Center Rush Rowland

by Ralph Henry Barbour

  CHAPTER XIX

  CALLERS

  Ira had just time to get to the field before practice began. The worktoday was easy, consisting principally of signal drill in preparationfor the game with Day and Robins's School on the morrow, and Ira wasput in Basker's squad and trotted around the gridiron for a goodhalf-hour. Coach Driscoll had given them four new plays to learn andthey were still far from perfect in them when time was called. Theothers went off to the gymnasium, all save a few kickers and Ira.Ira had still a session of passing ahead of him. On the practicegridiron the second team was playing Warne High School and, from thefew brief glimpses Ira caught of the contest, getting beaten. To hissatisfaction, several of the quasi-official assistant coaches went offto watch the second team game, leaving only Basker and Almy to dealwith him. Coach Driscoll was hard at work with the goal-kickers.

  Ira did very well this afternoon, and even Basker, who was a criticalyouth, said so. They kept him at it until it was almost too dark tosee, by which time everyone else had departed and the second team fieldwas deserted. "I guess Driscoll will put you in tomorrow for awhile,"observed Basker, as they went back through the twilight. "If he does,just you keep your head and you'll get on all right."

  "The big thing to remember," said Bill Almy, "is to take all the timeyou want. Don't let anyone hurry you in getting the ball away, Rowland.And if the other side interferes with you, yell right out! Make a bigfuss about it. If you do the officials will watch the other side soclose they won't dare to try it on again. In fact, it isn't a bad ideato claim interference, anyway, if you get half a chance."

  "We won't have much trouble with Day and Robins's," said Basker. "Itwill be a good game to get some experience in, Rowland. Are you goingto get back in time for Kenwood, Bill?"

  "Not likely," replied the centre sadly. "This thing doesn't do much.Doc says a double fracture is always slower work than a single one.He's as pleased as pickles about it, the silly chump. Smiles all overhis face whenever he looks at it. I wish he had it!"

  "I don't see then but that Rowland has a pretty good chance to get inagainst Kenwood."

  "Chance? It's a dead sure thing. I'm not knocking Terry Conlon, but hewon't last the game. You know that yourself. Terry plays like a houseon fire at first and then begins to let up. Oh, Rowland will get in allright. I hope he does, too. He's worked like a Trojan."

  "I haven't minded it much," said Ira. "All that's worrying me is thefear that Mr. Driscoll will change his mind about me again and try tomake an end of me!"

  "Look out that Beadle doesn't make an end of you!" laughed Basker.

  "Who's Beadle?" Ira asked.

  "The Kenwood centre. He's a peach of a player, isn't he, Bill?"

  "Beadle," replied Almy slowly, "is about as good a centre rush asyou'll find on a prep school team today. That's saying something, too.He's as pretty a player to watch as I ever saw. I'm sorry I'm not totry him again. I've been thinking I'd give him a better fight thistime. Last year he put it all over me, and I don't mind owning up toit. The man's as quick as greased lightning."

  "He's as strong as an elephant, too," added Basker. "And he plays hard.You'll subscribe to that, eh, Bill?"

  Almy smiled. "Well, next to a steam roller, Beadle's the toughest thingto stop I know of. He isn't a dirty player, but he certainly can messyou up to the King's taste. I'll never forget my handsome phiz after hegot through with it last Fall!"

  "Is that the fellow I'll have to play against?" asked Ira.

  "Yes, if you get in," assented Almy. "Like the sound of it?"

  "Not a bit," replied Ira. "I'm hoping that Conlon will last all throughthe game!"

  When he got back to the room he found the encyclopedia piled up besidethe door, twelve big, heavy volumes. It was a little after five and hewas fairly certain that "Old Earnest" was still in his room downstairs.He left the door wide open and, during the next three-quarters of anhour, listened intently for sounds from below and several times creptto the banisters and peered over. It was not until nearly six, however,that Hicks' door crashed shut--"Old Earnest" had an emphatic mannerwith doors--and Ira caught sight of him starting down the first flight.Giving him time to get clear of the house, Ira gathered up four of thebooks and made his first trip. Hicks' room was in darkness, but thebracket in the hall faintly illumined a patch near the door and Iraset the volumes against the baseboard and returned for more. To hisrelief he completed the transfer before Humphrey appeared, for Humphreywould be sure to ask questions and Ira didn't know that he couldexplain the affair to his roommate's satisfaction. Humphrey clatteredin shortly after he had returned from the final trip and they went overto supper together.

  Afterwards Humphrey announced in tones that held a queer mixture ofpride and apology that he was going over to see a fellow in Goss. "Youknow him, I guess," he added carelessly. "Sterner. He's a second yearfellow. President of the class, I think. He spoke at the meeting thatnight."

  "No, I don't know him except by sight," answered Ira. "Where did youmeet him!"

  "Oh, he was with Brad this afternoon. He comes from Tonawanda. That'snear my home, you know."

  "As Mart says, no one can blame him," laughed Ira. "I'd come away, too,if I lived in a place with such a name."

  "Tonawanda? What's the matter with the name?" demanded Humphrey. "Itisn't half as bad as some of the names in your part of the country.What's that one you sprung the other night? Chemquat----"

  "Chemquasabamticook? Oh, that's just a river. Our towns have prettynames, like Skowhegan and Norridgewock and Pattagumpus," replied Iragravely. "Well, see you later."

  He found Mart Johnston in possession when he reached the room. Martexplained that Brad had tried to get him to go to a meeting of theDebating Society and that he had had to run off after dinner toescape that horrible fate. "They all talk," he said, "and no one saysanything. And they get most frightfully excited and tear their hair andfroth at the mouth and beat on the table, and all they're fussed upabout is whether Daniel Webster was a greater man than John L. Sullivanor whether honesty is the best policy! They're a queer bunch, thosedebaters, I should think! But if I'm in the way here I can go somewhereelse. I can't go home until after eight, because Brad will get me if Ido, but I can walk the streets or go to sleep in a doorway."

  "You're not in my way," laughed Ira, "and Humphrey is calling on Mr.Sterner of Tonawanda."

  "Who's he?"

  "Sterner of the second," explained Ira. "He comes from Tonawanda, NewYork, and that makes a bond of sympathy between him and Nead. Neadhails from Buffalo. From what he said I gathered that the two placeswere near each other."

  "No one can blame you. Well, how's the battle going? Are you ascientific centre rush yet? I heard Fred say some nice things about youthe other day. I guess he and Driscoll are real proud of you."

  "I'm afraid they won't be when they see me play. Basker says they'llput me in tomorrow. Bet you anything I'll pass the ball over Wirt'shead or do something else perfectly awful!"

  "Pull yourself together, old man. You can't do any worse than some ofthe others Driscoll has had at centre. Someone's at the door, I think.Oh, _do_ you suppose it's Brad? I won't go without a struggle!"

  It wasn't Brad, however, but Hicks, Hicks looking oddly bewildered andembarrassed as he entered in response to Ira's call. His embarrassmentwasn't reduced any when he found Mart there, and he started to retire,but thought better of it and slammed the door mightily behind him asone burning his bridges. Ira, surmising his errand, tried to head himoff.

  "You know Johnston, don't you?" he asked.

  "How are you, Hicks?" inquired Mart. "How's the old boy?"

  "How do you do?" murmured Hicks. "I--I wanted to ask----"

  "Have a chair," interrupted Ira. "Did you--did you find out aboutthe--er--the Hamiltonian Theory?"

  "Hamiltonian-System," Hicks corrected. "Not all I want. There's a bookin the catalogue that I couldn't find. They're very careless at thelibrary about misplacing volumes, and--" Hicks paused and frowned. "Oh,yes," he
resumed. "I want to ask you if--if you know anything aboutthat Encyclopedia Universal. I came in awhile ago and----"

  "I've heard it was a very good encyclopedia," said Ira hurriedly,winking desperately at Hicks and all to no purpose. "Don't you thinkso, Mart?"

  "Oh, yes! Oh, yes! Go ahead and rave! Don't mind my presence on thescene. Gibber away, you two!"

  "But, what I mean," resumed Hicks, after a puzzled look at Mart, "ishow did it get there? I thought maybe--perhaps--You see, I hadn'tmentioned it to anyone else----"

  "Also, you wanted to know when they were and, if so, to what extent,"rattled Mart glibly. "And, while we are inquiring into the matter, letus also consider the other side of it. For instance, fellows: If it isas we say it is, then why not let them do it? Or, failing that, and allother things being equal----"

  "Oh, dry up!" laughed Ira. "Don't mind him, Hicks. He's crazy. Tell youwhat, I'll drop down to your room later and we'll--we'll talk it over."Ira winked meaningly. Hicks stared and shook his head.

  "What I'm getting at," he said carefully, "is this. When I got infrom supper I found my encyclopedia piled up on the floor of myroom. I didn't ask Converse to send it, and I thought that possiblyyou--ah--knew something about it."

  Ira sank into a chair and tried to look innocent. There was evidentlyno use in attempting to head "Old Earnest" off.

  "Oh, I see," he said affably. "You--you've got it back, eh?"

  "Yes. At least--Yes, I've got it back. But what I wanted to knowwas----"

  "Ah, now we're coming to it!" murmured Mart. "Go on! You interest mestrangely, Hicks!"

  "Well, did you--I mean--" Hicks's embarrassment was becoming painfuland Ira took pity on him. He nodded.

  "Yes, I did, Hicks," he said apologetically. "I hope you don't mind.You see, you needed the books and--and I happened to have the money,and Converse sold them dirt cheap----"

  "Someone," muttered Mart, "has done something. But what?Books--money--dirt cheap! The plot thickens. Have patience, Martin,have patience! All will be revealed to you in good time."

  "Oh!" Hicks swallowed once as though it hurt him and got up from hischair. "Well--" He observed Ira in a puzzled way. "I--I'm greatlyobliged to you--er--What is your name, please?"

  "Rowland," answered Ira gravely. "I hope you won't think it was cheekyof me, Hicks."

  "Old Earnest" shook his head slowly. "No, no, I--I don't. I'm so--soglad to have them, you see, Rowland! It was--very good of you. Ofcourse I'll pay you for them. But I--you'll have to give me time. I'mmuch obliged. Good evening."

  "Old Earnest" fairly bolted to the door and an instant later it crashedshut with a shock that made the walls shake. Ira stole a glance atMart. That youth, his legs stretched far across the old brown carpet,his head back, was whistling softly and tunelessly. Silence reigned fora long minute. Then:

  "Oh, don't be an ass!" exclaimed Ira.

  "I beg your pardon?" Mart turned and regarded him in polite surprise."You spoke, I believe."

  "You heard what I said," laughed Ira. "Why shouldn't I buy his oldbooks for him? He's dead-broke and----"

  "Ira, my lad," said Mart sternly, "what have you been and gone anddone?"

  "What do you mean?"

  "I mean, what dreadful crime have you committed? When I do anythinglike that, anything--er--kind-hearted and noble--which is very, veryseldom--it's because I've been naughty. That's how I square myself withwhat would be my conscience if I had one. Isn't that the way with you?"

  "I got his books because I had the money and he didn't and he neededthem. You heard him say he'd pay me back. It's merely a businessarrangement."

  "Oh, certainly, certainly! My fault!"

  "Well, then, dry up," grumbled Ira.

  "But I haven't said anything, have I?"

  "You've looked things, though."

  "Have I? Well, I'll stop looking things, Ira. I suppose you don't wantme to say that you're a--a rather decent sort, eh?"

  "I do not," answered Ira emphatically.

  "Then I won't. I do wish, though, that you'd let me ask you onetiny little question. It's this. Pardon me, I prithee, if it soundsimpertinent. Are you--that is, have you--oh, gosh! I'll try again. Areyou a wealthy citizen, Ira?"

  "Why, no, I guess not. I have enough money, of course."

  "I see. Very nice. 'Enough money, of course.' Well, I only askedbecause I assumed--we all did, in fact,--that you were sort of hard-up."

  "Hard-up? Why?" asked Ira, puzzled.

  "Well, you see, you--you didn't spend much money on--things----"

  "Meaning my clothes?" asked the other, smiling.

  Mart nodded apologetically. "Clothes for one thing. And then I--wegot the idea that as your father was a lumberman you wouldn't be verywell-off."

  "I see. Well, dad isn't exactly a lumberman in the way you mean. He'spresident of the Franklin Lumber Company and owns most of the stock.I dare say you could call him rather well-off. And of course he givesme all I need--and a bit more, I guess. As for spending, why, I don'tknow, Mart. You see, I've lived in a small place all my life, andthere's never been very much to spend money on. And, besides, folksup our way are sort of saving. You get the habit, I guess. I alwaysbuy whatever I want that seems worth while, but I like to see that I'mgetting the value of my money when I do buy. I didn't know I was givingyou the idea that I was poverty-stricken. I certainly didn't mean to,Mart."

  "Say no more. My fault! We sort of jumped to delusions, so to say.Personally, I'm glad that you aren't in the pauper class. It makes iteasier for me to get around to the real, bona fide reason of my visit.You thought I dropped in for a social call or to escape Brad and hisDebating Society, but I didn't, Ira. My real reason--but I hardly liketo broach it even now."

  "Go ahead," Ira laughed. "If it's a loan you can have it, you know."

  "Well, it is," acknowledged the visitor, palpably embarrassed. "I--thefact is--Oh, hang it, could you lend me fifty dollars?"

  Ira nodded promptly. "I _could_," he replied.

  "Well--er--will you?"

  Ira shook his head. "No, I won't."

  "Oh! Why? I'll pay it back."

  "I know it, but you couldn't pay it back for a month of Sundays, Mart,and while you owed it you'd be no use to me as a friend. That's so,isn't it?"

  "How do you mean, no use?"

  "I mean that you'd have it on your mind and you'd be wondering whetherI was getting impatient and you'd get so you'd dislike me because youowed me money. How would twenty dollars do?"

  Mart laughed. "It wouldn't do, old Mr. Solomon. Nor ten. Nor five. ButI will borrow a half if you've got it."

  "What's the idea?" asked Ira. "Were you fooling?"

  "Sure! I just wanted to see what sort of a philanthropist you were.Where's my fifty cents?"

  "In my pocket," answered Ira grimly. "And that's where it's going tostay!"