“I only wish he was going to be in the game with us against Newkirk instead of the Snail,” mused Tom, as the scrub and ’varsity lined up. “We’d stand a better chance to pile up a big score.”
But Sam Looper seemed to do better that afternoon, and was complimented by the coach for some good tackles he made, as well as for his ability in breaking through the scrub line.
“Oh, maybe he won’t be so bad,” conceded the captain, hopefully.
The practice was hard and gruelling, but it brought out a number of weak spots, which were impressed upon the players, that they might avoid them. Also some faults in plays were discovered, and measures taken to correct them.
There was more hard practice the following day, when the scrub, mainly through the fine playing of the new member, Frank Simpson, came perilously near scoring, which they had been prevented from doing of late. The big Californian was showing up wonderfully well, and he was making more friends by his sterling character.
At last came the time for the first regular ’varsity game of the season, and though Newkirk was considered a sort of second-rate rival, there had been a marked improvement in her playing of late, so that the Randallites understood they were to have no walkover.
The grandstands were filled with a motley crowd of students, men and women spectators and pretty girls galore, for nearly all the feminine contingent of Fairview Institute was on hand, shrilly cheering, or singing for their favorite team, and waving the colors of their own college, intermingled with those of Randall or Newkirk. It is no exaggeration to say that the yellow and maroon of Randall predominated, and when Tom, Phil and Sid looked toward a certain section of grandstand A, which location had previously been brought to their attention, they saw three particularly pretty girls, waving the colors that meant so much to them.
“Madge, Ruth and Mabel are there,” announced Tom, as he followed his mates into the dressing room.
“Glad of it,” remarked Phil. “It sort of makes you feel as if you could play better when——”
“Your sister is looking on—or some one’s else sister, eh?” broke in Sid.