blers, but at times they were completely mastered, and Dick Wallace
had to come away from his place at back and assist.

The most of the Dumbarton lads were much faster on the ball than the
"Vale," and this, added to a slice of luck, aided them in scoring twice,
and they consequently won a hard battle by two goals to none, and earned
the proud distinction of being the champions.

After the great crowd had dispersed, and lots of silver had changed
hands, a solemn silence reigned in that part of the pavilion utilised by
the "Vale." "There is no use denying the fact, chaps," said the captain
of the defeated team, "these fellows have beaten us on our form this
season, and we'll have to make the best of a bad bargain."

Not so, however, in the other end of the house. The victors were
"blowing" a good deal of the bad luck they had had, and how they ought
to have scored a dozen goals if "Sandy had not repeatedly allowed the
ball to graze the goal-posts, instead of attempting to kick it out. They
had, however, beaten the 'Vale,' and that was all they cared for, in
the said tie. The Rangers they declared they did not fear, and from all
they could hear, they were now quite able to meet the Queen's Park face
to face."

With the Rangers, however, they had just sufficient to do on their own
ground in the first match, but in the second came off victorious by five
goals to one.

One Saturday evening we took forcible possession of Jack Cook's
lodgings, which were situated near the Marie Stuart Hall, Crosshill.
Jack was very fond of billiards, and sometimes pocketed several "pools"
of an evening, when a few choice spirits congregated in "The Rooms."
Jack's landlady had frequently threatened him with pains and penalties
for treating anything approaching "elders' hours" with contempt, and
once intensified it to instant dismissal, bag and baggage, for
encouraging a lot of his chums in leading the chorus of Dickens'
Bacchanalian song:

"We won't go home till morning,
Till morning, till morning,
We won't go home till morning,
Till daylight doth appear,"

at four o'clock A.M., under her kitchen window after a big cup tie,
which the Conquerors had won. Jack, as a matter of precaution warned us
that we were to comport ourselves with decency, and not rouse the
aforesaid lady. Our friend had something in the bottle. We were
comfortably seated, and the room filled with tobacco smoke, when a dim
shadow was noticed at the d