Jane Allen: Center Part 25

"Yes, and when I all but tucked it in its little bed, it tumbled out,"

sighed Ted Guthrie comically.

"Anyway, I had two bounces and one dribble, that makes a nice little record for my home report. I love to say I dribbled, sounds so cute and baby like. Makes mama think I am cutting my eye teeth," supplemented the big, clumsy Drusilla Landers, who was so big it was a joke for her to talk of baby and teeth.

"Eat, children! Eat! For to-morrow we starve," commanded Constance Lipton, a grad. "Jane, here is a sandwich made expressly for Center.

See its pretty curve?"

"Oh, it tastes good all around too," added Jane, munching the tid-bit all around, making a circle to outline center. "I love them this way."

"That's just always the way it is," wailed little Clare Bradley. "When a girl gets popular she receives all the honors. Jane Allen is over-subscribed-that is what Daddy calls it in the Liberty Loans."

Everybody roared at pretty little Clare's definition of Jane's popularity. To be over-subscribed in honors!

"I'll admit I have more than my share!" Jane replied, "but then you see, my second had to go and hurt her ankle. Otherwise she might have made that big throw."

"Oh, never!" protested Judith. "If I saw that basket waiting for my ball, I would have been stage struck, and ducked. I tell you, Janie, you looked like all the cowboys when you made that throw. I'll wager you had in mind my particular Fedario. Girls, you should see my Fedario! He's the handsomest, blackest, wildest cowboy-with the most wonderful skill at his ropes."

"Oh, of course," yelled Weasie Blair. "Janey ought to be best at basketball. Think of her cowboy training."

"And the baskets the Indians make!" supplemented Gloria Gude.

"And the great big b.a.l.l.s that come with the hail storms," Ted Guthrie drawled out foolishly. "I believe if I were brought up in the hills of Montana I could play anything from hookey to bean bag."

A deluge of sc.r.a.ps and crumbs put an end to Ted's wit. As it was, she had a blouse pocket full of coffee, and she bore up with at least one ear full of cookey crumbs.

"But where is Helen?" asked d.i.c.key Ripple between munches of real bread, and nibs at a soda biscuit. "Haven't seen her in eons."

"Oh, she was in during the battle," Jane made answer. "But Nellie is at something new in music, and she simply cannot tear herself away from that fiddle."

"Just the same," objected Weasie Blair, "she might take time to celebrate. The Uppercuts don't often blow us to a feed like this."

"We accept the compliment," responded Isobel Talmadge. "I have been wondering why someone has not seen fit to say the eating was good."

This brought forth such a storm of compliments, given in chorus without very much harmony, that the Uppercuts, as the freshmen call the upper cla.s.s girls, finally begged for mercy.

"And what became of Marian?" asked Mildred Jennings. "Seems to me all played well enough to be patted on the back, even if Team One did win out."

"Indeed you did," Jane quickly replied, "and I hope Marian will come in and test the lovely spread. Naturally she felt badly about Dolorez. I can't see why Dol rushed football tactics in."

The moment she made the remark Jane regretted it. She had not intended to refer to Dolorez's disqualification. And now she had brought attention directly to it.

The hum of subdued voices plainly agreed with Jane in their arguments.

Marian should have stood her ground and helped her team celebrate, if not victory, then defeat!

"Well, it is no news to have Jane for Center," spoke up Gloria Gude, when the Marian incident had been disposed of. "We knew she would be center, ever since the term opened. Who else made a record anything like hers of last year?"

"Of course," chimed in Grazia. "Jane is born Center. She knows just when to jump-I wouldn't wonder if she jumps in her sleep, eh, Jane?"

"Now, girls, you all know as well as I do that there is plenty of splendid basketball talent sitting right here at this table. And the fact that you have made me Center--"

"Means merely that you are the one best, dandy, all around Center we could choose," interrupted Dorothy Blyden. "Three cheers for Jane Allen, Center!"

"Hip-hip-hoorah!" and the echo shook the rafters.

Then came the epidemic of:

"I know a girl and her name is Jane," etc.

"Say, girls," moaned Jane, when throats gave in and the shouts ceased, "if there is any way of getting a name changed without paying income tax on the change, I think I'll apply. You all know that girl whose name is Jane--"

Came the-

"A reebald-a ribald-reebald, ribald rum!

Wellington! Wellington!

Sis boom-ah-Wellington!

Wellington! Rah! Rah! Rah!"

CHAPTER XXIII-THE BARN SWIFTS-A TRAGEDY

"And now for the Barn Swifts."

"Everyone is crazy to come, d.i.c.key. I'm afraid we will have an overflow."

"Oh, yes, of course. I suppose Nell will completely douse all the rest of us. That's the way with foolish college girls. First they cut and then they plaster."

"Now, d.i.c.key, you know you are Nell's best friend."

"That's just it. I am and have always been her friend. I know a thoroughbred when I see one, but these other folks," and d.i.c.key made a gesture of disgust. "They make me tired. I heard Toney and Tim planning to give her flowers."

"You did?"

"Yes, I did."

"Then, d.i.c.k, we must be careful. Such a manifestation as flowers spells-trouble."

"What do you mean, Clare?"

"I mean that Toney and Tim are Marian's best workers, and when they fall to our side with flowers! Look out!"

"I am willing to take a chance with anyone but Dolorez Vincez, and must admit she is too much for us."

"I think you are right, d.i.c.ky duck. But how do I look? Like my wings?"

"Wonderful. But the left is a big scough-gee! There, that's better.