to him that hath-第17章

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She　paused　in　sudden　confusion。　　A　hot　colour　flamed　in　her　face。
Maitland　took　her　hands　in　his。

〃Hello；　Annette！　　I　saw　you　there。　　Why！　　What's　up；　little　girl？〃

A　sudden　rush　of　tears　had　filled　her　eyes。

〃Oh；　nothing。　　I　am　just　excited；　I　guess。　　I　don't　know　what〃
She　pulled　her　hands　away。　　〃But　you　were　great！〃　　She　laughed
shrilly。

〃Oh；　it　was　your　friend　McNish　did　the　trick；〃　said　Captain　Jack。
〃Very　neat　bit　of　work　that；　eh？　　Very　neat　indeed。　　Awfully　clever
chap！　　Are　you　going　home　now？〃

〃No；　I　am　waiting。〃　　She　paused　shyly。

〃Oh；　I　see！〃　said　Captain　Jack　with　a　smile。　　〃Lucky　chap；　by
Jove！〃

〃I　am　waiting　for　my　father；〃　said　Annette；　tossing　her　head。

〃Oh；　then；　if　that's　all；　come　along　with　me。　　Your　father　knows
his　way　about。〃　　The　girl　paused　a　moment；　hesitating。　　Then　with　a
sudden　resolve　she　cried　gaily；

〃Well；　I　will。　　I　want　to　talk　to　you　about　it。　　Oh；　I　am　so
excited！〃　　She　danced　along　at　his　side　in　gay　abandon。　　As　they
turned　at　the　first　corner　Maitland　glanced　over　his　shoulder。

〃Hello！　　Here's　McNish；〃　he　cried；　turning　about。　　〃Shall　we　wait
for　him？〃

〃Oh；　never　mind　Malcolm；〃　cried　the　girl　excitedly；　〃come　along。　　I
don't　want　him　just　now。　　I　want〃　　She　checked　herself　abruptly。
〃I　want　to　talk　to　you。〃

〃Oh；　all　right；〃　said　Captain　Jack。　　〃He's　gone　back　anyway。　　Come
along　Annette；　old　girl。　　I　have　been　wanting　to　see　you　for　a　long
time。〃

〃Well；　you　see　me；〃　said　the　girl；　laughing　up　into　his　eyes　with
a　frank；　warm　admiration　in　hers　that　made　Captain　Jack's　heart
quicken　a　bit　in　its　steady　beat。　　He　was　a　young　man　with　a　normal
appreciation　of　his　own　worth。　　She；　young；　beautiful；　unspoiled；
in　the　innocence　of　her　girlish　heart　was　flinging　at　him　the　full
tribute　of　a　warm；　generous　admiration　with　every　flash　of　her
black　eyes　and　every　intonation　of　her　voice。　　Small　wonder　if
Captain　Jack　found　her　good　to　look　at　and　to　listen　to。　　Often
during　the　walk　home　he　kept　saying　to　himself；　〃Jove；　that　McNish
chap　is　a　lucky　fellow！〃　　But　McNish；　taking　his　lonely　way　home；
was　only　conscious　that　the　evening　had　grown　chilly　and　grey。



CHAPTER　IX

THE　DAY　BEFORE


Business　was　suspended　for　the　day　in　Blackwater。　　That　is；　men
went　through　their　accustomed　movements；　but　their　thoughts　were
far　apart　from　the　matters　that　were　supposed　to　occupy　their　minds
during　the　working　hours　of　the　day。　　In　the　offices；　in　the
stores；　in　the　shops；　on　the　streets；　in　the　schools；　in　the　homes
the　one；　sole　topic　of　conversation；　the　one　mental　obsession　was
The　Great　Game。　　Would　the　Maitland　Mill　Hockey　Team　pull　it　off？
Blackwater　was　not　a　unit　in　desiring　victory　for　the　Maitland　Mill
team；　for　the　reason　that　the　team's　present　position　of　proud
eminence　in　the　hockey　world　of　Eastern　Ontario　had　been　won　by　a
series　of　smashing　victories　over　local　and　neighbouring　rival
teams。　　They　had　first　disposed　of　that　snappy　seven　of　lightning
lightweights；　the　local　High　School　team；　the　champions　in　their
own　League。　　They　had　smashed　their　way　through　the　McGinnis
Foundry　Seven　in　three　Homeric　contests。　　This　victory　attracted
the　notice　of　the　Blackwater　Black　Eagles；　the　gay　and　dashing
representatives　of　Blackwater's　most　highly　gilded　stratum　of
society；　a　clever；　hard…fighting；　never…dying　group　of　athletes
who；　summer　and　winter；　kept　themselves　in　perfect　form；　and　who
had　moved　rapidly　out　of　obscurity　into　the　dazzling　spotlight　of
championship　over　their　district。　　For　the　sake　of　the　practice　in
it　and　in　preparation　for　their　games　in　the　Eastern　Ontario　Hockey
League；　they　took　on　the　Maitland　Mill　team。

It　took　the　Black　Eagles　a　full　week　to　recover　sufficient　control
to　be　able　to　speak　intelligibly　as　to　the　〃how〃　and　〃why〃　of　that
match。　　For　the　Mill　team　with　apparent　ease　passed　in　thirteen
goals　under　and　over　and　behind　and　beside　the　big　broad　goal　stick
of　Bell　Blackwood；　the　goal　wonder　of　the　League；　and　the　single
register　for　the　Eagles　had　been　netted　by　Fatty　Findlay's　own
stick　in　a　moment　of　aberration。　　During　the　week　following　the
Black　Eagle　debacle　the　various　Bank　managers；　Law　Office　managers
and　other　financial　magnates　of　the　town　were　lenient　with　their
clerks。　　Social　functions　were　abandoned。　　The　young　gentlemen　had
one　continuous　permanent　and　unbreakable　engagement　at　the　rink　or
in　preparation　for　it。　　But　all　was　in　vain。　　The　result　of　the
second　encounter　was　defeat　for　the　Eagles；　defeat　utter；
unmistakable　and　inexplicable　except　on　the　theory　that　they　had
met　a　superior　team。　　Throughout　the　hockey　season　the　Maitland
Mill　maintained　an　unbroken　record　of　victory　till　their　fame　flew
far；　and　at　the　close　of　the　season　enthusiasts　of　the　game　had
arranged　a　match　between　the　winners　of　the　Eastern　Ontario　Hockey
League；　the　renowned　Cornwall　team　and　the　Maitland　Mill　boys。　　To…
day　the　Cornwalls　were　in　town；　and　the　town　in　consequence　was
quite　unfit　for　the　ordinary　duties　of　life。　　The　Eagles　almost　to
a　man　were　for　the　local　team；　for　they　were　sports　true　to　type。
Not　so　however　their　friends　and　following；　who　resented　defeat　of
their　men　at　the　hands　of　a　working　class　team。

Of　course　it　was　Jack　Maitland　who　was　responsible　for　their
humiliation。　　It　was　he　who　had　organised　his　fellow　workmen；　put
them　through　a　blood　and　iron　discipline；　filled　them　with　his　own
spirit　of　irresistible　furious　abandon　in　attack　which　carried　them
to　victory。

It　was　an　old　game　with　Jack　Maitland。　　When　a　High　School　boy　he
had　developed　that　spirit　of　dominating　and　indomitable　leadership
that　had　made　his　team　the　glory　of　the　town。　　Later　by　sound　and
steady　grinding　at　the　game　he　had　developed　a　style　and　plan　of
team　play　which　had　produced　a　town　team　in　the　winter　immediately
preceding　the　war　that　had　won　championship　honors。　　Now　with　his
Mill　team　he　was　simply　repeating　his　former　achievements。

It　had　astonished　his　friends　to　learn　that　Captain　Jack　was
playing　hockey　again。　　He　had　played　no　game　except　in　a　desultory
way　since　the　war。　　He　had　resisted　the　united　efforts　of　the
Eagles　and　their　women　friends　to　take　the　captaincy　of　that　team。
The　mere　thought　of　ever　appearing　on　the　ice　in　hockey　uniform
gave　him　a　sick　feeling　at　his　heart。　　Of　that　noble　seven　whom　he
had　in　pre…war　days　led　so　often　to　victory　four　were　still　〃over
there；〃　one　was　wandering　round　a　darkened　room。　　Of　the　remaining
two；　one　Rupert　Stillwell　was　too　deeply　engrossed　in　large
financial　affairs　for　hockey。　　Captain　Jack　himself　was　the
seventh；　and　the　mere　sight　of　a　hockey　stick　on　a　school　boy's
shoulder　gave　him　a　heart　stab。

It　was　his　loyal　pal　Patricia　Templeton；　who　gave　him　the　first
impulse　toward　the　game　again。　　To　her　pleading　he　had　yielded　so
far　as　to　coach；　on　a　Saturday　afternoon；　her　team　of　High　School
girls　to　victory。　　But　it　was　the　Reverend　Murdo　Matheson　who
furnished　the　spur　to　conscience　that　resulted　in　the　organising　of
the　Maitland　Mill　team。

〃You；　John　Maitland；　more　than　any　of　us　and　more　than　all　of　us
together　can　draw　these　lads　of　yours　from　the　pool　rooms　and
worse；〃　the　Reverend　Murdo　had　said　one　day　in　early　winter。

〃Great　Scott；　Padre〃the　Reverend　Murdo　had　done　his　bit　overseas
〃what　are　you　giving　me　now？〃

〃You；　more　than　any　or　all　of　us；　I　am　saying；〃　repeated　the
minister　solemnly。　　〃For　God's　sake；　man；　get　these　lads　on　the　ice
or　anywhere　out…of…doors　for　the　good　of　their　immortal　souls。〃

〃Me！　　And　why　me；　pray？〃　Captain　Jack　had　asked。　　〃I'm　no　uplifter。
Why　jump　on　me？〃

〃You；　because　God　has　bestowed　on　you　the　gift　to　lead　men；〃　said
the　minister　with　increasing　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　youthsmany　of　them
from　the　millsflashing　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；〃　sighed　Patricia。

〃I　haven't　time；　you　see；〃　answered　Captain　Jack　gravely。

〃Oh；　you　know　what　I　mean。　　It　is　a　pity；　too；　for　he　is　really
very　nice。　　I　mean　he　is　so　good　to　me；〃　sighed　Patricia　again。

〃Don't　sigh；　Patsy；　old　girl。　　It　really　isn't　worth　it；　you　know。
How　is　the　supply　of　choc's　keeping　up？〃

〃Now　you　are　thinking　me　a　pig。　　But　tell　me　about　your　men。　　Are
they　really　in　form？〃

〃Absolutely　at　the　peak。〃

〃And　that　darling　Fatty　Findlay。　　I　do　hope　he　will　not　lose　his
head　and　let　a　goal　in。　　He　is　perfectly　adorable　with　that
everlasting　smile　of　his。　　I　do　hope　Fatty　is　at　the　peak；　too。　　Is
he；　really？〃　　The　anxiety　in　Patricia's　tone　was　more　than　painful。

〃Dear　Patsy；　he　is　right　at　the　pinnacle。〃

〃Captain　Jack；　if　you　don't　win　to…night　I　shallwell；　I　shall
just　weep　my　eyes　out。〃

〃That　settles　it；　Pat。　　We　shall　win。　　We　can'tI　can't　spare
those　lovely　eyes；　you　know；〃　said　Captain　Jack；　smiling　at　her。

One　by　one　Captain　Jack's　team　wer