The Team That Couldn't Lose Read Online Free Page B

McKane picked up a pencil and begantapping it against the desk. “No, I’m sorry, Chip. I’m not the one who’s given any plays to your coach. Fact is, I don’t even
     know Phil Wayne.”
    “Well . . . okay. Thanks, Mr. McKane.”
    The boys got up to leave. Mr. McKane swung around in his swivel chair. “Have you asked Bart Franks? He played football in
     college. Maybe he’s the one.”
    “I don’t think it would be him,” said Splash. “His kid plays with the Stingrays.”
    Mr. McKane chuckled. “In that case, you’re right. I don’t think it’d be him, either.” He rose from the chair and walked out
     into the hall with the boys. “Probably it wouldn’t be anyone who went to college in recent years, anyway. If this Jasper McFall
     says his team used those plays sixty years ago, then it’s probably someone who played on the team then. But what if someone
     did give the playsto your coach? Why should anyone care? There’s nothing wrong in using old football plays.”
    Chip shrugged. “It really doesn’t matter, I guess. It’s just that Jasper McFall was so concerned about it. And why does Phil
     have to be so mysterious about it?”
    “You have a point there. Maybe Phil has a good reason why he doesn’t want anyone to know where he gets the plays. And you
     say he’s been using a new one every week?”
    “Yes. He might teach us a new one at our practice tonight, too. If he
has
a new one.”
    “Hmm, sounds interesting. Let me know how everything comes out.”
    “Sure will,” said Chip.
    Sure enough, Phil Wayne had a new play that evening. He called it Play Four. He explained it to the boys and Mr. Quigley,
     thenthe coaches helped the team work it. It was another clever play that was supposed to result in a touchdown if it went off
     right.
    Of course nearly all plays are supposed to result in touchdowns, Phil Wayne reminded the boys. But these were special plays.
     He wanted the Cayugans to use a different one each week so that the opposing team would be caught completely off guard. They
     would continue using the new plays in each game, plus those Mr. Kash had taught them.
    After practice, Chip and Danny were helping Phil with the equipment when a man came hobbling across the field. It was Jasper
     McFall again.
    “Phil!” Jasper yelled before he was within twenty feet of the coach. “That’s another play we used sixty years ago. Now don’t
     tell me you dreamed that one up!”
    A grin flickered on Phil’s lips, then died.“Okay, I suppose I have to confess sooner or later,” he said. “Someone’s been sending me those plays through the mail, Jasper.”
    Jasper McFall’s eyes gazed steadily on the coach’s as if he didn’t dare blink for fear Phil Wayne would vanish from his sight.
     “Who?”
    “I don’t know,” said Phil honestly.
    “Horsefeathers!” Jasper McFall snorted. “Somebody who played with me during those days is giving you those plays. Now, who
     is it? Sakes alive, man, what harm is there in telling me? I just want to know, that’s all. How about it, Mr. Quigley?”
    “I don’t know any more about it than Phil does,” replied Mr. Quigley.
    “I told you,” said Phil seriously, “I don’t know. Whoever sends those play patterns to me never signs his name.”
    “Blah!” Jasper McFall snorted again. “Young men nowadays are just too smart for their own good. Won’t give you a decent answer.”He stalked away angrily, grumbling under his breath.
    Chip approached Phil. “Coach, is it really true that someone’s been sending you the plays through the mail?”
    Phil looked around cautiously. “You and Danny stick around until the others leave,” he said quietly. “I’ll tell you about
     it then.”
    “Can you tell Splash, too?” asked Chip. “He can keep a secret.”
    Phil considered it a moment. “Well, guess it won’t hurt for Splash to know.”
    After all the other guys had gone, Phil repeated what he had said before. He had received the plays