CHAPTER XXVII
LAUGHED AT
"That's the way to punt!"
"Send one out this way, Frank!"
"Here you go, Andy! Let's see you catch this."
The boys of Riverview were out on the gridiron having some warm-up practice before starting a game between the regular and scrub. It was several days after the conference when Frank had decided on issuing challenges to Waterside and Milton, and, in the meanwhile the grounds had been further improved and the grandstands put in better shape.
"We can give them a game on our grounds, if they'll play us," said Andy, as he caught a swiftly kicked punt.
"I'm afraid they'll insist on our going to theirs—if they play us," replied Captain Jack.
Frank ran down the field to get under a ball that had been sent high into the air. He could not help noticing the improvement in the gridiron. Truly, the students had worked like very beavers in getting it into shape, and tired muscles and aching joints for many a day told of the strain they had been under. Except for hiring some of the heaviest work done, the boys had managed it all themselves, under the direction of Professor Hardin.
"And I'm not going to have all this work go to waste," thought Frank. "If it's possible, we're going to play Milton and Waterside besides some other schools. We may not win, or come anywhere near it, but it will do the boys good to stack up against a real eleven instead of the scrub."
"Line up!" called Captain Jack. "We'll have a practice game, anyhow."
The scrub was a good match for the regular and several times came near scoring, which knowledge made Jack, Frank, Andy and their mates clench their teeth, dig their cleated shoes into the turf, to brace and shove to such good advantage that finally the ball was pushed over for a 'varsity touchdown.
"That's what we'll do to Waterside," exclaimed Frank, as he paused to get his breath.
"If they'll only let us," said Jack.
The game went on, becoming more fast and furious, until Coach Hardin clapped his hands in delight.
"That'srealplaying!" the professor exclaimed. "These boys will amount to something yet. I was afraid this school was going to remain a dead one, but if it's got such material in it as the Racer boys and their chums, it can't be so bad. But—well, maybe it will come out right," and the professor shook his head rather ruefully. He was thinking of his unpaid salary, and wondering if he would ever get it. For of late more and more disquieting rumors had come to him of the financial straits of Dr. Doolittle and the school.
"If it comes to a crash I hope it will stand off until the boys have at least one good game," he mused on, for he was a true lover of outdoor sport.
The football practice went on, the regular eleven winning by a larger score than ever. The scrub players were correspondingly crestfallen.
"Good work, Captain Jack!" complimented the coach. "The game was well played throughout. Same to you, Scrubs!" Whereat they, the "goats," as they dubbed themselves, smiled and forgot their bruises.
"Where are you going?" asked Andy of his brother, later that afternoon, as he saw Frank attiring himself with rather more than usual care. "Something on?"
"No, I'm just going to take a run in to Marsden. I've got to see Mr. Bolton about that law business and the bonds for Mrs. Morton."
"Oh ho! Gertrude going to meet you there?"
"Of course not. Come along if you like."
"I believe I will. I'm all up on my studies and the trip will do me good. I got a beaut of a poke in the back to-day, and I'd like to get some liniment for it. Going to be long?"
"No, but it won't matter if we get back after hours. Old Thorny has gone off to deliver a lecture, and there's some sort of a meeting in the doctor's office. We won't get caught."
"What's the meeting about?"
"Oh, something about funds and money, I guess. Poor old doctor is looking pretty blue these days. I'm afraid this place is getting more on the fritz."
"I'm afraid so too, and it's a shame after the way you worked to get things going."
"Oh, you did your share. But it can't be helped. However, I'm not going to cross a bridge until I hear the rustlings of its wings. I wish we'd hear from Waterside or Milton, though. They're taking their time about answering those challenges."
"Maybe they got heart disease at the nerve of Riverview asking for a game."
"Well, they needn't. We've got as good a team as either one, even if our grounds aren't good. But come on," and Frank, having succeeded in tying his scarf to his taste, made ready to start.
The business with Lawyer Bolton was soon concluded. He said that several unexpected difficulties had been met with in the sale of the bonds because of lawsuits against the company issuing them.
"But what need that matter?" asked Frank. "Mrs. Morton needs the money. Now, why can't I advance it to her? I will! I don't much care whether the bonds are good anyhow."
"Ah, yes, that's easy enough to say," declared the lawyer, "but the court has issued an injunction against the disposal of the bonds in any way until this trouble is settled. The bonds are the only security for the debt, so unless you want to give Mrs. Morton the money outright nothing can be done until the matter is settled. I don't believe your father would like you to use your money in that way without some security."
"Oh, I don't believe he'd care!" exclaimed Frank. "Give her the money and have done with it."
"Ah, yes, but she won't take it;" said Mr. Bolton. "I sounded her on that when I found that the bonds were likely to be tied up, and she refused to consider it. She is very independent, and she won't accept money unless she gives what she believes to be good security. So you see you'll have to wait."
"And in the meanwhile Professor Thorndyke Callum may act and secure the Morton home," said Frank dubiously.
"Yes, hemay," admitted Mr. Bolton. "But I'll do my best to prevent that. In the meanwhile if anything occurs I'll let you know." And with that the boys had to be content.
It was early when they left the lawyer's office and, as they did not want to return to school, they went into a moving picture show.
"Look over there!" exclaimed Frank to his brother, during one of the vaudeville acts, when the house was lighted. "Isn't that Captain Loring, of the Waterside eleven?"
"That's who it is," assented Andy after a glance at the youth whom Frank indicated. "Why?"
"Oh, nothing."
But when the show was over the elder Racer lad hastened through the crowd and touched a youth on the shoulder.
"May I speak to you a moment, Loring?" he asked.
"Oh, it's you, is it, Racer?" answered the other. They had met at the boat race, and once or twice since.
"Yes. Say, aren't you fellows going to answer our football challenge?"
"Answer it? Why, I thought our manager did answer it. I'm almost sure he did."
"We haven't received it. But are you going to give us a game?"
"What? Give you a game? Come, that's pretty rich. Say, Racer, look here. I don't want to seem mean, but really we can't play you fellows, you know. Ha! Ha! Why, it would be a joke!" And he laughed heartily.
"Oh, a joke; eh?" and Frank's face was stern.
"Now, it isn't my fault," went on Loring, seeing that the matter was serious. "The fellows voted not to play you, that's all. Ha! Ha! You really haven't a good team, you know."
"If you'd play us you'd find out," said Andy, ready to take up the battle with his brother.
"Oh, we can't do that. We'd be laughed at," and once more Loring seemed about to give way to mirth.
"All right," assented Frank, for a curious crowd was beginning to gather. "Some day you may be glad to play Riverview."
"Not in a blue moon!" laughed Loring as he turned away.