There was a second meeting called about this time to raise additional funds for the support of the football team. The sum already subscribed was not enough for the traveling expenses, guarantees to visiting teams and clothing, and where the ninety dollars to pay Billy Cameron’s tuition for the winter and spring terms was coming from was causing Harry Folsom a good deal of bother. And when the meeting had assembled he said as much. There was a very slim attendance, and a spirit of levity prevailed. Phin and Hansel were there, as was Spring, but they took no part in the proceedings, greatly, I think, to Harry’s relief. The football men were conspicuously absent.

“You fellows want a good team,” said Harry, “and you want it to lick everything that[150] comes along. But you aren’t willing, it seems, to pay for it. You’ve pledged three hundred and eighty-eight dollars, and that isn’t nearly enough, and you know it as well as we do. We need at least two hundred and fifty dollars more. Last year we managed to scrape along on about four hundred and fifty dollars, but we were able to do it because the field had been put in fine shape the year before, and we didn’t have that to pay for. But this fall, as anyone knows who has been down there, there’s a lot of work got to be done; the place is in bad shape. The Fairview game is played here this fall, and we’ve got to have the field fixed up and the stands attended to. It has been estimated that it will take over a hundred dollars to put the stands in shape for the Fairview game.

“Now we can’t do that and pay traveling expenses, and pay guaranties to visiting teams on any little old three hundred and eighty-eight dollars. You fellows know that when a team comes here to play us we have to guarantee them a decent sum of money. If we don’t they won’t come. We don’t offer big guaranties, because we’ve never been able to afford to; if we[151] could do that, we could get some of the best teams in this part of the country to come here. As it is, we have to pay out from twenty to seventy-five dollars at every minor game because we can’t get a decent attendance. And that soon counts up. This year we have five home games beside Fairview, and only one of those games is likely to pay for itself; that’s the Warren game. Every other team that comes here goes away with a little wad of our money in their pocket.

“Then there’s the item of uniforms. We aren’t swell dressers here, and we don’t buy the best suits on the market. But even so, a little over nine dollars is the best we can do; and the fellows supply their own sweaters. Besides these expenses which I have mentioned, maintenance of ground, traveling expenses, guaranties, clothing, there are others, such as tickets for the Fairview game, advertising in the papers and by posters, footballs, blankets, stationery, stamps, and dozens of incidental expenses. You can do a little figuring yourselves and see how much of that three hundred and eighty-eight dollars is likely to be left at the end of the season. I’ll[152] tell you one thing; there aren’t going to be any dividends declared!”

“How about ‘team expenses’?” called some one. There was a snicker. Harry smiled.

“Well, I didn’t mention that because you fellows seem to be developing a finicky attitude of late, and I didn’t want to shock you. But since you’ve mentioned the matter yourselves, I’ll just say that there remains ninety dollars of ‘team expenses’ to be paid. And it’s got to be paid, no matter what anyone says, for the very good reason that we have given our word that we will pay it. And a certain fellow will be in a pretty mean fix if we don’t pay it. He will wonder, I guess, what the word of Ferry Hill students is worth.”

There was a mild clatter of applause.

“Now, fellows,” went on Harry, “we’ve got to have at least another two hundred and fifty. And I want you to pledge it to-night. Every one of you who hasn’t given already ought to be good for five dollars. And those of you who have already given—well, we don’t refuse a second contribution; we aren’t fussy that way; and it won’t hurt you a bit. After the Fairview[153] game is over you’ll be mighty glad and proud that you helped to bring about a victory.”

“Suppose we get beaten?” piped a voice from the back of the hall where the younger and more mischievous youths were congregated.

“We won’t!” declared Harry promptly. “I tell you what I’ll do, fellows; if you’ll make up the sum to six hundred and fifty dollars, I’ll guarantee that we’ll lick Fairview! There! That’s fair, isn’t it?”

“A fair view of the situation, Mr. Manager!” called a voice. Harry joined in the laugh that went up.

“I’m not joking, fellows,” he continued. “I mean what I say. Here’s your chance now; a victory over Fairview for the small sum of six hundred and fifty dollars! Doesn’t that strike you as cheap?”

“What security?” asked a boy down front.

“My word!” answered Harry boldly. “That’s good, isn’t it?”

“You bet it is, Harry!”

Phin and Hansel joined in the applause and laughter.

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