Page:Stanwood Pier--Harding of St Timothys.djvu/49

Rh noon Stoddard had been at the playgrounds watching the football practice with most of the school. Bruce Watson, who had been looking on with Albree and Stearns, came up and joined him. When the practice was over, Albree called out, "Coming up to the school with us, Bruce?" and Watson answered:—

"No, I'm going to wait and walk up with Frank." Stoddard was very much pleased—quite touched, in fact. Bruce had not shown any interest in him before for a good while, and this looked like a willingness to resume the former intimacy.

They walked up to the school together, Bruce with his arm laid affectionately across Stoddard's shoulders. And after a time, in the most natural way in the world, Bruce was expressing the idea that Harry Harding would be a mighty good president of the athletic association, and asking Stoddard to vote for him.

"Oh, but, Bruce, Rupert Ormsby's the fellow for it!" Stoddard cried.