Part 14 (1/2)
It's his kicking ability that'll get him on if anything does.”
”I see,” said Laurie, thoughtfully. ”Well, I'm mighty glad. To tell the truth, Hop, Ned hasn't had an awful lot of experience. He's had to bluff a good deal.”
”I suspected something of the sort from seeing him work the first week or so. And then Kewpie said something that sort of lined up with the idea. Well, he's working hard and he's making good. Much obliged for these, Nod. I'll fetch them back in ten minutes.”
When Kendrick had taken his departure Laurie stared thoughtfully for a minute into s.p.a.ce. Finally he shook his head and smiled. ”Good old Ned!”
he murmured. ”I'm sorry I ragged him so. Gee, I'll have to buckle down to my own job or he'll leave me at the post!”
After practice that afternoon, Laurie and Lee picked up George and Bob Starling at the tennis-courts, and, after changing into ”cits,” went around to the doctor's porch and joined a dozen other lads who were engaged in drinking Miss Tabitha's weak tea and eating her soul-satisfying layer-cake. After a half-hour of batting and fielding practice and a five-inning game between the first team and the scrubs, Laurie was in a most receptive mood as far as refreshments were concerned. Miss Tabitha made an ideal hostess, for she left conversation to the guests and occupied herself in seeing that cups and plates were kept filled. No one had yet discovered the number of helpings of cake that const.i.tuted Miss Tabitha's limit of hospitality, and there was a story of a junior so depressed by homesickness that he had absent-mindedly consumed six wedges of it and was being urged to a seventh when some inner voice uttered a saving warning. In spite of very healthy appet.i.tes, none of the quartette sought to compete with that record, but Laurie and George did allow themselves to be persuaded to third helpings, declining most politely until they feared to decline any more. Before they had finished, the doctor joined the group and made himself very agreeable, telling several funny stories that set every one laughing and caused a small junior-it was the cherub-faced youth who sat at Laurie's table in the dining-hall and whose career thus far had proved anything but that of a cherub-to swallow a mouthful of mocha cake the wrong way, with disastrous results. During the ensuing confusion the quartette took their departure. At the gate Bob Starling said:
”By the way, fellows, I spoke to Dad about that tennis-court, and he's written to the agent for permission. He says there won't be any trouble; and if there is, he'll agree to put the garden back the way we found it and erect a new arbor.”
”What will it be?” asked George. ”Sod or gravel?”
”Oh, gravel. You couldn't get a sod court in shape under a year, and I want to use it this fall. I'm going to look around to-morrow for some one to do the job. Know who does that sort of work here-Lee?”
”No, but I suppose you get a contractor; one of those fellows who build roads and stone walls and things.”
”I'd ask at the court-house,” said Laurie.
”At the court-oh, that's a punk one!” jeered Bob. ”See you later, fellows!”
The game with Highland Academy was played across the river at Lookout, and most of the fellows went. In spite of Hop Kendrick's pessimistic prophecy, Hillman's took command of the situation in the first quarter and held it undisturbed to the final whistle. The contest was, if not extremely fast, well played by both teams, and the hosts refused to acknowledge defeat until the end. Captain Stevenson, at left tackle, was the bright, particular star of the day, with the redoubtable Pope a good second.
It was Joe Stevenson's capture of a fumbled ball in the first five minutes of play and his amazing run through the enemy ranks that produced the initial score. Pope kicked an easy goal after Slavin, right half, had plunged through for a touch-down. Later in the game, Pope had added three more points by a place-kick from the forty-two yards.
Highland twice reached the Blue's ten-yard line, the first time losing the ball on downs, and the next attempting a forward pa.s.s that went astray. Her one opportunity to score by a kick was wrecked by no other than Kewpie, who, having subst.i.tuted Holmes at the beginning of the second half, somehow shot his hundred and seventy pounds through the defense and met the pigskin with his nose. Kewpie presented a disreputable appearance for several days, but was given due honor.
Hillman's returned across the Hudson in the twilight of early October with exultant cheers and songs.
Ned watched that game from the subst.i.tutes' bench, just as he had watched the two preceding contests, but a newly awakened _esprit de corps_ forbade complaining. When Laurie sympathetically observed that he thought it was time Mulford gave Ned a chance in a real game, Ned responded with dignity, almost with severity, that he guessed the coach knew his business.
The first of the month-or, to be exact, the fourth-brought the twins their monthly allowances, and one of the first things Laurie did was to go to the little blue shop on Pine Street and pay his bill, which had reached its prescribed limit several days before. Ned went, too, although he didn't display much enthusiasm over the mission. Ned held that, having created a bill, it was all wrong deliberately to destroy it. To his mind, a bill was something to cherish and preserve. Laurie, however, pointed out that, since one was prohibited from further transactions at the Widow's, even on a cash basis, as long as one owed money there, it would be wise to cancel the debts. Ned recognized the wisdom of the statement and reluctantly parted with ninety-seven cents.
Since it was only a little after two o'clock, the shop was empty when the twins entered, and Polly and her mother were just finis.h.i.+ng their lunch in the back room. It was Polly who answered the tinkle of the bell and who, after some frowning and turning of pages in the account-book, canceled the indebtedness.
”Now,” said Ned, ”I guess I'll have a cream-cake. Want one, Laurie?”
Laurie did, in spite of the fact that it was less than an hour since dinner. Mrs. Deane appeared at the door, observed the proceeding, and smiled.
”I'm real glad to see you're still alive,” she said to Ned. ”I guess he must take very good care of you.”
”Yes'm, I do,” Laurie a.s.sured her gravely.
Ned laughed scornfully, or as scornfully as it was possible to laugh with his mouth full. ”You shouldn't believe everything he tells you, Mrs. Deane. I have to look after him like a baby. Why, he wouldn't get down in time for breakfast if I didn't put most of his clothes on.”
”That's no joke, either,” retorted Laurie, ”about you putting my clothes on. You're wearing one of my collars and my best socks right now, and-yes, sir, that's my blue tie!”
”Wait a bit, partner! Where'd you get that s.h.i.+rt you're wearing?”