For the Honor of Randall: A Story of College Athletics

by Lester Chadwick

  CHAPTER XIX

  THE TRY-OUTS

  There must have been rather a strenuous time between Dr. Churchill andProctor Zane early the next morning--a discussion concerning collegeethics that, as Tom learned later, had a bearing on his own case. Butnothing came of it, and though at chapel Dr. Churchill spoke rathersolemnly on "duty" he made no direct reference to anyone.

  Tom was not summoned to the proctor's office, for which he was dulythankful, not that he felt that he would have betrayed Shambler, but hedid not like to be cross-questioned.

  Just how the news leaked out no one could say, but such things do becomeknown, more or less, in all colleges, and it was common rumor that theproctor and the president had differed materially on the point of makingTom tell. But Dr. Churchill won his contention, and the episode became aclosed one.

  As the days of Spring wore on, with the grass growing greener, and theweather more and more mild, there came over all a spirit of unrest, andyet not so much unrest as it was a desire to be up and doing.

  The diamond was being put in shape. The line-up of the nine was alreadymuch talked of, but, overshadowing all this, was the prospect of thetrack games. Several meetings had been held of the committees in chargeof the proposed big meet, and final details were being gradually workedout.

  It had been practically decided that the affair would be held in TonokaPark. This was a sort of summer resort near Tonoka Lake, which gave thename to the football and baseball leagues, of which I have writtenelsewhere.

  Exter, the new member of the league, showed a disposition to have themeet held on their own athletic grounds, which a millionaire hadpresented to the institution, with much display of black type in thenewspapers. But the contentions of Randall, Boxer Hall and Fairview wereheeded. They were to the effect that a neutral field was fairer for allconcerned.

  But there was much else to be done. While, naturally, I have dweltmostly on the doings at Randall in this volume, of course much the samethings were being done at the other three institutions.

  There was practice, practice and still more practice, on all sides.Trainers and coachers were busy at each college, and the gymnasiums andfields presented animated scenes every day. Everyone was training hard,for this was the first holding of the quadruple meet, and each collegewanted to win.

  It had been decided that the total number of points scored should decidethe winner. And, to this end, the rules of the Amateur Athletic Unionhad been adopted.

  "How many events are going to be run off?" asked Tom one afternoon, asHolly Cross and Kindlings were holding a consultation. "When are wegoing to know 'em?"

  "We can tell you now what events will likely be the main ones," answeredHolly. "Of course, more may be added after we have the final try-outsand pick those who are to hold up the honor of Randall.

  "There'll be a mile run, a hurdle race, high jumping, broad jumping,putting the fifty-six pound weight, the sixteen pound shot, and thehammer-throw. Then there'll be a pole-vaulting contest, and probably ahundred-yard dash. Oh, there's to be honor and glory enough for all whomake good."

  "And the try-outs?" asked Sid. "I'd like to know if I've got to train tothe minute."

  "We all have!" exclaimed Holly. "Not a man at Randall can afford to growstale. Hello, there comes Shambler. I'm hoping a lot from him. If hepulls down the mile run for us it will help a lot. Then we're dependingon Dutch in the weight contest, and--well, but what's the use oftalking--we're counting on every man in Randall. We want to win all theevents if we can."

  "And we'll be there with the goods!" declared Frank Simpson.

  "Well, everybody on his mark!" went on Holly. "I think the finaltry-outs will be held in a few days, and then we'll know who we'll haveto depend on specially. Of course there may be changes later on, but wewant to get a line on where we stand."

  For the next few days practice went on unceasingly. From early morninguntil dusk fell some of the boys were out on the field, running,leaping, springing, using the pole, testing themselves in the broad orhigh jump, taking hurdles or throwing weights or hammers. And the fourinseparables did their share.

  Shambler, too, was active. He was rapidly forging to the front as one ofthe best athletes that had ever worn the "R" of Randall, and though manydid not care much for him, even his enemies had to admit that he waslikely to bring honor to the college.

  "That was mighty white of you, old man, not to give me away," he said toTom, one day, after the rumor of the demand made by the proctor hadbecome quite well known. "I'll not forget it, either, I assure you."

  "All right--don't get caught--that's all," was Tom's not very graciousreply.

  "No more chances for me," declared Shambler. "Too much depends on it."

  Tom wondered whether he meant his own fortunes, or those of Randall, andhe could not help thinking of the shabby man who had been so eager toget money from the new student.

  "Come on! Come on! Everybody on the job!" cried Holly Cross one fineafternoon. "This is the last chance! Final try-outs this afternoon!"

  The crowd of athletes poured from the gymnasium, where the notice hadbeen posted for some time, and flocked out on the field, ready to dotheir best to win the coveted places of defending the honor of Randall.

  "We'll have the mile run first," decided Kindlings, after a talk withHolly. "We'll pick the three best men to go in the games against BoxerHall, Fairview and Exter. Come on now, you fellows who are going torun."

  An eager crowd watched the preparations and warm-up practice. Then camethe crack of the pistol, and the field was off.

  It is not my purpose here to describe the preliminary trials in detail,so I will merely state that Shambler came out first in the mile run,with Tom Parsons second and Jerry Jackson third.

  "They'll go in for Randall," announced Holly, as he jotted down thenames. "Now for the broad jump."

  In this Frank Simpson came out ahead, with Sid Henderson second and PeteBackus third.

  "But I'm going to win when it comes to the final," declared Peteearnestly. "I haven't had enough practice yet."

  "And you'll never get it, I'm afraid," said Kindlings under his breath.Still he could not help but admire the persistency of "the grasshopper."

  There was much interest in the one hundred and twenty yard hurdle race,and this promised to be one of the best events on the card.

  The new pieces of apparatus were used, and worked well. Phil Clintoncame out ahead, but Joe Jackson was a close second. When it came topicking third there was hard work, for Sam Looper, Dan Woodhouse,Kindlings and Sid Henderson were so well bunched that it was hard todecide, and the six were put down as possible starters against the rivalcolleges.

  In the high jump Berry Foster was first, with Jim Weston second and PaulHughes third. Dutch Housenlager, with his big bunches of muscles easilywon the palm at throwing the fifty-six pound weight, Dan Woodhouse beingsecond and Bean Perkins, who said it would not interfere with hisshouting abilities, coming out third.

  Phil Clinton easily distanced the others at the pole vaulting contest,Red Warren being second and Holly Cross third; while at putting thesixteen pound shot, Dan Woodhouse won, with Frank Simpson second and Sidas a good third.

  "Now that we've got this much settled we can come somewhere knowingwhere we're at," declared Holly, after the final try-outs. "This doesn'tmean that none of you fellows haven't a chance," he hastened to add,"for we may need any one of you yet, so keep in training."

  "Well, I'm glad this much is over," remarked Tom, as he joined his threechums, who were walking toward the gymnasium for a welcome shower bath.

  "Same here!" cried a voice behind them, and Shambler came running up."Say," he cried, "I wish the games were to-morrow, instead of a week ormore off. I'm as fit as a fiddle!"

  In what was probably the exuberance of his animal spirits he camerunning up, and, with a leap landed on Frank's back.

  "Look out!" cried the Big Californian. "You'll upset me!"

  "It'll do you good!" cried Shambler. "Here we go!"


  But Frank, who was rather tired, was in no mood for horse-play of thischaracter. He slewed around, slumped over and fairly dumped Shambler offhis shoulders.

  A moment later the new student came down heavily on Frank's footwith his spiked running shoes. There was a cry of pain from Frank, awell-meant gasp of apology from the offender, and then the lad from thestate of the Golden Gate limped painfully to one side.

  "What's the matter?" cried Tom.

  "My foot! My foot!" murmured Frank. "I'm afraid----"

  He would have fallen had not Phil caught him, while the others gatheredabout Shambler with a look of concern on his face.