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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/26532.txt b/26532.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e3c1388 --- /dev/null +++ b/26532.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6490 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Over the Line, by Harold M. Sherman + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere 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 + + +Title: Over the Line + +Author: Harold M. Sherman + +Release Date: September 4, 2008 [EBook #26532] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OVER THE LINE *** + + + + +Produced by Al Haines + + + + + + + + + + [Transcriber's note: Extensive research found no evidence + that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] + + + + +OVER THE LINE + + +_BY_ + +HAROLD M. SHERMAN + + +_Author of_ + + One Minute to Play + Touchdown! + Hit by Pitcher + Bases Full, Etc. + + + + +The Goldsmith Publishing Co. + +Cleveland, Ohio + + + + +COPYRIGHT 1929, BY + +THE GOLDSMITH PUBLISHING CO. + + + + +INTRODUCTION + +When a new fellow moves into the neighborhood, you look him over, +strike up an acquaintance and sort of go around with him, but not until +he shows the sort of stuff he's made of do you take him into the gang +and make a real pal of him, or else let him alone, as the case may be. + +It's somewhat the same with a new book. You look through it, read it +and if it's good stuff, the author, like the new chap in the +neighborhood, becomes one of the gang. And when such an author keeps +on producing sure fire stuff, like Harold M. Sherman has been doing, +there is no doubt at all that his books will be read. + +This book deals with the mental hazard that has been the downfall of so +many chaps. But Judd Billings overcomes his obstacle while still at +high school and how he later makes a name for himself at college, makes +this a book that will be instantly liked by all who read it. In fact, +all one need say is that it is a Harold M. Sherman book. + +J. D. V. + + + + +CONTENTS + + +CHAPTER + + I THE STRANGE CONTRACT + II JUDD GRITS HIS TEETH + III A KICKER Is DISCOVERED + IV FIGHTING SPIRIT + V FOR A SCRAP OF PAPER + VI ILL NEWS AND A NEW ARRIVAL + VII THE FIRST NIGHT + VIII JUDD PRACTICES FOOTBALL + IX AT THE FAIR + X THE ATTEMPTED HOLD-UP + XI BENZ BROODS + XII ONE KIND OF LOYALTY + XIII AN IMPRACTICAL JOKE + XIV THE CONFESSION + XV JUDD GAINS A PROMOTION + XVI BEFORE THE GAME + XVII THE FIRST HALF + XVIII THE SECOND HALF + + + + +CHAPTER I + +THE STRANGE CONTRACT + +"Judd, I'd rather a fellow would be anything else but a quitter!" + +Judd jumped to his feet, eyes blazing. + +"I'm not a quitter ... but I'm not gonna go back to school!" + +Bob Billings, older brother, stared for a moment, unanswering. Judd +had come on to the city to visit him during summer vacation. Since the +father's death and Bob's attending Bartlett College, there had been +little chance for the two to be together, especially with Bob employed +in the Star Sporting Goods store, miles away from Trumbull, the little +town near which the Billings family lived. + +"You've got to get a hold on yourself," Bob said, finally, "I'd no idea +you'd gotten this way. You're babying yourself out of everything you'd +really like to do. And here I'd counted on your taking up on that +Trumbull High team where I left off! No reason why you couldn't either +... you've got a much better physique than I have. That work on our +farm has given you the muscles of an ox. You've got a grip in those +hands that would make most fellows yell for help. Only trouble with +you is--you don't know your own strength and you're afraid to use it. +Right now a much smaller guy could tie you into bow knots!" + +Judd's face flushed. He had a great deal of respect for his older +brother, Bob. It was Bob who had written the greatest athletic page in +Trumbull High history by his feats in baseball, football and track. +And then, when the war had broken out, it was Bob who had enlisted in +the air service and come back from abroad with the Croix de Guerre and +a distinguished service medal with several citations for bravery. And +now, as a senior at Bartlett College, it was Bob who was heralded as +the outstanding member of the football team. Yes--there was no +question about it--Bob was a _he_ man! + +To follow in the footsteps of such a brother was indeed an honor--or +was it a hardship? When Judd Billings had entered high school the +students looked upon him with expectant awe. Wasn't he the brother of +the great Bob Billings? Surely he would carry on the tradition of the +family. More great things would be forthcoming. Judd's big-boned, +awkward frame was pointed out with high glee. He was a trifle taller +and pounds heavier than Bob had been. What might this mean when he got +under way? Give him time and then look for some more records to be +broken! + +But those who prophesied big things for Judd did not take the matter of +temperament into consideration. Judd was as different from Bob as +Saturday was from Sunday. It did not take the students long to +discover that he was unusually shy and self-conscious. Judd would +almost jump at his own shadow. He avoided crowds and made friends +slowly. As for competition, he apparently detested it, retracing his +steps rather than encounter physical conflict. And so, when he might +have been the idol of the entire school, Judd soon became the object of +disgust. + +"My eyes!" he would offer as excuse for his not taking up with sports. +It was true that he had had some trouble with his eyes but townspeople +shook their heads and said wisely that Judd's eyes were only serving as +his alibi. The trouble was more deep-rooted than that. + +"I'll tell you what's wrong with Judd!" explained old Mr. Bailey, +proprietor of the Trumbull General Store, "I used to know his Dad, Jim +Billings. He was a steady customer of mine up to the time of his death +and some man he was, too! As husky a farmer as I ever see! He didn't +have any use for mollycoddles and he brought his oldest boy, Bob, up to +fight his own battles, not wasting any sympathy on him. But Judd came +along seven years after Bob and he missed out on old Jim's +disciplinin'. With the father dead, Judd came under his mother's care +and Mrs. Billings has sure put her boy on the toboggan. You see she's +so nervous and scarey that she imagines terrible things are going to +happen to everybody. She hasn't let Judd go skating on the bay for +fear the ice might break. She's against his going into sports because +he might get injured. She's made a hothouse plant out of that big, +strapping fellow and I say it's a cryin' shame because Judd's got the +same stuff in him his father was made of if he could only get it out. +Wish Judd could be around Bob for awhile. That's the kind of +association he needs!" + +Mrs. Billings, well meaning though she had been, realized finally that +something must be done about Judd. Her anxious attention had been +divided between him and the operation of the farm. Hank Duncan, Jim +Billings' hired man, had taken charge of the place with Jim's passing, +Mrs. Billings insisting that Bob secure the college education which he +had planned before going into service. + +"I can't understand what is the matter with Judd," she wrote her older +son early in June, "I've tried to give him every opportunity and to do +everything for him I thought best, but he has just failed in one +subject and was barely conditioned in two others. He is so discouraged +that he says he's not going to continue in high school. He wants to +find a job and get to work. What would you advise?" + +Bob, on receipt of this letter, had thought matters over carefully ... +gravely. Just half a block from the small bachelor apartment he +occupied was a spacious city park with baseball diamonds, a football +field and tennis courts. It had been his habit to keep in trim for +football season by working out in the park during the summer. If he +could get Judd to spend the summer with him he would do what he could +to make him over. + +The temptation to accept Bob's invitation had been too great for Judd +to refuse. He was mortally sick of his associations at Trumbull. +Every place he went reminded him of some failure he had made. He was +looked down upon by fellows his own age. Few ever taunted him openly. +Judd felt that this was out of respect for the fact that he was the +brother of the great Bob. Just why he should be different than the +other fellows was something he couldn't figure out and his humiliation +at failing in his school work had caused him to feel that he could +never face his schoolmates again. + +Seeing how set Judd was against returning to school, Bob wisely +refrained from forcing the issue. He was glad that Judd had instantly +reacted to the charge of "quitter." As long as a fellow had the fight +spirit in him there was some hope. + +"I'm going out for a little workout with the football tonight," Bob +informed, "Got to keep in training, you know. Like to come out and +chase the ball for me?" + +Judd consented begrudgingly but, before Bob's practice was over, he +began to betray genuine interest. Bob showed him how to throw the +pigskin and he found it great fun to lay the ball on his hand and sail +it through the air in spiral flight after recovering Bob's kicks. + +"Say, Judd!" Bob called, "You might get down the field and catch these +punts. It'll save you chasing them after they strike." + +Judd moved slowly to the place Bob indicated, not wanting to reveal his +growing interest too plainly. Bob kicked. The ball, turning end over +end, carried almost exactly to the place Judd was standing. He moved a +few steps to the side and reached up his arms but his judgment of +distance was poor. The ball struck him a smarting blow in the face and +bounced away. Judd, over-balanced, fell to the ground. + +Bob trotted up to Judd and dragged him to his feet. + +"What's the matter, Buddy?" + +Judd showed him the spot over his eye, a slight skin bruise. + +"Oh, why that's nothing. Come on, let's try another." Bob picked up +the ball. + +"No ... see ... it's bleeding." Judd displayed some drops of blood on +his handkerchief. "I reckon I'd better go to the room and sterilize +it, I don't want to get blood poisoning, you know." + +Bob laughed. "Tommy rot! Whoever gave you such silly ideas? Forget +it!" + +Judd's feelings were wounded. "You can't tell what'll happen if you +don't take care of yourself. I heard of a fellah once..." + +"See here, Judd! Get those wild imaginings out of your head. How far +do you think we'd get in this world if every time a little thing +happened to us we sat down to worry about it and to think up lots worse +things happening?" + +But Judd was done for the afternoon. He turned and walked away, +dabbing his handkerchief tenderly to the bruise and sympathizing with +himself. He should have known better than to have played with Bob. He +might have been sure that something like this would happen. There were +so many things that a fellow had to watch out for! But after Judd had +reached the apartment and looked at himself in the glass and been +convinced that his hurt did not amount to so much after all, he +reflected--with a smile--that chasing the football had been real sport. + +The next time Judd accompanied Bob to the park the great Bob taught him +how to stand and how to hold his hands in catching a punt. At first +Judd was a bit reluctant to get in the path of a twisting football +again but he gradually overcame this fear and found, to his delight, +that he could catch some of the longest punts with ease. Bob was +kicking the ball forty and fifty yards at a kick and most of the punts +Judd had to run in order to get under. After a particularly long +chase, in which Judd reached up and just managed to catch the ball on +the tips of his fingers, Bob shouted from down the field: "That's the +pep! Great stuff, Buddy!" + +Judd no longer tried to disguise his interest in football. He was +enjoying these practice sessions hugely. He got so that he looked +forward to them. Bob loaned him a part of an old football suit so that +they could rough it up more, as he said. Judd wondered, a bit +guiltily, what his mother would say if she knew what he was doing. + +Gradually Bob taught Judd the fundamentals of the game. He did it in +an off-hand way so that Judd would not anticipate the reason. Judd had +said no more about getting a job but Bob had noticed his brother +scanning the want-ads in the paper. He smiled as he noted little +evidences that Judd was developing more initiative. Perhaps he might +even get enough courage to go out and apply for a job himself! + +The weather grew almost unbearably hot as July neared August. But Bob +told Judd that perspiration was good for him so they continued to work +out on such late afternoons as Bob could get away. + +One afternoon Bob said to Judd: "You're learning football pretty fast, +Buddy. You've been booting that ball for thirty to forty yards every +kick; your passing is good and you can grab almost every ball you get +your hands on. Now let's see how good you are at tackling. I'm going +to take the ball and run right at you. It's up to you to down me." + +Judd did not take kindly to this idea. It was different, just playing +with a football and not having anyone to interfere with you. But this +stopping of a man when he was running by grabbing him and hanging on +until you brought him to the ground was no fun. What if? ... and a +dozen visions of possible happenings flashed across Judd's mind. + +"I--I--not today," said Judd, hoping that Bob would not push the +suggestion. + +"Come on. There's nothing going to hurt you!" Bob trotted down the +field fifteen yards. He turned about and crouched forward, ready to +start. "Look out! Here I come!" + +The sight of Bob coming toward him terrified Judd. It seemed that +Bob's knees were moving up past his head and his feet were digging the +turf in a plunging drive. As Bob neared him Judd quickly side-stepped +and avoided contact with him. Bob cut into the sod with his feet and +swung around in a half-circle, bringing up short. "What's the matter? +Afraid?" + +Judd didn't answer. He was scared stiff. He wanted to run. Why, if +he had not stepped out of the way he might have suffered serious +injury! Who could stop a charging pair of feet and a bullet-like head? +Besides, in such moments, Judd was conscious that he was facing the +great Bob instead of just his brother. He felt his own insignificance. + +"Judd, there's no more likelihood of anything happening to you here +than any place else. It's all a matter of knowing how and then it's +just as easy as catching a football. It looks hard only to those who +have not learned. Let me show you." And Bob demonstrated to Judd the +correct way to tackle. + +"I'll not run hard the first few times," said Bob, considerately, "Just +try it out." + +Judd was trembling. His knees seemed weak. He was trying to tell +himself that he was not afraid. He knew that what his brother had told +him was so but he dreaded physical contact. Bob did not give him much +time for reflection. He was coming at him again! + +Judd did not wish to appear a coward in the eyes of Bob. He was almost +as afraid not to tackle as he was to tackle. While he was trying to +make up his mind Bob was upon him and Judd made a wild clutching dive +forward. His arms closed about Bob's legs at a point midway between +the hips and the knees, there was a jolting impact and the ground +seemed to rise to hit him. Judd sat up to take stock of his injuries. +He found, to his pleased surprise, that he was unhurt. + +"Bully work!" complimented Bob, warmly, "Your first tackle was a peach!" + +Judd felt his courage and self-confidence rise like the mercury in a +thermometer. He was finding out that many of his old fears had been +groundless. Bob ran straight at Judd a dozen times and each time Judd +brought him to the ground. + +"All right, Buddy. Now I'm going to get by you. I'm not going to use +the straight arm. I'll show you about that later. But I'm coming at +you like an express train. Try to stop me if you can!" + +There was a challenge in Bob's words. Judd sensed his first big thrill +of competition. Bob said he was coming through. Well, he was going to +stop him! + +Bob ran at Judd viciously and with all the speed at his command. Judd +came forward to meet him. He saw two clock-like legs and a body bent +close to the ground. He dove low in order to reach him. Then it +seemed as if a dozen knees struck him thudding blows in the face. He +felt himself being dragged along the ground. His hold on the one foot +loosened. He hit the ground heavily and was dimly conscious of feet +pounding the earth. Bob had gone through! + +It was such experiences as this that sickened Judd. All the pleasure +of football was gone for him now. He had a bump over one eye and a +patch of skin off his chin. There was no answering spirit of fight. +Judd lay where he had fallen. + +Bob waited, hoping that Judd would show the spunk to get up. He had +subjected his younger brother to rough treatment but he had done it for +a purpose. + +"I'm sorry, Buddy. You tackled too low ... and you didn't hang on +tight enough after you grabbed me. You see, I kept on going and I got +away from you." + +Judd raised up, dazedly. He was not interested in why he had failed to +stop Bob. He was concerned over the bumping he had received. + +"Am I--am I hurt very bad?" he asked, tremulously. + +Bob laughed. "Not bad enough to mention," he said, "You'll stop me +next time, eh Buddy?" + +Judd shook his head. + +"No ... there's not gonna be any next time, I--I'm through." + +Bob knew better than to argue with him when he felt this way. He +picked up the football and walked off the field. Judd gladly followed. + +Several days later, when Bob returned from work, he noticed that Judd +was red-eyed. On the table lay some newspaper clippings. They were +want ads. + +"Well, what did you do today?" asked Bob, casually. + +"I--I was out looking for work." + +Bob whistled. "Well! Did you find anything?" + +"No." + +"Oh, I see--you answered these ads here--may I look them over?" + +Judd nodded his consent. + +"H-h-hm! Maxwell's! That's a good place. 'Clerk wanted. Young man +preferred. No experience necessary. Good opportunity for +advancement.' What did they say when you applied?" + +Judd was silent. Bob waited an appreciable moment for him to reply. +"Did some other fellow beat you to the place?" + +Judd found his voice. "N-no--but--but they wanted a young man who had +at least a high-school education." + +Bob had a wave of sympathy for his younger brother. "But here's +another good place, Buddy. Jackson and Ballard's! You've picked some +good ones. 'Filing clerk wanted. We teach you our system. Young man +with ambition to get ahead in our line of work desired.' How about +this?" + +Judd hesitated. "They seemed interested. Then they asked me how much +education I'd had. They said they wanted some one that they could send +right on up as soon as he got to know the business. They said it was +their experience that fellows with high school educations were better +fitted for the work...." + +Bob was glad that Judd had had this experience. He knew that there +were plenty of places that Judd could get work but the better +institutions where opportunities for real advancement were greatest +almost demanded that a young man's qualifications include a reasonable +amount of education. + +"Well ... buck up, Buddy. There's always a way out and you're young +yet!" + +Tears came anew to Judd's eyes. He turned away from Bob, ashamed. + +"Why--Buddy--what's the matter?" + +"I--I didn't know I could feel this way." + +"How do you feel?" + +"I--I dunno. I guess I'm homesick." + +Bob's eyes blurred. He himself had scarcely been back to Trumbull for +three years. + +"Well, you'll soon be back, Buddy ... with mother. Summer vacation is +about over. I expect she's missed you a lot too. She's tried to do +the very best she knew how for you.... Perhaps I can come up later and +... and see you play football." + +Judd started. Bob almost regretted that he had taken the liberty to +make this suggestion. He had tried to do it casually as if playing +football would be the natural thing for Judd to do. And he had not +mentioned school although to play football would imply attending +school. Judd looked at Bob sharply. His emotions were conflicting. +He would like to do so many things if... + +"But mother wouldn't hear to my playin'," objected Judd at last. This +seemed the most logical excuse he could think of. "Anyhow, I am not +goin' back to school." This came as an after thought. + +"Well ... I'm glad you are going back to Trumbull any way," replied +Bob, "I think you will be able to take better care of yourself." There +were lots of things he would like to have said to Judd but Bob somehow +did not feel that it would be wise. Judd must be allowed to think +things out for himself. + +When the morning arrived for Judd's departure, Bob who had to go on to +work, bade his younger brother good-bye at the apartment. + +"I'm leaving you a contract, Buddy, and a little note. As soon as I've +gone I want you to read them. If, after thinking it over, you are +willing to sign the contract, leave the duplicate for me on the table. +I want you to know that whatever you do I'm for you. You're going to +make good as soon as you forget yourself. You'll understand what I +mean some day. Good-bye. Tell mother I'll get up to see her this fall +sure. Good luck!" + +Judd sat wonderingly, holding the folded slips of paper that Bob had +placed in his hand. What did Bob mean by the word "Contract?" Why +should his brother leave him a note? Why couldn't he tell him what he +wanted to without putting it on paper? This was a funny way of doing +things! + +He opened the note and read: "Dear Buddy--It's easier to tell you what +I have in mind on paper than it is face to face. And I think you will +realize it when you have read what I have to say. The contract I have +drawn up is to be strictly between you and me. No one else is to see +it or know anything about it. I think that it will help you to agree +to do certain things for awhile until you can get yourself to agree to +do them without any outside influence. There will be times when you +will have to make yourself go through experiences distasteful to you. +But you will come out bigger and better for them. The keeping of this +contract is strictly a matter of honor so if you do not intend to live +up to it, do not be dishonest with yourself by signing it. I'm sorry +that I can't be with you. But it's distinctly your fight. You're the +one who has to face the music and about all anyone else could do would +be to offer encouragement or advice. You'll have to make the decisions +and do the acting. I'd like to see you go back to school and go out +for football. I think you could make the team. And some day, when you +break loose, you will astonish yourself. You've got a fine physique. +There's nothing weak about you. Most of your troubles are in your +mind. Come on, Buddy, let's see you make a whirlwind comeback. You +can do it!" + +Judd read the note over three times before he laid it down and gave his +earnest attention to the contract. The contract was brief but stern in +its requirements. It read: + + +I, the undersigned, do hereby agree, being bound by my honor, to live +up to the following declarations to wit: + +1. I will not "baby" myself at any time and under any provocation. + +2. Whatever happens to me I will grin and bear it. + +3. If I meet with failure in anything I am trying to do I will not +cease trying nor lose faith in myself. Rather will I make a greater +effort than before to succeed. + +4. I will pay no attention to what others may think or say of me. I +will let nothing keep me from doing what I know is right. + +5. In the event that I do not live up to this contract I will write +and tell my brother, Bob Billings, of the specific instances. + +6. When I feel inclined not to do what I feel to be right, I will take +out this contract and read it over until I have renewed my spirit and +developed a determination strong enough to go ahead. + +This contract signed by me in good faith and with the knowledge that +the penalty for breaking same will be exacted in the doing. + + ................ + My Signature. + + +As Judd read the contract, which had been typed in duplicate by Bob at +the office, he suddenly began to realize some of his shortcomings of +the past and the reasons for them. He studied the contract for half an +hour. Then he went to the table drawer, took out pen and ink, and +scribbled his name on the line left for his signature. + +Judd felt like he had won a great victory as he locked the apartment +door, and jumped the streetcar for the depot. He could hardly wait to +get back to Trumbull ... and to re-enter school! + +Mrs. Billings was overjoyed that Judd had decided to return to school +but she was rather alarmed at a change which she discerned in him. +There was a more determined look about his face--a look that told her +Judd was going to do some things which he had never attempted to do +before and Mrs. Billings was not quite certain what the outcome would +be. + +When school opened, the schoolmates noticed the change too. They +didn't know what it meant but they did know that Judd walked with his +head erect, there was a surer swing to his steps, and he looked folks +straight in the eye. Judd was silent. His jaws were set tight. No +one sensed the fight that was going on within--no one realized that +every move Judd made was forced. + +When the first call went out for football candidates, Judd hunted up +Coach Little and submitted his name. He had thought about the moment +when he would do this for days. And each time that he thought of it +the nervous chills raced up and down his back. He had hoped that when +the time really came he could find courage to go through with it. + +Coach Little could not conceal his astonishment when Judd confronted +him. For two years the coach had begged Judd to get out for the team. +He saw in the well-built youth the makings of a fine player. Trumbull +High was a small school. It needed all available material. A boy who +was physically fit for football and who did not get out for practice +was regarded as disloyal. No wonder that the students felt this way +about it with rivalry so keen between Trumbull and Canton high schools! +Trumbull's colors had trailed in the dust for three consecutive years. +This season the students had early begun to clamor for revenge. + +"Glad to see you getting out, Billings," Coach Little said to him, +pleasantly. "I believe you should develop into a good player." + +Some of the old football players crowded about. They eyed Judd +unbelievingly. "What, Judd going out for football?" The surprise was +so great that there was not an answering echo of enthusiasm. Judd was +yet untried. They had never seen him do anything noteworthy. Judd had +existed apart from them and their activities. He could not expect to +be readily accepted into the ranks of those who had been proven under +fire. Judd backed away, feeling self-conscious. As he left the crowd +his face flushed crimson at a low-voiced remark which reached him. +"Hump! He won't last long! He's got a streak of yellow a yard wide +all the way down his spine!" + +When Judd asked his mother for money to purchase football togs she knew +that her intuition had been correct. Mrs. Billings sat staring at him +for a moment. Judd was hoping that his mother would refuse him. His +own decision was weakening. He still had a chance to get out of it. +His eyes ... his studies ... he would have to make up some work in +order to be eligible to play ... there were so many convenient +excuses.... And if his mother should put her foot down it would be so +much easier to withdraw. Mrs. Billings was having a struggle too. She +was picturing her guarded care of the boy and contrasting his life for +the first time with that of Bob's. Was it right, after all, to keep a +boy from athletics? What had her plan done for Judd? It had made of +him a coward, a boy who was afraid of himself and afraid of other +people. Mrs. Billings turned to the drawer and took out the money, +handing it over to Judd. + +Judd took the money and hurried out. His heart was pounding strangely. +To think that his mother had changed! She, of all people! What had +come over her? Now there was no backing out. He must go ahead. He +had gotten his foot in it. Why had he been so forward? No one had +expected him to go out for football. They would have let him alone. +It would be a bigger disgrace to go out and fail than not to go out at +all. At least this is the way it seemed to Judd. And he was afraid of +failing more than anything else. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +JUDD GRITS HIS TEETH + +Judd was the object of curious eyes the first night out. Coach Little +kept the squad busy passing the football about, kicking and catching +punts. Judd was exceedingly nervous. He dropped several punts, muffed +passes and when the ball was given him to kick, missed it completely +due to over anxious embarrassment. The sight was highly amusing to the +rest of the squad, all of whom could boast of some football experience. +Coach Little sought to have the boys show respect to Judd, appreciating +his feelings. Judd knew that he could do better; he knew that he had +not forgotten the points drilled into him by Bob. But putting this +knowledge into execution before a field of players whom he felt had the +"show me" attitude, was a different matter. + +The news spread throughout Trumbull that Judd Billings, kid brother of +the great, Bob, had at last gotten into athletics. On the heels of +this news came the word that he was the laughing stock of the football +squad. He was the crudest, awkwardest, greenest candidate that had +ever put in appearance on the Trumbull gridiron. No danger of his ever +picking up the laurels won for the Billings family by the older +brother! Judd was a joke. But though the grown folks smiled at the +reports they remarked that people would have to give Judd credit. +Something must have come over the boy to cause him to get out for the +team. Why he had not even engaged in a game of tiddly-winks before! + +Judd went home from the first scrimmage with an aching body. He had +been placed in the line of one of the picked teams made up by Coach +Little and it had seemed to Judd that every play was directed at him. +Time and again he was on the bottom of the heap. He could feel the +players piling on top of him and on several occasions his face was +plowed in the dirt. Judd wasn't hurt. He marvelled at this. And +there had been a certain thrill in the moments that he had managed to +grasp the man with the ball and hang on until he had brought him down. +But Judd was not sure that he liked this rough treatment. + +That night Judd wrote to Bob. He had been reading his contract over. +There had come to him a strong temptation to quit. Several fellows had +gotten bruised in practice. Jimmy Blackwell had the skin taken off his +knuckles when someone stepped on his hand; Harry Knowlton got a clip +over one eye; Tom Barley had his wind knocked out. It would be but a +matter of time before something happened to him. In the letter to Bob, +he wrote: "I don't know why I'm so timid. I don't feel scared inside +but something keeps me from going only so far. I know I can do better +but I don't. We had our first scrimmage today. Some of the fellows +got bunged up. They didn't seem to mind it. I guess they're made +different than I am." + +Bob was glad that Judd had taken to writing him. If Judd could only +confide his feelings in some one he would perhaps be able to keep up +his morale. It helped to know that someone understood what you were +going through. With Bob it had been his father. He must take the +father's place with Judd. Bob answered back: "Stick to it, Buddy. +Each time you win makes the next victory that much easier. And one of +these days it will take an earthquake to jar you!" + +Judd gritted his teeth and went back to practice. He tried to forget +himself--to play with a carefree abandon. He tried not to think of the +consequences in advance. When he could get this attitude he noticed +that he seemed to play better. One instance was particularly striking. +Blackwell, fullback on the regulars for two seasons, had broken through +the line and was away for an open field run. It looked like he was +good for a touchdown. Judd found himself free and in position to give +pursuit. He thought only of downing Blackwell. The fullback had a +five yard lead on him. Judd raced after him and caught up to him after +a twenty yard run. He left the ground in a flying tackle and pinioned +Blackwell from behind, bringing him heavily to earth. When Judd +realized what he had done he was shaky for the remainder of the +practice. He might have been badly hurt! + +But such brilliant flashes of playing convinced Coach Little that +Billings had some real football ability in him. Judd had been studying +doggedly to make up his school work. There might be a possibility of +his being used before the year was out. When the coach cut the squad +he placed Billings as a substitute on the second team. + +With the first three games on the schedule played, the students and +townspeople awoke to the realization that Trumbull High had the best +football team in years. The football warriors had soundly trimmed +every opponent and had kept their goal line uncrossed, piling up a +total of 117 points! + +One night the coach gave the second team some of the plays that were +used by Ashton High, Trumbull's next opponent. He wanted to see what +defense his regulars could offer against them. The Ashton team built +their plays around one player, their fullback. He was a big fellow and +exceptionally fast. Because Billings appeared to be about his physical +equal, Coach Little motioned him to the fullback position. Burton, +second team quarterback, outlined to Billings the plays he was to use. + +Judd was excited and a bit confused. This was the first time he had +ever been called upon to run with the ball. He did not relish the +thought of being tackled. It was bad enough to tackle anyone but to be +thrown yourself seemed worse. Sometimes several fellows hit you at +once and then more fell on you. + +Judd nodded vaguely to Burton's instructions. The first play called +for a cross-buck over left guard. The second team's line opened a +hole; Judd received the ball and followed Burton through. He saw +Burton go down, bumped solidly against some bodies in the line, felt a +grip on one leg, then saw a clear field ahead. Judd ran like a scared +deer. He did not care to be tackled from behind. The only way to +prevent it was to outdistance everyone. But he did not reckon on the +last line of defense. Blackwell, first team fullback, was charging in. +Judd tried to dodge him. It did not occur to him to stiff arm. He +stopped dead in his tracks. + +Blackwell's tackle hit Judd with jolting force. It would not have +shaken him up so much if Judd had been running at the instant. Coach +Little, who a moment before had chuckled with glee at the way Judd went +through the line, now turned away with an exclamation of disgust. +Billings was a physical coward. Everyone on both teams knew it now. +Some of the spectators began to jeer. "What d'ya stop for? Afraid he +was gonna hit ya? You oughta get hurt!" + +Burton came running up and helped the dazed Billings to his feet. +"What's the matter?" he blazed, "Did you forget something? We had a +chance for a touchdown and we haven't whipped the firsts this year!" + +Coach Little called Billings off the field. + +The hard games on the schedules were coming up now and every practice +session was vitally important. The team carried its string of +victories to six with three more games to play before the season's end. + +Attention was centered on the final contest with Canton High. This +school was the largest in the district. It seemed as if it always +turned out a good football team. And this year was no exception. As +phenomenal as had been Trumbull's season, the Canton High eleven had +won greater laurels. Canton had played some of the best schools in the +state and had emerged victorious. It would be hard to prophesy what +would happen when Canton met Trumbull. State sporting authorities +began to figure the Canton-Trumbull encounter a mythical championship +battle providing both elevens won the remaining games on their +schedules. + +Billings' sad showing that one practice session had kept him on the +sidelines every scrimmage thereafter. The players exhibited sullen +contempt for him. And just as Judd had begun to win back some of their +respect too. But they might have known that he would turn out that way. + +Judd brooded over his situation. Oddly enough he did not mind what +fellow players thought or said of him. He was having his hardest time +trying to keep from babying himself. Finally Judd decided that he +needed help. He did not have strength enough to force himself to do +what he knew he should do. Judd stopped Coach Little as the coach was +leaving the field one night. + +"Could I see you a moment, sir?" + +The coach paused. His mind was on the next game. He had a dozen +problems to solve. What could Billings want? Was he going to resign +at last? Billings had stuck longer than the Coach had thought he +would. Somehow he felt a peculiar sympathy for the lad. + +"Well, what is it, Judd?" + +Judd hesitated until the other players were out of earshot. They +looked back curiously. He heard one of them say, "I thought so. +Billings is tryin' to get in soft with the coach now. Alibi Ike!" + +Hot tears came to Judd's eyes. He turned to the coach pleadingly. + +"Please sir, I'm not a quitter.... I'm not yellow ... that is, not +really.... I didn't want to stop when I saw I was going to be tackled. +Something else made me.... I--I can't make myself do what I want to +do.... I ..." + +The coach studied Billings sympathetically. + +"You'd what?" + +"I'd like to have you make me do what I can't make myself do ... force +me to get in there and play ... I ... I'm not asking for mercy ... or +... or to be favored. No matter what I do, I don't care if you beat me +or what happens ... I want to get over feeling like I do about myself!" + +This was a most unusual request. To Coach Little there flashed a small +appreciation of the struggle that Billings must be undergoing. He laid +a hand on his shoulder. + +"I'm sorry, Billings. You're up against a tough fight. Some fellows +never get over it. Just seems like they can't entirely break it. The +season is so far along now that I don't know whether I'll have a chance +to help you much. Keep a stiff upper lip. Don't take the game so +seriously. You're too tense. Relax. If you do this you will not take +yourself so seriously and it will help you. I'm glad you spoke to me +about this. I'm glad you realize what is wrong. Keep saying to +yourself, 'I will do this' and 'I will do that' and if you can say it +until you believe it, nothing can stop you from doing it." + +Judd thanked the coach for giving him this advice and immediately felt +better. He went home with a lighter heart than he had had in weeks. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +A KICKER IS DISCOVERED + +Trumbull High put the skids under Newton Academy in the next to the +last game of the season but in so doing the eleven lost the services of +its star fullback, Jimmy Blackwell, who suffered a badly sprained +ankle. There was gloom in Trumbull that night. Chances were that +Blackwell had played his last game for the school and chances were that +Trumbull would be no match for Canton High with Blackwell out of the +lineup. + +Coach Little had no player on the string of first substitutes who could +begin to fill Blackwell's shoes. He moved Rudolph, second team +fullback, up to Blackwell's position after some consideration. Rudolph +was short but stockily built--a good little man. The boy would need a +great deal of grooming but he seemed the only one available. In +looking about for someone to fill the vacancy on the second team left +by Rudolph's advancement, Coach Little thought of Billings. Why not? +There was a slight possibility ... one never could tell.... + +When Judd was notified that he was to take the fullback position on the +second team he was totally unnerved by the shock. He couldn't sleep +for dreaming of what would probably happen to him in scrimmage. The +players would all be laying for him. They thought him a physical +coward and they would show no mercy. He had done nothing to command +their respect. Now that his opportunity had come to redeem himself, he +didn't want it. But when school was over the next afternoon, Judd +found himself in the dressing room preparing for that which he feared +the most. + +Just outside, Burton, second team quarterback, was talking to some of +his players. "Say, fellows, I just heard the Coach put Judd in at +full. Some joke, huh? Watch me. I'll give him the ball every time I +get a chance. We'll run him ragged. When he gets through scrimmage +today he'll wish he'd never seen a football." The players laughed and +sided in with Burton. + +Judd finished tying his shoe and stood up, shakily. He had heard what +was said. He dreaded to go out on the field. He was the last one to +leave the dressing room. No one paid any attention to him. Oh, if he +could just crawl off some where--some place where everyone would Let +him alone and where no harm could befall him! The shrill blast of the +whistle caused him to run toward the field. The teams were lining +up.... + +The kickoff came straight for Judd. He caught the ball and started +off, dazedly. He ran five, ten, fifteen yards. Then two tacklers +struck him at once before he had time to dodge. He went down with a +thud. He was dragged to his feet and pushed into position. Burton +began calling signals. He glanced meaningly at Judd. It was his +number! Judd was slow in taking the ball. He was thrown for a two +yard loss. He heard Burton bawling him out and telling him to "get in +there and play, you big dub!" The ball went to Judd again. He +followed his interference around the end for a bare yard. He was not +putting any drive into his playing. + +On the fourth down Burton motioned Judd back and signified that he was +to kick. The ball was on the second team's twenty-seven yard line. +Judd nervously scraped a level place for him in the sod. The ball +snapped back to him. He saw the lines break as his foot swung up to +meet the ball. There was an impact as the punt got under way. The +next instant Judd landed on his back as Fenstermaker, first team guard, +bumped roughly into him. + +Coach Little, on the sidelines, whistled his surprise. The punt +carried forty-five yards! Rudolph, who caught it, was downed in his +tracks. Burton came running up to Judd, in sudden elation, and patted +him on the back. "That's the stuff, Judd, old boy. Some punt!" This +compliment stimulated Judd and gave him more confidence. He began to +forget himself. + +Scrimmage that night ended in a hard-earned victory for the first team, +7 to 0. The second team had put up a stubborn defense and Billings' +toe had kept the regulars from rolling up the score. Billings had not +shown to advantage in carrying the ball. He had fumbled on several +occasions and he could not hit the line. But great governor, how he +could kick! + +Coach Little recognized in Billings the best kicker in the school. He +was up against it for material in the fullback position. Rudolph did +not excel in kicking. He was a good line plunger and fairly fast +around the ends. Blackwell had been a triple threat player. There was +a remote possibility that Blackwell might be able to get in part of the +Canton High game. If Billings were not afraid of himself and had had +more experience! The coach had an idea. He called the second team +quarterback to him. + +"Burton, I want you to take Billings aside and train him in all the +second team plays. Give him the first team signals and plays too. +Teach Billings what you can." + +Burton did not question Coach Little. He had learned to obey orders. +And besides, Burton had to admit--secretly--that his estimation of +Billings had been raised. He had called upon Judd to carry the ball at +least half of the time. Each time Judd had responded. True, he made +no startling gains, his greatest being six yards--but Burton had been +expecting an exhibition somewhat similar if not worse than Billings' +first sorry showing. Tonight, however, Judd kept coming. The fault, +as Burton saw it, was that he stopped for a moment just as he was about +to hit the line; he slowed up as he went to circle the ends; he did not +take the ball soon enough. But when Burton thought of the farmer boy's +kicks, a glint of admiration came into his eyes. Why, even Blackwell +could do no better. And Blackwell was about the best football player +since the great Bob! + +"Billings, the coach wants me to give you the dope on the signals and +plays," Burton said to Judd, as they left the dressing room for the +street. It was Judd's turn to be surprised. He felt miserable. Every +second in scrimmage had been agony. He had played like one in defense +of one's life and had used what to him was the utmost caution. He +could not help stopping just before hitting the line; he could not keep +from slowing up as he circled the ends; it took him just an instant to +make himself take the ball each time his signal was called. And when +it came to kicking, his only thought had been to get the ball as far +away from him as possible. He loathed physical contact. No one had +spoken to him outside of Burton. Judd imagined that they all were +conscious of his showing the white feather. The first team men seemed +especially hostile. They had received a tongue-lashing from the coach +for their inability to run the score up. Of course he could not know +that they were a bit resentful at him for having thwarted their scoring +attempts by his unusual kicking. + +Judd made arrangements with Burton to meet him and go over the signals. +As they parted, Burton asked him, "Say, why don't you get out to the +field early? You don't have a last hour class. And practice kicking +... practice drop kicking and place kicking. You've got a good toe. +It might be that..." + +A warm feeling passed through Judd. He was grateful for the interest +shown in him. It helped to have someone believe that he could do +something. Judd hesitated. + +"... I don't have a class the last hour either. I could go out with +you...." + +Judd tried not to let Burton see how pleased he was at this offer. +"Why ... why, thanks, awfully!" he said, "I'd like to do it." + +The game with Canton High was only one week away. Word came from +Canton that their team was expected to win by a margin of twenty +points. Canton was claiming the state championship. Trumbull High +could not make such claims, not having played as stiff a schedule as +the rival school. But both Canton and Trumbull had gone through the +season undefeated. And Trumbull followers would be glad to make claims +if their team could conquer Canton. Sport writers picked Canton to win +easily, with Trumbull's lineup weakened by the loss of Blackwell. Even +if Blackwell could get into the game it was dubious if he would be able +to do much. That sprained left ankle would not be any too strong. The +game was to be played at Trumbull. Great preparations were started to +take care of a monstrous crowd. + +Three days before the game, Coach Little came on the field early and +saw an interesting spectacle. Burton and Billings were on the +gridiron. Billings was standing on the thirty-five yard line, facing +the south goal posts. Ten yards in front of him knelt Burton with his +hands on the ball. Billings motioned. Burton passed the ball between +his legs. Billings caught it deftly and plied his toe to it as the +ball struck the ground. The oval raised in a swift, short arch and +sped over and between the uprights. Coach Little stood still in +astonishment. The boys did not see him. Burton ran after the bounding +ball. He returned. The process was repeated, Billings moving back to +the forty yard line. Coach Little hastened out on the field. + +"Here, what are you boys doing?" + +Burton and Billings looked toward the coach in surprise. + +"Practicing, sir." It was Burton who spoke. + +The coach looked at Billings, who stood embarrassed and with his toe +kicking at some uneven rises in the ground. + +"Judd, if you could run with the ball as well as you can kick, you'd be +of value to the team." + +Burton wanted to tell the coach that he thought Billings was getting +better. Billings had made a twenty yard run last night. And he had +not seemed so afraid of getting hurt. + +"I think Judd is ..." started Burton, but thought better of it. The +coach was no fool. He was probably aware of Billings' improvement. + +Judd knew that he was getting better control of himself. Each little +victory that he won, no matter how much anxiety it had caused, seemed +to lessen the effort he had to put forth the next time. And Judd had +escaped even the slightest injury. Football was not as rough as it +looked and a fellow didn't get hurt every time he fell down. On top of +this he was beginning to develop a fighting blood. He could sense +himself creating an objective and then feel a desire to reach that +objective. If it was the fourth down and they needed three to go, Judd +tried to make the three yards with some to spare. He could see himself +making it and before he got a chance to wonder whether anything would +happen to himself or not, he was in motion. Sometimes he reached the +objective and sometimes not, but it wasn't many minutes before he found +himself facing a new situation that had to be settled. And so it went, +until the scrimmage was over, Judd not sensing any fear until the +actual moment of contact when he was greatly disturbed until he found +that nothing had happened to him. + +To Judd, football was a variety of hot and cold sensations. The moment +he could absolutely overcome his apprehension he knew that he would be +able to hit the line hard, that he would be able to run the ends and +that he would take the ball when his signal was called with the proper +snap and drive. + +"Billings, I am moving you up to the first squad tonight," said the +coach, deciding. "This will be our last scrimmage before the big game. +We may have need for your toe." + +Burton could not conceal his joy. He had taken a liking to Judd ... a +peculiar friendship had sprung up between them ... his contempt for the +great Bob's brother was gone. + +Hopes of Trumbull followers were heightened when Jimmy Blackwell put in +his appearance for practice and limped through signals with the team, +his ankle heavily bandaged and supported. Blackwell got away several +kicks but they carried little better than thirty yards. He did not +take any chances in scrimmage. + +The first team lined up for scrimmage with Rudolph in the fullback +position. Blackwell, wrapping himself in a blanket, came over to sit +down beside Billings. + +"Well, Judd, I hear you've been placed on the first squad," said +Blackwell. There was the trace of chumminess in his voice. + +Judd nodded his head, not knowing what to say. + +"Looks like we'll need you, too. I understand you've developed into +quite a kicker." Blackwell was trying to draw him out. + +"Oh, I don't know..." said Judd, hesitatingly. + +Blackwell lowered his voice. + +"Say ... I've never told this to anyone and I wouldn't want you to +repeat it. This is my last year in high school ... same as it is +yours. It's my third year on the football team. When I first started +in I was so afraid of myself that I'd worry myself sick over things +that never happened. I could never quite figure you out until that +time when I tackled you. I know what it means to stick it out the way +you have. But you'll come out on top if you hang on. Nothing bothers +me any more..." + +Judd could hardly believe his ears. Could it be possible that a player +like Blackwell had experienced the same feelings? Judd thrilled with +the thought. It was good news to hear that another person had overcome +something similar to that which he was struggling to conquer. + +"How ... how long did it take you to ... to get the best of it?" Judd +asked, interestedly. + +"I still have to fight it ... at times..." replied Blackwell, gazing +down at his bandaged ankle. "But the old feeling doesn't stay with me +long. I soon get the upper hand ... The reason I'm speaking about +this to you is partly a selfish one. It's been my ambition to see +Canton High defeated. For two years I've played on the losing team. +This year we counted on turning the trick ... until I was injured. +Between you and me, Rudolph can't make the grade. He is fast but too +small. We'll be outweighed at least ten pounds to the man. Rudolph +will play for all there is in him but there isn't enough. If I get in +I won't last long. You saw me out there ... kicking. It's about all I +can do to put the weight of my body on this left foot, to say nothing +of booting the ball at the same time ... I don't know whether the +coach will give you a chance unless it's to make a kick. But if you +could get a grip on yourself and let loose once ... say, I'M not even +trying to guess what might happen!" + +Judd sat, his blood pounding in his veins, thinking of what Blackwell +had told him. He was vaguely conscious of the sound of signals being +called, of cries of spectators, of the dull tread of running feet. Out +on the field the loyal sons of Trumbull High were doing their utmost to +get in tip top shape for the biggest battle of the season. + +A sudden yell went up as Burton recovered a first team fumble and +started on his way toward the goal with a clear field ahead of him. +Rudolph was in pursuit. + +It looked like a touchdown for the second team. But Rudolph was slowly +gaining. The goal was only fifteen yards away ... now ten ... now +five. Rudolph left his feet and his arms encircled the flying Burton. +They came to earth two yards from the last line. The elated second +team lined up for first down. + +Blackwell nudged Billings. "There's a situation that might develop in +the game with Canton," he said. "Imagine that the second team is +Canton. If we hold 'em for downs I'll bet the coach calls you in to +kick." + +Judd bit his lips and watched. Three times the second team backfield +dove into the first team line. But the first team was holding madly +now. On the last down the ball was but a foot from the goal line. +Fenstermaker, big guard, broke through the defense and dropped Burton +for a one yard loss. The ball went over. + +A halt was called in the game. Coach Little had motioned to Rudolph. +Blackwell pushed Billings to his feet. "Get in there! The coach is +calling you. What did I tell you? ... Come on ... let's see a real +punt!" + +Judd pulled off his sweater and ran out on the field. He knew this was +to be one of his big tests. If he made good the coach might see fit to +use him in the big game. But more than that--he must make good for +Blackwell ... and then there was Bob ... and yes, even his mother! The +scrimmage to the other players meant little more than a final strenuous +seasoning ... to Judd it meant a fight against unseen odds. + +Barley, first team quarterback, picked out a spot about five yards +behind the goal line for Judd to stand. Barley was the personification +of pep. He ran along the line, slapping his players on the back and +exhorting them to hold. He came back to Billings. + +"All right ... show your stuff! Kick that ball out of sight!" + +Judd reached out his hands. He had a surge of fear. What if the line +didn't hold? What if the pass was poor? But the next minute the ball +was coming back to him. The line wavered and the pass was low. By the +time he got in position to kick the players were almost upon him. He +put every ounce of strength into the boot. + +Forty yards down the field the ball went twisting and turning. It +struck the ground and rolled to the second team's twenty yard line +where a second team player fell on it. The first team was out of +danger. Cheers came to Judd's ears from the few on the sidelines. He +had come through under fire. + +Coach Little approached Blackwell. "I believe we have unearthed a +kicker who can take your place in an emergency," he said, exultantly. +Blackwell was enthusiastic. "Believe? ... Why, Mister Little, that +fellow's on the way to being the best kicker Trumbull High's ever had!" + +The first time that Judd was called upon to run with the ball he was +tackled and thrown heavily. His wind was knocked out of him. The +Coach and Blackwell looked at each other apprehensively. What effect +would this have on Billings? They watched his fellow players lift him +up and down while Judd gasped for air. Presently he sat up, then was +shoved to his feet. His face was ghastly. Barley asked him if he was +all right. Judd wasn't sure. Barley asked him if he wanted to leave +the game. The other players looked on, some a bit contemptuously. Was +Billings going to lay down again? Judd shook his head and stumbled +back into his position. + +When he was next called upon to take the ball he did not follow his +interference and tried to evade his tacklers, being thrown for a five +yard loss. Barley reprimanded him severely. Judd was almost paralyzed +with fear. He kept saying to himself, "No, I will not quit ... I will +not quit." + +Coach Little and Blackwell looked at each other again. Disappointment +was written on their faces. Billings lacked the fighting spirit ... he +could not stand hard knocks ... it would never do to trust him with +carrying the ball. The Coach likened him to a young high school lad he +had known who showed promise of becoming a great baseball player. The +boy could catch every ball that he could get his hands on but he was +afraid to stand up to the plate ... he couldn't get out of the habit of +stepping back ... he was fearful of getting hit ... and the result was +that he lost out all around. Billings was the same way ... only in +football. + +Judd left the field that night crestfallen. Inwardly he had wanted to +play the game ... to get up and play harder than ever ... but for some +inexplainable reason he could not make himself. It seemed that he was +panic stricken. His outer feelings ran away with his inner judgment. +The school needed him badly but he could not qualify. + +There was a letter from Bob awaiting him when he got home. He took it +to his room to read it. Bob spoke of the coming game with Canton. +Then there were a few lines of kindly encouragement and advice. "I've +heard from several sources about your work this fall, Judd, and it +certainly has given me cause for rejoicing to learn that you have stuck +with the ship regardless of what's happened. I believe it has done you +lots of good. I wish I could get home to see the game with Canton but +I can't figure how to manage it. We have a game Saturday and even +though you play your game on Friday it would be next to impossible for +me to get away. Cheer up, you're bound to get your chance one of these +days. Don't forget your contract. Hang on! You've done fine so far! +The football season will soon be over. And with Blackwell on the +injured list there's a bare possibility you may get into the big game. +Say, wouldn't that be great?" + +Judd put the letter from him with a shudder. Yes, wouldn't it be +great! If scrimmage was hard, what would a real game be with rivalry +at high pitch and each team contesting for every inch of ground? Judd +wondered how other people could feel the way they did about things. +Just now it seemed to him that the opportunity to play in the big game +would be about the worst calamity that could befall him. The way to +live up to the contract was not to think of self but to think of the +contract. It was just like thinking of the objective and going toward +it without stopping to consider what might happen. The only trouble +was--Judd forgot what he was going out after when the least thing +jolted him. He began to think of himself again and other things faded +into insignificance. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +FIGHTING SPIRIT + +The day of the game dawned with a miserable wet rain falling. The +Canton High team and five hundred raving rooters arrived by special +train at ten in the morning. Nothing seemed to dampen their spirits. +They came with the intention of winning a decisive victory and having a +big time in the doing. + +Judd, hollow-eyed from loss of sleep through dread of the approaching +conflict, met with other members of the team at eleven o'clock. Most +of the boys were in good spirits. The coach had insisted that they eat +at a training table and that he supervise the last meal eaten before +the big game. He always got the boys in uniform early and gave them an +opportunity to wear off the first wave of excitement before the game +was called. + +Blackwell managed to sit next to Billings. He saw that Judd was almost +beside himself with nervousness, playing with his food and making a +sorry pretense of eating. + +"I--I'd give anything if I could get out of this..." + +"No you wouldn't," prompted Blackwell, "You'd be ashamed of yourself +for the rest of your life ... and you know it." + +Judd hung his head. He had to confess that what Blackwell said was +true. Now that he had waged the fight against himself, there was a +certain growing spirit which refused to let him stop. He had thought +that he would quit on the last night of scrimmage but the next night +found him out taking a light signal practice with the team. It was as +if he had started an automobile and then wished to stop it only to find +that it had gotten beyond his control. The situation was terrifying. + +When Judd dressed for the game he took a white slip of paper from his +wallet and folded it inside his head gear. Some of the players saw him +do it and one asked, "What's that for, a shock absorber?" The question +was a harmless thrust but Judd flushed guiltily. They certainly would +kid him if they knew what it really was! + +In the distance could be heard the yells of the rival schools and the +blare of the school bands. Overhead, in the lulls, could be heard the +monotonous drip of the rain. What a day for a football game! The +gridiron was water-soaked and soggy. A person would get covered with +dirt and wet to the skin. Nothing inviting about that to Judd. + +"Fellows, I've been your coach for seven years. There has never been a +game in all my experience that I have wanted to win more than this one. +We will be outweighed; we will be faced by a team of veterans; but we +will not be outspirited. Trumbull has always possessed the spirit that +never says die. I know that every man on the first team will be out +there ... when his chance comes ... giving everything he has for old +Trumbull...." The coach's eyes passed over every boy in the squad, +pausing just a moment to rest upon Billings, then moving on quickly. + +The last pointed words of the coach failed to impress Judd. He seemed +in a daze. Could it be possible that he was actually a sub on the +first team and that he might be called upon to play? The thoughts of +honor had not come to him ... of fighting for his school ... of +fighting for anything in particular. But he did want to fight to live +up to the contract ... to the belief that a few people had in him. + +Judd followed the other subs to a bench along the edge of the field. +He sat down with Burton, second team quarterback, beside him. They +watched the Trumbull eleven as it took the field amid a riotous +welcoming from the umbrella packed stands. Judd studied the blue +jerseyed youths of Canton in comparison with the dark red clad boys of +Trumbull. It seemed to him that the Canton team was better drilled, +the players moved with more snap and machine-like precision. Judd felt +nervous and fidgety. + +Trumbull won the toss and chose to kick off. There was a tense hum of +sound as Barley, Trumbull quarterback, knelt and pointed the ball on a +wet clod of dirt. Rudolph measured off the distance to kick. The +opposing captains raised their arms, the referee's whistle shrilled, +and the wall of red clad Trumbull warriors moved forward as the ball +spun into the air. + +Rudolph's kick carried to the ten yard line where Drake, Canton +fullback, gathered it in and fell behind his quickly formed +interference. He slipped and slid through the mud as he ran. A +Trumbull player, meeting the solid phalanx at the twenty yard line, +plunged low into the interference, being trampled under foot. But he +succeeded in breaking the formation. Fellow team-mates tore into the +advancing runners and the big fullback was downed on the thirty-five +yard line after a brilliant opening run. The stands were in an uproar. + +Judd had watched the play, being conscious of a peculiar pulsation in +his throat. The very atmosphere seemed suddenly charged with fighting +spirit ... he saw the Trumbull team ... now transformed into mighty +gladiators ... and he experienced a shocking sensation at the thought +that he was one of them ... in reserve. + +Button pounded him on the back. "Wow! They failed to gain!" as the +first onslaught of the Canton line was repulsed for a two yard loss. + +Before the game was five minutes old it was sadly evident that +today--of all days--weight was very likely to tell. The wet field was +bound to greatly handicap the work of both teams. There would be +little opportunity for fast, open field work or much passing. The +plays would have to be through the line or around the end--straight +football largely. + +As the first quarter drew to a close, Canton had the ball on Trumbull's +thirty yard line, benefiting by a series of punt exchanges. Holding +desperately to prevent Canton gaining another first down, Trumbull was +slowly but surely pushed backward through the mud. With one yard to +go, Drake came crashing through center for three yards, battering his +way with scarcely any interference to help him. + +Judd seemed to feel each impact as the opposing lines strained against +each other. He cringed inwardly as he heard the smack of Drake's +collision with Barley, who brought the big fellow to earth. Canton's +first down on Trumbull's eighteen yard line! + +The first down seemed to give the heavier Canton team new life. They +went to the attack with a savageness which was not to be denied. Using +the sledge-hammer power of Drake ... the Canton team pounded again and +again at the Trumbull line. The players could scarcely be recognized +for the mud with which they were bespattered. + +Judd noticed Blackwell, hobbling up and down in his nervous eagerness, +looking appealingly at the coach. But Coach Little shook his head. He +was taking no chances by putting Blackwell in so long as there was no +opportunity of his doing much good. Blackwell's value, in his present +condition, would lie in his offensive ability--if he could be used at +all. Judd wondered why Blackwell wanted to get into such a combat. He +recoiled at the very thought that he might be called upon. + +An excited cry directed Judd's attention back to the play of the +moment. The Trumbull line had faltered and the Canton backfield was +through with Drake again carrying the ball. Judd saw Barley brushed +aside as he dove for the runner. Rudolph, the last line of defense, +came dashing in and threw himself at the Canton fullback as he crossed +the goal line. Drake spun around and fell heavily over the goal, +landing solidly upon his tackler. A mighty cheer went up from the +Canton rooters--a cheer which died out in a sudden hush when it was +seen that the tackler did not rise. Trumbull players gathered about +Rudolph. "Water! Water!" A boy near Judd picked up a pail and went +racing out on the field, dabbing a sponge in it as he ran. Judd stared +dumbly at Burton, who said: "That's tough! ... Looks like Rudie's out!" + +They carried Rudolph from the field and Blackwell went limping out to +take his place. The Canton team lined up for the try at goal. Rudolph +was regaining his senses and struggling to be in action again. Judd +leaned over toward him. "You're out of it, old man," he said, +soothingly. Judd thought this remark would be a great relief to one +who had received such a jolt as Rudolph. But Rudolph only glared at +him as another cheer told plainly that Canton had kicked goal. Score +seven to nothing ... favor of Canton. Referee's whistle! First +quarter up. + +The teams exchanged goals and Canton kicked off to Trumbull. Barley +caught the ball on his fifteen yard line and ran it back seven yards +before a Canton linesman struck him down on a pretty tackle. +Blackwell, taking the ball on the first play, made a limping plunge +around right end for a three yard gain. He was given a resounding +cheer for his gameness. Two more downs and Trumbull was forced to +punt. Blackwell went back and tested his footing in the mud. He +shifted his weight carefully to his left foot and booted the ball, but +his kick lacked the power it ordinarily contained. The punt carried a +scant thirty yards and the Canton halfback who caught it came charging +toward the Trumbull goal to Trumbull's twenty-eight yard line. Several +attempts to tackle this elusive runner were thwarted by the slippery +condition underfoot. + +With the ball in Canton's possession again the relentless pound, pound, +pound against Trumbull's line began anew. Despite heroic attempts of +Trumbull linesmen to stop the advance, the heavier Canton line pushed +and shoved and forced its way through, making a path for the seemingly +tireless Drake who had been nicknamed "Mud Scow" by an ingenious Canton +yell leader. + +Eleven minutes of the second quarter were gone when "Mud Scow" Drake +went over for the second touchdown. Judd had watched Trumbull for +every foot of the water-soaked territory. He had seen Blackwell, on +three different occasions, stop the slashing, slipping drive of Drake +... had seen these two go down in a sea of mud ... had seen Blackwell +get up each time a little slower ... had seen the undaunted +determination upon his dirt-smeared face. And when the Canton team +lined up joyously for their second try at goal after touchdown, Judd +saw that Blackwell was crying ... crying in unashamed fashion ... +perhaps he wasn't even conscious that he was crying. This was all so +puzzling to Judd. He had thought of himself first in everything. He +could not comprehend exactly why Blackwell should be so concerned ... +unless he were hurt ... and suffering! It did not dawn upon him what +Blackwell was actually thinking ... that Blackwell, in his last year at +school, felt himself unable to do his best ... sensed his inability to +put the punch in the team ... to restore its shattered confidence ... +shattered because of Canton's powerful, battering attack. + +The first half ended with the ball on Trumbull's ten yard line and +Canton just that far away from a third touchdown! Score, Canton 14; +Trumbull 0. Drake's well trained toe had added the extra point after +the second touchdown also. + +"So far the game looks like a one man offensive and the advantage of +weight," Coach Little told his players between halves. "Stop this +fellow Drake and you'll stop their drive. They're using him because +they have to depend upon straight football and he's the strongest man +in their backfield. The chances are that Canton will play a defensive +game from now on and you must take the offensive in order to win. +You've got everything against you today but one thing ... and that's +spirit. Any team that can put up the fight you have out there every +minute of the half need not be discouraged. Don't think about the +score. Concentrate on every play ... put everything you have in it ... +and the score will take care of itself..." + +The coach sent the same lineup back into the game. + +Rudolph, swathed in blankets, sat near Judd, who watched him out of the +corner of his eye. He noticed that Rudolph kept his attention centered +on every move of the game. Canton kicked off, and it was Trumbull's +ball on Trumbull's thirty yard line. Rudolph's lips moved at each +calling of the signals. Judd unconsciously got to doing the same +thing. Every time Blackwell's number was called he imagined that he +was Blackwell and followed the play through in his mind. Blackwell was +holding up ... he was good for short gains almost every time he took +the ball. But after each run he dragged himself back into position and +scraped the mud from his feet as though each sticking clod held him +back. + +Rudolph nudged Judd after a play in which Blackwell's fatigue was most +evident. "You'll get your chance pretty soon ... he's about all in!" + +The blood went racing to Judd's head. The entire game had been thus +far like a disconnected dream to him. It had been difficult to +actually associate himself with it. + +"My ... my chance!" he faltered. + +Rudolph nodded ... then clutched Judd's sleeve. "See ... Blackwell's +looking this way ... we've got to kick ... and ... he can't!" + +The field seemed to blur out of Judd's vision. There was a sickening +buzzing in his head ... he looked at Rudolph with undisguised horror on +his face. + +"Me ... me ... go in ... there?" + +Rudolph gave him a look of scorn and threw aside his blankets. Coach +Little came up, slapping Judd on the back. "You're taking Blackwell's +place, Billings ..." + +"Let me go in!" pleaded Rudolph, "Judd's scared stiff!" + +The coach glanced sharply at the shivering substitute. The referee's +whistle was screeching demandingly. Blackwell was being helped off the +field. + +"No, Rudie ... you're done for the day. It's up to Billings." + +The coach turned to Judd. + +"Billings, I'm not putting you in because I want to ... it's because I +have to, understand? And if you show yellow ... everyone in Trumbull +and everyone in the state for that matter ... is going to know it." + +Judd ripped off his sweater. He passed Blackwell as he went out to +report to the referee. Blackwell called to him. "I'm counting on you, +Judd ... do it for me, old boy!" + +The great Bob's younger brother had a mixture of feelings ... the words +of the coach had aroused him more than he had ever thought he could be +aroused ... and Blackwell's plea had brought to him a flash of what it +really meant to forget self. If Blackwell could play as he had played +with a sprained ankle when every step meant a stab of pain ... if +Rudolph had given his best and was even now, though injured, willing to +get back into the battle ... why couldn't he carry on the good fight? +WHY COULDN'T HE? The question suddenly became an obsession with him. +And the answer began to rise up within him ... "I can ... I CAN!" + +The ball was on Trumbull's thirty-five yard line and last down. Barley +met Billings on his way out to the team. Judd had an odd thought that +Barley reminded him of a man who had stuck his head out of a sewer hole +and looked at him one day. Why should he think of such a curious thing +as that ... at a time like this? But Barley was shouting something at +him ... the stands were on their feet ... shouting ... shouting ... +what were they shouting? ... why! ... it was HIS name! + +"Come on, Billings! Get us out of this hole," pleaded Barley. + +And when he said this ... the haunting face of the sewer digger came +back to Judd ... came back in such a ludicrous light that Judd looked +at Barley and laughed. Get him out of the hole? Certainly he would! +The other players--grim, tired, water-soaked--saw Judd laugh. His +first time under fire in the biggest game of the year ... and he could +laugh! + +To Barley the laugh came as a ray of sunshine. His worries vanished. +Judd had the attitude of a veteran. Barley ran along the line, kicking +each linesman as the referee's whistle put the ball again in play. +"Get in there and hold that line!" + +There was the sloppy crunching of body against body as the slippery +ball snapped back to Billings. Judd caught it, juggled it, recovered +and kicked. The ball arched skyward in a twisting spiral. Trumbull +ends, making a quick get away, went stumbling and sliding down the +field. + +Drake stood under the punt, waiting to catch it. As he reached up to +grab it a Trumbull end hit him, the slippery ball eluded his wet +fingers and bounced a few feet away. The other end, closing in, dove +for the ball. There was a wet mass of muddy forms disputing +possession. The referee dug down to the bottom of the heap. +Trumbull's ball on Canton's seventeen yard line! + +The first real break in the game had favored Trumbull. Barley pounced +upon Judd and hugged him happily. "Good boy, Judd ... we're going to +score!" The team showed new spirit. Every man was on his toes. Only +seventeen yards away from a touchdown! The stands began to come to +life. "Yeah, Trumbull ... Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!" + +Signals! Judd was conscious of them ... but he was also conscious that +the signals had a direct relation to him. He knew, for instance, that +the first play was going through left guard and that he was to form +interference for the right half. The ball was passed back. Judd +automatically crossed in front of the right half and charged toward the +Canton left guard ... but Canton had broken through ... and he found +himself confronted with two determined-looking tacklers. He slipped +and half fell into them and both opponents fell with him. The right +half plunged on over them, Judd feeling a foot on the scruff of his +neck as his face went down in the mud. The play netted a bare yard. + +Signals! It seemed that he had scarcely gained his feet before he was +whirled into another play. Barley was pepping up the team ... he was +putting drive into them ... and he was calling Billings' number! + +Judd took the ball and fell in behind his interference. He circled the +end, running wide. A tackler attempted to reach him but slipped and +went down in the gummy mire. He stuck out his hand and another tackler +dropped away from him. He was conscious of the rain on his face ... +and it seemed that for every foot he advanced ... he slid two feet +backward. Judd now found himself running alone. He turned in as he +came to a strip of white along the edge of the field, catching a +fleeting glimpse of umbrellas and huddled spectators ... then he saw +the big form of Drake plowing toward him with arms outstretched. + +Fear overtook Judd ... a fear which blotted out everything else from +the daze of his thoughts. But in this instance, fear saved him. Judd +made a supreme effort to avoid being tackled, and leaped past Drake +just as Drake left his feet. Drake struck in a shallow puddle and +rolled over and Judd fell across the goal line. He had scored a +touchdown the first time that he was given the ball! + +As quick to reclaim him as they had been quick to condemn him, his +team-mates crowded about Judd and for the first time made him feel the +glow of comradeship. Only Judd knew how unworthy of their praise he +was. His touchdown had been a happy accident. His attempt to kick +goal was blocked. Score, Canton 14; Trumbull 6. + +Two minutes remained of the third quarter. Trumbull kicked off and the +ball was downed on Canton's twenty-one yard line. Canton tried the +Trumbull line for two downs and found that the line had stiffened. +Trumbull was holding desperately. Then Drake dropped back as if to +kick. Barley called to Billings. "Get back. Watch out for a fake +punt!" + +Judd had hardly gotten back when the play started. Drake was a triple +threat man. He made as if to pass to the left end, then plunged +through the right side of the line. Barley tackled Drake but the big +fullback shook him off and started into an open field with only +Billings between him and the Trumbull goal, seventy some yards away. + +Judd had been living in dread of such a moment. There flashed through +his mind the temptation to make a seeming effort to tackle Drake and +fail. It would be easy to let on that he had slipped in the mud. And +there would be no danger of his getting hurt. He saw Drake preparing +to straight arm. Then Judd saw a mental picture of Blackwell with his +lame ankle, running toward the self-same Drake unflinchingly and +bringing him to the ground. A sudden blast of courage came over him. +He ran at Drake swiftly and knocked Drake's arm aside; his arms closed +about Drake's knees; the big fullback lurched to free himself, twisted +his body in an adroit manner and managed to swing Judd about so that +the weight of his body landed on his tackler's head. Judd experienced +the same sensation that had come to Rudolph. + +Barley, the first to his side ... spoke harshly to Drake. "Trumbull +men always play fair ... this is the second man you've put out of the +game!" + +Drake laughed and denied the accusation. + +A water boy came running up and dashed a pail of water on Judd's face. +The Trumbull players crowded about, crestfallen. Judd came to ... with +an expression of pain on his face. He moved his left shoulder +cautiously and winced as he did so. "Oh ... take me out ... take me +out..." he whispered ... "My shoulder!" + +Barley picked up Billings' head gear which had been knocked off in the +tackle. The stands were cheering his name. But Judd was conscious +only of pain. As they helped him to his feet ... he saw the coach on +the field. + +"I--I can't go on, sir," he said. "I--I'm hurt." + +The coach examined Judd's shoulder. "It's just a wrench ... you're our +only hope ... can't you stick?" + +As the coach asked the question he took the head gear from Barley's +hands and went to place it back on Billings' head. A piece of white +paper fell out. The coach picked it up curiously. There was some +writing on it. + +"Here, sir! Give that to me! That's mine!" Judd's eyes flashed. It +would not do for anyone to see what was written on it. If they did he +would be humiliated forever. + +"Please, sir!" as the coach began to unfold the paper. "If you'll give +it back to me ... I'll stick in the game!" + +Coach Little shook his head perplexedly and handed him back the paper. +Judd took it shame-facedly and tucked it quickly in his cap, turning +away. His team-mates stared at him in incomprehensive amazement. + +"He's gone nutty!" said Barley. + +The players had no sooner lined up to resume play than the whistle blew +for the end of the third quarter. The ball was on Canton's thirty-nine +yard line and Canton's first down. Score--Canton 14; Trumbull 6. + +On the sidelines a small commotion was evident. The great Bob Billings +had arrived! He'd intended to see the entire game but had missed train +connections at the junction. It had been his desire, however, to keep +Judd from knowing of his contemplated presence. The substitutes +crowded around the former Trumbull star in eager admiration. Bob +sought out Coach Little. + +"Mister Little ... my name's Bob Billings ... how's the game going?" + +"Too much beef for us in weather like this ... the boys are putting up +a great fight though!" + +"How ... how's my kid brother doing?" + +Coach Little looked out upon the field. The teams were changing ends +and getting in position to take up play in the last quarter. + +"I can't understand him. He scored our only touchdown on a great +fifteen yard sprint. Then he stopped that big bull ... Drake ... just +as it looked like Drake had a clear field. Drake fell on Judd after +the tackle and hurt him ... He'd have quit the game then and there if +it hadn't been for a piece of paper." + +"A piece of paper?" + +Coach Little laughed. "Yes ... I found it in his cap and gave it back +to him without reading it on his promise to stay in the game. I +suppose the kid's sweet on some girl and was more afraid of being +embarrassed than he was of being hurt!" + +The great Bob's eyes clouded over, and his jaws tightened. "Poor +Buddy!" he said, softly. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +FOR A SCRAP OF PAPER + +Out on the field Judd was having the biggest fight of his life. There +surged up within him the desire to overcome the fears of the past. He +remembered the morning that he took the pen and signed his name to the +contract in Bob's room; remembered his coming back to Trumbull and +re-entering school; remembered how he had made himself get out for +football; remembered his mother's changed feelings toward his +activities. He had fought this thing that he knew was not a part of +him ... trying ... trying to shake it off ... but it clung to him +hardest at just the times when he wanted to do the most ... when it was +the most difficult to get away from ... and easiest to surrender. + +The paper had seemed to Judd as the only outward evidence of his +determination to keep up the good fight ... to conquer fear. He did +not want to admit to anyone that he had broken faith with himself ... +he had gone so far now that there must be no turning back ... +regardless of consequences. And the piece of paper did mean something +to Judd. It meant living up to his true self ... a self which had no +use for babying; a self which never recognized failure ... a self which +did not think of itself ... first. + +Judd crouched in his defensive position, a hand holding his lame +shoulder, eyes on the Canton backfield. There was a sudden shift, the +lines crashed and the big Drake came through again. But Judd, gritting +his teeth, went forward to meet him and dropped Drake for a bare two +yard gain. + +"Good boy!" cried Barley, pulling Judd to his feet. "Right at 'em!" + +Drake, dripping with mud and water, jogged back to his position. The +quarterback said something in Drake's ear. Drake nodded and glanced at +Billings derisively. The next moment he had the ball again and was +circling the end. + +Judd, muttering to himself, "I can! ... I can!" cut through the muddy +turf. Barley spilled the interference and once more Judd tore into +Drake, bringing the big fellow down. But Drake had gained five yards. + +Third down and three to go! Canton tried a line play. Trumbull held. +Drake fell back to kick. Judd retreated to Trumbull's thirty yard line +to play for the punt. + +The pigskin came spinning through the heavy air toward him. He had run +forward about five yards to get under it. He made the catch but +slipped and fell as he started forward. As he got to his feet two +Canton tacklers hit him. When Judd got up he was conscious of a sharp +pain in his right knee. Time out was taken while he paced about, +testing his foot to the ground. + +Barley, supporting him, said in a whisper: "Tough luck, old man. +You're putting up a great game. They wouldn't be in it if it wasn't +for their man Drake ... we've got just seven minutes ... I'll tell you +what I'm going to do ... I'm going to give you the ball practically +every play and we'll hand them some of the same medicine they've been +feeding us!" + +"I--I don't believe I can do you much good," faltered Judd. + +Barley grinned. "Where do you get that stuff? Anyone who can stop +that bird Drake can hit the line ... How's your knee ... better?" + +The referee's whistle sounded. Judd became conscious of the wild +entreaties of the Trumbull crowd. They still had faith in their team +... they knew the boys would do their best ... and now was the time +when Trumbull must fight the hardest. + +He nodded. On the first play Barley, at quarterback position, smacked +the ball against his stomach as he came pounding through. Judd hit the +line; it wavered; he went through; his feet scraped against the +slippery sod; bodies struck him ... hands clutched at him ... but he +kept on going as long as he could feel earth beneath him. When he +found himself back in position and got his bearings he discovered that +he had made seven yards! His team-mates were exuberant. There was a +wild motley of sounds from the sidelines. + +Once more he felt the ball in the hollow of his arm, finding himself +plunging around the end with his hand against Barley. He saw a tackler +and pushed Barley into him ... then cut in, stumbling as he did so, to +avoid another muddy face which leered before him. Judd ran for ten +yards before he was dragged to the ground.... + +The game became just one run after another; it seemed like he was +continually getting up from the bottom of a heap and staggering to his +position, only to start forward again--reaching out for the ball--and +blindly but savagely following in the direction of his interference. + +There was an outer din of noise that Judd was vaguely conscious of. He +could feel a jerking pain in his leg and an aching twitch in his +shoulder, Occasionally, when Barley didn't call his number, he would +start forward, then drop to his hands and knees and rest. Oh, how good +it seemed to be out of play! He was tired ... desperately tired ... +his whole body was sore ... he was miserably wet and uncomfortable ... +his eye-lids were almost stuck shut with mud ... his mouth was thick +with the grime of it ... but he kept mumbling to himself, "I can! I +can!" + +Barley called time out as he fell face downward in the mud. The water +boy was out on the field again. Judd blinked as a sheet of cold water +struck him slosh in the face. Barley was pounding him on the back. + +"Wake up, ... we're only five yards from the goal and three minutes to +go..." + +Judd looked up and beyond Barley. He saw the dark outline of the +bleak, wet goal posts, saw the tense faces of the Canton team ... then +his own fellows grouped around him. + +Fenstermaker, Trumbull guard, knelt beside him. He was crying ... the +tears making odd little rivulets down his blackened face. "Come on, +Judd ... we'll make a hole for you!" + +Judd struggled to his feet. They were all willing to help him. He was +astounded at his own power to keep going. He didn't seem to care what +happened. It didn't seem like it was he at all. He allowed them to +set him on his feet. "You--you fellows make the hole," he said, +"I-I'll go through!" + +On the sidelines, under the very goal posts, the great Bob stood ... +his cap was in his hands ... his hair was wet with rain ... his feet +were almost lost to view in a puddle of water ... he was unconscious of +anything but the actions of his brother. A Trumbull fan, recognizing +him, pounded Bob on the back. "I guess you'll have to take a back seat +now, eh Bob? The kid's got it all over you!" + +If Judd could have known what his brother was thinking of him then! If +he could only have known that Bob was on the sidelines! But Judd +didn't know a thing except that this was his fight. He wasn't even +playing for the school. He wasn't thinking of any honor. His single +thought was that to have failed in what he set out to do was to fail in +everything. + +Bob watched Judd as he swayed upon his feet; his eyes followed him as +he lunged forward and took the ball once more; he lost sight of Judd +for a moment, then saw him come straining through the line with a +tackler hanging to his waist. + +The tackler's hand slipped off ... Judd shook himself free ... Bob +wanted to shout, "Look out!" as he saw Drake dive for him ... then he +caught his breath as the kid dodged the fullback but slipped and fell. +Drake turned and threw himself upon Judd as Judd rolled over and +planted the ball over the goal line. + +The name "Billings" rang from one end of the field to the other, with +the substitute fullback being lifted to his feet and pummeled by his +team-mates who were crazy with joy ... but Judd was so fatigued that +his attempt at a goal after a touchdown went wide. Two minutes more to +play and the score 14 to 12 in favor of Canton. + +It was Trumbull's kickoff, Barley begging Judd to hurry up. Judd swung +his toe against the ball and started to follow his kick dazedly. The +ball, water-soaked and heavy, carried to Canton's five yard line. The +best Canton could do was carry it back ten yards. + +Because the game was so nearly over ... the Canton quarterback ordered +a punt. "Mud Scow" Drake, with a self-confident smile on his +dirt-rimmed face, stood with his arms outstretched waiting to send the +ball far down the field ... crushing the last slight hope of victory +from Trumbull. It had been a terrific game ... and Drake was conscious +of his power now as never before. + +Barley, realizing that this was the most critical moment in the entire +game, ran along the line exhorting the half dead linesmen to a final +frenzied effort. + +"Get in there, fellows, and block that kick! Block that kick!" + +The sidelines took up the frenzied cry. + +Drake's hands closed upon the ball, he raised it shoulder high and let +it drop, his muddy foot came up to meet it ... but just at that instant +a body shot against him ... there was the hollow plunk of a ball +striking a rather soft object and a mad scramble of flying forms. + +When the referee had pulled the players apart he found Fenstermaker, +Trumbull guard, lying face down upon the ball. Trumbull's ball on +Canton's eleven yard line ... and fifty seconds left to play! + +Judd knew that he was not capable of carrying the ball another foot. +He instinctively realized that Canton would repulse any effort that +Trumbull might make at running with the ball. The time was too +desperately short. + +Then, in a flash, there came to him the vision of practice sessions he +had held with Burton, second team quarterback. Burton knew how to +handle the ball, how to place it to his liking. If Burton were only in +the game.... + +Judd spoke a few quick words to Barley and Barley ... loyal son of +Trumbull ... called time out so that Burton could come into the game +... and substitute for him. + +Everyone knew what was going to be attempted. Burton came racing out +to Judd who had picked out the spot where he was to attempt the place +kick. Three points would just win if Trumbull could make them. But +the field was so soggy and the footing so uncertain. Besides ... the +heavy clouds had brought dusk upon the field prematurely. + +Judd removed his cap and took out the piece of white paper. He +unfolded it and laid it flat upon the ground, then stepped back a few +paces and Burton knelt, with hands extended, over the paper. The +seconds seemed like hours. + +"Hold that line!" Judd begged of the linesmen. But he need not have +urged this ... tired though they were, they could be depended upon to +give their all now. + +The pass from the center was a bit wide but Burton caught it deftly and +upended the ball upon the white piece of paper. Judd took three short +steps and bit his lips as he brought his toe squarely against the +pigskin ... a sharp pain shooting through his knee. + +Blackwell and Barley hugged each other on the sidelines. Rudolph +danced in glee. The ball had skimmed over and between the uprights ... +skimmed above the bar by a hair! The timekeeper's whistle sounded and +Trumbull had won a miraculous uphill game by the score of 15 to 14! + +And the fellow, who, singlehanded, had made the triumph possible--weary +to the point of dropping--stooped and picked up the piece of paper, +stuffing it back in his cap. The next instant he was carried away upon +the shoulders of the madly joyous crowd to one of the wildest victory +celebrations Trumbull had ever witnessed. + + * * * * * + +That night, refreshed by a hot shower and with his sprains carefully +bandaged, Judd accompanied the great Bob to the high school campus +where a huge bonfire defied the dismal patter of rain. As they stood +by the fire, listening to the cheers of the student body, Bob said to +Judd: "Buddy, where's that contract?" + +Judd reached sheepishly inside his overcoat and pulled out a muddy +piece of paper. Bob took the paper, reached over and before Judd could +stop him, tossed it in the bonfire. + +Silently the two of them watched the tongues of flame eat the paper up. + +When the paper had become nothing but formless ashes, Bob turned to his +younger brother and reached out his hand, saying in a voice that was +husky with emotion: "Well, Buddy, it's gone. You don't need the +contract any longer. You lived up to more than a scrap of paper this +afternoon. You lived up to the best that was in you!" + +And Judd, a happy lump in his throat, could not answer. But his heart +sang with the knowledge that he had won more than the football game. +He had won a lasting victory over himself. + +"One of these days, Judd, old scout--you're going to be taking my place +at Bartlett!" Bob continued, his arm about Judd's broad shoulders. + +"I--I'd sure like to," Judd replied, warmly, "Not your place exactly +... but be making a place of my own!" + +Bob grinned. + +"That's the stuff!" he returned, little realizing that the following +football season would bring drastic changes and see his kid +brother--still quite the green, clumsy youth from the country--headed +for Bartlett while he ...? + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +ILL NEWS AND A NEW ARRIVAL + +"Hey, fellows! What do you know? Bob's not coming back!" + +It was Jack Frey talking and his announcement brought exclamations of +surprise and concern from the group of Bartlett men crossing the campus. + +"What?" + +"You're kidding!" + +"If he's not coming back--good-bye football team!" + +"Say, can't you guys tell when Cateye's joking?" reprimanded Benz +Hoffmaster, last year member of Bartlett's backfield. "Of course Bob's +coming back. He's captain-elect!" + +Cateye shook his head soberly, taking a letter from his inner pocket. + +"I wish I was only kidding," he said, as fellow students gathered +around, "But this is straight dope. The man running the Billings farm +is sick and Bob's decided to stay home a year to help his mother take +care of things..." + +An involuntary groan went up. Bob had been Cateye's room-mate. The +two of them were also veteran members of the team, Cateye at left guard +and Bob at fullback. Beyond having been the most popular fellow in +school, Bob had been acknowledged the greatest player in Bartlett +history. His absence would be felt off the field and on. + +"But we can't let Bob stick out there on the farm!" protested Benz, "We +need him too much here. Read the letter, Cateye. Let's get the +details." + +Cateye unfolded the letter obligingly. + +"'Dear Pal,'" he read, "'I've put off writing this as long as I could, +hoping that somehow things would work out so I wouldn't have to write +at all. But, Jack, there's no use trying to kid myself, as much as I'd +like to be back with you this year, I'm just not going to be able to +make it. You see Mr. Duncan's been mighty sick for the past couple +months and the doctor says he'll have to take it easy for at least half +a year and that means only one thing--I've got to stick here and help +mother run the place.'" + +"Gee, that's tough!" muttered Curns, veteran right end. + +"'But I'm sending someone in my place,'" continued Cateye, still +reading, "'My kid brother, Judd--who, I think, is a natural born +football player. He's worked on our farm the past four years when he +hasn't been going to school and, since Bartlett doesn't bar Freshmen +from her varsity, I'm hoping he shows up well enough to make the team. +He's big and strong but awkward and somewhat backward. You can do a +lot for him, Cateye, if you will. He's never been any further than the +little old home town, except the summer he visited me in the city, and +the trip to Bartlett seems like a coast to coast journey to him. But +he'll get this taken out of him the first few days there and you'll +really find him a corking, dependable fellow when you get to know him. +I've tried to teach him a few things about football as it's played in +college but he still has lots to learn. He starred, though, in the big +game with Trumbull High last season. And, Cateye, if you'd like to do +me a favor ... I almost hesitate to suggest this ... but if you could +see your way clear to taking Judd in as your room-mate ... well, I'd +never get over appreciating it. Tell the gang how sorry I am not to be +coming back. Looks like, even without me, this year's prospects for a +winning team, are very bright. Go to it! And don't stop till you've +cleaned up on Pennington. Your old sidekick--Bob...'" + +Fellow students consulted one another with glum glances. No doubt now +about Bob's not returning. Suppose they'd have to make the best of it. +But what do you suppose the kid brother whom he was sending was like? + +"So Bob wants you to room with a farm hand!" joshed Benz, "Well, that's +what I'd call a test of true friendship. Just what are you going to do +about it?" + +Cateye nodded. "Why not? Bob was a farm hand at that rate--when he +first came on here. His brother, Judd, can't be so bad and if there's +a chance of his developing into good football material..." + +"You said it!" + +"Bob ought to know good football material when he sees it." + +Cateye grinned. "There's a postscript I didn't read you," he added, +"About Judd's arriving at two-five this afternoon ..." + +"Hey, that's only half an hour from now!" + +"I know it, and I've an errand I've got to do first," said Cateye, "But +let me give you the rest of this postscript before I beat it. Bob goes +on to give his brother a boost by saying: 'Judd's in great physical +trim already. You should see him tackle three hundred pound hogs out +here on the farm and throw 'em...'" + +A howl at this. + +"Better keep out of his way, Benz!" warned Curns, "You don't weigh that +much but how you eat...!" + +Benz made a move in Curns' direction, Curns retreating. + +"Let me finish!" pleaded Cateye, "I'm in a big hurry, guys." + +"Shoot!" + +"Sure! Go ahead!" + +"'... and, with Coach Phillips to instruct him on kicking, just watch +Judd boot that old pigskin'." concluded Cateye. "How's that for a real +send-off?" + +Benz whistled, "Looks to me," he laughed, "Like Bob's trying to insure +his brother getting a great reception by doing a rave about him. He's +got my curiosity aroused at that. I'd like to look the boy over. What +do you say, fellows, we all meet Judd at the train?" + +The suggestion was made impulsively and received just as impulsive a +seconding. + +"Good idea!" + +"Give Judd a grand welcoming for Bob!" + +"Make him feel at home!" + +"All right," agreed Cateye, "Meet you at the train then." And he was +off about his business. + +The afternoon train, packed with merry students returning to Bartlett +after a long summer's vacation, puffed slowly and with apparent +weariness up the slight grade and came to a stop not more than a block +from the college. Although Bartlett was some three miles from anything +which resembled a town it happened to be located near a railroad and +the company, on special occasions, had conferred a favor upon the +students by stopping at the college, thus saving numerous +transportation bills. + +As the train pulled in, some fifteen or twenty students, led by Benz +Hoffmaster, pushed to the front of the platform and peered eagerly +through the passing windows, hoping to catch sight of the youth +pictured in Bob's letter. Cateye, as yet, had not put in an +appearance. He would have been of no help as to identification, +however, for none in Bartlett had ever seen this expected new arrival. +But it was likely that Judd, in some manner, would betray his identity. + +Returning students, piling from the coaches, were swallowed up by +awaiting friends and roommates who swarmed about them, amid much +backslapping and handshaking. Everyone was glad to see everyone else +back. The confusion was such that the group on the look-out for a +strange face and a someone to whom the surroundings were obviously new, +about reached the conclusion that one Judd Billings had escaped their +notice. + +"Or maybe he got so homesick he jumped off the train and's walking back +to the farm," suggested Benz. + +At this instant attention was drawn to the last occupant of the last +coach who stumbled awkwardly off the car platform and looked dazedly +about. + +"There he is!" went up the shout. + +Big-boned, apparently well-muscled, and of solid build, the new arrival +presented a picture of strength but handled himself so clumsily as to +provoke the curious interest of any passerby. In each hand he gripped +a bulging suitcase. + +"Hey, Judd!" called Benz, and started in his direction, followed by the +group. + +Startled at the sound of his name, the new arrival looked toward the +charging reception committee. He drew back uncertainly as Benz dashed +up, holding out his hand. + +"You're Judd Billings, aren't you?" + +The new arrival nodded, eyeing the fellows surrounding him with growing +suspicion and uneasiness. + +"Welcome to our college!" called Curns. + +This brought a blaze of greetings. + +"How's Bob?" + +"Let's take your grips!" + +"Cateye'll be here in a minute!" + +"Tackled any hogs lately?" + +"Here! Here! You fellahs lay off! I can handle these bags myself!" +The new arrival jerked at his suitcases to pull them free from hands +which reached for them. "Let go or I'll ...!" + +"But, Judd ...!" protested Benz, surprised, "We only mean to ...!" + +"None of your tricks now!" warned the fellow Bob had sent, "I've heard +of you college guys. You're not going to haze me. I'm looking for Mr. +Jack Frey ..." + +"We're all friends of his!" insisted Benz, "Here, let me introduce us. +Reading, left to right, is Potts, Curns, Pole, Neil ... Hold on, Judd! +Where you going?" + +Evidencing no interest in meeting the bunch, the new arrival had been +anxiously searching the station platform for signs of anyone who might +be looking for him. He now moved toward the small waiting room which +served as an excuse for a depot as this junction stop was not often +used by the railroad. + +"Listen, Judd!" Benz blocked the way. "You're not going to pull that +high hat stuff around here. We've come to meet you out of respect for +Bob and we..." + +"You let me through!" demanded the new arrival, prodding Benz with his +suitcases. + +"And what if I don't?" Benz wanted to know, "You haven't been around +much, have you? 'Bout time you were learning a few things!" + +"You gonna let me through or not?" + +There was fire in the new arrival's eye. He wasn't in the mood to be +kidded. This stepping off the train into a college atmosphere and +being met by a bunch of hoodlums who wanted to slap him on the back and +take his grips away from him and rush him off with a lot of "hurrahs" +didn't set well. Judd Billings was homesick for one thing; he'd been +warned to have nothing to do with strangers, for another; and his +natural backwardness in meeting people only added to his quite +unaccountable attitude of reserve and resistance. Jack Frey was the +one person Judd was prepared to meet. If later Jack should vouch for +these fellows, all well and good. Until then he intended to keep them +at arm's length. + +"See here, Judd!" spoke up Potts, "You're acting like a rube!" + +"I'll say he is!" seconded Benz, "Try to befriend him and..." + +Giving Benz his shoulder, the new arrival, with a sudden, unexpected +shove sent Bartlett's veteran football man sprawling. + +"Oh ho!" cried Pole, "So the party's getting rough!" + +Regaining his feet, Benz approached Judd angrily. + +"Put down those suitcases!" he demanded, "I want to take a crack at +you." + +The new arrival attempted to edge out of the group surrounding him. + +"Leave me be," he said, "I don't want to be hurting anybody!" + +This brought a chorus of defiant laughter. + +"I dare you to put those suitcases down!" challenged Benz. + +Judd hesitated, looking about him warily. The train had gone on and +most of the passengers had departed with their friends. In the +distance a figure was advancing on the run. + +"I tell you fellahs, I ..." + +"So you're afraid, eh?" + +The new arrival stiffened at this, his fingers twitched, and he +fastened upon Benz a coldly penetrating look. Judd's fear of physical +contact was no more. The suitcases dropped to the cinder platform and +hands went to hips. + +"I reckon I can't stop you, if you're hankering for a fight," came the +words with a drawl. + +Somehow this clumsy broad-shouldered figure took on an appearance of +power as he seemed to forget himself, which bred respect. + +"Go easy, Benz!" warned Neil, sizing Judd up, "No use starting trouble." + +"I'm not starting it," retorted Benz, "I'm finishing it." + +With that the ringleader of the ill-treated reception committee swung a +vicious right hook to the new arrival's jaw. Judd's left arm flashed +up to block the blow. At the same moment Judd took a quick step +forward and brought his right fist into play. It caught Benz almost on +the point of the chin and spun him about in a circle. + +"Say, the rube can fight!" exclaimed Potts, surprised. "Boy, he's sure +different from his brother!" + +"Here, fellows! What's the big idea?" + +The figure of Cateye hurled itself between as Benz, reeling, staggered +back toward Judd, bent on retaliating. + +"Let me at him!" pleaded Benz, furiously, "I'll show him he can't get +away with this stuff. So Bob sent him, eh? What a lemon!" + +Cateye sized up the situation quickly. + +"My name's Frey," he explained to Judd who was standing by quietly, +hands again on hips, "Bob asked me to meet you, I'm sorry to be late. +What seems to be the matter?" + +"These fellahs wouldn't let me alone, that's all," said Judd, simply. + +"We come to meet him and he gives us the cold shoulder," declared +Curns, "Afraid we're going to make off with his precious suitcases or +smash his straw hat or throw dust in his eyes!" + +"We college guys are bad eggs and no mistake!" put in Neil, +sarcastically. + +"My mother told me not to have anything to do with strange people," +added Pole. + +"Will you please tell Mr. Billings, for his own enlightenment, that +he's among civilized people?" requested Potts, icily. + +"These fellows are all right," Cateye assured, as Judd gazed about him +doubtfully, "They didn't mean anything. They're all good friends of +Bob's. They just wanted to show you a good time. You probably took +them too seriously. Come on, Judd, we'll take your things to my room." + +Relieved, the new arrival stooped and picked up his suitcases. His +face wore a sheepish look but he offered no apology for his conduct. +Rather he seemed anxious to get away from the bunch. + +"A--am I goin' to bunk with you?" he asked of Cateye. + +"Bunk?" repeated Cateye, "Oh, sure! You're going to be my room-mate." + +"Heaven forbid!" said someone. + +"Take him away," urged Benz, "We don't want anything more to do with +him." + +And without another word being spoken Cateye set off with Judd, the new +arrival stalking along, carrying the two bulging suitcases easily, +scorning Cateye's offer of aid. + +"That guy's cooked his goose at Bartlett!" declared Benz, feelingly, +"And from now on, guys, he's just a plain rube to me!" + +"Rube's the right word!" agreed Pole. + +"That's what we'll call him after this!" decided Curns, "Rube!" + +And so, one Judd Billings, sent to Bartlett by his highly esteemed +brother Bob, stepped off into a new world, for him, on the wrong foot. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE FIRST NIGHT + +"But, Judd," argued Cateye, weakly, "I never sleep with my window wide +open like that. Especially this time of year. Why there is frost on +the ground in the morning and the room will be cold as ice when we wake +up!" + +"Well, I can't see any harm in good ventilation. I slept in the barn +most all this summer an' I don't look sick, do I?" said Judd, for the +third time. + +Cateye looked him over. No, to be sure, Judd didn't look very sick. +In fact he seemed exceedingly robust. One hundred and ninety-six +pounds, most of it worked into well formed and almost abnormal muscles. + +"I can't say that you do look sick," admitted Cateye, "That's just why +you can stand it. But I,--I'm not used to such outdoor measures. Do +you want to turn this room into a park?" + +"Not eggs-actly a park, but I believe in lots of fresh air an', ..." + +"Have it your own way then!" growled Cateye, savagely, seeing the +uselessness of further argument. + +He ventured no more remarks but watched Judd's every action curiously, +musing: "I can't see Bob's idea in wishing this bird on me--even if he +is his own brother--but I've taken him in now and I'll stick it out to +the end." + +Meanwhile Judd had removed a wallet from his pocket and was in the act +of secreting it between mattress and springs. + +"I say, Judd, what's the idea of hiding your wad? Nobody will steal +it. There aren't any thieves about here!" + +Cateye, already in bed, raised himself upon his elbow and eyed his new +room-mate interestedly. + +"You never can tell, Mister Frey. I had my dinner swiped this noon an' +I'm not takin' any chances!" + +"For heaven's sake, Judd, call me Cateye. Everybody else does." + +"Well, I reckon I can," replied Judd, slowly, having completed the +action of hiding his wallet to his evident satisfaction. + +"Those feet and those hands," sighed Cateye to himself, "would make +Babe Ruth turn green with envy!" + +Judd struggled awkwardly into a home-made nightshirt. + +Cateye buried his head in a pillow and bit his lip to keep from +laughing outright. "Ye Gods! And is this only the beginning?" he +asked himself. + +The question was almost immediately answered. + +"Gee mackerel!" howled Judd, as he rolled into bed and sunk down amidst +the folds of a soft feather mattress. "This may be the ticket for +babes but it's no place for me! I can't sleep on anything soft. It's +bad for the spine. Me for the floor!" + +"You're not going to sleep on the floor!" + +"You bet I am!" mumbled Judd, emphatically, dragging the bed sheets off +and arranging them on the floor. "I lay out straight when I go to +sleep. I don't tie myself up in any fancy bow knots!" + +Cateye rolled over with a groan, "What next?" + +Judd, at last satisfied, switched out the lights and deposited his +minus two hundred pounds upon the floor. "This is the life!" he +breathed fondly a few minutes later. Then the sandman bagged Cateye +for three solid hours of sleep. + +It must have been one o'clock or after when Cateye awoke. At any rate +it was late,--very late, and Cateye was so sleepy,--but what was that +peculiar sound? + +Cateye came to his senses like a flash and sat bolt upright in bed. +The moon was casting a pale, white shadow into the room and the air was +noticeably chilly. + +"I thought I heard someone shout," Cateye sputtered, his teeth inclined +to chatter, "but I guess it was only a bad dream." He listened +intently for a few moments. All that he could hear was the labored +breathing of Judd who seemed to be enjoying his slumber immensely. +Cateye laid down and tried to sleep once more but found sleep +impossible. He fell to thinking of Judd and Bob and then of Judd again. + +Suddenly a voice, unmistakeable this time, spoke out of the darkness. +"Yes, I'll be home in time for dinner, mother. I've only got three +acres left to plow." + +The hair on Cateye's head began to re-arrange itself. "What on earth +can it be?" Cateye gasped through shut teeth to keep from crying aloud. +"There,--that voice again!" + +"Get up, Nancy! Whoa, Nell! Gee--haw! Tarnation, but this land is +rocky! Don't see why Dunk wants this land plowed anyhow!" + +"Why, oh, why did I take that guy in for a room-mate?" moaned Cateye. +"He even gives himself away in his sleep!" + +The talking recommenced. "No, I didn't fix the harness. I thought I'd +wait till after supper.... the young whip-snap! He stole my dinner! +If I ever lay hands on him I'll,--I'll--" + +At this juncture, Judd, making a strenuous effort, rolled over upon the +floor and opening his mouth wide broke into loud sonorous snores. + +"Thank heaven he's at least stopped talking!" grunted Cateye, much +relieved and wiping the cold perspiration from his brow. "I hope he +doesn't walk in his sleep too!" + +The snoring increased into a steady rumble. + +"Shall I waken him?" Cateye asked himself. "I can't sleep through an +artillery engagement." But, on second thought, he decided to lay low +and accept the bombardment. After all, he was only doing this as a +favor to Bob, but the favor was getting to be a pretty big one. + +How long Cateye held the fort he did not know but the cannonading +ceased as the campus clock was striking three and relieved from duty he +fell asleep at his post. + +He awakened again at five A.M. conscious of someone astir in the room. +Judd was up and dressed! + +"Why so early, Judd?" whispered Cateye, "We don't usually rise until +seven here." + +But Judd seemed to feel that he had already overslept since he always +used to be up at four A.M. He never could sleep after four o'clock and +besides he told Cateye jokingly, "I have the cows to milk an' the +chores to do before breakfast." + +"That's too bad," grunted Cateye, "And you've worked hard all night +too!' + +"Me? I had a grand old snooze!" + +"Snooze nothing! You plowed three acres of land, fixed a harness and, +..." + +"Huh! Is that what you call kiddin'?" Judd began to grow suspicious. + +"Call it anything you like," snapped Cateye, his patience gone, and +bound to have it out. "You talk in your sleep, snore like blazes, and +I imagine you'll walk, too, when you get the lay of the land!" + +Judd's suspicious looks vanished and a sheepish grin spread over his +face. "Never mind that, Cateye," he said, "I can't help it. It runs +in the family." + +This was the last straw and when it broke it took with it Cateye's +rising anger. Judd's sense of humor had saved the day. In spite of +himself, Cateye laughed. + +"Put her there, Judd," he cried, softly, holding out his hand. "You're +not at all like your brother but I fear I am going to like you. If you +can stand that fracas, I can, only please leave some long intervals +between your performances." + +Judd stretched out his big, brawny hand and crushed Cateye's firm palm +in his. + +"Judd! Let go! Do you want to maim me for life?" protested Cateye, +trying to withdraw his hand from Judd's strong embrace. + +"That's another one of my failin's," apologized Judd, "I always grip +too hard!" + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +JUDD PRACTICES FOOTBALL + +Although Bartlett was one of the smaller colleges of the state, it was +also one of the most popular. Proud alumni pointed to the fact that +more men, afterwards become great, had graduated from Bartlett than any +other college of its size in the world. Besides, Bartlett had gained a +wide reputation and much respect from the larger universities and +colleges because of her ability to turn out winning athletic teams. +True, Bartlett had never as yet succeeded in downing the State +University or defeating many of the bigger colleges, but she had always +given a good account of herself. Fond hopes were held out by students +as well as alumni that, in the near future, Bartlett would clearly +demonstrate her superiority in some branch of athletics over the best +teams in that part of the country. + +The nearest Bartlett ever came to any real prominence was early in the +history of the institution. That year, the newly founded college +turned out a wonderful football team, challenging and defeating +Pennington, claimants of the State Championship, by a 17 to 6 score. +After this truly unexpected victory Bartlett asked and received a game +with the State University, but this eleven soundly trounced them, 28 to +7, and all aspirations for State honors fled. + +However, the defeat of Pennington, which was the second largest +institution of learning in the state, put Bartlett forever in the +select class. The defeat also gave Bartlett a bitter rival. The +drubbing at the hands of the smaller college had been a hard pill for +the Penningtonites to swallow and in after years they sought to wipe +out the blot upon their former record. + +Spurred on by their previous success Bartlett always provided stiff +opposition against Pennington and much interest as well as excitement +was manifested over contests between the two colleges although at the +present time, Pennington seemed to have had the best of the argument. +To venture a statement that Pennington did hold the upper hand, +however, while speaking to a Bartlett student, would be the means of +placing your life in extreme jeopardy. + +The college campus at Bartlett was uniquely laid out in the form of a +great wagon wheel. From the hub of this wheel, cement sidewalks, +acting figuratively as spokes, led the way to the outer rim which +consisted of a wide, circular walk passing entirely about the edge of +the grounds. All of the college buildings were grouped about this +large circle so that they were readily accessible from any point on the +campus. One needed only to select the spoke leading up to the building +he wished to visit and a few minutes walk would take him there. Great +elm trees, whose foliage and limbs so beautifully shaded the well kept +grounds, made the campus a place to be admired by students and visitors +alike. + +The next morning, after his eventful night, Cateye was hurrying to +chapel when someone hailed him from behind. + +"I say, Cateye! Wait a minute, will you?" + +It was Pole's voice and Cateye turned about questioningly. + +"Well, what is it?" + +"Do you mind telling me what that noise was I heard in your room last +night? You know my room is right next to yours, ..." + +"Noise! What noise?" queried Cateye, forgetting himself for the moment. + +"That's _just_ it! _What_ noise? It sounded like the distant rumbling +of thunder. In fact it was so realistic that I got up and shut my +window to keep the rain from beating in before I tumbled to the fact +that the manufactured product was coming from your room!" + +"Oh!" laughed Cateye, a light beginning to dawn, "That's only Judd; he +snores." + +"Snores! Great guns, he booms! Why, I'd have sworn the walls shook +last night. And say,--does he do anything else?" + +"Talks some," admitted Cateye, reluctantly. + +"Indeed!" scoffed Pole, making a beautiful pair of arches with his +eyebrows. "I'll say he talks some! In fact if he talks some more +tonight,--well, tell him to BEWARE,--that's all!" + +"You can hardly blame a man for making some disturbance who plows a +three acre field in one night," grinned Cateye. + +"Is that what he did?" + +"Yes,--in his sleep." + +"How do you stand it?" + +"I don't stand it; I put up with it." + +"Surely you don't intend to keep that rube as a room-mate! Why, +that'll make you the laughing stock of the college. The idea of +rooming with a guy that plows fields in his sleep. Deucedly funny. +Bah!" + +"He struck rocks, too!" + +"When? Where?" + +"Plowing that field of his." + +"Well, I hope he strikes a boulder to-night and breaks his plow so he +can't work any more. Either you get rid of that guy or I'll change my +room!" + +"Go ahead,--change your room!" Cateye looked at Pole defiantly. + +"I will, if that nut starts to thunder again tonight!" + +Pole departed with a vicious stride, giving one the resemblance of a +man on stilts. + +Cateye stood watching him, an amused smile on his face. + +Three weeks passed quickly. During this time Judd underwent a trying +period. Wherever he chanced to go he provoked laughter and was made +the object of many petty but harmless jokes. There was no doubt about +it, Judd was slow, but he was also good natured and when he saw the +joke, enjoyed it as much as anyone. Largely through Cateye's untiring +efforts his rough edge was gradually being worn away, and, while he had +formed few friends, still he had made no real enemies. Most of the +fellows took him as a huge joke. + +Cateye had written to Bob: "Judd is a great scout and getting on fine. +He certainly has the build for a great football player. I've been +giving him pointers and I'm anxious for practice to begin so I can see +how good he really is." + +After the first night Judd talked only during waking hours, a fact +which greatly astonished Cateye. True, Judd still snored some, but he +could easily be forgiven for this minor offense so long as he did not +take a notion to plow any more fields. Moreover Cateye had succeeded +in breaking Judd in to soft, downy beds and in making him strive to do +things much as other fellows would. + +Two weeks later as Cateye was crossing the campus he was met by Benz +who slapped him joyfully on the back. + +"Football practice begins to-morrow! Since Bob did not come back this +year the eleven will have to meet and elect a new captain." + +"That's so," recalled Cateye, "Be great to get back in harness again, +eh, Benz?" + +"You bet! Say,--d'you suppose Rube'll be out to-morrow?" + +"I don't know." + +"I hope he is. That fellow is the richest joke that ever hit Bartlett +college. Why, if he doesn't know any more about football than he does +about table manners, ..." + +"See here, Benz!" retorted Cateye, impatiently, "haven't you had about +enough fun at Judd's expense? Seems to me three weeks has been time +enough to wear the joke off some. He's a peculiar fellow, I'll admit, +but a great scout once you know him." + +"Well then,--I don't know him yet, that's all," retorted Benz. + +"Better come over some time and get acquainted!" Cateye spun on his +heel and walked off, leaving Benz puzzled and indignant. + +Two weeks more whiled away with nothing eventful happening. Football +training had gotten well under way. Benz had been elected captain of +the eleven over Cateye by one vote. Both men had won their letters for +two years and were looked upon with respect and admiration by the other +members of the team. Judd had turned out for practice but his ever +present awkwardness had caused no end of merriment and made him the +brunt for criticism from the mouth of Coach Phillips, himself. "Mighty +good material," the coach had said, "But, he certainly needs seasoning!" + +The first night that scrimmage was held, Judd, who had been playing +left tackle on the second team in practice now got his first chance to +demonstrate his ability. Benz was playing fullback on the varsity. +Students thronged the sidelines. + +The varsity kicked off and held the seconds for downs on their thirty +yard line. The first play called for a line smash through left tackle. +Benz came tearing in; his interference crumpled; he felt a hard +shoulder against his knees, and the next moment hit the ground with a +terrible thud which knocked the wind completely out of him. When he +came to he looked around quietly, felt of himself, and sat up. "Steam +roller or locomotive?" he asked, gamely. + +"Only Rube," laughed Curns, who was playing right end on the varsity. + +"Hump! He did it on purpose just to show me up. I'll get him!" + +"No he didn't!" denied Cateye, indignantly, who happened to hear Benz's +threat. "Judd says he didn't mean to throw you so hard. He always +tackles that way. He stops whatever comes through his side the line." + +"I guess he does!" grunted Benz, jumping dazedly to his feet. "Well, +he won't get me again. Come on, gang, let's have a touchdown!" + +Despite their efforts the varsity could not cross the line and the ball +went over to the scrubs on the twenty yard line. + +"Can any one in this gang punt?" asked McCabe, the quarterback. "We've +only got one real punter in this college an' that's Benz." + +"I used to be able to kick some," volunteered Judd, to McCabe's +amazement. + +"Play ball!" growled the varsity, anxious for more scrimmage. + +"Good! I'll drop into your position. You go behind the line and +receive the ball. We haven't any handsome array of signals yet. Give +that pigskin fits!" + +"I'll try!" grinned Judd, trotting back. + +The students along the sidelines wondered at this latest move of +Judd's. They had opened their eyes wide at the way he broke up the +interference and nabbed Benz for a loss, a few plays before. Was he +going to bring more renown to himself by disclosing some real toe work? + +The ball was snapped back. Judd caught it clumsily but seemed +over-anxious. The pigskin dropped and his mighty leg swung up to make +the punt, but in some unaccountable manner, ball and foot missed +connections and Judd described a graceful semi-circle, alighting flat +on his back. It was so funny that the players on both sides refused to +play. They just fell in their tracks and howled. Judd crawled slowly +to his feet, his face crimson, his jaws set tight. The field was +ringing with laughter. Even immobile as he usually was, Coach Phillips +could not refrain from smiling. Luckily a scrub recovered the ball, +but eight yards had been lost on the play. + +"Call that play again!" Judd demanded, somewhat angrily. + +"What! You're not going to repeat that performance, are you?" taunted +Benz, elated at Judd's poor showing. + +"Better let me kick it this time," suggested McCabe, "I think I can +punt a little farther than that!" + +"So can I!" insisted Judd. "Give me another chance!" + +There was something in Judd's eyes which made McCabe consent. + +Everyone knew that the same play was to be attempted. Benz set himself +ready to break through the line the moment the ball was snapped back. +Here was his chance to break up the play and make Judd look more +ridiculous than ever. The revenge would be sweet. Back went the ball! +Benz shot through the line like a thunderbolt; Judd was raising his +arms, his foot was swinging up. Benz leaped desperately into the air +to block the punt. There was a firm, hollow sound of pigskin meeting +toe and Benz felt the leather whiz past his face. Far down the field, +even yet high in the air, soared the ball, twisting and turning! A +gasp of amazement came from the crowd, then cheers. + +"A good fifty yard punt!" cried several. "He _can_ punt after all, +can't he?" + +"The lucky stiff!" groaned Benz. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +AT THE FAIR + +It was the first of October, and Saturday. The day before the varsity +had played its first football game of the season, trouncing Needham, 48 +to 0. The work of Benz at fullback, who was endeavoring to fill the +famous Bob's position, was a feature of the game. Time after time he +tore off long runs through the left side of the line and mainly because +there was no man like Judd on the opposing team to stop him. Cateye's +work at left guard had made that side of the line as solid as a stone +wall. Judd sat quietly by the sidelines, notebook in hand, jotting +down different pointers on the game as they occurred to him. He was +eager to learn, so eager! But would he ever know enough about the game +to make the first team? + +To-day, Saturday, marked a day of rest for the eleven. Coach Phillips +never allowed his men to work out the day after a game. Accordingly +the fellows looked about for some new form of recreation. + +"I'll tell you, fellows!" suggested Benz, struck by a new idea, "This +is the last day of the fair at Tarlton. Let's all attend in a bunch!" + +The suggestion met with unanimous approval. Saturday was the only day +that the students were allowed to visit town without a special permit. + +"Great stuff! Let's start!" shouted Curns. + +"All right, we'll meet on the campus at ten this morning and hoof it to +town." + +"Oh, I say, Benz! Have a heart! I left my walking stick at home." + +"Come on, glove stretcher, don't be a quitter," pleaded Benz, "I've +another idea! Let's ask Rube to go along. We'll have no end of fun. +He's a regular side show by himself!" + +"With the menagerie thrown in!" sniffed Pole. + +"What d'ya say?" persisted Benz, "Shall we invite him?" + +"Yea!" + +"All right, then. Ten o'clock, fellows!" + +Ten o'clock found all of the bunch collected except Pole, Judd and +Cateye. Everyone was anxious to start. + +"Why don't those nuts hurry up?" growled Potts, stamping about, +restlessly. + +"Here they come, Pole and Rube! I wonder where Cateye is? Say, we +sure will have some fun with Rube if he isn't around. He always takes +Rube's part!" cried Benz, joyfully. + +"Cateye couldn't come. Too much work to do!" shouted Pole, when in +hearing distance. "But I brought Rube." + +"Good enough! Come on, bunch. Let's beat it into town now. It's only +three miles and we can make it before noon!" + +The party started off at a rapid gait. Judd swung along easily, +despite his weight, taking the lead. Not much was said until half the +distance had been traversed. About this time there began to be +stragglers who could not keep the pace that Judd was unconsciously +setting. + +The fellows exchanged winks. Such a joke to be outwalked by a rube! +Benz passed the word along: "For heaven's sake, guys, keep up to Rube's +pace if it takes all the pep you've got! If this news ever gets back +to college, ..." + +But the faster gait of the fellows only spurred Judd to shake forth +another reef, so that without knowing it he was rapidly tiring the +bunch. + +"And I thought I was in condition!" panted Benz. + +"My legs are long, but,--" began Pole, then shook his head helplessly. +"Oh, what's the use!" + +"Only another mile, guys!" called Benz, cheerfully, glancing slyly at +Judd. "Some exercise, eh Rube?". + +"You're right! One ought to do this every day. I'm kind of out of +practice now, but I reckon I'll be in form coming back!" + +"Great express trains! Did you hear that?" whispered Curns, wiping +perspiration from his forehead. "I'll be hanged if I try to keep the +pace of this rube goin' back! I never was cut out for a long distance +runner!" + +"I'm on my last legs," groaned Potts, to Benz. + +"I know it's only half a mile more but this pace is too hot. I'll have +to drop out. Tell the folks at home I died a brave death." + +"You sprained your ankle," hinted Benz, himself eager for a chance to +rest. + +"So I did!" cried Potts, happily grasping at any strategic ruse which +might stop the line of march. "Oh, my ankle! Fellows, help! I've +turned my ankle! Wow! No, not my left one, my right! Oh, my! Oh, +my!" + +"What a pitiful accident!" sympathized Benz, soberly, removing Potts' +shoe and rubbing the ankle roughly. At the same time he winked slyly +at the bunch. + +Momentarily checked, the fellows threw themselves flat upon their backs +and inhaled long, deep breaths of the refreshing air. All, save Judd. +He strode about in circles, anxious to be off again. + +"I'd give a dime to get these kinks out of my legs," he muttered, +slowly. + +"I'll raise you five on my ankle, Rube," groaned Potts in fake agony. + +A half hour of delicious rest elapsed before Benz, as medicine man, +declared his patient, Potts, able to stand upon his pins again and +undertake the treacherous journey townward. During this time every +member of the party had sufficiently recovered his sea legs to trust +themselves to a half mile jaunt. Judd, restless and extremely desirous +of completing the trip, redoubled his speed. + +Potts kept up well for the first hundred yards, then began to hobble +painfully. "My ankle, Rube!" he moaned. "Have some consideration!" + +"Pardon me, I'd plumb forgotten that you bruised your shin!" Judd +slowed up. Fifteen minutes later an exhausted looking party dragged +themselves into Tarlton. + +"Stranger, can you direct me the shortest way to a free lunch?" asked +Pole, hailing a passer-by. + +"And a free bed?" added Potts. + +"Walker's lunch room next block down," informed the stranger, gruffly. + +"That's just the place for us! Get the name? W-a-l-k-e-r's lunch. +Zowie! Lead me to it!" cried Oole, a big, good-natured Hollander, who +played left tackle on the varsity. "Jus' give me a chance to feed my +face! Yah!" + +After the fellows had partaken of a good meal they felt revived enough +to attend any fair, and inspired by Walker's lunch they walked another +half mile to the fair grounds. + +Everything was going full blast when they arrived. Merry-go-rounds, +ferris wheels, confetti stands, lemonade and taffy booths, were all +reaping their harvests. Even the fat man was entertaining large +audiences. The fellows had a thoroughly good time and took in almost +every sight on the grounds. Judd had been kidded and made fun of until +he was followed about by a troop of youngsters who thought he was a +clown employed by the fair people. Judd was really embarrassed and +noticeably awkward. + +At four o'clock the bunch were about to leave when Pole chanced to +sight a tent before which a big crowd had collected. + +"What's over there, fellows? We haven't been in that tent yet. Let's +see what's up!" + +Curiosity ruled the day and the bunch trooped over in front of the tent. + +"Hump! Nothin' but a horse show!" scoffed Curns, disgustedly, "I'm +goin', fellows." + +"Hold on, what's he saying?" cried Benz, calling attention to the man +on the platform. + +The bunch grew attentive. + +"Ladles an' gentlemen. Las' but not least we 'ave with us Dynamite, +the stubbornest donkey 'at ever lived! No human bein' has ever been +able to stick on Dynamite's back fer more than three minutes. To any +man who kin ride Dynamite fer ten minutes wid out gittin' thrown, this +here management offers the fab'lous sum o' twenty-five dollars! +Twenty-five dollars,--tink of it! Jes' fer ridin' Dynamite. 'At's +all. Seems easy, don't it? Las' performance Dynamite only throwed +three men an' one of 'em had a rib busted. Remember, this management +is not responsible fer no injuries or deaths resultin' from ridin' +Dynamite. If any man here wants ter tackle Dynamite he comes at his +own risk. The show begins in five minutes. Think it over, gents. +Here's an easy twenty-five bucks if you want it. But +remember,--Dynamite, ain't ever been ridden!" + +"By the great hornspoons!" whispered Benz in Pole's ear. "Here's the +chance of our lives to have a circus with Judd. Let's get the rube to +tackle Dynamite. Of course he'll get thrown but think of the fun of +seein' it!" + +"But he might get killed or injured!" faltered Pole. + +"Nonsense! A man as physically fit as Rube isn't going to get busted +up by falling off a donkey. Come on, let's get him to try out +Dynamite!" + +Pole finally consented. "Say, Rube," he said, "You can ride Dynamite! +Why don't you go in an' try it? That'd be the easiest twenty-five +bucks you ever earned!" + +"I was just thinkin' of that myself," replied Judd, hesitatingly. + +"Here, ... I'll lend you a quarter," returned Pole, growing generous. +"I'd like to see you get the money, Rube." + +"Yes, we're all with you, Rube," put in Benz, and winked at the bunch. + +"Do you fellows think I could stick to Dynamite?" asked Judd, +cautiously. "I've ridden everythin' from hogs to bulls but I don't +know about this here donkey bizness." + +"Try it anyhow, Rube. We'll come in and cheer for you." + +"Sure, Rube, go to it!" + +"Well, ... all right. I reckon it won't do any harm to try." + +"Good!" Pole edged his way over to the ticket seller. "This here +fellow wants to tackle Dynamite!" + +"What! That guy? Why, Dynamite'll break every bone in his body, son. +Your friend is crazy!" + +"He's no piece of china, Mister!" shot back Pole. "Look him over. +I'll bet Rube can ride Dynamite!" turning and winking at the bunch. +Judd stood by, quietly, soberly. + +"I'll have to speak to the manager about this," replied the ticket +seller, seeing that Pole was in earnest. "Hey, George, come here a +minute! This kid wants to tackle Dynamite!" He pointed a long, slim +finger at Judd. + +"What! Say, boy, do you know what you're goin' up against? We didn't +name that donkey Dynamite fer nothin'!" + +"Just the same I'd like to tackle him, sir," spoke up Judd. "I'm +willin' to take all risks!" + +"You heard that, gentlemen? You're my witnesses!" replied the manager, +for the benefit of the crowd. "He says he's willin' to take all risks. +Are you ready fer the funeral, kid?" + +"Yes," replied Judd, calling the bluff. "And where are you goin' to +bury your donkey?" + +The manager laughed gruffly. "Come on in an' I'll introduce you to +Dynamite. Remember, twenty-five plunks are yours if you stick on +Dynamite fer ten minutes. And here's the money!" He reached down +inside his pocket and pulled forth a roll of bills. "I'll give the +money to this policeman fer you to claim if you stick to Dynamite. If +you do it'll be the first time in history,... but it can't be did, kid! +'At's all!" + +The bunch filed into the tent. Judd removed his coat, disclosing a +checkered shirt and a pair of suspenders. He then took off his shoes, +seeming unconscious of the interested crowd about him and the titter of +laughter which went the rounds. The manager stepped into the big ring, +leading Judd after him. "Ladles an' gentlemen, meet Mister Judd +Billings. He's a freshman in Bartlett college. An' it's the earnest +wish of this management 'at he'll be able to continue his studies there +after his little affair with Dynamite. Henry, bring in the mule!" + +Everyone craned their necks toward the side entrance. Suddenly, with a +loud, "Hee Haw!" Dynamite shot into the ring, an attendant frantically +pulling at the halter. The crowd cheered. + +Judd eyed the animal carefully. Dynamite was large and, from his +pawing and snorting, very excitable. + +Pole shut his eyes and grasped the railing that surrounded the ring, +fearing the consequences. + +"Poor Rube," he said. + +"Poor Rube nothin'!" scoffed Benz, "Watch the fun!" + +Judd's face reddened. It came over him, in a flash, that the fellows +had pulled "a put up job" on him and that he was being made sport of in +front of the crowd. + +"If Judd Billings rides this animal successfully, this management +cheerfully gives him twenty-five dollars," reminded the manager. "But +he must stick to Dynamite's back for ten minutes. Everyone get your +watches out. Now Judd! Now Dynamite, blow him up!" + +The manager left the ring hurriedly. The attendant gave Judd the +halter and also fled. Judd moved slowly, precisely, cautiously. While +Dynamite hee-hawed stubbornly and tried to pull away, Judd jerked the +halter fiercely, pulled the mule toward him, stepped up, grasped a long +ear firmly, and swung up onto Dynamite's back. The crowd gasped and +consulted their watches. The fight was on! + +The moment that Judd touched Dynamite's back was a signal for the +explosives to let loose. The mule bounded into the air and came down +stiff-legged. But Judd had curled his legs tightly about the body and +buried his toes in its flanks. His powerful hands each gripped a long +ear which he twisted and squeezed at his pleasure. Dynamite bellowed +with rage and shot about the ring, kicking, biting, rearing; but unable +to throw off the rider. + +"Great work, Rube!" shouted Benz, unable to conceal his admiration. +"That-a-boy! Stick to him. One minute's gone all ready. Only nine +more!" + +As mule and Judd passed by the railing where the fellows were excited +onlookers, a mighty cheer went up. Judd's face wore an expression of +set determination. + +Dynamite was not used to being held by the ears. He could not stick +his head between his legs and roll over as he had been accustomed to. +He tried until he was almost frantic to free his head, but Judd's grip +was vice-like. + +Five minutes crawled slowly past and still Judd kept his seat, despite +a series of bucks, plunges, side-steps, rearings, and sudden balks. + +The manager clutched his watch nervously. No man had ever remained +seated that long before and twenty-five dollars would eat into the +night's profit. + +"He can't last another five minutes," the manager told himself. "Throw +yourself, Dynamite! Throw yourself!" + +As if obeying orders Dynamite reared up and fell sideways. + +"Look out, Rube!" shrieked the crowd. + +"Gad!" cried Pole, "Look at that, will you?" + +Judd had struck the ground with Dynamite but remained on top and when +Dynamite struggled to his feet Judd was still on his back. + +"Nine minutes gone!" somebody yelled, "Stick to it, Rube! You've got +the money, kid!" + +Dynamite was raving wild now. No man had ever remained seated after a +tumble like that! With a final snort of rage he dashed about the ring, +jumping high in the air, bucking, twisting, turning. It was no use. +Judd could not be shaken off. + +"Time!" roared the crowd, hoarsely. + +The attendant rushed out to rescue Dynamite. + +"Never mind, Mister," smiled Judd, perspiration trickling down his +face. "Dynamite won't explode any more. He's meek as a lamb an' all +in!" + +True, Dynamite might just as well have been christened Talcum Powder +now, for all the fight there was in him. The poor donkey had no +further ambitions to unseat other riders and was perfectly content to +let Judd perch on his back. + +"Son, you're all right!" congratulated the manager, holding out his +hand. "I'm a game loser. I'm not only out twenty-five dollars but my +Dynamite is all gone. A baby could ride that mule now! Officer, pay +this _man_ the money. He earned it all right!" + + + + +CHAPTER X + +AN ATTEMPTED HOLD-UP + +It was exactly six-thirty and the fellows were just finishing a good +supper at Walker's lunch counter. Judd had become a hero in the eyes +of everyone now, except Benz. He could not allow himself to think of +Judd being other than just a plain country rube and although mightily +astonished at Judd's showing he passed it off finally with: "The lucky +stiff!" + +Pole was speaking. "Rube, seeing you've got so much kale now you might +pay back that quarter I loaned you, with interest." + +"Yes, an' don't forget that dollar an' a half you owe me," chimed in +Oole, with his mouth full of Boston baked beans. + +"I don't owe you a cent an' never did!" + +"He's only kiddin', Rube," soothed Curns, "Just so you remember me in +your will, I'll be satisfied." + +Judd grinned; then his face grew sober. "Well, fellahs, I reckon we'd +better be gettin' home. It's a long walk an' it's gettin' dark. +Besides, I got quite a bit o' money an' I don't want to take any +chances o' losin' it." + +"That's right! I move we do go home," grunted Oole, then sweetly to +the waiter, "Another plate of beans, please." + +"Behold, gentlemen, the human storehouse!" derided Pole, pointing at +Oole. + +"That's enough from you, macaroni!" retorted Oole, tearing a biscuit in +two, savagely. + +"Did you say Marconi? Gentlemen, I am honored!" began Pole, then +placed a hand over his eye. "Thanks for the biscuit Oole, but please +pass them next time. Such table manners!" + +Benz had been quiet for some time. He was a little indignant to think +of the renown Judd was getting. Why, all the fellows were beginning to +pay attention to him now. And he, a rube! Benz's one desire was to do +something which might make Judd the laughing stock of the college; +something which would provoke ridicule whenever referred to. + +"I've got it!" he whispered. "Judd's afraid of robbers. Why, I heard +that he hides his wallet under the mattress or carpet every night +before he goes to bed. Why not pull a fake hold-up and scare him stiff +on the way home to-night? Great! I'll put the fellows wise." + +Benz got busy and soon everyone knew the plot but the unsuspecting +Judd. Some fellows objected strenuously, but finally consented when +they considered what a rich joke it really would be. + +"Pole, it's up to you to get Rube started for college. The rest of us +fellows will make some excuses and hang around town until you two are +gone. I'll get a revolver and some masks and with the bunch will take +a short cut through Perry field and meet you near the mill pond. Get +busy!" Benz was insistent. + +"I tell you, I hate to do this thing," Pole hesitated, "Seems to me +we've pestered Rube about enough. He proved to us that he's the real +stuff this afternoon and I'm for leaving him alone." + +"But think of the sport, Pole. Think of it! Can you picture him +begging for mercy when I point that gun at him and say, 'Hands up!' +Can you?" + +"I guess almost anyone would beg for mercy in a situation like that," +replied Pole, not easily moved. + +"Oh, come on, just this once," pleaded Benz. + +"... All right, it's not my funeral," yielded Pole, finally. "But +you'd better not go too far." + +"Bosh! Rube's slow as mud. He'll never tumble to the fact it's not a +real robbery and we won't put him wise to the joke until we get back to +college." + +"All right, as I said before, it's not my funeral," muttered Pole, +indifferently. Then to Judd who was standing some few feet off: "I +say, Rube, let's you and I be piking it for the college. The rest of +the bunch are goin' to hang around a bit and I'm anxious to get back." + +"Suits me! So long, fellows--see you later!" + +Pole and Judd started off. + +"Now, gang!" cried Benz, "Wait here for me. I'll be back with the +stuff and we'll take the short cut. Gee, it's dark out, ... and no +moon!" + + * * * * * + +"This night sure is a dark one. I can hardly see the road, can you, +Rube?" It was Pole speaking and he was almost feeling his way along. + +"Easy. I can't see the road but I reckon I can feel it," responded +Judd, walking along quite briskly. "Keep right behind me, Pole, an' +..." + +"Hands up!" The voice came from the left side of the road and Judd +jumped to the right. + +"Don't run or I'll fire!" It was a severe warning. Judd stood +perfectly still. The masked highwayman approached stealthily. + +"W-what do you want?" Judd's voice trembled slightly. + +"We were in the crowd this afternoon; saw you pocket the twenty-five. +Hand it over!" + +"We! You?" Judd looked about nervously. + +"Yes, there's more of us. Come on an' show yourselves, pals!" + +Sure enough! Three masked bandits came into view and stepped up +threateningly. Judd started to lower his hands. + +"Up they go!" mumbled the ringleader, brandishing his revolver +fiercely. "Are you goin' to come across,--or do we take it from you?" + +Pole stood back some three paces watching the proceedings quietly. + +"Pole, what shall I do?" asked Judd, despairingly. "Help me!" + +"I'm covered, Rube," replied Pole, helplessly. "Looks as if you'd have +to dish up." + +Judd hesitated. Finally, "It's in my vest pocket." + +"That's the boy!" came a muffled voice. "Best way to do an' no blood +shed. Jack, you get the coin an' I'll keep him covered. You other two +guys watch that friend of his!" + +Benz was the ringleader; the man referred to as Jack was Curns; the +other two men were Potts and Oole. + +As Curns approached to take the money he pulled the mask well down over +his eyes and nose so that he could not be recognized. All went well +until he placed his hand in Judd's vest pocket. Then Curns sensed +trouble. He started to withdraw and step back but Judd was too quick +for him. Like a flash his fist shot out and caught Curns on the point +of the jaw, knocking him unconscious. + +Benz was standing just two feet behind Curns. Judd reached him in one +bound, struck the unloaded revolver from his hand, and crashed a bony +fist into his face. Benz went down without a cry. + +Judd swung about for the other two. Potts and Oole were standing not +far apart, supposedly guarding Pole. Judd had acted so quickly that +they were not yet prepared to protect themselves, or to put Judd wise +to the intended joke. Potts tried to escape but he did not move fast +enough. He was dropped where he had stood by a stinging blow behind +the ear. Judd wheeled swiftly, ready for the final victim. + +"Rube!" Pole found his voice. "For John's sake, let up. It's all a +joke!" + +Judd had already grabbed the huge Oole and was shaking him as one would +a baby. + +"A fine joke, I call it. Tryin' to rob a fellah!" + +Oole gasped for breath. "Let go! You're killing me!" + +"It's Oole, Rube, let loose!" Pole grabbed Judd by the arm and tugged +at him frantically. + +The rest of the fellows who had been silent onlookers now rushed out as +they saw the comedy transformed into a near tragedy. + +Of a sudden the truth of the whole affair came over Judd. He released +his hold on Oole and sank down by the road side exhausted. Oole also +sat down, rubbing his throat gingerly. + +"Fellahs, you shouldn't have done this!" moaned Judd, "that's goin' too +far!" + +A flash light was unearthed and the three fellows examined. Curns +showed signs of returning consciousness, but the other two were still +dead to the world. + +"The mill pond!" someone suggested, and the three injured members were +carried to its bank. Judd, quite overcome with grief and surprise +followed in company with Pole. + +"Why didn't you tell me, Pole?" demanded Judd. "If these fellahs are +bad hurt ...!" + +"It was all my fault, Rube! Don't take it so much to heart," pleaded +Pole, "The fellows are comin' along all right. Just plain knockouts, +every one of 'em." + +The appliance of water aided greatly in restoring the three bruised and +battered highwaymen to their right senses. + +Benz, when he came to, found only one eye ready for use. The other was +swollen shut and one side of his nose felt like a small mountain. +Potts groaned over a small lump behind his ear and Curns nursed a +tender spot on his jaw. + +"Gee!" said Potts, "You did that fast, Rube. Biff, bang, smash! and it +was all over. I heard the biff and the bang but I _felt_ the smash!" + +"No more highway robberies for mine," groaned Curns. + +Benz was too sore and disgusted to say a word. His latest plan had +been a magnificent failure and Judd was more of a hero than ever. + +"Did I say that fellow was slow?" said Benz to himself, "Well,--I take +that much back. He's fast as greased lightning!" + +"I'm sorry, fellahs," apologized Judd, brokenly. "I thought you were +the real stuff; I hated to part with the money an',--an'--" + +Here was an opening for Benz. He could not go back to college without +some sort of an alibi. + +"You thought it was the real stuff? Bah! Pole put you wise and you +went in to do us all up. That's what you did, you big stiff!" + +"I never said a word to Rube!" cried Pole, hotly. "The joke's on you +if there is any and you know it! Don't put the blame on anyone else!" + +"Well,--let's hush this affair up, fellows. I'd hate to have it get +around college. Don't say a word about it, will you, Judd?" + +"Hush this up? Nothin' doin'!" broke in Curns. "This joke is too good +to keep. Gee, I won't be able to chew any food with this jaw of mine +for a week! Good-night, gentlemen, it's getting late. Going home, +Rube?" + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +BENZ BROODS + +News travels fast. Chapel Sunday morning was conspicuous by the +absence of Potts and Benz. But Curns was present with a smiling face +and piece of court plaster attached to his chin. He attracted crowds +of students as a magnet attracts iron filings. The students clung to +him until they heard the last word of the episodes of one Judd Billings +and then, bent almost double with laughter, they rushed off to tell the +news to someone else. Information was freely and cheerfully given. By +Sunday noon everyone in college, even the professors, had learned of +the exploit. Students cheered whenever Judd put in appearance and +questioned him as to Dynamite or how to administer a knockout punch. +To all inquiries Judd turned a deaf ear and his simple modesty was much +in evidence. + +Judd, of course, told Cateye everything and Cateye was quick to resent +Benz's attempts at practical jokes. + +"I wish I had gone along, now," said Cateye. "All this trouble might +have been averted. Judd, until Benz makes up with you you'd better +stick pretty close to me for there's no telling what he may do to get +even. He's a mighty good fellow to his friends but when he doesn't +take a liking to anyone that person had better watch out." + +"I reckon I can take care of myself," Judd replied, firmly. + +"I know you can!" assured Cateye, "You don't need any body guard, but +my motto is, 'Keep out of trouble,' and that's why I want you to stick +by me close. Savvy? Come on, let's go down to dinner." + +As the two boys entered the dining room everyone at the tables arose as +if by pre-arrangement, while Curns yelled: "Now fellows, let her go! +Rah, rah, rah! Rah, rah, rah! Rube, Rube, Rube!" + +Much good natured laughter followed and Judd took his seat awkwardly, +face flushed with embarrassment. + +"Do you know my sister Norah?" some student shouted. + +"No, I don't, but Dyna-mite!" another replied. + +More laughter followed. + +Suddenly there was a second commotion. Every head turned toward the +door. Benz was entering. + +"Behold, the conquered hero comes!" noised Curns. + +All eating stopped. Benz hesitated at the threshold, glowering +defiantly up and down the tables. One eye was still badly swollen and +colored a glossy black. His nose looked sadly mis-shapen. In all he +presented a glorious spectacle. + +"Oh you shiner!" cried some student from a far corner of the room. + +This exclamation was too much. A roar of laughter went up as Benz +stood hands twitching in anger and humiliation. + +"Laugh, you guys, laugh!" he cried hoarsely. + +"Don't worry, we will!" somebody assured him. + +Benz stood the gaff a moment longer, then turned about, and leaving the +fellows in an uproar, strode off to his room where he remained the rest +of the day. + +Two weeks more slipped quickly by, during which time the Bartlett +eleven captured two more victories, one over Everett and the other over +Lawton Academy, by top heavy scores. Both of these schools were +supposed to have fairly strong teams and the results of their games +with Bartlett came as quite a surprise in football circles. Students +began to herald the present team as the greatest in the college's +history, and talked of Thanksgiving day when the big game of the year +was to be played against the rival college, Pennington. + +Benz had held aloof from Judd, not even speaking to him when meeting +face to face. Fellows still smiled when passing Benz and Benz resented +those smiles. "I'll get even with Rube some how!" he thought, angrily, +"He's just a rube. The lucky stiff!" + +Meanwhile Cateye had written another letter to Bob describing in full +Judd's escapades, and adding: "He's fast developing into some football +man, Bob. You should see him punt! And tackle! Say, I never saw him +miss a man yet,--he's that sure! The bigger they are the harder they +fall. Judd's good enough for the varsity right now and I'm expecting +Coach Phillips to give him a chance any night. Of course Benz is +captain and he'll put up an awful fuss if anything like that happens. +Judd, in my opinion, could make good any where you put him on that +eleven to-day. He's that much better than any of us. But then, this +is his first year and he is green yet, I'll admit. Wish you could come +down for the big game. Your side-kick ... Cateye." + +The campus clock had just struck nine one evening late in October when +some one pounded on Cateye's door. + +"Let 'em in, Judd," said Cateye, "before they break the door down!" + +Judd was quick to respond. The door swung open. Pole and Potts +stepped in. + +"Welcome to our city," greeted Cateye, tossing aside a notebook upon +which he had been working, "I'm always glad to entertain callers, for +then I feel that I have a legitimate excuse to quit studying. What +have you got there, Pole?" + +"A new guitar. Isn't she a beaut? Dad sent it to me for a birthday +present!" Pole sat down on the bed, struck a few chords, and started a +tune. "This place hasn't been stirred by any real music this year and +I decided to cut loose to-night!" + +"Good heavens, Pole, why should you wish any of your discord on us? +Why not rehearse in your own room?" + +"I wanted an audience," replied Pole, "Isn't this ditty pretty? I +composed it myself." + +Potts, at this juncture, drew forth a Jews harp and added further +discordant vibrations to the atmosphere. + +"I can beat you both!" grinned Judd, and diving for his suitcase he +unearthed a mouth organ. In another moment he was reproducing the +familiar strains of, "And When I Die." + +The effect was almost instantaneous. Doors swung open on the halls; +students on the lower floors started coming up stairs; everything was +in commotion. + +"Now you've done it!" reprimanded Cateye. "We'll have the whole dorm +on us in two minutes! Pole, ring off on that guitar!" + +Shouts were already coming from outside. + +"Have a heart!" + +"What d'ya think this is, a music hall?" + +"That guy with the mouth organ is a coward. No one would dare make a +noise like that in public!" + +"Let us in before we rip the panels out!" + +"Shall we let 'em in?" Pole asked, grinning. + +"I suppose we'll have to," Cateye muttered, "Or suffer the +consequences." + +Pole slipped the bolt and the fellows packed the room. + +"Just as I surmised!" cried Oole, the first man in. "Pole and Potts, +the inseparable noise makers! As a penalty I demand a duet!" + +"You bet! A duet!" voiced the rest. + +"What'll it be?" Pole queried, with an important air, "I can play +anything you should choose to name, gentlemen." + +"Let's hear you render, The Last Rose of Summer." + +"In how many pieces do you wish it rendered?" asked Potts sweetly, +striking the key on his Jews harp. + +"Makes no difference,--just so it's rendered." + +Pole and Potts now assumed a serious air, eyed each other soberly, and +prepared to play. + +"One, two, three! One, two, three! One, two, three! Play!" cried +Pole, waving his arms wildly. Potts started in but missed the key by +at least three notes. Pole gave Potts a handicap, then started in to +catch up. The discord was very displeasing. + +"Kill it!" + +"That's the last rose of summer that I want to hear!" + +"Enough!" + +Potts was forced to stop through laughing, but Pole kept on until +strong hands compelled him to cease. + +"It's a pity you fellows can't appreciate real music," pouted Pole, +"I'm severely wounded. I shall never play for you again." + +"Thank heaven!" breathed someone, evidently much relieved. + +"Who was that we heard tooting the mouth organ?" demanded Johnson, +editor of the Bartlett College Weekly. + +"Rube's the guilty man," betrayed Pole, anxious to have another share +his sorrows. "If they ask you to play, Rube, don't do it! I wouldn't +play before such an unappreciative audience." + +"Come on, Rube, give us some music!" + +"No, I reckon I've made noise enough for one evening," replied Judd, +shyly. + +"Just one tune, please!" + +Judd looked at Cateye questioningly. + +"Go ahead," grinned Cateye, "Drive 'em out, Judd!" + +Judd picked up the mouth organ. + +"What'll I play?" + +"Oh,--anything!" + +"That's pretty broad. S'posin' I impersonate a steam calliope in a +circus?" + +"Impersonate, Judd! Great snakes, don't try to impersonate one of +those things! The distortion would be so stupendous that you'd never +look the same again!" + +"I reckon I'll imitate one, then," responded Judd, raising the mouth +organ to his lips. + +The moment he started playing, a hush came over the bunch. The +imitation was so perfect that every fellow could imagine again the tail +end of a gaudy circus parade and the steaming calliope. + +When Judd finished he was greeted with a round of applause. Cries of, +"More! More!" came from every throat. + +Judd seemed to catch the spirit of it all and to forget his +embarrassment. He began to play simple home melodies and popular songs +which gripped at the heart strings of every fellow present. Several +times the fellows started in and sang while Judd furnished the +accompaniments. At last, Judd, thinking that he had played long +enough, struck up the tune, "Good-night, ladies." The fellows took the +hint and departed, promising to come again and thanking Judd for his +entertainment. + +"Well, Judd," said Cateye, quietly, "I'm proud of you tonight. You +made some hit with the bunch!" + +"Did I?" + +"I should say you did! I'd give anything to have the guys rave over me +like they did over you and your playing." + +"Honest?" + +"Sure thing! How did you ever learn to play the mouth organ so well? +I never imagined that instrument could produce such pretty music!" + +"I can't remember when I learned. Seems as if I always knew how," +replied Judd, mightily pleased. + +"Your popularity is assured now!" went on Cateye, "You'll have a crowd +in here every night." + +"Not much!" sniffed Judd, "I'm no orchestra. They'll be lucky if they +hear another note for a week!" + +"Well, let's go to bed," yawned Cateye, sleepily, breaking off +conversation. "I don't know when I've been so tired. For heaven's +sake don't snore to-night! I want to snooze." + +"Trust me, pal," grinned Judd, "I'm not due to snore for two nights +yet. You must remember, I'm runnin' on a fixed schedule." + +Long after Judd's steady breathing could be heard Cateye lay awake, +thinking. He had tried to go to sleep at first but found sleep, for a +time at least, impossible. + +"Good old Judd," Cateye mused to himself, "I'm getting so I like you +better every day. You may be awkward; you may be a rube as they say; +but you're a great scout just the same. Bob,..." (Here he addressed +his friend as though he were present), "That was the best thing you +ever did when you sent your green kid brother down to me. You knew how +I could help him if I would and you knew what an inspiration he would +be to me. This is a great old world and a great old college. What +would life be without real friendship? What would one do without,--" +but musing, he dropped off into the land of dreams. + + * * * * * + +The campus clock had tolled twelve very methodically and stopped for an +hour's rest. Cateye was still sleeping soundly but for some +unaccountable reason he was bothered with bad dreams. It seemed now as +if Judd had turned into a raving maniac, had grasped him by the throat +and was slowly, cruelly, choking him to death. Try as he might Cateye +could not shake that death grip off. Judd was grinning crazily and +saying: "That's one of my failin's; I always do grip too hard!" +Cateye's breath began to come in short, quick gasps. He tried his best +to cry out, to beg Judd to release him, but though his lips moved no +sound came forth. Cateye tried to get free, but failed, and lost +consciousness altogether. + +Judd was also troubled in his sleep but his dreams were of a different +nature. It seemed to him as if all the flies in the Universe were +buzzing and crawling about on his face. They crept into his eyes and +mouth and even ventured up his nose. The more Judd fought to keep them +off the more numerous they became. Finally one big fly succeeded in +gaining entrance to Judd's mouth and buzzed down into his throat, +almost choking him. He coughed and sat bolt upright. It was hard for +him to think, to act, to breathe. Why! The room was full of smoke! +This discovery brought Judd to full consciousness with a jolt. He +bounded to his feet and rushed over to Cateye's bed. + +"Cateye! Cateye! Wake up! The dorm's on fire! Quick!" + +No answer. + +"Cateye!" + +The smoke was stifling. There was no time to waste. Judd reached over +and shook Cateye roughly. This not producing the desired affect he +pulled Cateye out of bed and dragged him to the door, shouting, "Fire!" +as loud as he could. From the lower floor his cries were answered and +a voice here and there took up the cry. + +Judd opened the door into the hall but was met by such a blast of hot, +suffocating smoke that he quickly shut it again. What was to be done? +Cateye was unconscious; the hallway was black with smoke. The window! +Judd rushed over to it and looked down. But the dorm was three stories +high and they were upon the third story! Judd was baffled for a +moment, then, diving under his bed he pulled forth a coil of knotted +rope, one end of which was tied to a ring in the floor, provided for +fellows in every room, in case of just such an emergency. He quickly +made a noose of the free end, passed this around under Cateye's arm +pits, and pushing him out the window, lowered him to the ground. + +Half-clad figures were already dashing across the campus. At Judd's +lusty hail some one took care of Cateye. Satisfied that his room-mate +was now free from danger Judd turned about to see what else he could +do. The smoke was steadily growing thicker. + +He grabbed a towel, saturated it by thrusting it in a pitcher of water +on the dresser, and wrapped it about his face; then he turned and +rushed into the hall. At the further end, near the stairs, a little +line of red flame sputtered. Judd started back, remembering the coil +of hose at the other end of the hall, and wondering why none of the +students had thought to use it before. But he stumbled across a body +lying in the doorway of the room adjoining Cateye's. He stooped and +rolled the body over so that he could see the face. "Pole!" he gasped. +Stepping over Pole's inert form and into the room, Judd saw Potts lying +in a sitting posture, half-dressed, against the side of his bed! + +Yells came from the floor below. "Go out the window, guys! We can't +reach you from below! What's the matter up there? Get a move on!" + +Judd secured the rope from under Potts' bed, made another noose and let +Potts gently out the window. He looked out on the campus. A great +crowd of students had now collected and more were coming from every +direction. Some had lanterns. + +"Tie one of those lanterns on and send it up!" shouted Judd, hoarsely. + +"Where are all the fellows? There's only four accounted for! Ten more +up there!" inquired an anxious voice from below. + +"Don't know!" responded Judd, pulling up the rope and taking off the +lantern. "I'm lettin' 'em down as soon as I find 'em!" + +Pole's long, lean form was the next one to slip gracefully over the +window sill to safety. + +Then Judd rushed into the hall, lantern in hand. The line of fire had +increased into a blaze. Two doors down, Reynolds, a sophomore, dashed +into the hall, clad in pajamas. + +"Help!" he cried, wild-eyed. "Max is asleep! I can't waken him. +Hurry, somebody, quick!" + +"Make a noose of your rope an' let him out the window!" directed Judd, +"then join me!" + +Reynolds disappeared within his room. + +Judd hurried to the end of the hall, uncoiled the hose, and turned on +the water. At first a feeble stream came forth, but the flow of water +steadily increased until it gushed out. + +Another student, almost choked with smoke, darted into the hall. + +"This is a fright!" he cried, on seeing Judd. "Ned is suffocated and +I'm almost done for!" + +At this moment, Reynolds, having disposed of his room-mate, dashed +across the hall. + +"Here, I'll help you!" he called. "We'll go to every room and clear +the fellows out!" + +"That's the way to do it!" shouted Judd, encouragingly. "I'll stay +here an' fight this fire!" + +Dragging the hose down the hall, wetting everything before him as he +went, Judd soon neared the source of the fire. It seemed to be +centered about the head of the stairs. The first room on the right at +the top of the stairs had been used as a store-room. Its door was +almost burnt away and inside it was a mass of flames. + +A voice called up from the second floor. + +"Thank God, somebody had brains enough to use the hose at last! We're +keeping the fire from breaking through but the building is full of +smoke. Where is the blaze, in the store-room?" + +"Yep!" replied Judd, his eyes smarting from the films of smoke and +flying cinders. + +"Everybody out up there?" + +"Gettin' 'em out!" Judd did not feel like talking much. + +"Good! Keep the water on that blaze and we'll have the fire out in +about twenty minutes. More smoke than anything else!" + +Reynolds and McCabe, the fellow he had helped, came running up to Judd. + +"They're all out!" cried McCabe. "Some job, though--most everyone +suffocated. I never had such hard work getting awake in all my life!" + +"Fetch the lantern," ordered Judd, pushing ahead into the store-room, +having extinguished the fire about the head of the stairs. + +The forceful stream of water soon produced a telling effect on the +flames. There was a loud hissing noise and white clouds of steam. +Then the last tongue of flame slowly died out and all was darkness, +save for the light shed by the lantern. + +"Hurrah, we're heroes!" grinned McCabe. + +The smoke was still treacherously thick. Neither Judd nor Reynolds saw +any humor in McCabe's exclamation at that moment. Judd continued to +pour water into the charred room. Some students at the second floor +landing ventured up cautiously. + +"Smudge over?" asked one. + +"Mostly!" replied Judd. + +"That sure was a bad one for so little a fire. Four of the nine +fellows who were suffocated haven't come to yet!" + +"How's Cateye?" demanded Judd. + +"He's one of 'em!" was the reply. + +"Here,--somebody, take this hose! Quick! I'm a goin' down stairs," +cried Judd, "This smoke's too much for me! ... Say, fellows,--where is +Cateye now?" + +"They took him to dorm number two!" + +Judd waited only long enough to pull a pair of trousers on over his +nightshirt, and to push his big feet into a pair of slippers. He +forced his way through eager crowds of questioners and elbowed many +fellows from his path. + +The four unconscious men were laid out upon cots, drawn up in the +reading room. Doctor Bray, college physician, and several students, +were busy working over them. A great crowd stood in front of the +dormitory, not allowed to enter. + +Judd fought his way through the crowd and stepped in at the door, his +face black from smoke and the upper portion of his nightshirt drenched. +Oole halted him. + +"You can't go in there!" + +Cries of, "Hold him!" "What do you think you are?" "Keep him out!" came +from the crowd. + +"Cateye,--he's my room-mate!" said Judd, simply, and pushed Oole aside +as though he were a mere toy. Oole, remembering how narrowly he +escaped fate at the powerful hands of Judd once before, offered no +resistance. + +"Come on! You let him in. Let us in!" some student shouted. + +"Sure! He's no better than any of us!" + +"Shut up, you guys!" bellowed Oole. "Cateye's in there and he's Rube's +room-mate! Guess he has a right to go in." + +"I should say he has!" echoed Reynolds, coming up. "That guy put out +the fire and saved some lives besides!" + +"What! Rube put out the fire?" + +"Sure he did! There were only five of us on the third floor who +weren't suffocated. That was the nastiest, thickest smoke I ever got +into! Benz and Mann both woke up and went out the window after yelling +fire." + +"Benz and Mann! The yellow,--" began somebody, but stopped short when +he saw the two fellows standing shamefacedly in the crowd. + +"Rube let down Cateye, Potts, and Pole, and then got out the hose," +went on Reynolds, the crowd listening eagerly. "About this time I woke +up and when I got the first whiff of smoke I lost my head. Rube saw +me, told me what to do, and McCabe and I lowered all the other fellows +while Rube fought the fire. Some of the guys were half awake but so +stupid that they didn't know what they were doing so we hoisted them +out the window anyhow. Thanks to Rube the dorm is saved and I guess +the fellows will be none the worse for their experiences." + +"Bravo!" + +"Good work, all of you!" + +"Rube is some boy!" + +Benz turned about and walked away. "Rube again!" he muttered, angrily. +"The lucky stiff!" + + * * * * * + +Cateye came to with a start, looked about and saw Judd. + +"For the love of mud, Judd, never choke me like that again. Why,--you +almost killed me!" + +"Choke you, Cateye? I never choked you!" protested Judd, "You were in +a fire, pal, an' the only thing I did was to shove you out the window." + +"Fire! Where? When?" Cateye sat up, then laid back again, weakly. + +"About three quarters of an hour ago. A little smudge at the dorm. +You were suffocated,--" + +"So you didn't choke me after all," said Cateye, much relieved, feeling +of his throat. "My, that was an awful dream! Gee! I smell like a +piece of smoked ham! Say, who are those guys?" indicating the fellows +on the other cots, over whom Doctor Bray was still working. + +"Pole, Potts, and Lawton," replied the doctor, "Your room and theirs +was the nearest to the fire and you got the direct benefit of the +smoke. They're beginning to come around though. Lucky some of you +weren't killed!" + +"Judd, you must have saved my life!" breathed Cateye. + +"He undoubtedly did!" replied Doctor Bray, "Another five minutes would +have ended you four fellows!" + +Cateye held out his hand, gratefully. Judd took it, grinning +sheepishly. + +"Good old scout!" said Cateye, softly. "Be careful, ... that grip of +yours ...!" + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +ONE KIND OF LOYALTY + +Two good carpenters employed for two whole days soon righted the damage +done by the blaze. Pole, when he was able to navigate again and had +viewed the interior of the badly charred storeroom, declared, "Looks to +me like matches and mice!" This seemed to be the concensus of opinion +among the fellows as to the origin of the fire. The room had been +filled with spare pieces of furniture, some of which were packed in +excelsior. There was also a great quantity of extra bedding in the +room. This accounted for the dense smoke which almost proved fatal to +a number of fellows. + +Judd was now quite an object of interest, and lauded wherever he went, +as a hero. He, however, disliked publicity and oftentimes, when out +walking, would make many detours to avoid encountering fellows whom he +knew would lavish compliments upon him. Pole and Potts became +steadfast friends of Judd's since that eventful night. But the gulf +between Judd and Benz had noticeably widened. Judd was fast gaining +such recognition on the second team as a star that it seemed probable +he might be shifted to the varsity any day. Cateye had earnestly hoped +that his room-mate might be given a chance. Just one chance! But it +seemed as if that chance would never come. + +One night, it was now almost November, Cateye was just returning to the +locker room after football practice, when he came up to Coach Phillips +and Benz on the way. + +Something that Benz was saying caused Cateye to almost stop in his +tracks. His pace slackened. He lagged behind within hearing distance. + +"Yes, I know Judd is pretty fair,--but I'd still sort of hate to trust +him in a game. Of course, if you think he's better than Walker, why,--" + +"Well,--Walker hasn't shown up exceptionally good lately and I'm +thinking of making a shift soon," replied the coach. + +"Walker has complained of being sick this week," bluffed Benz, lamely. +"He'll be o.k. in a couple of days. Don't worry." + +Cateye increased his steps and hastened past. + +"Benz!" cried Cateye, to himself, "You whiner! The only way you could +get even with a man was to stab him in the back! I really thought you +were loyal to your college,--to the team." + +The following Saturday, November fifth, Bartlett College met and +defeated the Wynham Medical School, 13 to 6, thus keeping up their +unbroken string of victories. But the victory was a dear one. Cateye, +at left guard, suffered a badly wrenched knee, and Pole, at right end, +nursed a sprained ankle. These men would be out of the game for at +least a week. Judd, who had come to admire the brilliant work of +Cateye, both on offense and defense, felt very bad over his injury. + +"You never miss the water till the well runs dry," Judd told Cateye, +the night after the game. "They'll appreciate what a darn good guard +you've been now, when they try to find some one to fill your shoes!" + +"Bosh! There's plenty of fellows just as good as I am, Judd, and +better!" laughed Cateye, punching Judd with a crutch. "There's a guy +by the name of Mister Billings, for instance, who,--" + +"Do you suppose I'll git a chance now?" demanded Judd. + +"Can't help but get a chance! They've got to put you in. No one else +good enough!" + +"Would they be putting me in your position?" + +"Most likely." + +"I won't do it!" + +"Won't do what?" + +"I won't play your position!" + +"Nonsense, Judd. You'll play wherever Coach Phillips puts you." + +"Maybe I will, but then, maybe I won't!" + +"Why not?" + +"I don't want your position. I'll quit football first. That settles +it!" + +"Judd, don't talk that way. It's for the team. Don't mind me. I'm +out of it. I want you to show people how good you really are. I'd +like to write and tell Bob,--" + +"Nothin' doin'! If they try to put Judd Billings in your position +he'll hand in his resignation." + + * * * * * + +Cateye was right. Coach Phillips was forced to give Judd a chance. +The next practice had not gone five minutes before Phillips called to +Judd. "Billings, come over here. I want you to fill in at left guard +on the varsity." + +"I'm sorry, sir, but can't you put me in some other position?" + +"I'm afraid that is impossible, Billings. Tell me, what is your reason +for not wishing to play left guard?" + +Judd was silent. + +Coach Phillips saw a strange light in the boy's eyes. He stepped over, +laid a friendly hand on Judd's rugged shoulder. + +"Well?" + +"... It's like this," Judd began, softly, "That's Cateye's position. +He,--he's the best friend I've got. The fellows think I'm just a rube, +but I--I appreciate a pal like Cateye. I ... I'd give my life for him +any day,--but take his position,--well--I just can't, sir!" + +Coach Phillips was deeply touched. Here was loyalty in a deeper sense +than he had ever seen it before. If Judd could only be taught the same +sense of loyalty toward his college! Judd shifted his feet, +restlessly; he was slightly embarrassed. He had planned to quit +abruptly if asked to take Cateye's place and the fact that he had +confessed to the coach his reason for not wanting the position made +Judd a trifle indignant. For at least a full minute neither one spoke. + +Coach Phillips dropped his hand from Judd's shoulder. + +"All right," he said, "I'll not try to force you. Go back to the +seconds. Play left tackle." + +"Thank you, sir," replied Judd, brightening up. "If you ever want me +to play another position," ... he added, trying to make amends. + +"Don't worry, Rube. We're bound to use you before the season's out," +reassured Phillips, as he turned away. "Conklin!" calling to another +man on the second team, "Get in at left guard on the varsity. Yes, I'm +speaking to you! Snappy now!" + +The energy that Judd put into his work that afternoon spread joy among +the members of the second team and darkened the hopes of the ambitious +varsity. Largely through his untiring efforts the second team pushed +over a touchdown, starting from mid-field, in exactly seven minutes by +the watch. Such a feat heretofore that season had been unheard of! + +"Oh you lemons!" some onlooker yelled at the varsity. "Can't you stop +Rube?" + +It was apparent to all that Judd, almost single-handed, was responsible +for the seconds' touchdown. Time and again he had opened great holes +in the line through which McCabe and Kinyon loped for big gains. + +But the varsity as well as the onlookers were destined to more +surprises. With the seconds leading, 7 to 0, the varsity took the +kickoff and drove the ball savagely up the field to the seconds' five +yard line. But every man on the second team was fighting hard now, +spurred on by the excited cries of the half hundred spectators. + +"Hold 'em, seconds! They can't score on you! Brace up, Rube! Stop +those guys!" + +The varsity was determined to push across that touchdown. Benz was +angry. It was the first time during the season that the seconds had +led in the scoring. The pill was a bitter one to swallow when he +realized that it had been Judd who was responsible for the showing. +Benz tapped Neil, varsity quarterback, on the arm, and whispered in his +ear: "Play everything through the left side of the line. It's weakest. +We got to have a touchdown!" Then to himself: "Here's where I show up +Rube! Right through left tackle for a touchdown. Three plays to make +it in. We'll smash him to bits!" + +Neil began calling signals. Benz dashed forward, seized the ball and +plunged straight toward left tackle. Judd broke through the line, +pushing guard and tackle aside, and dropped Benz for a loss of two +yards. + +The onlookers howled in glee. Coach Phillips was openly pleased at +Judd's showing, "That boy can play!" he told himself, then to the +varsity. "You fellows are rotten, ... rotten!" he rasped. "Can't even +gain on the scrubs!" + +"We'll show you!" challenged Benz, now in a rage. "Just give me that +ball again and, ... and interference!" + +The second play headed straight for the left side of the line; headed +straight for, ... but not through. Judd was again equal to the +occasion. He toppled the entire interference and in some miraculous +way tackled Benz for another loss. + +"No wonder we can't gain!" cried Benz, indignant at this failure, "When +Rube is playing off side!" + +"I wasn't playin' off side!" denied Judd, quick to resent this charge. +"You'd better take that back or, ..." + +"Or what?" sneered Benz, stepping up, hotly. + +Judd, getting control of himself, turned away. + +The spectators laughed but Coach Phillips put a stop to their merriment +and censured the two players. "Another word from either of you fellows +and I'll send you off the field. Play ball!" + +The last try for a touchdown was an end run by Gary, halfback, around +left end. Judd spilled the interference and McCabe grabbed the runner. +The varsity had lost three yards in three downs against the despised +seconds! + +McCabe drew Judd back of the line for a punt and Judd booted the ball +far down the field out of danger. When scrimmage ended it found the +ball in mid-field and the score still, 7 to 0, in favor of the scrubs. + +The onlookers gathered in a bunch. "Rah, rah, rah! Rah, rah, rah! +Dubs, dubs, dubs!" + +It wasn't very often they got such an opportunity to rub it in to the +varsity. + +Most of the first team members left the field downcast and dejected. +It was indeed a disgrace to be walloped by the scrubs with the season +almost over. If Pennington should hear of this they would take the +Bartlett eleven less seriously. + +"What d'you say we celebrate our victory?" suggested McCabe, who had +played quarterback for three years on the second and considered this +one of the moments in his football career. + +"Good idee!" supported Randolph, fullback. + +"Where'll we hold the celebration?" asked Parsins, center. + +"Down by the bend in the river, to-night, eight o'clock sharp!" +instructed McCabe, "Everyone be there?" + +"Yea!" + +"How about you, Rube?" + +"I reckon I can be there," Judd responded. + +"Say, ... bring your mouth organ with you, will you?" requested McCabe, +suddenly. "We want some music." + +"Well, ... maybe." + +"All right! Good!" said McCabe, taking it for granted. "Eight o'clock +then, fellows. By the way, don't tell a soul. It's just us despised +seconds that are in on this celebration, you know." + + * * * * * + +"If you won't tell me where you are going, Judd, please, ... how late +will you be out?" It was Cateye questioning. Judd generally told +where he was going when he went out but to-night he was tight as a clam. + +"Can't say," replied Judd, grinning, "Don't know, rather," he added +when he saw Cateye's puzzled look. + +"Judd," reprimanded Cateye, "I feel like I was some sort of guardian +over you. Remember, Benz hasn't gotten even with you yet and every +move you make just heaps so many more coals on the fire!" + +"I reckon I can take care of myself," drawled Judd, doubling up two +rock-like fists. "Good-bye!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +AN IMPRACTICAL JOKE + +Pretty Falls river was a good quarter of a mile from Bartlett College. +It was wide and deep and swift! Unhappily for lovers of canoe riding +the river possessed too many little falls or jagged, protruding rocks, +to make this sport safe. However, there were certain swimming holes +which were popular in the late spring and summer weather. + +On this particular moonlight night, although the air was chilly, every +member of the Bartlett second team gathered for a celebration near the +bank of the Pretty Falls. The first arrivals had built a huge bonfire +and the entire squad crowded around it. Speeches and music of all +sorts seemed to be the main program of the evening. + +While the seconds were, as they thought, secretly enjoying themselves, +Benz was busy about the campus plotting their destruction. In some +mysterious way the news of the would-be celebration had leaked out. It +was easy to get some fifty students to co-operate with him in the +scheme. In fact, most of the first team were so enthusiastic over the +idea that they led the army on the march to attack the unsuspecting +scrubs. + +McCabe was last speaker and he was discoursing highly upon the merits +of the second team, the honors that it had won, et cetera. + +"Gentlemen," said McCabe, "To-day has marked a great day in the history +of the second football team. Well may we say with Caesar, 'I came; I +saw; I conquered.' We sent the enemy home with drooping heads, +flushing with shame! Their retreat to the locker room was the saddest +sight I ever hope to witness. The tears shed by the vanquished would +have kept Noah's ark afloat for thirty years. It is with sincere +regret that I order the camp fire to be smothered; the arms to be +stacked; and the last bugle call to be sounded. We are out of +provisions. We must retreat, ... hey! Beat it, fellows! We are +discovered!" + +With wild whoops and yells the foe, half a hundred strong, charged down +upon the unprepared enemy. McCabe didn't stop to review his troops or +present a battle front. He fled like Antony from the clutch of Caesar. +Judd was slow in getting under way but gave a good account of himself +until overpowered by sheer force of numbers. + +"Tie those legs!" cried one of the enemy, holding his stomach, "He +kicks worse than a mule!" + +Benz threw a noose over Judd's feet and drew it tight, until he quieted +down. + +"This is a new game to me," Judd grinned, "But I reckon it's all right." + +The enemy laughed. Outposts came up dragging other prisoners. McCabe +had almost gotten away but was captured on a fierce tackle by Bartz, +who played left end on the varsity. + +"What shall we do with 'em, sir?" asked Bartz, turning and saluting +Benz, respectfully. + +"How many have you captured?" + +"Six, sir, not counting Rube and McCabe." + +"Good! Make them run the gauntlet and release them!" + +"And what shall we do with the other two?" + +"Hold them until further orders!" + +"Very well, sir." + +The other six were forced to run the gauntlet, very unwillingly indeed, +for it consisted in crawling upon hands and knees between some thirty +pairs of legs, and to receive, upon passing between each pair, a +tremendous whack from the palm of the hand of the owner of said pair of +legs. + +When the unfortunate members of the second team completed the running +of the gauntlet not one of them complained of the cold. The heat +created was perfectly sufficient to keep them warm all the way home. +In fact it was far more penetrating than the soft warmth thrown off by +the camp fire. + +"Now, skidoo!" yelled some fifty voices, and the six seconds each took +a second in making their exit from the scene of the disaster. + +"I wonder what they can be going to do with us?" grinned McCabe, to +Judd. "Say, ... do I look like a defeated general?" + +"Never give up the ship!" kidded Judd, then to the three fellows who +were holding him down: "What's the idea of tyin' my feet?" + +"General's orders, sir, General's orders!" + +Benz strode up. + +"Escort or carry the prisoners down to the old bridge. Forward march, +men!" + +It did not take long to reach the bridge. + +Bartz ran up to Benz. "What are you going to do?" he asked, +suspiciously. "Surely you're not thinking of ducking 'em this time of +year!" + +"No, ... only scare 'em! We'll hold 'em over the rail an' make believe +we're going to drop 'em. Savvy?" + +"I getcha. I thought that's what you were up to all the time," +apologized Bartz, then in a louder voice; "Which one first, general?" + +"Rube!" Benz shouted, sternly. "Here's where he shows the yellow +streak," he said to himself. "Before all these fellows, too! ... +Rube, you being the main offender, you must pay the penalty with your +life. Carry him up to the rail, men!" + +The fellows obeyed, soberly. + +"You're not goin' to throw me in with my feet tied, are you?" asked +Judd, calmly, without an effort to struggle. It was quite dark save +for the reflection cast by the moon. + +"We sure are!" Benz winked at the crowd that stood just behind, +watching proceedings. "Any word you wish to leave for friends or +relatives? Any directions as to how you want your earthly goods +disposed of?" + +"No, I reckon I'm ready to die now. The sooner the better," replied +Judd, undaunted. + +Benz hesitated. His bluff was not having the desired effect. "Why +don't he beg for mercy?" Benz asked himself. "Isn't that guy afraid of +anything?" + +Then Benz did a daring thing. Without stopping to think of the +consequences he seized Judd's shackled feet and lifted them over the +low rail. A dozen hands assisted in hoisting Judd's big body up and +over. Here was the critical moment. Would he beg now? If not, the +fellows must pull him back and acknowledge that he was real stuff. + +"How about it, Rube?" asked Benz, watching Judd's face closely, as he +helped hold him, suspended, over the river. Not a muscle in Judd's +body so much as quivered. + +"You might untie my legs,..." he said again, quietly. "I never tried +to swim that way." + +Splash! It was done! Judd had dropped, how, no one knew, ... except +Benz. There were wild cries and shouts; fellows crossed on both sides +of the river to try and get trace of him. It was so dark no one saw +him reappear, if he did reappear; after he struck the water. Benz, his +teeth chattering with fright, ran back and forth upon the bridge not +knowing what to do. + +"He's drowned!" shouted McCabe, "No man can swim with his feet tied in +that river! Benz, your practical joke worked this time!" + +"The falls!" somebody shrieked. "They're just a little below that +bend. He'll go over them and into the mill pond sure!" + +Fellows began running along the river bank below the bend. + +"If we only had a lantern!" another cried, frantically. + +Several commenced calling Judd's name in the hope that he might hear +and answer them. + +"I can never go back to college after this!" Benz breathed, +hysterically. "He's drowned and of course, I'll be blamed, ... but no! +No one can prove that I let him drop! We'll all be held to account; +... Oh why, _why_ did I do it?" + + * * * * * + +It was one o'clock and still no signs of Judd. Cateye was growing +anxious. He got up, slipped on a bathrobe, and hobbling over to a +chair, sat by the window looking out upon the campus. + +"Judd said that he and Benz had almost clashed. I wonder if something +has happened to one or both?" Cateye shuddered nervously at the +thought. + +Suddenly he glimpsed a lone figure running swiftly across the campus, +rapidly nearing the dormitory. It was so dark that Cateye could not +make out who it was but the very fact that the person was running +coupled with the time of night, signified that something unusual had +happened. + +Whoever it was, was climbing the stairs at a terrific rate. Cateye +grasped his crutch and hobbled toward the door. As he did so the door +flung open with a bang. + +"Cateye!" + +"Judd! ... Why! You're soaked to the skin and blue with cold! What +on earth has happened?" + +"I reckon they tried to drown me," replied Judd, stepping in and +closing the door. "But I fooled 'em! It was a narrow squeak though. +If I hadn't struck a big rock I'd have gone over the falls!" + +"But I thought you could swim, Judd?" + +"Hump! Me swim? With my feet tied? Say, it was enough to keep my +head above water in that current!" + +"Your feet tied!" exclaimed Cateye, "You don't mean to tell me the +fellows ...!" + +"Yep, ... nope,... It was Benz! ... Benz, that's who 'twas!" Judd was +quite excited now and shivering with cold. He tried to remove his +dripping shirt. + +"Let me help you!" Cateye ripped the shirt off. "But surely Benz +wouldn't do that! He wouldn't dare for one thing, ... and he isn't +quite a fool!" + +"You'd hardly think it of _it_, would you?" Judd grinned, water +trickling down his forehead. "If I hadn't hit that rock....! Somehow +I made a grab as I went by an' caught it. Then I hung for dear life +with one hand an' untied my feet with the other. You know, Cateye, I +always did grip pretty hard. But just the same I thought that current +would rip my arm right off at the shoulder before I got my feet loose! +After I'd got free I hung on for a few minutes more till the fellows +went on down the river searchin' for me. Then I struck out for shore +an' believe me, I hit the high spots comin' home!" + +"And doesn't anyone know but what you're drowned?" + +"Only you, ... an' I!" + +"Good! We'll teach the guys a lesson. Here, let me give you a good +rub down. Darn this injured knee, anyhow. Just when a fellow needs +help the most I can't be of much assistance. Now listen, you lay low +when the bunch comes back. Get under the bed or somewhere. I'll +pretend I don't know where you are. We'll teach them to play any more +practical jokes!" + +Judd grinned. "That 'ud kind of be turnin' the tables, eh?" + +"Kind of, you bet! I hear somebody coming upstairs now! Take this +alcohol bottle and rub yourself good to keep from catching cold. Get +into the closet out of sight. Quick!" + +Cateye waited until the footsteps reached the head of the stairs, then +flung open the door and limped into the hall on his crutch. He met +face to face with Benz. + +"Rather late turning in, aren't you? Say, ... do you know where Judd +is? I'm getting rather anxious. It's two o'clock and after, ... and +he never kept very late hours!" + +Benz's face was a pale white; his lips were trembling; he seemed near +collapse. + +"He's, ... he's, ... I think he's drowned!" + +"What!" Cateye's concern was extremely realistic. "Drowned!" + +"Shss!" warned Benz, glancing about nervously, "Don't wake the whole +dorm! Step in your room here and I'll tell you the whole story." + +Cateye backed in and sat down, turning on the light. Benz seated +himself on the edge of the bed and clutched the bed sheets despairingly. + +"Great heavens, man, don't keep me in suspense!" groaned Cateye, "Judd +drowned! How'd it happen?" + +"Well, ..." began Benz, "It all came out of a little joke!" + +"So it was one of your pranks, eh? Drowning a man!" Cateye's voice +was hard and cruel. + +"I didn't mean it, Cateye, honest! I mean, ... the joke to go so far," +Benz hastened to add, realizing that he had almost confessed. "We +broke up a celebration the second team was having; captured Rube and +McCabe and planned on giving 'em a good scare. So we carried 'em down +to the bridge an' held Rube over the rail. I, ... we never meant to +drop him, _honest_, but, ..." + +"Why did you tie his feet?" As soon as Cateye asked the question he +realized that he had pulled "a bone." + +"Why did I? ... Did I tell you that?" Benz asked, wild-eyed. + +"You sure did!" insisted Cateye, seeing a way out. + +"Well, ... he put up such a fight we had to do something," explained +Benz, weepingly, "And I just said we never meant to drop him!" + +"Is anybody down at the river now?" + +"Yes, the whole bunch. They're going to keep up the search till +morning. I sent Bartz down to Tarlton to see the sheriff and get help. +We're goin' to drag the river for his body in the morning, ..." Here +Benz broke down completely. + +Cateye heard Judd choking a laugh and realized he had to say something +or the jig was up. + +"And what are you doing here?" he demanded, savagely, "You, ... you who +are probably more to blame for this, ... this murder than anyone else! +Why aren't you out doing something to help recover his body?" + +"I, ... I, ... oh Cateye, don't rub it in so! I couldn't stand it any +longer. I had to come away. Oh, it's all a terrible nightmare to me. +He can't be dead, ... he must be alive! Let me go, ... I've got to be +by myself!" + +Cateye did not try to restrain Benz. In fact he was mighty glad to +have him go! + +As soon as Benz had disappeared up the hall Judd stepped softly from +the closet, the towel stuffed in his mouth, and fell upon the bed, +shaking with laughter. + +"How's that for real acting?" grinned Cateye. + +"Gee, that's worth getting drowned to listen to!" howled Judd, "They're +going to drag the river for me in the mornin'! Did you hear that? +Well, ... I wish 'em luck. I hope they find me. I reckon it's rather +awkward for a ghost like me not to know where my body is, ... floatin' +around somewhere on the bottom of the river!" + +"Shss! Judd, don't make so much noise! This will be the richest joke +on Benz and the fellows for that matter, that ever came off. It'll +teach Benz a lesson he'll never forget. You keep out of sight till +after breakfast today. The whole college will know about it by that +time!" + +"Trust me, pal," assured Judd, "Most people can't see ghosts, anyhow!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THE CONFESSION + +Benz, after breaking the news to Cateye, hurried to his room where he +paced up and down for a whole hour, undecided as to what best to do. +Finally, unable to stand the strain longer, he grabbed his cap and +rushed from the dormitory. It was four A.M. and not yet light. + +Ten minutes later the good Professor Windell, president of the college, +was awakened by a loud thumping on his front door. He stumbled +sleepily out of bed and opened the window. + +"What's amiss here?" he called down. + +"Rube!" gasped Benz, "Oh, Mister Windell, come down an' let me in, +quick! I want to confess! I did it! It was all my fault!" + +"Just a minute, young man!" Professor Windell was waking fast now. He +jerked on his purple bathrobe and jumped his feet into some house +slippers and made haste to escort poor Benz into the library. + +"Have a chair. Now, compose yourself! What's the trouble?" + +Benz did not appear to notice the proffered seat but strode nervously +up and down the room. + +"Rube's drowned!" he said, suddenly, and seemed to shudder at the very +words. + +"Drowned!" repeated the president, greatly shocked, "Drowned!" + +"Yes, sir ..." Benz pulled himself together with an effort, then began +to explain as though it was a relief to get the matter off his mind. +"You see the second team was havin' a celebration at the bend of the +river last night because they beat the varsity. Well--I collected a +bunch of fellows and we broke up the meeting. We caught Rube and +McCabe an' we thought ... er ... er ... that is, I thought I'd like to +scare Rube. So, as I was leader, I ordered the guys to carry him down +to the old bridge an' hold him over the rail." + +"You!" broke in President Windell, excitedly. + +"Yes,--me!" cried Benz, bound to make a clean breast of it. "I didn't +mean to do what I did but for some reason I ... I grabbed his feet an' +... an' when we held him over the rail ... I ... I let go!" + +"What!" + +"I don't know why I did it, sir. We only meant to scare him. I never +intended that we should drop him in. Honest, I didn't!" Benz's tone +turned to pleading. "Oh, it'll just about finish my folks, Mister +Windell. What shall I do? ... What _shall_ I do?" + +President Windell was a highly strung, very excitable little man, well +along in years. The sudden tragic news brought by Benz at such an +early hour had done much to upset him. + +"How do you know that Judd's actually drowned?" he asked, after a +moment of serious deliberation. + +"Why I ... we've searched the river ... as far as we could see he never +even came up!" Benz answered, then added with conviction, "He's drowned +all right!" + +"But he could swim, couldn't he?" persisted the professor, hopefully. +"Perhaps he ..." + +"That's just it!" interrupted Benz, despairingly. "He might have had a +good chance if he could ... but you see ... his feet were tied!" + +"Feet tied!" President Windell laid a hand upon Benz and shook him. +"See here--what were you young men up to? ... That's not much short of +murder!" + +"I know ... it sounds almost like it," admitted Benz. + +"It's apt to go pretty hard with you," snapped the president, "Wait +here until I go and dress. I want you to take me to where this +happened. And while you're waiting, put in a call for the sheriff at +Tarlton. He'll have to investigate anyway and the sooner he's on the +job the better." + +The professor disappeared upstairs. Benz hesitated a moment, his hands +twitching nervously. Then he picked up the telephone and asked for +long distance in a voice that faltered brokenly. + + * * * * * + +At breakfast that morning tense excitement reigned. News of the +tragedy had just been spread broadcast and there were many vacant +chairs. A great number of students had rushed for the river but a few +of the calmer ones and those who loved their appetites above all else, +answered the roll call and contented themselves in stowing away the +usual number of pancakes. + +Just as the meal was about over, Bartz staggered in, weak and +exhausted. He had run many miles up and down the river bank in the +hopes of discovering Judd--but a needle in a haystack might have been +more readily found than Judd's corpse in a river bed. + +A great crowd thronged about Bartz, asking him hundreds of different +questions, excitedly. He made no attempt to answer them; in fact, his +one desire seemed to be to get a bite to eat and steady his nerves. +All he would say was: "Let me alone, fellows. I'm tired. Been up all +night. No, we haven't found his body yet. Yes ... the sheriff's +placed us all under temporary arrest. He's got our names an' he's +coming after the bunch of us and take us down to Tarlton for a hearing +at nine o'clock this morning. Oh, they'll drag the river all day if +they don't find him. Yes, we're going to wire his folks in a couple of +hours. For heaven's sake, guys, let me be! I need a rest!" + +A decided gloom prevailed over the college. Judd, although he had been +called a rube had become a great favorite and very popular at Bartlett. + +The students looked at Cateye, sympathetically, when he hobbled down to +breakfast half an hour later. His face was red and his eyes, ... yes, +unmistakably swollen from excessive weeping. Cateye was met upon all +sides with sincere words of sympathy and regret for the loss of his +beloved room-mate. To all these declarations Cateye made the sober +reply: "Thanks, fellows, thanks. Your grief and sympathy quite +overwhelm me." Then, dabbing his face sadly with a handkerchief for +effect, Cateye smothered many almost unsuppressible giggles. It was +turning into such a rich joke! If no one discovered Judd before the +time was set to bring him out, it would be great! + +Judd, meanwhile, had remained within the close confinement of his room +awaiting until the time was ripe to resurrect himself. + +At eight o'clock President Windell suspended all morning classes and +the entire college practically went into mourning. Benz, overcome with +grief, confessed time and again his part in the tragedy wherever he +could find an audience. Within another hour the sheriff came down from +Tarlton and gravely proceeded to corral all the participants in the +"foul murder." He had been newly appointed custodian of the law and +was overly anxious to perform his duties well. + +Almost the entire student body congregated on the campus shortly after +nine o'clock, to witness the departure of the sheriff with those +directly implicated in the plot. + +"I can't tell yet what I'll do with ye!" the sheriff said, addressing +the students under arrest. "But this here drownin' is a serious crime +and, some of ye will have to pay for it! That's just the way with ye +college sports anyhow. Always up to some thing and never satisfied +till ye've committed some devilment. But ye'll pay for this, ... mark +my words, ... and ye'll pay dear!" + +Some students, including Pole and Potts, arrived at this moment. They +had been helping drag the river but, despairing of recovering the body, +had returned. A crowd surrounded them at once. + +"What luck?" + +"Find any trace of him?" + +These and many more anxious questions were hurled at the weary +searchers. + +"We found his cap down by the bend in the river, that's all," responded +Pole, sadly, passing the cap about for inspection. Then, noticing Benz +in the throng: "Say, have they wired his folks yet?" + +"... No." + +"Well, that had better be attended to. They've got to know it sooner +or later and we should notify them immediately." + +"I'll see that a message is sent right away," replied Benz, brokenly. + +At this juncture, Cateye, who had been watching from his window across +the campus, decided that the time was ripe for Judd's resurrection. In +fact the time was over-ripe. If Cateye had imagined what tremendous +proportions the supposed drowning of Judd might assume he would never +have devised the plan to cure Benz of his practical jokes. + +"You'd better be taking that stroll right away, Judd," directed Cateye. +"The sheriff's just about ready to depart with the bunch and it looks +like every last student is out to bid farewell. Now do just as I told +you and hurry or you'll be too late!" + +Judd lost no time in descending the stairs and stepping quietly out of +the dormitory. He stalked leisurely across the campus, passing several +students on the way but they were so busy talking about the night's +terrible happenings that they did not recognize him. In fact, Judd +actually succeeded in mingling with the crowd, so intent were they all +upon the departure of the sheriff and his prisoners. He took a +position by the side of Benz, who was tearfully bidding good-bye. +Judd, for the moment, was touched but remembering the many things Benz +had done against him he thought the "cure" might do him good. + +Of a sudden Benz chanced to turn and caught sight of Judd. At first he +stared, wild-eyed, and in open-mouthed astonishment; then he recoiled +from the terrific shock. He could not believe his eyes. + +"Oh, fellows, help me! I'm seeing things!" Benz shrieked, covering his +face with his hands and endeavoring to get away. + +Everyone looked in Benz's direction and at the sight of Judd the +greater portion of the crowd dispersed to a safe distance. Judd had +come among them so quietly that the sight of him was a great shock. + +Pole was the first to recover himself. + +"Great guns, Rube!" he exclaimed, astounded. "I thought you were +drowned!" + +"Me! Drowned?" drolled Judd, slowly, "I should say not!" + +"But where have you been all this time?" cried Potts. + +Those who had sufficiently recovered, at least enough to believe their +eyes, began gathering about joyfully. + +"Up in my room," replied Judd, suppressing a yawn. + +"How did you get out? Why didn't you let us know that you were o.k? +What did you hold off so long for?" The questions were coming thick +and fast. + +"I didn't think about it and besides I was busy catching up sleep." + +"Catching up sleep!" + +"Yep,--I didn't get to bed last night till after one o'clock. And +then, I got my clothes all wet and had to dry 'em out before I could +appear in public again." + +The joy of the students at having Judd restored to them as if from +death itself, finally surpassed all bounds. They made a grand rush for +the big, awkward youth and lifting him protestingly to their shoulders, +they bore him once about the campus before releasing him, in this +manner proclaiming the glad tidings. + +The sheriff, disappointed at having his bid for prominence spoiled, +still lingered about the students. At last he stepped up to Judd. + +"Young man, do ye wish to swear out a warrant agin any of these +rascals?" + +"No, thanks," grinned Judd, "I reckon it isn't a very serious offence +to duck a feller, is it?" + +"Not very; but er,--er, attempted murder is different! Quite +different!" + +"You might give them each thirty days for a poor attempt," suggested +Judd. + +The bunch laughed. + +Judd turned to Pole, who stood holding his cap. "I'll thank you for my +lid, Pole. It's the only sky piece I've got." + +"Well, let's lift the crepe and postpone the funeral," urged Potts, +"The corpse has decided to take on new life and the mourners are +wearing glad rags again. Classes begin this afternoon at one P.M. as +usual. This way out!" + +The crowd broke up, joyfully. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +JUDD GAINS A PROMOTION + +One week more dragged slowly by; dragged because Cateye and Judd had +been suspended for their antics in regard to the drowning incident. +Benz escaped with only a severe reprimand. Cateye assumed the entire +blame for the affair and sought to have his room-mate released, but +President Windell declared: "One is as guilty as the other," and forced +both boys to do penance. + +The intended cure for Benz had been a splendid failure in more ways +than one. True, Benz felt highly elated to know that Judd was not +drowned but he also was indignant because Judd allowed the students to +think him dead and let the affair gain such prominence. Since the +incident Benz's popularity had decreased fully fifty percent. He was +greeted with taunts and jeers and nicknamed, "The Impractical Joker." +Life had grown exceedingly unpleasant. Benz avoided everyone that he +could, imagining that the whole college was turned against him. He +remained close within the seclusion of his room during idle moments; +practiced football somewhat indifferently; scarcely ever opened his +mouth except when it came time to eat; and above all things he kept out +of Judd's sight. He was very thankful that Judd had been suspended. +This kept the rube from football practice and Benz could again star +against the seconds. + +Poor, mis-used second team! The week following their disastrous +celebration on the bank of the Pretty Falls River had been a trying one +for them. Minus their best player, the varsity had gone at them with a +vengeance, piling up top heavy scores in every scrimmage, until McCabe +remarked one night after an unusually crushing defeat: "Fellows, I feel +like Napoleon after the battle of Waterloo." + +Cateye had hoped that this joke might prove an ending of hostilities +between Benz and Judd but he now realized the foolhardiness of his plan +and wished many times that he had never suggested it to Judd. The +return joke on Benz had produced exactly the opposite effect than that +desired. Besides, Judd had lost an entire week of valuable football +practice and one week from tomorrow, upon Thanksgiving day, came the +great game with Pennington! + +The contest this year meant more than formerly. The two colleges were +not only intense rivals but neither had been defeated throughout the +present season. Reports from Pennington claimed the strongest eleven +in the history of the college. Why, Pennington had defeated the State +University, 9 to 0, a short time ago, which victory rightfully gave her +the title of State Champion! + +Bartlett supporters in turn, heralded their eleven as the greatest +bunch of warriors ever gotten together. But, although the students +were loyal to the core, deep down in their hearts they doubted whether +Bartlett even so much as had a chance against Pennington this year. +Pennington, claimants of the State Championship by virtue of their +victory over the State University, a heretofore unheard of exploit! +Pennington, the rival college, which had not only defeated some of the +same teams played by Bartlett but had even doubled and in one case +tripled the scores! On paper the Pennington team seemed much the +stronger eleven but despite this fact everyone at Bartlett was looking +eagerly forward to the day when the unbeaten colleges would clash. + +Thursday morning, one week before the big game, Pole rushed jubilantly +into Cateye's room. + +"Hurrah! Your suspensions are raised!" he cried. + +"What's that?" Cateye and Judd shouted, jumping to their feet. + +"That's what!" rejoiced Pole. "Gee, that's great news! I just heard +about it a minute ago." + +"You bet it's great news! Whoopee, Judd, that means football practice +again to-night!" + +Cateye began to dance a Highland fling of his own invention. "And my +injured knee is practically well now. Maybe I won't be able to hit +that old line, huh?" + +Judd and Pole winked at each other. + +"The silly boy," grinned Judd. + +"The news has upset him," laughed Pole. + +The appearance of Judd and Cateye upon the gridiron that afternoon was +the signal for a great ovation. The members of the second team crowded +about their idol, Judd, and immediately began plotting the destruction +of the "beloved" varsity. Cateye, meanwhile, was kept busy answering +greetings from his old team-mates. + +"Hello, Cateye, how's that knee of yours?" It was Neil, quarterback, +speaking. + +"Fine!" responded Cateye, adjusting his shoulder pads. + +"That's good. I sure am glad to see you back. Between you and me, +Cateye, left guard has been the weak spot on our team since you were +laid up. Besides, Benz hasn't been playing up to standard and although +we've been trimming the seconds we haven't got that old fighting +spirit. The boys are due to recover their form to-day." + +"Everybody out!" ordered Coach Phillips. The players trotted from the +locker room onto the field. + +"Billings, you take right guard on the seconds and Cateye, your old +position at left guard on the varsity. We'll have fifteen minutes of +signal practice and a thirty minute's scrimmage. Lively now!" + +Practice that afternoon did go off better. Benz played with a +vengeance, eager to out do any play that Judd might make, and he was +successful in tearing off several long gains; through Judd's position +too! Benz was elated. + +The explanation was quite simple. Judd, assigned the position of right +guard found that he was pitted directly against Cateye who played left +guard for the varsity. Rather than show up his room-mate Judd made +half-hearted attempts to stem the varsity's advance, and the seconds, +losing some of their confidence in Judd's stonewall defence, allowed +the varsity to score almost at will. + +A hundred or so onlookers, enthused by the varsity's exceptional +showing, shouted, "Oh you Pennington!" until their voices were hoarse. + +It was a badly bruised and dejected second team that crawled off the +field after scrimmage was over following one of the worst trouncings +that they had ever experienced. The varsity, upon the other hand, was +bubbling over with pep and renewed confidence. + +"Guess we've found our stride again!" cried Benz, almost the first +cheerful words he had uttered in a week. + +"Found our stride!" ejaculated Pole, "Why man, we're away ahead of our +stride." + +"Don't get too cocky over that showing," warned Bartz, inclined to be +cautious. "Even the best of 'em fall, you know." + +"Bartz is right," spoke up Neil, "In order to keep our record clean up +to the Pennington game we've got to wallop Paulson this coming +Saturday. And that'll be a hard game too. We can't expect to loaf and +win. We've got to be in the fight every minute!" + +"We'll be there, kid!" grunted the big Oole. + +Judd and Cateye walked back to the dormitory together. Cateye, for +some reason that Judd could not understand, was not very talkative. + +"The varsity sure did rip us seconds up to-day," began Judd, for the +nth time, trying to get an answer from his room-mate. + +Cateye unlocked the door to his room, stepped in, and swung about, +facing Judd. + +"Judd, what did you do that for?" he questioned, softly. + +"Do what?" rejoined Judd, evasively. + +"True, you didn't do anything in scrimmage to-day," admitted Cateye, +"But I know the reason why." + +"That's easy, I haven't played for over a week," retorted Judd, "I'll +tell you it takes practice to--." + +"Nonsense, Judd! A kid could have played as well as you did this +afternoon. Don't try to bluff me; I know you too well. If you'd have +played any other position on that team you'd have been a living +cyclone, but just because Coach Phillips put you in against me you laid +down!" + +"It isn't so!" protested Judd, weakly. + +"It is so!" persisted Cateye, "And what's more, if we have the same +positions to-morrow and you play that way I'll go to the coach about +it!" + +"Well,--s'pose it is so," surrendered Judd, "No man on earth can make +me go back on my room-mate--." + +"Judd, you don't look at things in the right light," argued Cateye. "I +know that you're true blue to me and all that but you're not true to +your college,--your team." + +"Why not?" demanded Judd, kicking at a rug. + +"Because, you are not giving your team the best that is in you! Some +time ago you sacrificed a chance to play on the first team because you +would not accept my position. To-day, by your miserable playing, you +lowered yourself in the coach's estimation and undoubtedly made me look +good. But you know, and _I_ know, Judd that there are few football men +who could hold that line against you if you cared to get through. It +is your duty to play your best regardless of circumstances." + +"I think more of my friends than any old football team in the country," +mumbled Judd, stubbornly. "There's no use talking, Cateye, I'll lay +down, every time he pits me against you." + +Luckily Judd was shifted to right tackle the following afternoon and a +chance for further trouble was averted. The varsity was not quite as +successful as on the previous day and it took a hard fight to drub the +seconds in a short scrimmage. + +The next day, Saturday, Bartlett met and defeated Paulson, 20 to 7, +thus keeping her record clean for the entire season up to the final +game. The high class of football that the little college displayed in +besting Paulson, a team touted to be her equal, gladdened the hearts of +every Bartlett rooter. The spirits of all were now fairly on edge for +the coming contest with Pennington, just five days away. Some even +conceded Bartlett an equal chance but when respective records were +compared the skeptics shook their heads. Although both teams had clean +slates as to victories, Pennington had played against some stronger +teams than Bartlett and seemed to possess a much greater scoring +machine. + +Cateye had only played in one quarter of the Paulson game. Coach +Phillips was saving him for the big fray and taking no risks of his +knee giving out. Judd watched the game from the bench. + +Monday afternoon marked the last day of scrimmage for the varsity. +Coach Phillips had decided to spend the remaining two days at secret +signal practice. Consequently the college turned out almost to a man +to watch their idol pigskin chasers maul the scrubs as a final +demonstration of their ability to whip Pennington. Inspired by the +wild cheers of the student body and the realization that the season's +biggest game was only two days distant, the varsity fairly outdid +itself. + +But the faithful second team was resolved to make the varsity earn +every touchdown that they secured and fought fiercely to stop each +play. For fifteen minutes the battered seconds withstood the onslaught +and actually succeeded in pushing across a touchdown themselves. After +this the game became a rout and finally ended in a 56 to 7 score. Both +elevens left the field, physically fit and in good spirits, but dead +tired. + +"Whew!" gasped Benz, throwing a shoe the length of the locker room, +"Talk about marathon races! I'll bet I ran ten or twenty miles up and +down the field scoring touchdowns." + +"Great snakes! Did you hear that, guys?" broke in Knox, a second +string man, "The swelled head only scored two touchdowns himself and +yet he runs ten or twenty miles! What were you doing, Benz, playing +solitaire?" + +"Never you mind," retorted Benz, amid laughter; then, seeing a way out: +"Possibly, Knox, you have never heard of Miles Standish. That's the +kind of Miles I run." + +"Zowie!" + +"Take him out!" + +"Stow it!" + +"As bright as mud!" + +"Call a doctor!" + +"A cold shower for that!" shouted Neil, "That stuff is too deep for +we'uns!" + +A dozen hands seized the unwilling Benz and thrust him cruelly under a +cold, cold shower. + +"B-r-r-r-r-r! Let me out!" sputtered Benz, making a tremendous +struggle. "I don't mind the cold but that water is wet!" + +"A double dose for that!" howled Pole, and Benz was forced to submit to +another flood of H2O. He was finally released and took his punishment +good naturedly. The fun went on, first one, and then the other of the +fellows being made the object for humorous attack. + +Of a sudden the locker door opened and Coach Phillips stepped in. +Instantly all laughing and talking ceased. Fellows in half-dressed +attitudes hesitated before proceeding. It was evident by the look on +Coach Phillips' face that he had something important to say. + +"Any of the fellows left yet?" + +"No!" + +"Good!" snapped the coach. "I have a little something that I want to +say to you all before you go. I--" + +"Ouch! Have a heart!" Benz had unwittingly slapped Pole across the +small of the back with a wet bath towel. A titter of laughter went up. + +"Benz, stop that fooling and pay attention!" Coach Phillips' voice was +unusually hard and penetrating. + +"Fun is all right in its place," continued the coach, "I'm glad to see +you fellows light-hearted and care free. That is usually a good sign +before a game. But too much of this sort of business will have a +disastrous effect. Such mental attitudes breed self confidence. Self +confidence breeds listlessness; and listlessness spells defeat. Now +don't misunderstand me. I want you to have a certain amount of +confidence, in yourselves, in the team. But beware of over-confidence! +Over-confidence will do more than misplays or anything else to bring +defeat. Just because we have gone through the season thus far +unbeaten, don't for one moment imagine that we are invincible. In +order to win Thursday it will take all the skill, strength, and +endurance that you fellows have! From now on until the big game is +over I want every fellow on the varsity to forget his studies. There +is no occasion to look astonished, (as several players gasped). It is +a new procedure at Bartlett, I know, but I believe a wise one. You +have all worked hard and kept up in your marks throughout the entire +season. Now I want complete relaxation. Don't look at a class book. +Work hard in football practice and memorize those plays so well that +there is not a possibility of mistake. Forget about the game. Get +plenty of sleep the next two nights. Take good care of yourselves. +When you trot on the field Thanksgiving day I expect to see the best +physically and mentally fit team that Bartlett college has ever turned +out. Remember, it is not only brawn but brains that wins games +now-a-days and you fellows must be in the fight with minds and bodies +every minute!" + +"Yea!" + +"I wish to thank every member of the second team for the loyal manner +in which you have come out night after night in order to make a good +first team possible," went on Coach Phillips, ignoring the show of +enthusiasm. "I am sure that you will all feel amply repaid if your +efforts will have made the varsity victorious in the coming big game. +Just as a great army depends upon those left behind to properly feed +and clothe it, so does a varsity football team depend upon its second +team to keep it at its playing strength and build it up through +scrimmage. A good first team can hardly ever be attained without a +good second team. The fact that we have had an exceptionally fine +second team this year has been largely responsible for the success of +the varsity. + +"I have already talked longer and said more than I at first intended. +The second team's work is done for the year but the varsity's hardest +work is yet to come. I want all of you varsity men to report for +signal practice to-morrow at two P. M. All of you may go now except +Judd Billings and McCabe of the seconds." + +The fellows filed noisily out of the locker room leaving the wondering +Judd and the elated McCabe to interview Coach Phillips. + +"What have I done now?" demanded Judd of McCabe, when he was ordered to +remain. + +"Don't you know, you rube!" hissed McCabe, joyfully, in his ear. +"We're promoted!" + +"Promoted?" + +"Yes,--unless I miss my guess he's going to tell us to report for +practice with the varsity!" + +"That would be kind of nice, wouldn't it?" replied Judd, trying to +conceal his joy at the very thought. + +Coach Phillips closed the locker door and came up, facing the two eager +youths. + +"Both of you report for signal practice with the varsity to-morrow. It +is possible that you may get into the game Thursday, for a short time +at least. Remember what I told the rest about keeping in condition and +not studying until the game is over. McCabe, come to my room to-night +at seven. I want you to get the signals well in mind and especially +some new plays. That is all." + +The coach turned abruptly and left the locker room. + +McCabe and Judd stood eyeing each other, the news seeming too good to +be true. Finally McCabe broke the trance by running across and +thumping Judd joyfully. + +"What did I tell you?" he shouted, "And it's my first chance in four +years!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +BEFORE THE GAME + +Wednesday night, the eve of the coming contest with the mighty +Pennington eleven, found Bartlett college in a state of wild confusion +and excitement. The campus was lined with students and returning +alumni, some of the latter having come hundreds of miles just to see +the unbeaten elevens clash. + +News from the village of Tarlton announced every hotel and place of +accommodation to be over-crowded with visitors, friends, relatives, and +alumni, waiting for the morrow. + +A delegation of students had been busy all day collecting empty dry +goods boxes, odd pieces of wood, limbs of trees, and what not for the +creating of a large bonfire should Bartlett be victorious. All this +refuse was concealed behind one of the dormitories ready to be dragged +out and placed in the center of the campus pending a successful +termination of the game. + +Judd and Cateye watched the throngs jostling back and forth across the +campus from their window in the dormitory. The football men had been +given strict orders not to mingle with the crowd and to retire early. +The two chums felt rather awed by the spirit of the occasion and the +significance of the morrow. For a long time they sat side by side +listening to the college yells and songs drifting up to them from +below. Although a veteran football man, Cateye was deeply affected by +the display of enthusiasm and college spirit. + +"What a wonderful thing it all is," he found himself musing aloud. + +"What all is?" inquired Judd. + +"Why,--this college spirit." + +"Hump!" breathed Judd, lightly, "I thought you was talkin' about some +patent medicine." + +The careless reply and Judd's former actions caused Cateye to wonder if +college spirit really meant anything to the rube. Cateye knew Judd to +be intensely loyal to his friends and wished that his chum might show +that same sense of loyalty to his college or team. + +After a fifteen minute silence Judd began to show signs of restlessness +which Cateye wrongly interpreted. + +"Nervous?" he asked, softly, throwing an arm about his chum's brawny +shoulders. + +"Naw!" growled Judd, disgustedly, "Just anxious for fear I won't get a +chance to play tomorrow." + +The singing and yelling did not cease until after eleven o'clock but +two hours before this time Coach Phillips made sure that every football +man was snugly stowed away in bed. Judd dropped off to sleep +immediately upon retiring, but nothing short of chloroform could have +caused Cateye to lose consciousness while the din kept up. His mind +was too occupied with the trend of coming events. + +As the last song was sung and the last yell was yelled Cateye delved +into the mysteries of slumberland. + +For two hours his rest was undisturbed. But after this came more +interruptions. Cateye awoke with a start. The same sort of chill +crept up his spine as on the night of Judd's arrival. This time, +however, Cateye sensed at once just what had produced the sensation. +Judd was talking in his sleep again. It was his first offense since +that memorable night so long ago. + +"Gimme that ball! ... No, I'm not hurt! Jes' gimme the ball an' I'll +take her across! ... Signals over! That's it! My number. Look out, +there!" + +The talking stopped and Judd began to grind his teeth, an unpleasant +sound, especially at night. This was too much for Cateye. He bounded +out of bed and switched on the light. At the same moment Judd came out +of his nightmare by emitting a loud groan and kicking the bed free of +covers. + +"What's the matter?" gasped Cateye. + +"Oh, nothin'," grinned Judd, sleepily, "I only made a touchdown." + +Cateye crawled back into bed, shivering from the aftermath. Judd soon +began to snore regularly showing what little effect the scoring of a +touchdown had upon him. After listening to the hoarse rumble for a few +minutes Cateye buried his head in a pillow and muttered to himself: +"Oh, for a maxim silencer!" Despite the snores he soon fell asleep and +did not awaken until late Thanksgiving morning. + +By noon of the eventful day an enormous crowd of people had gathered, +representing loyal rooters and supporters of the respective colleges, +Bartlett and Pennington, as well as those impartial to either team, who +were attracted for sheer love of the game itself. + +The college grounds shone with bobbing pennants and colors; the Red and +Blue of Pennington; the Black and Gold of Bartlett. Outside the gate +to the gridiron at one o'clock a great throng of football enthusiasts +clamored for entrance. + +One half hour later a special train, carrying the rival eleven, +Pennington; a band, and five hundred rooters, pulled in. As the +Penningtonites leaped off the train dressed in full football garb; red +and blue jerseys, Indian blankets of the same color design and striped +hosiery, they received a tremendous ovation from the assembled crowd. + +Led by their college band the football warriors paraded to the gridiron +followed by a wild column of Pennington rooters, each waving a red and +blue pennant. The sight was very impressive and thrilling. + +When, at exactly two-twenty, the Pennington eleven trotted, unheralded, +onto the field and, tossing off their blue Indian blankets, began to +run through some snappy signal work, from the Pennington stands a mass +of red and blue rose and fell in perfect rhythm to the tune of "The +Warrior," Pennington's football song. + +The Bartlett rooters in the stands directly across the field tried +their best to defeat the demonstration being made by Pennington, +combining the efforts of band and cheer leaders in order to do so, but +the momentary enthusiasm of the visiting college at sight of their +splendid eleven, for a time, eclipsed all attempts to drown them out. + +In the locker room sixteen Bartlett team-mates, primed for battle, +heard the roar that swept across the field as the Pennington eleven +swooped upon the gridiron. Benz, pulling his shoulder pads in place, +strode about the room, nervous and anxious for the fray to begin. +Other players showed signs of uneasiness. Judd was the only one on the +team who seemed perfectly calm. As the din was at its height he turned +to Pole, who had laced and unlaced his shoe three times for no reason +whatever, and remarked quietly: "A noisy bunch, aren't they?" + +At this moment Coach Phillips entered. He had been watching the enemy +eleven as they ran through light signal practice before the frenzied +crowd. + +A few of the players gathered in a semi-circle about him, arms thrown +over each other's shoulders. Some were laboriously rubbing resin into +their hands to insure against fumbling the ball. Others, a little +affected by the mighty demonstration going on from without, paced +restlessly up and down. + +"It's going to be a real battle to-day," warned the coach. "Pennington +has a wonderful aggregration. Their defeat of the State University +some weeks ago gives them the highest rating of any team in this part +of the country. A victory to-day puts Bartlett on the football map as +never before. And in order to win we must fight, fight, fight, every +second of the sixty minutes! + +"Pennington has been depending largely this season upon the great work +of Gordon, fullback. He is a giant, six feet tall, weight two hundred +and fourteen pounds, and fast on his feet. He is the man you must +stop! Pennington has won every game this year in the first half. They +use this Gordon as a human battering ram, breaking up the opposing line +and making victory easy. No eleven this season had been able to check +his advances! + +"Stop their slashing attack the first half, fellows, and you'll win the +game. The reason General Grant was so successful in his campaigns was +that he did not realize when he was defeated. He advanced despite his +defeats. That's the spirit I want you fellows to show! If you fail to +gain ground in one attempt put just that much more strength into the +next attempt. Game starts in ten minutes, fellows, so you'd better be +getting out on the field. Benz, remember to hit that line lower. +Neil, call your signals fast and snappy. Keep the team up and at 'em. +You linemen, the fate of to-day's game is largely up to you. You must +shoulder the brunt of the work and shatter the Pennington attack. The +men who will start to-day's game are,--" + +Sixteen heads bobbed suddenly up and sixteen pairs of entreating eyes +focused themselves upon the coach. + +"Left end, Bartz; left tackle, Oole; left guard, Frey; center, +Williams; right guard, McKean; right tackle, Potts; right end, Pole; +quarterback, Neil; left half, Gary; right half, Patterson; fullback, +Hoffmaster. Now, out of here, every one of you! Show lots of pep and +don't let that crowd bother you! You have played in front of big +crowds before and won. Do it today!" + +The eleven fortunate men jumped nimbly to their feet and filed quickly +out of the locker room. + +Judd slapped Cateye on the back as his chum arose to go. + +"Give 'em fits, pal," he said, simply. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +THE FIRST HALF + +The appearance of the Bartlett eleven touched a match to all the +explosives that the Bartlett rooters had stored up and a riot of +deafening sound rocked the field. + +The crowd easily outnumbered any ever congregated at Bartlett. Half of +the eastern bleachers had been reserved for the Pennington rooters, +while the section directly across was occupied by Bartlett enthusiasts. +The seating capacity was greatly overtaxed. At least two thousand +people hovered behind the goal posts at the ends of the field and +swarms were even accommodated in roped off areas between the foot of +the bleachers and the playing lines. + +Both teams appeared a trifle nervous before the game commenced, +undoubtedly caused by the magnitude of the crowd and the importance of +winning. + +McDonald, Thorpe, Preston, McCabe, and Judd, all Bartlett substitutes, +swathed in extra sweaters, seated themselves by the sidelines, in an +advantageous position, to watch the game. + +Benz, captain, conferred with Melvin, Pennington captain. The referee +tossed a coin. Melvin won the toss and chose to receive the kickoff. +Benz selected the north goal for Bartlett to defend. The two teams +lined up quickly. An avalanche of sound came from the spectators. + +"Are you ready?" shrieked the referee to the Pennington captain. + +Melvin raised his hand in the affirmative. + +"Ready, Bartlett?" + +But Benz was crouching, tying up a shoe lace, preparatory to kicking, +and trying to overcome his nervousness. This prolonged the tenseness. + +After an age, it seemed, he straightened up; the referee raised his +arm; the Bartlett men leaned forward, expectantly; the whistle +screeched; Benz booted the ball; and the great game was on! + +It was a splendid kickoff. The ball rose, spinning like a top and with +enough impetus to send it far down the field. + +Knapp, Pennington quarterback, captured the pigskin on his fifteen yard +line and dodged in behind his quickly formed interference. For +five,--ten,--fifteen yards he ran; his advance guard toppling man after +man who attempted to reach him! + +The crowd was on its feet, howling like mad! + +"Stop him!" shrieked the Bartlett stands. + +"Go on, Pennington!" bawled the Red and Blue. + +A lanky individual now loomed up in the path of the oncoming trio. It +was Pole! He hurled himself straight at the knees of the interference +and the men went down like ten pins. + +All save Knapp. Small of stature and a veritable rabbit on his feet; +his interference now gone, he depended upon his own cleverness to gain +more ground. He eluded the too eager arms of Benz who missed his +tackle completely and struck face downward on the sod. + +The spectators were now become fairly wild with excitement. Such a +brilliant run at the very outset of the game was entirely unlooked for! + +"He's got a clear field!" screamed some voice above the din. + +"A touchdown from kickoff!" cried a Pennington enthusiast. + +Knapp, in order to escape all opponents, now skirted the edge of the +gridiron. He passed within a few feet of the Bartlett substitutes who +were wildly hoping that some one might down him. + +Judd's quick eye saw only one man between Knapp and a touchdown. That +man was Cateye! + +"Get that guy, Cateye!" bellowed Judd, making a megaphone of his hands. + +In that frenzied moment, above the terrific din, Cateye heard and +recognized Judd's voice wafted out to him. The words seemed to give +him added zeal. He raced across the field toward the speeding Knapp. +The little quarterback, confronted with this new obstacle, turned in +sharply as Cateye lurched through the air, in order to avoid the +tackle. But Cateye had judged the distance too true and Knapp had +dodged too late. There was an impact as shoulder met thigh and a +crunching sound as the two rolled over and over upon the turf; then +mighty cheers. + +"That-a-boy, Cateye!" barked Judd, joyously, while the Bartlett stands +echoed his name. + +"Yea, Knapp!" thundered the Penningtonites. + +Knapp's fine sixty yard run injected a world of pep into his team and +restored their confidence. The Bartlett eleven, on the contrary, was +badly disheartened and shaken up by the suddenness of the spectacular +run. + +With the ball on Bartlett's twenty-five yard line and four plays to +make a touchdown the Pennington team assailed the Black and Gold line +viciously. + +On the first play the ball went to Gordon, the heavy full back, who +plowed through the right side of Bartlett's line for eight yards. + +"Wow! Nothing to it!" roared the Pennington stands. + +"Hold 'em, Bartlett!" entreated the supporters of the Black and Gold. + +An end run netted five more yards, placing the ball on the twelve yard +line. Gordon then took the pigskin, plunging straight through the +center of the line for four yards. The Bartlett eleven seemed wholly +unable to cope with the swift, varied, smashing attack of the visitors. +It was evident to the onlookers that Knapp's brilliant run at the start +of the game, coupled with Gordon's tremendous line bucking, had +completely bewildered the Bartlett team. It was the first time during +the entire season that any eleven had been able to gain consistently +through the line and this fact further discouraged the Black and Gold. + +"Hold 'em, fellows!" begged Benz, from the backfield. "Don't let 'em +get a touchdown!" + +The line stiffened and shifted to meet the next attack. They were +already fighting in the shadow of their goal posts. Gordon again +carried the ball and the play came direct for Cateye. By exerting a +great effort Cateye broke through the Pennington line and dropped the +huge Gordon for a slight loss. + +The Bartlett stands became a mass of color. Cateye's name was on every +Bartlett rooter's tongue. + +Pennington, as Coach Phillips had said, was using Gordon, almost +exclusively, from the outset of the game, as a battering ram to wear +down the Bartlett line. Once the line was shot to pieces victory would +be easy. + +The Bartlett eleven, encouraged by Cateye's checking of the Pennington +advance, regained in a measure their lost confidence and every yard +thenceforth gained by the rival college demanded a royal struggle. + +But Pennington was not to be denied the spoils of her rapid advance. +Her dashing, smashing attack had progressed too far to be immediately +and successfully blocked. Bartlett was beaten stubbornly back until +the players crouched upon the very goal line with Pennington two downs +to take the ball across. + +The Red and Blue tried an end run but Benz tackled the man with the +ball before he had gained a yard. Benz was fairly outplaying himself +and sobbing like a baby. + +The Bartlett stands shrieked encouragement, while from the Pennington +bleachers came yells of, "Touchdown! Touchdown!" + +On the last down, with less than two yards to go, Gordon ripped +straight through the line and over the goal for a touchdown. + +Amid a cascade of yells and wild demonstrations the Bartlett eleven +lined up under their goal posts, awaiting the try for goal. + +Knapp, the star Pennington quarterback, to whom much credit must go for +the sudden overwhelming of Bartlett, threw himself face downward on the +turf and held the ball at arms length to allow Bowen, halfback, to +kick. Bowen paced a short distance back, carefully, then turned and +running lightly forward, toed the ball squarely over and between the +goal posts. Score, Pennington, 7; Bartlett, 0. + +The Pennington rooters began to chant the score with the hopes of +further disheartening the Bartlett eleven. "We want more! We want +more!" volleyed Pennington. + +"Rah! Bartlett, Rah! Fight 'em! Fight 'em! Fight 'em!" answered the +Bartlett stands defiantly. + +There were seven minutes left of the first quarter. Pennington kicked +off. Potts caught the ball and advanced it eight yards to the +twenty-six yard line. It was the first time during the game that +Bartlett had the ball in her possession and the Bartlett supporters +were hopeful. + +Neil called on Patterson, right half, for an end run, but the play +barely netted a yard. Benz shot through the line for four yards. The +Bartlett stands roared. Gary, left half, attempted a run around the +other end but was downed with no gain. Benz dropped back and punted +forty yards. The ball was Pennington's on their own twenty-nine yard +line. + +Using the same tactics as before and working one forward pass to +advantage, Pennington began another steady march down the field. +Bartlett was being completely outplayed in every department of the +game. The quarter ended with the ball on Bartlett's seventeen yard +line and Pennington's first down. + +The teams exchanged goals and play started again. Gordon hammered his +way through the line for nine yards with three tacklers hanging to him. +The Bartlett defense seemed to grow weaker every minute. A trick play +was good for three more yards, and with the ball on Bartlett's five +yard line Knapp got away for a wide end run and a touchdown. The +Pennington stands cheered madly. Why, this was no game; Bartlett was +being outclassed! It had taken Pennington only three minutes to put +over the second touchdown from the seventeen yard line. Bowen was +forced to attempt the goal kick from quite an angle and the ball went +wild. Score, Pennington, 13; Bartlett, 0. + +Again Pennington kicked off. Cateye received the ball and advanced it +back twenty yards in a pretty, dodging run. Neil tried vainly to +enthuse the fallen spirits of his team-mates. They were not playing +true to form; they were suffering the slump of the season and during +the biggest game! + +Benz was forced to punt again, the eleven not being able to make a +first down. Gordon & Company started another triumphal march toward +the coveted goal. This time the progress was easier than before. +After each play several Bartlett men were seen to hobble wearily to +their positions. The strain was beginning to tell. Soon the game +would become a rout. + +A fumble! Bartlett's ball! The stands came to life. Pennington's +advance was at least momentarily checked. Neil called on Benz to carry +the ball. He made three yards. Neil used him again. Benz tore off +seven yards around end and Bartlett had made its first down! + +Patterson and Gary, halfbacks, could gain very little on respective +attempts. Neil was forced to call on Benz to make the yards. Benz was +good for six. In a fake punt formation Benz tried a pass, but Norton, +Pennington right end, intercepted the ball and carried it fifteen yards +to the Bartlett thirty yard line before being downed. Bartlett's +slight revival of form was thus ended. + +There were six minutes left to play of the first half, and Pennington +meant to have another touchdown. Every play was good for a few yards +at least. + +Cateye, who had played a wonderful game at left guard, was tiring fast. +Knapp had chosen the left side of the line to direct a good share of +his smashes at and Cateye had borne the brunt of the attack. Now, +after each play, he was the last man to crawl upon his feet, and fall +back into his position. + +Pennington fought its way to the seven yard line. There were three +minutes left in which to score a touchdown. Gordon took the ball, +intending to drive his way through Cateye's position for a substantial +gain. But Cateye, calling forth one last, great effort, broke through +and tackled Gordon for a one yard loss. + +The crowd gave him a mighty cheer but Cateye heard it not. He lay +where he had fallen. Benz rushed up, knelt down beside him, then +motioned to Neil. + +"Help me get him to the sidelines, will you? He's knocked out!" + +Someone rushed up with a blanket and pail of water. Cateye was carried +to the sidelines. The substitutes crowded around. Judd pushed them +aside. + +"Cateye! Pal! Wake up! What's the matter?" Judd shook him rather +roughly. + +Cateye began to come to. "My knee! My knee!" he gasped. + +Judd jerked off Cateye's shoe and sock. The bandaged knee was already +badly swollen. + +Coach Phillips came to Cateye's side. "Tough luck, old man. You +played a great game. Judd, take off your sweater. You're going in +Cateye's place. It's up to you. Hold 'em!" + +"Me? Naw,--well," Judd hesitated, glancing at his room-mate. + +"Go in, Judd, and stop that Gordon! There's two more downs and two +minutes to play. Don't let 'em make a touchdown!" Cateye pleaded. + +Judd still lingered, uncertain. + +A strange voice was heard outside the group. "Let me in I say! That +man was my former room-mate!" + +"Why,--Bob Billings!" exclaimed Cateye, delighted, and forgetting his +badly wrenched knee for the moment. "I didn't know you were here!" + +"Just arrived a few minutes before the game started," replied the great +Bob, reaching out and grabbing his open-mouthed younger brother, +"Hello, Judd! What are you doing standing here? The crowd's calling +for you. I supposed you'd gone out. Hurry up! Don't stop to argue. +It's time for play to begin again. I'll see you at the end of the +first half. Save the game, old man!" + +Without a word Judd ripped off his jersey and dashed out upon the +field. So Bob was here! And Cateye laid out! And,--Bartlett was +being beaten! Well, he'd do his best to please Bob and Cateye, but how +could he save the game? "Gosh!" thought Judd, "The game's lost +already!" + +Nevertheless he jumped peppily into Cateye's position. Just as his +presence had inspired the second team so did his presence now cause new +life to appear in the varsity. + +Benz rushed up to Judd, throwing an arm about his shoulders. What did +this mean? Another trick? But--no--it couldn't be----! that look in +Benz's face and then--Benz was holding out his hand! Judd gripped it +in a daze as the stands roared. All this action took place in two +minutes time but to Judd it seemed like hours. So much had happened in +those two minutes! And here Judd found himself actually playing in +Cateye's position, something he had vowed that he would never do! +Besides this, Benz had become his friend. Wonder of wonders! + +But Judd had no more time to contemplate. The referee's whistle +shrieked, and he became painfully aware that he was in the direct path +of the onslaught. He braced himself; hit the opposing line low, and as +a mass of legs passed over him he grabbed an armful and hung on. The +roar in the stands became a rumble. Judd had stopped the great Gordon +without a gain! + +He staggered to his feet, a numb feeling in one hand, and Benz patting +him joyfully on the back. + +"Get him just once more, Rube, old man," yelled Benz, in his ear, "and +it'll be our ball!" + +Judd crouched in his position, his whole being concentrated on one +object, Gordon. Would they use him again? Or might Pennington resort +to some trick play to put the ball across? + +Judd saw Knapp look at Gordon as he knelt to receive the ball; he saw +the ball snapped back; saw Gordon dash forward and apparently take it +from Knapp's hands, plunging into the other side of the line. All was +confusion. All were mislead but Judd. He burst through his side of +the line just as Gordon started forward. He saw the fake pass; saw all +his team-mates lurch toward the right in a frantic effort to stop the +much feared Gordon. But above all this he saw Knapp, running free, +with the ball tucked under his arm! + +And Knapp saw Judd, the only obstacle between him and a touchdown. +Seven yards to go! Time almost up! Knapp ran straight at Judd; then +as the rube dove for a tackle, he jumped clear. + +Pennington gave a lusty cheer,--then a groan of dismay, for Judd had +rolled quickly over and made a frantic grab at the flying feet as they +passed him. His right hand came in contact with Knapp's right ankle +and closed over it like a vice. Knapp fell his full length prone upon +the ground. Such a cheer as went up from the Bartlett stands! +Everyone was on their feet lauding Judd. And just then the whistle +blew calling time for the first half. + +It was a much different team that left the field after that last two +minutes of play. A new spirit now prevailed. Although woefully +battered, out-generaled, and outplayed, beaten by a 13 to 0 score, +Judd's presence had produced the tonic which revived their spirits and +restored the punch which had been sadly lacking. + +Benz and Neil escorted Judd to the sidelines whispering happily in his +ears. + +"You stopped 'em, old fellow! You saved another touchdown! Great +stuff! Just wait until next half!" + +"Say!" exploded Judd, ignoring the praise, "That little sucker is a +spry one, isn't he? A shoe-string more an' I'd never have caught him!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +THE SECOND HALF + +Bob rushed out and greeted Judd before he reached the sidelines. + +"Fine work, old man! You're a wonder! I knew you would be if they +ever gave you a chance. Why, say, it was worth coming a hundred miles +just to see those two plays! Shake hands, Buddy. You don't know how +glad I am to see you. Hold on, what's this,--blood?" + +"Yep," grinned Judd, gazing a bit ruefully at his right hand which was +swollen and bleeding. "That big jumbo Gordon put his foot on it." + +"Here, let me fix it for you." Bob hunted up some tape and bandages. + +Judd sat down in the circle of football men. Coach Phillips had a kind +word for every man. He praised Judd especially for his great work +during the last two minutes of the first half. The rube's face glowed +with pleasure. For the first time he was beginning to feel the college +spirit and a great ambition surged up within him for Bartlett to win +the game. But the word which gave him deepest satisfaction and fired +him with determination came from Cateye. + +"I'm proud of you, pal. Remember--you're fighting for Bartlett and for +me!" + +A tremendous roar swept across the field as the two teams trotted upon +the gridiron for the beginning of the second half. + +Judd was given another cheer by the Bartlett stands. He seemed totally +oblivious of it all. + +Benz shouted to him. "Rube, they're cheering you!" + +"Are they?" was the rube's careless rejoinder. + +The coach had told him to watch Gordon and Judd intended above all else +to follow instructions closely. + +Pennington kicked off. Judd watched the ball sail into the air; then +realized, with a sudden start, that it was coming to him! He braced +himself for the catch. Benz and Potts shot past him. + +"Follow us!" they shouted. + +The stands were yelling wildly. Judd dodged in behind his +interference. He crossed three white chalked lines without trouble. +Then the interference crumpled and went down in a heap. Judd saw a +big, dark looking face come close to his own, and eager outstretched +arms. Instinctively he stuck out his hand and the face vanished. But +another and yet another figure loomed up ahead! Judd turned to the +left hoping to escape, but he was struck by two tacklers, one from each +side. He crawled to his feet with team-mates thumping him on the back, +and looked about him. The ball was on Pennington's forty-five yard +line. Judd had made a twenty-five yard run! + +He had barely time to catch his breath. Neil was yelling signals and +the next play came straight through his position. Judd strained every +muscle, felt the opposing line give, and saw Benz shoot through for a +six yard gain. A succession of plays gave Bartlett first down! + +But Pennington was fighting desperately. Although Bartlett rushed the +ball to the twenty yard line it went over on downs and Pennington +punted out of danger. + +The greater part of the quarter was very evenly contested. The ball +changed hands many times, neither team being able to gain consistently. +Judd's great defensive work, he seeming to be in the heart of every +play, helped wonderfully toward breaking the backbone of the Pennington +offense. + +In the latter part of the quarter, with the ball in Bartlett's +possession on the fifty yard line, Benz negotiated a pretty twenty yard +run around the left end of the line. While making a sharp turn to +avoid a tackle, however, Benz sprained his right ankle. Time was taken +out and the ankle bandaged up. + +This was a serious blow to the team as Benz had been called into +service extensively to punt Bartlett out of danger. He also had been +the best ground gainer. The team was again disheartened as they +changed goals prior to the playing of the last quarter. + +Judd sensed the drooping spirits of his teammates and called out +encouragingly: "Never mind that, pals. Let's die fightin'. We're not +whipped yet!" + +Pole and Potts, right end and tackle, respectively, were both badly +bruised and exhausted, but game to the core. Benz was staying in the +line-up though he could scarcely stand. Left tackle, Oole, playing +next to Judd, had done nothing for the last five minutes, but fill the +gap at his position. The rube had been doing the work of two men most +of the quarter. The score still stood, Pennington, 13; Bartlett, 0. + +The last quarter opened with Harriett's ball on Pennington's thirty +yard line. Now that Benz was practically laid out, Neil called upon +Patterson and Gary to do the bulk of the work in carrying the ball. +Bartlett made a slow but steady advance. Neil, finding that Judd +opened big holes on every play, sent most of his plays through that +side of the line. Benz limped along, helping what he could as +interference. + +The stands were quieter now. The great game was three-quarters over. +Bartlett had put up a wonderful fight against a much better team, and +lost. The Penningtonites were just toying with them now, playing a +defensive game. + +But, what's this? The stands came to life with a jump and a howl! +Neil, quarterback, had taken the ball and dodged through a hole in the +line made by Judd. He passed by his interference and the Pennington +linemen. As he did this and entered the open field, Gordon, fullback, +rushed in and made a clean tackle, hitting Neil so hard that the ball +was knocked completely out of his grasp. Judd, who was following up on +the play, saw the ball bound away and was after it. Instead of falling +upon it he scooped it up and, although tackled by two men, he dragged +them the remaining five yards for a touchdown! + +"Rah! Rah! Rah! Rah! Rah! Rah! Rube! Rube! Rube!" boomed the +Bartlett rooters. + +"Bully work, Rube!" shouted Benz. "Say,--did you ever try kicking +goals? My ankle's no good,--" + +"Well,--I reckon I can if I have to." + +Benz held the ball. Judd poised it to his liking. He seemed +unconscious of the tremendous ovation the stands were giving him. +Plunk! The ball whizzed over the goal posts! Score, Pennington, 13; +Bartlett, 7. + +"Say!" gasped Neil, weakly. "Take me out! I'm all in!" + +The heavy tackle by Gordon had shaken him up badly. Potts and Judd +helped Neil to the sidelines. + +"Rip 'em up gang! We'll trim 'em yet!" were his parting words. + +McCabe, substitute quarter, alive with pep and joy at his chance, +jumped in at Neil's place and helped revive the gathering spirits of +the team, exhorting every man to do his utmost. + +Judd kicked off to Pennington. McCabe, inspired by his first chance, +shot off down the field like a flash, eluding the advance guard, and +downing the Pennington runner single handed, on his thirty yard line. + +Bartlett was now fully alive and fighting hard but Pennington was +battling just as stubbornly. Pennington made her first down largely +due to the work of Gordon who went through the right side of the line, +three successive times, for big gains. Pole and Potts had been giving +their last ounce of strength to prevent the Pennington line from +breaking through, but to no avail. + +A halt was called in the game and two other Bartlett subs, Thorpe and +Preston, got their chances. + +Now Pennington shifted her attack to the other side of the line and +Judd, almost worn out, was called upon to give all the power he had to +stop further gaining. + +Knapp slipped away for another long run. The ball was on Bartlett's +fifteen yard line and eight minutes left to play. + +A fresh man was now sent in to oppose Judd, and Pennington's determined +drive toward the goal resumed. Judd had eyes only for Gordon. He +dropped the big fellow twice as he tore through the line. An attempted +forward pass failed. Gordon charged through the line for three yards, +but this was not enough. The ball went over to Bartlett on her nine +yard line. + +Benz limped up, and grasping Judd by the arm, shouted in his ear: "I'll +switch positions with you. You drop back and punt that ball out of +danger! Punt it hard!" + +"But I've never punted in a real game!" protested Judd. + +"Never mind that! You're the only man that can do it. Quick. Time's +almost up!" + +Judd needed no further urging. He took Benz's position. + +"Hold that line, fellows!" he begged, as he held out his big hands for +the ball. + +"Get through and block that punt!" screamed Knapp. + +The ball snapped back. The pass came high and Judd was forced to jump +for it. He saw a form lurch before him and a pair of hands go up. +Then he kicked. His right toe caught the ball squarely and drove it +high and far down the field. When it finally fell, McCabe and Thorpe +were waiting for the man to receive it and downed him where he stood. + +Everyone in the Bartlett stands had risen to their feet. Such playing, +such a reversal in form, had never before been seen! Judd's punt had +carried sixty yards! The ball was Pennington's on their thirty-one +yard line and four minutes left to play! + +Pennington made a desperate attempt to gain but Bartlett was growing +stronger every second in her effort to recover the ball. Even Gordon's +line plunges were repulsed. + +Now the Pennington coach relied on strategy to keep the Bartlett eleven +from threatening the Red and Blue goal line in the short time left. He +sent in a substitute for the left end who advised Knapp to call for a +punt. This Knapp prepared to do; Melvin, Pennington punter, dropping +back to make the kick. + +Benz saw the action with sinking heart. A long punt now with two +minutes left to play meant sure defeat for Bartlett, and while they +were within striking distance he felt a fighting chance. + +"Break up that punt, fellows!" he pleaded, "You've got to get through +and block that punt or the game is lost!" + +The Pennington line braced for what they felt, the final effort. Judd, +fairly outdoing himself, flung guard and tackle aside and fell through. +McCabe jumped over his prostrate body and leaped in front of the +kicker. The ball struck him full in the face and bounded over his head +to the forty yard line. Benz fell on it, joyfully. + +McCabe, blinking dazedly from the blow, marshalled his battered forces +for the last supreme attempt. Patterson made five yards on an end run. +McCabe had his men up on their feet and into the game immediately after +the play. + +There was no time to be lost! + +McCabe had been especially drilled in trick plays as Coach Phillips +imagined if he were used at all it would be toward the end of the game. +He now worked the first one, a double pass behind the line, Benz +hurling the ball to Gary who shot around left end for fifteen yards. + +The great crowd had gone mad by this time! Timekeepers began +consulting their watches. Pennington stands entreated their eleven to +"Hold 'em" while the Bartlett rooters shrieked, "Touchdown! Touchdown!" + +With half a minute left to play McCabe relied on a great trick play to +win. The crowd was making such a noise that he had to call his backs +in to give them the signals. He repeated these signals twice to make +sure that they were understood, despite each precious second of time. +The ball was on Pennington's twenty yard line. + +The success of the play depended largely upon Judd and Benz, and a +complete deception of the opposing line. Benz had been hardly more +than a mere figurehead in the last quarter and Pennington would not be +expecting him to carry the ball. + +McCabe shifted the right side of his line over. The ball was snapped +back to Benz. Judd swung out of the line and raced across as +interference. Oole filled the gap left by Judd with his body, +and--before the Pennington line realized the trick Benz was well on his +way toward the goal. The play took nerve, a great amount of nerve, on +Benz's part. He forced himself to run swiftly, bearing his weight +equally on his injured ankle. + +"Catch hold of my belt!" cried Judd, as he lurched ahead of him. "I'll +take you through!" + +Benz placed his hand on Judd's broad back and strove to keep pace with +him. He stumbled dizzily across two chalk marks and was vaguely aware +of shaking off some tackler from behind. A few more steps. Everything +was getting black! His hand pushed heavily against the lunging Judd, +for support. Then, directly in front of Benz, danced the jeering face +of Gordon! He felt Judd's body slide away from him--lost sight of +Gordon. There was a dark, struggling mound at his feet! He made a +desperate jump and cleared it; fell forward upon his knees; crawled a +few paces; then pitched over upon his face. + +When Benz came to himself the great game was all history. A howling +mob was upon the field dancing about a huge bonfire which dispelled the +falling darkness. A few of his team-mates surrounded him. + +"If it hadn't been for my sprained ankle, fellows," sobbed Benz, "I'd +have made that touchdown. I,--I kept up as long as I could +but,--but,--" + +"What are you talking about, man? You made a touchdown!" yelled a +Bartlett enthusiast. + +"Me! Made a touchdown?" Benz was recovering fast now. + +"Sure! You crawled over the goal line on your knees!" + +"Zowie!--and then?" + +"Rube kicked goal." + +"Great snakes, ... WE WON!" + +Benz was too overjoyed and excited to speak. + +At last, "Come on, guys, tell me a little more details. This suspense +is awful," he begged. + +"Well," volunteered McCabe, "It was the prettiest play of the game. +You and Rube got away to almost a clear field. You legged it along all +right for ten yards, then you commenced to limp. Rube slowed up for +you and Knapp struck you from behind. But somehow you shook him off +and stumbled on. Gordon came tearing up and dove at you but Judd threw +himself between and Gordon hit the ground like a ton of bricks. You +jumped over the two of them and staggered on. My, but those were +anxious seconds! At the three yard line you fell upon your knees and +crawled the rest of the distance while three tacklers were beating it +up to get you. Just as you reached the line all three seemed to hit +you at once and knocked you forward. Then the whistle blew! When the +referee untangled the mess and rolled you upon your back he found you +froze to the ball, a foot over the line. Talk about a death grip--they +had to pry that old pigskin loose! Say, Benz, after that,--you missed +the biggest lot of noise that ever happened!" + +"Tell me about Rube," pleaded Benz, "My touchdown only tied the score. +His kicked goal won the game!" + +"Oh yes," went on McCabe, "You made your touchdown at the right side of +the field. Time was allowed for the try at goal. Rube was forced to +attempt the goal kick at a frightful angle. The crowd was making such +a demonstration, some people even running on the field, that I don't +see how he ever did it. I held the ball for him. He took his time, +fixed it just so; then stepped back. He was cool as a cucumber. The +Pennington bunch glowered at him from between their goal posts. Then +when the play came the field got suddenly quiet. Everyone was standing +up holding their breath as Rube booted the ball. It sailed up, scraped +the goal post, just clearing the bar, and the game was ours! After +that, ... skyrockets!" + +"Say! Where is Rube now?" + +"Heaven knows! A second later the crowd pounced upon him like a tribe +of Indians. I thought they'd tear him to pieces. They carried him off +with them." + +"The lucky stiff!" laughed Benz, but there was no malice in that remark +now. + +The students bearing Judd faced about in front of the crackling +bonfire. Cries of "Speech! Speech!" came from Bartlett rooters. + +Judd sat on their shoulders, blinking from the light of the fire and +stage-struck at the sea of flickering, ghostly faces in front of him. + +"Say something, quick!" whispered McCabe, who stood eyeing the rube, +proudly. "I'd give a kingdom to be in your shoes now!" + +"You can have my place for nothin'," offered Judd, generously. + +The crowd quieted down and waited expectantly. The rube was so well +known and such a favorite by this time. + +Finally Judd calmed himself enough to face the ordeal. He raised his +head and looked out over the crowd. + +"Fellows, before I say anythin' more..." he started. But such a flood +of laughter and cheering greeted these words that he could get no +further. + +"Gee!" complimented McCabe, "You've scored a touchdown from kick-off!" + +Bob and Cateye came pushing their way through the crowd, supporting a +limping Benz between them. + +"Rube ...!" started Benz, face beaming. "I ... er ... mean--_Judd!_" + +Bartlett's hero of the hour grinned. + +"No you don't Benz ... you mean Rube. You couldn't really call me +anything else and I wouldn't want you to. I reckon that name fits me +best." + +"All right, then!" conceded Benz, cuffing Judd playfully, "Though I +claim I'm really the rube for calling you a rube!" + +And then Cateye said something about the team's planning to make Judd +next year's captain and Bob brought cheers by giving out that he was +returning to college next fall. + +"Gosh, that does me out of a room-mate," said Judd, suddenly, with a +mischievous glance at his brother. + +"Not necessarily," spoke up Benz, "What do you say, Rube, to ... er ... +bunking with me?" + +Benz and Judd--room-mates! This would astound the college. + +"I've been known to talk in my sleep," Judd warned, grinning. + +"_Yell_ and see if I care!" accepted Benz. + +And so, feuds ended, there came to one Judd Billings the tingling +realization of what real college spirit meant. It had taken him all +this while to get back in step after starting in college on the wrong +foot. He had developed so very much in the past few years from a +timid, awkward youth at Trumbull High who had fought so hard to live up +to his brother Bob's contract--and later, as a Freshman at Bartlett, +unused to the ways of the fellows but with his old-time fear conquered. +But now Judd knew, happily, that he was one with all the fellows for a +cheer was being proposed in honor of "Bartlett's Big Four"--Bob and +Cateye and Benz and--Rube! And the ones who were responding to this +cheer the loudest were his own team-mates! + + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Over the Line, by Harold M. 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