Cinder Path Tales

148 CINDER-PATH TALES Perhaps itwas partly because I felt that I had unbent too muchwith him that Imade my lecture, already planned, more severe than intended; at any rate,it was a mighty stiff talk the boy got. I knew it was useless to mince matters, and was resolved to cut through his armor of good nature and in­ difference, if there was a vulnerable point, and a straight thrust could reach him. A couple of weeks before, the captain of the team, disgusted with Dick's unsatisfactory work, had quite losthis temper with him and told him in so many words that he was not worth thesalt of the training-table,and must make abrace or he would not make the team at all. Almost any other man would have either got hot and given a sharp answer,or more likely still gone into his boots with dis­ appointment. Dick, however, did neither. He gave one of his wide smiles, maddening enough to an earnest man, took the matter very calmly,and volunteered to get his feed at his own expense whenever we tired of furnishing it. He remarked that a table with a little more variety would suit his palate fully as well, and after the talk went on with his tiresome jump of nineteen-six just as if nothing at all had been said. Now, while this was provoking enough, and