creasing solemnity. "A high gift it is, and one for
which God will hold you responsible."

That very night, passing by the Lucky Strike Pool Rooms, Captain Jack
had turned in to find a score and more of youths--many of them from the
mills--flashing their money with reckless freedom in an atmosphere thick
with foul tobacco-smoke and reeking with profane and lewd speech. On
reaching his home that night Maitland went straight to the attic and dug
up his hockey kit. Before he slept he had laid his plans for a league
among the working lads in the various industries in the town.

It was no easy task to force these men into training habits, to hold
them to the grind, to discipline them into self-control in temper and
in desire. It was of vast assistance to him that three of his seven
were overseas men, while some dozen or so of the twenty in the club were
returned soldiers. It was part of his discipline that his team should
never shirk a day's work for the game except on the rare occasions
when they went on tour. Hence the management in the various mills
and factories, at first hostile and suspicious, came to regard these
athletic activities on the part of their employees with approval and
finally came to give encouragement and support to the games.

To-day was a half holiday for the Maitland Mills and the streets were
noticeably full of the men and their sweethearts and wives in their
Sunday clothes. Not the team, however. Maitland knew better than that.
He took his men for a run in the country before noon, bringing them
home in rich warm glow. Then after a bath and a hard rubdown they dined
together at the mill and then their Captain ordered them home to sleep,
forbidding them the streets till they were on their way to the game.

On his way home Captain Jack was waylaid by his admirer and champion,
Patricia. She, standing in front of his car, brought him to a halt.

"I have not even seen you for a whole week," she complained, getting in
beside him, "and your phone is always busy in the evening. Of course no
one can get you during the day. And I do want to know how the team is.
Oh! do tell me they are fit for the game of their lives! Are they every
one fit?"

"Fit and fine."

"And will they win?"

"Sure thing," said Captain Jack quietly.

"Oh, I hope you are right. But you are so sure," exclaimed his
companion. "The Cornwalls are wonderful, Rupert says."

"He would."

"Oh! I forgot you don't think much of Rupert,