Tim struggled into his bath-robe and pattered off down the corridor,
leaving Don to follow at his leisure. But, instead of following, Don
seated himself on the edge of his bed and viewed life gloomily. If Tim
refused to believe in his illness, how was he to convince Coach Robey of
it? He might, he reflected, rub talcum on his face, but he was afraid
that wouldn't deceive anyone, the coach least of all. And, according to
his bargain with Harry Walton, he must sever his connection with the
team today. If he didn't Walton would go to the principal and tell what
he had witnessed from his window that Saturday night, and not only he,
but Tim and Clint as well, would suffer. And, still worse, the team
would be beaten by Claflin as surely as--as Tim was shouting to him from
the bathroom! He got up and donned his bath-robe and set off down the
corridor with lagging feet, so wretched in mind by this time that it
required no great effort of imagination to believe himself ailing in
body.
To his surprise--and rather to his disgust--he found himself intensely
hungry at breakfast and it was all he could do to refuse the steak and
baked potato set before him. Under the appraising eye of Mr. Robey, he
drank a glass of milk and nibbled at a piece of toast, his very soul
longing for that steak and a couple of soft eggs! Afterward, when he
reported to Danny, the trainer produced fresh discouragement in him.
"Fine, me boy!" declared the trainer. "You're as good as ever, aren't
you? Keep in the air all you can and go light with the dinner."
"I--I don't feel very fit," muttered Don.
"Get along with you! You're the picture of health! Don't be saying
anything like that to Mr. Robey, or he might believe it and bench you.
Run along now and mind what I tell you. Game's at two-fifteen today."
It was fortunate that Don had but two recitations that morning, for he
was in no condition for such unimportant things. His mind was too full
of what was before him. At dinner it was easy enough to obey Danny's
command and eat lightly, for he was far too worried to want food. The
noon meal was eaten early in order that the players might have an hour
for digestion before they went to the field. Chambers came swinging up
to the school at half-past one, in all the carriages to be found at the
station, while her supporters trailed after on foot. The stands filled
early and, by the time the Chambers warriors trotted on to the gridiron
for their practice, looked gay and colourful with waving pennants.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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