Homer retreated in good form, and after the door had closed Chick said: “Got a lot, didn’t he?”
“I’m glad you didn’t bite,” answered Bert. “After all, whether Johnny is right or wrong, trying to make a sensation of it in the Flubdub isn’t going to help. And naturally a chap who was dropped from the line-up Saturday isn’t going to talk about it!”
“Huh! I could have given him an earful if I’d wanted to,” muttered Chick. “I’ve got an opinion, all right!”
“Well, I’m glad you didn’t spill it to Johnson.”
“Yeah, he gives me a pain,” said Chick sadly.
[CHAPTER XIII]
AROUND THE END
November arrived that week with several days of unseasonably warm weather, and football practice, which had started off on Monday with much zest, slowed up. More than one of the deposed players lost his ambition to regain his place as the mercury mounted under the influence of a sun that shone with the ardor of August; or, if his ambition remained, his efforts waned perceptibly. Jake decreed a let-up in the drive and Coach Cade was forced to obey. That was a worrisome week for the coach. There were several injuries, the players showed a disposition to lag, the recent changes in the make-up of the team were not yielding the hoped-for results, criticism was rampant and a graduate who had agreed to appear that Wednesday and coach the linemen wrote that he wouldn’t be able to arrive before the week following. While all the injuries were minor affairs save one, they nevertheless kept the fellows out of practice for periods varying from one day to four, and at a time when the services of every member of the squad were greatly needed. With the Mt. Millard game looming up on Saturday, Coach Cade found himself far from prepared. The Team was showing a fairly good brand of defensive playing, but anything like a consistent attack was still lacking. The punters, at least two of whom had promised extremely well at the beginning of the season, had not made the expected progress, and in that feature Alton was deficient. Mt. Millard invariably gave the Gray-and-Gold a stern battle, and, because she had won almost as often as she had lost, had come to be regarded as a foe only second in importance to Kenly Hall. Alton always made earnest preparation for Mt. Millard and tried mightily to put over a victory. This fall the game was to be played on the adversary’s own grounds, at Warren, a circumstance not favoring Alton.