“Yes—yes, I—I guess that was it,” the boy seemed relieved.
“But what were you doing out there?” the coach asked quietly.
“Just—why, just passing—just walking by.” The stranger appeared slightly confused.
“There’s no sidewalk there,” the coach said.
“Johnny,” he turned about, “suppose you get the Chief on the wire. Tell him to run over here.”
“O. K.!” Johnny was on his way.
“I—I—” the stranger gave the coach an uncertain look. “Well you see I—I got lost so I—I just sort of cut across.”
The coach seemed to have lost interest in the conversation. “Perhaps,” he suggested, “a good hot drink would brace you up. Cup of hot chocolate perhaps.”
“Yes, I—”
“Kentucky,” the coach turned to smile, “one cup of hot chocolate on me.”