ANOTHER VICTORY--CONCLUSION
Obtaining the horse without trouble, Fred galloped toward the campus.
And he was sorely needed. Buttons had been injured in the second
scrimmage, and Bart was forced to use Bronson, while the crowd yelled
for Fred.
No one could explain his absence, and the rumor started that he had
been kidnapped by Landon.
But Bronson was playing splendidly, and Baxter, though not able to
score, was holding Landon.
"If we can only find Fred before the second half, we'll win!" exclaimed
Sandow. And he and Hal corralled a score of boys and went in search of
the missing half-back.
Up and down the field the ball went, getting ever nearer the Baxter
goal line.
But to the relief of the home team supporters, time was called with the
ball on the twenty-yard line.
The players knew, however, that they could scarcely hope to hold Landon
during the second half, and it was a heart-heavy eleven that returned
to the field.
Scarcely had the play begun than Sandow and Hal ran in front of the
Baxter stands.
"We've found him! Fred's dressing!" they yelled.
Mighty was the roar that greeted these announcements, and as the
yellow-haired boy dashed onto the field, the people in the Baxter
stands cheered joyously.
"I've a good mind not to let you play, you sneaking sulker," hissed
Bart, as his rival came up to him.
"Sulker nothing! I had to show my father's lawyer where to find Charlie
Gibbs so they could arrest him," retorted Fred.
At the words, spoken low so that only he should hear them, for even in
his joy Fred was considerate of his rival's feelings, the bully's face
went white, and he staggered as though struck.
"Oh! Oh! I'm sick! I'm sick!" Bart gasped, and sank to the ground in
utter collapse.
Quickly the officials gathered round, while doctors, masters and grads
ran out from the side lines.
"He's done for!" declared Sandow. "Mr. Vining, name Fred acting
captain. He may save the day."
This the headmaster quickly did.
"Bronson, take Bart's place at full back," ordered Fred. "Come on, now,
boys. This is Baxter's year. Show 'em how we can get the ball."
The boy's words put new life into the Team, and when the Landon centre
put the ball in play, Fred was put through an opening made by Tompkins
and on top of the full back, who was ready to kick, knocking the ball
from him, while Taffy fell on it.
"Well done, Baxter!" roared their supporters.
Calling for the ball to be passed to him, Fred again found the hole
made by Tompkins, was through the Landon line and dodging the backs,
almost before the visiting players knew it.
"Oh, you Cotton-Top!" howled the Baxter rooters.
"Stop him! Down him!" yelled Landon.
Only the opposing full back was between Fred and the goal line, but
that player was charging at the yellow-haired boy like a maddened bull.
Suddenly the Landon man dove at Fred.
Scarcely breathing, the spectators watched.
But the half-back had been expecting the move, and, leaping in the air
and to one side, he escaped the outstretched arms and raced unhindered
across the goal line.
Wildly Baxter cheered, yelling and waving their banners, as Bronson
sent the ball spinning between the goal posts.
Desperately, Landon strove to hammer their way through the lighter line
of their opponents. But Fred resorted to a kicking game, and Bronson's
long spirals ever kept the Baxter goal out of danger.
With only three minutes more to play, and the ball his, Fred again
signalled for it to be passed to him, and carried it to the twenty-yard
line.
"Hold now! Bronson's going to drop a goal from the field!" whispered
the acting captain to his men. "I'm going to signal for an end play,
but Clothespin will kick."
Confused by such tactics, the Landon players did not know where the
ball was going, and, in consequence, Bronson received it, dropped back,
and, with a beautiful punt, sent it sailing toward the goal posts
before the visiting players were upon him.
Discouraged, the Landon men lined up for the kick off. But while the
ball was in the air, the whistle blew--and the game was over--won by
Baxter for the first time in six years.
"Fine, Fred, fine!" cried several of his friends.
"The best ever!" said Margie, and gave her hero a look that meant a
great deal.
"I must get home--I want to find out what is happening," said Fred to
the girl, and broke away from his fellow players and the others as soon
as possible.
When Fred arrived home, he found Mr. Bronson there, along with his
father.
"Charlie Gibbs has confessed to forging that check!" cried Mr. Markham.
"And he has also confessed to altering the deed."
"And what of Mr. Montgomery?" asked the son quickly.
"When we went to the bank he at first put up a great front," replied
Mr. Bronson. "But I soon showed him what authority I possessed, and
then he agreed to get out at once, provided he was not prosecuted. On
account of his family, your father has decided not to prosecute him."
"Well, I am glad of that," said Fred, and he thought of Alice
Montgomery and how she had befriended him.
"My name has been completely cleared," said Mr. Markham, with much
pride in his voice. "I shall start again in business here--at the old
stand."
"And I guess the Gibbs place will be shut up," said Fred.
"It is shut up already, and the officers of the law are in possession,"
answered the lawyer. "He overstepped himself as soon as he went to the
city and tried to borrow money under a false name."
At the wish of Mrs. Baxter, Mr. Bronson had been elected president of
the bank. A complete investigation revealed many crooked things done by
Mr. Montgomery, and he was glad enough to leave town, taking his whole
family with him. Later on, it was learned by Fred that Alice had left
the others, and, working her way through college, became a teacher in a
young ladies' seminary. Bart drifted West and then to Alaska, and that
was the last heard of him. Charlie Gibbs was sent to prison for a term
of five years.
"Well, the clouds have passed at last, mother," said Fred, one day,
after the excitement was a thing of the past.
"Yes, and I am truly thankful," responded Mrs. Markham.
"Come out, Fred!" yelled a voice from the street, and Soda appeared,
accompanied by Bronson. "Going to have a last game of football between
the First and Second Forms!"
"All right--I'm with you!" cried Fred good-naturedly, and ran to join
them; and here we will say good-by to the High School Rivals.
THE END