4 ACORN "Say, Koerner, look here," Anguish began angrily, "what's the matter with you getting in this condition, you're a dandy athlete, you are all right. I want you to play in Baum's place tomorrow. Do you think that you can sober up and be in shape to play the game. "Sure," Koerner answered thickly, "I can do anyscink you shay, Cap." "Well, then see if you can," Anguish said, "and don't let me catch you or hear of you being in this place until after the game, understand?" "All right. Cap," Koerner replied unsteadily, "Jus' ashu shay," as he went swaying and hiccoughing up the street toward the college. "Oh," Anguish murmured to himself, "I wish that I dare trust Baum tomorrow." "Ah well," he rejoined, "Dutch'll be all right, he'll brace up now, knowing that he's got a chance to make a hero of himself, and that's what he likes." "Let's see," he thought, "what have I got to do? Oh, yes, see the coach and get the hall fixed up for the game. "Gee," he added, "I do hope we win." So saying he went in search of the coach. The day broke with the heavens clear from clouds and as blue as steel. A light breeze was blowing, causing the people who were out, to wish that they were home by a good warm fire-place. All the day before and part of that night, snow had been slowly and quietly falling, leaving a spotless new covering for mother earth. Towards midnight the storm had ceased and a wind came up blowing the heaven clear, from the flurrying clouds. The air was brisk and cold, the kind of air that puts frost on your hair and makes the snow crackle and whistle under foot. It was a fine day for a basket-ball game. Everything was in readiness for the championship game; it was to be called at eight o'clock sharp. All day the school had been in a bustle of excitement and more than one irate professor had lectured to the students upon their lack of concentration. None of the students cared for this, however, because all their concentration was on the game that night. More than one boy who had empty "jeans" had been trying to borrow, from any source whatever, enough money to take himself and his sweetheart to the big game. It was seven in the evening. The visiting team had just arrived from the station, and were in the dressing room, resting up after rather an exciting and nerve-racking ride on a narrow-gauge railroad. In the Medland room the men were assembled, receiving their final instructions before the game. All the team was there excepting Koerner, and as Trip Burt, the little guard, said, "He'll show up just in time to jump into his suit, too hot and flurried to be of much use." ACORN 5 "Oh, he'll be here soon enough," Anguish replied, "he's go-: a chance to make a name for himself, and he's going to do it, so don't let that worry you." Seven fifteen came and no Koerner. "What can be keeping him?" the Captain asked, visibly disturbed over this back-set to his plans. Half past seven and still no Dutch. By this time the room was buzzing with the voices of the men, who were discussing Koerner and the reasons they thought were keeping him. One boy said that perhaps Dutch had stayed too late with the little girl down at the Inn, and was too much engrossed in her to notice the time. Others conjectured that perhaps he was sleeping off the effects of the spree of the night before. This, however, did not bring their man, and Anguish was fairly howling what he would do if he got hold of that "Measly Dutchman." From the gym the two yell squads, lead by bull-throated drill masters, could be heard shouting their respective yells. It was after eight o'clock and the crowd was impatient for the game to commence. Already the rival team was on the floor feeling out distances and sizing up the hall. The crowd became boisterous in their efforts to bring out their team, and finally Anguish and the coach came out. They were greeted with loud yells and questions of, "Where is the team?" The coach stepped to the center of the hall and said, "I'm sorry that the game has been delayed, but our right forward is not here yet. A man has been sent to find him and he'll be here in a few minutes I'm sure." Through the howling and stamping side lines Anguish and the coach made their way back to the athletic room. They went back to the team and asked if Koerner had arrived yet, but received a dismal shake of the head in answer. Just then a voice exclaimed, "Here he is now." "Where in the deuce have you been, Dutch," Anguish began angrily, "You ought to have been here an hour ago." "Oh," Koerner answered sheepishly, "I've been down to see a friend off on the train, I didn't notice what time it was." "Yes, you have," Anguish exclaimed, "you've been drinking that's what you have been doing, you're in a fine condition for a basketball game, but I'm afraid you'll have to play. I can't play the other sub in this game. Go and take a cold shower and hurry and get into your togs, we haven't a minute to lose." Koerner went muttering away to the tub room and soon emerged looking quite fresh. He was hurried into the hall where the team was lined up ready to commence.