Part 21 (1/2)

a.s.suming a striking pose, a la troubadour, at the open window, T.

Haviland Hicks, Jr., a somewhat paradoxical figure, his splinter-structure enshrouded in the gown, the cap on his cla.s.sic head, this regalia symbolic of dignity, and the torturesome banjo in his grasp, tw.a.n.ged a ragtime accompaniment, and to the bewilderment of the old Grads on the campus, as well as the wrath of 1919, he roared in his fog-horn voice:

”Oh, I love for to live in the country!

And I love for to live on the farm!

I love for to wander in the gra.s.s-green fields-- Oh, a country life has the charm!

I love for to wander in the garden-- Down by the old haystack; Where the pretty little chickens go 'Kick-Kack-Kackle!'

And the little docks go 'Quack! Quack!'”

From the Seniors on the Gym steps, their dignified song rudely shattered by this rollicking saenger-fest, came a storm of protests; to the unbounded delight of the alumni, watching the scene with interest, shouts, jeers, whistles, and cat-calls greeted Hicks' minstrelsy:

”Tear off his cap and gown--he's a disgrace to '19!”

”Shades of Schumann-Heink--give that calf more rope!”

”Ye G.o.ds--how long must we endure--that?”

”Hicks, a Senior--n.o.body home--can that noise!”

”Shoot him at sunrise! Where's his Senior dignity?”

Big Butch Brewster, referring to his watch, bellowed through the megaphone that it was nearly eight o'clock, and loudly suggested that they forcibly terminate Hicks' saengerfest, and spare the town police force a riot call to the campus, by transporting the pestiferous youth to the Auditorium, for his ”surprise party.” His idea finding favor, he, with Beef and Pudge, somewhat hampered by their gowns, lumbered up the stairway of Bannister, and down the third-floor corridor to the offending Hicks' boudoir, followed by a yelling, surging crowd of Seniors and undercla.s.smen. They invaded the graceless youth's room, much to the pretended alarm of that torturesome collegian, who believed that the entire student-body of old Bannister had foregathered to wreak vengeance on his devoted head.

”Mercy! Have a heart, fellows!” plead T. Haviland Hicks, Jr., helpless in the clutches of Butch, Beef, and Pudge, ”I won't never do it no more, no time! Say, this is too much--much too much--too much much too much--I, Oh--

”To the Auditorium with the wretch!” boomed Butch; and the splinter-youth was borne aloft, on his broad shoulders, a.s.sisted by Beef McNaughton. They transported the grinning Hicks down the corridor, while fifty noisy youths, howling, ”For He's a Jolly Good Fellow!” tramped after them. Downstairs and across the campus the hilarious procession marched, and into the Auditorium, where the students and alumni were gathering for the awarding of the athletic B. A thunderous shout went up, as T. Haviland Hicks, Jr., was carried to the stage and deposited in a chair.

”Hicks! Hicks! Hicks! We've got a surprise for--Hicks!”

”Now, just what have I did to deserve all these?” grinned that happy-go-lucky youth, puzzled, nevertheless. ”Well, time will tell, so all I can do is to possess my soul with impatience; old Bannister has a mystery for me, this trip!”

In fifteen minutes, the Athletic a.s.sociation meeting opened. On the stage, beside its officers, were those athletes, including T. Haviland Hicks, Jr., who were to receive that coveted reward--their B, together with a number of one-time famous Bannister gridiron, track, basketball, and diamond stars.

Each youth was to receive his monogram from some ex-athlete who once wore the Gold and Green, and Hicks' beloved Dad--Bannister's greatest hero--was to present his son with the letter.

There were speeches; the Athletic a.s.sociation's President explained the annual meeting, former Bannister students and athletic idols told of past triumphs on Bannister Field; the football Champions.h.i.+p banner, and the baseball pennant were flaunted proudly, and each team-captain of the year was called upon to talk. Mr. Thomas Haviland Hicks, Sr., a great favorite on the campus, delivered a ringing speech, an appeal to the undergraduates for clean living, and honorable sportsmans.h.i.+p, and then:

”We now come to the awarding of the athletic B,” stated the President. ”The Secretary will call first the name of the athlete, and then the alumnus who will present him with the letter. In the name of the Athletic a.s.sociation of old Bannister, I congratulate those fellows who are now to be rewarded for their loyalty to their Alma Mater!”

Thrilled, T. Haviland Hicks, Jr., watched his comrades, as they responded to their names, and had the greatest glory, the B, placed in their hands by past Bannister athletic heroes. Butch, Beef, Roddy, Monty, Ichabod, Biff, Hefty, Tug, Buster, Deacon Radford, Cherub, Don, Skeet, Thor, who had won the hammer-throw. These, and many others, having earned the award by playing in three-fourths of a season's games on the eleven or the nine, or by winning a first place in some track event, stepped forward, and were rewarded. Some, as good Butch, had gained their B many times, but the fact that this was their last letter, made the occasion a sad one. Every name was called but that of T. Haviland Hicks, Jr., and that perturbed youth wondered at the omission, when the President spoke:

”The last name,” he said, smiling, ”is that of Thomas Haviland Hicks, Jr., and we are glad to have his father present the letter to his son, as Mr.

Thomas Haviland Hicks, Sr., is with us. However, we Bannister fellows have prepared a surprise party for our lovable comrade, and I beg your patience awhile, as I explain.”

Graphically, Dad Pendleton described the wonderful all-round athletic record made by Mr. Thomas Haviland Hicks, Sr., while at old Bannister, and sketched briefly but vividly his phenomenal record at Yale; he told of Mr. Hicks' great ambition, for his only son, Thomas, to follow in his footsteps--to be a star athlete, and shatter the marks made by his Dad.

Then he reminded the Bannister students of T. Haviland Hicks, Jr.'s, athletic fiascos, hilarious and otherwise, of three years. He explained how that cheery youth, grinning good-humoredly at his comrades' jeers, had been in earnest, striving to realize his father's ambition. As the spellbound collegians and grads. listened, Dad chronicled Hicks' dogged persistence, and how he finally, in his Senior year, won his track B in the high-jump.

Then he described the biggest game of the past football season, the contest that brought the Champions.h.i.+p to old Bannister. The youths and alumni heard how T. Haviland Hicks, Jr., made a great sacrifice, for the greater goal; how, after training faithfully in secret for a year, hoping sometime to win a game for his Alma Mater, he cheerfully sacrificed his chance to tie the score by a drop-kick, and became the pivotal part of a fake-kick play that won for the Gold and Green.