Ralph Henry Barbour
Right Tackle Todd
CHAPTER I
DIFFERENT
Stereotyped, said Martin Gray. Thats the word! He spoke triumphantly, as one will when a moments search for the proper term has been rewarded. Stereotyped, Clem!
Oh, I dont know, replied his room-mate, only mildly interested in Marts subject. Of course they do look pretty much alike
It isnt only their looks, though. But, come to think of it, thats another proof of my er contention. Hang it, Clem, if they werent all alike as so many er beans
Dont you mean peas? asked Clement Harland, grinning.
Beans, continued Mart emphatically. They wouldnt all wear the same things, would they?
Dont see that, Mart. After all, a chaps simply got to follow the jolly old style, eh?
Not if he has any er individuality! No, sir! I saw fifty at least of the new class arrive yesterday, and except that sometimes one was shorter or taller or fatter than the others, you could have sworn they were all from the same town. Yes, sir, and the same street! Same clothes, same hats, same shoes, same
Well, after all, why not? Besides, after theyve been here awhile they develop different as youd say er characteristics. What if the kids do look alike when they first come?
But you dont get the er the idea at all! protested Martin. What Im trying to get at
Is that Alton Academy attracts a certain type of fellow and doesnt get enough freaks to suit you.
Freaks be blowed! I dont want freaks, I want new blood, something different now and then. You know as well as I do that new blood is what
Youve got the melting pot idea, eh?
Yes, I guess so. Why not? Look at the other schools; some of em, anyway: Dexter, Dover
Croton?
I said some of em. Take Dexter now.
I refuse.
Look at the er variety of fellows that go there. Whats the result?
Why, the result is that they manage to beat Dover pretty often at football, but I always thought that coach of theirs had a good deal to do with that!
Shucks, Im not talking about athletics, although thats a pretty good test, too. What I mean is that its the school that draws its enrollment from all over the country and from all er classes that does the biggest things; and thats the most use, too.
I dont believe it, answered Mart. Its the school itself, its policy, its traditions that count. You might have every state in the Union
Oh, that, of course, but I say that a student body composed of a lot of totally different types
All right, but how are you going to get them?
Reach out for em! How do other schools get em?
Search me, old son! Maybe they advertise in the papers; Dakotas, New Mexico, Florida, Hawaii
Sure! Why not! This schools in danger of er dry-rot, Clem! Four hundred or so fellows all alike, speaking the same language
I should hope so!
Thinking the same thoughts, having the same views on every subject. Gosh, cant you see that you and I dont get as much out of it as if we could rub up against something different now and then? Wouldnt it be refreshing to find a fellow who didnt think just as we think about everything, who didnt wear exactly the same kind of clothes, who didnt think the sun rose and set in New England?
But the sun does rise and set in New England, objected Clem. Ive seen it.
Oh, shut up! You know what I mean. Wouldnt it?
Clem considered a moment. Then he shook his head doubtfully. You should have gone to Kenly Hall, Mart, he answered. They have all kinds there, the whole fifty-seven varieties.
Yes, and theyre better off for it. Of course its the proper thing for us to make fun of Kenly, but you know mighty well that its every bit as good a school as Alton; maybe better in some ways. But Kenly isnt much different from us. They get about the same lot year after year, just as we do. One years freshman class looks just like last years. Maybe they do get an occasional outsider. Quite a few middle-west chaps go there. But mostly they draw them from right around this part of the country, as we do. Gee, Id certainly like to see, just for once, a fellow turn up here who didnt look as if hed been cast in the same mold with all the others!
Youre getting all worked up about nothing, old son, said Clem soothingly. You mustnt do it. It always upsets you so you cant eat your meals, and its only half an hour to supper.
If you werent so blamed stubborn
Shut up a minute! Hello! Come in!
The door of Number 15 opened slowly until the more dimly lighted corridor was revealed through a narrow aperture and a voice said: Excuse me, please, but is this where the fellow that hires the football players lives?
From where Martin sat the owner of the voice was hidden, and so he could not account for the radiant grin that enveloped his room-mates countenance for an instant.
I didnt get it, said Clem, politely apologetic. Wont you come in? His face was sober again, unnaturally sober in the judgment of Martin Gray.
Well, said the unseen speaker doubtfully. Then the door again began its cautious passage across the old brown carpet, and Mart understood Clems grin.
The youth who now stood revealed to Marts astounded gaze was little short of six feet tall, it seemed. In age he might have been anywhere from sixteen to twenty, with eighteen as a likely compromise. He was attired neatly but, it appeared, uncomfortably in a suit of dark gray which fitted him too loosely across the shoulders and too abruptly at the ankles, its deficiency at the latter point exposing to Marts fascinated eyes a pair of wrinkled woolen socks of sky-blue. The low shoes were not extraordinary, but there was something deliciously quaint about the collar, with its widely parted corners, and the pale blue satin tie that failed to hide the brass collar-stud. Even the hat, a black Alpine shape, struck a note of originality, possibly because it was a full size too small and was poised so precariously atop a thickish mass of tumbled hair that seemed not yet to have decided just what shade of brown to assume. Clem coughed delicately and asked: You were looking for some one?
Guess Ive got the wrong place, said the stranger, his first embarrassment increasing at the discovery of Mart beyond the doors edge. The fellow Im looking for is the one who hires well, takes on the football players. Guess hes the manager, aint he?
Possibly, answered Clem, turning to Mart with an inquiring glance. What do you think?
Martin took his cue promptly. Or, maybe the coach, he suggested. You dont know his name?
The stranger shook his head. He held firmly to the outer knob of the door, resting his shoulders against the edge of it as he frowned in an effort of memory. I heard it, he replied, but I forget what it was. He said I was to see him between five and six about me getting on the football team and I thought he said he lived in Number 15 in Lykes Hall, but
Well, you see, this isnt
But Clem interrupted Mart swiftly. Sit down, wont you? he asked, smiling hospitably. I dare say we can thresh out the mystery. And you might shove that door too, if you dont mind. Thanks.
The stranger closed the door as slowly as he had opened it, removed his hat and advanced gingerly to the chair that Clems foot had deftly thrust toward him. He gave them the impression of having attained his growth so suddenly as to be a little uncertain about managing it. He lowered himself almost cautiously into the chair, placing two rather large feet closely together and holding his hat firmly by its creased crown with both hands, hands generously proportioned, darkly tanned and extremely clean. He looked about the room and then back to Clem, while a slow smile radiated the long, somewhat plain face.
You fellows got it right nice here, he ventured.
Like it? asked Clem in a more friendly tone. The strangers smile had transformed him on the instant from a queer, almost uncouth figure to something quite human and likable. Yes, it isnt a bad room. Where do you hang out? By the way, you didnt mention your name, did you?
Todds my name. My rooms over in Haylow; Number 33. A fellow named Judson and I have it together. It aint like this, though. Not so big, for one thing, and then the ceiling comes down, over there like, and I keep hitting my head on it.
Mart laughed. They didnt build you for one of those third floor rooms, Todd.
The slow smile came again and the gray eyes twinkled, and the visitor relaxed a little in the straight chair. Gosh, I started to grow last year and it looks like I cant stop. I didnt use to be such an ungainly cuss.
I wouldnt let that bother me, returned Mart. Youll fill out pretty soon, I dare say. How tall are you?
Todd shook his head. I aint measured lately, he acknowledged a trifle sheepishly. Been scared to. Pop says if I dont stop pretty soon it wont be safe for me to go out in the woods lessn some one might mistake me for a tree and put an ax to me!
Wheres your home? asked Clem, with a side glance at his room-mate.
Four Lakes, Maine. At least, we dont live right in the village, but thats our postoffice address. We live about three miles north, up the Ludic road. You ever been around there?
It seemed that they hadnt, but once started Todd was not averse to supplying personal information. Clem fancied that Judson, whoever he might be, had not proved a sympathetic listener and that Todd was heartily glad to find some one to talk to. His father had a store, it seemed, and was also interested in timber lands and numerous other interests. There was a large family of children of which the present representative was the senior member. He had been going to school at Four Lakes until last Spring.
I was set on going to college, you see, and I thought Id learned enough, but I went down to Lewiston and talked with a fellow down there and he said Id better go to a preparatory school for a couple of years first. I asked where and he said this place. So I came down here. Seems like he might have said some place nearer home, but I guess it dont matter. This looks like a right nice school. I guess you fellows are seniors, arent you?
Juniors, corrected Clem. I suppose youre one of us, Todd.
I guess so. I aint heard for sure yet. They started me off as a junior, though.
Oh, youll make it, declared Mart. So youre going to play football, eh?
Oh, I dont know. Todd smiled embarrassedly. I aint ever yet, but this fellow I was looking for stopped me this morning and asked if I was going to and I said no, and then he asked didnt I want to and I said I didnt know if I did or not, and he said for me to come and see him between five and six oclock and wed talk about it. He said what his name was, but I forget. I think he said he managed the players.
He didnt, inquired Clem very innocently, mention what position he thought youd fill best on the team?
Todds gray eyes twinkled again. No, he didnt, but I guess maybe one of the posts at the end of the fields got broken and hes looking for a new one.
I think it must have been Dolf Chapin you saw, said Mart, smiling at Clems slight discomfiture. Hes
Thats the name, declared Todd with relief. Wheres his room, please?
Hes in 15 Lykes.
Well, isnt this Then Todds countenance proclaimed understanding and he chuckled. Gosh, I went right by it, didnt I? I was over at that building where they have the library
Memorial, said Mart.
And meant to stop at the first building after I came off that path that comes from there. Instead of that I got right back in my own house, didnt I? I aint got this place learned very well yet. Well, Im much obliged to you. Maybe Ill see you again. My name, like I told you, is Todd, Jim Todd. He arose and offered a big hand to Clem and then to Mart.
Glad to have met you, Todd, responded Clem, spreading his fingers experimentally after the crushing grip they had sustained. My names Harland, and this is Gray. Drop in again some time, wont you? Id like mighty well to hear how you get along with football.
Well, I aint so sure Ill play it, answered Todd from the doorway, frowning a little. I guess playing games sort of interferes with a fellows school work, and what Ive seen of the courses theyve got me down for makes me think Ill have to do some tall studying. Im glad to have met you, and maybe I might come in and see you again some time.
Do that, said Clem earnestly.
Then the door closed slowly but decidedly and Clem and Mart dropped back into their chairs. After a moment Clem said: Looks to me like your prayer was answered, Mart.
Well, hes only one, but hes a hopeful sign.
Clem chuckled softly. You and Todd ought to get along pretty well together, he continued. You wanted something different, and there you have it. At least, he doesnt wear clothes like the rest of us; hes no slave to Fashion, old son. Maybe he wont mind telling you where he buys his togs, eh?
Some way, answered Mart, it doesnt seem quite fair to make fun of him. There was something awfully decent about the chap, in spite of his clothes and his er queer appearance.
Thats true, and I wasnt really making fun. Only Clem interrupted himself with a laugh. Say, isnt it just like Chapin to try to round that fellow up for the football squad? Honest, Mart, if a one-legged fellow showed up here and Dolf saw him he wouldnt be happy until he had him out on the field!
At that, replied Mart, as he arose to prepare for supper, Jim Todd might be a blamed sight better player than some of those cripples who lost the game last year for us! I noticed that your delicate sarcasm was trumped very neatly by our recent guest, old timer!
Yes, Clem acknowledged, thats so. I fancy our friend James isnt such a fool as his hat makes him out!
CHAPTER II
JIM TODD QUITS
The occupants of Number 15 Haylow didnt see anything more of Jim Todd for a while. In fact, he had nearly gone from their memories when Clem collided with him at the entrance to the dormitory one day in late October. Jim only said Hello and would have gone by, but something prompted Clem to renew the acquaintance.
Well, how do you like things now that youve been with us awhile, Todd? he asked.
Fine, thanks. Im getting on real well.
Good! By the way, you never paid that next call, you know. Gray and I have been wondering about you. That was more flattering than truthful perhaps. Still playing football, or did you decide not to go in for the manly pastime?