Crazy nut! said Lowell disgustedly. Sure, I knew it, but thats got nothing to do with this year. Listen, that guy ought to be able to play football, Clem. He was all right for a fellow who didnt know anything about it, but he didnt get handled right, see? Hes queer. Stubborn, too, sort of. And Dolf Chapin wouldnt see it. You know Dolf. Thinks every ones got to dance when he fiddles. Todd got discouraged and told Dolf so and Dolf laughed at him and told him to quit his kidding. Bet you I could have kept Todd going and made him like it.
Why didnt you? asked Clem.
What chance? You know Dolf. Nice guy and all that, but no one else must say a word when hes around. An assistant coach here hasnt any say about anything. All he does is run errands and pick up things that the players throw down. I could see that Todd was getting tired and
You really think he could play? asked Clem incredulously.
Jim Todd? Sure he could! Why not? Put twenty pounds on him
How would you do it?
Feed him up, of course. Pshaw, fellows like him dont know what to eat. Three weeks at training table would put the tallow on him so you wouldnt know him!
Wasnt he at table last Fall?
No. He would have been if hed stuck a few days longer, I guess, but there were six or eight fellows who didnt come to the table until after the Hillsport game. That was another of Dolfs fool notions.
How many fellows have you got here now?
Fourteen. Billy Frost didnt show up; missed a steamer or something; and a couple more failed us. Your friend Todd was one. He didnt even write and tell us to chase ourselves, drat him! And we need another tackle like thunder.
Tackle! Clem whistled. Then he chuckled. Gosh, Woodie, I cant see Jim Todd playing tackle! Howd you happen to send him a call, anyway? Thought you only had the old players back for this early season stunt.
We needed tackles, like Im telling you, and both Johnny and I liked Todds looks last season, and there werent many fellows for the position. Doggone it, Clem, you dont realize that we lost most of the team last June!
How come? Billy Frost, Charley Levering, Fingal, Whittier
Oh, sure! And Pep Kinsey and Rolls Roice; but outside of Billy and Gus Fingal and Pep Kinsey theyre all new men, arent they? Sure, they played against Kenly, but that dont make em veterans! Weve got to build a whole new team pretty near, Clem. Thats why I want all the fellows I can get who happen to know a football from a chocolate sundae, and thats why Id like to see this here Jim Long-legged Todd and tell him what I think of him!
Stick around until to-morrow and youll get a chance. But I dont believe youll dent him any. I guess hes through with football, if he ever began.
Cant help that, old son. Weve got to have him; him and two or three others who quit last year for one reason or another; usually on account of trouble with the office. Im gunning for em. Say, Clem, you might help a bit, you know.
How?
Well, you and Todd are sort of thick, I suppose. Hed listen to you, wouldnt he?
Maybe. Meaning you want me to talk him around to going back? Any inducements?
How do you mean inducements? asked Lowell suspiciously.
Well, a banana royal at The Mirror, for instikance.
Sure! Just the same, its Johnny who ought to pay for it. It isnt my funeral whether any one plays or doesnt play, is it?
Well, youre manager, arent you? laughed Clem. Whats the manager for if not to do the dirty work and foot the bills? Besides, youll work that banana royal into the expense account somehow!
A fat chance! scoffed Lowell. Why, you cant buy a pair of shoe-laces without showing a voucher for it! Oh, well, Ill stand for your drink.
No, Ill let you off, Woodie. But dont bank too much on seeing Todd out there. Ill do what I can, but when you said he was a nut you spoke a mouthful. By the way, whos your trusty lieutenant this year?
A fellow named Barr, Johnny Barr. Know him? Not a bad sort, Johnny. Theres likely to be some confusion, though. Some day Ill yell Johnny and Johnny Cade will think Im getting fresh and crown me!
I hope Im there, laughed Clem. Where are you eating to-night?
Anywhere you say, if youre host.
Nothing doing. Im talking Dutch. How about the Beanery?
All right. What time? Im going to get under a shower before Im ten minutes older. It was as hot as Tophet on that field to-day!
Say half-past six. Ill meet you in front of Upton.
You will not. Im in Lykes this year. Got the room Spence Halliday had; Number 9; hot stuff!
No! Whos with you? Billy Frost?
No, Hick Powers. Come and see our magnificence. Should think youd have changed, Clem.
What for? Youve got nothing in your dive the Lykes of this!
Oh, good night! Im off! Six-thirty, eh? If Im not there, step inside and yell. So long!
Wait a minute! Listen, Woodie. What would you do with this junk? Theres only enough stuff to fill that case about three-quarters full, and if I ship it like that itll be an awful mess when it arrives, I guess. Whats the answer?
Stick in some of your own things.
No, but really! No joking, Woodie. What would
Have a heart! Have a heart! Lowell waved his hands protestingly at the doorway. Boy, Ive got problems! Dont pester me with trifles like that!
The football manager was off, taking the stairs four at a time. Clem went to the window and leaned over the sill. When Lowell emerged from the doorway below he hailed him.
Oh, Woodie!
Yeah, what you want? Lowell peered up blinkingly through the sunlight.
Listen, Woodie, went on Clem earnestly. Havent you got half a dozen old footballs over at the gym that you cant use?
Old foot Say, whats your trouble? What do you want em for?
To fill up this box, jeered Clem. Run along, sonny!
Clem didnt pass a very restful night. For one thing, Number 15 Haylow was hot and stuffy. Then, too, Clem and Lowell Woodruff and two other fellows had sought to mitigate the heat of the evening by partaking of many and various concoctions of ice cream and syrups, and his stomach had faintly protested for some time. He awoke in the morning, scandalously late, from what seemed to have been a night-long succession of unpleasant dreams. But a bath and breakfast set him right, and afterwards he completed the packing of Marts belongings. By rummaging about in the store-room he collected enough pieces of corrugated straw-board and excelsior and old newspapers to fill the top of the packing-case after a fashion, and he hammered the lid down with vast relief, addressed it with a paper spill dipped in the ink bottle and pushed it into the corridor. A visit to the express office completed his responsibilities, and, since it was then only a little after ten, he returned to school and took the path that led, between Academy and Upton Hall, and past the gymnasium, to the athletic field.
Morning practice was already in full swing when he reached the gridiron, and the small squad of perspiring youths were throwing and catching, punting and chasing half a dozen pigskins about the field. Clem greeted the trainer, whose real name was Jakin but who was never called anything but Jake, was introduced by Lowell to Johnny Barr, the assistant manager, and exchanged long-distance greetings with several of the players. Then he found a seat on the edge of the green wheelbarrow in which Peter, Jakes underling, trundled the football paraphernalia back and forth from the gymnasium and looked on. It wasnt a vastly interesting scene. Clem, who, while he thoroughly enjoyed watching a football contest, had never felt any urge to play the game, wasnt able to get any thrill from watching practice. He amused himself identifying some of the candidates, not such an easy task when old gray jerseys, ancient khaki pants and disreputable stockings comprised the attire of each and every one and effectually disguised individuality. There, however, was Gus Fingal, the captain, tall, with hair the color of new rope; and Charley Levering, taller and lighter and as black of head as a burnt match; and Pep Kinsey, a solid chunk of a youth slated for quarter-back position. And the big, square fellow was, of course, Hick Powers, and the long-legged chap farther down the field who was trying drop-kicks none too successfully was Steve Whittier. The others Clem couldnt place until Lowell came to his assistance. Lowell pointed out Roland Roice it was fated that he should be known as Rolls! Sawyer, Crumb, Cheswick, two or three others, but Clem wasnt greatly interested. Later, Coach Cade came off the field and shook hands. Johnny, as he was called by the fellows, though not to his face, was perspiring freely, and his face was the color of a ripe tomato. The coach was a short man, perhaps twenty-eight years of age, with a broad, solid body, a head of thick, bristle-like black hair and two sharp eyes set wide apart. Clem reflected, not for the first time, that Johnny Cade must have been a bad man to say Whoa to on a football field in his playing days! He had a regular fighting chin under that smiling mouth of his. Just now, having exchanged greetings with Clem, he was mopping his face with the sleeve of a tattered jersey.
Hot, isnt it? he asked. Weve had nearly a week of it here. Mean weather for football work. We usually get it about like this every Fall, though. Sometimes I doubt that this pays very well; this before-season practice. I dont know but that wed get along just as well without it. But as long as the other fellow does it I suppose weve got to. You look well, Harland. Then his smile deepened. Lucky for you, though, youre not in my gang. Youd lose about ten pounds on a day like this!
I guess so, agreed Clem. Fact is, Mr. Cade, Ive been pretty lazy this summer. Played some tennis and a few games of golf, and thats about all.
Tennis? Seems to me tennis ought to have kept you harder than you look.
Well, it wasnt very strenuous, you see. Mixed doubles usually.
He cant keep away from the girls, Coach, interpolated Lowell, shaking his head sadly. By the way, Clem here is rooming with that Todd guy that didnt R. S. V. P. to our invitation, and I told him hed be held accountable for Todds appearance on this here field not later than one day hence.
That so? Good idea. We want all the promising material we can get, Harland.
You think Todd is promising, then, sir?
Why, yes, Id say so. He gave us a mean deal last year, and I ought to refuse to have anything more to do with him, but I cant afford to indulge my personal tastes. Todd looked to me like good material last fall, and I told him that if he would buckle down and learn the game I could pretty nearly promise him a job this year. But he got tired of it and quit in the middle of the season. An odd chap. Stubborn, too. He got my goat for fair, and I said some harsh things to him, but he didnt seem to mind much. About all I could get him to say was I guess Id rather quit.
Well, as I told Woodie, Coach, Ill speak to him, but I wouldnt be surprised if he didnt see it.
Huh! said Lowell. Hes got to see it! Ill make his life a burden to him until he does! You know me, Clem.
Yes, indeed, Woodie, I know what a nuisance you can make of yourself. Go to it, old son.
Mr. Cade chuckled at Lowells look of outrage and said: Well, I wouldnt bother with him too much. If he doesnt want to come out after Harlands talked with him I guess well be better off without him. After all, a mans got to have some liking for football before he can play it well.
Clem, Lowell and Hick Powers went to luncheon together after practice was over and then repaired to Lowells room in Lykes and lolled about for an hour or so, by which time the summer-long peacefulness of the school was at an end. Taxi-cabs sped, honking, up Meadow street and swirled into the drive that led along in front of the dormitories, voices awoke echoes in the corridors, feet clattered on the stairs, trunks banged and dust floated in at the window before which the three boys, divested of coats and collars, lounged. The clans gather, murmured Lowell. Another year of beastly grinding begins. Ah, woe is me!
Hick Powers, big, homely and good-natured, chuckled deeply. Hear him, Clem. The old four-flusher! Of all the snaps, hes got it. Four courses, mind you!
How do you get that way? demanded Lowell indignantly. Im taking six the first half-year!
Yeah, four required and two snaps! Bible History or or Eskimo Literature, or something! Gee, it doesnt take much to get you guys through your senior year!
But think how we worked to get there! laughed Clem. Youre junior, arent you, Hick?
Sure! Finest class in school! First in war, first in peace, first
First at table, ended Lowell. What time is it?
Twelve after two, answered Clem. Guess Id better mosey along and see if Jim Todds arrived.
Oh, dont go, protested Lowell. Were just beginning to like you. What times he due?
I dont know. Maybe he wont get in until late. I suppose it takes quite a while to get here from Maine.
Sure. Two or three days. You do the first thousand miles on snowshoes. Then you take a dog-sled at the trading post
Youre a nut, laughed Clem. Im sorry for you, Hick. How do you think youre going to get through nearly nine months with him?
Oh, he wont get funny with me, answered Hick comfortably. Ill give him a paddling every now and then. Ill make a new man of him by Spring.
You, you big flat tire! responded Lowell. It would take three like you to paddle me! If it wasnt so hot Id box your ears for making a crack like that right in front of visitors!
Clems progress from Lykes to Haylow was retarded by encounters with several acquaintances, and once, having passed the corner of his own building, he spent ten minutes with his arms on the window-sill of a lower-floor room talking to the inmates of it. But he reached his corridor eventually and found the door of Number 15 ajar. As he had closed it behind him in the morning he reached the conclusion that Jim had arrived, and when he had thrust it farther inward and crossed the threshold he decided that the conclusion was correct. Then, as the occupant of the room straightened up from the business of unpacking a suit-case opened on the window-seat, he was in doubt for an instant. If this was Jim, what had happened to him?
CHAPTER VI
JIM REPORTS
After they had shaken hands, Clem took a good look at his new room-mate. The change in Jims appearance was due to two things, he decided. In the first place, Jim was dressed differently. He wore trousers of a grayish brown, a white negligee shirt with a small blue stripe, a semi-soft collar and a neatly tied dark-blue four-in-hand. The shoes were brown Oxfords and evidently new. The coat that matched the trousers was laid over the back of a chair. That suit, Clem reflected, had probably cost very little, but it fitted extremely well and looked well, too. Then Jim had filled out remarkably. He was still a long way from stout, but there was flesh enough now on his tall frame to take away the lanky look that had been his most striking feature last year. He seemed to hold himself straighter, too, as though he had become accustomed to his height, and to move with far less of awkwardness.
What have you been doing to yourself? asked Clem.
Jim stared questioningly. Apparently he was not aware of any change, and Clem explained. Well, you look twenty pounds heavier, Jim; maybe more; and But he stopped there. To approve his present attire would be tantamount to a criticism of his former.
Yes, I guess I am heavier, replied Jim. I got mighty good food up at Blaisdells, and a heap of it; and then I was outdoors most of the time. Right healthy sort of life, I guess. Didnt work hard, either; not really work.
I suppose it was pretty good fun, mused Clem. Id liked to have got up there for a few days, but it didnt seem possible.
Wish you had. Id have shown you some real fishing. Like to fish, Harland?
N-no, I dont believe I do. Maybe because Ive never done much. But it sounded pretty good, what you wrote, and if father hadnt arranged a motor trip for the last part of the summer I think Id have gone up there for three or four days.
Guess you thought that was pretty cheeky, that letter of mine, said Jim consciously.
Not a bit, Clem assured him heartily. If he had, he had forgotten it now. Awfully glad to have you, Jim.
I hope you mean that. Jim laughed sheepishly. I tried hard to get that letter back after Id posted it, but it happened that the fellow who carried the mail out got started half an hour earlier that morning, and I was too late.