[Illustration: COOTS WAS DOWNED BY A FIERCE TACKLE ON THE PART OFSHADDUCK. ]

THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH ON THE GRIDIRON

OR

The Struggle for the Silver Cup

BY GRAHAM B. FORBES

AUTHOR OF "THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH, " "THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGHON THE DIAMOND, " ETC. 

CONTENTS

CHAPTER

I. OUT FOR PRACTICE

II. ON THE ROAD TO TOWN

III. THE STRANGE HISTORY OF RALPH

IV. TREACHERY IN THE CAMP

V. THE SIGNAL PRACTICE

VI. AT THE SINGING SCHOOL

VII. THE ABDUCTION OF "BONES"

VIII. THE LINE-UP WITH CLIFFORD

IX. A HARD FOUGHT FIRST-HALF

X. A SCENE NOT DOWN ON THE BILLS

XI. CLIFFORD'S LAST HOPE

XII. DR. SHADDUCK FEARS AN EPIDEMIC

XIII. THE GREAT MARSH

XIV. THE DANGERS OF THE MUCK HOLE

XV. FRANK TURNS CHAUFFEUR

XVI. AN UNWILLING PILOT

XVII. A DESPERATE REMEDY

XVIII. MATCHING WITS

XIX. AT THE END OF THE CIRCUIT

XX. FRANK'S LUCK

XXI. THE LIFTING OF THE CLOUD

XXII. HOW BELLPORT BUCKED THE LINE

XXIII. WON BY FOUR INCHES

XXIV. THE MESSAGE FROM TOKIO--CONCLUSION

THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH ON THE GRIDIRON

CHAPTER I

OUT FOR PRACTICE

"Oh, what a splendid kick!"

The yellow pigskin football went whizzing through the air, turningover and over in its erratic flight. 

"Wow! Look at old Sorreltop run, will you?"

"He's bound to get under it, too. That's going some, fellows! Oh, shucks!"

"Ha! ha! a fumble and a muff, after all! That's too bad, aftersuch a great gallop. Now Clack's got the ball, and a clear fieldahead for a run! Go it, you wild broncho! Say, look there, willyou, Tony; Ralph West thinks he can tackle that flying tornado!"

"Will he? Maybe, maybe not, fellows!" called out the ever-skepticalJack Eastwick, as he watched the rapidly nearing figures. Jackwas on the regular team, but not playing that afternoon. 

"There, he's done it! Wasn't that tackle a screamer, though? Thatman West belongs with the regulars. He's too good for the scrubteam. Mark my words, when we go up against Clifford he'll be doingduty with Columbia's eleven!"

"Bah!" sneered Tony Gilpin. "He's still only a greeny; never saw afootball till he came here last year. Bones Shadduck taught himall he knows about the game. Take him away from his teacher, andthe little boy would be hopelessly foundered, and you know it, too, Herman Hooker. "

Herman was Columbia's "cheer captain. " His sonorous voice arousedmore enthusiasm among the struggling athletes when the prospectsseemed dark and forbidding, than all other elements combined. Assoon as it boomed out over a hotly-contested field, every Columbiafellow seemed to take on fresh confidence, and in many instancesthat meant a new determination to win the victory. 

Herman looked at the last speaker, and smiled broadly. It was wellknown among the students of Columbia High School that Tony Gilpinstill entertained great hopes of holding his place on the regularteam; but his play was not up to the standard of the precedingyear, and dark hints had gone abroad that in all probability hewould be dropped, for "a dark horse. "

As this latter must of necessity be taken from the scrub team, itcan be easily understood why Tony showed so much concern over theplaying of the newcomer, Ralph West. 

"Why ain't you practicing with your team this P. M. , instead ofloafing around here watching the scrub eleven do things. " remarkedCharlie Scott, one of the group. "It can't be possible that aseasoned veteran of two years' experience can pick up points froma come-on?"

"I strained my leg a bit yesterday, and the coach advised me togive it a rest for a day. When I tackle I'm apt to go at a manwithout regard to consequences; and sometimes the jar is fierce, "explained Tony, sneeringly. 

"Well, if you can beat that work of Ralph West, you're going some, now; take it from me, son, " commented Herman, with fatherlyinterest, and simply a desire to see the best man on the regularteam when the auspicious day dawned that lined Columbia's elevenup against the warriors of Clifford. 

Tony made no verbal reply, but his brow grew dark, as he onceagain shot a look of hatred toward the player who had made thatbrilliant flying tackle. 

The big town of Columbia was situated on the Harrapin River, withClifford nearly four miles above, and the manufacturing town ofBellport twice that distance down-stream. 

Of course, as each of these bustling places boasted of a highschool, the consequent rivalries of the students had blossomed outinto a league. In various sports they were determined rivals, andthe summer just passed had witnessed a bitter fight between thebaseball clubs of the three towns, in which Columbia won out aftera fierce contest. 

Among the Columbia students there were also strivings aftersupremacy in many gymnastic feats, as well as between the severalclasses, each of which was jealous of the others when it came togiving spreads. Many of the deeply interesting happenings alongthis line that marked the preceding Winter and Spring have beenchronicled in the first volume of this series, called: "The Boysof Columbia High; or, The All-Around Rivals of the School. "

With the coming of the season for outdoor sports, there wasbaseball in the air from morning to night, in preparation for thecarnival of games mapped out for the schedule between the threeschools. What thrilling contests took place, and with what finalresults, can be found in the second story of this series, bearingthe title, "The Boys of Columbia High on the Diamond; or, WinningOut by Pluck. "

When the Glorious Fourth came along, the river that flowed pastthe three towns was the scene of a most remarkable gathering; forthe annual regatta between the boat clubs of the high schools hadbeen set down for observance. To enjoy the humor of the tubraces, and experience the thrills that accompanied the flight ofthe rival four-oared and eight-oared shells over the scheduledcourse, the reader must peruse the third volume, called: "The Boysof Columbia High on the River; or, The Boat Race 'Plot ThatFailed. "

And now vacation having ended, and school being once more underfull swing, with the dropping of the highly-colored leaves fromthe woods along the banks of the picturesque Harrapin, there washeard little save football talk on the campus, and wherever thesons of old Columbia High congregated. 

A well-to-do widow, in memory of her boy, Wallace Todd, who haddied the preceding year while a student at the high school, hadoffered a beautiful silver cup to the victor in the footballcontests, the winning team to hold it for an entire season. 

It was to be known as the Wallace Cup, and every day crowds stoodbefore the window of the silversmith's store in Columbia, admiringits magnificent proportions. 

Squads of boys even came by trolley from Bellport, and openlyboasted as to their intention to carry that same trophy home withthem after the struggles on the gridiron had been finished. 

The group of lads watching the work of the scrub team consisted ofvarious types among the students and town fellows. 

Presently, however, Tony Gilpin nudged another fellow and beckonedhim away. He knew full well that Asa Barnes, now a senior, and aclass ahead of him, had only bitter feelings for several in thatscrub team, and chief of all the captain, Bones Shadduck. 

Lately both Tony and Asa had taken a notion that they would liketo join the Delta Pi fraternity. To their disgust, however, theywere blackballed, some among the members objecting to receivingfellows with their known reputation for mischief and evil-doing. 

In some way they conceived the idea that Bones Shadduck wasprimarily responsible for their humiliation. They never accusedhim of it, but nursed their fancied grievance, and planned to haverevenge in some fashion. 

Tony was looking more than ordinarily ugly as he strolled awaywith Asa Barnes. 

The broad hint which one of his companions had advanced regardinghis rather poor chances of holding down his position as a Columbiahalf-back against the aspirations of Ralph West, the boy fromPaulding, had fired his heart anew with a fierce desire to takematters into his own hands, and remedy them. 

"Well, what's your opinion, Asa?" demanded Tony, as they saunteredalong. "You said you'd be square with me. What d'ye think of thatdub's playing? Is he going to make it, and knock me off theearth?"

Asa Barnes was nothing, if not a sneak. Throughout his entirecareer at school he had been looked upon as a species of snake, and had few friends. Even those who did go with him, on account ofhis having unlimited spending money, always kept a cautious eyeout for treachery. 

"Oh, you're going to get it where the chicken did--in the neck!"he replied cheerfully, with a grin that told of secret pleasure, for he liked to see others suffer. 

"No kidding now, but tell me the truth for once. Is Ralph West thewonder they make out? Can he play half-back better than I do? I'mnot from Missouri, but, all the same, I want to know; for it'sgoing to settle a question I've had in my mind a long time. Cutin, now!" exclaimed Tony, wrathfully. 

"He's all to the good, " replied the other, grimly, "and when I saythat, disliking the fellow as I do, you can understand it meanssomething. I never saw a quicker half-back in my life; and when itcomes to making a tackle, the fellow doesn't really know what fearis! If they put him on the regulars, there's going to be somethingdoing among those long-legged chaps from Clifford. "

Tony growled like a bear with a sore head; he also cast a sidelook at his companion, as though questioning his sincerity. Asaliked to see anyone squirm, and often did and said things just forthat privilege. His companions had long ago declared that he wascut out for a surgeon--or a butcher, like his father. 

"Once for all, do you mean that?" hissed the enraged boy, laying aquivering hand on his comrade's arm. 

"I certainly do. He's got the Indian sign on you, Tony, for fair. Mark my words, when I predict that, _unless something unusualhappens_ between now and next Saturday, when we play Clifford, Ralph West is going to take your place at left half-back!"

The other fairly glared at him. 

"Well, you're awful plain about it, Asa, " he muttered. 

"You told me to be, and I'm giving you my honest opinion. But, allthe same now, I don't think this disaster will happen, " Asa added, with a grin at the other. 

"Oh, you don't, eh? What's going to prevent it?" demanded Tony. 

"You are, unless I'm mighty much mistaken in your make-up, " saidthe other boy, promptly. "Remember what we agreed to do about thatBones Shadduck, for getting us knocked down with that measly oldDelta Pi business? Well, there's a pair of 'em now!"

"Do you mean it. Will you stick with me if I try to knock Westout, so he won't be able to play football again for weeks? Are yougame, or do you mean to egg me on to the last ditch, and thensidestep, leaving me to shoulder all the blame?"

Tony's face was eager, and the light in his eyes told of a fiercedesire to do something mean that would accomplish the desire ofhis heart. 

His companion laughed as though it might be a joke. Asa was soused to others suspecting his honesty of purpose that he neverseemed to get offended when they doubted his word. Another boymight have shown temper, but Asa never did this. He might grit histeeth behind a fellow's back, and vow to get even for an insult;but to his face he was either smiling or sneering, as the humorseized him. 

"Yes, I'll help you out. Remember, it isn't because I feel foryou, " he said, quickly, as though he feared lest he shouldactually be considered as possessing any consideration for acomrade. "I've got my own little axe to grind, you see. The fellowhappens to be sweet on Helen Allen, and once on a time she used togo with me to parties and the like. You understand, don't you, Tony?"

"Sure. And there's nothing that burns so deep as that. Then it'ssettled that we're going to lay for both Ralph and Bones at thevery first chance, with some fellows we can depend on, and dothem up? That's the programme, Asa?"

"I leave the particulars to you. Meanwhile I'll drum up a fewrecruits to make the crowd. Just now I know of three bully fellowswho happen to have it in for either Ralph or Bones. You get asmany, and then there's going to be some fun doing, " and Asalaughed in the cold-blooded fashion that made so many dislike him. 

"Well, when a fellow is bruised to beat the band, not to speak ofpossibly a broken rib or two, he ain't going to play football in ahurry, " grunted Tony. 

The other cast a quick look at his companion. 

"You don't want to go too far, old chap. If he happened to beseriously hurt, we might be called on to explain before ProfessorParke, " he observed. 

So talking, they sauntered along the road again, having paused toexchange the significant remarks as to their intentions. 

Hardly had they gone twenty feet away, than a head was cautiouslyraised above an old log that lay just within the edge of thewoods, and a white face looked rather fearfully after the pair ofplotters. 

CHAPTER II

ON THE ROAD TO TOWN

"Hello, Ralph, through practice here? Then walk home with me, andtake supper at the house, won't you? I've got some things I wantto talk over with you. "

"Yes, we're done working, and I'll be glad to walk with you; butif I'm to sit down at your table, you'll have to wait for me todress and clean myself. Will we have time?" And Ralph's face toldhow much he appreciated a chance to spend an evening at the homeof Frank Allen, his friend and chum; for his boarding house roomdid look a bit cheerless at night time. 

"Plenty of time, old fellow. How did the practice go to-day?Getting in trim, do you think?" asked Frank, who, as a senior, andthe captain and full-back of the regular football squad, wassupposed to have an intense interest in everything that took placeon the practice field day by day. 

"Oh, pretty well, I think. I'm not wholly satisfied with myself, but I believe I'm improving every day, " replied the other, modestly. 

Frank looked sideways at his friend, and smiled. He had just beentalking with the coach, and heard what he had to say about thescrub team. It was already understood between them that two of theregulars must give way to better men who shone as stars on thescrub. Columbia wanted her best sons in front, regardless of anyfavoritism. 

Coach Willoughby was back again, visiting at the home of BusterBillings' folks. He said the "lure of the leather" was too muchfor him, bringing back those dear old college days when he playedon the Princeton eleven, and carried the ball over Yale's linefor a hard-fought victory. 

And so he had consented to take charge of the Columbia players, and help them get in condition for the work ahead, when they wereto meet the brawny cohorts of Clifford, and those others fromBellport. 

Frank and Ralph had not gone more than fifty yards down the dustyroad leading from the recreation field to the town center, perhapsa full mile away, when Ralph felt a sharp tug at his arm. 

"Hello! what's this?" he said, looking down at a small girl, whoseemed so shy that her face was covered with blushes as she pulledat his sleeve. 

"Please, Mr. West, I'd like to say something to you, " she said, hesitatingly. 

"Why, it's Madge Smalling, Mary's older sister!" exclaimed Ralph, showing new interest. 

In the Spring he had been instrumental in finding a little girlwho had hurt herself seriously, in the woods. At the time, Ralphwas on his way to the recreation field, where he was expected topitch a game against a rival school. Still, as he could not thinkof leaving the child there to suffer, he had carried her to themill where her father was employed. 

Since that time, he had been a welcome visitor at the home of theSmallings, and, of course, was well known to this girl of nine, who had been away at the time of Mary's adventure. 

"Shall I walk on, " asked Frank, with a wink, "because, you know, there are times when two is company, three none. "

"None of your joshing, now, " said Ralph, and then, turning to thechild, he continued: "I hope nothing is wrong over at your house, Madge?"

"Oh, no, sir. It wasn't that. I heard something about you, and Iwanted to tell you right away, 'cause I'm afraid of that bad boy. Once he threw water on me, and laughed when I cried. Then he put anasty cold frog in my hand, and made me hold it ever so long. "

Ralph looked at his friend. "Whoever can she mean, and what hasthat got to do with me?" he said, wonderingly. 

"The other boy called him Asa, " remarked Madge, quickly. 

"Oh, now I begin to see light. And was the second chap calledTony?" Ralph asked. 

"Oh, yes, that was it. I saw them coming along the road, and Iwas afraid that he had another nasty frog. So I hid behind a log, "the child went on, her face showing the deep interest she feltin her own recital. 

"Say, Frank, this grows exciting. Tony and Asa walking along withtheir heads close together means trouble for someone, perhaps evenme. And this little girl, hiding behind a log, hears themplotting. Now, what d'ye think of that for thrilling a fellow'snerve? What did they say, Madge? Can you remember?" he asked, looking down into the girl's face reassuringly, and stroking hertangled hair. 

"Oh, I didn't understand it all, but they hated you, and said theymust get some other bad boys to beat you, so you couldn't playball again. If you only saw his face when he said that! It was sofierce I just shivered. I hope they don't do it to you, Mr. West. It would be worse than a nasty, cold frog. "

Again the two lads exchanged glances. 

"Aha!" chuckled Frank, "the plot thickens. Tony feels the chillof coming events, and wants to make sure that you will neverdisplace him on the regular team. I'm not so much surprised, though. It wouldn't be the first time a candidate has been markedfor assault in the hope of putting him out of the running. Anounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. And since weknow now what is in the wind, we must be doubly on our guard. Isuspected that some of them, Lef Seller and his crowd, perhaps, might have it in for me, but it seems that you are the goat, Ralph. "

"Well, I'm ever so much obliged to Madge here for telling me. Andnext time I come out to her house I'm going to fetch along a boxof candy to pay the debt, " said Ralph, kindly. 

"You always do that, anyway, " declared the child, promptly, atwhich Frank burst into another laugh. 

"Oh, all your secrets will come out, one by one, old fellow. Ithink I'll have to post my sister Helen on your double dealing. She might be jealous of Mary and Madge, " he declared. 

"Don't you worry. Helen has walked out there with me more thanonce. They're all very fond of your sister, Frank, " declaredRalph, blushing a little. 

"Well, you don't blame them, do you?" asked the brother, promptly; which caused his friend to bend down to shake hands andbid the little maid good-by. 

As the two boys tramped along toward Frank's home, they naturallytalked again of the unpleasant news that had been brought to theirattention in so singular a way. 

"I wish I knew just what to do about it, " said Frank, frowningwith displeasure, "It's certainly a most unsportsmanlike spirit toshow, knocking your school colors, because you can't play. I callthat a rule-or-ruin policy. Do you suppose, if we told the boys, it would put a stop to the nasty game?"

"We have no proof, for they wouldn't be apt to take a child's wordfor much. So I'm afraid it wouldn't be just the wisest thing totell it broadcast, " answered the serious Ralph. 

"Anyhow, I mean to take a few of my special friends into council, and warn them what we're up against. From this time on you need aguardian squad, Ralph, " the other went on. 

"Why me more than any other fellow?" asked Ralph. 

"I'll tell you, though I meant to keep it until to-night. CoachWilloughby finally made up his mind, though nobody knows it butmyself. He means to drop two fellows off the team to-morrow--TonyGilpin and George Andersen; the former because he fails to come upto the scratch, and George on account of that old injury to hisleg, which is cropping up again. He was our star player last year, and we are going to miss him a heap. "

"Yes, I supposed poor George would have to go, but expected Tonywould hold on, " remarked Ralph, quietly. 

"And the coach has decided that _you_ are to take the placeof Tony as left half-back. I'm awful glad of it! I purposely keptmy hands off, because I wanted merit and not favoritism to bringthe change about. Shake on it, Ralph!"

"And I'm glad, too, " remarked the other, his voice quivering alittle with his emotion; "not that I like to supplant any otherfellow, but I believe it's only right that every one of Columbia'ssons should cherish an earnest desire to make the best of whatthere is in him. I only hope the coach isn't making a seriousmistake, that's all. "

"I know he isn't, and the other fellows will say so, too, whenthey hear. Tony isn't a popular player at all, and when there isdissension in a baseball nine or a football eleven, it's going tomake trouble. 'Beware the worm i' the bud, ' you know. But thesecowards may find that they're up against a tougher propositionthan they suspect, before they're done with it. "

Frank was even more indignant at the possibility of periloverhanging the head of his chum, than if it had threatenedhimself. That is ever the way with generous souls. 

"Three days more, and then comes Clifford after our scalp, "remarked Ralph, desirous of dropping the unpleasant subject forthe time being. 

"Yes, and although Bellport beat them last Saturday 17 to 4, wemustn't imagine Clifford is going to be an easy mark for us. Perhaps they may fancy our style of play, and rub it all over us. Nobody can say until we've met, and fought it out, " was Frank'ssagacious remark. 

"I agree with you on that score, " declared his companion:"Clifford was unfortunate in many ways. She lost three of her bestmen through accidents, while Bellport did not. Then some peoplehint that her secret signals were given away, because the Bellportplayers seemed to be ready to meet every sudden move Cliffordmade. "

"Yes, I heard that, too, and while I hate to believe any fellowcould be so low as to betray his school to the enemy, it's beendone before. We must be doubly on our guard against such a thing. I've been thinking up a little scheme that would upset anythinglike that. But we haven't started with signals yet, keeping thatuntil to-morrow, when the real team as selected will cometogether. "

"I can guess what you've got in mind, Frank, but I'm not askingquestions. Only I do hope nothing prevents me from going intothat game. Somehow, all my life I've just longed to be a footballplayer. There's something about the game that seems to just stirme up, as even baseball couldn't. And yet nobody would call me ascrapper either, " remarked Ralph. 

"Oh, it isn't that always. Lots of good football players arequiet, modest fellows, ready to mind their own business, if letalone. I guess it must be something in a fellow's nature thatmakes him long to buck up against difficulties, and down them. Andseeing that you've always been so quiet and unassuming a fellow, Ihardly know how to apply that to you, either. It's just born in aman, that's what, " and Frank clapped his hand affectionately onhis chum's shoulder. 

Others were streaming along the road at the same time, homewardbound. 

"Look out, here comes a vehicle back of us, " said Ralph presently, when they were about half-way to Columbia Center. 

They stepped to the side of the road, to allow the carriage topass. 

"Why, it's Minnie Cuthbert and a friend!" said Ralph, suddenly. 

At that Frank turned hastily, the color flying to his face likemagic; for that same name always had a wonderful influence overhim, since he and Minnie had long been the warmest of friends. 

The pretty girl who held the reins urged her horse on. There was alook in her face that Frank had never seen there before. Shestared straight at him, as he took off his cap and bowed, but notby the slightest sign did she give any evidence of being awarethat such a person as Frank Allen existed. 

It was the cut direct!

Ralph uttered an exclamation of amazement. Quickly he glanced athis chum, to see that Frank had gone deadly white, and his eyesglittered with sudden spasm of pain that seized upon him. 

He drew a long breath, and tried to get a grip on himself. 

"Say, that hurt some, I tell you, Ralph. I never expected to becut by Minnie Cuthbert, that's sure, " he said, between his setteeth. 

Ralph was sorely puzzled. He remembered that Minnie really owedher life to the wonderful presence of mind of Frank, when arunaway horse had threatened to bring disaster down upon her. 

"What's happened?" he asked, eyeing his friend. 

"You know as much as I do. It's a mystery to me, " returned Frank. 

"Perhaps Lef Seller could tell; he's just back of us, and I heardhim laugh as he saw Minnie drive past without speaking, " suggestedthe other, meaningly. 

"I wonder now if history has a habit of repeating itself, "ventured Frank. "But what can I do but grin and bear it? Sooner orlater she'll find out the truth. I'll never ask for an explanation, knowing that I've done nothing to make her act so. Now, forget it, and let's talk about your affairs, Ralph. "

CHAPTER III

THE STRANGE HISTORY OF RALPH

"If you don't mind, Frank, I'd like to go out of my way a fewsteps, so as to stop at the post-office. There's a late mail comesin after the last delivery by carrier, " observed Ralph, after theyhad reached town. 

"Why, certainly, " returned the other, quickly, as he glanced atRalph, who smiled half sadly and nodded. 

"I keep hoping to hear something from your Uncle Jim. It may comeany day now, unless the very worst has happened, and they're alllost over in that big wild country, " said Ralph, drawing a longbreath. 

"When did you hear from him last?" asked his friend, as theyturned the corner into the main street of Columbia. 

"A month ago. You know, from England they had gone to India. Hewrote me from there that he had just missed Mr. Arnold Musgroveand his widowed sister, Mrs. John Langworthy, who had sailed forChina. "

"Yes, I remember all that. The lady has always been a very greattraveler, and something of an explorer. You told me she wasintending to do something that few strong men had ever attempted, "remarked Frank, wonderfully interested in all that pertained tothe strange history of this boy friend. 

Ralph had been brought up as the son of the Wests, living in thevillage of Paulding. Then there had come a letter by mail, accompanying bank notes to the extent of fifty dollars, andtelling him that a friend, knowing of his great ambition to get aneducation above what the little country school could afford, wished him to accept this gift, which would be duplicated everymonth. 

Ralph, with the assistance of his good friend, Frank, had learnedthat the money came through a lawyer in New York, really an uncleof young Allen. Then, later on, it was found that Ralph was onlyan adopted son of the Wests, who had taken him from a poorhouse. 

By degrees, it came out that the man who had left this sum withthe lawyer, Mr. Arnold Musgrove, must be an uncle of the boy, whowas, in all probability, a son of the rich widow. 

Judge Jim had immediately set out for Europe, to confrontMusgrove, and tell the lady that her child was not dead, as shebelieved, but could be restored to her. And, as Ralph had justsaid, the legal gentleman soon found that he was going to have thetime of his life overtaking the energetic couple. 

"Well, " remarked Ralph, in answer to the inquiry of his chum, "sheand her brother actually started with a caravan overland acrossChina, skirting Thibet, and aiming to head northeast, so as topass through a portion of Siberia, and after that reach Russia. They have been gone a long time now, and I wonder if I will eversee her face. Sometimes it seems too good to be true. "

There was no letter at the post-office for Ralph. He was gettingused to this daily disappointment. Still, Frank could see the lookof pain that flashed across Ralph's fine face, though he tried toconceal it with a little laugh. 

Arrived at his boarding place, the boys entered. It did not takeRalph long to take a bath, and get into his ordinary clothes, after which they hurried to the Allen home, where Frank followedsuit. 

Although Frank said nothing more about the strange actions ofMinnie, it was very plain to his friend that he felt the snubdeeply. 

"If I thought he wouldn't be mad with me, I'd be tempted to tryand find out from Minnie what she meant, " Ralph was saying tohimself, as he sat opposite his chum at the table, and noticed thelittle frown that occasionally came upon the open countenance ofthe one he had in mind. 

But he knew Frank's ways, and that the other would not like anymeddling in his own private affairs. 

"Better let him settle it in his own fashion, " was the conclusionRalph reached. "But if Lef Seller has had anything to do with it, I'm sorry for him, that's all. Once Frank makes up his mind thatthese pranks of Lef have reached a limit, he's going to give himan _awful_ licking; and I know it. "

Frank had been watching his sister Helen at supper. He knew thatthere was something worrying her, too, and the strange thoughtcame that perhaps it might be along the same lines as his ownvexation. 

"I wonder, now, could that be possible?" was the question thatkept confronting him. 

Having once given way to this suspicion, he could not refrain fromtrying to find out the truth. Helen had gone upstairs, on somesmall excuse. He was surprised to find her in her room, and withtraces of tears in her beautiful eyes. 

"Why, what's the matter, sister mine? Has anyone been abusing you?I wonder if I could guess. Is it about Minnie?" he asked, gently, for Frank was very fond of his only sister, but two years youngerthan himself. 

She looked at him in surprise. 

"Why, Frank, however did you guess?" she exclaimed. 

"Because, " he replied, steadily, "she gave me the cut direct whenRalph and myself were heading home from the athletic field thisevening. She and Dottie Warren were in the carriage, and Minnielooked right through me when I bowed. Whew! it gave me a shock, Itell you. "

"The mean thing, to carry it to you! I suppose I've said somethingor other to give her offense, although I tried in vain to rememberany cause; but since she chooses to include all my family in herresentment, I'm not going to do the least thing in the way of anapology, " exclaimed Helen, warmly. 

"I'm of the impression that it's me who's to blame, though I don'tknow what I've done, " said Frank, immediately. "If I did, I'dapologize decently, and have it over with, whether she accepted itor not. But Ralph suggests that perhaps it's the work of someoutsider, who wants to make trouble between Minnie and theAllens. "

"Oh, how mean! And from the way you talk, I can imagine who it isyou have in mind. That wouldn't be the first time Lef Seller hasbeen guilty of meddling!" exclaimed the girl, indignantly. 

"It was Ralph who said that. He heard Lef laugh when she cut me, as if it tickled him. If I could only get proof that he's beentelling yarns about me, I'd soon settle old scores with him. Butyou won't try to make up, will you Helen?"

"Certainly not! I'm the innocent party. Minnie chose to give me tounderstand that she'd prefer to go out with Dottie this afternoon. I just turned away and came straight home. I think she called outafter me, but I wouldn't turn my head an inch. I shall decline toever speak to her again until the time comes when she apologizes. There!" and Helen stamped her little foot on the floor, foremphasis. 

Frank sighed, and went back to the library, where Ralph waschatting with Mr. Allen, always deeply interested in the strangelife story of the boy from Paulding. 

Three times that evening Frank went to the telephone and held alittle confab with some unknown parties. Each time when he cameback he would be smiling in a way that mystified his friend, whowondered what the particular business could be that took up somuch of his time. 

But then, a captain of a school football eleven, on the eve of agreat struggle, must have no end of difficulties to straightenout; and doubtless Frank found much to talk about with the variousmembers of his team. 

Helen had come down again, and showed nothing of the dreadfulshock her feelings had sustained when her one particular chum sobasely deserted her. 

She sang for Ralph, and the three of them also joined their voicesin many of the school songs dear to the heart of all Columbiastudents. 

"Ten o'clock, and time I was getting away to my little den, "remarked Ralph, at last; for even the best of evenings must cometo an end. 

"Wait just a few minutes, " said Frank, mysteriously. 

"What's all this? You're up to something or other, " laughed theother. 

"I'm waiting, that's all, " returned Frank, calmly. 

"Waiting for what?"

"To hear the signal--there it is!" as three distinct knockssounded on the outside of the house. 

"Why, whatever does it mean, Frank, " asked the visitor, as hearose to get his cap: for they were again in the little den Frankcalled his sanctum, where he kept all his beloved traps connectedwith the sports he delighted in, most of them decorating thewalls. 

"They're all on deck, thank goodness! And now it's safe for you togo home, " was the rather startling remark of the other. 

Ralph looked at the speaker a moment, and then, as a light dawnedupon his comprehension, he burst out into a genuine, hearty, boyish laugh. 

"Say, you don't mean to tell me you've gone and got a bodyguard toescort me to my own dear little home, do you, Frank? Well, of allthe pranks, this certainly takes the cake! What do you think, thatthey're already getting down to their fine little work, and meanto kidnap me?" he exclaimed, greatly amused. 

"No, but I know that crowd better than you do. When two sneakslike Tony Gilpin and Asa Barnes make up their minds to gather abunch of skunks after their own stripe, and waylay a fellow theyhate, they lose no time about it. There's only one more daybetween now and Saturday, when we play Clifford; and I saw themturning to notice whether we kept on together. They know you arehere, sure. "

"But I might slip out the back way, and give them the merry ha!ha!" suggested Ralph; "though I hate to crawl that way from suchcowards, not one of them willing to face me outright. "

"But that isn't it. We have talked it over, and come to theconclusion that half of the fun would be lost unless those whelpswere treated to a dose of their own medicine. They need a goodsound licking, and I give you my word for it, they're due for oneif they try to tackle you on the road home to-night, " and Frank, as he spoke, brought his fist down sharply on his knee. 

"Who did you invite to the party?" inquired Ralph, still laughingat the absurdity of his requiring a bodyguard. 

"Let me see, " replied Frank. "There's Lanky Wallace, for one;Buster Billings, for the second, and Paul Bird, for the third. "

"Three good men, and true. I see that I'll be well protected on myjourney of half a dozen blocks!" cried Ralph. 

"Oh, that's only a beginning. Each one of them agreed to get twoother fellows belonging to the team, if possible; for they wantall the practice they can get. So there will be nine in the bunchthat follows after you; ten, counting myself!"

"Oh, splash! That's an army! Why so many, Frank, when I'd bewilling to go anywhere with just you along for company, " demandedthe other. 

"Thanks for the compliment; but, you see, everybody wanted to go, and bring others, and so I had to let 'em have their way. Now, you'll probably never see a sign of our crowd as you walk along, whistling and seeming to be unsuspicious. But at the first sign oftrouble, lift your sweet voice and sing out the rallying cry weall know, 'Columbiad!' That will fetch us on the jump, Ralph. Holdthem off as best you can for a dozen seconds, and then prepare tolaugh. "

"All right, seeing that it's your joke. Honestly, I don't thinkthey'll pay any attention to poor me; but since Coach Willoughbybelieves I ought to play with the regulars, and any hurt to one isan injury to all, I'll accept the guard of honor; only _please_don't tell anyone about it to-morrow, unless you want me to be thebutt of ridicule for the whole school. "

"Wait and see, " was all Frank would say; and with this Ralph hadto be content. 

The two friends separated at the door. Frank rather ostentatiouslybade his visitor good-night, and Ralph sauntered down the walk tothe gate, as the door closed. 

Although he looked around once or twice, and thought he caught afleeting glimpse of several flitting figures, Ralph walked bravelyon his way, whistling merrily, as though he had not a care ortrouble in the wide world. 

When he had gone a couple of blocks, he came to a portion of theroad when the shadows were densest. Here the trees grew close tothe thoroughfare, and this fact made it a splendid hiding placefor anyone so inclined. There was a legend told of a peddler whohad, once upon a time, been set upon by tramps at this point, androbbed and beaten, so that he died of his hurts. 

Even bold people were wont to hurry their steps a trifle whenpassing this ill-omened place. Ralph, however, kept on at hiscustomary pace, still whistling one of the songs he had so latelysung with Frank and Helen Allen. 

Just as he was half-way past the shadowy spot, he heard a suddenshrill sound, not unlike a referee's whistle on the footballgridiron. Dark figures immediately sprang up close by, and therush of many feet told that the danger anticipated by Frank wasabout to materialize. 

Ralph at once threw himself into a position of self defense, andat the same time shouted out the call for assistance so well knownto all the sons of Columbia High. 

CHAPTER IV

TREACHERY IN THE CAMP

"Columbiad! Columbiad!"

It was the call for assistance, known to, and respected by, everyboy who loved the name of Columbia High School--a rallying cry intime of emergency, when the enemy had carried the ball down closeto the home goal, and almost supernatural efforts were needed, inorder to beat back the rising tide. 

Never did the old familiar yell of "Hey, Rube!" appeal morepositively to canvasmen connected with a traveling circus, whenset upon by rowdies in some wayside town, than did this shout. 

Ralph had no time for more. From three sides he found himselfattacked by unknown foes. Some had their hats drawn far over theirfaces, in order to conceal their identity, while others had gonestill further, and tied handkerchiefs over the lower half, withthe same purpose in view. 

A jargon of angry cries arose, each assailant seeming desirous ofventing his especial method for showing dislike. 

"Down him, boys!"

"Spank the cub!"

"Send him back where he belongs; we don't want poorhouse bratshere!"

"Do him up! Butt in, fellows! Make a clean sweep of it now!"

Among all these outcries, only that one concerning the "poorhouse"stung the ears of the boy at bay. It was so cruel, so mean, soutterly uncalled for, that his whole body seemed to quiver withindignation, and a burning fire shot through his veins. 

He had thrown himself into an attitude of self defense, with hisback against a tree. In this way he was able to avoid considerablepunishment, since the attacking force could not completelysurround him, the tree being an unusually big one. 

[Illustration: HE HAD THROWN HIMSELF INTO AN ATTITUDE OFSELF-DEFENSE. ]

So far as he could see, there were at least half a dozen opposedto him. Evidently Tony and Asa did not mean to take any chanceswhen trying to put the new candidate for honors on the regularteam out of the running. 

What with all the row connected with their rush, the cowardlyassailants were themselves unable to hear the patter ofswiftly-approaching footsteps, coming from the rear. They evidentlyshouted, in order to keep their courage up, and prevent Ralph fromrecognizing any one particular voice. 

The beleaguered boy was himself fighting like a cat at bay. He hadno positive assurance that friends were near, and with so manyeager hands striving to reach his face and body, he had toretaliate, giving blow for blow. 

Once he managed to dash his clenched fist into the face of afellow who, in his eagerness, had rushed in too close. 

"Wow!" bellowed the stricken party, and somehow it seemed to Ralphthat the voice was that of Tony Gilpin. 

More than once he was himself the recipient of blows, some severeand others of a glancing nature. For a brief period of time therewas a constant maelstrom of hands flying back and forth, accompanied with shouts, jeers and grunts. 

"Oh, you cowards!" called Ralph, as a blow struck him on the backof the head, and almost stunned him for a second; one of thecrowd, not daring to face the boy at bay, having crept alongsidethe tree to watch his chance. 

He could easily believe that this was Asa Barnes. Immediately amad desire possessed him to pounce upon that sneak and return theblow with interest. Despite the array of threatening fists thatformed a half-circle in front, Ralph threw himself around to oneside of the tree, eager to come in contact with the object of hisespecial contempt. 

So speedy were his movements that the treacherous one could notget out of the way, nor was he, anticipating such a bold act onthe part of the boy who had been held up on the road. 

Just as Ralph pounced vigorously upon him, he caught sight of anumber of dark figures jumping into the fray. At the same instantnew shouts arose, a volume of sound that made the welkin ring, andbrought satisfaction to the heart of the one in peril. 

He knew then that his call for assistance had been heard--thatFrank and his football comrades had reached the spot, and were inthe act of practicing their gridiron tactics upon the unfortunateswho had fallen into the very trap they had themselves set. 

"Help! help! fellows, take him off!" shrieked the one against whomthe angry Ralph had collided; for both of them had gone down in ascrambling, kicking heap. 

Fear caused the under dog to make frantic efforts to escape; andwhile Ralph was able to get a little satisfaction out of hisattack, he found it utterly impossible to hang on to the squirmingfigure, which, eluding his grasp, presently rolled over and over, bounded to his feet, and fled like the wind. 

Meanwhile there was taking place a furious fight. The disguisedcrowd found itself outnumbered two to one, and while they struckback whenever possible, the one thought in their minds was escape. 

"Cut it!" shouted the one who seemed to be a leader. 

"Don't let them get away! Take 'em prisoners!" whooped a tall lad, who was doing his share of the mauling. 

But that was easier said than done. The now sadly demoralizedenemy scattered in every direction, some running wildly down theroad, and others vanishing in the darkness of the wood. 

"They're gone!" cried Lanky Wallace, in disgust, as he found thatthe fellow he had embraced was no other than his fat friend, Buster Billings. 

"Let me go, hang it! You've squeezed the last breath out of me!I'd had that dub, only for your interference. Such rotten luck!"gasped the stout one, as he shook himself free from Lanky'sencircling arms. 

Frank was at the side of the boy they had rescued just in time. 

"How is it, Ralph, did they pummel you hard?" he asked, solicitously. 

"I gave 'em more than I took; but my head sings a bit from thenasty knock that sneak Asa Barnes gave me from behind!" repliedthe other. 

"From behind!" echoed Lanky, indignantly; "well, wouldn't that jaryou some now? But what else could you expect from that snake inthe grass? He never fought fair in all his life. I hope you gotone or two in back on him, Ralph. "

"Didn't you hear him howl for help?" replied the other, quickly. "That was when I nailed him. I guess his head rings about as muchas mine does. But, boys, you came just in time. I was in a tightbox. And I'm ever so much obliged for the help. "

"Don't mention it, old chap. We really needed the exercise, andthe only thing I complain of is that it all happened too fast. Why, I don't believe I really got my windmill working freely whenI was threshing the air. Zip! and they were gone, " and Paul Birdlaughed heartily at the hasty way in which the enemy had vanished. 

"You're sure they didn't get you?" persisted Frank. 

"I guess I'm all right, " laughed the other, as he swung both armsback and forth, and bent his body to test his muscles; "you see, there wasn't time enough for them to do much damage. And they wereall so mighty anxious to reach me they really interfered with eachother. "

"As we came up on the run, I thought I heard one fellow give awhoop of pain, as if he had run up against something. Was thatyour fault, Ralph?" demanded Lanky. 

"Sure. And what's more, I expect it was Tony. If he shows a blackeye to-morrow, give me credit for one goal kicked, boys, " replied theparty addressed. 

Bones Shadduck was lighting a match. 

"Hello! What's that for?" asked Jack Eastwick. 

"I picked up a hat just now, and the idea struck me that possiblythere might be some more headgear lying around. We'd like to knowwho these pirates are, you see, and here's a chance to get a lineon 'em, " explained the other, as he bent low to scan the ground inthe immediate vicinity. 

"Matches--who's got any? Pass 'em around, fellows!" called Buster. 

Immediately there was quite an illumination around that part ofthe road, half a dozen tiny torches burning at once, as eager eyesscanned the ground. Twice cries of satisfaction announced that afind had rewarded the search, but the supply of matches gave out, and, besides, it seemed that there were no more hats or caps to begathered in. 

"Three times, and out, boys! Now we'll be able to learn who someof the crowd must have been. I think I ought to nail this gay oldcap. Nobody but Bill Klemm ever dared wear such a screamer asthat, " announced Lanky, holding the object of his derision aloft. 

"And this looks like the hat I turned over to Jay Tweedle the timeI accidentally knocked his off in the river, and it sank. I knowit is, fellows!" exclaimed Frank, who had been one of the luckydiscoverers. 

"Well, we're getting a line on the bunch, all right, " laughedJack. 

"If only Ralph marked both Tony and Asa, and we've got the hats ofthree more, it looks good to me, " chirped Lanky. 

"Fall in, fellows!" called Bones Shadduck, assuming the air of adrum major, as he waved an imaginary baton in the air. 

With considerable talking and laughter, the squad gathered aroundRalph. 

"Here, what's all this mean?" laughed Ralph. "Want to make me ahigh muckamuck, a grand sachem surrounded by his valiantbodyguard? I object. I'm only a common worm, like the rest of you, and not fit for these great honors. Take Frank there, and put himin the center of the bunch; he's the captain of the crew!"

"Worms! Hear him rant, fellows, will you? Compares us to the lowlyangleworm of commerce. And this is the reward we get forsacrificing our sleep to rescue the perishing! I call it baseingratitude, that's what!" cried one. 

"But just now you're the guest of honor, Ralph; the one brightparticular star that has attracted the attention of all the meanerones. Just hold your row, and let us run this funeral, will you?"declared Buster. 

"Oh, well, have it your own way, fellows. You're a good lot, anyhow, to pull my chestnuts out of the fire for me, " concludedthe one upon whom all these attentions were being showered. 

And so they marched through the streets singing one of theirschool songs. The good people of Columbia were quite accustomed tosuch "stunts" on the part of the students, especially when therewas a day of sport close by. At such times the thriving town onthe bank of the Harrapin was wont to assume all the airs of acollege center, and enthusiasm run rampant. 

So, while many heads were thrust from doorways or windows as theprocession trailed along, no adverse comments arose. Many of thosesame men were old graduates themselves, and such patriotic songsonly served to awaken the spirit that never could be whollyeradicated from their systems. 

In such fashion was Ralph West conducted to his humble boardingplace. And hearty were the "good nights" that accompanied thescattering of the band of defenders. 

Frank and Lanky walked home together. 

"That job's done, anyhow, " remarked Frank, with evident satisfaction. 

"And well done, too. Only one more night to consider, and theglee club has its regular meeting then. We must keep a close watchon Ralph. Those chumps mean to get him yet if they can. I onlyhope I have just one more whack at some of that bunch. I never hita follow with more vim in my life than to-night, when I came upagainst that chap with the handkerchief across his face. "

"I heard him grunt, " observed Frank, with a chuckle, "and really Ifelt sorry for him. I think you struck him with both fiststogether in the excitement. But it's a shame that Columbia fellowsare fighting among themselves just now, when we ought to beunited, and showing a common front against the enemy. "

"Oh, these represent only a tail-end fragment. Don't count them asmuch. Outside of possibly a dozen students, I firmly believe theschool _is_ united, and that you posses the confidence of thewhole town. This is our lucky year. I tell you we just _can't_lose, " and Lanky emphasized his words with a smack of one hand inthe palm of the other. 

"I feel the same way, " said Frank, "but, all the same, I'll bebetter satisfied when the game has been played. There's many aslip, you know. An accident might mar the finest play the gridironever knew. And then the treachery of these fellows always annoysme. An open foe I can meet boldly, but deliver me from the snakein the grass that steals up in the rear to upset your calculations. "

"Never mind, it'll be all right, Frank; but here we are at yourgate, so good night, " and Lanky hurried on. 

CHAPTER V

THE SIGNAL PRACTICE

The next day was Friday. 

And with that battle of the gridiron gladiators looming up justahead, it can be readily understood that Mr. Amos Wellington, notto mention Mr. Oswald, and the women teachers in Columbia HighSchool, found it a most difficult task to get any satisfaction outof the many classes before them that day. 

Football was in the air! The very tang of the frosty morningseemed to suggest ideal weather conditions for the comingstruggle. Wherever boys congregated, on the campus before themorning session, or down in the lunch room during intermission, when they sampled the various types of sandwiches and piessupplied by Mrs. Louden, nothing was talked of but the chances ofColumbia against the seasoned players of Clifford. 

"They're heavier than our men, " one would lament. 

"But the day of weight in football is gone, " cried another, quickly. 

"Yes, for the game as played to-day calls for agility andpertinacity more than heft. And we've got the boys who can dostunts, believe me, fellows!" remarked a third deeply-interestedstudent. 

"They practice for the last time this afternoon, don't they?"

"Yes, but mostly on signals, I understand. Now the team has beenselected, they want to work in harmony, " remarked the fellow whoseemed to know, because he had a big brother on the eleven, andthat was a great honor for the entire family. 

"There's one weak spot, " grumbled another prophet of evil. 

"Name it, Sandy. "

"Yes, tell us where it is. I've gone over the whole bunch ever somany times, and with the new men I think it couldn't possibly beimproved. "

"That's just it; you've put your finger on the sore the firstthing. Now, don't all jump on me at once, and say I'm knocking, for I'm not. I think a heap both of Ralph West's playing and thatof Bones Shadduck. They're cracker jacks, and far superior to thefellows they displaced. "

"Then what are you kicking about, Sandy?" demanded Molly Manners, the dudish student, who, while no athlete himself, always felt adecided interest in the accomplishments of his more muscularcomrades. 

"Lack of practice in common will bankrupt us. That's what worriesme. You see, Bones and Ralph haven't worked with the rest, to anyextent, at least. How can they fill their parts in the machine?I'm dubious, that's all, even while hoping for the best, " went onthe croaker. 

"Well, now, don't let that keep you awake tonight. CoachWilloughby has been training the scrub just as he did the regularteam. They know the same plays, and once the signals are decidedon the whole thing will move along like a well greased machine. He's done wonders with the raw material. And if Columbia wins thisyear, much of the credit belongs to the trainer, our old Princetongrad. "

"Hear! hear! Three cheers for Coach Willoughby!"

And they were given with a will. 

Frank and Ralph came together at intermission. While they muncheda bit of lunch, they naturally fell into conversation, and, ofcourse, their talk must be in connection with the stirring eventsof the preceding night. 

"Have you met Tony?" asked Frank, with a chuckle of amusement. 

"No. You see, he's a junior and I'm only a soph, so we run indifferent grooves. What about him, Frank?" asked the other, eagerly. 

"I was sent into Miss Condit's room with a message from Mr. Wellington, and, of course, I felt a little curious to know howTony looked. While I waited for an answer to the note I carried, Iglanced over to where he sat. Would you believe it, he had turneddeliberately around in his seat, so that his back was toward me. "

"Then perhaps I did put my mark on him?" suggested Ralph, eagerly. 

"Well, now, you certainly did. As I glanced further along I saw amirror at the side of the room, and just then discovered that hewas facing it. He turned fiery red when he caught my look, for Ireally couldn't keep from grinning, because, as sure as you live, my boy, our friend Tony is nursing a most beautiful black eye!"

"It serves him right. He had no business to bother me so. I onlystruck in self-defense, and everyone is entitled to thatprivilege, " declared Ralph. 

"Well, I should say so, " remarked his friend, quickly, "and I hopeyou did as well by that sneak of an Asa. But he was wise enough tostay home to-day. When you get that fellow off his guard you cancatch a weasel asleep. "

The ending of the recess brought their conversation to a close, but after school, Ralph, possessed by a sort of fascination tobehold his work, haunted the campus until Tony appeared, surrounded by several of his set. 

The two rivals met face to face at the exit of the grounds. Tonyglared at the author of his woes, and his two chums madethreatening gestures; but, of course, they did not dare place afinger on Ralph at such a time. 

But, at any rate, Frank had certainly not understated the facts, for Tony was the possessor of a fine black eye. Of course, it waseasy for him to invent a plausible excuse for this mishap; he hadrun slap against a door when getting up in the dark. And, ofcourse, nobody believed him, though only a select few understoodthe true origin of his damaged optic. 

Ralph said never a word; but he could not keep from smiling a bitas he turned away; and this must have been gall and wormwood tothe other fellow. 

An hour later and the chosen eleven, together with thesubstitutes, gathered on the field for their last instructions, and the trial of the signal code. Frank and the coach werefrequently in secret confab, and the others regarded this ashaving more or less significance. 

"What did your investigation result in, Mr. Willoughby?" Frank wasasking. 

"Just what we expected. I have learned beyond a shadow of a doubtthat the secret signals of Clifford were given to Bellport by sometraitor. A dozen people I interviewed were positive in thatbelief. For while there is as yet no proof, they declare that onno other grounds could the Bellports know just what play wascoming every time the other captain called out his numbers, "replied the coach, in a firm voice. 

"Well, it is what may happen to us, unless we change backward atthe last minute. That would confuse Clifford, and set them on thewrong track, " remarked Frank. 

"Just so, and the advantage would be with us. If they can down youboys squarely and fairly, I'll be the last one to knock, but thisthing of trickery makes me angry. Because they feel that they werefooled by Bellport is no reason they should want to pass it along, and defeat you unfairly. I'm surprised that there is no clean-mindedfellow on their team who will positively refuse to take advantageof such a mean game. "

"If Cuthbert Lee was still on the Bellport team, " said Frank, "I'msure he'd never have listened to such a thing. It would be justlike him to go to the other side and tell them to change theirsignals, as they had been betrayed. He was a lover of cleansport. "

"Then I only wish there were more like him, Frank. The trouble is, too many boys, yes, and young men, too, believe that anything isfair that promises to bring the advantages to their side. Love ofschool is all very good, but it should never step in the way ofhonest dealing, " observed the Princeton man, soberly. 

"Then we'll go on with the signals as they have been used?" askedthe other. 

"To-day, yes, but in the morning we'll get the boys togetherearly, and change the whole order, so that things mean just theopposite of what they are now. You get my meaning, don't you, Frank?"

"Yes, and think it a capital idea. I've always been told that thetruly wise man is he who grapples with adversities, and makes themwork to his advantage. And that is what you propose to do now. Watch Lanky; he's up to some mischief or other. I can tell it inhis actions. There he goes after the ball that he purposely kickedinto those bushes, I believe. "

"Well, he's got it all right, and is calling to Substitute Busterthat it's up to him to try for a field goal, " commented the coach, smiling. "Yes; notice, however, that Lanky makes no effort tohold the ball for the kick, but has set it there on the ground, "continued Frank, who knew the joking propensities of his chum sowell that he could quickly guess when the other had any larkcoming. 

"I suppose Lanky doesn't want to take chances of a bad kick, and, considering how near the game is, you can hardly blame him. Perhaps he's had some experience with Buster's kicking before. There he goes now!"

"Look at Lanky, sir, with his fingers in his ears!"

Hardly had Frank spoken when Buster, swooping down, with all sailset, on the inoffensive oval, brought his right foot against theball with a tremendous effort. The result was certainlyastonishing, for there was a sudden heavy detonation, and thefootball arose about ten feet, in a sadly flattened condition, while the kicker sat down heavily on the ground, looking dazed. 

Lanky had substituted some cleverly constructed gas balloon, placed in an old cover, for the genuine article, having previouslyhidden the fraudulent contraption in those bushes until the chancecame to utilize the same. 

There was a brief silence, and then a shout went up from the huskyband of players, who caught on to the joke. All but the dazedBuster, who, still sitting there and gaping at the seeming remainsof a once fine oval football, shook his head and turnedappealingly toward the coach, called out:

"Say, that wasn't my fault, Mr. Willoughby. Now, who pays for thatball, anyhow?" which remark brought out renewed shrieks from theothers, some of whom fairly fell over with the violence of theirmerriment. 

When the joke was explained to the fat boy, of course he laughedheartily, for his nature could not take offense at anything. 

Then the work began in earnest. The efficient coach drilled theplayers in all the various plays that were apt to come up duringthe course of the game. He expressed his pleasure at the masterlyway these were carried out. 

"I'm satisfied that the changes I made have vastly strengthenedthe whole team, " he said, as he and Frank came together during aperiod of rest, after a fierce foray, in which every player workedsystematically, and really clever passes and runs were made aroundimaginary hostile forces. 

In other days they had rubbed up against the scrub team, andpracticed all their arts against real foes, but this last practicewas to be in secret. Signal work and the drilling of Ralph andBones in their respective positions, must occupy much of theafternoon. 

To keep spectators away from the field, several dozen boys hadvolunteered to patrol the neighborhood, completely surrounding theopen. Thus it would seem that there could be no one close enoughto overhear when the signal numbers were deliberately called bythe captain. 

"Still, I'm under the impression that there may be someone hiddenin those bushes, or in a hollow tree, watching our work, anddrinking in all we say. When fellows descend to such low practicesas betraying their schoolmates to the enemy, they become verycrafty. On the whole, it will be better to change the code justbefore the game to-morrow, " remarked the coach, later on, duringanother rest. 

Frank said no more. Secretly, however, he was planning to findout, if it could be possible, that this idea of Mr. Willoughby hadreason back of it. In other words, he had made up his mind thatwhen the crowd of players went back to town, he would find someopportunity to drop behind, and keep watch over that field. 

For the third and last time, play was resumed. Again did the coachfollow the carefully arranged maneuvers. Up to the present he hadfound it necessary to stop them in the midst of the play to startafresh, because of some inaccuracy. Not once did this occur now. 

"Well, sir, how was that?" asked Frank, as, with disheveled hairand soiled clothes, he came out of the fracas and sought the sideof the man who knew. 

There was hardly any need to ask. Coach Willoughby's bronzed facewas all smiles. 

"Fine! I never saw the thing executed better, even by the leadingcolleges. Depend on it, my boy, if you and your men do as well asthat to-morrow, and there's no treachery shown, you're going tomow Clifford down far worse than she suffered at the hands ofBellport. I congratulate you, every one, for the fine form youshow. It does my heart good to see it. And now, home, lads, andsee to it that you don't overeat to-night, and go to bed at areasonable hour. That's all from me, and I feel that my work iswell done!"

The afternoon had worn away while they strained and labored, trying for the last time some of the plays by means of which theyhoped to carry the ball into Clifford territory during the cominggame. 

Each member of the team felt more or less weary when the coachdeclared that they had done enough, and dismissed them for theday. 

"Don't forget the secret directions given for an early morningmeet in the place selected, to go over the changed signals, " wasspoken in the ear of every fellow before they started back totown. 

Frank held out behind the rest, pretending to be busy with anumber of things that fell to his lot as captain of the eleven. Hehad whispered his intentions to Lanky, and the latter, whilelaughing at his fears, promised to keep any of the others fromreturning to look for the leader, should they notice his absence. 

Watching his chance, Frank dropped behind some bushes. Then, without wasting any time, he started to crawl back to where hemight have a view of the wooded side of the athletic field. 

Perhaps, after all, the fears of the coach had been groundless. Hewould spend a short time watching, and then, if nothing developed, he could hasten home. 

At the same time, the thought of how Clifford had been deceivedand beaten by the too free handling of their secret code, gaveFrank an uneasy feeling. 

When he had gained a position that would allow him to observe theground he deemed most suspicious, he waited for developments. 

"What was that?" he asked himself in another minute; for it seemedto him that he had heard a sharp crack, as of a rotten branchgiving way. 

Then his attention was attracted toward a certain spot, wheresomething had undoubtedly fallen to the ground. Eagerly he rivetedhis eyes on the place, and in this way became aware of the factthat something was certainly moving up among the branches of thepine tree. 

Then an object came heavily to the ground, rolled over once ortwice, and scrambled half erect. Though some little distance away, Frank could see that this was no animal, but a human being, a boyat that, who was rubbing his elbow furiously, as though it hadbeen smartly tapped in his fall. 

No need to put a label on this fellow to signify what his presencemeant. Frank knew that he was looking on a spy, who had beenperched among the thick branches of that pine tree during thebetter part of the afternoon, making notes of the signal play ofthe Columbia eleven!

And he was now moving off, possessed of information that was oftremendous value to the Clifford team!

CHAPTER VI

AT THE SINGING SCHOOL

Frank did not hesitate a minute. He believed that it was his duty, if possible, to overtake the spy, and not only learn his identity, but in some fashion make him promise not to reveal what he hadseen and heard. 

He started as fast as he could, making allowances for the factthat he did not wish to alarm the fellow too soon. The shades ofevening were not far away, since night comes early in mid-November, and try as he would, he found it impossible to decide as towhether the other was someone he knew or a stranger. 

As he ran quickly over in his mind the list of those who wouldcome under the head of suspicion, he put them aside, one afteranother. It was certainly not Lef Seller or Bill Klemm; anotherlook, and he was just as positive that it could not be either AsaBarnes or Tony Gilpin. 

Perhaps, after all, this cunning spy might be some enthusiast fromClifford, who, believing that his team had suffered throughtreachery on the preceding Saturday, when Bellport overwhelmedthem, wished to even matters by picking up Columbia's signals. 

"As if two wrongs ever yet made a right, " said Frank bitterly, ashe continued to chase after the unknown. 

He was gaining rapidly. Still, in order to do so, he had to keephis eyes fixed for the most part on the moving figure ahead, andin this way was unable to properly watch his footsteps. 

Consequently, it was not at all surprising when he suddenlystepped on a stick that broke with a sharp twang. And, before hecould dodge behind a tree, the fellow beyond had turned his head. 

Frank knew instantly that he was discovered. He had stoodperfectly still, in the hope that he might escape observation; butwhen he saw the other take to his heels, he realized that it wasnow destined to be a stern chase. So he, too, started to run attop speed, which meant a hot pace, since Frank was something of asprinter on the cinder path. 

At least, that turn on the part of the other had told him onething--it was no Columbia fellow who had played this miserabletrick upon the football squad; so undoubtedly he must belong inClifford. 

Despite the efforts of the school authorities, there was alwaysmore or less laying of wagers on these games. Driven away from theracetracks by recent strict State legislation, it seemed thatthose who made books were seeking all manner of sports, in orderto carry on their games of chance. 

So Frank consoled himself in the belief that this might be someagent of these gamesters, rather than a Clifford schoolboyintending to take a mean advantage of the rival team. 

He was outrunning the fugitive, and it looked as though, if thechase were continued five minutes more, Frank was sure to overtakehim. 

Then the road leading north toward the river was reached. ToFrank's disgust, he saw the other drag a bicycle out of somebushes, and, while he made a swift rush, hoping to yet come uponthe fellow before he got away, it was only to see his intendedquarry spin off along the road. 

Frank followed a short distance, still cherishing a faint hopethat something might happen to upset the other, but gradually thefigure of the fleeing spy began to vanish, and he had to give itup. 

The last he heard from the fellow was a sharp howl of derision. Evidently his sudden coming on the scene had given the coward agreat scare, and he was now rejoicing over his narrow escape. 

"Too bad that he got away, " thought Frank, as he started across afield to take a short-cut that would save him considerable in hiswalk home. "I don't even know who he is. But, at any rate, thissettles the question of signals. We wouldn't dare use the old onesnow. "

He made direct for the home of Buster Billings, where CoachWilloughby was stopping, he being an old friend of the family. 

"Hello, how did you make out?" was the way he greeted Frank whenthe football captain was ushered into his room, where he wasdressing for dinner. 

"You guessed right, sir, " answered Frank, gloomily. 

"Then there _was_ a spy around to pick up our signals?" askedthe coach, smiling. 

"He was hidden up in that big dense pine tree, and I guess hecould see everything we did, as well as hear my signals. It's ashame that we have to go up against such trickery as that, sir, "declared Frank, warmly. 

"That's all right. Remember what we concluded would come out ofthis thing. If those Clifford players are small enough to takeadvantage of this find, let them, that's all. We'll fix it so thatthey'll make some tremendous blunders before they decide thathonesty is the best policy. But I'm glad you found out. Now, tellme all about it, Frank, " and the coach put both hands on theshoulders of the young athlete, in whom he had taken greatinterest. 

Frank made a wry face. 

"There isn't much to tell. No _veni, vidi, vici, _ about this, for, while I came, and saw, I didn't conquer by a long shot. Thefellow dropped down out of the tree, and made off, with me taggingbehind. Then he discovered me, and ran. I followed suit, and wasrapidly overtaking him, when we reached the road that turns towardthe one along the river bank leading to the Clifford bridge. "

"Yes, and then?" continued the coach, expectantly. 

"I lost him! He had a wheel hidden in the bushes, and pedaledaway, giving me the laugh as he went out of sight. That's all, sir, " concluded Frank. 

"Did you get a square look at the fellow?" inquired Mr. Willoughby. 

"Enough to make sure that he didn't belong in Columbia, so far asI could tell. I guess he came from Clifford, all right, sir. "

"Well, it makes little difference, so long as we know the signalsare off. Forewarned is forearmed, they say. Forget all about it, my boy, and we'll fix matters so that we can profit from ourseeming misfortunes. "

So Frank went home to clean himself, and eat his supper. Theconsolation given by Coach Willoughby did much to cheer him up, and he managed to put the ugly business out of his mind. 

Indeed, he had a host of other things to bother him. The game onthe morrow, of course, meant much to an enthusiast like Frank. Then, again, there was that strange matter in connection withMinnie Cuthbert. Frank thought a good deal of Minnie, and they hadbeen great friends for a long time. To have her cut him dead wasbad enough, but to act as she did toward his sister Helen seemedoutrageous. 

"There is something wrong about it, " Frank said, as he dressed. "Minnie isn't the kind of a girl to do such a thing unless shebelieves she has a mighty good excuse. Well, I can't do anythingto bridge the gap. It must go on until something happens to bringabout an explanation. Until then it is my policy to simply leavematters alone, and pay attention to my own affairs. "

But when he got to thinking of how Lef Seller had on one otheroccasion played a trick that, for a time, made trouble betweenMinnie and himself, he shook his head wrath fully, and mutteredthreats that boded no good to that prank-lover, should he prove tobe guilty in this present instance. 

Helen, being a girl, knew how to disguise her feelings. She seemedquite herself, and Frank could not help wondering if, after all, she had cared more for Minnie than she did for Flo Dempsey, withwhom she intended seeing the great game on the morrow. 

"Going to the meeting of the glee club to-night, Helen?" he asked, after supper. 

She looked at him with a smile. 

"Why not? I'm just as fond of singing as ever. I hope you don'tmean to stay away for any reason, Frank?" came her quick reply. 

That decided Frank. Any hesitation on the part of his sister, andhe meant to remain at home; for, somehow, he felt that he hardlycared to mingle with the crowd, where Minnie must assuredly be, since she was one of the leading singers. 

"Why, sure. I guess a little relaxation from the strain will doall of the team good. Some of the other fellows are going to comein a bunch, with Ralph and Bones. "

"What is that for?" asked Helen, who could see from the smile thatcrossed his face that there was a reason. 

"Oh, it's just like the class spreads, where they want to breakthe jollification up by kidnapping the president; some fellows areafter our two new recruits, that's all, " he replied. 

"But this is different. Why should any Columbia boy want to kidnapRalph? It would spoil the game to-morrow, and perhaps defeat ourschool. "

"And that's just what these fellows would like to see. A case ofsour grapes with them. But we're going to protect our men to thelimit, " declared Frank. 

"How mean and contemptible of them! They ought to be ashamed ofthemselves. "

"Well, " said Frank, soothingly, as he saw how the indignant girltook it to heart in connection with Ralph, "Never mind now, but goand get your things on. We might as well make a start now. Youknow, we don't practice to-night at the school, because they'refixing the ceiling in the assembly room. It's to be at Dyckman'sHall. "

"I promised that we would drop around and take Flo with us, "remarked Helen, with a quick look upward, and a little smile. 

"Oh, well, it doesn't matter; that is, it won't take us much outof our way, " returned Frank. 

"No, it isn't so far as the Cuthbert's, " and with this partingshot, Helen ran upstairs, leaving Frank to ponder over hermeaning. 

The glee club usually met in the hall at the high school. It wasconnected with the educational department, in that the schoolauthorities encouraged its existence, for the study of music wasalong the lines of the ordinary duties of the classes. 

Of course, when fifty or more young people come together of anevening, they are bound to make merry. Consequently there wasalways an air of jollity connected with these weekly singingsociety meetings throughout the winter months. 

Both Bones Shadduck and Ralph West were present. They showed upwith a bunch of others, and secretly Ralph reported to Frank thatthey had seen no sign of the enemy while on the way thither. 

"But don't let that make you careless, " retorted the other, "forthese chaps are as cunning as Indians, who always attack, theysay, just before dawn, when the men on guard are apt to be sleepy. Watch out, Ralph. We need you too much to have you takingchances. "

But the evening passed quickly, with the customary songs andmerriment. Minnie was, of course, present. She had come withDottie Warren, and once, when it chanced that she and Frank metface to face, she looked annoyed because she had to speak. However, Frank's nod was just as cold as her own. 

He sang with even more vim than customary, just to show her thathe was not caring in the least. Still, there were curious eyesthat noted the breach, and more than one group of girls commentedon the fact. 

"They've certainly had a falling out, " said Emily Dodsworth, theprimp, and she tried to look horrified, even while secretlypleased, because she was herself very fond of Frank. "Isn't itdreadful, girls? But then I thought their friendship was toosudden to last long. Perhaps Frank may understand now that 'oldfriends are sure, old ties endure. '"

It was nearly ten o'clock, when the singing school was supposed toclose. Frank found himself wishing that it were over with. Somehow, he felt very tired, though suspecting that his wearinessmight be more of the mind than the body. Still, with that greatgame to be won on the morrow, he believed that he ought to getbetween the sheets as soon as possible now. 

It was just at this time he saw Lanky Wallace heading toward him. Lanky was not in the least a diplomat. Whenever he had anythingworrying him, the fact seemed to stick out all over his face, bringing wrinkles to his usually placid brow. 

It was so now. Immediately Frank began to scent trouble, though, for the life of him, he could not understand just how it couldcome while the boys were still at the singing school. Surely, noneof those schemers would dare sneak into the hall and kidnap eitherof the two new recruits. 

He hastily glanced around and heaved a sigh of relief when hiseyes fell on the figure of Ralph close by, as he chatted withHelen and Flo. At least it could not be him. 

"What's ailing you, Lanky?" he demanded, as the other rushed up tohim. 

"It's Bones--they can't find him anywhere, and I guess he's beencarried off by some of those disgruntled chaps!" exclaimed theother, with a look of dismay. 

CHAPTER VII

THE ABDUCTION OF "BONES"

"What's that?" demanded Buster Billings, who happened to benearby. 

"Goodness, they are saying poor Bones Shadduck has beenkidnapped!" exclaimed a shuddering girl, and the news was flashedall through the several groups. 

The singing for the evening was done. The Columbia High SchoolGlee Club had never before been so well attended. Time was when itconsisted of a baker's dozen of students, but there were anunusually large number of good voices in the various classes thisyear. 

Frank was, of course, much worried by the news. 

"Are you sure, Lanky? Perhaps he's just stepped out to saunteraround with one of the girls, like some of the others have done, "he observed. 

"Well, we thought of that, and hunted high and low. Why, evenAllie Sawyer, who generally takes up so much of his time, hasn'tseen him for ten minutes. "

"So long as that?" answered Frank, with a smile; "but we must getbusy, and learn if any one saw Bones go out. "

"I did!" spoke up a girl just then. 

"When was this?" asked Frank, turning on her quickly. 

"Not more than seven or eight minutes ago. I was standing in thedoorway, and had to move aside for him. And he spoke to me, too, "came the reply. "And what did he say?" continued the other. 

"Why, you know Bones has a dog?"

"Yes, a bulldog named Kaiser. "

"He brought him along to the hall to-night, " continued the girl. 

"That's a fact, Frank; for the ugly brute came near taking a hunkout of my leg when, by the merest chance in the world, I happenedto rub up against him!" declared Tom Budd, the boy gymnast, whowas constantly doing stunts, as though possessed of an insatiabledesire to stand on his head, walk on his hands, or throwsomersaults. 

"The dog was howling, oh, so mournfully, " continued the girl. "Iheard him, and it really got on my nerves. Well, I guess it actedthe same way with Bones, for he said that he was going out andremonstrate with Kaiser. "

Frank and Lanky exchanged glances. 

"Told you so!" declared the latter, triumphantly. 

"Well, it certainly looks as though there might be something init. Bones must have forgotten the warning, in his sudden desire tostop the howling of the dog. He went out, and as he hasn't comeback, we'd better be looking after him. Come along, some of youfellows. If they've carried him off, it's up to us to rescue ourright guard!"

There was an immediate rush made for the door of the hall. Dyckman's was situated just on the outskirts of the town. It hadonce been some sort of church, and was now used for a variety ofpurposes connected with the life of the community, from politicalmeetings to dancing classes. 

As the stream of boys poured out of the building, the howling ofthe bulldog nearby became more furious than ever. It immediatelyattracted the attention of the observant Frank. 

"Hark!" he said, holding up his hand to indicate that silencewould be necessary if they hoped to succeed in accomplishinganything worth while. 

"What is it?" demanded Lanky, eagerly; "do you see Bones, or didyou hear him shout for help?"

"Neither. I was thinking of his dog, " was the reply. 

"What of old Kaiser, Frank? How does he come in this game?" askedBuster. 

"You can tell from the way he's acting that Bones has never beennear him. More than that, I believe the smart dog knows thatsomething has happened to his master, for he's just wild to getfree!" declared Frank. 

"Sure as you live! Just listen to him growl and bark. I neverheard a bulldog do that before!" cried Ralph. 

"Oh, Kaiser is only a half-breed mongrel, but looks like a full-bloodedbull. But an idea just occurred to me, fellows. "

"Then let's have it, Frank. We're short of ideas at present, justas we are of a bully good football player needed in to-morrow'sgame. What is it?" asked Molly Manners, unduly excited by thesestrange occurrences. 

"Perhaps the dog might lead us to where Bones is!" said Frank. 

"Say, now, that's just a crackerjack suggestion. Of course, hewill, if someone could only hold him in by his leash!" exclaimedLanky, with the light of anticipation shining on his face. 

"Come on, let's try it!" shouted another fellow. 

"But who's going to unfasten Kaiser, and hold him?" asked Frank, always practical, even at such moments as this. 

"Here's Buster, he knows the dog better than anyone else, " saidJack Eastwick, pushing the fat boy forward. 

"Oh, yes, I've had an intimate acquaintance with him. He's tastedof me three different times, " declared the unwilling candidate forhonors. 

"Still, he knows you?" said Jack, in a wheedling voice. 

"Sure, and I think he likes me, which shows Kaiser has good taste. But I'm willing to be the victim, if you'll all promise to seethat my remains are gathered up and given a fitting burial. Everyone who likes a good show, this way, now. The only andoriginal dog-tamer is about to give an exhibition of how not to doit. "

Kaiser was acting in a very ugly way, as they approached the spotwhere he had been tied up by his master, upon reaching the hall. He jumped up and out in a furious manner, always in the onedirection, Frank noticed. 

"You see, fellows, he pays no attention to us. His growls are forsomeone else, and he is trying to break loose, in order that hemay chase after them. I shouldn't be surprised if we had somesuccess, after all. Do it, Buster. The whole world is looking toyou now as the hero of the occasion. "

Buster gave Frank a plaintive look, as he bent down, and began tospeak soothingly to the furious dog. 

"Listen to his soft soap talk, would you!"

"Buster knows how to lay it on; he's kissed the blarney stone!"

"Pat him, why don't you, old fellow; he likes the taste of you allright!"

But to none of these suggestions did Buster pay the least heed. Hewas working with the end of the rope all the time he talked sosoothingly to the brute. Frank suspected what might happen if thissuddenly came free when the dog was making one of his franticplunges. Consequently, he made sure to be ready to seize hold, soas to assist the fat boy. 

It was just as he thought. Only for the quick clutch he made, thedog must have sped away like the wind, and they would have been asbadly off as before. But with the weight of the two boys on therope, even the powerful Kaiser was not able to go faster than thecrowd could follow. 

"Ralph, keep close beside me!" called out Frank, who did not wanta second disaster to overtake them while trying to remedy thefirst. 

It was really a curious sight to see that crowd of boys rushingover the territory adjoining Dyckman's Hall, following the pairwho pooled their strength in order to restrain the wildly eagerdog. 

Frank quickly took note of a certain fact. 

"We're heading for the water, fellows!" he exclaimed, as well ashe was able, while being tugged along by the erratic rushes ofKaiser. 

Nearly everyone knew what he meant. It was that the abductors ofBones meant to duck him in the river, and treat him so harshly thathe would be in no condition to play in the morrow's game. 

Still, that did not surprise anyone. They might easily haveexpected just such an ending to the affair, knowing as they didwhat conscienceless scamps were in all probability engineering thekidnapping affair. 

The dog had led them in almost a bee line for the river. Severalhundred yards had already been covered, without the least signbeing seen of those whom they fully believed must be aheadsomewhere. 

"Ain't this fierce?" gasped Buster, as he held on to the ropewith a desperate clutch; indeed, but for the sustaining hand ofthe more agile Frank, the fat boy must have fallen flat on hisface more than once as he tripped over obstacles in the way. 

"Kaiser'll eat 'em alive if he gets half a chance! Listen to himgrowl, will you? Don't let him loose, Frank, on your life, orhe'll just murder some of them!" exclaimed Jack Eastwick, who wasrunning alongside the two who gripped the leash. 

"If Buster ever falls flat I'll never be able to hold on alone. Beready, somebody, to take hold!" was what Frank cried in return, ashe was dragged along by the furious rush of the dog, more eagernow than before. 

But no one appeared to be particularly anxious to extend a helpinghand. The appearance of Kaiser was not at all reassuring, andnone of the boys fancied being "liked, " as Buster admitted he was. 

"Listen!" called Molly Manners, suddenly. 

Everyone strained his ears. It required some effort to catch anysound from beyond. Kaiser was making such terrible noises as heran, and the rush of many feet over the ground rather deadenedanything else. Still, between times they caught what seemed to beboisterous laughter, accompanied by a loud splashing, as ofsomebody being cast into the river, to be hauled out again, onlyto have the operation repeated. 

"They're ducking Bones, that's what!" coughed Buster, in realindignation. 

Just then he struck some sort of obstacle that caused him to fallflat on his stomach with a fierce grunt. Of course, the rope wastorn from his hands. And as the shock was too much for Frank tostand, he, too, was compelled to release his clutch in order tosave himself from a bad tumble. 

There was a furious burst of savage satisfaction from the tuggingdog at the end of the leash, and then he vanished from theirsight, running like mad!

CHAPTER VIII

THE LINE-UP WITH CLIFFORD

"Oh, won't they get it now!" cried Jack Eastwick. 

"Keep on running, fellows. Some of them may be half killed, ifthat dog gets hold of them! Faster, boys; faster!"

Frank himself increased his speed. He had no love for themiserable cowards who, in order to gratify their private spite, would cripple their school team until the enemy must have an easyvictory on the morrow. And yet he did not like to imagine whatterrible things might follow if Kaiser got in among the boys whowere treating his master so shamefully. 

Perhaps they deserved whatever befell them; but Frank was himselfa boy, and in a position to understand the true meaning of such aprank as was now being pulled off. 

There had come a decided change in the racket ahead. No longer wasit hilarious shouting and jeering, such as indicated sport forthe boys, but something else to the human frog. True, the soundshad even grown in volume, but they were of a more serious nature. 

"Listen to 'em howl, would you?" cried Lanky. 

"The shoe's on the other foot, now. Wow! ain't they getting nippedhard, though?" shouted Herman Hooker, hardly knowing whether to bepleased or frightened. 

"Faster!" gritted Frank, between his teeth, for he did not likethose shouts. 

Possibly the boys had picked up clubs, and were trying to beatKaiser off, in order to continue their cruel sport of tossing poorBones into the water, and pulling him out again by means of a ropefastened around his ankles. 

Now the runners were close upon the spot. 

"They're scattering!" called Lanky, as the shouts appeared to comefrom various localities. 

"And I think Bones has got hold of the dog. I can hear someonespeaking to him, and trying to quiet the brute!" gasped Paul Bird, who was also a keen runner, able to "keep up with the procession"as well as the next fellow. 

"That's true. Hold on to him, Bones, old fellow!" Frank managed toshout. 

A dozen seconds later, and they came upon the river bank. The halfmoon up in the western sky gave enough light to show them howmatters stood. 

"Hurrah! Kaiser cleared the decks! The last of the pirate hordehas fled!" cried Amiel Tucker, whose reading was always along theold-time romances. 

"And there's our friend Bones, all to the good, fondling thatbristly terror! I say, three Bones for cheers!" shouted RedHuggins, known among his mates also as "Sorreltop, " and who, whengreatly excited, often became twisted in his mode of speech. 

They clustered around, while Kaiser growled deeply, and licked theface of his young master. Jones was soaked to the skin, andalready shivering, though possibly more from the nervous strainthan the cold. 

Frank immediately took off his own coat, and threw it over theshoulders of the boy who had been ducked again and again. 

"What happened to you, Bones?" asked Lanky, who always wanted toknow the full particulars, for he expected some day to branch outas a shining light in the legal profession, and believed he oughtto practice while young. 

"They jumped me, that's all, " chattered the other, trying tolaugh. 

"When you went out to quiet your dog?"

"Yep. I hadn't gone half way when they pounced on me. Couldn't letout more'n a little peep when they covered my head with some sortof old horse blanket, and grabbed hold of me. After that it wasall over. I heard good old Kaiser carrying on to beat the band. Oh, how I did wish he could break loose! Wouldn't he havescattered the bunch, though!" observed Bones, as he calmlyaccepted a second coat offered by another sympathizer. 

"Which he did in the end, anyway. Say, what did he do to thosesharks?" demanded Buster, coming panting up at this moment. 

"You missed the sight of your life. They were having a grand goodtime dousing me in the drink, you see, when, all of a sudden, Kaiser burst among them. Such whooping and howling I never heardin all my life! You'd sure thought a lunatic asylum had brokenloose, boys, " and Bones laughed as well as he could betweenshivers. 

"And then what?" persisted Lanky. 

"Oh, they scooted like fun. Some went one way and others tumbledinto the river, they were so badly scared. I think Kaiser nipped afew of the bunch before he ran over to lick my face, and I got acinch hold on his collar. Only for that, he'd have gone backagain, and mauled a few that couldn't run fast enough. But how didyou come to think of putting him on the scent, fellows?"

"Give Frank here the credit for the bright thought, " said Paul. 

"Yes, he's all to the good when it comes to a question of doingsomething in an emergency. The balance of us were jumping aroundlike so many chickens with their heads off, when he suggested thatKaiser would lead us to the place where you were. It was a grandidea, and it worked, too, " remarked Lanky, warmly. 

"Oh, piffle! Cut that out. If I hadn't thought of it, somebodyelse would have, in about a second. I just happened to get infirst, that's all. But we must rush Bones home in a hurry, beforehe takes cold. A chill just now would knock him out of the gameto-morrow, and hurt our chances of a win, " with which Frankassisted the wet victim of the kidnappers to his feet. 

Bones protested, but they would not listen to him. He was rubbeddown with many willing hands, and patted and pounded in a way tostart his circulation going at fever heat. 

Kaiser hardly knew what to think of all this good-naturedtussling, and many times growled his disapprobation, so that aword from his master was needed to influence him not to sink thosegleaming teeth in the limbs of Buster or Lanky. 

All the while they were making for town. Fortunately, Bones didnot live a great distance off, and by making haste, they presentlyreached his house. 

Buster volunteered to remain over with him and see that he wasproperly looked after. 

"Somebody explain to Mattie King just why I can't get back!" hecalled out. 

"Oh, don't bother yourself about that, Buster, " remarked JackEastwick, coolly, "for I'd already made up my mind to see herhome. "

"You have? I've got half a notion--but, no, this once won't count. It isn't often you get a show, Jack, so improve the shiningopportunity, " answered Buster, from the stoop of the Shadduckhome. 

Of course, as the crowd wended its way back to the hall where theglee club had met for this one occasion, while the assembly roomin high school was being repaired, the talk was wholly upon thelate "unpleasantness. "

"It certainly was that to those chumps, " laughed Lanky. "Oh, howmuch we missed in not being on the spot! All Buster's faults forstumbling when he did, and letting go of the rope. Why under thesun didn't he hold on with a death grip?" demanded Tom Budd. 

"Hold on? Goodness gracious, that dog would have dragged him overevery rock and stump for a mile. A pretty sight he'd have beenafter that. I think Buster showed the finest judgment of his lifein knowing when to _let go_!" said Lanky. 

"Yes, that's so. They say a stitch in time saves nine. Think howmany stitches would have been needed to sew Buster up if he neededmending, " spoke up Sorreltop. 

When finally they arrived at the hall, the girls, and those amongthe boys who had failed to join in the hunt, were, of course, justwild to hear about what had happened. 

Everything else was, for the time being, forgotten, as theyclustered around and excitedly demanded that the facts be given. 

One told a portion, and another took up the recital. In thisfashion, by degrees, the entire story was made known. Nor were theboys at all backward about giving the credit for the ingeniousthought to Frank, who laughingly tried to declare that he deservedno more applause than the balance of the flock. 

"They're all good fellows, every one, and as much deserving ofyour praise. We are of the opinion that there will be severallimps noticeable at the game to-morrow, so if you happen toobserve any fellow making a face as he walks, just whisper oneword in his ear in passing. Do you know what that word is?" heasked. 

"Kaiser!" they roared in concert. 

"Oh, Kaiser, don't you want to buy a dog?" sang Jack Eastwick, andamid much laughter and merry exchange of talk, the glee clubdisbanded for that evening. 

Ralph walked home with Frank and Helen. Others among the boyspersisted in hovering near them, greatly to the annoyance ofRalph, and the amusement of the girl, who thought it something ofa joke. 

Frank had Flo Dempsey on his arm, and seemed to be unusuallymerry. To tell the truth, though, considerable of this wasassumed. He happened to know that just back of them, MinnieCuthbert and her new friend, Dottie Warren, were walking, andundoubtedly they could hear much that was being said. 

That night, when alone in his room, Frank seemed to lose much ofhis merry demeanor. His face took on the grave look that hadcharacterized it of late, ever since that minute when Minnie hadgiven him the cruel cut direct. 

"I wonder will I ever know what is the matter?" he mused, as heundressed, preparatory to tumbling into his inviting bed; "or mustit always remain a deep mystery. I never thought she could treat afellow that way, cutting him out without giving him the leastchance to explain. But I'm not going to complain. They say thereare as good fish in the sea as ever yet were caught. "

With this philosophical reflection, he jumped into bed. Having agood control over himself, Frank was able to go to sleep. In thisway, when he awoke in the early morning, he was refreshed andfeeling splendid, so easily does youth recuperate. 

"Anyhow, it's going to be a sharp day. That air feels like snow, only the sky is clear. Great football weather! I wonder how itwill all come out, " and hustling into his clothes, he immediatelywent out to the place arranged for the secret meeting to practicesignal work. 

The others were soon on hand, and under the coaching of theexperienced old Princeton graduate, they went through all theirpaces with a cleverness that caused their trainer to nod his headin satisfaction. 

"That's enough, boys, " he said, warmly. "You've got your work cutout for you to-day, and it would be poor policy to tire you atthis early hour. Back to the house now, and eat a breakfast suchas I laid out for you; nothing more, mind. Everyone of you mustconsider himself at the training table now, until that game withBellport is over with on Thanksgiving morning. That's all!"

When, about ten o'clock, Frank reached the athletic grounds, cladin his soiled suit and with his entire bunch of players along, hefound that a tremendous crowd had swarmed over the big field, fully equal to any that had witnessed the hard-fought baseballbattles during the preceding Spring and early Summer. 

It was an enthusiastic crowd, too, shouting until the sound wasnot unlike the roar of a tempest. Thousands of miniature flagswere waving, representing both schools. There were also many fromBellport present, some to enjoy the game, others to get pointswith regard to the playing of the Columbia eleven, against whichtheir own team expected soon to be pitted. 

"Ain't this the greatest sight ever?" asked Lanky, as they cameupon the field, and the waving flags and handkerchiefs made thegrandstand look like a vast flower garden in a strong wind. 

"Columbia! _Veni! vidi! vici!_ to-day we swallow therooster!" came a concerted shout, as Herman Hooker got his cheerband in working order. 

The emblem of the Clifford school was a rooster, while that ofColumbia, like Princeton, was the tiger. 

Immediately the Columbia fellows began booting an old ball about, and falling on it with reckless abandon, just as they had beentaught to do by the coach. 

"Look there, will you!" exclaimed a girl close to Minnie Cuthbertin the grandstand. "How nice and white the suits of Cliffordseem, while our boys are dirty. They ought to be ashamed, I shouldthink. We have just as good a laundry in Columbia as they have upabove. "

But to those who knew more about such things there was anatmosphere of strictly business about the soiled suits of Frank'steam. They looked as though they were on the field for hard work, and not to show off, or "play to the gallery. "

And the wise ones took stock of this fact. Some of the sportingmen even began to hedge in their bets, and might have tried toeven up all around, only that they happened to know of a secretupon which they were building great hopes. 

And that secret concerned the signal practice of the Columbiaeleven!

The Clifford boys were continually waving their hands to somepeople in the crowd they recognized. There was an air of assuranceabout them that seemed to loudly proclaim the fact that theyanticipated no great trouble in putting the "Indian sign" onColumbia. 

On the other hand, the home team seemed to notice nothing, savethe fact that the ball was there to be shot around, and tumbled onheavily. They had a grim look, too, and in vain did the girls tryto attract their attention, for it was rarely that one of theeleven so much as turned a look toward the spectators. All oftheir time was taken up in play, and observing their rivals. 

"Just wait, and we'll dirty those sweet white suits some, "chuckled Lanky, as he passed the ball like lightning to Shadduck. 

Minnie was watching one player intently. For the first time in along while he did not look along the rows of faces until he sawher waving wildly, and doff his cap, or in this case, wave hishand, since he had no cap to lift. 

She trembled with secret delight as she finally saw Frank raisehis head when the ball was in another quarter. But when he made amotion with his hand, it was in a different direction entirely, and looking over, Minnie saw that Helen and Flo Dempsey sat there. 

"They're getting ready to line-up. See, the referee has the twocaptains over by him. It's going to be a toss for position, " criedone eager spectator. 

"Not much choice to-day, though, since the wind is light, "returned another. 

"But there always is one side better than the other. The sun willbe in the eyes of the fellows who lose. That may count forsomething. And the breeze may grow stronger as the game goes on. There, Frank has won, for he's taking his men to the lower goal. But that gives Clifford the kick-off. That looks bad. "

"Oh, I don't know. It will only spur them on to working a littleharder. Wait and see. I've got a hunch that Frank Allen has asurprise or two up his sleeve for these gay white birds from upriver. I'm not worrying. I've seen that boy on the baseball field, and on the river in the boat races. He is all there with thegoods, and they're a full yard wide. You hear me!" and theenthusiast jumped to his feet, to flap his elbows as though theywere wings, while he emitted a shrill crow that caused a laugh tobreak out in the immediate vicinity. 

"Now we're going to se some fun!" called a fellow who was wavingthe colors of Clifford with great vim. 

And under the eyes of thousands of eager spectators, the rivalelevens took the places assigned to them to await the signal forplay. 

CHAPTER IX

A HARD FOUGHT FIRST HALF

Although there might be changes at any time during the progress ofa fiercely contested game, the line-up at the start was asfollows:

 _COLUMBIA. _

 Comfort. _F. B. _

 Allen, Captain. West. _R. H. B. L. H. B. _

 Wallace. _Q. B. _

Shadduck. Oakes. Harper. Bird. Daly. Eastwick. Morris. _R. E. R. T. R. G. Center. L. G. L. T. L. E. _

 _CLIFFORD. _

Evans. McQuirk. Roe. Gentle. Ross. Adkins. Smith. _L. E. L. T. L. G. Center. R. G. R. T. R. E. _

 Style. _Q. B. _

 Coots. Wentworth. _L. H. B. R. H. B. _

 Hastings, Captain. _F. B. _

Clifford was to kick off. 

Hastings, the big captain, stood there, poising himself for theeffort, and every eye was glued upon his really fine figure. Hastingsknew it, and purposely lingered just a trifle longer than he wouldhave done had there been no mass of spectators hedging in the fieldon all sides in a solid bank of humanity. 

There was a shrill whistle, the referee's signal, and it calledinto life the twenty-two motionless figures that stood about thefield. Big Hastings ran forward, glancing sharply about to seethat his men were on the alert, and the next moment his shoe madea great dent in the side of the new yellow ball. Away it sailedinto the air, far over toward Columbia's territory. 

Straight toward Lanky Wallace, the plucky little quarter-back, itcame, and Wallace was right under it. Into his arms, with aresounding "pung!" the spheroid landed, and, like a flash, thequarter passed it to Jack Comfort for a return kick. 

Comfort's toe found the pigskin as if his shoe belonged there, andback through space went the twisting oval, in a long spiral curve, while the cohorts of both teams loosed the yells that had beenlong on tap. 

"Oh, wow!"

"Pretty work!"

"That's the stuff, old man!"

"Fine footwork!"

These cries of encouragement to both sides were soon lost in theriot of cheers and appeals to the teams to "go in and win!"

Big Hastings once more had the ball, and booted down the fieldwith a tremendous, smashing kick. Lanky and Oakes ran to get underit, with good intentions, but with misdirected energy, andcollided forcefully, while the ball bounced from Lanky's shoulderand rolled along the ground, a prize for whoever could first get it. 

"A miss!"

"By jove, our fellows have lost the ball!"

"Get to it, Columbia!"

Exclamations of dismay, and frantic appeals came from a thousandthroats. Like mad the whole twenty-two players darted for theyellow spheroid. 

There was a mixup, a confused mass of struggling forms, anindiscriminate whirlwind of waving arms and legs, and then, afterthe frantic blowing of the referee's whistle, and when, slowly, player after player crawled off the heap, Frank emerged, somewhatbruised and dazed, but with the precious ball tucked under hisarm. 

"Oh, good!"

"Fine, old man!"

"Columbia's ball!"

"Frank's got it, all right! That's the stuff. Did you see himslide right in front of Ross, their husky right guard, and coverit? Say, this is a little bit of all right--all right!" cried anenthusiastic follower of Columbia. 

It was on Columbia's twenty-five yard line now, rather closer tothe goal than Captain Frank liked, but he resolved to get rightinto the play now, and called for the line-up. There was awhispered conference between Wallace and Allen, and then thequarter began calling the signal, emphasizing the first number. Athrill seemed to run through the Clifford players, and when PaulBird snapped back the ball to the captain, instead of to thequarter, who, all along, had acted as if he meant to take it, there was a sudden rush on the part of Clifford, but it was toolate. 

They had prepared for a play around their left end, but Frankquickly passed the pigskin to Ralph West, the left half, whosprang forward on the jump, and tore through a hole made betweenthe unsuspecting right guard and tackle of Columbia's opponents. Through Ralph plowed, heaving and plunging his way, aided by asplendid interference, knocking aside Wentworth, the opposingright half, and struggling forward for a good gain. 

"Oh, look at that, would you! Look! Look! He'll get a touchdown!"

"Touchdown nothing!" growled a disgusted Cliffordite, "What's thematter with our fellows, anyhow, to be fooled like that?"

"Guess they read our signals wrong!" retorted the admirer ofColumbia High, with a chuckle. 

"Oh, wow! Look at that! Hastings nailed him that time!"

Ralph had gone down under a fierce tackle by the big opposingcaptain, but the plucky left half had made a good gain, and, as herose and held his hand on the ball until Bird came up to take it, there was an outburst of cheers that warmed his heart. 

"Good work, old man!" whispered Frank, as he ran up. "We fooled'em that time!"

Herman Hooker led his gallant band of shouters in an impromptuwar-dance back of the grandstand, their frenzied shouts of joy atthe splendid play sounding loud above the other yells. 

Then came quiet, while the players again lined up, and the callingof the signals could plainly be heard across the gridiron. It wasuseless for Clifford to listen, if, perchance, she had sneakinglyobtained a line on the play system of Columbia, for Lanky wasusing the changed code, and only he and his men knew it. Slowlyhe called off. It was an indication for Frank to take the ball, ona try around right end. 

Back came the oval with a clean snap, and the next moment Frank, with it firmly tucked under his arm, was circling around Evans, while Oakes, Harper and Shadduck had gotten into play on the jump, and had successfully pocketed their opposing end tackle and guard. 

Forward leaped Frank, with Shadduck and Oakes forming splendidinterference for him. Down the line they sprinted, while once morethe frenzied shouts broke forth:

"Touchdown! Touchdown!"

"Go it, old man! Go it!"

It began to look as if Frank would score, for big Hastings was theonly man available to tackle him, as the other two backs hadplayed in so far that they were now hopelessly in the mixup oftangled figures. 

"Go on! Go on!"

"Yes he will! Wait until Hastings tackles him!" this from aboastful Clifford player. 

Hastings was waiting for the man with the ball, but Frank wasrunning behind Shadduck and Oakes now, and they were on the alert. Hastings made a dive between them, seeking to come at Frank, andfor one fearful moment there was fear in the hearts of his friendsthat the plucky right half would be downed. But Oakes fairly threwhimself at the big opposing captain, and the two went tumbling ina heap, thus ending any chance Hastings had of tackling the manwith the ball. 

Amid such yells as were seldom heard on the gridiron, Frank, accompanied by Shadduck, whose interfering services were no longerneeded, touched the ball down exactly in the middle of the line, behind the two posts, while the straggling Clifford playersstraggled madly down the field, but too late. Behind them cametheir leaping, dancing and exulting opponents. 

"Touchdown! Touchdown!"

"Oh, you, Allen!"

"Great work, old man! Great work!" And indeed it was a splendidrun. 

Such shouting and yelling as there was! Herman Hooker and his bandof "Indians" were hoarse with their efforts thus early in thegame, but gallantly they kept at it. There was a little silencewhile the Clifford players lined up back of their goal posts, andthen Ralph West kicked goal, the ball sailing true between theposts, and making the score six to nothing in favor of Columbia. 

"That's the stuff! That's going some! Keep it up, you ColumbiaTigers, we're all proud of you!" hoarsely called a big man, stamping about and waving his cane adorned with Columbia colors. He had graduated from the old school twenty years before, and hehad never lost his love for it, nor for her sons of the gridiron. 

There was an exchange of punts on the next kick-off, and when thatsort of playing was over, Clifford had the pigskin on Columbia'sthirty-yard line. 

"Now, fellows, go through 'em!" grimly called Hastings, and Stylebegan to give the signals in a snappy voice. In another instantWentworth, the Clifford right half, hit the line with a tremendoussmash, going for a hole between Eastwick and Daly. Their matesrallied to their support, but there was smashing energy in theattack of Columbia's opponents, and hold as Frank and his playersdesperately tried to, they were shoved back, and Wentworth hadgained four yards. 

"Another like that!" called Hastings. "Go to 'em, now! Eat 'emup!"

Once more a smashing attack, and three yards more were reeled offaround Shadduck's end. 

"This won't do, fellows!" said Allen, seriously. "We've got tohold 'em!"

"How's that? Guess we're going some now, eh?" demanded a Cliffordadmirer, who sat next to Mr. Allen. 

"Yes, you have a good team, " was the answer. "But our boys areonly letting you do this for encouragement. "

"Oh, ho! They are, eh? Just watch. "

Indeed, it looked a little dubious for Columbia. Her players werebeing shoved back for loss with heart-stilling regularity. Therewas no need for Clifford to kick, and all of Frank's frantic appealsto his men to hold seemed of no avail. 

There was somewhat of a bitter feeling when, after some tremendousline-smashing, Coots, the left half, was shoved over the line fora touchdown, and that gave the cohorts of Clifford a chance tobreak loose. They did not kick the goal, however, and that wassome encouragement for Columbia, since it left them one point tothe good. 

Once more came the kick-off, and then, when Columbia had the ball, and had lined up, she went at her opponents with such smash-bangtactics, such hammer-and-tongs work, that she tore big gaps in thewall of defense, and shoved player after player through. Frank wassent over for a seven-yard gain, then came a fine run on the partof Ralph, netting eighteen yards, while the crowd went wild. Therewas grim silence on the part of the Clifford adherents as theline-up came on the ten-yard mark, and then, amid a great silence, Comfort smashed through for another touchdown. 

"Oh, wow! How's that? Going some, I guess, yes!" howled the bigman, who had been a player in his youth. "Oh, pretty work!"

The goal was missed, for the ball had been touched down at a badangle, but the score was now eleven to five in favor of Columbia, and there were still several minutes of play left in the firsthalf. 

There was only a chance for an exchange of kicks however, ere thereferee's whistle blew, signifying that time was up, and theplayers, who were just ready for a scrimmage, with the ball inClifford's possession on her opponent's fifteen-yard line, dissolved, and raced for their dressing rooms. 

CHAPTER X

A SCENE NOT DOWN ON THE BILLS

Columbia enthusiasm broke out louder than ever when theintermission between the two halves was called. Their boys hadthus far not only held their own, but scored more than twice asheavily as the enemy. 

Still, the Clifford enthusiasts did not appear to be downcast. 

"Wait, " they kept saying mysteriously on all sides, while shoutsof encouragement went out to Hastings and his doughty warriors. 

"What do they mean by that?" asked Mr. Allen, of the man fromabove, who sat near him on the bench of the grandstand. 

"Well, Clifford is a slow team to get started. They always dobetter in the second half of a game. That with Bellport was afake, because their signals had been given away. They learned thiswhen the first half had been played. It made them savage. Theresult was Bellport didn't score again, and Clifford made a fewpoints before the end came. They'll wake up presently!" was theconfident reply. 

Among the most enthusiastic of the vast crowd was Minnie Cuthbert. She waved her little banner and joined her voice in the generalclamor, for the mad excitement had seized girls as well as boysand men. 

And yet all the while she seemed to have eyes for no one but theagile captain of the Columbia team. Wherever he happened to be, her gaze was either openly or covertly upon him. 

Again she saw Frank wave his hand cheerily, and looking in thedirection where his attention seemed to be directed, shediscovered that Helen and Flo Dempsey were flourishing bouquets offlowers made up of purple and gold, to illustrate the schoolemblem. 

And, moreover, Minnie understood full well that these hadundoubtedly come from the conservatory of the Allens. Somehow, itpained her to know it. From that time on she resolutely set hereyes toward anyone on the field, so long as it was not Frank. 

There was much consultation during the rest spell. Coaches andcaptains had their heads together, trying to ascertain if it werepossible to strengthen their teams by bringing in a fresh man assubstitute. 

Several had been more or less injured in the fierce mass plays, and were showing it, despite their efforts to appear natural. Notfor worlds would anyone of them express a desire to be taken outof the game. If the captain decided against their continuing, welland good, for he was the sole judge of a man's fitness; but eachfellow believed he could still carry himself to the end. 

The general excitement was such that a man might be seriously hurtand not be aware of it, buoyed up, as he was, with the wild desireto accomplish glorious things for the school he loved. 

"How are you feeling, Bones? Any bad result from your immersion inthe cool drink last night, " asked Lanky, as he and the right guardcame together. 

"Not an atom, glad to say. You fellows saved me by your promptaction, and the general rubbing down I had after the rescue. True, my left wing feels sore to the touch after that slamming I gotwhen I went down with the ball over their fifteen-yard line, and adozen fellows piled on top; but I don't think it's broken, and Ihaven't said anything to Frank, because I'm afraid he'd yank meout. "

Lanky carefully massaged the arm in question, eliciting a fewgrunts from the stoical player under the process. 

"Only bruised, old fellow. By the way, have you noticed anylimpers around this morning--among the spectators, I mean?" heremarked, whimsically. 

"Sure, two of them, Jay Tweedle and Bill Klemm, " laughed the otherimmediately. "They hustled away when they saw me looking, and itwas all they could do to keep the agony off their faces. But itwould have to be more than a mere dog bite to keep any fellow withred blood in his veins away from a scrap on the gridiron likethis, though I reckon both of them are hoping to see Clifford win, hands down. "

"Well, there's another poor chap limping somewhere around thegrounds--Asa Barnes. Good old Kaiser must have put his teeth inhis calf pretty sound, for you can see the tear in his trousers'leg. That was a great time, and I envy you the privilege of havingseen it. What a scattering of the boasters, and all on account ofone dog!"

"Yes, Lanky, but _such_ a dog! He thinks the world of me. Why, I could hardly tear myself away from him this morning, hewanted to come with me so bad. After this you needn't ever thinkof giving me a guard; Kaiser can fill that position up to thelimit, " said Bones, proudly, as became the owner of such awonderful canine. 

"Time's nearly up. Are we going to bring any new horse out of thestable? Did any fellow make serious blunders? Is anyone hurt?"asked Lanky. 

"If they are, they keep it to themselves. But there's Shay comingout, while Eastwick goes to the seats. I was a little afraid thatJack might prove too light as a tackler. Why, twice he failed tobring his man down, and was carried more than a few yards beforeanother fellow caught on. Shay ought to be an improvement. "

"What do you think, so far, Bones?"

"We've about held our own, that's comforting, " was the reply. 

"But the score isn't as big as I hoped it would be, " expostulatedLanky. 

"Yes, but we owe that first touchdown and goal to the fact thatClifford was confused with the signals you called. They thoughtthey meant the old version, and rushed to meet the play. That gaveus almost a clear field. "

"I guess you're right, " returned Lanky, thoughtfully. 

"Now, see where we stand. They got a clear touchdown, and wereover our fifteen-yard line when play was called. I tell you, we'regoing to have our work cut out to score again, and you can seethat every fellow of the opposition is out for blood. To be lickedby Bellport hurt; a second drubbing is next to unthinkable withthem. Mark my words, they'll die hard!"

"Bones, you're right. We've got to do our level best in thesecond half. Once let us develop a weak spot, and they'll aim forthat every rush. There's Frank calling to me again. Five minutesmore, and we'll be at it, hammer and tongs, " and Lanky hurriedaway to where the captain stood, with the very last word in theway of orders. 

The line of play had been decided on long before. This had beenarranged in accordance with what they knew about Clifford's line-up. Just as Lanky had declared, once let a weak place show, and fromthat minute on the opposition bends every effort toward pushingthe ball in that quarter, until, finally, the defense gives way, and the oval is carried triumphantly across the line. 

Gradually the players began to take their places again. Clifford, too, showed a new face; Hollingsworth being substituted in placeof Evans, as right end, the other having been injured in ascrimmage, thought not enough to get out at the time. 

It was Columbia's kick-off this time, and Jack Comfort was the oneto do the honors which would inaugurate the second half of thegame. Just as he stood there ready to make the first move, thepicture was one that would never be forgotten by the thousands whowitnessed it. 

Every breath seemed hushed. A mighty silence hung over the widefield, as eyes were riveted on the crouching figures, whose faces, so far as seen, because of the disfiguring head harness, showedthe earnestness that possessed each soul. 

It was at this critical moment that suddenly loud shouts arose. They seemed to come from behind the grandstand, and quicklyswelled in volume, until it was a deafening roar that broke forth. Frank called out something, and the referee instantly blew hiswhistle, to signify that delay was imperative until the cause ofall this row could be ascertained and the noise quelled. It wassimply impossible to continue the game while so much racket held, as the players would be wholly unable to hear the signals. 

But now the tenor of the wild cries began to be understood. Players looked at each other in blank dismay. Never before hadthey heard of a football game having been interrupted by such astrange and terrible cause. 

"Mad dog! Mad dog!"

That was what the people were shrieking over and over. The entiremass of spectators seemed to be writhing as they leaped to theirfeet. Faces grew white with sudden fear. Women and children criedand shrieked, and hands were wrung in the abandon of despair. 

It was easy to discover the immediate scene of the disturbance, for there the lines swayed more violently than elsewhere. Peoplecrushed back against each other, forgetting all else in the frenzyof fear that possessed them. What could be more terrifying thanthe coming of a mad dog in the midst of such an assemblage ofmerrymakers, out for a grand holiday?

"Run, you fellows; he's heading out on the field! Get a move onyou!" roared a voice through a big megaphone. 

It was, of course, the wonderful cheer captain, Herman Hooker, who thus gave warning of the coming peril. Indeed, his cry washardly needed, for the two elevens could mark the passage of theterror by the swaying back of the lines upon lines of spectators, all of whom seemed to be possessed of a wild desire to climb upon the highest seats, so that the panic was fierce. 

Then through the mass came the running beast, with his head closeto the ground, and trailing a chain behind him. His actions werecertainly queer, and well calculated to strike terror into thetimid hearts of the helpless ones gathered there to witness thespectacle of a football contest, and not a mad dog hunt. 

And running valiantly after the brute came Officer Whalen, doubtless intending to attempt to shoot the animal when once hefound a chance. 

Suddenly the raging brute uttered a series of fearful sounds, andstarted directly for one of the players on the field, as thoughintending to attack him first. The vast crowd shrieked all mannerof imploring directions, and unable to render assistance, juststood there and looked and prayed. 

But Frank Allen neither started to run nor moved to the aid of thethreatened player for he had discovered that the one who stoodthere was Bones Shadduck, and in the leaping dog he had recognizedthe persistent Kaiser!

CHAPTER XI

CLIFFORD'S LAST HOPE

"Why doesn't the fool run?" cried one man, quivering withsuspense. 

"It's too late now! See, he's going to tackle the brute! He's gothis hands out ready! Gee! what nerve!" bellowed another, this timefrom Clifford. 

A third laughed harshly, for the strain had been beat on everyone. 

"Its all off, fellows. That's _his_ dog!" he shouted. 

"Well, I'll be hanged! Look at him jumping up to lick the boy'sface, will you? Did you ever? This takes the cake!"

The crowd had by this time discovered that it was a false alarm, and by degrees the hysterical feeling wore off, though there weremany who would not soon forget the awful sense of fear that hadalmost paralyzed their systems. 

Kaiser had apparently broken loose long after Bones had left home, and determined to find his beloved master, had trailed him to thefootball field. 

Possibly the faithful animal believed that there might be furtherneed of his services, and that there were more fellows in need oftrimming. 

Of course the game had to be delayed until Bones could lead Kaiseraway, and secure him in a little room under the grandstand. Thecrowd howled and cheered as he went by, and Shadduck grinned inhis usual happy fashion, feeling that for once at least he was inthe exact limelight--thanks to Kaiser!

Once more the two opposing teams faced each other on the field. The rushers were crouched, ready to spring forward as soon as theball had been put into play. Comfort prepared to send in his bestkick, after which the whole field would be in motion in the madendeavor to urge the ball toward the goal of the opposing side. 

Jack was a famous punter and also a gilt-edged drop-kicker. He hada peculiar spiral kick that was calculated to be exceedinglypuzzling to the enemy. And since much depended upon how far hesent the oval into the enemy's territory, all eyes were eagerlyglued upon him now. 

"Plunk!"

Away sailed the ball with the most erratic motion the Clifford menhad ever seen in all their experience. Some ran this way, and thensuddenly changed their course, as they realized the deceivingnature of the ball's aerial flight. But the Columbia ends knewjust how the full-back would send the ball, and they shot for thespot, determined to reach there almost as soon as the enemy, andcut short his advantage for a run. 

Coots managed to catch the ball, and darted back with it, but wasdowned, almost in his tracks, by a fierce tackle on the part ofShadduck, who had slipped through the interference. 

"Down!" howled Coots, after he had recovered his wind. The playerslined up, while Style began calling off the signals. The Columbiaplayers braced for the attack they knew would soon come. And comeit did. Their line tottered and wavered under the smashing impact, but it held, and Wentworth was hurled back for a slight loss. 

"That's the way to do it!" cried Frank, in delight. "Hold 'emagain, fellows, and they'll have to kick!"

Once more Clifford, in desperation, for she wanted to keep theball, tried for another advance, this time around her opponent'sleft end. But Morris and Shay were on hand, and nailed the playerbefore he had gone two yards. 

"They've got to kick!" came the cry, and indeed that was the onlyplay left for Clifford. Still, it might be a fake one, and Franksignalled this to his men, so that they might be on the alert. ButComfort ran away back, and it was well that he did, for the ballwas booted well into the Columbia territory. 

The full-back caught it and managed to rush back fifteen yardsbefore he was fiercely downed. 

"Now's our chance, fellows!" called Frank, while Paul Bird cameup, took the pigskin and waited for Lanky to give the signal. 

"I-m-p-o-r-t-a-n-c-e!" spelled out the quarter. 

Instantly after the last letter was given, there was a suddenmovement. The center had flashed the ball to Allen, who startedfuriously around the outside of the Clifford line. West wasrunning diagonally, and passed him. Many did not notice that asthey crossed Frank dexterously passed the ball to Ralph, but kepton running and dodging as though he still held it. 

The trick was not a new one by any means, but when well done itwas apt to deceive at least a portion of the rattled opposition;so that several of the Clifford players were, for the instant, really in doubt as to which of the two half-backs carried theball. 

Thus in the beginning the force of pursuers was divided. Ralph wasa sprinter, and could avoid interference in a manner that wassimply marvelous. He had the entire bunch against him, trying toblock his play, but with wonderful skill managed to dodge each inturn, until when finally brought down he had reached the enemy'sten-yard line!

A burst of applause from the eager spectators; then againabsolute silence, for once more the heavily breathing players hadgathered in battle array. Again came a hot scrimmage. The ball wasover the side lines now, and out of bounds. So it had to bebrought in. Clifford had it for a change, but the conditions weredesperate with them now, with their home goal close behind. Let aColumbia player once get his hands on the oval, and the chanceswere he could carry it over the line for a touchdown. 

The man who did the thinking in this emergency knew his business. When the next scrimmage was on, many of the spectators wereastonished to see a Clifford player jump away from the melee withthe ball in his grasp, and hurl himself deliberately across hisown line. 

Immediately the crowd gave expression to their feelings. Somecheered, while others groaned, as the play was understood best. 

"Why, that man is a traitor to his team!" exclaimed one indignantfellow. 

A Columbia graduate, who happened to be sitting next to thespeaker, gave him a look of contempt, as he remarked:

"On the contrary he proved to have an exceedingly clever head onhim. Stop and think for just a minute. They were close up toClifford's goal. The chances were ten to one in that scrimmagethat Columbia would get the ball, and with the next play carry itacross the line. That meant a touchdown. Then if they could kick agoal, as is likely, they would count six. As it is now, Columbiagets only two because that quick-witted fellow put it over his ownline. More than that, the next play is back at the twenty-fiveyard line; so you see how easily Clifford gets out of a badcorner. "

As little time as possible was lost getting in position again. Soeager were both sides to accomplish things that they begrudged thefleeting seconds. 

The tide of battle surged back and forth. Dozens of plays werepulled off that it would take many chapters to describe. But whatcheered the enthusiasts of the home team was the fact that most ofthe work was being done on hostile territory!

In between times when there was no need of silence the raucousvoice of Herman Hooker could be heard, as he led his band aroundback of the crowd, and shouted again and again in unison thethrilling yell of Columbia, with the intention of stirring theblood in the veins of each player, and investing him with renewedpluck and zeal. 

As if it were needed, when each one of those sturdy champions hadalready been keyed up to top-notch speed. Time was slipping away, and despite the almost superhuman efforts of Clifford they couldnot seem to get the ball over that strenuously defended line oftheir opponents. 

In vain did the rooters urge them on to renewed efforts. Columbiaseemed to have thrown up a stone wall in front of her goal lines, and no matter what strenuous plays were called off they were metwith a stubborn tenacity that robbed them of results. 

Only seven more minutes remained of the second half. Columbiaadherents were jubilant. They already began to discount a victory, and were winding up preparatory to making the air ring with theirshouts. 

The wise ones kept close watch of the play. They had knownoccasions just like this when the winning team became overconfident, and the last few minutes witnessed their utter rout. 

Would it happen so in this case? Clifford was exerting everyeffort to bring about such a happy condition of affairs. Frank hadwarned his men against the slightest slackening of speed orvigilance. No game is won until the referee's signal announcesthat the end has come. 

Now the determined Clifford hosts had carried the ball over intothe territory of their rivals. Columbia was visibly weakeningbefore these fearful plunges, and it seemed as though flesh andbone could not hold out against them. Seconds counted now. Howdesperately Frank and his backers fought to ward off thethreatening evil. Every lawful tactic that would bring about delaywas brought into bearing. Twice had the ball gone out of bounds, which necessitated a new alignment, and consequent passage ofthose precious seconds. 

Columbia was on the defensive; but it was a splendid exhibition ofharrying play they put up, thanks to the instructions of CoachWilloughby. On their fifteen-yard line they faced the Cliffordcrew for the last struggle. Despite the prediction of the man whohad declared them a great second-half team, Clifford had failed toadd to their score during the half hour that had elapsed, thatlone touchdown standing to their credit. 

"Boys, we want a bigger score than this!" called Captain Alleneagerly, when time was taken out to enable some wind to be pumpedback into Style. "We've got thirteen points, and they have five. It's too close a margin. We've got time enough to make anothertouchdown. "

"If we can get the ball, " added West. 

"We've _got_ to get it!" cried the captain. "It's the firstdown. Hold 'em, and throw the man with the ball for a loss if youcan. They may kick on the second down instead of waiting for thethird. Then we'll have 'em. "

The whistle blew and Style came slowly back into the line. He waspale and weak, as the manner in which he gave the signals showed. There were anxious looks on the faces of his mates, and glancesof eager expectation on those of his opponents. 

Wentworth came smashing for a hole he expected would be opened upbetween Daly and Shay, but Shay was ready and did more than hispartner to block off the play. Wentworth was hurled back, andthere was a net loss of two yards to Clifford. 

"Look out for a kick!" warned Frank. 

It came, for Clifford was desperately afraid, and Comfort got theball. Tucking it under his arm, with head down, he started for thegoal line, well protected. The enraged Clifford players managed toget at him, however, and he was downed after he had coveredfifteen yards. But it was a good run back, and Columbia had theball, and there were still several more minutes to play. 

"At 'em now, fellows! Tear 'em apart!" cried Lanky Wallace. 

He called for Ralph West to take the ball around Smith, as thequarter had noticed the weak defense the right end was putting up. 

Around circled West, and he made a good gain before he was downed. Again came smashing plays--several of them, Columbia keepingpossession of the ball. In vain did Clifford brace and hold. Itwas useless. She was being shoved right up the field. Her men wereexhausted and discouraged. Columbia's were eager and triumphant. 

"Touchdown! Touchdown!" came the insisting cries from thespectators. The ball was on Clifford's fifteen-yard line. 

"Touchdown it is!" declared Wallace grimly. 

He called his signal with snap and vim. Frank got the ball andmade a desperate dive for a big gap that was opened up between Roeand McQuirk. Forward he staggered while Shadduck and Oakes managedto circle around to form interference for him. 

"He's through! He's through!" came the cry, and indeed the captainwas through the Clifford line, and legging it toward the goal. Hastings started after him, but slipped and fell. Then, like aflash, Wentworth emerged from the tangle of players and set offafter Allen. He came on like the wind, and managed to slip pastShadduck, but Oakes was on the alert and tackled off the pluckyClifford right-half. 

Then it was all over but the shouting. With the fall of Wentworthended Clifford's hopes of preventing another touchdown, while asfor her own hopes of making one they had vanished some time ago. Allen touched down the ball. Amid frenzied cheers the goal waskicked, making the score nineteen to five in favor of Columbia. There was preparation for another kick-off, but before it could bemade the whistle blew; and the game had passed into history. 

CHAPTER XII

DR. SHADDUCK FEARS AN EPIDEMIC

"There he is!"

"Cut him off; he's trying to dodge us!"

"No you don't, Frank; we're just bound to give you a ride around. These things don't happen every day. Up with him, fellows!"

Fully fifty wild Columbia students had gathered around thecaptain, effectually blocking his escape from the field. Frank, suspecting some such design, had tried his best to slip offunobserved; but hundreds of eyes were on him, and even his fellowplayers showed treachery, handing him over to the crowd. 

He was immediately hoisted upon the shoulders of several brawnychaps, and with a motley crowd following, after they set out toparade the field, shouting the battle cry of the school, andsinging the famous song that always thrilled the hearts ofColumbia's patriotic sons and daughters. 

Those who had remained in the grandstand cheered as the processionswept past, and among these was Minnie Cuthbert. Frank neverlooked that way once, she noted, and yet there had been a time, not so very far back, when he would have thought of her the firstthing. 

And yet Frank was perfectly conscious that she was standing there, leaning over the railing, and watching the fun with eagerness. Sometimes it is possible to see without looking direct. 

When he could escape Frank hurried home. He was of courseoverjoyed to realize that his team had won the game; but thestrain of those last ten minutes had been simply terrific. Whatwould it be with the Bellport eleven, every member of which hadundoubtedly been present, picking up points that would be usefulin the big Thanksgiving Day game?

Of course there must a celebration that night. Victory deservedsomething of the sort, and the boys were bound to make the factknown to every citizen of the town. Fires would be blazing, hornstooting, firecrackers exploding, and a general hurrah takingplace, with crowds of students, roaming around, and ringing thevarious college songs they loved so well. 

Frank found a warm welcome at his home. His father declared he wasproud of the fact that he had a boy so well able to manage affairsof great moment. It was a great day at the Allen house, and Helen, for the time being, even forgot her grief in connection with theunexplained desertion of her once fondly loved chum, MinnieCuthbert. 

Just after lunch Frank was called to the telephone. Ralph haddropped in to talk over matters connected with the game, which, ofcourse, must be the one important topic of conversation among theColumbia students until the concluding meeting came about thatwould settle the championship. 

"Hello! who's this?" Frank asked, as he picked up the receiver, and placed it at his ear. 

A laugh was the first sound he heard. 

"That you, Bones?" he demanded, thinking he recognized apeculiarity about this chuckle that stamped the identity of theone who seemed so merry. 

"Sure; that you, Frank? Say, it's an epidemic that's struck us!"called the one at the other end of the wire. 

"What do you mean. Make it plainer; I'm all up in the air, "answered Frank, who knew Bones was a great fellow for joking, andwondered what he had in hand now. 

"They had my dad guessing some, I tell you. He began to think itwas his duty to warn the town authorities so that they could takeproper precautions; for honest now, it did look like the wholeplace was overrun with frisky canines, snapping at every one theymet!"

"What's that you say?" asked Frank, pricking up his ears at themention of dogs; for the memory of several recent experiences wasfresh in his mind. 

"Why, you see, every one's getting bitten. It's the latest fad. Mydad had just three come to him early this morning to have woundscauterized to make sure!"

"Good gracious! you don't say?" ejaculated Frank, waiting forfurther explanations, which he knew would not be long in coming. 

"Yes, and the funny part of it is all of them were boys. The dogsseem to have taken a great fancy for the breed. Guess you couldgive a close hazard about who they were. Perhaps you know theirlimp, for they showed it plain enough at the game, " went on Bones, with another series of chuckles. 

"I saw Bill Klemm rubbing his calf and talking to Jay Tweedle;yes, and when they walked off I thought each of them seemed tohave a stiff leg. How about that; were they to see the doctor?"asked the captain of the football team, eagerly. 

"Sure as you live, and Asa Barnes ditto. Asa said he was passingan empty lot last night when a brindle cur just deliberatelyjumped out and nabbed him. Of course he kicked the beast away, and it ran off howling; but his father, on being told thecircumstances this morning, thought he ought to have a littlecaustic applied so as to take no chances. Think of it--a brindle cur, and that sneak kicked him! Oh! my!"

"And where did Bill say he got his dose from?"

"He's got a little bit of a poodle, you know. Well, he had thenerve to declare the baby beast bit him! Dad said he found it hardto believe, for judging from the marks of the teeth it was a jawthree times as big as Tiny's that did the business. Dad knowsbetter now. "

"Then you told him all about Kaiser's work last night?"

"Sure; I had to. He was for putting off to warn the town police tolook out for all brindle dogs, and shoot 'em on the spot--whichspot I don't know. But you see, somebody had told him about Kaiseracting that way at the field, and he was ready to order himmassacred before he went mad too. So I had to relate the dreadfulstory of how Bill and Asa and Jay got their little tattoo marks. "

"What did he say then?" asked Frank, greatly amused. 

"Nearly took a fit laughing over it. Instead of being chloroformedor otherwise exterminated Kaiser is going to get a new collar now, dad's especial gift. Hurrah for Kaiser! He's the whole circusevery time!"

"Yes, " said Frank, quickly, "he came near getting his finishthough to-day. Old Officer Whalen was on his trail and meant tofill him full of holes, if he could ever get close enough. It wasa narrow escape for Kaiser. "

"A narrower one for the crowd. Did you ever see Officer Whalenpractice firing at a mark? Well, I have. The man couldn't hit abarn door thirty feet off. Can't you come over, Frank? I've gotsomething to propose to you. The afternoon is too fine and bracingto stay cooped up in the house. We'll soon have to hibernate, youknow. Come along!" called Bones. 

"Ralph is with me. "

"All right. Bring him along. Glad to have him. "

"Look for us soon then. I've got something I want to ask youanyway. Good-bye, " and Frank turned from the phone to explain tothe wondering Ralph just why he had been so overcome withmerriment. 

Of course Ralph thought the joke a good one when he too heard theparticulars of the sudden run upon the good doctor's supply ofliquid caustic. 

"No wonder they limped after all that; the remedy was worse thanthe disease, I reckon. I don't suppose anything serious will comeout of those bites now?" he said, after he had stopped laughing. 

"Oh! hardly. Thousands are bitten every year by angry dogs, andhow few cases of hydrophobia you hear about. They'll limp around alittle while and then forget all about it But Bones wants us tocome over to his house, so if you have no objections we'll justsaunter across lots and see what he's got going. "

"Just as you say. " remarked Ralph, rising immediately; "thoughunless you object I thought of dropping in at the post-office onthe way. There's a mail in, and possibly a letter might come forme that I could get before the carrier came around. "

Frank looked at him with pity in his eyes. He knew how secretlyRalph was suffering all the pangs that can come with hope longdeferred; and that each day seemed like an eternity to the boy whowas yearning to feel the loving arms of a mother about his neck, amother whom he had never known. 

"Certainly; that's only a step out of the way. But be careful asyou go, and if you see a brindle pup in a vacant lot run for yourlife! They're mighty dangerous, I'm told, " at which both boyslaughed again, and the cloud passed from Ralph's rather pale face. 

As chance would have it, as they issued from the front door avehicle passed the house, and in it were seated Minnie Cuthbertand Lef Seller, the fellow whom she had more than once declaredshe never meant to speak to again. It was Lef's rig, and theobject he had in view in thus deliberately passing Frank's homewas obvious. 

Frank, after that one start, was prepared. He immediately doffedhis cap with the most excruciating politeness. Minnie turnedwhite, then red. She hardly knew what to do under the circumstances;but found herself nodding her head as though she could not helpit, even after cutting Frank on the preceding day. 

Frank saw the grin of triumph on the face of his rival, but thoughhis blood was fairly boiling with indignation at his coming out ofthe way to let him see their renewal of friendship, he simplylooked after the vehicle and smiled. 

Ralph was chuckling as if amused. 

"Sometimes girls' friendships are so quickly changed they make methink of that wonderful Finnegan and his report of the accident onhis section of the railroad. You know how his boss had taken himto task because he stretched things out so. When the old train hadanother wreck he just wrote out his report: 'Off again, on again, gone again, Finnegan. ' Yesterday it was you, to-day Lef, andtomorrow--well, tomorrow hasn't come yet, so we won't anticipate. Come along, Frank, " and linking his arm in that of his chum, Ralphdrew him away. 

And in the lively talk that followed Frank soon forgot his bitterfeeling at the strange actions of the pretty girl he had oncethought so charming. 

CHAPTER XIII

THE GREAT MARSH

"Glad to see you, fellows! Say, by the way, I hear that Cliffordwon the great football match against Columbia!" was the way theway Bones Shadduck greeted them as they reached his door and rangthe bell. 

"You don't tell me, " said Frank, with a smile; "when did ithappen?"

"Oh! last night some time. It was a great victory. I'm told theynearly painted the town red over it, " responded the other. 

"Well, for my part I prefer to do the celebrating after the thingis over to shouting before hand. Perhaps they celebrated too hard, and that might account for several fool plays that were made. Ihad an idea that several of Clifford's best players looked ratherred-eyed, as though they didn't get much sleep, " remarked Frank, as they entered. 

"And I shouldn't be surprised if you were right. I was told theyhad a dance and it was all hours of the morning when they wenthome, " echoed Bones. 

"But what did you want us over for in particular?" asked Frank. 

"Something to show you and then a proposal to make. I had abirthday to-day, and my dad's been mighty good to me. What do youthink of that?"

Bones whipped out a beautiful shotgun from behind a case andhanded it over to the others to admire. 

"Looks like a dandy, all right. And I wager she'll do some goodwork when you get to looking over the sights. Handles great, too. Although I think I like my own gun a little the better, stillthat's only a matter of prejudice. You're lucky to have such adad, Bones, " remarked Frank, as he drew an imaginary bead on someobject seen out of the window. 

"And now for my proposal. I'm just wild to try the new gun, and Ihad word from father's farmer, Benson, that the ducks were in theold swamp that adjoins our big patch of ground over Wheaten way. Ican get our horse and the three of us might take a spin over tosee what we can do, " suggested Bones, eagerly. 

"But I thought duck shooting was always done in the earlymorning?" ventured Ralph. 

"It usually is; but in some localities there is apt to be a goodevening flight. That happens to be the case over at the swamp. I've seen them come in there to spend the night by twos anddozens, until the air was thick with them. And I've had the bestsport of my life in knocking them over on a runway, or ratherflyway. Say you'll go, Frank?" pleaded the enthusiastic sportsman. 

"Well, " answered the one addressed, "it always appeals to me, andin this case I'd just as soon be away from town to-night, becausethe boys are going to do stunts, and they hinted that they mightget hold of me to ride me around, something I object to seriously, on general principles. So far as I'm concerned I'll be delightedto go along, Bones. "

"Ditto here, " exclaimed Ralph; "only I shall have to go to be thepick-up, for I haven't got a gun. I used to handle an old one ofMr. West's, but, of course, didn't bring it along with me. "

"Oh! that's easily fixed. If you don't mind you can use my oldone. She's a steady shooter. If you cover your bird you get himevery time. And I've got plenty of shells. Suppose you chase backand get your double-barrel, Frank, while I see about the rig. Ralph will stay with me and help, I know. "

It was speedily arranged and Frank, on returning with his gun, found the others ready to make a start. Just as he had said thearrangement pleased him first-rate, for he really did want to getout of town until a late hour that night. It was not at all to theliking of the football captain to be carried around on show, justas if he were a hero on exhibition; especially when he avowed thathe deserved not one whit more honor for the victory than eachother member of the team. 

"I hope they get Lanky, and trot him around some to see how helikes it. He was scolding me for not behaving right to the boysto-day, when they grabbed me on the field after the game. I'd givesomething to see him wallowing around on a platform and made tobow to the right and to the left, over and over again. "

All of them laughed heartily at the picture Frank conjured up. Then they clambered into the vehicle and the start was made. 

They had been wise enough to hide the guns, so that while some ofthe boys who were on the streets saw them ride off, they had nosuspicion that the one bright particular star of the intendedcelebration intended to be far away at the time. 

It was a ride of more than ten miles. The horse, while not a fastanimal, could keep up a steady pace, and in good time they arrivedat the farm which Doctor Shadduck owned. 

As the afternoon was passing, and night comes early after themiddle of November, the three young sportsmen hastened to head forthe swamp where they anticipated having an hour or so of pleasurebefore dark actually shut in. 

Bones had often come up here on a similar errand, though this washis first visit this year. Still, he kept things in such shapethat there was little time wasted making the necessary arrangements. 

He had a few painted decoys that had seen much service and thesethey carried along with them from the house. 

Seeing Frank curiously examining one of the stools he carried, Bones broke out into a hearty laugh. 

"Wondering what peppered that wooden decoy so, eh, Frank? I'lltell you, though you'll never enjoy the story as much as I did theactual thing. I had a cousin up here last winter. He was from NewYork City, and had never shot at real game, though he was a deadlymarksman when it came to the trap, and could break bats and claypigeons right along. "

"I've seen the breed, " commented Frank, with a grin. 

"Well, when we came crawling out here I forgot that I had askedBenson to put my little flock of decoys out for me. The firstthing I knew I heard a bang close to my ear, and then a secondshot, after which Cousin Hal jumped up shouting that he hadknocked over the entire bunch. He had, but you ought to have seenhis look when I sent him wading out to retrieve the game. Still, he laughed himself at the joke, and begged me not to tell it tillafter he left. "

"I guess they'll float about as well as ever, even if weighteddown with shot. Have you got a boat up here, Bones?" asked Ralph. 

"Sure I have, and a dandy one to shoot out of, being flat-bottomedand steady as a church floor. But I only use it to retrieve thegame generally; because you see, we can shoot from the land as theducks fly over to enter the swamp. "

Frank had often heard of this style of shooting, and wanted to tryit; so that he was very glad he had come. After the tremendousstrain of the morning some relaxation of this kind would be a goodthing too, for all of them. 

"I told my people not to expect me home to supper; and also thatthey might be having game tomorrow for dinner, if we were lucky, "remarked Frank. 

"And nobody will bother whether I show up or not, " observed Ralph, with a nervous little laugh. 

"Never mind, old chap, I calculate that there's going to come adecided change in your condition before a great while. You'reshowing true grit in bearing up as well as you do. Any day you mayget the letter that tells you the ones you look for are on the wayhere. Then your troubles will be all in the past. Hello! how'sthis Bones? Have we arrived?" and Frank looked around curiouslywhen the guide came to a sudden halt. 

"Here we are, fellows. You see that abrupt break in the heavy lineof trees. It seems to form a sort of avenue, and the ducks inflying toward the swamp just naturally drive into it, followingafter each other as though it were really a road. In fact, few ofthem ever enter the swamp by any other way than this. "

"If we're going to shoot over a place like this, as the ducks comein, why the decoys?" asked Ralph. 

Bones laughed as he replied:

"I generally keep them out here during the season, in a littleshelter I have. Nothing like making fellows useful, you know; andwhile we were coming I thought three could carry them better thanone! Sort of making you work your passage, see?"

Knowing the ground, and the habits of the waterfowl, Bones quicklyplaced his two friends. Then they anxiously awaited the coming ofthe first game. 

A sort of routine had been arranged. This was to prevent any wasteof ammunition, through two of them shooting at the same quarry. 

"Frank, you try the first chap, Ralph the second, and I'llexperiment with my new gun when the next pilgrim spins along. Don't forget that they are swift customers right here, and thechances are you'll shoot back of them, " said Bones, as they stoodat their posts. 

"There, Frank!" exclaimed Ralph, as a couple of dark objectssuddenly burst into view, and sped past them. 

But Frank was not taken unawares. He had shot ducks more than oncebefore, and knew how to properly gauge their flight. Beginning alittle behind the pair he swept his gun forward so as to passthem; and at just the instant it covered the game in its swingingmovement he pressed the trigger. 

One of the ducks fell, stone dead, and the other went on withdiminished speed as though crippled. Almost instantly the secondbarrel spoke, and this time down came the second bird. 

"Fine!" exclaimed Bones, who had never seen Frank shoot before;"why, really, I'm ashamed to show my clumsiness before such acrack shot. "

"None of that, now. And don't believe I can do that sort of workright along. Next time it may be a clean double miss. Ducks areunreliable things. I've known the best of shots to miss, time andagain. Ralph, step up and toe the mark. You're next on thedocket, " laughed Frank, as he hastily replaced the dischargedshells with fresh ones. 

"Better retrieve your game while the balance of us keep a lookout. Otherwise we'll get things mixed, and perhaps lose some of it. Did you mark the places?" said the host of the little hunt. 

"Oh! yes, I always do that. It gets to be a habit with any fellowwho hunts much. I think they fell dead, so I oughtn't to have muchtrouble, " replied Frank. 

"Beware the oozy spots along the border of the marsh. I've had noend of trouble getting stuck instead of duck, " called out Bones, as the other moved away, carrying his gun along with him as a wisehunter always does. 

Just as he retrieved the second victim to his accuracy he heard asingle shot, and a heavy body fell not ten feet away. Ralph haddropped his first duck also. 

"There you are, " remarked Frank, throwing the three birds down, ashe returned to the rendezvous; "and they do certainly look fineand plump. Reckon you have quite a few muskrats in this old marshof yours, Bones. I saw a lot of houses in the water, made ofsticks and trash?"

"I was told there were. Of course I've seen the little varmints attimes, when I've been hiding in a duck-blind; but they nevertrouble me, and I don't go out of my way to interfere with them. Ah! there!"

He threw up his gun, and a second later two shots rang out inrapid succession. Quite a bunch of teal had swung into theavenue, heading for the marsh. They were just everlastinglyhurrying, as Ralph said, and while Bones succeeded in knockingdown a couple, one only wounded, which he never did find, hedeclared he ought to be ashamed for not doing better. 

"Still, I like the feel of the gun all right. I'll do somethingworth while when I get used to the hang of it, " he remarked, as hewent off to look for his game. 

Then Frank had another chance. Sometimes the ducks were higher up;then again they came at such speed that it was next to impossibleto make a hit. 

So the fun went on for three-quarters of an hour. It was actuallygetting dusk, and the flight seemed about over. Ralph had droppeda single duck, and gone off to try and find it, though Bones saidhe doubted whether he would succeed, because of the gatheringgloom. 

About five minutes afterwards, as he and Frank were sitting thereon the log, exchanging stories of former hunts, they heard Ralphcalling. 

"Hello! what's the matter?" exclaimed Frank, starting up. 

"I don't know, but I can give a pretty good guess, " remarkedBones; and then elevating his voice, he shouted:

"What d'ye want, Ralph?"

"Better drop over here, please!" came the reply. 

"He's in some sort of trouble, " suggested Frank, judging from thehalf apologetic tone of his chum. 

"Yes, and I expect stuck in the ooze of the marsh, worse luck!"grunted Bones. 

CHAPTER XIV

THE DANGERS OF THE MUCK HOLE

"Where are you?" called Bones, as he and Frank pushed forward inthe gathering dusk. 

"Here! Be mighty careful, fellows, or you'll get in too!" came theanswer, not far away. 

"Told you so, " remarked the doctor's son, with a little laugh;"poor Ralph; I pity him, because I've been there myself. When Icome alone out here I always carry a short rope along. If I getstuck it helps me out. "

"A rope? How under the sun can that help?" demanded a voice closeby; showing that they were very near the boy who was stuck in theooze, and also that he was alive to the inconvenience of hisposition. 

"Why, you see, in most cases there's a limb of a tree hangingover, and it's dead easy to throw the rope across it. After that, one can pull out, unless he's allowed himself to sink too deep. Got a match with you, Frank?" asked Bones. 

"Lots. I've found them handy on too many occasions lately to gowithout. Here you are, Bones. Going to make a fire, are you?" andFrank, bending down, commenced to assist in gathering some deadleaves together. 

"Well, " replied the other, "we ought to have some light to see howto work him free. It would be a tough joke if the whole bunch ofus got stuck. I don't hanker after such an experience. Things arepretty dry up here, so we must be careful not to let the blazespread any. "

The fire was quickly a positive fact, and being fed with somesmall branches it leaped up grandly. In this fashion the entireneighborhood was illuminated. 

Frank looked around. The sight was peculiar, and as the marsh raninto an actual swamp, he thought he had seldom seen a more weirdeffect. Still, what interested him most of all was the picture ofRalph, up to his knees in the soft slime that lay concealed underthe dead leaves and green scum. 

"I've tried all I could to get out, fellows, but the worst of itis, when I lift one foot the other only goes that much deeperdown. If a fellow could only get hold of enough stuff to make asort of mattress he might roll over on it and do the trick thatway. I'd be trying that if I had daylight, and was alone here, "remarked the imprisoned boy, calmly. 

"Say, I never thought of that. It's a clever idea, all right. Nexttime I get stuck I'm going to see how it works, " remarked Bones. 

"Why not now, since you haven't your rope along. Here's just theticket--some old fence rails lying in a heap. Cheer up, comrade, we'll have you out of that in a jiffy now, " sang out Frank, seizing one of the long, cast-off rails, and dropping it on thesurface of the muck. 

Bones fell to along side, and between them they speedily formed aregular corduroy road out to where Ralph stood, watching thebuilding with interest. 

One of them got on either side. Then, with the aid of other railsthey pried Ralph loose, so that he could crawl over to the"mattress, " and get secure footing. After that nothing was neededbut to walk ashore. 

"I'm a fine sight, mud up to my knees, my hands full, and I tellyou, it isn't just as sweet as it might be, " lamented Ralph, as hestarted to scrape himself off with a splinter. 

"Hold on, we'll play valet to you. Take that leg, while I managethis one, Frank, " observed Bones, who was really enjoying seeingsome other fellow in the same mussy condition that had been hislot more than once. 

They scraped so well that presently Ralph declared he felt quitepresentable once more. 

"But I'll make sure to let nobody see me in this condition, " headded; "and this pair of trousers will have to go to the cleaner'sMonday morning, you bet. "

"Well, are we off now?" asked Frank, as he started to make surethat the fire was extinguished to the last spark. 

"That's the ticket, Frank, " observed Bones, approvingly, "I like afire all right, but hate to see it burning up a marsh or a woods. Had one little experience that I aint going to forget in a hurry. I guess she'll do now. Let's shoulder our game and make tracks forthe farmhouse. Supper will be ready, I suppose. "

"Supper?" echoed Ralph. 

"Why, sure. You didn't suppose I meant that we'd go hungry when Iinvited you to come up here for a little relaxation, after our bigstrain this morning? Benson promised to have something for us. They're only plain country folks, you know, so don't expect muchstyle, fellows. "

"Style!" exclaimed Ralph, with a snort, "do I look like I couldput on a heap, with these mussed-up trousers? All I ask is achance to wash my hands and face. But it was mighty good of youthinking of the grub part, Bones. "

"I don't see how. I always eat with Benson when I come up here fora shoot. It was only a case of selfishness. Say, this is somethingof a load--four apiece all around, and they're heavy chaps, too. This one is so fat he actually burst when he fell. "

"But I have no use of any game. Perhaps you'd better give thefarmer my share, for his kindness, " suggested Ralph. 

"That's nice of you, old fellow. And I'll take you up on it, too. Benson has no time to shoot, and I don't believe he knows how; butall the same he does like a taste of game, to sort of change thebill of fare. Follow me, now, for the house. "

Bones led the way, and presently they arrived at the farmhouse, alow-roofed building, where light gleamed cheerily in the smallwindows. Benson had a wife and several small children. The tablewas set, country fashion, right at one end of the big kitchen, andthe odors that greeted the hungry and cold boys as they enteredcertainly promised an appetizing repast. 

Ralph was soon made happy with a tin basin and a bucket of water. He managed to repair damages pretty well, and was only too willingto respond to the farmer's hearty invitation to take a chair and"set-to. "

Perhaps it was their sharp-set appetites that made them think thefood tasted unusually fine. No matter, there was a greatabundance, and by the time they got up from the table every fellowdeclared he could not eat another mouthful if he were paid for it. 

"I'll have your rig at the door in short order, " declared Benson, as he went out with a lantern. 

With a ten-mile drive, and a horse far from fresh, Bones haddecided that they would do well to start without any delay. He hadtried out his gun, and was satisfied; while on Frank's part, herejoiced in the fact that he would be away from town while all theglorification was going on. 

"Hold on, Mr. Benson, that's enough. Eight is all we want to takeback with us. Ralph here is boarding and has no use for his share. So he asks you to accept it, " called out Bones, as the farmerstarted to toss the game in the back part of the doctor's buggy. "That's kind o' him, and I'm sure much obliged. We don't get anytoo much game up here, close as we are to the marsh. I'm too busy, you see, and then besides, I never was a great hand to shoot. Insummer I pull in quite some fish at odd times, and that's all thesport I take. "

It was about eight o'clock when they finally left the farmhouse. The good wife and the three children called out good-bye, as Boneschucked to the horse, and they were off. 

"It won't be so awful dark on the road, for there's a half moonpeeping out up yonder behind those clouds, " said Frank. 

"Glad of that, " returned Bones, who was doing the driving, "because you see, the road is pretty rough till we get on the mainone, and if it was pitch dark we might stand for getting tumbledinto a ditch alongside. There are same nasty places I've got tolook out for. I know them pretty well though; ought to, for I'vebeen in two of 'em. "

"We'll help you look out then. I wouldn't hanker after a tumbleinto a muddy ditch just now, " laughed Frank. 

"Think of me, fellows! Why, my lower extremities are still dampfrom one trip. That was bad enough, but think of going in headfirst! Ugh! excuse me, if you please!" groaned Ralph. 

They made out to get along with little or no trouble. The horsekept the middle of the road as a rule, and three pair of keen eyeswere quite enough to pilot the vehicle along toward the junctionof the two thoroughfares. 

When the firmer road was reached Bones declared he was glad. 

"Now we needn't worry, boys. Get-up, Strawberry; it's home for youand another measure of oats. I had the farmer give him only asmall quantity. Keep a horse a bit hungry if you want him tohustle for home, " he remarked. 

"Sounds reasonable at any rate, Bones. And Strawberry is doingpretty good hustling right now, considering the heavy condition ofour weight, in the way of game. My folks will think I'm somethingon the shoot, I guess, " remarked Frank, humorously. 

"You really got seven--" began Ralph, when his friend interrupted. 

"Never mind about that. One fellow is always lucky above the rest. Never knew it to fail. To-day it might be me, to-morrow you. So itgoes. Forget it, both of you. "

Ralph said nothing more. He knew the nature of his chum, and thatFrank had not a selfish bone in his body. If there was any sportgoing around he wanted every one to have their full share of it, nor could he rest happy unless this were so. 

They had passed over several miles of the main road, and all ofthem were somehow feeling a bit drowsy from their unusualexertions of the day, when, without warning, the horse snortedand came to a full stop. 

"What's this mean?" demanded Bones, in astonishment. 

"There's something on the road ahead of us, " declared Ralph, bending forward in order to see the better, for the shadows fellacross the tree-bordered pike. 

"I'm not sure, " ventured Frank, "but it seems like some sort ofvehicle to me. Perhaps there's been an accident. Wait while I jumpout and go to see!"

CHAPTER XV

FRANK TURNS CHAUFFEUR

"Don't you want your gun?" asked Bones, in a low voice, thatshowed some trace of excitement; for, truth to tell, Bones wasinclined to be suspicious by nature, and there had been storiestold lately throughout that section, of raids by thieving tramps. 

Possibly that may have been one reason why Bones was so desirousof having company on this little excursion up to the farm to tryhis new gun. 

"What for?" asked Frank, surprised, as he dropped out of thevehicle. 

"Oh! there's no telling. This may be just a trap to stop anytravelers and make them hand over. It's been done before. I'd hateto lose my double-barrel the first thing. "

He was groping under the seat for the aforesaid article at thatvery moment, as though he would feel safer with it in his hands. 

But Frank laughed scornfully. 

"Don't you believe it, Bones. Ten to one this is some vehicle thathas left the road and gone into the ditch. I'm only afraid I mayfind the driver badly hurt in being thrown out, that's all. "

He left the buggy as he spoke, and walked hastily forward towardthe dark object that seemed to be half on the road and partlyamong the trees. "Why, it looks like an automobile, " said Frankto himself, as he came closer; and five seconds later he addedpositively, "That's just what it is. I wonder what's happenednow?"

He soon knew. Upon reaching the scene he found that the car musthave suddenly swerved from the road and struck a tree, head on. Itcould not have been going at a very rapid pace at the time, foralthough some damage had been done to the hood, and one of thelamps seemed to be smashed, the machine did not appear badlydamaged. 

Some one was grunting close by, and as Frank drew near he saw afigure crawling out from the bushes. 

"What's happened here?" he asked, promptly. 

The figure of a man started up, and as Frank struck a match he sawthat the other seemed to be decently dressed, although his clotheswere somewhat torn after his headlong flight in among the bushes. 

"We had an accident, " muttered the man, staring hard at him; andFrank thought with a look not unlike suspicion on his scratchedface. 

"I see you had, " returned Frank, at the same time noting almostunconsciously from the way the machine headed they must have beencoming away from Columbia at the time; "but you speak as if theremight be another party along with you. Did he get tossed out toowhen you hit the tree?"

"I don't know. I wasn't seeing anything just then but a millionstars. He don't seem to be in the car, does he?" ventured theother, who was rubbing himself all over as if trying to ascertainwhether any ribs, or other bones, had been broken in his roughexperience. 

"Then he must be in the bushes, the same as you, though it's amiracle how he went out, being behind the steering wheel; and alsohow he missed hitting this tree. Fortunately it happens to be asmall one. Let's look and see. "

As he spoke Frank lit another match and started to examine thebushes alongside the stranded car and beyond. By the time he hadused three matches success rewarded his efforts, for they foundthe man. 

"He's dead!" exclaimed the stranger, in horrified tones. 

"Oh! perhaps not. He may only have fainted from the shock, " andlying down, the boy put his head down close to the chest of themotionless man. 

"His heart is beating and that proves he is alive. Take hold hereand we'll carry him to the car. Perhaps he'll come to his senseswhen I dash a little water in his face. Lift his heels and I'lllook after his head, " and Frank took hold of the broad shouldersas he spoke. 

In this fashion they managed to move the unconscious man to theroad. He was laid down alongside the car. Meanwhile, the other twoboys had come up, Bones urging the frightened horse along with thewhip. 

"What is it, Frank?" asked Ralph, jumping out. 

"Been an accident; a car rammed a tree. Both passengers thrownout, and one of them is injured; Anyhow he seems to have beenknocked senseless. I'm going to get a little water in my cap andtry to bring him to, " with which Frank darted to the other side ofthe road, where his quick ear caught the trickling sound of asmall stream gurgling among mossy stones. 

He was back in less than a minute, and immediately startedsplashing some of the water in the face of the unconscious man. 

"He's coming around, " said the other man, watching theseoperations with eager eyes; and who several times looked at thethree boys as though wondering what they could be doing there onthat lonely road at such a late hour, for it was now past nineo'clock. 

Frank turned aside to see whether he could not light theremaining lamp of the car, which did not appear to have beenbroken, and had possibly only gone out through the suddenconcussion, as acetyline burners often will. 

He found that it was readily made to shed light again, and oncehis work here had been done it was only natural for the boy whodelighted in machinery of all kinds to take a hasty look at thecar. 

"I think it might run still. Nothing vital seems to be broken, anyhow, " he said aloud, as he came back to the little group. 

The second man was recovering, but groaning more or less. 

"He ought to be taken to your house, Bones, to let your fatherexamine him. I'm afraid he may be badly hurt, " said Frank; "if youcan help him into the tonneau of the machine I'll try and see ifit will work. "

"Say, can you run it?" asked the second man, eagerly. 

"I know something about cars; enough to drive this one, if itisn't damaged in its working parts. I couldn't guarantee to patchit up, though. Wait and let me see. "

He bent over the car, and presently gave the crank a couple ofwhirls to turn over the engine. Sure enough, there was animmediate response, and the whirring that followed announced that, strange to say, the machine had not been vitally injured in thesmashup, though badly damaged with regard to looks. 

Frank backed out, and with a few deft manipulations that provedthe truth of his assertion that he could run a car, managed tohead the machine once more toward Columbia. Neither of the menseemed to notice just what he was doing. The one who had appearedto Frank first was bending down over his friend, and they wereholding a whispered conversation. 

"Put him in; now Ralph, " said the new chauffeur, quietly, "you andBones come along after, and leave my gun and the ducks at myhouse. I'll be home long before you get there, I reckon, unlessthis old machine takes a notion to be tricky again and dump us. "

Still groaning, the man was lifted into the tonneau. 

"How do you feel, sir?" asked Frank, solicitously; although, truthto tell, he could not say that he liked the looks of either of theparties, judging from what little he had seen of them by the lightof the lone lamp. 

"Pretty bum, boy. The trouble is, my right arm hangs down like itmight be broken; and without it I can't handle the wheel, you see. My friend here don't know nothing about a machine, the worse luck. So I don't see but what we've just got to let you do the drivin'for us. It's nice in you proposin' it, too. Ugh! that hurts some, I tell you!"

The man accompanied his words with more or less vehementexpressions that did not raise him the slightest in the estimationof Frank. However, he was evidently in great bodily pain, and thatmight in some measure excuse his strong language. 

The second traveler got in alongside his friend, as though hefeared he might be needed sooner or later, if the other started tofaint again. 

"I'm going to get you to a doctor as soon as possible, " remarkedFrank, as he started off. 

He heard the calls of his chums and answered back. Then the carlost the slow-moving buggy on the road. Frank did not dare drivevery fast. He was not familiar with the machine; and besides, possibly it was acting freakish--at least the man declared that ithad jumped aside straight at that tree without his doing anything. On his part Frank accepted this version with a grain of allowance;for he had long since scented liquor around, and could guess thereal reason for the accident. 

As he guided the car Frank could hear the two men talking behindhim. The murmur of their voices just reached him, though he couldnot make out anything they said. 

Once the man who had come out of the mishap in better trim thanhis companion seemed to be groping around under the seats as ifsearching for something. 

"It's here, all right, Jim!" Frank heard him say, in a satisfiedtone. 

A minute later he was asking about the road, where it led, andwhat the intentions of the boy at the wheel were. Frank repeatedwhat he had said before, to the effect that he thought the woundedman ought to see a physician with as little delay as possible, andtherefore he was heading back to Columbia so as to take him to Dr. Shadduck. 

"Who?" exclaimed the wounded man, as the name was mentioned. 

"Doctor Shadduck, the father of one of my chums, who was with meduck shooting, " replied Frank, thinking it strange why the manwhile apparently suffering so much should care who attended him, just so long as he could get relief speedily. 

Again the two men conferred in low tones. Frank could hear thewounded one muttering again. Perhaps his arm had commenced to hurtonce more; or, it may have been something else that started himoff. 

And even while Frank was wondering who these parties could beanyway, with their strange actions and apparent unwillingness toreturn to Columbia, which place they must have recently left, aheavy hand was laid on his arm, and a voice said:

"Say, look here, we don't want to go to Columbia, and what'smore, we ain't meaning to let you take us there! Just ahead is aroad that runs off from this. They told us it runs over toFayette. Perhaps you don't want to go that way, but forget allthat and turn off, because you've just _got_ to take us! Nowords now, but shove us along lively!"

CHAPTER XVI

AN UNWILLING PILOT

Frank Allen felt a sudden thrill shoot through his entire bodywhen the gruff command to change his course was growled into hisear. 

He had not been at all inclined to look upon these two travelersin a favorable light; but this was the first intimation hereceived that they might be even worse than they appeared. 

Of course he made no immediate reply. In fact, he was still dazedby this puzzling turn in the strange little adventure. He hadbelieved that in helping the luckless victims of the accident hewas furthering his own interests, in that he would reach home longbefore his chums. Now it began to look as though he had jumpedfrom the frying pan into the fire. 

He tried to collect his thoughts and reason out the case. Whyshould these men so seriously object to returning to the town ofColumbia? Had they been guilty of doing something unlawful thatmade the place dangerous to them?

Once before Frank had become mixed up with a clique of men forwhom Chief of Police Hogg had warrants. He remembered thecircumstance clearly, and wondered whether history could be aboutto repeat itself again. 

And then, why should the mention of Doctor Shadduck's name affectthem both in that strange fashion? Did they know the foremostphysician of Columbia, a man of considerable property interests, and said to be the wealthiest man in the county?

"The car!"

Frank came near exclaiming these words aloud, so abruptly did theyform in his mind! Now he remembered why the automobile had somehowseemed familiar to him, and why Bones had shown such interest init. 

"Bones thought it was an exact duplicate of the new machine hisfather bought last week; but I believe it's the doctor's own car!These men have stolen it for some reason or other, " Frank wasthinking, even while he stared ahead at the white road over whichthey were moving at a fair rate of speed. 

His pulses throbbed with the excitement, even more than whenClifford threatened Columbia's ten-yard line with an irresistibleforward rush that morning. Hearing the men talking behind him hestrained his ears to try and catch a few words, in the hope thathe might discover what it all meant. 

"It's all your fault, Bart, " grumbled the injured fellow. 

"I don't see how you make that out, Jim?" replied the other, gloomily. 

"I wanted to turn and head for Fayette, but you said the otherroad was best, " the heavier fellow went on. 

"I think so yet, but who'd expect that we'd have such a wreck? Itell you, man, we're mighty lucky to come out of it as well as wedid, " said the other. 

"That's easy for you to say, but my arm feels tough. I reckonshe's broke sure enough. That means delay and trouble, just whenthings looked so bright. It's a shame, that's what. Sure we didn'tlose it in the accident, are you, Bart?"

The lighter man seemed to again feel down at his feet. 

"I tell you it's there safe and sound. Given four hours, and we'llbe where they ain't going to find us. Keep up your nerve, Jim. Luck's still with us, I know, " he went on. 

"Is it? Well, I'm beginning to suspect there's been a turn in thetide. When the machine took the bit in her mouth and slammed us upagainst that tree, it looked to me like we had run into badweather. But we must be near that road, Bart!"

"Reckon it's just ahead now; I remember that big tree we passedcomin' out, " replied the uninjured one of the precious pair. 

"All right. Don't let the kid get past. Seems to me he's someslippery. I seen his face somewhere before, " grunted the sufferer. 

"Course you did. He was the feller that captained them boys thismorning in the game we watched while waitin' for our chance, " saidthe other. 

"He was, hey? Well, you want to keep your eye on that boy, then, mark me. They told me some high-colored yarns about him at theinn. "

Frank was not in the least elated over hearing himself praised. Intruth, just then he was wrestling with the puzzling problempresented by his strange situation. 

What "chance" did the man called Bart refer to? Who were thesemysterious men, and what did they have in the bottom of thetonneau that seemed so precious in the eyes of the fellow who wasbadly hurt? He could, for the time being, forget his severeinjuries to make inquiries concerning this package, hence it mustbe of considerable value. 

Were they thieves? If this was indeed the new machine belonging toBones' father, it looked suspicious, to say the least. 

What could he do? They wanted him to take them somewhere, and ina hurry, too; were they in full flight, desirous of getting to acertain place before the pursuit became too fierce?

If Frank shivered while considering these momentous things, itcould hardly be wondered at. The situation was one to giveconcern to the bravest man, and, after all, he was but a boy, though possessed of more than the average courage for one of hisyears. 

"There's the road on the left, kid!" suddenly exclaimed Bart. 

"I see it, sir, " replied the young pilot of the damaged car, trying to keep his voice as steady as possible, in the hope thatthe two men might not suspect that he had guessed their secret. 

"Be sure and turn in; and be careful not to upset us, " continuedthe other. 

"Yes, " said the wounded fellow, quickly, "one accident is more'nenough for me, to-night. Hey, that's a good sweep around, youngster; I see as you know your business all right. Now, are weheadin' straight for Fayette?"

"Yes, sir, " replied Frank, readily. 

"How far is that away from Columbia?"

"Twelve miles, about, sir, as the road goes, " answered the newchauffeur. 

"We strike the railroad at Fayette, don't we?" continued Bart, eagerly. 

"There is one there, but not the same that comes to Columbia, " andwhen he said that Frank was certain that one of the men chuckled;it must have been Bart, for the wounded fellow was in no mood formerriment, what with his groans and grunts that signified pain. 

"That's right. And we're glad to hear it. Wouldn't give a cent fora chance to ride back to your slow old town. New York's goodenough for us, hey, Jim. "

"It sure is, if I ever live to get there. Wish there happened tobe a doctor on this here road somewhere, " said the secondtraveler. 

"What for?" asked his comrade, quickly. "I'd get him to take alook at this arm, that's what. "

"Huh! dangerous business, Jim. Don't you think of it 'less it'sjust positively necessary. Delays might cost us dear. There'sgoing to be a big hello when our old friend gets out of thatsleep. "

Frank realized that the men were apparently getting to that pointwhere they cared little how much he knew. They evidently meant tomake such use of him as seemed necessary. Once he thought that itmight be a good thing if he pretended to lose control of the car, just as Jim had evidently done. Then he changed his mind, and fortwo very good reasons. 

In the first place, there was always the risk of being hurthimself in the consequent collision with a tree. Frank could notforget that his duty was to keep himself in good condition, solong as his school looked to him to lead his team to victory inthe triangular series of football contests. Then, again, heseemed to feel that it would be cowardly to desert the post intowhich a strange accident had thrust him. 

Better stick it out until something cropped up whereby he couldmake at least a try to defeat the purposes of these two rogues. Hehad heard enough to want to know more. Probably they would notseek to injure him so long as he made no positive move towardinterfering with their game, whatever that might be. 

They were talking again. Once more he strained for hearing in thehope of picking up further clues that would enlighten him withregard to their aims. 

"It's the safest way, Bart. If they can't get word to Fayettetill mornin', we can give 'em the laugh. You've just _got_to do it, " said the wounded man, with a degree of force thatmarked him as the head of the expedition. 

"All right, if you say so, Jim. I'd a done it up the other road, if you hadn't banged us into that tree. Say when, " replied theother, who was moving about as though doing something. 

Frank managed to take a swift look over his shoulder. It onlypuzzled him the more, for Jim seemed to be fastening somethingabout the lower part of his legs. What could he want leggings for?And what could it be that Jim insisted he should do?

"I know of a doctor about two miles further on here, " Frank said, thinking that it might delay matters some if they concluded tostop over; at least give him a chance to either escape, or renderthe machine useless for further flight. 

"You do, eh? Well, tell us when we get there, and p'raps I mightmake up my mind to hold over a bit. Are you ready, Bart?" said theheavier man. 

"Yes. As well here as anywhere, " came the reply. 

"Bring her to a stop, kid; here, alongside this telegraph pole. That's good. Now, Bart, do it!"

Frank felt more than curious to know what the men had in mind. Assoon as the car came to a stand the lighter man, who had not beenhurt in the accident, jumped rather clumsily from the tonneau. Frank noticed this with surprise, for up to now he had looked uponthe other as rather agile. Could he have been injured after all, and was just beginning to feel the effect of his headlong plungeinto the bushes?

Judge of his utter amazement when he saw Bart at once seize holdof the nearby telegraph pole and begin to climb up with a seriesof sturdy kicks that apparently glued each foot in succession tothe pole. Frank no longer wondered, for he knew that the man hadbeen strapping a pair of lineman's climbing spurs to his legs whenbending down in the tonneau of the stolen car!

CHAPTER XVII

A DESPERATE REMEDY

"All right, Bart?" called out the man in the car, as the otherseemed to have reached the cross-bars far up the pole, over thelower of which he threw a leg, after the confident manner of oneaccustomed to such antics. 

"Sure. It was dead easy, " came floating down from above. 

"Then get to work, and make a clean job of it. Look here, boy, don't you be thinkin' of leavin' us in the lurch just now. I ain'tfit to run this shebang, so we need you, and need you bad. Ireckon you know what this is, don't you?" and the fellow showedsomething that glistened like steel in the mellow moonlight. 

Frank could not help feeling a little chill; still, he, was notgiven to showing the white feather easily. 

"Of course I do. It isn't the first time I've seen a revolver, " hemanaged to say, with a nervous little laugh. 

"All right, then; don't get gay, and make me ugly, or somethingmight happen. Hey! Bart, why don't you get busy?" raising hisvoice again. 

There was a sharp click, and a clear "tang, " as of a strained wiresnapping. Frank understood now what was doing. These men had fearof pursuit, and were cutting the telegraph wires in order toprevent direct communication between Columbia and Fayette!

A second and a third metallic "pink" announced that the man upamong the cross bars was indeed using his cutters with effect. Atthat rate he would have the entire sheaf of wires severed inanother minute or so. 

The matter began to assume gigantic proportions to the boy, as hesat there in the car and listened. Certainly these men must havedesperate need for delay in the pursuit, if they went to suchextremes in order to accomplish it. And they seemed to haveprovided against such a contingency, too, which would indicatethat they were now only carrying out a part of a well-laid plan. 

What could he do? Half a dozen ideas thronged into his brain, butthey seemed so utterly useless that he discarded them as fast asthey arose. He must in some manner get away from their companybefore arriving in the neighborhood of Fayette; because if theywere as desperate as they appeared the chances were they might seefit to tie him up, and leave him under some farmer's haystack, where he would not be found for hours. 

"That light ahead is the doctor's place, " he said, finally. 

The man called Bart had apparently severed the last of the wires. He was even then coming down the pole hastily, as though eager tobe on the move. 

"It is, eh?" remarked the other, with a plain sneer, as though heguessed the sudden hope that had leaped into being in the heartof the boy; "well, seein' as how we've been held up here so longI reckon I'll have to let that chance get by me. Seems like Ican move that arm a little. P'raps she aint broke after all. "

Bart jumped rather clumsily into the car. 

"Hit her up now, kid. We ought to make up some for the time we putin here. Been a preachin' to him, ain't you, Jim? It's just aswell that he knowed how things lie, 'cause we can't afford to haveany foolin'?" he observed. 

"I warned him that we wouldn't put up with any hoss play. If hetries to run us into the bushes he's goin' to get himself into apeck o' trouble. Likewise, keep a still tongue in your mouth whenwe go past the doctor's house; understand!"

Jim thought it good policy to accompany these last words with avigorous prod between Frank's shoulder blades; and there could beno mistaking the nature of the hard object with which he did thispunching. 

To tell the truth Frank had really thought of doing some shoutingjust when they were in front of the little house where the countrydoctor lived. His plans had been in a sort of chaotic state atbest, for he could not see just how anything of this sort mightavail to divorce him from the unwelcome company of these tworascals. 

"I'm not saying a word, " he remarked, with another little nervouslaugh, as the speeding machine passed the home of the medical man, perched on a little knoll. 

While he bent forward and seemed to be scanning the road ahead, soas to avoid a collision in case they met another vehicle comingthe other way, Frank was again doing his best to conjure up somewild plan that might promise him the desired chance to escape fromthe company of these two desperate men. 

He now had not the least doubt but that they were thieves of somesort. What he had heard them say with reference to some person whowould not be apt to wake up for several hours, made him thinkagain of Doctor Shadduck. 

The gentleman was a rich man, and accustomed to dealing in manyenterprises that necessitated the employment of considerablemeans. Possibly these men had managed to hoodwink the capitalistin some fashion, and when their opportunity came had run awaywith something valuable belonging to him. They may even have usedsome of the good doctor's chloroform, or other drugs, to put him ina condition whereby he could not give the alarm or start a pursuitfor some hours. 

It was really thrilling; but Frank had no desire to see anythingfurther of his unwelcome companions. He wished he had the nerve toturn the car from the road; but the chances of being injuredhimself discounted this desire. 

Surely there ought to be some other way whereby he could say good-byein a hurry. They would not search long for him if he once got away. Since Jim admitted that his arm was feeling better perhaps he wouldtry and guide the machine into Fayette. Meanwhile Frank could betrying in some fashion to warn the authorities. 

The sound of their voices just reached him as he sat therethinking. They were talking low now, as if desirous of not lettinghim hear, but Frank possessed keen ears, and could catch certainwords, especially in Jim's heavier tones. 

"It's just got to be did sooner or later. He could ruin all ourgame if he wanted to. I've risked too much now to take chances. Don't you go to showing any of your squeamishness, Bart; I won'thave it, " he was growling. 

They must be referring to the boy who sat at the wheel and guidedthe moving car. Bart evidently said something more, for presentlythe voice of Jim once more came to the listening ears of the oneso deeply interested. 

"He ain't goin' to be hurted, I tell you. But his mouth has got tobe kept closed, unless you want the hull county on our heels. Iseen that feller play, and I know what he's capable of doin'. Sojust shut up, Bart, and do what I says, hear?"

Evidently the other finally agreed to abide by the decision of hisleader; for they both relapsed into temporary silence. 

"I _must_ find some chance to jump!" Frank said over and overto himself, after having heard what had passed between the two menback of him. 

To do it then and there invited a dislocated shoulder when hestruck the hard ground. And then again there was that ugly, shinything which Jim had taken such deliberate pains to show him; hedid not fancy being used for a target. 

"How far along are we now?" asked Jim, close to his ear. 

"About five miles out of Fayette, I think?" replied Frank, who hadfrequently come over this some course on his wheel, and knew thecountry well. 

"Huh! that's encouraging. Keep her going like she is, bub. Youseem to know how to run a machine, all right. Steady! there comessomething ahead. Give 'em the horn, boy, and steer to the right, d'ye hear! Not a peep as we pass, remember!"

Again came that wicked punch in the small of Frank's back. 

"I'll remember, " he said, hastily, as he turned as far out as thenature of the road permitted, and at the same time caused the hornto give a few croaks. 

It was another auto approaching, as the several lights announced. Frank's heart seemed to be in his throat as the two machinesrapidly approached each other. What would he not have given for achance to shout out, and tell the parties who were in the othercar that he was held under duress, and compelled to play the partof chauffeur to these fugitive rascals; but he dared not, withthat desperate wounded man right at his back. 

Judge to his astonishment when he saw that the other car held anumber of Columbia people, among the rest Minnie Cuthbert and herfather. He only had a quick glimpse of them as the two machinespassed; but it was enough to show him a look of sheer astonishmenton the face of the girl, which told that she must have recognizedhim. 

"Hello! Frank!" came a voice booming after them, as the other carslowed down suddenly; and he believed that it must be Mr. Cuthbertwho called, possibly influenced by Minnie. 

"Silence! not a word, do you hear?" exclaimed Jim, emphasizing hiswords with a further display of significant pushes with that hardobject. 

"And keep her going, kid, keep her going right along, " added theother man, grimly. 

"Are they turning around, Bart?" demanded the stout party, savagely. 

"Naw. Nothing doing this time. There they start up again, andheadin' the other way. It's all right, pard, all right sure. "

"Lucky for them it is, " grunted Jim; though he sighed in reliefbecause the peril had passed; "them fellers seemed to know you, son?"

"Yes, they are Columbia people, " replied Frank, shortly, for hehad experienced a bitter disappointment when he realized that thissudden little chance had slipped away without helping his forlorncause a mite. 

Three more miles or so had been passed over when suddenly thereflashed into his mind a brilliant idea that promised results. Justahead was a bridge over Juniper Creek, quite a good sized streamthat flowed into Harrapin River above Clifford. 

Passing down the incline that led to the bridge, Frank managed tomake the car act wobbly, as though there might be something thematter. And as it ran on to the boards of the bridge itself, hebrought it to a sudden stand. 

"What's wrong here?" demanded Jim, angrily. 

The engine had stopped working. 

"I'll get out and see, " observed Frank, suiting the action to theword, and opening up the hood of the car. 

"Don't you try to run away, son, if you know what's good for you, "said the man, after Frank had used a wrench on the engine. "Trycranking her again, and see if she refuses to work. There--holdon, you fool--why, he's crazy, Bart!" for Frank had suddenlywhirled around, and taken a plunge over the side of the woodenbridge into the cold waters of Juniper Creek!

[Illustration: FRANK HAD SUDDENLY PLUNGED OVER THE SIDE OF THEBRIDGE. ]

CHAPTER XVIII

MATCHING WITS

"After him, Bart! We mustn't let him get away!" exclaimed thestout man, as he hurriedly climbed out of the tonneau of theautomobile. 

"Not me! I ain't hankering after a cold bath just now, " answeredhis companion, who had jumped out on the other side, and wasrunning around. 

"Run down to the bank and get hold of him, if you can!" continuedJim, harshly. 

This seemed at least reasonable, and Bart had no objections totrying to do something along such lines. 

"Don't see anything of him here!" he announced a minute later, ashe appeared below, and ran along the bank of the stream. 

The moon had gone behind a cloud, as though wishing to favor theescape of the unwilling chauffeur. 

"Hang the luck! Well, come up here then, and we'll put off. P'rapsI might manage with my other arm. We can't hang around here, withtime flying. The town's close by. Hurry up, Bart!"

But when Bart reached his side, he found the other breathing outthreatenings in a fashion that denoted a new difficulty. 

"What's wrong now?" asked the slim man, who was panting from hisexertions. 

"That clever little scamp has dished us, that's what; carried awaythe spark plugs of the machine with him, and without them we mightas well try to move this bridge. I was a fool to trust him onesecond. We've just got to find him, Bart, that's all there is toit! Either that, or walk into Fayette, and perhaps lose thattrain. Come on back again. You take one side, and I'll look overthe other. He's there, sure, unless he got drowned, and that Idon't imagine is the case. "

Bart was fully awake to the great necessity of finding the boy, after hearing what Frank had done as he jumped from the car. Eachof them hurried around the approach of the bridge, and slippeddown the bank. 

"Any sign of him over there, Jim, " called Bart, as he pushed hisway into the bushes and reeds that bordered the creek. 

"Don't see none yet, but keep on further down. Like as not as hejust drifted with the current a bit, and then crawled out. Gethim, if you find his tracks, I feel like I could do something tohim for playin' this trick on us. Hello!"

"What's doing, boss?" called the other. 

"Here's where he crawled out, all right, " replied Jim, excitedly. 

"How d'ye know it is?" demanded the other, across the water of thecreek. 

"It's all wet. I'll follow it up, and nab him in a dozen winks. Hecan't have got far away, I reckon. "

"What d'ye want me to do, Jim?" called his companion, after await. 

"Go back to the bridge, and cross over here. "

"All right. Keep right after him. The moon's going to come outagain right soon. If you see him, give him a shot to make himstop!" and shouting in this vein, Bart turned to retrace his stepsback to the bridge. 

He was somewhat out of wind by the time he had half mounted theabrupt bank that served as the base for one end of the bridge. Allat once he heard a sound that electrified him. It was the crankingof the car!

"Hi, Jim! here he is! Come back! He's going to leave us in ahole! Head him off up the road there! Hurry, Jim, hurry!"

The climbing man could hardly finish shouting, so short was he ofbreath; but perhaps it may have been the absolute necessity forprompt action that forced him to continue the balance of the sheerascent. 

The answering cries of his companion welled up from somewhere downalong the side of the stream, and the crash of his plungingfootsteps could be heard as an evidence that he understood thedanger menacing them. 

As Bart pulled himself up alongside the approach to the bridge hesaw a boyish figure spring into the fore part of the damaged car. Then came a series of quick pulsations that announced the fact ofthe machine working, as if nothing had ever been the matter. 

"He's going off with it, Jim! Stop him! He's carrying our stuffwith him! Head him off! Puncture a tire for him! Give him a shot, Jim!" howled to the thoroughly demoralized Bart, starting tostagger after the retreating automobile himself, with his handsextended, as though he would fain seize hold upon it. 

"Good-bye, fellows; your cake is dough!" shouted the one whosprawled in the front seat of the car and guided its destinies. 

Frank had purposely thrown on considerable power in making hisstart, for he knew what if ever there was need of haste it wasright then and there. Jim was running ahead there, with theintention of cutting him off, and little though he had seen ofthe gentleman, he felt that he had no desire to prolong theacquaintance further. 

Now the friendly moon could no longer hold back behind thatfloating black cloud, and with her first appearance Frank turnedan anxious face toward the spot where a violent agitation in thebrush announced the presence of the running Jim. 

"Hold up there, boy! Put on the brake, or I'll----" but the restwas unheard, for Frank had dropped as low as he could in the frontof the car, though still keeping his hands on that guiding wheel. 

He heard the sharp discharge of a weapon, thrice repeated. Hisheart seemed to come up almost in his throat, for this thing ofbeing under fire was a new experience for the young athlete. Perhaps the man had tried to simply puncture the tire, althoughthis would in the end delay their departure. Frank never knew thetruth in connection with the firing. 

Then, in another second or two, he realized that he had passedbeyond the zone of danger, with a clear road ahead of him!

"Hurrah!"

He could not help giving vent to his delight in this one shout. Just half a mile further on another road branched off from the onehe was flying over. He remembered that by a circuitous way itwould eventually take him to Columbia, passing through first thevillage of Stagers, and then a larger place known as Plattville. 

His pulses were bounding with triumph as he let the car out notchby notch. Why, after all, the smash could have done no seriousdamage to the machine. What was fifteen miles when in such asplendid traveler as this new auto of the good doctor's?

He made the turn, and presently dashed into the first village. Here he stopped at a tavern long enough to make an examination, toascertain whether his supply of gasoline might be sufficient tocarry him home. He also wished to impress the fact of his havingbeen there upon the hotel keeper. In case anyone tried to cast anydoubts upon his story, it might be well to have evidence that hehad visited Stagers that night. 

And during his brief stop Frank took occasion to look at theobject lying in the bottom of the tonneau, and which had seemed tobe especially valuable in the eyes of the two unprincipled men. 

It was a common variety of grip, made of some good leather. He didnot bother opening the same, thinking that possibly DoctorShadduck might be better qualified than himself for that task, buthe placed it at his feet in front. 

Once again Frank was on the move. He really hoped that nothingwould interfere with his reaching Columbia safely, now thatfortune had been so kind. 

The road was not the best possible for a machine, and often he hadto slow up rather than take unnecessary chances for an accident. 

Whenever he thought of the pair of rascals left behind, helaughed. He felt that he could afford to loosen up a little aftersuch a strenuous time. But in his wet condition he found rapidtraveling rather unpleasant. True, he had borrowed a heavy coatfrom the hotel man, to whom he had explained the case in a fewsentences; but in spite of this protection, he soon began toshiver. 

This compelled him to reduce speed still more. When he reachedPlattville the road would be better, and besides, he might find achance to get a drink of warm coffee or tea, if the eating-housewere open at such an hour. 

Cheered by this thought, he set his teeth together, resolved tostick it out to the end. But Frank was not apt to forget that ridein a hurry. 

It was now a quarter to ten. He found this out by striking a matchand looking at his watch, the moon having retired once more behindthe clouds. But Frank was under the impression that he must beclose to the town now. 

"I believe I remember that windmill on the left, and the big watertank on the hill. Yes, Plattville must lie down there in thevalley. Now to slip along the down grade. Just seven miles fromhome; but I wish I was there now, " he was saying, as he passedover the crest of the elevation. 

Yes, there were many lights in sight, and how they cheered him, after his lonely ride along the wretched road from Stagers. Hefelt like shouting again, so buoyant had his feelings become. Whatwould Bones say when he learned the truth; and doubtless DoctorShadduck would be pleased at getting his new car back, damaged asit was. 

So Frank, running downhill, crossed a bridge, and came into thetown of Plattville. On ordinary nights, doubtless, the place wouldbe quiet enough at this hour; but Saturday was different. Quite anumber of persons were on the main street, and cast curiousglances at the lone traveler who had entered the town. 

Straight to the leading hotel Frank went. He had been here before, and even taken a dinner once upon a time, when his club came overto play the Plattville boys. 

A small-sized crowd stood around the door of the bar room. Frankcould see that there seemed to be some signs of excitement, thoughhe did not suspect that it could have anything to do with him. 

Hardly had he brought the car to a stop when some of the mencrowded around, and one of them shouted out:

"Hi! sheriff, here's the identical car you was readin' to us aboutin that ere dispatch from Columbia. And here's one of the thievescome right in to give hisself up! Surround the machine, boys;don't let the feller escape; and look out, for they do say he's adesprit case! come out here, Sheriff Tucker!"

CHAPTER XIX

AT THE END OF THE CIRCUIT

A tall man came running out of the hotel. 

"What's that you say, boys?" he was demanding, as he advancedeagerly. 

"Here's luck for you--the very car you said was stolen over inColumbia! See if it ain't, sheriff!" cried the fellow who had doneall the shouting. 

"It's the same make car, as sure as you live. I wouldn't besurprised if it turned out to be Doc. Shadduck's new one, "observed the official, glancing at a yellow paper he gripped inhis hand, and which, as he held it close to the one burningheadlight of the car, proved to be a telegraph dispatch. 

"That's right, sheriff; it is Doctor Shadduck's car, " said Frankcheerfully, as he proceeded to alight. 

"Hey! he's goin' to try and run for it, sheriff; nab him!"exclaimed the voice. 

"You admit that this is the car stolen from Columbia this verynight do you?" demanded the stern-faced man laying a hand onFrank's shoulder. 

"Of course I do, sheriff; but I'm shivering all over. I've been inJumper Creek not long ago. Come in with me while I get a cup ofhot coffee, and I'll tell you the story. You ought to know me, sheriff; I'm Frank Allen. I've seen you in my father's store morethan once. "

"What's that. Well, I declare now if it ain't so! This is gettingmighty interestin', sure. Here, Dobbs, you watch this car until Icome out. Now, my boy, come along with me, " said the sheriff. 

"All right, sir; just wait a couple of seconds. There's somethinghere in the car that Jim and Bart seemed to think a heap of, andso I wouldn't like to lose sight of it just now. "

Saying which Frank bent down and took hold of the little leatherbag. He had been surprised before to find it quite heavy, a factthat had convinced him it must hold something which had beenstolen from the doctor over in Columbia. 

Fortunately there was hot coffee to be obtained. While it wascoming Frank entertained the kindly sheriff with a rapid accountof what had happened, commencing with the duck hunt, and thefinding of the stranded car on the road home. 

"Well, I never!" the other kept saying, as he sat there with hiseyes glued on the face of the young speaker, and drinking in hiswords. 

When Frank told of how he jumped over the railing of the bridgethat spanned Juniper Creek, the sheriff brought his hand down uponhis knee with a resounding slap. 

"Beats anything I ever heard, I swan if it don't! And they tell methat you captained them boys as played the Clifford football teamto a stand this mornin'. I don't wonder at it; they ain't much ascould stand up before such pluck! And so you went souse into thecreek? Ugh! it must a been a cold bath, Frank. Go on, " heexclaimed, enthusiastically. 

"Oh! that's about all. I crawled out below, and when they camedown to hunt for me, because I'd fixed it so the machine couldn'tbe run, I just crawled up the bank, jumped aboard, and was off. Jim banged away after me a few times, but he was hurt so he had touse his left hand, and I knew he couldn't hit a barn. That's all. Here comes my coffee; I only hope I don't take cold. "

The elated sheriff watched the youth gulp down the hot drink, admiration in his eyes. 

"I'll see to it that you have a big fur coat the rest of the way. And I'm goin' along with you, boy, to be in at the finish. This istoo good to lose. Ain't had so much excitement in six months. Jimand Bart is loose on the community. I'll just have word sentaround so they kin be pulled in if they try to get aboard anytrain. "

Ten minutes later and Frank again jumped into the captured car. Hewas now warmly clad in a heavy automobile coat that would defy thebracing air as they headed for Columbia, just seven miles distant. 

"We'll make it in a quarter of an hour, easy, " he remarked, as thesheriff took a seat beside him. 

"I reckon we oughter, Frank. I'd sure like to be in your shoes forthis. They'll think more of you in Columbia than ever, I reckon, "remarked the officer, as they made a flying start, amid a fewcheers from the gathered crowd. 

"Did you telegraph along the line about those men?" asked Frank, desirous of seeing justice meted out to Jim and his companion. 

"I did, and told the operator at Fayette to pass the good wordalong everywhere. There's some reward out for the apprehension ofthem fellows, and its enough to make every chief of police keepbusy in hopes of corralin' the same. Now tell me what them menlooked like. That job of cuttin' the wires was a cute one. Ireckon that Bart he's been servin' his time as a telegraphwireman, and knows all the dodges. "

Frank could not decline, although he would have much preferredkeeping silent as he drove the big car onward. The sheriff hadbeen so kind to him that he felt as though he could not refuse toaid him in any way possible. So he described both men as nearly ashe could, considering what few glimpses he had had of their faces. 

The seven miles proved a short ride. Having more confidence in themachine now that the road was fine, and that hard object no longerprodded him in the back, Frank let out quite some speed in places. 

"I wonder if Bones and Ralph have gotten home yet?" he wasthinking, as the outskirts of Columbia came in sight. 

Turning several corners, he arrived in front of Doctor Shadduck'splace. The house he saw was all lighted up. And standing in frontwas the vehicle he and his two chums had used in their littleexpedition after the ducks of the marsh. 

"That tells the story. Bones has arrived ahead of me, after all. Wonder if its struck him that he saw his father's new car, and mein it driving those two precious rascals off so cheerfully?"

Frank chuckled at the thought. Just then there came a big shout, as a figure rushed down the steps of the house. 

"Here's the car, dad! And Sheriff Tucker's got one of the thievesin custody, too! He's carrying your bag. Hey, Ralph, come out andsee the fun!"

Of course it was Bones, and since Frank was bundled up in thatgreat wolfskin automobile coat, with a hat pulled down over hiseyes in place of the cap he had lost in Juniper Creek, it was notstrange that the other failed to recognize his comrade. 

"Halt! hands up, Bones!" cried Frank, throwing the little leatherbag forward menacingly. 

"What! great smoke! if it ain't Frank--and he's brought the carand the bag back home! Ralph said he would, just as soon as heheard about it; but I was a doubter. I thought they'd just eat youalive, Frank, old boy. Where'd you get the coat, and how'd thesheriff happen on you? Did he do the rescue act?" demanded Bones, throwing his arms around the other, enthusiastically. 

"Did he? Not if he knew it, young man, " replied the officerhimself, with a shake of the head; "but let's get inside, and thewhole story can be told while Frank warms up again. Your dad mustsee to it that the boy don't take cold, for he's been in JuniperCreek to-night!"

"Wow! now you have excited my curiosity some, Mr. Sheriff. Hurryin, Frank, and let's hear what happened after you left us. We justgot home five minutes ago, and found the whole place upset. Thoseslick scoundrels worked a confidence game on my governor--left himin a stupor in his private office, after supper, with the doorlocked, and skipped out with his new car and some valuables, including negotiable stocks worth a good many thousands, and allhis expensive new surgical tools that he kept in that glass case, you remember, in his consulting room. " And Bones rattled this offat a tremendous rate. 

"Oh! I see, " exclaimed the sheriff just then; "so that's who Jimand Bart are. A couple of smart ones have been going aroundvisiting doctors upstate this two months past, and stealing theirinstruments, to sell again in New York. I reckon we'll try to makethis their last job, all right. "

"But your father--surely he couldn't have been lying there allthis time?" observed Frank, wondering how the news could have beenwired or phoned over to Plattville if this were so. 

"Oh! no; Mr. Willoughby happened to drop over to ask dad something, and when they couldn't get any answer, he broke in the door offather's den. They found him just beginning to come out of hissleep, for, what do you think, those rascals had chloroformed him, as sure as you live, " replied Bones. 

"I understand now. Of course a general alarm was sent out for thethieves. But they couldn't have reached Fayette if they tried, "laughed Frank. 

"And why not?" asked Bones, quickly. 

"Wires down. Bart, the fellow who wasn't hurt, shinned up a pole, by the aid of a pair of lineman's spurs he carried with him, andcut every blessed wire soon after they made me turn into that roadleading to Fayette, " replied Frank. 

Doctor Shadduck they found pretty much himself. He greeted Frankwarmly, as did also Coach Willoughby. 

"He's all wet, dad; he's been in Juniper Creek, the sheriff says. There's a story back of it, and I'm just dying to hear it, " criedBones, shoving the other forward. 

"First of all, please see if everything is safe here, " said Frank, as he thrust the bag into the hands of the doctor. 

"Everything they got, so far as I can see, is here. It's wonderfulhow you happened to get hold of them, and the car too, " said thedoctor, shaking the boy's hand again warmly. 

"There's where you're mistaken, dad; it didn't happen at all, andI'd wager on it that Frank played a right hot game with those tworascals, and beat them out in a square deal, " declared Bones, sturdily. 

"Bully for you, Bones, " remarked the sheriff; "you just bet hedid. Wait till you hear the whole story. It's the greatest ever. "

Of course Frank related all that had happened to him; but first ofall the wise physician insisted upon giving him something thatwould prevent any ill effects following his cold plunge andsubsequent wild ride. 

Meanwhile Frank's father and mother were called over, and thestory had to be told again for their benefit; though Frank triedto beg off, and declared that after all it had been just good luckthat carried him through. 

CHAPTER XX

FRANK'S LUCK

Perhaps it was just as well that a day of rest followed thatstrenuous Saturday. 

Frank found himself somewhat stiff and sore when he awoke, andacting under the advice of his father he remained in seclusion thebetter part of the day. But the story had gone around, and thedoorbell of the Allen home was kept busy throughout the wholeafternoon. 

Half a dozen of Frank's most intimate chums dropped in to hear thestory, and Frank finally declared he would have to get it set upin type and copies struck off if the demand kept on. 

There were grown people who came also. Among others was Mr. Cuthbert. Frank found his hand trembling a little nervously whenhe saw him, thinking that possibly Minnie had sent a message; butit seemed that if he had come over at her earnest solicitation thegentleman had been instructed not to mention that fact. 

"We believed it was Frank in that car, " he said, as he shook handswarmly with the boy; "and I even called out, for some of usthought he looked toward us rather appealingly; but as no answercame we concluded it must have been a mistake. To think we were soclose to those wretches, and didn't suspect anything wrong. Haveyou heard the latest, Mr. Allen, and you Frank?"

"Are they caught?" asked Frank, instantly, jumping at the truthfrom the expression he saw on the gentleman's face. "So it issaid; and I was told that Sheriff Tucker was the one who corneredthe pair of rogues after all, " replied Mr. Cuthbert. 

"Hurrah!" cried Ralph and Paul and the others in a chorus. 

"Well, I'm glad that it fell to my friend, the sheriff of the nextcounty. He was mighty good to me and deserves all the reward thereis coming, " was the remark of the one who was supposed to be themost interested. 

He was secretly bitterly disappointed because Minnie had not comeover, or asked her father to carry a message. Evidently, whateverit may have been that had come between Minnie and her formerfriends, the Allens, it was proving an insurmountable barrier. 

And on Monday when Frank went to school, as usual, he had tosubmit to being asked a thousand questions. Often he utterlyrefused to answer anything further, he became so weary of hearingabout the matter. 

Minnie appeared as distant as ever. But one thing Frank happenedto see that gave him more or less satisfaction; and this was theutter humiliation of Lef Seller. 

Lef had been standing around, listening to what was being said;and the air of utter unbelief upon his sneering face told that hadhe dared he would only too gladly have called the whole story afreak of the imagination; and that in reality the credit belongedto Sheriff Tucker, who had only allowed Frank to assume thelaurels because he wanted to get credit at the Allen departmentstore, where he was known to trade. 

Just then Minnie happened to pass in company with her new chum, Dottie Warren; and thinking to add a drop of bitterness to Frank'scup of joy, Lef immediately posted after the two. 

There were some words between them, during which it seemed asthough Minnie might be accusing Lef of saying something to whichshe seriously objected. At any rate she walked on with her headheld high in the air, while Lef shrugged his shoulders, and notdaring to look toward the grinning group of boys, sauntered off. 

Still, that new quarrel between the others did not heal the breachthat separated old friends. Frank tried to forget, and laughed asmerrily as though there was not a cloud on the horizon. 

Professor Parke even called Frank into his study and requested himto relate the strange thing that had happened. The head ofColumbia High School had a very tender spot in his heart for FrankAllen, not alone because he was a bright pupil, but on account ofthe clean character he bore among his fellows. 

Coach Willoughby was staying over to see the last game of theseason. He declared that while he was losing money every day heremained away from his law business, he could not find it in hisheart to desert the boys until they had safely landed thatbeautiful silver cup in a deciding victory over Bellport. 

Truth to tell, the old Princeton graduate was a thorough sport, and once he had yielded to the call of the game he could not breakaway. 

"Don't you come out to practice for several days, Frank, " headvised, "on Wednesday perhaps, when we start to go over theentire thing again and try new signals, it will be time. There area few weak spots in the team that need help, and I'm going todevote two afternoons to them exclusively. Wander around, andlimber up with walks or a bicycle ride. But please don't employ yourspare time rounding up any more rascals, will you?"

"I'll try not to, " laughed Frank; "but what's a fellow to do ifthey will persist in throwing themselves at your head?"

"That's a fact, they did kidnap you, to be sure. Well, next timetry and see to it that the other fellow goes into Juniper Brookand not you. That's a dangerous trick at this cold season of theyear; and especially taking a long ride afterward in an open car. I wonder you didn't come down with pneumonia, Frank, " said thecoach, as he threw one arm affectionately across the other'sshoulders. 

"Oh! everybody was so kind. I had the loan of a coat first, and anold hat; then Sheriff Tucker got me a big shaggy automobile furcoat, which with the hot coffee helped ward off a cold. FinallyDoctor Shadduck dosed me good and hard. Nothing doing in that linefor me this time, " laughed the boy. 

It was on Tuesday afternoon that the time began to drag mostheavily on his hands. Paul and Ralph, together with Bones, hadgone to the recreation grounds to talk over matters with thecoach, and try out some new plays. Frank really knew of no onewhom he cared to look up just then. 

A reaction seemed to have set in after his recent excitement, andthings were most woefully dull. The weather still held dry andfair to a degree that was considered extraordinary for November, usually so dismal with the approach of winter. 

"I wonder if it wouldn't be worth while to take a spin on thewheel, " he mused as he considered the matter; "the chances are theweather will change any day now, and then good-bye to wheeling forthe season. Besides, I really believe I'd like to turn down thatroad to Fayette, and take another look at that old bridge. Thereare a few things I don't quite understand about that affair. "

The thought aroused him. Again he felt the blood circulatingthrough his veins with the old-time vigor; the stagnation haddeparted, and it was with considerable elation that he hurried toget his bicycle. 

The fact that the bridge was a matter of ten miles or more awaydid not give him cause for worry. He could easily make it in anhour or less, and be back long before suppertime. 

As he passed the school building he waved his hand to old Soggy, the janitor and custodian, who was busily engaged with his dailyduties. 

"Off after another lot, are ye?" laughed the good-natured oldfellow; "well, this time bring 'em in yourself, and don't bebotherin' no poor sheriff to help out. You ought to be ashamed, myboy!"

Frank knew that old Soggy would have his joke, and he only laughedin response. That was the one thing objectionable in doinganything out of the ordinary run; every person thought they had aright, either to make a hero out of him, or else sneer at thestory as something like the accepted fish yarn. 

His wheel was in good shape, as always; the road seemed muchbetter for a bicycle than it had been for a car, and with thebracing atmosphere made a combination difficult to surpass. Beforethe hour was up he had dropped off at the bridge, and stood thereleaning on the rail looking down. 

"H'm! after all, it was a good thing I knew so much about thissame place. If I'd jumped ten feet further along I'd have comeslap down on that ugly looking bunch of rocks that stick theirnoses up above the water. Juniper is low, like all the otherstreams around here, after this dry fall. But I knew there was adeep pool right under and below the bridge. "

So he mused as in imagination his eye followed his course afterreaching the water. He could see just where he had crawled out, asJim discovered later, when the fugitive was already half-way backto the road again. 

"He had to run uphill, and that's one reason why he couldn't headme off, as Bart wanted him to do. Then that lame arm prevented himfrom shooting decently. On the whole, I guess I was mighty lucky, "he concluded. 

After lingering around for a short time he once more mounted hiswheel and headed back toward Columbia. There were short-cuts thathe knew from former usage, by means of which several miles mightbe saved. Something seemed to beckon him along this course, thoughhe hardly understood why he should want to shorten his run when hewas out for the exercise and air. 

It was while he was traversing a farmer's lane that would bringhim out on the other road, and save two miles around, that Frankfor the first time noticed some one moving across a field, andheading almost directly toward him. He noted the fact with somesurprise, because he happened to know that the farmer was thepossessor of a very vicious bull, which he often allowed thefreedom of that very pasture, in the summer and fall, forexercise, so that the boys of Columbia always went around whenmaking for the old "swimming hole. "

He had noticed the animal only a couple of minutes before, trotting around back of the haystacks that ran along one end ofthe field. If he ever caught sight of that feminine figurecrossing his preserves there would surely something be bound tohappen. 

Frank, impelled by some sense of coming trouble, came to a stopand caught hold of the high rail fence to hold himself on hiswheel while he looked. Somehow there seemed something wonderfullyfamiliar about the figure of the tripping maid; and his heartseemed to almost stand still as she raised her head to lookaround, and he discovered that it was Minnie Cuthbert, evidentlyon the way to visit an uncle, who lived a short distance beyondFarmer Blodgett. 

Just as he made this interesting discovery he heard a dull roarthat struck a note of dismay at the door of his heart. The savagebull, whom every one feared, had discovered the fair trespasser onhis preserves, and was coming on the run!

CHAPTER XXI

THE LIFTING OF THE CLOUD

"This way, Minnie! Run as fast as you can!"

The girl had looked back and discovered the advancing bull, whichsight caused her to shriek and became panic-stricken. Fortunatelythe animal pursued peculiar tactics while bearing down upon hisexpected victim. Running forward for a short distance, he wouldstop to bellow furiously and toss up the turf with his shorthorns, upon which gilt balls had been fastened by the farmerowner. 

Frank had jumped the fence like a flash, and was already rushingtoward Minnie. She caught sight of him, and naturally changed hercourse so as to head in his direction. Perhaps just then shehardly knew who it was coming to her assistance; but turned to anyport in a storm. 

When they met it was at a distance of possibly thirty yards fromthe fence. Frank immediately clutched her arm and began to hurryher toward the haven of safety as rapidly as he could. 

"Oh! Frank, he is coming faster!" gasped the girl, who had beenconstrained to look back over her shoulder toward the threateningdanger. 

"Never mind! Run! run" cried Frank, trying to instill new couragein her heart. 

At the same time he knew full well that they would never be ableto reach the fence and climb over before the enraged animal cameup. Something else must be done. How could he attract theattention of the bull to himself while Minnie clambered over?

The question was not difficult to solve. She was, by the strangestaccident in the world, wearing a red sweater that buttoned downthe front. In other days they were known as Cardigan jackets, andFrank could easily remember how charming Minnie had looked many atime the previous winter in this same garment. 

It was this that was adding fuel to the rage of the angry bull, always attracted by a flaming color. Frank without regard to thefeelings of the astonished girl caught hold of this outer apparel, and with one effort ripped the buttons loose. It was no time forcourtesy, nor could he waste a precious second in explaining justwhy he did this strange thing. 

Another effort and the sweater was in his hands. Minnie seemed torealize by now what he had in his mind, for a weak little smileappeared on her white face as she looked up at him. 

"Run straight to the fence and climb over! I'll follow you, butnever mind me! Quick, Minnie, do as I say!" he exclaimed. 

There was unconscious authority in his voice, just as when hecalled to his players on the diamond or on the gridiron. Minnieran on, obeying his instructions thus far. She undoubtedlyexpected that Frank meant to cast the offensive red sweater on theground, so as to attract the attention of the beast for a dozenseconds, time enough to allow of his finding safety beyond thebarrier. 

As she neared the high rail fence she turned her head again tolook. To her horror she saw Frank standing there, waving thescarlet jacket wildly to and fro. He was challenging the oncomingbull to make a run at him, actually endeavoring to attract theanimal's attention, so as to give Minnie ample time to escape. 

Even as she stood there with quaking knees, staring, she saw Franksuddenly and nimbly jump aside, and avoid the first mad rush ofthe bull. 

"Oh! Frank; run! run! He will kill you!" she shrieked, wringingher hands hysterically; all the past forgotten in that one minuteof terror. 

"Get over the fence! Get over the fence! The longer you delay theworse for me! Climb over, Minnie!" came back the answering shout, as Frank poised himself to repeat his former tactics. 

Crying, she obeyed, though it seemed as though her half-blindedeyes could hardly show her how to catch hold of the various bars;but presently she had succeeded in gaining the outside of theenclosure, and through the spaces between the rails she lookedagain, her heart almost standing still with dread. 

Frank was still on his feet, though he had been put to his bestefforts in order to escape those threatening horns. 

"Now run, Frank! I'm over the fence!" she cried at the top of hervoice. 

"All right! I'm coming!" he replied, as best he could, for hisantagonist just then made another vicious lunge, and it was onlyby a shave that the athletic boy managed to escape those goldenballs that surmounted his massive head. 

Now that he had accomplished the main object of his labor Frankcould devote his energies toward his own escape. When the bullpassed him he turned and bolted in the direction of the friendlyfence. The distance was too great to think of making it in onerun. As he flew along he expected to hear the pounding of thebull's hoofs on the hard turf behind him, nor was he mistaken. 

"He's coming, Frank! Oh! be careful!"

Minnie was calling this in trembling tones, and yet Frank paidlittle or no attention to her warning, for he had to depend uponhis own instincts just then. At the proper instant he whirledaround. Already he had stamped the situation in his mind, and knewto a fraction just how far away the fence lay. 

Again he managed to escape the rush of the beast. Had he been anexperienced Spanish bull-fighter he could hardly have done better. And again he changed his position. All he wanted was one morechance, and he knew he could win out. This time the animal, growing more and more enraged, came within a foot of striking theboy, who was beginning to get winded with his efforts. 

"Now!" cried Minnie, who seemed to recognize the opening when itappeared. 

Already was Frank in full motion, sprinting for the near-by fencewith all his might and main. He reached it even as the bull wasbearing down after him. One tremendous effort and he had mountedthe rails to fall in a heap on the other side--safe! The bull cameto a sudden halt within the enclosure, and vented his fury in morebellowing and tearing up of the turf. 

Minnie was at the side of her champion in a moment. 

"Oh! Frank, are you hurt?" she exclaimed, as she caught hold ofhim in her anxiety; and almost breathless as he was, the boy couldnot help feeling a thrill of satisfaction at the prospect of thebreach between them being healed in this wonderful manner. 

"Not a bit, Minnie, only short of breath. Here's your sweater, safe and sound. Excuse me for taking it in that rude way, but yousee there wasn't much time for explanations, " he managed to say, as he started to put it on her again, an operation to which shesubmitted with pleasure. 

"And now, " said Frank, as arm in arm they started to walk awayfrom the scene of the adventure, he rolling his wheel as he went, "what was all this trouble about, Minnie? What terrible thing haveI done to make you treat both Helen and myself so? Neither of ushave the least idea, and she's very unhappy over it. Please let meknow. "

Minnie looked troubled, and yet a gleam of hope began to appear inher gray eyes. 

"Oh! if you only could explain it away, I'd be so glad, Frank; soglad, " she said. 

"Is it anything that Lef Seller has been saying about me?" heasked, shortly. 

"No, no. This is a matter that concerns only you and I. It wasabout a letter you wrote, a note rather, that was intended forHelen, and which--Oh! I don't know what to make of it, I've triedso hard not to believe you meant it; but every time I look at thatnote it stands out so plain, and gives me a shock. "

She clung to his arm, and let her head sink as she spoke. Frankknew that she was crying softly, too, and he was the mostmystified boy that could be found. 

"A note that I wrote to Helen, and about you! Why, Minnie, surelyyou must be mistaken. I don't ever remember doing anything of thekind!" he declared. 

"But I've got it still, Frank, right here in my little bag. Tentimes I tried to destroy it, and just couldn't, " she exclaimed, looking up at him. 

"Let me see it, please, " he said, his eyes filled with wonder. With trembling hands she opened the little bag, to which she hadunconsciously clung through all her recent peril. From this shetook a folded piece of paper, that had apparently been frequentlyhandled, to judge from the creases. 

When Frank examined what was written upon it his face first tookon a look of astonishment, and then amusement. 

"I see, " he said, slowly, "this is evidently about half of a page, and torn in a diagonal way. Notice Minnie that it is only a_portion_ of a note. There is another half, which will giveit an entirely different version! I admit that I wrote this noteto Helen in school one day. Then I changed my mind, and tore it inhalf, intending to destroy it. Where did you happen to find thispiece, Minnie?"

"On the floor in the hall. Soggy was sweeping out when I went backfor something I had forgotten. Just by accident I saw yourwriting, and unconsciously stooped to pick it up. Oh! Frank, whata cruel shock it gave me, " she said. 

"Well, as near as I can remember, I tried to thrust both piecesinto my desk. This one must have fallen to the floor either thenor later, and was swept out. Perhaps the other half may still bethere, Minnie! Will you go with me around to the school now? Thesooner this strange thing is cleared up the better. "

"If you say so, I'll be glad to go, Frank. But it's enough for meto hear you say that it was not intended to warn Helen againstme, " she replied, smiling up through her tears. 

"Wait and see the proof first, " laughed Frank. 

They reached the high school building in due time. Soggy, thejanitor, was just about locking up, and upon hearing their requestreadily allowed them to enter. Going straight to his desk, Frankfumbled around inside eagerly, and then with an exclamation oftriumph drew out something. 

"There, look!" he exclaimed, as he fitted the ragged edges of thetwo pieces of paper together on the top of the desk. "You see theymatch perfectly. Now read out loud what I was writing to my sisterthat day, and changed my mind, intending to talk with her when wegot home. "

And Minnie read this:

HELENDon't believe all you hear. In the first place it'snonsense to think that you could expect the truthfrom one so shallow as Min erva Stone. I never liked her. She may seem all right as a friend, but I'd advise you to havelittle to do with her. She says one thing to your face andanother to your back. I'm afraid she's deceptive, and that'sabout the meanest trait any girl can have. Bett er let yournew friendship gradually cool, and drop her altogeth er. Honestly, to tell the truth, I think Minnie Cuthbert ought to be en oughchum for you. FRANK. 

When she finished this she looked up at him with tear-steepedeyes. 

"We're friends again once more, Minnie, are we not. " he asked, smiling. 

"Yes, good friends; true friends, I hope Frank!" she replied asthey clasped hands, and a pair of happy gray eyes looked up shylyinto the darker orbs of the boy. 

CHAPTER XXII

HOW BELLPORT BUCKED THE LINE

As so frequently happens, Thanksgiving Day was overcast and cold, the air having a tang as of threatening snow. 

"Bully football weather!" shouted the fans, as they crowded intothe great park-like field at Columbia; the toss of a coin duringthe week having given Frank's team the privilege of playing ontheir home grounds. 

There was even a greater crowd present than on the occasion of thegame with Clifford. This struggle was to effectually decide theownership of that coveted silver cup, and the championship of thetri-school league for the season. 

Everybody who could possibly get there was present. The grandstandseemed to be a waving mass of color with the various little flags, and the gay wraps of the school girls, intensely interested inthis battle of brawn and skill between their brothers. 

Naturally those from Clifford gathered together for the most part;and Bellport had sent an enormous delegation to whoop things upfor her sturdy team. 

Indeed, those Bellport players did look like a serious propositionas they scampered back and forth across the field before the timefor play had arrived. Many a timid heart among Columbia's friendsfelt as though the chances were very much against such a victoryas had been won over Clifford. 

Such enthusiasm as abounded! Cheers arose everywhere. Bands ofstudents went about, headed by some valiant cheer captain, andmade all other sounds insignificant beside their clamor, as theychanted their school yell in common, or sang the favorite songs oftheir classes. 

"We're going to see a hot old game, anyhow!" cried BusterBillings, as he sat on the bench in the grandstand, being reckonedof little account as a football player, however much he mightshine in baseball. 

"What's Bellport's line-up? Seems to me nearly every face here isfamiliar; and I reckon their entire baseball squad has qualifiedfor the gridiron, " remarked another observer. 

"Just as you say, there's not a fellow missing, " sighed Buster;"but then, none of them happens to be gifted with the heft thatfastened its fatal clutches on me at an early age. I'd give theworld to play football, but though they've tried me several times, it's always back to the scrap heap for poor Buster boy. "

"Well, they left me out this time, too; my first half in the gamewith Clifford wasn't a howling success. But at any rate I'm a sub, and if a few of the boys get carried off the field they may callon me, " and Jack Eastwick patted his chest in anticipation of theslaughter to come. 

For the concluding tussle of the High School League the contendingteams presented this line-up:

 _COLUMBIA. _

 Comfort _F. B. _

 Allen, Captain. West. _R. H. B. L. H. B. _

 Wallace. _Q. B. _

 Shadduck. Oakes. Harper. Bird. Daly. Shay. Morris. _R. E. R. T. R. G. Center. L. G. L. T. L. E. _

 _BELLPORT. _

Clay. Coddling. Smith, Jr. Lacy. Alpers. Macy. Smith, Sr. _L. E. L. T. L. G. Center. R. G. R. T. R. E. _

 Snodgrass. _Q. B. _

 Banghardt. Bardwell. _L. H. B. R. H. B. _

 Lee, Captain. _F. B. _

The same referee officiated who had managed the game with Cliffordso well. And the coach of each team was busily engaged giving thelast instructions, since the time specified for the opening kick-offwas very near. 

Columbia was not boisterous, but there was a look of grimdetermination visible on the faces of Frank Allen and his fellowsthat counted for much. 

"It's better to shout after you're out of the woods, fellows, "said the captain, as he drew his squad around him for a last wordere going upon the field. 

This time Frank was lucky, and won the toss. He immediatelyselected the goal from which the cold November wind blew, as thatgave Columbia considerable advantage to start with, though itwould be evened up later when the second half brought about achange in base. Still, by then the wind might have died out, andthe advantage lost. 

Lee opened matters with a beautiful kick, but the oval wascaptured, and it came Columbia's turn. 

Comfort smashed out a fine one, sending the oval far down theenemy's territory. And so fast did the other Columbia fellowschase after it, that when Bellport secured the ball through aclever catch, they found no chance to do anything more than returnthe kick. 

After that the fight was on. Columbia sent the ball back into theterritory of the enemy, and at such a bewildering angle, thanks tothe wonderful spiral kick of Jack Comfort, that the player who attemptedto clasp it in his arms allowed it to get away. 

"Go it, you tigers!" shrieked many in the crowd, as they sawseveral Columbia men making furious efforts to reach the rollingoval before any of the enemy could throw themselves upon it. 

But Coddling was there in time to drop on the ball, though hardlyhad he done so than Shadduck landed on his back, together withvarious others belonging to both teams. 

Now Bellport had the ball, and there was great curiosity to knowwhat success they would have in bucking the Columbia line. Reporthad it that never had Bellport been so strong in her line ofattack; and Clifford enthusiasts had warned their neighbors ofwhat was in store for them this day. 

Bellport rushed into the fray. The artful Lacy, he who had playedsuch a clever game as shortstop in the baseball tournament thepreceding season, snapped the ball to Snodgrass, who plungedstraight for the middle of the Columbia line backed up by a solidwedge that seemed capable of carrying the heavy quarter-backthrough. 

There was a confused mass of struggling players, and a greatcloud of dust, in which figures were to be seen pushing this wayand that. 

[Illustration: THERE WAS A CONFUSED MASS OF STRUGGLING PLAYERS. ]

"He's down!" shouted hundreds as the dust passed off with thewind, and they could see the situation again. 

"But he took several yards with him, and Bellport has the ball. What d'ye think of that sledgehammer way of carrying things, eh?Wait till Snodgrass and Banghardt and Bardwell get workingtogether, and you'll see the Columbia defense crumple up like deadleaves in a fire!"

Of course it was a Bellport admirer who said this; but those whoheard only laughed and waved their Columbia flags the morefiercely. They had full confidence in their boys, and knew whatFrank could get out of them in an emergency. 

Once more the teams were lined up, watching each other like somany wild animals, hungry and eager. Lee shouted out some signalsin his sonorous voice. It sounded very like the previous set, butonly those in the secret could know whether the slight differencemeant a new change of action or not. 

Then the ball was put in play. Like lightning it passed fromLacy's hands. Snodgrass made out to receive it, and once moreplunged for the center, as if intending to break through, withseveral of his fellows backing him up. The deception was socomplete that the vast majority of the audience really believedhe carried the ball with him. 

So a great whoop went up when he was dragged down by one of theColumbia tacklers. 

"But look at Smith, Sr. , running! He's got the ball, fellows! He'safter a touchdown, and he won't be happy till he gets it! Wow!that's going some!"

"He'll never make it! There's West in the way, and Allen bearingdown on him like a pirate ship under full sail! What did I tellyou? That Ralph West is the best tackier in the county! They madeno mistake when they booted Tony Gilpin out and made room forWest. Where is the ball now, fellows?"

"Under Smith, Sr. , and on Columbia's twenty-five yard line!"admitted Buster Billings, unwillingly. 

"And Bellport has still another chance to carry it over! If thewind was favorable Lee could boot the pigskin across your goal, and not half try. But I guess they'd rather depend on breakingthrough, or getting around the ends. Keep your eyes on those boys, for they're as full of schemes as an egg is of meat. "

"That sounds encouraging. I was afraid our fellows might have tooeasy a snap, and disappoint their friends by not half trying. Justwait yourself, Bellport. It was the same thing in baseball lastsummer; and yet Columbia flies the banner, all right. You may betreated to some surprises yourself, old chap, " remarked Buster, condescendingly. 

Again the scrimmage was on. The Columbia tigers were so fast ontheir feet that Clay, who got the ball this time, was unable toaccomplish much before they pounced upon him and bore him heavilyto the ground. 

"How's that?" shouted Buster, "our fellows just eat up such easyplays. Bring out some of your fancy stunts, and do something, can't you?"

Three minutes later and the ball came to Columbia. It was time, for Bellport had, by a series of bull-like rushes, carried it overthe twenty-yard line. 

"Now to get back some of that lost ground. There they go! SeeShadduck run, will you? He's Mercury, with wings on his feet! Lookat him dodge that left guard! Say, he's going to make it yet, assure as you live he is! Bully boy, Bones! Go it! Go it, youdarling! Oh! what a heart-ache I've got! He's over the line, boys;over the line! A touchdown for us to start things!" and Busterdanced in his excitement, like a rubber ball. 

"No he ain't, " snarled a Bellport backer, "they downed him beforehe got there! Notice that just three of our fellows are settin' onhis back. He tried mighty hard, but they nailed him a little toosoon!"

"You're mistaken. He held the ball over the line, and it countsfor Columbia, as you can see if you look again, " remarked Mr. Allen, who was sitting near. 

"That's so, " grumbled the discomfited Bellport man, "and with thatwind it's goin' to be as easy as pie to boot the ball over for agoal. Shucks! what ails our fellows to-day? They never did sloppywork like that with Clifford. "

"There was a reason, they say. Clifford claims that her signalswere sold to Bellport. Anyhow, there's going to be nothing of thatkind to-day, but clean fighting. There goes Frank to kick goal, and he'll do it, too, " answered Buster. 

The goal was made easily, thanks to the favoring wind. Then againthe ball was put into play, and fierce ran the rivalry. Sometimesthe fighting was on Columbia territory, and then again the tide ofbattle shifted until it was Bellport's line that was threatened. 

Now and then the cheers of the enthusiasts arose and swelled overthat fiercely-contested field like thunder. Back and forth theyswung, both now doggedly determined. A score of plays were madethat brought out cheers from the spectators, regardless of schoolaffiliations; for they liked clean football, and could applaudclever work, even on the other side. 

When the heart-rending agony was finally relieved by the referee'swhistle announcing the end of the first half, that score of six byColumbia was the entire counting!

CHAPTER XXIII

WON BY FOUR INCHES

"See 'em getting Hail Columbia from their coach because they madethat fool play! Next time it'll be different, " growled the unhappyBellport backer. 

"I hope so, " replied the cheerful and optimistic Buster, composedly. 

Frank, as he came in from the field, dusty and disheveled, lookedeagerly at a certain part of the grandstand where Helen satalongside her chum Minnie. Immediately both girls waved theirflags at him, and called out something, which, of course, wasutterly drowned in the furious shouting that arose. 

But Frank would ten times rather have heard what they said than tolisten to the cheers of the multitude; for he knew that love andfriendship endure, while the admiration of the crowd is as fickleas the weather, praising one day and on the next condemning. 

Both teams held earnest consultations during the interval betweenthe halves of the game. New plays were planned whereby advantagemight be taken of some supposed weak spot in the line of theenemy's defense. And singular to say, not a single change had asyet been made in the line-up, something remarkable indeed, when inother days half a dozen casualties must have resulted from thosefurious clashes. Doubtless there were those who suffered insilence, fearing lest they be taken out, if their real conditionwere made known; and every man was wild to finish in what promisedto be the most exciting football game that had ever happened inthe tri-school league. 

"There they go to take position. Now for another heart-breakingperiod of suspense. But they've got the advantage. It's an up-hillfight for Bellport; six to nothing, and half the time gone. Ifthey can only keep the others from scoring it isn't necessary tomake any more, " said Buster to Jack Eastwick. 

"No chance for me to get into this game. That Shay is a sticker. But I candidly admit he's something of an improvement on myself, and I hope he holds out. But mark me, Buster, there's going to besome changes before the game ends, " remarked the other, confidentially. 

"What makes you say that, Jack?" asked his friend, curiously. 

"Because those Bellport bulldogs have got blood in their eyes now. The coach has been combing them down, and they're just bound tocarry things before them, or die trying. It's going to be hotterthan ever, Buster. "

"But Frank has been saying things, too. And our boys have thebenefit of the experience of one who was a terror on the lines ofPrinceton, my especial friend, Coach Willoughby, " remarked Buster, proudly. "He's set 'em up a few capers that are going to surpriseour good Bellport friends. I'm game to stack up on Columbia. Ionly hope some of those Bellport players like Bardwell andBanghardt don't try foul tactics on us, like they did in baseball, that's all. "

"The referee has his eye on 'em. He has been warned, and let themtry it at their peril. If those two dangerous half-backs are putoff the team it'll go to pieces in a hurry, mark my words. That'swhat I'm expecting it to end in. "

But Jack was mistaken. Bellport knew the folly of attemptinganything that had a suspicious look. Brawn and strategy andagility must carry the day, no matter which side won. 

Shrilly blew the whistle, and once more the ball, yellow nolonger, for it had been ground into the dirt, sailed through theair. There was an exchange of punts that ended when Bellport heldthe pigskin on her forty-yard line and the signal came for a playaround Columbia's left end. 

"Watch out now, fellows!" warned Frank Allen. "Don't let 'em getthrough, or past you. "

"Eighteen--twenty-seven--sixty--all together--fourteen!" chantedSnodgrass, and back the ball was snapped to him. In a flash hepassed it to Bardwell, who started as though to circle Shadduck atright end. And then that trick, so often worked, so effective whenit comes out right, and so futile when it does not, was tried. Bardwell passed the ball to Banghardt on the run, and the left-halfstarted for the end where Morris was. 

How it happened none of the Columbia players, not even Morrishimself, could tell, but he was drawn in by the double pass andhis end was free to be circled by Banghardt. Even the Columbia twohalf-backs were fooled, and no excuse for it, either, as theyadmitted afterward, for they had often worked the play themselves. Be that as it may, Banghardt was past, and with no one between himand the goal line but Comfort. 

But the full-back was a tower of strength, and with eagerlyoutstretched hands he waited the oncoming of the left half. 

"Get him, Comfort! Get him!" pleaded the crowd. 

Straight at the full-back came Banghardt, and then, with a suddenshifting, he turned aside, and Comfort grasped only the empty air, while the man with the ball, amid the wild, excited cries of theadherents of his school, while the grandstands fairly rocked underthe impact of thousands of stamping feet, touched down thepigskin. 

"Touchdown! Touchdown for Bellport!" howled the enthusiasts, whilethe dazed Columbia team crawled out of the scrimmage and wonderedhow it had happened. So, too, did some of the Bellport playersthemselves wonder, for the play had come like a flash from a clearsky. 

The goal was easily kicked, tying the score, and then the bigcrowd sat up and wondered what would come next. 

"It's going to be a hot game all right!" was the general verdict. 

"Here's where we beat you, Columbia!" called a Bellport supporter, as he turned to Buster with a grin on his face. "Oh we've got youin a hole dead sure. We've got your number. "

"Oh, have you!" retorted Buster. "Wait. Don't count your chickensuntil they're out of the woods. "

After the kick-off there followed some line smashing tactics onboth sides. Once Bellport was penalized for off-side play, andonce Columbia lost the ball for holding in the line. Bellport waslater penalized ten yards for a second offense in off-side work, and then the players seemed to realize the importance of beingcareful, and they got down to business. 

How they ever stood the smashing, banging tactics, the fiercetackling, the eager runs, the line bucking, the giving and taking, only one who has played football, and who knows the fierce joy ofthe game, can understand. Nervous women cried out in alarm as theysaw the struggling mass and heap of boyish humanity. There wereseveral times when the play had to be stopped to allow the dashingof cold water over some unlucky chap, to bring him out of a halffaint, and the number of lads who lost their wind, and had to haveit pumped into them by artificial respiration was many. 

But no one was seriously hurt, though Coddling had to leave thefield because of a broken finger and Harper was replaced at theColumbia right guard because he was so disabled from a fiercepiling-on of players that he was useless in the line. 

Ten minutes more to play, and the score tied! Back and forth theplayers had surged, up and down the field, now kicking, nowplunging into each other's line, now circling the ends. It was themost fiercely contested game that had ever been played in theleague. The Columbia-Clifford contest was as nothing to it. 

"Hold 'em, Tigers! Don't let 'em score again! Rip out anothertouchdown! Go at 'em!"

How the cohorts of Columbia begged and pleaded! No less did thefriends of Bellport. 

A touchdown, a field goal, or a safety for either side now wouldwin the game and the championship. Which would it be? To whichside would it go. A thousand admirers of either team asked thosequestions. 

Bellport had the ball, and had, by a smashing rush, carried itthree yards through Columbia's line. It was on the latter'sforty-yard line now, but it had been there before, and had notadvanced much farther. That last attack, though, had had powerbehind it. 

"Look out!" warned Frank. "They may do us!"

The play looked to be another rush on the part of Bellport, andwith fierce and eager eyes her opponents watched for the slightestadvantage. Bardwell came on with the ball like a stone from acatapult. He hit the line between Shay and Daly, but he did not gothrough. With desperate energy, borne of despair, the guard andtackle held. 

And then, wonder of wonders, probably because he was dazed by theimpact with which he hit the line, Bardwell dropped the ball. Likea flash Daly had fallen on it. 

"Our ball!" he fairly howled, and when the crowd knew that theywent wild--that is, the Columbia contingent. 

But the time had slipped by. There were but three minutes more ofplay. 

"Quick now, fellows. Line up! Get a touchdown!" begged Frank. "Break the tie!"

Into the play plunged the doughty captain himself for a ten-yardgain, for the shock of surprise at their misfortune still held theBellport players spellbound. 

"Another like that!" cried the throng. 

A fake kick netted eight yards additional, and then followed moreline bucking. 

"A goal from the field, " suggested Wallace, when time was takenout to allow Alpers to get back his end. 

"No, straight up the field--rush it!" ordered Allen. 

Once more he made a slight gain. 

"One minute more!" warned the time-keeper. 

"Oh, can we do it!" panted Wallace. 

He called on Ralph West for a straight plunge between guard andtackle. The plucky left-half drew a long breath, and gatheredhimself for the tremendous energy he knew would be needed. Theywere but four feet from the goal line. The ball _must_ beshoved over if human lungs and muscles could stand the terrificstrain a moment longer. 

Amid a solemn silence came the signal. Like a shot West plungedforward, with the ball tightly tucked under his arm. 

Into the line he went, smash bang! Oh, what a great hole there wastorn for him by the strenuous Shay and Daly! Through it West went, and in vain did Lee and Bardwell try to stop him. As well try tostop a rushing torrent as the Columbia players now. They weregoing to have that touchdown or tear up the goal posts. 

With the quickness that argued how well he knew the need of haste, West placed the ball down beyond and over his head after he hadfallen in a fierce tackle. Over the line--over--ah, was it over?The chalk-mark was obliterated at this point. Was it over?

"Touchdown!" howled the Columbia players madly. 

"Never. It's not over!" retorted Bellport's men fiercely. 

There was a wild dispute, and in the midst of it the whistle blew, ending the game. 

Who had won? It would take a measurement to decide. The linesmencame hurrying up, while the crowd chaffed at the delay and did notknow who to cheer. 

Anxiously the measure was taken, and while hearts wildly beat theannouncement was made. 

"The ball is over by four inches. Columbia wins the touchdown!"

"Oh, wow!"

"Hurrah!"

"We win!"

"Eleven to six!"

"The silver cup is ours!"

And then such a riot of wild cries, such stamping of feet, suchwaving of banners and streamers of ribbon! The great championshipgame was won by Columbia! Columbia!

"Columbia! Columbia the Gem of the Gridiron!" came the eagershouts. And the players filed off the field. 

CHAPTER XXIV

THE MESSAGE FROM TOKIO. --CONCLUSION

That Thanksgiving night Columbia went wild. 

True, the first snow of the year began sifting down, and theground was covered with a white mantle; but such a little thing asthat could not quench the ardor of those happy fellows. And so forhours the town resounded with cheers and songs, while in severalplaces great bonfires along the banks of the Harrapin told of thegeneral rejoicing. 

How could they help it when Columbia High had completed thegreatest year in all her history--first there was the winning ofthe baseball championship; then came the hotly contested inter-schoolrowing races, in which she won new laurels with her young athletes;and last but not least, both Clifford and Bellport had gone down tobitter defeat before her gridiron warriors!

Frank would have begged off, but even the girls insisted that itwould be a shame to spoil the fun. So he had to join in thefestivities, and shout with the rest of Columbia's brave sons andfair daughters, as the gigantic procession wound in and outthrough all the town, greeted by answering cheers from the equallyenthusiastic fathers and mothers from the windows. 

"There's only one more thing we ought to scoop in this year, " saidPaul Bird, as he and Frank stood with the girls and watched theantics of Herman Hooker and his band of comical players, whereinthe most astonishing stunts were indulged in with amazinginstruments manufactured for the occasion. 

"You mean the hockey championship, I suppose?" returned Frank, smiling. 

"Yes, and from the expression on your face, old fellow, I'm of theopinion right now that you mean to have a look-in on that later onwhen the river is frozen again. "

Frank laughed and nodded. 

"Some of us have been talking it over. You know Clifford has beenunbeaten in that line for years. They have the best skaters upthere in the State, they claim. If we think to accept theirstanding challenge this year it's up to us to put a better team onthe ice than last season, " he remarked. 

"Well, they did snow you under, for a fact. But experience showedthat there were two fellows on your team who ought never to havebeen there. They lost the match through their clumsiness. Isn't thatso, girls?" demanded Paul. 

"Everybody said so, " declared Helen; and Minnie nodded her heardto indicate that she was of the same opinion. 

"Then it must be so, " laughed Frank. "But those fellows are not onthe team this year. We've been keeping quiet about who is going toplay. The committee have selected a certain number of players, andthe best will be chosen in time. Mark my words, Paul, we mean totry and give Clifford the biggest kind of a fight this winter. Whether we can win or not depends on many things. Time will tell. "

And time did tell, for what manner of hockey was played thatwinter on the ice-clad surface of the neighboring Harrapin can befound recorded in the next volume of this series of High Schoolsports, entitled: "The Boys of Columbia High on the Ice; or, Outfor the Hockey Championship. "

When the first of December came around shortly after that greatThanksgiving Day game, Ralph West sought out Frank once more. Hisface told of excitement, and Frank was consequently ready toexpect some important news. 

"Did you get your usual monthly allowance from Uncle Jim'soffice?" he asked. 

"Yes, yesterday. I suppose he left word before he went that itshould be sent while he was away. But I've heard from him direct, "replied Ralph, his face glowing with the eager light of anticipatedhappiness. 

"You have? A letter from China or Russia or Siberia, which?"

"You're away off, Frank. This was a cablegram. I just got it atthe office, for I have wandered in there often in hopes of such athing, and know the operator. It was from Tokio, and I supposeyour Uncle Jim must have followed Mrs. Langworthy and her brotherArnold Musgrove there. Perhaps they gave up all hope of getting toRussia through China. I don't know how that is, but here's what itsays, " and he handed a message to Frank, who glanced down at thesewords:

"Leave here next steamer for States. Mrs. Langworthy accompaniesme. Keep up a good heart, for there is much joy in store for you. JAMES DECATUR ALLEN. "

"Hurrah! that's glorious news, old fellow! From my heart Icongratulate you! Now, I know Uncle Jim well enough to feel surethat he'd never cable like that unless he was absolutely positiveof his ground. Like as not, that monster of an Arnold--why wasn'this name Benedict like the Revolutionary traitor, has confessed;for you don't notice his name among the expected travelers. "

"Well, I don't know how I'll ever be able to stand the weeks thatmust pass before they get here in Columbia. You must help me, Frank, you and Helen, " declared Ralph, gripping the hand of hischum almost savagely. 

"We will, all right. The time will fly, because you're anticipatinghappy news. Just think of the extravagance of Uncle Jim, sendingnearly thirty words in a cablegram. It costs twenty-five cents aword to London, and goodness knows how many times that from Tokiohere. He knows what he's doing though, and I warrant you it's thelady's money that pays for that cablegram, " whereupon Ralphimpulsively raised the paper to his lips and kissed it, then blushedlike a girl. 

With such good and true friends around him, it may be sure thatRalph was not going to be left alone much of the time. They madehim join in all their sports, and with the coming of winter adozen new things presented themselves to the boys and girls of oldColumbia High. 

Minnie was happier than ever, since that little shadow wasremoved, and her former warm, friendly intercourse with Frank andHelen renewed. Many times she thought of how valiantly Frank hadstood there, holding the attention of that terrible bull, so as toallow her time to clamber out of harm's way; and never without ashudder, as she contemplated what a terrible thing might havehappened had the boy slipped when avoiding those rushes of theenraged animal. 

Never would she allow that old red sweater to leave her possession. The very sight of it always made her sigh with satisfaction. Ithad undoubtedly had much to do with the savage attack of thatanimal, whose pasture she so unwittingly invaded; but had thatevent not happened, perhaps the mystery of that torn paper wouldnever have been explained. 

Nothing could again cause her to ever doubt the fidelity of FrankAllen; and to the end of the chapter they must always be, as shehad said that day, "good friends, true friends!"

THE END.