itated.

"... I don't have a class the last hour either. I could go out with
you...."

Judd tried not to let Burton see how pleased he was at this offer.
"Why ... why, thanks, awfully!" he said, "I'd like to do it."

The game with Canton High was only one week away. Word came from
Canton that their team was expected to win by a margin of twenty
points. Canton was claiming the state championship. Trumbull High
could not make such claims, not having played as stiff a schedule as
the rival school. But both Canton and Trumbull had gone through the
season undefeated. And Trumbull followers would be glad to make claims
if their team could conquer Canton. Sport writers picked Canton to win
easily, with Trumbull's lineup weakened by the loss of Blackwell. Even
if Blackwell could get into the game it was dubious if he would be able
to do much. That sprained left ankle would not be any too strong. The
game was to be played at Trumbull. Great preparations were started to
take care of a monstrous crowd.

Three days before the game, Coach Little came on the field early and
saw an interesting spectacle. Burton and Billings were on the
gridiron. Billings was standing on the thirty-five yard line, facing
the south goal posts. Ten yards in front of him knelt Burton with his
hands on the ball. Billings motioned. Burton passed the ball between
his legs. Billings caught it deftly and plied his toe to it as the
ball struck the ground. The oval raised in a swift, short arch and
sped over and between the uprights. Coach Little stood still in
astonishment. The boys did not see him. Burton ran after the bounding
ball. He returned. The process was repeated, Billings moving back to
the forty yard line. Coach Little hastened out on the field.

"Here, what are you boys doing?"

Burton and Billings looked toward the coach in surprise.

"Practicing, sir." It was Burton who spoke.

The coach looked at Billings, who stood embarrassed and with his toe
kicking at some uneven rises in the ground.

"Judd, if you could run with the ball as well as you can kick, you'd be
of value to the team."

Burton wanted to tell the coach that he thought Billings was getting
better. Billings had made a twenty yard run last night. And he had
not seemed so afraid of getting hurt.

"I think Judd is ..." started Burton, but thought better of it. The
coach was no fool. He was probably aware of Billings' improvement.

Judd knew that