Rivals for the Team: A Story of School Life and Football — John Shaqi
Rivals for the Team: A Story of School Life and FootballBarbour, Ralph Henry
General
Rivals for the Team: A Story of School Life and Football
Barbour, Ralph Henry
Adventure stories; Boarding schools -- Juvenile fiction; Football stories
“Hugh,” answered Bert from the doorway, “Hugh Brodwick Ordway. Some
name, what?”
“Rawther!”
“Cut it,” laughed Guy, “or we’ll all be talking that way! I feel it
coming on. We’ll come up after supper, Bert, and help you entertain,
although when I’m going to get my things unpacked――――”
“I’ll help you, Guy,” Nick volunteered. “I’m a remarkable little
unpacker. A misplace for everything and everything misplaced, is my
motto. Bye-bye, Bert. Give my love to Broadway――I should say Ordway.
Tell him I’ll be around later and cheer him up!”
Hugh Ordway was not, however, singing either ‘Dixie’ or anything else
when Bert got back to Number 29. He was sitting at the window, attired
principally in a bathrobe, gazing a trifle disconsolately, or so Bert
thought, out over the campus. He turned as Bert entered.
“I say, Winslow, what about a bath?” he asked. “Is there a tub on this
floor?”
“Yes, but it’s five minutes to supper time, Ordway. You’d better leave
it till afterwards.”
The other reflected. “Very well,” he said. “And, another thing.” He
hesitated. “Do I put on――er――do I dress, you know?”
“Well, I wouldn’t go down in that thing,” said Bert gravely.
“No, but just regular things, eh? You see, I really don’t know much
about American prep schools. I dare say I’ll make an awful ass of
myself,” he added ruefully.
“Wear whatever you like. Sweaters are the only things barred. I’ll wait
for you and show you the way.”
“Thanks,” was the grateful reply. “That’s decent of you. I won’t be
a minute.” He disappeared into the bedroom and, judging from the
sounds, managed a very good substitute for that prohibited bath. Still,
although he wasn’t back in a minute, Bert didn’t have long to wait.
Ordway returned in a blue serge suit and patent leather shoes. He was
certainly, thought Bert, a mighty good-looking chap; straight, well
formed, with a clear, fair complexion, nice brown eyes and hair of the
same color. His nose was a bit aquiline and his chin was at once round
and strong looking. Bert, studying him as he paused to make certain
that he had placed a handkerchief in his pocket, decided that he was
far more American than English in appearance, whatever his character
might prove.
Bert moved to the door, while Ordway was securing the missing article
of attire, and pulled it open. “All right?” he asked.
“Yes, thanks.”
Bert unconsciously stepped aside for the other to pass out first.
Afterwards, going down the stairs, he was angry with himself for
having done so.
“I’m just as good as he is, for all his airs,” he told himself, “and
I’m the older, too.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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