“Yes, I put thirty cents on it only yesterday. The policy is payable to you, Hal.”
“My, I don’t see how you got so much!” said Maury. “Wonderful what risks these insurance companies will take nowadays to get business, isn’t it?”
“All out, gentlemen!” called Goodyear. “Yardley, Yardley! One hour for dinner!”
Everyone was very happy, for the morning’s success was accepted as an augury of an afternoon’s victory, and dinner was a noisy and merry affair, so noisy that Mr. Collins, the assistant principal, arose twice in his place at table and informed the room at large that “really, gentlemen, this noise must stop! You are carrying it too far!”
The football team and substitutes had their luncheon early and at half past one their two conveyances were awaiting them. They went off to cheers from as many of their fellows as were not engaged in commons, while those that were scrambled to the windows and shouted from there; and got another rebuke from Mr. Collins. The school at large set off on foot, on bicycle and by coach as soon as dinner was over; all save Gerald and Arthur and young Harry Merrow. They traveled to Broadwood in Mr. Pennimore’s big car, Harry Merrow sitting very proudly beside the chauffeur and waving his blue flag all the way.
It was an ideal football day for players and spectators alike. There was an almost cloudless sky above, while around them stretched a green-and-russet world bathed in sunshine. The breeze from the west held a frosty nip, but a good thick sweater was all the extra clothing required to insure comfort. Broadwood was in holiday attire as the machine rolled in at the gate and ascended the curving road past the dormitories. From almost every window a green flag with its white B fluttered, while the front of the gymnasium, which was on the way to the field, was draped in a great green banner with the word Broadwood spelled along its length in startling white letters two feet high.
The automobile had eaten up the miles in quick time and Mr. Pennimore’s party was on the scene before the bulk of the audience had arrived. They found a place for the car at one corner of the field, but Gerald and the others voted to see the contest from the side line nearer the middle of the gridiron. The small grand stand began to fill with ladies and their escorts and numerous other automobiles came gingerly across the frosty turf and found positions near Mr. Pennimore’s car. By two o’clock the spectators lined the field two deep, while on the roof of the laboratory near at hand and in the windows of that building many Broadwood fellows had found posts of vantage.
Broadwood was first on the field and was cheered enthusiastically by its supporters and politely by the Yardley section which had taken possession of one side of the gridiron. Ten minutes later Yardley trotted on, Alf leading, and then the blue flags had their inning and Yardley cheers arose in volume to the afternoon sky. Broadwood fulfilled the requirements of the occasion with “a regular cheer for Yardley fellows, and make it strong!” And then Yardley yelled “A-a-ay!” in approval and gratification from across the field. And promptly at two thirty Mills led his team to the northern end of the gridiron and Yardley kicked off.