lighter than I am, at least, and you’re fully -two inches shorter. You――you’ve got to have punch when you go into the -line, Hugh. See what I mean?” - -“Oh, yes, I see what you mean,” responded the other slowly, “but that -chap Zanetti isn’t awfully big and heavy, is he? And he played a mighty -good game today when he was in.” - -“Jack Zanetti’s been at it four years, and he knows how to use what -weight he has got. So will you when you’ve been playing that long. Now -dry up and let me bone this beastly French rot. You’re worse than a -magpie!” - -“All right, old dear. But, I say, Bert, do you think that by next -year――――” - -“For the love of mud, shut up! I want to get this done and hit the hay. -If you had a rib that hurt like the dickens every time you moved or -took a breath――――” - -Bert subsided with mutters and silence reigned. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII - -FRIENDS IN NEED - - -Again, on Tuesday morning, there was no telegram, and when Hugh, at -Bert’s suggestion, called up the telegraph office in the village he was -informed that no message addressed to him had been received. Hugh was -by now at a loss to explain his mother’s silence and Bert was anxious -and a little bit unpleasant, intimating that Hugh had promised more -than he could perform. - -“I’m sorry I put you to so much trouble,” he said stiffly. “If I’d -known, I might have got hold of the money somewhere else, I suppose.” - -“You haven’t put me to any trouble, Bert, and I don’t understand why my -mother hasn’t answered. The only explanation I can think of is that she -has sort of dodged those telegrams, if you know what I mean. She might -have left New York before the one I sent there was delivered and gone -back to Shorefields. Then she may have gone to Philadelphia Sunday――――” - -“I should think she’d stay in one place a minute,” Bert complained. -“Of course, if Fallow doesn’t come nosing around here before――――” - -“I say, I might send a message to Bowles, eh? Tell him to wire mother’s -present address. I’ll do it at noon if we don’t hear before that. But -it certainly does seem as if mother must have got one of my telegrams -by this time!” - -Bert couldn’t suggest anything better to do, and they went across -to School Hall for English 4. It was a full morning for them both -and neither had time to think a great deal about that telegram until -they were through with Greek at twelve. Then Hugh again called up -the telegraph office, received the same answer to his inquiry, and -forthwith dispatched a message to Bowles at Shorefields, demanding an -instant answer. - -“That ought to be delivered by two o’clock,” said Hugh, “and if he -answers right away we should hear by four.” - -“That’s all right as long as Fallow doesn’t take it into his head to -come over here and raise a row today. I promised I’d settle up with him -yesterday, you see. Maybe he will give me another day or two, though. -He would, don’t you think?” - -“I’d say he should let you know before he went to faculty about it,” -said Hugh. “If he sits tight until tomorrow I dare say we’ll have the -coin for him.” - -“That’s what we thought Saturday,” responded Bert morosely. “Well, we -can’t do anything now but wait and see what happens, I guess. I’m going -to dinner.” - -Hugh had a conference with Mr. Rumford at two-thirty and when he got -back to Lothrop it was nearly half-past three and Bert had gone down to -the field. Hugh dumped his books, paused to scribble a memorandum, and -then, changing coat and waistcoat for a sweater, started for the door. -Simultaneously there was a knock on the half-opened portal and Hugh -swung it open, revealing on the threshold a very stout man with very -red cheeks and a very luxuriant mustache. That mustache so fascinated -Hugh for a moment that he merely stood there and gazed. It was -extremely black and it stuck out two or three inches on each side of a -big, round face. Hugh wondered if it was real. Then the visitor spoke -and Hugh realized that he had been rudely staring for several seconds. - -“Mr. Winslow live here?” asked the caller in a voice that seemed to -come from well down toward the lower button of the black-and-white -plaid waistcoat. - -“Yes, sir.” Hugh removed his gaze from the mustache with difficulty. -The man moved forward and Hugh drew aside. By that time his wits were -at work and he closed the door behind the visitor. “Sit down, won’t -you?” - -“Thanks,” rumbled the man. “My name’s Fallow; Fallow and Turner, over -to Needham. Guess you know me, eh? Or ain’t you Winslow?” - -“Mr. Fallow? Oh, yes, to be sure. I――I’ve heard of you, Mr. Fallow.” - -“Guess you have,” said Mr. Fallow dryly. “A good many times. Well, -what’s the verdict?” - -“Why――er――I say, take a seat, won’t you? Try the big chair there. Now, -sir, what can I do for you?” - -For answer Mr. Fallow, grunting, plunged a hand inside his coat and -drew forth a folded paper which he waved slowly in front of him. - -“For me?” asked Hugh interestedly. “What――is it?” - -“Say, you’re a cool one,” remarked the visitor in unwilling admiration. -“Bless me if you ain’t. Well, this is a bill for thirty-four dollars -and sixty cents, son. I ought to add interest to it, too, I guess, but -I ain’t aiming to be hard on you. You all ready to pay it?” - -Hugh shook his head regretfully. “I’m sorry to say I’m not, sir.” - -“Oh, you ain’t?” - -“No. You see, Mr. Fallow, I’ve been expecting some money ever since -Saturday and it hasn’t come. I’m awfully sorry. It’s sure to be here -tomorrow and――――” - -“Now look here, you!” Mr. Fallow scowled darkly. “That’s the same -song-and-dance you’ve been giving me ever since last spring, and I’m -sick of it. I ain’t in business for my health!” - -“Certainly not, sir. Not that you don’t look jolly healthy, of course, -but――――” - -“Say, don’t get fresh,” growled the other. “Never you mind how I look. -All you got to do is to hand over my money. If you can’t do that――――” - -“But I can, sir, only I can’t do it today. Tomorrow――――” - -“Yah! You promised it yesterday, didn’t you? Well, I expect folks to -keep their word, see? Tomorrow won’t do, son. You’ve had time enough.” -He looked about the room sarcastically. “Living in quarters like -these, eh, and can’t pay your just debts! Well, we’ll see what Mr. -Thingamabob, your principal, has got to say about it.” Mr. Fallow stood -up and with difficulty thrust the bill back into his pocket. - -“But, I say,” exclaimed Hugh in alarm, “you’re not really going to do -that?” - -“You watch me!” - -“Well, but――I say, now, look here a sec! I give you my word that bill -will be paid this week, and――――” - -“You said tomorrow.” - -“I’m almost certain it will be tomorrow, but my――my mother is away from -home and I fancy she hasn’t got my telegram, don’t you know.” - -“Well, tomorrow ain’t going to do――don’t you know! I’ve given you time -enough on this, Winslow. You ain’t――you ain’t square with me. That’s -what I don’t like. You’ve promised and promised. You begged me not to -send the bill to your folks, and I didn’t. But times are hard and we -need the money. What’s more we intend to have it.” Mr. Fallow moved -ponderously toward the door. “I’m square with folks that are square -with me, son; no one can’t say I don’t treat ’em fair; but I ain’t no -one’s fool.” - -“No, indeed, sir; anyone could see that, Mr. Fallow.” Hugh was thinking -hard. “I say, would――would six dollars be any use to you?” - -Mr. Fallow snorted. “It would not! Nor sixteen dollars! Nor――nor -twenty-six dollars! I want thirty-four dollars and sixty cents. That’s -what I want and that’s what I intend to have. If you can pay me that -now, all right. If you can’t, say so. I can’t waste any more time here.” - -“Well, but, that’s a lot of money to get hold of on short notice,” said -Hugh ingratiatingly. “Suppose now I scrape up, say, twenty dollars, -eh? And then pay the rest this week.” - -Mr. Fallow hesitated and frowned deeply. “If you’ve got twenty why -can’t you get hold of the rest?” he asked finally. - -“I haven’t got twenty, sir. I’ve got only six. But I fancy I may be -able to scrape up the rest if you’ll give me a few minutes.” - -“Well――I――all right.” Mr. Fallow reseated himself. “But, mind you, I -won’t take a cent less than twenty. And I ain’t going to stick around -here all afternoon, either. You get a move on, son.” - -“I’ll be as quick as I know how, sir. You’ll find some magazines on -that table there. Just――just make yourself comfortable, sir.” - -Mr. Fallow grunted. - -A minute later there was a sharp knock on Cathcart’s door and in -response to his “Come in!” Hugh entered. - -“Hello, Hugh,” greeted the occupant of the window-seat. “Why aren’t -you――――” - -“Don’t ask any questions, Wal! I want some money. All you can spare, -please. I’ll pay you back before the end of the week.” - -“Money!” Cathcart blinked. “Why, the fact is――――” - -“I know! You’re going to tell me you’ve got only a couple of dollars. -That’s all right, old chap. I’ll take it, and thank you.” - -“I’ve got about five, I guess, Hugh. What――what’s up?” - -“I’ll tell you later. I’m in a beast of a hurry. Dig it up, will you? -Better keep out fifty cents or so, because I might not be able to hand -it back before Friday or Saturday.” - -Cathcart’s countenance expressed bewilderment as he floundered to his -feet and crossed to the dresser. But he obediently handed over the -contents of a pigskin purse. - -“Ripping!” said Hugh approvingly. “How much? Five and a quarter? That’s -eleven. I say, keep a note of the amount, will you? Shall I take it -all?” - -Cathcart nodded. “I shan’t need any, I guess. Only,” he added -plaintively, “I wish you’d tell me what it’s all about!” - -“Later,” replied Hugh, making for the door. “Thanks awfully, old chap! -So long.” - -As he had feared, Guy Murtha was not at home, and, after making certain -that Guy had not conveniently left any change lying around in sight, -Hugh hurried out again. Ned Stiles roomed in Trow, and thither Hugh -went. He didn’t know Stiles very intimately, but he wasn’t going to let -that fact interfere if only he was so fortunate as to find Stiles in. -But it was a gorgeous afternoon and Stiles, like most everyone else, -was out. Disappointed, Hugh paused in the silent corridor and tried to -think of someone else to apply to. But since most of his acquaintances -were engaged in some form of athletics and would consequently be away -from their rooms the problem suddenly looked extremely difficult. Then -he remembered the office. He had never attempted to get money there -and didn’t know how his request would be received, but he clattered -down the stairs and sought out the secretary, Mr. Pounder, a gentleman -whom he had spoken to but once and then but briefly, the occasion -being the payment of Hugh’s fall term tuition fee. Mr. Pounder was -small, light-haired and blue-eyed, sharp-featured and dry of voice. He -received Hugh’s request coldly. - -“Without instructions from parent or guardian, Ordway, we do not -advance sums of money to students, and in your case I believe that we -have not been――ah――so instructed. I am correct, am I not?” - -“Yes, sir, but I need some money very badly, and there isn’t time to -get it from home, and I thought maybe you’d be willing to make a loan. -I could pay it back by Saturday surely.” - -“I have no authority, Ordway. You might see Dr. Duncan or Mr. Rumford. -Possibly――――” - -“I don’t believe there’s time. Where could I find Dr. Duncan?” - -“I presume they will inform you at his house where he is to be seen, -Ordway.” - -“Oh, piffle! All right, sir.” Hugh vanished, leaving a surprised and -somewhat shocked Mr. Pounder in possession of the room. - -Turning into the main corridor Hugh very nearly collided with Mr. -Crump, the janitor. Mr. Crump was a sharp-visaged man of some fifty -years, with a leathery face, a pair of gimlet-like eyes behind -old-fashioned steel-rimmed spectacles, and a thin, querulous voice. He -was not popular with the fellows, nor can it be said that the fellows -were popular with Mr. Crump. In Mr. Crump’s belief the students spent -their waking hours devising ways to create dirt and dust in the School -Hall. Hugh, however, knew little of the janitor. He had seen him about -the building occasionally, had sometimes nodded to him, and had learned -his name. Just now Mr. Crump was a possible friend in need, and Hugh, -paying no heed to the man’s grumbles, cut off his advance. - -“I say, Mr. Crump,” he exclaimed eagerly, “have you any money?” - -Mr. Crump, suspecting that he was to be made the butt of some silly -joke, responded shortly and pithily. - -“No! Get out o’ my way!” - -“Haven’t you, honestly? I’m in a beastly fix, Mr. Crump. I’ve got to -get hold of five dollars somewhere. I tried Mr. Pounder and he wouldn’t -loosen up a bit. I’d pay it back by Saturday, cross my heart!” - -Mr. Crump grasped his broom more firmly, straightened his bent back and -observed the boy with pardonable amazement. As long as he had been with -the school, and that was many years, no one had ever tried to borrow -money from him. Perhaps it pleased his sense of importance or perhaps -something of earnestness in Hugh’s voice appealed to him, for after a -moment’s scrutiny he asked quite mildly: - -“What’s your name?” - -“Ordway.” - -“Oh, you’re the English boy, be you? And you’ve got to have five -dollars, have you? Ain’t any of your friends got that much?” - -“I dare say, but they’re all over at the field, and I’ve got to have -the money right off, within a few minutes. I can’t explain, but that’s -the way it is. I say, I’d be jolly glad to pay you six for the loan of -five until Saturday.” - -“Would you now? I want to know! How do I know I’d get it, eh?” Mr. -Crump chuckled. “Five dollars is a sight of money for a poor man to -risk.” - -“But I tell you I’d pay you back!” - -“Oh, you do, eh? I been told things before in my life, young man.” - -Hugh flushed and turned away. “If you think my word isn’t good I don’t -care to borrow, thanks,” he said offendedly. - -“Well, hold on now! I ain’t said I wouldn’t, have I? What you so het up -about?” - -“I don’t like to have you insinuate that I don’t keep my word, that’s -all.” - -“Tut, tut! Goodness me, but you’re a queer one! Five dollars, you said? -Four wouldn’t do you?” - -“I’ve got to make up twenty, Mr. Crump, and I’ve got eleven. I’ll be -glad of four, of course, but I don’t know where I’m to get the rest. -I tell you!” Hugh pulled his gold watch from his pocket and placed -it, with the attached fob, in Mr. Crump’s hand. “That’s worth over a -hundred. Would you very much mind letting me have nine dollars on it? -I’d redeem it Saturday at the latest. I say, do that for me, will you?” - -Mr. Crump looked admiringly at the watch. “My land, but that is a nice -watch, ain’t it now? And a coat-of-arms on it, too! Worth a hundred, -be it? I want to know! Well, I dare say it is. Here.” - -He handed it back and Hugh accepted it disappointedly. “You won’t?” -asked the boy. “If I shouldn’t come for it you could easily get fifty -for it.” - -“Could I now? Sakes alive, young man, I ain’t no pawnbroker! My folks -has lived in this county for a hundred and seventy years. One of my -ancestors fought with General Putnam; fought against you British he -did. Here, you wait just where you be a minute. I’ll be back.” - -Mr. Crump leaned his broom against the wall and shuffled away down the -corridor until he came to the basement door. After that Hugh could hear -his footsteps clap-clapping down the stairs. Then there was silence, -save for the clatter of a typewriter in the office at the end of the -hall. Hugh looked at his watch and made a grimace of despair. It was -nearly four o’clock! He wondered whether Mr. Crowley would put him to a -lingering death or would dispatch him quickly and mercifully! Then Mr. -Crump came back. - -“Here you be, young man,” he said importantly. “There’s nine dollars.” -He counted them slowly into Hugh’s hand, two twos and five ones, all -very soiled and creased. “I’m expecting you to pay it back to me like -you said, because―――― But I know you will,” he ended hurriedly. “I -ain’t doubting your word, mind. I can see you ain’t like the rest of -these scallywags here. Maybe it’s because you’re an Englishman and have -more sense of decency.” - -“I say, I can’t begin to tell you how――how grateful I am,” said Hugh. -“It’s perfectly ripping of you, Mr. Crump, and I’m no end obliged! I’ll -pay it back to you just as soon as ever I can, by Saturday surely. -Thanks awfully!” - -“You’re welcome, sir, you’re quite welcome. If it comes to that, I -guess the losing of it wouldn’t cripple me none. There’s――hm――I got a -bit more put away in the bank.” - -Hugh found Mr. Fallow standing in front of the photograph of Lockley -Manor, his derby hat clasped behind him and an unlighted cigar -protruding from under one end of that enormous mustache. - -“Get it?” he asked as Hugh closed the door behind him. - -“Yes.” Hugh pulled the money from his pocket and laid it on the table. -Then he went into his room and returned with his own contribution of -six dollars. “There it is, Mr. Fallow. Twenty dollars. You might count -it, eh? And I dare say you’d better give me some sort of a receipt if -you don’t mind.” - -“Quite a business man, you are,” chuckled Mr. Fallow, seemingly -restored to good humor by the money. “I’ll credit the amount on the -bill here. There you are. Balance due, fourteen and sixty. Sorry to -have to seem a bit pushing, Mr. Winslow, but in my business――――” - -“By the way, what is your business?” asked Hugh. - -“Eh? My business? Well, don’t you know what you bought from me?” - -Hugh shook his head. “I buy so much, you see,” he replied carelessly. -“Boots, wasn’t it?” - -“Clothes. A blue serge suit and a pair of flannel trousers. It’s set -down there on the bill. Look here, you don’t mean that you’ve forgotten -getting them, do you?” - -“Quite.” Hugh yawned. “One buys a good many suits in the course of a -year, you know.” He moved toward the door. “Sorry to hurry you, Mr. -Fallow, but I’ve got an appointment.” - -“Oh, that’s all right.” The man pocketed the money and buttoned his -coat across that gaudy vest. “But, look here now, we don’t want any -hard feelings over this――this little matter. We’d be sorry to lose your -trade, Mr. Winslow, we would so. You don’t need to hurry none about -that little balance. Just you take your time. And if you want anything -in our line just you let us know. Always glad to serve you. I guess -now, that suit you’re wearing the trousers of didn’t come from us, did -it?” - -“No, it happened to come from London; Ponderberry’s.” - -“Is that so?” Mr. Fallow bent and examined the trousers with vast -interest. There was a trace of awe in his voice as he nodded and -whispered: “Nice stuff, nice, nice!” - -“You’ll get the rest of that this week, Mr. Fallow,” said Hugh, opening -the door invitingly. “As I said before, I’m sorry to hurry you, but――――” - -“That’s all right, Mr. Winslow, quite all right. I understand.” Mr. -Fallow moved ponderously but quickly to the door. On the threshold, -however, he stopped and fumbled in a pocket. “Just so you won’t forget -us, Mr. Winslow,” he said with a smirk. “Our card, sir. We’ve got a -nice line of woolens just arrived. Glad to have you look ’em over any -time.” - -“Thanks awfully. Good day.” Then, with the door half-closed, Hugh -added: “Oh, I say, Mr. Fallow!” - -“Yes?” - -“I wish you’d tell me something if you don’t mind. It’s been bothering -me a bit.” - -“Why, certainly, anything I can tell you――――” - -“Yes; well, is that real or does it――er――come off?” - -“What?” inquired Mr. Fallow blankly. - -“Why, that――that――” Hugh made a vague gesture――“that thing on your lip.” - -“Oh! Ha, ha, very good!” Mr. Fallow laughed wanly. “Good――good -afternoon.” - -“Good afternoon,” said Hugh sweetly. - -Afterwards, hurrying across the green, he said to himself: “It was -a bit caddish, and no mistake, but after what he put me through he -certainly owed me something!” - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII - -BENCHED - - -Hugh remembered his reception by Mr. Crowley for many days. Practice -was just over when he reached the scene and the two teams were resting -for a few minutes before the scrimmage. Mr. Crowley, looking fiercer -and more disreputable than usual in the old gray trousers and faded -green sweater he wore, was talking to Coach Bonner near the bench. -Hugh had every desire in the world to avoid speech with him, but he -disdained sneaking to the bench and so his appearance was quickly noted. - -“Ordway!” Mr. Crowley left the first-team coach and walked to meet the -culprit. “Let me see you a minute.” - -“Yes, sir,” replied Hugh, very, very meekly. - -“Aren’t you a trifle late?” asked the coach sarcastically. - -“Yes, sir, I am. I’m very sorry, but something unforeseen――――” - -“Yes, yes, of course! Grandmother died, maybe. Too bad, too bad!” - -“No, sir, I――someone called――――” - -“And you had to stay and serve afternoon tea? What a bore!” Mr. -Crowley’s bantering tone ceased abruptly. “Look here, Ordway, practice -is at three-thirty. I told you when I let you come back that you were -to stick. You’re not keeping your part of the agreement. Unless you -were detained by the faculty, in which case you should have notified -me, you have no excuse whatsoever. I don’t want any fellows here who -can’t be on time. Life’s too short to worry about them. Understand -that?” - -“Yes, sir. It won’t happen again, Mr. Crowley.” - -“It certainly won’t!” growled the coach. He held Hugh with a baleful -gaze for a moment. Then: “What I ought to do with you is to tell you -to clear your locker, Ordway. Got any good reason to advance why I -shouldn’t?” - -“Why, yes, sir. I didn’t intend to be late and I won’t be late again. -There was no way of notifying you or I’d have done it. I――I’m no end -sorry, sir.” - -“Hm; regrets aren’t reasons, Ordway. Well, all right. But I’m hanged if -I know why I’m bothering with you anyway. I don’t need you. What the -dickens Hanrihan wished you on me for, I don’t know! Do you?” - -Hugh wisely remained silent. - -“Well, I shan’t want you this afternoon. You take the bench and watch. -See if you can get your signals straightened out. Try to forget your -social interests for a while!” - -Hugh walked to the bench very conscious of the amused expressions on -the faces of his team-mates. He tried to look unruffled, but he knew -that his cheeks were red, and when Brewster Longley, tossing a ball in -his hands, met Hugh’s glance and drawled, “Hello, Royalty, old top! -Was the blighter rude to you, what? My word, we’ll cut his bloomin’ -acquaintance!” Hugh felt angry enough to fight. But he only squirmed -in between Brunswick and Hersum and attentively studied his hands. -Then the coaches called and the benches emptied, and Hugh, with a -half-dozen other unfortunates, snuggled miserably into his sweater and -philosophically tried to accept his fate. - -But it was hard luck, he thought, and while he couldn’t conscientiously -blame Mr. Crowley for being wroth, it did seem to him that the “calling -down” was punishment enough without dooming him to sit there on -the bench and lose a whole afternoon’s work. So absorbed was he in -self-pity and a mild resentment that he quite forgot about Mr. Fallow -and his recent activities and was only reminded of them when someone -took the seat beside him and a sympathetic voice inquired: “Isn’t he -going to let you play, Hugh?” Hugh glanced up and shook his head. “Not -today, Bert.” - -“Too bad! He’s a regular Turk, anyway. What made you late?” - -Hugh smiled. “Mr. Fallow.” - -“_What?_ You don’t mean――――” - -“Yes, I do, old chap. He came to the room just as I was starting over -here.” - -“Great Scott! Did――did the money come? But of course it didn’t! Was he -mad? What did he say? He didn’t――didn’t go to Charlie, did he?” Bert’s -anxiety was so great that Hugh, although tempted, didn’t have the heart -to prolong his suspense. - -“It’s all right, Bert. I paid him twenty dollars and he’s gone home -quite satisfied. In fact, he said I――that is, you needn’t hurry with -the rest of it, and that if you want any more togs all you’ve got to do -is let him know.” - -“But where did you ever get twenty dollars?” gasped Bert. - -Hugh laughed. “Borrowed it, of course. I had six myself, Cathcart -loaned me five, and Mr. Crump nine.” - -“Mr. Crump! _Mr. Crump?_ Are you crazy?” - -“No, only exhausted.” - -“But you don’t mean Mr. Crump, the janitor?” - -“Yes I do, old chap. I fancy it was rather a funny thing to do, but, -you see, I didn’t know who else to ask. Everyone was out and Mr. -Pounder turned me down and I happened to run into Mr. Crump in School -Hall. He was very decent about it. I offered to let him have my watch -and fob for security but he said his grandfather or grandmother or -someone fought with General Putnam, and wouldn’t take it. I didn’t -quite see what that had to do with it, though, do you?” - -“Old Crump!” marveled Bert. “I didn’t suppose he had nine dollars to -his name!” - -“Oh, yes. And he rather hinted that he had a lot more. I dare say -janiting is quite――quite profitable.” - -“And Cathcart loaned you five? I sort of wish you hadn’t gone to him, -Hugh.” - -“There wasn’t much choice,” replied Hugh drily. “I dare say if you’d -been there you’d have managed better, but――――” - -“I didn’t mean that,” said Bert quickly. “I think you did finely, and -I’m awfully much obliged, Hugh. I only meant that――well, Wal and I -aren’t awfully good friends and――did you tell him what it was for?” - -“No, there wasn’t time. I told him I’d explain later.” - -“Well, don’t if you can help it. You see, he’s a proctor and if he -heard I’d been running bills he might think he had to report me. He’s -most frightfully conscientious nowadays.” - -“I hadn’t thought of that,” said Hugh, “but I don’t believe he would. -I’ll keep you out of it, though, if you’d rather.” - -“What did Fallow say? Was he ugly?” - -Whereupon, while the first and second teams battered each other -up and down the field, Hugh recounted the whole adventure for his -friend’s benefit, and Bert, alternately amused and alarmed, listened -with flattering attention. At the end he said, after a long breath of -relief: “Hugh, you’re a corker! And a wonder! I couldn’t have got away -with it like that to save my life! And I’m awfully much obliged, old -man. I――I hope I’ll be able to do as much for you some time.” - -“It wasn’t anything,” returned Hugh. “In fact, it was rather good -fun; or it would have been if I hadn’t known all the time that I was -getting in wrong with Mr. Crowley. Mr. Fallow was quite amusing. I say, -Bert, _have_ you seen his mustache? It――it’s perfectly weird. I was so -fascinated by it that I just had to stand there and stare!” - -“I don’t remember,” murmured Bert. Then, after a moment: “Look here, -though, if that money doesn’t come from your folks we’ll be in a mess, -won’t we? I don’t honestly believe I’ll be able to scrape it all up -before Christmas. I’ve got about four dollars and, of course, I’ll have -ten more the first of the month, but――――” - -“Oh, that money will come today or tomorrow,” comforted Hugh. “Then -I’ll settle up with Mr. Crump and Wallace Cathcart.” - -“But I’ll be owing it to you then,” said Bert in troubled voice. “I -guess it was pretty cheeky to go to you for it, anyway, but I was so -worried about that man Fallow that I didn’t know what to do. If he’d -got to faculty I’d been fired like a shot.” - -“You needn’t worry about owing it to me,” said Hugh with a shrug. “I -don’t need it. Anyhow, it’s the mater’s and she won’t mind if she never -gets it. How’s the rib?” - -“All right, I suppose. Davy says I can’t get back before next week, -though. Last year he fixed Musgrave’s broken collar bone up for him so -he was playing inside of ten days. I don’t see why he needs to be so -plaguy fussy about an old rib.” - -“My word, you didn’t expect to get back today, did you?” - -“No, but I thought they’d let me play Saturday against Hollywood. I’m -going with the team, though, anyway. You coming along?” - -“Can’t say, old chap. If Crowley doesn’t forgive me I fancy I might as -well be there as here. If he does I dare say we’ll have practice just -the same. _Ouch!_” - -“What’s the matter?” - -“Nothing, only Hanser dropped the ball then and Nick’s got it. He’s -clever at squirming through, isn’t he? It looked as if he got right -between Longley’s legs! That gives first a ripping chance to score,” he -added anxiously. “They must be on our twenty yards. I say, what sort of -a chap is Longley, Bert?” - -“Brew? Why, he’s pretty good. I thought Bonner would have him on the -first this year. He would have, too, if Willard hadn’t showed up so -well before school opened.” - -“Yes, I know he’s a good center, but is he――well, is he a gentleman?” - -“A gentleman?” Bert looked surprised. “Depends on what you mean, I -guess, by gentleman, Hugh. I don’t suppose you’d call him that. I think -his father’s a contractor or something in Springfield or somewhere.” - -“I didn’t mean that. I meant is he considered a――well, do you like -him?” - -“Like Brew Longley? N-no, not particularly. I don’t know him very well. -I guess he’s all right, though. Why?” - -“Well, he seems to have it in for me, don’t you know. He’s made a -couple of――what do you call them, now?――a couple of ‘cracks’ that I -didn’t like. I wondered whether he did it because he didn’t know any -better or because he was just naturally a cad.” - -“What sort of cracks?” asked Bert. - -“Oh, he calls me ‘Royalty’ and things like that, and talks like a -silly ass on the stage, if you know what I mean, and is really rather -insolent. I fancy he tries to make fun of the way I talk, eh?” - -“Oh, that’s nothing to get huffy about,” laughed Bert. “He probably -thinks he’s being humorous. You see, Duke, you’re sort of a novelty to -us. I guess Longley doesn’t know your sort.” - -“That’s all right,” returned Hugh gravely. “But he mustn’t be too -humorous or I’ll just have to punch his head.” - -“He’d make one mouthful of you,” laughed Bert. - -“Oh, well, I couldn’t help that. I’m not awfully thin-skinned, I fancy, -but I don’t like Longley’s kind of humor. As the chap says in the -song, ‘It isn’t what he says, it’s the nasty way he says it!’” - -“Oh, don’t mind Brew, kid; he’s harmless. I guess he doesn’t mean to -hurt your feelings.” - -“Well, that’s all right. I certainly don’t want trouble, but I might -lose my temper some day. He can’t expect me to stick it forever. There -they go! Keyes is over! That right side of our line is a bit sketchy. -They didn’t half fool Bowen then.” - -“We’re giving it to you on the twenty. Say, was Dinny awfully cross?” - -“Rather waxy. Talked a lot of sarcasm. Advised me to forget my social -obligations or something like that.” - -“I’m awfully sorry, chum. It was my fault. I wish Fallow would――would -choke or――――” - -“Fall into his mustache and get lost,” suggested Hugh. “I wonder if -I’ll ever be able to raise one like that. Sometime we’ll go over to -Needham and pretend we want a suit. I’d like you to see that mustache, -Bert.” - -“It seems to have made a big impression on you,” Bert laughed. - -Hugh nodded soberly. “It did. It――it’s awe-inspiring, colossal, -epochal――er――――” - -“That’ll be about all! Half’s over. I guess I’ll go back to the other -bench. See you later, Hugh. Hope Dinny will let you in this half.” - -“He won’t. He doesn’t love me a bit today. As Mr. Smiley would say, -‘Non sum qualis eram.’” - -“You’re a silly ass,” laughed Bert. “Put that into Latin!” - -Hugh’s prophecy proved correct. Mr. Crowley did not relent. Nor did -he once appear even to recall Hugh’s existence. And after the game -was over and first team had won by two touchdowns――no goals were -attempted――Hugh followed the others up to the field house and changed, -denying himself, however, a shower since he had certainly not earned -it, and then proceeded rather disconsolately back to Lothrop to find -three messages in the O-P pigeon-hole of the letter box in the first -floor corridor. Some obliging person had written the telegrams down in -his absence. The first was from his mother in Philadelphia explaining -that an unexpected visit to friends in the country had delayed her -reception of his message and saying that the money had been sent -and that she hoped the delay had not mattered. Another was from the -telegraph office requesting him to call and receipt for a sum of -money, and the third, rather incoherent, was from an evidently greatly -perturbed Bowles. Hugh showed them to Bert when the latter came in. - -“Mother says she has sent thirty,” said Hugh, “instead of twenty-five, -so we’ll be in funds again, eh? Poor old Bowles is all upset. It -rather sounds as if he meant to come right up here and rescue me from -something. I fancy I’d best send him a wire and calm him down. If -Bowles ever tried to travel anywhere by himself he’d get lost as sure -as shooting, poor old chap!” - -Bert smiled as he read Bowles’ message. “My lady left Thursday for New -York. We have no address. Expect back Wednesday. If anything we can do -Master Hugh please telegraph immediate. Could leave on one hour notice. -Bowles.” - -“You’d better send him a wire, Hugh, or he will be walking in on us. -Queer idea to call your mother ‘my lady.’ Mighty nice and respectful, -though. At home the servants always call my mother ‘the missus’! You’ll -have to beat it down to the village tomorrow and get the tin. I’ll go -along, if you like. It’s mighty decent of her to send that extra five. -I wish my folks had those pretty thoughts. It’s like pulling teeth to -get a dollar more than my allowance from dad!” - -“Tell you what we’ll do with that pound,” said Hugh, looking up from -the telegram he was formulating for the troubled Bowles. “We’ll buy -some tuck and have a feast up here tomorrow night. What do you say?” - -Bert looked wistful, but shook his head. “You forget that we’re in -training, old man,” he said regretfully. - -“That’s so. We couldn’t, I fancy. Well, we’ll postpone the party until -after the Mount Morris game. It’s a long old time to wait, though, -what?” - -“Rotten,” agreed Bert. “Besides, that fiver will be spent long before -that.” - -“No, it won’t. Or, if it is, there’ll be another. There, that ought to -settle Bowles. ‘Mother heard from. Everything hunky here. Unpack your -bag.’ That’s only nine words, though, and I can send ten, can’t I?” - -“You can send fifty if you make it a night letter.” - -“Great Scott, Bowles _would_ come then! I know; I’ll just add ‘Boosh.’” - -“Add what?” - -“‘Boosh.’” - -“What’s that?” - -“Blessed if I know,” chuckled Hugh. “Neither will Bowles, and it’ll -give him something to study on a bit.” Hugh added “Ordway” to his -message and laid it aside until supper time. When one lived on the -fourth floor of Lothrop one didn’t make unnecessary trips over the -stairs! - -The next morning the two boys hurried to the village after their -French recitation and secured the money, and later Hugh paid his -debts to Cathcart and Mr. Crump, and Bert dispatched a money order -to Fallon and Turner. Hugh managed to appease Cathcart’s curiosity -without involving Bert’s name, although he had a suspicion that -Cathcart remained rather puzzled. Mr. Crump seemed disappointed at -being paid back so soon and almost insisted that Hugh should keep the -money longer. But Hugh finally satisfied him with a solemn promise to -come to him again should he ever find himself in similar financial -difficulties, and Mr. Crump, after going into the history of his family -at some length and with much detail, tucked the bills in the pocket of -his overalls, shouldered his broom and wandered on. - -That afternoon Mr. Crowley summoned Hugh into the line-up as though -the late unpleasantness had never been and Hugh played through two -twelve-minute periods with so much credit that he noticed afterwards a -thoughtful and speculative look on the countenance of Hanser. - - - - -CHAPTER XIX - -BEHIND THE BOATHOUSE - - -On Thursday Coach Bonner did what the members of the first squad had -been expecting him to do for nearly a week. That is, he had what Nick -called “his annual mid-season spasm.” Declaring that the fellows had -apparently forgotten the very rudiments of football, he announced -no scrimmage and prescribed an afternoon of “kindergarten stuff.” -The words are again Nick’s. The tackling dummy, of late more or less -neglected, spent the most strenuous afternoon of its fall career. It -was banged and thumped and ground in the loam until had it possessed -a head, which it didn’t, its countenance must have proclaimed tragic -distress. Not satisfied with a full three-quarters of an hour of -tackling, Mr. Bonner put his charges at other degrading labors; -passing, starting, crawling, pushing the “tumbrel.” The “tumbrel” was -a wooden platform with what looked like a section of fence erected -along one side. The top rail of the “fence” was padded and covered with -canvas. The whole contrivance was some ten feet in length and under -it were two wooden rollers. The linesmen, five at a time, alternately -stood on the platform to weight the “tumbrel” down and pushed against -the padded rail. The affair was officially known as the charging -machine, but its operators, perhaps with the carts which bore victims -to the guillotine during the French Revolution in mind, called it the -“tumbrel.” Possibly it is unnecessary to add that it was just about as -popular with them as the other vehicle was with its occupants. - -Mr. Bonner gave an excellent imitation of a slave driver that Thursday -afternoon, even looking the rôle as well as acting it. Simon Legree, -cracking his whip in a performance of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” was a -genial, mild-mannered gentleman by comparison. After the others were -dismissed he exhibited an absolutely medieval cruelty by keeping the -punters and drop-kickers at work until it was too dark to tell a ball -from a head-guard. - -The second team, with no scrimmage to take part in, was dismissed a -half hour earlier than usual. Most of the members hurried from the -scene, but a few heartless ones stood about and gloated over the -sufferings of their antagonists. One of these was Brewster Longley, -and he and Ned Musgrave, center on the first, and a natural rival, -almost came to blows on one occasion when Ned took exception to one of -Longley’s humorous gibes. Davy thereupon “shooed” the idlers away from -the side-lines in a fine flow of English strongly tinctured with Welsh -brogue. - -Perhaps Longley resented having his pleasure cut short and perhaps his -resentment was accountable for what happened when he met Hugh and Peet -in front of the field house. Peet, although engaged in remorseless -rivalry with Hugh for a half-back position on the second, had taken -rather a violent liking to him and was becoming somewhat of a nuisance, -although Hugh didn’t let Peet suspect it. Peet was an upper middle -fellow, a few months younger than Hugh and extremely uninteresting. -He seldom ventured an original remark on any subject, confining his -conversational contributions to frequent giggles which Hugh was -beginning to find irritatingly monotonous. Today Hugh had lingered -long over his shower and dressing in the hope that Peet would take his -departure. But no such luck, for there was the other boy awaiting him -when he was ready to go, and they passed out of the building together -and almost into the arms of Longley and Bowen, the latter right guard -on the second and rather a crony of Longley’s. - -Hugh murmured an apology for his share in the narrowly averted -collision and Peet laughed his inane giggle. Bowen nodded and pushed -past, but Brewster Longley seized Hugh’s arm and swung him round. “Hey -there, my cockney friend!” he exclaimed. “Want the whole place to -yourself?” - -Hugh had a peculiar aversion to being “pawed,” as he termed it. Even if -Bert, of whom he was really fond, laid a hand on his shoulder, Hugh was -uncomfortable until it was removed. Longley’s unexpected and unwelcome -familiarity exasperated him instantly, and it was that grasp of his arm -and not the words accompanying it which sent the blood to his cheeks -and made him wrench himself indignantly away. - -“Hands off, please,” he said. Tone and manner were distinctly haughty, -and Longley flared up at once. - -“Oh, mama! Don’t touch me, I’m ticklish! Why, you blooming British ass, -don’t you try any of your high-and-mighty airs on me or I’ll slap you -on the wrist and break your watch!” - -Peet giggled, and then, possibly realizing that appreciation of -Longley’s joke savored of treachery to Hugh, passed into a fit of -coughing. That giggle was the last straw to Hugh’s exasperation. - -“I’ve had more than enough of your sort of humor, Longley,” he said -hotly, “and I don’t propose to stick it any longer. You steer clear of -me after this or――――” - -“Or what?” demanded the other, thrusting his face close to Hugh’s. -“What will you do, kid? Go on, tell me! What’ll you do? Prick me with a -hatpin?” - -“Oh, let him alone, Brew,” interposed Bowen, who had so far observed -proceedings with amusement. “We don’t want any international -complications.” He winked at Hugh. “Don’t want the British navy over -here blowing us up!” - -“The British navy couldn’t blow a bubble up,” jeered Longley. -“Britishers are all bluff. Get that, Ordway? Just bluff and――and swank! -You wouldn’t hurt a――――” - -“Take your face away from me,” interrupted Hugh. “I don’t like it. It’s -beastly unattractive.” - -“Unattractive!” sputtered Longley. “Unat――why, you poor cockney -huckster, I’ve a good mind to punch your silly nose!” - -“Try it!” said Hugh quietly. - -Longley accepted the invitation, but Bowen jumped in and seized the -back-drawn arm. “Cut it out, Brew! You can’t fight here! Come on along!” - -“Can’t I?” demanded Longley, struggling to get his arm away. “I’ll show -you whether I can or not! He can’t call me names and get away with it! -I’ll――I’ll――――” - -“I’m ready to fight you wherever you say,” declared Hugh eagerly. “And -if you aren’t a coward you’ll fight, too.” - -“Better not, Ordway,” cautioned Peet nervously, for once forgetting to -giggle. “He――he can lick you, I guess.” - -“Oh, I’ll fight you, all right,” Longley was saying. “And I’ll make you -wish you’d stuck at home with the other English dubs. Come on down to -the boathouse if you want to get what’s coming to you!” - -“Right-o,” responded Hugh calmly. “I say, Peet, nip it, like a good -chap, will you?” - -“Nip what?” gasped Peet. - -“Toddle, run along,” elaborated Hugh impatiently. - -“N-no, sir, I’m going with you, Ordway, but you’re a fool to fight -Longley. Listen, won’t you? He can lick you easily. Why, he’s bigger -than you and older and――and he knows how to fight, too! Let’s――let’s -beat it!” - -But Hugh was already stalking along behind Longley and Bowen, and -Peet’s remonstrances fell on deaf ears. Bowen appeared to be rather -half-heartedly trying to persuade Longley to turn back, but wasn’t -meeting with success. Longley’s big shoulders shrugged impatiently -and Hugh heard him say: “Didn’t he call my face unattractive? Well, -then!” And Bowen’s reply: “So it is, you silly chump, and what’s the -good of scrapping about it?” Peet pegged along at Hugh’s elbow, at once -excited and alarmed, hazarding an occasional remonstrance and giggling -nervously between. Hugh wished him at the bottom of the river! - -The quartette passed the end of the gridiron, on which the unfortunate -first team members were still toiling monotonously, crossed the -practice field and finally reached the boathouse. Fortunately for their -undertaking, there was no one inside nor about the landing, and Bowen -led the way around the corner of the old building to where a piece of -fairly level sward sloped to the river almost in the shadow of the -bridge. - -“Now go to it, you idiots,” he said indifferently, “if you have to. -But if I sing out, beat it! For I don’t intend to get yanked up before -Charlie, even if you do.” - -Longley tossed his cap to the ground and impatiently tore off coat and -waistcoat, and Hugh, a bit more calmly, similarly divested himself. -Then his opponent, scowling ferociously, advanced across the turf, and -Hugh squared to meet him. - -“Shake hands, gentlemen,” said Bowen facetiously, and Peet giggled. - -“Oh, cut out the comedy stuff,” growled Longley. “Now then, you Little -Lord Fauntleroy, where’ll you have it?” - - * * * * * - -Some twenty minutes later, Bert, laboriously trying to get out of his -coat-sweater without hurting the damaged rib, heard the study door open -and close quietly. - -“That you, Hugh?” he asked. - -“Yes,” was the quiet reply. But Hugh didn’t appear at the doorway. -Instead he crossed to his own bedroom and Bert heard him pouring water -into the bowl. - -“What are you so select for?” Bert sang out. “Aren’t you speaking to -your friends today?” - -There was no audible reply from 29a, and having got rid of the sweater -at the cost of a few twinges, Bert sauntered across the study to Hugh’s -doorway. Then: - -“_For――the――love――of――Mike!_” whispered Bert awedly. “Where’d you get -it?” - -Hugh, looking up from his task of applying a wet sponge to a disfigured -countenance, smiled painfully. - -“Longley,” he answered. - -“Longley! Do you mean that Brew Longley battered you up like that? -What was the row? Great Scott, Hugh, you’re an awful mess! What did you -do to him?” - -“Not much, I’m afraid,” replied Hugh dejectedly. “I got in a few, but -he was too clever for me.” He turned to the mirror over the dresser and -viewed his reflection judicially, the wet sponge trickling water on the -rug. “He’s a ripping good fighter, Bert,” he added with what sounded -like unwilling admiration. - -Bert, hands in pockets, gazed fascinatedly at his room-mate’s -countenance. He whistled tunelessly and under his breath. Hugh went -back to the basin. - -“I fancy I flattened his nose for him, anyway,” he said more cheerfully. - -“Well,” said Bert, emerging from his trance, “I hope to thunder you did -something to him! For he’s certainly just about ruined you! Here, turn -around and let’s see the damage.” - -Obediently, Hugh stopped laving his face and Bert took stock of the -contusions and lacerations. “Your eye will be a wonder tomorrow,” he -murmured admiringly. “And you won’t be able to talk very well for a day -or two with that lip. Was he wearing brass-knuckles, for the love of -Mike? That cut on your cheek isn’t much――when it stops bleeding. Wait -till I get some peroxide. Keyes has a bottle. Keep on sponging. I’ll -be right back.” - -When he returned Hugh, in spite of directions, had ceased using the -sponge and was thoughtfully studying two pairs of bruised and swollen -knuckles, wiggling his left thumb experimentally the while. - -“Well,” exclaimed Bert, “you must have got in a few on him from the -looks of those! Thumb hurt?” - -“Not much, I fancy. I was afraid maybe it was sprained. I say, Bert, I -can’t go to supper, eh?” - -Bert, sousing peroxide on a corner of a towel and dabbing his friend’s -face, considered a moment. “Well,” he said finally, “you _could_, but I -wouldn’t advise it, Duke. Some of the faculty are horribly suspicious.” - -“That’s what I thought.” Hugh sighed. “Well, I’m not awfully hungry.” - -“I’ll fetch you something from downstairs,” said Bert cheerfully. -“And I’d better get word to Crowley, I guess. I’ll say you’ve got a -headache. That isn’t very far wrong, is it?” - -Hugh smiled until it hurt his swollen lip. “It’s right as rain,” he -mumbled. “You don’t need to bring me any chow, though. It hurts to move -my mouth.” - -“I’m not going to bring you chow, as you call it,” replied the other, -stepping back to view the result of his administrations. “I’ll fetch -you up a cup of cocoa and some toast. You can get that down. There now! -Got any plaster?” - -“Yes, in the top drawer there. I’ll get it.” - -“Hello, what have you done with your silver brushes? And where the -dickens did you get those awful things?” - -“Put them away a week ago. Here it is. Use the flesh-colored. It won’t -show so much. I say, what about classes tomorrow?” - -Bert shrugged. “You ought to have thought of that,” he answered -severely, “before you went and did such a fool trick. Look here, what -was it all about, anyway? Didn’t you know that Longley could beat you -to a pulp? What did I tell you the other day? Didn’t I say――――” - -“I dare say you did, old dear,” agreed Hugh patiently. “But――_ouch_!” - -“Well, hold still then. How do you suppose I can――――” - -“He started on me again after practice and got nasty and I was beastly -tired of it. So――so we went down to the boathouse.” - -“Just you and he?” - -“No, there was Bowen; chap who plays right guard for us――――” - -“I know him.” - -“And young Peet. He’s a silly little ass. I tried to get rid of him, -but he would come. He――he giggles.” - -“Lie down on the bed and rest your face. Did you fight rounds?” - -“Oh, no, we just dug in and kept it up until Peet――er――buttered in.” - -“_Butted_ in, Duke; not buttered. What was Peet’s trouble?” - -“Well, you see, I was getting rather the worst of it; sort of groggy, -I fancy; my eye was bad and I dare say I wasn’t putting up much of a -fight by that time. So Peet, the silly duffer, thought we ought to stop -and he jumped in and Longley hit him by mistake and Peet hung on to -Longley and Bowen dragged me back and――well, that sort of stopped the -scrap, if you know what I mean.” - -“I think you ought to be grateful to Peet,” said Bert drily. “It was -evidently time someone interfered! I hope you managed to smash Longley -some, Duke. He had no business picking a row with you, a fellow two -years younger and half a head smaller, and I mean to tell him so the -first time I see him.” - -“Oh, dear,” sighed Hugh, “don’t you go and get your face all beaten up, -too! One of us must keep looking decent, Bert.” He chuckled. “Rather -a joke on me, by the way. I told Longley I didn’t like his face, -you know; said it was unattractive; I fancy that was what got under -his skin; but he certainly got even, eh? You couldn’t call my face -attractive, could you, old chap?” - -“Not without smiling,” said Bert. “Well, I must beat it to supper. You -take a nap if you can. When I come back I’ll get some witch-hazel and -wrap up your hands. They’ll be as stiff as pokers if I don’t. How do -you feel?” - -“Perfectly rotten, thanks,” replied Hugh cheerfully. “Nip along. But, -I say, I wish you’d sort of keep quiet about it, eh? And don’t say -anything to Longley, like a good chap. I’m satisfied and I fancy he is.” - -“I’m not,” said Bert grimly. “Go to sleep, you dunder-headed -Englishman, and see if you can keep out of trouble until I get back!” - -Somewhat less than an hour later Hugh awoke from a nap and found Bert -lighting up. “Come on out here,” called the latter. “I’ve brought you -some cocoa, and some dipped toast and a beautiful hunk of chocolate -cake. Hungry?” - -“Rather!” mumbled Hugh, getting stiffly off his bed and blinking his -way to the study. “I say, that looks awfully jolly. Thanks, old chap.” - -“Well, eat it, while I go and dig up some witch-hazel. Got some old -handkerchiefs I can use?” - -“I’ve got some new ones that are good enough. But don’t bother. I’ll be -all right. Feeling quite cocky already.” - -“Well, you don’t look it!” laughed Bert. “And, say, I got a glimpse -of your friend Longley, Hugh, and if it’s any comfort to you, he’s a -sight!” - -“Word of honor?” asked Hugh eagerly. “What――what’s he like?” - -“Well, he isn’t disfigured for life, as you are, of course, but he’s -got a swollen nose that makes him look horribly silly and he’s got the -skin off his cheek-bone. He’s no prize beauty, any way you look at him!” - -“But, I say, you didn’t――didn’t have any words with him, eh?” - -“Oh, we passed the time of day,” replied Bert carelessly. “I’ll get -that witch-hazel.” - - - - -CHAPTER XX - -“HOBO” WINS FAME - - -Hugh cut chapel the next morning, but there was French at ten and -Greek at eleven and mathematics at one, and so it wasn’t possible to -remain in retirement. Bert consoled him with the assurance that except -for a badly discolored eye he would pass muster anywhere as an ardent -pacifist. Hugh couldn’t quite credit that, but he had no course but to -attend classes. His appearance created interest and aroused curiosity -among his classmates, while Mr. Teschner observed him speculatively but -asked no questions. Plenty of questions were asked, however, and Hugh’s -ingenuity was sorely taxed in accounting for his contusions without -involving Longley. By the afternoon, though, the facts were pretty -widely known, probably due to the communicativeness of Peet, and Hugh -was no longer required to invent. - -He and Longley had their first face-to-face encounter in the -field house before practice. If either experienced sensations of -embarrassment they failed to show it. Longley nodded to Hugh and Hugh -nodded back, and that was all there was to it except that each took -surreptitious views of the other’s countenance and, possibly, derived -a certain satisfaction from what he saw. To be sure, Bert had slightly -exaggerated the damage to Longley, but his nose _was_ noticeably -enlarged and there _was_ a generous-sized place on the left cheek where -the skin was missing. Peet, perhaps conscious of having talked too -much, admired Hugh from a discreet distance that day. - -Although the first was due for a stiff contest on the morrow, Mr. -Bonner had no pity on them today and they were put through a long siege -of elementary work and two fifteen-minute periods with the second -during which, with the head coach driving them mercilessly, they -managed to score three touchdowns and would have held their opponents -safe had not Neil Ayer fortunately dropped a goal from the first team’s -eighteen yards after a well-managed forward pass that caught their -enemies napping. After practice Coach Crowley announced that there -would be no work for the second the next day and that all who wished -to accompany the first team to Leeds to see the game with Hollywood -would be taken along free of charge, since the morrow’s contest was -the only one played away from home that season. Needless to say, the -second team to a fellow declared their intention of profiting by the -generosity of the Athletic Association. However, when the train left -the next forenoon the entire roster was not present. A few were so -unfortunate as to have morning recitations which, for reasons that we -will not inquire into too closely, they dared not cut. Still, most -of them did make the trip, Hugh among them, and were well repaid by -witnessing a close and hotly contested game. - -Hollywood School was a pretty big institution, with a registration -of close to four hundred students, and that the visitors held the -home team to one touchdown and scored a like number of points spoke -well for them. Oddly enough, both the Hollywood left half-back and -the Grafton full-back failed at an easy goal and the final score was -6 to 6, a result more satisfactory to Grafton than to Hollywood. All -things considered, Grafton had a right to and did consider the tie a -virtual victory, while the home team and its friends probably looked -on it as closely akin to a defeat. At all events, Grafton went home -well contented and a bit vociferous, the only fly in the ointment -represented by the fact that Mount Morris had overwhelmingly defeated -the St. James Academy team from which Grafton had barely won two weeks -before. Still, as Nick declared to Bert and Hugh on the way back to -the Junction, St. James had presented a make-shift eleven because of -injuries the Saturday previous and Mount Morris had probably had a much -easier task than Grafton had experienced. But Nick had to acknowledge -that 26 to 3 was a heap different from 12 to 10, by which score Grafton -had taken the measure of St. James. - -Mount Morris had been having an unusually successful season. She -had met one more team than Grafton and had so far not only escaped -defeat but had won each contest decisively. On the other hand, the -Scarlet-and-Gray had been once beaten and once tied; and there was -a strong probability of its being defeated again next Saturday when -it played Lawrence Textile School. Mount Morris had a big, heavy -team, although its back-field had shown itself capable of speed, and -was playing this fall almost the same line-up as last; a couple of -new linesmen and a new quarter were the only changes in the eleven. -But today’s showing against Hollywood was distinctly encouraging -to Graftonians, and there were plenty of fellows among players and -supporters who refused even to consider the possibility of a win for -the green-and-white cohorts of Mount Morris. Captain Ted Trafford was -one of them, but Ted had the convenient faculty of being able to -believe what he wanted to, and his views had not very much weight with -his friends. - -Bert was disappointed on Monday when Coach Bonner and Trainer Richards -refused to allow him to go back to work. Bert declared emphatically -that his rib was perfectly all right and that if he felt any better -he’d scream, but Davy wouldn’t sanction his return to work and without -that sanction Coach Bonner would have none of him. Bert watched -practice that day from the bench and scowled ferociously on friend and -foe alike. Many of the first-string players were excused and in the -scrimmage the first team was made up largely of substitutes. Derry was -in Dresser’s position at left end, Parker played left tackle instead of -Franklin, Hanrihan was in Ted Trafford’s place, Milford substituted for -Tray at right end, and the back-field, with the exception of Nick, who -played through the first period, was composed entirely of second-string -fellows. In the second period more changes were made, so that when -Hugh, playing right half on the scrub team, leaped into fame in the -middle of the last period of the game, he doubtless had the wholesale -substitution to thank for his performance. - -First and second battled through fifteen minutes without a score, both -elevens booting the ball frequently in the hope that the strong wind -blowing across the field would result in a fumble. There were fumbles, -for that matter, but neither side profited much from them, and after a -five-minute rest they went back to work with the contest still to be -won or lost. The wind was noticeably less and first team took advantage -of the fact to try out her forward passing game. Substitutes are -somewhat like those persons who rush in where angels fear to tread, -and Gus Weston, who had taken Nick’s place at quarter-back, had all -the rashness of his kind. One pass went nicely to Derry and that youth -managed to outwit Forbes very neatly and reeled off twenty-seven yards -and put the pigskin on the second’s nineteen before he was brought down -by Spalding, after Hugh had made an ineffectual effort to reach him. -But where Weston made his mistake was in trying the same play a minute -later when a line attack would have probably secured him ground, and at -all events been far safer against a team smarting from the degradation -of that twenty-seven-yard gain. But Weston called for the same play on -first down and the ball went back to Leddy, at full, and Leddy heaved -to a supposedly waiting Derry. Forbes, though, was not fooled this time -and Derry had no chance of getting into position for the catch. Someone -else had, however, and the someone else was the second team’s right -half-back, who, sensing the play from the moment the ball was snapped, -had sprinted across the field as soon as Leddy had caught, avoided -the engaged ends and, raising an eager hand aloft in signal to Leddy, -had joyfully watched the approach of the arching ball. Whether the -full-back had been fooled by Hugh’s signal or whether he had trusted to -Derry to get free from his antagonist in time to make the catch is a -matter of conjecture. At all events, Leddy made an excellent throw and -Hugh made a correspondingly good catch, and the fat was in the fire. - -What ensued occupied so little time that to the watchers, at least, it -seemed all over almost as soon as it had begun. Hugh had a practically -clear field for the first twenty yards and he made the most of it. Then -the pursuit moved to cut him off from behind and the race began in -earnest. - -Hugh had captured the ball near his own fifteen yards, for the pass had -been more vertical than forward, and he was approaching the middle of -the field, running like a rabbit, as Bert told him afterwards, before -he was really challenged. Then it was Jack Zanetti who threw down the -gauntlet. Zanetti was a swift runner, with a commendable Track Team -record for the two-twenty, and had he and Hugh started even the latter -would never have had a chance of victory. But Zanetti was well behind -when the danger had been discovered and by the time he was close to -Hugh’s flying heels he had already run a punishing race. Behind Zanetti -streamed others; Gus Weston, Milford and Hanser possible contenders, -Leddy hopelessly out of it, and then a mingling of friends and foes. -Forbes, seeing the way the play was turning out, had left Derry to -his own devices and was making an earnest effort to catch up with his -team-mate and act as interference, but the handicap of distance was too -great and although Forbes did actually manage to be in at the death he -never got close enough to render any aid. - -Nick had told Hugh that when one was making a long run with the ball -one didn’t do much thinking. But Hugh couldn’t agree with him, for it -seemed to him that he thought of about everything in the world! Only, -and this was a peculiar thing to his mind, he couldn’t remember any of -his thoughts afterwards! Near the first team’s forty-five yards Zanetti -made a heroic effort to reach the quarry. Calling on every last ounce -of strength, he sprinted and lunged forward with groping hands. Perhaps -Hugh guessed his danger, for he swerved at the right instant and -Zanetti’s arms, although they nearly reached what they sought and even -threw Hugh out of his stride, closed on empty air and he rolled over -twice and lay quite quiet until the rest of the pursuit had labored -past. - -Milford found his second wind and gave Hugh a very pretty tussle all -the rest of the way, but the latter crossed the goal line with dragging -feet a good three yards ahead, touched the ball to earth and then -carefully snuggled it beneath him and ducked his head as the exhausted -Milford dropped down on him. - -It was a spectacular performance, as all such long runs are, but it is -doubtful if Hugh deserved all the praise he received. Granted that he -had displayed football acumen in diagnosing the play and getting into -it as he had, the subsequent task had required little ability beyond -that of running as hard as he knew how. He had not been forced to worm -his way through a scattered defence or dodge a hungry quarter-back -on his way to the goal. He had merely made the most of a fortunate -opportunity. Probably if he had been playing against the full strength -of the first team he would never have been able to catch the pass, -or, having caught it, to get away with it. Much of this he explained -subsequently to Bert and Nick and Pop and others, for he refused to -view himself as a hero, but they all scoffed and reminded him that -he had made the longest run of the season on Lothrop Field. Just now, -having been released from the oppressive attentions of Milford, he was -being ecstatically thumped and beaten by his mates of the second team -as, ball under arm, he walked it out for the try at goal. Coach Crowley -even expressed mild commendation, and in Hugh’s belief every chap on -the team took an enthusiastic whack at his tired shoulders except -Longley; and Longley grinned at him in a most friendly and approving -manner. - -Ayer insisted that Hugh should hold the ball for him, and Hugh was very -glad that he had watched that operation often enough and carefully -enough to be able to perform it. Ayer had mercy on his breathlessness -and gave him plenty of time before he said “Right!” and stepped -forward. Then Hugh carefully withdrew his fingers from under the end, -heard the thud of leather on leather and, prone on the turf――and very -willing to remain so, if the truth were known!――watched the pigskin -rise, turning lazily over end on end, up and away and――yes, over the -cross-bar! - -Second team celebrated the advent of that seventh point by again -lavishing blows on his back and playfully maltreating Neil Ayer. Then -they scattered to take the kick-off and Peet tugged at Hugh’s elbow, -looking very, very admiring and very, very apologetic, and said: -“You’re off, Ordway. I’m sorry. Give me your head-guard, will you? Say, -that was a peach of a run!” - -Hugh yielded his guard and place, acknowledging Peet’s compliment with -a nod, and walked off a trifle incensed with Mr. Crowley. Of course he -hadn’t done enough to have the fellows make such a fuss, he thought, -but he had scored a touchdown and it did seem that the coach might -reward him by letting him play the time out. Mr. Crowley, however, -only waved to him in the direction of the field house and Hugh got his -sweater and weariedly trotted off, turning deaf ears to the approving -remarks of those on the benches. If he had done anything, he asked -himself impatiently, why didn’t they let him keep on playing? - -But he hadn’t missed much, as he soon realized, for he was still -tugging at his sticky togs when the released players burst in at the -doors. The second team fellows were jubilant indeed. They had for -once beaten the first in a straight practice game! Hugh was speedily -discovered and made the recipient of further boisterous honors, and -even Longley, grinning like a catfish, got in a slap on a bare shoulder -this time and told him he was “the pride of the noble Scrubs!” Hugh -made his escape finally and took refuge in the shower bath. - -That day Hugh came into what might be termed official possession of his -nickname. One may pass uneventfully through four years of school life -and be known as plain Jack Jones, but once let him achieve a modicum of -fame and he is suddenly “Buster” Jones or something equally euphonious. -So it was with Hugh Oswald Brodwick. By supper time the school was -discussing, explaining and praising the eighty-five yard run of “Hobo” -Ordway. - - - - -CHAPTER XXI - -HUGH MOVES AGAIN - - -Events took place so fast that week that even Hugh’s composure was -affected. On Tuesday Coach Bonner began preparations for the Lawrence -Textile game and every effort was made to develop the team’s offence. -To this end, following a more than ordinarily lengthy and severe signal -drill, during which three new plays were tried out, the scrimmage with -the second was changed from two fifteen-minute to three twelve-minute -periods. The second had to wait nearly twenty minutes for the first -team, and, since the weather had turned cold with a vengeance, they -wrapped themselves in blankets and huddled together out of the teeth -of a brisk east wind. By the time Coach Bonner sent his charges on the -field the second team were pretty well chilled through and let-down. -The fact showed in their playing and the first ran away with the period -and scored a touchdown and a field-goal. In the second twelve minutes -the scrubs found themselves and put up a good defensive game, with the -result that the first failed to get nearer to the goal line than the -thirty yards. From there, in the last minute or two, Captain Trafford -tried a place-goal. But the wind was too much for him and the ball went -wide. - -In the last period Hugh found himself in constant demand. So far -Brunswick and Manson, the left half and the full-back, had done the -brunt of the work, save when an end had run behind the line. Hugh had -been used but three times in the attack, each time taking the ball for -wide end runs and only once gaining. But now, Derry having replaced Roy -Dresser at left end, Captain Myatt changed his tactics. Second received -the ball on a punt a few minutes after the period started and it was -Neil Ayer who began the trouble. On the first play, faking a pass to -full-back, he plunged straight through the center of the first team’s -line for a down. Then came a fake end-around play, Bellows leaving -his place at left end and dashing behind Ayer and, followed by the -left half, plunging around the right wing of the line. Then, hugging -the ball a moment, Ayer shot it to Hugh, and Hugh, with full-back -interfering, went the other way. The play was good for nearly twenty -yards, for Hugh displayed an almost uncanny elusiveness, slipping -between tacklers, dodging, twisting and always going ahead. Manson -was soon upset, but Hugh feinted and fought on to the forty-eight -yards before he was finally stopped. The second laughed and taunted -as they lined up again. Manson shot into left tackle but was stopped -for a yard. Ayer tried a quarter-back run and made three. Then Hugh -heard the signals again summon him. This time it was a straight run -around his own left end. Derry was pulled out and Franklin was neatly -boxed and only the first team’s secondary defence kept Hugh from again -getting safely away. As it was he added six yards and made first down -once more. Brunswick fumbled on the next play and Manson recovered for -a five-yard loss. Hugh failed on a wide run around his own left end, -being thrown by Ted Trafford, and Ayer kicked from position. - -The first came back hard then and tested the second’s defence pretty -severely. Siedhof gave place to Hanser on the first and Boynton took -Brunswick’s place on the second. The second also put in a new left -tackle and a new left guard. First was using straight line-plunges -and getting away with them. On the second’s fifteen yards Vail, right -half on the first, was hurt in a tackle and Zanetti went in. Twice the -second held the besiegers under the shadow of their goal and then Ted -Trafford tried another goal from placement and barely made it. - -Second kicked off and Nick ran back to the forty-five yards, through -most of the second team. Then two line plays were stopped for small -gains and Keyes threw forward to Tray near the second’s thirty-five -and the right end made a clever running catch and added another five -yards of territory before Myatt downed him. With time almost up and the -ball on the second’s thirty, Nick again called for a forward, but this -time the ball grounded. A skin-tackle around Spalding netted four yards -and Keyes plunged through Longley for two more. Keyes then went back -to drop-kick and when the ball shot to him the first team’s left side -crumbled badly and Bowen hurled himself through and blocked. The ball -trickled up the field to the twenty yards before Zanetti fell on it. -Two wide sweeps by Keyes around the left end gained but four and once -more he tried for a field goal. But the angle was extreme and the ball -went astray. - -Longley kicked off to Zanetti, who caught on his fifteen, fumbled, -recovered and was thrown by Forbes and promptly sat on by Hugh. The -first got to the twenty yards on two plunges and Keyes punted. Hugh, -playing back with Ayer, caught near his forty and ran across the -field, avoiding the first team’s left end, and Ayer and Forbes formed -into interference and disposed of two of the enemy. Hugh was still -running toward the other side line, zig-zagging miraculously between -his foes. Thrice he was almost caught and thrice he managed to escape. -Then his interference went to pieces and he was speeding down the -field some five yards from the side line with not one chance in ten of -getting away. A first team tackle dived and missed, Hanser loomed in -his path and Hugh went around him like a frightened rabbit and suddenly -only Nick was left to contend against, Nick running fast a few yards -behind and gaining a little at every stride. - -Near the twenty-five yards Hugh shot a quick glance behind him and -then, with an unexpected increase of speed, cut across in front of Nick -just out of reach and headed straight for the goal. Zanetti and others -were trailing along some ten yards back and this change of direction -brought them nearer their prey, and Zanetti took courage and sprinted. -But it was Nick who was destined to save the day for the first. Try as -he might, Hugh couldn’t shake him off, and just short of the twelve -yards it was all over. Nick’s arms slipped around Hugh’s knees and all -the latter could do was hug the ball very tightly and go down. And as -he did so he heard Nick’s voice. - -“Sorry,” panted Nick, “but――I――gotter――do it!” - -Although second lined up quickly and shot Manson at the center, it was -not destined that they were to score. Manson got a scant yard, whistle -and horn sounded together, and the game was done. - -“We’d have gone over in two more plays,” panted Neil Ayer as he walked -off beside Hugh. “I don’t believe time was up. They were afraid we’d -score on them! That was a pretty run of yours, Hobo. I thought you were -gone a dozen times. You sure can dodge like a rabbit. Where’d you learn -it?” - -“I don’t know,” said Hugh. “Right here, I fancy.” - -“Haven’t you ever played before?” - -Hugh shook his head and Neil viewed him appraisingly. “You’re built -for it, I suppose. If you had another twenty pounds on you you’d be a -wonder.” - -The school seemed much inclined to consider him a wonder as he was, and -his fame grew mightily. Hugh made the discovery that evening that his -circle of acquaintances was much wider than he had supposed. Fellows -who had previously never noticed his existence spoke to him almost -eagerly and seemed quite pleased if Hugh, disguising his surprise, -murmured a response. Juniors gazed upon him with bated breath, only -daring to nod, but upper-class fellows called him “Hobo” to his face -and grinned in friendly manner. Of course he liked it; no fellow could -fail to; but it made him feel, as he confided to Bert, “a bit of an -ass, if you know what I mean.” - -He went to bed that Tuesday night a star half-back on the second -team. He awoke on Wednesday morning a substitute on the first, but -he didn’t know it because he hadn’t overheard part of a conversation -which had taken place the evening before in the front room of a little -white house in the village. The front room, used by Coach Bonner as -a sitting-room, held two persons beside the head coach. These were -Assistant Athletic Director Crowley and Trainer Richards. It was no -uncommon thing for them to meet there after supper and go over the -day’s work together, and now that the season was nearing its end -these conferences took place almost every night. The portion of the -conversation which would have interested Hugh had he heard it was this: - -“That lays Vail off for most of the week, then,” mused Mr. Bonner. Davy -Richards nodded. - -“When do you want Winslow to come back?” asked the coach. - -“He might play Saturday if you need him. I’ve got a pad fixed up for -him.” - -“Can he get into practice by Thursday?” - -“Sure, if he don’t get into it too hard.” - -“He will have to play Saturday, that’s certain. Half the game, anyway. -That leaves me short in the back-field. That fellow Hanser doesn’t work -very well, Dan.” - -“He’s as good as I’ve got, Coach.” - -“He may be now, but he won’t be if Ordway keeps coming. That kid’s a -wonder in a broken field. If you built up a game around him, Dan, you’d -have a mighty good attack for the middle of the field.” - -“He’s clever,” acknowledged Mr. Crowley, “but he’s light. Next year――――” - -“Tell you what, Dan, you take Hanser and let me have Ordway. Look here. -Mount Morris has a heavy, slow line and her ends aren’t remarkable when -you come right down to brass tacks. They haven’t shown anything against -any team they’ve met yet. Did you read the Mount Morris――St. James -game? Well, Mount Morris’ ends were never under the punts. St. James -ran the ball back five to fifteen yards every time. With ends like -those, why couldn’t this Ordway fellow get away? Wait a bit. Suppose -we worked up a shift formation that brought their tackle over to the -long side of their line. Then suppose we send a fake attack on that -side, pull Trafford out and send him and Ordway around the short end? -Why wouldn’t that make a good get-away play around the twenty-five-yard -line? I believe we could work up a play that could score for us. That -rascal is a marvel at squeezing through the tight places. All he needs -is a lot of work to give him experience.” - -“Too light in weight,” growled Mr. Crowley. “They’d stop him quick.” - -“Sure, they would if they caught him. But he’s something like an eel, -as I figure it. No, you take Hanser and give me Ordway, Dan, and I’ll -make a regular back of that kid. Or I will if he doesn’t get hurt. -That’s one trouble; he’s likely to bust something, I guess.” - -“Not him, Coach,” said Davy. “He’s the supple kind.” (Davy pronounced -it “soople,” though.) “There ain’t a stiff bone in his body, sir.” - -“Well, you can have him, of course,” said Mr. Crowley. “Maybe you’re -right, too. He is clever, and he――he’s neat; handles the ball nice, -travels nice; sort of clean-cut in his style.” - -“Good! Send him to me tomorrow, Dan.” - -And that is why Hugh, or, as he was popularly known now, Hobo Ordway, -again transferred his ketchup bottle and marmalade jar, this time back -to Lothrop and the first-team training table, and also why he came to -find himself at four-fifteen on Wednesday afternoon sitting beside -Bert on the first-team bench, very much surprised and a little bit -frightened at what was before him! - - - - -CHAPTER XXII - -POP ELUCIDATES - - -Bert got back to light practice the next afternoon but not into the -game with the scrubs. Siedhof and Zanetti were the halves that day, -with Hugh substituting for Zanetti toward the end of the last period. -If the truth must be told, Hugh did not cover himself with glory, for -he fumbled once at a critical moment and lost his team a chance to -score and never made a gain worth recording. But it was perhaps more -due to stage fright than anything else, and Coach Bonner realized the -fact and dealt out no criticism. Oddly enough, it was the released -Hanser who performed the only spectacular feat of a slow and listless -game when he squirmed through the left of the first team’s line, threw -off Siedhof’s tackle and romped straight down the field for twenty-five -or -six yards before Nick stopped him. That incident spelled the end of -Kinley as regular left guard. Yetter succeeded him before the next play -and held the position the balance of the season. Kinley had been a -troublesome problem all the fall and with his retirement the left side -of the line stiffened considerably. Mr. Crowley had his joke with Coach -Bonner on the performances of the exchanged half-backs, but the latter -only smiled and said “Wait.” - -There was only signal work on Friday for the first-team members and -most of the school attended the final class game over on the practice -gridiron and saw lower middle triumph over upper middle by the score of -7 to 0. - -Lawrence Textile School presented a strong team the next afternoon and -started the proceedings by dropping a kick over Grafton’s goal six -minutes after play began. Grafton put on her strongest line-up, Vail, -whose injury had proved more stubborn than expected, being the only -regular member absent. Bert showed the results of his idleness and was -off his game. Hugh did not get in. - -Grafton’s only score came in the second period when two forward passes -took the ball from her forty yards to Textile’s eighteen and Zanetti -gained around the left end and Keyes gathered enough to make it first -down by a plunge on the Textile right guard. From the seven-yard line -the ball went over in three plays, one a delayed pass to full-back, who -got three yards through center, another a skin-tackle play by Bert -that put the pigskin on the two yards, and the third a straight plunge -by Keyes with the whole team behind him. Keyes kicked an easy goal. - -But that was the only time Grafton was dangerous. In the last half it -was all Textile, and the visitors secured a touchdown in each period -and kicked a goal each time. The final score was 17 to 7. - -The game proved one thing long suspected, which was that the -Scarlet-and-Gray line was far from a perfect machine on defence. Time -and again Textile opened holes wide enough to drive a wagon through. -The power was there and the knowledge, but the fellows didn’t work -together. It was the secondary defence alone that kept the opponent’s -score down to anything like what it was. On the left, Yetter, while -showing up superior to Kinley, was constantly fooled on plays inside -his position. He worked at odds with his center and was, besides, -slow at getting into plays. On his left, Franklin was another weak -defender, although a brilliant tackle on offence. Pop Driver was steady -and dependable, a trifle slow, perhaps, but a hard man to fool. He -and Musgrave, at center, and Ted Trafford at his other shoulder, made -that side of the line fairly impregnable, although Ted, like the other -tackle, was a better offensive than defensive player. The ends had -showed up satisfactorily, with the honors, if any, belonging to Roy -Dresser. As to the back-field, it was hard to judge, since it was a -patched-up affair, with Bert playing only a part of the game and Vail -not getting in at all. Neither Siedhof nor Zanetti were better than -average backs. Nick, at quarter, had played as he always did, hard and -cleverly, handling punts in the back-field faultlessly, running back -well and choosing his plays wisely. Keyes had gained as consistently -as usual with the ball, had been a tower of strength on defence and -had punted excellently. Leddy had proved himself a good substitute -for Keyes. On the whole, there was no fault to be found with the -material. Grafton possessed eleven good players and was well off for -second-string men. The team simply hadn’t developed as it should have. - -The Lawrence Textile School game was played just a fortnight before -the date of the Mount Morris contest, and there were those a-plenty -who declared that two weeks was all too short a time in which to bring -the Grafton team to championship form. What Coach Bonner thought, no -one knew, but on Monday it was evident that the first team was in for -strenuous work and that if it was humanly possible to lick it into -shape Mr. Bonner meant to do it. The second team was given the ball at -the start of the scrimmage and told to put it over by line-plays. When -she lost it, as she frequently did, it was promptly handed back to her. -Both coaches were on the field and the playing was often stopped while -they corrected and explained, scolded or commended. The second, driven -to a sort of berserker rage, hammered every position in the opposing -line desperately, Mr. Crowley barking and growling and urging them on. - -Hugh got into it in the second ten-minute period and played through -that and most of the third, until a blow on the head turned him so -dizzy that Davy Richards, hovering about the scene like an anxious -mother hen, called him out. He did good work on the defence, too, -considering his lack of weight. He seemed gifted with the faculty of -anticipating the play and getting into it almost before it reached the -line, although it was really less a gift than it appeared. What Hugh -did was to watch the ball, instead of the players, and more than once -Nick’s shouted warning proved wrong and Hugh’s diagnosis correct. He -was pretty roughly used, for the second was in no mood to deal gently -with objects in its way, and frequently he fumed in secret at his lack -of weight. - -In the final period――the second had so far failed to cross the -defender’s line――the second was given the ball four times in -succession on the first team’s ten yards and urged to take it over. But -it was not until they had been allowed an extra down, with the ball on -the two yards, that Manson piled through between Musgrave and Yetter -and scored the single tally. It was in that mix-up that Hugh got his -knock-out and Vail went in to finish the game. - -Monday’s practice was a fair example of every day’s proceedings until -Thursday. On Thursday the lower middle team, champions of the school, -trotted over and faced the first. They proved an easy prey, and the -first had little difficulty in running up twenty-seven points while the -lower middlers were earning a scant six by the air route. Coach Bonner -tried out two new plays which the first had been learning, and was able -to gain with each several times. The best for all-round purposes was a -split play in which an end shifted to the other side of the line and -played some two yards back. The backs arranged themselves in oblique -tandem, the ball went to full-back, quarter and the back-field end -swung around one wing, the two half-backs around the other and the -full-back plunged straight ahead, usually finding his passage clear. It -was rather a difficult play for the opponent to diagnose, for it had -all the earmarks of a forward-pass to either side of the field. The -lower middlers never did solve it, although that by no means guaranteed -that it would succeed more than once against Mount Morris. - -The other new play, although he didn’t know it, was designed to make -use of Hugh’s running ability. It was a tackle-over shift, with the -back-field in square formation and the ball going to right half――in -this case Hugh――on a direct pass. The attack was faked at the long -side, and right half, with left interfering, went around the short -side, the runner turning in sharply when the way was clear. The same -formation was used for a variation in which left half ran wide beyond -the short side and took a forward pass from full-back. The variation -proved less certain of success, however, and was abandoned after a few -subsequent try-outs against the second. But the play in which Hugh -figured was tried four times in that Thursday game and gained each -time. Once Hugh got clean away and covered half the field before he -met his Nemesis in the shape of the opposing quarter, who, in spite of -Hugh’s attempt to elude him, stopped further progress with a neat and -decisive tackle. Another time Hugh gained twelve yards before he was -brought down from behind, again he almost got clear and reeled off the -better part of twenty, and, on the last attempt, with the ball under -the shadow of the enemy’s goal near the eighteen yards, he dodged his -way through at least a half-dozen opponents and scored the first’s -fourth touchdown. - -All that sounds as though Hugh played most of the game himself, but it -is needless to say that he didn’t or that his part was only a small -part after all. He held his own well on defence and several times made -short gains on the wings, but lack of weight told against him. One -thing he did not do, however, was fumble. Unfortunately the same cannot -be said of either Bert or Vail. Bert played three periods at left half -and Vail one period at right, going out in favor of Hugh. Vail’s fumble -was not costly, but Bert’s was, for he dropped the ball when tackled -in the line and a lower middler fell on it and three minutes later the -pigskin was floating over the cross-bar for lower middle’s first field -goal. The whole truth is that Bert played poorly that day. His sins -were not only of commission, like that fumble on the twenty-yard line, -but of omission, as when, time after time, he was stopped short in his -tracks before he had penetrated the enemy’s first line of defense. -Siedhof, who replaced him, while not especially effective, at least -gained occasionally through a not very strong line. - -Bert was ill-tempered and depressed that evening, and when Hugh, -feeling very happy over his showing, tried to cheer him up, Bert -sneered at him. “You think you know a whole lot, don’t you?” he asked. -“Think you’re a regular fellow now, I guess. You’ve got a whole lot -to learn yet about playing half, let me tell you. When George Vail -gets back you’ll last about ten seconds and then you’ll find yourself -‘chewing the blanket’ again.” - -“I dare say,” responded Hugh good-naturedly. “Don’t know just why Mr. -Bonner has been so decent to me, anyway. Of course, I know I can’t play -like you and Vail, old chap. Never thought so for a minute.” - -“You act so,” growled Bert. “Coming around and patting my head! I’ll be -playing half when you’re shouting ‘Rah! Rah!’ on the stand.” - -“Right-o! Sorry I spoke.” - -“You kids,” continued Bert, “have a lucky day and make a couple of runs -and then think you’re the whole shooting match! You make me tired!” - -Hugh made no reply, and presently went off down the corridor to -visit Cathcart, who was nowadays voicing regret that the other had -gone over, apparently body and soul, to what Cathcart called “the -muscle-worshippers.” But Cathcart was entertaining three professed -“grinds,” and the conversation soon bored Hugh and he left. On -the way over to Trow he wondered whether football was as Cathcart -predicted, really lessening his interest in what that same youth would -probably have termed, “more vital matters.” Certainly, a month ago the -conversation he had listened to almost in silence would have engrossed -him far more. He confided his doubts to Pop, whom he found quite alone -for once, and Pop replied that he thought it didn’t much matter. - -“Of course, a fellow gets his mind pretty well filled with football -about this time of year. It’s natural, Duke. But I don’t see that -it does him any harm. After the Mount Morris game he comes back to -earth, sometimes with a bit of a thump, and has time to think of other -things. Cathcart’s an awful high-brow, anyway. He will have brain fever -some day or go to the funny-house. If I did all the worrying over the -whichness of the what that he does I’d be food for the squirrels. -Forget it.” - -Being in an unusually confidential frame of mind this evening, Hugh -told of Bert’s ill-temper, and Pop smiled. “You really mean,” he asked, -“that you don’t know what’s troubling Bert?” - -“No, I don’t, really. Should I?” - -“Well, you would if you stopped to think a minute. Look here. George -Vail’s not fit to play much yet, and won’t be, I guess, before next -Saturday. Siedhof and Jack Zanetti aren’t first-team caliber yet, -although Billy may be by next year. That leaves Bonner in a hole, -doesn’t it? He knows that he’s got to make up his backs from Bert and -George and, if you keep on coming, you. Well, Vail isn’t in shape yet, -and Bert isn’t doing much either, and there you are.” - -“Yes, but――where am I?” - -“Why, Bonner is looking to start the Mount Morris game with two of you -three fellows, don’t you savvy? Now the question is, which two? Bert -and George? Bert and you? George and you? He can’t tell yet, and you -can see that he’s doing a lot of thinking. Well, Bert sees that and -he’s thinking too. Just at present you and he are about an even choice. -Vail will probably come around all right and be sure of his position, -but you and Bert will have to fight it out for the other place. That’s -the way it looks to me, Duke. And that, I guess, is what’s worrying -Bert. When the season began he was the only possibility for left half. -Then he got up in the air about something, played like the dickens, -got a busted rib because he was thinking of something else instead of -playing the game, went off on his work――natural enough after a week or -ten days’ lay-off――and now doesn’t seem able to come back. It’s got on -his nerves, I suppose. And he’s taking it out on you. He has a punk -temper, anyway. And then, too, you’ve suddenly sprung up as a rival. -And Bert resents it. Hasn’t any right to, but I guess he does, because -I know Bert pretty well.” - -“I wish I’d never gone in for football,” sighed Hugh after a moment’s -silence. “I never thought for a minute, you know, that――that anything -like this would come up. What’s to be done?” - -“Done? Nothing’s to be done. Don’t be a chump. Bert will get over his -grouch tomorrow and then you and he will fight it out, just as lots of -other fellows have, and the best man will win. Or, anyway, the one who -promises to be the more useful a week from Saturday will win. It’s up -to Bonner, you know.” - -“But I thought that Bert was absolutely certain,” faltered Hugh. - -Pop shrugged his big shoulders. “So he was until a while back. He -started off finely. There isn’t a better half-back on a prep school -team today than Bert Winslow when he’s playing right. But he hasn’t -been playing right for nearly a month. Well, three weeks, anyway. What -a fellow has done doesn’t count much. It’s what he’s doing and can do. -Frankly, Duke, if you keep on getting a little better every day, as -you’ve been doing, you’ll play against Mount Morris as sure as I’m a -foot high; perhaps not all through, but half the game, anyway. You -take my advice and quit worrying about things. Just put everything out -of your mind but playing half and try like the dickens!” - -“I don’t know that I want to do that, though, if I’m crowding Bert out -and――――” - -“Piffle! If you don’t crowd him out Jack Zanetti will, or Billy -Siedhof, unless he gets a move on and fights for his place. Nick and -I were talking about it last night and Nick wanted me to give Bert a -hint. But what’s the use? He knows it as well as I do. He’d only tell -me to mind my own business. Quite right, too. So I’m going to.” - -“Then you think I ought to keep on?” - -“Of course. What else? We’re here to lick Mount Morris, aren’t we? If -you can help, it’s up to you to do it. Be as sorry for Bert as you -like, but don’t let it interfere with your game, Hugh. It’s up to him.” - -The entrance of Roy Dresser put an end to the topic, and presently Hugh -went back to Lothrop. Bert was not there, for which Hugh was glad. He -got ready for bed, found a magazine to read and crawled in. But the -magazine lay face-down on the spread, for the talk with Pop Driver had -provided him with material for much perplexed meditation. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII - -IN THE LIME-LIGHT - - -The next morning Bert had apparently forgotten his grievance, although -he looked as if he had spent an unrestful night and was fidgety and -troubled. Hugh saw little of him until practice time. That afternoon -there was only light work for the players and the scrimmage with the -second team was short, if lively. Bert and Zanetti started the game and -later Bert went out in favor of Hugh, and Zanetti gave way to Vail. The -latter seemed as good as ever today and went to work with a will. Hugh, -during the time he was in the game, had few opportunities for offensive -work but made one good rush of some ten yards when he was let loose -outside left tackle. Siedhof played a few minutes in Hugh’s place at -the end of the scrimmage. - -The first showed the effect of the week’s work and undoubtedly -displayed a better defence than theretofore. During the fifteen minutes -of actual playing time it scored twice on the second and held its -opponent safe. - -Football enthusiasm had been rampant for over a week and already two -mass-meetings had been held. The third came off that Friday evening and -everyone piled into the assembly hall and cheered and sang and whooped -things up generally. The Mandolin and Banjo Club occupied the stage and -supplied music for the songs. Hugh secretly thought the enthusiasm a -bit “made-to-order” as he expressed it. But Hugh had not yet accustomed -himself to the idea of organized cheering, which he still considered a -trifle ridiculous. But he liked the singing and got into the songs with -a will. Captain Trafford predicted victory for the Scarlet-and-Gray; -Coach Bonner warned them against overconfidence, and Mr. Smiley quoted -much Latin and made them laugh frequently. As a demonstration of -loyalty and faith in the team the meeting was a great big success, but -it didn’t affect the result of next week’s game the least particle, -and so, in Hugh’s mind, was rather a waste of energy. Even Wallace -Cathcart attended, and Hugh, to his surprise, caught him with his mouth -very wide open and his face very red, cheering like mad. The first and -second team players sat together in front and Hugh found himself beside -Tom Hanrihan. Hanrihan had displayed a kindly interest in Hugh’s career -from the first, and tonight, in a lull between a cheer for Coach -Bonner and a song, he said confidentially: - -“You’re doing fine, Hobo. Just you keep it up, son, and you’ll have -your letter. If you do you’ll be one of the youngest fellows to get it. -Bonner can’t keep you out of that game if he wants to, by gum! I sized -you up right the first day I saw you; remember? Yes, sir, I liked your -style right then, and I told Bonner so, too. I sort of discovered you, -Hobo, and if you don’t play a regular star game next week I’ll beat you -up!” - -Then the mandolins and guitars and banjos struck up “Here We Go!” and -Hanrihan and Hugh, the latter referring to the printed slip in his -hand, joined in the rollicking refrain: - - “Grafton! Grafton! Here we go, - Arm in arm with banners flying! - Pity, pity any foe - When it hears us loudly crying: - ‘Grafton! Grafton! Rah, rah, rah!’ - All together! Now the chorus: - ‘Grafton! Grafton! Rah, rah, rah!’ - Victory today is for us!” - -Finally, “Nine long ‘Graftons,’ fellows, and put some pep into it!” -and then the exodus, with much scraping of settees and laughing and -whistling. And afterwards, for Nick and Guy Murtha and Harry Keyes and -Hugh, a Welsh rarebit in Nick’s room, made over an alcohol lamp and -extremely hot with cayenne pepper! - -Southlake Academy was the visitor the next afternoon. Southlake had -played Mount Morris earlier in the season and had been soundly drubbed -by the score of 19 to 0. But Grafton did not hope to make so good a -showing. Nor did she. Southlake was a better team that day than she -had been when the Green-and-White had vanquished her, and she soon -proved the fact. Coach Bonner started with two substitutes in the line, -Hanrihan for Captain Trafford and Willard for Musgrave at center. But -Musgrave was hurried in before the game was five minutes old and, -although Captain Ted stayed out of the conflict until the third period -began, he, too, had to be sent to the relief. The back-field was Blake, -Winslow, Vail and Keyes during the first half. Then Weston took Nick’s -place, Siedhof went in for Vail, and Leddy played full. Hugh was half -sorry and half glad that he was being kept out. He wanted to play -hard enough, but he feared that if he did go in it would be in place -of Bert, and their relations were strained enough as it was. Bert -had hardly spoken a word, civil or otherwise, to his roommate since -yesterday’s practice! - -There was no scoring on either side until the second period was ten -minutes along. Then a lucky fluke gave Grafton the ball on Southlake’s -twenty-two yards and she took it over in seven smashing attacks on -the center. Keyes missed goal. After that Southlake sprang some open -plays which, if they didn’t gain very much ground, considerably worried -and exasperated the enemy, who, for a while, didn’t know how to meet -them. Still, the nearest Southlake came to a score was getting down -to Grafton’s seventeen yards, where she was held for downs, and Keyes -kicked out of danger. - -Hugh watched the work of the half-backs attentively. Vail was covering -himself with glory and Bert was doing considerably better on attack -than he had been doing of late, but was frightfully weak on defence. -Time after time he was outside the play entirely, while, when he did -get into it, he was quite as likely to miss his tackle as make it. -Even Hugh, who was desperately anxious to make the best of Bert’s -performance, could not fail to see that he was trying the patience of -his team-mates and, probably, of Mr. Bonner as well. - -Southlake tried two forward passes in the third period and again got -within scoring distance. She faked a drop-kick and sent a back on a -wide run around Roy Dresser’s end and Roy, for once, was neatly boxed. -Bert was the man to stop the runner and Bert made a miserable failure -of the attempt, getting his man and then losing him again. Just how -Yetter got into the affair was a mystery, but it was the left guard who -pulled the Southlake runner down just short of the goal line. - -Franklin had been showing distress for some time and now Parker was -sent in to play left tackle. At the same time Keyes was put back -again, and it was perhaps the big full-back’s presence which stopped -the enemy’s advance. Two tries lost her a yard and then she tried a -drop-kick and it was Keyes who leaped into the path of the ball and -beat it down. Southlake recovered on the fifteen, but she fumbled a -minute or two later and the pigskin was Grafton’s. - -It was then that the Scarlet-and-Gray showed real form. From her own -fifteen-yard line to the middle of the field she went in five plays, -Keyes and Roy Dresser bringing off a forward pass that covered more -than half the distance, and Vail and Siedhof, and once Keyes, plunging -through the line for the balance. A second attempt at a forward pass -grounded, but Vail got away outside the Southlake right tackle and -reeled off fifteen yards, and from there down to the sixteen Grafton -plugged relentlessly. There was a mistake in signals then and some four -yards was lost, and Weston elected to try a goal from the field and -Captain Trafford went back. But the line weakened somewhere and Ted -had no chance to kick and Weston, holding the ball for him near the -thirty-yard line, could only snuggle it beneath him and yell, “Down!” - -It was then that Coach Bonner beckoned Hugh from the bench. “Go ahead,” -he said, “and see what you can do. Tell Weston to use Number 17, -Ordway.” - -Hugh pulled off his sweater and legged it across with upraised hand, -and the stand cheered him. Bert saw him coming and began to tug at his -head harness. Then he stopped and waited. - -“You’re off,” said Hugh. “May I have that, please?” - -[Illustration: “‘You’re off,’ said Hugh. ‘May I have that, please?’”] - -Bert handed over the leather guard silently, but his expression wasn’t -pleasant and Hugh heartily wished that the coach had chosen Zanetti -instead of him. But there was no time for regrets then. He whispered -his instructions to the quarter-back, repeated them in reply to Captain -Ted’s anxious question, pulled the head guard on and sprang into place. - -It was third down and about fifteen to go. Weston called the signals, -Trafford crossed to the other side of Parker, and Keyes stepped farther -back and held his hands out, the halves crouched wide apart, and -Weston, stooping behind Musgrave, repeated the signals. Then the ball -came back, straight and fast, and Hugh snuggled it in the crook of his -arm, started quickly, and, running low and hard, swept past his line -on the heels of Siedhof, while Weston and Keyes sped toward the other -end. For a moment, a critical length of time just then, Southlake lost -sight of the ball. When she had solved the play Siedhof had spun a -Southlake tackle from the path, and Hugh had responded to the frantic -cry of “_In! In!_” and was through. Siedhof met the charge of a half, -but went down in the encounter, and Hugh, twisting aside, circled out, -passed the twenty-yard line, dodged another back and, with the hue and -cry close behind, raced over the remaining four trampled white marks -and was only stopped when a despairing quarter, wrapping tenacious arms -about his legs, brought him to earth well back of the goal line! - -Grafton shouted herself hoarse, only letting up for a minute while -Keyes directed the ball and subsequently booted it deftly over the bar. -After that Grafton played on the defensive for the rest of that period -and the next, and, although there were some anxious moments, kept what -she had earned. While 13 to 0 didn’t sound as well as 19 to 0, it -perhaps stood for quite as much if we consider the fact that Southlake -was a stronger team today than when she had met Mount Morris. - -Being a hero is a trying business, as Hugh soon discovered. Naturally -somewhat retiring, he disliked the sudden publicity that enveloped him, -and, being modest, he felt uncomfortable under the praise bestowed -on him. Fellows took, he thought, a ridiculous amount of pains to go -out of their way to shake his hand or even slap him familiarly on the -shoulder and tell him what a wonder he was. He knew very well that he -wasn’t a wonder and he didn’t like being called one. He belonged, in -part at least, to a people who abhor being conspicuous and who view -askance anything savoring of hysteria, and, in spite of his American -experiences, he had not lost those feelings. No, on the whole the -succeeding week was not a very comfortable one for Hugh. He hoped that -after a day or two the school would cease its “bally nonsense,” but he -was reckoning without the fact that it was wrought up to a fine state -of tension and that the tension increased every hour as the Mount -Morris game approached. Consequently the “bally nonsense” continued and -Hobo Ordway was never allowed to get out of the lime-light for a minute. - -But what troubled Hugh far more than fame and its consequences was -Bert’s attitude. After the Southlake game no one, and surely not -Bert, doubted for an instant that Hugh had won his position. Another -fellow might have swallowed the lump in his throat and smiled, or, -being resentful, might have hidden the fact. But not so Bert. He made -no secret to Hugh or anyone else that he thought he had been badly -treated. Or perhaps, which is more likely, he pretended to think -so. At all events, life in Number 29 was difficult and increasingly -unpleasant. Bert seldom spoke unless addressed by Hugh and then -answered coldly and sneeringly. By the middle of the next week Hugh -kept away from the study as much as he could and gave up trying to -bridge the chasm. On one occasion, driven out of his usual patience -by a surly response, he got thoroughly angry and wanted to fight on -the spot. Bert, though, refused to afford him that much satisfaction, -telling him sarcastically that if he (Hugh) got hurt and couldn’t play -they’d surely lose the game! - -Nick and Pop each told Bert that he was making an utter ass of himself, -but beyond such satisfaction as they got from airing their opinion, -nothing came of it. - -There was light work on Monday for the regulars, although those who -had not participated strenuously in Saturday’s contest were given the -usual medicine. On Tuesday there was a hard practice, and, in the -evening, an hour’s signal drill in the gymnasium. The program was the -same the next day. That afternoon, Bert, if he still entertained hopes, -must have seen the futility of them. For he spent the whole period of -scrimmaging on the bench and saw Hugh occupying the place he had looked -on as his. Although no official statement to the effect was made by -the coaches, it was generally understood that the line-up that day -was the one which would face Mount Morris on Saturday. Of course Bert -would get into the game for a while beyond the shadow of a doubt, but -that brought no satisfaction to him. What increased his sense of injury -was the fact that the day before, playing two of the four ten-minute -periods against the scrubs, he had held his own with any of them. And -he knew now that if he could only get in on Saturday he could play the -game of his life! - -Perhaps it was a final realization of his defeat that changed his -attitude toward Hugh that evening. When both boys were back in the -study after the signal work in the gymnasium Bert volunteered a remark -in a very casual but surprisingly inoffensive voice. Hugh answered -in kind, and, rather embarrassedly, they fell into a discussion of -the plays they had rehearsed, of the team’s chances, and of kindred -subjects. Then, when Hugh had gone to bed and his light was out, -Bert’s voice reached him from his doorway. - -“Say, Hugh!” - -“Yes?” - -An instant’s silence, and then: “I’m sorry I’ve been such a rotter.” - -“Oh, that’s all right, Bert!” - -“Yes, but――――” Another silence, and finally: “It isn’t all right at -all! I――oh, well, what’s the use? I’m sorry. I guess that’s the whole -yarn. It isn’t your fault, you know, and I――I hope you do fine, old -man! Just rip ’em right up the back!” - -“Thanks,” replied Hugh in the darkness, “but I wish it were going to -be you, Bert, honest! I don’t want to play a mite. I’m beastly sorry -I――I――――” - -“Oh, rot!” - -“But I am, though! I feel an awful ass, if you know what I mean; -butting in like this and doing you out of your place on the team when -I can’t begin to play the way you do, old chap! It――it’s piffling -poppycock! That’s what it is! Piffling poppycock!” - -He appeared to derive a lot of satisfaction from the phrase, and Bert -heard him mutter it over again to himself as he felt his way into the -room and sat on the foot of Hugh’s bed. - -“No,” he said, tucking his feet up out of the draft from the open -window, “no, that’s not true. You play just as good a game as I ever -did, Hugh. You can’t get around that. And what’s a heap more, you’re -steady. I never was. I’d play good enough one day and then be perfectly -rotten the next, maybe. What gets me, though, is how the dickens you -ever learned in only about eight weeks!” - -“Oh, I don’t know. And, anyhow, that’s got nothing to do with it. I -never imagined that I’d get in your way, Bert. If I had I’d never have -gone in for the silly game. Now look what’s happened!” - -“Well, what has happened? I’m out and you’re in because you deserve to -be. Besides, there’s another year coming, isn’t there? Football doesn’t -stop after Saturday, you know.” - -“That’s taking it mighty well,” said Hugh warmly. “But――just the same I -don’t like it. It makes me feel an awful rotter, an out-and-out rotter, -old chap! If there was any way to――to――to back out――――” - -“Don’t be a chump! There isn’t, and if there was you’d have no -right――――” - -“Why not? I know there isn’t, of course, but I don’t see why I -shouldn’t have the say about playing. Of course I can’t go to Mr. -Bonner and say ‘Look here, you know, I’ve changed my silly mind and -don’t think I’ll play Saturday.’ That wouldn’t do, of course. But, just -the same, it’s tommyrot to say I haven’t the right, you know.” - -“You haven’t,” declared Bert decidedly. “The team needs you and it’s up -to you to do your level best.” - -“My level best is no better than yours, though; not so good, in fact. -How do you know that I won’t have stage-fright Saturday and drop the -ball or――or try to swallow it? You can’t make me believe that if -something happened so I couldn’t play you wouldn’t do just as well and -probably better than I would!” - -“I don’t know what I’d do,” answered Bert thoughtfully. “Yes, I do, -though, old man. I’ve got a perfectly magnificent hunch that I’d play -good ball if I got a chance. But that’s got nothing to do with it. I -shan’t have the chance unless Bonner puts me in for a little while at -the end. He probably will, you know; after we’ve got the thing cinched -or we’re so far behind that nothing matters!” - -“Well, there it is, then!” said Hugh triumphantly. “You _know_ what you -can do and I don’t! What I say is――――” - -Bert laughed. “Oh, you dry up and go to sleep, Hugh. It’s all right, -old man. I did act like a beast, and I’m sorry, and I beg your pardon. -And that’s all of that, I guess. For the rest of it, I hope you’ll play -a rattling good game, Hugh, and if I’m to substitute you I hope I won’t -get in at all. Good night!” - -“Well, but――now hold on, old dear! I want to tell you――――” - -“Not tonight. It’s after eleven. Go to sleep.” - -Hugh grunted as he heard the bed creak in the other room. Then he -thumped his pillow and settled down again. - -“Just the same,” he murmured, “it’s piffling poppycock! That’s just -what it is, piffling poppycock!” - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV - -HUGH GOES TO THE VILLAGE - - -There was the lightest sort of practice on Thursday for the regular, -but the third-string players, reinforced by three or four first subs, -among them Bert, gave the second a hard tussle for two fifteen-minute -halves. Hugh didn’t see that game, for with the other first-choice -players he was dispatched to the showers the minute practice was done, -but he heard about it afterwards from Peet, who, at least according to -his own story, was the one particular bright spot in the second team’s -back-field. Peet wasn’t a very eloquent conversationalist and his -report was vague and jerky, but Hugh gathered that Bert had more than -distinguished himself that afternoon. There had, said Peet, been one -burst through the whole second team that had netted forty-odd yards. -And he had frequently piled through Myatt and Bowen for three and four -at a whack. You just couldn’t stop him! He’d gained two once with both -Hanser and Ayer hanging around his neck! And, in the end, he had -crashed his way through the second team’s center from the six yards for -the only touchdown scored by the substitutes. Hugh was very glad and -hoped that Coach Bonner, who, according to Peet, had watched the game -through, would change his mind and let Bert start on Saturday. - -That was the second team’s final game of the season and they won it -10 to 6. When it was over they cheered the first team, the coaches, -the school, themselves and whatever else they could think of, and -joyfully――and perhaps a little regretfully――disbanded. - -Bert was in good spirits that evening. He had had a fine time in the -game and told Hugh all about it while they sat on the steps of Lothrop -after supper and waited until it was time to go over to the mass -meeting. But when Hugh suggested that perhaps, because of the good -showing he had made, Mr. Bonner might put him into the line-up instead -of one Hobo Ordway, Bert shrugged. - -“He won’t. I know Bonner pretty well. Anyway, I don’t care so much -now. I had a bully time knocking around this afternoon and I’ll get -a whack at Mount Morris if only for five minutes or so, I guess, and -that’ll do. What time is it? We’ve got to sit on the stage tonight -like a lot of wax figures. That’s what I always feel like when I’m on -exhibition. Joe Leslie’s going to talk tonight. Have you heard him? Oh, -yes, he jawed at Lit one time you were there, didn’t he? Well, he’s a -dandy at it and no mistake. Joe always calls the turn, too. Last year -he said we’d lose and we did. Year before he said neither team would -score more than once, and, by Jove, he was right then, too. We played -a nothing-to-nothing tie! Joe knows football from A to Izzard, and he -would have been a peach of a player if he could have gone in for it.” - -“What was the trouble?” - -“Folks didn’t want him to. He――what?” - -“I didn’t say anything.” - -“Thought you did. Well, let’s go over.” - -Sitting on the stage to be admired was a little uncomfortable, Hugh -thought, even though he and Bert secured chairs in the third row and -were not much in evidence from the floor. As on previous occasions of -the kind, the Mandolin and Banjo Club did its best――and sometimes it -sounded like its worst!――speeches were made, cheers were given and -songs were sung. To the delight of everyone, the prophetic Joe Leslie, -senior class president, predicted a Grafton victory, although he warned -his hearers that the team would have to work for it and that its margin -of points would be scanty. Joe could talk to the fellows in what Vail, -who sat at Hugh’s other side, called “words of one syllabub,” and he -was always a big success as a speaker. Tonight he had his audience with -him from the first moment and before he was through had worked them up -to such a stage of enthusiasm that they threatened to lift the roof off -the building. - -When the meeting was over the football players disappeared quickly, -for tonight and tomorrow night they were supposed to be in bed by ten -o’clock, and, lest they be disturbed, all noise in rooms or corridors -after that hour was taboo. Hugh, who had been noticeably distrait all -the evening save when Joe Leslie’s eloquence had absorbed him, piled -promptly into bed, beating the clock by ten minutes. Bert was disposed -toward conversation, but found scant encouragement from his chum, and -at ten all lights were out in Number 29. Bert was just falling into a -delicious state of drowsiness when a sound from the opposite bedroom -brought him back to consciousness and he sat up suddenly. It seemed to -him that Hugh had said “That’s it!” very loudly. However, as all was -silent, he concluded that he had dreamed it, and so sank back again and -went to sleep. - -The next forenoon, clad in a yellow slicker, since it was drizzling, -Hugh inconspicuously let himself out the service door on the basement -floor of Lothrop, climbed two fences, cut across a corner of a meadow, -and finally, a bit wet as to lower extremities, reached the village -road and trudged off into the mist. He was back a half-hour later, -in time for French, and, so far as he knew, his absence was passed -unnoticed. - -It drizzled all day, and toward evening grew colder. The gridiron, -covered with a sprinkling of marsh hay, remained deserted. At four -o’clock the team met in the gymnasium and had a half-hour’s drill on -signals, and then again, at half-past eight, there was a blackboard -talk. But the day went slowly to most of the fellows and the weather -affected tight-strung nerves, and everyone from Coach Bonner down to -the least important third-string substitute was heartily glad when -bedtime came. The school held an impromptu celebration――if you can call -it a celebration when the thing to be celebrated hasn’t occurred――on -the campus and did a good deal of singing and cheering and shouting -while it marched around the buildings. But the drizzle soon discouraged -it and long before ten o’clock Grafton School was as quiet as the -proverbial mouse. Hugh had a good deal of trouble getting to sleep -that night. He could hear Bert’s hearty and regular snores from the -opposite room and envied him. Probably, he reflected, Bert had a clear -conscience, while his own――well, he didn’t quite know whether it was -clear or not. He only knew that he had done something that morning -which might or might not prove to have been for the best. Sometimes, -he concluded, as he thumped his pillow into a new shape, life was most -beastly complicated. - -When he awoke after a none too refreshing night it was still dull and -foggy outside, although the drizzle had ceased. There was a light glaze -of ice over everything and the limbs of the trees outside the windows -crackled when a slight puff of wind blew the gray mist across the -campus. It was a dispiriting scene, Hugh thought, but Bert, who came -yawning in a moment later, appeared to find it quite to his liking. - -“Ugh! Put that window down! Say, this is a bully day for the game, -isn’t it? Just snappy enough!” - -“The field will be wet, though, won’t it?” asked Hugh. - -“Not to mention. The sun will be out before noon, and that hay will -keep it pretty dry, anyway. Had your bath――pardon me, tub?” - -“No. You go ahead if you like.” - -“All right, your ’Ighness, I’ll do that very thing. Say, what’s wrong -with you? Got the pip or anything? You look like a last summer’s -straw!” - -“Me? Oh, I’m all right, I fancy, thanks. I――didn’t sleep very well.” - -Bert chuckled and playfully shied a pillow at him. “Nerves, me dear -boy, nerves! You’ll feel better after you’ve got some food――that is, -chow, inside you. I’ll yell if there’s a tub not working.” - -Bert’s prediction was verified. Hugh did feel better after his -breakfast. Possibly the discovery that he was not the only fellow at -the training table that morning who resembled a last summer’s straw -helped as much as the food. As has been said before, Hugh had a horror -of being “different.” - -There was no school that day. Experience had proved to the faculty that -holding recitations on the morning of the Big Game was about as useless -a thing as could be imagined. Many fellows headed for the village -shortly after breakfast, but the players were not allowed that means of -working off any superabundance of spirits. Instead, being instructed -to remain out of doors as much as possible, they dawdled around from -one set of steps to another and tried to be very jovial and carefree. -The sun came through about ten and the trees glittered as though strung -with diamonds. Then the diamonds turned into very wet water and dripped -down fellows’ necks. - -Bert and Hugh and Nick and several others were seated on the steps of -Trow at about ten-thirty. Talk had been desultory and fragmentary for -some time, and Nick, the only one of the group apparently unaffected by -nerves, had just informed the rest candidly but for their own good that -they were a “bunch of nuts,” when Mr. Bonner came into view down the -steps of School Hall, looked this way and that and then walked briskly -along to Trow. He had the appearance of one who, having completed a -home-run, is informed by the umpire that he is out for not having -touched second. Every fellow in the group there knew that something had -greatly disturbed the coach’s equanimity, and when, pausing a dozen -yards away, he called to Hugh, his tone confirmed the look on his face. - -“Ordway, please!” he called. “Just a moment!” - -Hugh arose and wormed his way between the others. Probably they all -glanced curiously at him as he passed down the steps, but I doubt if -any save Bert read the expression on his face aright. To Bert it was -one of relief. - -Hugh joined Coach Bonner and together they walked toward School Hall -and disappeared through the entrance. Speculation was rife in front of -Trow. Nick shook his head dubiously. - -“Something’s gone to pot,” he said. - -“Faculty’s jumped on Hobo, probably,” suggested another. “Thought, -though, he was rather a shark for study.” - -“It isn’t that,” said Nick. “What do you think, Bert?” - -But Bert only shook his head. If it was what he really thought, it -wasn’t a thing for him to talk about. - -Five minutes later Hugh came out of School Hall and walked toward -them again. Seeing his face, Nick breathed easier. If it was anything -bad the Duke wouldn’t smile like that. When he reached the steps Hugh -stopped. By that time the smile didn’t look so good to Nick. There was -something not quite regular about it! - -“Anything wrong?” asked Yetter. - -“Rather, in a way,” answered Hugh. Bert noticed that his friend -avoided looking at him as he made the announcement. “My folks――that -is, my mother doesn’t want me to play. She telegraphed the faculty. -Bonner――Bonner’s a bit――peevish.” - -The silence was broken by the dry tones of Nick. - -“Strange he should be,” he murmured. - -Hugh nodded, smiled, and turned away in the direction of Lothrop. A -chorus of regrets, of protests, of questions went after him, but he -kept on. Bert watched him disappear into the building before he jumped -up and hurried after. - -“What,” demanded Bert, as he closed the door behind him, “what is -this――this”――unconsciously he adopted Hugh’s phrase of the other -evening――“this piffling poppycock?” - -Hugh, standing at the window, one knee on the cushion, turned and -smiled conciliatingly. “Mother telegraphed to faculty. She doesn’t want -me to play. She――she’s afraid I’d get hurt, don’t you know. Of course, -it’s bally nonsense, but there you are, what?” - -Bert advanced into the room and shied his cap to the table. Then he -plunged his hands in his pockets and observed sweetly: - -“Must have been an awful surprise to you!” - -Hugh colored. “Well, there it is, eh?” - -“Most breaks your heart, doesn’t it?” continued Bert with suspicious -sympathy. - -“Oh, well, now, old chap, of course a fellow’s disappointed, and all -that, but――――” - -Then Bert let loose. I’m not going to try to say what he did, partly -because it was all dreadfully incoherent and partly because he used -expressions and called names that barely escaped being in shocking bad -taste. One of the nicest things he called Hugh was a “dunder-headed -ass”! And Hugh took it all quite good-naturedly and very calmly, even -seating himself as though in order to listen more attentively. And -when, at last, Bert petered out for lack of breath or language, Hugh -only grinned at him! - -“You can’t prove anything you’ve said,” he remarked finally, just when -Bert showed a disposition to go on again. “And, anyway――――” - -“I don’t have to prove it; I _know_ it!” bellowed the other. “I’m not a -complete fool!” He glared at Hugh a space longer and then subsided in -the Morris chair. “What――what did you do it for, Hugh?” he asked almost -pathetically. - -Hugh blustered weakly. “I haven’t said I’d done anything, have -I? That’s your story. If you don’t believe me when I tell you -that――that――――” - -“Well, go on,” said Bert sarcastically. - -But Hugh didn’t. “Anyway, it’s done and that’s all there is to it. -What’s the good of cutting up rough?” - -“Hugh, you’re an ass.” - -Hugh smiled and shrugged his shoulders. “I say, you know, you’ve told -me that before a number of times.” - -“And I tell it to you again, you――you chump! If this ever gets out -Bonner will scalp you and the school will chase you from here to the -Junction!” - -“Why should it get out, as you say? And――and what is there to get out, -anyway?” - -“There’s this. You wrote home and got your mother to send that -telegram, and if that isn’t――――” - -“I didn’t!” denied Hugh. - -“You didn’t! Look here, can you look me in the eyes and say you didn’t -put your mother up to it?” - -“I didn’t write home,” replied Hugh evasively. - -“Oh, that’s it! You telegraphed! Of course you did! And that’s what you -were thinking of when you said ‘Oh!’ or something when we were talking -about Joe Leslie. That put the silly stunt into your head, didn’t it?” - -“I say, what’s the good of getting all excited about it?” said Hugh -soothingly. “It’s quite all right, old dear. All you’ve got to do, you -know, is calm down and go in this afternoon and give ’em ballywhack!” - -Bert was silent for a moment. Then: “What did Bonner say?” he demanded. - -Hugh smiled ruefully. “He was crusty a bit, if you know what I mean.” - -“I think I do,” said Bert grimly. “Does he――suspect anything?” - -“Oh, dear, no! Why should he?” - -“Well, he might. Hang it, Hugh, I’ve got a half a mind not to play!” - -Hugh laughed. “Change it, old dear! Bonner’s fit to be tied now. If you -tried anything like that on he’d just simply blow up――_Bing!_ Just like -that! Don’t be a silly ass, please.” - -“But, Hugh, I wish you hadn’t! I feel so mean, don’t you see? And -suppose Bonner doesn’t put me in, after all! Suppose he plays Siedhof -or Zanetti! Suppose, even if he does put me in, I don’t play decently, -or――――” - -“Suppose you’re a piffling idiot, and shut up! Bonner’s got to put you -in. And you’ve got to play the way you did Thursday and you’re going -to! Now come on out and get some air.” - -Bert didn’t stir at once, though. Instead, he studied his knuckles a -long moment, leaning forward in his chair. Then, rather huskily: “Hugh, -you’re a mighty good sort,” he faltered. “And I’ve been such a rotter -that I don’t see why you want to――to――――” - -“Piffling poppycock!” said Hugh. - - - - -CHAPTER XXV - -BOWLES ATTENDS A FOOTBALL GAME - - -At a little before three that afternoon a carriage, drawn by a -weary-looking gray horse, turned into the campus from River Street and -finally stopped in front of School Hall. The single occupant alighted, -paid the driver and ascended the steps with a suggestion of dignified -haste. Some three minutes later, by which time the carriage which had -brought him from the Junction was out of sight around a corner, the -passenger reappeared and crossed the campus in the direction of a large -open plot of ground from which loud and at times quite appalling sounds -broke upon the afternoon air. - -He was a neatly attired man of about thirty-five, clean-shaven, and -of a serious cast of countenance. He was quite evidently English, and -self-respecting to a degree. That was apparent in his carriage, his -expression, and his attire. He crossed the green, entered the gate -of Lothrop Field, and paused inquiringly in front of a youth with a -scarlet ribbon on his coat who guarded the entrance to the stands. - -“Fifty cents, please,” said the youth. - -The latecomer put a well-gloved hand in a pocket, drew forth a pigskin -purse and selected the required amount. Then he passed around a corner -of a grandstand and found himself confronted on one side by sloping -tiers of seats crowded with onlookers and on the other by an expanse of -yellowing turf over which a number of persons were hurrying about in an -apparently purposeless way. A second ribbon-badged youth arose from the -steps of the stand and said: - -“You’ll find a seat further along, sir; about three sections down.” - -“Thank you, sir, but I am looking for――for Mr. Ordway.” - -“Ordway?” The youth shrugged. “I can’t tell you where he’s sitting. He -was to have played, but something happened. I’m afraid you can’t stand -here, sir. You’re obstructing the view of people in the lower seats.” - -Already requests to “Move on, please!” were being made, and the man, -still searching the crowd as he went, proceeded in the direction -indicated. But finding anyone in that throng was like looking for a -needle in a haystack, and he began to realize the futility of his task. -Half-way along he stopped very suddenly and clutched at his very -respectable derby hat. Someone had almost knocked it from his head with -a waving flag, while a most barbaric and disconcerting shouting caused -him to gaze about, startled. He could, however, see nothing to account -for such an outburst, and, prompted by cries of “Down front!” and “Keep -moving, please!” he went on and was finally taken pity on by a third -ribbon-adorned usher and conducted up a number of steps and placed -precariously on the last eight inches of a narrow seat. - -He looked about him carefully. There seemed to be hundreds of persons -there, old, middle-aged and young, and many were waving flags of vivid -scarlet bearing white G’s, and all, or so it seemed to him, were -shouting. Beside him was a boy of possibly sixteen years, a rather -nice-appearing youth, but one who continually jumped half out of his -seat or prodded the man’s ribs with a sharp elbow. The newcomer made a -careful and systematic survey of as much of the audience as was within -his range of vision, but without finding Mr. Ordway, after which he -philosophically settled down, if such a thing is possible when your -neighbors’ knees and elbows are continually being poked into you, and -did his best to understand what was going on. - -Before him, on a white-barred field, two groups of young gentlemen -were facing each other. Those of one group were bright red as to -arms and legs and those of the other dark green. Besides the number -engaged in the contest――the man placed that number as between twenty -and thirty; possibly because several of them kept moving about all -the time――there were two older persons on hand, one of whom was an -extremely active gentleman, judging from the manner in which he ran -back and forth. While he looked someone blew a whistle and the two -groups of players suddenly became inextricably confused. Some ran one -way and some another and each seemed mainly bent on getting into the -next fellow’s way! And then, quite from nowhere, a green-stockinged -youth shot into prominence and ran very fast across the field in the -observer’s direction. He had a football in one arm and held the other -stiffly before him. The reason for this was presently made plain when -a scarlet-legged youth tried to interfere with him. That extended hand -came into contact with the scarlet-legged youth’s face and the latter -swerved quickly aside. But the lad with the green stockings didn’t get -much farther, for two other scarlet-legged players literally hurled -themselves on him and he was sent headlong across the white line and -into a windrow of hay. The man, rather startled by such violence, -understood at once that the hay had been placed there for humanitarian -purposes. - -Everyone shouted things then, while, to the surprise of the man, the -assaulted youth arose nonchalantly, shook himself, and trotted further -into the field, where, presently, the whole performance was gone -through with again. The man was perplexed. Football he had heard of but -never witnessed, and it was very difficult to understand. On a board at -one end of the inclosure was the legend: - - GRAFTON - VISITORS - -That, of course, meant that neither side had as yet succeeded in -making a tally. The man wondered what they did to make a tally, and -while he was still wondering a gentleman wearing a white sweater ran -frantically onto the field and tooted an automobile horn. Whereupon, -with one accord, the players of both sides drew apart and then trotted -diagonally down the field and disappeared from sight. - -The man started to get up, saw that only a very few were following his -example, hesitated, and resumed his seat. - -“I beg pardon, sir,” he said to his neighbor, “is there more of it?” - -“Oh, yes, that’s only the first half,” replied the boy, a note of -surprise in his voice. “You got here late, didn’t you?” - -“Yes, sir. The train I reached Needham Junction on did not connect with -any train for this place and I was obliged to take a fly――er, carriage, -that is to say. It took some time.” - -“I guess it did!” The boy observed his neighbor interestedly, a bit -puzzled. “Too bad to miss a whole quarter after coming so far, sir.” - -“I beg pardon, but I’m not――that is, you――――” But he gave it up. He -wanted to tell the boy that he preferred not to be called “sir,” but he -couldn’t think of a way to do it. - -“Come from New York?” the boy was asking, frankly curious. - -“Yes, sir, but from Baltimore before that. I left there last night. I -came to see Mr. Ordway; Mr. Hugh Ordway. You might know him, sir?” - -“Know Hobo! Well, I guess! Everyone knows Hobo Ordway!” - -“No, sir, Hugh, if you please, sir.” - -“I know; that’s him. The fellows call him Hobo on account of his -initials; H. O. B. O. don’t you see? Friend of yours, sir?” - -“My master, sir.” - -“Your――I didn’t get that!” - -“I’m Master Hugh’s man, sir. We were a bit worried about him and my -lady sent me up to see if everything was all right.” - -“Oh, then you’re the valet chap he brought along with him when he got -here?” - -“Yes, sir; Bowles, sir.” - -“Well, what do you know about that?” - -“You mean, sir――――” - -“Why, say, Mr. Bowles――or ought I to call you just Bowles?” - -“Just Bowles, if you’ll be so kind, sir.” - -“Well, then, Bowles, you don’t need to worry your bean about Hobo. He’s -as right as a trivet, or tight as a rivet or whatever you say. Only -thing that’s bothering him, I guess, is that his folks butted in at the -last moment and told him he couldn’t play. But I guess you know all -about that?” - -“Oh, yes, sir. You see he telegraphed――――” Bowles stopped and coughed -discreetly. “That is to say, we telegraphed――――” - -“Fine piece of business, I don’t think, Bowles! What’s the big idea? -Think he’d get killed?” - -“Can’t say, sir. It was her Ladyship’s idea. It’s an extremely rough -game, this football.” - -“Rough! Sure, it’s rough, but――who’s her ladyship?” - -Bowles again coughed behind his hand. “Mrs. Ordway, sir, Master Hugh’s -mother. We――we always call her that. It’s a habit, sir.” - -“Well, say, if you want to find Hobo you’d better beat it right now. -He’s on this side somewhere, I suppose. Say, Jennings, seen Hobo Ordway -lately?” - -“Sure! He was on the bench with the subs during the first half,” -responded the next boy. - -“Then you go down there where you see those benches and he will be back -again pretty soon.” - -“Thank you, sir, but possibly I’d better wait now until the football is -over. That is to say, if you’re quite certain he is all right.” - -“Was this morning, anyway. I talked to him coming out of dining hall. -There they come! _Grafton! Grafton!_” - -There had been a good deal of singing and cheering during the absence -of the teams, but now the uproar became positively deafening. Everyone -stood up and shouted long and loudly and, if they had pennants, waved -them. Bowles stood up too, but he didn’t shout, although he almost -wanted to! Then a quick, sharp cheer broke forth from one side of the -field, and a long, growly cheer floated back from the other, and the -players came into sight again around the corner and went to their -benches. And Bowles, watching eagerly, saw Master Hugh! But what a -disreputable looking Master Hugh! Bowles almost dropped in his tracks! -No wonder, indeed, that they called him “Hobo”! A pair of old gray -summer trousers, a faded blue sweater, a diminutive cloth cap on the -back of his head, and a pair of kicked-out tan shoes on his feet! -Bowles groaned and was, oh, so thankful that her Ladyship was not there -to witness the disturbing sight! And then others cut off his view and -somewhere a whistle blew and the cheering began again and―― - -“Come on, Grafton! Let’s score now!” yelled a voice in Bowles’ ear, -and an elbow dug sharply into his side and someone behind him sent -his respectable derby over onto the bridge of his respectable nose. -Bowles rescued his hat and gave his attention to the field. The ball -was floating lazily aloft in the sunlight and under it the players were -running together. Then it came down, a boy got under it and clasped it -to his stomach, dodged this way, feinted that, was caught, escaped, ran -a few yards and was pulled down. Bowles thought he could almost hear -the thud of that body! - -“Extremely rough,” he murmured, “oh, very.” - -But after that he gazed, at first interested and then fascinated, and -soon forgot whether football was rough or otherwise! His neighbor, -supplying the unsought-for information that his name was Stiles, threw -light on the endeavors of the conflicting groups briefly, succinctly, -and Bowles began to fathom the philosophy of the game. Minutes passed. -The play surged this way and that, the ball, however, straying never -very far from the center of the gridiron. The teams were evenly -matched, it seemed. Toward the end of the third period Mount Morris -tried a difficult field-goal from the enemy’s thirty-eight yards, but -the ball fell far short of the goal and came speeding back in the -arms of Nick Blake. They seemed now to be doing more kicking, for the -pigskin was frequently in air. Once Vail, playing back with Nick, -fumbled a punt and a groan of horror arose from around Bowles, but the -next instant Vail had shouldered a Mount Morris end aside and himself -fallen on the bouncing ball. - -Beside Bowles, his neighbor sat on the edge of the seat and squirmed -and yelped and shouted: “Get him, Ted! Get him, you chump!... Here -we go, fellows! Oh, look at that! Forty-five yards if an inch! Keyes -can’t punt a bit, can he? He’s no good at all, is he? Forty-five yards! -That’s all! Just forty―――― ... Oh, bully, Winslow! Oh, great stuff! -Right through! Three yards easy! How many downs is that? What? It can’t -be! Oh, all right. We’ll do it, just the same! They can’t stop us now! -We’re on our way to a touchdown! Get into ’em, Keyes! That’s the stuff! -Rip ’em up! What’d I tell you? Four more! Oh, there’s nothing to it, I -tell you, nothing to it at all!” - -Down on the Green-and-White’s twenty-yard line now. Mount Morris -weakening a little. Two subs going into her line. Grafton as fresh as -ever, barring Trafford, perhaps. Trafford had a fierce jolt that time -in the third quarter. Enough to put most fellows out of the game. All -right now! Second down and eight to go! No gain? Well, Vail can’t do it -every time. Besides, they were looking for him. Two downs left. Seven -to go? Then he did gain a little. Here we go! Right through―――― Nothing -doing! Who had the ball? Keyes? Too bad! Bully chance to score! Have to -kick now. Well, three points is better than nothing, let me tell you! -Who’s going to―――― What’s the matter? Oh, quarter over? Gee, but that -was short! All right, everyone up now! Let ’em have it! “Rah, rah, rah, -Grafton! Rah, rah, rah, Grafton! Grafton! Grafton! _Grafton!_” - -Bowles found he was clutching his knees tightly, doing no possible -good to his respectable trousers, and straining his respectable -gloves. Odd how excited one got about football! Extremely rough, -football, but――er――most interesting and――er――manly, of course. Oh, -rather! Ah, they were starting again at the other end of the field! -A scarlet-legged youth was standing well behind his fellows with -outstretched arms. Hello, he’d kicked it! Why didn’t the people -applaud? What was wrong? Oh, it had to go over that stick, eh, and it -hadn’t gone over? Oh, yes, of course. Most regrettable! - -Back to the kicking game again now. Long punts, thrilling catches and -wonderful runs nipped in the bud by desperate tackles. Now and then an -attempted forward pass by Grafton, but never successful. Mount Morris -playing as if she’d be satisfied with an 0 to 0 tie, taking no chances -with the ball in her possession, playing it safe always. Grafton -growing more desperate every minute as the time shortens. Sending -Vail and Keyes banging into the left of the Green-and-White line for -short gains, whisking Blake and Winslow past tackle or outside end for -slightly longer ones, until again the ball is near the twenty-five -yards. Now the gains are shorter. Mount Morris plays doggedly, hurling -back attack. Three downs and only five yards gained. Back to the -thirty-two stalks Keyes. A hush settles over the field and stand. The -quarter’s signals are heard plainly. A brown streak into Keyes’ hands, -a swinging foot, a moment of suspense, and a groan of disappointment. -Again he has failed! - -Across the field Mount Morris is cheering slowly over and over and -over. Only six minutes now. Here and there people are already leaving -their seats, to the discomfort of others. Mount Morris’s ball on her -forty-six yards. Rush――rush――rush――punt! That’s her game now. Hold them -off! No score for either side! Back comes Grafton. Four yards――that was -Winslow through tackle-guard on the left. Three yards more――that was -Vail outside tackle. Third down and only three needed. Nick makes it on -a delayed run, gets it by an inch only, but gets it! First down again -on Grafton’s twenty. Hello, what’s this? A punt on first down? Not -likely! A forward pass then. Yes! And made it, too! - -Near the forty now and still going. But she’ll never get to the goal -that way. There isn’t time enough. Three minutes left? Is that all? Why -don’t they try another forward pass or run the ends? It’s the only way. -Plugging the line will never――There he goes! He’s off! It’s Winslow! -No, it’s Vail! Ten yards――fifteen――! Oh, bully tackle, Mount Morris! -First down again, though, and on their thirty or thereabouts. Here’s -where we score! Bust ’em up, Grafton! - -Time out for someone. A Grafton player? No, he’s got green legs. It’s -Milton, their right half. No, it isn’t, it’s that big left guard of -theirs. Looks groggy, doesn’t he? Pretty near all in, if you ask me. -Here comes a Grafton sub; Zanetti, isn’t it? Wonder who they’ll take -out. Winslow, by thunder! That’s wrong! Winslow’s playing a dandy game. -What? I don’t care if Zanetti does want his letter. Let him wait until -next year. He’s only an Upper Middler, anyway. Yah! Ted Trafford’s sent -him off again! Now go ahead, Winslow, and show them we don’t _need_ any -subs! - -The Mount Morris chap’s up. He’s going off. No, he isn’t! That’s -right, give him a hand. Here we go! Put it over, Grafton! Touchdown! -Touchdown! _Touchdown!_ - -Vail fails to gain on a crisscross and Dresser, running from position, -takes the ball from Nick and makes two around the other end. Grafton’s -trying to work over in front of goal. Once more, and Vail gets another -two yards through center. Hard luck! Fourth down now and we’ll have -to kick. Unless―――― No, it’s a kick. You can tell from the formation. -Wait a bit, though. Blake’s edging over. It’s a forward pass! If it -only works! Watch ’em now! Who’s got it? What’s wrong? Hi! There he -goes! _There he goes!_ Around this end! It’s Bert Winslow! Oh, go -it, you Winslow! Oh, go――They’ve got him! No! He’ll do it, he’ll do -it! Ten yards more! Look out for that man! Dodge him! That’s it! Oh, -bully! He’s past! He’s――_he’s over_! HE’S OVER! _Touchdown! Touchdown! -Grafton! Grafton!_ WO-A-OW!... I beg pardon, sir, did I break your hat? - - - - -CHAPTER XXVI - -HUGH IS UNMASKED! - - -Grafton had won! - -That she had done so only by the slimmest of chances and in the last -moments of time, that Mount Morris had held her helpless through -fifty-eight minutes of that long-drawn sixty, that the Green-and-White -had actually gained more ground by rushing, and had, all in all, shown -more football skill, was of no moment now. Tomorrow, in a calmer frame -of mind, Grafton might realize all this, but today the fact of victory -was all she heeded! - -She captured the scarlet-legged players, who, wearied and panting, -begged for mercy, and carried them shoulder-high about the field. She -snake-danced and tossed hats and caps over the crossbars. She cheered -and sang and cavorted and laughed and triumphed. And finally she -crowded in front of the field house and, Joe Leslie waving his scarlet -megaphone and leading, cheered every member of the eleven and Coach -Bonner and Coach Crowley and Trainer Richards and Manager Quinn, and -then cheered the Team and the School! And, at last, as twilight settled -down, she dispersed across the green and back to the buildings, still -laughing, still singing, still shouting. - -The final score was 7 to 0, for Captain Ted Trafford, with Nick holding -the ball for him, had finished his football career at Grafton by -sending the pigskin straight and high over the crossbar and registering -the last point for the Scarlet-and-Gray. - -But where all had played well and some more than well, it was Left -Half Winslow who had emerged the hero of the game and of the season. -It was Bert who had torn off that last thirty yards on a brilliant, -zig-zag rush around the unsuspecting Mount Morris left end and past -a half-dozen desperate defenders, and one cannot perform a feat like -that and escape the consequences. As Mr. Smiley said when he stopped to -shake hands with Bert at the entrance of Lothrop later, “_Sic itur ad -astra_,” very freely translated by Nick into “Thus one becomes a star”! - -Hugh, who had patiently waited for Bert to emerge from the field house -and had walked back through the dusk with him and Nick and Pop and -several others, was still bubbling praise and congratulations as, -having left the rest, they toiled up the last flight. - -“It was simply corking, Bert!” he declared for the tenth time. “I don’t -see yet how you ever got through! Why, there were at least five fellows -between you and the goal line! Twice I was sure you were done for and -closed my eyes, and each time, when I looked again, you were still -nipping it! It was perfectly ripping!” - -“Just the same it ought to have been you, old man. I don’t forget that, -you bet!” - -“I’d never have done it,” replied Hugh with conviction. “They’d have -nailed me sure as shooting.” He swung open the door of the study and, -followed by Bert, groped his way toward the switch. As he did so a -discreet cough sounded in the gloom. “Hello,” exclaimed Hugh. “Who’s -there?” - -“Bowles, sir. I tried to find the switch, sir, but――――” - -“_Who?_” - -“Bowles, sir. I――――” - -“_Bowles!_” The light flared and Hugh faced the occupant of the study -in amazement. Then he sprang forward and seized the embarrassed Bowles -by the hand. “Bowles! I say, wherever did you drop from? What are you -doing here, eh?” - -“Her Ladyship thought――――” - -“You remember Bowles, Bert? He was with me that day I came.” - -“Oh, yes,” replied Bert, shaking hands rather, as it seemed, to Bowles’ -horror. “How are you, Bowles?” - -“Nicely, thank you, sir. I――――” - -“But, I say, what’s the idea?” demanded Hugh. “Is the mater here?” - -“No, sir. Her Ladyship――_Ouch!_ Beg pardon, sir!” Bowles discreetly -stepped out of the reach of Hugh’s toes. “I mean to say, Master Hugh, -that your mother was worried when she received your――――” - -“Shut up, Bowles! Don’t be a babbling ass! You mean my mother sent you -up to see what was going on, eh? Well, that’s all right, only it wasn’t -necessary, you know. I’m quite O. K. Glad to see you, though. You might -sit down and stop fidgeting. When did you get here?” - -“About a quarter to three, sir. There was――h’m――a misunderstanding -about trains, sir, and I was obliged to engage a fly at the Junction.” - -Hugh chuckled. “You’d get the trains balled up if it was anyway -possible, wouldn’t you, Bowles? Well, never mind that now you’re here. -You’re going to stick around until tomorrow, I take it. I say, Bert, -can he get any supper here?” - -“Surest thing you know! We’ll tell Jimmy and he’ll fix Bowles up -downstairs. And he can sleep on the window-seat, if you like.” - -“Oh, no, sir, thanking you, sir! I wouldn’t think of it, sir. I’m -informed there’s a very comfortable inn in the village, sir.” - -“Yes, that’s better,” agreed Hugh. “You can have your supper here and -then stick around while the fun lasts. You see, Bowles, we’re due for -a bit of a jolly rumpus tonight. This is the day we celebrate, if you -know what I mean.” - -“Yes, sir, quite so. I――I witnessed the football contest, sir.” - -“Oh, you did? And you saw Mr. Winslow make his touchdown? Well, say, -Bowles, wasn’t that a little bit of all right?” - -“Quite remarkable, sir! Yes, indeed, sir. A most clever bit of work, -Mr. Winslow, if you’ll pardon my saying it.” - -“Thanks, Bowles. I’m going to get into some clean togs, Hugh. It must -be――Hello! Come in!” - -Nick and Pop and Ted Trafford crowded through the door and for a minute -confusion ruled. Then, while Pop and Ted held Bert captive in the -Morris chair and playfully pummeled him, Nick’s voice arose above the -tumult. - -“Well, if it isn’t my old friend Bowler!” shouted Nick. “Bowler, old -top, how’s everything at dear old Glyndestoke?” Nick was ringing -Bowles’ hand enthusiastically and Bowles’ face was a study. “When did -you leave the Manor, Bowler? Fellows, meet Mr. Bowler!” - -“Begging your pardon, sir,” stammered the man, “Bowles, if you please, -sir!” - -“Bowles, of course! Stupid of me, eh, what? Fellows――――” - -“Cut it out, Nick,” begged Hugh. “Bowles ran up to see how things were -getting on, don’t you know. Got here for the game and had the time of -his life, didn’t you, Bowles?” - -“Good for Bowles!” cried the incorrigible Nick. “He’s a true sport! -You’ve only to look at him to know that!” Nick threw himself on the -window-seat, only to arise as quickly and lift from the cushion the -battered remains of what had once been a most respectable derby hat. -Nick viewed it with surprise and awe, and――I fear――delight! “Bowles, is -this yours?” he asked tremulously. - -A silence fell over the room. Then someone chuckled and a burst of -laughter arose as Bowles meekly assented. - -“I’m awfully sorry,” declared Nick, looking quite otherwise. “I’ll buy -you another, Bowles.” - -“It’s of no consequence, sir,” said Bowles. “In fact, sir, it was -already――er――a bit damaged. A young gentleman at the football game, -sir, used it――er――quite roughly, sir!” - -The laughter redoubled and into it, having knocked without receiving -any answer, came a half-dozen fellows; Keyes and Roy Dresser and Tom -Hanrihan, of the first, and Brewster Longley and Neil Ayer, of the -second, and Wallace Cathcart, non-combatant. - -“Proctor!” shouted Ted. “Less noise, gentlemen!” - -“Hello, Wal!” greeted the irrepressible Nick. “Just in time, old top!” -He flourished the squashed and mutilated hat. “We’re celebrating the -finish of the Derby!” - -“Too much row, Wal?” asked Bert. - -Cathcart shook his head. “I guess a little noise is to be expected -today, Bert,” he answered. “I saw the crowd and just came over to -congratulate you.” - -“Good old Wal!” shouted Nick. “Speech! Speech! Shut up, fellows, -Cathcart’s going to speech!” - -But Cathcart shook his head and smiled. “I’ve said it,” he replied. - -“Short and to the point,” applauded Roy Dresser. “Brevity, young -gentlemen, is the soul of wit. Say, Hobo, what happened to you, anyway? -I’ve heard forty-eleven yarns. Why didn’t you play?” - -“Yes, what’s the real answer?” demanded Hanrihan. - -“Bowles’ll know,” declared Nick. “Speak up, Bowles, old top! Gentlemen, -we have with us this evening ’is ’Ighness’s tried and trusted retainer, -Mr. Bowles. A short cheer for Bowles, fellows!” - -“Rah, rah, rah! Bowles!” was the instant and enthusiastic response. -Bowles looked distinctly uncomfortable, although he tried hard to smile -a respectful smile. - -“Now, then, Bowles, out with it!” demanded Nick. “What was this vile -conspiracy to――――” - -“Really, sir, I’m not at liberty――――” - -“Bowles, shut up!” warned Hugh sharply. - -“Hobo, don’t interfere,” cried Roy Dresser. “Someone muzzle him.” - -He wasn’t muzzled, but several fellows so engaged his attention for a -minute that speech was impossible. - -“Now, Bowles, once more. You were saying?” - -“I beg your pardon, sir, but I’m not at liberty to speak, sir. His -Lordship――――” - -There was a smothered groan from the struggling Hugh. - -“Who?” asked Nick. - -“That is, sir, Master Hugh――――” - -“Wait a minute,” exclaimed Bert, pushing forward. “You said something -about ‘his Lordship,’ Bowles. Who did you mean?” - -Bowles cast an anguished look across the table toward Hugh, but no help -came to him for the reason that Hugh was very, very busy. - -“No one, sir. A――a figure of speech, if you please, sir.” - -“Well, all right, Bowles. Proceed. Tell us your sweet, sad story,” -prompted Nick. - -“Hold on,” interrupted Bert. “Let’s get this straight. There’s -something queer here.” - -“Several,” murmured Nick. - -“Who’s his Lordship, Bowles? Do you mean Hugh?” - -“Really, Mr. Winslow――――” began the perturbed Bowles. - -At that instant Hugh threw off the enemy and bounded to his feet. -“Bowles!” he cried. “Shut up! Get out of here!” - -“Yes, sir,” said Bowles with vast relief. But Bert interposed. - -“Don’t you do it, Bowles,” he commanded. “Let’s get this straight.” - -“Bowles!” cautioned Hugh sternly. - -“Let him talk. Free speech!” said Longley. - -“Fellows,” interrupted Wallace Cathcart mildly, “we’re making it very -difficult for Mr. Bowles. Besides, he’s not going to tell you anything, -and I will, if you’ll be quiet a minute.” - -“Shoot!” said Nick. “Shut up, everyone! Go ahead, Wal.” - -“Well, I suppose Hugh will want my life blood,” went on Cathcart, -smiling at Hugh’s frowning and anxious countenance, “but I’ll trust to -you fellows to save me.” - -“He shan’t touch a bone of your head,” Pop assured him. - -“I know he doesn’t want it known, fellows, but I don’t see why it -shouldn’t be. Besides, it’s bound to get out some time, isn’t it?” - -“I guess so,” agreed Nick. “What are you talking about?” - -“It was something Hugh let drop in my room one day that made me――well, -suspicious. There’s a book in the library that tells all about the -English nobility and titled families and all that, you know, and so -I had a look at it. Hugh had told me that he lived at a place called -Glyndestoke, and so the rest was easy.” - -Everyone was silent and curious, everyone save Hugh. Hugh was palpably -unhappy. - -“I say, Wal, if you know anything, shut up, won’t you?” he begged. - -“Don’t intimidate the witness,” said Pop. “Go ahead, Cathcart. What did -you discover?” - -“I discovered,” continued Cathcart after an apologetic glance at Hugh, -“that the owner of Lockely Manor in Glyndestoke, Hampshire――or Hants, -as Hugh calls it――England, is the Marquis of Lockely, who is some sort -of a secretary in the Ministry; I’ve forgotten what.” - -“Political Secretary, Colonial Office, sir, begging your pardon,” said -Bowles proudly. - -“Also,” continued Cathcart, with a twinkle in his eye, “I discovered -that the aforementioned Marquis of Lockely has one son, Hugh Oswald -Brodwick, Earl of Ordway!” - -Number 29 was so still for an instant that you could have heard a pin -drop! Then someone said, “_Gee!_” very fervently, and a dozen fellows -all began to talk at once. But it was Bert’s voice which dominated the -others. - -“Is that so, Hugh?” he demanded. - -“Oh, dry up,” answered Hugh. “I――I’d like to punch your head, Cathcart!” - -“I was afraid you would,” replied Cathcart sadly. - -“The Earl of Ordway!” gasped Nick. “_What――do――you――know――about――that?_” - -“I’m not an earl,” declared Hugh uncomfortably. “It――it’s only a -courtesy-title. And, anyhow, I don’t see what difference it makes!” - -“It doesn’t, Hobo! Not a bit!” said Pop soothingly. “We’ll all try to -forget it and let you live it down. After all, it isn’t your fault, is -it, fellows?” - -“Of course not!” laughed Hanrihan. “_He_ couldn’t help it! Buck up, -Hobo! No one’s going to hold it against you!” - -Bowles gasped. “Against his Lordship, sir! _Against_ him?” - -“Bowles, shut up! I’m not your Lordship. I’m――――” Hugh’s puckered brow -smoothed and he laughed――“I’m just Hobo Ordway. Now forget it, fellows, -won’t you? It’s all piffling poppycock, anyway! That’s just what it is, -by Jove, piffling poppycock, if you know what I mean!” - - - * * * * * - - - Transcriber’s Notes: - - ――Text in italics is enclosed by underscores (_italics_). - - ――Except for the frontispiece, illustrations have been moved to - follow the text that they illustrate. - - ――Printer’s, punctuation and spelling inaccuracies were silently - corrected. - - ――Archaic and variable spelling has been preserved. - - ――Variations in hyphenation and compound words have been preserved. - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RIVALS FOR THE TEAM *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the -United States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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-} - - </style> - </head> -<body> -<p style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold'>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Rivals for the Team, by Ralph Henry Barbour</p> -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online -at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you -are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this eBook. -</div> - -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: Rivals for the Team</p> -<p style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:0; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:1em;'>A Story of School Life and Football</p> -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Ralph Henry Barbour</p> -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Illustrator: C. M. Relyea</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: April 9, 2022 [eBook #67805]</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</p> - <p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; text-align:left'>Produced by: Donald Cummings and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net</p> -<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RIVALS FOR THE TEAM ***</div> - - -<div class="figcenter" id="cover"> - <img src="images/cover.jpg" alt="cover" title="cover" /> -</div> - - - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p class="noi halftitle">RIVALS FOR<br /> -THE TEAM</p> -</div> - - - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<div class="figcenter" id="i_frontis"> - <img src="images/i_frontis.jpg" alt="" title="" /> - <div class="caption"> - <p class="noic"><a href="#Page_324">“‘Go it, you Winslow.’”</a></p> - </div> -</div> -</div> - - - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h1 class="nobreak">RIVALS FOR<br /> -THE TEAM</h1> - -<p class="noi subtitle">A STORY OF SCHOOL<br /> -LIFE AND FOOTBALL</p> - -<p class="p2 noic">BY</p> - -<p class="noi author">RALPH HENRY BARBOUR</p> - -<p class="noi works">AUTHOR OF “DANFORTH PLAYS THE GAME,” “THE PURPLE<br /> -PENNANT,” ETC.</p> - -<div class="pad2"> -<div class="figcenter" id="logo"> - <img class="illowe6" src="images/logo.jpg" alt="logo" title="logo" /> -</div> -</div> - -<p class="noic">ILLUSTRATED BY<br /> -C. M. RELYEA</p> - -<p class="p4 noi adauthor">D. APPLETON AND COMPANY<br /> -NEW YORK      LONDON<br /> -1916</p> -</div> - - - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p class="noic"><span class="smcap">Copyright, 1916, by</span><br /> -D. APPLETON AND COMPANY</p> - - -<p class="p6 noic">Printed in the United States of America</p> -</div> - - - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CONTENTS">CONTENTS</h2> -</div> - - -<table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> -<col style="width: 20%;" /> -<col style="width: 70%;" /> -<col style="width: 10%;" /> -<tr> - <th class="pr smfontr">CHAPTER</th> - <th class="tdl"></th> - <th class="smfontr">PAGE</th> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">I.</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">After Practice</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">1</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">II.</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">Players and Coach</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">12</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">III.</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">A Moonlight Plunge</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">22</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">IV.</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">“I’m Ordway”</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">29</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">V.</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">Hugh Finds a Word</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">42</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">VI.</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">The Awkward Squad</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">54</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">VII.</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">His Grace, the Duke</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">65</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">VIII.</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">Battle!</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">77</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">IX.</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">Cathcart, Proctor</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">90</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">X.</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">Hanrihan Promises</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">106</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XI.</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">Thirteen to Ten</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">118</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XII.</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">Two in a Canoe</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">136</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XIII.</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">Back to the Fold</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">149</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XIV.</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">Bert Confides</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">164</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XV.</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">Grafton Scores</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">178</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XVI.</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">A Broken Rib</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">192</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XVII.</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">Friends in Need</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">203</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XVIII.</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">Benched</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">220</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XIX.</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">Behind the Boathouse</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">234</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XX.</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">“Hobo” Wins Fame</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">248</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XXI.</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">Hugh Moves Again</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">260</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XXII.</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">Pop Elucidates</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">270</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XXIII.</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">In the Lime-light</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">283</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XXIV.</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV">Hugh Goes to the Village</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">298</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XXV.</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXV">Bowles Attends a Football Game</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">311</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XXVI.</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI">Hugh Is Unmasked</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">326</td> -</tr> -</table> - - - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="ILLUSTRATIONS">LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> -</div> - - -<table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" summary="Illustrations"> -<col style="width: 90%;" /> -<col style="width: 10%;" /> -<tr> - <td class="tdl hang"><a href="#i_frontis">“‘Go it, you Winslow’”</a></td> - <td class="tdrb"><i>Frontispiece</i></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <th> </th> - <th class="smfontr">FACING<br />PAGE  </th> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdl hang"><a href="#i_fp038">“‘I’m Ordway’”</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">38</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdl hang"><a href="#i_fp092">“That avenue of escape was out of the -question”</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">92</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdl hang"><a href="#i_fp288">“‘You’re off,’ said Hugh. ‘May I have -that, please?’”</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">288</td> -</tr> -</table> - - - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_1"></a>[1]</span></p> - -<p class="noi title">RIVALS FOR THE TEAM</p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I<br /> -<small>AFTER PRACTICE</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p class="cap">“I’d hate to live up here in summer, Bert,” said -Ted Trafford, carefully easing his five feet -and ten inches of tired, aching body to the -window-seat and turning a perspiring face to -the faint breeze that entered. “It must be hotter -than Tophet.”</p> - -<p>“Well, it’s up high enough to get the air, isn’t -it?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, it’s high enough, all right! If I had to -climb those three flights of stairs a dozen times a -day——”</p> - -<p>“Wonder why slate stairs seem harder than -others,” said Nick Blake, fanning himself with a -magazine.</p> - -<p>“Because they <em>are</em> harder, naturally.” Ted -looked about the study. “It isn’t so bad, though, -when you get here. And I dare say it’ll be fine -in winter. You haven’t an open fireplace, -though.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_2"></a>[2]</span></p> - -<p>“I had one last year in 19. It was only a -bother. If I had a fire the ashes got all over -the shop. Besides, it was always so warm in the -room that when I wanted one I had to keep all -the windows open. There’s dandy steam heat -in Lothrop.”</p> - -<p>“There is in Trow, but——”</p> - -<p>“Oh, get out, Ted!” interrupted Nick. “I’ve -been in your study when the thermometer wasn’t -over fifty! Everyone knows that Trow’s a regular -barn in cold weather.”</p> - -<p>“Well, some days, when the wind’s a certain -way——”</p> - -<p>“Trow’s older than this, isn’t it?” asked Bert -Winslow. He had yielded the window-seat to -his visitors and was stretched out on the leather -cushions of a Morris chair, the back of which -he had lowered to the last notch. It was very -warm in Number 29, for the study was on the -top floor of the building and overhead the September -sun had been shining all day on the slate -roof. Then, too, since the Fall Term did not -begin for two days yet, all but a few of the rooms -were closed and what little breeze there was -found scant circulation. Bert had opened the -door and windows of 32, across the corridor, and -that helped to some extent, but Lothrop Hall -seemed to have caught all the heat of the past<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_3"></a>[3]</span> -summer and to be bent on hoarding it on the top -floor.</p> - -<p>“Why, yes,” Ted was replying. “Trow was -the first of the new buildings. It’s been built -about twelve years, I think. I dare say the heating -is better here and in Manning. Still, I never -have any trouble keeping warm. You chaps -over here are a pampered lot, anyway, with your -common room and your library and your recreation -room and—and your shower baths and all -the rest of it! Sybarites, that’s what you are!”</p> - -<p>“Don’t judge us all, Ted, by this palatial suite,” -begged Nick. “Some of us live in monastic simplicity, -in one bare little room.”</p> - -<p>“I’ve seen your bare little room,” replied Ted, -smiling. “You’re a lot of mollycoddles, the -bunch of you. What time is it?”</p> - -<p>Nick, stretched at the other end of the seat, -his cheek on the windowsill and his gaze fixed on -the shadowed stretches of the campus below, -moved his hand toward his fob only to let it fall -idly again.</p> - -<p>“Look yourself, you lazy beggar,” he murmured.</p> - -<p>“Seventeen to five,” said Bert, dropping his -watch back with a sigh. Ted digested the information -in silence for several minutes. Nick -continued his somnolent regard of the campus and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_4"></a>[4]</span> -Bert thoughtfully tapped together the toes of his -rubber-soled shoes.</p> - -<p>“More than an hour to supper,” said Ted -finally. “Not that I’m particularly hungry, -though. It’s too hot to eat. Honest, fellows, I -believe it’s hotter up here than it is in New York! -If this last week is a sample of New England -summer weather I don’t see why folks come here -the way they do.”</p> - -<p>“It’s the fine, pure air,” muttered Nick.</p> - -<p>“Air! That’s the trouble. There isn’t any. -This place is hotter than Broadway on the Fourth -of July!”</p> - -<p>“There’s a breeze now,” said Nick. “Get it?”</p> - -<p>“Sure; it almost blew out the door,” replied -Ted sarcastically. “Come on over to my place. -It’s a heap cooler, I’ll bet.”</p> - -<p>“I’m too tired to move,” protested his host. -“We can go downstairs, if you like. I dare say -it’s cooler in the common room.”</p> - -<p>“Who’s with you this year?” asked Ted, his -gaze traveling to the open door of the bedroom -at the left.</p> - -<p>“Fellow by the name of Ordway, or something. -Comes from Maryland. Upper middler, -I think.”</p> - -<p>“How’d you happen to go in with him? -Thought you liked rooming alone.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_5"></a>[5]</span></p> - -<p>“So I do, but I’ve had my eye on this suite -ever since I came over from Manning. Gus Livingstone -and I had it all fixed to take it together -and applied last fall for it. Then, when Gus -didn’t come back after winter vacation, I tried -to get Nick to come in with me, and——”</p> - -<p>“I wanted to hard enough,” said Nick, without -turning, “but my dad kicked like a steer. He -said seven hundred was too much for his pocket.”</p> - -<p>“Wow!” exclaimed Ted. “Is that what this -stands you? Seven hundred each?”</p> - -<p>Bert nodded. “Yes, it’s high in price and elevation -too.”</p> - -<p>“What do you pay downstairs, Nick?”</p> - -<p>“Three hundred. That’s what you pay, isn’t -it?”</p> - -<p>“Two-fifty. Seven hundred for room and -board, a hundred and fifty for tuition and a couple -of hundred for incidentals; total, ten hundred -and fifty a year! Say, Bert, I’ll bet your old -man will be mighty glad when you’re through -here!”</p> - -<p>“Then it’ll be college,” answered Bert, “and I -guess that won’t be much cheaper. We do -cost our folks a lot of money, though, don’t -we?”</p> - -<p>“We’re worth it, though,” said Nick. “At -least, some of us are.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_6"></a>[6]</span></p> - -<p>Ted Trafford laughed. “I’m worth two-fifty -and you’re worth three, eh? And Bert’s worth -seven. Well, it’s a peach of a suite, all right, -Bert, but I’d just as lief have my dive. Besides, -I’ve got it to myself. When you have another -chap with you he always wants to cut up when -you want to plug. Not for mine, thanks!”</p> - -<p>“Single blessedness for me, too,” murmured -Nick. “When I was in Manning in junior year -I roomed with young Fessenden and we nearly -got fired because we were always scrapping. He -was a quarrelsome little brute!”</p> - -<p>“What happened to him? Did you kill him -finally?”</p> - -<p>“No, but I wanted to lots of times. He quit -the next year. Went to some school in Pennsylvania. -His folks wanted him nearer home, he -said. I don’t see why they should!”</p> - -<p>“Hope you like your new chum, Bert,” said -Ted. “Broadway’s a funny name, though, eh?”</p> - -<p>“Ordway,” Bert corrected. “I dare say we’ll -get along. I have a nice disposition.”</p> - -<p>Nick giggled and Bert gazed across at him -speculatively. “Of course everyone knows why -Nick rooms alone,” he added. “He’s too mean -to live with.”</p> - -<p>Nick raised his head to answer, but thought -better of it. A vagrant breeze crept through the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_7"></a>[7]</span> -windows and the boys said, “A-ah!” in ecstatic -chorus.</p> - -<p>“Listen,” said Nick, suddenly propping himself -up on the cushions. “I’ve got a good -scheme!”</p> - -<p>“Shoot!” replied Ted, yawning widely.</p> - -<p>“After supper we’ll beat it down to the pool -and go in! Will you?”</p> - -<p>“Ugh! Mud and frogs!” said Bert.</p> - -<p>“Mud and frogs your eye! It’s dandy if you -don’t go to wading around. We don’t have to -stay in the pool, anyway. Rules don’t apply before -term begins. We can go in the river. No -one will see us.”</p> - -<p>“Safest thing,” said Ted, “is to find a canoe -and upset, the way we did a couple of years -ago. Pete used to go crazy and threaten to report -us, but he couldn’t prove it wasn’t an accident.”</p> - -<p>“Aren’t any canoes out yet, I guess,” said Bert. -“And the boat house is locked.”</p> - -<p>“Never mind your old canoes,” said Nick. -“That’s an underhand scheme, anyway. Fair and -open’s my motto! Oh, say, but that water’s going -to feel good!”</p> - -<p>“That isn’t such an awfully rotten idea,” said -Ted. “I’m blessed if I know where to look for -my trunks, though.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_8"></a>[8]</span></p> - -<p>“You don’t need ’em. It’ll be dark by half-past -seven.”</p> - -<p>“Not with a moon shining, you silly chump,” -said Bert. “You can take a pair of running trunks -of mine, Ted. Only, worse luck, I’ll have to unpack -that box over there.” He pulled himself -from the chair with a sigh of resignation and -kicked experimentally at the lid of the packing -case. “Wonder where I can find a hatchet,” he -muttered. “Got anything I can bust this lid off -with, Nick?”</p> - -<p>“Got a screwdriver I use on my typewriter,” -responded Nick helpfully.</p> - -<p>“What time is it?” inquired Ted again.</p> - -<p>“Find out, you lazy beast,” replied Bert. “Tell -me how to get this thing open, you chaps.”</p> - -<p>“Pick it up and drop it on the floor a few -times,” said Ted.</p> - -<p>“Bore a hole and put a dynamite cartridge in,” -suggested Nick.</p> - -<p>“Oh, all right, then you go without the trunks,” -said Bert, returning to his chair. “I’d like to -know why I pounded a million dollars’ worth of -nails into it, anyway.” There was no solution -forthcoming, it seemed. Nick had returned to -his study of the world outside and Ted had picked -up the discarded magazine and was idly looking -at the pictures. Bert sighed again and stretched<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_9"></a>[9]</span> -his arms overhead. Then he said “<em>Ouch!</em>” suddenly -and loudly and ruefully rubbed a shoulder. -Ted looked over and grinned.</p> - -<p>“Sore?” he asked.</p> - -<p>“Sore as a boil! You wouldn’t think a fellow -would get so soft in summer, swimming and playing -tennis and everything. I wish Bonner would -let us off tomorrow. I think he might. It -wouldn’t hurt him to give us a day’s rest.”</p> - -<p>“He’s going to give us the afternoon off,” replied -Ted. “Only morning practice tomorrow. -You can thank me for it, Bert. It was my pretty -little thought.”</p> - -<p>“He wouldn’t have seen me on the field tomorrow, -anyway,” remarked Nick. “I’m going -down to the junction to meet Guy at three-something. -Come on with me.”</p> - -<p>“I wouldn’t make that trip in this weather for -the King of England, much less Guy Murtha,” -responded Bert impressively.</p> - -<p>“I’ll buy you ice cream,” tempted Nick. Bert -shook his head.</p> - -<p>“Will you come, Ted?” asked Nick.</p> - -<p>“I will—not! I love Guy like a brother, -<em>but</em>——”</p> - -<p>“Oh, you fellows make me weary!” sighed -Nick. “No sporting blood at all! No——”</p> - -<p>“Is that your idea of sporting?” jeered Ted.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_10"></a>[10]</span> -“Get on a hot, stuffy little one-horse train and -dawdle down to Needham Junction, four miles -away, in something like half an hour? I’ve made -that trip once this fall and, Fortune aiding me, I -shan’t make it again!”</p> - -<p>“Come on to supper,” said Bert. “It’s almost -a quarter of. It will be cooler over there on the -steps than it is here, too.”</p> - -<p>“Just when I was beginning to get comfortable,” -mourned Nick. “Say, Ted, did you do this -last year?”</p> - -<p>“Sure! Do what?”</p> - -<p>“Come up for early practice.”</p> - -<p>“I did. And we had ten days of it last fall -instead of only a week. You fellows needn’t -kick!”</p> - -<p>“I do kick, though, Teddy, old scout! Look -here, you! I gave up a whole week of the best -sort of fun at Deal Beach to come up here and -frizzle and fry in my juices and chase a contemptible -football over a sun-smitten cow-pasture! -Needn’t kick, eh? Why, man, back there there’s -a nice cool breeze off the ocean and a band playing -moosics and piles of eats and—and nothing -to do but play around! And just because I’m—I’m -patriotic enough and unselfish enough to leave -all that you lie there like a ton of bricks and -tell me I needn’t kick! I do kick! I’m kicking!”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_11"></a>[11]</span></p> - -<p>“I hear you,” murmured Ted. “Go on kicking. -Nobody’s going to miss you if you go back -to Deal Beach tomorrow. We could have got on -well enough without you, anyhow. You were -simply asked because we thought you’d feel hurt -if you weren’t.”</p> - -<p>“I like your nerve!” gasped Nick. “My word! -Who’s been doing the work for five days out -there? Trying to get drive into you chaps is -like pulling teeth! Why, you miserable sandy-haired——”</p> - -<p>“Oh, come on,” begged Bert. “I’m getting -hungry. Anyone want to wash up? Come along -if you do. You’ll have to wipe your hands on -your handkerchiefs, though. They haven’t given -us any towels yet.”</p> - -<p>“What’s the good of washing if we’re going -in swimming later?” asked Nick, sprawling off -the window-seat.</p> - -<p>“Because for once, old son, you’re dining with -gentlemen,” Ted answered, gripping the smaller -youth by the shoulders and propelling him towards -the door in the wake of Bert.</p> - -<p>“Honest?” wailed Nick. “I’d much rather -dine with you, Ted!”</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_12"></a>[12]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II<br /> -<small>PLAYERS AND COACH</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p class="cap">A few minutes later the three boys were -crossing the campus unhurriedly and -with an impressive disregard of “Keep -Off the Grass” signs. And three good-looking, -healthy, well-set-up youths they were. Their bare -heads—there wasn’t a hat among them—showed -three distinctly different colors. Ted Trafford’s -hair was sandy, Bert Winslow’s black, Nick -Blake’s reddish-brown. Between sandy hair and -brown lay a matter of four inches in height, with -black hair halving the difference. In build the trio -were again at variance. Ted was a big, broad-bodied -chap, Bert was slenderer, without being -thin, and Nick was at once short and slight. Although -Nick was only five months Bert’s junior—and -Bert was seventeen—his smallness made him -appear much younger. He had a thin face, deeply -tanned, and gray eyes. Nick’s usual expression -was one of intense, even somber, thoughtfulness. -He had, in fact, the appearance of a boy with a -deep and secret sorrow. But in his case appearances<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_13"></a>[13]</span> -were deceptive, or, if he had a sorrow, it -was merely that there are only a certain number -of ways to create mischief and that he had pretty -well exhausted them all.</p> - -<p>Bert Winslow was a very normal-looking fellow -with good features, a healthy color under his -tan and a pair of eyes so darkly blue that they -seemed black. Ted’s features were more rugged, -like his body, and, if such a thing is possible, his -complexion was as sandy as his hair. He had a -wealth of freckles and two rather sleepy-looking -brown eyes very far apart. Ted’s countenance -expressed good nature first, and after that a sort -of quiet purposefulness. One wouldn’t have expected -brilliant mental feats of Ted, but one -would have expected him to succeed where physical -strength and dogged determination were demanded. -Ted thought slowly, reached conclusions -only after some effort, and then stuck immovably -to his conclusions. He had been three years at -Grafton School and during that time his great -ambition had been to captain the football team -in his senior year. He had attained that ambition -and had now substituted another, which was, -to put it in his own words, “Knock the tar out -of Mt. Morris in November!” Having accomplished -or failed in that, Ted would undoubtedly -drag another ambition from the recesses of his<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_14"></a>[14]</span> -mind. But at present that was enough. With -Ted it was always “one thing at a time.”</p> - -<p>Between them, the three boys loitering across -the grass represented just three-elevenths of the -Grafton School Football Team. Captain Trafford -played right tackle, Bert Winslow was left -half-back and Nick Blake was quarter. Ted had -played on the School Team ever since he had entered -the lower middle class, which meant two -years. Bert, who was now an upper-middler, had -made his position only last season, beating out -Siedhof in the final contests. Nick had been second-string -quarter-back last year and now, owing -to the graduation of Balch, had automatically -succeeded to the position. Barring unforeseen and -unexpected accidents, each of the trio was certain -of playing the coming season through as first-choice.</p> - -<p>At Grafton the school buildings stood in a row -midway across the campus, a three-acre expanse -of level turf intersected by gravel paths shaded -by elms and surrounded by an ancient fence of -granite posts and squared timbers, the latter -thoughtlessly set with an angle uppermost. In -shape the campus was a square with one corner -rounded off where Crumbie Street changed its -mind about continuing northward and swung -westward to River Street and, a half mile beyond<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_15"></a>[15]</span> -that, the station. River Street marked the westerly -limits of the school property all the way to -the river, which, in its turn, formed the southerly -boundary. The campus proper ended at School -Street, but successive purchases had added many -more acres between it and the Needham River, -so that now the school property extended in an -unbroken strip some two blocks wide from Needham -Street, at the back, all the way down to -the river. What was virtually a continuation of -the campus lay to the south of School Street, but, -since it was of later acquisition, it was, for some -unknown reason, called “the green.” A tree-bordered -path led through the middle of the green -to Front Street, and, across that quiet road, an ornamental -gateway of old brick and sandstone and -lacy ironwork. Set in the right-hand pillar was -a bronze tablet bearing the inscription: “Lothrop -Field. In Memory of Charles Parkinson -Lothrop, Class of 1911.”</p> - -<p>Beyond the gateway the land sloped gently to -the river, and here was the Field House, near -at hand as one entered, the tennis courts to the -right, the diamond beyond them, the running track -to the left of the gate, with the School Team gridiron -inclosed in the blue-gray ribbon, and, further -toward the river, the practice field. Beyond that -again, near where Crumbie Street crossed by an<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_16"></a>[16]</span> -old covered bridge on its way to Needham, stood -the boat house.</p> - -<p>But we are too far afield, for our present destination -is that of the three boys whom we left -crossing the campus. At one corner of the green, -where River and School Streets intersect, stood -two old-fashioned white dwelling houses. The -one nearer River Street had been just there when -the land was bought by the School, but the second -had stood at the other end of the green and -had been moved to its present location to make -room for tennis courts. When, however, a few -years later, Lothrop Field had been presented to -the School the tennis courts were transferred -thither and now, save for the two white-clapboarded, -many-dormered houses, the green was -only a pleasant, shady expanse of close-cropped -sward. The old houses, used now as dormitories -since the buildings in the campus failed to meet -the requirements of the ever-increasing student -body, still retained the names of their former owners. -The larger one, nearer the side street, was -known as Morris House, the other as Fuller.</p> - -<p>At a few minutes before six this afternoon the -front steps and the adjacent turf—there was no -such thing as a porch or piazza on either dwelling—were -sprinkled with boys. There seemed to -be at least two dozen of them. As a matter of<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_17"></a>[17]</span> -fact, until Ted, Bert and Nick joined them, they -numbered exactly seventeen. In age they varied -from sixteen to twenty, although only one of them, -John Driver, commonly known as “Pop,” had attained -the latter age. Pop was, as he laughingly -explained it, “doing the four-year course in six.” -That was a slight exaggeration, for Pop had been -at Grafton only four years, was now a senior and -would undoubtedly be graduated next June -whether he was willing or not! He was big and -slow; slow to move, slow to speak and slow to -anger. He played right guard in a steady, highly-satisfactory -if not brilliant fashion.</p> - -<p>Since this was Tuesday, the fellows who had -gathered from various and, in some instances, distant -parts of the country for early football practice, -had been at Grafton six days. Those six -days had been busy ones. There had been morning -and afternoon sessions on each day and the -weather had been almost unreasonably hot. More -than one of the candidates showed the result of -those strenuous days in his tired face and fagged -movements. Not one of the twenty who had been -bidden had, however, failed to respond. Those -summons meant a week less of vacation time and -an added week of hard labor, but it also meant -honor, for only the most likely of last year’s first -and second players had been called on. While the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_18"></a>[18]</span> -fellows were occupying their rooms in the dormitories, -neither of the big dining halls in Lothrop -and Manning were open and so they were being -served with meals at Morris where, in a room -and at a table designed to accommodate only -the dozen or fourteen residents of the two -houses, they were packed in like sardines in a -box.</p> - -<p>However, none minded that so long as there -was plenty of food on the dishes and plenty of -milk in the big pitchers. Mr. Bonner, the coach, -arrived just as the crowd had squeezed themselves -to the two tables and had begun their onslaught. -Somehow he didn’t look quite like the popular -conception of a football coach. He was of only -medium size and height and had the preoccupied -expression of a business man with his mind on the -day’s sales. In age he was twenty-eight or -nine, -had a somewhat narrow face, brown hair and -eyes and wore a closely-trimmed mustache that -was several shades lighter than his hair. The -reason for the mustache was apparent when, on -close observation, what seemed at first to be a -natural crease running from one corner of his -mouth was seen to be a deep, white scar. The -mustache didn’t hide the whole of that scar but -it concealed the most of it. David Bonner had -acquired it in a certain hard-fought game when<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_19"></a>[19]</span> -he was playing end in his junior year at Amherst, -and there was a story at Grafton to the effect that -his opponent in that contest had subsequently -fared much worse than Mr. Bonner had. However, -as the coach was a remarkably even-tempered -man, that may have been merely an invention -of someone’s imagination.</p> - -<p>Supper proceeded with as much and probably -no more noise than is usual when twenty fairly -hungry youths are left to their own devices at -table. There was a good deal of loud talk, some -far from silent mastication, much rattling and -clashing of dishes and, it is not to be denied, some -horse-play toward the end of the meal. Two -capable if not over-neat waitresses flitted in and -out and did their best to supply the demands on -the kitchen. Now and then Coach Bonner’s voice -was raised in warning, but for the most part that -gentleman attended closely to the business of consuming -his supper, and it was not until cold rice -pudding had appeared as the final course that he -entered into the conversation to any extent. By -that time many of the fellows, having either -picked the raisins from their portion of the dessert -or engulfed it with the aid of much milk and -sugar, had moved back from the tables to loll -more comfortably half in, half off their chairs. -The four windows were wide open and a slight<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_20"></a>[20]</span> -breeze was swaying the curtain-cords, but the heat -of the day still lingered.</p> - -<p>“I’ll trouble you for the milk, Willard,” said -the coach, eyeing his pudding with but slight enthusiasm. -“Thanks. Traf, I’ve been thinking -that maybe it would be well to cut out practise -tomorrow. You fellows have been at it pretty -hard and this weather is trying. I thought it -might be cooler tomorrow, but that sunset says -not. What do you think?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, we ought to be able to stand a little work -in the morning, if we don’t do any in the afternoon. -Still, it’s just as you like, Coach. It is awfully -hot for football, and that’s a fact.”</p> - -<p>“Have a heart, Ted!” implored Derry.</p> - -<p>“That’s the scheme, sir,” exclaimed Nick Blake. -“It’s going to be hotter than ever tomorrow.” -Nick expertly thrust some bread crumbs down -Pop Driver’s neck. “We’d all be better for a -rest, sir. Just look at Pop here! Overcome by -the heat, Mr. Bonner!”</p> - -<p>Pop, squirming and muttering, really looked as -if something was vastly wrong with him, but the -coach didn’t seem inclined to accept Nick’s theory. -He studied Pop’s spasms a moment in thoughtful -silence and then pushed back his chair.</p> - -<p>“We’ll cut it out for tomorrow, then,” he announced -as he stood up. “And, by the way, Mrs.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_21"></a>[21]</span> -Fair will give us our breakfasts in the morning, -but we’ll have to shift for ourselves at noon.”</p> - -<p>“They’re going to serve cold lunch in Manning -at noon, sir,” said one of the boys. “I guess we -can get in on that.”</p> - -<p>“All right. Next practise, then, will be Thursday -at three-thirty. Traf, you look me up tomorrow -evening, will you? There are one or two -things—and bring Quinn along with you, please. -Don’t stay around here, fellows. Give Mrs. Fair -a chance to get these tables cleaned off. Good -night.”</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_22"></a>[22]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III<br /> -<small>A MOONLIGHT PLUNGE</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p class="cap">Coach Bonner passed out briskly and -the fellows, with much scraping of chairs -and good-natured horseplay, followed. -Twilight was settling over the world. The sun -had just dropped behind the distant spires and -tree-tops of the village and on Mt. Grafton, the -sugar-loaf hill behind the school, its last rays -rested on the spindley observatory crowning the -rocky summit. The campus was fast filling with -shadows, and along the streets and walks the -lamps made lemon-yellow points in the purple -dusk. In Manning and Trow and Lothrop lights -glowed wanly at the entrances, but School Hall -and the gymnasium were dark. Doubtless there -were lights, too, in the Principal’s residence, far -to the right, but the clustering maples hid all of -that but the roof. A faint breeze fluttered from -the southwest, but the evening was still oppressively -hot. By twos and threes and in larger -groups the fellows wandered away, some turning -their steps toward the village, a half-mile distant,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_23"></a>[23]</span> -others seeking the dormitories. Bert, Nick and -Ted, however, still loitered on the steps of Morris, -waiting for the moon to rise, and with them -loitered Pop Driver.</p> - -<p>“It’s frightfully hot over in my room,” observed -the latter, sprawling his big form over the -steps. “I’m on the wrong side of the building -tonight.”</p> - -<p>Bert prodded Nick with his foot. “Guess I’ll -bunk in with you, old man,” he said.</p> - -<p>“You’ll bunk on the window-seat, then. Why -don’t you sleep in one of the rooms across the -hall? No one would care.”</p> - -<p>“Perhaps I will. Where’s that moon? Coming -along with us, Pop?”</p> - -<p>“I guess so. I’d like to stay in the water all -night.”</p> - -<p>“There’s the moon now, isn’t it?” asked Ted -lazily.</p> - -<p>“Someone lighted up in Fuller,” replied Bert. -“Let’s go along down. We don’t have to have -the moon, anyhow.”</p> - -<p>“It’s a lot more fun,” said Nick drowsily, settling -back against Bert’s knees. “Say, fellows, -isn’t it nice that school begins day after tomorrow? -Aren’t you all tickled to death?”</p> - -<p>“Let’s not talk about it,” yawned Pop.</p> - -<p>“No, come on and get that swim,” agreed Ted,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_24"></a>[24]</span> -getting to his feet and ungently tousling Bert’s -hair. “If we wait for the moon we never will -get in. And I’m hot and uncomfortable -and——”</p> - -<p>“Something’s happened to the moon,” murmured -Nick. “Probably got a hot-box.”</p> - -<p>“What about towels?” Bert got up, letting -Nick subside violently against the steps.</p> - -<p>“We can dry off on the float,” said Ted. -“Come on. All in!”</p> - -<p>Nick, rubbing the back of his head, arose with -groans and protests and draped himself against -Pop Driver.</p> - -<p>“Nick wants to be carried,” he whimpered. -“Pop, please carry Nick. He’s so ’ittle!”</p> - -<p>Pop complacently gathered the other in his -big arms and bore him away around the corner -of the house, Nick babbling nonsense. “Pop -likes to carry his ’ittle Nick, doesn’t he? Pop -loves his ’ittle Nick.”</p> - -<p>“Pop loves him to death,” grunted Pop, depositing -him suddenly in a barberry hedge. -There arose a piercing wail from Nick as he -came into contact with the thorns, the sound of -cracking shrubbery and the thud of Pop’s feet -as he hurried off into the darkness.</p> - -<p>“Oh, you big brute!” shouted Nick. “You -wait till I get hold of you! I’m full of stickers!<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_25"></a>[25]</span> -Which way did that big, ugly hippopotamus go, -Ted?”</p> - -<p>“Straight on into the engulfing gloom,” answered -Bert. “Look out for that clothes-line, -Nick.”</p> - -<p>“Pop!” called Nick sweetly. “Pop, come back -to me, darling! Honest, Pop, I haven’t a thing -in my hands! I just want to love you!”</p> - -<p>“I’m busy,” responded Pop from the darkness -ahead. “I got some of those old thorns myself.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, Pop, I’m <em>so</em> sorry! Do they hurt, Pop? -Come back here and let me drive them in for -you!”</p> - -<p>Peace was restored by the time they were passing -the tennis courts. Eastward, above the trees -beyond the little river, a silvery radiance heralded -the moon. They skirted the running track -and made their way to where, dimly, the dark -form of the boathouse loomed ahead of them. -When they reached it Pop experimentally tried -all the doors, but found them fast. They disrobed -in the shadow of the building and then, -making certain that there were no passers on the -road, a few rods distant, they raced down the -float and plunged into the water with whoops of -glee. When their heads emerged the moon had -topped the trees and, save where the shadow of -the covered bridge lay across it, the stream was<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_26"></a>[26]</span> -bathed in silver. The water was warm, but far -cooler than the air, and Pop grunted ecstatically -as he rolled over on his back and floated lazily, -blinking at the moon. It was then that Nick obtained -his revenge. Sinking very quietly, he -swam across under water, emerged behind the unsuspecting -Pop, and—</p> - -<p>“<em>Glug-gug-gug!</em>” observed Pop, as his head -went suddenly under and his feet flashed white in -the radiance. When he arose again, sputtering -and gasping, Nick was far across the stream, paddling -gently and crooning a little song.</p> - -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">“There was an old man and his name was Pop.</div> - <div class="verse indent1">His head went down and his feet went up!”</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p>Stirring moments then, ending in the terrestrial -flight of Nick, Pop begging him to come -back and be drowned! Finally they all gathered -under the bridge and lolled on a crosspiece and -dabbled their legs in the cool water and talked. -Once a team went past overhead, and once an -automobile sped across, roaring fearsomely and -threatening to bring the old structure down on -top of them. Then quiet again, and the winding -stretch of the river below, black and silver. With -the rising of the moon the little breeze had found -courage and now blew cooler from the west. Nine<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_27"></a>[27]</span> -o’clock struck in the village and they splashed back -into the water and swam to the float. Half an -hour later they parted in front of Trow, Ted and -Pop turning in there and Bert and Nick going -on to Lothrop.</p> - -<p>Nick turned off at the top of the second flight -and Bert continued to his room. But when he -had donned pajamas the latter descended again, -the slate steps gratefully cool to his bare feet, -and he and Nick stretched out on the window-seat -and talked while the breeze blew past them -and softly rustled the papers on the table. Ten -o’clock struck. The conversation became fitful. -Once Nick snored frankly and then jerked himself -awake again, and replied brightly to an observation -of Bert’s made five minutes before. -Through the window they could look for nearly -a mile over fields and tree-bordered roads. A -little way off the buildings of a small farm were -clustered about the black shadows of a group of -elms. Beyond that two streaks of silver glittered -where the moon glinted on the railroad tracks. -Bert wondered if, after all, the view from this -side of the building was not more attractive than -that from the front, wondered what sort of a -chap this new roommate of his would turn out to -be, wondered if he had not taken a pretty big -chance in accepting him sight-unseen, wondered<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_28"></a>[28]</span> -why Nick didn’t wake himself up with his own -snoring, wondered—</p> - -<p>Some time in the early morning he disentangled -himself from the encumbering Nick and groped -his way down to his own room. He didn’t remember -much about it afterwards, though.</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_29"></a>[29]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV<br /> -<small>“I’M ORDWAY”</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p class="cap">Bert, for one, found himself at a loose end -the next morning. He lingered as long -as possible over breakfast, but the day -promised to be even hotter than the one before, -and his appetite was soon satisfied. He and Nick -sat for a while in the shade of the trees near the -middle gate, but the heat soon drove them indoors, -and Bert climbed up to Number 29 and -unenthusiastically wrenched the lid from the packing -case there and set about the distribution of the -contents. The few pictures were deposited -against a wall, since it was best to see what his -roommate was bringing before deciding as to the -disposition of them. His books he found place -for and he laid some extra clothing in the dresser -drawers in the bedroom on the right. He had -selected that room in preference to the one on -the other side since Lothrop stood at right angles -to the other buildings in the row and from -“29b” one had an uninterrupted view along the -fronts of Trow, School and Manning. Only the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_30"></a>[30]</span> -gymnasium, hiding behind the shoulder of the -last dormitory, was out of sight. From the other -bedroom, “29a,” much of this view was cut off -by a corner of Trow, and Bert acted on the basis -of “first come, first served.”</p> - -<p>The study was a good-sized square room, -lighted by two windows set in a dormer, beneath -which was a wide and comfortable seat. A bright-hued -rug occupied the center of the floor and the -walls were papered attractively to the height of -the picture molding in tones of golden-brown. -Above the molding was a foot of white plaster, -and two plastered beams ran the length of the -ceiling. The furniture was of brown mission; -two study desks, a table in the center of the room, -a Morris chair upholstered in brown leather beside -it, two armchairs, two sidechairs, and a settle. -The desks were supplied with green-shaded -droplights.</p> - -<p>The bedrooms were identical. Each had a -single dormer window. Blue two-tone paper covered -the walls and a rug flanked the single white -iron bed. A dresser, a washstand and a chair -completed the furnishings. There was generous -closet room.</p> - -<p>Bert was glad when Nick came in at eleven and -gave him an excuse for stopping his half-hearted -labors. Nick was down to a pair of soiled flannel<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_31"></a>[31]</span> -trousers, supported by a most disreputable -leather strap that scarcely deserved the name of -belt, a white tennis shirt, open at the throat, and -a pair of brown canvas “sneakers.” And he -looked as though he thought he still had far too -much on as he stretched himself out on the window-seat, -sprawled one foot over the edge, and -hung the other across the sill.</p> - -<p>“Four or five fellows came a while ago,” he -announced. “Leddy and Ayer and some others. -Hairwig, too. Hairwig looks like he’d been sitting -in the sun all summer. Tanned to beat the -band.”</p> - -<p>Hairwig’s real name was Helwig, and he was -instructor in physics and chemistry. Being a German, -the boys had at first called him Herr Helwig, -and later had shortened it to Hairwig. The -news of his advent didn’t, however, greatly interest -Bert, who inquired:</p> - -<p>“Any of our masters shown up?”</p> - -<p>“Haven’t seen any. I told you, didn’t I, that -I ran across Smiles in New York one day? He -was all dolled up. Said he was going out west -somewhere to teach at a summer school. He -seemed real glad to see me, too. Smiles is a -good old sport.”</p> - -<p>“He isn’t old.”</p> - -<p>“N-no, but Latin instructors always seem old.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_32"></a>[32]</span> -They know so plaguey much! Who do you think -will be proctor up here this year?”</p> - -<p>“Cathcart, I suppose. He’s the only senior -on the floor. Wonder if we’re going to have a -big junior class.”</p> - -<p>“Whopping, I heard; eighty-something. Know -anyone coming up?”</p> - -<p>Bert shook his head. “No, and I’m glad I -don’t. You always have to look after them, and -they’re nuisances.”</p> - -<p>“You’ll have to do the guide and mentor act -for your friend Ordway,” reminded Nick, with -a malicious grin. “Did you say he was an upper -middler?”</p> - -<p>“Yes.”</p> - -<p>“I’d hate to enter a school in the middle like -that,” reflected Nick. “I should think it would -be hard.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t see why.”</p> - -<p>“Well, you don’t know anyone, in the first -place. It would take most of the year to get -acquainted, and then you’d only have one year -left. Going to put him up for Lit?”</p> - -<p>“I suppose so, if he wants me to. You have -to do that much for a roommate, I guess.”</p> - -<p>“When’s he coming?”</p> - -<p>“Don’t know and don’t care. Want to buy -a good racket?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_33"></a>[33]</span></p> - -<p>“How much?”</p> - -<p>“Dollar and a half.”</p> - -<p>Nick accepted the proffered article and viewed -it dubiously.</p> - -<p>“I’d have to have it restrung.”</p> - -<p>“Why would you? There’s only one string -gone. Take it along and try it.”</p> - -<p>“Give you a dollar.”</p> - -<p>“I guess you would! It cost seven. Hand it -over here, you Shylock.”</p> - -<p>“Dollar and a quarter, then.”</p> - -<p>“Cash?”</p> - -<p>“Dollar down and the balance——”</p> - -<p>“Some time?”</p> - -<p>“No, next month; honest.”</p> - -<p>“All right, but you’re getting it dirt cheap. -Where’s the dollar?”</p> - -<p>“Downstairs. You don’t think I carry all that -money around with me, do you?”</p> - -<p>“All right, but we’ll stop in for it before you -forget it. Are you really going over to the -Junction to meet Guy?”</p> - -<p>“Surest thing you know! Want to come -along?”</p> - -<p>“I wouldn’t make the trip on that hot, dusty -old train for a thousand dollars!”</p> - -<p>“You ought to, though. You ought to go over -and meet your new chum.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_34"></a>[34]</span></p> - -<p>Bert grunted. “I’m likely to! I’ve been wondering -if he will bring any pictures and truck -like that. I hope, if he does, he won’t have the -usual rot. This is too good a study to fill up -with chromos. Something tells me, Nick, that -I’m an awful idiot to go in with some fellow I’ve -never seen. Bet you anything he will be a fresh -kid.”</p> - -<p>Nick chuckled. “I decline the wager, Bert. -Also, I agree with you that you’re taking a chance. -Still, you can’t tell. Where does he come from?”</p> - -<p>“Somewhere in Maryland.”</p> - -<p>“Baltimore? I knew a fellow who lived in Baltimore, -and he was a crackajack.”</p> - -<p>“No, some place I never heard of. I forget it -now. I suppose that makes him a Southerner, -doesn’t it?”</p> - -<p>“Of course. Anything against Southerners?”</p> - -<p>“No, only they’re a bit stuck up. If he tries it -with me I’ll shut him up mighty quick!”</p> - -<p>“Bert, your disposition is entirely ruined. I -guess it’s the weather. I’m glad I’m not What’s-his-name, -Ordway.”</p> - -<p>“If you’d had the decency to come in with -me——”</p> - -<p>“Don’t blame me, old scout. Write to dad -about it. I wanted to, all right. Put something -on and let’s do something.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_35"></a>[35]</span></p> - -<p>“What is there to do?”</p> - -<p>“I’ll play you a set of tennis. It won’t be bad -if we take it easily.”</p> - -<p>“Tennis! I see myself racing around a court -a day like this! How hot is it, anyway?”</p> - -<p>“About two hundred in the shade. Then why -stay in the shade? Say, Bert, what sort of a captain -is Ted going to make?”</p> - -<p>“Good.”</p> - -<p>“I wonder!”</p> - -<p>“Don’t see why not. He’s popular, and he’s -a good player——”</p> - -<p>“Yes, but he isn’t awfully—oh, you know what -I mean; he isn’t exactly brilliant, eh?”</p> - -<p>“He doesn’t need to be. Bonner will look after -that part of it.”</p> - -<p>“Well, I never saw any sparks flying from Bonner, -for that matter,” returned Nick dryly.</p> - -<p>“What’s the good of being brilliant, as you call -it? In football, I mean. It’s knowledge of the -game that does the business. And Bonner certainly -knows football; and so does Ted.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, that’s so. All right. We’ll hope for -the best. Come on down and I’ll find that old dollar. -Then we’ll go over and see Leddy. He’s -probably trying to unpack, and he oughtn’t to do -it in this weather.”</p> - -<p>They managed to kill time until luncheon was<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_36"></a>[36]</span> -served in Manning, and after that they joined -a crowd in the common room there and remained -until it was time for Nick to go to the station to -take the train for Needham Junction. Mr. Russell, -Greek instructor, having arrived, Bert went -over to Trow to consult him about his new work. -Greek had been hard sledding for Bert the year -before and he viewed the first four books of Hellenica -with misgiving. The consultation in the -master’s study in Trow took up the better part of -a half hour, for “J. P.,” as Mr. Russell was -called, was not to be hurried. When he finally -got away Bert climbed up to Pop Driver’s room -on the floor above and found Ted Trafford and -Roy Dresser in possession. Roy was Pop’s roommate. -Pop, he explained, had gone to the village -to buy some lemons. They had drawn lots and -Pop had lost. If he didn’t die of sunstroke before -he got back there was going to be a lemonade of -magnificence. Bert decided to wait around.</p> - -<p>But Pop tarried and after awhile Ted discovered -that it was after four o’clock and hurried -out. They could hear him taking the stairs three -at a time. Bert abandoned hope of that lemonade -and followed Ted, Roy Dresser apologizing for -Pop and adding that if Bert would keep his ears -open he, Roy, would yell across when the lemons -arrived.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_37"></a>[37]</span></p> - -<p>It seemed a trifle cooler in the campus and the -shadow of Lothrop stretched far along the red -brick walk that ran, the main artery of travel, -along the fronts of the buildings. A locomotive -shrieked despairingly a mile or so away and Bert -knew that the first of the two trains on which the -bulk of the returning students would arrive was -nearing the station. Again his thoughts reverted -to Ordway and again he wondered pessimistically -what sort of a youth fate was going to impose -upon him. Ordway might not come until six-thirty, -however; many fellows didn’t; and Bert -rather hoped he would be of their number. He -was disposed to postpone the inevitable.</p> - -<p>The rooms in Lothrop had been thrown open, -doors and windows alike, and the corridors were -far cooler than they had been since he had taken -possession of Number 29. Quite a draft of air -was blowing down the staircase well. In the -study, he put away the last few belongings, placed -the packing-case outside for removal to the store-room, -and finally, lowering the shades at the -windows through which the afternoon sun was -shining hotly, took up his schedule and, stretching -himself on the window-seat, studied it dubiously. -Mathematics 4, Greek 3, English 4, French 1, -History 3a; eighteen hours altogether, aside from -Physical Training. From the latter, however, he<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_38"></a>[38]</span> -was exempt so long as he was in training with the -football team. Eighteen hours was the least required -for the third year, and he was expected to -select another study. He mentally pondered the -respective merits of physics and chemistry. Physics -was known as a “snap course,” but Bert was in -favor of leaving it for his senior year. The same -with chemistry. He rather leaned toward German, -but Mr. Teschner, or “Jules,” as he was usually -called, was a hard taskmaster and his classes -were not viewed with much enthusiasm. Still, -unless he took physics or chemistry it would have -to be German, and after a few minutes of cogitation -he wrote German 1 on the card in his hand. -The schedule had yet to be approved and he wondered -whether he would be allowed to go in so -heavily for languages. The schedule was a bit -top-heavy in that way, with thirteen hours of the -twenty-one given to Greek, German, and French. -Probably they would make him substitute physics -for German. He slipped the card in his pocket, -with a sigh for the vexations of life, and became -aware that Lothrop Hall was at last inhabited. -Steps scuffed on the stairs, voices sounded, bags -and trunks thumped. The invasion had begun in -earnest. Half inclined to go down and see if -Guy Murtha had arrived, he nevertheless found -himself too lazy to stir and so when, a few moments<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_39"></a>[39]</span> -later, footsteps drew near the open door -he was still sprawled on his back.</p> - -<p>“This must be it, Bowles,” said a voice. “Yes, -twenty-nine. Oh, I beg your pardon!”</p> - -<p>Bert sat up and slid his feet to the floor. In -the doorway stood a slim, pleasant-faced youth, -and behind him a very serious-looking man held -an extremely large kit-bag, an umbrella, and a -folded gray overcoat. The youth advanced -toward Bert, smiling and removing a gray glove.</p> - -<p>“I fancy you are Winslow,” he said. “<a href="#i_fp038">I’m -Ordway.</a> I believe we share these quarters, eh?”</p> - -<div class="figcenter" id="i_fp038"> - <img src="images/i_fp038.jpg" alt="" title="" /> - <div class="caption"> - <p class="noic"><a href="#Page_39">“‘I’m Ordway.’”</a></p> - </div> -</div> - -<p>Bert shook hands. “Glad to know you,” he -replied. “Beastly hot, isn’t it? That’s your room -over there.” He glanced inquiringly at the second -arrival who, still holding his burdens, had -paused just inside the door. But if he looked for -an introduction none was forthcoming. Ordway, -who had now removed both gloves and tossed -them nonchalantly to the table, evidently had no -thought of making his companion known.</p> - -<p>“Ripping view from here,” he said, glancing -from the window. Then, turning: “In there, -Bowles,” he directed, and nodded toward the open -door of the bedroom. “Just dump them, will you? -I’ll look after them myself.”</p> - -<p>Bag and coat and umbrella disappeared, Bert’s -gaze following their bearer curiously. Ordway<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_40"></a>[40]</span> -had thrust his hands in his pockets and was -leisurely examining the study. His manner was a -queer mixture of quiet assurance and diffidence. -When he had shaken hands he had reddened -perceptibly, but now he was looking the place -over just as though, as Bert silently told himself, -he had ordered the whole thing. “I like -this,” he said, after a moment. “Rather jolly, -isn’t it?”</p> - -<p>Bert was spared a reply, for just then the mysterious -Bowles appeared in the bedroom doorway. -“Shan’t I unpack the bag, sir?” he asked.</p> - -<p>“No, never mind it, thanks.” Ordway consulted -a watch. “I fancy you’d better beat it, Bowles. -Your train leaves in fifteen minutes, you know.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir, but there’s another one, sir, a bit -later.”</p> - -<p>“Are you sure of that?” Ordway glanced inquiringly -at Bert. “He’s wrong, eh?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, the next one doesn’t go until seven-five. -If he wants to get this one he will have to hustle. -It’s a good ten minutes’ walk to the station.”</p> - -<p>“Thanks. This gentleman’s right, Bowles. -You’d better start along. You know your way, -eh? Tell mother I’m quite all right; everything’s -very jolly.” The boy walked to the door with the -man and pulled a leather purse from his pocket. -“Better treat yourself to a bit of a jinks when<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_41"></a>[41]</span> -you get to town. You’ll have four hours to wait, -you know. Good-by, Bowles.”</p> - -<p>“Thank you, Master Hugh. Good-by, sir. I -hung the coat in the closet, sir, and the keys are -on the dresser.”</p> - -<p>“Right, Bowles. Now beat it or you’ll miss -that train. Good-by.”</p> - -<p>Ordway sauntered back to the study, smiling. -“Bowles always gets time-tables twisted,” he -chuckled. “Rum chap that way. Bet you anything -you like he will miss that train.”</p> - -<p>“He’s got twelve minutes,” said Bert. “Is he -a—a servant?”</p> - -<p>“Bowles? Yes, he’s been looking after me ever -since I was out of the nursery. He’s a little bit -of all right, Bowles.” Ordway seated himself on -the farther end of the seat, looked interestedly -about the campus, no longer silent and empty, and -finally turned his gaze to Bert. Again the color -crept into his cheeks and he said diffidently, almost -stammeringly:</p> - -<p>“I say, Winslow, I hope you’re going to like -me, you know.”</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_42"></a>[42]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V<br /> -<small>HUGH FINDS A WORD</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p class="cap">Half an hour later, having left his new -roommate to the business of unpacking -his trunk, Bert was in Number 12, and -he and Nick and Guy Murtha, their host, were -talking it over.</p> - -<p>“We saw him on the train just after we left -the city,” Guy was saying. “Some of us had been -in the diner and when we came back through the -parlor car we saw this chap and the man with -him. They had a table and the kid was eating a -lunch out of a box and the chap in the derby hat -was waiting on him, or, anyway, that’s how it -looked. He’d take a sandwich out of the box -and put it on the kid’s plate and then he’d move -the mustard nearer and sort of fuss over the table. -He wasn’t eating a thing himself. I suppose he -ate at second table!”</p> - -<p>Guy was a tall fellow of eighteen, a senior and -captain of the nine. He was not a handsome -youth; rather plain, in fact; but he had so many -likable qualities that one soon forgot that his nose<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_43"></a>[43]</span> -was short and broad, that his heavy eyebrows met -above it, that his mouth was large and somewhat -loose and that his pale eyes, of a washed-out blue, -were too small. He had a jolly laugh and a pleasant, -deep voice that won friends.</p> - -<p>Nick chuckled. “When they got off at the -Junction the man got confused and tried to get -back on the express again, and your friend stood -in the middle of the platform, with his hands in -his pockets, and shouted: ‘Bowles, you silly ass, -came back here!’ Everyone laughed like the -dickens.”</p> - -<p>“He’s English,” said Bert dismally.</p> - -<p>“Bowles? Rawther!”</p> - -<p>“Ordway, too. I asked him. He was born in -England; I forget where; is there a place called -Pants?”</p> - -<p>“Not in England, dear boy,” remonstrated -Nick. “It would be Trousers.”</p> - -<p>“Hants, you mean,” said Guy. “Somewhere in -the south of England.”</p> - -<p>“That’s it, Hants. His father is English, he -says, and his mother American. They live in -Maryland now.”</p> - -<p>“Nice-looking chap,” said Guy.</p> - -<p>Bert nodded. “Yes,” he agreed doubtfully. -“Yes, he’s a nice-looking kid, but——” His voice -dwindled to silence. Nick laughed.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_44"></a>[44]</span></p> - -<p>“Cheer up, old scout! He can’t be awfully -British if he has an American mama and lives in -‘Maryland, my Maryland.’ Bet you the sodas he -will be singing ‘Dixie’ when you get back!”</p> - -<p>“More likely ‘Rule Britannia’ or ‘God Save -the King,’” replied Bert ruefully. After a moment: -“He’s got awfully smooth manners,” he -added grudgingly. “Makes me feel like a—an -Indian.”</p> - -<p>“Wish he might have kept Bowles here with -him,” said Nick regretfully. “It would have -given Lothrop a lot of class!”</p> - -<p>“I liked what I saw of him,” said Guy, “and I -guess you’ll take to him when you know him better, -Bert. Anyway, he’s a gentleman. You might -have been saddled with a regular mucker, you -know. We get one now and then.”</p> - -<p>“Stop looking at me,” said Nick.</p> - -<p>“Oh, he’s a gentleman, all right,” laughed Bert. -“That’s the trouble. I’ve got to live up to him, -don’t you see? I dare say he will put on a dinner -jacket and stuff his handkerchief up his sleeve. -He makes me feel like an awfully rough, uncivilized -sort of fellow.”</p> - -<p>“Does he wear a wrist watch?” asked Nick.</p> - -<p>“No, he has it on a fob. And, say, fellows, if -you want to see some swell things, come up and -give his dresser the once-over! Solid silver everything!<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_45"></a>[45]</span> -Crest, too. Oh, we’re going to be pretty -classy in 29 this year, I can tell you!” And Bert -sighed.</p> - -<p>“I’ll have to look up my crest,” observed Nick -thoughtfully.</p> - -<p>“Your crest!” jeered Bert.</p> - -<p>“That’s what I said. I’ve got a peachy one. -Dad had someone make it for him and put it on -the automobile doors. It was the proper caper -that year to have your crest on your auto, and -Dad doesn’t let anyone put anything over on him. -I told him I thought a cake of soap, rampant, surrounded -by the motto, ‘Won’t dry the skin,’ would -be rather appropriate, but he didn’t like it. Dad -makes soap, you know.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, I do know,” replied Guy. “I tried some -of it once. And it didn’t dry the skin, either. It -took it off.”</p> - -<p>“Well, you’re not supposed to wash your hands -with laundry soap,” said Nick. “Of course, if -you’re used to that sort, though, and don’t know -any better——”</p> - -<p>“I suppose,” said Guy gravely, “you’ll have to -sort of look after Ordway, Bert, now that he -hasn’t any valet; lay out his things in the morning, -you know, and put his studs in, and all that.”</p> - -<p>“Fine!” approved Nick. “Maybe he will give -you a tip now and then. Say, did you pipe the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_46"></a>[46]</span> -gray suede gloves he wore? Think of gloves on -a day like this! Still, <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">noblesse oblige</i>, eh, what?”</p> - -<p>“I noticed the stunning Norfolk suit he wore,” -said Guy. “I’ll bet that wasn’t cut out by any -village tailor down in Maryland.”</p> - -<p>“Rawther not!” drawled Nick. “I fawncy he -goes across every year and gets togged out in -Bond Street. What ho, old top!”</p> - -<p>“Well, I guess I’ll go back and pilot him down -to supper,” said Bert. “Mind if I bring him down -here afterwards, Guy? Or, say, you fellows come -up, will you? I—I sort of funk the job of talking -up to his level all evening!”</p> - -<p>“You bet we’ll come,” agreed Nick. “I want -to meet him. Something tells me that he and I -have a lot of mutual acquaintances amongst royalty -in dear old England.”</p> - -<p>“Well, don’t come up there and act the fool,” -warned Bert. “He’s new yet and not used to our -simple, democratic ways.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I won’t shock him,” chuckled Nick. -“Nothing like that, dear boy, ’pon honor. You’ll -see that he and I will get along like a house on -fire. Say, what’s his front name, the one you -take hold by?”</p> - -<p>“Hugh,” answered Bert from the doorway, -“Hugh Brodwick Ordway. Some name, what?”</p> - -<p>“Rawther!”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_47"></a>[47]</span></p> - -<p>“Cut it,” laughed Guy, “or we’ll all be talking -that way! I feel it coming on. We’ll come up -after supper, Bert, and help you entertain, although -when I’m going to get my things unpacked——”</p> - -<p>“I’ll help you, Guy,” Nick volunteered. “I’m -a remarkable little unpacker. A misplace for -everything and everything misplaced, is my motto. -Bye-bye, Bert. Give my love to Broadway—I -should say Ordway. Tell him I’ll be around later -and cheer him up!”</p> - -<p>Hugh Ordway was not, however, singing either -‘Dixie’ or anything else when Bert got back to -Number 29. He was sitting at the window, attired -principally in a bathrobe, gazing a trifle disconsolately, -or so Bert thought, out over the campus. -He turned as Bert entered.</p> - -<p>“I say, Winslow, what about a bath?” he asked. -“Is there a tub on this floor?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, but it’s five minutes to supper time, Ordway. -You’d better leave it till afterwards.”</p> - -<p>The other reflected. “Very well,” he said. -“And, another thing.” He hesitated. “Do I put -on—er—do I dress, you know?”</p> - -<p>“Well, I wouldn’t go down in that thing,” said -Bert gravely.</p> - -<p>“No, but just regular things, eh? You see, I -really don’t know much about American prep<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_48"></a>[48]</span> -schools. I dare say I’ll make an awful ass of myself,” -he added ruefully.</p> - -<p>“Wear whatever you like. Sweaters are the -only things barred. I’ll wait for you and show -you the way.”</p> - -<p>“Thanks,” was the grateful reply. “That’s decent -of you. I won’t be a minute.” He disappeared -into the bedroom and, judging from the -sounds, managed a very good substitute for that -prohibited bath. Still, although he wasn’t back -in a minute, Bert didn’t have long to wait. Ordway -returned in a blue serge suit and patent -leather shoes. He was certainly, thought Bert, -a mighty good-looking chap; straight, well formed, -with a clear, fair complexion, nice brown eyes and -hair of the same color. His nose was a bit aquiline -and his chin was at once round and strong -looking. Bert, studying him as he paused to make -certain that he had placed a handkerchief in his -pocket, decided that he was far more American -than English in appearance, whatever his character -might prove.</p> - -<p>Bert moved to the door, while Ordway was securing -the missing article of attire, and pulled it -open. “All right?” he asked.</p> - -<p>“Yes, thanks.”</p> - -<p>Bert unconsciously stepped aside for the other -to pass out first. Afterwards, going down the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_49"></a>[49]</span> -stairs, he was angry with himself for having -done so.</p> - -<p>“I’m just as good as he is, for all his airs,” he -told himself, “and I’m the older, too.”</p> - -<p>The big dining hall which ran across the north -end of the building and accommodated one hundred -students and faculty members at its fourteen -tables, was well filled when they entered. Bert -led Ordway toward the table at the far end of the -room at which he had sat last term only to find -that, in the confusion incident to the beginning of -school, all the seats there had been taken. There -were not two empty chairs together anywhere -near by and, in the end, Bert and Ordway were -obliged to sit at separate tables, the latter, as Bert -saw, being sandwiched in between Pop Driver and -a lower middle boy named Keller. Bert’s own -seat placed him amongst fellows whom he knew -only well enough to speak to, and he was frankly -bored and left the room as soon as he had satisfied -a not enthusiastic hunger. Ordway, however, -was still at table when Bert went out, and the latter, -desiring to accept Nate Leddy’s invitation to -go canoeing, nevertheless listened to the voice of -duty and waited in the corridor for his friend’s -appearance. Ordway came out finally and Bert -suggested that they take a stroll around the -grounds.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_50"></a>[50]</span></p> - -<p>“Did you get enough feed?” he asked politely.</p> - -<p>“Yes, thanks. Awfully good chow, too, I -think.”</p> - -<p>“Chow?” asked Bert.</p> - -<p>“Food, I meant. I say, Winslow, I wish you’d -help me break myself of using—er—English expressions -like that, you know. I want to talk like -the rest of you chaps. Of course, I know a lot of -American slang now, but I don’t seem to always -get it in right, someway. Now what do you say -for ‘chow’?”</p> - -<p>“‘Eats,’ I guess,” laughed Bert. “You’ll be -talking like the rest of us quick enough. Don’t -worry. Besides, what’s it matter?”</p> - -<p>“Well, a chap doesn’t like to seem <em>different</em>, if -you know what I mean. And, anyway, I’m as -much American as English.”</p> - -<p>“You’re not if you were born in England.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I say, Winslow, a chap can’t control that! -I might have been born in France, you know. -Fact is, I came rather near it! But that wouldn’t -have made me a Frenchie, eh?”</p> - -<p>“No, but your father’s English and you were -born in England. That makes you a British citizen, -doesn’t it?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes, but——” He paused. Then, confidentially: -“Fact is, Winslow, I’m awfully fond -of this country, don’t you know, and as long as<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_51"></a>[51]</span> -I’m going to be here at Grafton two years I’d -like to—to be like the rest of you, if you know -what I mean. Of course, I <em>am</em> English. There’s -no getting around that. But my mother’s American -as anything. Her family has lived in Maryland -for a hundred and fifty years, I think it is, -and I always consider myself about half American, -too. On the other side, now, they’re always -taking me for a Yankee.”</p> - -<p>Bert laughed. “They might on the other side, -but they wouldn’t here, Ordway! This is School -Hall. The recitation rooms and offices are on -the first two floors. On the third floor there’s -the assembly room where you attend chapel in the -morning and hear lectures and things. On the -floor above are the clubrooms: The Forum, the -Literary, the Glee, and the Banjo and Mandolin. -And the <cite>Campus</cite>, the monthly paper, has its -rooms there, too. The building beyond is Manning. -That’s where the juniors live. It’s about -like Lothrop, only it has ten more rooms.”</p> - -<p>“The juniors live by themselves, eh? How -young are they?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, we have ’em as young as twelve now and -then, but that’s unusual. They’re thirteen and -fourteen, mostly. The rooms downstairs on this -end are Jules’s. That’s Mr. Teschner, French and -German instructor. He and Mrs. Teschner have<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_52"></a>[52]</span> -four rooms there, separate from the rest of the -hall. Then Mrs. Prouty, the matron, lives on -the floor above, just over them. ‘Mother Prouty,’ -the fellows call her. Mr. Gring is on that floor, -and Mr. Sargent on the floor above. They call -Gring ‘Cupid’ and Sargent ‘Pete.’ All the faculty -have pet names. Doctor Duncan—that’s his cottage -there behind the trees—is ‘Charlie.’ Then -there’s ‘Nell’; you’ll have him in math; his name -is Nellis; and Mr. Smiley is called ‘Smiles,’ and -Mr. Gibbs is ‘Gusty,’ and Mr. Rumford is ‘Jimmy,’ -and Mr. Russell is ‘J. P.,’ and so on.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll have to learn them, won’t I?” asked Ordway -soberly. “That’s the gymnasium there, isn’t -it? I fancy it isn’t open, eh?”</p> - -<p>“I don’t believe so.”</p> - -<p>“I had a lot of fun in the summer looking at -the catalogue and wondering what things would -really be like. You know, you Americans -have——”</p> - -<p>“‘You Americans’?” asked Bert quizzically.</p> - -<p>Ordway laughed and colored. “I mean, <em>we</em> -Americans have a way of laying it on a bit thick, -if you know what I mean. Can’t always believe -all you read in the advertisements, you know. -That’s why I fancied this place might not be quite -up to specifications. It is, though. Everything’s -just about the way the catalogue gives it.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_53"></a>[53]</span></p> - -<p>“I guess so. Let’s go back to the room. That’s -about all there is to see. Except Morris and -Fuller over there. The two white houses at the -corner. They’re dormitories, too. Morris has -twelve fellows and Fuller eight. Some chaps like -them, but I never thought I’d care for them. It’s -getting a lot cooler, isn’t it?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, the breeze is bully. You’d say ‘bully,’ -wouldn’t you?” he added doubtfully.</p> - -<p>“I guess so,” laughed Bert. “Or ‘great,’ or -‘fine and dandy.’ What would you say?”</p> - -<p>“Oh,” replied the other vaguely, “we might -say it was ‘ripping,’ or ‘topping,’ or ‘a little bit of -all right.’ ‘Bully’ wasn’t the word I meant, -though. It was——” He hesitated. Then, -“Corking!” he exclaimed triumphantly. “That’s -the word!”</p> - -<p>“You’ll do,” Bert laughed. “Come on up.”</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_54"></a>[54]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI<br /> -<small>THE AWKWARD SQUAD</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p class="cap">The school year began the next morning -at half past seven when the bell on School -Hall rang its imperative summons to -chapel. Hugh Ordway, sitting beside Bert in one -of the yellow settees in the back of assembly hall—precedent -gave the back seats to the upper-class -fellows at chapel and to the lower-class boys -at other times—observed everything with lively -interest. When, the short service over, the fellows -rustled back into their seats to listen to the -Principal’s talk, Bert whispered to Hugh: “You’d -better try for the Glee Club, old man, if you can -sing like that.”</p> - -<p>Hugh flushed, but made no answer.</p> - -<p>Doctor Duncan, middle-aged, tall, sallow, -bearded, and near-sighted, arose to the clapping -of hands and moved to the front of the platform. -His little speech was the same, almost word for -word, that the seniors had heard three times already, -but the juniors huddled in the front rows -listened with flattering attention and were, we<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_55"></a>[55]</span> -will trust, properly impressed. The Principal’s -advice was excellent and they certainly couldn’t -do better than follow it. Then came a few announcements: -Mr. Gibbs had been detained at -home by illness and pending his return to duty his -classes in History would be taken by Mr. Gring; -German 1 would be held in Room F instead of H, -as formerly; seniors and upper middlers whose -courses had not been as yet approved would submit -them to Mr. Rumford during the morning; -the reception to students would be held that evening -at the Principal’s residence, and it was hoped -that all would attend.</p> - -<p>Dr. Duncan bowed, removed his spectacles and -substituted his shell-rimmed glasses, and said, -“Dismissed,” and the hall emptied. Breakfast -was at eight o’clock and the first recitation period -was at nine. Neither Bert nor Hugh had a first-hour -class and they took advantage of that to -wait on Mr. Rumford, Assistant Principal and -instructor in history, with their schedules. Bert’s -misgivings proved not idle, for the German course -was changed to physics. Hugh had elected physics, -chemistry, and history in addition to the regular -studies for his year and his card was promptly -approved. At ten they went into Mathematics 4 -together and at eleven they had Greek. In the -afternoon there were two more periods for Bert—French<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_56"></a>[56]</span> -and History, and one, the latter, for -Hugh.</p> - -<p>They came out of Mr. Gring’s class together -and hurried to the room to leave their books and -change to football togs. Hugh, who had the evening -before announced his desire to play football -and been unblushingly encouraged by Nick, had -provided himself with a most complete supply of -clothing and paraphernalia, including a head-guard -and a football! He confessed that he -hadn’t been certain about the necessity for the -last article, but had decided to be on the safe -side. He looked remarkably spick-and-span in -his brand-new regalia when they sallied forth -again, a violent contrast to his companion, whose -togs were battle-scarred and weather-worn and -not, it must be confessed, overclean.</p> - -<p>All Grafton, in togs or out, was flocking toward -Lothrop Field, and Hugh’s immaculate costume -was no longer spectacular once they had joined -the throng, since at least half the entering class -appeared to have donned football attire quite as -fresh and unsullied as his. The juniors were not -allowed to try for the School Team but, under the -direction of Mr. Sargent, Athletic Director, were -trained in the science of the game and later herded -into a first or second junior eleven and held -notable contests. Still later, the upper-middle<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_57"></a>[57]</span> -and lower-middle classes formed teams and they -and the first juniors battled for the class championship, -a much-coveted prize.</p> - -<p>Already a few tennis enthusiasts were busy on -the courts as Bert and his companion passed -through the gate, and Hugh stopped a moment to -watch. “I dare say a chap doesn’t have much -time for tennis if he plays football,” he remarked -questioningly.</p> - -<p>“None at all,” said Bert. “Do you play?”</p> - -<p>“A bit. It’s a rip—a corking game, I think. -If I don’t have any luck with football I’ll have -to go in for it. I saw a notice up about a Fall -Tournament, I think.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, they have one in a week or two. We’ve -got some rather decent players here. Last year -we didn’t do a thing to Mount Morris.”</p> - -<p>“You mean to say you beat them, eh?”</p> - -<p>“We certainly did! They didn’t have a chance. -By the way, have you a racket?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes; thanks.”</p> - -<p>“I sold a peach to Nick yesterday for a dollar -and a quarter. I was thinking maybe you might -have liked it.”</p> - -<p>“That’s awfully good of you,” replied the other -gratefully, “but I’m fixed very well for rackets. -I brought three along.”</p> - -<p>“Three! Then I guess you wouldn’t have<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_58"></a>[58]</span> -needed that one. There’s your crowd over there, -Hugh. You wait with them, and Bonner will be -after you in a few minutes.”</p> - -<p>“They’re the rookies, eh? Right, old chap. -See you later, then.”</p> - -<p>What happened to Hugh that afternoon Bert -didn’t have much time to discover, for the regulars -had a pretty busy session. But afterwards, -back in 29, Hugh recounted his experiences with -a quiet drollery that brought many chuckles from -Bert.</p> - -<p>“It was all rather different from what I’d -thought,” said Hugh, reflectively rubbing a sore -knee. “A chap named Hannigan——”</p> - -<p>“Hanrihan,” corrected Bert. “Sub tackle.”</p> - -<p>“Well, he took a lot of us over on the other side -of the tennis courts and made us do the most astonishing -things, do you know? We’d chuck the -ball around, one to another, and then when someone -would drop it, you know, instead of picking -it up he’d have to fall over on the wobbly thing!” -He rubbed his knee again. “I had to do it myself -a number of times. A bit awkward I felt, too. -The silly ball had a way of not being there when -you dropped down for it. And this chap Hanrihan -was most awfully impatient with us, do you -know? Some of the things he said were quite -rude. I fancy he didn’t mean anything, though. I<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_59"></a>[59]</span> -dare say we were a bit trying. There was a fat -Johnnie with us who was always trying to catch -the ball in his mouth and, of course, his mouth -wasn’t big enough. Hannigan—I should say Hanrihan—told -me he was a tub of butter. Queer -thing to call him, I think. I wondered why a tub -of butter. Because he was fat, eh?”</p> - -<p>“Yes. You mustn’t mind what they say to you, -Hugh. It’s part of the game.”</p> - -<p>“I didn’t. Of course, I understood that. Then -he had us line up and start off when he rolled the -ball and run like a ballywhack. But you’ve been -through with all that, eh?”</p> - -<p>“Yes. Not just what you expected, then?”</p> - -<p>“Well, I’ll tell you, Bert. You see, on the other -side we don’t practise quite that way. I mean -we—well, we don’t—aren’t so serious about it, -if you know what I mean. Take rugger, for instance——”</p> - -<p>“I beg your pardon?” interrupted Bert, puzzled.</p> - -<p>“Eh? Oh, rugger—Rugby, you know. We -rather make play of it. Of course, we do practise, -but not the way you American—I should say -<em>we</em> American—chaps do. But I dare say it isn’t -so hard when you’ve learned a bit, eh?”</p> - -<p>“I’m afraid it is,” replied Bert. “The more -you know and the better player you are the harder<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_60"></a>[60]</span> -grind you have to go through. If you make the -School Team you work like a slave for a good six -weeks.”</p> - -<p>“Really? But what for?”</p> - -<p>“Why to beat Mount Morris, of course. And -any others we can before that.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, of course, but——” Hugh hesitated, -with a perplexed frown on his face. “Mind you, -I’ve seen football played, and I got beastly nervous -and excited about it, but what I’m trying to -get at is this, old chap: suppose, now, you didn’t -work so hard in getting ready for the other chap, -what would happen?”</p> - -<p>“We’d get licked, I suppose.”</p> - -<p>“You wouldn’t like that, eh?”</p> - -<p>“Like it? I should say not! Mount Morris -beat us last year, twelve to three, and this place -was like a—a morgue for a week afterwards. -This year we’re going to rub it into her.”</p> - -<p>“That’s what I gathered,” said Hugh. “I -mean, those fellows I saw play last Autumn didn’t -seem to be having much sport, you know; didn’t -appear to be there for—for the fun they’d get out -of it, if you know what I mean. It looked to me -very much like hard work. The only time they -showed any pleasure was when they scored on -the other chaps. Then they’d wave their arms -and jump up and down like mad. And a thousand<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_61"></a>[61]</span> -or so Johnnies in the seats would cheer themselves -hoarse. But that was ’varsity football, and -I fancied you fellows here at prep school would -go in more for the fun of it.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, we get plenty of fun out of it,” said Bert. -“We all like it, or we wouldn’t do it. That -is——” He hesitated. “Maybe some of us do -go in for football more for the glory than the -sport,” he went on thoughtfully. “I guess it’s -got to be rather a—a fashion. It’s like this, -Hugh. A fellow who makes his School Team is -a bit important and he gets some reputation and -fellows like to know him. And then, when he -goes up to college he finds it easier. If he keeps -on making good he meets fellows he wants to -know, fellows who can help him, you see, and he -probably makes one of the sophomore societies -and—there he is.”</p> - -<p>“Yes?” said Hugh questioningly.</p> - -<p>“I don’t mean that all the fellows who try for -the team think about all that. They don’t. Lots -of them play football because they love it. But -now, take Ted Trafford, for instance. Ted’s a -bully sort of a fellow, but he isn’t—well, brilliant. -Ted started out with the intention of doing just -what he has done, that is, being captain of the -team in his senior year. Ted’s going to Princeton -next fall. He will get there with the—the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_62"></a>[62]</span> -prestige of having captained the Grafton School -Football Team, and it’s going to be a lot easier -for him. If Ted went up there unknown he -would have hard work getting anywhere, probably. -He’s just a big, good-looking, good-natured -fellow, and he isn’t a smart student and he -wouldn’t shine at anything outside of football. -His folks aren’t wealthy, although I guess they -have enough money to live on, and they haven’t -any special social position in New York, I suppose. -But that won’t matter in Ted’s case because -he will go up there and make the freshman -team and then get on the ’varsity and make a name -for himself. He will meet fellows of money and -position that way, have a good time in college and -fall into something soft when he gets through.”</p> - -<p>“I see,” said Hugh. “It’s that way to some -extent, I fancy, on the other side. I mean that if -a chap makes a name for himself at school he -finds it easier getting in when he goes up to Oxford -or Cambridge. It’s quite natural.” He was -silent a moment. Then: “I dare say that explains -why you chaps go in for sports so seriously. -You’re working for something, eh?”</p> - -<p>“No, that isn’t quite right,” objected Bert. “I -didn’t mean you to think that every fellow has -that idea in his head. I guess more than half of -us take part in athletics because we want to. I<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_63"></a>[63]</span> -know that in my case I never thought of getting -any advantages by it. In fact, I don’t believe I -ever thought the thing out before. I play football -just as I play tennis or hockey or anything -else, because I like the game, like mixing with a -lot of good fellows, like to do what I can for the -School.”</p> - -<p>“And like to beat Mount Morris,” said Hugh, -smiling.</p> - -<p>“You bet!”</p> - -<p>“That’s the part of it that seems a bit odd, -now. As I make it out you don’t care so much -for playing football as you do for winning from -the other chap, the rival school, you know. If -you do win it’s all awfully jolly and everyone’s as -happy as a lark. If you lose, why, you all draw -long faces and feel sort of disgraced.”</p> - -<p>“That’s rather exaggerated, but you get the -idea. And why not? Don’t you like to win when -you start out to?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, rather! But playing a game is playing a -game, old chap. It isn’t business or war, is it? -Why not play for the fun of it? Try as hard as -you like and then if you don’t win—er—forget -it!” Hugh was palpably proud of his bit of -slang.</p> - -<p>“That’s all right,” replied Bert. “I’ve heard -a lot about your English sportsmanship and all<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_64"></a>[64]</span> -that, but I notice that when we go over to your -side of the pond and beat you, you don’t like it a -bit and you come back at us with charges of professionalism.”</p> - -<p>“I didn’t know we did,” said Hugh. “If we -do, maybe it’s because you go into it so hard that—that -you look like professionals! You know -you do go a pretty long way sometimes to beat the -other chap.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, rot! If you’re out to beat a fellow, beat -him. That’s my idea.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, I know, but there are some things a chap -wouldn’t do to win, aren’t there? He wouldn’t -cheat, for instance, and he wouldn’t take advantage -of—of technicalities, if you know what I -mean. Oh, I dare say I’ll come around to your -way of looking at it after a bit,” Hugh added -cheerfully. “Anyway, I’m going to keep on plugging -along at football, because, maybe, you know, -after a while I’ll really think it’s fun!”</p> - -<p>“Meaning that you don’t now?” laughed Bert.</p> - -<p>Hugh smiled and shook his head. “I’m afraid -I don’t—yet. Beastly grind, I’d call it now. I -say, isn’t it time for eats?”</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_65"></a>[65]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII<br /> -<small>“HIS GRACE, THE DUKE”</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p class="cap">Hugh Ordway was a success from the -start. Everyone who met him found -him interesting and attractive. They -didn’t put it in just that way. Nick said: “His -Grace, the Duke of Glyndestoke, is a little bit of -all-right.” Pop Driver said, “A clever lad, that -Ordway. Bring him over some evening, Bert.” -Tom Hanrihan said, “Ordway’s got the stuff in -him, Coach. He’ll bear watching. Doesn’t know -a thing about football, but he’s a regular wonder -at doing what he’s told to. Makes some of the -others over there look like regular bone-heads.” -Mr. Rumford, House Master at Lothrop Hall, -confided to Mrs. Rumford at dinner one evening -during the first week of school that “Ordway, in -29, is a most interesting boy, my dear. I wish -you’d remember to have him in for dinner some -Sunday. The fellow actually thinks for himself.”</p> - -<p>Perhaps of equal importance, however, was -Bert’s verdict, since, willy-nilly, the two boys were -doomed to daily companionship. Bert’s verdict<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_66"></a>[66]</span> -was delivered to himself three days after Hugh’s -advent. “He’s a queer duffer, but I like him,” -said Bert. What was doubtless equally fortunate -was the fact that Bert’s liking was returned and -perhaps with more enthusiasm. Hugh had felt -rather strange, and, although he had tried not to -show it, a little bit homesick at first, and Bert, -more from a sense of duty than from affection at -that stage, had taken him under his wing and done -everything possible to make things easy for him. -As Nick had remarked, entering school in the -third year had its difficulties. Your classmates -had formed their associations and your position -was a good deal like that of a fifth hand at whist. -You were not especially needed, and, while welcome -enough to look on, there was no place for -you at the table. But Bert’s efforts, coupled with -Hugh’s personality, had succeeded, to continue the -metaphor, in squeezing the newcomer up to the -table. If at present Hugh was not actually taking -part in the game, at least he was where he could -enjoy seeing it. And for this Hugh was grateful.</p> - -<p>As a matter of fact, he had come to Grafton -with many misgivings. He had spent most of his -sixteen years in England, only coming across to -this country at long intervals and for brief stays. -At such times his mother’s house on the East -Shore in Maryland had been opened up for two<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_67"></a>[67]</span> -or three months, infrequently for a longer period, -and Hugh had lived a life not greatly different -from his life in England. His father, a member -of Parliament, and holding a position under the -government, seldom accompanied them across. -Within the last three years Hugh’s visits in the -United States had occurred annually and had -lasted longer, for his mother, whose idea it was -to have Hugh educated in America, thought it -well for him to know the country better than he -did. Consequently, they had traveled a good deal -last year and the year before, accompanied invariably -by a tutor. That would not have been -an American youth’s notion of ideal sight-seeing, -but Hugh had been brought up with, first a governess, -and, subsequently, a tutor at his elbow, and -was thoroughly used to having them around. -Nevertheless, when, last year, the Balliol College -tutor had been left behind and a young, red-headed, -and extremely energetic graduate of Yale -had appeared at Shorefields and taken the boy in -charge, Hugh had welcomed the change.</p> - -<p>That fall and during part of the following winter -Hugh had been coached for Grafton School. -He had, for instance, a far more mature outlook -but Mr. Fairway wouldn’t hear of it. Why waste -a year, he asked, when, with a little harder work, -he could enter the upper middle? Hugh, who<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_68"></a>[68]</span> -had no great enthusiasm for the program in any -case, agreed that to waste a year would be a criminal -matter and set diligently to work unlearning -not a little of what his English tutor had taught -him. When, in January, they had returned to -London he was pronounced ready for Grafton, -his name was entered for admission the next September -and he had contracted a certain amount of -pleasurable anticipation, most of which, however, -evaporated before he was once more headed -across the ocean in August. By that time a realization -of the fact that this New England preparatory -school for which he was booked was quite -dissimilar to any school of which he had knowledge, -that the fellows he would meet there were -different from him in manners and point of view, -that, in short, he was taking a plunge into a -strange pool filled with strange fishes, filled him -with alarm. That he managed to conceal any -sign of it was creditable. But he had found -the school not so different, after all, from those -he knew of, and the fellows were far less strange -in their ways, views and speech than he had expected. -Perhaps he did not actually give Bert -the credit for bringing all this about, but he did -somehow arrive at the conclusion that his roommate -had worked something in the nature of a -miracle in his behalf, and his gratitude, although<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_69"></a>[69]</span> -not expressed in words, was deep and evident. -Gratitude even when out of proportion to benefits -bestowed is pleasant to the recipient, and -doubtless the fact that Hugh was grateful and -wanted Bert to know it had something to do with -the latter’s liking for the younger boy.</p> - -<p>That difference in age—it was in reality a matter -of eight months—was not greatly apparent. -In some ways Hugh seemed older than Bert. -He had expected to enter the lower-middle class, -on life and things in general. Bert sometimes -felt annoyingly young and thoughtless during their -discussions. Hugh had studied so many things -out that Bert had never even considered, and -studied them out, too, to a conclusion which, right -or wrong, was at least something to tie to. Bert’s -convictions were few and concerned matters close -at hand. Hugh’s had to do with the most extraordinary -things: American politics, the British -foreign policy, income taxation, home rule for -Ireland, back-court versus net play in tennis, -woman suffrage, the abolition of the stymie in -golf, fancy waistcoats, farming as a profession, -and many, many more. Once Bert asked curiously -if all English fellows bothered themselves -with as many things as Hugh did and failed to -get any information because Hugh forgot the -question in trying to establish himself as only a<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_70"></a>[70]</span> -half-Englishman. (“Fifty-fifty,” suggested Bert, -which expression on being explained was seized on -joyfully by Hugh and added to his rapidly increasing -collection of slang phrases.)</p> - -<p>Next to Bert, Hugh’s liking was given to Nick -Blake, and then to Pop Driver, and after that, -I suspect, to Guy Murtha. But Hugh had a fine -capacity for liking everyone he met, finding, often -to Bert’s amusement, qualities worthy of admiration -in the fellows whom Bert had long since set -down as utterly hopeless. Nick and Guy were -daily visitors at Number 29, and many quite remarkable -discussions took place up there under -the roof, discussions usually conducted principally -by Hugh and Guy, with Nick supplying a -light comedy seasoning and Bert acting the rôle -of audience and, generally, deciding the matter in -the end. For, although frequently Bert found the -argument too deep for him, he could sum up and -award a verdict like a judge of the Supreme -Court!</p> - -<p>That study up there was a very attractive room -now. Hugh had not brought a great deal with -him in the way of pictures, but what he had -brought were interesting and, as Nick said, gave -tone. Bert’s wall decorations ran to “shingles” -and framed posters, although he was the proud -possessor of a good etching of sheep by Monks,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_71"></a>[71]</span> -and a rather jolly coaching print. Then there -was a six-foot silk banner of vivid scarlet, with -the word “Grafton” in gray letters, along one -wall, and a captured Mount Morris pennant, -green and white, and showing battle marks, over -the window-seat. The pillows were the usual -strange collections of all hues and styles, many -of them, of course, running to scarlet-and-gray. -Hugh’s contributions were photographs, -some quite large and all handsomely framed. The -one that produced the most interest on the part -of visitors was the picture of his home in England. -It was just like the baronial manors and -lordly castles you read about, Nick declared, and -when he got enormously rich he was going to buy -one just like it. It was a stone building, with -the stones set in a peculiarly haphazard fashion, -and it rambled over the best part of an acre, or -seemed to. There were turrets and battlements, -and much very orderly ivy, and the remains of -a moat, and many stately trees and a “front yard,” -as Nick called it, that looked like two or three -perfectly level golf links thrown into one! That -photograph was a never-ceasing source of joy to -Nick, and if he was there when a new visitor -arrived he always haled the latter up to -see it.</p> - -<p>“Our ancestral home,” he would explain, to<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_72"></a>[72]</span> -Hugh’s embarrassment, “Lockley Manor, Glyndestoke, -Hants, England, by Jove!”</p> - -<p>There was a smaller photograph of the home -in Maryland, but that was less impressive and -more like what Nick had seen. The two or three -English country views interested him more. -“This,” he would inform the newcomer, “is a view -of the spinney back of the home farm. And here -we have the bridge at Glyndestoke, with the Old -Inn in the distance. Right there is where Ordway -catches his salmon for breakfast. Every -morning when it’s rainy enough he saunters down -that road there accompanied by the head gamekeeper -and two or three assistant gamekeepers -and a few dozen gillies and fishes up a salmon. -That is, he gets the salmon on the hook, but, bless -your simple heart, he doesn’t pull him in. Oh, -dear no! Rather not! I should say otherwise -and vastly to the contrary. That’s where the -first assistant gamekeeper has his innings, d’ye -see? The first assistant gamekeeper takes the -rod and plays the fish while the head gamekeeper -stands ready with the landing-net. It’s all very -simple, you see. Nothing irksome about it all. -Ordway seldom gets tired fishing. He——”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I say, Nick, cut it out, like a good chap!” -Hugh would beg. “Stuff a pillow in his mouth, -someone, please!”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_73"></a>[73]</span></p> - -<p>Nick had various sobriquets for Hugh. Sometimes -he was “Your Grace,” sometimes “The -Duke of Glyndestoke,” sometimes just “’Ighness.” -Eventually, though, it was Nick who discovered -in the school catalogue, when that was -issued in October, that Hugh’s full name as there -set down was Hugh Oswald Brodwick Ordway, -and, in consequence of the initials, promptly -dubbed him “Hobo!”</p> - -<p>Possibly it was its absolute incongruity that -made that nickname instantly popular. At all -events, while Hugh’s more intimate friends did -not ordinarily call him “Hobo,” others and the -school in general did. But that was later, when -Hugh, greatly to his surprise, found himself a -rather important person at Grafton.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile, in that first fortnight of the fall -term, Hugh was a very busy youth. He pegged -away unfalteringly at football and began to like -it, in spite of the drudgery. He weathered two -cuts in the squad and saw other fellows with far -more experience released to private life or their -class teams. When, the second Saturday after -the opening of the term, Grafton played the local -high school and won without trouble by the -score of 26–0, Hugh saw the game from the -stand, and, with Guy Murtha to elucidate obscure -points, enjoyed it vastly. High School presented<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_74"></a>[74]</span> -a team badly in need of practice and Grafton -ran rings about her and could have scored -at least twice more had Coach Bonner thought -fit to let her do so. But when the third period -was a few minutes old and the score was 20–0, -he began to send in second-string players, with -the result that Grafton’s offensive powers waned -perceptibly. One more touchdown was secured -against the opponent in the last few minutes of -the final period when Siedhof, who had substituted -Bert Winslow at left half, secured the ball after -High School had blocked Nate Leddy’s try-at-goal. -Siedhof picked the ball literally from a -High School forward’s hands and in some miraculous -manner swung around and dodged and feinted -his way through a crowded field and over six -white lines to a score. Leddy missed the goal -and play ended soon after. Grafton showed the -benefit of those ten days of ante-season practice -so long as her first-string men were in the line-up, -and, on the whole, coach, captain, players, -and supporters were well satisfied with the showing -made in that first contest.</p> - -<p>Hugh gained more knowledge of the finer -points of football that evening when Nick, Pop -Driver, Guy and Bert threshed it all out in Number -29. Much of the discussion went over his -head, but he awoke to the realization that there<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_75"></a>[75]</span> -was a great deal more to football than meets -the eyes of the spectator. Nick and Bert argued -for ten minutes over one play which had -gone awry. Bert declared that it shouldn’t have -been called for in the circumstances and Nick -proved, to his own satisfaction at least, that it -was fundamentally, psychologically, scientifically -correct. Whereupon Pop, who had listened without -comment, informed Nick that he was wrong. -And, for some reason, Nick and everyone else -accepted the dictum without question. Much -technical talk followed, and Hugh was soon beyond -his depth, but he tried hard to understand -and stored up a fine collection of questions to -ask Bert later.</p> - -<p>But other interests besides football demanded -Hugh’s attention. He was nominated for election -to “Lit” by Bert and seconded by Nick and -Pop. The Literary Society and The Forum were -the rival social and debating clubs. Secret organizations -of any sort were tabooed at Grafton, -although there was, or was said to be, a certain -lower middle-class society known as “Thag” -which was supposed to exist in defiance of the -law. If it really existed outside the imaginations -of lower middlers it was of such slight consequence -that faculty winked at it. Hugh might -have been put up for The Forum instead of “Lit”<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_76"></a>[76]</span> -had he wished, for Guy was an enthusiastic member -of the older club and did his best to get -Hugh’s permission to nominate him. Hugh, -though, with no real preference, felt that he ought -to allow Bert to decide the matter for him, and -Bert naturally claimed his chum for his own society.</p> - -<p>Hugh was also elected, much less formally, to -the Canoe Club, and, at Bert’s urging, attended -several trials for the Glee Club, to which he was -eventually admitted. The elections to The Forum -and the Literary Society took place in January, -but candidates were meanwhile admitted to a -quasi-membership that gave them the use of the -club rooms and allowed them to attend meetings, -without participation in debates or affairs.</p> - -<p>In the class rooms Hugh progressed well, for -the fiery-locked Mr. Fairway had done his work -thoroughly. In fact, Hugh began his career at -Grafton most satisfactorily, and progressed serenely -and pleasantly and without especial incident -along the stream of school life until, just -two weeks to a day after his arrival, he struck -his first snag.</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_77"></a>[77]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII<br /> -<small>BATTLE!</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p class="cap">It was the custom for the juniors to hold a -meeting shortly after the beginning of the -school year and elect class officials, and it -was also the custom of the lower middle and upper -middle fellows to take quite a flattering interest -in the affair. Perhaps it would be more -correct to say that the lower middlers were interested -in the meeting and the upper middlers -were interested in the lower middlers. Just why -the second-year boys held it incumbent to do all -in their power to prevent the juniors from getting -together successfully it is difficult to say; -but they did. The upper middlers’ part in the -proceedings was theoretically to see that the first-year -fellows had fair play, but what they actually -did was to have a good-natured mix-up with the -lower middlers. Consequently the evening of -junior meeting was looked forward to with pleasurable -anticipation by the whole school, unless -we omit a portion of the junior class whose disposition -was entirely peaceable.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_78"></a>[78]</span></p> - -<p>The juniors did their best to hold the meeting -in secret, but someone outside the class invariably -got wind of it in time to give the alarm. -Faculty had on one or two occasions, when the -fun had become rather too noisy, threatened to -prohibit the ceremony, but at the time of this story -it was still observed. This fall it was arranged -among the juniors that they were to meet at five -o’clock on Wednesday afternoon in assembly hall. -But the watchful lower middlers prevented that -by the simple expedient of locking both doors on -the inside and leaving the keys in, departing by -way of a window and by means of a rope. By -the time Mr. Crump, the head janitor, had pushed -out one of the keys and fitted a new one it was -too late for the meeting and the juniors retired -in defeat. Subsequently they allowed it to leak -out that the postponed assembly would take place -in the same room on Saturday evening, and, for -some reason, their story was believed.</p> - -<p>But on Thursday evening at about eight o’clock -cries of “Lower middle, all out!” echoed through -the dormitories and books were abandoned and -green eye-shades tossed aside. In a few minutes -it became known that the juniors had stolen a -march and were safely barricaded in the gymnasium! -Lower middle hastened to the scene in -force, and upper middle followed swiftly. The<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_79"></a>[79]</span> -seniors, forgetting dignity, likewise repaired to -the gathering to play the part of spectators. As -Roy Dresser remarked to Ted Trafford as they -secured positions of vantage against the end wall -of Manning, it looked very much as though, in -the words of the country newspapers, “a good -time was to be had by all.”</p> - -<p>Lower middle tried doors and windows and -found them impregnable. They were denied even -a glimpse of the proceedings inside, for the juniors -had carefully draped blankets against the -windows. Lower middle held a conference of war -and upper middle jeered. Upper middle not only -jeered but made remarks calculated to displease -the enemy. Lower middle replied in kind and -the seniors applauded both sides. And there the -matter would have rested until the juniors had -finished their meeting and sallied forth had not -an ambitious lower middler taken it into his head -to try to reach the second story by means of -a copper rain-spout. Why that should have annoyed -upper middle I don’t know, but upper middle -resented the trespass and surged forward. -The attack was so unexpected that lower middle -gave way and the ambitious climber was pulled, -struggling, from his place halfway up the metal -pipe. He reached the ranks of his friends no -worse for the adventure, but lower middle felt<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_80"></a>[80]</span> -that her rights had been interfered with and the -fun commenced.</p> - -<p>Up and down in front of the gymnasium the -battle waged, the two classes fairly even in numbers. -For the first few minutes it was a mere -matter of pushing and shoving, one throng against -the other, lower middle giving way only to close -ranks again and force upper middle back. The -seniors, laughing and impartially encouraging the -belligerents, watched appreciatively. And in the -meanwhile, quite forgotten, the juniors proceeded -undisturbed with their election.</p> - -<p>Afterwards lower middle declared that upper -middle had started the real trouble, and upper -middle stoutly laid the blame on her opponent. -At all events, what was to be expected happened -and someone, losing his temper for the instant, -struck a blow. His adversary accepted the challenge. -Others at once adopted the new tactics -and cries of “Fight! Fight!” arose from both -factions, and those behind surged eagerly forward. -At first it was only those in the front -ranks who became engaged, but the others soon -got into action and presently some ninety-odd -youths were hard at it. More than one old score -was settled, doubtless, in the ensuing five minutes. -The seniors, scattering away from the field of -battle, viewed proceedings dubiously. This was<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_81"></a>[81]</span> -more than precedent called for, and if a master -happened to put in an appearance there would -be trouble for all concerned.</p> - -<p>It was Ted Trafford and Joe Leslie, the latter -senior class president, who finally, calling -for volunteers, attempted to put an end to hostilities. -It was no easy task, however, for while -many of the belligerents were fighting for the -sheer love of it, keeping their tempers in check, -there were others who were mad clear through -and who had to be literally dragged apart. Pop -Driver performed lustily for the peace party, his -simple way of tripping up one adversary and holding -the other proving peculiarly efficacious. But -at that it is doubtful if the seniors could have -ended the battle for a long time if Guy Murtha, -who had intercepted a blow meant for someone -else and was ruefully nursing a bruised cheek, had -not hit on the expedient of raising the warning cry -of “<em>Faculty, fellows, faculty!</em>” Fortunately, there -was no truth in the announcement, but it did the -business. Panting for breath, upper and lower -middlers drew apart, searching the half-darkness -with anxious gaze, ready to disappear as soon as -they discovered from which direction danger -threatened. Leslie took advantage of the lull to -read the riot act and his words of counsel had -effect. Upper middle bitterly laid the onus on<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_82"></a>[82]</span> -lower middle and lower middle indignantly returned -the charge.</p> - -<p>“Never mind who started it,” said Leslie impatiently. -“You fellows beat it to your rooms -before you get caught. You’re a lot of silly idiots -to do a thing like this, anyway, and it would -serve you all right if you got what you deserve. -Hanrihan, you ought to know better than to let -this happen!”</p> - -<p>“Someone jumped on me,” replied Tom Hanrihan -cheerfully. “I didn’t start it, Joe.”</p> - -<p>“Well, get away from here before anything -happens. Come on, seniors.”</p> - -<p>Nursing bruised faces and knuckles, holding -handkerchiefs to bleeding noses, the participants -in the recent fracas began to disperse, slowly, -however, since neither side wished to be the first -to withdraw. Still, the incident would have been -closed there and then had not the juniors seen -fit to throw open the gymnasium door at that -moment and burst triumphantly forth. That was -too much for the sore and smarting lower middlers -to endure with equanimity. There was a -murmur of displeasure and then a howl of rage -and the lower middlers surged up the steps and -literally crushed the juniors back through the portals.</p> - -<p>“You like it so well in there you can stay<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_83"></a>[83]</span> -there!” they shouted. “It’s all night for you fellows! -You don’t get out! Keep ’em in, lower -middle!”</p> - -<p>But that was not so easy, since there were -plenty of windows, and it didn’t take the juniors -long to remember the fact. The sight of figures -skulking away in the darkness soon apprised the -guardians of the portal of what was happening -and shouts of “Windows, fellows, windows!” was -heard and half their number left the portico to -intercept the escaping prisoners. That presented -upper middle with an excellent opportunity to -take a hand again and she seized it eagerly. In -a twinkling the doorway was cleared of lower -middlers and the juniors came forth. Lower middle, -resenting upper middle’s interference, again -rallied and tried to force the portico, only to be -thrice hurled back before superior numbers. As -occasion occurred, the juniors fled to the safety of -Manning, or tried to, for not a few were caught -and held prisoners by the enemy. Jeers and -taunts were exchanged, while the seniors once -more attempted to persuade the warring factions -to cease hostilities. Finally upper middlers and -such juniors as remained with them sallied down -the steps in force and the battle broke forth again. -It was a running fight now, for the juniors fled -helter skelter for the nearby dormitory, protected<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_84"></a>[84]</span> -by upper middlers, while the lower middlers -tried to capture them. Confusion reigned supreme.</p> - -<p>Hugh, who had taken part in the proceedings -with zest and had sustained a lump as large as a -bantam’s egg over one eye and a set of sore knuckles, -became separated from his friends somewhere -between Manning and School Hall. A -minute before he had been battling with Nick at -his side and his back against the rubbish barrel -at the corner, but now Nick had disappeared and -although the combat waged behind and before -him, he was alone and unchallenged. That, -thought Hugh, would never do. For the glory -of upper middle he must find an adversary. So -he raced down the bricks toward the steps of -School Hall, where he could discern under the -lamplight a group of fellows struggling strenuously. -He slowed up as he approached in order -to distinguish friend from foe, but, to his surprise, -someone pinioned his arms from behind -and he was thrust rudely into the group in front -of the door.</p> - -<p>“Here’s another, fellows!” panted his captor. -“Get him!”</p> - -<p>Before he knew it he was being forced up the -steps and through the door of School Hall, struggling -but helpless, someone holding his arms at<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_85"></a>[85]</span> -his sides and someone’s hand gripped chokingly -about his neck. Down the corridor to the stairs, -up the stairs, along another corridor and, at last, -into a classroom. Then the uncomfortable grasp -on his neck was removed, the door slammed, a -key turned outside and Hugh, breathless and dizzy -but still unconquered, wheeled around with ready -fists.</p> - -<p>The room, one of the smaller ones, was unlighted -save for what radiance came through the -window from the lamps along the path below, but -Hugh could see two other figures in the gloom and -he was eager for battle.</p> - -<p>“Come on,” he challenged. “I’ll take you -both!”</p> - -<p>“I—I don’t want to fight, thanks,” said a mild -voice from the darkness. “I—I——”</p> - -<p>“Are you a junior?” asked the other occupant -of the gloom.</p> - -<p>“No, are you?” replied Hugh.</p> - -<p>“Yes, they collared me and Twining just as we -were coming around the corner. We climbed out -of a window in the gym and were trying to get -to Manning. Do you suppose they mean to keep -us here long?”</p> - -<p>“So that’s it, eh?” mused Hugh. “I thought -you were upper middle fellows when I saw you -scuffling down there. Well, they’ve got us to<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_86"></a>[86]</span> -rights, haven’t they?” He made his way to the -window, raised the lower sash and looked out. -Everything was quiet below, a fact explainable -by the unmistakable presence on the walk further -along near Manning of two masters in conference. -Hugh pulled his head in quickly for fear -they might look up and see him.</p> - -<p>“They’ve all gone,” he announced to his fellow -prisoners, “and Mr. Smiley and one of the -other masters are down there.”</p> - -<p>“Then if we call to them they’ll let us out,” -said the youth who wasn’t Twining.</p> - -<p>“Yes, but——” Hugh thought a moment. -Then: “All right,” he agreed. But when he -put his head through the window again the masters -had disappeared. “They’ve gone now,” he -reported. “Try that door and see if it’s really -locked, one of you chaps.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, it is,” was the answer from Twining, -who had a thin, piping voice and sounded as -though he might be only about thirteen. “Don’t -you think they’ll come back pretty soon and let -us out?”</p> - -<p>“I fancy so. They’ll wait until things quiet -down, I dare say. All we can do is wait.” Hugh -felt his way to a chair and seated himself and -the others followed his example. There was -silence for a minute or two during which Hugh<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_87"></a>[87]</span> -felt admiringly of the lump over his left eye. -Then Twining spoke with something like a sniffle.</p> - -<p>“I don’t think it’s fair for them to do this,” -he complained. “We juniors have to be in by -nine o’clock and I guess it must be more than that -now, isn’t it?”</p> - -<p>“Must be,” agreed Hugh. “Can’t you get in -without being seen?”</p> - -<p>“No,” replied the other junior disgustedly. -“They lock the door about a quarter past and -you have to ring. We’ll get the dickens!”</p> - -<p>“Well, it’s all in a lifetime,” returned Hugh -philosophically. “Anyway, you chaps held your -meeting. That ought to comfort you, eh?”</p> - -<p>“I dare say, but it isn’t very nice to have to -spend the night up here.”</p> - -<p>“That’s the idea,” exclaimed Hugh. “Stay up -here and they won’t know you weren’t in, will -they?”</p> - -<p>They seemed doubtful about that. Twining -was of the opinion that Mr. Gring, who was master -on his floor, would somehow learn of his absence. -“He finds out everything, Cupid does,” -he sniffled. “Besides, I can’t sleep here in this -hard seat all night.”</p> - -<p>“Try the floor then, old chap. That’s what I -shall do if they don’t come back and let us out.”</p> - -<p>“But they will, of course,” said the other of<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_88"></a>[88]</span> -the two. “They wouldn’t dare not to, would -they?”</p> - -<p>“I really can’t——” Then Hugh amended his -answer. “Search me,” he said. They talked -desultorily for a while. Hugh learned that the -second and presumably older boy was named -Struthers. Struthers boasted of the junior class’s -success in pulling the meeting off and told how -he had put lower middle off the track by writing -a note to one of their members announcing the -affair for Saturday night and purposely dropping -it in the corridor of School Hall. Struthers -chuckled a lot about that, but Twining appeared -incapable of seeing humor in anything just now. -He was all for putting his head out the window -and calling for help, but Hugh vetoed that plan -and threatened to punch the first one who tried it.</p> - -<p>“A silly-looking lot we’d be,” he said disgustedly, -“if the masters had to come up here and free -us! We’d be laughed at all over school. If they -don’t let us out pretty soon I’ll see if I can climb -around to the next window. It’s only about four -or five feet from this one, and if there’s anything -to hold on to I can do it.”</p> - -<p>“You might fall and hurt yourself,” sniffed -Twining.</p> - -<p>“I don’t think so. It isn’t far to the ground, -for that matter. If we could find a rope or something<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_89"></a>[89]</span> -I might be able to drop. Anyone got a -vesta?”</p> - -<p>“A vest on?” asked Struthers. “No, but we -could tie our jackets together and——”</p> - -<p>“I said a vesta, a match,” laughed Hugh. -“Tying our jackets together isn’t a bad idea, -though. If I can’t make it by the window——”</p> - -<p>He stopped and listened. Ten o’clock was -sounding.</p> - -<p>“Now we’ll all be hung together,” he said cheerfully. -“If I get caught coming in after ten I’ll -get ballywhack too. I’m going to have a look -at that window.”</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_90"></a>[90]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX<br /> -<small>CATHCART, PROCTOR</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p class="cap">Hugh thrust his body through the window -again. No one was in sight along -the front. By leaning well out he could -see the lighted windows of Number 29 Lothrop, -and he smiled as he reflected that Bert was probably -wondering what had become of his roommate. -Then he viewed the next window, some -five feet distant.</p> - -<p>The sills were broad and extended a few inches -beyond the casements, but Hugh doubted that he -would be able to stretch his legs far enough to -reach, even could he find anything to hold on to. -He crawled out on the sill, to the alarm of the -hysterical Twining, and, while keeping a firm hold -of the window sash, felt about over the bricks in -search of some projection to cling to. In the end -he had to return to the classroom defeated. <a href="#i_fp092">That -avenue of escape was out of the question.</a> The -distance to the ground didn’t look far, but it must -be, he realized, about twenty feet, and that meant -a drop of fifteen feet, enough to shake one up<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_91"></a>[91]</span> -considerably. But by knotting their coats together -it might be done.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" id="i_fp092"> - <img src="images/i_fp092.jpg" alt="" title="" /> - <div class="caption"> - <p class="noic"><a href="#Page_90">“That avenue of escape was out of the question.”</a></p> - </div> -</div> - -<p>“Let me have your coats, fellows,” he said, -pulling his own off. They emptied the pockets -first, stowing the treasures away in their trousers, -and then handed the garments over. Hugh tied -the three sleeve to sleeve, testing each knot, but -when the task was completed the result was disappointing, -for the improvised rope measured -only about five feet in length, a portion of which -would have to remain across the sill and, since -there was nothing to tie it to, be held by the juniors. -Hugh studied a moment. Then he unbelted -his trousers.</p> - -<p>“I don’t know how strong these things are,” -he said, “but I fancy they’ll stand the strain all -right.”</p> - -<p>He made a pile of his pocket contents on the -floor and knotted the end of one leg to a sleeve -of a coat, adding another three feet to the length -of the whole.</p> - -<p>“Now,” he said cheerfully, “you chaps lay hold -of this end, d’ye see? Pull it tight across the -sill and you won’t have any trouble. Better sit -down on the floor, the two of you, eh? That’s -the idea. If you happen to find you can’t hold -on, or the thing starts to rip, shout out to me so -I can drop. All right now?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_92"></a>[92]</span></p> - -<p>“Y-yes,” replied Struthers doubtfully. “I hope -we can hold it!”</p> - -<p>“So do I,” replied Hugh grimly as he squirmed -his body across the sill. “If you can’t I’ll get -down quicker than I fancy. Hold tight now. I’m -going to put my weight on it.”</p> - -<p>There was a breathless moment of suspense, -a moment during which the garments made threatening -sounds of giving at the seams, and then -Hugh’s head disappeared from sight, the two boys -on the floor, feet braced against the wall, held -on for dear life and——</p> - -<p>“All right!” called a cautious voice from outside. -There was a sound of a thud on the bricks -and the two juniors simultaneously toppled over -backwards.</p> - -<p>There was one thing, though, which Hugh had -neglected to take into consideration, and that was -the probability of the door of School Hall being -locked. And when, a bit jarred but quite unhurt, -he climbed the steps and tried it, he realized -the fact, for the portal was fast. Flattening himself -against the door in the shadow, he wondered -how he had bettered the condition of his fellow -prisoners. They couldn’t follow him by the window, -of course, and he, it seemed, was unable to -unlock the door to the corridor for them! And, -to add interest to the situation, he was sensible<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_93"></a>[93]</span> -of being most unconventionally clad—or, rather, -unclad—and didn’t at all relish standing down -there in the light and calling up for his trousers -to be thrown to him! Meanwhile it was quite -within the possibilities that one of the masters -might come prowling past and find him!</p> - -<p>But something had to be done, and the only -thing that occurred to him was to try the windows -in the hope of finding one unlatched. So, -making certain that no one was in sight, he scuttled -from his place of concealment and fled around -to the back of the building, where the possibility -of being observed at his burglarous task was not -so great. It was as dark as pitch back there, but -after waiting a minute to accustom his sight to -the gloom he was able to discern a window. The -sill was at the height of his chin and he wondered -whether, even if he was lucky enough to find one -unlatched, he could get through it.</p> - -<p>The first resisted all his pushing and heaving, -and so with the second and third, but when he -thrust upward on the next the sash gave readily, -but with a fearsome screech that brought his -heart to his mouth. After waiting a moment -there in the darkness, however, he pushed the -window as high as he could reach and then set -about the next step. There was nothing to put his -feet on, but by getting his arms over the sill he<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_94"></a>[94]</span> -finally managed to work his body up and was soon -inside.</p> - -<p>The first thing he did was to walk squarely into -a desk, and after that it seemed to him hours before -he found the door into the corridor. Once -outside, his troubles were by no means over, for -when he had at last discovered the stairway and -descended the first flight he couldn’t think in which -direction the room he sought lay. He found it -at last, though, turned the key and entered to be -greeted by exclamations of mingled relief and -displeasure. It was Struthers who expressed relief, -and Twining who voiced displeasure.</p> - -<p>“Seems to me you took your time,” said the latter. -“You must think it’s lots of fun waiting up -here——”</p> - -<p>“Stow it!” interrupted Hugh, his temper not -improved by the adventures of the past ten minutes. -“It would serve you jolly right to make -you shin down the coats and trousers!”</p> - -<p>Twining subsided to mutters and Hugh clothed -himself again and rescued his treasures from the -floor. When he had finished, the two juniors -were already outside.</p> - -<p>“You can’t get out the door,” said Hugh. “It’s -locked. Keep with me and we’ll slip out a window -at the back.”</p> - -<p>Twining again demurred, but Struthers promptly<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_95"></a>[95]</span> -sat on him, and a minute later they were outside.</p> - -<p>“Now you chaps see if you can find a window -unlocked. That’s what I’m going to do. I don’t -fancy having it known that I was locked up in -School Hall by a lot of fresh lower class chaps. -Good night.”</p> - -<p>“Good night,” replied Struthers, “and much -obliged, Ordway.”</p> - -<p>Twining, however, was already creeping off in -the darkness, wasting no time on amenities. -Hugh felt a strong desire to overtake the youngster -and cuff him, but in the end he only shrugged -his shoulders and considered his own plight. He -carefully closed the window before he turned -away to seek Lothrop, and when he did he kept -along at the back of Trow to avoid the lights in -front. It was well after ten o’clock now and most -of the windows were dark, but here and there a -light still shone. Mr. Russell’s study on the first -floor of Trow was illumined and the curtains were -raised, and as Hugh, bending low, passed beneath -them he fervently hoped that the Greek -master would not take it into his head to approach -a casement just then.</p> - -<p>The ground floor of Lothrop was given over -to public rooms save where, at the farther end, -Mr. Rumford had his suite of five rooms and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_96"></a>[96]</span> -bath. Along the front, between the two entrances, -were the library, the common room and the recreation -room. At the back were rooms occupied -by the superintendent of buildings, Mr. Craig, and -by the head janitor, Mr. Crump, a store room and -a serving room. The nearer end of the building -was taken up by the big dining hall. There were -ten windows in the latter and Hugh hoped to find -one of the number unlatched. He kept away from -the front of the building, for it was disconcertingly -light there, and tried the first window on the -end. It was fast, however, and so was the next -one. Then, to his consternation, the ground began -to slope away to the level of the basement -floor at the rear of the building, for the kitchen -and laundry and various other service rooms were -above ground at the back. This brought the third -window almost head-high and placed the fourth -beyond his reach, and the third window was locked -as fast as the others!</p> - -<p>He knew nothing of the lay of the land below-stairs -and feared to try his fortunes there. Consequently -there was nothing to do but risk detection -while trying the windows along the -front or to ring a door-bell and be reported by -Mr. Crump. He had little liking for either alternative -and hesitated a moment in the shadow -at the corner before emerging into the publicity<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_97"></a>[97]</span> -of the walk which, while deserted, was in plain -view of Trow. After all, though, it was, he reflected, -no hanging matter, and so he presently -emerged quite boldly and, as he passed along the -front of the dormitory, tried each window. He -had progressed as far as the library when his -perseverance was at last rewarded. A sash gave -readily to his pressure and in a twinkling he was -inside.</p> - -<p>Lights in the corridor shone through the open -doors and he had no trouble, after he had silently -closed the window again and fastened it, in making -his way between chairs and tables. At the -door nearest to the stairs he paused and looked -out. No one was in sight and he swiftly stepped -into the corridor, around the corner and through -the swinging door that gave on the stairs. He -stepped lightly, for he knew that on each floor -a master’s bedroom was separated from him by -only the thickness of a wall. It was when he -had reached the fourth floor and had his hand -on the door there that he recalled the fact that -directly across the hallway was Number 34, inhabited -by Cathcart. Cathcart was a proctor -and, so it was said, a most conscientious one. -He would have done better, as he now realized, to -have gained the floor by the other stairway. However, -Cathcart’s door was tightly closed and it<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_98"></a>[98]</span> -was more than likely that Cathcart was sound -asleep. So Hugh pushed the swinging portal -softly ajar, slipped through and turned along the -corridor toward 29. Halfway, he thought he -heard a sound behind him, but he didn’t stop or -turn. He scuttled into 29—Bert had thoughtfully -left the door unlocked—and the instant the -latch had slipped into place behind him tore off -his coat and fumbled at his belt. The study was -empty and dark, but a light shone from Bert’s -bedroom and as Hugh hurried into his own apartment -a sibilant voice came to him.</p> - -<p>“That you, Hugh?”</p> - -<p>“Yes.” Hugh was slipping out of his trousers. -“I’ll be in in a minute.” He kicked off his shoes -and tugged at his tie.</p> - -<p>“Where the dickens have you been?” demanded -Bert, more loudly. Hugh heard his bed creak -and a moment later his bare feet on the floor. -And that instant there was a gentle knock on -the door.</p> - -<p>Hugh flung things from him wildly and dived -for his bed. There was silence. Then the knock -was repeated, and:</p> - -<p>“Winslow!” came Cathcart’s cautious voice -from beyond the portal.</p> - -<p>After a moment’s hesitation Bert, making a -good deal of noise about it, went to the door and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_99"></a>[99]</span> -flung it open. Hugh, the covers pulled to his -chin, held his breath and listened.</p> - -<p>“Hello, Wallace.” That was Bert’s voice, surprised -and sleepy. “What’s up?”</p> - -<p>“Sorry to disturb you,” said Cathcart, pushing -past Bert and closing the door behind him, “but -someone just came up the stairs and entered this -room.”</p> - -<p>“Nonsense,” replied Bert, suppressing a yawn. -“You probably heard me coming from the bathroom.”</p> - -<p>“I didn’t only hear, I saw,” said Cathcart quietly. -“You don’t usually visit the bathroom with -all your clothes on, I suppose.”</p> - -<p>“Not usually, old man, but I couldn’t find my -bathrobe. I suppose it’s somewhere around——”</p> - -<p>“Is Ordway here?” demanded the proctor.</p> - -<p>“I suppose so. We went to bed rather early. -Oh, Hugh!”</p> - -<p>“Yes?” asked Hugh startledly. “Did you call, -Bert?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, Cathcart asked if you were here. It’s -all right, I guess.”</p> - -<p>“If you don’t mind,” murmured Cathcart. He -crossed to Hugh’s room and looked in. “Would -you mind turning on a light, please, Bert?”</p> - -<p>Bert obeyed grumblingly and Cathcart viewed -the bedroom. Hugh’s coat lay on the floor near<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_100"></a>[100]</span> -the foot of the bed, his trousers were in front -of the dresser, one shoe was on top the trousers -and the other a yard away and his shirt hung -limply from the footrail. Cathcart took it all in -silently and gravely. Then:</p> - -<p>“How long have you been in bed, Ordway?” -he asked.</p> - -<p>“Eh? In bed? Oh, really, I can’t say. What -time is it now?”</p> - -<p>“You just came in, as a matter of fact, didn’t -you?”</p> - -<p>“Now look here, Cathcart,” interrupted Bert -persuasively. “You’re all wrong, old man. You -were dreaming, probably. You can see easily -enough that Ordway and I have been in bed for -a long time.”</p> - -<p>“Does he usually leave his things around like -that?” asked the proctor.</p> - -<p>“I’m afraid he does. He’s an untidy beggar. -You are, aren’t you, Hugh?”</p> - -<p>“Perfectly rotten,” replied Hugh cheerfully. -“Still, you know, they’re awfully easy to find in -case of—er—fire or anything.”</p> - -<p>Cathcart smiled wanly. Then he shook his -head. “I’m sorry, Ordway,” he said, “but I’ll -have to report you. Good night, fellows.”</p> - -<p>“But, I say——” began Hugh.</p> - -<p>“Look here, Cathcart, have a heart,” pleaded<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_101"></a>[101]</span> -Bert. “You can’t prove anything against him. -Why, look at him! You say someone came in -here a minute ago. Now you know very well -Ordway couldn’t undress in that time!”</p> - -<p>“I don’t think I said he entered a minute ago, -Bert. However, if Ordway cares to get out of -bed and show me that he has his pajamas on——” -He viewed Hugh inquiringly.</p> - -<p>“Pajamas,” said Hugh indignantly. “Why, I -say, I never wear ’em, you know. Beastly uncomfortable -things, pajamas.”</p> - -<p>“Indeed? May I look in here?” Cathcart -opened the closet door. On a hook inside hung -a pair of white pajamas with broad blue stripes. -“Yours, I think, Ordway?”</p> - -<p>Hugh nodded. “Right-o, Cathcart,” he said. -“You win. What’s the penalty?”</p> - -<p>“I can’t say,” replied the proctor. “I guess -it won’t amount to much. I wouldn’t try it again, -though, Ordway. They’re rather strict here about -being out of hall after hours. Probably you can -give a good explanation.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes, I can,” said Hugh. “Only,” he added -under his breath, “I’m switched if I’m going -to!”</p> - -<p>“I’m sorry, fellows,” said Cathcart again, regretfully. -“You know I have to do it, though. -Good night.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_102"></a>[102]</span></p> - -<p>“Good night,” said Hugh. “Duty is duty, eh, -what?”</p> - -<p>“Good night,” returned Bert morosely. “It -doesn’t seem to me, Wallace, that you need to be -so confounded snoopy, though! Of course you’re -a proctor, and all that, but a fellow doesn’t have -to go out of his way to look for trouble!”</p> - -<p>“I didn’t go out of my way, Bert,” replied -Cathcart quietly. “I was awake and heard steps -on the stairs and then heard the door pushed -open. It was my place to see who was coming -up.”</p> - -<p>“Then, if you saw him,” said Bert crossly, -“what was the good of coming down here and -making all this fuss?”</p> - -<p>“I saw only his back, and the light was dim. -I couldn’t be certain whether it was you or Ordway.”</p> - -<p>“Oh!” Bert shot a glance at Hugh, now sitting -up in bed and hugging his knees. “Then—then -perhaps it will interest you, Wallace, to learn -that it wasn’t Ordway, after all! It happened to -be me, old man. Put that in your pipe and smoke -it!” And Bert viewed the other truculently.</p> - -<p>Cathcart smiled gently and shook his head. -“That won’t do, Bert,” he said. “Ordway’s -owned up, you see.”</p> - -<p>“Because he thought I didn’t want to be reported.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_103"></a>[103]</span> -Besides, he didn’t own up. He only -said——”</p> - -<p>“Oh, come, Bert! What’s the use?” asked -Cathcart. “I know it was Ordway.”</p> - -<p>“You do? Even when I say it wasn’t? When -I say it was me? You’re mighty smart, aren’t -you?”</p> - -<p>Cathcart colored and frowned. “Very well,” -he said stiffly. “I’ll report you both and you can -settle it between you. I’m not quite such a fool -as you seem to think, Winslow.”</p> - -<p>“I’m not <em>thinking</em>,” replied Bert impolitely.</p> - -<p>“Stow it, you chaps,” Hugh broke in. “Be fair, -Bert. Cathcart’s only doing what he has to. -Much obliged for lying, old chap, but I don’t -really mind being reported. It’s all right, Cathcart,” -he added reassuringly. “I’m the culprit. -Sorry to get you out of bed.”</p> - -<p>Bert opened his mouth to speak, thought better -of it and shrugged. Cathcart nodded to Hugh -and went out. When the door was closed behind -him and Bert had turned the key with a venomous -click he strode back to Hugh’s room and -eyed him wrathfully.</p> - -<p>“Why the dickens did you have to butt in?” -he demanded. “I could have made him believe -it was me in another minute. You haven’t got as -much sense as—a—as a——”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_104"></a>[104]</span></p> - -<p>“Proctor?” suggested Hugh helpfully. Bert -grunted. Hugh threw the clothes aside and swung -his feet to the floor. “Mind tossing me those -pajamas?” he asked. “Thanks. Now, look here, -old chap——”</p> - -<p>“You’ll get the very dickens, that’s what you’ll -get,” interrupted Bert. “Where were you? How -did you get in? Didn’t you know——”</p> - -<p>“Yes, old dear, I knew all about it. The degrading -truth is that a half-dozen of those beastly -lower middle chaps got me and a couple of juniors -and locked us up in a classroom in School -Hall and I had to shin down the coats and trousers——”</p> - -<p>“Shin down the <em>what</em>?”</p> - -<p>Hugh smiled. “The coats and trousers. We -tied our coats together, you know,—and my -trousers, too,—and I got down that way and got -in a window at the back and unlocked the door. -Then I climbed in through the library.”</p> - -<p>“Who were the lower middlers?” demanded -Bert hotly.</p> - -<p>“Couldn’t see them. Dare say I shouldn’t have -known them if I had. It was all over in a jiffy. -Someone grabbed me from behind, another chap -throttled me and the whole lot pushed me upstairs. -Next thing I knew I was locked in that -room with a pair of silly juniors named Twining<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_105"></a>[105]</span> -and Struthers. Struthers wasn’t so bad, but Twining -was a mean little bounder. I say, you’ve a -remarkable looking mouth, old chap!”</p> - -<p>“And you’ve got a fine-looking lump over that -eye! You’ll make a big hit with the faculty when -you’re called up tomorrow!”</p> - -<p>“I can say I ran into a door,” replied Hugh -untroubledly. “I did once, you know, and had -just such a lump.”</p> - -<p>“Huh! And I suppose running into the door -skinned your knuckles, too?”</p> - -<p>“I’ll keep that hand behind me,” laughed Hugh. -“Anyway, it was a—a—it was some scrap, wasn’t -it?”</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_106"></a>[106]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X<br /> -<small>HANRIHAN PROMISES</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p class="cap">“The beauty of being on probation,” observed -Nick, “is that a fellow is able to -give his entire time to the improvement -of his mind. I recall that during my junior year -being on pro was very helpful to me. It allowed -me to do a lot of studying that I wouldn’t have -been able to accomplish otherwise, and so, without -doubt, preserved me to Grafton posterity. If -it hadn’t been for that thoughtful act on the part -of faculty you might not have me with you this -evening, fellows.”</p> - -<p>“Faculty has a heap to answer for,” said Guy -sadly.</p> - -<p>“I don’t mind—much,” said Hugh. “It knocks -me out of football, though, doesn’t it?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, and the worst of it is,” said Pop Driver, -“that you’ll have to go to gym and do your four -hours per week.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t think I shall mind that, really. I -fancy it’s dumb bells and clubs and that sort of -thing, eh?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_107"></a>[107]</span></p> - -<p>“Yes, and bar bells and free arm movements, -which are tiresome things, and chest weights. -<em>Creak—creak—creak—creak!</em> I hate the thought -of the things.” And Nick disgustedly shook his -head.</p> - -<p>“You got off easily, if you want to know it,” -said Bert. “Two weeks isn’t anything. Usually -it’s a month at least. The only thing that -saved you from getting it harder was that faculty -is up in the air about last night’s rumpus. -It has a sort of an idea that a lot of things -went on it doesn’t know about and that if justice -was done half the school would be on -pro.”</p> - -<p>“They’re always easier with a new fellow,” -said Guy. “Two weeks will soon pass, Hugh. -Take my advice, though, and try for B’s in everything. -That always makes them happy and they’ll -let you off easy.”</p> - -<p>“B’s?” exclaimed Bert. “Why B’s? Hugh -gets an A-minus in about everything now! By -the way, fellows, Jimmy’s been pussy-footing it all -over school today trying to find out what really -happened last night. He cornered me in lower -hall after French this morning and said he had -heard the juniors had held a very successful meeting. -You know the way he smiles when he wants -to—to lull your suspicions?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_108"></a>[108]</span></p> - -<p>“Wow!” applauded Nick. “That’s langwidge!”</p> - -<p>“So I said yes, I’d heard they had. And then -he asked: ‘You—ah—you weren’t present then -yourself, Winslow?’ And I said no, I didn’t think -the juniors allowed any of the other class fellows -at their meeting. Innocent, I was. So he said, -‘H’m, yes, very true, Winslow,’ and I beat it. -What gets me is that they didn’t hear the racket -and come out. I suppose, though, they thought -it was the usual rumpus.”</p> - -<p>“There are some mighty funny-looking faces -around today,” observed Pop. “Phillips couldn’t -see at all out of one eye, and——”</p> - -<p>“Phillips isn’t anything,” cut in Nick. “You -should see Downer! He’s positively disreputable! -I told him so, too. Told him he oughtn’t -to appear among gentlemen looking as he did. -He was quite short-tempered about it.”</p> - -<p>“I wonder if they’ll do anything,” pondered -Bert.</p> - -<p>“Someone said he’d heard they were going to -stop junior meeting after this,” replied Guy. “It -would be a good thing if they did. Such behavior -is most—er—reprehensible.”</p> - -<p>“Piffle!” scoffed Nick. “You were just dying -to get into it yourself last night, you old hypocrite!”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_109"></a>[109]</span></p> - -<p>“I did get into it,” said Guy grimly. “And I -got this for my pains.” He laid a finger on his -bruise. “Pop was the one who put ’em to rights. -Pop went into it like a whirlwind. <em>Thump!</em> -Down goes a lower! <em>Bang!</em> Down goes an upper! -Great stuff, Pop!”</p> - -<p>“You fellows could have fought all night,” replied -Pop calmly, “for all I cared, only I thought -it would be rather a silly piece of business for -half of you to get nabbed and put on pro. To -come right down to hunks, though, it was a pretty -rank piece of business for grown kids to pummel -each other for no reason at all. You upper -middlers ought to be proud of it.”</p> - -<p>“Well, we didn’t start it,” said Nick aggrievedly. -“One of those chaps punched one of us -and so we punched back.”</p> - -<p>“It’s always the other fellow who starts things, -I notice. If you and Bert and Kinley and a few -more had been caught at it a fat chance the team -would have had!”</p> - -<p>“That’s so,” agreed Guy. “I understand that -Bonner was extremely eloquent this afternoon.”</p> - -<p>“He flayed us,” said Bert grimly. “He has a -nasty tongue sometimes.”</p> - -<p>“It struck me he was mighty easy with you,” -said Pop unfeelingly. “When you’re on the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_110"></a>[110]</span> -School Team, Bert, you’re supposed to behave -yourself and not act like a kid.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, chuck it, Pop,” returned Bert shortly. -“I’ve been lectured enough. You’re as cheerful -as a raven.”</p> - -<p>“After all,” said Nick, “’is ’Ighness is the -only one should kick. He’s dished on football -for two weeks, anyway, and that queers him utterly -for this year. If anyone has a right to -grouch it’s Hugh, and he’s the most cheerful of -the lot.”</p> - -<p>“Do you really think it lets me out for the -year?” asked Hugh sadly. “I was hoping that -maybe, if it was only two weeks, they’d let me -back on the—the—grinds.”</p> - -<p>“The what?” demanded Nick. “Oh, the -scrubs! Grinds isn’t bad, though! That’s what -they do, all right.”</p> - -<p>“Hope on, hope ever,” said Guy. “Put it up -to Ted some time. Maybe he will fix it for you. -Who’s going to captain the second this year, -Pop?”</p> - -<p>“I don’t know. I suppose it will be Ben Myatt.”</p> - -<p>“Honest? Poor old Bennie! He’s been trying -for the first team for three years now. I -hoped he would make it this time.”</p> - -<p>“Perhaps he will, but I doubt it. Ben just<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_111"></a>[111]</span> -doesn’t reach to the first. He’s a clever player, -too.”</p> - -<p>“Better than Tom Hanrihan, in my estimation,” -said Nick. “I’d like to see Ben make it -this time.”</p> - -<p>“So would I,” agreed Pop, “but he isn’t the -player Tom is. Tom’s got the zip, you know. -Ben’s too good-natured, I guess.”</p> - -<p>“There’s something in that,” mused Guy. “Remember -Powell, who pitched for us year before -last, Pop? He was a nifty twirler, all right, and -had a fast one that would fool you two times out -of three, but you simply couldn’t rile him, and -when things got away from us Powell was no -earthly use in the box. When you’re a run or -two behind along in the eighth or ninth you want -just nine fellows in the field who are mad clear -through!”</p> - -<p>“I say,” exclaimed Hugh, “you’re spoofin’, -what?”</p> - -<p>“Nary a spoof, Duke,” replied Guy. “Getting -your mad up is what does the business. I don’t -mean you’re to show it or froth at the mouth, you -understand, but you want to have it inside you. -Then when your chance comes you bust out and -something happens.”</p> - -<p>“Really?” marveled Hugh. “I’ve always -thought quite the contrary. It seems to me, you<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_112"></a>[112]</span> -know, that a chap who keeps his temper is the -one who can do the best.”</p> - -<p>“Sure! I said that. <em>Have</em> a temper, but keep -it! Am I right, Pop?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, I think so. I know that when a fellow -plays football he has to sort of seethe inside before -he can really do much.”</p> - -<p>“Did you ever seethe?” asked Nick incredulously.</p> - -<p>“I’ve been mad enough to bite,” said Pop, smiling. -“Haven’t you?”</p> - -<p>“Me? Great Scott, yes! But you’re such a -sleepy, unemotional beggar, Pop, that I didn’t -suppose you ever felt that way. Bert and I, now, -being sort of temperamental——”</p> - -<p>“I always get mad,” confessed Bert, “the first -time a fellow tackles me or gives me a jolt. I’ve -got a rotten temper, anyway.”</p> - -<p>“Good reason to play football, then,” said Pop. -“Football’s a fine thing for temper.”</p> - -<p>“I fancy I’d never make a player, then,” remarked -Hugh ruefully. “I don’t get angry very -easily, you see.”</p> - -<p>His regret was so evident that the others -laughed, and Nick said: “Don’t worry about -that, ’Ighness. You’ll get over it bravely when -you come to play. Just let a couple of fellows -sit on your head and another one twist your<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_113"></a>[113]</span> -ankle for you and you’ll be mad enough to eat -dirt!”</p> - -<p>Nothing came of Thursday night’s affair. Possibly -faculty didn’t quite know where to begin, -since fully two-thirds of the school was concerned. -The fracas went down in history as the Junior -Meeting Riot, and the <cite>Campus</cite>, the school -monthly, managed to get a lot of sly fun out of it -in its next issue. Leslie and several other more -prominent members of the senior class were taken -to task for allowing matters to go as far as they -had, which, considering the fact that they had -sustained various injuries in their efforts to promote -peace, was rather unkind. In the end faculty -prohibited future interference with junior -meeting and, lest the temptation should prove -too great for the lower middlers, provided that -the meeting should take place in Manning common -room.</p> - -<p>Hugh took his punishment philosophically, although -he really regretted having to give up trying -for the football team. He had just begun -to find something besides hard work in the daily -practice, and, while he hadn’t for a moment counted -on making the first, he had entertained hopes -of finding a place on the second team. It was -Tom Hanrihan who took the matter hardest. -Tom, a big, raw-boned, good-hearted chap of<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_114"></a>[114]</span> -eighteen, took his commission of coaching the -“rookies” very seriously, and Hugh’s defection -grieved him sadly. The talk that Hugh had received -from Jimmy, otherwise the assistant principal, -Mr. Rumford, was nothing to what Hanrihan -had to say to him Saturday morning. Hanrihan -told Hugh quite explicitly how many kinds -of an idiot he was and would listen to no excuses.</p> - -<p>“You seem to think all we have to do is waste -time on you fellows and then you can drop out -whenever it pleases you. Making a football -team isn’t any cinch, Ordway, when you’ve got -only nine weeks to do it. You haven’t any right -to take up our time if you don’t mean to stick -it out.”</p> - -<p>“But I did mean to stick it out,” expostulated -Hugh. “It wasn’t my fault if those beggars got -me and——”</p> - -<p>“You shouldn’t have given them the chance. -You shouldn’t have had anything to do with that -scrap, anyway. (This despite the fact that the -speaker had a very puffy and discolored left eye!) -When a fellow goes out for the team he’s supposed -to look after himself. He’s trying for the—the -biggest thing in school, and he ought to realize -it. You had a good chance to make good. -I as much as told you that a dozen times. (If<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_115"></a>[115]</span> -he had, Hugh didn’t recall it!) You showed -some gumption, and you were quick and handled -a ball nicely. Now you’ve gone and spoiled it -all. Honest, Ordway, I’d like to punch your -head for you!”</p> - -<p>“Oh, very well, do it,” replied Hugh meekly. -“I’m sorry. That’s all I can say, Hanrihan.”</p> - -<p>“A lot of good being sorry does,” snorted the -other.</p> - -<p>“It’s only two weeks, Mr. Rumford said, and -I thought that possibly I could get back again,” -said Hugh wistfully.</p> - -<p>“Get back! Lay off two weeks and get back! -That’s likely! By that time we’ll be in the middle -of the season. Who do you suppose is going -to take time to coach you individually, Ordway?”</p> - -<p>“Well,” and Hugh smiled ingratiatingly at -Hanrihan, “you could, you know, if you cared -to!”</p> - -<p>“I could!” Hanrihan stared in amazement. -“Well, you’re certainly a cheeky youngster, Ordway! -What the dickens should I do it for? You -don’t suppose the team’s going to pot just because -you’re out, do you?”</p> - -<p>“N-no, of course not. I didn’t mean that.” -Hugh colored in his quick fashion. “Only, I -thought that possibly—if I sort of watched practice -and saw what was being done, why, after<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_116"></a>[116]</span> -I was off probation, you might sort of—sort of -show me, if you know what I mean!”</p> - -<p>“Huh! You’ll have to get Bonner to let you -back first. And I don’t think he will.” Hanrihan -paused. “He might, though, if I put it up -to him. Confound you, Ordway, you seem to -think you can do as you please and play hob all -around and then—then get folks to square things -for you! You <em>are</em> a cheeky youngster, and no mistake!”</p> - -<p>“I dare say,” replied Hugh, “but you’ll speak -to Mr. Bonner, eh? You know yourself it wasn’t -my fault, old chap, now don’t you?”</p> - -<p>“Well, no, I suppose it wasn’t—in a way,” acknowledged -Hanrihan more graciously. “Well, -I’ll see if we can do anything. But look here, -now. You keep in shape, do you understand? -And keep in right with faculty. No more nonsense, -Ordway!”</p> - -<p>“Right-o! And thanks awfully, Hanrihan.”</p> - -<p>“Don’t thank me until it happens—if it does,” -grumbled the other. “I’ll let you know if—if -anything comes up. So long.”</p> - -<p>That conversation left Hugh hopeful again, -but when he recounted it to Bert the latter threw -cold water on the project. “Tom will do his -part,” he said, “but there isn’t a chance that Bonner -will let you back. I know him too well. I’m<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_117"></a>[117]</span> -sorry, Hugh. I wish he would. But I wouldn’t -expect too much if I were you.”</p> - -<p>“I shan’t,” replied Hugh untroubledly. “But -there isn’t any harm in hoping, eh? Even if you -don’t get what you want you’ve had the fun of -wishing for it, if you know what I mean!”</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_118"></a>[118]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI<br /> -<small>THIRTEEN TO TEN</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p class="cap">Being on probation didn’t prevent Hugh -from seeing the game that Saturday afternoon, -and he and Guy and a lower middle -youth named Stiles sat together through the best -part of two hours and watched Grafton play two -twelve-minute and two ten-minute periods with -the Leeds High School team. It was unseasonably -warm for the first week in October and the -players felt the heat. The game dragged along -uninterestingly until, in the final period, Coach -Bonner put in a number of second-string players. -That brought the two teams nearer equality and, -although there was no more scoring, the last ten -minutes contained several exciting incidents. -Weston, at quarter-back in place of Nick, got -away on a sixty-five-yard run and all but scored. -A Leeds left end pulled down a forward pass for -a twelve-yard gain that momentarily looked like -a touchdown. Keyes, the only one of the back -field to play the game through, fooled the enemy -with a short punt that almost resulted in a<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_119"></a>[119]</span> -score when a Leeds player dropped the ball and -it was pulled out of the air by Siedhof. But in -the end the score remained as at the finish of the -first half, 13 to 0, in favor of the home team, -and Grafton dawdled back to the campus not -greatly impressed.</p> - -<p>Hugh parted from Guy and Stiles and went on -up to his study. Bert was not yet back, and, -after thoughtfully staring from the window at -the passing groups below, he went out and down -the corridor to Number 34. His rap on the half-opened -door elicited a response and he entered -to find the single occupant of the room minus coat -and waistcoat, perched at the window and surrounded -by books and papers. Cathcart was tall -and thin, with a fair complexion and a good deal -of unruly red-brown hair. Just now, a green -shade over his eyes and a pair of black rubber -spectacles on his nose, he presented an amusing -vision as he glanced near-sightedly across. Cathcart -was eighteen, a senior and an acknowledged -“grind.” It was said of him that faculty had -almost broken his heart in his lower middle year -by refusing to let him take more than twenty-one -hours a week. He got as much pleasure out of -studying as Bert Winslow did from football or -Guy Murtha from baseball, and was absolutely -unable to get the point of view of the fellow who<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_120"></a>[120]</span> -considered study a disagreeable thing to be avoided -as much as possible. It was not until Hugh -was halfway across the room, which combined -study and bedroom, that Cathcart recognized him. -When he did he untangled himself slowly, distributing -sheets of paper around the floor, and -slid to his feet.</p> - -<p>“Hello,” he said doubtfully.</p> - -<p>“Hello,” answered the visitor.</p> - -<p>Then, without further remarks, they set to rescuing -the scattered papers. This gave them time -to consider the situation and when they faced each -other again Cathcart said: “About the other -night, Ordway: I hope you didn’t think there -was anything personal in what I did?”</p> - -<p>“Not for a moment, Cathcart. I’d have done -just what you did, you know. That’s quite all -right, I assure you.”</p> - -<p>“Well, I’m glad you take it that way, really. -You see, being proctor has its drawbacks. I -wasn’t anxious for it, but it makes a big difference -in my expenses for the year, you see. I -get my room a good deal cheaper, and that’s -rather nice in my case. I was glad faculty let -you off as easily as they did, Ordway.”</p> - -<p>“Thanks, yes, they were really very decent to -me. Where I made my mistake, Cathcart, was -in not coming up the other stairway.” Hugh<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_121"></a>[121]</span> -smiled. “You wouldn’t have heard me then, I -fancy.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t think I would,” agreed the other. “I—I -wish you had. Someone said you got shut up -in the gym, I believe?”</p> - -<p>“In School Hall.” Hugh narrated his adventures -on Thursday evening.</p> - -<p>“But if you had shouted out the window someone -would surely have heard you,” said Cathcart.</p> - -<p>“Yes, but I didn’t want to give those lower middle -beggars the satisfaction, if you know what I -mean. And I rather funked having it get around -that I’d been such a silly ass, too! I say, I’m -keeping you from work, eh?”</p> - -<p>“No, you’re not, really. Push those books -aside and make yourself comfortable. I wish -you’d tell me whether Bert has it in for me, Ordway.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I don’t think so! He was a bit crumby -that night, but he soon gets over it.”</p> - -<p>“I hope so. I like Bert. I suppose I’ll have -to make up my mind to getting a few of the fellows -down on me before the year’s over. Bound -to, I guess. It’s hard to make them realize that -it’s my duty to report things. They don’t think -anything about it if it’s one of the masters, but -they resent it if it’s a proctor. How do you like<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_122"></a>[122]</span> -the school, Ordway? I suppose it’s different from -your schools in England.”</p> - -<p>“I fancy so. I never went to an English school, -though; never went to any school before I came -here. Of course I’ve heard lots about the English -schools; I know quite a few chaps at Rugby -and Charterhouse and Winchester; and I rather -fancy we’re a bit different here. But I like it -very much. Fact is, Cathcart, I was in a regular -blue funk about coming here. I rather thought -the chaps would rag me a lot, you know, but they -haven’t. Nick Blake does, but I don’t mind Nick -a bit. Of course, I am different, I fancy; rather -stupid about a lot of things; and I’m only just -beginning to understand that you chaps don’t -mean more than about half you say. It puzzled -me a lot at first, you know. You have a way -of poking fun at things, if you know what I mean, -that sounds odd until you understand that it <em>is</em> -fun. I didn’t; not at first. I’m learning, though.”</p> - -<p>“I suppose we are different,” acknowledged -Cathcart, “in some ways. Sometimes I think we -don’t take things seriously enough, Ordway, we -fellows here at Grafton. Not that Grafton is -much different from other preparatory schools, -though.”</p> - -<p>“That’s what I like,” said Hugh eagerly. “I -think your way of not taking things seriously is<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_123"></a>[123]</span> -awfully jolly. It isn’t that you really don’t—don’t -<em>know</em> that they’re serious—when they are—but -you simply don’t take them so. As I say, -I’ve never been to an English school, but I’m sure -you fellows over here get a lot more fun than -we do on the other side. Just at first some of the -fun seemed to me to be rather—I say, I hope -you won’t mind it, old chap, but it seemed a bit -silly, if you know what I mean.”</p> - -<p>“I think a lot of our fun is,” replied Cathcart, -“but it’s generally fairly harmless. Of course, -the other night was different, but that was exceptional -here. We aren’t in the habit of blacking -each other’s eyes, you see.”</p> - -<p>“But I liked that! That was—was so jolly -spontaneous, eh? Some of the fun seems a bit—well, -a bit studied, but that wasn’t. A lot of -chaps have been awfully apologetic about that -affair, and I don’t see why. On the other -side we’d have thought nothing about it, and the -masters wouldn’t have noticed it, I fancy. But -we’re a bit more used to using our fists than you -chaps, I think. I say, though, here I am talking -like ‘a bloomin’ Britisher,’ as Nick says, -when I’m really just as much American as I am -English.”</p> - -<p>“Are you really? That explains it, then. -There’s something about you that doesn’t seem<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_124"></a>[124]</span> -entirely English, Ordway. You don’t <em>look</em> terribly -English, for one thing.”</p> - -<p>“My mother is American,” said Hugh. “Her -family has lived in Maryland ever since the place -was settled, I fancy. I’ve been over here off -and on, you know, ever since I was a kid. It’s -queer, Cathcart, but sometimes I feel as if I was -all American and sometimes as if I was all English! -Queer game, eh?”</p> - -<p>“Jekyll and Hyde idea?” asked the other, with -a smile. “But don’t ask me which is Jekyll!”</p> - -<p>“I won’t,” laughed Hugh. “Don’t want to -embarrass you. What’s that stuff you’re digging -at?”</p> - -<p>“Benson’s ‘Medieval History,’” replied Cathcart. -“It’s very interesting.”</p> - -<p>“But, I say, we don’t have that, do we?”</p> - -<p>“No, I’m just taking it up as a reading course. -I have a good deal of spare time this term and -next, you see.”</p> - -<p>“Fancy that! I dare say you’re a regular shark -at study, eh? Honor Man and all that?”</p> - -<p>“Well, yes, I was Honor Man three terms -last year and two the year before and one in my -junior year. It isn’t hard, you know.”</p> - -<p>“Do you go in for games at all? Tennis or -golf or anything?”</p> - -<p>“N-no, not now. I play tennis a little, but I<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_125"></a>[125]</span> -haven’t done much at it since spring. There -doesn’t seem to be much time.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, but look here, old chap, tennis would do -you a jolly sight more good than Whatshisname’s -‘Medieval History’!”</p> - -<p>“I don’t feel the need of it, Ordway. You see -I have gym work during the fall and winter terms -and then in spring I go in for tennis a couple -of times a week.”</p> - -<p>“You need more than that. Look here, I’m -out of football for a couple of weeks anyhow, -Cathcart. What do you say we have a try at -tennis some day? What hours do you have in -the mornings?”</p> - -<p>“I’m pretty full every morning but Thursday -and Saturday,” replied the other doubtfully. “I -wouldn’t be much of a fellow for you to play -with, Ordway. I’m terribly stale. Fact is, I only -do it in spring because I have to.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I’m no marvel, old chap! Anyway, that -doesn’t matter, does it? We can have some sport. -What time Thursday, now?”</p> - -<p>Cathcart laughed. “Well, eleven to twelve, if -you really want me to play.”</p> - -<p>“Eleven to twelve is all right for me. Don’t -forget. Got a good racket?”</p> - -<p>“Why, come to think of it, I don’t believe I -know where it is. Seems to me someone borrowed<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_126"></a>[126]</span> -it last term. I’ll have a look for it, -though.”</p> - -<p>“Don’t bother too much about it. I’ve got one -you may use and welcome. I say, I hope you -don’t think me awfully cheeky to come in and -take up your time, eh?”</p> - -<p>“I don’t, indeed, Ordway! I think it mighty -nice of you. I was rather afraid you held it -in for me, you see.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, rot! As though I would! Thursday at -eleven, then? I’ll stop here for you, eh?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, do, for I might forget it. Thursday’s -a good way off, though, and if you find time you -might drop in again. It’s good to talk with a -fellow who doesn’t spout football every minute!”</p> - -<p>“Right-o! And come across to 29, Cathcart, -will you? There are heaps of things I’d like to -talk about.”</p> - -<p>Hugh usually had his last recitation at one, -and that left him a long afternoon to get through -with. One could always study, but when the -weather was fair, and it held fair that autumn -well into November, staying indoors was not what -he wanted. He had one or two set-to’s at tennis -with various acquaintances but by three o’clock -he was always on hand at the first team gridiron, -following the play and trying his best to profit by<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_127"></a>[127]</span> -what he saw. There was no cheering news from -Hanrihan, however, that week, nor had Hugh -taken Guy’s advice and spoken to Ted Trafford -about his reinstatement. He didn’t feel up to doing -that, but would have been highly pleased had -Bert or Nick done it for him. Neither did, -though, so far as he learned. They seemed to -accept his termination with football as final for -that fall. The only incidents of importance that -week were the tennis with Wallace Cathcart on -Thursday and the football game with St. James’ -Academy on Saturday.</p> - -<p>The tennis was something of a surprise to -Hugh. He secretly thought rather well of himself -as a player, although he never boasted, and -had expected to have the rather awkward appearing -Cathcart at his mercy. But things turned -out differently and Hugh had to work hard for -the two sets they played. In spite of the fact -that his opponent didn’t take the game seriously -and had not, according to his statement, played -since the preceding spring, he was able to give -Hugh a hard tussle. Cathcart had a bewildering -serve when, towards the middle of the first -set, he began to get command of it, and he possessed -a remarkably clever way of getting about -the court. Weak on backhand strokes, he wisely -avoided them whenever possible and spun the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_128"></a>[128]</span> -ball across low and hard from the face of his -racket in a way that made Hugh admire and marvel.</p> - -<p>When, at the end of the first set, won by Hugh, -6–4, they rested a minute, Hugh took Cathcart -to task. “I say, old chap, it’s a crying shame for -you not to play more. Why, you’re a natural -tennis player, ’pon my word you are! Look here, -why don’t you, eh?”</p> - -<p>“I don’t know.” Cathcart, breathing hard -from his exertions, thought a moment. “I really -believe I could play fairly decently if I put my -mind on it and practiced. And it is good fun. -I’d forgotten what fun it was, Ordway. Do you -think you could show me how to get those backhand -returns? Or wouldn’t you care to?”</p> - -<p>“Glad to! The trouble is you funk ’em, you -know.”</p> - -<p>“I’m afraid of them. If I can’t get into position -to take them on the right I let them go. -I’m awfully weak on backhand work.”</p> - -<p>“Practice is all you need, then. That’s a perfectly -spif—a perfectly corking serve of yours! -I have to take it almost at the backline, do you -know? Shall we go on?”</p> - -<p>In the second set Cathcart won the second and -fourth on his service and then, losing the sixth -to Hugh, took advantage of the latter’s momentary<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_129"></a>[129]</span> -let-down and made the set four-all. After -that, though, he tired and Hugh had no difficulty -in winning the ninth and tenth games and capturing -the set by the previous score.</p> - -<p>Cathcart agreed to play again Saturday morning, -but begged off the next day, having discovered -some work he ought to do. Hugh took Ned -Stiles on instead, but had poor sport.</p> - -<p>The St. James game in the afternoon was a -rattling good one. For the first time that season -Coach Bonner put his full strength into the -field at the start. Dresser was at left end, Franklin -at left tackle, Kinley at left guard, Musgrave -at center, Driver at right guard, Trafford at right -tackle, Tray at right end, Blake at quarter, Winslow -at left half, Vail at right half, and Keyes at -full. St. James was a heavy team, averaging -a year more in age, perhaps, and surely ten pounds -more in weight, and played close-formation football -in a very clever manner. Grafton’s game -this year, so far as one could determine at this -stage, was to be a combination of wide-open and -old-style football. She had an experienced trio -in Musgrave, Driver and Trafford, a fair guard -in Kinley and a good tackle in Franklin. Roy -Dresser, at left end, was almost certain of his -position, but Tray, on the other wing, was less -satisfactory. In the back-field, Blake and Winslow<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_130"></a>[130]</span> -had seen two years of service on the first and -second teams, Vail was a newcomer in football, -although a senior, and Keyes had made the team -at the end of the preceding season. The back-field -was rather lighter than Mr. Bonner could -have wished for, but it was fast and “scrappy.” -So far it gave promise of being a good defensive -eleven, with its offensive abilities still to be proved.</p> - -<p>Today’s game showed up many weak points, -for St. James was a hard enough proposition -to cause Grafton to make use of everything she -knew. It was St. James who scored first, shortly -after the kick-off, when Nick misjudged a punt -in front of his goal and a brown-stockinged player -fell on the pigskin near the twenty-yard line. -Grafton gave back slowly, but the visitors made it -first down on the nine yards. Then two tries -failed to gain more than as many feet and the -St. James full-back booted the ball over very -prettily.</p> - -<p>Grafton came back hard and forced the playing -for the remainder of the period but was unable -to get a score. In the second quarter, Nick -began a march from the middle of the field to the -Brown’s goal that would not be denied and Keyes -was eventually pushed over for a touchdown. -Keyes failed at the goal. St. James gained on -rushes against Kinley when she got the ball back,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_131"></a>[131]</span> -but the half ended with the score 6 to 3 in the -home team’s favor.</p> - -<p>When the third period opened Trafford kicked -off and St. James again started her smashing at -tackle and guard on the left, but the gains grew -shorter there and she switched to the other wing -and finally got her left half around Tray for a -twenty-yard sprint that laid the pigskin in dangerous -proximity to the Scarlet-and-Gray goal. -Some hard fighting followed, with St. James digging -her cleats valiantly and smashing at everything -in sight. Hugh got very excited at this -period of the contest and squirmed about on his -seat in a most un-English manner. Grafton took -the ball away on her twelve yards and the stands -cheered with joy and relief.</p> - -<p>But the joy was short-lived, for Keyes punted -miserably from behind his goal line and the ball -was St. James’ again near the twenty-yards. She -got five on the very first play between Kinley and -Franklin and followed it with three more off -Franklin. The latter was hurt in the play and -Parker took his place. St. James lost slightly on -a run around end, but gained her distance on the -next down when a fake kick developed into a -line-plunge through center.</p> - -<p>Grafton, flocking along the edge of the field, -implored her warriors to “Hold ’em!” But with<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_132"></a>[132]</span> -less than ten yards to go and four downs at her -command the prospect looked extremely good for -the visitor. A plunge at Kinley was stopped for -no gain. Then a complicated crisscross play -sent a half-back past Captain Trafford for three -yards, Tray being boxed to the king’s taste. -Grafton began to breathe easier then, but the -third down added two yards more when the St. -James full-back tore through Kinley. That -brought the ball to the five-yard line, and the -Brown team arranged itself for a try at goal. -Ted Trafford diagnosed the play as a fake and -Nick hustled his back-field close in. When the -ball went back it was caught by a half who faked -an end run and then, when the left wing of the -Grafton line had been drawn in, threw across to -his right end. That youth had only to drop -across the line to score the touchdown. In fact -drop was all he could do, for Bert tackled him -the moment the ball settled into his hands. The -punt-out landed the pigskin directly in front of -the crossbar and St. James added another point, -bringing her total to 10. The whistle sounded a -moment later.</p> - -<p>Grafton had now to score at least five points -to win. A field goal and a safety would do it, or -two field goals or a touchdown, but with only ten -minutes left none of those seemed very likely.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_133"></a>[133]</span> -When, however, Nick had sent Vail around the -enemy’s right flank for some eighteen yards and -followed it by breaking through the Brown’s center -himself for six more, putting the ball on the -St. James’ thirty-two yards just three minutes -after the last period had begun, the Grafton supporters -became more hopeful. Keyes smashed -into the line twice for a total of five, and it was -first down on the enemy’s twenty-seven yards. -Then, when the Scarlet-and-Gray scented a touchdown -or, at the least, a field-goal, Vail fumbled -a pass and a St. James forward squirmed through -and snuggled the pigskin beneath him.</p> - -<p>St. James kicked on second down and Bert -caught on his own forty-three yards and ran back -five. Grafton opened her line wide and passed -obliquely to Vail and the right half dodged past -two white marks before he was stopped. Delayed -passes brought short gains and the pigskin was -on the Brown’s forty. Keyes got two off left -tackle, Bert failed to gain at the center and Keyes -punted to St. James’ five-yard line. Tray stopped -the quarter for little gain and St. James kicked -from behind her goal after one weak attempt at -rushing. Nick caught near the sideline at about -the thirty-two yards and started a run that -wrought Grafton to a condition of frenzied excitement. -He passed four of the enemy, running<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_134"></a>[134]</span> -straight along the white boundary, dodged a -half-back near the fifteen yards and was only -stopped when the St. James quarter forced him -out at the eight yards.</p> - -<p>Grafton cheered exultantly and shouted -“Touchdown! Touchdown!” and Coach Bonner, -thus far chary of substitutes, sped four into the -line-up. Yetter went in for Kinley, Weston for -Nick Blake, Milford for Tray, and Zanetti for -Vail. It was Zanetti who made the first try -and gained two yards on a wide end run. That -brought the ball directly in front of goal. From -a kick formation Bert plunged at left guard and -when the resulting confusion of bodies had been -untangled the pigskin lay almost on the three -yards. With the crowd yelling like mad, Keyes -again went back and held out his hands, Nick -called his signals and Roy Dresser, on an end-around -play, carried the ball across the line almost -unmolested, the fake attack on the center -fooling the defenders completely!</p> - -<p>Just to prove that he could kick a goal, even -if he had failed in his previous attempt, Keyes put -it over from a wide angle, and Grafton’s score -was 13. The period came to an end a minute or -so later, the final score, 13 to 10, and St. James -cheered a bit disgruntledly and Grafton quite contentedly.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_135"></a>[135]</span></p> - -<p>Hugh, having passed through a succession of -thrills that had left him rather limp, loitered back -to the tennis courts and, finding a seat on a stone -roller, watched a game of doubles without seeing -much of it. The contest he had just witnessed -had settled his conviction that he wouldn’t be at -all happy unless he was allowed to return to the -football field and try for a place on the scrubs. -Just now he felt quite certain that, given the opportunity, -he could prove his right to a position -there, and, while the white balls darted to and -fro across the nets unseen by him and the voices -of the players fell on deaf ears, he drew beautiful -mental pictures in all of which he, Hugh Oswald -Brodwick Ordway, clad in canvas and -leather, stood out very prominently.</p> - -<p>After a while he discovered that the courts -were almost deserted and that he was shivering, -and so, plunging hands in pockets in Grafton fashion, -he tramped thoughtfully back to Lothrop.</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_136"></a>[136]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII<br /> -<small>TWO IN A CANOE</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p class="cap">“What do you think about when you are -running with the ball as you were yesterday?” -asked Hugh.</p> - -<p>“Think about?” repeated Nick. “Why, I -don’t know. Nothing, I guess. There isn’t time. -You just—just run like the dickens and watch for -the opponents and get ready to straight-arm them -or side-step them or something, you know, and -keep on going until they nab you. Then you -hold on to the ball hard and try to drop easy and -get your head out of the way. I suppose you -really do do a whole lot of thinking, ’Ighness, but -it’s sort of like a dream. That is, you can’t remember -afterwards. I’ve heard fellows who -have made long runs, maybe the length of the -field, or pretty near, tell afterwards just what -they thought and planned, but I don’t believe -them. They made that up afterwards. You -don’t do much planning. You couldn’t, anyway. -You get the ball and look for a place to turn in. -Then a fellow smashes at you and you dodge<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_137"></a>[137]</span> -him if you can or you put your hand out and let -him have it hard. And then two or three others -are coming at you and you swing in, maybe, or -you swing out, and you get by them somehow—you -never know quite how—and you beat it as -hard as you can for the goal line. And about -that time the quarter or a half makes for you and -you try to get past him, and you do or you don’t. -Mostly you don’t!”</p> - -<p>“It must be jolly exciting,” mused Hugh. “I -thought they had you two or three times yesterday -before they had.”</p> - -<p>“So did I. I missed my guess with that quarter -of theirs. I thought that if I kept near the -side line he would think I meant to turn in and -then I’d keep on straight. But he didn’t fall for -it.”</p> - -<p>“Why, then you did think, after all, didn’t -you?”</p> - -<p>Nick looked puzzled. “I guess I must have,” -he acknowledged. “I guess you’d call it unconscious -cerebration. Here we are!”</p> - -<p>It was afternoon of Sunday, the day succeeding -the St. James game, and Nick and Hugh -were going canoeing. A backwater of the river -formed a little cove in the southwest corner of -the playing field and save when the water was -very high there was a slope of coarse sand and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_138"></a>[138]</span> -gravel there which was facetiously called the -Beach, just as the cove was known as the Pool. -It provided a fairly good place for swimming, -since the water was not deep, although the mud -was somewhat of a drawback; and it made a convenient -haven for canoes. They were drawn up -on the grass under the well-nigh leafless branches -of a grove of maple and ash trees, a flotilla of -some twenty brightly hued craft. Nick’s canoe, -which he owned in partnership with Bert, was -easily located, for it was the only white one in -the lot. It had a neat stripe of gold along its -side and the name in gilt letters at the bow: -<i>Omeomi</i>. Hugh had been fooled by that name, -to Nick’s delight, pronouncing it Om-e-om-e, believing -the statement that it was an Indian word. -Nick, however, pronounced it “O me! O my!”</p> - -<p>Hugh took a paddle and seated himself in the -bow and Nick pushed off and guided the gleaming -craft out of the cove and around a point of -alders to the river. There he headed up stream, -against a barely perceptible current.</p> - -<p>“Now dig if you like,” he called, and Hugh -dipped his paddle very awkwardly and tried his -best to perform as he had seen Nick and others -perform. But this was his first attempt and he -wasn’t very successful. Nick let him toil for -several minutes. Then:</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_139"></a>[139]</span></p> - -<p>“’Ighness,” he said, “if you want to learn to -paddle you’ll have to start right. Put your left -hand further down and—— Hold on! Don’t -lean over like that or we’ll have to walk home! -Put your hand just above the end of the blade. -That’s it. Now, instead of reaching out close -to the bow, start your stroke farther off and sort -of pull it in. If you don’t you’re pushing the bow -to the right every stroke, don’t you see? Personally, -I don’t mind, but the next chap might not -like to have to keep straightening out every time. -That’s better, but your stroke’s too long, ’Ighness. -Shorten it up. Shorter still. That’s more like -it. Don’t try to push when the blade’s behind -you, because it doesn’t do any good. It rather -slows the canoe up, in fact. Forces the stern -down and makes it drag more water. Get your -drive at the beginning of the stroke, then let up -as the paddle passes you and finish the stroke -quickly. Try it.”</p> - -<p>Hugh tried it, at first with amusing results, -and Nick had to dig hard at times to keep the -craft in its course. But after a while the bow -paddler became more adept. Then Nick tried -to teach him to turn his blade as it left the water, -but that trick was for the present beyond the novice. -Once Hugh lost his paddle entirely and -they had to float downstream after it. They went<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_140"></a>[140]</span> -some two miles in the direction of Needham -Falls, by which time the neighboring town was in -sight across the fields, and then pulled the nose -of the canoe up on the bank and rested. The afternoon -was still and the October sunlight warm, -and Hugh, for one, was ready for the respite. -They laid themselves full length on a bed of yellowing -marsh grass, pillowing their heads in -their clasped hands, and pulled their caps over -their eyes.</p> - -<p>“Paddling a canoe’s harder work than I fancied,” -mused Hugh, conscious of lame muscles.</p> - -<p>“You’ll soon get onto it. The next time you’d -better try the stern.”</p> - -<p>“I suppose that’s more difficult.”</p> - -<p>“A little. You’ve got to steer, too, you see. -But it isn’t hard once you’ve got the hang of it. -Funny you’ve never done any canoeing.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, I dare say. I’ve punted a bit, and I’ve -rowed some, but you don’t find many canoes on -the other side except on the Thames. And -mother was always rather shy about letting me -go on the water.”</p> - -<p>“It must be dandy on that Thames of yours,” -said Nick. “I’ve read about the races, you know, -and all that; houseboats lined up along the shore -and Johnnies in flannels paddling about and colored -lanterns and so on. Must be great!”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_141"></a>[141]</span></p> - -<p>“I dare say. I never saw but one boat race. -That was the time you—we—the American crew -beat us—them.”</p> - -<p>“You’re getting mixed, ’Ighness!” laughed -Nick. “You don’t know whether you’re United -States or English.”</p> - -<p>“It’s a bit confusing,” agreed Hugh. “Of -course, I really am English, because my father is -English and I was born over there. But sometimes -it seems awfully much as though I weren’t, -you know! Since I’ve been here I feel as if I -really belonged, if you know——”</p> - -<p>“If I know what you mean; I do, old man. -Just the same, Hugh, you’d be in an awful mess -if we ever went to war with England, wouldn’t -you? What would you do then?”</p> - -<p>Hugh shook his head soberly. “I don’t know, -really. I fancy, though, I’d stick with dad. I -couldn’t do anything else, could I?”</p> - -<p>“I don’t see how you could. Wouldn’t it be -touching when you and I met on the trampled field -of battle? ‘Why, hello, ’Ighness!’ I’d say. -‘How’s the boy? Take that!’ And I’d biff you -one on the side of the head. And you’d say, -smiling pleasantly: ‘Well, well, if it isn’t me old -friend Nick! I’m chawmed to meet you, Nick. -Pardon me, but I’ve got to hand you this!’ And -then you’d stick a bayonet into my ribs. Or, no,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_142"></a>[142]</span> -you wouldn’t, either, because you’d be an officer, -I guess; maybe Field Marshal Ordway; and so -you’d let me have it with a sword! And then -you’d get the Victoria Cross for bravery.”</p> - -<p>“Maybe you’d be an officer, too,” Hugh suggested, -smiling.</p> - -<p>“Oh, I should! I’d be General Blake, Commander -of the United States Expeditionary -Forces; and so, instead of beating you over the -bean with the butt end of my rusty trifle—er, -trusty rifle, I’d slash off your head with my bejeweled -sword. There’d be some style to that, -eh?”</p> - -<p>“Don’t see what good the V. C. would do me -under the circumstances,” objected Hugh. “I’m -not keen for that programme, Nick. I say, isn’t it -getting late? Hadn’t we better nip it?”</p> - -<p>“Almost half-past four, by ginger! Never -mind, we’ve got the current with us going back, -and you can rest up. How are the shoulders and -sturdy biceps, Duke?”</p> - -<p>“Rather lame, thanks.”</p> - -<p>“Don’t mention it. Chawmed, I’m sure. Tumble -in and I’ll shove her off.”</p> - -<p>The next day the second team became an official -fact. Mr. Crowley, the assistant athletic -director, took charge of the coaching and the -squad of nineteen started in at training table in<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_143"></a>[143]</span> -Manning that noon. Ben Myatt was chosen captain. -As usual, Hugh went over to the field after -school in the afternoon and looked on. He had -secretly hoped to make an end position on the -second, but there were Bellows and Forbes in the -coveted places, and no word had come from -Hanrihan. He began to believe, with Bert, that -his chances for this year were at an end.</p> - -<p>The first was going through signal drill, Nick -driving one squad and Weston the other. Behind -each line-up a few sweatered substitutes followed. -Neil Ayer was at quarter for the second, further -down the field, and Mr. Crowley, familiarly -known as “Dinny,” with a half-dozen unplaced -candidates, looked on. There was just a suspicion -of frost in the air today, and the fact told -on the players. There was more vim in their -movements as, in response to the voices of the -quarter-backs, they trotted up and down with the -balls. Coach Bonner and Jim Quinn, the manager, -were conversing in front of the bench, and -Davy Richards, the trainer, was mending a head-guard -discarded by one of the players a few minutes -before. Hugh wondered what Mr. Bonner -would say if he broached the subject of reinstatement. -At the worst he could only scowl and say -no. And he might say yes! But—well, Coach -Bonner wasn’t the sort of man one felt like making<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_144"></a>[144]</span> -suggestions to! Besides, Hanrihan had told -Hugh to wait.</p> - -<p>There were few onlookers about the first team -gridiron today, for the upper and lower middlers -were playing the first of the class games on the -further field and the crowd was over there. -Hugh was debating whether to follow or to remain -here in the hope of getting some word from -Hanrihan when that youth came to the bench. In -front of him the second team squad, players and -followers, came to a breathless pause after a forward -pass and Mr. Crowley, short, square, red-faced, -criticized gruffly. At that moment Hugh -became conscious of someone at his shoulder and -heard Mr. Smiley’s deep and pleasant voice.</p> - -<p>“What do you think of them, Ordway?” asked -the Latin instructor.</p> - -<p>“Smiles” was a fine, upstanding man well under -forty, clean-shaven, tanned, gray-eyed. Although -he lived in the master’s suite on the third floor of -Lothrop, Hugh had never had more than a nod -or a “Good morning” from him and was rather -surprised that Smiles knew his name.</p> - -<p>“They look rather fit, sir,” replied the boy.</p> - -<p>“Yes. I hope Mr. Crowley will turn us out a -good second. A lot depends on the scrubs. I -understand they’ve chosen Myatt for captain. A -fine fellow and a good player. Too bad he’s<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_145"></a>[145]</span> -never made the varsity team. When he was a -lower middler we all looked to see him captain -this year. He lacks something, though.”</p> - -<p>“I heard a fellow say Myatt was too good-natured, -sir.”</p> - -<p>“I wonder! Meaning easy-going, I suppose. -Perhaps. Well, he may be able to do more for -us where he is than if he were on the first. Ah, -we’re to have a scrimmage I see. I suppose you -don’t play our kind of football, Ordway.”</p> - -<p>“I was trying, sir. I went out for the team, -but——”</p> - -<p>“Couldn’t quite get the hang of it?”</p> - -<p>“I had to stop, sir. I’m on probation.”</p> - -<p>“To be sure. I remember now. Too bad. -Well, you’ll have your class team to try for when -you get squared again.”</p> - -<p>“Y-yes, sir,” agreed Hugh dubiously, “but—but -I was hoping to get back with the second. -Hanrihan said he thought I might. Do you—do -you think so, sir?”</p> - -<p>“Hm. I’m afraid the second will be rather far -along then. When do you expect to get off?”</p> - -<p>“This week, sir, I hope.”</p> - -<p>“Well, in that case—have you spoken to Mr. -Crowley?”</p> - -<p>“No, sir, I didn’t quite like to, if you know -what I mean.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_146"></a>[146]</span></p> - -<p>The master smiled. “I think I do, Ordway. -But I don’t see how you expect to get back unless -you ask.”</p> - -<p>“Hanrihan told me he would try to—to arrange -it.”</p> - -<p>“But Tom Hanrihan hasn’t anything to do -with the second team, I’m afraid, Ordway.”</p> - -<p>“I fancy not, sir. I thought perhaps I’d speak -to Mr. Bonner.”</p> - -<p>“Mr. Bonner has no more to do with it than -Hanrihan. See Mr. Crowley. He will hear -what you have to say. You know him, I suppose.”</p> - -<p>Hugh shook his head. “No, sir, I don’t.”</p> - -<p>“Well, wait until he comes off and we’ll speak -to him. He’s coming now, I think. We’ll take -the bull by the horns.” Mr. Smiley chuckled, and -Hugh had to smile, too, for the simile was unflatteringly -apt. Mr. Crowley did remind one remarkably -of a bull! “‘<i lang="la" xml:lang="la">Audentes fortuna iuvat</i>,’ -Ordway, if you haven’t forgotten your Latin.”</p> - -<p>Hugh followed the master to where the second -team coach was approaching the bench in company -with Ben Myatt. Hugh lagged a little, for, -while it might be true that fortune favored the -brave, it was equally true that Mr. Crowley -didn’t know him from Adam and might think him -decidedly fresh. There was a word or two of<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_147"></a>[147]</span> -greeting between the men, during which Myatt -slipped away, and then Mr. Smiley turned to -Hugh.</p> - -<p>“This is Ordway, Mr. Crowley. He’s looking -for a job and thinks you may have an opening for -a bright young man.”</p> - -<p>“Looking for a job?” said the coach, shaking -hands. “What sort of a job, my boy?”</p> - -<p>Hugh reddened. “I’d like to get back on the -second, sir,” he explained embarrassedly. “You -see, I was getting on fairly well until I went on -probation, and——”</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes, Hanrihan mentioned you, I think. -Ordway, is it?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir. I thought maybe you might let me -have another try, Mr. Crowley, if you know -what——”</p> - -<p>“Are you square with the office now?” demanded -the other.</p> - -<p>“Not today, sir, but I shall be by Friday, I -fancy.”</p> - -<p>“Then you come and see me Friday, Ordway.”</p> - -<p>“Thank you.”</p> - -<p>“But don’t come unless you can play. And if -you do come”—and here Mr. Crowley scowled -fearsomely—“see that you stay. We haven’t any -room for cut-ups on the team, Ordway. You -won’t be of any use to me unless you can stay<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_148"></a>[148]</span> -straight with the faculty.” Mr. Crowley dismissed -Hugh and his affairs with a nod and -turned back to Mr. Smiley. Hugh dropped out -of hearing and presently the master rejoined him.</p> - -<p>“Are you going to watch the scrimmage?” -asked the latter. “If so, suppose we sit down -over there. Your friend at court seems to have -provided for you, after all. I’m glad you’re to -get back.”</p> - -<p>“Thank you, sir. It was good of you to—to——”</p> - -<p>“Not at all, Ordway, but I shall expect you to -make the most of your chance and become a distinguished -member of the team.” The master -smiled. “When you slam the ball across the line -I shall proudly recall the slight assistance I rendered -and partake of the credit. Now then, first -kicks off to the second. ‘The trumpet hoarse -rings out the bloody signal for the war!’ Well -kicked, Trafford!”</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_149"></a>[149]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII<br /> -<small>BACK TO THE FOLD</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p class="cap">Bert was as surprised as he was delighted -when Hugh informed him after practice -that Mr. Crowley had virtually promised -him a place with the second team. At first Bert -insisted that his chum had misunderstood, but, -on having the conversation repeated, acknowledged -that Hugh had good grounds for encouragement. -“I never heard of its being done before, -Hugh,” he said. “Tom Hanrihan must -have a drag with Dinny, and no mistake. You’ll -have to work like the dickens to stay on. Think -you can do it?”</p> - -<p>“I fancy I can do as well as some of those -chaps there now,” answered Hugh placidly.</p> - -<p>“Bellows isn’t bad at end, I guess,” mused -Bert, “but Forbes oughtn’t to be hard to beat. -You’re trying for end, aren’t you?”</p> - -<p>“I wanted to play end, but I wasn’t there long -enough to get placed more than once or twice. -End’s about all I can play, I fancy. I’m not -heavy enough for tackle or guard or back.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_150"></a>[150]</span></p> - -<p>“You’d make a good quarter if you had more -experience,” said Bert thoughtfully. “And they -might use you for a running back. You’re quick, -I guess.”</p> - -<p>“I’d be laid flat if I ran into Ted Trafford or -Pop, though,” laughed Hugh. “Pop could take -me up and throw me clear over the goal. I fancy -end is my place, if I can get it.”</p> - -<p>Nick was equally pleased and, like Bert, -seemed to think that fortune had been unusually -kind to Hugh. “But you’re a lucky guy, anyway, -Duke. Some fellows are born to good fortune, I -guess, and you’re one of them. That was nice of -Smiles, though, wasn’t it? Don’t you like him, -Hugh?”</p> - -<p>“Very much. We had a topping time. And, -I say, you chaps, he knows an awful lot of football!”</p> - -<p>Bert and Nick laughed. “Why shouldn’t he?” -asked Bert. “He played it for three or four -years and came near making the all-America -team, didn’t he, Nick?”</p> - -<p>“So they say. Anyway, I’ll bet he was a dandy -guard. When he first came here he used to help -with the coaching. That was before Dinny -came.”</p> - -<p>“And after. Dinny didn’t coach the elevens -until the first fall we were here.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_151"></a>[151]</span></p> - -<p>“I didn’t know that. I thought Dinny was -always a football coach.”</p> - -<p>“No, they got him because Pete had too much -to do. Dinny was supposed to give all his time -to the track team and nine. Then they got Davy -to look after the track fellows and so Dinny took -hold of the second team.”</p> - -<p>“I should think that Mr. Smiley would be a -ripping football coach,” said Hugh.</p> - -<p>“Yes,” agreed Nick. “He took hold of the -upper middlers two years ago and they ran away -with everything and even held the first team to -no score once. Remember, Bert?”</p> - -<p>“That was three years ago, though, because I -was a junior then. That was some team, Nick, -wasn’t it?”</p> - -<p>“Yes. Remember how it beat Grammar -School thirty-four to nothing, or something like -that? And Grammar School made a big howl -about it and wrote to the paper that we’d played -a lot of first team fellows against them.”</p> - -<p>“Has Mr. Smiley anything to do with athletics -here?” asked Hugh. “He said something -that——”</p> - -<p>“Chairman of the Faculty Athletic Committee,” -replied Nick. “He and Gring and Pete -Sargent are the committee. You must have made -a hit with him or he wouldn’t have gone to Dinny<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_152"></a>[152]</span> -with you. I like Smiles. Wish I was still taking -Latin.”</p> - -<p>“I dare say it wouldn’t do you any harm,” said -Bert unkindly.</p> - -<p>“Nor much good. All a fellow needs is -enough to pass his college exams. After that he -forgets it as fast as he knows how. Well, meanwhile -there’s a bunch of German waiting for me -downstairs. You’re a lucky dog not to have the -stuff, Bert.”</p> - -<p>“I get it next year. What are you reading?”</p> - -<p>“‘Das Edel Blüt.’ It’s tough, if you ask me. -When there was a perfectly good, gentlemanly -language like Latin, why did someone have to -go and invent German? Well, I’m off.”</p> - -<p>Hugh was summoned to the office Thursday -and listened to a brief homily by Mr. Rumford. -When he emerged he was once more in good -standing. Since, however, it was by that time -almost five o’clock, it was too late to report to -Mr. Crowley that day, and Hugh dropped in on -Wallace Cathcart and spent the rest of the time -until supper arguing whether a college education -was essential to success in life. While Hugh -could beat his host at tennis, and had done it -twice since their first meeting, he was no match -for him in the present controversy, and Cathcart<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_153"></a>[153]</span> -won the debate easily, proving conclusively that -a high school education was all that was required -by the average person. And this in the face of -the fact that Cathcart had his plans all laid for -a full college course and two years of graduate -study!</p> - -<p>Hugh reported to Mr. Crowley the next afternoon -dressed for play. The second team coach -viewed him with an unflattering lack of enthusiasm. -“Are you square with the office?” he asked. -Hugh assured him that he was. Mr. Crowley -glanced doubtfully about the field and then -grunted. “All right. Get in there and catch -some of those punts.” That was all. Evidently, -Hugh reflected, his advent was not a matter of -as much importance to Mr. Crowley as it was to -him.</p> - -<p>His appearance with the squad aroused not a -little surprise among his team-mates. In one or -two cases, he thought, it aroused resentment as -well. He knew few of the fellows save by sight. -Neil Ayer, the first-choice quarter-back, was a -speaking acquaintance, and so, to a lesser extent, -was Hauser, who played left half. But the rest -were practically strangers to him. He was relieved -to find that his enforced idleness had not -cost him what skill he had acquired, and he -couldn’t see but that he caught, threw and handled<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_154"></a>[154]</span> -the pigskin generally as well as half the fellows -in the squad. Mr. Crowley made him -known to Captain Myatt later, and Myatt, who -was a big, likable chap, won Hugh’s instant affection -by being very nice to him. One would have -thought from Myatt’s words that Hugh was -doing him the biggest sort of a favor by joining -the squad. Hugh didn’t get into signal work, for -he didn’t know the code, but he trudged along -behind and listened and watched and picked up a -good deal of useful knowledge that afternoon. -Later, when the second took the field to play two -ten-minute periods with the first, Hugh and three -others were sent off out of the way with a football -and put in the time punting and catching. At -supper time, armed with his napkin-ring and a -bottle of marmalade, his private property, he -joined the training table in Manning.</p> - -<p>There were just twenty youths at the long table -which was set up in a corner of the big dining hall -in the junior dormitory, and Mr. Crowley presided -at the head. Hugh felt a bit strange at -supper that first evening and was conscious of the -puzzled regard of some of his companions. -Doubtless they wondered at his sudden advent -with the team. There was no ill-feeling in evidence, -however, and Hugh got through the meal -without much conversation and felt somewhat relieved<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_155"></a>[155]</span> -when chairs were pushed back. At training -table, in order that no one should hurry -through his meal at the risk of indigestion, it was -a rule that all must remain until the coach gave -the word. Consequently, if one did bolt his food -it profited him nothing since he was obliged to sit -there and watch his neighbors finish, and fellows -who had the “quick lunch” habit soon got over -it. Mr. Crowley made occasional exceptions to -the rule, but one had to put forward a pretty -convincing plea.</p> - -<p>Tonight the team left the table together and -Hugh passed down the corridor in the rear of the -group. When he reached the entrance several of -the second team members had paused just outside -the doorway and Hugh’s passage was blocked. -After pausing an instant for the others to go on -down the steps or move aside, he said: “I beg -your pardon,” and edged through. A short, -broad-bodied youth glanced around and instantly -pulled a companion out of the way.</p> - -<p>“Gangway, Charley!” he exclaimed. “Let the -British Aristocracy pass. My word, we fawncy -ourself a bit, eh, what?”</p> - -<p>Hugh recognized the speaker as Brewster -Longley, the team’s center. He was broad of -shoulder and hip, short-necked and short-limbed, -with a round face surmounted by very black hair<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_156"></a>[156]</span> -which, close-cropped, looked like the bristles -of a blacking brush. He was called “Brew” -Longley and was a very clever center. Hugh’s -brief glance expressed surprise as he passed down -the steps. He had never spoken to Longley and -the latter’s unexpected “ragging” disconcerted -him. As he went off along the path he heard an -amused laugh from the occupants of the steps and -resented it. He had half a mind to turn back. -But the next instant his flash of anger left him -and he mentally shrugged his shoulders and dismissed -the incident.</p> - -<p>Bert was not at home when Hugh reached the -study, but he came in soon after looking cross and -worried. Hugh’s efforts at conversation were not -successful, for Bert answered in monosyllables -and showed an evident disinclination to talk. -Animated by good resolutions regarding study, -for he meant to keep his present class standing if -it was possible and so follow the earnest advice -of Mr. Rumford, Hugh got his books together -and seated himself at his table. But it was hard -to get his mind on lessons when Bert was wandering -aimlessly from bedroom to study and from -study back to bedroom. Finally Hugh ventured -a good-natured protest and to his bewilderment -Bert turned on him angrily.</p> - -<p>“Oh, dry up!” he snarled. “If you don’t like<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_157"></a>[157]</span> -my moving around you take your books in your -room. I’ve got as much right here as you -have.”</p> - -<p>“I didn’t say you hadn’t,” replied Hugh, after -the first moment of astonishment. “What are -you so waxy about? I only asked you not -to——”</p> - -<p>“Well, I’ll walk around here just as much as -I please,” growled the other. “You make me -weary, anyhow, you and your airs! I didn’t ask -to have a blooming Britisher wished on me, if -you care to know it!”</p> - -<p>“And I didn’t ask to be put in with a bear,” -replied Hugh mildly. “What’s wrong with you, -anyhow, old chap? Anything I’ve done?”</p> - -<p>“There isn’t anything wrong,” responded Bert -crossly, “except that a fellow likes a certain -amount of freedom in his own rooms. You seem -to think you own this place!”</p> - -<p>“Piffle! Go ahead and walk if it does you any -good.” Hugh smiled as he turned back to his -book. Probably Bert was looking for grievances, -for that smile instead of bringing peace -produced a fresh outburst.</p> - -<p>“You bet I’ll walk! And let me tell you another -thing, Ordway. I had this room picked -out long before you ever thought of coming here, -and if another chap hadn’t quit school you<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_158"></a>[158]</span> -wouldn’t be here. Anyone would think from the -airs you put on that this dormitory was built -especially for you.”</p> - -<p>“Then let me tell you something, Bert,” said -Hugh, losing patience at last. “My mother -wanted me to take this room by myself and she -engaged it last spring. Later the secretary wrote -that they had had another application for it and -would I mind sharing the suite. And I said I -wouldn’t, although the mater was dead against -it. So if you think I’m here through any kindness -of yours you’re all wrong.”</p> - -<p>Bert stared in surprise. “I don’t believe it,” -he said at last. “They wouldn’t rent this suite -to one fellow. They never do.”</p> - -<p>“They did, however. If you don’t believe me -I can show you the paper. It’s in my dispatch-box -in there. Mind you, I’m not fussing about it, -but I’m hanged if you can tell me I got in here -because you said so!”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I suppose you’re such a swell they let -down the rules for you,” sneered Bert. “I dare -say they thought you were the Prince of Wales, -with your silly valet and your coat-of-arms and -all the rest of the piffle! You make me mighty -tired, if you want to know.”</p> - -<p>“Sorry,” said Hugh shortly. “But I don’t -see what’s going to be done about it. I’m<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_159"></a>[159]</span> -plaguey sure I’m not going to get out of here to -oblige you, old chap.”</p> - -<p>“All right, but as long as you stay you can be -mighty sure that I’m going to do as I please here, -you pig-headed Britisher!”</p> - -<p>“Right-o! And now let’s stop chinning, if you -don’t mind.”</p> - -<p>Bert grumbled a bit and at last, with a good -deal of noisy slamming of books, settled down -to study. They didn’t speak again that evening. -Later Bert took himself off to visit somewhere in -the building and Hugh went to bed with a book. -He didn’t read a great deal, though, for Bert’s -remarks had stung. When you are making a -hard try to be as American and democratic as -you possibly can, it is discouraging to be accused -of putting on side. In Hugh’s case it hurt. Looking -back, he could see now that he had made a -bad beginning by appearing on the scene with -Bowles in attendance, but he had supposed that -Bert and the others had forgotten that incident. -As for the coat-of-arms—what Bert really meant -was crest—that seemed a small matter. It was -on his brushes and silver toilet things, and he -had some writing paper that bore it. But he -never used the paper and he certainly never -paraded the toilet articles. After a while he -got out of bed, pulled his bag from the closet and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_160"></a>[160]</span> -ruthlessly dumped brushes and comb and shoehorn -and buttonhook and three or four other articles -into it and shoved the bag back in the closet. -The next morning he combed his hair with his fingers, -not very successfully, and after English he -hurried off to the village and outfitted anew at -the drug store, becoming the owner of two military -brushes with imitation mahogany backs, a -black rubber comb, a five-cent buttonhook made -of nickel, and a papier-mâché shoehorn. He -didn’t know what more he could do unless he gave -up wearing his watch, which had the crest above -his monogram, or left off a small seal-ring which -offended in the same way.</p> - -<p>Bert had apparently forgotten his ill-humor of -the night before and was the same as usual, except -that he seemed rather quiet and depressed. Hugh, -however, found it hard to forget so readily, for -he was fond of his roommate and the latter’s remarks -still rankled. But Hugh tried to hide the -fact and Bert never suspected it. That afternoon -Hugh believed that he had discovered the reason -for his chum’s ill-humor, for Bert didn’t get into -the scrimmage with the second team until it was -almost over, Zanetti and Siedhof playing at left -half by turns. Hugh was again left out of the -second team line-up, but he was able to follow -the scrimmaging fairly closely from where he and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_161"></a>[161]</span> -three other fellows were punting and catching -beyond the west goal.</p> - -<p>Later he walked back with Pop, and Pop, after -a silence that lasted until they had crossed the -green, asked: “What’s wrong with Bert, Duke? -He’s as grouchy as a bear and is playing like a -silly idiot. Bonner gave him an awful dressing-down -after practice yesterday. And of course -he had to go and lose his temper and sass Bonner -back and there was the dickens to pay for a while. -Bonner made him apologize. I was afraid at first -that Bert wouldn’t do it. Did he tell you about -it?”</p> - -<p>“Not a word. He was beastly ugly last evening, -though. I didn’t know what the dickens was -up. We had a regular row.”</p> - -<p>“He has a rotten temper. Gets over it quick, -though. I thought at one time Bonner was going -to fire him from the squad. He will have to brace -up and get onto himself or he will find that Siedhof -has his place. Bonner isn’t the sort you can -fool with much.”</p> - -<p>“I wish he wouldn’t flare up the way he does,” -said Hugh. “He says perfectly rotten things -when he’s waxy.”</p> - -<p>Pop nodded. “He’s as mean as a little yellow -pup when he gets started. Come on over a while, -Duke, and tell me how you’re getting on. What’s<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_162"></a>[162]</span> -Crowley going to do with you, by the way? The -end positions are settled, aren’t they?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, but Bert thinks I might beat out that -chap Forbes. I dare say I’ll sit on the bench a -good deal, though. What sort of a team has -Rotan College, Pop?”</p> - -<p>“‘Rotten’ College? Oh, good enough to lay -us out, I guess. They’ll win about twelve to nothing. -Still, it’ll be a good game. There’s a big -mucker named Lambert who plays left guard for -them. Lambert and I had quite a merry little -party last year and I’m honest enough to own up -that he got the best of it. I’m looking forward -with much pleasure to meeting him again on Saturday.” -Pop smiled grimly. “If he tries what -he tried last year he won’t play more than a couple -of periods, I guess.”</p> - -<p>“Pop, you must control that horrid temper of -yours,” said Hugh gravely.</p> - -<p>Pop grinned. “I will. I’m not going to start -anything, Duke, but if Lambert gets gay he will -run against something hard this time. Last year -I stood a lot of jolts from him, and Bonner saw -it, and after the game—they beat us seven to -three—he said, ‘If I had caught you slugging -back at that fellow I’d have pulled you out, Pop.’ -‘Sure, I knew that,’ I told him. ‘That’s the only -reason he got away with it.’ So the other day<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_163"></a>[163]</span> -Bonner said, ‘You’ll play against Lambert again -next Saturday.’ And I said, yes, I was expecting -to. And Bonner said, looking away off into the -distance, ‘He used you sort of roughly last year, -didn’t he?’ ‘He sure did,’ said I. ‘Well, we -mustn’t have any rough stuff, Pop, you know. If -I catch you at it you’ll come out.’ ‘All right,’ said -I. ‘Are you likely to be looking?’ ‘Well, I’m -not going to keep my eyes on you all the time,’ he -said, ‘and my sight isn’t what it was when I was -younger, but if the umpire should call my attention -to anything you’d have to come out, Pop. So -if I were you I’d be a bit careful!’ And I’m going -to be.”</p> - -<p>Hugh laughed as Pop pushed him through the -doorway of Number 20. “I’m not going to miss -that game, whatever happens,” he declared. “And -if they send me out to carry you off, Pop, I’ll be -very gentle with you.”</p> - -<p>“Huh!” growled the other. “Carry <em>me</em> off, -eh? If Lambert doesn’t act like a perfect gentleman -he will be smiling in his sleep and listening -to the birdies singing about the middle of the -second quarter!”</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_164"></a>[164]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV<br /> -<small>BERT CONFIDES</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p class="cap">Bert wasn’t very good company that week. -In the evenings he made a great pretence -of studying, but Hugh’s stolen glances -showed that his friend’s thoughts were far from -his books. At times Bert was as gay as you -please, but the gayety didn’t last long and while -it did last struck Hugh as being decidedly forced. -For the most part Bert was silent and morose. -There were no more bickerings, but it was more -to Hugh’s credit than Bert’s, for the latter on -more than one occasion showed himself ready to -quarrel on any provocation. As a result Hugh -was less at home than usual. He spent much time -with Pop Driver and Roy Dresser, over in Trow, -and often dropped down the corridor to hobnob -with Cathcart before bedtime. There was one -good thing about the proctor and that was that -you could always depend on finding him in his -room except when he had a recitation. Now and -then Hugh visited Nick, but Nick, unlike Cathcart, -was almost never in. A couple of evenings<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_165"></a>[165]</span> -Hugh went over to Lit for awhile, but he had -a feeling that it was better taste to remain away -from the society’s room until he was a full-fledged -member. He very much wished that Bert would -confide in him, so that whatever the trouble was -they might talk it over like sensible beings. Somehow, -he didn’t believe that gridiron difficulties -quite explained his friend’s condition of mind. -Instead, he shrewdly suspected that Bert’s poor -performances in practice of late were the result -of some secret worry and not the cause of it. All -that Hugh could be certain of was that studies had -nothing to do with it, for, while Bert was not a -particularly studious fellow, he nevertheless managed -to maintain an average standing and was -seldom in trouble with the office.</p> - -<p>Bert went back to left half on Wednesday and -stayed there until the Rotan game. But even -Hugh could see that he was having a hard time -of it to keep Siedhof out, and there were times -when no one could have criticized Coach Bonner -had he pulled Bert back to the bench. Nick confided -to Hugh one day that Bert was frightfully -off his game, adding regretfully, “It’s got so I -think twice before I give him the ball. And Bonner’s -getting on to me, too. Bert’s got to brace -up Saturday or Billy Siedhof will have his place. -I’d like to know what the dickens is wrong with<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_166"></a>[166]</span> -him! The best thing for him would be to get -Davy to lay him off for three or four days. I -suggested it to him yesterday and he nearly bit -my head off. Ted’s got his eye on him, too, and -Ted’s so set on winning this year that he’d fire -his grandmother if she didn’t play well! Look -here, ’Ighness, why don’t you sort of drop a hint -to Bert, eh? I’ve tried it and only escaped death -by instant flight.”</p> - -<p>“So you want me to die, eh? I’d do it, only—well, -Bert gets mad so easily now that it wouldn’t -be much good.”</p> - -<p>“I guess it wouldn’t. Well, it’s his funeral and -he will have to make his own arrangements. Still, -I hate to see him making such a mess of things -without any reason that anyone can see. What -the dickens <em>is</em> the matter, Duke? Has he hinted -anything to you?”</p> - -<p>“No, he hasn’t. All I know is——” Hugh -hesitated a moment. “I don’t <em>know</em> anything, but -this morning when I got the mail and took it up -there was a letter for Bert from his father—I -know the postmark and the writing, you see—and -one from Needham, and he didn’t like either -of them.”</p> - -<p>“That isn’t much of a clue. He doesn’t like -anything just at present. He doesn’t even like -his fodder; doesn’t eat enough to keep alive. Oh,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_167"></a>[167]</span> -well, it will blow over, I guess. And I’ve got -enough to worry about as it is, with a left side of -the line that’s letting everything pile through it. -Saturday’s game is going to be a slaughter of the -innocents, Duke, you take it from me.”</p> - -<p>Hugh, like Nick, had his own troubles during -the next few days, for Coach Crowley tried him -out at right end on the second, and as an end -Hugh had much to learn. Just why, after the -first ten-minute fiasco, Mr. Crowley sent him back -again Hugh couldn’t understand. Hugh was -boxed time after time, while the first team backs -romped past, allowed himself to be drawn out of -the play by the cunning Dresser until that youth -laughed when he caught Hugh’s anxious regard, -and twice overran the ball on kicks and felt like -forty kinds of a fool. But Crowley yanked him -hither and thither, bellowed things that he -couldn’t more than half understand, threatened -him with the bench regularly every second play—and -kept him at it. Hugh told himself Thursday -afternoon, as he made his way tiredly out of the -field house and back to Lothrop, that he had forever -settled his chances with the second and that -he was not half sorry. But later, when he had -eaten ravenously and rested, he decided that he -was sorry, awfully sorry, and he neglected his next -day’s Greek and mathematics while he frowningly<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_168"></a>[168]</span> -studied a chapter entitled “How to Play the -End Positions” in a book on football. After a -half-hour of it he sighed and closed the volume.</p> - -<p>“The chap who wrote that may know all about -it, but he doesn’t play Dinny’s kind of football,” -he reflected. “What I want is a book that will -tell me how to keep Roy and Franklin from making -me look like a guy! Still, I fancy Crowley -won’t try me there again unless both Forbes and -Bellows and that other chap get killed.”</p> - -<p>But Hugh was wrong. The next day he was -again back at the right end of the line and again -Ayer yelped at him and Coach Crowley bellowed -and Captain Myatt barked. But he did a little -better today, just enough, probably, to keep Mr. -Crowley from having him instantly drawn and -quartered or immersed in boiling oil. Roy Dresser, -who played left end on the first, found it -harder to entice his opponent away from the play, -and Franklin, at left tackle, discovered that he -couldn’t always fool him. Still, Hugh missed an -easy tackle on one occasion and let Nick slip past -for a long gain while he ruefully picked himself -from the ground and scraped the mud from his -face. Mr. Crowley almost ate him for that and -Neil Ayer evinced every desire to officiate with the -vinegar and salt. That was a bad day for the -second, on the whole, for the first ran up five<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_169"></a>[169]</span> -scores in the twenty minutes of scrimmaging. -What troubled Hugh quite as much as his own -defects was the sorry performance put up by Bert -on the enemy team. Bert fumbled miserably -twice, and, while he usually gained when he had -the ball, played in such a half-hearted manner that -Coach Bonner was “on his neck” half the time. -In the last of the second period, when substitutions -on each team were numerous, Bert went out -in favor of Siedhof. Hugh, too, severed his connection -with the game then, and Forbes got back -to his own.</p> - -<p>On the bench, dragging the sleeves of his -sweater across his chest, Hugh ventured a remark -to Bert, but the result was not encouraging. Bert -only growled. After that Hugh watched Forbes -and earnestly tried not to indulge in uncharitable -thoughts. But he couldn’t help feeling exultant -when Vail and Bert swept around their left end, -Vail carrying the pigskin, and spurned the recumbent -form of Forbes underfoot. That was encouraging -to Hugh. Even Forbes, it seemed, was -by no means beyond the cunning wiles of the -enemy. Then Davy Richards, the trainer, who -had been up the field administering to a dislocated -finger, hurried indignantly back to the bench and -sent them scurrying to the showers.</p> - -<p>That evening Hugh went back to the football<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_170"></a>[170]</span> -book and discovered a trifle more of sense in what -he read. After all, he concluded, perhaps the -writer might last five minutes at end under Crowley. -There was no work for the first team regulars -on Friday, but the second-string players were -lined up against the second for one twelve-minute -period and barely saved their bacon by slipping -Derry across the field unnoticed for a forward -pass that brought a touchdown. Hugh congratulated -himself that that play took place on the -other side and that it was Bellows and not he -who had to face the irate Mr. Crowley. Three -minutes later, on the second’s thirty-five, first team -tried the same trick on the other side and Hugh -was fortunate enough to knock the ball down before -the opposing left end could get it. For that -he got a slap on the back from Myatt, a grin from -Quarterback Ayer, and a grunt from Coach Crowley. -Not much in the way of reward, perhaps, -after all the scoldings he had suffered, but quite -sufficient in Hugh’s estimation. Even though he -was informed a minute later that he was the worst -end that had ever donned canvas he refused to be -dejected. “That,” he told himself hearteningly -as he watched the opposing tackle and waited for -the signal, “isn’t so. If I were as bad as that I -wouldn’t be here.” Then he was trying to block -off a big tackle, while Ayer’s voice shrilled “<em>In!</em><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_171"></a>[171]</span> -<em>In!</em>” and everything was excitedly confused and -glorious. After another moment Hauser yanked -him to his feet at the risk of dislocating his arm -and Myatt shoved him into position again, and -Quinn was crying: “Third down! Four to go!” -and Ayer was barking his signals: “Manson -back! 47—35—16!”</p> - -<p>The game ended when Manson’s punt had -dropped into the arms of a first-team back, and, -muddy and warm and panting, they trotted up to -the field house. It was worth all the hard knocks -and harder words to feel the tingling rain of the -hissing shower on naked body, and afterwards, -Hugh, deliciously weary, slowly pulled his clothes -on and went half asleep in the task of tying a -shoelace and heard the babel of voices as in a -dream until Ben Myatt, scantily wrapped in a -monstrous bath towel, sank to the bench beside -him with a deep sigh and murmured: “They -didn’t do much with our wing today, Ordway, did -they?”</p> - -<p>And Hugh, emerging from his luxurious -drowse, shook his head proudly and answered: -“Rather not!” After which, with a supreme effort -of the will, he finished tying that lace and -got to his feet. Encountering the eyes of Forbes -he smiled kindly but pityingly. It was too bad -that Forbes was out of it. He was sorry for<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_172"></a>[172]</span> -Forbes. But as events proved he need not have -been.</p> - -<p>He found Bert lying on the window-seat scribbling -on a scratch-pad when he got back to Lothrop. -Perhaps the afternoon’s rest had benefited -the first-team player, for he was undeniably in -better humor.</p> - -<p>“What did they do to you, Hugh?” he asked -as he tore a sheet from the pad and crumpled it -in his hand. “Were they brutal?”</p> - -<p>“Hardly! They scored once, but they wouldn’t -have pulled that if we hadn’t been asleep. Derry -took a pass about a foot from the side line and -ran thirty yards.”</p> - -<p>Bert laughed. “What were you fellows doing -to let him get off like that? You must have been -asleep!”</p> - -<p>“I fancy we were,” acknowledged Hugh ruefully -as he seated himself in the Morris chair and -stretched tired legs across the rug. “I was awfully -glad it wasn’t on my side.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll bet you were! Who played halves for -them?”</p> - -<p>“Kinds was one. The other fellow I don’t -know. Small and dark and awfully quick and -squirmy.”</p> - -<p>“Fearing. He’s going to make a bully half -some day. He’s only a lower middler.” There<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_173"></a>[173]</span> -was a pause and then: “Say, Hugh,” Bert went -on carelessly, “you don’t happen to have any -money you don’t want to use for a while, I suppose?”</p> - -<p>“Money? How much?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, a beast of a lot; thirty dollars. Twenty -would do, I guess. It would do for a while, anyway.” -Bert was much too casual to deceive the -other and Hugh looked regretful.</p> - -<p>“No, I haven’t more than six or seven, Bert. -How soon would you have to have it?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, it doesn’t matter. I only thought that if -you did happen to have it——”</p> - -<p>“I know, but I fancy I could get it in a few -days. Only thing is the mater’s away just now.” -He frowned thoughtfully. “What are you going -to do, Bert? Buy something?”</p> - -<p>“Sort of. It doesn’t matter a bit.” He yawned -elaborately, tossed aside the block of paper and -sat up. “I’d have to have it by Monday, anyway. -Thanks just the same.”</p> - -<p>“Monday! But this is Friday, and——”</p> - -<p>“I know. Don’t bother. I tell you it doesn’t -matter, Hugh.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, but—if you want it—I say, now, I might -telegraph, eh? But I dare say you could get it -from home as soon as I could.”</p> - -<p>“Well, the fact is——” Bert hesitated. “My<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_174"></a>[174]</span> -dad’s shut down on me and won’t send me a cent -beyond my allowance; and that’s only ten -a month. Of course, he will come around in time; -maybe in a month; but I’ve got to have—that is, -I—I need twenty or thirty right now. I’ve sort -of promised a man to let him have it Monday. -It—it’s a debt. An old one. Things I bought -last winter. Now he’s acting nasty and threatens -to go to faculty if I don’t settle up.”</p> - -<p>“But I thought we weren’t allowed to have any -debts!”</p> - -<p>Bert shrugged. “We aren’t supposed to, except -by special arrangement. But most every fellow -has things charged here in the village or over -in Needham. Of course you’re supposed to settle -at the end of term, and I meant to, but I was -hard up and couldn’t. This Shylock bothered me -all summer with bills and letters and things and -I told him I’d pay when I got back. Well, I tried -to, but dad got angry and said I was spending too -much money and I’d have to get along on my -allowance. And he told mother not to let me -have it. So it’s a rotten outlook. Of course, if -I can’t pay him right now, I can’t, and that’s all -there is to it. Only if he <em>should</em> go to Charlie -I’d get fired as quick as a wink.”</p> - -<p>“That’s too bad,” said Hugh sympathetically. -“We’ll simply have to dig up the money somewhere.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_175"></a>[175]</span> -Toss me that block, will you? And your -pencil? Thanks. Now, let’s see. ‘Please send -six pounds’—no, ‘thirty dollars——’” Hugh nibbled -the pencil reflectively. “I’ve got about six -dollars, though, so I’ll just ask for twenty-five. -Thirty’s enough, old chap? You’re certain?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, but I don’t believe you’d better, Hugh. -I don’t know, after all, when I can pay it back. -Maybe not until Christmas. I always get some -extra money then. I guess Fallow and Turner -will wait.”</p> - -<p>“But there’d be no hurry about paying it back, -Bert,” the other protested. “And my mother -won’t mind sending it the least bit. I haven’t -asked for any extra tin for a long time. You just -sit tight, old dear, and leave it to me. ‘Please -send twenty-five dollars at once. Important. -Well. Love.’ That ought to do it. I say, -though, maybe I’d better ask mother to telegraph -it, eh? Then she’d surely get it here by Monday. -Unless, that is, this doesn’t get to her in -time. You see, she went away to make some visits -the other day. She ought to be in Philadelphia -tomorrow, but if she stayed over in New York—I -fancy I’ll send a couple of these just to be on -the safe side. Bound to fetch her that way, -what?”</p> - -<p>“It’s awfully decent of you,” said Bert gratefully.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_176"></a>[176]</span> -“Hope I’ll be able to do as much for you -some day.”</p> - -<p>“I hope you won’t need to,” laughed Hugh. -“How do I get these off? I can telephone, can’t -I?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, and they’ll charge it to the school and -you can settle with the office. I ought to offer to -pay them myself, Hugh, but I’m just about -strapped. You could add it to the rest, though.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, rot! I’ll nip down and get them off now. -If mother gets one of these tomorrow morning -we might hear by afternoon, eh?”</p> - -<p>When Hugh got back Bert was whistling merrily -in his room.</p> - -<p>“They said they’d get them off right away,” -Hugh announced from the doorway. “So that’s -all right, eh?”</p> - -<p>“Yes,” replied Bert. “And I hope—— Well, -anyway, I’m awfully much obliged, Hugh. To -tell the truth I’ve been scared to death for a week -for fear Fallow would turn up here at school.”</p> - -<p>“Well, it won’t matter if he does now,” responded -Hugh cheerfully. “Is—is that what’s -been bothering you lately, old chap?”</p> - -<p>Bert nodded. “Did you notice it?” he asked, -mildly surprised.</p> - -<p>“Did I notice it? Well, rather! You’ve been -as—as grouchy as a bear.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_177"></a>[177]</span></p> - -<p>“Have I?” asked the other penitently. “I -guess I have. I’m sorry, Hugh. I guess I was -particularly nasty the other night, wasn’t I?”</p> - -<p>“Well, you weren’t exactly sweet-tempered,” -chuckled Hugh.</p> - -<p>“I guess I was a regular beast. I wish you’d—er—forget -it.”</p> - -<p>“All right. I fancy I lost my temper a bit -too.”</p> - -<p>“I didn’t mean”—Bert spoke from behind a -towel—“what I said about rooming with you, -Hugh. I—I’m sorry I was such a cad.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, don’t talk so sick,” muttered Hugh, backing -away from the door. “I didn’t pay any attention -to it. Now shut up. I’ve got to wash.”</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_178"></a>[178]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV<br /> -<small>GRAFTON SCORES</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p class="cap">The second team were not exempted from -work on Saturday, rather to their annoyance, -and it wasn’t until the Rotan College -game was nearly half over that they were -dismissed and allowed to flock over to the first-team -gridiron and crowd into seats at the end of -the stand.</p> - -<p>Rotan had already scored once and the board -announced “Grafton 0—Visitors 7.”</p> - -<p>Rotan was a small college, but it rather specialized -in football and its teams were invariably -clever. Naturally the eleven blue-stockinged -youths averaged superior to Grafton in age, size, -weight and experience, and a defeat for the home -team was a foregone conclusion. Rotan had -played a mid-season contest at Grafton regularly -every fall for six years, and in that period Grafton’s -best performance was a 0 to 0 game four -years previous. Rotan was a light team, as college -teams went, but it knew a lot of football and -provided just the experience that Coach Bonner<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_179"></a>[179]</span> -desired for his charges at that period of development.</p> - -<p>It was soon apparent to the second team members -that their champions were in for a severe -drubbing today. Rotan was using a wide-open -formation and running her backs around the Grafton -wings about as she pleased, varying this -pastime by an occasional short punt and a quarter-back -plunge at the center. The Rotan backs were -tall and heavy and hard to stop even when the -home-team players were fortunate enough to get -to them. But it was the dazzling unexpectedness -of the attack that was principally accountable -for the helplessness of the Scarlet-and-Gray. Rotan’s -forwards would string across the field almost -from side line to side line, her backs would retreat -ten and even twelve yards behind them, there -would come a quick, short signal, the ball would -go back, the back-field would start on the run -to one side or the other, the ball would be caught -by one or another of the moving backs, Grafton -would come plunging through and then—well, -then a blue-armed youth would be suddenly seen -running blithely away with the pigskin tucked to -his body and not a Graftonian nearer than five -yards! How they did it not even the spectators -could see. They seemed to possess an absolutely -uncanny ability to guess where the openings were<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_180"></a>[180]</span> -to be. Hanser, who was Hugh’s neighbor on one -side, muttered disgustedly when a Rotan half had -taken the ball over three white lines and placed it -twenty yards from the home team’s goal.</p> - -<p>“Why doesn’t Ted play his ends deeper?” he -asked. “What’s the idea of tearing through and -not knowing where the ball is? They can’t stop -’em that way. What’s Bonner thinking of, I’d -like to know.”</p> - -<p>“It looks to me,” said Bellows, from further -along, “as if those fellows started before the ball. -You watch this time, Frank.”</p> - -<p>“I have watched, and they don’t. They’ve got -it down pretty fine, that’s all. That full-back does -start before the ball, but he runs back a little and -he’s all right. Then when the ball is snapped he -straightens out again and half the time he -doesn’t get into the play at all. If one of those -chaps would only fumble once it would be a -cinch!”</p> - -<p>“They won’t, though. They’re wizards at it. -Watch the way they put Kinley out every time. -Musgrave too.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, and look at our ends. Might as well be -sitting on the bench for all the good they do. If -I was Ted I’d close the line up and make them -show their hand more. That was Neil Ayer. -They’ll have to quit that foolishness now, though.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_181"></a>[181]</span> -They won’t be able to run the ends inside the -twenty.”</p> - -<p>Rotan didn’t try to. She closed up and piled -her backs at the left of the Grafton line and made -three past Kinley and Franklin. She repeated the -play for two more and then tried a skin-tackle -play off Ted Trafford that worked for a scant -yard. With four to go on fourth down her full-back -dropped behind to the thirty yards and held -his long arms out. But he didn’t kick when the -ball came to him. Instead, there was a straight -heave across the center and for a breathless instant -it seemed that the visitors had again scored. -But the end, who had managed to post himself -behind the goal line, couldn’t hold the ball when -it came to him and the pigskin changed hands.</p> - -<p>Hugh watched interestedly then to see how Pop -Driver and the redoubtable Lambert were getting -on. But the play was at the far end of the field -and details were beyond his vision. Two tries -netted the Scarlet-and-Gray less than five yards -and Keyes punted high and far. Roy Dresser -nailed the Rotan quarter on the enemy’s thirty-eight -and once more Rotan started her open -game. Four yards, eight yards, six yards, and the -linesmen scampered with the chain. So far Rotan -had not once tried a forward pass in the middle -of the field, but when two tries netted but seven<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_182"></a>[182]</span> -yards, she gave a remarkable exhibition of her -ability in that department. The full-back went -back to kicking position and the ball sped fast -and true to him. Then, with two backs forming -a tandem interference, he sped to the left. Tray, -the Grafton right end, failed to get through and -it was Ted Trafford who almost upset the runner -well behind his line. But Ted’s tackle just failed -and the full-back stopped short, turned and heaved -the pigskin far down the field and to the right, -where his own right end, quite uncovered, was -waiting. Nick Blake brought down the runner -on his thirty-six yards and won a salvo of applause. -But after that there was no hope. Rotan -snaked through the Grafton left side, ran both -ends, faked two kicks, and finally, when the defenders -fully expected a forward pass, massed on -the center of the line and piled through Musgrave -for the second touchdown. Rotan failed at goal -and a moment later the half was at an end.</p> - -<p>“Thirteen to nothing, eh?” muttered Hanser, -his eyes on the scoreboard. “I guess I can pretty -nearly predict the final score, Ordway. About -thirty-two to a goose-egg, I reckon. Rotan ought -to be able to score three more touchdowns and -kick at least one goal.”</p> - -<p>“Maybe we’ll buck up in the next half,” said -Hugh hopefully.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_183"></a>[183]</span></p> - -<p>“We’ll have to do a lot of bucking,” grunted -Hanser as he pulled himself from the seat. “I’m -going down to look for a fellow. Keep my seat, -will you?”</p> - -<p>School and village had turned out well for -the game, and Rotan had brought some half-hundred -students with her, and so between halves -there was a good deal of cheering from both -sides of the field, and the visiting contingent sang -a couple of songs and were politely applauded. -Then Hanser ploughed his way back to his seat, -the teams trotted around the corner of the stand -and Rotan lined up for the kick-off.</p> - -<p>Bert Winslow, playing back with Nick, caught -the ball and ran it a good twelve yards before he -was spilled. Then Grafton, evidently smarting -under the coach’s remarks in the field house, went -at it with a new vim. Unable in the first half to -make much headway through the blue line, she -began to bear down hard on the ends and tackles. -The first attempt gained many yards, but it was -across the field instead of down it, and the pigskin -came to a pause on the same line from which -it had started. But the next attempt proved more -successful, for, with Keyes carrying, the pigskin -slipped around the Rotan left end for a first -down. Then Bert plowed through between center -and right guard for four and Roy Dresser,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_184"></a>[184]</span> -on an end-around play, added another five. Keyes -plugged through on the left for enough to make -the distance. By this time Grafton was shouting -enthusiastically in the stand and the ball was -past the center of the field and in Rotan territory.</p> - -<p>Bert again made four on a delayed pass around -the opponent’s right wing, and once more Keyes, -from kick formation, ran wide for a scant gain. -With four to go, Nick slipped straight ahead for -two and then Keyes faked a kick and made it -first down. The ball was near Rotan thirty-five -yards now and visions of a touchdown floated before -the Grafton supporters. But when two tries -had failed to yield more than four yards and -Keyes got a forward pass away to Roy Dresser -and that youth failed even to touch it, a punt was -in order. Rotan caught on her five yards but -failed to gain. Then, since the play was now -nearly opposite his end of the stand, Hugh could -watch the doings of Pop and his adversary. And -they were well worth noting.</p> - -<p>Lambert was a big, rawboned fellow with a -shock of yellow-brown hair which, since he had -lost his head-guard, made a vivid note of color. -It was evident to Hugh that both Pop and Lambert -were engaged in a private and personal rivalry -that was of absorbing interest to them.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_185"></a>[185]</span> -And both youths looked as if they had had hard -wear. Lambert sported a strip of plaster across -his nose like a saddle and Pop had one very discolored -eye. On offense Lambert played well outside -of Pop Driver, for the Grafton line was no -longer attempting to stretch as wide as the opponent’s, -and, theoretically at least, it was Captain -Trafford who should have engaged the shock-haired -left guard. But Hugh noted with amusement -that almost every time it was Pop who tried -conclusions with Lambert, often, as it appeared, -most impolitely ignoring the center’s efforts to -interest him. Hugh couldn’t see anything that -looked like slugging, however, in spite of the -visible marks of combat. It was merely a very -pretty struggle for supremacy, with the honors -fairly even, Hugh concluded. But a few minutes -later, when Rotan, having failed at a run around -Roy Dresser’s end and lost three yards on a forward -pass that went awry, finally punted to -midfield and the two teams lined up close to the -fifty-yard line, he began to have his doubts. With -the ball in Grafton’s possession and the lines playing -close and compact, Lambert and Pop faced -each other at arm’s length. On the first play, a direct -plunge at the guard position on the left, Hugh, -watching Pop and his adversary rather than the -runner, saw the rivals clash together and Lambert’s<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_186"></a>[186]</span> -fist, under cover of the confusion, jerk -upwards to Pop’s chin. He almost, he thought, -heard the thud of the blow. He saw Pop’s head -go back and Pop reel for an instant. Then the -Rotan line buckled and the whistle shrilled. Hugh -turned to Hanser, but it was evident that the -incident had escaped him just as it had apparently -escaped everyone else, including the officials.</p> - -<p>“That chap Lambert there is slugging like the -mischief,” said Hugh.</p> - -<p>“Is he?” Hanser chuckled. “He’d better not -try it on with Pop Driver, then. Pop’s sore with -him, anyway, after last year’s game.”</p> - -<p>“I fancy he’s sorer now,” replied Hugh dryly, -“for Lambert just drove his fist under Pop’s -chin.”</p> - -<p>“Lambert did?” asked Hanser incredulously. -“Did you see him?”</p> - -<p>“Rather!”</p> - -<p>“Then it’s good-by, Lambert, all right, all -right! Pop’ll get him before long.”</p> - -<p>But the next play drew Pop further out and set -him to boxing the opposing tackle, and he and -Lambert didn’t get together. Grafton lost on an -attempt at a skin-tackle play and Keyes went back -to kicking position. When the ball was passed -from center Pop met the onslaught of Lambert -with all the weight of his body and bore him back<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_187"></a>[187]</span> -far behind his own line, to the annoyance of Lambert -and the amusement of those who watched. -When the ball was sailing down the field Lambert -was still giving ground before Pop. Infuriated, -he drew back his arm as they separated -and aimed a blow. But Pop ducked inside his -guard and Lambert’s fist shot harmlessly into air. -For the space of two or three seconds the two -players stood there, their faces close, and Hugh -could see Pop’s lips move. Then, as a Rotan -player shoved in between them, Pop drew off and -trotted down the field. Hugh wondered what he -had said to Lambert.</p> - -<p>Rotan came back with a vengeance and eight -plays put the pigskin back where it had been. -Then another long forward pass was successful -and once more Grafton was defending her last -ditch. This time the enemy had harder work -getting across that last line, but cross it she did -eventually, her full-back dragging half the defending -team with him as he won the final three -yards on a plunge through Yetter, who had taken -Kinley’s place at left guard. It was a fine mêlée, -that play, a confused jumble of writhing, pushing, -panting bodies, and when the whistle blew half the -twenty-two contestants were heaped in a gorgeous -pyramid above the ball. One by one they were -pulled to their feet while the referee squirmed<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_188"></a>[188]</span> -under the pile and located the pigskin a good six -inches past the line. But they didn’t all get up, -either, for one player with blue-stockinged legs -remained prone on the trampled sod, and when, -a moment later, they raised his head and swashed -the big sponge over his face Hugh caught sight -of a mass of yellow-brown hair.</p> - -<p>“It’s Lambert!” he said awedly.</p> - -<p>Hanser nodded. “I told you Pop would get -him,” he replied. “You can’t put your fist in -Pop’s face like that and get away with it—not -unless you smile when you do it! I guess Lambert’s -through. Yes, there he goes. Looks a bit -groggy, doesn’t he? And unless I’m mistaken -he’s wondering whether the goal post fell on him -or he was trampled by a stone-crusher.” Hanser -chuckled. “He just tried it once too often, that’s -all.”</p> - -<p>“I didn’t see anything,” said Hugh wonderingly.</p> - -<p>“Nor anyone else, I guess, except Lambert, -and he saw stars. Pop waited until he could do -it right and get away with it. If Pop handed him -one you can bet he deserved it, for Pop Driver’s -as clean a player as there is.”</p> - -<p>Lambert, supported by a team-mate, was walking -off the field, his legs decidedly wobbly and his -head showing an inclination to fall over on his<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_189"></a>[189]</span> -chest, and a substitute was being sent in. Then -Rotan punted out, caught neatly, and sent a clean -kick over the bar for another point, and the scoreboard -changed its figures to 20.</p> - -<p>There was no more scoring in that period and -none in the last until well toward the end. Coach -Bonner had sprinkled substitutes liberally by that -time, and Rotan, too, was represented by a number -of second-string players. The visitor evidently -concluded that she had piled up a sufficient -score and was bent only on holding her adversary -where she was. She punted on second down frequently -and managed to keep the ball in Grafton -territory until there were but six minutes left to -play. Then a fumble by a substitute Rotan half-back -changed the complexion of affairs, for -Parker, who had taken Franklin’s place at left -tackle, shot through and dropped on the pigskin -and it was Grafton’s on the enemy’s thirty-two -yards!</p> - -<p>Weston, second-choice quarter, dashed on with -instructions and Nick Blake yielded his head-guard -and trotted off. In the stands, Grafton -sympathizers demanded a touchdown. The Scarlet-and-Gray -began an attack on the left of the -Rotan center, where Lambert had yielded to a -substitute, and first Keyes and then Bert and Vail -tore through for short but substantial gains.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_190"></a>[190]</span> -Down to the twenty yards went the ball, Rotan -hurrying on two fresh players to bolster her line. -A forward pass gained four yards and Bert got -six past left tackle. Weston carried the ball on -a delayed play straight through center for three -more. But on her seven yards, under the shadow -of her goal, Rotan stiffened. Two plunges at the -left gained little, for the secondary defense -stopped the runner in each case, and Keyes -dropped back to kick. Everything favored a -score then, but luck was against the home team, -for Musgrave passed miserably and all Keyes -could do was make the catch safe and try to gain -a scant two or three yards before the enemy -bowled him over.</p> - -<p>It was fourth down now, with twelve to go, -and, after a hurried conference, Weston again -sent Keyes back. But although a try-at-goal was -to be expected, Rotan was not to be caught napping, -and she placed her back-field players to -guard against a forward pass. But the ball never -reached Keyes. Instead, it slanted off to Bert -and, while the big full-back gave a clever exhibition -of a youth kicking an imaginary pigskin, -Bert circled wide to his right, Vail leading the -way, and turned in sharply where Tray had -cleared the hole. There was an instant of doubt, -for a Rotan back dived for the runner and almost<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_191"></a>[191]</span> -stopped him, but Bert squirmed on, wrested himself -free, crossed the five-yard line unchallenged, -and plunged on in a confused medley of friends -and foes. He was almost across when the Rotan -quarter-back smashed into him. Bert faltered -then and gave back, but the next instant the drive -behind him carried him on again above the enemy -and buried him from sight well over the goal line.</p> - -<p>Grafton waved and shouted and exulted, and -continued to shout until Weston was lying on the -sod with the ball between his hands and Keyes -was cautiously measuring the distance and studying -the cant. And afterwards, when the ball had -slanted off at a weird tangent, avoiding the goal -widely, Grafton shouted again, for what mattered -it if Keyes had missed? They had scored on -Rotan, scored against a far bigger and more experienced -team, and the figures on the score-board -were 6 and 20!</p> - -<p>Something that did matter, however, although -few paid heed to it just then, was the fact that -Bert had laid where he had fallen until Davy, -beckoning two substitutes from the bench, had -had him borne away to the field house.</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_192"></a>[192]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI<br /> -<small>A BROKEN RIB</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p class="cap">On the whole, Grafton was satisfied with -that game. She had made larger scores -against Rotan in the past, to be sure, -but on those occasions the college team had been -undoubtedly weaker than she had been today. -Even Coach Bonner, who was not easily satisfied, -acknowledged to Ted Trafford that the Scarlet-and-Gray -eleven had done well to hold Rotan -to three scores. Ted wanted credit, too, for the -six points his team had won, but Mr. Bonner -shrugged his shoulders then. “There was too -much luck in that touchdown, Traf,” he said. -“Defensively the team did very well. Let it go -at that!”</p> - -<p>Hugh climbed the stairs to the infirmary -on the second floor of Manning after supper -that night to inquire about Bert, as to whose -injury many and various rumors were afloat. -Mrs. Prouty, the matron, gave him permission -to see the patient and Hugh found the invalid<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_193"></a>[193]</span> -in the act of finishing a fairly substantial -meal. Bert greeted the caller quite cheerfully.</p> - -<p>“You needn’t tiptoe,” he laughed, “and you -needn’t look like an undertaker. I’m not dead -yet, Duke. It’s only a cracked rib. The Doc -says I’ll be all right in a couple of weeks and can -play before that if I’ll wear a pad. Still, it’s -kind of tough luck.”</p> - -<p>“I’m glad it’s no worse,” said Hugh. “They -had all sorts of stories about you at table tonight. -You played a ripping—a corking game, -old chap.”</p> - -<p>“Well, I played better than I’ve been playing, -that’s sure. It was a dandy game and we did -mighty well to hold them to twenty, Hugh, to -say nothing of scoring on them. Have you heard -yet?”</p> - -<p>“Heard?” asked Hugh.</p> - -<p>“About the money, I mean.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I say, I forgot all about it! There wasn’t -anything in the box, though. Would they put -a telegram in the box?”</p> - -<p>“They usually telephone it to you. Maybe -your mother didn’t get your message in time, -though. You think she’s at either one of those -places, don’t you?”</p> - -<p>“Why, yes. I ought to have received a letter<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_194"></a>[194]</span> -from her today. She almost always writes so that -I get it Saturday. We’ll surely hear by Monday, -Bert.”</p> - -<p>“Well, I hope so. If that fellow wants to -make trouble for me he can do it to the King’s -taste.”</p> - -<p>“He won’t, though, if he knows he’s going to -get his money, eh? You sit tight, old chap, and -don’t worry.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I’m tight, all right,” answered Bert, with -a grin. “They’ve got me strapped and plastered -and bandaged until I can hardly breathe! I’m -coming back Monday; Doc said I might. This -isn’t so bad, though, and Mother Prouty’s a -corker.”</p> - -<p>“You’ve got it all to yourself, haven’t you?” -asked Hugh, viewing the two empty cots. “If you -get lonesome I’ll develop a mysterious illness and -get lugged over here. I dare say I’d better be -toddling along now, though. Do they let you -read?”</p> - -<p>“Why not? I don’t have to use my ribs to -read, do I? By the way, I wish you’d drop -around tomorrow morning and bring my geometry -and Greek reader. And you might fetch a paper, -too. Good night.”</p> - -<p>In the corridor below Hugh encountered Pop, -a rather damaged looking Pop, with a puffy green<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_195"></a>[195]</span> -and purple left eye and a long scratch on his -nose. When he learned that Hugh had just come -from the infirmary he turned back.</p> - -<p>“I guess I won’t go up then,” he said. “How -is he? What’s the damage?”</p> - -<p>Hugh told him as they left the building and -turned their steps toward Trow, and Pop expressed -relief. “Some fellow said he’d broken -his collar-bone. A rib isn’t so bad. Davy’ll have -him bundled up and playing in a few days. What -did you think of the game?”</p> - -<p>“A little bit of all right, Pop! And, I say, -you certainly did for Lambert, what?”</p> - -<p>“Lambert? No.”</p> - -<p>Hugh laughed. “Oh, no; you didn’t wallop -the beggar, not half! Served him jolly right, of -course; I saw him give you that punch under the -chin, you know. I wish, though, you’d tell me -what you said to him that time you two had your -heads together.”</p> - -<p>“Do you? Well, I said, ‘Lambert, if you -make me lose my temper you’ll go home in an -ambulance. Now quit it!’ He did, too. We -didn’t have any trouble after that.”</p> - -<p>“You mean you didn’t! <em>He</em> looked jolly well -troubled when they took him off. Hanser said -you’d get him.”</p> - -<p>“Sorry to disappoint Hanser,” replied Pop,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_196"></a>[196]</span> -“but as a matter of fact I didn’t mix it up with -Lambert once.”</p> - -<p>“You didn’t? Then what happened to him?”</p> - -<p>“He told me afterwards—I saw him in the -field house—that someone kicked him in the head. -He had rather a bad bruise.”</p> - -<p>“Oh!” murmured Hugh. “Well, I fancied—you -know you said——”</p> - -<p>“Yes, I know I did. But I got to thinking it -over. You see, I wanted to play the game -through, for one thing, and if I’d been caught -slugging I wouldn’t have. And then, too, I—well, -I sort of wanted to see if I <em>could</em> keep my -temper. After all, I guess the rough-stuff doesn’t -get you anything.”</p> - -<p>“Rather looks as though Hanser and I misjudged -you, Pop,” laughed Hugh. Then, soberly: -“I say, though, I’m rather glad you didn’t. -Of course he deserved something, but—somehow—if -you know what I mean——”</p> - -<p>“I get you, Steve! As you’d probably say, it -isn’t cricket. Coming up?”</p> - -<p>“Thanks, no, not tonight. I’m rather keen on -writing a letter to the governor. Good night, -Pop.”</p> - -<p>The letter wasn’t written until the next day, -though, for Cathcart dropped in to inquire after -Bert and remained to talk awhile, and before he<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_197"></a>[197]</span> -left Nick and Guy arrived on a similar mission. -Nick was in extremely high spirits, in spite of the -fact that two of his fingers were bound together -with surgeon’s tape, and, after Cathcart had removed -his restraining presence, became so hilarious -and playful that Guy and Hugh were forced -to improvise a straight-jacket from a pair of -Bert’s discarded football pants. Subsequently, -Nick reclined, neatly trussed, on the window-seat -and proclaimed: “I am but mad north-northwest: -when the wind is southerly I know a hawk from -a handsaw!” Then he began on Hood’s “The -Bridge of Sighs,” and, reaching the lines,</p> - -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">“Mad from life’s history,</div> - <div class="verse indent1">Glad to death’s mystery,</div> - <div class="verse indent1">Swift to be hurled—</div> - <div class="verse indent1">Anywhere, anywhere,</div> - <div class="verse indent1">Out of the world!”</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class="noi">he rolled himself off the cushion and reached the -floor with a most terrific bump. After that they -gagged him and sat on him.</p> - -<p>Sunday turned out frosty and clear, with a -blue, blue sky overhead and scarlet and russet -leaves rustling along the paths. In the afternoon -Hugh and Pop ascended Mount Grafton to the -observatory on top and held their caps while they -climbed the winding stairway and looked for miles<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_198"></a>[198]</span> -over the world. Then they found a sunny crevice -in the great pink granite ledge beneath and sat -there for a long time, looking down on the roofs -of the school buildings below them, and discussed -many weighty matters. It was not until, comfortably -tired and very hungry, they returned to -school that Hugh got that letter written. When -he had finished it, however, and it lay sealed -and addressed on the table, instead of taking it -downstairs and dropping it in the mail-box he -slipped it between the leaves of a book and put -the book in the table drawer. In the morning he -would hand the letter directly to the postman, a -custom that puzzled Bert and moved him to sarcasm.</p> - -<p>There was no reply to his telegram the next -forenoon and Hugh was troubled on Bert’s account. -The latter moved back to Lothrop and -attended classes as usual that morning, but, perhaps -because he was uncomfortably bandaged and -it hurt him when he took a deep breath, or perhaps -because he was worried over the non-arrival -of that money-order, he was in rather a cantankerous -mood. Hugh dispatched another message to -his mother before he went to the field in the afternoon, -addressing it to his home on the chance that -she had changed her plans and returned to Shorefields. -Fortunately, no irate creditor put in an<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_199"></a>[199]</span> -appearance, and Bert took hope and accompanied -Hugh to the field to watch practice.</p> - -<p>Hugh found a surprise awaiting him. They -had, it seemed, transferred Hanser to the first -team and, since that left the second long on ends -and short on half-backs, Hugh was informed that -he was to substitute Brunswick or Peet behind -the line. “Never played half, have you?” inquired -Mr. Crowley brusquely. “Thought not. -Well, keep your eyes open and study the signals. -You’re likely to get a chance to show what you -can do today or tomorrow.”</p> - -<p>The chance came that afternoon, for Peet, who -had taken Hanser’s place, failed to satisfy the -coach and was pulled out five minutes after the -game with the first team began. Hugh, watching -Mr. Crowley anxiously, was half inclined to hope -that his choice would fall on the other substitute, -Boynton, for Hugh wasn’t at all convinced of his -ability to play half-back. Possibly, however, the -coach wanted to know just how bad Hugh would -prove, for after a quick glance along the bench he -motioned to him.</p> - -<p>“Hi, Ordway! Get in there at right half. -Use your head, now, and don’t ball up your signals. -Tell Ayer to watch their guard-tackle hole -on the left. Get it? On the <em>left</em>!”</p> - -<p>Well, on the whole, or “taking it by and large,”<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_200"></a>[200]</span> -as Pop would have said, Hugh didn’t do so badly -that afternoon. He did get his signals mixed -once and he soon proved himself much too light -for line-bucking. But on several occasions when -the play was outside of tackle he made good -gains, once reeling off fifteen yards before he was -thumped to the ground by Vail. And on defense -he rather did himself proud, working very -smoothly with Forbes, who was back at right -end, and Spalding, the right tackle, when the play -came that way. He made the mistakes of ignorance -and he once fumbled a two-yard pass from -the quarter, saving the situation, however, by -recovering the ball for a slight loss of ground. -Mr. Crowley cornered him in the dressing room -after practice and told him of a great many things -that he had done wrong and advised him to brush -up on the signals. And when the coach had taken -himself off, growling, Captain Myatt salved his -wounds with a smile and a “Good work, Ordway! -Hang to it!”</p> - -<p>There was one thing that that afternoon’s experience -did for Hugh, in any event. It convinced -him that he didn’t want to play end again -and that he did want to play half-back. He would -go on being an end this year, he told himself, but -next fall he would go out for a half-back position -and refuse anything else. Playing end wasn’t bad<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_201"></a>[201]</span> -fun, but there was something about having the -ball in the crook of your elbow or snuggled to -your stomach and pitting your wits and speed and -strength against the enemy, that was ten times -more exciting. Of course, as soon as Bert got -into harness again Hanser would be returned to -the second and Hugh would be back elbowing -Forbes for the outpost position. But next -year!</p> - -<p>He said all this to Bert that evening, being far -too full of the afternoon’s adventure to want to -study, and Bert, while granting that there was -no comparison in his mind between playing half-back -and end, advised Hugh to stick to his trade. -“You didn’t do half badly, Duke, for you’re certainly -just about as quick as they make ’em. Sort -of reminded me today of a cat, the way you -jumped off and squirmed around there. But -you’re not heavy enough to keep going, you see. -It’s the foot or two feet or yard that a fellow -makes after he’s tackled that counts. If it was -all around-the-end work you’d be rather a star, -but it isn’t. Down near goal you’d have to put -your head down and buck the line, old man. And -someone like Ted or Musgrave would stop you -so soon you’d go backward. You stick to being -a good end, at least until you’ve put on weight and -grown a bit.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_202"></a>[202]</span></p> - -<p>“I say, I’m not so awfully much smaller than -you are,” protested Hugh.</p> - -<p>“You’re twenty pounds lighter than I am, at -least, and you’re fully two inches shorter. You—you’ve -got to have punch when you go into the -line, Hugh. See what I mean?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes, I see what you mean,” responded the -other slowly, “but that chap Zanetti isn’t awfully -big and heavy, is he? And he played a mighty -good game today when he was in.”</p> - -<p>“Jack Zanetti’s been at it four years, and he -knows how to use what weight he has got. So -will you when you’ve been playing that long. -Now dry up and let me bone this beastly French -rot. You’re worse than a magpie!”</p> - -<p>“All right, old dear. But, I say, Bert, do you -think that by next year——”</p> - -<p>“For the love of mud, shut up! I want to get -this done and hit the hay. If you had a rib that -hurt like the dickens every time you moved or -took a breath——”</p> - -<p>Bert subsided with mutters and silence reigned.</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_203"></a>[203]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII<br /> -<small>FRIENDS IN NEED</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p class="cap">Again, on Tuesday morning, there was no -telegram, and when Hugh, at Bert’s suggestion, -called up the telegraph office in -the village he was informed that no message addressed -to him had been received. Hugh was -by now at a loss to explain his mother’s silence -and Bert was anxious and a little bit unpleasant, -intimating that Hugh had promised more than he -could perform.</p> - -<p>“I’m sorry I put you to so much trouble,” he -said stiffly. “If I’d known, I might have got hold -of the money somewhere else, I suppose.”</p> - -<p>“You haven’t put me to any trouble, Bert, and -I don’t understand why my mother hasn’t answered. -The only explanation I can think of is -that she has sort of dodged those telegrams, if -you know what I mean. She might have left -New York before the one I sent there was delivered -and gone back to Shorefields. Then she -may have gone to Philadelphia Sunday——”</p> - -<p>“I should think she’d stay in one place a minute,”<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_204"></a>[204]</span> -Bert complained. “Of course, if Fallow -doesn’t come nosing around here before——”</p> - -<p>“I say, I might send a message to Bowles, eh? -Tell him to wire mother’s present address. I’ll -do it at noon if we don’t hear before that. But -it certainly does seem as if mother must have got -one of my telegrams by this time!”</p> - -<p>Bert couldn’t suggest anything better to do, and -they went across to School Hall for English 4. -It was a full morning for them both and neither -had time to think a great deal about that telegram -until they were through with Greek at twelve. -Then Hugh again called up the telegraph office, -received the same answer to his inquiry, and forthwith -dispatched a message to Bowles at Shorefields, -demanding an instant answer.</p> - -<p>“That ought to be delivered by two o’clock,” -said Hugh, “and if he answers right away we -should hear by four.”</p> - -<p>“That’s all right as long as Fallow doesn’t take -it into his head to come over here and raise a row -today. I promised I’d settle up with him yesterday, -you see. Maybe he will give me another day -or two, though. He would, don’t you think?”</p> - -<p>“I’d say he should let you know before he went -to faculty about it,” said Hugh. “If he sits tight -until tomorrow I dare say we’ll have the coin for -him.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_205"></a>[205]</span></p> - -<p>“That’s what we thought Saturday,” responded -Bert morosely. “Well, we can’t do anything now -but wait and see what happens, I guess. I’m going -to dinner.”</p> - -<p>Hugh had a conference with Mr. Rumford at -two-thirty and when he got back to Lothrop it -was nearly half-past three and Bert had gone -down to the field. Hugh dumped his books, -paused to scribble a memorandum, and then, -changing coat and waistcoat for a sweater, started -for the door. Simultaneously there was a knock -on the half-opened portal and Hugh swung it -open, revealing on the threshold a very stout man -with very red cheeks and a very luxuriant mustache. -That mustache so fascinated Hugh for a -moment that he merely stood there and gazed. -It was extremely black and it stuck out two or -three inches on each side of a big, round face. -Hugh wondered if it was real. Then the visitor -spoke and Hugh realized that he had been rudely -staring for several seconds.</p> - -<p>“Mr. Winslow live here?” asked the caller in -a voice that seemed to come from well down toward -the lower button of the black-and-white -plaid waistcoat.</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir.” Hugh removed his gaze from the -mustache with difficulty. The man moved forward -and Hugh drew aside. By that time his<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_206"></a>[206]</span> -wits were at work and he closed the door behind -the visitor. “Sit down, won’t you?”</p> - -<p>“Thanks,” rumbled the man. “My name’s -Fallow; Fallow and Turner, over to Needham. -Guess you know me, eh? Or ain’t you Winslow?”</p> - -<p>“Mr. Fallow? Oh, yes, to be sure. I—I’ve -heard of you, Mr. Fallow.”</p> - -<p>“Guess you have,” said Mr. Fallow dryly. “A -good many times. Well, what’s the verdict?”</p> - -<p>“Why—er—I say, take a seat, won’t you? -Try the big chair there. Now, sir, what can I -do for you?”</p> - -<p>For answer Mr. Fallow, grunting, plunged a -hand inside his coat and drew forth a folded -paper which he waved slowly in front of him.</p> - -<p>“For me?” asked Hugh interestedly. “What—is -it?”</p> - -<p>“Say, you’re a cool one,” remarked the visitor -in unwilling admiration. “Bless me if you ain’t. -Well, this is a bill for thirty-four dollars and sixty -cents, son. I ought to add interest to it, too, I -guess, but I ain’t aiming to be hard on you. You -all ready to pay it?”</p> - -<p>Hugh shook his head regretfully. “I’m sorry -to say I’m not, sir.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, you ain’t?”</p> - -<p>“No. You see, Mr. Fallow, I’ve been expecting<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_207"></a>[207]</span> -some money ever since Saturday and it hasn’t -come. I’m awfully sorry. It’s sure to be here -tomorrow and——”</p> - -<p>“Now look here, you!” Mr. Fallow scowled -darkly. “That’s the same song-and-dance you’ve -been giving me ever since last spring, and I’m sick -of it. I ain’t in business for my health!”</p> - -<p>“Certainly not, sir. Not that you don’t look -jolly healthy, of course, but——”</p> - -<p>“Say, don’t get fresh,” growled the other. -“Never you mind how I look. All you got to -do is to hand over my money. If you can’t do -that——”</p> - -<p>“But I can, sir, only I can’t do it today. Tomorrow——”</p> - -<p>“Yah! You promised it yesterday, didn’t you? -Well, I expect folks to keep their word, see? Tomorrow -won’t do, son. You’ve had time enough.” -He looked about the room sarcastically. “Living -in quarters like these, eh, and can’t pay your just -debts! Well, we’ll see what Mr. Thingamabob, -your principal, has got to say about it.” Mr. -Fallow stood up and with difficulty thrust the bill -back into his pocket.</p> - -<p>“But, I say,” exclaimed Hugh in alarm, “you’re -not really going to do that?”</p> - -<p>“You watch me!”</p> - -<p>“Well, but—I say, now, look here a sec! I<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_208"></a>[208]</span> -give you my word that bill will be paid this week, -and——”</p> - -<p>“You said tomorrow.”</p> - -<p>“I’m almost certain it will be tomorrow, but -my—my mother is away from home and I fancy -she hasn’t got my telegram, don’t you know.”</p> - -<p>“Well, tomorrow ain’t going to do—don’t you -know! I’ve given you time enough on this, Winslow. -You ain’t—you ain’t square with me. -That’s what I don’t like. You’ve promised and -promised. You begged me not to send the bill -to your folks, and I didn’t. But times are hard -and we need the money. What’s more we intend -to have it.” Mr. Fallow moved ponderously toward -the door. “I’m square with folks that are -square with me, son; no one can’t say I don’t treat -’em fair; but I ain’t no one’s fool.”</p> - -<p>“No, indeed, sir; anyone could see that, Mr. -Fallow.” Hugh was thinking hard. “I say, -would—would six dollars be any use to you?”</p> - -<p>Mr. Fallow snorted. “It would not! Nor sixteen -dollars! Nor—nor twenty-six dollars! I -want thirty-four dollars and sixty cents. That’s -what I want and that’s what I intend to have. If -you can pay me that now, all right. If you can’t, -say so. I can’t waste any more time here.”</p> - -<p>“Well, but, that’s a lot of money to get hold -of on short notice,” said Hugh ingratiatingly.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_209"></a>[209]</span> -“Suppose now I scrape up, say, twenty dollars, -eh? And then pay the rest this week.”</p> - -<p>Mr. Fallow hesitated and frowned deeply. “If -you’ve got twenty why can’t you get hold of the -rest?” he asked finally.</p> - -<p>“I haven’t got twenty, sir. I’ve got only six. -But I fancy I may be able to scrape up the rest if -you’ll give me a few minutes.”</p> - -<p>“Well—I—all right.” Mr. Fallow reseated -himself. “But, mind you, I won’t take a cent less -than twenty. And I ain’t going to stick around -here all afternoon, either. You get a move on, -son.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll be as quick as I know how, sir. You’ll -find some magazines on that table there. Just—just -make yourself comfortable, sir.”</p> - -<p>Mr. Fallow grunted.</p> - -<p>A minute later there was a sharp knock on -Cathcart’s door and in response to his “Come -in!” Hugh entered.</p> - -<p>“Hello, Hugh,” greeted the occupant of the -window-seat. “Why aren’t you——”</p> - -<p>“Don’t ask any questions, Wal! I want some -money. All you can spare, please. I’ll pay you -back before the end of the week.”</p> - -<p>“Money!” Cathcart blinked. “Why, the fact -is——”</p> - -<p>“I know! You’re going to tell me you’ve got<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_210"></a>[210]</span> -only a couple of dollars. That’s all right, old -chap. I’ll take it, and thank you.”</p> - -<p>“I’ve got about five, I guess, Hugh. What—what’s -up?”</p> - -<p>“I’ll tell you later. I’m in a beast of a hurry. -Dig it up, will you? Better keep out fifty cents -or so, because I might not be able to hand it back -before Friday or Saturday.”</p> - -<p>Cathcart’s countenance expressed bewilderment -as he floundered to his feet and crossed to the -dresser. But he obediently handed over the contents -of a pigskin purse.</p> - -<p>“Ripping!” said Hugh approvingly. “How -much? Five and a quarter? That’s eleven. I -say, keep a note of the amount, will you? Shall -I take it all?”</p> - -<p>Cathcart nodded. “I shan’t need any, I guess. -Only,” he added plaintively, “I wish you’d tell -me what it’s all about!”</p> - -<p>“Later,” replied Hugh, making for the door. -“Thanks awfully, old chap! So long.”</p> - -<p>As he had feared, Guy Murtha was not at -home, and, after making certain that Guy had not -conveniently left any change lying around in sight, -Hugh hurried out again. Ned Stiles roomed in -Trow, and thither Hugh went. He didn’t know -Stiles very intimately, but he wasn’t going to let -that fact interfere if only he was so fortunate as<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_211"></a>[211]</span> -to find Stiles in. But it was a gorgeous afternoon -and Stiles, like most everyone else, was out. Disappointed, -Hugh paused in the silent corridor and -tried to think of someone else to apply to. But -since most of his acquaintances were engaged in -some form of athletics and would consequently -be away from their rooms the problem suddenly -looked extremely difficult. Then he remembered -the office. He had never attempted to get money -there and didn’t know how his request would -be received, but he clattered down the stairs and -sought out the secretary, Mr. Pounder, a gentleman -whom he had spoken to but once and then -but briefly, the occasion being the payment of -Hugh’s fall term tuition fee. Mr. Pounder was -small, light-haired and blue-eyed, sharp-featured -and dry of voice. He received Hugh’s request -coldly.</p> - -<p>“Without instructions from parent or guardian, -Ordway, we do not advance sums of money to -students, and in your case I believe that we have -not been—ah—so instructed. I am correct, am -I not?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir, but I need some money very badly, -and there isn’t time to get it from home, and I -thought maybe you’d be willing to make a loan. -I could pay it back by Saturday surely.”</p> - -<p>“I have no authority, Ordway. You might<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_212"></a>[212]</span> -see Dr. Duncan or Mr. Rumford. Possibly——”</p> - -<p>“I don’t believe there’s time. Where could I -find Dr. Duncan?”</p> - -<p>“I presume they will inform you at his house -where he is to be seen, Ordway.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, piffle! All right, sir.” Hugh vanished, -leaving a surprised and somewhat shocked Mr. -Pounder in possession of the room.</p> - -<p>Turning into the main corridor Hugh very -nearly collided with Mr. Crump, the janitor. Mr. -Crump was a sharp-visaged man of some fifty -years, with a leathery face, a pair of gimlet-like -eyes behind old-fashioned steel-rimmed spectacles, -and a thin, querulous voice. He was not popular -with the fellows, nor can it be said that the fellows -were popular with Mr. Crump. In Mr. Crump’s -belief the students spent their waking hours devising -ways to create dirt and dust in the -School Hall. Hugh, however, knew little of the -janitor. He had seen him about the building occasionally, -had sometimes nodded to him, and -had learned his name. Just now Mr. Crump -was a possible friend in need, and Hugh, paying -no heed to the man’s grumbles, cut off his advance.</p> - -<p>“I say, Mr. Crump,” he exclaimed eagerly, -“have you any money?”</p> - -<p>Mr. Crump, suspecting that he was to be made<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_213"></a>[213]</span> -the butt of some silly joke, responded shortly and -pithily.</p> - -<p>“No! Get out o’ my way!”</p> - -<p>“Haven’t you, honestly? I’m in a beastly fix, -Mr. Crump. I’ve got to get hold of five dollars -somewhere. I tried Mr. Pounder and he -wouldn’t loosen up a bit. I’d pay it back by -Saturday, cross my heart!”</p> - -<p>Mr. Crump grasped his broom more firmly, -straightened his bent back and observed the boy -with pardonable amazement. As long as he had -been with the school, and that was many years, -no one had ever tried to borrow money from him. -Perhaps it pleased his sense of importance or perhaps -something of earnestness in Hugh’s voice -appealed to him, for after a moment’s scrutiny -he asked quite mildly:</p> - -<p>“What’s your name?”</p> - -<p>“Ordway.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, you’re the English boy, be you? And -you’ve got to have five dollars, have you? Ain’t -any of your friends got that much?”</p> - -<p>“I dare say, but they’re all over at the field, -and I’ve got to have the money right off, within -a few minutes. I can’t explain, but that’s the -way it is. I say, I’d be jolly glad to pay you six -for the loan of five until Saturday.”</p> - -<p>“Would you now? I want to know! How do<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_214"></a>[214]</span> -I know I’d get it, eh?” Mr. Crump chuckled. -“Five dollars is a sight of money for a poor man -to risk.”</p> - -<p>“But I tell you I’d pay you back!”</p> - -<p>“Oh, you do, eh? I been told things before in -my life, young man.”</p> - -<p>Hugh flushed and turned away. “If you think -my word isn’t good I don’t care to borrow, -thanks,” he said offendedly.</p> - -<p>“Well, hold on now! I ain’t said I wouldn’t, -have I? What you so het up about?”</p> - -<p>“I don’t like to have you insinuate that I don’t -keep my word, that’s all.”</p> - -<p>“Tut, tut! Goodness me, but you’re a queer -one! Five dollars, you said? Four wouldn’t do -you?”</p> - -<p>“I’ve got to make up twenty, Mr. Crump, and -I’ve got eleven. I’ll be glad of four, of course, -but I don’t know where I’m to get the rest. I -tell you!” Hugh pulled his gold watch from his -pocket and placed it, with the attached fob, in -Mr. Crump’s hand. “That’s worth over a hundred. -Would you very much mind letting me -have nine dollars on it? I’d redeem it Saturday -at the latest. I say, do that for me, will you?”</p> - -<p>Mr. Crump looked admiringly at the watch. -“My land, but that is a nice watch, ain’t it now? -And a coat-of-arms on it, too! Worth a hundred,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_215"></a>[215]</span> -be it? I want to know! Well, I dare say -it is. Here.”</p> - -<p>He handed it back and Hugh accepted it disappointedly. -“You won’t?” asked the boy. “If -I shouldn’t come for it you could easily get fifty -for it.”</p> - -<p>“Could I now? Sakes alive, young man, I -ain’t no pawnbroker! My folks has lived in this -county for a hundred and seventy years. One of -my ancestors fought with General Putnam; fought -against you British he did. Here, you wait just -where you be a minute. I’ll be back.”</p> - -<p>Mr. Crump leaned his broom against the wall -and shuffled away down the corridor until he came -to the basement door. After that Hugh could -hear his footsteps clap-clapping down the stairs. -Then there was silence, save for the clatter of a -typewriter in the office at the end of the hall. -Hugh looked at his watch and made a grimace of -despair. It was nearly four o’clock! He wondered -whether Mr. Crowley would put him to a -lingering death or would dispatch him quickly and -mercifully! Then Mr. Crump came back.</p> - -<p>“Here you be, young man,” he said importantly. -“There’s nine dollars.” He counted them -slowly into Hugh’s hand, two twos and five ones, -all very soiled and creased. “I’m expecting you -to pay it back to me like you said, because——<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_216"></a>[216]</span> -But I know you will,” he ended hurriedly. “I -ain’t doubting your word, mind. I can see you -ain’t like the rest of these scallywags here. Maybe -it’s because you’re an Englishman and have more -sense of decency.”</p> - -<p>“I say, I can’t begin to tell you how—how -grateful I am,” said Hugh. “It’s perfectly ripping -of you, Mr. Crump, and I’m no end obliged! -I’ll pay it back to you just as soon as ever I can, -by Saturday surely. Thanks awfully!”</p> - -<p>“You’re welcome, sir, you’re quite welcome. -If it comes to that, I guess the losing of it wouldn’t -cripple me none. There’s—hm—I got a bit more -put away in the bank.”</p> - -<p>Hugh found Mr. Fallow standing in front of -the photograph of Lockley Manor, his derby hat -clasped behind him and an unlighted cigar protruding -from under one end of that enormous -mustache.</p> - -<p>“Get it?” he asked as Hugh closed the door -behind him.</p> - -<p>“Yes.” Hugh pulled the money from his -pocket and laid it on the table. Then he went -into his room and returned with his own contribution -of six dollars. “There it is, Mr. Fallow. -Twenty dollars. You might count it, eh? And -I dare say you’d better give me some sort of a -receipt if you don’t mind.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_217"></a>[217]</span></p> - -<p>“Quite a business man, you are,” chuckled Mr. -Fallow, seemingly restored to good humor by the -money. “I’ll credit the amount on the bill here. -There you are. Balance due, fourteen and sixty. -Sorry to have to seem a bit pushing, Mr. Winslow, -but in my business——”</p> - -<p>“By the way, what is your business?” asked -Hugh.</p> - -<p>“Eh? My business? Well, don’t you know -what you bought from me?”</p> - -<p>Hugh shook his head. “I buy so much, you -see,” he replied carelessly. “Boots, wasn’t it?”</p> - -<p>“Clothes. A blue serge suit and a pair of flannel -trousers. It’s set down there on the bill. -Look here, you don’t mean that you’ve forgotten -getting them, do you?”</p> - -<p>“Quite.” Hugh yawned. “One buys a good -many suits in the course of a year, you know.” -He moved toward the door. “Sorry to hurry -you, Mr. Fallow, but I’ve got an appointment.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, that’s all right.” The man pocketed the -money and buttoned his coat across that gaudy -vest. “But, look here now, we don’t want any -hard feelings over this—this little matter. We’d -be sorry to lose your trade, Mr. Winslow, we -would so. You don’t need to hurry none about -that little balance. Just you take your time. And -if you want anything in our line just you let us<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_218"></a>[218]</span> -know. Always glad to serve you. I guess now, -that suit you’re wearing the trousers of didn’t -come from us, did it?”</p> - -<p>“No, it happened to come from London; Ponderberry’s.”</p> - -<p>“Is that so?” Mr. Fallow bent and examined -the trousers with vast interest. There was a trace -of awe in his voice as he nodded and whispered: -“Nice stuff, nice, nice!”</p> - -<p>“You’ll get the rest of that this week, Mr. Fallow,” -said Hugh, opening the door invitingly. -“As I said before, I’m sorry to hurry you, -but——”</p> - -<p>“That’s all right, Mr. Winslow, quite all right. -I understand.” Mr. Fallow moved ponderously -but quickly to the door. On the threshold, however, -he stopped and fumbled in a pocket. “Just -so you won’t forget us, Mr. Winslow,” he said -with a smirk. “Our card, sir. We’ve got a nice -line of woolens just arrived. Glad to have you -look ’em over any time.”</p> - -<p>“Thanks awfully. Good day.” Then, with -the door half-closed, Hugh added: “Oh, I say, -Mr. Fallow!”</p> - -<p>“Yes?”</p> - -<p>“I wish you’d tell me something if you don’t -mind. It’s been bothering me a bit.”</p> - -<p>“Why, certainly, anything I can tell you——”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_219"></a>[219]</span></p> - -<p>“Yes; well, is that real or does it—er—come -off?”</p> - -<p>“What?” inquired Mr. Fallow blankly.</p> - -<p>“Why, that—that—” Hugh made a vague gesture—“that -thing on your lip.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! Ha, ha, very good!” Mr. Fallow -laughed wanly. “Good—good afternoon.”</p> - -<p>“Good afternoon,” said Hugh sweetly.</p> - -<p>Afterwards, hurrying across the green, he said -to himself: “It was a bit caddish, and no mistake, -but after what he put me through he certainly -owed me something!”</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_220"></a>[220]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII<br /> -<small>BENCHED</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p class="cap">Hugh remembered his reception by Mr. -Crowley for many days. Practice was -just over when he reached the scene and -the two teams were resting for a few minutes -before the scrimmage. Mr. Crowley, looking -fiercer and more disreputable than usual in the -old gray trousers and faded green sweater he -wore, was talking to Coach Bonner near the bench. -Hugh had every desire in the world to avoid -speech with him, but he disdained sneaking to the -bench and so his appearance was quickly noted.</p> - -<p>“Ordway!” Mr. Crowley left the first-team -coach and walked to meet the culprit. “Let me -see you a minute.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir,” replied Hugh, very, very meekly.</p> - -<p>“Aren’t you a trifle late?” asked the coach sarcastically.</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir, I am. I’m very sorry, but something -unforeseen——”</p> - -<p>“Yes, yes, of course! Grandmother died, -maybe. Too bad, too bad!”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_221"></a>[221]</span></p> - -<p>“No, sir, I—someone called——”</p> - -<p>“And you had to stay and serve afternoon tea? -What a bore!” Mr. Crowley’s bantering tone -ceased abruptly. “Look here, Ordway, practice -is at three-thirty. I told you when I let you come -back that you were to stick. You’re not keeping -your part of the agreement. Unless you were -detained by the faculty, in which case you should -have notified me, you have no excuse whatsoever. -I don’t want any fellows here who can’t be on -time. Life’s too short to worry about them. -Understand that?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir. It won’t happen again, Mr. Crowley.”</p> - -<p>“It certainly won’t!” growled the coach. He -held Hugh with a baleful gaze for a moment. -Then: “What I ought to do with you is to tell -you to clear your locker, Ordway. Got any good -reason to advance why I shouldn’t?”</p> - -<p>“Why, yes, sir. I didn’t intend to be late and -I won’t be late again. There was no way of -notifying you or I’d have done it. I—I’m no -end sorry, sir.”</p> - -<p>“Hm; regrets aren’t reasons, Ordway. Well, -all right. But I’m hanged if I know why I’m -bothering with you anyway. I don’t need you. -What the dickens Hanrihan wished you on me -for, I don’t know! Do you?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_222"></a>[222]</span></p> - -<p>Hugh wisely remained silent.</p> - -<p>“Well, I shan’t want you this afternoon. You -take the bench and watch. See if you can get -your signals straightened out. Try to forget -your social interests for a while!”</p> - -<p>Hugh walked to the bench very conscious of -the amused expressions on the faces of his team-mates. -He tried to look unruffled, but he knew -that his cheeks were red, and when Brewster -Longley, tossing a ball in his hands, met Hugh’s -glance and drawled, “Hello, Royalty, old top! -Was the blighter rude to you, what? My word, -we’ll cut his bloomin’ acquaintance!” Hugh felt -angry enough to fight. But he only squirmed in -between Brunswick and Hersum and attentively -studied his hands. Then the coaches called and -the benches emptied, and Hugh, with a half-dozen -other unfortunates, snuggled miserably into his -sweater and philosophically tried to accept his -fate.</p> - -<p>But it was hard luck, he thought, and while he -couldn’t conscientiously blame Mr. Crowley for -being wroth, it did seem to him that the “calling -down” was punishment enough without dooming -him to sit there on the bench and lose a whole -afternoon’s work. So absorbed was he in self-pity -and a mild resentment that he quite forgot -about Mr. Fallow and his recent activities and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_223"></a>[223]</span> -was only reminded of them when someone took -the seat beside him and a sympathetic voice inquired: -“Isn’t he going to let you play, Hugh?” -Hugh glanced up and shook his head. “Not today, -Bert.”</p> - -<p>“Too bad! He’s a regular Turk, anyway. -What made you late?”</p> - -<p>Hugh smiled. “Mr. Fallow.”</p> - -<p>“<em>What?</em> You don’t mean——”</p> - -<p>“Yes, I do, old chap. He came to the room -just as I was starting over here.”</p> - -<p>“Great Scott! Did—did the money come? -But of course it didn’t! Was he mad? What -did he say? He didn’t—didn’t go to Charlie, did -he?” Bert’s anxiety was so great that Hugh, -although tempted, didn’t have the heart to prolong -his suspense.</p> - -<p>“It’s all right, Bert. I paid him twenty dollars -and he’s gone home quite satisfied. In fact, he -said I—that is, you needn’t hurry with the rest -of it, and that if you want any more togs all you’ve -got to do is let him know.”</p> - -<p>“But where did you ever get twenty dollars?” -gasped Bert.</p> - -<p>Hugh laughed. “Borrowed it, of course. I -had six myself, Cathcart loaned me five, and Mr. -Crump nine.”</p> - -<p>“Mr. Crump! <em>Mr. Crump?</em> Are you crazy?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_224"></a>[224]</span></p> - -<p>“No, only exhausted.”</p> - -<p>“But you don’t mean Mr. Crump, the janitor?”</p> - -<p>“Yes I do, old chap. I fancy it was rather a -funny thing to do, but, you see, I didn’t know -who else to ask. Everyone was out and Mr. -Pounder turned me down and I happened to run -into Mr. Crump in School Hall. He was very -decent about it. I offered to let him have my -watch and fob for security but he said his grandfather -or grandmother or someone fought with -General Putnam, and wouldn’t take it. I didn’t -quite see what that had to do with it, though, do -you?”</p> - -<p>“Old Crump!” marveled Bert. “I didn’t suppose -he had nine dollars to his name!”</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes. And he rather hinted that he had a -lot more. I dare say janiting is quite—quite -profitable.”</p> - -<p>“And Cathcart loaned you five? I sort of wish -you hadn’t gone to him, Hugh.”</p> - -<p>“There wasn’t much choice,” replied Hugh -drily. “I dare say if you’d been there you’d have -managed better, but——”</p> - -<p>“I didn’t mean that,” said Bert quickly. “I -think you did finely, and I’m awfully much -obliged, Hugh. I only meant that—well, Wal -and I aren’t awfully good friends and—did you -tell him what it was for?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_225"></a>[225]</span></p> - -<p>“No, there wasn’t time. I told him I’d explain -later.”</p> - -<p>“Well, don’t if you can help it. You see, he’s -a proctor and if he heard I’d been running bills -he might think he had to report me. He’s most -frightfully conscientious nowadays.”</p> - -<p>“I hadn’t thought of that,” said Hugh, “but -I don’t believe he would. I’ll keep you out of it, -though, if you’d rather.”</p> - -<p>“What did Fallow say? Was he ugly?”</p> - -<p>Whereupon, while the first and second teams -battered each other up and down the field, Hugh -recounted the whole adventure for his friend’s -benefit, and Bert, alternately amused and alarmed, -listened with flattering attention. At the end he -said, after a long breath of relief: “Hugh, you’re -a corker! And a wonder! I couldn’t have got -away with it like that to save my life! And I’m -awfully much obliged, old man. I—I hope I’ll -be able to do as much for you some time.”</p> - -<p>“It wasn’t anything,” returned Hugh. “In -fact, it was rather good fun; or it would have -been if I hadn’t known all the time that I was -getting in wrong with Mr. Crowley. Mr. Fallow -was quite amusing. I say, Bert, <em>have</em> you seen -his mustache? It—it’s perfectly weird. I was -so fascinated by it that I just had to stand there -and stare!”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_226"></a>[226]</span></p> - -<p>“I don’t remember,” murmured Bert. Then, -after a moment: “Look here, though, if that -money doesn’t come from your folks we’ll be in -a mess, won’t we? I don’t honestly believe I’ll -be able to scrape it all up before Christmas. I’ve -got about four dollars and, of course, I’ll have -ten more the first of the month, but——”</p> - -<p>“Oh, that money will come today or tomorrow,” -comforted Hugh. “Then I’ll settle up with -Mr. Crump and Wallace Cathcart.”</p> - -<p>“But I’ll be owing it to you then,” said Bert -in troubled voice. “I guess it was pretty cheeky -to go to you for it, anyway, but I was so worried -about that man Fallow that I didn’t know what -to do. If he’d got to faculty I’d been fired like -a shot.”</p> - -<p>“You needn’t worry about owing it to me,” said -Hugh with a shrug. “I don’t need it. Anyhow, -it’s the mater’s and she won’t mind if she never -gets it. How’s the rib?”</p> - -<p>“All right, I suppose. Davy says I can’t get -back before next week, though. Last year he -fixed Musgrave’s broken collar bone up for him -so he was playing inside of ten days. I don’t see -why he needs to be so plaguy fussy about an old -rib.”</p> - -<p>“My word, you didn’t expect to get back today, -did you?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_227"></a>[227]</span></p> - -<p>“No, but I thought they’d let me play Saturday -against Hollywood. I’m going with the team, -though, anyway. You coming along?”</p> - -<p>“Can’t say, old chap. If Crowley doesn’t forgive -me I fancy I might as well be there as here. -If he does I dare say we’ll have practice just the -same. <em>Ouch!</em>”</p> - -<p>“What’s the matter?”</p> - -<p>“Nothing, only Hanser dropped the ball then -and Nick’s got it. He’s clever at squirming -through, isn’t he? It looked as if he got right -between Longley’s legs! That gives first a ripping -chance to score,” he added anxiously. “They -must be on our twenty yards. I say, what sort of -a chap is Longley, Bert?”</p> - -<p>“Brew? Why, he’s pretty good. I thought -Bonner would have him on the first this year. He -would have, too, if Willard hadn’t showed up -so well before school opened.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, I know he’s a good center, but is he—well, -is he a gentleman?”</p> - -<p>“A gentleman?” Bert looked surprised. “Depends -on what you mean, I guess, by gentleman, -Hugh. I don’t suppose you’d call him that. I -think his father’s a contractor or something in -Springfield or somewhere.”</p> - -<p>“I didn’t mean that. I meant is he considered -a—well, do you like him?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_228"></a>[228]</span></p> - -<p>“Like Brew Longley? N-no, not particularly. -I don’t know him very well. I guess he’s all right, -though. Why?”</p> - -<p>“Well, he seems to have it in for me, don’t you -know. He’s made a couple of—what do you call -them, now?—a couple of ‘cracks’ that I didn’t -like. I wondered whether he did it because he -didn’t know any better or because he was just -naturally a cad.”</p> - -<p>“What sort of cracks?” asked Bert.</p> - -<p>“Oh, he calls me ‘Royalty’ and things like that, -and talks like a silly ass on the stage, if you know -what I mean, and is really rather insolent. I -fancy he tries to make fun of the way I talk, -eh?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, that’s nothing to get huffy about,” -laughed Bert. “He probably thinks he’s being -humorous. You see, Duke, you’re sort of a novelty -to us. I guess Longley doesn’t know your -sort.”</p> - -<p>“That’s all right,” returned Hugh gravely. -“But he mustn’t be too humorous or I’ll just have -to punch his head.”</p> - -<p>“He’d make one mouthful of you,” laughed -Bert.</p> - -<p>“Oh, well, I couldn’t help that. I’m not awfully -thin-skinned, I fancy, but I don’t like Longley’s -kind of humor. As the chap says in the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_229"></a>[229]</span> -song, ‘It isn’t what he says, it’s the nasty way he -says it!’”</p> - -<p>“Oh, don’t mind Brew, kid; he’s harmless. I -guess he doesn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”</p> - -<p>“Well, that’s all right. I certainly don’t want -trouble, but I might lose my temper some day. -He can’t expect me to stick it forever. There -they go! Keyes is over! That right side of our -line is a bit sketchy. They didn’t half fool Bowen -then.”</p> - -<p>“We’re giving it to you on the twenty. Say, -was Dinny awfully cross?”</p> - -<p>“Rather waxy. Talked a lot of sarcasm. Advised -me to forget my social obligations or something -like that.”</p> - -<p>“I’m awfully sorry, chum. It was my fault. I -wish Fallow would—would choke or——”</p> - -<p>“Fall into his mustache and get lost,” suggested -Hugh. “I wonder if I’ll ever be able to raise one -like that. Sometime we’ll go over to Needham -and pretend we want a suit. I’d like you to see -that mustache, Bert.”</p> - -<p>“It seems to have made a big impression on -you,” Bert laughed.</p> - -<p>Hugh nodded soberly. “It did. It—it’s awe-inspiring, -colossal, epochal—er——”</p> - -<p>“That’ll be about all! Half’s over. I guess -I’ll go back to the other bench. See you later,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_230"></a>[230]</span> -Hugh. Hope Dinny will let you in this half.”</p> - -<p>“He won’t. He doesn’t love me a bit today. -As Mr. Smiley would say, ‘Non sum qualis -eram.’”</p> - -<p>“You’re a silly ass,” laughed Bert. “Put that -into Latin!”</p> - -<p>Hugh’s prophecy proved correct. Mr. Crowley -did not relent. Nor did he once appear even -to recall Hugh’s existence. And after the game -was over and first team had won by two touchdowns—no -goals were attempted—Hugh followed -the others up to the field house and changed, -denying himself, however, a shower since he had -certainly not earned it, and then proceeded rather -disconsolately back to Lothrop to find three messages -in the O-P pigeon-hole of the letter box in -the first floor corridor. Some obliging person -had written the telegrams down in his absence. -The first was from his mother in Philadelphia -explaining that an unexpected visit to friends in -the country had delayed her reception of his message -and saying that the money had been sent and -that she hoped the delay had not mattered. Another -was from the telegraph office requesting -him to call and receipt for a sum of money, and -the third, rather incoherent, was from an evidently -greatly perturbed Bowles. Hugh showed -them to Bert when the latter came in.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_231"></a>[231]</span></p> - -<p>“Mother says she has sent thirty,” said Hugh, -“instead of twenty-five, so we’ll be in funds again, -eh? Poor old Bowles is all upset. It rather -sounds as if he meant to come right up here and -rescue me from something. I fancy I’d best send -him a wire and calm him down. If Bowles ever -tried to travel anywhere by himself he’d get lost -as sure as shooting, poor old chap!”</p> - -<p>Bert smiled as he read Bowles’ message. “My -lady left Thursday for New York. We have no -address. Expect back Wednesday. If anything -we can do Master Hugh please telegraph immediate. -Could leave on one hour notice. Bowles.”</p> - -<p>“You’d better send him a wire, Hugh, or he -will be walking in on us. Queer idea to call your -mother ‘my lady.’ Mighty nice and respectful, -though. At home the servants always call my -mother ‘the missus’! You’ll have to beat it down -to the village tomorrow and get the tin. I’ll -go along, if you like. It’s mighty decent of her -to send that extra five. I wish my folks had -those pretty thoughts. It’s like pulling teeth to -get a dollar more than my allowance from dad!”</p> - -<p>“Tell you what we’ll do with that pound,” said -Hugh, looking up from the telegram he was -formulating for the troubled Bowles. “We’ll -buy some tuck and have a feast up here tomorrow -night. What do you say?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_232"></a>[232]</span></p> - -<p>Bert looked wistful, but shook his head. “You -forget that we’re in training, old man,” he said -regretfully.</p> - -<p>“That’s so. We couldn’t, I fancy. Well, we’ll -postpone the party until after the Mount Morris -game. It’s a long old time to wait, though, -what?”</p> - -<p>“Rotten,” agreed Bert. “Besides, that fiver -will be spent long before that.”</p> - -<p>“No, it won’t. Or, if it is, there’ll be another. -There, that ought to settle Bowles. ‘Mother -heard from. Everything hunky here. Unpack -your bag.’ That’s only nine words, though, and -I can send ten, can’t I?”</p> - -<p>“You can send fifty if you make it a night letter.”</p> - -<p>“Great Scott, Bowles <em>would</em> come then! I -know; I’ll just add ‘Boosh.’”</p> - -<p>“Add what?”</p> - -<p>“‘Boosh.’”</p> - -<p>“What’s that?”</p> - -<p>“Blessed if I know,” chuckled Hugh. “Neither -will Bowles, and it’ll give him something to study -on a bit.” Hugh added “Ordway” to his message -and laid it aside until supper time. When -one lived on the fourth floor of Lothrop one -didn’t make unnecessary trips over the stairs!</p> - -<p>The next morning the two boys hurried to the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_233"></a>[233]</span> -village after their French recitation and secured -the money, and later Hugh paid his debts to -Cathcart and Mr. Crump, and Bert dispatched a -money order to Fallon and Turner. Hugh managed -to appease Cathcart’s curiosity without involving -Bert’s name, although he had a suspicion -that Cathcart remained rather puzzled. Mr. -Crump seemed disappointed at being paid back -so soon and almost insisted that Hugh should -keep the money longer. But Hugh finally satisfied -him with a solemn promise to come to him -again should he ever find himself in similar financial -difficulties, and Mr. Crump, after going into -the history of his family at some length and with -much detail, tucked the bills in the pocket of his -overalls, shouldered his broom and wandered on.</p> - -<p>That afternoon Mr. Crowley summoned Hugh -into the line-up as though the late unpleasantness -had never been and Hugh played through two -twelve-minute periods with so much credit that he -noticed afterwards a thoughtful and speculative -look on the countenance of Hanser.</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_234"></a>[234]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX<br /> -<small>BEHIND THE BOATHOUSE</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p class="cap">On Thursday Coach Bonner did what the -members of the first squad had been expecting -him to do for nearly a week. -That is, he had what Nick called “his annual mid-season -spasm.” Declaring that the fellows had -apparently forgotten the very rudiments of football, -he announced no scrimmage and prescribed -an afternoon of “kindergarten stuff.” The -words are again Nick’s. The tackling dummy, of -late more or less neglected, spent the most strenuous -afternoon of its fall career. It was banged -and thumped and ground in the loam until had it -possessed a head, which it didn’t, its countenance -must have proclaimed tragic distress. Not satisfied -with a full three-quarters of an hour of tackling, -Mr. Bonner put his charges at other degrading -labors; passing, starting, crawling, pushing -the “tumbrel.” The “tumbrel” was a wooden -platform with what looked like a section of fence -erected along one side. The top rail of the -“fence” was padded and covered with canvas.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_235"></a>[235]</span> -The whole contrivance was some ten feet in length -and under it were two wooden rollers. The linesmen, -five at a time, alternately stood on the platform -to weight the “tumbrel” down and pushed -against the padded rail. The affair was officially -known as the charging machine, but its operators, -perhaps with the carts which bore victims to the -guillotine during the French Revolution in mind, -called it the “tumbrel.” Possibly it is unnecessary -to add that it was just about as popular with -them as the other vehicle was with its occupants.</p> - -<p>Mr. Bonner gave an excellent imitation of a -slave driver that Thursday afternoon, even looking -the rôle as well as acting it. Simon Legree, -cracking his whip in a performance of “Uncle -Tom’s Cabin,” was a genial, mild-mannered gentleman -by comparison. After the others were dismissed -he exhibited an absolutely medieval cruelty -by keeping the punters and drop-kickers at work -until it was too dark to tell a ball from a head-guard.</p> - -<p>The second team, with no scrimmage to take -part in, was dismissed a half hour earlier than -usual. Most of the members hurried from the -scene, but a few heartless ones stood about and -gloated over the sufferings of their antagonists. -One of these was Brewster Longley, and he and -Ned Musgrave, center on the first, and a natural<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_236"></a>[236]</span> -rival, almost came to blows on one occasion when -Ned took exception to one of Longley’s humorous -gibes. Davy thereupon “shooed” the idlers away -from the side-lines in a fine flow of English -strongly tinctured with Welsh brogue.</p> - -<p>Perhaps Longley resented having his pleasure -cut short and perhaps his resentment was accountable -for what happened when he met Hugh and -Peet in front of the field house. Peet, although -engaged in remorseless rivalry with Hugh for a -half-back position on the second, had taken rather -a violent liking to him and was becoming somewhat -of a nuisance, although Hugh didn’t let Peet -suspect it. Peet was an upper middle fellow, a -few months younger than Hugh and extremely -uninteresting. He seldom ventured an original -remark on any subject, confining his conversational -contributions to frequent giggles which -Hugh was beginning to find irritatingly monotonous. -Today Hugh had lingered long over his -shower and dressing in the hope that Peet would -take his departure. But no such luck, for there -was the other boy awaiting him when he was -ready to go, and they passed out of the building -together and almost into the arms of Longley and -Bowen, the latter right guard on the second and -rather a crony of Longley’s.</p> - -<p>Hugh murmured an apology for his share in<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_237"></a>[237]</span> -the narrowly averted collision and Peet laughed -his inane giggle. Bowen nodded and pushed past, -but Brewster Longley seized Hugh’s arm and -swung him round. “Hey there, my cockney -friend!” he exclaimed. “Want the whole place -to yourself?”</p> - -<p>Hugh had a peculiar aversion to being -“pawed,” as he termed it. Even if Bert, of whom -he was really fond, laid a hand on his shoulder, -Hugh was uncomfortable until it was removed. -Longley’s unexpected and unwelcome familiarity -exasperated him instantly, and it was that grasp -of his arm and not the words accompanying it -which sent the blood to his cheeks and made him -wrench himself indignantly away.</p> - -<p>“Hands off, please,” he said. Tone and manner -were distinctly haughty, and Longley flared -up at once.</p> - -<p>“Oh, mama! Don’t touch me, I’m ticklish! -Why, you blooming British ass, don’t you try any -of your high-and-mighty airs on me or I’ll slap -you on the wrist and break your watch!”</p> - -<p>Peet giggled, and then, possibly realizing that -appreciation of Longley’s joke savored of treachery -to Hugh, passed into a fit of coughing. That -giggle was the last straw to Hugh’s exasperation.</p> - -<p>“I’ve had more than enough of your sort of -humor, Longley,” he said hotly, “and I don’t propose<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_238"></a>[238]</span> -to stick it any longer. You steer clear of -me after this or——”</p> - -<p>“Or what?” demanded the other, thrusting his -face close to Hugh’s. “What will you do, kid? -Go on, tell me! What’ll you do? Prick me with -a hatpin?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, let him alone, Brew,” interposed Bowen, -who had so far observed proceedings with amusement. -“We don’t want any international complications.” -He winked at Hugh. “Don’t want the -British navy over here blowing us up!”</p> - -<p>“The British navy couldn’t blow a bubble up,” -jeered Longley. “Britishers are all bluff. Get -that, Ordway? Just bluff and—and swank! You -wouldn’t hurt a——”</p> - -<p>“Take your face away from me,” interrupted -Hugh. “I don’t like it. It’s beastly unattractive.”</p> - -<p>“Unattractive!” sputtered Longley. “Unat—why, -you poor cockney huckster, I’ve a good -mind to punch your silly nose!”</p> - -<p>“Try it!” said Hugh quietly.</p> - -<p>Longley accepted the invitation, but Bowen -jumped in and seized the back-drawn arm. “Cut -it out, Brew! You can’t fight here! Come on -along!”</p> - -<p>“Can’t I?” demanded Longley, struggling to -get his arm away. “I’ll show you whether I can<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_239"></a>[239]</span> -or not! He can’t call me names and get away -with it! I’ll—I’ll——”</p> - -<p>“I’m ready to fight you wherever you say,” declared -Hugh eagerly. “And if you aren’t a coward -you’ll fight, too.”</p> - -<p>“Better not, Ordway,” cautioned Peet nervously, -for once forgetting to giggle. “He—he -can lick you, I guess.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I’ll fight you, all right,” Longley was saying. -“And I’ll make you wish you’d stuck at -home with the other English dubs. Come on -down to the boathouse if you want to get what’s -coming to you!”</p> - -<p>“Right-o,” responded Hugh calmly. “I say, -Peet, nip it, like a good chap, will you?”</p> - -<p>“Nip what?” gasped Peet.</p> - -<p>“Toddle, run along,” elaborated Hugh impatiently.</p> - -<p>“N-no, sir, I’m going with you, Ordway, but -you’re a fool to fight Longley. Listen, won’t -you? He can lick you easily. Why, he’s bigger -than you and older and—and he knows how to -fight, too! Let’s—let’s beat it!”</p> - -<p>But Hugh was already stalking along behind -Longley and Bowen, and Peet’s remonstrances -fell on deaf ears. Bowen appeared to be rather -half-heartedly trying to persuade Longley to turn -back, but wasn’t meeting with success. Longley’s<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_240"></a>[240]</span> -big shoulders shrugged impatiently and Hugh -heard him say: “Didn’t he call my face unattractive? -Well, then!” And Bowen’s reply: -“So it is, you silly chump, and what’s the good -of scrapping about it?” Peet pegged along at -Hugh’s elbow, at once excited and alarmed, hazarding -an occasional remonstrance and giggling -nervously between. Hugh wished him at the bottom -of the river!</p> - -<p>The quartette passed the end of the gridiron, -on which the unfortunate first team members were -still toiling monotonously, crossed the practice -field and finally reached the boathouse. Fortunately -for their undertaking, there was no -one inside nor about the landing, and Bowen -led the way around the corner of the old building -to where a piece of fairly level sward -sloped to the river almost in the shadow of the -bridge.</p> - -<p>“Now go to it, you idiots,” he said indifferently, -“if you have to. But if I sing out, beat it! -For I don’t intend to get yanked up before -Charlie, even if you do.”</p> - -<p>Longley tossed his cap to the ground and impatiently -tore off coat and waistcoat, and Hugh, a -bit more calmly, similarly divested himself. Then -his opponent, scowling ferociously, advanced -across the turf, and Hugh squared to meet him.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_241"></a>[241]</span></p> - -<p>“Shake hands, gentlemen,” said Bowen facetiously, -and Peet giggled.</p> - -<p>“Oh, cut out the comedy stuff,” growled Longley. -“Now then, you Little Lord Fauntleroy, -where’ll you have it?”</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Some twenty minutes later, Bert, laboriously -trying to get out of his coat-sweater without hurting -the damaged rib, heard the study door open -and close quietly.</p> - -<p>“That you, Hugh?” he asked.</p> - -<p>“Yes,” was the quiet reply. But Hugh didn’t -appear at the doorway. Instead he crossed to -his own bedroom and Bert heard him pouring -water into the bowl.</p> - -<p>“What are you so select for?” Bert sang out. -“Aren’t you speaking to your friends today?”</p> - -<p>There was no audible reply from 29a, and having -got rid of the sweater at the cost of a few -twinges, Bert sauntered across the study to -Hugh’s doorway. Then:</p> - -<p>“<em>For—the—love—of—Mike!</em>” whispered Bert -awedly. “Where’d you get it?”</p> - -<p>Hugh, looking up from his task of applying a -wet sponge to a disfigured countenance, smiled -painfully.</p> - -<p>“Longley,” he answered.</p> - -<p>“Longley! Do you mean that Brew Longley<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_242"></a>[242]</span> -battered you up like that? What was the row? -Great Scott, Hugh, you’re an awful mess! What -did you do to him?”</p> - -<p>“Not much, I’m afraid,” replied Hugh dejectedly. -“I got in a few, but he was too clever for -me.” He turned to the mirror over the dresser -and viewed his reflection judicially, the wet -sponge trickling water on the rug. “He’s a ripping -good fighter, Bert,” he added with what -sounded like unwilling admiration.</p> - -<p>Bert, hands in pockets, gazed fascinatedly at -his room-mate’s countenance. He whistled tunelessly -and under his breath. Hugh went back to -the basin.</p> - -<p>“I fancy I flattened his nose for him, anyway,” -he said more cheerfully.</p> - -<p>“Well,” said Bert, emerging from his trance, -“I hope to thunder you did something to him! -For he’s certainly just about ruined you! Here, -turn around and let’s see the damage.”</p> - -<p>Obediently, Hugh stopped laving his face and -Bert took stock of the contusions and lacerations. -“Your eye will be a wonder tomorrow,” he murmured -admiringly. “And you won’t be able to -talk very well for a day or two with that lip. Was -he wearing brass-knuckles, for the love of Mike? -That cut on your cheek isn’t much—when it stops -bleeding. Wait till I get some peroxide. Keyes<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_243"></a>[243]</span> -has a bottle. Keep on sponging. I’ll be right -back.”</p> - -<p>When he returned Hugh, in spite of directions, -had ceased using the sponge and was thoughtfully -studying two pairs of bruised and swollen -knuckles, wiggling his left thumb experimentally -the while.</p> - -<p>“Well,” exclaimed Bert, “you must have got in -a few on him from the looks of those! Thumb -hurt?”</p> - -<p>“Not much, I fancy. I was afraid maybe it -was sprained. I say, Bert, I can’t go to supper, -eh?”</p> - -<p>Bert, sousing peroxide on a corner of a towel -and dabbing his friend’s face, considered a moment. -“Well,” he said finally, “you <em>could</em>, but I -wouldn’t advise it, Duke. Some of the faculty -are horribly suspicious.”</p> - -<p>“That’s what I thought.” Hugh sighed. -“Well, I’m not awfully hungry.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll fetch you something from downstairs,” -said Bert cheerfully. “And I’d better get word to -Crowley, I guess. I’ll say you’ve got a headache. -That isn’t very far wrong, is it?”</p> - -<p>Hugh smiled until it hurt his swollen lip. “It’s -right as rain,” he mumbled. “You don’t need to -bring me any chow, though. It hurts to move -my mouth.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_244"></a>[244]</span></p> - -<p>“I’m not going to bring you chow, as you call -it,” replied the other, stepping back to view the -result of his administrations. “I’ll fetch you up -a cup of cocoa and some toast. You can get that -down. There now! Got any plaster?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, in the top drawer there. I’ll get it.”</p> - -<p>“Hello, what have you done with your silver -brushes? And where the dickens did you get -those awful things?”</p> - -<p>“Put them away a week ago. Here it is. Use -the flesh-colored. It won’t show so much. I say, -what about classes tomorrow?”</p> - -<p>Bert shrugged. “You ought to have thought -of that,” he answered severely, “before you went -and did such a fool trick. Look here, what was -it all about, anyway? Didn’t you know that -Longley could beat you to a pulp? What did I -tell you the other day? Didn’t I say——”</p> - -<p>“I dare say you did, old dear,” agreed Hugh -patiently. “But—<em>ouch</em>!”</p> - -<p>“Well, hold still then. How do you suppose -I can——”</p> - -<p>“He started on me again after practice and -got nasty and I was beastly tired of it. So—so -we went down to the boathouse.”</p> - -<p>“Just you and he?”</p> - -<p>“No, there was Bowen; chap who plays right -guard for us——”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_245"></a>[245]</span></p> - -<p>“I know him.”</p> - -<p>“And young Peet. He’s a silly little ass. I -tried to get rid of him, but he would come. He—he -giggles.”</p> - -<p>“Lie down on the bed and rest your face. Did -you fight rounds?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, no, we just dug in and kept it up until -Peet—er—buttered in.”</p> - -<p>“<em>Butted</em> in, Duke; not buttered. What was -Peet’s trouble?”</p> - -<p>“Well, you see, I was getting rather the worst -of it; sort of groggy, I fancy; my eye was bad -and I dare say I wasn’t putting up much of a fight -by that time. So Peet, the silly duffer, thought -we ought to stop and he jumped in and Longley -hit him by mistake and Peet hung on to Longley -and Bowen dragged me back and—well, that sort -of stopped the scrap, if you know what I mean.”</p> - -<p>“I think you ought to be grateful to Peet,” said -Bert drily. “It was evidently time someone interfered! -I hope you managed to smash Longley -some, Duke. He had no business picking a row -with you, a fellow two years younger and half a -head smaller, and I mean to tell him so the first -time I see him.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, dear,” sighed Hugh, “don’t you go and -get your face all beaten up, too! One of us must -keep looking decent, Bert.” He chuckled.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_246"></a>[246]</span> -“Rather a joke on me, by the way. I told Longley -I didn’t like his face, you know; said it was -unattractive; I fancy that was what got under his -skin; but he certainly got even, eh? You couldn’t -call my face attractive, could you, old chap?”</p> - -<p>“Not without smiling,” said Bert. “Well, I -must beat it to supper. You take a nap if you -can. When I come back I’ll get some witch-hazel -and wrap up your hands. They’ll be as stiff as -pokers if I don’t. How do you feel?”</p> - -<p>“Perfectly rotten, thanks,” replied Hugh cheerfully. -“Nip along. But, I say, I wish you’d sort -of keep quiet about it, eh? And don’t say anything -to Longley, like a good chap. I’m satisfied -and I fancy he is.”</p> - -<p>“I’m not,” said Bert grimly. “Go to sleep, you -dunder-headed Englishman, and see if you can -keep out of trouble until I get back!”</p> - -<p>Somewhat less than an hour later Hugh awoke -from a nap and found Bert lighting up. “Come -on out here,” called the latter. “I’ve brought -you some cocoa, and some dipped toast and a -beautiful hunk of chocolate cake. Hungry?”</p> - -<p>“Rather!” mumbled Hugh, getting stiffly off -his bed and blinking his way to the study. “I say, -that looks awfully jolly. Thanks, old chap.”</p> - -<p>“Well, eat it, while I go and dig up some witch-hazel. -Got some old handkerchiefs I can use?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_247"></a>[247]</span></p> - -<p>“I’ve got some new ones that are good enough. -But don’t bother. I’ll be all right. Feeling quite -cocky already.”</p> - -<p>“Well, you don’t look it!” laughed Bert. -“And, say, I got a glimpse of your friend Longley, -Hugh, and if it’s any comfort to you, he’s a -sight!”</p> - -<p>“Word of honor?” asked Hugh eagerly. -“What—what’s he like?”</p> - -<p>“Well, he isn’t disfigured for life, as you are, -of course, but he’s got a swollen nose that makes -him look horribly silly and he’s got the skin off -his cheek-bone. He’s no prize beauty, any way -you look at him!”</p> - -<p>“But, I say, you didn’t—didn’t have any words -with him, eh?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, we passed the time of day,” replied Bert -carelessly. “I’ll get that witch-hazel.”</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_248"></a>[248]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX<br /> -<small>“HOBO” WINS FAME</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p class="cap">Hugh cut chapel the next morning, but -there was French at ten and Greek at -eleven and mathematics at one, and so -it wasn’t possible to remain in retirement. Bert -consoled him with the assurance that except for -a badly discolored eye he would pass muster anywhere -as an ardent pacifist. Hugh couldn’t quite -credit that, but he had no course but to attend -classes. His appearance created interest and -aroused curiosity among his classmates, while Mr. -Teschner observed him speculatively but asked no -questions. Plenty of questions were asked, however, -and Hugh’s ingenuity was sorely taxed in -accounting for his contusions without involving -Longley. By the afternoon, though, the facts -were pretty widely known, probably due to the -communicativeness of Peet, and Hugh was no -longer required to invent.</p> - -<p>He and Longley had their first face-to-face encounter -in the field house before practice. If -either experienced sensations of embarrassment<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_249"></a>[249]</span> -they failed to show it. Longley nodded to Hugh -and Hugh nodded back, and that was all there -was to it except that each took surreptitious views -of the other’s countenance and, possibly, derived -a certain satisfaction from what he saw. To be -sure, Bert had slightly exaggerated the damage -to Longley, but his nose <em>was</em> noticeably enlarged -and there <em>was</em> a generous-sized place on the left -cheek where the skin was missing. Peet, perhaps -conscious of having talked too much, admired -Hugh from a discreet distance that day.</p> - -<p>Although the first was due for a stiff contest -on the morrow, Mr. Bonner had no pity on them -today and they were put through a long siege of -elementary work and two fifteen-minute periods -with the second during which, with the head coach -driving them mercilessly, they managed to score -three touchdowns and would have held their opponents -safe had not Neil Ayer fortunately -dropped a goal from the first team’s eighteen -yards after a well-managed forward pass that -caught their enemies napping. After practice -Coach Crowley announced that there would be -no work for the second the next day and that -all who wished to accompany the first team to -Leeds to see the game with Hollywood would -be taken along free of charge, since the morrow’s -contest was the only one played away from home<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_250"></a>[250]</span> -that season. Needless to say, the second team -to a fellow declared their intention of profiting -by the generosity of the Athletic Association. -However, when the train left the next forenoon -the entire roster was not present. A few were -so unfortunate as to have morning recitations -which, for reasons that we will not inquire into -too closely, they dared not cut. Still, most of -them did make the trip, Hugh among them, and -were well repaid by witnessing a close and hotly -contested game.</p> - -<p>Hollywood School was a pretty big institution, -with a registration of close to four hundred students, -and that the visitors held the home team -to one touchdown and scored a like number of -points spoke well for them. Oddly enough, both -the Hollywood left half-back and the Grafton -full-back failed at an easy goal and the final score -was 6 to 6, a result more satisfactory to Grafton -than to Hollywood. All things considered, Grafton -had a right to and did consider the tie a virtual -victory, while the home team and its friends -probably looked on it as closely akin to a defeat. -At all events, Grafton went home well contented -and a bit vociferous, the only fly in the ointment -represented by the fact that Mount Morris -had overwhelmingly defeated the St. James Academy -team from which Grafton had barely won<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_251"></a>[251]</span> -two weeks before. Still, as Nick declared to Bert -and Hugh on the way back to the Junction, St. -James had presented a make-shift eleven because -of injuries the Saturday previous and Mount -Morris had probably had a much easier task than -Grafton had experienced. But Nick had to acknowledge -that 26 to 3 was a heap different from -12 to 10, by which score Grafton had taken the -measure of St. James.</p> - -<p>Mount Morris had been having an unusually -successful season. She had met one more team -than Grafton and had so far not only escaped -defeat but had won each contest decisively. On -the other hand, the Scarlet-and-Gray had been -once beaten and once tied; and there was a strong -probability of its being defeated again next Saturday -when it played Lawrence Textile School. -Mount Morris had a big, heavy team, although -its back-field had shown itself capable of speed, -and was playing this fall almost the same line-up -as last; a couple of new linesmen and a new quarter -were the only changes in the eleven. But today’s -showing against Hollywood was distinctly -encouraging to Graftonians, and there were -plenty of fellows among players and supporters -who refused even to consider the possibility of a -win for the green-and-white cohorts of Mount -Morris. Captain Ted Trafford was one of them,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_252"></a>[252]</span> -but Ted had the convenient faculty of being able -to believe what he wanted to, and his views had -not very much weight with his friends.</p> - -<p>Bert was disappointed on Monday when Coach -Bonner and Trainer Richards refused to allow -him to go back to work. Bert declared emphatically -that his rib was perfectly all right and that -if he felt any better he’d scream, but Davy -wouldn’t sanction his return to work and without -that sanction Coach Bonner would have none of -him. Bert watched practice that day from the -bench and scowled ferociously on friend and foe -alike. Many of the first-string players were excused -and in the scrimmage the first team was -made up largely of substitutes. Derry was in -Dresser’s position at left end, Parker played left -tackle instead of Franklin, Hanrihan was in Ted -Trafford’s place, Milford substituted for Tray -at right end, and the back-field, with the exception -of Nick, who played through the first period, was -composed entirely of second-string fellows. In -the second period more changes were made, so -that when Hugh, playing right half on the scrub -team, leaped into fame in the middle of the last -period of the game, he doubtless had the wholesale -substitution to thank for his performance.</p> - -<p>First and second battled through fifteen minutes -without a score, both elevens booting the ball<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_253"></a>[253]</span> -frequently in the hope that the strong wind blowing -across the field would result in a fumble. -There were fumbles, for that matter, but neither -side profited much from them, and after a five-minute -rest they went back to work with the contest -still to be won or lost. The wind was noticeably -less and first team took advantage of the fact -to try out her forward passing game. Substitutes -are somewhat like those persons who rush in -where angels fear to tread, and Gus Weston, who -had taken Nick’s place at quarter-back, had all the -rashness of his kind. One pass went nicely to -Derry and that youth managed to outwit Forbes -very neatly and reeled off twenty-seven yards and -put the pigskin on the second’s nineteen before he -was brought down by Spalding, after Hugh had -made an ineffectual effort to reach him. But -where Weston made his mistake was in trying the -same play a minute later when a line attack would -have probably secured him ground, and at all -events been far safer against a team smarting -from the degradation of that twenty-seven-yard -gain. But Weston called for the same play on -first down and the ball went back to Leddy, at -full, and Leddy heaved to a supposedly waiting -Derry. Forbes, though, was not fooled this time -and Derry had no chance of getting into position -for the catch. Someone else had, however, and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_254"></a>[254]</span> -the someone else was the second team’s right half-back, -who, sensing the play from the moment the -ball was snapped, had sprinted across the field as -soon as Leddy had caught, avoided the engaged -ends and, raising an eager hand aloft in signal to -Leddy, had joyfully watched the approach of the -arching ball. Whether the full-back had been -fooled by Hugh’s signal or whether he had -trusted to Derry to get free from his antagonist -in time to make the catch is a matter of conjecture. -At all events, Leddy made an excellent -throw and Hugh made a correspondingly good -catch, and the fat was in the fire.</p> - -<p>What ensued occupied so little time that to the -watchers, at least, it seemed all over almost as -soon as it had begun. Hugh had a practically -clear field for the first twenty yards and he made -the most of it. Then the pursuit moved to cut -him off from behind and the race began in earnest.</p> - -<p>Hugh had captured the ball near his own fifteen -yards, for the pass had been more vertical -than forward, and he was approaching the middle -of the field, running like a rabbit, as Bert told him -afterwards, before he was really challenged. -Then it was Jack Zanetti who threw down the -gauntlet. Zanetti was a swift runner, with a commendable -Track Team record for the two-twenty, -and had he and Hugh started even the latter<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_255"></a>[255]</span> -would never have had a chance of victory. But -Zanetti was well behind when the danger had -been discovered and by the time he was close to -Hugh’s flying heels he had already run a punishing -race. Behind Zanetti streamed others; Gus -Weston, Milford and Hanser possible contenders, -Leddy hopelessly out of it, and then a mingling -of friends and foes. Forbes, seeing the way -the play was turning out, had left Derry to his -own devices and was making an earnest effort to -catch up with his team-mate and act as interference, -but the handicap of distance was too great -and although Forbes did actually manage to be -in at the death he never got close enough to render -any aid.</p> - -<p>Nick had told Hugh that when one was making -a long run with the ball one didn’t do much thinking. -But Hugh couldn’t agree with him, for it -seemed to him that he thought of about everything -in the world! Only, and this was a peculiar -thing to his mind, he couldn’t remember any of -his thoughts afterwards! Near the first team’s -forty-five yards Zanetti made a heroic effort to -reach the quarry. Calling on every last ounce -of strength, he sprinted and lunged forward with -groping hands. Perhaps Hugh guessed his danger, -for he swerved at the right instant and Zanetti’s -arms, although they nearly reached what<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_256"></a>[256]</span> -they sought and even threw Hugh out of his -stride, closed on empty air and he rolled over -twice and lay quite quiet until the rest of the pursuit -had labored past.</p> - -<p>Milford found his second wind and gave Hugh -a very pretty tussle all the rest of the way, but the -latter crossed the goal line with dragging feet a -good three yards ahead, touched the ball to earth -and then carefully snuggled it beneath him and -ducked his head as the exhausted Milford -dropped down on him.</p> - -<p>It was a spectacular performance, as all such -long runs are, but it is doubtful if Hugh deserved -all the praise he received. Granted that he had -displayed football acumen in diagnosing the play -and getting into it as he had, the subsequent task -had required little ability beyond that of running -as hard as he knew how. He had not been forced -to worm his way through a scattered defence or -dodge a hungry quarter-back on his way to the -goal. He had merely made the most of a fortunate -opportunity. Probably if he had been -playing against the full strength of the first team -he would never have been able to catch the pass, -or, having caught it, to get away with it. Much -of this he explained subsequently to Bert and Nick -and Pop and others, for he refused to view himself -as a hero, but they all scoffed and reminded<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_257"></a>[257]</span> -him that he had made the longest run of the season -on Lothrop Field. Just now, having been -released from the oppressive attentions of Milford, -he was being ecstatically thumped and -beaten by his mates of the second team as, ball -under arm, he walked it out for the try at goal. -Coach Crowley even expressed mild commendation, -and in Hugh’s belief every chap on the team -took an enthusiastic whack at his tired shoulders -except Longley; and Longley grinned at him in -a most friendly and approving manner.</p> - -<p>Ayer insisted that Hugh should hold the ball -for him, and Hugh was very glad that he had -watched that operation often enough and carefully -enough to be able to perform it. Ayer had -mercy on his breathlessness and gave him plenty -of time before he said “Right!” and stepped forward. -Then Hugh carefully withdrew his fingers -from under the end, heard the thud of leather on -leather and, prone on the turf—and very willing -to remain so, if the truth were known!—watched -the pigskin rise, turning lazily over end on end, -up and away and—yes, over the cross-bar!</p> - -<p>Second team celebrated the advent of that -seventh point by again lavishing blows on his -back and playfully maltreating Neil Ayer. Then -they scattered to take the kick-off and Peet tugged -at Hugh’s elbow, looking very, very admiring and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_258"></a>[258]</span> -very, very apologetic, and said: “You’re off, -Ordway. I’m sorry. Give me your head-guard, -will you? Say, that was a peach of a run!”</p> - -<p>Hugh yielded his guard and place, acknowledging -Peet’s compliment with a nod, and walked off -a trifle incensed with Mr. Crowley. Of course -he hadn’t done enough to have the fellows make -such a fuss, he thought, but he had scored a touchdown -and it did seem that the coach might reward -him by letting him play the time out. Mr. Crowley, -however, only waved to him in the direction -of the field house and Hugh got his sweater and -weariedly trotted off, turning deaf ears to the approving -remarks of those on the benches. If he -had done anything, he asked himself impatiently, -why didn’t they let him keep on playing?</p> - -<p>But he hadn’t missed much, as he soon realized, -for he was still tugging at his sticky togs -when the released players burst in at the doors. -The second team fellows were jubilant indeed. -They had for once beaten the first in a straight -practice game! Hugh was speedily discovered -and made the recipient of further boisterous -honors, and even Longley, grinning like a catfish, -got in a slap on a bare shoulder this time and -told him he was “the pride of the noble Scrubs!” -Hugh made his escape finally and took refuge in -the shower bath.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_259"></a>[259]</span></p> - -<p>That day Hugh came into what might be -termed official possession of his nickname. One -may pass uneventfully through four years of -school life and be known as plain Jack Jones, but -once let him achieve a modicum of fame and he -is suddenly “Buster” Jones or something equally -euphonious. So it was with Hugh Oswald Brodwick. -By supper time the school was discussing, -explaining and praising the eighty-five yard run -of “Hobo” Ordway.</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_260"></a>[260]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXI">CHAPTER XXI<br /> -<small>HUGH MOVES AGAIN</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p class="cap">Events took place so fast that week that -even Hugh’s composure was affected. On -Tuesday Coach Bonner began preparations -for the Lawrence Textile game and every -effort was made to develop the team’s offence. -To this end, following a more than ordinarily -lengthy and severe signal drill, during which three -new plays were tried out, the scrimmage with -the second was changed from two fifteen-minute -to three twelve-minute periods. The second had -to wait nearly twenty minutes for the first team, -and, since the weather had turned cold with a -vengeance, they wrapped themselves in blankets -and huddled together out of the teeth of a brisk -east wind. By the time Coach Bonner sent his -charges on the field the second team were pretty well -chilled through and let-down. The fact showed -in their playing and the first ran away with the -period and scored a touchdown and a field-goal. -In the second twelve minutes the scrubs found -themselves and put up a good defensive game,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_261"></a>[261]</span> -with the result that the first failed to get nearer -to the goal line than the thirty yards. From -there, in the last minute or two, Captain Trafford -tried a place-goal. But the wind was too much -for him and the ball went wide.</p> - -<p>In the last period Hugh found himself in constant -demand. So far Brunswick and Manson, -the left half and the full-back, had done the brunt -of the work, save when an end had run behind -the line. Hugh had been used but three times in -the attack, each time taking the ball for wide end -runs and only once gaining. But now, Derry having -replaced Roy Dresser at left end, Captain -Myatt changed his tactics. Second received the -ball on a punt a few minutes after the period -started and it was Neil Ayer who began the -trouble. On the first play, faking a pass to full-back, -he plunged straight through the center of -the first team’s line for a down. Then came a -fake end-around play, Bellows leaving his place -at left end and dashing behind Ayer and, followed -by the left half, plunging around the right -wing of the line. Then, hugging the ball a moment, -Ayer shot it to Hugh, and Hugh, with full-back -interfering, went the other way. The play -was good for nearly twenty yards, for Hugh displayed -an almost uncanny elusiveness, slipping between -tacklers, dodging, twisting and always<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_262"></a>[262]</span> -going ahead. Manson was soon upset, but Hugh -feinted and fought on to the forty-eight yards -before he was finally stopped. The second -laughed and taunted as they lined up again. Manson -shot into left tackle but was stopped for a -yard. Ayer tried a quarter-back run and made -three. Then Hugh heard the signals again summon -him. This time it was a straight run around -his own left end. Derry was pulled out and -Franklin was neatly boxed and only the first -team’s secondary defence kept Hugh from again -getting safely away. As it was he added -six yards and made first down once more. Brunswick -fumbled on the next play and Manson recovered -for a five-yard loss. Hugh failed on a -wide run around his own left end, being thrown -by Ted Trafford, and Ayer kicked from position.</p> - -<p>The first came back hard then and tested the -second’s defence pretty severely. Siedhof gave -place to Hanser on the first and Boynton took -Brunswick’s place on the second. The second -also put in a new left tackle and a new left guard. -First was using straight line-plunges and getting -away with them. On the second’s fifteen yards -Vail, right half on the first, was hurt in a tackle -and Zanetti went in. Twice the second held the -besiegers under the shadow of their goal and then<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_263"></a>[263]</span> -Ted Trafford tried another goal from placement -and barely made it.</p> - -<p>Second kicked off and Nick ran back to the -forty-five yards, through most of the second team. -Then two line plays were stopped for small gains -and Keyes threw forward to Tray near the second’s -thirty-five and the right end made a clever -running catch and added another five yards of -territory before Myatt downed him. With time -almost up and the ball on the second’s thirty, Nick -again called for a forward, but this time the ball -grounded. A skin-tackle around Spalding netted -four yards and Keyes plunged through Longley -for two more. Keyes then went back to drop-kick -and when the ball shot to him the first team’s -left side crumbled badly and Bowen hurled himself -through and blocked. The ball trickled up -the field to the twenty yards before Zanetti fell -on it. Two wide sweeps by Keyes around the left -end gained but four and once more he tried for a -field goal. But the angle was extreme and the -ball went astray.</p> - -<p>Longley kicked off to Zanetti, who caught on -his fifteen, fumbled, recovered and was thrown -by Forbes and promptly sat on by Hugh. The -first got to the twenty yards on two plunges and -Keyes punted. Hugh, playing back with Ayer, -caught near his forty and ran across the field,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_264"></a>[264]</span> -avoiding the first team’s left end, and Ayer and -Forbes formed into interference and disposed of -two of the enemy. Hugh was still running -toward the other side line, zig-zagging miraculously -between his foes. Thrice he was almost -caught and thrice he managed to escape. Then -his interference went to pieces and he was speeding -down the field some five yards from the side -line with not one chance in ten of getting away. -A first team tackle dived and missed, Hanser -loomed in his path and Hugh went around him -like a frightened rabbit and suddenly only Nick -was left to contend against, Nick running fast a -few yards behind and gaining a little at every -stride.</p> - -<p>Near the twenty-five yards Hugh shot a quick -glance behind him and then, with an unexpected -increase of speed, cut across in front of Nick just -out of reach and headed straight for the goal. -Zanetti and others were trailing along some ten -yards back and this change of direction brought -them nearer their prey, and Zanetti took courage -and sprinted. But it was Nick who was destined -to save the day for the first. Try as he might, -Hugh couldn’t shake him off, and just short of -the twelve yards it was all over. Nick’s arms -slipped around Hugh’s knees and all the latter -could do was hug the ball very tightly and go<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_265"></a>[265]</span> -down. And as he did so he heard Nick’s voice.</p> - -<p>“Sorry,” panted Nick, “but—I—gotter—do -it!”</p> - -<p>Although second lined up quickly and shot -Manson at the center, it was not destined that -they were to score. Manson got a scant yard, -whistle and horn sounded together, and the game -was done.</p> - -<p>“We’d have gone over in two more plays,” -panted Neil Ayer as he walked off beside Hugh. -“I don’t believe time was up. They were afraid -we’d score on them! That was a pretty run of -yours, Hobo. I thought you were gone a dozen -times. You sure can dodge like a rabbit. -Where’d you learn it?”</p> - -<p>“I don’t know,” said Hugh. “Right here, I -fancy.”</p> - -<p>“Haven’t you ever played before?”</p> - -<p>Hugh shook his head and Neil viewed him -appraisingly. “You’re built for it, I suppose. If -you had another twenty pounds on you you’d be -a wonder.”</p> - -<p>The school seemed much inclined to consider -him a wonder as he was, and his fame grew -mightily. Hugh made the discovery that evening -that his circle of acquaintances was much wider -than he had supposed. Fellows who had previously -never noticed his existence spoke to him<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_266"></a>[266]</span> -almost eagerly and seemed quite pleased if Hugh, -disguising his surprise, murmured a response. -Juniors gazed upon him with bated breath, only -daring to nod, but upper-class fellows called him -“Hobo” to his face and grinned in friendly manner. -Of course he liked it; no fellow could fail -to; but it made him feel, as he confided to Bert, -“a bit of an ass, if you know what I mean.”</p> - -<p>He went to bed that Tuesday night a star half-back -on the second team. He awoke on Wednesday -morning a substitute on the first, but he didn’t -know it because he hadn’t overheard part of a -conversation which had taken place the evening -before in the front room of a little white house -in the village. The front room, used by Coach -Bonner as a sitting-room, held two persons beside -the head coach. These were Assistant Athletic -Director Crowley and Trainer Richards. It was -no uncommon thing for them to meet there after -supper and go over the day’s work together, -and now that the season was nearing its end -these conferences took place almost every night. -The portion of the conversation which would -have interested Hugh had he heard it was -this:</p> - -<p>“That lays Vail off for most of the week, -then,” mused Mr. Bonner. Davy Richards -nodded.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_267"></a>[267]</span></p> - -<p>“When do you want Winslow to come back?” -asked the coach.</p> - -<p>“He might play Saturday if you need him. -I’ve got a pad fixed up for him.”</p> - -<p>“Can he get into practice by Thursday?”</p> - -<p>“Sure, if he don’t get into it too hard.”</p> - -<p>“He will have to play Saturday, that’s certain. -Half the game, anyway. That leaves me short -in the back-field. That fellow Hanser doesn’t -work very well, Dan.”</p> - -<p>“He’s as good as I’ve got, Coach.”</p> - -<p>“He may be now, but he won’t be if Ordway -keeps coming. That kid’s a wonder in a broken -field. If you built up a game around him, Dan, -you’d have a mighty good attack for the middle -of the field.”</p> - -<p>“He’s clever,” acknowledged Mr. Crowley, -“but he’s light. Next year——”</p> - -<p>“Tell you what, Dan, you take Hanser and let -me have Ordway. Look here. Mount Morris -has a heavy, slow line and her ends aren’t remarkable -when you come right down to brass tacks. -They haven’t shown anything against any team -they’ve met yet. Did you read the Mount Morris—St. -James game? Well, Mount Morris’ ends -were never under the punts. St. James ran the -ball back five to fifteen yards every time. With -ends like those, why couldn’t this Ordway fellow<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_268"></a>[268]</span> -get away? Wait a bit. Suppose we worked up a -shift formation that brought their tackle over to -the long side of their line. Then suppose we send -a fake attack on that side, pull Trafford out and -send him and Ordway around the short end? -Why wouldn’t that make a good get-away play -around the twenty-five-yard line? I believe we -could work up a play that could score for us. -That rascal is a marvel at squeezing through the -tight places. All he needs is a lot of work to give -him experience.”</p> - -<p>“Too light in weight,” growled Mr. Crowley. -“They’d stop him quick.”</p> - -<p>“Sure, they would if they caught him. But he’s -something like an eel, as I figure it. No, you take -Hanser and give me Ordway, Dan, and I’ll make -a regular back of that kid. Or I will if he doesn’t -get hurt. That’s one trouble; he’s likely to bust -something, I guess.”</p> - -<p>“Not him, Coach,” said Davy. “He’s the supple -kind.” (Davy pronounced it “soople,” -though.) “There ain’t a stiff bone in his body, -sir.”</p> - -<p>“Well, you can have him, of course,” said Mr. -Crowley. “Maybe you’re right, too. He is -clever, and he—he’s neat; handles the ball nice, -travels nice; sort of clean-cut in his style.”</p> - -<p>“Good! Send him to me tomorrow, Dan.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_269"></a>[269]</span></p> - -<p>And that is why Hugh, or, as he was popularly -known now, Hobo Ordway, again transferred his -ketchup bottle and marmalade jar, this time back -to Lothrop and the first-team training table, and -also why he came to find himself at four-fifteen -on Wednesday afternoon sitting beside Bert on -the first-team bench, very much surprised and a -little bit frightened at what was before him!</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_270"></a>[270]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXII">CHAPTER XXII<br /> -<small>POP ELUCIDATES</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p class="cap">Bert got back to light practice the next -afternoon but not into the game with the -scrubs. Siedhof and Zanetti were the -halves that day, with Hugh substituting for -Zanetti toward the end of the last period. If the -truth must be told, Hugh did not cover himself -with glory, for he fumbled once at a critical moment -and lost his team a chance to score and -never made a gain worth recording. But it was -perhaps more due to stage fright than anything -else, and Coach Bonner realized the fact and -dealt out no criticism. Oddly enough, it was the -released Hanser who performed the only spectacular -feat of a slow and listless game when he -squirmed through the left of the first team’s line, -threw off Siedhof’s tackle and romped straight -down the field for twenty-five or -six yards before -Nick stopped him. That incident spelled the end -of Kinley as regular left guard. Yetter succeeded -him before the next play and held the position -the balance of the season. Kinley had been a<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_271"></a>[271]</span> -troublesome problem all the fall and with his retirement -the left side of the line stiffened considerably. -Mr. Crowley had his joke with Coach -Bonner on the performances of the exchanged -half-backs, but the latter only smiled and said -“Wait.”</p> - -<p>There was only signal work on Friday for the -first-team members and most of the school attended -the final class game over on the practice -gridiron and saw lower middle triumph over upper -middle by the score of 7 to 0.</p> - -<p>Lawrence Textile School presented a strong -team the next afternoon and started the proceedings -by dropping a kick over Grafton’s goal six -minutes after play began. Grafton put on her -strongest line-up, Vail, whose injury had proved -more stubborn than expected, being the only regular -member absent. Bert showed the results of -his idleness and was off his game. Hugh did not -get in.</p> - -<p>Grafton’s only score came in the second period -when two forward passes took the ball from her -forty yards to Textile’s eighteen and Zanetti -gained around the left end and Keyes gathered -enough to make it first down by a plunge on the -Textile right guard. From the seven-yard line -the ball went over in three plays, one a delayed -pass to full-back, who got three yards through<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_272"></a>[272]</span> -center, another a skin-tackle play by Bert that -put the pigskin on the two yards, and the third a -straight plunge by Keyes with the whole team behind -him. Keyes kicked an easy goal.</p> - -<p>But that was the only time Grafton was dangerous. -In the last half it was all Textile, and -the visitors secured a touchdown in each period -and kicked a goal each time. The final score was -17 to 7.</p> - -<p>The game proved one thing long suspected, -which was that the Scarlet-and-Gray line was far -from a perfect machine on defence. Time and -again Textile opened holes wide enough to drive -a wagon through. The power was there and the -knowledge, but the fellows didn’t work together. -It was the secondary defence alone that kept the -opponent’s score down to anything like what it -was. On the left, Yetter, while showing up superior -to Kinley, was constantly fooled on plays -inside his position. He worked at odds with his -center and was, besides, slow at getting into plays. -On his left, Franklin was another weak defender, -although a brilliant tackle on offence. Pop Driver -was steady and dependable, a trifle slow, perhaps, -but a hard man to fool. He and Musgrave, at -center, and Ted Trafford at his other shoulder, -made that side of the line fairly impregnable, although -Ted, like the other tackle, was a better<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_273"></a>[273]</span> -offensive than defensive player. The ends had -showed up satisfactorily, with the honors, if any, -belonging to Roy Dresser. As to the back-field, it -was hard to judge, since it was a patched-up affair, -with Bert playing only a part of the game and -Vail not getting in at all. Neither Siedhof nor -Zanetti were better than average backs. Nick, at -quarter, had played as he always did, hard and -cleverly, handling punts in the back-field faultlessly, -running back well and choosing his plays wisely. -Keyes had gained as consistently as usual with the -ball, had been a tower of strength on defence and -had punted excellently. Leddy had proved himself -a good substitute for Keyes. On the whole, -there was no fault to be found with the material. -Grafton possessed eleven good players and was -well off for second-string men. The team simply -hadn’t developed as it should have.</p> - -<p>The Lawrence Textile School game was played -just a fortnight before the date of the Mount -Morris contest, and there were those a-plenty -who declared that two weeks was all too short a -time in which to bring the Grafton team to championship -form. What Coach Bonner thought, no -one knew, but on Monday it was evident that the -first team was in for strenuous work and that if -it was humanly possible to lick it into shape Mr. -Bonner meant to do it. The second team was<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_274"></a>[274]</span> -given the ball at the start of the scrimmage and -told to put it over by line-plays. When she lost -it, as she frequently did, it was promptly handed -back to her. Both coaches were on the field and -the playing was often stopped while they corrected -and explained, scolded or commended. The second, -driven to a sort of berserker rage, hammered -every position in the opposing line desperately, -Mr. Crowley barking and growling and urging -them on.</p> - -<p>Hugh got into it in the second ten-minute period -and played through that and most of the third, -until a blow on the head turned him so dizzy that -Davy Richards, hovering about the scene like an -anxious mother hen, called him out. He did good -work on the defence, too, considering his lack of -weight. He seemed gifted with the faculty of -anticipating the play and getting into it almost -before it reached the line, although it was really -less a gift than it appeared. What Hugh did was -to watch the ball, instead of the players, and more -than once Nick’s shouted warning proved wrong -and Hugh’s diagnosis correct. He was pretty -roughly used, for the second was in no mood to -deal gently with objects in its way, and frequently -he fumed in secret at his lack of weight.</p> - -<p>In the final period—the second had so far failed -to cross the defender’s line—the second was given<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_275"></a>[275]</span> -the ball four times in succession on the first team’s -ten yards and urged to take it over. But it was -not until they had been allowed an extra down, -with the ball on the two yards, that Manson piled -through between Musgrave and Yetter and scored -the single tally. It was in that mix-up that Hugh -got his knock-out and Vail went in to finish the -game.</p> - -<p>Monday’s practice was a fair example of every -day’s proceedings until Thursday. On Thursday -the lower middle team, champions of the school, -trotted over and faced the first. They proved an -easy prey, and the first had little difficulty in running -up twenty-seven points while the lower middlers -were earning a scant six by the air route. -Coach Bonner tried out two new plays which the -first had been learning, and was able to gain with -each several times. The best for all-round purposes -was a split play in which an end shifted to -the other side of the line and played some two -yards back. The backs arranged themselves in -oblique tandem, the ball went to full-back, quarter -and the back-field end swung around one wing, -the two half-backs around the other and the full-back -plunged straight ahead, usually finding his -passage clear. It was rather a difficult play for -the opponent to diagnose, for it had all the earmarks -of a forward-pass to either side of the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_276"></a>[276]</span> -field. The lower middlers never did solve it, -although that by no means guaranteed that it -would succeed more than once against Mount -Morris.</p> - -<p>The other new play, although he didn’t know -it, was designed to make use of Hugh’s running -ability. It was a tackle-over shift, with the back-field -in square formation and the ball going to -right half—in this case Hugh—on a direct pass. -The attack was faked at the long side, and right -half, with left interfering, went around the short -side, the runner turning in sharply when the way -was clear. The same formation was used for a -variation in which left half ran wide beyond the -short side and took a forward pass from full-back. -The variation proved less certain of success, -however, and was abandoned after a few -subsequent try-outs against the second. But the -play in which Hugh figured was tried four times -in that Thursday game and gained each time. -Once Hugh got clean away and covered half the -field before he met his Nemesis in the shape of -the opposing quarter, who, in spite of Hugh’s -attempt to elude him, stopped further progress -with a neat and decisive tackle. Another time -Hugh gained twelve yards before he was brought -down from behind, again he almost got clear and -reeled off the better part of twenty, and, on the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_277"></a>[277]</span> -last attempt, with the ball under the shadow of -the enemy’s goal near the eighteen yards, he -dodged his way through at least a half-dozen opponents -and scored the first’s fourth touchdown.</p> - -<p>All that sounds as though Hugh played most -of the game himself, but it is needless to say that -he didn’t or that his part was only a small part -after all. He held his own well on defence and -several times made short gains on the wings, but -lack of weight told against him. One thing he -did not do, however, was fumble. Unfortunately -the same cannot be said of either Bert or Vail. -Bert played three periods at left half and Vail -one period at right, going out in favor of Hugh. -Vail’s fumble was not costly, but Bert’s was, for -he dropped the ball when tackled in the line and -a lower middler fell on it and three minutes -later the pigskin was floating over the cross-bar -for lower middle’s first field goal. The whole -truth is that Bert played poorly that day. His -sins were not only of commission, like that fumble -on the twenty-yard line, but of omission, as when, -time after time, he was stopped short in his tracks -before he had penetrated the enemy’s first line of -defense. Siedhof, who replaced him, while not -especially effective, at least gained occasionally -through a not very strong line.</p> - -<p>Bert was ill-tempered and depressed that evening,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_278"></a>[278]</span> -and when Hugh, feeling very happy over his -showing, tried to cheer him up, Bert sneered at -him. “You think you know a whole lot, don’t -you?” he asked. “Think you’re a regular fellow -now, I guess. You’ve got a whole lot to learn -yet about playing half, let me tell you. When -George Vail gets back you’ll last about ten seconds -and then you’ll find yourself ‘chewing the -blanket’ again.”</p> - -<p>“I dare say,” responded Hugh good-naturedly. -“Don’t know just why Mr. Bonner has been so -decent to me, anyway. Of course, I know I can’t -play like you and Vail, old chap. Never thought -so for a minute.”</p> - -<p>“You act so,” growled Bert. “Coming around -and patting my head! I’ll be playing half when -you’re shouting ‘Rah! Rah!’ on the stand.”</p> - -<p>“Right-o! Sorry I spoke.”</p> - -<p>“You kids,” continued Bert, “have a lucky day -and make a couple of runs and then think you’re -the whole shooting match! You make me tired!”</p> - -<p>Hugh made no reply, and presently went off -down the corridor to visit Cathcart, who was -nowadays voicing regret that the other had gone -over, apparently body and soul, to what Cathcart -called “the muscle-worshippers.” But Cathcart -was entertaining three professed “grinds,” and the -conversation soon bored Hugh and he left. On<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_279"></a>[279]</span> -the way over to Trow he wondered whether football -was as Cathcart predicted, really lessening -his interest in what that same youth would probably -have termed, “more vital matters.” Certainly, -a month ago the conversation he had -listened to almost in silence would have engrossed -him far more. He confided his doubts to Pop, -whom he found quite alone for once, and Pop -replied that he thought it didn’t much matter.</p> - -<p>“Of course, a fellow gets his mind pretty well -filled with football about this time of year. It’s -natural, Duke. But I don’t see that it does him -any harm. After the Mount Morris game he -comes back to earth, sometimes with a bit of a -thump, and has time to think of other things. -Cathcart’s an awful high-brow, anyway. He will -have brain fever some day or go to the funny-house. -If I did all the worrying over the whichness -of the what that he does I’d be food for -the squirrels. Forget it.”</p> - -<p>Being in an unusually confidential frame of -mind this evening, Hugh told of Bert’s ill-temper, -and Pop smiled. “You really mean,” he asked, -“that you don’t know what’s troubling Bert?”</p> - -<p>“No, I don’t, really. Should I?”</p> - -<p>“Well, you would if you stopped to think a -minute. Look here. George Vail’s not fit to play -much yet, and won’t be, I guess, before next Saturday.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_280"></a>[280]</span> -Siedhof and Jack Zanetti aren’t first-team -caliber yet, although Billy may be by next year. -That leaves Bonner in a hole, doesn’t it? He -knows that he’s got to make up his backs from -Bert and George and, if you keep on coming, -you. Well, Vail isn’t in shape yet, and Bert isn’t -doing much either, and there you are.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, but—where am I?”</p> - -<p>“Why, Bonner is looking to start the Mount -Morris game with two of you three fellows, don’t -you savvy? Now the question is, which two? -Bert and George? Bert and you? George and -you? He can’t tell yet, and you can see that he’s -doing a lot of thinking. Well, Bert sees that and -he’s thinking too. Just at present you and he are -about an even choice. Vail will probably come -around all right and be sure of his position, but -you and Bert will have to fight it out for the other -place. That’s the way it looks to me, Duke. And -that, I guess, is what’s worrying Bert. When the -season began he was the only possibility for left -half. Then he got up in the air about something, -played like the dickens, got a busted rib because -he was thinking of something else instead of playing -the game, went off on his work—natural -enough after a week or ten days’ lay-off—and now -doesn’t seem able to come back. It’s got on his -nerves, I suppose. And he’s taking it out on you.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_281"></a>[281]</span> -He has a punk temper, anyway. And then, too, -you’ve suddenly sprung up as a rival. And Bert -resents it. Hasn’t any right to, but I guess he -does, because I know Bert pretty well.”</p> - -<p>“I wish I’d never gone in for football,” sighed -Hugh after a moment’s silence. “I never thought -for a minute, you know, that—that anything like -this would come up. What’s to be done?”</p> - -<p>“Done? Nothing’s to be done. Don’t be a -chump. Bert will get over his grouch tomorrow -and then you and he will fight it out, just as lots -of other fellows have, and the best man will win. -Or, anyway, the one who promises to be the more -useful a week from Saturday will win. It’s up to -Bonner, you know.”</p> - -<p>“But I thought that Bert was absolutely certain,” -faltered Hugh.</p> - -<p>Pop shrugged his big shoulders. “So he was -until a while back. He started off finely. There -isn’t a better half-back on a prep school team -today than Bert Winslow when he’s playing right. -But he hasn’t been playing right for nearly a -month. Well, three weeks, anyway. What a fellow -has done doesn’t count much. It’s what he’s -doing and can do. Frankly, Duke, if you keep -on getting a little better every day, as you’ve been -doing, you’ll play against Mount Morris as sure -as I’m a foot high; perhaps not all through, but<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_282"></a>[282]</span> -half the game, anyway. You take my advice and -quit worrying about things. Just put everything -out of your mind but playing half and try like the -dickens!”</p> - -<p>“I don’t know that I want to do that, though, if -I’m crowding Bert out and——”</p> - -<p>“Piffle! If you don’t crowd him out Jack -Zanetti will, or Billy Siedhof, unless he gets a -move on and fights for his place. Nick and I were -talking about it last night and Nick wanted me -to give Bert a hint. But what’s the use? He -knows it as well as I do. He’d only tell me to -mind my own business. Quite right, too. So I’m -going to.”</p> - -<p>“Then you think I ought to keep on?”</p> - -<p>“Of course. What else? We’re here to lick -Mount Morris, aren’t we? If you can help, it’s -up to you to do it. Be as sorry for Bert as you -like, but don’t let it interfere with your game, -Hugh. It’s up to him.”</p> - -<p>The entrance of Roy Dresser put an end to the -topic, and presently Hugh went back to Lothrop. -Bert was not there, for which Hugh was glad. -He got ready for bed, found a magazine to read -and crawled in. But the magazine lay face-down -on the spread, for the talk with Pop Driver had -provided him with material for much perplexed -meditation.</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_283"></a>[283]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXIII">CHAPTER XXIII<br /> -<small>IN THE LIME-LIGHT</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p class="cap">The next morning Bert had apparently -forgotten his grievance, although he -looked as if he had spent an unrestful -night and was fidgety and troubled. Hugh saw -little of him until practice time. That afternoon -there was only light work for the players and the -scrimmage with the second team was short, if -lively. Bert and Zanetti started the game and -later Bert went out in favor of Hugh, and Zanetti -gave way to Vail. The latter seemed as good as -ever today and went to work with a will. Hugh, -during the time he was in the game, had few -opportunities for offensive work but made one -good rush of some ten yards when he was let loose -outside left tackle. Siedhof played a few minutes -in Hugh’s place at the end of the scrimmage.</p> - -<p>The first showed the effect of the week’s work -and undoubtedly displayed a better defence than -theretofore. During the fifteen minutes of actual -playing time it scored twice on the second and held -its opponent safe.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_284"></a>[284]</span></p> - -<p>Football enthusiasm had been rampant for over -a week and already two mass-meetings had been -held. The third came off that Friday evening -and everyone piled into the assembly hall and -cheered and sang and whooped things up generally. -The Mandolin and Banjo Club occupied -the stage and supplied music for the songs. Hugh -secretly thought the enthusiasm a bit “made-to-order” -as he expressed it. But Hugh had not yet -accustomed himself to the idea of organized -cheering, which he still considered a trifle ridiculous. -But he liked the singing and got into the -songs with a will. Captain Trafford predicted -victory for the Scarlet-and-Gray; Coach Bonner -warned them against overconfidence, and Mr. -Smiley quoted much Latin and made them laugh -frequently. As a demonstration of loyalty and -faith in the team the meeting was a great big -success, but it didn’t affect the result of next week’s -game the least particle, and so, in Hugh’s mind, -was rather a waste of energy. Even Wallace -Cathcart attended, and Hugh, to his surprise, -caught him with his mouth very wide open and -his face very red, cheering like mad. The first -and second team players sat together in front and -Hugh found himself beside Tom Hanrihan. Hanrihan -had displayed a kindly interest in Hugh’s -career from the first, and tonight, in a lull between<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_285"></a>[285]</span> -a cheer for Coach Bonner and a song, he said -confidentially:</p> - -<p>“You’re doing fine, Hobo. Just you keep it -up, son, and you’ll have your letter. If you do -you’ll be one of the youngest fellows to get it. -Bonner can’t keep you out of that game if he wants -to, by gum! I sized you up right the first day -I saw you; remember? Yes, sir, I liked your style -right then, and I told Bonner so, too. I sort of -discovered you, Hobo, and if you don’t play a -regular star game next week I’ll beat you up!”</p> - -<p>Then the mandolins and guitars and banjos -struck up “Here We Go!” and Hanrihan and -Hugh, the latter referring to the printed slip in -his hand, joined in the rollicking refrain:</p> - -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">“Grafton! Grafton! Here we go,</div> - <div class="verse indent3">Arm in arm with banners flying!</div> - <div class="verse indent1">Pity, pity any foe</div> - <div class="verse indent3">When it hears us loudly crying:</div> - <div class="verse indent1">‘Grafton! Grafton! Rah, rah, rah!’</div> - <div class="verse indent3">All together! Now the chorus:</div> - <div class="verse indent1">‘Grafton! Grafton! Rah, rah, rah!’</div> - <div class="verse indent3">Victory today is for us!”</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p>Finally, “Nine long ‘Graftons,’ fellows, and put -some pep into it!” and then the exodus, with much -scraping of settees and laughing and whistling. -And afterwards, for Nick and Guy Murtha and -Harry Keyes and Hugh, a Welsh rarebit in Nick’s<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_286"></a>[286]</span> -room, made over an alcohol lamp and extremely -hot with cayenne pepper!</p> - -<p>Southlake Academy was the visitor the next -afternoon. Southlake had played Mount Morris -earlier in the season and had been soundly drubbed -by the score of 19 to 0. But Grafton did not -hope to make so good a showing. Nor did she. -Southlake was a better team that day than she had -been when the Green-and-White had vanquished -her, and she soon proved the fact. Coach Bonner -started with two substitutes in the line, Hanrihan -for Captain Trafford and Willard for Musgrave -at center. But Musgrave was hurried in -before the game was five minutes old and, although -Captain Ted stayed out of the conflict until the -third period began, he, too, had to be sent to the -relief. The back-field was Blake, Winslow, Vail -and Keyes during the first half. Then Weston -took Nick’s place, Siedhof went in for Vail, and -Leddy played full. Hugh was half sorry and -half glad that he was being kept out. He wanted -to play hard enough, but he feared that if he did -go in it would be in place of Bert, and their relations -were strained enough as it was. Bert had -hardly spoken a word, civil or otherwise, to his -roommate since yesterday’s practice!</p> - -<p>There was no scoring on either side until the -second period was ten minutes along. Then a<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_287"></a>[287]</span> -lucky fluke gave Grafton the ball on Southlake’s -twenty-two yards and she took it over in seven -smashing attacks on the center. Keyes missed -goal. After that Southlake sprang some open -plays which, if they didn’t gain very much ground, -considerably worried and exasperated the enemy, -who, for a while, didn’t know how to meet them. -Still, the nearest Southlake came to a score was -getting down to Grafton’s seventeen yards, where -she was held for downs, and Keyes kicked out of -danger.</p> - -<p>Hugh watched the work of the half-backs attentively. -Vail was covering himself with glory -and Bert was doing considerably better on attack -than he had been doing of late, but was frightfully -weak on defence. Time after time he was -outside the play entirely, while, when he did get -into it, he was quite as likely to miss his tackle -as make it. Even Hugh, who was desperately -anxious to make the best of Bert’s performance, -could not fail to see that he was trying the patience -of his team-mates and, probably, of Mr. Bonner -as well.</p> - -<p>Southlake tried two forward passes in the -third period and again got within scoring distance. -She faked a drop-kick and sent a back on a wide -run around Roy Dresser’s end and Roy, for once, -was neatly boxed. Bert was the man to stop the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_288"></a>[288]</span> -runner and Bert made a miserable failure of the -attempt, getting his man and then losing him -again. Just how Yetter got into the affair was a -mystery, but it was the left guard who pulled the -Southlake runner down just short of the goal line.</p> - -<p>Franklin had been showing distress for some -time and now Parker was sent in to play left -tackle. At the same time Keyes was put back -again, and it was perhaps the big full-back’s presence -which stopped the enemy’s advance. Two -tries lost her a yard and then she tried a drop-kick -and it was Keyes who leaped into the path of -the ball and beat it down. Southlake recovered -on the fifteen, but she fumbled a minute or two -later and the pigskin was Grafton’s.</p> - -<p>It was then that the Scarlet-and-Gray showed -real form. From her own fifteen-yard line to the -middle of the field she went in five plays, Keyes -and Roy Dresser bringing off a forward pass that -covered more than half the distance, and Vail and -Siedhof, and once Keyes, plunging through the line -for the balance. A second attempt at a forward -pass grounded, but Vail got away outside the -Southlake right tackle and reeled off fifteen yards, -and from there down to the sixteen Grafton -plugged relentlessly. There was a mistake in signals -then and some four yards was lost, and Weston -elected to try a goal from the field and Captain<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_289"></a>[289]</span> -Trafford went back. But the line weakened somewhere -and Ted had no chance to kick and Weston, -holding the ball for him near the thirty-yard line, -could only snuggle it beneath him and yell, -“Down!”</p> - -<p>It was then that Coach Bonner beckoned Hugh -from the bench. “Go ahead,” he said, “and see -what you can do. Tell Weston to use Number -17, Ordway.”</p> - -<p>Hugh pulled off his sweater and legged it across -with upraised hand, and the stand cheered him. -Bert saw him coming and began to tug at his head -harness. Then he stopped and waited.</p> - -<p><a href="#i_fp288">“You’re off,” said Hugh. “May I have that, -please?”</a></p> - -<div class="figcenter" id="i_fp288"> - <img src="images/i_fp288.jpg" alt="" title="" /> - <div class="caption"><p class="noic"><a href="#Page_289">“‘You’re off,’ said Hugh. ‘May I have that, please?’”</a></p></div> -</div> - -<p>Bert handed over the leather guard silently, but -his expression wasn’t pleasant and Hugh heartily -wished that the coach had chosen Zanetti instead -of him. But there was no time for regrets then. -He whispered his instructions to the quarter-back, -repeated them in reply to Captain Ted’s anxious -question, pulled the head guard on and sprang -into place.</p> - -<p>It was third down and about fifteen to go. -Weston called the signals, Trafford crossed to the -other side of Parker, and Keyes stepped farther -back and held his hands out, the halves crouched -wide apart, and Weston, stooping behind Musgrave,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_290"></a>[290]</span> -repeated the signals. Then the ball came -back, straight and fast, and Hugh snuggled it -in the crook of his arm, started quickly, and, running -low and hard, swept past his line on the heels -of Siedhof, while Weston and Keyes sped toward -the other end. For a moment, a critical length -of time just then, Southlake lost sight of the ball. -When she had solved the play Siedhof had spun a -Southlake tackle from the path, and Hugh had -responded to the frantic cry of “<em>In! In!</em>” and was -through. Siedhof met the charge of a half, but -went down in the encounter, and Hugh, twisting -aside, circled out, passed the twenty-yard line, -dodged another back and, with the hue and cry -close behind, raced over the remaining four trampled -white marks and was only stopped when a -despairing quarter, wrapping tenacious arms about -his legs, brought him to earth well back of the -goal line!</p> - -<p>Grafton shouted herself hoarse, only letting up -for a minute while Keyes directed the ball and -subsequently booted it deftly over the bar. After -that Grafton played on the defensive for the rest -of that period and the next, and, although there -were some anxious moments, kept what she had -earned. While 13 to 0 didn’t sound as well as -19 to 0, it perhaps stood for quite as much if -we consider the fact that Southlake was a stronger<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_291"></a>[291]</span> -team today than when she had met Mount Morris.</p> - -<p>Being a hero is a trying business, as Hugh soon -discovered. Naturally somewhat retiring, he disliked -the sudden publicity that enveloped him, and, -being modest, he felt uncomfortable under the -praise bestowed on him. Fellows took, he thought, -a ridiculous amount of pains to go out of their -way to shake his hand or even slap him familiarly -on the shoulder and tell him what a wonder he -was. He knew very well that he wasn’t a wonder -and he didn’t like being called one. He belonged, -in part at least, to a people who abhor being -conspicuous and who view askance anything savoring -of hysteria, and, in spite of his American -experiences, he had not lost those feelings. No, -on the whole the succeeding week was not a very -comfortable one for Hugh. He hoped that after -a day or two the school would cease its “bally -nonsense,” but he was reckoning without the fact -that it was wrought up to a fine state of tension -and that the tension increased every hour as the -Mount Morris game approached. Consequently -the “bally nonsense” continued and Hobo Ordway -was never allowed to get out of the lime-light for -a minute.</p> - -<p>But what troubled Hugh far more than fame -and its consequences was Bert’s attitude. After -the Southlake game no one, and surely not Bert,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_292"></a>[292]</span> -doubted for an instant that Hugh had won his -position. Another fellow might have swallowed -the lump in his throat and smiled, or, being resentful, -might have hidden the fact. But not so -Bert. He made no secret to Hugh or anyone else -that he thought he had been badly treated. Or -perhaps, which is more likely, he pretended to -think so. At all events, life in Number 29 was -difficult and increasingly unpleasant. Bert seldom -spoke unless addressed by Hugh and then answered -coldly and sneeringly. By the middle of -the next week Hugh kept away from the study -as much as he could and gave up trying to bridge -the chasm. On one occasion, driven out of his -usual patience by a surly response, he got thoroughly -angry and wanted to fight on the spot. -Bert, though, refused to afford him that much -satisfaction, telling him sarcastically that if he -(Hugh) got hurt and couldn’t play they’d surely -lose the game!</p> - -<p>Nick and Pop each told Bert that he was making -an utter ass of himself, but beyond such satisfaction -as they got from airing their opinion, -nothing came of it.</p> - -<p>There was light work on Monday for the regulars, -although those who had not participated -strenuously in Saturday’s contest were given the -usual medicine. On Tuesday there was a hard<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_293"></a>[293]</span> -practice, and, in the evening, an hour’s signal drill -in the gymnasium. The program was the same the -next day. That afternoon, Bert, if he still entertained -hopes, must have seen the futility of them. -For he spent the whole period of scrimmaging on -the bench and saw Hugh occupying the place he -had looked on as his. Although no official statement -to the effect was made by the coaches, it was -generally understood that the line-up that day -was the one which would face Mount Morris on -Saturday. Of course Bert would get into the game -for a while beyond the shadow of a doubt, but -that brought no satisfaction to him. What increased -his sense of injury was the fact that the -day before, playing two of the four ten-minute -periods against the scrubs, he had held his own -with any of them. And he knew now that if he -could only get in on Saturday he could play the -game of his life!</p> - -<p>Perhaps it was a final realization of his defeat -that changed his attitude toward Hugh that evening. -When both boys were back in the study after -the signal work in the gymnasium Bert volunteered -a remark in a very casual but surprisingly inoffensive -voice. Hugh answered in kind, and, -rather embarrassedly, they fell into a discussion -of the plays they had rehearsed, of the team’s -chances, and of kindred subjects. Then, when<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_294"></a>[294]</span> -Hugh had gone to bed and his light was out, -Bert’s voice reached him from his doorway.</p> - -<p>“Say, Hugh!”</p> - -<p>“Yes?”</p> - -<p>An instant’s silence, and then: “I’m sorry I’ve -been such a rotter.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, that’s all right, Bert!”</p> - -<p>“Yes, but——” Another silence, and finally: -“It isn’t all right at all! I—oh, well, what’s the -use? I’m sorry. I guess that’s the whole yarn. -It isn’t your fault, you know, and I—I hope you -do fine, old man! Just rip ’em right up the back!”</p> - -<p>“Thanks,” replied Hugh in the darkness, “but -I wish it were going to be you, Bert, honest! I -don’t want to play a mite. I’m beastly sorry I—I——”</p> - -<p>“Oh, rot!”</p> - -<p>“But I am, though! I feel an awful ass, if you -know what I mean; butting in like this and doing -you out of your place on the team when I can’t -begin to play the way you do, old chap! It—it’s -piffling poppycock! That’s what it is! Piffling -poppycock!”</p> - -<p>He appeared to derive a lot of satisfaction -from the phrase, and Bert heard him mutter it -over again to himself as he felt his way into the -room and sat on the foot of Hugh’s bed.</p> - -<p>“No,” he said, tucking his feet up out of the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_295"></a>[295]</span> -draft from the open window, “no, that’s not true. -You play just as good a game as I ever did, Hugh. -You can’t get around that. And what’s a heap -more, you’re steady. I never was. I’d play good -enough one day and then be perfectly rotten the -next, maybe. What gets me, though, is how the -dickens you ever learned in only about eight -weeks!”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I don’t know. And, anyhow, that’s got -nothing to do with it. I never imagined that -I’d get in your way, Bert. If I had I’d never -have gone in for the silly game. Now look what’s -happened!”</p> - -<p>“Well, what has happened? I’m out and you’re -in because you deserve to be. Besides, there’s -another year coming, isn’t there? Football doesn’t -stop after Saturday, you know.”</p> - -<p>“That’s taking it mighty well,” said Hugh -warmly. “But—just the same I don’t like it. It -makes me feel an awful rotter, an out-and-out -rotter, old chap! If there was any way to—to—to -back out——”</p> - -<p>“Don’t be a chump! There isn’t, and if there -was you’d have no right——”</p> - -<p>“Why not? I know there isn’t, of course, but -I don’t see why I shouldn’t have the say about -playing. Of course I can’t go to Mr. Bonner and -say ‘Look here, you know, I’ve changed my silly<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_296"></a>[296]</span> -mind and don’t think I’ll play Saturday.’ That -wouldn’t do, of course. But, just the same, it’s -tommyrot to say I haven’t the right, you know.”</p> - -<p>“You haven’t,” declared Bert decidedly. “The -team needs you and it’s up to you to do your level -best.”</p> - -<p>“My level best is no better than yours, though; -not so good, in fact. How do you know that I -won’t have stage-fright Saturday and drop the -ball or—or try to swallow it? You can’t make -me believe that if something happened so I -couldn’t play you wouldn’t do just as well and -probably better than I would!”</p> - -<p>“I don’t know what I’d do,” answered Bert -thoughtfully. “Yes, I do, though, old man. I’ve -got a perfectly magnificent hunch that I’d play -good ball if I got a chance. But that’s got nothing -to do with it. I shan’t have the chance unless -Bonner puts me in for a little while at the end. -He probably will, you know; after we’ve got the -thing cinched or we’re so far behind that nothing -matters!”</p> - -<p>“Well, there it is, then!” said Hugh triumphantly. -“You <em>know</em> what you can do and I don’t! -What I say is——”</p> - -<p>Bert laughed. “Oh, you dry up and go to -sleep, Hugh. It’s all right, old man. I did act -like a beast, and I’m sorry, and I beg your pardon.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_297"></a>[297]</span> -And that’s all of that, I guess. For the rest of -it, I hope you’ll play a rattling good game, Hugh, -and if I’m to substitute you I hope I won’t get in -at all. Good night!”</p> - -<p>“Well, but—now hold on, old dear! I want to -tell you——”</p> - -<p>“Not tonight. It’s after eleven. Go to sleep.”</p> - -<p>Hugh grunted as he heard the bed creak in the -other room. Then he thumped his pillow and -settled down again.</p> - -<p>“Just the same,” he murmured, “it’s piffling -poppycock! That’s just what it is, piffling poppycock!”</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_298"></a>[298]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXIV">CHAPTER XXIV<br /> -<small>HUGH GOES TO THE VILLAGE</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p class="cap">There was the lightest sort of practice -on Thursday for the regular, but the -third-string players, reinforced by three -or four first subs, among them Bert, gave the second -a hard tussle for two fifteen-minute halves. -Hugh didn’t see that game, for with the other -first-choice players he was dispatched to the showers -the minute practice was done, but he heard -about it afterwards from Peet, who, at least according -to his own story, was the one particular -bright spot in the second team’s back-field. Peet -wasn’t a very eloquent conversationalist and his -report was vague and jerky, but Hugh gathered -that Bert had more than distinguished himself that -afternoon. There had, said Peet, been one burst -through the whole second team that had netted -forty-odd yards. And he had frequently piled -through Myatt and Bowen for three and four at -a whack. You just couldn’t stop him! He’d -gained two once with both Hanser and Ayer -hanging around his neck! And, in the end, he<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_299"></a>[299]</span> -had crashed his way through the second team’s -center from the six yards for the only touchdown -scored by the substitutes. Hugh was very glad -and hoped that Coach Bonner, who, according -to Peet, had watched the game through, would -change his mind and let Bert start on Saturday.</p> - -<p>That was the second team’s final game of the -season and they won it 10 to 6. When it was over -they cheered the first team, the coaches, the school, -themselves and whatever else they could think of, -and joyfully—and perhaps a little regretfully—disbanded.</p> - -<p>Bert was in good spirits that evening. He had -had a fine time in the game and told Hugh all -about it while they sat on the steps of Lothrop -after supper and waited until it was time to go -over to the mass meeting. But when Hugh suggested -that perhaps, because of the good showing -he had made, Mr. Bonner might put him into the -line-up instead of one Hobo Ordway, Bert -shrugged.</p> - -<p>“He won’t. I know Bonner pretty well. Anyway, -I don’t care so much now. I had a bully -time knocking around this afternoon and I’ll get -a whack at Mount Morris if only for five minutes -or so, I guess, and that’ll do. What time is it? -We’ve got to sit on the stage tonight like a lot -of wax figures. That’s what I always feel like<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_300"></a>[300]</span> -when I’m on exhibition. Joe Leslie’s going to talk -tonight. Have you heard him? Oh, yes, he jawed -at Lit one time you were there, didn’t he? Well, -he’s a dandy at it and no mistake. Joe always -calls the turn, too. Last year he said we’d lose -and we did. Year before he said neither team -would score more than once, and, by Jove, he was -right then, too. We played a nothing-to-nothing -tie! Joe knows football from A to Izzard, and -he would have been a peach of a player if he -could have gone in for it.”</p> - -<p>“What was the trouble?”</p> - -<p>“Folks didn’t want him to. He—what?”</p> - -<p>“I didn’t say anything.”</p> - -<p>“Thought you did. Well, let’s go over.”</p> - -<p>Sitting on the stage to be admired was a little -uncomfortable, Hugh thought, even though he and -Bert secured chairs in the third row and were not -much in evidence from the floor. As on previous -occasions of the kind, the Mandolin and Banjo -Club did its best—and sometimes it sounded like -its worst!—speeches were made, cheers were given -and songs were sung. To the delight of everyone, -the prophetic Joe Leslie, senior class president, -predicted a Grafton victory, although he -warned his hearers that the team would have to -work for it and that its margin of points would -be scanty. Joe could talk to the fellows in what<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_301"></a>[301]</span> -Vail, who sat at Hugh’s other side, called “words -of one syllabub,” and he was always a big success -as a speaker. Tonight he had his audience with -him from the first moment and before he was -through had worked them up to such a stage of -enthusiasm that they threatened to lift the roof -off the building.</p> - -<p>When the meeting was over the football players -disappeared quickly, for tonight and tomorrow -night they were supposed to be in bed by ten -o’clock, and, lest they be disturbed, all noise in -rooms or corridors after that hour was taboo. -Hugh, who had been noticeably distrait all the -evening save when Joe Leslie’s eloquence had absorbed -him, piled promptly into bed, beating the -clock by ten minutes. Bert was disposed toward -conversation, but found scant encouragement from -his chum, and at ten all lights were out in Number -29. Bert was just falling into a delicious state -of drowsiness when a sound from the opposite -bedroom brought him back to consciousness and -he sat up suddenly. It seemed to him that Hugh -had said “That’s it!” very loudly. However, as -all was silent, he concluded that he had dreamed -it, and so sank back again and went to sleep.</p> - -<p>The next forenoon, clad in a yellow slicker, -since it was drizzling, Hugh inconspicuously let -himself out the service door on the basement floor<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_302"></a>[302]</span> -of Lothrop, climbed two fences, cut across a corner -of a meadow, and finally, a bit wet as to -lower extremities, reached the village road and -trudged off into the mist. He was back a half-hour -later, in time for French, and, so far as he -knew, his absence was passed unnoticed.</p> - -<p>It drizzled all day, and toward evening grew -colder. The gridiron, covered with a sprinkling -of marsh hay, remained deserted. At four o’clock -the team met in the gymnasium and had a half-hour’s -drill on signals, and then again, at half-past -eight, there was a blackboard talk. But the -day went slowly to most of the fellows and the -weather affected tight-strung nerves, and everyone -from Coach Bonner down to the least important -third-string substitute was heartily glad when bedtime -came. The school held an impromptu celebration—if -you can call it a celebration when the -thing to be celebrated hasn’t occurred—on the -campus and did a good deal of singing and cheering -and shouting while it marched around the -buildings. But the drizzle soon discouraged it -and long before ten o’clock Grafton School was -as quiet as the proverbial mouse. Hugh had a -good deal of trouble getting to sleep that night. -He could hear Bert’s hearty and regular snores -from the opposite room and envied him. Probably, -he reflected, Bert had a clear conscience,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_303"></a>[303]</span> -while his own—well, he didn’t quite know whether -it was clear or not. He only knew that he had -done something that morning which might or -might not prove to have been for the best. Sometimes, -he concluded, as he thumped his pillow into -a new shape, life was most beastly complicated.</p> - -<p>When he awoke after a none too refreshing -night it was still dull and foggy outside, although -the drizzle had ceased. There was a light glaze -of ice over everything and the limbs of the trees -outside the windows crackled when a slight puff of -wind blew the gray mist across the campus. It -was a dispiriting scene, Hugh thought, but Bert, -who came yawning in a moment later, appeared -to find it quite to his liking.</p> - -<p>“Ugh! Put that window down! Say, this is a -bully day for the game, isn’t it? Just snappy -enough!”</p> - -<p>“The field will be wet, though, won’t it?” asked -Hugh.</p> - -<p>“Not to mention. The sun will be out before -noon, and that hay will keep it pretty dry, anyway. -Had your bath—pardon me, tub?”</p> - -<p>“No. You go ahead if you like.”</p> - -<p>“All right, your ’Ighness, I’ll do that very -thing. Say, what’s wrong with you? Got the pip -or anything? You look like a last summer’s -straw!”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_304"></a>[304]</span></p> - -<p>“Me? Oh, I’m all right, I fancy, thanks. I—didn’t -sleep very well.”</p> - -<p>Bert chuckled and playfully shied a pillow at -him. “Nerves, me dear boy, nerves! You’ll feel -better after you’ve got some food—that is, chow, -inside you. I’ll yell if there’s a tub not working.”</p> - -<p>Bert’s prediction was verified. Hugh did feel -better after his breakfast. Possibly the discovery -that he was not the only fellow at the training -table that morning who resembled a last summer’s -straw helped as much as the food. As has been -said before, Hugh had a horror of being “different.”</p> - -<p>There was no school that day. Experience had -proved to the faculty that holding recitations on -the morning of the Big Game was about as useless -a thing as could be imagined. Many fellows -headed for the village shortly after breakfast, -but the players were not allowed that means of -working off any superabundance of spirits. Instead, -being instructed to remain out of doors as -much as possible, they dawdled around from one -set of steps to another and tried to be very jovial -and carefree. The sun came through about ten -and the trees glittered as though strung with diamonds. -Then the diamonds turned into very wet -water and dripped down fellows’ necks.</p> - -<p>Bert and Hugh and Nick and several others<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_305"></a>[305]</span> -were seated on the steps of Trow at about ten-thirty. -Talk had been desultory and fragmentary -for some time, and Nick, the only one of the group -apparently unaffected by nerves, had just informed -the rest candidly but for their own good that they -were a “bunch of nuts,” when Mr. Bonner came -into view down the steps of School Hall, looked -this way and that and then walked briskly along -to Trow. He had the appearance of one who, -having completed a home-run, is informed by the -umpire that he is out for not having touched second. -Every fellow in the group there knew that -something had greatly disturbed the coach’s equanimity, -and when, pausing a dozen yards away, -he called to Hugh, his tone confirmed the look on -his face.</p> - -<p>“Ordway, please!” he called. “Just a moment!”</p> - -<p>Hugh arose and wormed his way between the -others. Probably they all glanced curiously at -him as he passed down the steps, but I doubt if -any save Bert read the expression on his face -aright. To Bert it was one of relief.</p> - -<p>Hugh joined Coach Bonner and together they -walked toward School Hall and disappeared -through the entrance. Speculation was rife in -front of Trow. Nick shook his head dubiously.</p> - -<p>“Something’s gone to pot,” he said.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_306"></a>[306]</span></p> - -<p>“Faculty’s jumped on Hobo, probably,” suggested -another. “Thought, though, he was rather -a shark for study.”</p> - -<p>“It isn’t that,” said Nick. “What do you think, -Bert?”</p> - -<p>But Bert only shook his head. If it was what -he really thought, it wasn’t a thing for him to -talk about.</p> - -<p>Five minutes later Hugh came out of School -Hall and walked toward them again. Seeing his -face, Nick breathed easier. If it was anything -bad the Duke wouldn’t smile like that. When he -reached the steps Hugh stopped. By that time the -smile didn’t look so good to Nick. There was -something not quite regular about it!</p> - -<p>“Anything wrong?” asked Yetter.</p> - -<p>“Rather, in a way,” answered Hugh. Bert -noticed that his friend avoided looking at him as -he made the announcement. “My folks—that is, -my mother doesn’t want me to play. She telegraphed -the faculty. Bonner—Bonner’s a bit—peevish.”</p> - -<p>The silence was broken by the dry tones of -Nick.</p> - -<p>“Strange he should be,” he murmured.</p> - -<p>Hugh nodded, smiled, and turned away in the -direction of Lothrop. A chorus of regrets, of -protests, of questions went after him, but he kept<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_307"></a>[307]</span> -on. Bert watched him disappear into the building -before he jumped up and hurried after.</p> - -<p>“What,” demanded Bert, as he closed the door -behind him, “what is this—this”—unconsciously -he adopted Hugh’s phrase of the other evening—“this -piffling poppycock?”</p> - -<p>Hugh, standing at the window, one knee -on the cushion, turned and smiled conciliatingly. -“Mother telegraphed to faculty. She doesn’t want -me to play. She—she’s afraid I’d get hurt, don’t -you know. Of course, it’s bally nonsense, but -there you are, what?”</p> - -<p>Bert advanced into the room and shied his cap -to the table. Then he plunged his hands in his -pockets and observed sweetly:</p> - -<p>“Must have been an awful surprise to you!”</p> - -<p>Hugh colored. “Well, there it is, eh?”</p> - -<p>“Most breaks your heart, doesn’t it?” continued -Bert with suspicious sympathy.</p> - -<p>“Oh, well, now, old chap, of course a fellow’s -disappointed, and all that, but——”</p> - -<p>Then Bert let loose. I’m not going to try to -say what he did, partly because it was all dreadfully -incoherent and partly because he used expressions -and called names that barely escaped -being in shocking bad taste. One of the nicest -things he called Hugh was a “dunder-headed ass”! -And Hugh took it all quite good-naturedly and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_308"></a>[308]</span> -very calmly, even seating himself as though in -order to listen more attentively. And when, at -last, Bert petered out for lack of breath or language, -Hugh only grinned at him!</p> - -<p>“You can’t prove anything you’ve said,” he -remarked finally, just when Bert showed a disposition -to go on again. “And, anyway——”</p> - -<p>“I don’t have to prove it; I <em>know</em> it!” bellowed -the other. “I’m not a complete fool!” He glared -at Hugh a space longer and then subsided in the -Morris chair. “What—what did you do it for, -Hugh?” he asked almost pathetically.</p> - -<p>Hugh blustered weakly. “I haven’t said I’d -done anything, have I? That’s your story. If -you don’t believe me when I tell you that—that——”</p> - -<p>“Well, go on,” said Bert sarcastically.</p> - -<p>But Hugh didn’t. “Anyway, it’s done and -that’s all there is to it. What’s the good of cutting -up rough?”</p> - -<p>“Hugh, you’re an ass.”</p> - -<p>Hugh smiled and shrugged his shoulders. “I -say, you know, you’ve told me that before a number -of times.”</p> - -<p>“And I tell it to you again, you—you chump! -If this ever gets out Bonner will scalp you and -the school will chase you from here to the Junction!”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_309"></a>[309]</span></p> - -<p>“Why should it get out, as you say? And—and -what is there to get out, anyway?”</p> - -<p>“There’s this. You wrote home and got your -mother to send that telegram, and if that isn’t——”</p> - -<p>“I didn’t!” denied Hugh.</p> - -<p>“You didn’t! Look here, can you look me in -the eyes and say you didn’t put your mother up -to it?”</p> - -<p>“I didn’t write home,” replied Hugh evasively.</p> - -<p>“Oh, that’s it! You telegraphed! Of course -you did! And that’s what you were thinking of -when you said ‘Oh!’ or something when we were -talking about Joe Leslie. That put the silly stunt -into your head, didn’t it?”</p> - -<p>“I say, what’s the good of getting all excited -about it?” said Hugh soothingly. “It’s quite all -right, old dear. All you’ve got to do, you know, -is calm down and go in this afternoon and give -’em ballywhack!”</p> - -<p>Bert was silent for a moment. Then: “What -did Bonner say?” he demanded.</p> - -<p>Hugh smiled ruefully. “He was crusty a bit, -if you know what I mean.”</p> - -<p>“I think I do,” said Bert grimly. “Does he—suspect -anything?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, dear, no! Why should he?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_310"></a>[310]</span></p> - -<p>“Well, he might. Hang it, Hugh, I’ve got a -half a mind not to play!”</p> - -<p>Hugh laughed. “Change it, old dear! Bonner’s -fit to be tied now. If you tried anything -like that on he’d just simply blow up—<em>Bing!</em> -Just like that! Don’t be a silly ass, please.”</p> - -<p>“But, Hugh, I wish you hadn’t! I feel so -mean, don’t you see? And suppose Bonner doesn’t -put me in, after all! Suppose he plays Siedhof -or Zanetti! Suppose, even if he does put me in, -I don’t play decently, or——”</p> - -<p>“Suppose you’re a piffling idiot, and shut up! -Bonner’s got to put you in. And you’ve got to -play the way you did Thursday and you’re going -to! Now come on out and get some air.”</p> - -<p>Bert didn’t stir at once, though. Instead, he -studied his knuckles a long moment, leaning forward -in his chair. Then, rather huskily: “Hugh, -you’re a mighty good sort,” he faltered. “And -I’ve been such a rotter that I don’t see why you -want to—to——”</p> - -<p>“Piffling poppycock!” said Hugh.</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_311"></a>[311]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXV">CHAPTER XXV<br /> -<small>BOWLES ATTENDS A FOOTBALL GAME</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p class="cap">At a little before three that afternoon a -carriage, drawn by a weary-looking gray -horse, turned into the campus from River -Street and finally stopped in front of School Hall. -The single occupant alighted, paid the driver and -ascended the steps with a suggestion of dignified -haste. Some three minutes later, by which -time the carriage which had brought him -from the Junction was out of sight around a -corner, the passenger reappeared and crossed -the campus in the direction of a large open plot -of ground from which loud and at times quite -appalling sounds broke upon the afternoon -air.</p> - -<p>He was a neatly attired man of about thirty-five, -clean-shaven, and of a serious cast of countenance. -He was quite evidently English, and -self-respecting to a degree. That was apparent -in his carriage, his expression, and his attire. He -crossed the green, entered the gate of Lothrop -Field, and paused inquiringly in front of a youth<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_312"></a>[312]</span> -with a scarlet ribbon on his coat who guarded -the entrance to the stands.</p> - -<p>“Fifty cents, please,” said the youth.</p> - -<p>The latecomer put a well-gloved hand in a -pocket, drew forth a pigskin purse and selected -the required amount. Then he passed around a -corner of a grandstand and found himself confronted -on one side by sloping tiers of seats -crowded with onlookers and on the other by an -expanse of yellowing turf over which a number -of persons were hurrying about in an apparently -purposeless way. A second ribbon-badged youth -arose from the steps of the stand and said:</p> - -<p>“You’ll find a seat further along, sir; about -three sections down.”</p> - -<p>“Thank you, sir, but I am looking for—for -Mr. Ordway.”</p> - -<p>“Ordway?” The youth shrugged. “I can’t -tell you where he’s sitting. He was to have -played, but something happened. I’m afraid you -can’t stand here, sir. You’re obstructing the view -of people in the lower seats.”</p> - -<p>Already requests to “Move on, please!” were -being made, and the man, still searching the crowd -as he went, proceeded in the direction indicated. -But finding anyone in that throng was like looking -for a needle in a haystack, and he began to -realize the futility of his task. Half-way along<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_313"></a>[313]</span> -he stopped very suddenly and clutched at his very -respectable derby hat. Someone had almost -knocked it from his head with a waving flag, -while a most barbaric and disconcerting shouting -caused him to gaze about, startled. He could, -however, see nothing to account for such an outburst, -and, prompted by cries of “Down front!” -and “Keep moving, please!” he went on and was -finally taken pity on by a third ribbon-adorned -usher and conducted up a number of steps and -placed precariously on the last eight inches of a -narrow seat.</p> - -<p>He looked about him carefully. There seemed -to be hundreds of persons there, old, middle-aged -and young, and many were waving flags of vivid -scarlet bearing white G’s, and all, or so it seemed -to him, were shouting. Beside him was a boy of -possibly sixteen years, a rather nice-appearing -youth, but one who continually jumped half out of -his seat or prodded the man’s ribs with a sharp -elbow. The newcomer made a careful and systematic -survey of as much of the audience as was -within his range of vision, but without finding Mr. -Ordway, after which he philosophically settled -down, if such a thing is possible when your neighbors’ -knees and elbows are continually being poked -into you, and did his best to understand what was -going on.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_314"></a>[314]</span></p> - -<p>Before him, on a white-barred field, two groups -of young gentlemen were facing each other. Those -of one group were bright red as to arms and legs -and those of the other dark green. Besides the -number engaged in the contest—the man placed -that number as between twenty and thirty; possibly -because several of them kept moving about -all the time—there were two older persons on -hand, one of whom was an extremely active gentleman, -judging from the manner in which he ran -back and forth. While he looked someone blew -a whistle and the two groups of players suddenly -became inextricably confused. Some ran one way -and some another and each seemed mainly bent -on getting into the next fellow’s way! And then, -quite from nowhere, a green-stockinged youth -shot into prominence and ran very fast across the -field in the observer’s direction. He had a football -in one arm and held the other stiffly before -him. The reason for this was presently made -plain when a scarlet-legged youth tried to interfere -with him. That extended hand came into -contact with the scarlet-legged youth’s face and -the latter swerved quickly aside. But the lad -with the green stockings didn’t get much farther, -for two other scarlet-legged players literally -hurled themselves on him and he was sent headlong -across the white line and into a windrow of<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_315"></a>[315]</span> -hay. The man, rather startled by such violence, -understood at once that the hay had been placed -there for humanitarian purposes.</p> - -<p>Everyone shouted things then, while, to the surprise -of the man, the assaulted youth arose nonchalantly, -shook himself, and trotted further into -the field, where, presently, the whole performance -was gone through with again. The man was perplexed. -Football he had heard of but never witnessed, -and it was very difficult to understand. -On a board at one end of the inclosure was the -legend:</p> - -<p class="noic">GRAFTON</p> - -<p class="noic">VISITORS</p> - -<p>That, of course, meant that neither side had as -yet succeeded in making a tally. The man wondered -what they did to make a tally, and while -he was still wondering a gentleman wearing a -white sweater ran frantically onto the field and -tooted an automobile horn. Whereupon, with one -accord, the players of both sides drew apart and -then trotted diagonally down the field and disappeared -from sight.</p> - -<p>The man started to get up, saw that only a very -few were following his example, hesitated, and -resumed his seat.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_316"></a>[316]</span></p> - -<p>“I beg pardon, sir,” he said to his neighbor, -“is there more of it?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes, that’s only the first half,” replied the -boy, a note of surprise in his voice. “You got -here late, didn’t you?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir. The train I reached Needham Junction -on did not connect with any train for this -place and I was obliged to take a fly—er, carriage, -that is to say. It took some time.”</p> - -<p>“I guess it did!” The boy observed his neighbor -interestedly, a bit puzzled. “Too bad to miss -a whole quarter after coming so far, sir.”</p> - -<p>“I beg pardon, but I’m not—that is, you——” -But he gave it up. He wanted to tell the boy -that he preferred not to be called “sir,” but he -couldn’t think of a way to do it.</p> - -<p>“Come from New York?” the boy was asking, -frankly curious.</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir, but from Baltimore before that. I -left there last night. I came to see Mr. Ordway; -Mr. Hugh Ordway. You might know him, sir?”</p> - -<p>“Know Hobo! Well, I guess! Everyone -knows Hobo Ordway!”</p> - -<p>“No, sir, Hugh, if you please, sir.”</p> - -<p>“I know; that’s him. The fellows call him -Hobo on account of his initials; H. O. B. O. don’t -you see? Friend of yours, sir?”</p> - -<p>“My master, sir.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_317"></a>[317]</span></p> - -<p>“Your—I didn’t get that!”</p> - -<p>“I’m Master Hugh’s man, sir. We were a bit -worried about him and my lady sent me up to see -if everything was all right.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, then you’re the valet chap he brought -along with him when he got here?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir; Bowles, sir.”</p> - -<p>“Well, what do you know about that?”</p> - -<p>“You mean, sir——”</p> - -<p>“Why, say, Mr. Bowles—or ought I to call you -just Bowles?”</p> - -<p>“Just Bowles, if you’ll be so kind, sir.”</p> - -<p>“Well, then, Bowles, you don’t need to worry -your bean about Hobo. He’s as right as a trivet, -or tight as a rivet or whatever you say. Only -thing that’s bothering him, I guess, is that his -folks butted in at the last moment and told him -he couldn’t play. But I guess you know all about -that?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes, sir. You see he telegraphed——” -Bowles stopped and coughed discreetly. “That -is to say, we telegraphed——”</p> - -<p>“Fine piece of business, I don’t think, Bowles! -What’s the big idea? Think he’d get killed?”</p> - -<p>“Can’t say, sir. It was her Ladyship’s idea. -It’s an extremely rough game, this football.”</p> - -<p>“Rough! Sure, it’s rough, but—who’s her -ladyship?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_318"></a>[318]</span></p> - -<p>Bowles again coughed behind his hand. “Mrs. -Ordway, sir, Master Hugh’s mother. We—we -always call her that. It’s a habit, sir.”</p> - -<p>“Well, say, if you want to find Hobo you’d -better beat it right now. He’s on this side somewhere, -I suppose. Say, Jennings, seen Hobo Ordway -lately?”</p> - -<p>“Sure! He was on the bench with the subs -during the first half,” responded the next boy.</p> - -<p>“Then you go down there where you see those -benches and he will be back again pretty soon.”</p> - -<p>“Thank you, sir, but possibly I’d better wait -now until the football is over. That is to say, -if you’re quite certain he is all right.”</p> - -<p>“Was this morning, anyway. I talked to him -coming out of dining hall. There they come! -<em>Grafton! Grafton!</em>”</p> - -<p>There had been a good deal of singing and -cheering during the absence of the teams, but now -the uproar became positively deafening. Everyone -stood up and shouted long and loudly and, if -they had pennants, waved them. Bowles stood -up too, but he didn’t shout, although he almost -wanted to! Then a quick, sharp cheer broke forth -from one side of the field, and a long, growly cheer -floated back from the other, and the players came -into sight again around the corner and went to -their benches. And Bowles, watching eagerly,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_319"></a>[319]</span> -saw Master Hugh! But what a disreputable looking -Master Hugh! Bowles almost dropped in his -tracks! No wonder, indeed, that they called him -“Hobo”! A pair of old gray summer trousers, -a faded blue sweater, a diminutive cloth cap on -the back of his head, and a pair of kicked-out tan -shoes on his feet! Bowles groaned and was, oh, -so thankful that her Ladyship was not there to -witness the disturbing sight! And then others cut -off his view and somewhere a whistle blew and -the cheering began again and—</p> - -<p>“Come on, Grafton! Let’s score now!” yelled -a voice in Bowles’ ear, and an elbow dug sharply -into his side and someone behind him sent his -respectable derby over onto the bridge of his -respectable nose. Bowles rescued his hat and gave -his attention to the field. The ball was floating -lazily aloft in the sunlight and under it the players -were running together. Then it came down, a -boy got under it and clasped it to his stomach, -dodged this way, feinted that, was caught, escaped, -ran a few yards and was pulled down. Bowles -thought he could almost hear the thud of that -body!</p> - -<p>“Extremely rough,” he murmured, “oh, very.”</p> - -<p>But after that he gazed, at first interested and -then fascinated, and soon forgot whether football -was rough or otherwise! His neighbor, supplying<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_320"></a>[320]</span> -the unsought-for information that his name -was Stiles, threw light on the endeavors of the conflicting -groups briefly, succinctly, and Bowles -began to fathom the philosophy of the game. -Minutes passed. The play surged this way and -that, the ball, however, straying never very far -from the center of the gridiron. The teams were -evenly matched, it seemed. Toward the end of the -third period Mount Morris tried a difficult field-goal -from the enemy’s thirty-eight yards, but the -ball fell far short of the goal and came speeding -back in the arms of Nick Blake. They seemed now -to be doing more kicking, for the pigskin was frequently -in air. Once Vail, playing back with Nick, -fumbled a punt and a groan of horror arose from -around Bowles, but the next instant Vail had shouldered -a Mount Morris end aside and himself -fallen on the bouncing ball.</p> - -<p>Beside Bowles, his neighbor sat on the edge of -the seat and squirmed and yelped and shouted: -“Get him, Ted! Get him, you chump!... Here -we go, fellows! Oh, look at that! Forty-five -yards if an inch! Keyes can’t punt a bit, can he? -He’s no good at all, is he? Forty-five yards! -That’s all! Just forty—— ... Oh, bully, Winslow! -Oh, great stuff! Right through! Three -yards easy! How many downs is that? What? -It can’t be! Oh, all right. We’ll do it, just the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_321"></a>[321]</span> -same! They can’t stop us now! We’re on our -way to a touchdown! Get into ’em, Keyes! That’s -the stuff! Rip ’em up! What’d I tell you? Four -more! Oh, there’s nothing to it, I tell you, nothing -to it at all!”</p> - -<p>Down on the Green-and-White’s twenty-yard -line now. Mount Morris weakening a little. -Two subs going into her line. Grafton as fresh -as ever, barring Trafford, perhaps. Trafford had -a fierce jolt that time in the third quarter. Enough -to put most fellows out of the game. All right -now! Second down and eight to go! No gain? -Well, Vail can’t do it every time. Besides, they -were looking for him. Two downs left. Seven -to go? Then he did gain a little. Here we go! -Right through—— Nothing doing! Who had -the ball? Keyes? Too bad! Bully chance to -score! Have to kick now. Well, three points is -better than nothing, let me tell you! Who’s going -to—— What’s the matter? Oh, quarter over? -Gee, but that was short! All right, everyone up -now! Let ’em have it! “Rah, rah, rah, Grafton! -Rah, rah, rah, Grafton! Grafton! Grafton! -<em>Grafton!</em>”</p> - -<p>Bowles found he was clutching his knees tightly, -doing no possible good to his respectable trousers, -and straining his respectable gloves. Odd how -excited one got about football! Extremely rough,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_322"></a>[322]</span> -football, but—er—most interesting and—er—manly, -of course. Oh, rather! Ah, they were -starting again at the other end of the field! A -scarlet-legged youth was standing well behind his -fellows with outstretched arms. Hello, he’d kicked -it! Why didn’t the people applaud? What was -wrong? Oh, it had to go over that stick, eh, and -it hadn’t gone over? Oh, yes, of course. Most -regrettable!</p> - -<p>Back to the kicking game again now. Long -punts, thrilling catches and wonderful runs nipped -in the bud by desperate tackles. Now and then -an attempted forward pass by Grafton, but never -successful. Mount Morris playing as if she’d be -satisfied with an 0 to 0 tie, taking no chances -with the ball in her possession, playing it safe always. -Grafton growing more desperate every -minute as the time shortens. Sending Vail and -Keyes banging into the left of the Green-and-White -line for short gains, whisking Blake and -Winslow past tackle or outside end for slightly -longer ones, until again the ball is near the twenty-five -yards. Now the gains are shorter. Mount -Morris plays doggedly, hurling back attack. Three -downs and only five yards gained. Back to the -thirty-two stalks Keyes. A hush settles over the -field and stand. The quarter’s signals are heard -plainly. A brown streak into Keyes’ hands, a<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_323"></a>[323]</span> -swinging foot, a moment of suspense, and a groan -of disappointment. Again he has failed!</p> - -<p>Across the field Mount Morris is cheering -slowly over and over and over. Only six minutes -now. Here and there people are already leaving -their seats, to the discomfort of others. Mount -Morris’s ball on her forty-six yards. Rush—rush—rush—punt! -That’s her game now. Hold them -off! No score for either side! Back comes Grafton. -Four yards—that was Winslow through -tackle-guard on the left. Three yards more—that -was Vail outside tackle. Third down and only -three needed. Nick makes it on a delayed run, -gets it by an inch only, but gets it! First down -again on Grafton’s twenty. Hello, what’s this? -A punt on first down? Not likely! A forward -pass then. Yes! And made it, too!</p> - -<p>Near the forty now and still going. But she’ll -never get to the goal that way. There isn’t time -enough. Three minutes left? Is that all? Why -don’t they try another forward pass or run the -ends? It’s the only way. Plugging the line will -never—There he goes! He’s off! It’s Winslow! -No, it’s Vail! Ten yards—fifteen—! Oh, bully -tackle, Mount Morris! First down again, though, -and on their thirty or thereabouts. Here’s where -we score! Bust ’em up, Grafton!</p> - -<p>Time out for someone. A Grafton player?<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_324"></a>[324]</span> -No, he’s got green legs. It’s Milton, their right -half. No, it isn’t, it’s that big left guard of theirs. -Looks groggy, doesn’t he? Pretty near all in, if -you ask me. Here comes a Grafton sub; Zanetti, -isn’t it? Wonder who they’ll take out. Winslow, -by thunder! That’s wrong! Winslow’s playing -a dandy game. What? I don’t care if Zanetti -does want his letter. Let him wait until next year. -He’s only an Upper Middler, anyway. Yah! -Ted Trafford’s sent him off again! Now go -ahead, Winslow, and show them we don’t <em>need</em> -any subs!</p> - -<p>The Mount Morris chap’s up. He’s going off. -No, he isn’t! That’s right, give him a hand. -Here we go! Put it over, Grafton! Touchdown! -Touchdown! <em>Touchdown!</em></p> - -<p>Vail fails to gain on a crisscross and Dresser, -running from position, takes the ball from Nick -and makes two around the other end. Grafton’s -trying to work over in front of goal. Once more, -and Vail gets another two yards through center. -Hard luck! Fourth down now and we’ll have to -kick. Unless—— No, it’s a kick. You can tell -from the formation. Wait a bit, though. Blake’s -edging over. It’s a forward pass! If it only -works! Watch ’em now! Who’s got it? What’s -wrong? Hi! There he goes! <em>There he goes!</em> -Around this end! It’s Bert Winslow! Oh, <a href="#i_frontis">go it, </a><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_325"></a>[325]</span> -<a href="#i_frontis">you Winslow!</a> Oh, go—They’ve got him! No! -He’ll do it, he’ll do it! Ten yards more! Look -out for that man! Dodge him! That’s it! Oh, -bully! He’s past! He’s—<em>he’s over</em>! HE’S -OVER! <em>Touchdown! Touchdown! Grafton! -Grafton!</em> WO-A-OW!... I beg pardon, sir, -did I break your hat?</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_326"></a>[326]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXVI">CHAPTER XXVI<br /> -<small>HUGH IS UNMASKED!</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p class="cap">Grafton had won!</p> - -<p>That she had done so only by the -slimmest of chances and in the last moments -of time, that Mount Morris had held her -helpless through fifty-eight minutes of that long-drawn -sixty, that the Green-and-White had actually -gained more ground by rushing, and had, all -in all, shown more football skill, was of no moment -now. Tomorrow, in a calmer frame of mind, -Grafton might realize all this, but today the fact -of victory was all she heeded!</p> - -<p>She captured the scarlet-legged players, who, -wearied and panting, begged for mercy, and carried -them shoulder-high about the field. She -snake-danced and tossed hats and caps over the -crossbars. She cheered and sang and cavorted -and laughed and triumphed. And finally she -crowded in front of the field house and, Joe Leslie -waving his scarlet megaphone and leading, -cheered every member of the eleven and Coach<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_327"></a>[327]</span> -Bonner and Coach Crowley and Trainer Richards -and Manager Quinn, and then cheered the -Team and the School! And, at last, as twilight -settled down, she dispersed across the green and -back to the buildings, still laughing, still singing, -still shouting.</p> - -<p>The final score was 7 to 0, for Captain Ted -Trafford, with Nick holding the ball for him, had -finished his football career at Grafton by sending -the pigskin straight and high over the crossbar -and registering the last point for the Scarlet-and-Gray.</p> - -<p>But where all had played well and some more -than well, it was Left Half Winslow who had -emerged the hero of the game and of the season. -It was Bert who had torn off that last thirty yards -on a brilliant, zig-zag rush around the unsuspecting -Mount Morris left end and past a half-dozen -desperate defenders, and one cannot perform a -feat like that and escape the consequences. As -Mr. Smiley said when he stopped to shake hands -with Bert at the entrance of Lothrop later, “<i lang="la" xml:lang="la">Sic -itur ad astra</i>,” very freely translated by Nick into -“Thus one becomes a star”!</p> - -<p>Hugh, who had patiently waited for Bert to -emerge from the field house and had walked back -through the dusk with him and Nick and Pop and -several others, was still bubbling praise and congratulations<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_328"></a>[328]</span> -as, having left the rest, they toiled -up the last flight.</p> - -<p>“It was simply corking, Bert!” he declared for -the tenth time. “I don’t see yet how you ever got -through! Why, there were at least five fellows -between you and the goal line! Twice I was sure -you were done for and closed my eyes, and each -time, when I looked again, you were still nipping -it! It was perfectly ripping!”</p> - -<p>“Just the same it ought to have been you, old -man. I don’t forget that, you bet!”</p> - -<p>“I’d never have done it,” replied Hugh with -conviction. “They’d have nailed me sure as shooting.” -He swung open the door of the study and, -followed by Bert, groped his way toward the -switch. As he did so a discreet cough sounded in -the gloom. “Hello,” exclaimed Hugh. “Who’s -there?”</p> - -<p>“Bowles, sir. I tried to find the switch, sir, -but——”</p> - -<p>“<em>Who?</em>”</p> - -<p>“Bowles, sir. I——”</p> - -<p>“<em>Bowles!</em>” The light flared and Hugh faced -the occupant of the study in amazement. Then -he sprang forward and seized the embarrassed -Bowles by the hand. “Bowles! I say, wherever -did you drop from? What are you doing here, -eh?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_329"></a>[329]</span></p> - -<p>“Her Ladyship thought——”</p> - -<p>“You remember Bowles, Bert? He was with -me that day I came.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes,” replied Bert, shaking hands rather, -as it seemed, to Bowles’ horror. “How are you, -Bowles?”</p> - -<p>“Nicely, thank you, sir. I——”</p> - -<p>“But, I say, what’s the idea?” demanded Hugh. -“Is the mater here?”</p> - -<p>“No, sir. Her Ladyship—<em>Ouch!</em> Beg pardon, -sir!” Bowles discreetly stepped out of the reach -of Hugh’s toes. “I mean to say, Master Hugh, -that your mother was worried when she received -your——”</p> - -<p>“Shut up, Bowles! Don’t be a babbling ass! -You mean my mother sent you up to see what -was going on, eh? Well, that’s all right, only -it wasn’t necessary, you know. I’m quite -O. K. Glad to see you, though. You might -sit down and stop fidgeting. When did you get -here?”</p> - -<p>“About a quarter to three, sir. There was—h’m—a -misunderstanding about trains, sir, and I -was obliged to engage a fly at the Junction.”</p> - -<p>Hugh chuckled. “You’d get the trains balled -up if it was anyway possible, wouldn’t you, -Bowles? Well, never mind that now you’re -here. You’re going to stick around until tomorrow,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_330"></a>[330]</span> -I take it. I say, Bert, can he get any supper -here?”</p> - -<p>“Surest thing you know! We’ll tell Jimmy and -he’ll fix Bowles up downstairs. And he can sleep -on the window-seat, if you like.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, no, sir, thanking you, sir! I wouldn’t -think of it, sir. I’m informed there’s a very comfortable -inn in the village, sir.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, that’s better,” agreed Hugh. “You -can have your supper here and then stick around -while the fun lasts. You see, Bowles, we’re -due for a bit of a jolly rumpus tonight. This -is the day we celebrate, if you know what I -mean.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir, quite so. I—I witnessed the football -contest, sir.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, you did? And you saw Mr. Winslow -make his touchdown? Well, say, Bowles, wasn’t -that a little bit of all right?”</p> - -<p>“Quite remarkable, sir! Yes, indeed, sir. A -most clever bit of work, Mr. Winslow, if you’ll -pardon my saying it.”</p> - -<p>“Thanks, Bowles. I’m going to get into some -clean togs, Hugh. It must be—Hello! Come -in!”</p> - -<p>Nick and Pop and Ted Trafford crowded -through the door and for a minute confusion ruled. -Then, while Pop and Ted held Bert captive in the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_331"></a>[331]</span> -Morris chair and playfully pummeled him, Nick’s -voice arose above the tumult.</p> - -<p>“Well, if it isn’t my old friend Bowler!” -shouted Nick. “Bowler, old top, how’s everything -at dear old Glyndestoke?” Nick was ringing -Bowles’ hand enthusiastically and Bowles’ face -was a study. “When did you leave the Manor, -Bowler? Fellows, meet Mr. Bowler!”</p> - -<p>“Begging your pardon, sir,” stammered the -man, “Bowles, if you please, sir!”</p> - -<p>“Bowles, of course! Stupid of me, eh, what? -Fellows——”</p> - -<p>“Cut it out, Nick,” begged Hugh. “Bowles ran -up to see how things were getting on, don’t you -know. Got here for the game and had the time -of his life, didn’t you, Bowles?”</p> - -<p>“Good for Bowles!” cried the incorrigible Nick. -“He’s a true sport! You’ve only to look at him -to know that!” Nick threw himself on the window-seat, -only to arise as quickly and lift from -the cushion the battered remains of what had once -been a most respectable derby hat. Nick viewed -it with surprise and awe, and—I fear—delight! -“Bowles, is this yours?” he asked tremulously.</p> - -<p>A silence fell over the room. Then someone -chuckled and a burst of laughter arose as Bowles -meekly assented.</p> - -<p>“I’m awfully sorry,” declared Nick, looking<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_332"></a>[332]</span> -quite otherwise. “I’ll buy you another, Bowles.”</p> - -<p>“It’s of no consequence, sir,” said Bowles. “In -fact, sir, it was already—er—a bit damaged. A -young gentleman at the football game, sir, used -it—er—quite roughly, sir!”</p> - -<p>The laughter redoubled and into it, having -knocked without receiving any answer, came a -half-dozen fellows; Keyes and Roy Dresser and -Tom Hanrihan, of the first, and Brewster Longley -and Neil Ayer, of the second, and Wallace -Cathcart, non-combatant.</p> - -<p>“Proctor!” shouted Ted. “Less noise, gentlemen!”</p> - -<p>“Hello, Wal!” greeted the irrepressible Nick. -“Just in time, old top!” He flourished the -squashed and mutilated hat. “We’re celebrating -the finish of the Derby!”</p> - -<p>“Too much row, Wal?” asked Bert.</p> - -<p>Cathcart shook his head. “I guess a little noise -is to be expected today, Bert,” he answered. “I -saw the crowd and just came over to congratulate -you.”</p> - -<p>“Good old Wal!” shouted Nick. “Speech! -Speech! Shut up, fellows, Cathcart’s going to -speech!”</p> - -<p>But Cathcart shook his head and smiled. “I’ve -said it,” he replied.</p> - -<p>“Short and to the point,” applauded Roy Dresser.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_333"></a>[333]</span> -“Brevity, young gentlemen, is the soul of wit. -Say, Hobo, what happened to you, anyway? I’ve -heard forty-eleven yarns. Why didn’t you play?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, what’s the real answer?” demanded Hanrihan.</p> - -<p>“Bowles’ll know,” declared Nick. “Speak up, -Bowles, old top! Gentlemen, we have with us this -evening ’is ’Ighness’s tried and trusted retainer, -Mr. Bowles. A short cheer for Bowles, fellows!”</p> - -<p>“Rah, rah, rah! Bowles!” was the instant and -enthusiastic response. Bowles looked distinctly uncomfortable, -although he tried hard to smile a -respectful smile.</p> - -<p>“Now, then, Bowles, out with it!” demanded -Nick. “What was this vile conspiracy to——”</p> - -<p>“Really, sir, I’m not at liberty——”</p> - -<p>“Bowles, shut up!” warned Hugh sharply.</p> - -<p>“Hobo, don’t interfere,” cried Roy Dresser. -“Someone muzzle him.”</p> - -<p>He wasn’t muzzled, but several fellows so -engaged his attention for a minute that speech -was impossible.</p> - -<p>“Now, Bowles, once more. You were saying?”</p> - -<p>“I beg your pardon, sir, but I’m not at liberty -to speak, sir. His Lordship——”</p> - -<p>There was a smothered groan from the struggling -Hugh.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_334"></a>[334]</span></p> - -<p>“Who?” asked Nick.</p> - -<p>“That is, sir, Master Hugh——”</p> - -<p>“Wait a minute,” exclaimed Bert, pushing forward. -“You said something about ‘his Lordship,’ -Bowles. Who did you mean?”</p> - -<p>Bowles cast an anguished look across the table -toward Hugh, but no help came to him for the -reason that Hugh was very, very busy.</p> - -<p>“No one, sir. A—a figure of speech, if you -please, sir.”</p> - -<p>“Well, all right, Bowles. Proceed. Tell us -your sweet, sad story,” prompted Nick.</p> - -<p>“Hold on,” interrupted Bert. “Let’s get this -straight. There’s something queer here.”</p> - -<p>“Several,” murmured Nick.</p> - -<p>“Who’s his Lordship, Bowles? Do you mean -Hugh?”</p> - -<p>“Really, Mr. Winslow——” began the perturbed -Bowles.</p> - -<p>At that instant Hugh threw off the enemy and -bounded to his feet. “Bowles!” he cried. “Shut -up! Get out of here!”</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir,” said Bowles with vast relief. But -Bert interposed.</p> - -<p>“Don’t you do it, Bowles,” he commanded. -“Let’s get this straight.”</p> - -<p>“Bowles!” cautioned Hugh sternly.</p> - -<p>“Let him talk. Free speech!” said Longley.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_335"></a>[335]</span></p> - -<p>“Fellows,” interrupted Wallace Cathcart -mildly, “we’re making it very difficult for Mr. -Bowles. Besides, he’s not going to tell you anything, -and I will, if you’ll be quiet a minute.”</p> - -<p>“Shoot!” said Nick. “Shut up, everyone! Go -ahead, Wal.”</p> - -<p>“Well, I suppose Hugh will want my life -blood,” went on Cathcart, smiling at Hugh’s -frowning and anxious countenance, “but I’ll trust -to you fellows to save me.”</p> - -<p>“He shan’t touch a bone of your head,” Pop -assured him.</p> - -<p>“I know he doesn’t want it known, fellows, but -I don’t see why it shouldn’t be. Besides, it’s bound -to get out some time, isn’t it?”</p> - -<p>“I guess so,” agreed Nick. “What are you -talking about?”</p> - -<p>“It was something Hugh let drop in my room -one day that made me—well, suspicious. There’s -a book in the library that tells all about the English -nobility and titled families and all that, you -know, and so I had a look at it. Hugh had told -me that he lived at a place called Glyndestoke, and -so the rest was easy.”</p> - -<p>Everyone was silent and curious, everyone save -Hugh. Hugh was palpably unhappy.</p> - -<p>“I say, Wal, if you know anything, shut up, -won’t you?” he begged.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_336"></a>[336]</span></p> - -<p>“Don’t intimidate the witness,” said Pop. “Go -ahead, Cathcart. What did you discover?”</p> - -<p>“I discovered,” continued Cathcart after an -apologetic glance at Hugh, “that the owner of -Lockely Manor in Glyndestoke, Hampshire—or -Hants, as Hugh calls it—England, is the Marquis -of Lockely, who is some sort of a secretary -in the Ministry; I’ve forgotten what.”</p> - -<p>“Political Secretary, Colonial Office, sir, begging -your pardon,” said Bowles proudly.</p> - -<p>“Also,” continued Cathcart, with a twinkle in -his eye, “I discovered that the aforementioned -Marquis of Lockely has one son, Hugh Oswald -Brodwick, Earl of Ordway!”</p> - -<p>Number 29 was so still for an instant that you -could have heard a pin drop! Then someone said, -“<em>Gee!</em>” very fervently, and a dozen fellows all -began to talk at once. But it was Bert’s voice -which dominated the others.</p> - -<p>“Is that so, Hugh?” he demanded.</p> - -<p>“Oh, dry up,” answered Hugh. “I—I’d like -to punch your head, Cathcart!”</p> - -<p>“I was afraid you would,” replied Cathcart -sadly.</p> - -<p>“The Earl of Ordway!” gasped Nick. “<em>What—do—you—know—about—that?</em>”</p> - -<p>“I’m not an earl,” declared Hugh uncomfortably. -“It—it’s only a courtesy-title. And,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_337"></a>[337]</span> -anyhow, I don’t see what difference it makes!”</p> - -<p>“It doesn’t, Hobo! Not a bit!” said Pop soothingly. -“We’ll all try to forget it and let you live -it down. After all, it isn’t your fault, is it, fellows?”</p> - -<p>“Of course not!” laughed Hanrihan. “<em>He</em> -couldn’t help it! Buck up, Hobo! No one’s going -to hold it against you!”</p> - -<p>Bowles gasped. “Against his Lordship, sir! -<em>Against</em> him?”</p> - -<p>“Bowles, shut up! I’m not your Lordship. -I’m——” Hugh’s puckered brow smoothed and -he laughed—“I’m just Hobo Ordway. Now forget -it, fellows, won’t you? It’s all piffling poppycock, -anyway! That’s just what it is, by Jove, -piffling poppycock, if you know what I mean!”</p> - - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<div class="tnote"> -<p class="noi tntitle">Transcriber’s Notes:</p> - -<p class="smfont">Except for the frontispiece, illustrations have been moved to - follow the text that they illustrate, so the page number of the - illustration may not match the page number in the List of - Illustrations.</p> - -<p class="smfont">Printer’s, punctuation and spelling inaccuracies were silently - corrected.</p> - -<p class="smfont">Archaic and variable spelling has been preserved.</p> - -<p class="smfont">Variations in hyphenation and compound words have been preserved.</p> -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RIVALS FOR THE TEAM ***</div> -<div style='text-align:left'> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will -be renamed. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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