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

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  COOTS WAS DOWNED BY A FIERCE TACKLE ON THE PART OFSHADDUCK.]

  THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH ON THE GRIDIRON

  OR

  The Struggle for the Silver Cup

  BY GRAHAM B. FORBES

  AUTHOR OF "THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH," "THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGHON THE DIAMOND," ETC.

  CONTENTS

  CHAPTER

  I. OUT FOR PRACTICE

  II. ON THE ROAD TO TOWN

  III. THE STRANGE HISTORY OF RALPH

  IV. TREACHERY IN THE CAMP

  V. THE SIGNAL PRACTICE

  VI. AT THE SINGING SCHOOL

  VII. THE ABDUCTION OF "BONES"

  VIII. THE LINE-UP WITH CLIFFORD

  IX. A HARD FOUGHT FIRST-HALF

  X. A SCENE NOT DOWN ON THE BILLS

  XI. CLIFFORD'S LAST HOPE

  XII. DR. SHADDUCK FEARS AN EPIDEMIC

  XIII. THE GREAT MARSH

  XIV. THE DANGERS OF THE MUCK HOLE

  XV. FRANK TURNS CHAUFFEUR

  XVI. AN UNWILLING PILOT

  XVII. A DESPERATE REMEDY

  XVIII. MATCHING WITS

  XIX. AT THE END OF THE CIRCUIT

  XX. FRANK'S LUCK

  XXI. THE LIFTING OF THE CLOUD

  XXII. HOW BELLPORT BUCKED THE LINE

  XXIII. WON BY FOUR INCHES

  XXIV. THE MESSAGE FROM TOKIO--CONCLUSION

  THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH ON THE GRIDIRON

  CHAPTER I

  OUT FOR PRACTICE

  "Oh, what a splendid kick!"

  The yellow pigskin football went whizzing through the air, turningover and over in its erratic flight.

  "Wow! Look at old Sorreltop run, will you?"

  "He's bound to get under it, too. That's going some, fellows! Oh,shucks!"

  "Ha! ha! a fumble and a muff, after all! That's too bad, aftersuch a great gallop. Now Clack's got the ball, and a clear fieldahead for a run! Go it, you wild broncho! Say, look there, willyou, Tony; Ralph West thinks he can tackle that flying tornado!"

  "Will he? Maybe, maybe not, fellows!" called out the ever-skepticalJack Eastwick, as he watched the rapidly nearing figures. Jackwas on the regular team, but not playing that afternoon.

  "There, he's done it! Wasn't that tackle a screamer, though? Thatman West belongs with the regulars. He's too good for the scrubteam. Mark my words, when we go up against Clifford he'll be doingduty with Columbia's eleven!"

  "Bah!" sneered Tony Gilpin. "He's still only a greeny; never saw afootball till he came here last year. Bones Shadduck taught himall he knows about the game. Take him away from his teacher, andthe little boy would be hopelessly foundered, and you know it,too, Herman Hooker."

  Herman was Columbia's "cheer captain." His sonorous voice arousedmore enthusiasm among the struggling athletes when the prospectsseemed dark and forbidding, than all other elements combined. Assoon as it boomed out over a hotly-contested field, every Columbiafellow seemed to take on fresh confidence, and in many instancesthat meant a new determination to win the victory.

  Herman looked at the last speaker, and smiled broadly. It was wellknown among the students of Columbia High School that Tony Gilpinstill entertained great hopes of holding his place on the regularteam; but his play was not up to the standard of the precedingyear, and dark hints had gone abroad that in all probability hewould be dropped, for "a dark horse."

  As this latter must of necessity be taken from the scrub team, itcan be easily understood why Tony showed so much concern over theplaying of the newcomer, Ralph West.

  "Why ain't you practicing with your team this P. M., instead ofloafing around here watching the scrub eleven do things." remarkedCharlie Scott, one of the group. "It can't be possible that aseasoned veteran of two years' experience can pick up points froma come-on?"

  "I strained my leg a bit yesterday, and the coach advised me togive it a rest for a day. When I tackle I'm apt to go at a manwithout regard to consequences; and sometimes the jar is fierce,"explained Tony, sneeringly.

  "Well, if you can beat that work of Ralph West, you're going some,now; take it from me, son," commented Herman, with fatherlyinterest, and simply a desire to see the best man on the regularteam when the auspicious day dawned that lined Columbia's elevenup against the warriors of Clifford.

  Tony made no verbal reply, but his brow grew dark, as he onceagain shot a look of hatred toward the player who had made thatbrilliant flying tackle.

  The big town of Columbia was situated on the Harrapin River, withClifford nearly four miles above, and the manufacturing town ofBellport twice that distance down-stream.

  Of course, as each of these bustling places boasted of a highschool, the consequent rivalries of the students had blossomed outinto a league. In various sports they were determined rivals, andthe summer just passed had witnessed a bitter fight between thebaseball clubs of the three towns, in which Columbia won out aftera fierce contest.

  Among the Columbia students there were also strivings aftersupremacy in many gymnastic feats, as well as between the severalclasses, each of which was jealous of the others when it came togiving spreads. Many of the deeply interesting happenings alongthis line that marked the preceding Winter and Spring have beenchronicled in the first volume of this series, called: "The Boysof Columbia High; or, The All-Around Rivals of the School."

  With the coming of the season for outdoor sports, there wasbaseball in the air from morning to night, in preparation for thecarnival of games mapped out for the schedule between the threeschools. What thrilling contests took place, and with what finalresults, can be found in the second story of this series, bearingthe title, "The Boys of Columbia High on the Diamond; or, WinningOut by Pluck."

  When the Glorious Fourth came along, the river that flowed pastthe three towns was the scene of a most remarkable gathering; forthe annual regatta between the boat clubs of the high schools hadbeen set down for observance. To enjoy the humor of the tubraces, and experience the thrills that accompanied the flight ofthe rival four-oared and eight-oared shells over the scheduledcourse, the reader must peruse the third volume, called: "The Boysof Columbia High on the River; or, The Boat Race 'Plot ThatFailed."

  And now vacation having ended, and school being once more underfull swing, with the dropping of the highly-colored leaves fromthe woods along the banks of the picturesque Harrapin, there washeard little save football talk on the campus, and wherever thesons of old Columbia High congregated.

  A well-to-do widow, in memory of her boy, Wallace Todd, who haddied the preceding year while a student at the high school, hadoffered a beautiful silver cup to the victor in the footballcontests, the winning team to hold it for an entire season.

  It was to be known as the Wallace Cup, and every day crowds stoodbefore the window of the silversmith's store in Columbia, admiringits magnificent proportions.

  Squads of boys even came by trolley from Bellport, and openlyboasted as to their intention to carry that same trophy home withthem after the struggles on the gridiron had been finished.

  The group of lads watching the work of the scrub team consisted ofvarious types among the students and town fellows.

  Presently, however, Tony Gilpin nudged another fellow and beckonedhim away. He knew full well that Asa Barnes, now a senior, and aclass ahead of him, had only bitter feelings for several in thatscrub team, and chief of all the captain, Bones Shadduck.

  Lately both To
ny and Asa had taken a notion that they would liketo join the Delta Pi fraternity. To their disgust, however, theywere blackballed, some among the members objecting to receivingfellows with their known reputation for mischief and evil-doing.

  In some way they conceived the idea that Bones Shadduck wasprimarily responsible for their humiliation. They never accusedhim of it, but nursed their fancied grievance, and planned to haverevenge in some fashion.

  Tony was looking more than ordinarily ugly as he strolled awaywith Asa Barnes.

  The broad hint which one of his companions had advanced regardinghis rather poor chances of holding down his position as a Columbiahalf-back against the aspirations of Ralph West, the boy fromPaulding, had fired his heart anew with a fierce desire to takematters into his own hands, and remedy them.

  "Well, what's your opinion, Asa?" demanded Tony, as they saunteredalong. "You said you'd be square with me. What d'ye think of thatdub's playing? Is he going to make it, and knock me off theearth?"

  Asa Barnes was nothing, if not a sneak. Throughout his entirecareer at school he had been looked upon as a species of snake,and had few friends. Even those who did go with him, on account ofhis having unlimited spending money, always kept a cautious eyeout for treachery.

  "Oh, you're going to get it where the chicken did--in the neck!"he replied cheerfully, with a grin that told of secret pleasure,for he liked to see others suffer.

  "No kidding now, but tell me the truth for once. Is Ralph West thewonder they make out? Can he play half-back better than I do? I'mnot from Missouri, but, all the same, I want to know; for it'sgoing to settle a question I've had in my mind a long time. Cutin, now!" exclaimed Tony, wrathfully.

  "He's all to the good," replied the other, grimly, "and when I saythat, disliking the fellow as I do, you can understand it meanssomething. I never saw a quicker half-back in my life; and when itcomes to making a tackle, the fellow doesn't really know what fearis! If they put him on the regulars, there's going to be somethingdoing among those long-legged chaps from Clifford."

  Tony growled like a bear with a sore head; he also cast a sidelook at his companion, as though questioning his sincerity. Asaliked to see anyone squirm, and often did and said things just forthat privilege. His companions had long ago declared that he wascut out for a surgeon--or a butcher, like his father.

  "Once for all, do you mean that?" hissed the enraged boy, laying aquivering hand on his comrade's arm.

  "I certainly do. He's got the Indian sign on you, Tony, for fair.Mark my words, when I predict that, _unless something unusualhappens_ between now and next Saturday, when we play Clifford,Ralph West is going to take your place at left half-back!"

  The other fairly glared at him.

  "Well, you're awful plain about it, Asa," he muttered.

  "You told me to be, and I'm giving you my honest opinion. But, allthe same now, I don't think this disaster will happen," Asa added,with a grin at the other.

  "Oh, you don't, eh? What's going to prevent it?" demanded Tony.

  "You are, unless I'm mighty much mistaken in your make-up," saidthe other boy, promptly. "Remember what we agreed to do about thatBones Shadduck, for getting us knocked down with that measly oldDelta Pi business? Well, there's a pair of 'em now!"

  "Do you mean it. Will you stick with me if I try to knock Westout, so he won't be able to play football again for weeks? Are yougame, or do you mean to egg me on to the last ditch, and thensidestep, leaving me to shoulder all the blame?"

  Tony's face was eager, and the light in his eyes told of a fiercedesire to do something mean that would accomplish the desire ofhis heart.

  His companion laughed as though it might be a joke. Asa was soused to others suspecting his honesty of purpose that he neverseemed to get offended when they doubted his word. Another boymight have shown temper, but Asa never did this. He might grit histeeth behind a fellow's back, and vow to get even for an insult;but to his face he was either smiling or sneering, as the humorseized him.

  "Yes, I'll help you out. Remember, it isn't because I feel foryou," he said, quickly, as though he feared lest he shouldactually be considered as possessing any consideration for acomrade. "I've got my own little axe to grind, you see. The fellowhappens to be sweet on Helen Allen, and once on a time she used togo with me to parties and the like. You understand, don't you,Tony?"

  "Sure. And there's nothing that burns so deep as that. Then it'ssettled that we're going to lay for both Ralph and Bones at thevery first chance, with some fellows we can depend on, and dothem up? That's the programme, Asa?"

  "I leave the particulars to you. Meanwhile I'll drum up a fewrecruits to make the crowd. Just now I know of three bully fellowswho happen to have it in for either Ralph or Bones. You get asmany, and then there's going to be some fun doing," and Asalaughed in the cold-blooded fashion that made so many dislike him.

  "Well, when a fellow is bruised to beat the band, not to speak ofpossibly a broken rib or two, he ain't going to play football in ahurry," grunted Tony.

  The other cast a quick look at his companion.

  "You don't want to go too far, old chap. If he happened to beseriously hurt, we might be called on to explain before ProfessorParke," he observed.

  So talking, they sauntered along the road again, having paused toexchange the significant remarks as to their intentions.

  Hardly had they gone twenty feet away, than a head was cautiouslyraised above an old log that lay just within the edge of thewoods, and a white face looked rather fearfully after the pair ofplotters.