“Can’t,” laughed Chick. “I’ve bust my sniffer!”
“Wait till I have a cold, Dutch,” said Bert. “Mac’s through. They’re cheering again.” He went back to the window.
“Doctor McPherson! Doctor McPherson! Doctor McPherson!”
Then Freeman Naughton’s voice in the moment of succeeding silence, and another cheer, loud and measured, ending with “Alton! Alton! ALTON!” The throng dispersed then, came trailing back over the grass in ones and twos and larger groups, still singing, laughing, joyously noisy. “Sometimes,” remarked Dutch, leaning over Bert’s shoulder, “it seems to me the guys who get the most fun out of football are the ones who don’t play!”
“You said a mouthful,” agreed Chick.
There was a final session in the gymnasium Friday evening. Some thirty-five youths sat on the benches in front of the blackboard and three coaches faced them. There was a much graver note apparent to-night, the coaches spoke in lower tones, there was less mild horse-play amongst the fellows. Mr. Cade drew and figured with his chalk and asked questions, and now and then one or two of the players arose and walked or trotted in front of the benches in explanation of a point. There was no more drill, however, and only Mr. Cade made anything approaching a speech, and that didn’t bear much resemblance. After he had ended he held up a hand, anticipating Jim Galvin, who had sprung to his feet. “No cheering, fellows! Leave that for to-morrow. And see that you’ve something to cheer for! Every one straight to the dormitories now and get to bed before ten o’clock. Squad dismissed!”
But not all the squad, for he detained Ted Ball and Chick and Bert. Mr. Lake and Mr. McFadden remained also, deep in a discussion. Mr. Cade straddled a bench and brought forth a voluminous document from a pocket. “Thought you’d be interested, Burton,” he said. “And you, too, Hollins. Ball knows about it.” Chick accepted the three sheets of paper, unfolded them and read, with Bert looking over his shoulder.
The letter was addressed to Mr. Cade and ran as follows:
“Some of the fellows on your team have been doing a lot of talking around town lately and giving secrets away right and left. The writer isn’t telling any names but if you don’t believe it look at the end and see. Some unscrupulous parties have given this information to the Kenly Hall football coaches and you’ll be in a mean jam if you use these plays and a lot more against them. They know more than a dozen of our best plays, formations, signals and so forth and I’m telling you this as a sympathizer so you won’t get caught napping and try those plays and so forth on Kenly. It’s rotten business, Mr. Cade, and some one ought to be made to suffer, but you know how it is when people get a chance of making a little money. Take the advice of a well-wisher and don’t try the plays you were intending to use because you’ll get licked hard if you do. Kenly Hall is hep to the whole works and is looking for those plays. I would sign my name only the fellows who are doing this dirty trick would make it hot for me if they knew I had squealed. Yours for Fair Play, and best wishes for success,
“Unknown.”