They had to defeat Babbitt to win the title, because Babbitt and Thomas had played to a tie, and Thomas had lost an early season game.

And they won. It was a hard bruising game, but Ronnie furnished the spark for the victory. He ran 31 yards for one touchdown and passed for the other. He didn't want to take any chances on having the extra point tries blocked, so he ran for both extra points. Babbitt missed one of their extra points, and that was the ball game-14-13.

After the game, Ronnie was waiting for the kid. "You brought me luck, Kid. All eight of those points are your responsibility just the same as if you had scored them."

The kid took the helmet and smiled up at his buddy happily as the students took Ronnie on their shoulders for a ride to the gym.

That night, the students were still exhilarated over the victory over their old rivals. The excitement still had them restless. When Ronnie came up to visit the kid after lights out, many of the boys were still up and talking. Occasionally a shout echoed through the halls, but Ronnie and the kid were oblivious to the noise.

Suddenly the kid's door flew open, and the beam of a flashlight flooded. the room.

"What are you doing in here, Blevin?" a harsh voice demanded. It was one of the masters who had come around to quiet the students in the dormitories. "I shall have to report this to the headmaster in the morning of course. Go to your room, Blevin."

"Yes, sir. Good night, Kid. Keep your chin up."

"Okay, Ron. Good night," the kid said sadly.

Neither of the boys slept that night. At breakfast next morning it was announced that the headmaster wanted to see Blevin and Dillard in his office immediately breakfast was over. Ronnie caught the kids eye, smiled and lifted his own chin with his finger as if to say "keep your chin up, buddy." The kid, unafraid, smiled back at his buddy.

Ronnie was waiting for him at the dining room door. They walked in to the headmaster's office and stood side by side before his desk.

"Whitfield School cannot tolerate what you boys have done," the headmaster said coldly. "Have either of you anything to say at this time?"

"It's all my fault, sir," said Ronnie.

"It's a funny thing," said the kid quietly, "but it seems that if you do something that other people don't want to do themselves or don't think you ought to do, you're either punished or thought to be sick. I'm leaving this school, sir." "You certainly are both of you are! You will each be accompanied by a master while you pack your belongings preparatory to being shipped. After you have finished packing, the master will see you off on your train. You have two hours to pack and catch your train, Blevin. Dillard, you have three and one-half hours. Your parents will be notified by telegram that you have been shipped. Your names will be erased from the school records so thoroughly that there will be no trace you ever attended Whitfield. That is all. You may go."

The headmaster was wrong. Ronnie was named honorary captain and unanimous choice for left halfback on the all-state eleven representing Whitfield.

Abner Dillard was called "Kid" for many years.

The two boys never saw each other again.

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