Part 10 (1/2)

During the second quarter there was no scoring. The Eagles were determined to prevent further scoring by the Lions and risked little punting. They were able, however, to spoil any fine little plans of the Lions. Betty, who could not remember sometimes the various positions of the players, though she could note their work, watched the vigorous tackling and the opening struggles of the plays and found it necessary to make an effort not to become too worked up over the contest. But the Lions must win this time! They had barely won over the Eagles the year before, but the champions.h.i.+p was not at stake then for an outside team had developed into one that had beaten both Eagles and Lions, and the Eagles had lost one other game.

Time out saw some of the boys going out to the side lines and as they returned, Ted Dorrance saw a vacant seat just below where our three girls sat and vaulted into it. ”h.e.l.lo!” said he. ”This is a better place than I had before. Anybody rented it?”

”Not that I know of,” laughed Carolyn. ”Some freshman we don't know or some outsider sat there, I guess.”

”He's lost out now,” said Ted. ”How are you ladies enjoying the game?”

Ted looked up at Betty as he spoke.

”It is a wonderful game,” sighed Betty, ”but I can't feel easy about our beating yet!”

Ted laughed, drew a package of peppermint ”life savers” from his pocket and handed it up toward the feminine fingers. ”Perhaps these will do you some good,” said he. ”As to feeling easy, n.o.body does, though some would say so. But take it from me, girls, and keep it under your hat, something is going to happen.”

”Oh, tell us, Ted!” exclaimed Peggy.

Ted shook his head in the negative. ”Official secret. I happened to get hold of it. Sh-s.h.!.+”

Betty, with both dimples showing this time, for she really had two, exchanged an amused glance with the merry Ted, who now whirled around as several boys returned to take seats beside him, and one, looking up from below to see no room there, hopped into another vacancy lower down.

”You'll not have to fight for your seat, Ted,” remarked Carolyn. ”Aren't you seniors proud of Freddy?”

”Yeah. But I wish this was a game where the coach could put in a few subst.i.tutes. However, the other team is as bad off.”

As he spoke, the attention of all centered on the gridiron once more; but Betty was handing Ted the little package of ”life savers,” and as he took it, he leaned back to whisper near her ear as she stooped, ”Watch the Don!”

Inquiring eyes met Ted's with interest. He nodded. ”Do as I said,” he said jokingly, as he, too, turned to give his full attention to the field.

Betty wondered. The ”Don” was noted for his good interference. Were they going to let him do something else? Anyhow she would watch him, as Ted directed. How nice it was of Ted to tell her! But Carolyn had given her an amused glance just after Ted had turned away. She must be careful or those ridiculous girls would keep on teasing her. Not that she cared.

Very conservative, indeed, were the plays of the third quarter. Very watchful were both teams. But the Eagles must score if possible, of course, since the only score had been made by the Lions. Hard they fought. Alasthe Lions were penalized for some breach of the rules by Don, nothing serious, Ted said, just some little regulation about ”time”!

”That old heathen!” exclaimed Ted, looking back at Betty, who wanted to ask Ted if this were what she was to watch Don for. ”But just wait.

We'll show them!”

Next in excitement came a fifteen-yard holding penalty imposed on the Eagles. But as if in desperation, toward the last part of the quarter, a forward pa.s.s by the Eagles was successful, and Jim Pickett, clearing all interference, made a seventy-five-yard run and a touchdown.

”_Now_ hear the Eagle scream!” exclaimed Ted. ”What's the matter with our team that they let Jim get away with that? But it was a pretty run.

Jehoshaphat, we're even now! Nothey've lost the kick! Hooray, we're one ahead!”

Ted was either talking to himself or to the boys around him, but the girls followed his boyish discourse with interest. And the next calamity was even worse. In the next play one of the fiercest Lions was hurt.

They walked him off, but one arm hung limp and Ted, who again rushed away to find out the damage, returned with the information that ”Skimp's arm was broken!”

”Oh, will that let them beat us, do you think?” asked Betty, leaning forward.

”Not necessarily,” replied Ted, ”but it's a big loss,” and Ted looked a little grim. ”Besides that, Freddy's twisted his ankle, mind you!”

”But we mustn't give up, Betty,” urged Carolyn. ”We have to root all the harder to encourage the team!”

What had become of the play Don was to make, Betty wonderedif that was what Ted had meant?

The play of the third quarter, interrupted by much time out, went on to the finish, the Lions discouraged and not doing their best, Ted said.

The Eagles made apparently easy gains and took every advantage, until after a rapid advance toward their goal and in the last few minutes of the quarter Jim Pickett made another touchdown by catching the ball punted to his position and running free to the goal. In the excitement the final point to be gained by the kick was again lost. But now the Eagles' score stood ahead! Where were the brave Lions?