CHAPTER III
ON THE TRAIL
Oppressive silence once more filled the room--a silence unbroken bythe ticking of the clock this time, for it was mute, because of thetoothpick. But its accusing face seemed to look at the three chums, asthough begging to be allowed to speak, even if it did but mark thepassage of time.
"Maybe we can prevail on Bricktop to stay until after the big game withBoxer Hall," suggested Tom, hopefully.
Jerry Jackson shook his head mournfully.
"I've tried it," he said. "I knew it would be a bad loss, so I askedBricktop to stay, but he said his whole future depended on this chance,and he wouldn't feel that he was doing right if he let it slip."
"Talk about futures," murmured Dan, "what of the future of Randall?"
"It does seem sort of tough for Bricktop to leave just when we've allgot so we play so well together," commented Sid. "And only to go toanother college, too! It isn't like Ed, who has to go with his sickfather. I tell you Bricktop isn't doing right! He's deserting in theface of the enemy, for both Boxer Hall and Fairview are after our scalpsthis fall, because of the walloping we gave them last season. Bricktop'sa deserter!"
"Oh, don't be ugly," begged Tom. "Maybe we don't know all the facts. I'msure Bricktop wouldn't do anything mean."
"Oh, of course not," Sid hastened to say, "but you know what I mean. IfBricktop----"
"Who's takin' me name in vain?" demanded a voice at the door--a voicewith just the hint of Irish brogue--and into the room was thrust a shockof auburn--not to say reddish--hair, which had gained for the owner theappellation of "Bricktop." "I say, who's desecratin' me reputation, ofwhich I have but a shred left--who's tearin' down me character behindme back?" and Molloy, with a quick glance at his friends, entered andthrew himself beside Sid on the sofa, thereby making the old piece offurniture creak most alarmingly.
"Easy! For cats' sake!" cried Sid, in alarm. "Do you want to deprive usof our only remaining consolation, now that the chair is gone?"
"Surely not," answered the Irish lad. "Captain, I salute thee," andBricktop arose and bowed elaborately to Dan. "I gather from what Iheard, as I made my entrance, that you have received the unwelcomenews, my captain," and, though Bricktop was smiling, there was a soberlook in his blue eyes.
"Yes, we've heard it," answered Kindlings, shortly. "Is it true?"
"It is, my captain, and it's infernally sorry I am to have to confirmit. But I've got to go, and that right soon."
"Um!" murmured the captain. "Well, the sooner the quicker, I suppose.Kerr goes this week, also."
"What! Kerr going?" Bricktop was manifestly surprised.
"His father's sick--Europe--Ed's going with him," disjointedly declaimedTom.
"Whew!" whistled the Irish lad. "Now I _sure_ am sorry I'm leavin'. Notthat I'm any better than any other player, my captain, but I know whatit means to take two men out of the team at this late day."
"You're not throwing any bouquets at yourself," spoke Dan. "It's theworst blow Randall has had in a long time. We were just at the pointwhere we had begun to gain ground after the long practice, and now----"he shrugged his shoulders.
"Is there no way you can stay on?" asked Phil, softly.
Bricktop shook his head.
"It means a big thing to me," he declared. "I know it looks likedesertin', as ye call it, but, fellows, believe me, I'm not. It--it goesto me heart as much as it does to yours," and Bricktop swallowed a biglump in his throat. When he was much affected he always "degenerated tothe language of his forebears of the Emerald Isle," as he used to say.And he was much affected now--there was no doubt of that. "I wish Icould stay--but I can't," he concluded, brokenly.
"Well, Randall will have to do the best she can," spoke Dan, after apause, and with a heavy sigh.
"Isn't there plenty of good material in the scrub, and some in theFreshman eleven?" asked Sid.
"ISN'T THERE PLENTY OF GOOD MATERIAL IN THE SCRUB?" ASKEDSID.]
"Oh, it isn't so much a question of material, as it is breaking themin," answered the captain. "The great fault with some of our playing inthe past was that we didn't have team work. This season we have it, andafter a lot of grind we fellows were playing together like one. Look howwe walked away with Dodville Prep in the first game of the season. Thatshowed what we could do. Now the team's going to be disrupted--two ofthe best men----"
"Thanks, captain," interrupted Bricktop, with a short laugh.
"I mean it," went on Kindlings, energetically. "Two of our best menleave, and it's almost too late to get others to run with the team likethe perfect machine it ought to be. But, we've got to do our best. Comeon, Bricktop, we'll go see Mr. Lighton, and hear what he has to say."
"There are a couple of new fellows coming soon," remarked Joe Jackson,as he and his brother arose.
"Who are they?" asked Tom.
"One is Frank Simpson. I heard Bascome speaking of him the other day.He's played on some western eleven, I believe, and has quite a name."
"Yes, those western fellows are big and strong," put in Jerry Jackson.
"Oh, you can't tell anything about it," said Dan, despairingly. "A newfellow can't be broken in at this late day. I'll have to depend on someof the scrub. Who else is coming to Randall? Do either of you twinsknow?"
"I heard Proc. Zane talking to Moses about some new students who weregoing to enter," replied Jerry, "but Simpson is the only one whose nameI heard mentioned."
"Come on, then," urged Dan. "We'll go see the coach. Maybe he hassomeone in mind, and you can stay on a few days and help break him in,Bricktop."
"Sure, I'll stay as long as I can," agreed the Irish lad. "It ought tobe easy to get someone to work in at left guard, where I play."
"We can't get anyone to beat you," spoke Dan, sincerely. "Well, I'mgoing."
"If you see our old armchair walking around the campus, send it home,"requested Phil, earnestly.
"Sure!" chorused his chums.
"Seriously though, fellows," said Tom, when the delegation had left theroom, "we've got to do something. Let's go out and make some inquiries.It was a nervy thing for anyone to do, to come in here and carry off ourchair. I don't believe it was any freshmen."
"Neither do I," agreed Phil. "Wait until I dress and I'll be with you."
"Same here," added Sid.
"Oh, I can't wait!" cried Tom, impatiently. "I'll go out and see what Ican learn. You fellows come when you get ready. We've got plenty of timebefore grub."
Tom's first act was to seek out Wallops, one of the assistant janitors,or messengers, about the college. From that youth he inquired whether hehad seen anyone taking the chair away, or whether he had heard of itbeing removed in a joke.
"What, you mean that old big chair that was so--so----" and Wallopshesitated, evidently in embarrassment.
"Yes, that's the one--the old rattletrap!" exclaimed Tom. "Don't beafraid to say it, Wallops. The chair was pretty well bunged up, but wethink a lot of it, and we wouldn't have it lost for a good deal. Can yougive us a clew?"
"Well, Mr. Parsons, I didn't see any one take it, but there was asecond-hand dealer around the college to-day. He comes every once in awhile, to buy up the things the students don't want any more. He washere, and he took away a wagon-load of stuff."
"He did!" cried Tom. "Why didn't you say so before? Was our chair on thewagon?"
"I didn't see that one, though he had some small chairs, and a bureau."
"Who was he? Where's his place? I'll go see him at once!" cried thepitcher. "I'll wager he sneaked in our room, and took it while we wereout. Who was he?"
"Isaac Komsky," replied Wallops. "He has a second-hand store on Waterstreet, in Haddonfield. But I don't think----"
"That's the fellow all right!" cried Tom, excitedly. "I'll make him givethat chair up, if we have to tear his shop apart!" and he raced back tothe room to tell his chums.