Barbour Ralph Henry - On Your Mark! A Story of College Life and Athletics стр 9.

What was the name of the mine? asked Allan, eagerly.

This one was the Indian Girl. Theres lots of em thereabouts. The old man

Say, is the old man your father? asked Tommy.

Yes; why?

Nothing, only I should think hed lick you if he heard you calling him that.

Oh, he doesnt mind. Besides, he isnt really old; only about forty. He calls me Kid, too, he added, smiling broadly. Well, in the summer he wanted to know where Id rather go to college Yale, Harvard, Princeton, Pennsylvania; he said he didnt care so long as it was far enough away to keep me from diggin out for home every week and presenting myself with vacations not down on the calendar. Well, there was a fellow up at the mine named Thompson; he was superintendent. I was helping him or thought I was and so we got to be pretty good friends. He was a nice little fellow, about as high as a sage-bush, and as plucky as a bulldog. Well, he went to college here about ten years ago, and he used to tell me a good deal about the place. So, when the old man said, Which is it? I told him Erskine. He said hed never heard tell of it, but so long as it was about two thousand miles from Blackwater he guessed it would do. And thats how. Now you talk.

Thats the first time I ever heard of choosing a college because it was a long way from home, laughed Hal. Id like to meet that father of yours.

Better go back with me Christmas, said Burley. Hal stared at him doubtfully, undecided whether to laugh or not. Of course, continued Burley, carelessly, we havent got much out there. Its pretty much all alfalfa and sage-bush around Blackwater. But the hills arent far, and theres good hunting up toward Routt. You fellows all better come; the old man would be pleased to have you.

Hal stared wide-eyed.

Arent you fooling? he gasped.

Fooling? Burley echoed. Why, no, I aint fooling. Whats wrong?

Nothing; but of course we couldnt do it, you know; at least, Im plumb sure I couldnt. Hal looked doubtfully at the others.

Nor I, said Allan. I only wish I could.

Same here, said Tommy, wistfully. Id give a heap to have the chance.

Sorry, answered Burley. Perhaps in the summer, or some other time, when you havent got anything better. I suppose your folks want you at home Christmas?

Y-yes, replied Hal, but it isnt altogether that; theres the expense, you see.

Oh, it wouldnt cost you anything much, said Burley. Its all on me. Youd better say youll come.

Hals eyes opened wider than before.

You mean youd pay our fares all our fares out to Colorado and back? he asked.

Sure. Wed only have about a week out there, but we could do a lot of damage in a week.

Hal was silent from amazement. Allan stammered his thanks. Tommy merely sat and stared at Burley, as though fascinated. The latter translated silence into assent.

Well, well call it fixed, eh? he asked, heartily.

Thunder, no! exploded Hal. We couldnt do that, Burley. Were awfully much obliged, but, of course, if we went out there to visit you, wed pay our own way. And I dont believe any of us could do that this Christmas, at least.

Oh, be good! said Burley. Now, look here; Id let you do that much for me.

But we couldnt, said Allan.

Well, you would if you could, of course; wouldnt you, now?

Why er I suppose we would, Allan faltered.

Well, there you are! said Burley, triumphantly. That settles it.

It took the others some time to prove to him that it didnt settle it, and Burley listened with polite, but disapproving, attention. When the argument was concluded, he shook his head sorrowfully.

Youre a lot of Indians! he said. Youre not doing the square thing by me, and Im going to pull my freight. He drew himself out of the chair and rescued his big felt hat from beneath it. There was a general pushing back of chairs. You and Mr. Ware must come around to my tepee some night soon, Burley told Hal, and well have another pow-wow. Seems like Id done all the chinning to-night. He shook hands with Allan, who strove to bear the pain with fortitude and only grimaced once, and said in quite a matter-of-fact way, I guess you and I are going to be partners. Good night.

Allan muttered that he hoped so, and after the three visitors had taken their departures he examined his hand under the light to see if bruises or dislocations were visible.

I wonder, he asked himself, with a rueful smile, if he shakes hands very often with his partners?

CHAPTER VI

RIGHT GUARD BACK!

November started in with an Indian summer, but by the middle of the month the spell had broken, and a week of hard, driving rain succeeded the bright weather. Until then Allan had spent almost every afternoon on the cinder-track, running the half mile at good speed, doing the mile and a half inside his time, occasionally practising sprinting, and, once a week, jogging around until he had left nine laps behind him and had covered a quarter of a mile over his distance.

For by this time Kernahan had decided that the two-mile event was what he was cut out for, but promised him, nevertheless, that at the indoor athletic meeting, in February, he should be allowed to try both the mile and the two miles. The trainers instruction had already bettered Allans form; his stride had lost in length and gained in speed and grace until it became a subject for admiring comment among the fellows.

The Purple, in an article on Fall Work of the Track Team Candidates, hailed Ware 07 as a most promising runner, and one who has improved rapidly in form since the Fall Handicaps until at present he easily leads the distance men in that feature. It is Mr. Kernahans intention, concluded the Purple, to develop Ware as a two-miler, since this year, as in several years past, there is a dearth of first-class material for this distance.

But the rains put an end to the track work, as they put an end to all outdoor activities save football, and training was practically dropped by the candidates. On three occasions, when the clouds temporarily ceased emptying themselves onto a sodden earth, the middle and long distance candidates were sent on cross-country jogs and straggled home at dusk, very wet and muddy, and much out of temper. A week before Thanksgiving the sky became less gloomy and a sharp frost froze the earth till it rang like metal underfoot.

It was on one such day, a Saturday, that the Robinson freshman football team came to town and, headed by a brass band, marched out to the field to do battle with the Erskine youngsters. The varsity team had journeyed from home to play Artmouth, and consequently the freshman contest drew the entire college and town, and enthusiasm reigned supreme in spite of the fact that a Robinson victory was acknowledged to be a foregone conclusion.

Allan and Tommy Sweet watched the game from the side lines; Tommy, with note-book in hand, darting hither and thither from one point of vantage to another, and Allan vainly striving to keep up with him. The latter had gained admission beyond the ropes by posing as Tommys assistant; the assistance rendered consisted principally of listening to Tommys breathless comment on the game.

Oh, rotten! Tommy would snarl. Two yards more!.. Oh; perfectly rotten!.. See that pass? See it? What? Eh, what?.. Now, watch this! Watch Whatd I say? Good work, Seven!.. Now, thats playing!.. Third down and one to Whats that? Lost it? Lost nothing! Why, look where the ball is! How can they have lost Hey! hows that for off-side? Just watch that Robinson left end; look! See that?.. Three yards right through the center! What was Burley doing?.. Well, here goes for a touch-down. Theres no help now!.. Another yard!.. Two more!.. Did they make it? Did they?.. Hi-i-i! Our ball!