by Morgan Scott
CHAPTER XIV.
THE BONE OF CONTENTION.
For a few moments the boys looked at one another in silence, theirfaces expressive of dismay. To a fellow, they understood what it meant,and presently some of them glanced toward Ben Stone. He likewise knew,and, rising, he stepped forward to meet the captain of the eleven.
“Eliot,” he said in a low tone, “I think I’d better get out. I’m makinga lot of trouble.”
Before them all Roger placed a hand on Ben’s shoulder. “Stone,” heretorted, “the trouble is not of your making. I invited you to come outfor practice, and I hope you won’t go back on me now.”
As long as he put it that way, it was impossible for Ben to quit.
Minus Hayden, the boys repaired to the field. They lacked their usualexuberance, however, and Ben detected some of them speaking together inlow tones. In spite of everything, he felt that he was an intruder, andhis self-consciousness made him particularly awkward and slow about thework he was given to perform. He fumbled punts, he fell on the ball inwretched form, and there seemed to be leaden weights in his shoes.Occasionally he detected some of the boys watching him in anything buta manner of approval.
Finally Eliot made up the team, filling Hayden’s place in the backfieldwith a substitute and placing Stone at left guard.
“You’re good and solid,” smiled Roger, “and when you wake up you oughtto strengthen this wing of the line. Remember to start low and quick atthe signal.”
But although the signals, which were very simple, had been fullyexplained to Ben, he could not grasp them quickly, and he was more orless confused when the time came to act. Roger, however, seemed toconsider this very natural, and laughed at him in a good humored way.
“You’ll get onto it all right in time,” declared the captain. “Perhapsthis code of signals won’t be used at all after we get our coach. I’mjust trying the fellows out to get them used to the formations.”
“My deduction is—” began Piper; but no one listened to him.
Practice over, Ben returned to the gymnasium to change his clothes,feeling far from pleased with himself. His discomfiture was increasedwhen he heard Berlin Barker telling some of the boys that he consideredit a great misfortune that Hayden should become huffed and leave theteam.
“I don’t know how we’re going to get along without him in thebackfield,” said Barker. “He’s fast, and he knows the game right downto the ground. His place can’t be filled.”
“Oh, he’ll get over it,” prophesied Cooper cheerfully. “He will comeround in a day or two.”
“You don’t know him,” returned Berlin. “He’ll never change his mind.”
Ben sat alone in his room, thinking it all over. He felt that Barkerwas right in believing that as long as he remained on the team BernHayden would not return to it. That Hayden was a good player and avaluable man he had no doubt. What did it matter whether he himselfplayed football or not? True, he would have enjoyed doing so, but, to acertain extent, he had triumphed over the fellow who had tried to drivehim out of school, and might it not be best if that satisfied him?Discord on the team was a serious misfortune, and only for Eliot’spersistence he would have taken himself away already.
“Roger is a fine fellow,” he whispered. “He’s a friend worth having.Still, in order to show his friendliness toward me, he should notproduce disruption on the eleven. For the good of the school I mustwithdraw.”
He went out for a walk in the open air. Passing the post office, he sawin the light which shone from the open door Berlin Barker and BernardHayden talking together.
“Barker stands by Hayden,” he muttered, “and I suppose there areothers.”
He did not sleep well that night; he was disturbed by dreams, in whichhe lived over again that desperate struggle with his malignantenemy—the struggle that had brought upon him the great trouble of hislife.
Saturday morning Ben sought Roger Eliot at the latter’s home and wasgiven a hearty welcome. Roger invited him in, but the visitor preferrednot to enter, and they went into the garage, where Urian Eliot kept hisbig touring car.
“She’s a beaut, Ben,” said Roger, admiring the polished, glitteringautomobile; “but father is queer and won’t let me drive it. He had todischarge our chauffeur; the man drank. It’s a shame for the car to behung up just now, with the roads in elegant condition. I can drive acar as well as any one, but I have to consider my father’s whims. If weget hold of another chauffeur before the season is over, I’ll take youout for a ride that you’ll enjoy.”
Ben flushed; there was no halfway business about Roger, who had takenhis stand and was ready to let every one know that he regarded Stone asa worthy friend. Ben had never set foot in an automobile, and thepromise of a ride in Mr. Eliot’s fine car gave him a thrill.
“Thank you,” he said; “I know I shall enjoy it.”
He found it difficult to introduce the topic which had led him there,but presently he succeeded, and Roger listened calmly to his argument.
“Stone,” said the captain of the eleven, “you’re not looking at thismatter from the proper angle. I’ve told Hayden what I think of a fellowwho would allow personal prejudice to lead him into deserting his team.Hayden wants to be captain next year, and he will be if he stands bythe team. Otherwise, some one else will be elected. He’ll think thisover when he cools down, and I prophesy that he will come back. Itwould be a mistake for you to quit now, for it would weaken myauthority. Why, Hayden would be the man who was running the team, notI. I want you out for practice this afternoon. By Monday, perhaps, Bernwill come to his senses.”
Roger was indeed a grim and determined fellow, and Ben was finallycompelled to yield to his judgment.
That afternoon, however, Barker, as well as Hayden, failed to come outfor practice. This made it necessary to use two substitute half-backs,in neither of whom the boys had any confidence whatever. On the wholethe practice was of the most unsatisfactory sort, and, if possible,Stone appeared at greater disadvantage than ever, something causedalmost wholly by his knowledge that he was a “bone of contention” andhis firm belief that the majority of the boys were greatly displeasedby the trouble he had caused.
On his way home he was in a downcast mood when Spotty Davis overtookhim. Spotty had suddenly betrayed an unwelcome inclination to extremefriendliness.
“Oh, cheer up,” he said. “You ain’t to blame. Of course Hayden’s prettysore, but Roger is bound to have his way, and he won’t give in toanybody.”
“That’s it,” said Ben; “I feel like an intruder. I feel that I’m doingpositive harm to the team. Why didn’t Barker come out?”
“Oh, he’s one of Bern’s friends, and I guess he’s going to stand byhim. It will be pretty hard luck to lose ’em both. I dunno how Roger’sever going to fill their places.”
“I’m breaking up the team,” muttered Ben. “I’d like to play football,but——”
“Most of the fellers don’t seem to think you’d ever be much of aplayer,” grinned Spotty frankly. “Now if we was going to lose Bern andyou could fill his place, it would be different. Anyhow, mebbe Haydenand Barker will come back when the coach gets here. Roger says he’sgoing to wire for him to-night. He’s got enough money pledged.”
“It will give me no more pleasure than it will Hayden to play on thesame team,” declared Ben; “but I’d be willing to do anything for thegood of the school. That’s why I thought I hadn’t better play. I’m notanxious to make trouble.”
“Bern says you’ve always been a trouble maker. Oh, he’s got it in foryou, all right. But you’ve won a lap on him, the best he can do. It’sbitter medicine for him to swaller. He tried to down you, and he’d doneit, all right, if you hadn’t put yourself on top by defending AmyEliot. That was lucky for you. Urian Eliot has got about as much pullas anybody ’round these parts. You just better let things simmer along,and they’ll come out all right.”
Nevertheless, Spotty’s words add
ed to Stone’s disquietude of mind, forhe also believed that the loss of Hayden from the team—to say nothingof Barker—could not be compensated for.
Sunday passed quietly. Not having a suit of clothes to satisfy him, Bendid not attend church. He spent much of the day with Jimmy, and wasinvited to supper by Mrs. Jones, who had heard all about his braveryand persisted in talking of it. Mamie, however, snubbed him mercilessly.
When Roger appeared at school on Monday morning he informed the boysthat he had heard from Winton, who would arrive early enough in theafternoon to begin the work of coaching that day. He even tookparticular pains to tell Hayden.
“I’m not at all interested in your team, Eliot,” said Bern repellently.
“My team,” cried Roger—“_mine?_ Why, you ought to be as much interestedin it as I am. I took you for a fellow who would be loyal and——”
Hayden cut him short. “I don’t want to hear any more of that talk fromyou. You’ll find me loyal enough to the team when you do what I ask ofyou. If you don’t do it, I doubt if you’ll have any team in anotherweek.”
That night in addition to Hayden and Barker there were two otherdeserters, Rollins and Sage. Eliot was compelled to explain thesituation to the coach. Winton listened and asked a few questions. Inthe end he advised Roger to drop Ben Stone.
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