Jack Winters Gridiron Chums | Page 3

football squad was working fiercely overtime with the
idea of overwhelming utterly all rivals on the gridiron, once the Fall
sports opened.
By slow degrees, as he saw best, Joe Hooker was leading his charges
along the rugged path; for there is no loyal road to a knowledge of the
intricacies of successful football. Constant practice alone will make a
player act through intuition, since the plays are so lightning- like that
there is never any time to figure out what is to be done; all that must be
considered beforehand, and the player be able to decide what the most
probable scheme of his opponents is likely to be.
After they had again gone through a series of tackles, using the
dangling dummy for the practice, and being shown by old Joe in a
spectacular fashion just what was the proper and lawful method of

interfering with the man who was supposed to be running with the ball,
play was called off for the day.
It was about time, for some of the fellows were panting for breath,
owing to the vigorous way in which they had been working. Besides,
most of them would need a bath before they could be allowed to sit
down at the family table.
"I've been asked by several persons deeply interested in football," Joe
Hooker remarked, as they gathered around him for a parting word,
some looking anxious, as though they half expected to receive their
dismissal then and there, though it was not Joe's way to "rub" it into
any one, "what chance we had to meet Harmony with a team that would
be a credit to Chester. To all such I give the same answer. There is no
reason to despair. We have plenty of promising material, though it will
need constant whipping to get it in shape between now and the first
game with Marshall. That will be a test. If we down those fighters we
can hope to meet Harmony on something like even terms. Tomorrow I
shall have to drop out several boys who, I'm sorry to say, do not show
the proper qualifications for the rough game; but I want them to
understand that we appreciate their offering their services, and we need
their backing all the time. Our motto must be 'Everything for Chester!'
Now get away with you, and if the day is half-way decent, meet me
here tomorrow, prepared to strive harder than ever to hustle for
victory."
And with that the boys commenced to start homeward.

CHAPTER II
THE BOY WHO WAS IN TROUBLE

As usually happened, the three inseparables, Jack, Toby and Steve, kept
company on the way home. They had much in common, and only that
summer the trio had spent a glorious two weeks camping up in the
woods of the Pontico Hills country. There were a number of
remarkable things connected with that outing, and if the reader has not
enjoyed already its perusal, he would do well to secure the preceding

volume of this series, and learn just what astonishing feat Jack and his
chums carried to success.[Footnote: "Jack Winters' Campmates."]
"I wish both of you could drop over after supper," Toby Hopkins was
saying as they trudged along with the air of tired though contented boys.
"I've got those plans for our new iceboat nearly finished, with several
novel suggestions which I'd like to ask your opinion about before I
order the wood to make it in my shop."
"I guess I can run across lots, and spend half an hour with you, Toby,"
Jack announced; "though I couldn't promise to stay late, because I
ought to be doing some of my lessons, you know. This football work
afternoons throws everything out of gear."
"Sorry to say I'll have to beg off this time," said Steve. "Fact is, I've got
a date, and couldn't break away very easily. Another time will have to
do, Toby. And of course whatever you and Jack decide on goes with
me, you understand."
In fact it was almost always that way, such unlimited confidence had
both Toby and Steve come to place in Jack Winters. But then he
merited all their high esteem, for rarely did things go wrong when
Jack's hand was at the helm; he seemed to be one of those fellows
whose judgment is right nine times out of ten. Looking back, the
Chester lads could begin to understand what a great day it had been for
them when Jack came to town, full of ideas which he had imbibed in
the lively city where his folks had formerly lived.
"I'm more than ever convinced," Toby went on to say, reflectively,
"that we'll be able to put a flier on the ice this coming winter that will
have