Ellsworth American., 1909-12-15

. moet troubled professor 20 mis- own
thoughts. :
| The boys questioned among themselves.
ssWhat's the matter with Phil Eiliotty
He's shark no longer" they said, and
one day the question reached Bob's 0r
and Bob knew. It was Sam Atkins who
asked him one day after practice, because
he knew OF the friendship Bob had with
the lame boy who had made himself such
favoritc about the campus; but Sam got
no answer, for Bob brushed him quickly
aside and started on the run for il STAN
ford hall. He found Phil on the window
seat with his LATIN.
'Phil," he cried, 'sit's all over.
won't try to play. Your killing your
marks for me. Pm beast not to have
thought Of that. You shan't help me any
morei''
Phil's large, dark eyes grew larger and
darker.
ssSit down, Bob,n he said, land let me
tell you. IT'S nothing to me-a few
marks. shant fail. Ny work isn't %
good, know, but It's better now than
some. It's just because don't shine that
the fellows wonder. Bob, never knew
what college meant until this fall when
I've been coaching for football" = and
Phil's bent shoulders straig ghtened proud
ly. "You've got to play, Bob, and you're
going to, for you're comicg fine, Bob; twill
almost kill me II you don't let me keep
on"
And Bob, great, strong fellow that he
was-Bob, three years Phirs senior--couid
not resist the pleading in his eyes.
.All right, mate," he said. ssI'n pay
you some time in some way. That's all
can dor
'.Pay me by winning the last game, Bob.
I'll have you ready for that. It's only
two weeks more"
Only two weeks more and the last OF
those two Bob would be ready to play
again. Phil felt sure OF that. Nights
now Bob took the lead and Phil watched
eargerly, proud OF his pupil. They kept
the secret between them. The squad
every day rnourned the loss OF Bob, lut
every day did their noblest under his
sideiine coaching. Yet all the games
worth winning had been lost - lost for
the lack OF a centre with Bob's shoulders,
Bob's courage, Bob's enthusiasm, Bobs
leadership. Every gain, every quick play
was through their centre. The rest OF the
line stood firm. The ..sub' did his best,
but he was not Bob, and he realized it
too we'll.
The big game--the last of the season
was to come Saturday, and the Monday be-
fore the discouraged squad began its final
practice. Not big game won-ail lost.
Was the consolation that they had been
nobly lost much consolation? To-day
they thought not. And the last game!
They had won it for years--eight years
the silver cup in the gymnasium said
eight years. And now they must lose the
cup. 1t was inevitable.
Bob was not there. II was the first prac-
tice he had missed, and they felt the lack
OF his sharp commands and keen sugges-
tions. No, Bob was not there. They did
not know that for an hour in the Latin
room of wingate he had been writing ali
he knew-writing with . confidence and
rapidity that surprised even him. Out
side Phil walked up and down the corri-
dor. unable to keep still. Bob finished
with flourish.
~ suppose you'll have to look this over,
Professor Hunt" said he, "before ! get
into my suit, but know l passed. l
knew every question, and / passed my
mathematics this morning. Could you do
1t while wait now?"
The grim, gray old professor laughed
genially.
'.Get into your suit, Cole, he said, like
9 boy in his eagerness, land come back.
II you're sure, you may - well get
ready"
Bob started for the door then stopped.
~ don't know Professor Hunt, /" be said,
'sthat anything ! will say will make any
difference about Phil-Elliott, mean.
They say he's back in his Latin, and I'll
tell you why" And Bob told him all.
The gray eyes Of the professor cleaned
again. This time with . fine, proud light.
"I1l remember that, Cole" said he.
"Thank you," and Bob went out.
Down stairs he went and into the rough,
torn old suit. How good it felt once
more! Back again to where Phil and the
professor stood-the old man with his
hand on the lads shoulder.
"Ali right, Cole," said the professor.
ssShake hands. Now go.n And Bob
snatched Phil in his big arms, crutch and
all, ran down the stairs OF Wingate and
out into the crisp November air.
"Just wait, Phil-just wait till Friday
night when we've won the camel You'll
be the hero, then-just waitl' But Phil
heard nothing, cared for nothing, except
that Bob could play.
Out on the gridiron the fellows saw
them coming-Bob and Phil, arm In arm,
and . shout went up that should have
crossed the state and shown their rivals
that they no longer needed . centre. Bob
was to playl They forgot all else-for-
got Phil, who did not in the least mind,
hurried their captain to his old-time