Chapter I: Front Matter

THE SECRET PLAY

By Ralph Henry Barbour

THE PURPLE PENNANT SERIES

The Purple Pennant (_in prep._)
The Secret Play
The Lucky Seventh

YARDLEY HALL SERIES

Winning his “Y”
For Yardley
Around the End
Double Play
Change Signals
Forward Pass

MAPLE HILL SERIES

The Brother of a Hero
Finkler’s Field

THE BIG FOUR SERIES

Four Afloat
Four Afoot
Four in Camp

The Half Back
For the Honor of the School
The Captain of the Crew
Behind the Line
Weatherby’s Inning
The Spirit of the School
The New Boy at Hill Top
The Junior Trophy
Benton’s Venture
On Your Mark!

D. APPLETON AND COMPANY ═ Publishers ═ New York

THE
SECRET PLAY

BY
RALPH HENRY BARBOUR

AUTHOR OF “THE LUCKY SEVENTH,”
“AROUND THE END,” ETC.

Illustrated by
NORMAN P. ROCKWELL

NEW YORK AND LONDON
D. APPLETON AND COMPANY
1915

Copyright, 1915, by
D. APPLETON AND COMPANY

Printed in the United States of America

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE
I. “THE COACHLESS WONDERS” 1
II. DICK RECEIVES AN INVITATION 18
III. A DISCOURAGED CAPTAIN 28
IV. LOUISE HAS AN IDEA 39
V. DICK CONSENTS 58
VI. THE NEW COACH TAKES HOLD 69
VII. CLEARFIELD MEETS DEFEAT 81
VIII. THE COMMITTEE IN SESSION 100
IX. LANNY EXPLAINS 107
X. FOOTBALL PROBLEMS 124
XI. “SPY!” 134
XII. THE BOARD OF STRATEGY 152
XIII. A TRIP TO THE CITY 166
XIV. AN UNWILLING HERO 177
XV. CORWIN WINS 190
XVI. LANNY VISITS THE OFFICE 201
XVII. THE INDIGNATION MEETING 213
XVIII. MR. GRAYSON IS SURPRISED 224
XIX. ATTACK AND DEFENSE 241
XX. MORRIS CALLS IN THE DOCTOR 253
XXI. THE NEW PLAYS ARE TRIED 269
XXII. CHEERS, SONGS AND SPEECHES 283
XXIII. CABLE KICKS OFF 293
XXIV. BETWEEN THE HALVES 303
XXV. THE SECRET PLAY 319

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

FACING
PAGE

“Ecstatic youths ... were capturing the players and
raising them shoulder-high” _Frontispiece_

“‘Too bad, Dick,’ he said. ‘Still we did score on ’em’” 84

“‘I’ve had the loveliest time,’ announced Louise
exultantly” 170

“‘Here are some plays I’ve been working on’” 272

THE SECRET PLAY