to him that hath-第21章

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quite　see　how　that　play　came　about。〃

〃I　didn't　see；　either；〃　said　Hugh。

〃Didn't　you？〃　cried　Adrien；　〃I　did。　　Jack　and　Geordie　Ross　were
going　down　the　centre　at　a　perfectly　terrific　speed；　big　Macnamara
backing　them　up。　　Out　came　Macnab　and　Jumbo　Larson　following　him。
Macnab　checked　Geordie；　who　passed　to　Jack；　who　slipped　it　back　to
Macnamara。　　Down　came　Jumbo　like　a　perfect　thunderbolt　and　fairly
hurled　himself　upon　Macnamara。　　I　don't　know　what　happened　then；
but〃

〃Oh；　I　do！〃　cried　Vic。　　〃When　old　Jumbo　came　hurtling　down　upon
Macnamara；　this　was　evidently　what　Macnamara　was　waiting　for。
Indeed；　what　he　had　been　praying　for　all　through　the　game。　　I　saw
him　gather　himself；　crouch　low；　lurch　forward　with　shoulder　well
down；　a　wrestler's　trickyou　know　Macnamara　was　the　champion
wrestler　of　his　division　in　Francehe　caught　Jumbo　low。　　Result；　a
terrific　catapult；　and　the　big　Swede　lay　on　his　back　some　twenty
feet　away。　　Everybody　thought　he　was　dead。〃

〃Oh；　it　was　perfectly　lovely！〃　exclaimed　Patricia；　rapturously。

〃But；　my　dear；〃　said　her　mother；　〃lovely；　and　they　thought　the　man
was　dead！〃

〃Oh；　but　he　wasn't　dead。　　He　came　to。　　I　will　say　he　was　very
plucky。　　Then　just　as　they　faced　off；　time　was　called。　　Six　to　six！
Think　of　it；　Mamma；　six　to　six！　　And　we　had　been　five　to　two　at
half　time！〃

〃Six　to　six？〃　said　Mrs。　Templeton。　　〃But　I　thought　you　said　we
won？〃

〃Oh；　listen；　Mamma；　this　is　the　most　wonderful　thing　of　the　whole
match；〃　said　Adrien；　trying　to　break　in　on　the　tornado　of　words
from　her　younger　sister。

〃No；　let　me；　Adrien！　　I　know　exactly　how　it　was　done。　　Captain　Jack
explained　it　to　me　before。　　It　was　Captain　Jack's　specialty。　　It
was　what　they　call　the　double…circle。　　Here　is　the　way　it　was
worked。〃　　Patricia　sprang　to　her　feet；　arranged　two　chairs　for　goal
and　proceeded　to　demonstrate。　　〃You　see；　Mamma；　in　the　single
circle　play；　Captain　Jack　and　Snoopy　come　downsay　Snoopy　has　the
puck。　　Just　as　they　get　near　the　goal　Snoopy　fools　the　back；　rushes
round　the　goal　and　passes　to　Jack；　who　is　standing　in　front　ready
to　slip　it　in。　　But　of　course　the　Cornwalls　were　prepared　for　the
play。　　But　that　is　where　the　double…circle　comes　in。　　This　time
Geordie　had　the　puck；　with　Captain　Jack　immediately　at　his　left　and
Snoopy　further　out。　　Well；　Geordie　had　the　puck；　you　see。　　He
rushes　down　and　pretends　to　make　the　circle　of　the　goal。　　But　this
time　he　doesn't。　　He　tears　like　mad　around　the　goal　with　the　puck；
Snoopy　tears　like　mad　around　the　goal　from　the　other　side；　the
defence　all　rush　over　to　the　left　to　check　them；　leaving　the　right
wide　open。　　Snoopy　takes　the　ball　from　Geordie；　rushes　around　the
goal　the　other　way；　Mamma；　do　you　see？passes　back　to　Reddy；　his
partner；　who　slips　it　in！　　And　poor　Jumbo　was　unable　to　do
anything。　　I　believe　he　was　still　dazed　from　his　terrible　fall！〃

Then　Hugh　breaks　in：　　〃It　really　was　beautifully　done。〃

〃It　certainly　was；〃　said　Vic。

〃Seven　to　six；　Mamma；　think　of　it！　　Seven　to　six；　and　two　minutes
of　the　first　overtime　to　play。　　Two　minutes！　　It　just　seemed　that
our　men　could　do　as　they　liked。　　The　last　time　the　whole　forward
lines　came　down；　with　Macnamara　and　'Jack'　Johnson　roaring　and
yelling　likelikeI　don't　know　what。　　And　they　did　the　double…
circle　again！　　Think　of　it！　　And　then　time　was　called。　　Oh；　I　am
perfectly　exhausted　with　this　excitement！〃　said　Patricia；　sinking
back　into　her　chair。　　〃I　don't　believe　I　could　go　down　to　that
rink；　not　even　for　another　game。　　It　is　terribly　trying！〃

At　this　moment　Rupert　Stillwell　came　in；　full　of　enthusiasm　for　the
Cornwalls'　scientific　hockey；　and　with　grudging　praise　for　the
local　team；　deploring　their　roughhouse　tactics。　　But　he　met　a　sharp
and　unexpected　check；　for　Adrien　took　him　in　hand；　in　her　quiet；
cool；　efficient　manner。

〃Roughhouse！〃　she　said。　　〃What　do　you　mean　exactly　by　that？〃

〃Well；〃　said　Rupert；　somewhat　taken　aback；　〃for　instance　that
charge　of　Macnamara　on　Jumbo　Larson　at　the　last。〃

〃I　saw　that　quite　clearly；〃　said　Adrien；　〃and　it　appeared　to　me
quite　all　right。　　It　was　Larson　who　made　the　most　furious　charge
upon　Macnamara。〃

〃Of　course　it　was；〃　cried　Patricia；　indignantly。　　〃Jumbo　deserved
all　he　got。　　Why；　the　way　he　mauled　little　Snoopy　and　Geordie　Ross
in　the　first　part　of　the　game　was　perfectly　horrid。　　Don't　you
think　so；　Hugh？〃

〃Oh；　well；　hockey　is　not　tiddly…winks；　you　know；　Patricia；　and〃

〃As　if　I　didn't　know　that！〃　broke　in　the　girl　indignantly。

〃And　Jumbo　and　Macnab；〃　continued　Hugh；　〃really　had　to　break　up　the
dangerous　combination　there。　　Of　course　that　was　a　rotten　assault
on　Snoopy。　　It　wasn't　Jumbo's　fault　that　he　didn't　break　an　ankle。
As　it　was；　he　gave　him　a　very　bad　fall。〃

At　this　Rupert　laughed　scornfully。　　〃Rot；〃　he　said；　〃the　whole　town
is　laughing　at　all　that　bloody　bandage　business。　　It　was　a　bit　of
stage　play。　　Very　clever；　I　confess；　but　no　hockey。　　I　happen　to
know　that　Maitland　was　quite　hot　about　it。〃

But　Hugh　and　Vic　only　laughed　at　him。

〃He　is　a　clever　little　beggar；　is　Snoopy；〃　said　Vic。

〃But；　meantime；〃　said　Mrs。　Templeton；　〃where　is　Jack！　　He　was　going
to　be　here；　was　he　not？〃

〃Feasting　and　dancing；　I　expect；〃　said　Rupert。　　〃There　is　a　big
supper　on；　given　by　the　Mill　management；　and　a　dance　afterwards
'hot　time　in　the　old　town；'　eh？〃

〃A　dance？〃　gasped　Patricia。　　〃A　dance！　　Where？〃

〃Odd　Fellows'　Hall；〃　said　Rupert。　　〃Want　to　go？　　I　have　tickets。
Don't　care　for　that　sort　of　thing　myself。　　Rather　a　mixed　affair；　I
guess。　　Mill　hands　and　their　girls。〃

〃Oh；〃　breathed　Patricia；　〃I　should　love　to　go。　　Couldn't　we？〃

〃But　my　dear　Patricia；〃　said　her　mother；　〃a　dance；　with　all　those
people？　　What　nonsense。　　But　I　wish　Jack　would　drop　in。　　I　should
so　like　to　congratulate　him　on　his　great　victory。〃

〃Oh；　do　let　us　go；　just　for　a　few　minutes；　Mamma〃　entreated
Patricia。　　〃Hugh；　have　you　tickets？〃

The　men　looked　at　each　other。

〃Well；〃　confessed　Vic；　〃I　was　thinking　of　dropping　in　myself。
After　all；　it　is　our　home　team　and　they　are　good　sports。　　And
Maitland　handled　them　with　wonderful　skill。〃

〃Yes；　I　am　going；〃　said　Hugh。　　〃I　am　bound　to　go　as　Captain　of　the
Eagles；　and　that　sort　of　thing；　but　I　would；　anyway。　　Would　you
care　to　come；　Adrien；　if　Mrs。　Templeton　will　allow　you？　　Of　course
there　are　chaperons。　　Maitland　would　see　to　that。〃

〃I　should　like　awfully　to　go；〃　said　Adrien　eagerly。　　〃We　might；　for
a　few　minutes；　Mother？　　Of　course；　Patricia　should　be　in　bed；
really。〃

Poor　Patricia's　face　fell。

〃It　is　no　place　for　any　of　you；〃　said　the　mother；　decidedly。　　〃Just
think　of　that　mixed　multitude！　　And　you；　Patricia；　you　should　be　in
bed。〃

〃But　oh；　Mamma；　dear；〃　wailed　Patricia；　〃I　can　rest　all　day　to…
morrow。〃

At　this　point　a　new　voice　broke　in　to　the　discussion　and　Doctor
Templeton　appeared。　　〃Well；　what's　the　excitement；〃　he　enquired。
〃Oh；　the　match；　of　course！　　Well；　what　was　the　result？〃

〃Oh；　Daddy；　we　won；　we　won！〃　cried　Patricia；　springing　at　him。
〃The　most　glorious　match！　　Big　Jumbo　Larson；　a　perfect　monster　on
the　Cornwall　defence；　was　knocked　out！　　Oh；　it　was　a　glorious
match！　　And　can't　I　go　down　to　see　the　dance？　　Adrien　and　Hugh　and
Vic　are　going。　　Only　for　a　few　minutes；〃　she　begged；　with　her　arms
around　her　father's　neck。　　〃Say　yes；　Daddy！〃

〃Give　me　time；　let　me　get　my　breath；　Patricia。　　Now；　do　begin
somewheresay；　with　the　score。〃

They　all　gave　him　the　score。

〃Hurrah！〃　cried　the　old　doctor。　　〃No　one　hurtseriously；　I　mean？〃

〃No；〃　said　Patricia；　〃except　perhaps　Jumbo　Larson；〃　she　added
hopefully。

〃The　Lord　was　merciful　to　this　family　when　he　made　you　a　girl；
Patricia；〃　said　her　father。

〃But；　Daddy；　it　was　a　wonderful　game。〃　　Quite　breathlessly；　she
went　once　more　over　the　outstanding　features　of　the　play。

〃Sounds　rather　bloody；　I　must　say；〃　said　her　father；　doubtfully。

But　Hugh　said：　　〃It　was　not　reallynot　quite　so　bad　as　Patricia
makes　it；　sir。　　Rough　at　times；　of　course；　but；　on　the　whole；
clean。〃

〃Clean；〃　cried　Patricia；　〃what　about　Jumbo's　swing　at　Snoopy？〃

〃Oh；　well；　Snoopy　had　the　puck；　you　know。　　It　was　a　little　off…
colour；　I　must　confess。〃

〃And　now；　Daddy；〃　said　Patricia；　going　at　her　father　again；　〃we　all
want　to　go　down　to　the　dance。　　There　will　be　speeches；　you　know；
and　I　do　want　to　hear　Captain　Jack；〃　she　added；　not　without　guile。
〃Won't　you　let　me　go　with　them？　　Hugh　will　take　care　of　me。〃

〃I　think　I　should　rather　like　to　go　myself；〃　said　her　father。　　A
shout　of　approval　rose　from　the　whole　company。　　〃But；〃　continued
the　doctor；　〃I　don't　think　I　can。　　My　dear；　I　think　they　might　go
for　a　few　minutesand　you　can　bring　me　in　a　full　account　of　the
speeches；　Patricia；〃　he　added；　with　a　twinkle　in　his　eye。

〃But；　my　dear；〃　exclaimed　his　wife；　〃this　is　one　of　those　awful
public　affairs。　　You　can't　imagine　what　they　are　like。　　The　Mill
hands　will　all　be　there；　and　that　sort　of　people。〃

〃Well；　my　dear；　Jack　Maitland　will　be　there；　I　fancy；　and　you　were
thinking　of　going；　Hugh？〃

〃Yes；　sir；　I　am　going。　　Of　course　there　will　be　a　number　of　the
friends　of　both　teams；　townspeople。　　Of　course　the　Mill　hands　will
be　there；　too；　in　large　numbers。　　It　will　be　great　fun。〃

〃Well；　my　dear；〃　said　the　doctor；　〃I　think　they　might　go　down　for　a
few　minutes。　　But　be　sure　to　be　back　before　midnight。　　Remember；
Patricia；　you　are　to　do　exactly　as　your　sister　says。〃

Then　Vic　said：　　〃I　shall　keep　a　firm　hand　on　her；　sir。〃

〃Oh；　you　darling；〃　Patricia　cried；　hugging　her　father　rapturously。
〃I　will　be　so　good；　and　won't　it　be　fun！〃

Odd　Fellows'　Hall　was　elaborately　decorated　with　bunting　and
evergreens。　　The　party　from　the　Rectory；　arriving　in　time　to　hear
the　closing　speeches　of　the　two　team　captains；　took　their　places　in
the　gallery。　　The　speeches　were　brief　and　to　the　point。

The　Captain　of　the　visiting　team　declared　that　he　had　greatly
enjoyed　the　game。　　He　was　not　quite　convinced　that　the　best　team
had　won；　but　he　would　say　that　the　game　had　gone　to　the　team　that
had　put　up　the　best　play。　　He　complimented　Captain　Maitland　upon
his　generalship。　　He　had　known　Captain　Maitland　in　the　old　days　and
he　ought　to　have　been　on　the　lookout　for　the　kind　of　thing　he　had
put　over。　　The　Maitland　Mill　team　had　made　a　perfectly　wonderful
recovery　in　the　last　quarter；　though　he　rather　thought　his　friend
Macnamara　had　helped　it　a　little　at　a　critical　point。

〃He　did　that；〃　exclaimed　Jumbo　Larson；　with　marked　emphasis。

After　the　roar　of　laughter　had　quieted　down；　the　Cornwall　Captain
closed　by　expressing　the　hope　that　the　Maitland　Mill　team　would　try
for　a　place　next　season　in　the　senior　hockey。　　In　which　case　he
expressed　the　hope　that　he　might　have　the　pleasure　of　meeting　them
again。

Captain　Maitland's　speech　was　characteristic。　　He　had　nothing　but
praise　for　the　Cornwalls。　　They　played　a　wonderful　game　and　a　clean
game。　　He　shared　in　the　doubt　of　their　Captain　as　to　which　was　the
better　team。　　He　frankly　confessed　that　in　the　last　quarter　the
luck　came　to　his　team。

〃Not　a　bit　of　it；〃　roared　the　Cornwalls　with　one　voice。

As　to　his　own　team；　he　was　particularly　proud　of　the　way　they　had
taken　the　trainingtheir　fine　self…denial；　a