In front of the Day Team’s net “Toots” Morgan watched the puck and the players warily. He would be glad when the game was over, he told himself, for he had had plenty of work and some hard knocks, and his mouth was as dry as the inside of a bake-oven. Suddenly remembering the box of tablets and Kid’s recommendation he glanced down to where it lay snuggled against the corner of the net. The play was far up the rink. Stooping, he reached the box, spilled several tablets out with his gloved hands and finally managed to pop one into his mouth. There was no time then to put the box back in a place of safety, for the whole field of players was rushing down upon him, so he tossed it behind him, gripped his stick, thrust his guarded legs together and awaited the onslaught. But Cupples overskated and there was a moment’s delay while Pierce hooked the puck, swept across the rink with it and, eluding a day player, started ahead again.
“Toots” was aware that something unpleasant was happening to him but was too intent on the game and too excited to realize for a moment that the unpleasantness was in his mouth. Then, when he did realize it, “Toots’” thoughts ran something like this:
“Holden’s got it!... Great Scott, what a nasty taste!... Oh, check him, Dave, check him!... Missed him!... Wonder what this thing’s made of! Ugh!... Here they come! Play back, Grim!... I can’t stand this! I’ll have to spit it out!...”
And then, with the play only twenty feet away in front of goal, “Toots” turned his head for an instant and the obnoxious tablet of Tinkham’s Throat-Ease dropped to the ice. And at the same instant there was a sudden cry of “Look out! Shot!” something sang through the air waist-high and “Toots,” sighting it only when it was almost at him, plunged wildly to the left. But, alas, out went his feet, down went “Toots,” and the puck fell with a soft thud to the ice at the back of the net! And House had won, 7 to 6!
Let us draw a veil over the incidents of the next few minutes. Billy Spooner was disappointed and vexed and some of the things he said to the unfortunate “Toots” were doubtless quite unjust. We will let them pass unheeded—even if “Toots” didn’t. House shouted its glee, waved its sticks and cavorted, and Lanny, who by rare chance had shot the winning goal, was seized by admiring team-mates and conveyed, shoulder-high, to the barrier, where, owing to the fact that someone let go too soon, he toppled into a snow bank! High above all other sounds of rejoicing piped Kid’s shrill voice in a pæan of triumph:
“Day Team, Day Team, your playing’s rocky!
Better go home and learn some hockey!”