CHAPTER XXIV
CHET SEDLEY ARRIVES
What took place between Dr. Doolittle and Professor Callum after Frank and Andy had left, our heroes did not hear definitely. That there was quite a discussion they did not doubt, and as a matter of fact some students who had occasion to pass the door a little later heard high voices.
One of them was that of the irate professor, while no less determined was that of Dr. Doolittle. The head of the school seemed at last to have awakened from the literary dream in which he passed most of the time.
"I think there's going to be a great change for Riverview one of these days," said Donald Burgess, one of the seniors, to a classmate.
"Yes, and the Racer boys will be responsible for it more than anyone else," agreed Duke Yardly. "I guess it's up to us fellows to do something, now that they've won the rowing race. Some football would hit me about right.
"Same here. I understand they have two scrub teams, but the gridiron is in rotten shape."
"That's right. Well, if those Racer boys want to start a subscription to get it fixed up I'll give my share."
"So will I, and I guess some of the other fellows will also. I'm going to speak to 'em about it. All it needs is some one to start things. We've been in a rut here long enough."
"I'm glad Welter has gone," said one little lad who had been made the butt of many a cruel joke on the part of the bully. "Some of us small chaps can have a little fun now."
The rowing season was practically ended but it did not pass without further gratification on the part of Frank and his chums. For they received a challenge from Milton Academy, asking for a race the following year.
"Nothing succeeds like success," said Frank, as he wrote an answer stating that the race would take place in the spring.
As might be expected, Professor Callum was more than ever incensed against Frank and Andy. In every way he sought to make life miserable for them, not only when they were reciting in his class, but out of school hours as well.
However, our heroes were prepared and they gave him little chance to inflict punishment on them. Once or twice though, he caught them napping and many an extra hundred lines of Latin prose they had to write out. This, however, had its good effect, for it perfected them in this study, which they might otherwise have neglected.
There was a different spirit awakening in the school. The lads seemed brighter, and many simple sports such as hare and hounds, and cross country running, or walking matches, were gotten up, in which Frank and Andy took prominent parts.
The school faculty seemed different, too, and a few days after Frank's open-hearted talk with the doctor some much needed repairs were made to some of the buildings.
"Though where the money comes from I don't know," said Old Wallace. Everyone called him "Old" Wallace though he was a young chap. "I hear that some of the professors haven't been paid for months," he added. "Maybe that's what makes Thorny crosser than usual."
"In that case," thought Frank, "he'll do all he can to make it unpleasant for Gertrude and her mother. I must write to dad and see if he can't collect on those bonds." He did so, getting an answer that the company was in litigation in the courts and that it would be some time before a settlement could be made.
"Then I'm going to advance money on them myself," Frank wrote back. "Andy is with me in it, too." So, though his father rather objected to this proceeding, arrangements to this end were started.
The football talk, which had been rather listless at first, following the rowing race, became more pronounced. The lads who had formed two scrub elevens practiced more frequently on the gridiron, part of which had been cleared of heaps of dirt, stones and a thick growth of weeds.
"We ought to try and see if we can't get up two regular teams," suggested Frank one afternoon, when he and Andy, having donned their suits, which they had had sent from home, were out on the field. "Maybe we could get a game with Milton or Waterside."
"I'm afraid not," spoke Old Wallace, who was one of the best of the football squad. "They probably have their dates all filled, though they might give us one with the scrub."
"No, sir!" exclaimed Frank. "If we play at all we play the varsity or nothing."
"Then I guess we won't play," said Burgess with a shrug of his shoulders, as he ran out on the field to catch a ball kicked high into the air by Andy.
But Frank did not give up, though he had rather an up-hill struggle. Plenty of the boys were in favor of having a football team, but when it came to putting up money to have the grandstands repaired and the gridiron made so it could be used, they balked. And it wasn't because they were afraid to spend the cash, but they didn't have it. Few rich men's sons attended Riverview.
"Maybe they will, after they hear that we've beaten the Waterside four," suggested Andy hopefully.
"I'd use all the money I got from selling the whale only I want it to take up those bonds," said Frank. "I can't let Thorny get ahead of me now and make trouble for Gertrude."
"That's right. Well, I guess we can't have any football eleven this year."
But still the lads kept up practice, and gradually they were perfecting themselves.
One crisp afternoon, when both scrub teams were having an improvised game on the gridiron, Frank got possession of the ball, and started down the field on a dead run to make a touchdown. He had the pigskin tucked under his arm and was running low and hard with lowered head. He had eluded the other side's fullback and was headed straight for the goal posts. A figure stood between them, a figure that, somehow, seemed strangely familiar to Frank. But he did not stop then to think who it was.
"He'll get run down if he stands there," he murmured, for Frank wanted to put the ball as near the middle as possible to render a kick for goal more certain.
"Look out!" yelled Frank. The figure between the posts never moved and the next instant our hero crashed full into the other lad, sending him flying to one side, and knocking him down.
"I'm sorry, old man, but I couldn't help it," apologized Frank after he had touched down the ball. "I called to you to get out of the way."
"You had no business to run into me!" exclaimed the other lad, as he got up and began brushing off the dirt from an evidently new suit. "I shall report you to the head master for this."
Something in the tones of the voice caused Frank to look more closely at the speaker. He could not repress a start of astonishment, for confronting him was the dude of Harbor View.
"Chet Sedley!" gasped Frank.
"Frank Racer!" exclaimed Chet.
"What in the world are you doing here, Chet?" Frank went on.
"I'm coming here to school, what do you suppose I'm doing?" was the pert answer. "But I'm not going to play football if you're as rough as that," and the dudish youth continued to brush off his clothes and dust his shoes with a highly perfumed handkerchief.