CHAPTER XXXI
THE TROLLEY STOCK--CONCLUSION
The grandstands were trembling and swaying under the foot-stamping,yelling crowd that enthusiastically cheered the victorious Kentfieldcadets. Dick felt as if it was all a dream until he found himself halflifted to his feet and felt his comrades clapping him on the back,yelling congratulations in his ears, while a dozen or more were tryingto shake his hand at once, for the gridiron had been overwhelmed by ariotous throng of substitutes and spectators as soon as the finalwhistle blew.
"Oh, Dick! Dick!" cried Paul, limping up to his chum.
"We--we did 'em!" gasped the captain.
"_We_ did 'em?" questioned Dutton, also among the cripples. "_You_ did'em you mean, Dick Hamilton. It's your team from start to finish!"
"Oh, bosh!" cried our hero.
There was a lull in the cheering on the stands, and suddenly, in thesilence, there broke out the shrill voice of an old man--evidently oneunused to football games.
"By heck!" he cried, "That was a great run! I never see a better one!Golly, but he scooted. This is the first time I ever see one of thesegames, but it won't be the last! Who was it made that home run."
So still was it that Dick could hear the question and answer for he wasnot far from the stand.
"It wasn't a home run," some one informed the old man, "it was a run fora touchdown, and Dick Hamilton, the Kentfield captain, made it."
"Dick Hamilton? Where is he now? I want to see him. I've got somethingto say to him."
As in a dream Dick wondered where he had heard that voice before. Thenlike a flash it came to him--Enos Duncaster! But Mr. Duncaster at afootball game--one between teams of the "tin soldiers" whom he affectedto despise. It seemed impossible. Dick looked to where the old man wasnow vigorously applauding though every one else was quiet. There couldbe no mistake. It _was_ Mr. Duncaster--the holder of the trolley stock.Yet how came he at the game?
"I want to see him. I want to see that Dick Hamilton!" Mr. Duncaster wassaying. "I came to see him--I've got important news for him, and I'm ina hurry."
"You'd better go to him, Dick," advised Paul. "Maybe it isn't too lateabout that stock."
Dick felt a thrill of hope. At intervals of the game he had halfregretted his decision to play instead of going to keep the appointmentwith the eccentric rich man. He had feared it would be too late, andthat his message to Mr. Duncaster would set that peculiar individualagainst him.
Dick turned his steps toward where Mr. Duncaster stood in thegrandstand. As the youth passed along he was congratulated on all sides.
"Great run, Hamilton! Great!" was called again and again.
"I want to shake hands with you, Dick Hamilton!" exclaimed Mr. Duncasterheartily. "And I want to say I've got a different opinion of you boysthan I had. I guess I was mistaken.
"Just after I sent you that message, saying your father could have thestock, I picked up a magazine and read an account of a football game. Itwas the first I'd ever read, and thinks I to myself I'd like to see it.Then, when I got your message saying you were going to play, andcouldn't come to see me I made up my mind to come to see you. I did, andby heck! it was great--great! But your run was the best of all.
"First I was a little put out because you didn't come to see me, and Ihalf made up my mind to give the stock to Mr. Porter. But I see now whyyou wanted to stay and play the game. You couldn't desert, and by heck!I'm glad you won! Shake hands again!"
Dick did so, in a mist of tears that would not be kept back. Thereaction was almost too much for him. To win the championship, and inthe next breath to be told that his father's plans need not fail, wasalmost too much.
He managed to stammer out his thanks to Enos Duncaster, whom manyspectators were regarding curiously.
"You cadets are all right!" the old man was saying. "It takes more spunkthan I imagined to smash into each other that way. I'm coming to all thefootball games after this--that is as soon as I get my health back. I'moff for Europe now. I've just about got time to catch my train.
"Here's the stock your father wants, Dick Hamilton. I've got it allready for you in a bundle, and inside is the address of my lawyers. Youcan----"
"But the pay----" stammered Dick.
"That's all right--you can send it to my lawyers. I'm in a hurry. Nowgood-bye--I'm off to the hot springs!" And once more he wrung Dick'shand. "That was a great run--great!" cried Mr. Duncaster, as he made hisway off the stand.
"Three cheers for Dick Hamilton!" called Ray Dutton.
And how the people did cheer!
"And three for Mr. Duncaster--a convert to football!" shouted Paul Drew,and if they were not as loud as the first cheers they must have warmedthe old man's heart.
Dick sent a telegram to his father conveying double good news--about thefootball victory and about the possession of the stock.
"I guess your troubles will be over now dad," wired Dick.
They were seemingly for a time, but later other financial mattersinvolved Dick and his father, and how they turned out, and how Dick metthem will be told in the next volume of this series, to be called "DickHamilton's Touring Car; Or, A Young Millionaire's Race for a Fortune."In it we shall meet Dick and his friends and some of his enemies, andlearn how he triumphed over the latter.
* * * * *
There was great rejoicing in Kentfield that night when the team broketraining and the suits were burned. True to his word, Dick provided thefinest banquet the cadets had ever had spread in their honor. There werespeeches innumerable, and the coaches were given their full share ofpraise.
But it was toward Dick that most eyes were turned and he was called onagain and again to respond to a toast.
"Well, which do you feel better over, Dick?" asked Paul that night, asthey went to their room, "winning the championship or getting the stockfrom Mr. Duncaster?"
"Both," replied the young millionaire with a smile. "But it certainlywas great to convert Mr. Duncaster into a gridiron rooter; eh, Grit?"
And Grit whined in delight, jumping up on Dick, while the two chums satdown in the little room and played the great game all over again.
THE END.
* * * * *
THE DICK HAMILTON SERIES BY HOWARD R. GARIS
A NEW LINE OF CLEVER TALES FOR BOYS
DICK HAMILTON'S FORTUNE
Or The Stirring Doings of a Millionaire's Son
Dick, the son of a millionaire, has a fortune left to him by his mother.But before he can touch the bulk of this money it is stipulated in hismother's will that he must do certain things, in order to prove that heis worthy of possessing such a fortune. The doings of Dick and his chumsmake the liveliest kind of reading.
DICK HAMILTON'S CADET DAYS
Or The Handicap of a Millionaire's Son
The hero, a very rich young man, is sent to a military academy to makehis way without the use of money. A fine picture of life at anup-to-date military academy is given, with target shooting, broad-swordexercise, trick riding, sham battles, and all. Dick proves himself ahero in the best sense of the word.
DICK HAMILTON'S STEAM YACHT
Or A Young Millionaire and the Kidnappers
A series of adventures while yachting in which our hero's wealth plays apart. Dick is marooned on an island, recovers his yacht and foils thekidnappers. The wrong young man is spirited away, Dick gives chase andthere is a surprising rescue at sea.
DICK HAMILTON'S AIRSHIP
Or A Young Millionaire in the Clouds
This new book is just brimming over with hair-raising adventures of DickHamilton in his new airship.
DICK HAMILTON'S TOURING CAR
Or A Young Millionaire's Race for Fortune
A series of thrilling adventures. Dick and his friends see the countryin a huge touring car. Their exciting trip across the country, how theysaved a young man's fortune and other exciting incidents are verycleverly told.
* *
* * *
THE BOY-SCOUTS
BANNER-SERIES
By GEORGE A. WARREN
Author of the "Revolutionary Series"
The Boy Scouts movement has swept over our country like wildfire, and isendorsed by our greatest men and leading educators. No author is betterqualified to write such a series as this than Professor Warren, who haswatched the movement closely since its inception in England some yearsago.
THE BANNER BOY SCOUTS _or The Struggle for Leadership_
This initial volume tells how the news of the scout movement reached theboys and how they determined to act on it. They organized the FoxPatrol, and some rivals organized another patrol. More patrols wereformed in neighboring towns and a prize was put up for the patrolscoring the most points in a many-sided contest.
THE BANNER BOY SCOUTS ON A TOUR _or The Mystery of Rattlesnake Mountain_
This story begins with a mystery that is most unusual. There is a gooddeal of fun and adventure, camping, fishing, and swimming, and the youngheroes more than once prove their worth.
THE BANNER BOY SCOUTS AFLOAT _or The Secret of Cedar Island_
Here is another tale of life in the open, of jolly times on river andlake and around the camp fire, told by one who has camped out for manyyears.
THE BANNER BOY SCOUTS SNOWBOUND or A Tour on Skates and Iceboats
The boys take a trip into the mountains, where they are caught in a bigsnowstorm and are snowbound. A series of stirring adventures which willhold the interest of every reader.
* * * * *
THE NAN SHERWOOD SERIES
By Annie Roe Carr
In Annie Roe Carr we have found a young woman of wide experience amonggirls--in schoolroom, in camp and while traveling. She knows girls ofto-day thoroughly--their likes and dislikes--and knows that they demandalmost as much action as do the boys. And she knows humor--good, cleanfun and plenty of it.
NAN SHERWOOD AT PINE CAMP or The Old Lumberman's Secret
NAN SHERWOOD AT LAKEVIEW HALL or The Mystery of the Haunted Boathouse
NAN SHERWOOD'S WINTER HOLIDAYS or Rescuing the Runaways
NAN SHERWOOD AT ROSE RANCH or The Old Mexican's Treasure
NAN SHERWOOD AT PALM BEACH or Strange Adventures Among the Orange Groves
* * * * *
THE JANICE DAY SERIES
By HELEN BEECHER LONG
A series of books for girls which have been uniformly successful. JaniceDay is a character that will live long in juvenile fiction. Every volumeis full of inspiration. There is an abundance of humor, quaintsituations, and worth-while effort, and likewise plenty of plot andmystery.
An ideal series for girls from nine to sixteen.
JANICE DAY, THE YOUNG HOMEMAKER JANICE DAY AT POKETOWN THE TESTING OF JANICE DAY HOW JANICE DAY WON THE MISSION OF JANICE DAY
Dick Hamilton's Football Team; Or, A Young Millionaire On The Gridiron Page 32