HAYDEN’S DEMAND.
As he passed, the fellow cast a single malignant glance of hatred in
Stone’s direction. Through the door which opened into the big, long
main room of the gymnasium he strode, grimly inviting Eliot to follow
him.
“Gee!” sibilated Sleuth Piper. “I scent trouble. Bern is mounted on his
high horse.”
“Some folks who ride high hosses git a fall,” drawled Sile Crane,
making a wry face as he pushed his left foot into a cleated shoe. “Drat
that corn! If it don’t stop botherin’ me purty soon, I’ll whittle the
whole toe off.”
After hesitating a moment, Roger Eliot slowly followed Hayden, who had
paused with an air of impatience to wait for him in the big room.
Through the open doorway Ben saw them standing close together, Hayden
beginning to speak in low tones in a manner of mingled demand and
threat.
“Look here, Eliot,” said Bern, “I want to know what you mean to do. I
want an immediate understanding.”
“What is it, Bern?” asked Roger. “What are you talking about?”
“About that son of a stripe wearer, Stone. Are you going to attempt to
ram him down my throat?”
“Not at all. If you fancy you have any just reason for not wishing to
be friendly with Stone, that’s your business, and I’m not going to dip
into the affair.”
“Fancy!” grated Hayden resentfully. “There’s no fancy about it.
Friendly with him—friendly with such a low-bred, worthless cur? To
suggest friendship between us is an insult to me.”
“I have no wish to insult you, old fellow. Doubtless you believe you
have honest reasons for your dislike toward Stone. Nevertheless, it’s a
fact that many persons hate others from no just cause.”
“You’re insinuating that I’m unjust and dishonest in this matter.
Doubtless Stone has told you a clever lie, and now simply because he
defended your sister when she was attacked by Fletcher’s dogs you’re
ready to take sides with him against me.”
“I don’t propose to take sides at all unless compelled to do so.”
“You’ve done so already.”
“How?”
“By going to Prof. Richardson and interceding in Stone’s behalf. You
can’t deny that. You certainly did it.”
“Will you wait until I attempt to deny anything?” requested Roger
coldly. “I did go to the professor and tell him a few plain facts which
I happened to know.”
“Facts!” sneered Bern. “Lies which Stone had poured into your ears.
It’s remarkable that you should take the word of a creature like that
instead of mine.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about, Hayden. I spoke to the
professor about the encounter between Rollins and Stone, and likewise
told him of Stone’s heroic defense of Amy. Prof. Richardson believed
Ben had attacked Hunk without reasonable provocation; he was not aware
that the affair had been brought about by Rollins’ bullying abuse of
little Jimmy Jones. I was not the only one who gave him the
straightforward facts; an eye-witness of the whole thing had spoken to
him about it before I mentioned it. Naturally, I am grateful toward
Stone; I’d be a fine fellow if I wasn’t.”
“He’s a cheap dog, and all your efforts to patch him up and make him
appear decent won’t succeed; his real nature can’t help coming to the
surface. Why, it’s only necessary for one to take a look at him to size
him up. What has he told you about me?”
“I prefer not to speak of any private conversation that may have taken
place between Stone and myself.”
“Oh, then he _has_ told you a mess of stuff. I knew it. If you wish to
know what people think of Stone in Hilton, I’ll furnish evidence
enough. His father was convicted of counterfeiting, sent to prison,
and——”
“Do you believe that the errors of a parent should blight the life of
his son?”
“‘Like father, like son,’ is an old saying, Eliot. Water won’t run up
hill. But Stone’s own record is enough to ban him from decent company.
His own uncle admitted that he ought to be sent to the reform school,
and he would have been if he hadn’t run away. The people of Hilton
regard it as a good riddance, too.”
“It’s hard for a fellow when his own relatives turn against him.”
“It’s plain where your sympathies lie!” exclaimed Hayden resentfully.
“You’re ready and willing to take up for this fellow against me. You’ve
brought him here to make him a member of the eleven. Go ahead, but let
me repeat that I’ll never disgrace myself by playing on the same team
with him.”
“Do you think that’s the proper spirit, Hayden? You know the team is
decidedly weak in several spots. We’re particularly anxious to beat
Wyndham this year, and in order to do so we’ve got to put our strongest
team into the field. A fellow who is loyal to his school and his team
puts aside personal prejudices and is ready for almost any sacrifice.
If Stone becomes a member of the eleven you don’t have to accept him as
a friend, and it’s not necessary that you should associate with him off
the field. You’re unreasonably angry now, Bern, but if you’ll take time
to cool off and think it over, I’m confident you’ll perceive the
mistake you’re disposed to make.”
Hayden lifted his clenched fist in a passionate gesture. “I tell you,
Eliot, you can’t ram him down my throat. You ought to know whether or
not I’m of especial value to the team. If I was willing to try, I
couldn’t play upon it and do myself justice with that fellow a member.
You’ll have to choose between us.”
“I don’t wish to do anything of the sort. I’m captain of the team, and,
even though I disliked Stone as bitterly as you do, I’d accept him as a
member if I knew he would strengthen our forces.”
“Yes, you’re captain of the team,” sneered Bern, “and you’re trying to
work for your own advantage; but let me inform you that if you persist
in this course it will be to your decided disadvantage. You’ll find I’m
not the only one who can’t swallow Stone. If you want harmony on the
team—and that’s rather important—just send him scooting. He can’t play
football, anyhow. He’s a big, lumbering, dull-witted creature who will
be an incumbrance.”
“I can’t see how we can tell about that until he has been tried out.”
Again the indignant lad made that passionate gesture with his clenched
fist. “Try him out then!” he snarled. “Have your own way and see what
comes of it, but you’ll be sorry for your obstinacy.” With which he
stepped past Roger and walked swiftly back through the dressing room,
his dark face pale with pent-up exasperation.
“I say, Bern,” called Berlin Barker, “where are you going? Aren’t you
going to stay for practice?”
“Not to-night,” Hayden flung over his shoulder, “nor any other night
until Eliot comes to his senses.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------