“I wouldn’t say,” replied Bert. “Kenly’s got a pretty good team, I guess, and seems to be getting better every day. What we’ve got no one seems to know yet.”
“That’s right. It’s no cinch either way, I figure. Only thing is, Hollins, Kenly has the science, if you get me. Look at last year. Lots of guys said you fellows had ought to had that game. But it seemed like the other guys had the sign on you. That’s science, ain’t it? Sure. Well, I figure it might be like that again. Over at Lakeville they think pretty good of that team. I know because I’ve got friends over there and I hear ’em talk. Still, that ain’t saying we mightn’t spring a surprise on ’em, is it? Some play they don’t know about, or something, eh? I wouldn’t want to bet you fellows haven’t got something sweet up your sleeve, Hollins.”
Devore smiled engagingly, inviting confidence. Bert shrugged. “Maybe. A team usually saves something for the final game.”
“Of course. And if it’s good it turns the trick, don’t it? I heard you fellows were working up a pretty sweet forward-passing game and sort of keeping it under cover, but maybe that isn’t a fact.”
“I don’t think it is a fact. So far our forward-passing isn’t anything to boast of, Devore.”
“That so? I haven’t been able to see you fellows in action yet, so I don’t know much about your game. What do you think Cade means to spring on those Kenly bozos?”
“Really, I can’t say. Probably he will just trust to good, hard football.”
“He might do worse,” said Devore thoughtfully, his gaze returning again to the folded bills on the corner of the table. The money left by Chick appeared to interest him a great deal. Bert wished that Chick would return. So, perhaps, did Devore, for after a moment he said: “Looks like he wasn’t coming back, eh? Maybe I’d better beat it. He didn’t say anything about some money he owed me, did he?”
Bert nodded. “Right at your elbow.”
Devore took it with elaborate hesitancy, but his eyes lighted as he did so. He counted the notes and then turned a swift, frowning look on Bert. “What’s the idea?” he asked sharply. “There’s only eight here!”