“He’s made it! He’s made it!” shouted Ted, embracing the boy next to him, as Don completed his spectacular play and won his touchdown. “Girls–what did I tell you, Betty! Now watch the Lions do a snake dance!”
The Lions’ second touchdown put them ahead and after that there was nothing but grim effort, defence, blocking and wary play on both sides until the quarter ended. The Eagles, indeed, tried one or two desperate chances in the hope of scoring, but the Lions, with equal determination, blocked their every attempt, while an almost silent stadium of spectators watched closely every play.
Miss Heath was behind her friend as they climbed the steps of the stadium, but happening to pass Betty and Carolyn, she gave Carolyn a meaning smile and reached for Betty’s hand to give it a squeeze.
“She can’t say anything, to gloat over our victory, of course,” said Carolyn, “but I can’t help be mean enough to be gladder because that other teacher was so sure we were defeated!”
“What about the Don now, Betty?” asked Peggy. “If he isn’t so ‘slick’ as some of the boys in dressing up, he was ‘slick’ in winning the game for us, wasn’t he?”
“Oh, the Don’s all right!” said Betty. And just then she felt a hand at her elbow. It was Ted, who thus boosted her up a few steps, telling her that the plan was to make “them” feel secure and then “spring Don.” “So long, girls–good game, wasn’t it?” Ted finally inquired, leaping up the rest of the way and again joining the boys.
A tired but happy Betty clung to the straps of the crowded street car on the way home. Doris was riding home in an automobile, with the little daughter of a neighbor, but Dick grinned at Betty from the far end of the car and joined her when they left it at their corner.
“Say, did you ever see a fellow as heavy as that foreign fellow looks run like that? But he isn’t quite as slippery as Freddy. They might have caught him if they hadn’t been so surprised. What became of Doris? I didn’t see her there at all. I hope she didn’t miss it.”
“No; Marie’s folks were there, with her and Marie, and I saw Doris getting into their car while we were waiting for the street car.”
“Just to think! We’re the champions of the scholastic what-you-call it. Didn’t I yell, though at the last shot, when the last quarter was over and the game ours!”