Merry shook his head when he examined the exposed foot. The skin was broken and the ankle looked red and angry.
“Let Banks report to the referee, Handy,” said Frank. “Sorry, Deever,” he added, to the crestfallen end, “but we can’t take chances, you know. You’ve won glory enough in the first half, anyhow.”
Merry pulled Handy aside.
“If anything happens that I have to leave the field before the game is over, Handy,” said Frank, “Clancy will be on deck.”
“But you’re not going to leave——”
“Not if I can help it. There’s something important going on—something not down on the bills—and I can’t neglect it even for this football game.”
With that, Merry hurried from the gym. The first man he encountered on the field was Hawkins.
“Has Guffey come out of the Gold Hill dressing rooms yet?” he asked.
“Well, I reckon,” grinned the deputy. “He came out with Jode Lenning, an’ the two walked over to’rd the west end of the grand stand. There they are now, in a close confab.”
Frank sauntered carelessly in the direction of Guffey and Lenning.