Dan Baxter. Strange to say, a strong friendship had sprung up between the bully and the hot-tempered school teacher. Baxter was the only one who shook hands when Crabtree left.
"I hope we meet again, Mr. Crabtree," he said. "I like you, even if the others don't."
"And I like you, Baxter," answered Josiah Crabtree. "I shall remember you."
And Josiah Crabtree did remember the bully, in a manner which was strange in the extreme.
CHAPTER XV
DAN BAXTER'S MONEY
After the departure of Josiah Crabtree from Putnam Hall, George Strong became the leading assistant, and another teacher named Garmore took second place. Garmore was a Yale man, and soon became as favorably known as Strong, so the pupils had nothing more to find fault with, so far as their instructors went.
As has been noted before, there were several baseball teams among the boys. As it grew too cold for baseball, these teams gave up this sport, and a good number of the lads took up football.
In this sport, Sam, being a good runner, felt very much at home, and soon he was at the head of one of the teams, playing center. Tom was also on the team, playing quarterback.
Not far from Putnam Hall was another academy kept by a certain gentleman named Pornell The pupils at Pornell's were also great football players, and one day they sent over a challenge that the Putnams, as they were dubbed, should play them a match for the championship of the township in which both seats of learning were located.
The challenge was brought by Peleg Snuggers, who had gone over to Pornell's on an errand for Captain Putnam.
"It's for you," said Snuggers, handing the communication to Sam. The youthful captain of the eleven broke open the letter and read it aloud:
"Pornell Academy, November 18, 189 — .
"To the Putnam Hall Football Team: We hereby challenge you to a game of football for the championship of the township of Cedarville, the game to be played Thanksgiving afternoon next at two o'clock, at our grounds or at your own, as you may elect. We would prefer to play on our grounds, as we have a grandstand, one-half of which will be reserved for your friends, if you will come over.
"Pornell Football Team,
"Per Harry Ackerson, Capt. and Sec'y."
"They certainly mean business," said Tom, who was in the crowd, listening to the reading of the challenge. "I go in for accepting it."
"So do I," said Larry, who played halfback.
"And I," put in Fred, who was on the right end.
The members of the football team were all at hand, and it did not take long to find out that
each was in favor of the game, and then the matter was laid before Captain Putnam.
"Want to play football with Mr. Pornell's lads, eh?" smiled the captain. "All right, I know of no healthier sport, rightly conducted. You shall play them, and on their grounds if you wish. But, mind you, no neglecting lessons for the sake of practicing between now and Thanksgiving!"
The pupils promised to neglect nothing, and went off with a hurrah.
Soon Peleg Snuggers was on his way to the rival academy with the following answer to the challenge:
"Putnam Hall, November 19, 189 — .
"Pornell Football Team: We hereby accept your challenge to play a game of football for the championship of the township on Thanksgiving afternoon next at two o'clock. As you have a grandstand we will play on your grounds. In return for the use of half of your stand on this occasion the senior class of our academy will put up a silver cup as a trophy, said trophy to go to the club winning the game, and to belong to that club which shall during matches to be arranged in the future win the cup three times.
"The Putnam Hall Football Team,
Per Fred Harrison, Sec'y and Treas."
Dick had suggested giving the cup, and all of the senior class "chipped in" willingly, raising ten dollars, with which a very neat trophy was secured through a pupil whose father was a silversmith in New York. I say all the senior class contributed. I must correct this. There was one exception, and that was Dan Baxter.
"I haven't got anything for you or your brothers," growled the bully when Dick spoke of the matter before the class. "Let 'em furnish their own silver cups if they want 'em."
"All right, Baxter; I guess Sam and Tom will be just as well satisfied if you don't chip in," had been Dick's ready answer. "I only wanted to give everyone a chance to own an equal share in the gift, if it was desired."
"Our football team can't play for a sour apple, Dick Rover. They'll be whipped out of their boots."
"If I was a betting boy, I'd bet you a dollar on the result," answered Dick coldly.
"I'll bet you ten dollars we win!" put in Fred Garrison impulsively.
"I'll cover that bet," sneered Baxter, and drew from his pocket a roll of bills.
"Gracious, Baxter, where did you get the wad?" questioned several in chorus, for the supply of pocket money among most of the pupils was limited.
"Never mind — I have it, and that's enough," answered Baxter, but he lost no time in putting all of the money but the ten-dollar bill away.
It was all Fred Garrison could do to scrape up an equal sum, and even at that he had to borrow a dollar from Dick. But he was "game," and the money went to another pupil, who became stakeholder until the contest should be decided.
"It's a shame!" cried Sam, when he heard of the transaction. "To bet against his own school! I'm like Dick — I don't believe in betting, and yet I am glad Fred took him up. If it is in my power, Baxter shall lose his wager."
Thanksgiving was but a week off, so the football team had to work hard to get into proper condition. Moreover, studies must not be neglected, for Captain Putnam was strict, and would have canceled the game had his cadets become unmindful of their school duties. But the team got permission to get up an hour earlier than usual every morning, and this time was spent in the hardest kind of practice with the ball.
The report that Baxter had bet against his own school spread, and the bully became more unpopular than ever. But this did not daunt him, and soon he had a dozen other bets on, aggregating fifty dollars or more.
"It's a mystery to me where he gets so much money," said Dick to Captain Blossom one day. "Is his father rich?"
"I can't tell you," answered the youthful commander of Company A. "Fact of the matter is, nobody knows much about Baxter — not even Mumps his chum. Nobody ever comes to see him, and he seldom ever gets any letters. Yet he always has all the spending money he wants."
"Perhaps
