"Fred Fearnot's Boy Halfback"

         Fred Fearnot returns as the protagonist in Work and Win’s October 1, 1909 issue, “Fred Fearnot’s Boy Halfback.” Fred Fearnot and Terry Olcott, old friends from Yale, decide to accept Sam Harris’ invitation to help coach the Farringford football team. When Fred arrives, his presence is felt immediately as the whole team does not appreciate his teamwork-oriented mentality toward football. Tim Buckley, the team’s star halfback, gives Fred a difficult time, refusing to pay attention to the signals, and continuing to play a selfish sort of game. As Tim’s situation continues to distract and hurt the team, Fred approaches Tim and Tim decides to quit. This leaves the team in a bad place, as their best athlete is no longer with them. With this news, the team decided to have Terry play end for the team because he was a strong and experienced player at that position. Despite an upgrade at end, the team was still in dire need of a halfback, and this need would soon be addressed by pure luck. As Terry and Fred walk home from practice one day, they pass by the younger kids playing football, and immediately notice the play and sportsmanship of Joe Davis. They are shocked by his talent, and know that he would fit into their team because he plays fairly. Fred knows that Davis could be the missing piece of his team, and decides to go to the young man’s house to ask him to be on their team. During Fearnot’s visit, John Buckley (the father of Fred’s former disgruntled halfback) comes over and demands the money that the Davis family owes to him. According to the sickly Davis father, they owe no money, and he also says that if they were forced to pay the money, their house would be in jeopardy.

        Fred stands up to Buckley, and with this, Joe decides that he would love to play for Fred’s team. Farringford’s first game under the direction of Fearnot is against Montrose, and Fred decides it is in the best interest of the team and his young halfback not to start him. The game is very even until Joe enters the game and dazzles everybody with his play. The game’s first score is penalized as Joe hurdles a defender, but the young halfback’s talent and toughness is felt nonetheless. Later, Joe takes in the only score of the game, but a late hit at the hands of Montrose fullback Meredith benches Joe for the rest of the game. Farringford goes on to win the game, and Fred goes to visit Joe, asking him if he would be ready to play against the Wilton Eleven in a few days.
The Wilton Eleven turn out to be little opposition for the Farringford boys, as Fearnot’s team wins 24-0. Yet again, Davis plays a strong game, but is taken out as Wilton’s Jones breaks through the line and kicks Joe in the ribs. After the win, Fearnot again visits the Davis household, only to see policemen moving their furniture out of the house. Fred offers to pay the debt, and the Davis’ doctor decides that it would be unsafe to move Mr. Davis. The story comes to a close as Farringford defeats the tough Foster City Eleven 6-0. Similar to many of the sports stories of the time, violence and gunplay add to the drama as a man with a gun threatens Fred if Fearnot does not settle his debt for him. At this point, Joe tackles the gunman and Fearnot is safe. Joe thanks Fearnot for everything he has done for his family, and says that saving him is the least he could do. After turning around a struggling team and teaching them the priceless values of teamwork and sportsmanship, Fred and Terry leave to return to their jobs on Wall Street, completing another heroic story of the Yale buddies.