Part 18 (1/2)

”You forget basket ball,” reminded Muriel.

”I am going to try to forget it,” retorted Ronny so wearily that her tone elicited a chorus of giggles. ”I don't play the game, thank my stars!”

”I shall, if I have a chance,” Muriel a.s.serted. ”How about you, Marjorie?”

”I am going to try for a place on the team this year,” Marjorie announced in a purposeful manner. ”I hope we get a fair try-out. I really want to play. I like Professor Leonard's appearance. Helen had quite a long talk with him the other day. He is a seasoned basket ball player. He played center on a western college team the whole four years of his college course. He is going to arrange for a series of try-outs to be held next week. He thinks each cla.s.s ought to have its own team.

The seniors never play, though.”

”Since those are his sentiments, they sound as if he were strictly on the square,” approved Jerry. ”I mean, he is a real basket-ball enthusiast. The real ones won't stand for unfairness.”

”Miss Reid will be a cipher in b. b. plans this year and I am good and glad of it,” exulted Muriel. ”Professor Leonard looks to me like a person who wouldn't show favoritism. He certainly has lots of the right kind of energy.”

Muriel's opinion of the young professor of physical culture proved correct. On Monday following the freshman dance, a notice appeared on the official bulletin board stating that on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday afternoon of that week basket-ball try-outs for freshman, soph.o.m.ore, junior and senior teams, respectively, would be held at four-thirty o'clock in the gymnasium. It bore the pertinent signature: ”James Leonard, Director Athletics and Gymnasium.”

Freshmen and soph.o.m.ores hailed it with delight. The juniors were not so enthusiastic, though it was noised about that there would be a junior team composed of Sans, if they could manage to make it. The seniors from the height of their dignity smiled tolerantly but refused to commit themselves.

Determined to be in touch with the game from the very beginning, Muriel, Jerry and Marjorie attended the freshman try-out. Ronny begged off on account of a chemical experiment she was anxious to make. Lucy declared, that, if she attended the soph.o.m.ore try-out on Tuesday she considered that a sufficiency of basket ball.

Under the expert and impartial direction of Professor Leonard, the freshman try-out was conducted with a snap and precision which left nothing to be desired in the minds of those students who had yearned for fair play. It brought confusion to a certain clique of freshmen, headed by Elizabeth Walbert, who had reckoned on some of their particular friends carrying off the honors and being appointed to the team. The despatch with which the aspirants were made up into squads and tried out against each other was a joy to witness. The energetic director weeded out the defective players in short order. His searching eyes missed not a movement, clever or bungling. The five girls finally picked to play on the official freshman team were a survival of the fittest.

Among them was Phyllis Moore. Further, she was given the position of center and roundly complimented by the director for what he termed her ”whirlwind” playing. This triumph pleased boyish Phyllis far more than winning the cla.s.s presidency could have done. Barbara Severn, the Baltimore fres.h.i.+e, who Marjorie had looked out for on her arrival at Hamilton, won the position of right guard, and was also praised for her work.

Once the team was chosen the director put them through fifteen minutes of snappy play. Their fast and nimble work elicited rousing cheers from the large audience of students who had dropped in to witness the try-out.

”Isn't it great that both Phil and Barbara won?” bubbled Robin Page.

Half a dozen Silverton Hall girls had joined Marjorie's group after the try-out, preparatory to giving the successful aspirants a special ovation as soon as they should leave the floor. ”Phil and Barbara are awfully chummy, so they'll be pleased to the skies.”

”I think they are a great combination,” returned Jerry. ”They are our catches. We hooked them when we went fres.h.i.+e fis.h.i.+ng. I like the way they look after Anna Towne, too. She is lucky to have them for pals.”

”Phil is very fond of her, you know,” smiled Robin, ”and Barbara is a dear. She is a real Southern aristocrat. She has the gentlest, kindest ways and the sweetest voice! She and Phil are the really great hopes of the freshman cla.s.s, I think.”

”You know what the Bible says about the little leaven leavening the whole lump.” Jerry spoke with sudden seriousness. ”Maybe Phil and Barbara will turn out to be the particular kind of leaven the fres.h.i.+es need. I suppose they wouldn't feel especially complimented at being cla.s.sed as a 'lump,' but then what they don't hear will never hurt them,” she added, her serious face breaking into its irresistible little grin.

”I only hope we do as well tomorrow as Phil and Barbara,” Muriel said irrelevently, her brown eyes fixed in some trepidation on the alert director. ”That man's eyes seem to be everywhere at once. Nothing gets by him.”

”We will have to hustle if we expect recognition from him, I know that.

There are some fine players among the sophs, too. You know how well that team chosen after the fuss with Miss Reid could play. I think Robin is a better player than I,” Marjorie turned to Robin with a smile.

”No, siree! I have heard marvelous reports of your playing,” differed Robin with energy.

”You have a bitter disappointment ahead of you tomorrow then,” retorted Marjorie. ”You'll probably see me relegated to the scrub, sub or dub cla.s.s.”

”I prophesy all three of you modest violets will make the team. The real exhibition will be on Thursday afternoon. The strenuous Sans and the dictatorial director; or, what's the use without Miss Reid? They will learn a few points of the game before he gets through with them. I wouldn't miss that try-out for a good deal.” Jerry was deriving an impish satisfaction from the prospect of the Sans' encounter to come with Professor Leonard.

The next afternoon brought a large and interested audience to the gymnasium. Robin Page had many well wishers in all three of the upper cla.s.ses. Leila and Vera also headed a goodly company who were anxious to see Marjorie and Muriel make the team. The Sans came in a body to cheer Lola Elster and Alida Burton on to victory. They had attended the freshman try-out and seen a team selected which contained not one of their allies. They had also learned that Professor Leonard was not to be deceived for an instant. Only the fairest kind of fair play would be acceptable to him. Leslie Cairns was confident that Lola Elster would make the soph.o.m.ore team. Of the skill of her junior chums as players she was openly doubtful. She rudely hooted at their avowed intention to enter the lists.

”You girls are punk players, one and all. Why make simpletons of yourselves tomorrow?” she inquired of Joan and Natalie. ”You need at least a month's drill to put you in trim. Proffy Smarty Alec will chase you off the floor.”

”You're so hateful, Les,” bitterly complained Joan. ”We stand as good a chance as can be at the junior try-out. I happen to know that we Sans are almost the only juniors who are going to try for the team. Some of us will be picked. He's a fine coach. He will soon put our team in good form.”