“A new one.”
“I think he’s mistaken about that,” cried Newbold, and he applied himself immediately with angry exhortations to his colleague’s ear. Thorne reddened under the attack, but did not retreat.
“You see, it was just as Sumner said,” commented Talbot, addressing the central bench. “We picked up a few signals during the game. Callahan couldn’t have given us that tackle signal, if we had asked him.”
“Unfortunately it isn’t a question of one signal, but of many,” said President John, quickly. “You ask us to believe what the football experts assure us is impossible.”
“If you have a fool quarter-back, anything is possible,” retorted Talbot. “When three plays out of four in succession are sent at the same hole with only a slight alteration in the signal, a fellow must be an idiot not to guess what the signal means!” Pete stopped short there, for Sumner pulled him down.
“We didn’t do that!” snapped Newbold.
Again Mr. Snyder interfered. “I think we may as well vote now,” he said. “We have heard both sides.”
“Yes, vote!” muttered Talbot. “That’s what we’re here for! It’s no use to waste time on the truth if you’ve already made up your minds not to accept it.” The words were spoken too low to carry distinctly, a prudence which must be credited to the restraining influence of Sumner’s clutch upon the speaker’s knee.
“We will take the vote then,” announced the chairman, in accents of genuine relief; but he added immediately, “Unless some one has additional evidence to present or questions to ask.”
“I think further discussion would be unprofitable,” said Mr. Snyder, quickly. “Newbury has made a charge and Westcott’s has denied it. It only remains for us to give our decision.”