“Now,” reflected Tom, as he made his way back to East, “just what did he mean by that? Some one’s been talking, and I’ll bet it’s that old ‘Alick.’ Maybe I’d better try to make a better showing with him. He’s been looking sort of mean lately. Yes, sir, I’d just better get back on ‘Alick’s’ good side.”
Wednesday’s sensation was the showing of the Scrub against the First in two periods of fifteen and ten minutes each. With Charlie Duval at quarter most of the time, the Scrub held the enemy on the defense all through the first period and, while it wasn’t able to get across the goal-line, it made the adversary play harder for some minutes than it had played all the fall. In the second period, with many substitutes present on both teams, the First got the upper hand and managed to hold it, finally working the ball close to the Scrub’s goal and losing it when Ogden fumbled a pass from center. A few minutes later it tried a desperate attempt at a goal from the thirty-six yards and missed it narrowly. Following that, with less than three minutes left, Scrub faked a punt and sent Tom galloping past left tackle to midfield. Tom was having one of his good days, and now, aided and abetted by Johnny Thayer, he secured two more first downs before First steadied and stopped the onslaught. After Johnny had punted over the line the whistle blew and ended the scoreless battle.
Loring had a tale to tell that evening. Mr. Babcock had been in to see him just after dinner and they had had a wonderful talk about football and the Scrub Team and those plays of his, for “Cocky” had made him show them, saying that Tom had told about them. “And he went away with four of them,” said Loring, trying to conceal his delight. “Said he wanted to study them and that if they looked all right he’d have you fellows try them out some day soon.”
“Did he take that forward-pass from end?” asked Tom.
“Yes, and he was looking at that a long time. Say, wouldn’t it be corking if that worked all right?”
“Work? Of course it will work. It’ll go big. Mark my words, old son.”
“Well, I don’t know. Maybe there’s a weak spot somewhere. Mr. Babcock says you can’t really tell a whole lot about plays until you’ve actually tried them out against another team.”
“That one’s all right,” replied Tom confidently. “I’d like to use it against Minster next Saturday and get it working nicely for the Wolcott Scrub. I like that play. I’ll bet it turns out to be the cheese, old son!”
That settled, he and Loring arranged the chess-men and Clif settled himself with a book. At five minutes to eight, the game being still undecided, the board was set aside until after study hour and Tom hurried up to Number 34 for his books. Billy Desmond met him at the head of the stairs.
“‘Alick’s’ been looking for you, Tom,” announced Billy casually. “Wants to converse with you in his study, young feller.”