The Boys of Columbia High on the Gridiron : or, the Struggle for the Silver Cup

e with me, and take supper at the house, won't you?

r me to dress and clean myself. Will we have time?" And Ralph's face told how much he appreciated a chance to spend an ev

ed Frank, who, as a senior, and the captain and full-back of the regular football squad, was sup

tisfied with myself, but I believe I'm impro

to say about the scrub team. It was already understood between them that two of the regulars must give way to

lure of the leather" was too much for him, bringing back those dear old college days when he p

help them get in condition for the work ahead, when they were to m

ty road leading from the recreation field to the town center, p

small girl, who seemed so shy that her face was

ke to say something to yo

ry's older sister!" exclaimed

me, Ralph was on his way to the recreation field, where he was expected to pitch a game against a rival school. Still,

f the Smallings, and, of course, was well known to this girl

wink, "because, you know, there are t

hen, turning to the child, he continued: "I ho

ght away, 'cause I'm afraid of that bad boy. Once he threw water on me, and laughed wh

can she mean, and what has that got

led him Asa," rema

ht. And was the second chap

aid that he had another nasty frog. So I hid behind a log," the child

n me. And this little girl, hiding behind a log, hears them plotting. Now, what d'ye think of that for thrilling a fellow's nerve?

at you, so you couldn't play ball again. If you only saw his face when he said that! It was so fierce

o lads excha

h. It wouldn't be the first time a candidate has been marked for assault in the hope of putting him out of the running. An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. And since we kno

e. And next time I come out to her house I'm going to fetch

lared the child, promptly, at whi

I think I'll have to post my sister Helen on your double de

me more than once. They're all very fond of your

other, promptly; which caused his friend to bend d

y naturally talked again of the unpleasant news that h

ost unsportsmanlike spirit to show, knocking your school colors, because you can't play. I call that

's word for much. So I'm afraid it wouldn't be just the wis

ouncil, and warn them what we're up against. From this tim

n any other fell

ns to drop two fellows off the team to-morrow-Tony Gilpin and George Andersen; the former because he fails to come up to the scratch, and Geor

have to go, but expected Tony would

alf-back. I'm awful glad of it! I purposely kept my hands off, because I wa

ant any other fellow, but I believe it's only right that every one of Columbia's sons should cherish an earnest d

e is dissension in a baseball nine or a football eleven, it's going to make trouble. 'Beware the worm i' the bud,' you know

l overhanging the head of his chum, than if it had threa

r our scalp," remarked Ralph, desirous of drop

s going to be an easy mark for us. Perhaps they may fancy our style of play, and rub it al

hree of her best men through accidents, while Bellport did not. Then some people hint that her secret signal

ne before. We must be doubly on our guard against such a thing. I've been thinking up a little scheme that would upset anything li

ng into that game. Somehow, all my life I've just longed to be a football player. There's something about the game tha

ing in a fellow's nature that makes him long to buck up against difficulties, and down them. And seeing that you've always been so quiet and unassuming a fel

long the road at the sa

f us," said Ralph presently, when they

de of the road, to all

hbert and a friend!"

magic; for that same name always had a wonderful influence ove

never seen there before. She stared straight at him, as he took off his cap and bowed, but not by t

the cut

at his chum, to see that Frank had gone deadly white, and his

th, and tried to ge

ever expected to be cut by Minnie Cuthbert,

ed her life to the wonderful presence of mind of Frank, when

d?" he asked, e

I do. It's a mystery

s, and I heard him laugh as he saw Minnie drive pas

n and bear it? Sooner or later she'll find out the truth. I'll never ask for an explanation, knowing