When near this headquarters Ben Badger darted ahead, throwing
open the door, while Frank and Ted marched in with their prisoner.
"Attention!" roared Ben.
Nearly all the members and substitutes of the eleven were present.
They were sorting over various bits of football paraphernalia.
Several of them stopped work to look up as Ben Badger slammed
the door shut again.
"Well, what are you making so much noise about?" demanded one
of the second classmen. "You come in with a roar, and all you
bring with you is---just a poor, insignificant little freshie."
"Oh, but what a freshman!" thundered Frank Thompson. "Listen,
fellows, what do you suppose this freshman has done?"
"Lynch him for it, anyway, whatever it is," retorted another.
"Wait!" commanded Thompson. "And listen."
There upon Frank detailed what he and his two comrades had overheard
at the head of the alleyway. Instantly the complexion of things
changed. There were cheers and hoarse yells, as the football
men rushed forward, crowding about Dick Prescott.
"Now I've told all that I heard," wound up Thompson. "We'll have
to ask Mr. Prescott to favor us with the further details, which
I trust he will be inclined to do."
"Mr. Prescott!" That, instead of "cub," "kid" or "freshie." Had
the enthusiasm been less intense Dick would have been sure that
they were having fun with him.
"Go on," ordered Ben Badger briefly. "Talk up!"
To have refused plain orders from a first classman might have
been serious.
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