Page:The fighting scrub, (IA fightingscrub00barb).pdf/169

 "Any harm?"

Tom turned on his companion a look of mild perplexity. "For goodness' sake, Clif," he replied, "you don't suppose I really meant all that guff!"

"What did you say it for, then?" asked Clif indignantly.

"Because," Tom answered equably, "I wanted to give the poor chap a little more interest in life. Didn't you see how pleased he was? Why, as he said, it will be almost like playing the game himself. I like that chap, old son, and I want to do anything I can to—to—"

"Oh, you do? Then why try to make a fool of him? Don't you suppose he will find out quick enough that you don't really want his advice?"

"No, why should he? And I haven't said I didn't want his advice. Of course I want it if it's any good. I just don't suppose it will be, that's all. The big thing is to give him a better time here, don't you see?"

"Yes," answered Clif dubiously, "but, just the same, it seems sort of mean to fool him, Tom."

"I'm not fooling him until he finds it out," replied the other philosophically, "and he never will find it out unless you tell him."

"I'd be likely to," jeered Clif.

"Exactly. So that's that. See you at supper, old timer."

Coach Otis made several shifts in the First Team on Monday and it was late when the Scrub was called over. During one fifteen-minute session the First scored two