THE BROKEN TRICYCLE
As soon as Livingston heard the kidnapers staggering down-stairs with
their burden he unlocked the bed-room door and stole to the window. He
saw Neil, his head hidden by the carriage robe, thrust into the hack and
driven away, and saw the conspirators for whom the vehicle afforded no
room separate and disappear in the gathering darkness. Livingston's
emotions were varied: admiration for Neil's harebrained but successful
ruse, distaste for the sorry part taken by himself in the affair, and
amusement over the coming amazement and discomfiture of the enemy were
mingled. In the end delight in the frustration of the sophomores' plan
gained the ascendency, and he resolved that although Neil would miss the
freshman dinner he should have it made up to him.
And so in his speech an hour or so later Fanwell Livingston told the
astonished company of the attempted kidnaping and of its failure, and
never before had Odd Fellows' Hall rang with such laughter and cheering.
And a little knot of sophomores, already bewildered by the appearance
of the freshman president on the scene, were more than ever at a loss.
They stood under an awning across the street, some twenty or thirty of
them, and asked each other what it meant. Content with the supposed
success of the abduction, they had made no attempt to prevent the
dinner. And now Livingston, who by every law of nature should be five
miles out in the country, was presiding at the feast and moving his
audience to the wildest applause.
"But I helped put him in the hack!" Carey cried over and over.
"And I saw it drive off with him!" marveled another.
"And if that's Livingston, where's Baker, and Morton, and Cowan, and
Dyer?" asked the rest. And all shook their heads and gazed bewildered
through the rain to where a raised window-shade gave them occasional
glimpses of "Fan" Livingston, a fine figure in dinner jacket and white
shirt bosom, leading the cheering.
"_Rah-rah-rah, Rah-rah-rah, Rah-rah-rah, Fletcher_!"
The group under the awning turned puzzled looks upon each other.
"Who's Fletcher? What are they cheering Fletcher for?" was asked. But
none could answer.
But over in the hall it was different. Not a lad there, perhaps, but
would have been glad to have exchanged places with the gallant
confounder of sophomore plots, who was pictured in most minds as
starving to death somewhere out in the rain, a captive in the ungentle
hands of the enemy.
However, starving Neil certainly was not. For at that very moment,
seated at the hospitable board of Farmer Hutchins, he was helping
himself to his fifth hot biscuit, and allowing Miss Hutchins, a
red-cheeked and admiring young lady of fourteen years, to fill his
teacup for the second time. From the role of prisoner Neil had advanced
himself to the position of honored guest. For after the first
consternation, bewilderment, and mortification had passed, his captors
philosophically accepted the situation, and under the benign influence
of cold chicken and hot soda biscuits found themselves not only able to
display equanimity, but to join in the laugh against themselves and to
admire the cleverness displayed in their out-witting. Of the four
sophomores Cowan's laughter and praise alone rang false. But Neil was
supremely indifferent to that youth's sentiments. The others he soon
discovered to be thoroughly good fellows, and there is no doubt but that
he enjoyed the hospitality of Farmer Hutchins more than he would have
enjoyed the freshman class dinner.
At nine o'clock the drive back to Centerport began, and as the horses
soon found that they were headed toward home the journey occupied
surprisingly little time, and at ten Neil was back in his room awaiting
the return of Paul. To Neil's surprise that gentleman was at first
decidedly grumpy.
"You might have let me into it," he grumbled.
But Neil explained and apologized until at length peace was restored.
Then he had to tell Paul all about it from first to last, and Paul
laughed until he choked; "I--I just wish--wish I had--seen Cowan's--face
when--he--found it--out!" he shrieked.
One result of that night's adventure was that the Class of 1905 was
never thereafter bothered in the slightest degree by the sophomores; it
appeared to be the generally accepted verdict that the freshmen had
established their right to immunity from all molestation. Another result
was that Neil became a class hero and a college notable. Younger
freshmen pointed him out to each other in admiring awe; older and more
influential ones went out of their way to claim recognition from him;
sophomores viewed him with more than passing interest, and upper-class
men predicted for him a brilliant college career. Even the Dean, when he
passed Neil the following afternoon and returned his bow, allowing
himself something almost approaching a grin. Neil, however, bore his
honors modestly even while acknowledging to himself the benefit of them.
He learned that his chances of making a certain society, membership in
which was one of his highest ambitions, had been more than doubled, and
was glad accordingly. (He was duly elected and underwent rigorous
initiation proudly and joyfully.)
The kidnaping affair even affected his football standing, for Mills and
Devoe and Simson, the trainer, spoke or looked applause, while the head
coach thereafter displayed quite a personal interest in him. Several
days subsequent to the affair Neil was taking dummy practise with the
rest of the second eleven. Mills had appropriated the invention of a
Harvard trainer, rigging the dummy with hook and eye-bolt, so that when
properly tackled the stuffed canvas effigy of a Robinson player became
detached from its cable and fell on to the soft loam much after the
manner of a human being. But to bring the dummy from the hook
necessitated the fiercest of tackling, and many fellows failed at this.
To-day Neil was one of this number. Twice the dummy, bearing upon its
breast the brown R of Robinson, had sped away on its twenty-foot flight,
and twice Neil had thrown himself upon it without bringing it down. As
he arose after the second attempt and brushed the soil from his trousers
Mills "went for him."
"You're very ladylike, Fletcher, but as this isn't crewel-work or
crochet you'll oblige me by being so rude as to bring that dummy off.
Now, once more; put some snap into it! Get your hold, find your
purchase, and then throw! Just imagine it's a sophomore, please."
The roar of laughter that followed restored some of Neil's confidence,
and, whether he deceived himself into momentarily thinking the dummy a
sophomore, he tackled finely, brought the canvas figure from the hook,
and triumphantly sat on the letter R.
Signal practise followed work at the dummy that afternoon, and last of
all the varsity and second teams had their daily line-up. Neil, however,
did not get into this. Greatly to his surprise and disappointment
McCullough took his place at left half, and Neil sat on the bench and
aggrievedly watched the lucky ones peeling off their sweaters in
preparation for the fray. But idleness was not to be his portion, for a
moment later Mills called to him:
"Here, take this ball, go down there to the fifteen-yard line, and try
drop-kicking. Keep a strict count, and let me know how many tries you
had and how many times you put it over the goal."
Neil took the ball and trotted off to the scene of his labors, greatly
comforted. Kicking goals from the fifteen-yard line didn't sound very
difficult, and he set to work resolved to distinguish himself. But
drop-kicks were not among Neil's accomplishments, and he soon found that
the cross-bar had a way of being in the wrong place at the critical
moment. At first it was hard to keep from turning his head to watch the
progress of the game, but presently he became absorbed in his work. As a
punter he had been somewhat of a success at Hillton, but drop-kicking
had been left to the full-back, and consequently it was unaccustomed
work. The first five tries went low, and the next four went high enough
but wide of the goal. The next one barely cleared the cross-bar, and
Neil was hugely tickled. The count was then ten tries and one goal. He
got out of the way in order to keep from being ground to pieces by the
struggling teams, and while he stood by and watched the varsity make its
first touch-down, ruminated sadly upon the report he would have to
render to Mills.
But a long acquaintance with footballs had thoroughly dispelled Neil's
awe of them, and he returned to his labor determined to better his
score. And he did, for when the teams trotted by him on their way off
the field and Mills came up, he was able to report 38 tries, of which 12
were goals.
"Not bad," said the coach. "That'll do for to-day. But whenever you find
a football, and don't know what to do with it, try drop-kicking. Your
punting is very good, and there's no reason why you shouldn't learn to
kick from drop or placement as well. Take my advice and put your heart
and brain and muscle into it, for, while we've got backs that can buck
and hurdle and run, we haven't many that can be depended on to kick a
goal, and we'll need them before long."
Neil trotted out to the locker-house with throbbing heart. Mills had as
good as promised him his place. That is, if he could learn to kick
goals. The condition didn't trouble Neil, however; he _could_ learn to
drop-kick and he _would_ learn, he told himself exultantly as he panted
under the effects of a cold shower-bath. For a moment the wild idea of
rising at unchristian hours and practising before chapel occurred to
him, but upon maturer thought was given up. No, the only thing to do was
to follow Mills's advice: "Put your heart and brain and muscle into it,"
the coach had said. Neil nodded vigorously and rubbed himself so hard
with the towel as to almost take the skin off. He was late in leaving
the house that evening, and as all the fellows he knew personally had
already taken their departure, he started back toward the campus alone.
Near the corner of King Street he glanced up and saw something a short
distance ahead that puzzled him. It looked at first like a cluster of
bicycles with a single rider. But as the rider was motionless Neil soon
came up to him.
On nearer view he saw that the object was in reality a tricycle, and
that it held beside the rider a pair of crutches which lay in supports
lengthwise along one side. The machine was made to work with the hands
instead of the feet, and a bow-shaped piece of steel which fitted around
the operator's knee served as steering apparatus. The youth who sat
motionless on the seat was a rather pale-faced, frail-looking lad of
eighteen years, and it needed no second glance to tell Neil that he was
crippled from his waist down. As Neil approached he was pulling the
handles to and fro and looking perplexedly at the gear. The tricycle
refused to budge.
"I guess you've broken down," said Neil, approaching. "Stay where you
are and I'll have a look."
"Thanks, but you needn't bother," said the lad.
But Neil was already on his knees. The trouble was soon found; the chain
had broken and for the present was beyond repair.
"But the wheels will go round, just the same," said Neil cheerfully.
"Keep your seat and I'll push you back. Where do you room?"
"Walton," was the answer. "But I don't like to bother you, Mr. Fletcher.
You see I have my crutches here, and I can get around very well
on them."
"Nonsense, there's no use in your walking all the way to Walton. Here,
I'll take the chain off and play horse. By the way, how'd you know
my name?"
"Oh, every one knows you since that kidnaping business," laughed the
other, beginning to forget some of his shyness. "And besides I've heard
the coach speak to you at practise."
"Oh," said Neil, who was now walking behind the tricycle and pushing it
before him, "then you've been out to the field, eh?"
"Yes, I like to watch practise. I go out very nearly every day."
[Illustration]
"Come to think of it, I believe I've seen you there," said Neil. "It's
wonderful how you can get around on this machine as you do. Isn't it
hard work at times?"
"Rather, on grades, you know. But on smooth roads it goes very easily;
besides, I've worked it every day almost for so long that I've got a
pretty good muscle now. My father had this one made for me only two
months ago to use here at Erskine. The last machine I had was very much
heavier and harder to manage."
"I guess being so light has made it weak," said Neil, "or it wouldn't
have broken down like this."
"Oh, I fancy that was more my fault than the tricycle's," answered the
boy. As Neil was behind him he did not see the smile that accompanied
the words.
"Well, I'll take you home and then wheel the thing down to the bicycle
repair-shop near the depot, eh?"
"Oh, no, indeed," protested the other. "I'll--I'll have them send up for
it. I wouldn't have you go way down there with it for anything."
"Pshaw! that's no walk; besides, if you have them send, it will be some
time to-morrow afternoon before you get it back."
"I sha'n't really need it before then," answered the lad earnestly.
"You might," said Neil. There was such a tone of finality in the reply
that the boy on the seat yielded, but for an instant drew his face into
a pucker of perplexity.
"Thank you," he said; "it's awfully nice of you to take so much
trouble."
"I can't see that," Neil replied. "I don't see how I could do any less.
By the way, what's your name, if you don't mind?"
"Sydney Burr."
"Burr? That's why you were stuck there up the road," laughed Neil.
"We're in the same class, aren't we?"
"Yes."
At the middle entrance of Walton Hall Neil helped Burr on to his
crutches, and would have assisted him up the steps had he not objected.
"Please don't," he said, flushing slightly. "I can get up all right; I
do it every day. My room's on this floor, too. I'm awfully much obliged
to you for what you've done. I wish you'd come and see me some time--No.
3. Do you--do you think you could?"
"Of course," Neil answered heartily, "I'll be glad to. Three, you said?
All right. I'll take this nag down to the blacksmith's now and get him
reshod. If they can fix him right off I'll bring him back with me. Where
do you stable him?"
"The janitor takes it down-stairs somewhere. If I'm not here just give
it to him, please. I wish, though, you wouldn't bother about bringing
it back."
"I'll ride him back," laughed Neil. "Good-night."
"Good-night. Don't forget you're coming to see me."
Sydney Burr smiled and, turning, climbed the steps with astonishing
ease, using his crutches with a dexterity born of many years' dependence
upon them. His lower limbs, slender and frail, swung from side to side,
mere useless appendages. Neil sighed as he saw his new acquaintance out
of sight, and then started on his errand with the tricycle.
"Poor duffer!" he muttered. "And yet he seems cheerful enough, and looks
happy. But to think of having to creep round on stilts or pull himself
about on this contrivance! I mustn't forget to call on him; I dare say
he hasn't many friends. He seems a nice chap, too; and he'd be
frightfully good-looking if he wasn't so white."
It was almost dark when he reached the repair-shop near the railroad,
and the proprietor, a wizened little bald-headed man, was preparing
to go home.
"Can't fix anything to-night," he protested shrilly. "It's too late;
come in the morning."
"Well, if you think I'm going to wheel this thing back here to-morrow
you've missed your guess," said Neil. "All it needs is to have a chain
link welded or glued or something; it won't take five minutes. And the
fellow that owns it is a cripple and can't go out until this machine's
fixed. Now go ahead, like a good chap; I'll hold your bonnet."
"Eh? What bonnet?" The little man stared perplexedly.
"I meant I'd help," answered Neil unabashed.
"Help! Huh! Lot's of help, you'd be to any one! Well, let's see it." He
knelt and inspected the tricycle, grumbling all the while and shaking
his head angrily. "Who said it was broke?" he demanded presently. "Queer
kind of break; looks like you'd pried the link apart with a
cold-chisel."
"Well, I didn't; nor with a hot chisel. Besides, I've just told you it
didn't belong to me. Do I look like a cripple?"
"More like a fool," answered the other with a chuckle.
"You're a naughty old man," said Neil sorrowfully, "and if you were my
father I'd spank you." The other was too angry to find words, and
contented himself with bending back the damaged link and emitting a
series of choking sounds which Neil rightly judged to be expressions of
displeasure. When the repair was finished he pushed the machine angrily
toward the boy.
"Take it and get out," he said.
"Thanks. How much?"
"Fifty cents," was the reply, given with a toothless grin and a chuckle.
"Twenty-five cents for the job and twenty-five cents for working
after hours."
"Cheap enough," answered Neil, laying a quarter on the bench. "That's
for the job; I'll owe you the rest."
When he reached the first corner the proprietor of the repair-shop was
still calling him names and shaking his fist in the air.
"Looked just like a he-witch or something," chuckled Neil, as he
propelled his steed toward the campus. "Maybe he will put a curse upon
me and my right foot will wither up and I won't be able to kick goals!"