CHAPTER IX—LAURIE HEARS NEWS
October arrived with the first touch of cooler weather, and the football candidates, who had panted and perspired under summer conditions for a fortnight, took heart. Among these was Ned. Laurie, who at first had had to alternate sympathy and severity in order to keep his brother’s courage to the sticking-point, now found that his encouragement was no longer needed. Ned was quite as much in earnest as any fellow who wore canvas. Probably he was not destined ever to become a mighty player, for he seemed to lack that quality which coaches, unable to describe, call football instinct. But he had made progress—surprising progress when it is considered that he had known virtually nothing of the game two weeks before.
Laurie, whose afternoons were still absorbed by baseball, viewed Ned’s efforts as something of a joke, much to the latter’s chagrin, and continued to do so until a chance conversation with Thurman Kendrick opened his eyes. Hop had come across one forenoon to borrow some notes and had tarried a moment to talk. In those days, when Hop talked he talked of just one subject, and that subject was football, and he introduced it to-day.
“We’ve got to do better to-morrow than we did last week,” he said earnestly, “or we’ll get licked hard. Cole’s was fairly easy, but Highland is a tough customer. Our trouble so far has been slowness, and Highland’s as fast as they make them. Somehow, Mulford doesn’t seem able to get any pep into our bunch. The line isn’t so bad, but the back field’s like cold glue.”
“That’s up to the quarter, isn’t it?” asked Laurie, anxious to prove himself not absolutely ignorant of the subject.
“Yes, partly; but it’s up to the coach first. If the backs aren’t used to working fast, the quarter can’t make them. Frank Brattle’s a good quarter, Nod. I sort of wish he wasn’t so good!”
“Meaning you’d have a better chance of swiping his job?” smiled Laurie.
“Oh, I’ll never do that; but if he wasn’t so good I’d get in more often. The best I can hope for this year is to get in for maybe a full period in the Farview game. Anyway, I’ll get my letter, and maybe next year I’ll land in the position. Frank’s a senior, you know.”
“Is he? I haven’t seen much practice so far. Baseball keeps me pretty busy.”