Page:The purple pennant (IA purplepennant00barb).pdf/201

Rh hundred on the flat can do it over the sticks if he's once shown how."

"Sure he can," agreed Harry. "Call a meeting of the candidates, Guy, and tell each one what's expected of him. Don't just say, 'Will you do this?' but tell 'em they've got to! Get Toby to talk to 'em and put some pep in 'em. Make 'em understand that we've got to lick Springdale next month and that"

"The trouble is," interrupted Lanny, "that the fellows don't take track athletics seriously. It's got to be sort of the style to smile when you mention the subject. We've run so to football and baseball that we don't think anything else is worth while. Even the fellows who are on the team go around with a half-apologetic grin, as much as to say, 'I'm on the Track Team. Isn't it a joke?' What ought to be done in this school is to get track athletics back where they belong as a major sport."

"And the best way to do that," said Sears, "is to everlastingly wallop Springdale."

"Yes, but"

"I think there ought to be more incentive for fellows to come out for the team," said Harry Partridge. "Of course, if a chap is fond of running or jumping or hurdling he's going to do it without persuasion, but there are lots of fellows, I guess,