In that run he showed a really remarkable ability for eluding tacklers and throwing off tackles, for he went through half a dozen of the enemy and squirmed away from others like a greased pig. And yet, some two minutes later, when the same play was repeated he failed badly at getting into position for the catch and the ball was plucked out of the air by the Scrub full-back. Fortune, it seemed, was a fickle goddess! Chick was difficult to live with during the closing days of that week, for he had been spending much of his time on the bench and resented it bitterly. Bert’s reminder that a lot of the others were faring the same way and that, once Mr. Cade got through experimenting, they’d probably all be back in place again failed of the soothing effect it was designed to produce. Chick didn’t think well of experiments, and said so in unmistakable language. “What’s it getting him?” he demanded that Friday evening. “He’s tried Shelfer and Nast and Savell, and not one of them has played the position as well as I do. Oh, maybe Savell, yes, but he’s not such a wonder on defense. He got boxed finely a couple of times to-day. Johnny will put me back there finally, and he knows it plaguy well, so what’s the use of letting me miss practice? I haven’t been in once when that Number 14 play was tried. They’ll use it to-morrow and then wonder what’s wrong if I don’t get the right man!” “I don’t believe he’s in earnest about Fitz Savell,” said Bert. “He wouldn’t spoil a corking good back.” “Of course not! Then what’s the good of making believe? He’s just losing time. The whole truth of the matter is that Johnny’s up in the air and doesn’t know what to do about it. So he’s just fiddling around in the hope that he will light on something. If he would teach us about four good scoring plays and quit monkeying with his delayed passes and fake kicks we’d deliver the goods, I’ll bet!” “That Number 14 looks pretty good, though, Chick. It fooled the Scrub all right yesterday and to-day.” “The Scrub? Sure! But just let him try it against a wide-awake team like Mt. Millard a week from now. Why, they’ll eat it up, Bert! There’s nothing new about it. It’s old stuff to them, I’ll bet.” “No, it isn’t new,” said Bert, “but I heard Ted say that it has new features.” “Tackle coming around and going through with the two halfs may be new, but I don’t believe it makes the play any better. Besides, what’s the idea of working it from a shift? You can do the same thing from regular formation. Shucks, I’ve been seeing that old trick ever since I was knee-high!” “I guess what you can call new plays aren’t to be had any more, Chick.” Bert was glad enough to argue this matter out if only to keep Chick away from his grievance. “Most everything’s been done already, and about all a coach can hope to do is dress an old play up in new togs so it’ll look like a stranger. I don’t believe Johnny will let us use that Number 14 to-morrow, anyway. I think he’s going to save it for Kenly.”