Page:The spirit of the leader (IA spiritofleader00heyl).pdf/53

 Presently the last player had drawn what was coming to him, and Perry's responsibility was ended. At the door he kept shouting, "Ten minutes to train-time, fellows, ten minutes!" One by one, as they filed out, he handed them their return trip tickets. When the last player was accounted for he went stalking after them, a long-legged person pleasingly responsive to the savor of his duties and responsibilities.

When the train came in, the team made the usual scramble for places. Perry found himself in a seat with Praska. The guard was watching him with a quizzical expression in his eyes. Perry, new to his position, grew uneasy.

"What's the matter? Did I do something wrong?"

Praska shook his head. "I was thinking of something else. Why did you make a note of what everybody gave you?"

"I wanted to have it right, of course."

"But if we gave you only four or five dollars, you'd pay back only four or five dollars, wouldn't you?"

"But I wanted to make sure each fellow got back exactly what was coming to him."

Praska nodded. "That's the value of having a thing in black and white. You know just what value to give each one. You don't have to wonder