Jack Winters' Gridiron Chums

w more days away. All this while the coach had kept at his constant grind, trying to get the eleven

ied; but how after the muscles of the body had grown accustomed to adapting themselves to the slightest moti

layers who are dull-witted never make any great success in the ga

hy they were given the "Indian sign" and dropped; but the fact was Joe had found they could not break themselves of the habit of stoppi

ctators; not that they feared any Chester boy would be so mean as to betray their codes to the enemy, or that either Marshall or Harmony would desce

all of them really held places as substitutes of one sort or another. Some of them were likely to be called into action in ca

all be given an opportunity to take part in

ing this way and that, calling, adjuring, scolding mildly at times, but always with an eye singly to the advantage of the Ch

to a substitute who seemed eager to get in the game. Joining the grou

heard, and then would come the lightning-like play as the ball was put in motion; fellows leaped into action, each with

he had a dozen eyes in his head," remarked Joel Jackman, w

nd twenty pieces was practicing some big movement by one of the great composers, Mr. Thomas would suddenly stop the music, and scold one player in particular. His wonderful ear had caught a n

d aside w

gnals of Marshall, and in fact did so; but the other fellows discovered him watching the play from a tree or some place, and they just changed their code of si

was not joking, and

ay that?" he inqu

, will you, Jack. I'm not pointing, because it would tell the skunk we knew about his being there. See that bunch of trees over yonder, do you? Pretty thick, al

r staring for a brief interval in the direction ind

n that crotch about ten feet from the ground; but the branches sort of screen it. But, Jac

surging up within him. If there was anything Jack Winters despised it was underhand work. Straight and abov

sh then, Jack?" whispered Joel,

eplied the other, be

idden in that same big tree, and watching us thr

ook a good deal that

ing. But he can see the work that's being repeated over and over again, and in that way learn what our play is. It's a burning shame, that's all I can say. I'd just like to take half a dozen

d to assure his companion. "I talked things over with him at the ti

let him know he's discovered, and had b

ng over to the little spring to the left for water. Once we get there it would be easy to slip around, for it hap

ble eagerness to try

drink, then, Jack," he urged,

water in the bucket lost its freshness, and in their heated condition they panted for a cold drink. Jack and Joel b

gourd that could be used for dipping up the re

n he moved his glasses. The sun chances to shine in just the right quarter to make that

mind just what sort of corporeal punishment best fitted the crime of playing the spy on rival

and we'll be off," J

h the object of their solicitude was placed. It would be an easy matter for two such agile lads to bend over and cover that

the tree in which he was so comfortably perched. Perhaps there might be a pair of them, when the situation was likely to be somewhat

ay of a screen; but Jack knew just how to manage, and Joel was quite willing to leave matters in the hands of his associate. Everybody trust

oak all right. It's got limbs pretty near the ground too, so that spy couldn't have had a very hard

l there was little fear of that, because all the while there came across

to say anything. But that worthy was crouching there, listening as if petrified, whi

h undoubtedly came from the direction of that particular tree; and what struck them as a staggering fa

to creep softly along, wondering what effect their coming would have upon the fai