“You will?” cried Hansel. “That’ll be great. If you do that you’ll be manager next year and----”
“And you’ll be captain,” said Phin quietly.
“Why not? Just keep from being injured and laid off the team, that’s all you’ll have to do. You’re a star player, and the fellows on the team like you already.”
“It isn’t likely they’d elect me, though,” he objected. “There’s Royle, who has been here for two years already, and Cotton----”
“So does he. As for Royle, well, he might push you, but if we go at it right I guess we can get you in.”
“No, but you will have to put up with it,” answered the other with a smile. “Mind, I don’t ask you to swipe. All you need to do is to be friendly with the fellows, play the game the best you can, and let me manage your campaign. With you captain and me manager, I guess I can name two members of the next committee. Besides, maybe we can run our own man for the third position. I’ll call to-morrow night and we’ll make a few visits on some of the fellows. Meanwhile whenever we see a chance to drive in a wedge we’ll do it. But I don’t believe we’d best throw down the gauntlet just yet; we wouldn’t gain much by worrying Bobby or antagonizing Bert and Harry.”
[Illustration: “‘Play the game the best you can, and let me manage your campaign.’”]
“I think we could win Harry over,” said Hansel thoughtfully.
“Maybe; we’ll think about it.” Phin gave a final turn of his screwdriver and stood off to examine the result. “There,” he said, “I guess that finishes it for now.”
“I’m awfully much obliged. It looks fine, doesn’t it? I think I might as well pay you now.”
“Just as you like,” answered Phin, packing up his few tools.
“How much did you say it would be?” asked Hansel.
“I said about a dollar, but it will be seventy-eight cents.”
“That seems awfully little,” said Hansel.
“It’s just right. The board was thirty cents, the three brackets and screws thirty-eight, and the enamel ten; seventy-eight in all.”
“No,” answered Phin with a peculiar smile, “not on this job, Dana.”
“But--but I wouldn’t have asked you if--if----”
“That’s just it, Dana,” Phin replied quietly. “I guessed as much, and I don’t like charity.” Hansel colored up.
“That’s all right,” answered Phin. “Good night.”