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Secret Play

<h2>CHAPTER XVI LANNY VISITS THE OFFICE</h2> Practice was light that Monday afternoon, for many of the boys had suffered slight bruises or muscle-strains in the Corwin game and all were more or less languid as a result of the continued warm weather, while, to make easy work more advisable, the light drizzle which had been falling since early morning had made the field slippery. Several of the Varsity players were excused altogether, among them Tom Haley, who had stood a good deal of punishment, and Lanny White, who showed unmistakable signs of a disposition to go “fine.” Everyone moved slowly, sluggishly to-day, and the jump that Chester Cottrell usually managed to put into the team was noticeably lacking. Morris Brent tried a few field-goals and did so well that it was difficult to believe that he had twice failed on Saturday. After practice was over, and it ended long before dusk to-day, Morris waited for Dick and Gordon, who emerged together from the dressing-room under the stand, and walked with them across to where the blue runabout, its top glistening with rain, stood in the lee of the fence. “That stuff’s come,” he announced. “The fellow at the freight office called me up after school. I was afraid it wasn’t going to get here in time.” “Are you going to move it to-night?” asked Dick. “That’s what I wanted to ask you about. Mr. Grayson’s birthday is Wednesday and we’ve got to get the things in his office to-morrow evening. So it doesn’t seem to me much use to move it twice. What do you think? Why not have Stuart load it on a team to-morrow afternoon before the freight shed closes and pull it to his stable and then bring it around to the school later, say about nine? The dickens of it is that we’ll have to wait until that old meeting is over, I suppose. We don’t want the whole school messing around while we’re moving it in and getting the wrappings off. I wish they’d selected some other evening for their silly meeting.” “Yes, but you can wait until the fellows go home. I don’t see any reason for moving it twice, either, Morris. Your scheme looks all right. Don’t you think so, Gordie?” “Yes. You’ll want help to get the stuff unpacked, I suppose.” “I don’t believe so. Louise and Nell are coming around, and Owen, the janitor, will be there to help. I can manage all right. Unless,” he added, “you want to have a hand in it.” “I wouldn’t be much use, I guess,” replied Dick. “I won’t come unless I’m needed. By the way, I’ve got some money for you at home. I’ve collected all but about three dollars.” “Me, too,” said Gordon. “Only I’ve got more than three to get yet. Some of the younger fellows hate like anything to give up their money. Get in, Dick, and I’ll turn her over.” “Coming along, Morris?” asked Dick, climbing in and laying his crutches in the improvised rack on the running-board. “You can sit on the floor if you don’t mind.” “Get in the seat,” said Gordon. “I’ll squat. All set?” “All set,” answered Dick. Gordon twirled the starting crank and Eli began to whir merrily. Gordon closed the gate behind the car and seated himself on the floor, and Eli chugged off down A Street toward Brentwood. “By the way,” announced Morris, “the girls are going around to the meeting to-morrow night, Dick. Louise is sputtering with indignation and declares that if it comes to a vote they’ll see that you come out all right!” “Votes for women!” laughed Dick. “That’s very nice of them, but I’m afraid the fellows won’t appreciate their presence.” “So I told her,” said Morris, “but she says that all the students are asked to attend and that the girls are just as much students as the boys are. Anyway, she’s going, and she’s made about thirty others promise to go, too. I guess it’s going to be quite an affair!” “It looks so,” replied Dick dryly. “Whoa, Eli! Good night, Morris. Let me know if I can do anything to help with the furniture, please.” As they started off again Gordon began to chuckle and Dick viewed him inquiringly. “Tell me about it,” he said. “Oh, it’s nothing, Dick. I was just thinking.” “Does it always affect you like that?” “Not always. Only when it’s funny. You see, I was thinking about Louise going to the meeting. It’s fine to have the ladies on your side, Dick.” “Huh!” grunted Dick. “I suppose it’s because you’re such a handsome beast. Still, you’ve got a way with you, too. If it was anyone else, now, Louise——” “Do you want to land in the gutter?” asked Dick carelessly. “N-no, not especially, thanks.” “Then cut out the comedy.” “All right. But I can keep on thinking, can’t I?” “Yes, if you don’t do it so I can hear you. Here’s where you get out, anyway. Beat it!” “Thank you. And good night, you old heart-breaker!” The next morning when Lanny reached school he found a summons from the Principal awaiting him and sought the office with trepidation. He wasn’t aware of having transgressed any rules and his class standing was no worse than it had been all the Fall. In fact, for the last fortnight he thought he had been doing considerably better. The office was on the main floor of the building, at the end of the long corridor. Mr. Grayson greeted the visitor pleasantly and asked him to be seated. “Just a moment, White, if you please,” he added as he returned to some writing he was doing. Mr. Grayson was short and square, with a head that seemed just a little too large for his body. His thick, wiry hair was sprinkled with gray, as was his short beard and closely-cropped mustache. From behind his glasses a pair of mild, thoughtful brown eyes looked gravely on the world from under heavy, grizzled brows. Mr. Grayson impressed one as being strong physically and mentally, and not only strong but capable. His countenance, in spite of its accustomed gravity—and the Principal was seldom seen to smile—was, on the whole, pleasant and kindly. While Mr. Grayson continued his writing, Lanny looked about the office with a new interest. It did, he told himself, certainly need new furnishings. The carpet, always too small for the big room, was threadbare in places and so faded that it was difficult to guess its original color. The flat-top oak desk was stained and battered, and when, presently, the Principal leaned back in his swivel-chair it squeaked most excruciatingly. Mr. Grayson removed his glasses and, being nearsighted, squinted a little as he turned to Lanny. “Well, White, how are football affairs getting on?” he asked. Lanny was so greatly relieved to find that he was not in for a caution regarding his class standing that for an instant he found it hard to focus his thoughts on the question. Finally, however, “Why, pretty well, sir,” he answered vaguely. “Hm!” Mr. Grayson thoughtfully polished the lenses of his glasses with a silk handkerchief which he carried for the purpose. “Mr. Carter talked to me over the ’phone last evening. He seemed to think that there was some dissatisfaction on the part of the school. He said his son had told him the boys were quite excited and were talking of appealing to the Athletic Committee to do something, I don’t know just what.” Mr. Carter was one of the graduate members of the Committee and had a son in High School. “Yes, sir, there is some talk,” acknowledged Lanny. “There’s to be a meeting to-night. The fellows don’t like it that the team has been beaten so often. But I don’t see what good it is going to do to stir up a lot of talk and trouble, Mr. Grayson.” “I see. Mr. Carter rather inferred that the boys held the coach to blame. Is that the way it is?” “Yes, I think so. They seem to have it in for the team and for Lovering too. We haven’t made a very good showing so far, sir, and that’s a fact, but Lovering’s aiming at the Springdale game and doesn’t care so much about the others. As far as I’m concerned, I’d like to win them all, but Dick seems to think we can’t do that, and I’m willing to stand back of Dick, Mr. Grayson.” “Do you think he—well, knows his business, White?” “Yes, sir, I do,” replied Lanny decidedly. “He may be a little—a little too cautious, but I think if the fellows will let him alone he will bring the team around in good shape for the big game.” “I see. And the other members of the team, White? They think as you do about Lovering?” “Yes, sir, as far as I know. We’d all like to have won more games than we have, but it isn’t fair to put the blame on Dick, Mr. Grayson; anyway, not all of it. The team isn’t as far advanced as it was a year ago at this time, but not having any coach at the beginning of the season made a difference.” “Hm. Last year Springdale won, I believe.” “Yes, sir. That’s just it. We won all our early games but one and then got beaten badly by Springdale.” “I see. Well, that’s all I wanted to know, White. I thought that it might be well to understand the sentiment of the team itself in case—well, in case the matter came before the Committee. I hope Lovering’s method will succeed. That’s all, then, thanks, White. Not very good weather for football, I take it.” “No, sir, not very. Good morning, sir.” Lanny retired from the interview well satisfied. If, as was not improbable, the meeting voted to appeal to the Athletic Committee, Mr. Grayson would, Lanny felt, use his influence against any interference with the coach’s conduct of affairs. That there would be any demand for a change of coach was not at all likely, for even the most dissatisfied would surely recognize the folly of, so to say, swapping horses in mid-stream. But the meeting might ask and the Committee might have consented to some policy of interference that would have worried Dick and seriously handicapped him. But with Mr. Grayson on their side, Lanny reflected, it was very unlikely that anything of the sort would occur. “They may talk their silly heads off now,” he said to himself, “and much good it will do ’em!” It stopped raining at noon and the field, though by no means in perfect condition, was better than the day before and practice went very well. Bruises and strains were forgotten, and a little cold breeze that made itself felt in the afternoon and sent the heavy clouds scurrying southward put more spirit into the fellows. The Varsity had little difficulty in scoring once in each of the three periods of the game against the Scrubs, and the fellows showed possibilities of attack that were distinctly encouraging. The handful of spectators who braved the weather and watched practice were, in many cases unwillingly, impressed with the work of the Varsity. The mass-meeting had been called for eight o’clock, and long before that hour the assembly hall on the upper floor of the school building was well-filled. The advent of some thirty-odd girls occasioned amusement and surprise, even, I regret to say, some ridicule. But Louise Brent and her following paid no heed to the expressions of the latter. The girls found seats together at one side of the hall and calmly awaited events. Most of the football players were there, although, following Dick’s instructions, they were careful not to group themselves. Dick arrived just before the meeting was called to order and his appearance created something of a sensation. He found an empty seat half-way from the front on a side aisle and lowered himself into it quite unembarrassedly. Some one started to clap, but the demonstration was quickly hushed. After that the hall was very quiet for several minutes. The clock over the platform announced eight-three. At last Sears, the President of the Senior Class, arose from his place near the front and faced the meeting. “I have been asked,” announced Sears, “in the absence of—of anyone as obliging, to explain the purpose of this meeting. First off, though, I want to say that I take no sides in this business. I’m neutral.” Some laughter and applause greeted this. “As I understand it,” he went on, “we are here to talk over the football situation and, possibly, take steps to improve it. Just now the first thing to do is, I presume, to appoint a chairman. Nominations are in order.” “I nominate Toby Sears,” said some one. “Second it!” called another voice. “You’ve heard the motion, fellows. Those in favor will say ‘Aye,’ opposed, ‘No.’ The ayes have it. It is a vote.” Sears left his place on the floor and ascended the platform, taking his seat behind the small table in the center. “Now, gentlemen, what is your pleasure?” <hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> <div style="break-after:column;"></div>

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