CHAPTER XXVIII_Left End Edwards

THE CHUMS READ A TELEGRAM

The tumult was over, although from the Row came at times a wild shout of

exultation from some enthusiastic youth. In 12 Billings, Steve and Tom

were dressing for the banquet. There was no feverish hurry in their

movements. Tom sat for minutes at a time with a shirt draped across his

knees and smiled fatuously through swollen lips. There was plenty of

time. The banquet was not to be until seven, and it was now still but a

little past six. When they spoke they spoke slowly, lazily, as though

nothing much mattered, as though Fate had given them everything they

wanted and nothing was left to be desired. Steve, dreamily slipping a

belt through the loops of his best trousers, said:

"Tom, when I look at you I'm ashamed of myself. There you are with a

face like a war map and one leg all bunged up, and here am I without a

scratch. I've got a bum wrist, but it doesn't show." And Steve scowled

at the offending member.

Tom grinned. "You can have my mouth if you want it," he said. After a

minute he spoke again. "I was glad about Benson," he said.

Steve nodded. "So was I."

Tom laughed. "Yes, you looked it!"

"Well, I didn't know why Robey was taking me out, of course. It seemed

after I'd made that touchdown that he'd ought to let me play the game

out. Benson was rather--rather pathetic when he hobbled on. I'm glad

he's got his letter, though."

"Yes, and there's only one thing I'm not glad about," responded Tom

thoughtfully, beginning to squirm into his shirt. "I'm not glad we

missed that goal. I wanted that extra point."

"How could we help missing it? Andy isn't any goal kicker, and all the

others were afraid to try, I suppose. What's the odds, though! We won,

and six to nothing is good enough, isn't it?"

"Mm--yes; seven to nothing would have looked better, though."

"And you're the fellow," scoffed Steve, "who was almost crying awhile

back because Claflin would feel bad if we licked her!"

Tom only grunted. Steve went into a daydream with one leg in his

trousers until, presently, Tom laughed softly.

"What are you choking about?" asked Steve.

"Just thinking. Remember, Steve, coming on in the train how we were

talking about what--what it would be like here?"

"N--no," answered Steve. "Were we?"

"Yes. I remember you said that in the stories the hero was always

suspected of something he hadn't done and you said you'd bet that if

anyone tried that on you you'd make a kick."

"Well, what of it?"

"You didn't, though. Some of the fellows thought you'd swiped that

blue-book that time and you didn't make a murmur."

"Because----"

"Because you thought I'd done it and was trying to shield me. I know.

Then you said that in the stories the hero saves someone from drowning

and the football captain puts him into the big game and he wins it by a

wonderful run the length of the field."

"That's right, isn't it? All the school stories have it like that, don't

they?"

"I know."

"Well, then----"

"The funny thing is that it happened like that to us, Steve, or pretty

nearly. I don't mean that I--I actually saved you from drowning,

but----"

"You sure did, though!"

"Anyway, it was something like that, wasn't it? And then you went and

won the game in the last minute of play, just as they do in the

stories."

"I didn't make any run the length of the field," denied Steve. "All I

did was catch the ball and go ten yards with it. Nothing wonderful about

that."

"Still, it's all pretty much like the story-writers tell it, after all,

eh? That's what struck me as funny."

"Huh! It doesn't seem to me much like it is in the stories. Say, we

forgot about the papers, Tom!"

"What papers?"

"The New York papers, with the account of the thrilling rescue at

Oakdale, with your picture----"

"He didn't get any picture of me," said Tom grimly.

"He made you talk, though," laughed Steve.

"He'd make anyone talk," Tom grunted.

"By Jove!" He jumped suddenly to his feet, and with more animation than

had been displayed in Number 12 for a half-hour hurried to the closet.

"What's up?" asked Steve in surprise.

"Telegram," came in smothered tones from Tom. "Here it is. Lawrence

handed it to me in the gym after the game. Said it came at noon, but

Robey wouldn't let him give it to me. Bet you it's from my dad."

Tom tore the end from the yellow envelope and there was silence in the

room for a moment. At last, with a queer expression on his battered

countenance, he walked across and held the message out to Steve. "It's

for you, too," he said quietly.

Steve took it and read: "Tannersville, Pa., Nov. 25. Morning papers have

account of Oakdale scrape grateful to you for your rescue of Steve God

bless you show this to Steve your father joins me in love to you both.

John T. Edwards."

Steve let the telegram fall and stared blankly at Tom.

"What--do--you know--about that?" he gasped. "They've made it up, Tom!"

Tom nodded gravely. "It--it----" A slow smile overspread his face.

"Honest, Steve, that's better than winning the game!"

"You bet it is! And you did it!"

"Oh, no." Tom's eyes twinkled merrily. "You did it yourself, Steve, by

trying to get drowned!"

THE END

THE OUTDOOR CHUMS SERIES

By CAPTAIN QUINCY ALLEN

The outdoor chums are four wide-awake lads, sons of wealthy men of a

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THE OUTDOOR CHUMS

Or The First Tour of the Rod, Gun and Camera Club.

THE OUTDOOR CHUMS ON THE LAKE

Or Lively Adventures on Wildcat Island.

THE OUTDOOR CHUMS IN THE FOREST

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THE OUTDOOR CHUMS ON THE GULF

Or Rescuing the Lost Balloonists.

THE OUTDOOR CHUMS AFTER BIG GAME

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THE OUTDOOR CHUMS ON A HOUSEBOAT

Or The Rivals of the Mississippi.

THE OUTDOOR CHUMS IN THE BIG WOODS

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THE OUTDOOR CHUMS AT CABIN POINT

Or The Golden Cup Mystery.

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THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH

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THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH ON THE DIAMOND

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THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH ON THE GRIDIRON

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THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS' OUTDOOR EXHIBITION

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In the first place, "The Children's Crimson Series" is designed to

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To accomplish such an end, a vast amount of patient labor, a rare

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* * * * *

EDITED BY KATE DOUGLAS WIGGIN AND NORA ARCHIBALD SMITH

THE FAIRY RING: _Fairy Tales for Children 4 to 8_

MAGIC CASEMENTS: _Fairy Tales for Children 6 to 12_

TALES OF LAUGHTER: _Fairy Tales for Growing Boys and Girls_

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PINAFORE PALACE: _Rhymes and Jingles for Tiny Tots_

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EDITED BY ASA DON DICKINSON

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STORIES AND POEMS FROM KIPLING: "_How the Camel Got His Hump," and