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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 were passed in reviewthe defence；
Macnamara and 〃Jack〃 Johnson； so called for his woolly white head；
〃Reddy〃 Hughes； Ross； 〃Snoopy〃 Sykes； who with Captain Jack made
the forward line； all were declared to be fit to deliver the last
ounce in their bodies； the last flicker in their souls。
〃Do you know； Captain Jack；〃 said Patricia gravely； 〃there is one
change you ought to make in your forward line。〃
〃Yes！ What is that； Pat？〃 asked Captain Jack； with never a
suggestion of a smile。
〃I would change Snoopy for Geordie Ross。 You know Geordie is a
little too careful； and he is hardly fast enough for you。 Now you
and Snoopy on left wing would be oh！ perfectly wonderful。〃
〃Patsy； you are a wizard！〃 exclaimed Captain Jack。 〃That very
change has been made and the improvement is unbelievable。 We are
both left…handers and we pull off our little specialties far more
smoothly than Geordie and I could。 You have exactly hit the bull。
You watch for that back of the goal play to…night。 Well； here we
are。 You have good seats； I understand。〃
〃Oh； yes。 Rupert； you see； as patron of the Eagles was able to get
the very best。 But won't you come in and see mother？ She is
really quite worked up over it； though of course she couldn't bear
to go。〃
Captain Jack checked the refusal on his lips。
〃Yes； I will go in for a few minutes；〃 he said gravely。 〃No！ Your
mother would notcould not come； of course。〃
There flashed before his mind a picture from pre…war days。 The
rink packed with wildly excited throngs and in a certain reserved
section midway down the side the Templeton…Maitland party with its
distinguished looking men and beautiful women following with eager
faces and shining eyes the fortunes of their sons in the fight
before them。 The flash of that picture was like a hand of ice upon
his heart as Captain Jack entered the cosy living room。
〃Here he is； Mamma！〃 cried Patricia as she ushered her hero into
the room with a sweeping gesture。 〃And he brings the most cheering
news。 They are going to win！〃
〃But how