“You didn’t? Why, I was the interference. It was this way, Molly. ‘Spud,’ said Brooksie, ‘what shall we do now?’ ‘Give the ball to Ned,’ said I, ‘for an end run. I’ll look after him.’ ‘Good stuff,’ said Brooksie. ‘I wish you would.’ So Ned took the ball. ‘This way, Ned,’ I called, and started off around the end. ‘Just a moment,’ said Ned. ‘I’ve turned my ankle.’ ‘Well, I wouldn’t stop too long,’ I told him, ‘for I think I see the enemy in the offing.’ So Ned rubbed his ankle a bit and then we started off again. ‘Bear to the right, Ned,’ I called, and Ned bore. About that time a few of the Hall team sauntered madly up. The first one I gave the straight-arm to and he turned over twice—no, thrice. It was thrice, wasn’t it, Ned?”
“Oh, dry up,” laughed Ned. “How about the apple crop, Molly?”
“Ned,” went on Spud, getting warmed up to his narrative, “was now running strong at my heels. The enemy surrounded us. One—two—three! I pushed them aside. ‘Come on!’ I shouted in a clarion voice. ‘Never say die!’ So Ned came on. The enemy fell about us like ten-pins. We crossed the thirty yard-line, the twenty-five. The goal was in sight. But poor Ned’s strength was ebbing fast. Finally he called to me faintly. ‘I can go no further—farther!’ Did you say further or farther, Ned? Anyway, defeat stared us in the face. The hungry horde of Hall desperadoes snapped at our heels. What to do? There was not a minute to spare. Seizing Ned in my arms I staggered on and fell fainting across the goal-line. The day was won!”
“I don’t see,” laughed Ned, “that there was anyone on that team but you and I, Spud.”
“They didn’t count,” said Spud. “Who said apples?”
“I’ve got something lots nicer,” said Molly. “Do you like cookies? I got cook to make a whole panful yesterday. Shall I get them?”
“Shall you get them!” cried Hoop. “What an absurd question.”
“Cookies for mine,” said Spud, smacking his lips. “What kind of cookies are they, Molly? Have they got sugar sprinkled on top of them?”
“Of course. Cookies always have sugar on them. I’ll get them. And there are plenty of apples if you want them.”