[Transcriber's note: Extensive research found no evidence
that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
"Can I see you a minute, Coach?"
"Yes, Mack. Come in."
Mack Carver, substitute back on Grinnell University's varsity squad,stepped across the threshold of Coach Edward's office. He carried hisone hundred and eighty-seven pounds easily and with an athleticswagger. But he scowled as he entered, indicating that his call wasabout an unpleasant matter.
"Well, boy—what's on your mind?" smiled the Coach, straightening upfrom a mass of papers which contained diagrams of the plays Grinnellwas to use in her season's big game against Pomeroy, now less than aweek away.
"Plenty!" was Mack's bluntly grim answer. He stood now, facing hiscoach, across the desk.
Coach Edward's smile faded as he met Mack's challenging glance.
"I want to know why I've been kept so much of the time on the bench?"the substitute back fired, point blank.
"Because," answered Coach Edward, evenly, "there were eleven better menon the field. That's ordinarily the only reason any man's kept on thebench."
"I don't believe it," retorted Mack, feelingly. "You've had it in forme because my brother is coach at Pomeroy. That's the reason! Andyou'd like to be coach at Pomeroy yourself!"
Coach Edward drew in his breath, sharply. "Perhaps I would!" he said."But that's a strict matter of business—nothing personal!"
"No?" flashed Mack. "You and brother Carl have been rivals for thelast two years. You've been out to beat each other on the gridiron andnow that you've turned out some cracking good teams with the smallestcollege in the State, you think you've got my brother on the run!"
"I'm tickled, naturally," admitted the coach. "Wouldn't you be?Don't you suppose your brother enjoys his triumphs over me? ... It'sall in a spirit of good sportsmanship!"
"That part of it may be all right," conceded Mack, "but you feel strongenough against my brother, just the same, to not want to give me abreak!"
"That's bunk!" branded Coach Edward. "But there's one thing I'vealways wanted to know ... why is it you quit Pomeroy after two yearsand came to Grinnell?"
"That's an easy one to answer. I discovered I could never hope to makethe team that my brother was coaching. He was bending over backward tokeep f