It was over in a twinkling, and Lorrimer was sitting helpless and panting, while the young athlete he had attempted to tackle was coolly and smilingly holding him quiet.
“My dear fellow,” said Frank Merriwell, with perfect coolness, “you should not be so violent. It is quite unnecessary. I trust you will have the good sense to be quiet and listen now.”
Lorrimer was quiet.
It is probable that never till that minute had the manager of the Yale football-team thoroughly understood the kind of a man Frank Merriwell was. He had fancied that he understood Merriwell, but he had been mistaken. On the training-field Frank had been one of the most obedient workers. Never, under any circumstances, had he shown a sign of rebellion or sulkiness, no matter how severe was the calling down be received, and Lorrimer had come to believe that for all of Merry’s reputation, he was a very submissive fellow when confronted by his “superiors.”
That was where the manager was led into an error. Merriwell was a person who believed that it is the duty of a football-player to obey orders like a soldier. It was his theory that the men who obeyed unhesitatingly and without even seeming to entertain for a single instant the fancy that they knew better than their instructors what was the best thing to do were almost certain to become the best players for the general good of the team. Given command of men, Frank Merriwell would have exacted just such perfect submission and readiness to obey.
Lorrimer had noted that Frank never rebelled, and he had come to think that it would be an easy thing to overawe the submissive young athlete. That had brought him alone to Merriwell’s room, and it had caused him to spring upon Frank. Merry released Lorrimer, and stood up straight.
“Don’t be foolish,” he said grimly. “I don’t want to hurt you, and you might bring it upon yourself.”
Wonderstruck, the manager stared at him. Frank drew up a chair and sat down before Steve.
“Now we can talk this over in a decent way,” he said. “I have given you credit for one thing, Lorrimer—I have believed that you were as earnest as any man living to defeat Harvard.”
“I am,” muttered Steve sullenly.