A Quarter-Back's Pluck: A Story of College Football

by Lester Chadwick

  CHAPTER XXXI

  "IT'S TOO LATE TO BACK OUT!"

  Gerhart and Langridge were walking along the road that led toHaddonfield. The freshman was filled with unreasoning rage against notonly Phil, but Tom and Sid, as well.

  "Probably all three know," said Gerhart. "I was a fool not to look tosee if I left any clues behind when I was in the room."

  "Maybe you were a fool for ever trying that signal and liniment trick atall," suggested Langridge, who did not mince words.

  "Maybe," admitted his crony. "But I thought I could get back at Clinton,Cross and Lighton, for not letting me play. Only that Stoddard was sucha white-livered chump I'd have pulled off the signal trick."

  "As it was, you lost."

  "Yes; but the game isn't over yet. There's still the Boxer Hallcontest."

  "You don't mean to say you're going to try and give away the signals inthat game, do you?" cried Langridge.

  "No; but I'm going to keep Clinton out of the game. If I can do thatI'll feel that I'm even with him--the beast!"

  "But can you do it? If you do it, it may make our team lose, for Clintonis one of the best players, and it's hard to substitute a quarter-back."

  "I can do it; and I wish the eleven would lose! That's what I want tosee!"

  "You haven't got much college spirit," observed Langridge.

  "I've as much as you. Weren't you in with me on this scheme?"

  "I suppose so." Langridge didn't seem to derive much satisfaction fromthe admission.

  "Of course you were. You hate Clinton and his bunch as much as I do."

  "Yes."

  "And you'd like to see 'em laid out good and proper, wouldn't you?"

  "Yes," hesitatingly, "I guess so."

  "Of course you would! Well, you're going to if you stick to me. I've gotthe best plan yet."

  "What is it?"

  "Come along to town, and you'll see part of it. I've got to get certainthings, and then I'll be ready."

  "You want to be careful you don't leave any evidence after you thistime."

  "No danger. Will you help me?"

  "I guess so, as long as it isn't anything rash."

  "No, it won't cause any permanent harm to any one, but it will knockClinton out from playing the game, and that's what I'm after. Now comeon. I want to get to Haddonfield before the college crowd starts. Itwon't do to be seen where we're going, or there might be an inquiryafterward."

  About an hour later Langridge and Gerhart were in the telegraph officeat Haddonfield. There might have been noticed about the sophomore atrace of nervousness as he walked up to the little window and inquiredhow long it would take to get some money from his uncle in Chicago.

  "I want it to come by telegraph," Langridge explained. "I need it in ahurry."

  "Yes, you college chaps usually do," said the agent. "Well, you can getit late to-night, I suppose, if you send a wire to Chicago now. How muchwould you need?"

  "Oh, a couple of hundred; maybe five hundred."

  The agent whistled.

  "That's more than we have on hand here at a time," he said. "I'd have toget it from the bank, and that couldn't be done until morning."

  "Well, there's no great hurry," went on Langridge. "Would I have to beidentified to get it? My guardian--that's my uncle--frequently sends memoney by telegraph when I'm off on trips."

  "Oh, yes; you'd have to get some one to vouch for you," said the agent,"but that will be easy."

  "Then I guess I'll telegraph for some," continued the sophomore, and hebegan filling out a blank under the directions of the telegrapher.Langridge, for a youth who had received money by wire before, seemed torequire minute directions, and he kept the agent at the window forseveral minutes, holding his attention closely.

  "There, I guess that will do," said the student at length. "I'll callto-morrow for the cash. Hope you have it for me."

  "Oh, I'll have it if your uncle sends it."

  "He's sure to do that," retorted Langridge with a smile.

  "Lucky dog!" murmured the agent as he turned back to his desk. "Some ofthose college chaps have more money than is good for them, though."

  Langridge hurried from the office. He was joined outside by Gerhart, whohad preceded him out of the door by a few seconds.

  "Did you get it?" asked the sophomore.

  "Sure," was the gleeful answer, and Gerhart showed several yellow slips."Lucky the door was unlocked, so I could sneak in. I just took theblanks and envelopes off his desk when you held him in conversation.You know, they keep the receiving blanks in a private drawer, but thesending ones which you used they leave out where any one can reachthem. But it's all right now. I'll soon put it through."

  "I wonder if I'll get that money?" spoke Langridge. "I took a bigchance, but it seemed the only thing to do."

  "Of course you'll get it, and I'll help you spend it. That's a fairdivision of labor, as Sam Weller used to say."

  "Well, you'll have to do the rest," declared his crony as they walkedback to college.

  "I'll do it. Don't worry."

  They proceeded in silence. Langridge grew less and less talkative, andto the jokes of Gerhart, who seemed in unusually good spirits, hereturned monosyllabic answers.

  "Say, what's the matter with you?" Gerhart finally exclaimed.

  "Well, if you must know," answered Langridge, "the more I think of thisthe less I like it. It's a brutal thing to do. I wish I hadn't agreed tohelp you."

  "But you have!" insisted Gerhart. "It's too late to back out now!"

  "Yes, I suppose so," was the gloomy answer, and Langridge plodded onbehind his crony.