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+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 41206 ***
+
+[Illustration: HE SLAMMED IT OUT FOR A THREE-BASE HIT.]
+
+
+
+
+ BATTING TO WIN
+
+ A Story of College Baseball
+
+ BY
+ LESTER CHADWICK
+ AUTHOR OF "THE RIVAL PITCHERS," "A QUARTER-BACK'S PLUCK," ETC.
+
+
+ ILLUSTRATED
+
+
+ NEW YORK
+ CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY
+
+
+
+
+ BOOKS BY LESTER CHADWICK
+
+ =THE COLLEGE SPORTS SERIES=
+
+ 12mo. Illustrated
+
+ THE RIVAL PITCHERS
+ A Story of College Baseball
+
+ A QUARTER-BACK'S PLUCK
+ A Story of College Football
+
+ BATTING TO WIN
+ A Story of College Baseball
+
+ (Other Volumes in preparation)
+ CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY NEW YORK
+
+
+ Copyright, 1911, by
+ CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY
+
+ BATTING TO WIN
+
+ Printed in U. S. A.
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+ CHAPTER                                PAGE
+      I  A STRANGE MESSAGE                 1
+     II  SID IS CAUGHT                    16
+    III  MISS MABEL HARRISON              27
+     IV  ELECTING A MANAGER               41
+      V  RANDALL AGAINST BOXER            59
+     VI  THE ACCUSATION                   75
+    VII  GETTING BACK AT "PITCHFORK"      84
+   VIII  THE ENVELOPE                     92
+     IX  A CLASH                         100
+      X  SID IS SPIKED                   105
+     XI  A JOKE ON THE PROCTOR           114
+    XII  PLANNING A PICNIC               122
+   XIII  A SPORTY COMPANION              131
+    XIV  "MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS!"       140
+     XV  AN UNEXPECTED DEFENSE           146
+    XVI  A SERIOUS CHARGE                152
+   XVII  SID KEEPS SILENT                157
+  XVIII  BASCOME GIVES A DINNER          163
+    XIX  FAIRVIEW AND RANDALL            170
+     XX  RANDALL SCORES FIRST            176
+    XXI  RANDALL IN THE TENTH            183
+   XXII  SID DESPAIRS                    195
+  XXIII  FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES          202
+   XXIV  PITCHFORK'S TALL HAT            209
+    XXV  A PETITION                      219
+   XXVI  TOM STOPS A HOT ONE             226
+  XXVII  GLOOMY DAYS                     233
+ XXVIII  A FRESHMAN PLOT                 239
+   XXIX  THE SOPHOMORE DINNER            246
+    XXX  TOM'S LAST APPEAL               255
+   XXXI  THE BAN LIFTED                  265
+  XXXII  A PERILOUS CROSSING             275
+ XXXIII  THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME           284
+  XXXIV  BATTING TO WIN                  295
+
+
+
+
+BATTING TO WIN
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+A STRANGE MESSAGE
+
+
+Sid Henderson arose from the depths of an antiquated easy chair, not
+without some effort, for the operation caused the piece of furniture to
+creak and groan, while from the thick cushions a cloud of dust arose,
+making a sort of haze about the student lamp, and forcing two other
+occupants of the college room to sneeze.
+
+"Oh, I say, Sid!" expostulated Tom Parsons, "give a fellow notice, will
+you, when you're going to liberate a colony of sneeze germs. I--er--ah!
+kerchoo! Hoo! Boo!" and he made a dive for his pocket handkerchief.
+
+"Yes," added Phil Clinton, as he coughed protestingly. "What do you want
+to get up for and disturb everything, when Tom and I were so nice and
+quiet? Why can't you sit still and enjoy a good think once in a while?
+Besides, do you want to give that chair spinal meningitis or lumbago?
+Our old armchair, that has stuck to us, through thick and thin, for
+better and for worse--mostly worse, I guess. I say----"
+
+"I came near sticking to it, myself," remarked Sidney Henderson,
+otherwise known as, and called, Sid. "It's like getting out of the
+middle of a featherbed to leave it. And say, it does act as if it was
+going to pieces every time one gets in or out of it," he added, making
+a critical inspection of the chair.
+
+"Then why do you want to get in or out?" asked Phil, closing a book,
+over which he had made a pretense of studying. "Why do you do it, I ask?
+You may consider that I have moved the previous question, and answer,"
+he went on. "How about it, Tom?"
+
+"The gentleman is out of order," decided Tom, a tall, good-looking lad,
+with the bronzed skin of an athlete, summer and fall, barely dimmed by
+the enforced idleness of winter. "Sid, you are most decidedly out of
+order--I think I'm going to sneeze again," and he held up a protesting
+hand. "No, I'm not, either," he continued. "False alarm. My, what a lot
+of dust! But, go ahead, Sid, answer the gentleman's query."
+
+"Gentleman?" repeated the lad, who had arisen from the easy chair, and
+there was a questioning note in his voice.
+
+"Here! Here! Save that for the amateur theatricals!" cautioned Tom,
+looking about for something to throw at his chum. "Why did you get up?
+Answer!"
+
+"I wanted to see if it had stopped raining," announced Sid, as he moved
+over toward one of the two windows in the rather small living room and
+study, occupied by the three chums, who were completing their sophomore
+year at Randall College. "Seems to me it's slacking up some."
+
+"Slacking up some!" exclaimed Tom.
+
+"Stopped raining!" echoed Phil. "Listen to it! Cats and dogs, to say
+nothing of little puppies, aren't in it. It's a regular deluge. Listen
+to it!"
+
+He held up his hand. Above the fussy ticking of a small alarm clock,
+which seemed to contain a six-cylindered voice in a one-cylindered body,
+and which timepiece was resting at a dangerous angle on a pile of books,
+there sounded the patter of rain on the windows and the tin gutter
+outside.
+
+"Rain, rain, nothing but rain!" grumbled Phil. "We haven't had a decent
+day for baseball practice in two weeks. I'm sick of the inside cage, and
+the smell of tan bark. I want to get into the open, with the green grass
+of the outfield to fall on."
+
+"Well, this weather is good for making the grass grow," observed Tom, as
+he got up from his chair, and joined Sid at the window, down which rain
+drops were chasing each other as if in glee at the anguish of mind they
+were causing the three youths.
+
+"Aren't you anxious to begin twirling the horsehide?" asked Sid. "I
+should think you'd lose some speed, having only the cage to practice in,
+Tom."
+
+"I am, but I guess we'll get some decent weather soon. This can't last
+forever."
+
+"It's in a fair way to," grumbled Phil.
+
+"It would be a nice night if it didn't rain," came from Sid musingly,
+as he turned back to the old easy chair, "which remark," he added, "is
+one a little boy made in the midst of a driving storm, when he met his
+Sunday-school teacher, and wanted to say something, but didn't know
+what."
+
+"Your apology is accepted," murmured Tom. "I don't know what you fellows
+are going to do, but I'm going to sew up a rip in my pitcher's glove. I
+think maybe if I do the weather man will get a hunch on himself, and
+hand us out a sample of a nice day for us to select from."
+
+"Nice nothing!" was what Phil growled, but with the activity of Tom in
+getting out his glove, and searching for needle and thread, there came a
+change of atmosphere in the room. The rain came down as insistently, and
+the wind lashed the drops against the panes, but there was an air of
+relief among the chums.
+
+"I've got to fix a rip in my own glove," murmured Sid. "Guess I might as
+well get at it," and he noted Tom threading a needle.
+
+"And I've got to do a little more boning on this trigonometry," added
+Phil, as, with a sigh, he opened the despised book.
+
+For a time there was silence in the apartment, while the rain on the
+windows played a tattoo, more or less gentle, as the wind whipped the
+drops; the timepiece fussed away, as if reminding its hearers that time
+and tide waited for no man, and that 99-cent alarm clocks were especially
+exacting in the matter. Occasionally Sid shifted his position in the big
+chair, to which he had returned, each movement bringing out a cloud of
+dust, and protests from his chums.
+
+The room was typical of the three lads who occupied it. At the beginning
+of their friendship, and their joint occupation of a study, they had
+agreed that each was to be allowed one side of the apartment to decorate
+as he saw fit. The fourth side of this particular room was broken by two
+windows, and not of much use, while one of the other walls contained the
+door, and this one Sid had chosen, for the simple reason that his fancy
+did not run to such things as did Tom's and Phil's, and he required
+less space for his ornaments.
+
+Sid was rather an odd character, somewhat quiet, much given to study,
+and to delving after the odd and unusual. One of his fads was biology,
+and another, allied to it, nature study. He would tramp all day for a
+sight of some comparatively rare bird, nesting; or walk many miles to
+get a picture of a fox, or a ground-hog, just as it darted into its
+burrow. In consequence Sid's taste did not run to gay flags and banners
+of the college colors, worked by the fair hands of pretty girls, nor did
+he care to collect the pictures of the aforesaid girls, and stick them
+up on his wall. He had one print which he prized, a representation of a
+football scrimmage, and this occupied the place of honor.
+
+As for Tom and Phil, the more adornments they had the better they liked
+it, though I must do them the credit to say that they only had one place
+of honor for one girl's photograph at a time. But they sometimes changed
+girls. Then, on their side, were more or less fancy pictures--scenes,
+mottoes, and what not. Much of the ornamentation had been given them by
+young lady friends.
+
+Of course the old chair and an older sofa, together with the alarm
+clock, which had been handed down from student to student until the
+mind of Randallites ran not to the contrary, were the chief other things
+in the apartment, aside from the occupants thereof. Each lad had a desk,
+and a bureau or chiffonier, or "Chauffeur" as Holly Cross used to dub
+them. These articles of furniture were more or less in confusion.
+Neckties, handkerchiefs, collars and cuffs were piled in a seemingly
+inextricable, if not artistic, confusion. Nor could much else be
+expected in a room where three chums made a habit of indiscriminately
+borrowing each other's articles of wearing apparel, provided they came
+any where near fitting.
+
+On the floor was a much worn rug, which Phil had bought at auction at
+an almost prohibitive price, under the delusion that it was a rare
+Oriental. Learning to the contrary he and his chums had decided to keep
+it, since, old and dirty as it was, they argued that it saved them the
+worriment of cleaning their feet when they came in.
+
+Then there were three neat, white, iron beds--neat because they were
+made up fresh every day, and there was a dormitory rule against having
+them in disorder. Otherwise they would have suffered the fate of the
+walls, the rug or the couch and easy chair. Altogether it was a fairly
+typical student apartment, and it was occupied, as I hope my readers
+will believe, by three of the finest chaps it has been my lot to write
+about; and it is in this room that my story opens, with the three lads
+busily engaged in one way or another.
+
+"Oh, I say! Hang it all!" burst out Sid finally. "How in the mischief do
+you shove a needle through this leather, Tom? It won't seem to go, for
+me."
+
+"You should use a thimble," observed Tom. "Nothing like 'em, son."
+
+"Thimble!" cried Sid scornfully. "Do you take me for an old maid? Where
+did you ever learn to use a thimble?" and he walked over to where Tom
+was making an exceedingly neat job of mending his glove.
+
+"Oh, I picked it up," responded the pitcher of the Randall 'varsity
+nine. "Comes in handy when your foot goes through your socks."
+
+"Yes, and that's what they do pretty frequently these days," added Phil.
+"If you haven't anything to do, Tom, I wish you'd get busy on some of my
+footwear. I just got a batch back from the laundry, and I'm blessed if
+out of the ten pairs of socks I can get one whole pair."
+
+"I'll look 'em over," promised the pitcher. "There, that's as good as
+new; in fact better, for it fits my hand," and he held up and gazed
+critically at the mended glove. "Where's yours, Sid?" he went on. "I'll
+mend it for you."
+
+Silence was the atmosphere of the apartment for a few minutes--that is
+comparative silence, though the pushing of Tom's needle through the
+leather, squeaking as he forced it, mingled with the ticking of the
+clock.
+
+"I guess we can count on a good nine this year," observed Tom judicially,
+apropos of the glove repairing.
+
+"It's up to you, cap," remarked Sid, for Tom had been elected to that
+coveted honor.
+
+"You mean it's up to you fellows," retorted the pitcher-captain. "I want
+some good batters, that's what I want. It's all right enough to have a
+team that can hold down Boxer Hall and Fairview Institute, but you can't
+win games by shutting out the other fellows. Runs are what count, and to
+get runs you've got to bat to win."
+
+"Listen to the oracle!" mocked Phil, but with no malice in his voice.
+"You want to do better than three hundred with the stick, Sid."
+
+"Physician, heal thyself!" quoted Tom, smiling. "I think we will have a
+good----"
+
+He was interrupted by the sound of footsteps coming along the corridor.
+Instinctively the three lads started, then, as a glance at the clock
+showed that they were not burning lights beyond the prescribed hour,
+there was a breath of relief.
+
+"Who's coming?" asked Tom.
+
+"Woodhouse, Bricktop or some of the royal family," was Phil's opinion.
+
+"No," remarked Sid quietly, and there was that in his voice which made
+his chums look curiously at him, for it seemed as if he expected some
+one. A moment later there came a rap on the door, and then, with a
+seeming knowledge of the nerve-racking effect this always has on college
+students, a voice added:
+
+"I'm Wallops, the messenger. I have a note for Mr. Henderson."
+
+"For me?" and there was a startled query in Sid's voice, as he went to
+the door.
+
+Outside the portal stood a diminutive figure--Wallops--the college
+messenger, so christened in ages gone by--perhaps because of the
+chastisements inflicted on him. At any rate Wallops he was, and Wallops
+he remained.
+
+"A message for me?" repeated Sid. "Where from?"
+
+"Dunno. Feller brought it, and said it was for you," and, handing the
+youth an envelope, the messenger departed.
+
+Sid took out the note, and rapidly scanned it.
+
+"See him blush!" exclaimed Phil. "Think of it, Tom, Sid Henderson, the
+old anchorite, the petrified misogynist, getting notes from a girl."
+
+"Yes," added Tom. "Why don't you sport her photograph, old man?" and he
+glanced at several pictures of pretty girls that adorned the sides of
+the room claimed by Phil and himself.
+
+Sid did not answer. He read the note through again, and then began to
+tear it into bits. The pieces he thrust into his pocket, but one
+fluttered, unnoticed, to the floor.
+
+"I've got to go out, fellows," he announced in a curiously quiet voice.
+
+"Out--on a night like this?" cried Tom. "You're crazy. Listen to the
+rain! It's pouring."
+
+"I can't help it," was the answer, as the lad began delving among his
+things for a raincoat.
+
+"You're crazy!" burst out Phil. "Can't you wait until to-morrow to see
+her, old sport? My, but you've got 'em bad for a fellow who wouldn't
+look at a girl all winter!"
+
+"It isn't a girl," and Sid's voice was still oddly calm. "I've got to
+go, that's all--don't bother me--you chaps."
+
+There was such a sudden snap to the last words--something so different
+from Sid's usual gentle manner--that Phil and Tom looked at each other
+in surprise. Then, as if realizing what he had said, Sid added:
+
+"It's something I can't talk about--just yet. I've got to go--I
+promised--that's all. I'll be back soon--I guess."
+
+"How about Proc. Zane?" asked Tom, for the proctor of Randall College
+was very strict.
+
+"I'll have to chance it," replied Sid. "I've got about two hours yet,
+before locking-up time, and if I get caught--well my reputation's
+pretty good," and he laughed uneasily.
+
+This was not the Sid that Tom and Phil--his closest chums--had known for
+the last three terms. It was a different Sid, and the note he received,
+and had so quickly destroyed, seemed to have worked the change in him.
+Slowly he drew on his raincoat and took up an umbrella. He paused a
+moment in the doorway. The rain was coming down harder than ever.
+
+"So long," said Sid, as he stepped into the corridor. He almost collided
+with another youth on the point of entering, and the newcomer exclaimed:
+
+"Say, fellows! I've got great news! Baseball news! I know this is a
+rotten night to talk diamond conversation, but listen. There's been a
+new trophy offered for the championship of the Tonoka Lake League! Just
+heard of it. Dr. Churchill told me. Some old geezer that did some
+endowing for the college years ago, had a spasm of virtue recently and
+is now taking an interest in sports. It's a peach of a gold loving cup,
+and say----"
+
+"Come on in, Holly," invited Tom, "Holly" being about all that Holman
+Cross was ever called. "Come on in," went on Tom, "and chew it all over
+for us. Say, it's great! A gold loving cup! We must lick the pants off
+Boxer and Fairview now!"
+
+Holly started to enter the room, Phil and Tom reaching out and clasping
+his hands.
+
+"Where are you bound for?" asked Holly, looking at Sid, attired in the
+raincoat.
+
+"I've got to go out," was the hesitating answer.
+
+"Wait until you hear the news," invited Holly. "It's great! It will be
+the baseball sensation of the year, Sid."
+
+"No--no--sorry, but I've got to go. I'll be back--soon--I guess.
+I've--I've got to go," and breaking away from the detaining hand of
+Holly, the strangely-acting boy turned down the corridor, leaving his
+roommates, and the newcomer, to stare curiously after him.
+
+"Whatever has gotten into old Sid?" inquired Holly.
+
+"Search us," answered Phil. "He got a note a little while ago; seemed
+quite put out about it, tore it up and then tore out, just as you saw."
+
+"A note, eh?" mused Holly, as he threw himself full length on a rickety
+old sofa, much patched fore and aft with retaining boards--a sofa that
+was a fit companion for the ancient chair. It creaked and groaned under
+the substantial bulk of Holly.
+
+"Easy!" cautioned Phil. "Do you want to wreck our most cherished
+possession?"
+
+"Anyone who can wreck this would be a wonder," retorted Holly, as he
+looked over the edge, and saw the boards that had been nailed on to
+repair a bad fracture. "Hello!" he exclaimed a moment later, as he
+picked up from the floor a scrap of paper. "You fellows are getting most
+uncommon untidy. First you know Proc. Zane will have you up on the
+carpet. You should keep your scraps of paper picked up."
+
+"We didn't put that there," declared Tom. "That must be part of the note
+Sid tore up."
+
+Idly Holly turned the bit of paper over. It was blank on one side, but,
+at the sight of the reverse the athlete uttered a cry.
+
+"I say, fellows, look here!" he said.
+
+He held the paper scrap out for their inspection. It needed but a glance
+to see that it bore but one word, though there were pen tracings of
+parts of other words on the edges. But the word that stood plainly out
+was "_trouble_," and it appeared to be the end of a sentence, for a
+period followed it.
+
+"Trouble," mused Holly.
+
+"Trouble," repeated Phil. "I wonder if that means Sid is going to get
+into trouble?" and his voice took a curious turn.
+
+"Trouble," added Tom, the last of the trio to use the word. "Certainly
+something is up or Sid wouldn't act the way he did. I wonder----"
+
+"It isn't any of our affair," spoke Holly softly, "that is unless Sid
+wants our help, of course. I guess we shouldn't have looked at this.
+It's like reading another chap's letters."
+
+"We couldn't help it," decided Phil. "Go ahead, Holly. Tell us about the
+trophy. Sid may be back soon."
+
+"All right, here goes," and wiggling into a more comfortable position
+on the sofa, an operation fraught with much anxiety on the part of
+Phil and Tom, Holly launched into a description of the loving cup.
+But, unconsciously perhaps, he still held in his hand that scrap of
+paper--the paper with that one word on--"_trouble_."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+SID IS CAUGHT
+
+
+"It's this way," began Holly, as he crossed one leg over, and clasped
+his hands under his recumbent head. "Randall has been looking up in
+athletics lately. Since we did so well last season on the diamond, and
+won the championship at football, some of the old grads and men who have
+such 'oodles' of money that they don't know what to do with it, have a
+kindlier feeling for the old college. It's that which brought about the
+presentation of the loving cup trophy, or, rather the offer of it to the
+winner of the baseball championship of the Tonoka Lake League. The cup
+will be worth winning, so the doctor says."
+
+"How'd he come to tell you?" asked Phil.
+
+"I happened to go to his study to consult him about some of my
+studies----" began Holly.
+
+"Yes you did!" exclaimed Tom disbelievingly.
+
+"You went there because Proc. Zane made you!" declared Phil.
+
+"Well, no matter, if you can't take a gentleman's word for it," said
+Holly, with an assumed injured air. "Anyhow, I was in the doctor's
+office, and he had just received a letter from some old grad, honorary
+degree man, offering the gold cup. Doc asked me if I thought the boys
+would like to play for it. Has to be won two out of three times before
+any college can keep it. I told him we'd play for it with bells on!"
+
+"Of course!" agreed Tom and Phil.
+
+"Now, about the team for this spring?" resumed Holly. "You're captain,
+Tom, but we've got to elect a manager soon, and we'd better begin
+talking about it," and then the trio launched into a rapid-fire talk on
+baseball and matters of the diamond.
+
+The three youths were sophomores in Randall College, a well-known
+institution located near the town of Haddonfield, in one of our Middle
+Western States. The college proper was on the shore of Sunny River, not
+far from Lake Tonoka; and within comparative short distance of Randall
+were two other colleges. One was Boxer Hall, and the other Fairview
+Institute--the latter a co-educational institution. The three, together
+with some other near-by colleges and schools, formed what was called the
+Tonoka Lake Athletic League, and there were championship games of
+baseball, football, tennis, hockey, golf, and other forms of sport.
+
+Those of you who have read the previous volumes of this "College Sports
+Series" need little if any introduction to the characters who have
+held the stage in my opening chapter. Others may care for a formal
+introduction, which I am happy to give them.
+
+In the first book, called "The Rival Pitchers," there was told of the
+efforts Tom Parsons made to gain the place as "twirler" on the 'varsity
+nine. Tom was a farmer's son, in moderate circumstances, and had come to
+Randall from Northville. Almost at once he got into conflict with Fred
+Langridge, a rich student, who was manager of the 'varsity ball nine,
+and also its pitcher, and who resented Tom's efforts to "make" the nine.
+After much snubbing on the part of Langridge, and not a few unpleasant
+experiences Tom got his chance. Eventually he supplanted Langridge, who
+would not train properly, and who smoked, drank and gambled, thinking
+himself a "sport."
+
+Tom soon became one of the most liked of the sporting crowd, and the
+especial friend of Phil Clinton and Sidney Henderson, with whom he had
+roomed for the last term. The three were now called the "inseparables."
+In the first book several thrilling games were told of, also how Randall
+won the championship after a hard struggle with Boxer and Fairview, in
+which games Tom Parsons fairly "pitched his head off," to quote Holly
+Cross, who was an expert on diamond slang. Langridge did his best to
+injure Tom, and nearly succeeded, but the pitcher had many friends,
+besides his two special chums, among them being Holly Cross, Bricktop
+Molloy, Billy or "Dutch" Housenlager, who was full of horseplay, "Snail"
+Looper, so called from his ability to move with exceeding slowness, and
+his liking for night prowlings.
+
+Then there was Pete Backus, known as "Grasshopper," from his desire, but
+inability, to shine as a high and broad distance jumper; "Bean" Perkins,
+a "shouter" much depended on in games, when he led the cheering; Dan
+Woodhouse, called Kindlings, and Jerry and Joe Jackson, known as the
+"Jersey Twins."
+
+Of course, Tom and his two chums had many other friends whom you will
+meet from time to time. Sufficient to say that he "made good" in the
+eyes of the coach, Mr. Leighton, and was booked not only to pitch on the
+'varsity again, but he had been elected captain, just before the present
+story opens.
+
+Phil Clinton was the hero of my second volume, a story of college
+football, entitled "A Quarter Back's Pluck." Phil was named for quarter
+back on the 'varsity eleven, but, for a time it looked as if he would be
+out of the most important games. His mother was very ill in Florida, in
+danger of death from a delicate operation, and Phil, and his sister Ruth
+Clinton (who attended Fairview Institute) were under a great nervous
+strain.
+
+Langridge, seeing that Tom was beyond his vengeance, tried his tricks on
+Phil. Together with Garvey Gerhart, a freshman, Langridge planned to
+keep Phil out of an important game. They "doctored" a bottle of liniment
+he used, but this trick failed. Then they planned to send him, just
+before an important contest, a telegram, stating that his mother was
+dying. They figured that he would not play and that Randall would lose
+the contest--both Gerhart and Langridge being willing to thus play the
+traitor to be revenged on the coach and captain of the eleven.
+
+But, with characteristic pluck, Phil went into the game, stuffing the
+fake telegram in his pocket, and playing like a Trojan, even though he
+believed his mother was dying. It was pluck personified. After aiding
+his fellows to win the championship, Phil hurried off the field, to go
+to Florida to his mother. Then, for the first time, he learned that the
+message he had received was a "fake"--for his mother was on the road to
+recovery as stated in a telegram his sister Ruth had received.
+
+Of course the trick Langridge and Gerhart played was found out, and they
+both left Randall quietly, so that the name of the college might not be
+disgraced.
+
+But though Tom, Phil, Sid and their chums lived a strenuous life when
+sports were in the ascendency, that does not mean that they had no time
+for the lighter side of life. There were girls at Fairview--pretty girls
+and many of them. One, in particular--Madge Tyler--seemed to fit Tom's
+fancy, and he and she grew to be very friendly. Perhaps that was because
+Tom had rather supplanted Langridge in the eyes of Miss Tyler, who had
+been to many affairs with him, before she knew his true character. Then
+there was Ruth Clinton, Phil's sister. After meeting her Tom was rather
+wavering in his attachment toward Miss Tyler, but matters straightened
+themselves out, for Phil and Miss Tyler seemed to "hit it off," to once
+more quote Holly Cross, though for a time there was a little coldness
+between Tom and Phil on this same girl question. When this story opens,
+however, Tom considered himself cheated if he did not see Ruth at least
+twice a week, and as for Phil, he and Miss Tyler--but there, I'm not
+going to be needlessly cruel.
+
+To complete the description of life at Randall I might mention that Dr.
+Albertus Churchill, sometimes called "Moses," was the venerable and
+well-beloved head of the institution, and that as much as he was revered
+so much was Mr. Andrew Zane, the proctor, disliked; for, be it known,
+the proctor did not always take fair advantage of the youths, and he was
+fond of having them "upon the carpet," or, in other words, before Dr.
+Churchill for admonition about certain infractions of the rules.
+Another character, little liked, was Professor Emerson Tines, dubbed
+"pitchfork," by his enemies, and they were legion.
+
+I believe that is all--no, to give you a complete picture of life at
+Randall I must mention that Sidney Henderson, the third member of
+the "inseparables" was a woman hater--a misogynist--an anchorite--a
+dub--almost anything along that line that his chums could think to call
+him. He abhorred young ladies--or he thought he did--and he and Tom and
+Phil were continually at variance on this question, and that of having
+girls' photographs in the common study. But of that more later.
+
+With Holly stretched out on the old sofa, and Phil and Tom in various
+tangled attitudes in chairs--Phil in the depths of the ancient one--the
+talk of baseball progressed.
+
+"Yes, we must have an election for manager soon," conceded Tom. "But
+first I want to see what sort of a team I'm going to have. We need
+outdoor practice, but if this rotten weather keeps up----"
+
+"Hark! I think I hear the rain stopping," exclaimed Phil.
+
+"Stop nothing," declared Holly. "It's only catching its breath for
+another deluge." And it did seem so, for, presently, there came a louder
+patter than ever, of drops on the tin gutter.
+
+"Well, guess I'd better be moving," announced Holly, after another spasm
+of talk. "What time is it by your town clock, anyhow?" and he shied a
+book at the alarm timepiece so that the face of it would be slewed
+around in his direction, giving him a peep at it without obliging him to
+get up.
+
+"Here! What are you trying to do?" demanded Tom. "Do you want to break
+the works, and stop it?"
+
+"Impossible, my dear boy," said Holly lazily. "Just turn it around for
+me, will you, like a good fellow. I don't see how I missed it. I must
+practice throwing, or I won't be any good when the ball season opens.
+Give me another shot?" and he raised a second volume.
+
+"Quit!" cried Tom, interposing his arm in front of the fussy little
+clock.
+
+"That calls us to our morning duties," added Phil, adding in a sing-song
+voice: "Oh, vandal, spare that clock, touch not a single hand, for
+surely it doth keep the time the worst in all the land."
+
+"Fierce," announced Holly, closing his eyes and pretending to breathe
+hard. "It tells you how much longer you can sleep in the morning, I
+guess you mean," he went on. "The three of you were late for chapel this
+a. m."
+
+"That's because Sid monkeyed with the regulator," insisted Tom. "He
+thought he could improve it. But, say, it is getting late. Nearly ten."
+
+"And Sid isn't back yet," went on Phil.
+
+"My bedtime, anyhow," came from Holly, as he slid from the sofa, and
+glided from the room. "So long. Sid wants to look out or he'll be
+caught. Proc. Zane has a new book, and he wants to get some of the
+sporting crowd down in it. See you in the dewy morn, gents," and he was
+gone.
+
+"Sid _is_ late," murmured Tom, as he began to prepare for bed. "Shall we
+leave a light for him?"
+
+"Nope. Too risky," decided Phil. "No use of us all being hauled up. But
+maybe he's back, and is in some of the rooms. He's got ten minutes yet."
+
+But the ten minutes passed, and ten more, and Sid did not come back.
+Meanwhile Tom and Phil had "doused their glim," and were in bed, but not
+asleep. Somehow there was an uneasy feeling worrying them both. They
+could not understand Sid's action in going off so suddenly, and so
+mysteriously--especially as there was a danger of being caught out after
+hours. And, as Sid was working for honors, to be caught too often meant
+the danger of losing that for which he had worked so hard.
+
+"I can't understand----" began Tom, in a low voice, when from the chapel
+clock, the hour of eleven boomed out.
+
+"Hush!" exclaimed Phil.
+
+Some one was coming along the corridor--two persons to judge by the
+footsteps.
+
+"Is that Sid?" whispered Tom.
+
+Phil did not answer. A moment later the door opened, and in the light
+that streamed from a lamp in the corridor, Sid could be seen entering.
+Behind him stood Proctor Zane.
+
+"You will report to Dr. Churchill directly after chapel in the morning,"
+the proctor said, in his hard, cold voice. "You were out an hour after
+closing time, Mr. Henderson."
+
+"Very well, sir," answered Sid quietly, as he closed the door, and
+listened to Mr. Zane walking down the corridor.
+
+"Caught?" asked Tom, though there was no need of the query.
+
+"Sure," replied Sid shortly.
+
+"Where were you?" asked Phil, sitting up in bed, and trying to peer
+through the darkness toward his unfortunate chum.
+
+"Out," was the answer, which was none at all.
+
+"Humph!" grunted Tom. Then, suddenly: "You must have been hitting it up,
+Sid. I thought you didn't smoke. Been trying it for the first time?"
+
+"I haven't been smoking!" came the answer, in evident surprise.
+
+"Your clothes smell as if you'd been at the smoker of the Gamma Sig
+fraternity," declared Tom.
+
+"Oh, shut up, and let a fellow alone; can't you?" burst out Sid, and he
+threw his shoes savagely into the corner of the room. Neither Tom nor
+Phil replied, but they were doing a great deal of thinking. They could
+not fathom Sid's manner--he had never acted that way before. What could
+be the matter? It was some time before they learned Sid's secret, and
+the keeping of it involved Sid in no small difficulties, and nearly cost
+the college the baseball championship.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+MISS MABEL HARRISON
+
+
+Neither Tom nor Phil made any reference, the following morning, to the
+incident of the night before. As usual, none of the boys got up when the
+warning of the alarm clock summoned them, for they always allowed half
+an hour for its persistent habit of running fast. As it was, it happened
+to be correct on this occasion, and they were barely in time for chapel,
+Tom having to adjust his necktie on the race across the campus.
+
+"Well, what's on for to-day?" asked Phil, as, with Tom and Sid, he
+strolled from the chapel after service.
+
+"Baseball practice this afternoon," decided Tom, for the rain had
+stopped.
+
+"It'll be pretty sloppy," observed Phil dubiously.
+
+"Wear rubbers," advised the captain. "The fellows need some fresh air,
+and they're going to get it. Be on hand, Sid?"
+
+"Sure. Now I've got to get a disagreeable job over with. Me for the
+doctor's office," and that was his only reference to the punishment
+meted out to him. He was required to do the usual number of lines of
+Latin prose, which was not hard for him, as he was a good scholar. Tom
+and Sid went to their lectures, the captain, on the way, calling to
+the various members of the team to be on hand at the diamond in the
+afternoon.
+
+Sid accomplished his sentence of punishment in the room, and after
+dinner the three chums, with a motley crowd of players, and lovers of
+the great game, moved over the campus toward the diamond.
+
+"Done anything about a manager?" asked Holly Cross, as he tightened his
+belt and began tossing up a grass-stained ball.
+
+"Not yet," replied Tom. "There's time enough. I want to get the fellows
+in some kind of shape. We won't play a game for a month yet--that is any
+except practice ones, and we don't need a manager to arrange for them.
+Whom have you fellows in mind?"
+
+"Ed Kerr," spoke Holly promptly. "He knows the game from A to Z."
+
+"I thought he was going to play," came quickly from Tom. "We need him on
+the nine."
+
+"He isn't going to play this season," went on Holly. "I heard him say
+so. He wants to save himself for football, and he says he can't risk
+going in for both. He'd make a good manager."
+
+"Fine!" agreed Tom, Sid and Phil.
+
+"Yes, but did you hear the latest?" asked Snail Looper, gliding along,
+almost like the reptile he was christened after.
+
+"What?" demanded several.
+
+"There's talk of Ford Fenton for manager," went on Snail.
+
+"What, Ford!" cried Tom. "He'd be giving us nothing all the while but
+'my uncle says this' and 'my uncle used to do it that way'! No Ford for
+mine, though I like the chap fairly well."
+
+"Same here," agreed Phil. "We can stand him, but not his uncle," for, be
+it known, Ford Fenton, one of the sophomore students, was the nephew of
+a man who had been a celebrated coach at Randall in the years gone by.
+Ford believed in keeping his memory green, and on every possible, and
+some impossible, occasions he would preface his remarks with "My Uncle
+says" and then go on and tell something. It got on the nerves of his
+fellows, and they "rigged" him unmercifully about it, but Fenton could
+not seem to take the hint. His uncle was a source of pride to him, but
+it is doubtful if the former coach knew how his reputation suffered at
+the hands of his indiscrete youthful relative.
+
+"Who told you Fenton had a chance for manager?" asked Sid Henderson.
+
+"Why, Bert Bascome is his press agent."
+
+"Bascome, the freshman?" Phil wanted to know, and Snail Looper nodded.
+
+"Guess he didn't get all the hazing that was coming to him last fall,"
+remarked Tom. "We'll have to tackle him again. Kerr is the only logical
+candidate for manager, if he isn't going to play."
+
+"That's right," came in a chorus, as the lads kept on toward the
+diamond.
+
+Tom was doing some hard thinking. It was a new responsibility for
+him--to run the team--and he wanted a manager on whom he could depend.
+If there was a contest over the place, as seemed likely from what Snail
+Looper had said, it would mean perhaps a dividing of interests, and lack
+of support for the team. He did not like the prospect, but he knew
+better than to tell his worries to the players now. At present he wanted
+to get them into some kind of shape, after a winter of comparative
+idleness.
+
+"Here comes Mr. Leighton," observed Phil, as a young, and pleasant-faced
+gentleman was seen strolling toward the diamond. "Everybody work hard
+now--no sloppy work."
+
+"That's right," assented Tom. "Fellows, what I want most to bring out
+this season," he went on, "is some good hitting. Good batting wins
+games, other things being equal. We've got to bat to win."
+
+"You needn't talk," put in Dutch Housenlager, coming up then, and, with
+his usual horse play trying to trip Tom. "You are the worst hitter on
+the team."
+
+"I know it," admitted Tom good naturedly, as he gave Dutch a welt on the
+chest, which made that worthy gasp. "My strong point isn't batting, and
+I know it. I can pitch a little, perhaps----"
+
+"You're there with the goods when it comes to twirling," called out
+Holly Cross.
+
+"Well, then, I'm going to depend on you fellows for the stick work,"
+went on Tom. "But let's get down to business. The ground isn't so wet."
+
+"Well, boys, let's see what we can do," proposed the coach, and presently
+balls were being pitched and batted to and fro, grounders were being
+picked up by Bricktop Molloy, who excelled in his position of shortstop,
+while Jerry and Joe Jackson, the Jersey twins, with Phil Clinton, who on
+this occasion filled, respectively, the positions of right, left and
+center field were catching high flies.
+
+"Now for a practice game," proposed Tom. "I want to see if I have any of
+my curves left."
+
+Two scrub nines were soon picked out, and a game was gotten under way.
+It was "ragged and sloppy" as Holly Cross said, but it served to warm up
+the lads, and to bring out strong and weak points, which was the object
+sought.
+
+The team, of which Tom was just then the temporary captain, won by a
+small margin, and then followed some coaching instructions from Mr.
+Leighton.
+
+"That will do for to-day," he said. "Be at it again to-morrow, and we'll
+soon be in shape."
+
+The players and their admirers--lads who had not made the team--strolled
+off the diamond. Tom, walking along with Phil and Sid, suddenly put his
+hand in his pocket.
+
+"Just my luck!" he exclaimed.
+
+"What's the matter?" asked Phil.
+
+"I'm broke," was the answer, "and I want to get a new shirt. Phil, lend
+me a couple of dollars. I'll get my check from dad to-morrow."
+
+"I'm in the same boat, old man," was the rueful reply. "Tackle Sid here,
+I saw him with a bunch of money yesterday. He can't have spent it all
+since, for he isn't in love."
+
+"Just the thing," assented Tom. "Fork over a couple of bones, Sid. I'll
+let you have it directly."
+
+"I--er--I'm sorry," fairly stammered the second baseman, for that was
+the position Tom had picked out for his chum, "I haven't but fifty
+cents until I get my allowance, or until----" and he stopped suddenly.
+
+"Wow!" cried Phil. "You must have slathered it away last night then,
+when you were out, for I saw you with a bundle----"
+
+Then he stopped, for he saw a queer look come over Sid's face. The
+second baseman blushed, and was about to make reply, when Phil remarked:
+
+"I beg your pardon, Sid. I hadn't any right to make that crack. Of
+course I--er--you understand--er--I----"
+
+"That's all right," said Sid quickly. "I was a little flush yesterday,
+but I had a sudden demand on me, Tom, and----"
+
+"Don't mention it!" interrupted Tom. "I dare say I can get trusted at
+Ballman's for a shirt. I'm going out to-night, or I wouldn't need a
+clean one, and my duds haven't come back from the laundry."
+
+"I didn't know my sister was going out to-night," fired Phil, for Tom
+had been rather "rushing" Ruth Clinton of late, "rushing" being the
+college term for accompanying a young lady to functions.
+
+"I guess she doesn't have to ask you," retorted the captain. "But I
+understood you and Miss Tyler----"
+
+"Speak of trolley cars, and you'll hear the gong," put in Sid suddenly.
+"I believe your two affinities are now approaching."
+
+"By Jove, he's right!" exclaimed Phil, looking across the green campus.
+"There's Ruth, and Madge Tyler is with her. I didn't know Ruth was
+coming over from Fairview."
+
+"And they've got a friend with them--there are three girls," said Tom
+quickly. "Sid, you're right in it. There's one for you."
+
+"Not on your life!" cried the tall and good-looking second baseman.
+"I've got an important engagement," and he would have fled had not Tom
+and Phil seized and held him, despite his struggles, until Miss Ruth
+Clinton, Miss Madge Tyler and the third young lady approached. Whereat,
+seeing that his struggle to escape was futile, as well as undignified,
+Sid gave it up.
+
+"Hello, Ruth!" cried Phil good-naturedly to his sister, but his eyes
+sought those of Madge Tyler. "How'd you get here?"
+
+"Trolley," was the demure answer. "I'm going to the Phi Beta theatrical
+with Mr. Parsons to-night, and I thought I'd save him the trouble of
+coming for me. Madge and I are staying in Haddonfield with friends of
+Miss Harrison."
+
+"Good!" cried Tom, as he moved closer to Phil's pretty sister, while,
+somehow, Phil and Madge seemed to drift together.
+
+"Oh, I almost forgot, you don't know Mabel, do you, boys?" asked Madge,
+with a merry laugh. "Miss Mabel Harrison. Mabel, allow me to present to
+you Tom Parsons, champion pitcher of the Randall 'varsity nine; Phil
+Clinton, who made such a good showing on the gridiron last year, he's
+Ruth's brother, you know, and----" she paused as she turned to Sid
+Henderson, who was moving about uncomfortably.
+
+"Sid Henderson, the only and original misogynist of Randall college,"
+finished Tom, with a mischievous laugh. "He is the only one in captivity,
+but will eat from your hand."
+
+"I'll fix you for that," growled Sid in Tom's ear, but the girls
+laughed, as did Phil and the captain, and the introductions were
+completed. Miss Harrison proved to be an exceptionally pretty and
+vivacious girl, a fit companion for Ruth and Madge. She was fond of
+sport, as she soon announced, and Phil and Tom warmed to her at once.
+
+As might have been expected, Tom walked along with Ruth, Phil with Miss
+Tyler, and that left Sid nothing to do but to stroll at the side of Miss
+Harrison.
+
+"So you play ball, too," she began as an opener, looking at his uniform.
+
+"Yes--er--that is I play at it, sometimes," floundered Sid, conscious of
+a big green grass stain on one leg, where he had fallen in reaching for
+a high fly.
+
+"Isn't it great!" went on the girl, her blue eyes flashing as she
+glanced up at Sid. Somehow the lad's heart was beating strangely.
+
+"It's the only game--except football," he conceded. "Do you
+play--I--er--I mean--of course----"
+
+"Oh, I just love football!" she cried. "I hope our team wins the
+championship this year!"
+
+"Your team?" and Sid was plainly puzzled.
+
+"Well, I mean the boys of Fairview--I attend there you know."
+
+"I didn't know it, but I'm glad to," spoke Sid, wondering why he never
+before thought blue eyes pretty. "Do you live at the college?"
+
+"Oh, yes; but you see I happened to come to Haddonfield to stay over
+night with relatives, and when I found Madge and Ruth were going to a
+little affair here to-night, I asked them to stay with me. It's such a
+jaunt back to the college."
+
+"Indeed it is," agreed Sid. "You and Miss Tyler and Miss Clinton are
+great friends, I judge," he went on, wondering what his next sentence
+would be.
+
+"Indeed we are. Aren't they perfectly sweet girls?"
+
+"Fine!" exclaimed Sid with such enthusiasm that his companion looked at
+him in some surprise, her flashing eyes completing the work already
+begun by their first glance.
+
+"I thought you didn't care for--that is--was that true what Mr. Parsons
+accused you of?" Miss Harrison asked. "Is a misogynist a very savage
+creature?" she went on demurely.
+
+"That's all rot--I beg your pardon--they were rigging you--I--er--I
+mean--Oh, I say, Miss Harrison, are you going to the Phi Beta racket
+to-night--I mean the theatricals to-night?" and poor Sid floundered in
+deeper and deeper.
+
+"No," answered the girl, "I'm not going."
+
+"Why not?" asked Sid desperately.
+
+"Because I haven't been asked, I suppose," and she laughed merrily.
+
+"Then would you mind--that is--I have two tickets--but I didn't expect
+to go. Now, if you would----"
+
+"Oh, Mr. Henderson, don't go on my account!"
+
+"Oh, it isn't on your account--I mean--that is--Oh, wouldn't you like to
+go?" and he seemed in great distress.
+
+"I should love to," she almost whispered.
+
+"Then will you--that is would you--er--that is----"
+
+"Of course I will," answered Mabel, taking pity on her companion's
+embarrassment. "Won't it be lovely, with Madge and Ruth, and her
+brother and Mr. Parsons. We'll be quite a party."
+
+"It'll be immense!" declared Sid with great conviction. Thereafter he
+seemed to find it easier to keep the conversation going.
+
+The little group came to the end of the campus. Phil, Tom, Madge and
+Ruth waited for Sid and Mabel.
+
+"Well, we'll see you girls to-night," said Tom, for he and his chum were
+anxious to get to their room and "tog up." Then he added: "It's a pity
+Miss Harrison isn't going. If I had thought----"
+
+"Miss Harrison is going!" cried Sid with sudden energy.
+
+"What?" cried Tom and Phil together. Then, realizing that it might
+embarrass the girl, Tom added:
+
+"Fine! We'll all go together. Come on, Sid, and get some of the outfield
+mud scraped away."
+
+The girls waved laughing farewells, and Sid, rather awkwardly, shook
+hands with Miss Harrison.
+
+"What's the matter, old chap?" asked Tom of him, when they were beyond
+hearing distance of the girls. "Are you afraid you'll never see her
+again?"
+
+"Shut up!" cried Sid.
+
+"Wonders will never cease," went on Phil. "To see our old misogynist
+being led along by a pretty girl! However did you get up the spunk to
+ask her to go to-night, sport?"
+
+"Shut up!" cried Sid again. "Haven't I got a right to?"
+
+"Oh, of course!" agreed Tom quickly. "It's a sign of regeneration, old
+man. I'm glad to see it! What color are her eyes?"
+
+"Blue," answered Sid promptly, before he thought.
+
+"Ha! Ha!" laughed Phil and Tom.
+
+"Did you get her photograph?" asked Tom, clinging to Phil, so strenuous
+was his mirth.
+
+"Say, I'll punch your head if you don't quit!" threatened Sid, and then,
+as he saw Wallops, the messenger, coming toward him, with a letter,
+there came to Sid's face a new look--one of fear, his chums thought.
+
+He read the note quickly, and stuffed it into his pocket. Then he
+turned, and hastened after the three girls.
+
+"Here, what's up?" demanded Tom, for Sid had acted strangely.
+
+"I can't go to the theatricals to-night, after all," was the surprising
+answer. "I must apologize to Miss Harrison. Will you take her, Tom?"
+
+"Of course," was the answer, and then, as Sid hastened to make his
+excuses to the girl who, but a few minutes before, he had asked to
+accompany him, his two chums looked at each other, and shook their
+heads. The mystery about Sid was deepening.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+ELECTING A MANAGER
+
+
+Sidney Henderson fairly broke into a run in order to catch up to the
+three girls. They heard him coming, and turned around, while Tom and
+Phil, some distance off, were spectators of the scene.
+
+"I say!" burst out poor Sid pantingly, as he came to a halt, "I'm
+awfully sorry, Miss Harrison, but--er--I can't take you to the
+theatricals to-night, after all. I've just received bad news."
+
+"Bad news? Oh, I'm so sorry!" and the blue eyes of the pretty girl, that
+had been merry and dancing, as she chatted with Ruth and Madge, took on
+a tender glance.
+
+"Oh, it isn't that any one is sick, or--er--anything like that," Sid
+hastened to add, for he saw that she had misunderstood him. "It's just
+that I have received a message--I have got to go away--I--er--I can't
+explain, but some one is in trouble, and I--I'm awfully sorry," he
+blurted out, feeling that he was making a pretty bad mess of it. "I've
+arranged for Tom Parsons to take you to the theatricals, Miss Harrison."
+
+"You've arranged for Mr. Parsons to take me?" There was no mistaking the
+anger in her tones. Her blue eyes seemed to flash, and she drew herself
+up proudly. Madge and Ruth, who had shown some pity and anxiety at Sid's
+first words, looked at him curiously.
+
+"Yes, Tom will be very glad to take you," went on the unfortunate Sid.
+
+"Thank you," spoke Miss Harrison coldly. "I don't believe I care to go
+to the theatricals after all. Come on, girls, or we will be late for
+tea," and without another look at Sid she turned aside and walked on.
+
+"Oh, but I say, you know!" burst out the second baseman. "I
+thought--that is--you see--I can't possibly take you, as it is, and I
+thought----"
+
+"It isn't necessary for anyone to take me!" retorted Miss Harrison
+coldly. "It's not at all important, I assure you. Good afternoon, Mr.
+Henderson," and she swept away, leaving poor Sid staring after her with
+bewilderment in his eyes. It was his first attempt at an affair with a
+maiden, and it had ended most disastrously. He turned back to rejoin his
+chums.
+
+"Well?" questioned Tom, as Sid came up. "Is it all right? Am I to have
+the pleasure of two young ladies to-night?"
+
+"No, it's all wrong!" blurted out Sid. "I can't understand girls!"
+
+"That's rich!" cried Phil. "Here you have been despising them all your
+life, and now, when you do make up to one, and something happens, you
+say you can't understand them. No man can, old chap. Look at Tom and me,
+here, and we've had our share of affairs, haven't we, old sport."
+
+"Speak for yourself," replied the pitcher. "But what's the row, Sid?"
+
+"Hanged if I know. I told her I couldn't possibly go to-night----"
+
+"Did you tell her why?" interrupted Phil.
+
+"Well, I said I had received word that I had to go away, and--er--well I
+can't explain that part of it even to you fellows. I've got to go away
+for a short time, that's all. It's fearfully important, of course, or I
+wouldn't break a date with a girl. I can't explain, except that I have
+to go. I tried to tell her that; and then I said I'd arranged with you
+to take her, Tom."
+
+"You what?" cried the amazed pitcher.
+
+"I told her I was going to have you take her."
+
+"Without asking her whether it would be agreeable to her?"
+
+"Of course. I didn't suppose that was necessary, as you and Miss Clinton
+and Miss Tyler were all going together. I just told her you'd take her."
+
+"Well, of all the chumps!" burst out Phil.
+
+"A double-barreled one!" added Tom.
+
+"Why--what's wrong?" asked Sid wonderingly.
+
+"Everything," explained Phil. "You ask a pretty girl--and by the way,
+Sid, I congratulate you on your choice, for she is decidedly fine
+looking--but, as I say, you ask a pretty girl to go to some doings, and
+when you find you can't go, which is all right, of course, for that
+often happens, why then, I say, you coolly tell her you have arranged
+for her escort. You don't give her a chance to have a word to say in the
+matter. Why, man alive, it's just as if you were her guardian, or
+grandfather, or something like that. A girl likes to have a voice in
+these matters, you know. My, my, Sid! but you have put your foot in it.
+You should have gently, very gently, suggested that Tom here would be
+glad to take her. Instead, you act as though she had to accept your
+choice. Oh, you doggoned old misogynist, I'm afraid you're hopeless!"
+
+"Do you suppose she'll be mad?" asked Sid falteringly.
+
+"Mad? She'll never speak to you again," declared Tom, with a
+carefully-guarded wink at Phil.
+
+"Well, I can't help it," spoke Sid mournfully. "I've just got to go
+away, that's all," and he hastened on in advance of his companions.
+
+"Don't stay out too late, and get caught by Proc. Zane again," cautioned
+Phil, but Sid did not answer.
+
+Tom and Phil lingered in the gymnasium, whither they went for a shower
+bath, and when they reached their room, to put on clothes other than
+sporting ones for supper, Sid was not in the apartment. There was
+evidence that he had come in, hastily dressed, and had gone out again.
+
+"He's off," remarked Tom.
+
+"Yes, and it's mighty queer business," remarked Phil. "But come on,
+we'll get an early grub, tog up, and go get the girls."
+
+"What about Miss Harrison?"
+
+"Hanged if I know," answered Tom. "I'd be glad to take her, of course,
+but I'm not going to mix up in Sid's affairs."
+
+"No, of course not. Well, come on."
+
+In spite of hearty appetites Tom and Phil did not linger long at the
+table, and they were soon back in their room, where they began to lay
+out their dress suits, and to debate over which ties they should wear.
+Tom had managed to borrow a dress shirt, and so did not have to buy
+one.
+
+"I say, Phil," remarked the pitcher, as he almost strangled himself
+getting a tight fifteen collar to fit on the same size shirt, "doesn't
+it strike you as queer about Sid--I mean his chasing off this way so
+suddenly?"
+
+"It sure does. This is the second time, and each time he scoots off when
+he's had a note from some one."
+
+"Remember when he came back last night, smelling so strong of tobacco?"
+
+"Sure; yet he doesn't smoke."
+
+"No, and that's the funny part of it. Then there's the fact of him
+having no money to-day, though he had a roll yesterday."
+
+There was silence in the small apartment, while the clock ticked on.
+Tom, somewhat exhausted by his struggle with his collar, sank down on
+the ancient sofa, a cloud of dust, like incense, arising around him.
+
+"Cæsar's legions! My clothes will be a sight!" he cried, jumping up, and
+searching frantically for a whisk broom.
+
+"Easy!" cried Phil, "I just had my tie in the right shape, and you've
+knocked it all squee-gee!" for Tom in his excitement had collided with
+his chum.
+
+They managed to get dressed after a while--rather a long while.
+
+"Come on," said Tom, as he took a final look at himself in the glass,
+for though he was not too much devoted to dress or his own good looks,
+much adornment of their persons must be excused on the part of the
+talented pitcher and his chum, on the score of the pretty girls with
+whom they were to spend the evening.
+
+"I'm ready," announced Phil. "Shall we leave a light for Sid?"
+
+"I don't know. No telling when he'll be in. Do you know, Phil, it seems
+rotten mean to mention it, and I only do it to see if you have the same
+idea I have, but I shouldn't be surprised if old Sid was gambling."
+
+"Gambling!"
+
+"Yes. Look how he's sneaked off these last two nights, not saying where
+he's going, and acting so funny about it. Then coming in late, all
+perfumed with tobacco, and getting caught, and not having any money
+and--and--Oh, well, hang it all! I know it won't go any further, or I
+shouldn't mention it; but doesn't it look queer?"
+
+Phil did not reply for a moment. He glanced at Tom, as if to
+fathom his earnestness, and as the two stood there, looking around
+their common home, marked by the absence of Sid, the fussy little
+alarm clock seemed to be repeating over and over again the ugly
+word--"gambler--gambler--gambler."
+
+"Well?" asked Tom softly.
+
+"I hate to say it, but I'm afraid you're right," replied Phil. "Sid, of
+all chaps, though. It's fierce!" and then the two went out.
+
+Tom and Phil called at the residence of Miss Harrison's relatives for
+Madge and Ruth. Tom tried, tactfully enough, to get Miss Harrison to
+come to the theatricals with himself and Ruth, but the blue-eyed girl
+pleaded a headache (always a lady's privilege), and said she would stay
+at home. Sid's name was not mentioned. Then the four young people went
+off, leaving a rather disconsolate damsel behind.
+
+Sid was in bed when Tom and Phil returned, and he did not say anything,
+or exhibit any signs of being awake, so they did not disturb him,
+refraining from even talking in whispers of the jolly time they had had.
+There was a strong smell of tobacco about Sid's clothes, but his chums
+said nothing of this.
+
+The next day Sid was moody and disconsolate. He wrote several letters,
+tearing them up, one after the other, but finally he seemed to hit on
+one that pleased him, and went out to mail it. Amid the torn scraps
+about his desk Phil and Tom could not help seeing several which began
+variously "My dear Miss Harrison," "Dear Miss Harrison," "Dear friend,"
+and "Esteemed friend."
+
+"Trying to square himself," remarked Tom.
+
+"He's got it bad--poor old Sid," added Phil. "It will all come out right
+in the end, I hope."
+
+But it didn't seem to for Sid, since in the course of the next week,
+when he had written again to Miss Harrison asking her to go with him to
+a dance, he received in return a polite little note, pleading a previous
+engagement.
+
+"Well," remarked Tom one afternoon, when he and his crowd of players had
+thronged out on the diamond, "we're getting into some kind of shape. Get
+back there, Dutch, while I try a few curves, and then we'll have a
+practice game."
+
+"And pay particular attention to your batting, fellows," cautioned Coach
+Leighton. "It isn't improving the way it ought, and I hear that Boxer
+has some good stick-wielders this season."
+
+"Yes, and they've got some one else on their nine, too," added Bricktop
+Molloy. "Have ye heard the news, byes?" for sometimes the red-haired
+shortstop betrayed his genial Irish nature by his brogue.
+
+"No, what is it?" asked Phil.
+
+"Fred Langridge is playing with them."
+
+"What? Langridge, the bully who used to be here?" cried one student.
+
+"That same," retorted Bricktop.
+
+"Have they hired him?" inquired Holly Cross.
+
+"No, he's taking some sort of a course at Boxer Hall, I believe."
+
+"A course in concentrated meanness, I guess," suggested Tom, as he
+thought of the dastardly trick Langridge had tried to play on Phil
+during the previous term.
+
+"Well, no matter about that," came from the coach. "You boys want to
+improve your batting--that's all. Your field work is fair, and I haven't
+anything but praise for our battery."
+
+"Thanks!" chorused Tom and Dutch Housenlager, making mock bows.
+
+"But get busy, fellows," went on the coach. "Oh, by the way, captain,
+what about a manager?"
+
+"Election to-night," answered Tom quickly. "The notice has been posted.
+Come on, we'll have a scrub game. Five innings will be enough. There
+ought to be----"
+
+"My uncle says----" began a voice from a small knot of non-playing
+spectators.
+
+"Fenton's wound up!" cried Dutch, making an attempt to penetrate the
+crowd and get at the offending nephew of the former coach.
+
+"Can him!" shouted Joe Jackson.
+
+"Put your uncle on ice!" added Pete Backus.
+
+"Leave him out after dark, and Proc. Zane will catch him," came from
+Snail Looper.
+
+"Well, I was only going to say," went on Ford, but such a storm of
+protesting howls arose that his voice was drowned.
+
+"And that's the chap they talk of for manager," said Phil to Tom
+disgustedly.
+
+"Oh, I guess it's all talk," remarked the pitcher. "We will rush Ed Kerr
+through, and the season will soon start."
+
+The scrub game began. It was not remarkable for brilliant playing,
+either in the line of fielding or batting. Tom, though, did some fine
+work in pitching, and he and Dutch worked together like well-built
+machines. Tom struck out three men, one after the other, in the second
+inning, and repeated the trick in the last. Sid Henderson rather
+surprised the coach by making a safe hit every time he was up, a record
+no one else approached that day, for Rod Evert, who was doing the
+"twirling" for the team opposed to Tom's, was considered a good handler
+of the horsehide.
+
+"Good work, Henderson," complimented Mr. Leighton. But Sid did not seem
+particularly pleased.
+
+"Everybody on hand for the election to-night," commanded Tom, as the
+game ended, the pitcher's team having won by a score of eight to four.
+
+There was a large throng assembled in the gymnasium that evening, for at
+Randall sports reigned supreme in their seasons, and the annual election
+of a baseball manager was something of no small importance. For several
+reasons no manager had been selected at the close of the previous
+season, when Tom had been unanimously selected as captain, and it now
+devolved upon the students who were members of the athletic committee to
+choose one.
+
+As has been explained, among the players themselves, or, rather, among
+the majority, Ed Kerr, the catcher of the previous season was favored,
+but, of late there had been activity looking to the choosing of some one
+else.
+
+There were vague rumors floating about the meeting room, as Tom Parsons
+went up on the platform, and called the assemblage to order. It was
+noticed that Bert Bascome, a freshman who was said to be quite wealthy,
+was the center of a group of excited youths, of whom Ford Fenton was
+one. Ford had tried for the 'varsity the previous season, had failed,
+and was once more in line. As for Bascome, he, too, wanted to wear the
+coveted "R."
+
+"Politics over there all right," observed Phil Clinton to Dutch. "Any
+idea of how strong they are?"
+
+"Don't believe they can muster ten votes," was the answer. "We'll put Ed
+in all right."
+
+Tom called for nominations for chairman, and Mr. Leighton, who was in
+the hall, was promptly chosen, he being acceptable to both sides.
+
+"You all know what we are here for," began the coach, "and the sooner we
+get it over with the better, I presume. Nominations for a manager of
+the ball nine are in order."
+
+Jerry Jackson was on his feet in an instant.
+
+"Mr. Chairman," he began.
+
+"Are you speaking for yourself or your brother?" called Dutch.
+
+Bang! went the chairman's gavel, but there was a laugh at the joke, for
+Jerry and Joe, the "Jersey twins" were always so much in accord that
+what one did the other always sanctioned. Yet the query of Dutch seemed
+to disturb Jerry.
+
+"Mr. Chairman," he began again. "I wish----"
+
+"Help him along, Joe," sung out Snail Looper. "Jerry is going to make a
+wish."
+
+"Boys, boys," pleaded the coach.
+
+"My uncle says----" came from Ford Fenton, indiscreetly.
+
+"Sit down!"
+
+"Put him out!"
+
+"Muzzle him!"
+
+"Silence!"
+
+"Get a policeman!"
+
+"Turn the hose on him!"
+
+"Don't believe he ever had an uncle!"
+
+These were some of the cries that greeted Ford.
+
+Bang! Bang! went the gavel, and order was finally restored, but Fenton
+did not again venture to address the chair.
+
+"Mr. Chairman," began Jerry Jackson once more, and this time he secured
+a hearing, and was recognized. "I wish to place in nomination," he went
+on, "a manager who, I am sure, will fulfill the duties in the most
+acceptable manner; one who knows the game from home plate to third base,
+who has had large experience, who is a jolly good fellow--who----"
+
+"Who is he?"
+
+"Name him!"
+
+"Don't be so long-winded about it!"
+
+"Tell us his name!"
+
+"He's going to name Ford's uncle!"
+
+Once more the horse-play, led by Dutch, broke out.
+
+Bang! Bang! went Mr. Leighton's gavel again.
+
+"I nominate Ed Kerr!" sung out Jerry.
+
+"Second it!" came from his brother in a flash.
+
+"Mr. Kerr has been nominated," spoke the chairman. "Are there any
+others?"
+
+"Move the nominations be closed," came from Tom quickly, but, before it
+could be seconded, Bert Bascome was on his feet. He had a sneering,
+supercilious air, that was in distinct bad taste, yet he seemed to have
+a sort of following, as, indeed, any youth in college may have, who is
+willing to freely spend his money.
+
+"One moment, Mr. Chairman," began Bascome, and so anxious were the
+others to hear what was coming that they did not interrupt. "When I
+came to Randall college," went on the freshman, with an air as if he had
+conferred a great favor by his act, "I was given to understand that the
+spirit of sportsmanship and fair play was a sort of a heritage."
+
+"So it is!"
+
+"What's eating you?"
+
+"Who's the goat?" came the cries. Bert flushed but went on:
+
+"Closing the nominations before more than one name----"
+
+"The nominations have not been closed," suggested Mr. Leighton.
+
+"Then am I out of order?" inquired Bascome sarcastically. He seemed to
+know parliamentary law.
+
+"No," answered the coach. "You must speak to the point, however. Have
+you a name to place in nomination? Mr. Parsons' motion was lost for want
+of a second."
+
+"I _have_ a name to place in nomination," went on Bert deliberately,
+"and in doing so I wish to state that I am actuated by no sense of
+feeling against Mr. Kerr, whom I do not know. I simply wish to see the
+spirit of sport well diversified among the students, and----"
+
+"Question! Question!" shouted several.
+
+"Name your man!" demanded others.
+
+"I believe Mr. Kerr is highly esteemed," continued Bascome, holding his
+ground well, "and I honor him. I believe, however, that he belongs to a
+certain crowd, or clique----"
+
+"You're wrong!" was a general shout.
+
+"Mr. Chairman!" shouted Kerr, springing to his feet, his face strangely
+white.
+
+"Mr. Bascome has the floor," spoke Mr. Leighton quietly.
+
+"Name your man!" was the cry from half a score of youths.
+
+"I nominate Ford Fenton for manager!" shouted Bascome, for he saw the
+rising temper of some of the students.
+
+"Second it," came from Henry Delfield, who was the closest chum of the
+rich lad.
+
+"Move the nominations close!" cried Tom quickly, and this time Phil
+Clinton seconded it. The battle was on.
+
+"Two students have been nominated," remarked Mr. Leighton, when the
+usual formalities had been completed. "How will you vote on them, by
+ballot or----"
+
+"Show of hands!" cried Tom. "We want to see who's with us and who's
+against us," he added in a whisper to Phil and Sid.
+
+"I demand a written ballot," called out Bascome.
+
+"We will vote on that," decided the chairman, and it went overwhelmingly
+in favor of a show of hands.
+
+"We've got 'em!" exulted Tom, when this test had demonstrated how few
+were with Bascome--a scant score.
+
+A moment later the real voting was under way, by a show of hands, Kerr's
+name being voted on first. He had tried to make a speech, but had been
+induced to keep quiet.
+
+It was as might have been expected. Possibly had the ballot been a
+secret one more might have voted for Fenton, but some freshmen saw which
+way the wind was blowing, changing their votes after having declared for
+a secret ballot, and all of Bascome's carefully laid plans, and his
+scheming for several weeks past, to get some sort of control of the
+nine, came to naught. Fenton received nine votes, and Kerr one hundred
+and twenty. It was a pitiful showing, and Fenton soon recognized it.
+
+"I move the election of Mr. Kerr be made unanimous!" he cried, and that
+did more to offset his many references to his uncle than anything else
+he could have done. Bascome was excitedly whispering to some of his
+chums, but when Fenton's motion was put it was carried without a vote in
+opposition, and Kerr was the unanimous choice.
+
+"Well, I'm glad that's over," said Phil with a sigh of relief, as he and
+his chums drifted from the gymnasium.
+
+"Yes, now we'll begin to play ball in earnest," added Tom. "Come on,
+Sid, I'll take you and Phil down to Hoffman's and treat you to some ice
+cream."
+
+"I--er--I'm going out this evening," said Sid, and he blushed a trifle.
+
+"Where, you old dub?" asked Tom, almost before he thought.
+
+"I'm going to call on Miss Harrison," was the somewhat unexpected
+answer.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+RANDALL AGAINST BOXER
+
+
+Tom and Phil stood staring at each other as Sid walked on ahead.
+
+"Well, wouldn't that get your goat?" asked Tom.
+
+"It sure would," admitted Phil. "He must have made up with her, after
+all."
+
+How it came about Sid, of course, would never tell. It was too new and
+too delightful an experience for him--to actually be paying attentions
+to some girl--to make it possible to discuss the matter with his chums.
+Sufficient to say that in the course of two weeks more there was another
+photograph in the room of the inseparables.
+
+Baseball matters began to occupy more and more attention at Randall. The
+team was being whipped into shape, and between Tom, Ed Kerr and the
+coach the lads were beginning to get rid of the uncertainty engendered
+by a winter of comparative idleness.
+
+"Have you arranged any games yet?" asked Tom of Ed one afternoon,
+following some sharp practice on the diamond.
+
+"We play Boxer Hall next week," answered the manager. "And I do hope we
+win. It means so much at the beginning of the season. How is the team,
+do you think?"
+
+"Do you mean ours or theirs?"
+
+"Ours, of course."
+
+"Fine, I should say," replied Tom.
+
+"You know who'll pitch against you when we play Boxer, I dare say,"
+remarked Mr. Leighton, who had joined Tom and Ed.
+
+"No. Who?"
+
+"Your old enemy, Langridge. He's displaced Dave Ogden, who twirled for
+them last season. But you're not frightened, are you?"
+
+"Not a bit of it! If there's anything that will make our fellows play
+fierce ball it's to know that Langridge--the fellow who almost threw our
+football team--is going to play against them. I couldn't ask a better
+tonic. Will they play on our grounds?"
+
+"No, we've got to go there. But don't let that worry you."
+
+There was sharp practice for the next few days, and Tom and his chums
+were put through "a course of sprouts" to quote Holly Cross. They did
+some ragged work, under the eagle eye of the coach, and things began to
+look bad, but it was only the last remnant of staleness disappearing,
+for the day before the game there was exhibited a noticeable stiffness,
+and a confidence that augured well for Randall.
+
+"The batting still leaves something to be desired," remarked Mr.
+Leighton, as practice was over for the day. "I have great hopes of Sid
+Henderson, though."
+
+"Yes, if----" began Tom.
+
+"If what?" asked the coach quickly.
+
+"If he doesn't go back on himself," finished the pitcher, but that was
+not what he had intended to say. He was thinking of Sid's queer actions
+of late--wondering what they portended, and what was the meaning of his
+chum's odd absences, for, only the night previous, Sid had gone out,
+following the receipt of a note, and had come in late, smelling vilely
+of tobacco. Fortunately he had escaped detection by the proctor, but he
+offered no explanation, and his manner was disturbed, and not like his
+usual one.
+
+As for Sid, well might his chums be puzzled about him. He seemed totally
+to have changed, not only in manner but in his attitude toward Tom and
+Phil. There was a new look on his face. Several times, of late, since
+his acquaintance with Miss Harrison, and the reconciliation following
+his little "_de trop faux pas_," as Tom termed it, Sid had been caught
+day dreaming. Phil or Tom would look up from their studying to see Sid,
+with a book falling idly from his hands, gazing vacantly into a corner
+of the room, or looking abstractedly at his side of the wall space, as
+though calculating just where would be the best spot for a certain
+girl's picture.
+
+It was a most enthralling occupation for Sid--this day dreaming. It was
+a new experience--a deliciously tender and sweet one--for no young man
+can be any the worse for thinking and dreaming of a fine-charactered
+girl, albeit one who is amazingly pretty; in fact he is the better for
+it. In Sid's case his infatuation had come so suddenly that it was
+overwhelming. In the past he had either been shy with girls, or had
+not cared enough for them to be more than decently polite. But now
+everything was different. Though he had seen her but a few times, he
+could call to mind instantly the very way in which she turned her head
+when she addressed him. He could see the slight lifting of the eyebrows
+as she asked a question, the sparkle that came into the blue eyes, that
+held a hint of mischief. He could hear her rippling laugh, and he knew
+in what a tantalizing way a certain ringlet escaped from the coils of
+her hair, and fell upon her neck.
+
+Often in class the lecturer would suddenly call his name, and Sid would
+start, for he had sent his thoughts afar, and it required a sort of
+wireless message to bring them back.
+
+The day of the Boxer game could not have been better. There had been a
+slight shower in the night, but only sufficient to lay the dust, and it
+was just cool enough to be delightful. The Randall players and their
+supporters, including a crowd of enthusiastic "rooters," a number
+of substitutes and a mascot, in the shape of a puppy, fantastically
+attired, made the trip to Boxer Hall in special trolleys, hired stage
+coaches and some automobiles. Bert Bascome owned an automobile, and he
+made much of himself in consequence.
+
+There was a big crowd in the grand stands when the Randall players
+arrived, and they were received with cheers, for the sporting spirit
+between the two colleges was a generous one.
+
+"My, what a lot of girls!" remarked Tom to Sid and Phil, as the three
+chums looked over toward the seats, which were a riot of color.
+
+"Yes, all the Fairview students are here to-day," spoke Phil. "Ruth said
+she and Miss Tyler were coming."
+
+"I wonder if----" began Sid, and then he stopped, blushing like a girl.
+
+"Yes, Miss Harrison is coming with them," replied Phil, with a laugh.
+"We'll look 'em up after the game--if we win."
+
+"Why not, if we lose?" asked Sid quickly.
+
+"I haven't the nerve, if we let Boxer Hall take the first game of the
+season from us," was the reply.
+
+Fast and snappy practice began, and it was somewhat of a revelation to
+the Randall players to note the quick work on the part of their rivals.
+In getting around the bases, batting out flies, getting their fingers on
+high balls and low grounders, Boxer Hall seemed to have improved very
+much over last year.
+
+"We've got our work cut out for us," remarked Phil in a low voice to his
+two chums. "Say, Langridge has some speed, too. Look at that!"
+
+The new pitcher of Boxer Hall was throwing to Stoddard, the catcher, and
+the balls landed in the pocket of the big mitt with a vicious thud.
+
+"Don't worry. Sid, here, will knock out a couple of home runs," said
+Tom. "Won't you, Sid?"
+
+"I only hope I don't fan the air. How are his curves?"
+
+"Pretty good, for the first few innings," answered Tom. "After that you
+can find 'em easy enough. He wears down--at least he did last year."
+
+The practice came to an end. The preliminaries were arranged, and, with
+the privilege of the home team coming last to the bat, Randall went in
+the initial inning. The two teams were made up as follows:
+
+
+RANDALL COLLEGE
+
+    Sid Henderson, _second base_.
+    William Housenlager, _catcher_.
+    Phil Clinton, _first base_.
+    Tom Parsons, _pitcher_.
+    Dan Woodhouse, _third base_.
+    Jerry Jackson, _right field_.
+    Bob Molloy, _shortstop_.
+    Joe Jackson, _left field_.
+    Holman Cross, _center field_.
+
+
+BOXER HALL
+
+    Lynn Ralling, _second base_.
+    Hugh McGherity, _right field_.
+    Roy Conklin, _left field_.
+    Arthur Flood, _center field_.
+    George Stoddard, _catcher_.
+    Pinkerton Davenport, _first base_.
+    Fred Langridge, _pitcher_.
+    Bert Hutchin, _third base_.
+    Sam Burton, _shortstop_.
+
+"Now, Sid, show 'em what you can do," advised Mr. Leighton, as Sid
+selected a bat, and walked up to the plate. He faced Langridge, and
+noted the grim and almost angry look in the eyes of the former pitcher
+on the Randall 'varsity.
+
+"Make him give you a nice one," called Bean Perkins, who was ready to
+shout for victory.
+
+A ball came whizzing toward Sid, and so sure was he that he was going to
+be hit that he dodged back, but he was surprised when it neatly curved
+out, went over the plate, and the umpire called:
+
+"Strike One!"
+
+There was a howl of protest on the part of the Randall sympathizers, but
+it died away when Mr. Leighton held up a warning hand.
+
+Sid struck viciously at the next ball, and felt a thrill of joy as he
+felt the impact, but, as he rushed away toward first he heard the
+umpire's call of "Foul; strike!" and he came back.
+
+"Wait for a good one," counseled Phil, in a low voice. "Make him give
+you a pretty one."
+
+Langridge sent in another swift curve and Sid struck at it. Another foul
+resulted, and he began to wonder what he was up against. The next
+attempt was a ball, for Langridge threw away out, but Sid saw coming a
+moment later, what he thought would make at least a pretty one-bagger.
+He swung viciously at it, but missed it clean, and walked to the bench
+somewhat chagrined.
+
+Dutch Housenlager, with a smile of confidence, walked up next. He was
+cool, and Langridge, having struck out Sid, seemed to lose some of his
+anger. He delivered a good ball--an in-shoot--and Dutch caught it on the
+end of his bat. It seemed to promise well, but Roy Conklin, out on left
+field was right under it, and Dutch ingloriously came back from first.
+
+"Now, Phil, line one out!" pleaded Tom, as his chum selected his bat,
+and Phil struck at the first ball, sending a hot liner right past the
+shortstop.
+
+Phil got to first, and stole second when Tom came up, making it only by
+a close margin.
+
+"A home run, Tom," begged the coach, and Tom nodded with a grim smile on
+his face. But alas for hopes! He knocked a fly, which the right fielder
+got without much difficulty, and the first half of the initial inning
+was over with a goose-egg in the space devoted to Randall.
+
+"Never mind, we're finding him," consoled Tom, as he walked to his box.
+
+Lynn Ralling was up first for Boxer Hall, and Tom resolved to strike him
+out, if it was at all possible. It was his first pitching in a league
+game that season, and he was a trifle nervous. Still he held himself
+well in hand, and, though the first two attempts were called "balls" the
+next three went down as strikes. Ralling refused to swing on two of
+them, but the last one seemed to him as just right, but Tom had the
+satisfaction of striking him out. McGherity, the next man up, was a
+notoriously heavy hitter, and Tom purposely gave him a pass to first. He
+struck out Roy Conklin, but something went wrong with the next man,
+Arthur Flood, who knocked a two-bagger. Then George Stoddard got to
+first on a swift grounder, that, somehow rolled through the legs of
+Bricktop, much to that hero's disgust. There was some good playing the
+rest of the inning, George being caught napping on second, and it ended
+with two runs in favor of Boxer Hall.
+
+"We've got to wake up!" decided Mr. Leighton grimly. "Put a little more
+ginger into it, boys!"
+
+"What's the matter with our team?" Bean Perkins demanded to know in his
+loudest voice.
+
+"It's all right," was the response, from scores of throats.
+
+"Now for the 'Conquer or Die' song," called Bean, and as Dan Woodhouse
+went up to the bat in the beginning of the second inning the strains
+of "_Aut vincere aut mori_," welled out over the diamond. But the
+inspiring melody that, more than once had been the means of inspiring a
+faint-hearted team to victory, seemed to be of no effect now. Not a man
+got further than second, and another goose egg went up to the credit of
+Randall. But a similar dose was served to Boxer in the same inning, and
+when Randall opened the third with Holly Cross at the bat, there was
+much wonder, and not a little disappointment. What would Holly do? He
+soon showed by knocking a two bagger, but, alas for what followed.
+Though he managed to steal to third, Langridge pitched so well that
+those who followed were struck out, and there was another white circle.
+
+It was duplicated for Boxer Hall, however, and there began to be talk of
+a "pitchers' battle."
+
+"We'll find Langridge this inning," prophesied Tom, and it was partly
+justified, for one run came in, which sent the grand stand where the
+Randallites were gathered wild with delight.
+
+"Now, fellows, give 'em that song--'We're going to wallop you now,'"
+called Bean, and there arose a riot of "melody." In the fifth inning
+neither side scored, and then came the turn of Captain Tom's men again.
+They delighted their supporters by pulling down two runs, and making the
+score three to two in their favor. Then, when Boxer Hall came up for
+their inning, they hammered out two runs, which sent Randall stock down
+to zero again with the score of four to three against them.
+
+The seventh and eighth innings saw big circles chalked up in the frames
+of both teams, though Tom and his men worked hard to bring in at least
+another run. But it was not to be.
+
+"Now, fellows, it's our last chance," remarked the coach, as Holly Cross
+stepped up in the ninth, his teeth fairly gritting together. "Two runs
+to win--that is if we hold 'em down when they come up."
+
+"I'll do that part," guaranteed Tom grimly.
+
+From the grand stands there were shouts and yells of encouragement--and
+otherwise. Bean led his cohorts in, "It's Your Last Chance, Boys--Soak
+It!" a Randall classic of the diamond. Well, Holly did "soak" it, with
+the result that he knocked the prettiest three-bagger seen in many a
+day. Then came Sid's turn. Two strikes were called on him, and then came
+a foul.
+
+"I'm afraid he's going to fan," whispered Tom to the coach.
+
+"Watch him," advised Mr. Leighton.
+
+There was a reassuring "thump" as the next ball reached Sid. Away sailed
+the sphere right over the center fielder's head.
+
+"It's a beaut! It's a beaut! Run! Run! Run!" yelled the frenzied
+students. Holly was legging it in from third and my! how Sid was
+running! Low down, and like the wind! The frantic center fielder was
+racing for the ball amid the daisies. On and on came Sid!
+
+"A home run! A home run!" screamed Tom and his players, jumping up and
+down and over the bench in their excitement. Around the bases came Sid,
+following Holly. The second baseman swung around third and started for
+home, but the ball was on the way. Would he beat it?
+
+He did, by about a second, rushing in almost exhausted, over the plate
+which Holly had just crossed.
+
+"Wow! Wow! Wow!" cried Sid's and Holly's mates. "That wins the game!"
+and they hugged Sid and his chum. "Two Runs!"
+
+"The game is not won yet," said the coach, more soberly. "We need more
+runs."
+
+But they couldn't get them. There was a sudden improvement on the part
+of Langridge, who had begun to weaken, and he struck out the next two
+men, the third getting out on a bingle. But the score was five to four
+in favor of Randall, and if Tom could hold them down, and strike out
+three men, the game was theirs. Could he do it?
+
+There was a great strain on everyone as the Randall team went out to the
+field. From the grand stand came softly the "Conquer or Die" song, and
+Tom felt a sense of moisture in his eyes.
+
+"I'll strike 'em out!" he muttered.
+
+How he did it is college history to this day. Calmly he faced the first
+man, and delivered a ball.
+
+"Strike!" howled the umpire, and this time it was Boxer Hall that sent
+up a groan of protest. But it was silenced, and in two more balls
+delivered over the plate with faultless precision, but with puzzling
+curves, Tom had one down.
+
+"Only two more," called Phil to him encouragingly.
+
+Tom nodded. How he did pitch! The balls sounded like guns when they hit
+Dutch Housenlager's big mitt, but he held them.
+
+"Three strikes--batter out!" yelled the umpire, and the second man threw
+down his stick and walked disgustedly to the bench.
+
+George Stoddard was up next. Tom was afraid of him. He delivered a
+puzzling slow drop, but Stoddard got under it for a foul.
+
+Tom breathed a bit easier. Two more chances. He sent one of his best out
+shoots, and Stoddard foolishly bit at it. The ball just grazed the bat,
+and bounded up into the air. Dutch made a desperate effort for it.
+
+"Can't get it!" yelled the crowd, as it went over the back grand stand.
+
+The umpire threw Tom a new ball. He hated to use it, as the other seemed
+just right. But the one that had gone over the stand was slow in being
+returned. Dutch signalled for another drop, but Tom shook his head. He
+wanted to try a delicate in-curve.
+
+It seemed that the players and spectators were scarcely breathing--it
+was the critical point of the game, yet with two down Boxer Hall could
+scarcely hope to win. Yet there was a chance. Tom delivered the ball.
+Stoddard swung at it with such force that he turned completely around.
+But the new, white ball was safe in the mitt of Dutch Housenlager.
+Stoddard had struck out--there were three down for Boxer in the ending
+of the ninth, and not a run. Randall had won--the score being five to
+four.
+
+Then such a chorus of yells as went up! Even Bean Perkins could scarcely
+be heard.
+
+"Wow! Wow! Wow!" cried Dutch, seizing Holly Cross around the waist, and
+doing a dance with him about the bench. "We did it!"
+
+"Great work, boys!" cried the coach. "I congratulate you!"
+
+"Three cheers for Randall!" proposed Pinkey Davenport for Boxer Hall,
+and the yells came with spontaneous enthusiasm.
+
+"Three and a tiger for Boxer Hall!" yelled Tom, and his men nearly split
+their throats.
+
+"Come on! Clean up, and then for some fun!" cried Phil. "We'll go hunt
+up the girls, as soon as we look decent again," he suggested to Tom and
+Sid, who nodded joyfully.
+
+Langridge passed Tom.
+
+"It's only one game," growled the defeated pitcher. "We'll do you
+fellows next time!"
+
+"You'll have the chance," retorted Tom good naturedly.
+
+A little later the victorious pitcher, and his two chums, having donned
+their street clothes, were strolling across the field toward a knot of
+girls.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+THE ACCUSATION
+
+
+"Wasn't it glorious!" cried Madge Tyler, as Tom and his chums came up.
+"I was just gripping the seat when you threw that last ball, Mr.
+Parsons."
+
+"So was I," admitted Ruth. "Phil, I'm proud of you, even if you are my
+brother."
+
+"Humph!" grunted Phil. "If it hadn't been for Sid's home run we wouldn't
+have been in it. The fellows who followed him fanned."
+
+"You should be very proud, Mr. Henderson," remarked Mabel Harrison, who
+looked charming in some sort of a soft, clinging dress which I'm not
+going to describe.
+
+"Oh, it was just luck," spoke Sid modestly.
+
+"Luck nothing, you old walloper!" cried Tom, thumping his chum on the
+back. "You just laid for that one, and lambasted it out where the
+buttercups and daisies grow."
+
+"Oh, how poetic!" cried Miss Harrison.
+
+"Some ice cream would sound a heap-sight more poetic," decided Phil.
+"What do you girls say? Will you come and have some?"
+
+"Oh, I've provided a little treat for you boys," said Ruth quickly. "By
+rare good luck Miss Philock, the ogress of Fairview Institute, is away
+to-day, and I secured permission from the assistant to have a little tea
+in one of the rooms. We three girls will feed you lions of the diamond,
+if you promise not to eat up all the charlotte russe and lady fingers I
+have provided."
+
+"Great!" cried Tom. "I haven't the appetite of a butterfly, but----"
+
+"Me either," interrupted Sid, with a laugh.
+
+"Come on, then," invited Phil's sister. "We are just in time to catch a
+trolley for Fairview. I have a letter from home for you, Phil," she
+added.
+
+A little later a merry crowd of young people were walking up the campus
+of the co-educational institution, where the three girls were pursuing
+their studies. It was Saturday afternoon, and a half holiday for
+everyone. Ruth, having secured permission, escorted her brother and his
+two chums to one of the rooms set aside for the use of the girl students
+in which to entertain their friends.
+
+"Why, sis, this is quite a spread!" complimented Phil, as he saw the
+elaborate preparations in the shape of paper napkins, in the colors of
+Randall--yellow and maroon--spread about on the table, and as he noted
+the flowers and the rather more generous "feed" than that indicated when
+his sister had named lady fingers and charlotte russe.
+
+"Yes, we provided this in case you won," replied Ruth, "but if you had
+lost----"
+
+"Well, in case we had lost?" asked Sid, who was close to Miss Harrison.
+
+"We were going to eat it all ourselves," finished Madge.
+
+"And be ill afterward," interjected Tom. "I'm glad, for more reasons
+than two, that we won; eh, fellows?"
+
+"Yes, but--er--if it's all the same to you, let's eat," suggested Phil,
+with the freedom of an elder brother.
+
+There was a merry time. The fair hostesses had provided coffee and
+sandwiches, with plenty of ice cream and cake, and when they had been at
+the table for some time, Phil, with a sigh of satisfaction, remarked:
+
+"I'm glad this didn't happen before the game, fellows, or I couldn't
+have caught even a pop fly."
+
+"Ditto here," agreed Tom. "Pass the macaroons, Sid. I see you and Miss
+Harrison trying to hide them between you."
+
+"No such a thing!" retorted the second baseman, while the blue-eyed girl
+blushed.
+
+"Oh, Phil, I promised to get you the letter from home!" suddenly
+exclaimed Ruth. "I'll run up to my room for it. Excuse me," and she
+darted off, to return presently with two missives. "Here's one for you,
+Mabel," she said. "I found it on your dresser. It must have come in
+after the regular mail."
+
+"A letter for me," repeated Miss Harrison in some bewilderment. "I
+didn't expect any."
+
+"Unexpected ones are always the best," ventured Sid, and when Tom
+whispered "Bravo," at the attempt on the part of his chum to shine in
+the society of ladies, Sid muttered a threat to punch the captain when
+they got outside.
+
+"Mother is well, and dad as busy as ever," remarked Ruth as she handed
+her letter to her brother, and passed the other to Miss Harrison. The
+latter gazed curiously at the missive.
+
+"I don't know this writing," she remarked. "I wonder who it can be
+from."
+
+"Better open it and see," suggested Sid.
+
+She tore open the envelope, which fluttered to the ground, as she took
+out a piece of paper.
+
+"Why, how funny!" exclaimed Miss Harrison. "There is nothing but a
+Haddonfield newspaper clipping, and--and--why it seems to be about you,
+Mr. Henderson," she added. "Why--why!" she stammered. "How odd! Of
+course it must be some one else. Just listen," and she read:
+
+"'During a raid on an alleged gambling house kept by Tony Belato in
+Dartwell, just outside of Haddonfield on Thursday night, a number of
+college students, believed to be from Boxer Hall, Fairview or Randall
+were captured. Several got away, and those who were locked up gave false
+names, it is believed. One young man, who stated that he was Sidney
+Henderson, fought the officers, and was not subdued until after a
+struggle. None of the college boys seemed to know him, but it was stated
+that he had lost heavily in playing poker. The prisoners were fined ten
+dollars each, and this morning were discharged by Judge Perkins with a
+warning.'"
+
+There was silence for a moment following Miss Harrison's reading of the
+clipping.
+
+"What's that?" cried Tom at last, and his words seemed to break the
+spell. "Arrested in a gambling raid--Sid Henderson? Of course it must be
+some one else! But who sent the clipping to you, Miss Harrison?"
+
+"I don't know," was her answer, as she looked full at Sid. "It was a
+piece of impertinence, at any rate," and she began to tear up the
+newspaper item. "Of course it wasn't you, Mr. Henderson. I should not
+have read it. I don't suppose you were within miles of the place where
+it happened. These newspaper reporters are so careless, sometimes. You
+weren't there, were you?" she went on.
+
+As they all remembered it afterward it seemed strange that Miss Harrison
+should so insist on her question, but, later, it was explained that her
+family, as well as herself, had an extraordinary abhorrence of any games
+of chance, since her brother had once been fleeced by gamblers, and
+there had been some disgrace attached to it.
+
+"You weren't there; were you?" repeated Miss Harrison, and her eyes were
+fastened on those of Sid.
+
+His face was strangely white, and his hands trembled. His chums looked
+at him in surprise.
+
+"I--I wasn't arrested in any raid," he said, and his voice was husky.
+The girl seemed to catch at the evasion.
+
+"Were you there?" she demanded. "I--of course--I have no right to ask
+you that--but--this clipping, coming to me--as it did--and under the
+circumstances----"
+
+"I wasn't--I wasn't arrested," faltered Sid. "It's all--it's all a
+mistake!"
+
+Almost instantly there came to Phil and Tom at the same time a memory of
+Sid's queer actions of late--of his strange absences from college--of
+his hurried departures on receiving notes--of the smell of tobacco on
+his clothes.
+
+"Were you at the gambling place, in Dartwell?" asked Miss Harrison
+coldly, and it was not until later that the others understood her
+strange insistence and hatred of games of chance. "Were you there?"
+
+"I--I wasn't arrested!" blurted out Sid. "I--I can't explain--I was in
+Dartwell that night--but--but it is all a mistake--I don't see how my
+name got in the paper."
+
+"Sometimes these matters get out in spite of all that is done to keep
+them quiet," remarked the girl, and her voice sounded to Sid like the
+clash of steel.
+
+"I tell you I wasn't arrested--I wasn't there--that is, I wasn't
+gambling--I--I--er--Oh, won't you believe me? Won't you take my word
+for it?" He was pleading with her now.
+
+"I haven't any right to control your actions," said Miss Harrison. "I
+don't know who sent me this clipping--nor why--I wish I had never seen
+it," and her eyes filled with tears. "Yet when I ask you if you were
+there, it seems as if you could say yes or no."
+
+"That's it! I can't!" cried poor Sid. "I--I wasn't arrested. I was
+there--yes, in--in Dartwell that night--but I can't explain--it's a
+secret--it--Oh, won't you believe me?"
+
+Miss Harrison turned and looked full at him. The others were watching
+the little tragedy that was being enacted before them.
+
+"Won't you believe me--I'll--I'll explain--some time," faltered Sid
+desperately.
+
+"I'm sorry, but unless you care to tell me everything, and explain why
+you were in a gambling house I can't accept your excuses," she said
+coldly. "I cannot retain the friendship of a person who goes to gambling
+places. I must ask you to excuse me," and holding her head high, though
+there were tears in her blue eyes, and a sob in her trembling voice, she
+turned and left the room.
+
+Ruth and Madge looked at each other.
+
+"Come on," said Phil to Tom huskily, and they filed out. Sid remained
+long enough to pick up the envelope that had contained the accusing
+clipping, and then he followed. None of the three chums spoke until they
+were out on the campus. Then Phil turned to Sid and demanded:
+
+"What in blazes is the matter? If that didn't mean you, and you weren't
+there, why didn't you say so?"
+
+"I--I can't," was the answer. "Oh, fellows, don't go back on me now.
+I'll explain--some time."
+
+"Of course we won't go back on you," declared Tom. "Even if you were
+playing the ponies or shuffling a deck of cards, it doesn't matter to
+us. It's your money to lose, if you want to, only I didn't think you
+cared for such things."
+
+"I--I don't!" blurted out Sid.
+
+"Then why don't you----"
+
+"But I can't explain! Don't desert me now!"
+
+"We're not going to," spoke Phil more gently, "only it hurts with a girl
+like Miss Harrison to have a thing like this come out. She's done with
+you."
+
+"Do you think so?" asked Sid miserably.
+
+"Sure," agreed Tom, "but don't worry over that. You've got to bat for us
+to win, as you did to-day," for he feared Sid would go to pieces, such
+was the wild look on his face.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+GETTING BACK AT "PITCHFORK"
+
+
+The three chums were not very jolly as they began their return to
+Randall college, whither the baseball team had preceded them some time
+before. Sid, Phil and Tom had sent their suits back with some of their
+friends while they attended the little tea given by Ruth Clinton--the
+tea which had had such an unfortunate ending.
+
+Tom and Phil conversed in low tones about the team and the showing made
+that day in the first formal game of the season, but as for Sid, he kept
+to himself in one corner of the electric car, and there was a moody look
+on his face.
+
+"He's taking it hard," observed Phil in a low voice.
+
+Tom shook his head. "I can't understand it," he said.
+
+Sid stalked into the room ahead of his chums and threw himself down on
+the old sofa, which creaked and groaned with his weight.
+
+"Easy, old man," called Phil good naturedly. "We've had that in the
+family for three terms, now, and it's a regular heirloom. Don't smash it
+for us. Remember what a time we had last term, patching it up, and
+moving it here from our old room?"
+
+"Yes, and how Langridge was upset trying to get down stairs past us,"
+added Tom. "Have a little regard for the sofa, Sid."
+
+"Oh, hang the sofa!" burst out the lad, and then Tom and Phil knew it
+was useless to talk to him. Phil crossed the room softly and sat
+cautiously down in the old armchair. Tom looked at the alarm clock, and
+exclaimed:
+
+"Jove! If it hasn't stopped! Must be something wrong," and he hurriedly
+wound it, and then started it by the gentle process of pounding it on
+the edge of the table. Soon the fussy clicking was again heard. "It's
+all right," went on the pitcher, in relieved tones. "Gave me heart
+disease at first. The clock is as much of a relic as the chair and sofa.
+But I've got to mend my glove again. It's ripped in the same place.
+Rotten athletic goods they're selling nowadays."
+
+There came a knock on the door, and Wallops, the messenger, who stood
+revealed as the portal was opened, announced:
+
+"Mr. Zane would like to see you, Mr. Henderson."
+
+[Illustration: "MR. ZANE WOULD LIKE TO SEE YOU, MR. HENDERSON."]
+
+"Me?" inquired Sid.
+
+"Yep," was the sententious answer.
+
+Saying nothing further, the second baseman got up, and, as the messenger
+went down the hall, he followed slowly.
+
+"He's in for it, I'm afraid," remarked Tom dubiously.
+
+"Looks so," agreed Phil. "It's about that item in the paper, of course.
+Too bad it leaked out."
+
+But what took place at the interview with the proctor, Sid's chums did
+not learn until long afterward. All that became known was that Dr.
+Churchill was summoned, and that Sid was in the proctor's study a long
+time. He returned to his room a trifle pale, and with unnaturally bright
+eyes. Throwing himself on the creaking sofa he stared at the ceiling
+moodily, while Phil and Tom maintained a discrete silence.
+
+"Why don't some of you fellows say something?" burst out Sid finally.
+"Think this is a funeral?"
+
+"We didn't think you wanted to have a talk-fest," observed Tom.
+
+"What in blazes am I to do?" asked Sid desperately.
+
+"What about?" inquired Phil.
+
+"You know--Miss Harrison. I don't want to have her think I'm a gambler.
+I'm not--I----"
+
+"Then why don't you tell her why you were in Dartwell the night of the
+raid?" suggested the captain.
+
+"I--I can't," burst out Sid. "It's impossible!"
+
+Tom shrugged his shoulders.
+
+"Oh, I know what you mean!" burst out Sid. "It looks as if I wasn't
+telling the truth. But I am--you'll believe me--some day."
+
+"Forget it," advised Phil. "Let's talk about baseball. Have you seen the
+loving cup trophy?"
+
+"It's a beaut!" declared Tom. "I saw it in the doctor's study. We're
+going to win it, too!"
+
+"Hope so," murmured Phil. "If we have a few more games like to-day, we
+may. But speaking of games----"
+
+He was interrupted by a knock on the door. Sid started and leaped up
+from the sofa.
+
+"I'll go," he exclaimed. "If it's a message----"
+
+He did not finish, but Tom and Phil looked significantly at each other.
+Clearly Sid expected another mysterious summons. But, as he opened the
+portal there stood the Jersey twins.
+
+"Hello, fellows," began Joe, "do you want to see some sport?"
+
+"Fine sport," added Jerry, who sometimes echoed his brother, a trick
+that was interchangeable with the twins.
+
+"We're always ready for sport," replied Tom. "What is it: baiting a
+professor, or hazing some freshies?"
+
+"Professor," replied Joe.
+
+"Pitchfork," echoed Jerry, that name, as I have explained, being applied
+to Professor Emerson Tines.
+
+"What's up now?" asked Phil.
+
+"Oh, he's been particularly obnoxious of late," went on Joe. "Some of us
+had a little smoker the other night, strictly sub-rosa, you understand,
+but he smelled us out, and now some of us are doing time for it. To-day
+Bricktop Molloy evolved a little scheme, and we thought we'd let you
+fellows in on it. Want to come, Sid?" for Sid had gone back to the sofa.
+
+"No, I guess not," he answered listlessly.
+
+"What's the matter--sick?" inquired Joe, in a whisper of Tom and Phil.
+They shook their heads, and motioned to the twins not to make further
+inquiries.
+
+"What's the game?" asked Tom. "We'll come."
+
+"We're going to get back at Pitchfork," went on Jerry. "Come along and
+you'll see. I'll just explain, though, that he has quietly been 'tipped
+off' to the effect that another smoker is in progress, and if he does as
+we expect him to, he'll try to raid the room."
+
+"And if he does?"
+
+"Well, he won't find what he expects to. Come on, and keep quiet. What's
+the matter with Sid, anyhow?" for by this time the four were out in the
+corridor, leaving the moody one in the room.
+
+"Hanged if we know," replied Phil, "except that there's a girl mixed up
+in it." He refrained from saying anything about the accusation, thinking
+that would be noised about soon enough.
+
+"Oh, if it's only a girl he'll soon be over it," declared Joe with a
+professional air.
+
+"Of course," echoed his brother. "Come on."
+
+Phil and Tom soon found themselves in the midst of a number of choice
+spirits, who moved silently about the lower end of the corridor, near
+a room that was sometimes used for student meetings, and where, more
+than once, it was whispered, smokers had been held, in violation of the
+rules. The reason for the selection of this apartment was that it had an
+open fireplace, which carried off the fumes of the tobacco.
+
+"Did he get the tip?" asked Jerry, as he and his brother, together with
+Phil and Tom, came up.
+
+"He sure did," answered Bricktop. "Reports from the front are that he is
+on the warpath."
+
+"Is everything working all right?" asked Joe.
+
+"Fine. Can't you smell it?"
+
+Tom and Phil sniffed the air. There was an unmistakable odor of
+tobacco.
+
+"But if there's a smoker going on in there, why was Pitchfork tipped
+off?" inquired Tom.
+
+"Wait an' ye'll see, me lad," advised Bricktop in his rich brogue. "I
+think he's coming now. Pump her up, Kindlings!"
+
+Then, for the first time Tom and his chum noticed that Dan Woodhouse had
+a small air pump, which he was vigorously working, as he stood in a dark
+corner.
+
+Footsteps sounded down the corridor. There were hasty cautions from the
+ringleaders, and the lads hid themselves in the dim shadows of the big
+hall. The footsteps came nearer, and then they seemed to cease. But the
+reason was soon apparent, for Professor Emerson Tines was now tip-toeing
+his way toward the door of the suspected room. By the dim light of a
+half-turned down gas jet he could be seen sneaking up. The only sound
+from the students was the faint sound of the air pump. Tom and Phil
+could not imagine what it was for.
+
+Professor Tines reached the portal. Then he gave a sudden knock, and
+called:
+
+"I demand to be admitted at once, young gentlemen! I know the nefarious
+practice that is going on in there, and it must stop at once! Open the
+door or I shall summon the janitor and have it forced! Open at once!"
+
+The professor tried the knob. To his surprise it at once opened the
+door, and he almost stumbled into the apartment. He uttered an
+exclamation of delight, probably in the belief that he had caught the
+students red-handed, but the next moment he gave a gasp of dismay.
+
+For, as Tom, Phil, and all the others could see from their vantage
+points in the shadowy recesses, the room was empty. It was lighted,
+however, and in plain view on a table in the middle of the floor was a
+large flask. In the top of this there was a receptacle which contained a
+pile of burning tobacco, and it was glowing as though some giant was
+puffing on the improvised pipe. From a glass tube extending from the
+flask there poured out volumes of the pungent odor, and, as the puffs
+came, Tom and Phil could hear the air pump being worked. It was a
+"studentless smoker," the air pump, attached to a rubber hose which
+exhausted the air from the flask, producing exactly the effect of some
+one puffing a pipe. The room was blue with the haze of tobacco, and as
+the astonished professor stood and gazed at the strange sight more smoke
+arose from the flask. Then, from somewhere in the dark recesses of the
+corridor came a voice.
+
+"Stung!" it ejaculated, and there was a hurried movement as the students
+fled in the darkness.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+THE ENVELOPE
+
+
+Plunging on through the darkened corridors Tom and Phil reached their
+room. They found Sid still on the sofa.
+
+"Say, that was great!" cried Tom, venturing to laugh, now that there was
+no danger of being caught. "You should have been along, Sid. Pitchfork
+got his to-night, all right. I'll never forget the blank look on his
+face."
+
+"I either," agreed Phil. "That was a smoker as was a smoker. I hope none
+of us are caught. The twins and Bricktop outdid themselves this trip."
+
+Sid began to show some signs of interest, and the trick was told of in
+detail to him. Of course a faculty inquiry followed, but the hose and
+air pump had been taken from the school laboratory, and there were no
+clues to the perpetrators. Professor Tines was furious, and demanded
+that the guilty ones be dismissed.
+
+"Willingly, my dear professor," agreed the venerable Dr. Churchill, "if
+I can only find them," and there was a twinkle in his deep-set eyes,
+which he took care that Mr. Tines did not see.
+
+Baseball practice went on for several days. One afternoon, as the lads
+were dispersing, Ed Kerr was seen coming over the diamond, holding in
+his hand a letter.
+
+"We can't play Fairview Saturday," he announced.
+
+"Why not?" asked Tom quickly.
+
+"They say they're not quite ready to open their season," went on the
+manager. "They ask me to put the opening game off a week."
+
+"Are you going to do it?" inquired several.
+
+"Well, what do you fellows say?" asked the manager.
+
+"Oh, well, they probably have a good reason. We'll let it go a week,"
+assented Tom. "But can we get another game in place of it?"
+
+"Yes, I can fill in with the Layton Preparatory school for this
+Saturday, and we can go to Wescott University the following Saturday,
+and then tackle Fairview, if you fellows say so."
+
+"Sure," came in a chorus.
+
+When Tom and Phil returned to their room Sid was not there.
+
+"What do you think about it, anyhow, Phil?" asked the pitcher, and there
+was no need to be more explicit.
+
+"Oh, hang it all, I don't know. It looks funny; about Sid not wanting to
+tell. And he sure is cut up over Miss Harrison. I wonder who sent her
+that newspaper clipping?"
+
+"Give it up. But I heard that there was a raid all right, and a lot of
+college fellows were caught. Some of 'em were our chaps, but they
+managed to keep their identity hidden. I don't see how Sid's got out."
+
+"Then you think he was there?"
+
+"No, I didn't mean that. But it looks mighty funny. I do hope he isn't
+going to cut loose, just at the opening of the ball season," and Tom
+sighed, as though he had the weight of worlds on his shoulders. And,
+indeed it is no small task to be captain of a lively college team,
+struggling to win the championship trophy, and the pitcher was beginning
+to realize this.
+
+"Oh, maybe he just wanted a fling," suggested Phil. "Now he's had it
+he's ashamed to admit it, and wants to cover it up."
+
+"But he denies that he was caught," said Tom.
+
+"I know it; but what good will that do him, if he doesn't tell where he
+was that night? He admits that he was in Dartwell, and he must have been
+somewhere near the place of the raid, or his name would never have
+gotten in the papers."
+
+"Unless some one gave his name out of spite."
+
+"By hookey! That's so!" admitted Phil. "I never thought of that. But
+no--no college fellow would be as mean as that."
+
+"Unless it was Langridge or Gerhart. Gerhart is in parts unknown, and
+Langridge----"
+
+"I understand none of the Boxer Hall fellows were in it," went on Phil.
+"Only some of our boys and a few from Fairview--more fools they! But it
+sure has put Sid on the blink as far as Miss Harrison goes. Ruth was
+telling me her family, as well as she, has a horror of gambling in any
+form. Poor old Sid. I wish we could help him; don't you?"
+
+"I sure do," agreed Tom. "We need him on the nine, and we need him in
+good condition. First thing I know I'll have to put a sub on in Sid's
+place."
+
+"Oh, I hope not. But, say, I've got to do some studying if I'm to play
+on the team myself. I'm getting to low water mark in Latin and maths.
+Here goes for some hard boning."
+
+It was about a week after this, in which time Randall had met, and
+beaten, Layton Preparatory school, that Phil, Sid and Tom were taking
+a trolley ride one evening.
+
+"Where shall we go?" asked Phil.
+
+"Let's take the Tonoka Lake car," suggested Tom.
+
+"Which means let's go to Fairview," asserted Phil. "Well, I don't mind."
+Sid said nothing.
+
+Of course it was only a coincidence, but a little later the three lads
+were walking down toward the co-educational institution, and of course,
+I suppose, it was also only a coincidence that Miss Tyler and Miss
+Clinton should shortly come strolling over the campus.
+
+"There's Ruth," announced Phil carelessly, though he was not looking at
+her, but at Miss Tyler.
+
+"That's so," replied Tom, as if it was the queerest thing in the world.
+
+"They're headed this way--no use to turn back, I suppose?" asked Phil,
+as if there was some doubt of it.
+
+"No," agreed Tom. "Besides, I want to ask your sister what she thinks of
+the chances of Fairview beating us."
+
+"Oh, she'll tell you her college will win, of course," asserted Phil.
+"Well, come on," and they walked to meet the girls who had pretended not
+to notice the approach of the lads.
+
+"Oh, why hello, Phil!" called his sister. "Glad to see you; aren't we,
+Madge?"
+
+"Of course," replied Miss Tyler, with a merry laugh.
+
+"I'll see you fellows later," murmured Sid, who was very sensitive, and
+he was about to swing away.
+
+"Don't go," urged Tom. "We'll soon be going back."
+
+But Sid turned aside. As he did so there came around the corner of the
+main college building two figures, who strolled over the campus. It
+needed but a glance to disclose to Tom and Phil who they were--Miss
+Harrison and Fred Langridge. The couple were chatting and laughing
+merrily. Instinctively Tom turned to see if Sid had observed them. The
+second baseman had, and, for an instant he stood staring after the two,
+who had not seen him. Then, without a word, he kept on his way.
+
+"Beautiful evening," remarked Miss Tyler quickly, and she began to talk
+rapidly about the weather, as if to cover Sid's retreat.
+
+As Tom and Phil walked along the corridor leading to their room a little
+later that night, they saw a light streaming out of the cracks around
+the portal.
+
+"Sid's in there," said Tom.
+
+"Yes," agreed Phil, "I wonder----" But he did not finish the sentence.
+Awkwardly he and Tom pushed in. They started back at the sight of their
+chum.
+
+He was bending over a table on which he had placed a portable electric
+lamp, the college rooms being illuminated with both gas and the
+incandescents. Holding a paper in the glow of the bulb, Sid was
+examining the document with the aid of a magnifying glass. At the same
+time he seemed to be comparing other pieces of paper with the one he
+held.
+
+"Studying?" asked Tom.
+
+"Yes," replied Sid shortly.
+
+"Something new?" inquired Phil. "I didn't know you were qualifying for a
+course in identifying handwriting," for he saw that the papers Sid was
+looking at contained writing.
+
+"Do you see this?" asked Sid suddenly, holding up an envelope.
+
+"Why--er--yes," answered Tom. "It's addressed to Miss Harrison,
+and--but--are you going over with a microscope a letter you've written
+to her, to see if it will pass muster? She's not as particular as that,
+you old bat."
+
+"I haven't been writing to her," replied Sid coldly. "This is the
+envelope containing that clipping with my name in it--the report of the
+gambling raid--I picked up the envelope--that afternoon," and he seemed
+struggling with some emotion.
+
+"What about it?" asked Phil, who did not exactly catch the drift.
+
+"This," answered Sid quickly. "Look at this note," and he showed them a
+missive containing some reference to baseball matters. It was signed
+"Fred Langridge."
+
+"I got that from Langridge last term," went on Sid, "and I saved it, for
+some unknown reason. I'm glad, now, that I did."
+
+"Why?" inquired Tom, who began to see what was coming.
+
+"Because, look at that!" and Sid placed side by side the note from
+Langridge and the envelope that had contained the damaging clipping. He
+held the magnifying glass first over one and then the other. "Do you
+notice any similarity?" he asked.
+
+"Looks to me as if the same person wrote both," said Tom.
+
+"That's right," agreed Phil.
+
+"They did!" cried Sid, as he held up the envelope. "Fred Langridge sent
+to Miss Harrison that lying clipping about me, and to-day he was out
+walking with her!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+A CLASH
+
+
+Sid stood facing his two chums, and his breath came quick and fast. He
+was much worked up over his discovery, as were also his roommates.
+
+"From the time I picked up this envelope, after that day when we had
+lunch with your sister, Phil," he went on, "I've been trying to think in
+whose handwriting it was. Perhaps I had no right to take the envelope,
+but I couldn't help it after she--Miss Harrison dropped it. To-night,
+after I saw him--saw Langridge out walking with her--I came back here,
+and I had a suspicion. I knew I had an old note of Langridge's somewhere
+around. I found it, and compared it with the envelope. You see what it
+shows."
+
+"He must have sent her the clipping," agreed Tom. "But why?"
+
+"Easy enough to see that," answered Sid. "He was mad because I--er--I
+happened to go with her a few times, and he is taking this course
+to give me a bad name, though if she only knew it Langridge is no
+white-ribboner."
+
+"Maybe that was a fake clipping," suggested Phil. "I've heard of such
+things being done before. Langridge might have hired a printer to set
+that item up so that it looked as if it was cut from a newspaper."
+
+"No," answered Sid quietly. "The item was genuine. I have a similar one
+I cut from the Haddonfield _Herald_."
+
+"But it isn't true?" inquired Tom.
+
+"No--that is--well, I can't say anything about it," and Sid looked
+miserable again. "But I'm glad I found out who sent it to Miss
+Harrison."
+
+"What are you going to do about it?" asked Tom.
+
+"I'm going to have it out with Langridge the first time I meet him. I'll
+punch----"
+
+"Better go slow," advised Phil. "Take it easy, old man. Langridge is a
+slick article. We know that of old. If you try a rough-house he'll have
+you at a disadvantage."
+
+"I can't help it. I'm not going to let him get ahead of me this way."
+
+"Oh, forget it and play ball," advised Tom with a laugh, for he felt
+that the subject was getting too serious, and his heart was wrapped up
+in his team, despite a certain pretty girl.
+
+"I only wish I could--forget it," answered Sid.
+
+It was several days after this, and a few days before the game with
+Wescott University, which was to be played on the latter club's
+grounds, that Phil, Tom and Sid journeyed to the town of Haddonfield
+to get some things to take with them on the trip. For it was quite a
+journey to play Wescott, a college with whom Randall had clashed in
+football, losing the game because Phil was taken sick and a new quarter
+back had to go in. It took a day to go and a day to come, and the lads
+would need to take some baggage with them.
+
+The three chums had made their purchases, and were on their way to take
+a car back to Randall, when Sid grasped the arm of Tom.
+
+"There he is!" he exclaimed.
+
+"Who?" asked Tom, who was critically examining a new tie he had
+purchased.
+
+"Langridge!" cried Sid. "I'm going to have it out with him."
+
+"Don't," begged Phil, but it was too late, for Sid had crossed the
+street to where the former pitcher for Randall was walking with another
+chap, as sportily attired as was he.
+
+"I want to speak to you!" called Sid to his enemy, as he came up behind
+him, Tom and Phil following at a distance.
+
+"What's that?" drawled Langridge, turning. "Oh, it's you, is it
+Henderson? Well, I don't know that I care to talk to you. I'm not used
+to associating with chaps caught in gambling raids!"
+
+Sid was fairly trembling with rage, but he managed to take from his
+pocket a duplicate of the clipping which Miss Harrison had received.
+
+"Did you--did you send that to her?" spluttered Sid.
+
+"Send it to whom?" asked Langridge insolently.
+
+"Miss Harrison? That lying clipping about me? Did you send it, I ask?"
+
+"Well, supposing I did? It's a free country; isn't it? Besides, I'm not
+so sure that the clipping doesn't tell the truth."
+
+"Then you sent it!" cried Sid. "You don't dare deny it!"
+
+"Dare you deny that you are the person referred to in it? Dare you deny
+that you were in that gambling hall the night of the raid? Dare you deny
+that?" fired back Langridge.
+
+Sid seemed stunned.
+
+"I--I--er--how--how did you----" he was stammering.
+
+"I see you don't dare deny it," went on Langridge with a sneer. "Your
+manner is answer enough. Come on, Perkins. I don't care to prolong this
+discussion."
+
+"But I do!" cried poor Sid, now beside himself. "I'll get even with you
+for this dirty, sneaking piece of work! You dare send that clipping to
+her--to her! I'll----" he sprang forward, with clenched fists, and
+before Tom or Phil could stop him, he had struck Langridge. The latter,
+with a snarl of rage, jumped toward Sid, but his friend clasped his arm.
+
+"Not here! Not here!" implored Perkins. "You can't fight here,
+Langridge."
+
+"No, that's right," admitted the other with a shrug of his shoulders, as
+he calmed himself with an effort. "And I don't know that I care, after
+all, for the notoriety of fighting him." He turned aside. Sid was about
+to spring forward again, his face distorted with rage, but Tom and Phil
+held him back.
+
+"Come on," whispered the pitcher in his ear. "You don't know what you're
+doing, Sid. You're only making matters worse."
+
+With something like a sob in his throat, Sid allowed his chums to lead
+him away.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+SID IS SPIKED
+
+
+"By Jove, but I'm glad we're going out of town for a game," remarked Tom
+to Phil the next morning.
+
+"Why?" inquired the first baseman, as he critically examined his
+favorite mushroom bat, which he had mended with wire and tape.
+
+"Because of Sid. It may put him on his feet again, after this business
+of Langridge, Miss Harrison, and the newspaper clipping. Hang it all!
+girls can sure mix things up when they want to, can't they?"
+
+"Yes, but it isn't her fault. She merely doesn't care for a fellow that
+gambles, and Sid can't say that he doesn't."
+
+"I don't believe Sid gambles," said Tom quickly. "I was going to add,"
+he went on, "that I'd 'gamble' on that. After the way he acted with
+Langridge last night, almost coming to a fight, I think there is
+something more in this than we've thought of."
+
+"Probably there is; but why doesn't Sid come out and say he wasn't in
+the raid, and clear himself? It ought to be easy enough to do, but he
+doesn't do it."
+
+"I know; and yet he may have a reason."
+
+"Very likely. But things look suspicious. Mind you, I don't say to us,
+for I'd stick to Sid, no matter what he did. But there's the fact of him
+suddenly being broke, being out late several times, going off after
+getting mysterious notes, and coming in smelling strongly of tobacco. It
+looks bad, and I don't see why Sid doesn't own up and confess, or else
+clear himself."
+
+"Maybe he can't. But that's neither here nor there. I'm glad he and
+Langridge didn't fight. Now we're going out of town to play Wescott, and
+maybe get beaten, for they have a fine nine. But, anyhow, it will do Sid
+good. He may come back entirely different."
+
+"Let's hope so, for there's no fun living with him, as he is now. I was
+glad when he got so infatuated with Miss Harrison, even going to the
+length of taking up hammered brass work because she had a fad that way.
+But since she turned him down poor Sid chucked all his brass stuff out
+of the window the other day. Well, maybe it will come out all right."
+
+"It's got to," declared Tom fiercely. "Well, I'm going down to see Kerr
+and Leighton, to learn if everything's all ready for the trip."
+
+The next day the team started for Wescott University, accompanied by as
+many of the students as could cut their lectures. It was a day's trip to
+the big college, one day would be devoted to the game, which was an
+annual affair, and the return trip would be made the third day.
+
+The Randallites were accorded an enthusiastic welcome as they were
+escorted to their hotel by the Wescott lads.
+
+"Remember how sick I was when we were here last year to play 'em
+football?" asked Phil, as he and his chums went to their rooms.
+
+"I sure do. Please don't repeat the experience. We want to beat these
+fellows if we can."
+
+The morning of the game did not prove very auspicious, as it had rained
+in the night, and was still threatening. But when the two nines went out
+to the diamond the sun broke through the clouds and it cleared off.
+
+"Now, fellows," said Coach Leighton, as he gathered the captain and his
+men about him, "you've got to play fast, snappy ball to win. We're up
+against a better team than either Boxer Hall or Fairview, and I want to
+see what you can do."
+
+"If they don't do what's right they'll answer to me," said Tom, with a
+grim smile.
+
+"And if you fellows lose you'll have to walk home," added Manager Kerr.
+
+"Sure, then we'll not allow 'em a hit," prophesied Bricktop Molloy.
+
+"We'll whitewash 'em," added Dutch Housenlager, as he tried to trip up
+Joe Jackson, but failed.
+
+It was a fast, snappy game from the very start, Tom doing some superb
+work in the box, but being fully matched by Marshall, the Wescott
+twirler, who was "a southpaw," or left hander.
+
+"He certainly's hard to hit," conceded Holly Cross, when the Randallites
+came to bat in the fifth inning, with never a run scored, while Wescott
+had two, one each having been garnered in the second and third innings.
+
+"We ought to have some left-handed batters to sort of fool him,"
+remarked Tom.
+
+"I can bat left handed," said Sid, who had been unusually quiet during
+the trip and the game.
+
+"Get out! Then it's something new!" exclaimed Mr. Leighton.
+
+"Yes," admitted Sid, "and yet it isn't either. I used to bat left handed
+before I came to Randall, but I gave it up. I've been practicing it on
+the quiet, lately, and if you like I'll try it now."
+
+"It's risky," objected Tom. "Wait until we see what we can do this
+inning."
+
+But they couldn't do anything, and after three men had gone down, one
+after the other, under the scientific twirling of Marshall, Mr.
+Leighton, Kerr and Tom, after a consultation decided to let Sid try, as
+he was to bat first in the next round.
+
+Wescott managed to get two more runs, as the players were "finding" Tom,
+and things began to look black for the visiting team.
+
+"See if you can't rap out a home run," begged the captain, as Sid went
+to the plate in the sixth. There was manifest surprise when he took the
+left-handed position, and Marshall and Bradshaw, the latter being the
+Wescott catcher, held a whispered consultation.
+
+Whatever line of play they decided on availed them nothing, however, for
+Sid caught a "beaut" on the end of his bat, selecting the first ball
+pitched, and he sent it away over in the right field bleachers, easily
+making a three-bagger of it. He could have come on home, except for
+ground rules, which allowed only three bases on a ball that went among
+the spectators, of whom there was an enormous crowd present, almost up
+to the base lines.
+
+"Good!" delightedly cried the Randall supporters, and the record was
+soon bettered for Holly Cross came up next, and, though he batted right
+handed, he managed to whale out a two-bagger, which brought in Sid and
+made the first tally for the visitors. That gave them confidence and
+they made three runs that inning, coming within one of tying the score.
+
+Tom, too, seemed to stiffen in his work, and he struck out three men in
+quick succession.
+
+"Now if we can only do as well this inning," remarked the coach, as
+Dutch Housenlager came up. Dutch knocked a pretty fly, and was off like
+the wind to first. He never would have reached it, but for an error on
+the part of the right fielder who muffed the ball, amid the groans of
+his fellows. Then, for a time, the Wescott team seemed to go to pieces,
+until, when the eighth inning opened, the score was tied.
+
+Goose eggs were chalked up in the frames of both teams in the eighth,
+however, the pitchers both working hard. Then came Randall's chance at
+the bat in the ninth.
+
+"One run will beat 'em, if we can only hold 'em down when they come up,"
+muttered Kerr to Tom.
+
+"I'll do my part," the nervy pitcher assured him.
+
+It fell to Sid again, to do the trick. There were two men out, when he
+came up, and it looked hopeless, but he again batted left handed, and
+once more caught a "beaut" on the end of his bat. He got two bases on
+it, and, by great good luck Holly Cross, next player, whaled out what
+proved to be a triple, and Sid, as soon as he heard the crack of the
+ball, started home.
+
+As he swung around toward third base the player there perhaps
+unintentionally got in his way. The baseman pretended that the ball
+was being fielded to him, in his endeavor to throw Sid out of his
+calculations, but the nervy Randall second baseman kept on. There was a
+collision between him and the man covering the bag, and, for an instant,
+Sid hesitated on third, and almost fell over, seizing his left foot in
+both hands, and hopping about.
+
+"Sid's spiked!" cried Tom. "The third baseman spiked him, just as he had
+a chance to score! Come on in, Sid. Come on in!" yelled the captain
+frantically.
+
+There was a confusing chorus of yells, so much so that the fielder after
+the ball, which had gone past him, did not know what to do, after he had
+the horsehide. But by this time Sid was limping toward home, running
+fairly well, but with a look of agony on his face. Holly Cross was
+racing from second now.
+
+"Home with that ball, you loon!" yelled the Wescott catcher, who saw Sid
+coming, for the Wescott fielder was stupidly holding it.
+
+Then the fielder woke up, and threw to second, hoping to catch out
+Holly, who was somewhat undecided. But Sid kept on to home, and tallied
+the run, though he almost collapsed a moment later, while Holly leaped
+on to third.
+
+"Hurt bad?" asked Tom, as he and several others hurried up to Sid.
+
+"I should say so," remarked Mr. Leighton, as he saw the blood running
+from Sid's shoe.
+
+Meanwhile Holly had reached third, though the decision was close. He
+died there, for the next man struck out, retiring the side, and making
+the score five to four, in favor of Randall, though with Wescott still
+to have a chance in the ending of the ninth.
+
+The third baseman made all sorts of apologies to Sid, who indeed had a
+nasty cut, for a spike had gone through the outer, fleshy part of his
+foot. It was so evidently an accident, however, that nothing unpleasant
+was said, though Sid could not play, and had to be replaced by Pete
+Backus.
+
+There was a grim look on Tom's face as he took his place in the box, and
+it was justified, for he struck out two men. The third knocked what
+seemed was going to be a nice hit, but Pete Backus caught it, though he
+had to jump well for it, a feat for which his training stood him well in
+hand.
+
+"Wow! We've done 'em!" cried Tom, when he realized that the third
+Wescott man was out, without a run having been scored by their rivals in
+the last inning.
+
+"We sure have," agreed Mr. Leighton. "Poor Sid, though. He'll be out of
+it for a few days."
+
+"I don't care, as long as we won the game," spoke the plucky lad, as he
+limped along, his foot having been dressed, and peroxide applied, to
+prevent blood poisoning.
+
+"It was a glorious victory," sang Holly Cross, the others joining
+in, after cheers had been given for Wescott, and returned by those
+fine-spirited lads.
+
+It was a jolly crowd that journeyed back to Randall next day, with the
+Wescott scalps hanging at their belts.
+
+"It was just what Sid wanted," decided Tom to Phil as he noted the
+lively look on the second baseman's face, for he was jolly and laughing,
+in spite of the pain of his injured foot.
+
+There was a great celebration in Randall when the victorious team
+marched up the campus that night, and bonfires galore glared all around.
+
+"A feast to-night," decided a crowd of the team's most enthusiastic
+supporters. "Sid Henderson will be toastmaster, on account of his great
+work."
+
+But Sid, who had limped to his room to change his clothes, shook his
+head.
+
+"Why not?" asked Tom and Phil in surprise.
+
+"Because I--I've got to go away to-night," and Sid tried to conceal a
+letter in his hand--a letter which he had found awaiting him when he
+returned from Wescott with his chums.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+A JOKE ON THE PROCTOR
+
+
+For a moment neither Tom nor Phil answered. There was an embarrassed
+silence, but it only affected the three chums, for all about them was
+a rollicking, shouting crowd of students intent on arranging for a
+celebration in honor of the nine, and Sid--the player who had done so
+much to help win.
+
+"Have you _got_ to go?" asked Tom, in a low voice. "Can't you put it
+off, Sid?"
+
+"I've got to go. I can't put it off," was the reply, as Sid turned and
+limped away.
+
+"Oh, I say! Where's he going?" demanded Snail Looper. "We want to form a
+procession and carry him."
+
+"Oh, he'll be back--later," answered Phil, for both he and Tom wished to
+conceal, as long as possible, the growing mystery that seemed to be
+enveloping their chum.
+
+There was no time for longer talk with Sid, as he had hurried off as
+fast as his injured foot would let him, though Mr. Leighton had advised
+him to stay in his room for a couple of days.
+
+"Where do you s'pose he's going?" asked Tom of Phil.
+
+"Give it up, unless he's going to call on Miss Harrison, and it doesn't
+seem very likely. He'd be more cheerful if it was that. As it is he acts
+as if he was going to a funeral."
+
+"That's right. He got another one of those queer letters, and, as usual,
+when he does, he scoots off somewhere. Do you know what I think?"
+
+"You think of so many things, Tom, I can't be sure."
+
+"No joking. I mean we ought to follow him, and see where he goes so
+mysteriously. Maybe we could help him."
+
+"Oh, we couldn't do that, but I'd do anything else to help Sid."
+
+"No, of course it wouldn't be fair to play the spy; but, just the same,
+I wish I knew what was worrying him."
+
+A moment later the two players were caught up in a rush of enthusiastic
+students that involved the whole nine except Sid, and were carried
+off to an impromptu celebration. Bonfires were blazing, and
+hastily-organized banquets were in order.
+
+"Why, you'd think we'd won the championship to see the way they take
+on," remarked Holly Cross.
+
+"Well, we're in line for it, after the way we beat Wescott," said Tom.
+"It's the best nine Randall has had in many a year, if I do say it
+myself," and Tom looked proudly on his team.
+
+"My uncle says----" began a voice.
+
+"Smother him!"
+
+"Into the lake with him!"
+
+"Make him eat soft soap!"
+
+"Choke him with a double ice-cream cone!"
+
+These cries, and many more, greeted the almost fatal announcement of
+Ford Fenton. Much abashed, he turned aside from the crowd into which he
+had made his way.
+
+"I wouldn't stand for that, if I were you," remarked Bert Bascome to
+him. "Why don't you go back at 'em."
+
+"Oh, I don't know," replied Ford hesitatingly.
+
+"You'd have been manager of the team if some of the mollycoddles around
+here had had any spunk," went on the sporty freshman. "I'm not done yet,
+either. I'll make the team wish, before the season is over, that Ed Kerr
+hadn't been manager."
+
+"You'll not do anything rash, will you?" asked Ford, who was somewhat
+afraid of his wealthy chum, who proposed daring pranks sometimes.
+
+"I don't know," answered Bascome with a superior air. "If I had some
+one to help me I know what I'd do. Come over here, I want to talk to
+you," and he led Ford off to where a number of freshmen of Bascome's
+crowd were looking on at the celebration in honor of the nine, but
+taking no part. Tom saw Ford going off with Bascome, the enthusiastic
+welcome of the players having calmed down for a moment.
+
+"I don't like that," he observed to Phil. "Bascome is a chap likely to
+get Ford into trouble. There's a fast set in the freshie crowd this
+year."
+
+"Yes, we didn't take enough temper out of 'em with the hazing last fall.
+Have to do the job over again, I guess. But come on, enjoy life while
+you can," and the two were once more caught up in the happy rush.
+
+The celebration went on the better part of the evening, and when Phil
+and Tom got to their room Sid was not there. He came in later, narrowly
+missing detection by the proctor, and said little. He was limping quite
+badly.
+
+"How's the foot?" asked Tom.
+
+"Not much better," answered Sid. "I shouldn't have gone out to-night,
+only--I had to."
+
+He was dead lame the next day, and for two days after that had to stay
+in bed, his place on the nine, in practice games, being taken by Pete
+Backus, who did not do half badly.
+
+The game with Fairview was approaching and it was likely to be a
+severely-contested one. Tom was a little anxious but seemed more at ease
+when Dr. Marshall, the college physician, gave it as his opinion that
+Sid could play, his foot having almost healed.
+
+"And you've got to bat as you did before too, old sport," insisted Tom,
+with a laugh. "Why didn't you spring that left-hand racket before?"
+
+"Well, you see I wasn't at all sure of it. When I was a kid I always
+batted left handed. Then I broke my shoulder and I had to bat right
+handed after it mended, for it was stiff. Then later I found I could bat
+either way, but I favored right, until lately, when I began practicing
+left again."
+
+"We'll keep you for a pinch hitter," declared Tom. "I must revise the
+batting order, and get you up first, after this."
+
+Sid got into practice a few days before the Fairview game, but was so
+stiff that it was decided to have some one run for him, after he had
+gotten to first.
+
+The day before the game, when Sid, Phil and Tom were in their room, Sid
+putting some strips of adhesive plaster on his lame foot, there came a
+cautious knock at the door. Dutch Housenlager was at once admitted.
+
+"Are you fellows game?" was his first question.
+
+"For what?" asked Phil.
+
+"For a joke on Proc. Zane?"
+
+"Oh, we're always ready for that!" exclaimed Sid. "He has caught me once
+this term, and nearly twice. What's the joke?"
+
+"I'll explain," went on Dutch, fairly bubbling over with mirth. "Only
+you fellows may have to stand for part of it."
+
+"How?" asked Tom. "We'll do our share, of course."
+
+"We want to use one of your windows for part of the trick. May we?"
+
+"Sure," answered Phil. "We'll stand for anything short of setting fire
+to the college, and we'll throw in a hazing of Pitchfork if it's
+possible."
+
+"Oh, he'll get his some day," replied Dutch, "but just now we're after
+Zane. Here's a cord. When you hear three tree-toad whistles down below,
+lower it from your window, and then at two tugs haul up."
+
+"You're not going to pull the proctor up here, are you?" inquired Phil
+in some alarm.
+
+"No, but I wish we could. He's been on the job pretty brisk, lately.
+Just haul the cord, and then I'll be back to explain more," and leaving
+a stout string in Tom's hands Dutch hurried away. The three chums tried
+to guess what was to follow, and made all sorts of wild hazards, in the
+midst of which they were interrupted by hearing from below the cautious
+imitation of the trill of a tree-toad, thrice repeated.
+
+"Lower the cord," whispered Phil, and Tom dangled it from the window. In
+a few minutes he felt two tugs, which was the signal for hauling up, and
+he pulled until he had hoisted to his window sill a coil of strong wire.
+The inseparables were wondering what it was for, when Dutch reappeared.
+
+"Anything heavy we can fasten this to?" he asked, as his eyes roved
+about the room.
+
+"There's the alarm clock," replied Sid. "It wakes us out of a heavy
+sleep, sometimes."
+
+"Rotten joke," commented Dutch. "Here, this will do," and he approached
+the old sofa, holding the coil of wire.
+
+"It won't damage it; will it?" cried Phil in some alarm.
+
+"Impossible, son! Impossible!" replied Dutch. "I only want to anchor the
+wire to the sofa. There we are," and he rapidly made a loop in the wire,
+and strung it around the ancient piece of furniture. Then the other end
+of the wire was dangled out of the window. It was promptly pulled taut,
+and seemed to be stretched out for some distance.
+
+"That's the stuff!" commented Dutch. "Holly and the rest of the boys are
+on the job."
+
+"But what are you going to do?" asked Tom, much mystified.
+
+"You'll soon see," answered Dutch, as he hurried from the room again.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+PLANNING A PICNIC
+
+
+When Dutch returned, after an absence of about half an hour, he seemed
+in considerable of a hurry. He went directly to the window, out of which
+there stretched away in the darkness the tight wire, and from the
+casement dropped a cord. Then he gave a whistling signal, which was
+answered. Dutch began to haul up on the cord.
+
+"Say, look here!" burst out Phil. "What's up, anyhow? Let us in on the
+joke, as long as you're using our room to work it from."
+
+"Sure," agreed Dutch. "It's all ready now, as soon as I get the cord
+Snail Looper is fastening to this one."
+
+He hauled up a thin but strong rope, and once more gave some whistling
+signals. Then he closed down the window.
+
+"Now we'll have to wait about an hour," he explained, "but I'll tell you
+what's up. You know the proctor has been unusually officious of late,
+and several of us have suffered."
+
+Sid nodded appreciatively.
+
+"Well," resumed Dutch, "some of us have rigged up an effigy, in the shape
+of a student in a dress suit, and at this moment the said imitation
+student is strung on this wire, which extends from your window across the
+campus, to the clump of elms just beyond Booker Memorial chapel. The
+effigy is a sort of trolley car, and this is the wire. This cord, which I
+just hauled up is also attached to the figure. Now at the proper time,
+when Proc. Zane goes out to catch some poor chap, who has been off to see
+his best girl, and has stayed too late, I'll pull this string, the figure
+will slide along the wire, with the feet just touching the ground, and
+the proctor thinking it is a student, will rush up to identify him. There
+will be something interesting when the two meet," and Dutch began to
+chuckle.
+
+"But how can we see it?" asked Tom. "It's as dark as a pocket to-night."
+
+"All the better. The fellows hidden in the clump of elms have an
+automobile search light, which they will turn on at the proper moment.
+Do you catch on?"
+
+"Wow! It's rich!" cried Phil.
+
+"All to the mustard and the spoon, too!" decided Tom.
+
+"A lallapaloosa!" was Sid's comment.
+
+"And not a bit of danger," added Dutch. "As soon as the search light
+flashes on the scene, and the proctor is made aware of the joke, I'll
+cut the wire from your window, it will fall to the ground, be hauled in
+by the fellows in the elms, together with the figure, and not a bit of
+evidence will remain."
+
+"Great!" commented Tom. "But how can you be sure that the proctor will
+be out there?"
+
+"Oh, we've arranged for that. Snail and Holly took pains to converse,
+rather loudly, in Mr. Zane's hearing to-night, though they pretended not
+to see him. They intimated that they might try to sneak in about eleven
+o'clock."
+
+"Then the trick comes off then?" asked Phil.
+
+"Exactly. We've got half an hour yet."
+
+The students sat and talked of many things while waiting, chiefly
+baseball, until a slight vibration of the wire and a tug of the cord
+warned them that the time for action had arrived. Dutch explained that
+he had arranged a code of signals with his chums so that he knew when to
+haul in on the cord which would pull the stuffed figure along the wire.
+
+"There it goes!" he whispered finally. "Now watch the fun!"
+
+He began to haul, and the sagging of the wire told of a weight on it.
+Listening, as they peered from the window into the darkness, Tom and
+his friends could hear some one running across the campus. Then came a
+challenge.
+
+"Stop, if you please, sir! I see you, and it is useless to try and sneak
+into college at this hour! I demand your name, sir!"
+
+"That's Zane!" whispered Phil.
+
+A moment later the wire was violently agitated.
+
+"He's caught him!" exclaimed Dutch. "Why don't they turn on the light,
+so he can see it's only a stuffed scarecrow?"
+
+At that instant a dazzling pencil of light cut the air, wavered around
+uncertainly, and then was focused on a queer sight. The dignified
+proctor of Randall College held in his embrace the swaying figure of an
+effigy, attired in full evening dress, but with a caricature of a face.
+The image swayed from the overhead wire, and the proctor cried out:
+
+"It is disgraceful, sir! I believe you are intoxicated! You will be
+expelled for this!"
+
+Then, as the light suddenly became brighter the official was made aware
+that what he had grasped was only rags and straw in a dress suit. So
+bright was the light that the amazed anger on the proctor's face was
+plainly depicted. Suddenly Mr. Zane leaped back from the image, looked
+up and saw the wire, and darted for the clump of elms, toward which it
+extended.
+
+"Why don't they turn off that light?" demanded Dutch, anxiously, and, as
+though in answer, it went out. Hurriedly he cut the wire, and closed the
+window.
+
+"It worked like a charm," he said. "Mum's the word now."
+
+What happened outside in the darkness Tom and his chums could not see,
+but later they learned that the image and wire was safely hauled out of
+sight, and the students escaped from the group of trees before the
+proctor got there. Of course he made diligent efforts to find out who
+had played the trick, but it was useless.
+
+"That puts us in good humor for the game to-morrow," observed Tom, as,
+chuckling, he and his chums went to bed. But if they had known what
+was in store for them on the morrow, they would not have slept so
+peacefully.
+
+For they suffered a severe drubbing at the hands of Fairview Institute
+when they met that nine on the diamond the next afternoon. How it
+happened they did not like to think of afterward, but it was mainly due
+to poor fielding. Tom pitched well, and Sid made some good hits, but his
+foot went back on him, even in the short spurt to first. Then, too,
+Dutch and Holly, usually to be depended on, disgraced themselves by
+making almost inexcusable errors.
+
+Nor was Fairview's playing anything to boast of, aside from the work of
+the battery. It was just one of those occasions when both teams seem to
+go stale, and probably on the part of Randall the prank of the night
+before, which kept several members of the team up late, had not a little
+to do with it. Sufficient to say, that though Tom managed to whip his
+men into some kind of shape for the last three innings it was too late,
+and they went down to defeat by a score of 3 to 10.
+
+"And the girls watching us, too!" groaned Phil, as they were changing
+their clothes after the game.
+
+"Are you going to see them when we get washed up?" asked Sid eagerly.
+
+"I don't feel much like it," grumbled Tom, but, somehow, he and Phil did
+manage to gravitate to where Madge Tyler and Ruth Clinton were standing.
+Sid followed at a discreet distance, but when he saw Miss Harrison
+strolling about the grounds with Langridge, the second baseman took a
+trolley car for home.
+
+Tom and Sid had to stand considerable chaffing on the part of their two
+pretty companions, but they didn't mind so much, and Tom declared that
+his team was only practicing, and would eventually win the championship,
+and the gold loving cup.
+
+"Oh, by the way," remarked Phil, at parting, "Ruth, don't you and Miss
+Tyler want to come to our doings next week?"
+
+"What doings?" asked his sister. "See you defeated at baseball again, or
+go to a fraternity dance?"
+
+"Something on the order of the latter," replied her brother, making a
+wry face. "The sophs are going to have a little picnic on Crest Island,
+in Tonoka Lake, next Wednesday, and it will be one swell affair. Regular
+old-fashioned picnic--basket lunches, ants in the butter, snakes under
+the leaves, and all that. Holly Cross thought it up, and it's great!"
+
+"What a wonderful brain he must have," said Miss Tyler, with a delicious
+laugh. "But it sounds nice. What do you say, Ruth? Shall we go?"
+
+"I will, if you will. But--er--Mabel----" She looked questioningly
+toward her chum, who was strolling with Langridge.
+
+"Oh, bring her along," invited Phil. "This is an old-fashioned affair,
+and no special person will bring any one else. Tom and Sid and I will
+look after you girls."
+
+"But, Phil, you forget that Mr. Henderson and Mabel----" began Ruth.
+
+"Oh, hang it all, don't let that matter," spoke Phil. "I dare say Sid
+won't be around. As soon as he gets in the woods or fields he's always
+after bugs or animals--he's a naturalist, you know."
+
+"I should say so," agreed Tom. "Remember last fall how he went out after
+a picture of a fox, and got stuck in the bog, and how Zane caught him,
+all covered with mud, and thought poor Sid was a thief, and how we
+pretended we didn't know our own chum, when the proctor brought him to
+our room for identification? Remember that, Phil?"
+
+"I should say I did. Well, that's probably what Sid will do this time,
+so Miss Harrison needn't worry about having to accept him as an escort,
+though for the life of me I can't understand what's up between her and
+Sid?" and Phil looked questioningly at his sister.
+
+"We don't know, either," answered Ruth, "except that Mabel is very
+miserable over it."
+
+"She can't be taking it very hard, when I see her off with that chump,
+Langridge," retorted Phil.
+
+"Yes, I'm sorry she goes with him," retorted Madge Tyler. "But she won't
+listen to us. However, to change the subject--are we to go to the
+picnic, Ruth?"
+
+"Oh, I guess so. How will we get there, Phil?"
+
+"Tom and I will come for you, we'll go to the summer resort on the west
+shore of the lake, and row to the island. It will be sport. Now pray for
+good weather."
+
+"And you boys pray that there aren't any snakes," added Miss Tyler.
+
+"Nor ants in the butter," went on Ruth, as the boys bade the girls
+good-by.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+A SPORTY COMPANION
+
+
+"Where's my blue tie?" cried Tom, tumbling about the things on his
+bureau. "Have you seen it, Phil?"
+
+"Well, I like your nerve! Yes, I used it as a shoe polishing rag,"
+remarked Phil sarcastically. "You'll find it on the blue-tie hook, I
+should say. Why don't you look there."
+
+"Blue-tie hook?" queried Tom.
+
+"Yes. You're such an orderly chap," added Phil, as he looked at his
+chum's disordered side of the room, "that I supposed you had a hook for
+each tie."
+
+"Oh, cut it out," advised Tom, making a perfect shower with a rainbow
+effect of colored silks, as he looked in vain for the blue article of
+adornment.
+
+"I don't know where in blazes your blue tie is," went on Phil, as he
+gazed with a puzzled air into a box on his dresser; "but I'd like to
+know where my garnet cuff buttons are. Have you been sporting 'em,
+Sid?"
+
+"Me? No!" answered the other chum, who was quietly dressing, a task
+which Tom and Phil seemed to think called for more or less elaborate
+effort. "But, say, what's getting into you chaps, anyhow? You're togging
+up as much for the soph picnic as though it was a frat. dance. Are there
+some damsels in the offing?"
+
+"Oh, there are always girls to these affairs," carelessly spoke Tom, as
+he opened another drawer and began tumbling about his collars and cuffs.
+"Hang it all, where _is_ that tie, anyhow."
+
+"I s'pose nothing but a baby-blue one would suit your fair complexion,"
+remarked Phil, glancing at Tom, who was as brown as an Indian from his
+out-door life.
+
+"It will suit me as well as your cute little garnet cuff buttons will
+you. I never saw such a fusser! Ah, there's the tie. I remember now, I
+put it there to hide it away from you chaps," and Tom pulled out a
+gorgeous affair of silk from inside a cuff.
+
+"Speak for yourself, you old fossil!" retorted Phil, who just then
+discovered his cuff buttons marking a place in his Ovid. "Wonder how in
+blazes they got there?" he murmured, as he proceeded to put them in his
+cuffs, while Tom was busy trying to make just the proper knot with the
+blue tie.
+
+"Why are you fellows togging up so?" demanded Sid. "Are you going to
+take some girls, as well as meet some there?" And, for the first time he
+seemed to entertain some suspicions of his friends.
+
+"Oh, well, Ruth wanted to go," said Phil, as indifferently as he could,
+"and Tom and I promised to----"
+
+"I suppose Miss Tyler is going?" asked Sid quietly.
+
+"Yes," assented Tom, his face flushing under its bronze coat, though
+possibly it was from his exertion in pulling his tie into place.
+
+"And so is Miss Harrison," went on Phil, with a desperate effort, as if
+desirous of getting the worst over. "But you don't need to worry," he
+added, as he saw Sid sit limply down in a chair. "She probably won't see
+you, so there need be no embarrassment. I thought it was a pity to have
+her miss it, especially as Ruth and Madge are going, and she rooms with
+them. We thought you wouldn't mind, old fellow, but we weren't going to
+tell you."
+
+"So that's what you've been so mysterious about these last few days,"
+commented Sid. "I thought something was up. Of course it's all right. I
+sha'n't annoy Miss Harrison, only--Oh, what's the use!" and he went on
+with his preparations.
+
+It was the morning of the day of the annual sophomore picnic, and there
+was much excitement, especially in the ranks of the second-year men,
+and the more or less numerous fair ones who counted on being taken to
+the charming little island in the middle of Lake Tonoka. The affair was
+always held at this season of the year, when there was no danger of an
+attack from the freshmen students, who, by this time, had settled down
+into something approaching dignity.
+
+"You're not going to back out, because she--Miss Harrison--is coming,
+are you?" asked Phil, as he saw Sid cease his arrangements for dressing.
+
+"No--no--of course not. I was just--just thinking. I'll take my camera
+and specimen box along, and do a little work in biology and nature
+study. I need a little freshening up for the final exams. I probably
+won't see much of you chaps."
+
+Phil and Tom departed ahead of Sid, who busied himself with his camera,
+his specimen box and his cyanide bottle, with which latter he painlessly
+killed such bugs and butterflies as he captured.
+
+"We'll see you later," called Tom, as, with his blue tie very much in
+evidence, he and Phil went to get the girls.
+
+A picnic is pretty much the same the world over, even if it is gotten up
+by a college crowd, and the one on Crest Island was no exception. There
+was the usual screaming of the girls when the boats tipped, and the
+usual strolling in shady nooks by youths and maidens, there was fun
+galore and happiness on all sides, for the day was perfect.
+
+Madge Tyler, Ruth Clinton and Mabel Harrison were walking along with
+Phil and Tom, having just come in from a ride around the lake in a motor
+launch.
+
+"What shall we do now?" asked Ruth.
+
+"We'll soon have the pleasure of seeing some ants do a waltz or a
+two-step in the butter," announced Tom. "I see the waiters getting the
+tables ready," for a caterer had been hired by the students to provide
+luncheon.
+
+"How interesting," remarked Madge. "Suppose we go over there in the
+shade----" She paused suddenly, and with a little gesture to Ruth went
+on hurriedly: "Oh, no, let's go this way."
+
+"That's too sunny," objected Mabel. "I'd rather go over in the shade,
+and----"
+
+She, too, stopped, and then she saw what had made her chum hesitate. Sid
+Henderson was approaching them on a path which had no turn in it, as
+they had passed the only one just as Madge tried to branch off. There
+was no help for it. Sid was creeping up with his camera, intent on
+getting a picture of a large butterfly that had alighted on a flower,
+and, as yet, he had not seen the little party.
+
+Miss Harrison was at once aware that her two girl chums had endeavored
+to save her the embarrassment of meeting Sid, but it was too late to
+turn back gracefully now, and with an admirable assumption of calmness
+the girl said:
+
+"Oh, isn't it interesting! I hope Mr. Henderson gets his picture. I did
+not know he was a naturalist."
+
+Tom and Phil both breathed easier. It seemed that Miss Harrison would
+not "cut" Sid after all. Perhaps their precautions had been useless.
+
+They were not aware that a girl can sometimes, under force of
+circumstances, assume a part she does not feel. It was this way with
+Mabel Harrison. She did not want to meet Sid, but she was too cultured
+to cause his friends sorrow by refusing to notice his presence. So, with
+somewhat heightened color, she stood in the group composed of her chums,
+Phil and Tom, and watched the young naturalist coming nearer and nearer.
+So intent was Sid on getting the picture that he had not, as yet, seen
+his chums or the girls.
+
+There was a click of the camera, and, a moment later, after the exposure
+had been made, the gorgeous butterfly sailed gracefully off through the
+air.
+
+"Did you get it?" called out Tom, and Sid looked up.
+
+"Yes," he replied. "A fine and rare specimen." Then he saw Miss Harrison,
+and halted in his approach, which he had begun. But, he also, was too
+proud to turn back now, and came on. The others advanced toward him,
+and Miss Harrison was just bowing, coolly perhaps, but with a show of
+cordiality, when from the bushes there stepped a gaily attired youth,
+whom neither Phil, Tom, nor either of the girls seemed to know.
+
+"Hello, Sid, old chap!" greeted the newcomer in easy but rather too
+loud tones. "I've been trying to pipe you off for ever so long. Looked
+all over for you. Say, this place is dead slow. Not even so much as a
+ring-cane game. What makes you college sports come here? It's too dead
+for me. But I've found a bunch of good things. Come on over and we'll
+have a little poker, and I'll depend on you to----"
+
+The sportily dressed youth paused, for Sid had started back with horror
+at the sight of him, and had made an unmistakable gesture of caution.
+
+"What's the matter?" went on the flashily attired one. "Ain't I good
+enough to speak to you? Or maybe you think the dames give me the
+fussers. Not a bit of it. Pleased to meet you, girls," and he made pert
+bows to the three young ladies, who returned them with mere nods, for
+they expected to learn that the new arrival was a friend of Sid's,
+however undesirable he might seem.
+
+"How came you here? What do you want?" demanded Sid, and the hand that
+held the camera trembled.
+
+"I came after you," was the answer. "Called up at the brain factory, and
+they told me the whole bunch of second year boys were off on a chowder
+party, so I took a boat and came here. I thought I'd have some sport,
+but it's dead slow. Come on, and I'll show you some fun. I've got a deck
+of cards and----"
+
+Sid was quickly at the side of the sporty one, and uttered something in
+a hoarse whisper.
+
+"Oh, that's all right then, don't mind me," came the answer, and the
+youth leered at the girls. Tom was with difficulty keeping down
+his anger, while Phil was hopelessly wondering who on earth Sid's
+acquaintance could be.
+
+Miss Harrison, who had started to greet Sid, drew back and there was a
+look of disgust on her face. She turned aside, and started back.
+
+"Don't go away--I like your style," called the sporty lad. "We need
+another lady as it is. Don't go away."
+
+"Keep quiet!" begged Sid desperately. "I'll go with you. Come on," and,
+to the surprise of his friends, Sid turned into the woods, and followed
+the youth, who impudently took off his hat and threw kisses to the
+girls, as they turned their backs. Miss Harrison had disappeared around
+a turn in the path.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+"MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS!"
+
+
+For a moment no one knew what to do or say. Tom was nervously kicking
+at the pebbles in the path, while Phil got out his knife and began
+whittling a stick furiously. As usual it was the girls who saved the
+situation.
+
+"I suppose he's gone off to get some more pictures," said Madge, with a
+nervous little laugh. "Come on, Ruth, we mustn't let Mabel go back there
+all alone. After all, I don't believe we want to go sit in the shade.
+Isn't dinner almost ready? I'm nearly famished, boys."
+
+"Yes, bring on the butter, ants and all," added Ruth.
+
+"All right, just as you say," responded Phil, with a quick look at Tom,
+who rather avoided the glance, for he was sorely puzzled. "I dare say
+grub is ready. We'll dine beneath the greenwood tree, from whence all
+care shall banished be."
+
+"Bravo!" cried Miss Tyler. "You never told me your brother was a poet,
+Ruth."
+
+"He doesn't know it himself," commented his sister dryly. "Oh, there's
+Mabel. Wait!" she called, and the girl in advance turned. There was a
+troubled look in her blue eyes, but otherwise she was calm.
+
+"Isn't it perfectly charming in the woods," she remarked. "I wish
+Fairview College was nearer the lake."
+
+"Oh, we'll come over and get you, any time you want to come," said Tom
+quickly.
+
+"Thank you," responded Miss Harrison, with a grateful look at him. She
+seemed to have recovered control of herself, but there was a pathetic
+air about her, which did not vanish.
+
+Luncheon was a gay affair, as Tom and Phil felt that it was their duty
+to make up, in a measure, for the strange action of Sid, in going off in
+company with a flashily-dressed youth who had practically insulted his
+chums' companions.
+
+In the afternoon there was a period of idling beneath the trees, walks
+along shady and moss-grown paths, and trips about the lake in boats,
+until the declining sun warned the merry-makers that it was time to
+depart. Phil and Tom took the three girls to Fairview, but they had no
+further sight of Sid that afternoon, nor was any mention made of him,
+though Tom rather hoped the girls would say something that would enable
+him to defend his chum.
+
+For, somehow, in spite of it all, Tom felt that there was something he
+didn't understand in relation to Sid. He was puzzled over it, grieved
+deeply, too, yet he could not condemn Sid.
+
+But no mention was made of the little incident of the morning, and the
+two youths left, promising to come over again at the first opportunity.
+
+"It was awfully kind of you to bother with me," said Miss Harrison, as
+she shook hands with Phil and Tom. "I was rather in the way, I'm afraid,
+and I realize----"
+
+"Why, Mabel, what a way to talk!" interrupted Ruth. "If they hadn't
+taken you with us, we wouldn't have gone with them; would we, Madge?"
+
+"Of course not."
+
+"It's awfully kind of you," went on Mabel, as she turned into the
+college, leaving Phil and Tom to say good-by to their friends.
+
+"Well, what do you make of it?" asked Phil, when he and Tom were on
+their way back to Randall.
+
+"Hanged if I know what to say. Who was that sporty chap, anyhow?"
+
+"Search me. He seemed to take a good deal for granted. The puppy! I felt
+like punching him one, the way he leered at the girls."
+
+"So did I. Would have, too, only for Sid. He seemed to be friendly with
+the flashy chap."
+
+"Yes, and that's the funny part of it. He seemed somehow to have Sid
+under a spell."
+
+"It's just another phase of the mystery that seems to have been
+enveloping poor old Sid, of late," went on Tom. "I only hope one thing,
+and that is, that whatever it is that it doesn't interfere with
+baseball. We've got to depend a lot on Sid this season, as the other
+fellows aren't batting as I hoped they would, and this includes
+myself, but I never was much as a hitter. I never could get above two
+sixty-eight, but Sid won't have any trouble getting to four hundred, and
+he can bat both ways, placing a ball in either right or left field. But
+if this thing is going to keep up," and Tom shook his head dolefully, "I
+don't know what to do."
+
+"Losing that game to Fairview didn't do our standing any good," remarked
+Phil.
+
+"I should say not! But we play Dodville Prep school Saturday, and
+they're easy fruit."
+
+"That will help pull our average up some," admitted Phil.
+
+They made the rest of the trip back to Randall almost in silence, Tom
+making an occasional remark about baseball, and Phil replying, but the
+thoughts of both were more on the events of the day than on the great
+game.
+
+Sid was not in the room when Phil and Tom entered. The latter took off
+his cherished blue tie, and placed it carefully away, probably in a
+place he would forget the next time he wanted it, while Phil made a
+point of sticking his garnet sleeve links in a box that contained
+everything from fish hooks to waxed ends for sewing ripped baseball
+covers.
+
+"Well, I'm glad to-day's over," remarked Tom, as he threw himself in the
+old armchair, with a sigh of relief, "but it was lots of fun while it
+lasted. Still I didn't exactly know what to do when that fellow showed
+up."
+
+"Same here, yet the girls got through all right. Trust them for a thing
+like that? Girls are queer creatures, anyhow."
+
+"You laughed at me when I said that last term," remarked Tom, as Phil
+stretched out on the ancient sofa, raising a cloud of dust. "Well,
+to-day is done. I wonder what will happen to-morrow?"
+
+"Same old grind. I've got to brush up a bit if I want to pass with
+honors. Guess I'll do some boning to-night."
+
+"Yes, and I've got to arrange for some more baseball practice," went on
+Tom. "I wonder where Sid is? I didn't like the looks of that chap. And
+did you hear what he said about playing poker?"
+
+"Yes, I'm afraid Sid's in bad, in spite of what he says."
+
+There was a moment of silence, broken only by the ticking of the alarm
+clock. Then Tom resumed:
+
+"I wish we could help him. If he's got in with a bad crowd we ought to
+help save him. Poor old Sid, I wish----"
+
+At that moment the door opened, and the chum whose troubles they were
+discussing walked in. He had heard what Tom had said, and a dull red
+flushed up under his brown skin.
+
+"Were you fellows talking about me?" he asked hotly.
+
+"We were just saying," began Phil, "that we couldn't----"
+
+"I wish you fellows would mind your own business!" blurted out Sid. "I
+guess I can look after myself!" and he crossed the room and gazed
+moodily out of a window, into the darkness of the night, while the tick
+of the fussy little alarm clock seemed to echo and re-echo through the
+apartment.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+AN UNEXPECTED DEFENSE
+
+
+There wasn't much said in the room of the chums after Sid had "gone
+off the handle," as Tom expressed it later. In fact there was not much
+that could be said. Phil shrugged his shoulders and glanced at Tom
+in a significant manner, and the captain of the nine shook his head
+discouragedly. Matters were getting worse, he thought, and he began to
+fear for the effect of Sid's trouble on the second baseman's ability as
+a player. But what could be done?
+
+Though he did not refer to the scene of the previous evening, when he
+greeted his chums next morning, Sid, by his manner showed that he
+realized it. There was a tender gruffness in his words and actions, and
+he seemed so contrite, and so anxious to make amends that Phil and Tom
+did not have it in their hearts to stand out against him.
+
+"A fine day for practice," observed Tom, as he sprang out of bed, at the
+first summons of the alarm clock.
+
+"Cæsar's battle-axe! What's going to happen?" demanded Phil, lazily
+turning over. "You're up, Tom."
+
+"Sure. I'm behind in my psychology work, and I've got to attend a stiff
+lecture this morning and stand for a quizz afterward. I'm afraid I'll
+slump."
+
+"I'll help you," came unexpectedly from Sid. "I've been all over that
+stuff, and I know what Pitchfork will try to stick you on. Get something
+on, and I'll help you bone."
+
+This was unexpected on Sid's part, but Tom was none the less grateful,
+and soon the two were delving deep into problems of mind and matter,
+while Phil protested that it was against all rules, and that he wanted
+to sleep.
+
+Tom did well in the "quizz," and this made him more than ever anxious to
+help Sid in his trouble. But the second baseman made no reference to it,
+and in practice that afternoon he did better than in several previous
+days at his stick work.
+
+"We'll eat up Dodville," prophesied Tom exultantly. "That's the way to
+lambast 'em, Sid!"
+
+But Randall didn't "eat up" Dodville. They beat the preparatory school
+nine, as indeed they should have done, but the score was no great
+showing of the abilities of Randall.
+
+For the smaller lads hit Tom rather too frequently, and their fielding
+was a joy to the heart of their coach and captain. Even Mr. Leighton
+complimented them on it, and he did not say much to his own men, who, to
+say the least, were a bit ragged.
+
+"Dodville shouldn't have gotten more than one run," declared the coach
+as the nine was returning, "yet you fellows let them get six."
+
+"Yes," added Tom bitterly. "I can see a large, gold-framed picture of us
+winning that loving cup, when we go up against Boxer Hall and Fairview
+again."
+
+"You needn't talk," declared Sid, somewhat bitterly. "You issued plenty
+of walking papers to-day, and they found you several times, in spite of
+your curves."
+
+"I didn't muff a ball, and let a man get away from me on second,
+though," retorted Tom.
+
+"Oh, come on, fellows, let's sing," proposed Holly Cross, as a way out
+of the difficulty, and when some of the old college lays had been
+rendered the team was in better humor.
+
+That evening, when Tom was putting a new toe-plate on his shoe, and
+Sid was pretending to study in one corner of the room, but scarcely
+glancing at his book, there came a summons at the door. Sid jumped up
+at the knock, and there was a look of apprehension on his face, which
+vanished, however, when Wallops, the messenger, came with word that Phil
+was wanted on the telephone. The first baseman returned presently, to
+announce:
+
+"My sister wants to see me, over at Fairview."
+
+"Anything the matter?" asked Tom quickly, and with suspicious interest.
+
+"No, she has a letter from dad, with something in about vacation plans,
+and she wants to talk to me about it. I'll be back soon. Don't sit up
+for me--ta-ta," and Phil was gone.
+
+It was not quite as difficult for him to gain admission to the young
+ladies' side of the Fairview institution as it had been for Tom, on one
+memorable occasion, when he had called to tell Ruth that her brother had
+been hurt in a football game. Then Miss Philock, the preceptress, seemed
+to think Tom was going to carry off some of her charges out of hand.
+
+"What is it, sis?" asked Phil, when his sister had come down to talk to
+him.
+
+"Oh, it's about where we're going this summer. Dad and Momsey have left
+it to me. I want to go to Europe awfully, Phil, and if you and I both
+ask, maybe they'll take us. Will you? That's what I wanted to see you
+about, and I couldn't wait to write, so I telephoned. Don't you want to
+go to Europe?"
+
+"Not much! I'm going camping with Sid and Tom. No Europe for me! We're
+going to do Yellowstone Park, and----"
+
+"Oh, Phil, and I was so counting on Europe," and Ruth began to argue
+with her brother. In the midst of it the door of the little reception
+room opened, and in came Madge and Miss Harrison.
+
+"Oh, excuse us, dear," exclaimed Madge. "We didn't know you were here."
+
+"Do stay," urged Ruth. "It's only Phil. Perhaps you can help me persuade
+him to join with me in begging the folks to take us to Europe," and
+Phil's sister looked knowingly at Madge.
+
+"Oh, wouldn't that be fine!" exclaimed Miss Tyler. "I heard mamma and
+papa talking about making a tour this year, and of course if they went
+I'd go too. Then we might see each other, Ruth. I don't see why you're
+so opposed to Europe, Mr. Clinton."
+
+"Oh, I'm not," answered Phil quickly, doing some hard thinking before he
+reversed himself. "In fact I rather like it. Perhaps we will postpone
+the camping trip and--er--well, I don't care, sis. If you can work the
+folks for a trip across the pond I'm with you."
+
+"Oh, thank you so much!" exclaimed Ruth, and she made a motion as though
+to kiss her brother, only Phil ducked.
+
+"How fortunate you people are to go abroad," spoke Miss Harrison. "I've
+been longing to go," and they began to talk of many things they wished
+to see. From that the talk switched to baseball, and before she thought
+Ruth remarked:
+
+"Is Mr. Henderson batting as well as ever?"
+
+"Not as well as he might," declared Phil, and he spoke not to disparage
+Sid, but merely as a lover of his team. "There's something wrong with
+Sid," he went on, scarcely aware of what he was saying. "He's going
+down, somehow. I'm afraid he's gotten in with a bad crowd. That sporty
+chap we met him with isn't doing him any good, and Sid will slump, if he
+isn't careful. He used to be a steady chap, but I'm afraid he's going to
+the bad."
+
+"Oh, what a shame!" remarked Ruth.
+
+"Yes, and he was so steady," added Madge.
+
+Miss Harrison was biting her lips. Her face had first flushed, but now
+was white.
+
+"I think it's very mean of you to say such things about him when he
+isn't here," she burst out. "Sid--I mean Mr. Henderson--doesn't--I
+mean--I'm sure he wouldn't--anyhow, why don't you be fair to him?" and,
+before any of the others could answer, she burst into tears and fled
+from the room.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+A SERIOUS CHARGE
+
+
+"Well, what do you know about that?" exclaimed Phil, turning to his
+sister and Miss Tyler. "If that isn't the limit!"
+
+"Hush!" begged Ruth. "Poor Mabel! She isn't herself."
+
+"I wasn't saying anything against Sid," went on Phil. "I only said it
+was too bad something seemed to have gotten hold of him lately. Then she
+flies up----"
+
+"How dare you speak about Mabel flying up?" interrupted Ruth, stamping
+her little foot, and shaking her finger at her brother. "She's nervous
+and upset, that's all. You'd better go to her, Madge. Perhaps she has a
+headache."
+
+Miss Tyler, with a sympathetic look at Phil, glided from the apartment.
+
+"What do you s'pose ailed Miss Harrison?" asked Phil.
+
+"I don't know," replied Ruth. "Of course it was rather unexpected when
+she and Mr. Henderson became such friends. Then came that item in the
+paper, and his refusal to explain, and then meeting that horrid fellow
+at the picnic, and then--but I never expected her to break a lance for
+him in this fashion. I guess she cares more than she shows," and with
+this philosophical reflection Ruth bade her brother good night, as Miss
+Philock was marching aggressively up and down the corridor like a
+sentinel, for the hour of retiring was approaching.
+
+"Now don't say a word about this to Sid," cautioned Ruth.
+
+"Of course not," growled Phil.
+
+"Nor Tom Parsons, either."
+
+Phil grunted, but that night he told Tom everything, and the scene
+further added, in the mind of the pitcher, to the mystery that was
+enveloping Sid.
+
+"Maybe the worst of it's over," suggested Tom, as they were discussing
+the matter. "Sid hasn't been out late nights for two weeks now, and he's
+studying hard. He's playing the game, too. We'll beat Fairview the next
+time we tackle 'em, and wipe up Boxer Hall, likewise."
+
+But alas for Tom's hopes. Two nights later, as the three chums were
+studying in their room, Wallops brought a note for Sid, who showed much
+perturbation, and hastily went out, saying nothing to his chums.
+
+"There he goes again," remarked Tom helplessly, as the door closed on
+Sid.
+
+"Um," grunted Phil. He had nothing to say.
+
+Phil and Tom, who were taking up some advanced work in mathematics,
+spent two evenings a week "boning" with Mellville, a senior, and this
+was one of the occasions when they went to his room. They had permission
+to be up beyond the usual hour, and it was rather late when they
+returned to their own apartment. Mellville had his rooms in a new
+fraternity house, not far from Booker Memorial Chapel, and to get to
+their own room, which was in the west dormitory, Phil and Tom had
+to cross the campus, and go in the rear of the "prof house," as the
+building was called where Dr. Churchill and the faculty had their living
+quarters. As the two chums were walking along, they became aware of a
+figure coming up the campus from another direction--from where the main
+entrance gates of the college loomed up dimly in the darkness.
+
+"Some one's coming in late," murmured Phil.
+
+"Likely to get caught," added Tom. "I saw Proc. Zane sneaking around a
+few minutes ago."
+
+"By Jove, that walks like Sid!" whispered Phil, a moment later. "It is
+Sid," he added.
+
+"Yes, and there goes Zane after him!" groaned Tom. "He's caught, sure,
+unless we can warn him. Poor old Sid!"
+
+"Too late," remarked Phil, as he saw the figure of the proctor break
+into a run. Sid also darted off, but soon he saw he had no chance to
+escape, and he stood still.
+
+"Ah, Mr. Henderson, good evening," greeted the proctor sarcastically.
+"Out rather late, aren't you?"
+
+"I'm--I'm afraid so, sir," answered Sid hesitatingly; his two chums,
+from their position in the dark shadows of the faculty house being able
+to hear everything.
+
+"No doubt about it," went on the proctor gleefully. He had kept vigil
+for many nights of late, and his prey had escaped him. Now he had a
+quarry. "Have you permission to be out after hours?" demanded the
+official.
+
+"No, sir."
+
+"I thought not. Report to Dr. Churchill directly after chapel," and the
+proctor, by the light of a small pocket electric lamp he carried, began
+to enter Sid's name in his book. As he did so Tom and Phil could see the
+watch-dog of the college gate gaze sharply at their chum. Then Mr. Zane,
+putting out his hand, caught hold of Sid's coat.
+
+"Are they going to fight?" asked Tom in a hoarse whisper. "Sid must be
+crazy!"
+
+A moment later came the proctor's voice.
+
+"Ha, Mr. Henderson, I thought I smelled liquor on you! I am not
+deceived. What have you in that pocket?"
+
+"Noth--nothing, sir," stammered Sid.
+
+There was a momentary struggle, and the proctor pulled something from
+an inner pocket of Sid's coat. By the gleam of the electric lamp, Tom
+and Phil could see that it was a bottle--a flask of the kind usually
+employed to carry intoxicants--broad and flat, to fit in the pocket.
+
+"Ha! Mr. Henderson, this is serious!" exclaimed the proctor. "Trying to
+smuggle liquor into the college! Come with me to my room at once. This
+must be investigated. I will find out who are guilty with you, in this
+most serious breach of the rules. A bottle of liquor! Shameful! Come
+with me, sir! Dr. Churchill shall hear of this instantly!" and he took
+hold of Sid's arm, as if he feared the student would escape.
+
+"What do you think of that?" gasped Tom, as the full meaning of what he
+had seen came home to him.
+
+"I give up," answered Phil hopelessly. "Poor, old Sid!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+SID KEEPS SILENT
+
+
+Tom and Phil wished they could have been a witness to the scene which
+took place a little later in the study of Dr. Churchill. Not from mere
+motives of curiosity, but that they might, if possible, aid their chum.
+That he was in serious straits they well knew, for the rules of Randall
+(as indeed is the case at all colleges) were most stringent on the
+subject of liquor.
+
+Poor Sid, led like a prisoner by the proctor, walked moodily up to the
+faculty residence, while Tom and Phil, with sorrow in their hearts,
+went to their room. Their grief was too deep and genuine to admit of
+discussion.
+
+"You wished to see me?" inquired Dr. Churchill, coming out of his study
+into his reception room, as Sid and the proctor stood up to greet him,
+having previously sent in word by the servant. "Ha, what is it now?" and
+the venerable head of Randall looked over the tops of his spectacles at
+the two; the official, stern and unyielding, and the student with a
+puzzled, worried air, sorrowful yet not at all guilty. Dr. Churchill
+held a book and his finger was between the pages, as if he hoped soon to
+be able to go back and resume his reading at the place he had left off.
+
+"I regret to announce that I have a most flagrant violation of the rules
+to report to you, Dr. Churchill," began Mr. Zane.
+
+"Another of my boys out late," remarked the doctor, a half smile playing
+around his lips. "Well, of course that can't be allowed, but I suppose
+he has some good excuse. He went to see about a challenge for a ball
+game, or it was so hot in his room that he couldn't study," and the
+president smiled, then, as he caught sight of a little blaze of logs in
+the fireplace of his reception room (for the evening was rather chilly),
+he realized that his latter explanation about a hot room would scarcely
+hold. And, be it said, Dr. Churchill was always looking for some excuse
+for indiscreet students, to the chagrin of the officious proctor.
+
+"Doubtless a baseball matter took him out," went on the president. "Of
+course we can't allow that. Discipline is discipline, but if you will
+write out for me a couple of hundred lines of Virgil--by the way, you
+play at shortstop, don't you?" and the doctor looked quizzically at Sid.
+The president had rather less knowledge of baseball than the average
+lady. "How is the eleven coming on, Mr. Henderson?"
+
+The doctor tried to appear interested, but, for the life of him he never
+could remember whether baseball was played with nine, ten or a dozen
+men, albeit he attended all the championship games, and shouted with the
+rest when the team won. He wanted to appear interested now, however, and
+he was anxious to get back to his reading.
+
+"I regret to inform you," went on the proctor (which was not true, for
+Sid well knew that Mr. Zane took a fiendish delight in what he was about
+to say), "I regret to state that I caught Mr. Henderson coming in after
+hours to-night; and I would not think so much of that, were it not for
+the condition in which I caught him," and the proctor assumed a saintly
+air.
+
+"I don't quite understand," remarked the doctor, laying down his book,
+but taking care to mark a certain passage. Sid was idly aware that it
+was a volume of Sanskrit, the doctor being an authority on that ancient
+language of the Hindoos.
+
+"I regret to say that Mr. Henderson is intoxicated!" blurted out the
+proctor.
+
+"I am not, sir!" retorted the second baseman, it being his first remark
+since entering the room. "I have never touched a drop of intoxicating
+liquor in my life, sir!"
+
+There was a ring in his voice, and, as he stood up and faced his accuser
+there was that in his manner which would indicate to any unprejudiced
+person that he was perfectly sober.
+
+"Intoxicated!" exclaimed the doctor, for he had a nameless horror of
+anything like that. "Don't make such a charge, Mr. Zane, unless you are
+positive----"
+
+"I am positive, Dr. Churchill."
+
+"I have never touched a drop of liquor," insisted Sid.
+
+Dr. Churchill, with a stern look on his rugged face, advanced and took
+hold of Sid by the arms, not severely, not even tightly, but with a
+gentle, friendly pressure. He looked into the troubled eyes of the
+lad--troubled but not ashamed--worried, perhaps, but not abashed. The
+doctor bent closer.
+
+"I am no authority on intoxicants," went on the president grimly, "but I
+should say you were mistaken, Mr. Zane."
+
+"Will Mr. Henderson deny that I took a pint bottle of liquor from him
+not ten minutes ago?" asked Mr. Zane, as he produced the incriminating
+evidence.
+
+Sid's face turned red under its tan--it had been rather pale before--but
+he did not answer. Dr. Churchill looked grave.
+
+"Is this true?" he asked.
+
+"I did have the bottle in my pocket," admitted Sid. "But it was not for
+myself. I took it----"
+
+The president raised a restraining hand.
+
+"Wait," he said. "I will send for Dr. Marshall. This is serious." He
+sighed as he looked at his book. To-night he felt, more than ever, what
+it meant, to be the head of an institution where several hundred young
+men--healthy, vitalized animals--were held in leash only by slender
+cords. Dr. Churchill summoned a messenger, and sent him for the college
+physician.
+
+"Mr. Henderson is no more intoxicated than I am, and I never take a
+drop, nor give it," declared the physician. "I guess you're mistaken,
+Mr. Zane."
+
+"Is this liquor?" demanded the proctor, extending the bottle.
+
+Dr. Marshall looked at the bottle through the light, poured out some of
+the contents into his palm, and smelled of the liquid.
+
+"It seems to be whisky," he said doubtfully, "but I should have to make
+an analysis to be perfectly sure."
+
+"You need not go to that trouble," said Sid quickly. "I have every
+reason to believe that it _is_ whisky."
+
+"And what were you doing with it?" demanded Dr. Churchill sternly.
+
+"That is a question which I must decline to answer," and Sid drew
+himself up haughtily.
+
+The venerable president drew back, almost as if he had received a blow.
+He looked at Sid keenly.
+
+"Very well," he remarked quietly, and there was a note of sadness in
+his voice. "I shall have to inflict severe punishment. The rules call
+for suspension or expulsion, but, in view of your previous excellent
+record, I will make an exception. You will be debarred from all further
+participation in athletics for the remainder of the term--unless," and
+the doctor paused, "you can make some explanation that will prove your
+innocence," and he looked almost as a father might at an erring son.
+
+"I--I can't make any explanation," answered Sid brokenly, as he turned
+away, while the doctor, with a shake of his head, took up his Sanskrit
+book, and went back to his study.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII
+
+BASCOME GIVES A DINNER
+
+
+Of course, the story was all over college the next day, for those things
+leak out, through messengers or servants, or in some mysterious manner.
+But, in this case, the suspension of Sid from further participation in
+the ball games, had to be made known.
+
+"For the love of onions, what are we going to do?" demanded Tom. "We
+can't do without Sid." He was quite broken up over the affair.
+
+"We'll have to play Pete Backus in his place," suggested Phil.
+
+"Yes, I know, but Pete----" began the perplexed captain.
+
+"He'll have to train harder than he has been," observed the coach, who,
+with Tom and some friends, were talking over the alarming situation.
+
+"Oh, Pete'll do it, if he once makes up his mind to it, and I'll see
+that he does," agreed Tom.
+
+"Does this mean that we'll have to cancel the next game with Fairview?"
+asked Ed Kerr, who was anxious to know, for, as manager, he would have
+to shift his dates.
+
+"No, we'll play 'em," replied the coach. "It will mean more and harder
+practice for the next two weeks, though, and we have a game with that
+Michigan school Saturday. They're hard as nails, too, I hear, but maybe
+it will do our fellows good to get a few more drubbings. It may wake
+them up, for there's no denying that the fellows are not playing up to
+the mark."
+
+"I'm sure it's not my fault," began Tom, a bit aggressively.
+
+"I didn't say it was," retorted Mr. Leighton, and there was a sharp tone
+in his words. "Only we've got to play better if we want to win."
+
+Tom, with a fierce feeling in his heart, put his men through a hard
+practice previous to a game with the scrub team, and the men seemed to
+wake up. Pete Backus surprised his chums and himself by knocking a home
+run.
+
+"That's the stuff!" cried Tom.
+
+"Work like that wins games," added the coach, brightening up a bit.
+
+Tom and Phil, in tacit agreement with the rest of the athletic set,
+had avoided mentioning Sid's disgrace, but coming home from practice
+that afternoon, Tom, seeing his chum, curled up in the old armchair,
+studying, could not help remarking:
+
+"What in the world did you do it for, old man? You've put us in a fierce
+hole."
+
+"I'm sorry," spoke Sid contritely.
+
+"Why don't you explain?" asked Phil.
+
+"I can't."
+
+"You mean there's nothing to explain?" queried Tom.
+
+"You can put it that way, if you like. I wish you fellows would let me
+alone."
+
+"That's all right, Sid," went on Tom, "but when we count on you to play
+on the team--and when we need you--to go back on us this way--it's
+not----"
+
+"Oh, let me alone; will you?" burst out the unfortunate one. "Haven't I
+got troubles enough? You know it hurts me, as much as it does you, not
+to play. Don't I want to see Randall win?"
+
+"Doesn't look much like it," mumbled Phil.
+
+"Say, look here," exploded Sid, "if you fellows don't want me here any
+longer, just say so, and I'll get out." He sprang to his feet, and faced
+his chums, a look on his face they had never seen there before. It
+brought to them a realization of what it all meant, though they could
+not understand it.
+
+"Oh, hang it all, we're getting too serious!" declared Tom. "Of course,
+we want you to stay here--we wouldn't know what to do if you left us.
+Only it's tough on the team."
+
+"Glad you appreciate my abilities," remarked Sid, with a little softening
+of his manner. "I'm as much broken up over it as you are. All I can say
+is there's been a big mistake, and all I ask for is a suspension of
+judgment."
+
+"But if it's a mistake, why can't you tell?" insisted Phil.
+
+"I can't, that's all. You'll have to worry along without me. I hear Pete
+is doing good."
+
+"Oh, yes, fair," admitted Tom, "but he isn't as sure a batter as you
+are. We need you, Sid."
+
+"Well, I'm sorry--that's all. It may be explained--some day, but not
+now," and Sid fell to studying again.
+
+"I don't like this," remarked Tom to Phil, a few days later, following
+some practice the day before the game with Michigan, a team that had won
+a name for itself on the diamond.
+
+"Don't like what, Tom?"
+
+"The way some of our team are playing and acting. They seem to think any
+old kind of baseball will do. They play fine--at times--then they go to
+pieces. Then, too, there seems to be a sort of clique forming in the
+nine and among some of the subs. There's too much sporting around, and
+staying out nights. Too many little suppers and smokers."
+
+"Leighton doesn't kick--why should you?"
+
+"He doesn't know it, but if it keeps on I'm going to tell him, and have
+him stiffen up the men. Ed Kerr's got to help, too. Bert Bascome is
+responsible for some of it. He's got lots of money, and he spends it.
+Then, with his auto, he's playing old bob with some of the fellows,
+taking them on joy rides, and keeping them out until, first they know,
+Zane will have them down on his list."
+
+"Oh, it's not as bad as that, I guess."
+
+"It isn't, eh? You just watch, that's all," and Tom kept moodily on to
+his room. On the table were three envelopes, one each for the captain,
+Sid and Phil.
+
+"What's up?" asked Phil. "I wonder if Ruth is going to have a blow-out
+again, or if Madge----"
+
+He opened his missive and began to read it, Tom already having perused
+his.
+
+"There, what did I tell you?" asked the captain. "Bascome is giving a
+dinner to-night, and he wants the whole 'varsity nine, and the subs, to
+attend. The little puppy! He gives himself as many airs as if he was a
+senior. Why doesn't he dine the freshman nine, if he has to blow in his
+money?"
+
+"Are you going?" asked Phil.
+
+"Going? Of course not, and none of the nine will, if they have to ask
+me. It will break them all up for the game to-morrow. I won't stand for
+it."
+
+"What will you do?"
+
+"Tell Leighton, and have him officially forbid it."
+
+"Isn't that going it pretty strong? We can easily beat Michigan, even if
+the fellows do have a little fun to-night."
+
+"Look how we were fooled on Dodville Prep. I'm going to take no chances.
+I'll see Leighton," which Tom did, with the effect that the coach
+kindly, but firmly, forbade members of the 'varsity nine from
+dissipating at Bascome's dinner.
+
+Sid came in a little later, picked up his invitation, and read it.
+
+"They say Bascome gives very fine spreads," was his remark.
+
+"You're not going, are you?" asked Tom in some surprise, for he likened
+Bascome to Langridge, though the latter was more of a bully, and he did
+not believe Sid would take up with the rich freshman.
+
+"Why shouldn't I go?" asked Sid, and there was challenge in his tone. "I
+might as well have the game as the name," and he laughed uneasily.
+
+"Why, none of the 'varsity nine are going," said Tom.
+
+"Oh," and Sid turned aside, as he put the invitation in his pocket.
+"Well, I'm not on the 'varsity any longer," and he laughed, but there
+was no mirth in it.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX
+
+FAIRVIEW AND RANDALL
+
+
+Tom did not reply to Sid's almost sneering allusion to the unfortunate
+fact that he was barred from playing. There was little the captain could
+say, and when Sid went to Bascome's dinner, together with a number of
+the more sporty students, Tom and Phil, who were in bed, did not greet
+their chum on his return.
+
+"What's the matter with you fellows?" demanded Sid, as he entered the
+darkened room, and proceeded to get ready to retire. "You'd think I'd
+committed an unpardonable crime. It was a jolly crowd I was with, and
+nothing out of the way. Bascome isn't half bad, when you get to know
+him."
+
+"Only a little fresh, that's all," remarked Phil, while Tom mumbled a
+few words that might have been taken for anything.
+
+The game with Michigan the next day demonstrated in how poor a condition
+was Randall, for the contest nearly went by the board, and Tom only
+pulled it out of the fire by excellent pitching, though he was not in
+the best of form.
+
+"Well, we won, anyhow," remarked Phil that night.
+
+"Yes, but nothing to boast of. I'm worried about the Fairview game
+Saturday," said the captain.
+
+"Do we play on their grounds?"
+
+"No, they come here."
+
+"Well, that's something in our favor. We'll have Bean Perkins and the
+other shouters with us. We've just got to win, Tom!"
+
+"I know it, but----"
+
+"There are no 'buts,' old man," declared the genial first baseman. "Just
+remember that the girls will be on hand, and they mustn't see us go down
+to defeat twice to a co-ed college."
+
+"No, of course not," and Tom turned in.
+
+The following days were devoted to practice--practice harder than any
+yet that term, for Tom and the coach worked the men every spare hour
+they could devote to the diamond, outside of lecture and study hours.
+Pete Backus improved wonderfully. He was not Sid's equal, but the best
+substitute that could be found.
+
+"Oh, Sid, but I wish you were going to play," said Tom, with a little
+sigh, the night before the Fairview game.
+
+"So do I," came in sorrowful tones from the second baseman. "But--Oh,
+well, what's the use of talking?" and he tried to laugh it off, but it
+was a poor attempt.
+
+Fairview was on hand early with a crowd of "rooters" and supporters,
+both young men and maidens, the next afternoon, when the Randall team
+fairly leaped out on the diamond.
+
+"I wonder if Ruth is here?" said Phil, as he stopped a particularly
+"hot" ball Tom threw.
+
+"Let's take a look," suggested the pitcher, and while the grand stand
+and bleachers were filling up the two strolled along, scanning the
+hundreds of faces.
+
+"There she is!" cried Tom at length. "Miss Tyler's with her."
+
+"And Miss Harrison is up there, too," added Phil. "And see who's with
+her--Miss Harrison, I mean."
+
+"Who?"
+
+"Langridge."
+
+"By Jove! you're right," agreed Tom. "I guess he came to get a line on
+us. Well, he'll get it."
+
+"Queer place he picked out to see the game from," went on Phil.
+
+"Why?"
+
+"It'll be sunny there, after a bit," replied Phil, for part of the
+seating accommodations on the Randall grounds were not of the best, and
+some grand stands were little better than the bleachers in the matter
+of shade. "He'll have the sun almost in his face before the game is half
+over," continued the first baseman.
+
+"Well, if it suits him, we oughtn't to kick," said Tom.
+
+"No, I s'pose not. Hello, if there isn't Sid, and he's going to sit
+right down behind Langridge and Miss Harrison."
+
+"That's so. Maybe he doesn't see 'em. Rather awkward if he and Langridge
+have a run-in here. But come on, we'll say how-d'y-do to the girls, and
+then get at practice," and, after greeting their friends, and assuring
+them that Fairview would go home beaten, Tom and Phil took their places
+with the other players.
+
+"Now, fellows, we've got to win!" declared Tom emphatically just before
+the game started. "Last time we played Fairview we lost by a score of
+ten to three. Don't let it happen again."
+
+"No, don't you dare to," cautioned Mr. Leighton.
+
+A moment later the Randall players went out in the field, the home team
+having the privilege of batting last. The umpire took the new ball from
+its foil cover, and tossed it to Tom. The tall, good-looking pitcher
+looked at it critically, glanced around the field to see that his
+men were in position, and then sent in a few practice balls to Dutch
+Housenlager, who loomed up big and confident behind home plate.
+
+Ted Puder, the Fairview center fielder and captain, was the first man
+up, and was greeted with a round of cheers as he tapped his bat on the
+rubber. Dutch signalled for an out curve and Tom delivered it, right
+over the plate.
+
+"Strike!" called the umpire.
+
+"Wow!" jeered Fairview's friends, for Puder had not swung at it.
+
+"Robber!" yelled some one, but the Fairview captain only laughed. "Make
+him give you a good one, Puder," he said.
+
+But waiting availed Puder nothing, for Tom neatly struck him out, and
+followed it by doing the same to Lem Sellig. Frank Sullivan managed to
+find Tom's second delivery, and sent a neat little liner out toward
+Bricktop Molloy, at short. Bricktop seemed to have it fairly in his
+grasp, even though he had to reach out to one side for it, but his foot
+slipped, and the ball went on past him.
+
+"Run, Frank, run!" screamed a score of voices, and Frank legged it for
+first, reaching the bag before Joe Jackson in left field could run up
+and redeem Bricktop's error by stopping the rolling ball.
+
+"Never mind, two down--play for the batter," advised Dutch in a signal
+to Tom, and the pitcher nodded comprehendingly. Ned Williams, who
+followed Sullivan, knocked two fouls, both of which Dutch tried hard to
+get, but could not. Then Tom struck him out with a puzzling drop, and a
+goose egg went up on the score board for Fairview.
+
+"Guess they're not finding us as soft as they expected," remarked Holly
+Cross, as his side came in.
+
+"It's early yet," advised Tom. "Wait until about the fifth inning, and
+then talk."
+
+"Do you wish to spank me?" asked Bricktop, as he came up to Tom, looking
+sorrowful over his error.
+
+"Don't do it again, that's all," said Coach Leighton.
+
+"Not for worlds," promised the red-haired shortstop.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX
+
+RANDALL SCORES FIRST
+
+
+Holly Cross was up first, and he faced John Allen, the Fairview pitcher,
+with a grin of confidence. He swung viciously at the first ball, and
+missed it clean.
+
+"Make him give you a nice one," called Bricktop, who was coaching from
+third. "We've got all day, Holly. He'll tire in about two innings.
+He has no Irish blood in him, as I have," and there was a laugh at
+Bricktop's "rigging" while the Fairview pitcher smiled sheepishly.
+
+But though Holly waited, it availed him but little. Three balls were
+called for him, after his first strike, though the Fairview crowd wanted
+to injure the umpire. Then Allen stiffened, and Holly walked back to the
+bench without even swinging the stick again.
+
+"Only one gone. We've got plenty of chances yet," called Bricktop, from
+the coaching box, and in his enthusiasm he stepped over the line. The
+umpire warned him back. Dan Woodhouse was up next.
+
+"Make kindling wood of your bat," yelled an enthusiastic freshman in the
+Randall bleachers, but though Dan sent a nice bingle to center, well
+over the pitcher's head, the second baseman pulled it down, and Dan was
+out. Bricktop repeated this, save that he flied to Herbert Bower, in
+left field, and Randall had a zero to her credit.
+
+In the second and third innings neither side scored, and when the fourth
+was half over, with another minus mark for Fairview the crowd began to
+sit up and take notice.
+
+"This'll be a hot game before it's through," prophesied Bert Bascome,
+who with Ford Fenton, and a crowd of like spirits sat together.
+
+"That's right," agreed Ford. "My uncle says----"
+
+"Sit down! Sit down!" yelled a score of voices about him, though the
+unfortunate Ford was not standing. He knew, however, what was meant, and
+uttered no protest.
+
+Though Randall did her best when her chance came in the ending of the
+fourth, nothing resulted. Backus flied to Sam Soden and Tom Parsons
+managed to get to first on a clean hit to right field, but Joe Jackson,
+who followed him, struck out, and, as though emulating his brother, the
+other Jersey twin did likewise, letting Tom die on second.
+
+"Say, when is something going to happen?" asked Holly Cross of Tom, as
+the home team filed out in the field.
+
+"It ought to, pretty soon now," replied Tom, as he kicked a small stone
+out of the pitchers' box.
+
+Bean Perkins, with his crowd of "shouters" started the "Wallop 'em" song,
+in an endeavor to make things lively, and he very nearly succeeded, for
+John Allen, who came up first in the beginning of the fifth, rapped out a
+pretty one to left field. It looked as if Joe Jackson would miss it, but
+Joe wasn't there for that purpose. He had a long run to the side to get
+within reaching distance of the horsehide, but, as though to make up for
+striking out, he made a sensational catch, and was roundly applauded,
+while Allen walked back disgustedly from first, which he had almost
+reached.
+
+"Pretty catch! Lovely catch!" yelled Bean Perkins. "Now a couple more
+like that, and things will be all ready for us when our boys come in."
+
+Herbert Bower and Sam Soden, the next two Fairview players who followed
+Allen, were both struck out by Tom, who was doing some fine twirling,
+having given no player his base on balls yet.
+
+"Now, boys, show 'em what you can do!" pleaded a score of Randall
+"fans," as Tom and his men walked in to the bench for their share of
+the fifth inning.
+
+Dutch Housenlager was up first, and he selected a bat with care.
+
+"What are you going to do, me son," asked Bricktop solicitously.
+
+"Knock a home run," declared Dutch, and he faced the pitcher with a grim
+air. He didn't do that, but he did rap out a single, and got to first.
+Then came Phil Clinton, who made a sacrifice bunt. That is, it was
+intended for that, but the pitcher fumbled it, and was delayed in
+getting it to first. Then the throw was so wild that the Fairview first
+baseman had to take his foot off the bag to get it, and, meanwhile Phil
+was legging it for the bag for all he was worth, while Dutch went on to
+second.
+
+"Batter's out!" howled the umpire, though it seemed to all the Randall
+players that Phil was safe. Tom protested hotly at the decision, but it
+stood, and, though it looked as if there would be trouble, Mr. Leighton
+calmed things down.
+
+"Only one gone," he said, "and Holly Cross is up next. He'll bring in
+Dutch, and score himself."
+
+Holly sent out a beautiful hit to center field, and there was a chorus
+of joyful cries.
+
+"Go on! Go on!"
+
+"Make a home run!"
+
+"Come on in, Dutch, you old ice wagon!"
+
+Dutch legged it from second to third, and started home, but the ball,
+which the center fielder had managed to get sooner than had been
+expected, looked dangerous to Dutch, and he ran back to third, after
+being halfway home. Holly was safe on second, and amid a storm of
+encouraging yells Dan Woodhouse got up.
+
+"Now a home run, Kindlings!" called the crowd, and then Bean and his
+cohorts began singing: "We've Got 'em on the Run Now."
+
+Dan got two balls, and the third one was just where he wanted it. He
+slammed it out for a three base hit, and Dutch and Holly scored the
+first two runs of the game, while Tom did a war dance at third, where he
+was coaching. On a single by Bricktop Dan came in, though he was nearly
+caught at home, for the ball was quickly relayed in from left field,
+where the shortstop had sent it, but old Kindlings slid in through a
+cloud of dust, and Charley Simonson, who was catching for Fairview,
+dropped the horsehide, so Dan's run counted.
+
+"Three--nothing! Three--nothing!" yelled Tom, wild with joy. "Now, boys,
+we've struck our gait! And only one out!"
+
+"Watch his glass arm break!" shouted several in scorn at the Fairview
+pitcher, but the latter refused to let them get his "goat" or rattle him
+and kept a watchful eye on Bricktop at first, when Pete Backus came up.
+
+"Now, Pete, don't forget what I told you!" shouted Tom, as the lad who
+was taking Sid's place stepped up, but poor Pete must have had a poor
+memory, for he struck out, and when Tom himself took up his stick,
+Bricktop, who had been vainly trying to steal second and who was
+somewhat tired out, by the pitcher's efforts to catch him napping on
+first, finally did what the Fairview players hoped he would do--he
+played off too far, and he couldn't get back, when Allen suddenly
+slammed the ball over to the first baseman. Bricktop was out, and the
+Randall side was retired, but with three runs to its credit.
+
+"That'll do for a starter," observed Tom, as he put on his pitching
+glove. "We'll duplicate that next inning."
+
+But the sixth saw goose eggs in the frames of both nines, though Tom
+sent a pretty, low fly out to center, where it was neatly caught by Ted
+Puder, who had to jump for it. The Jersey twins struck out in monotonous
+succession, thus ending the sixth.
+
+"Now for the lucky seventh!" yelled a crowd of Fairview supporters.
+"Everybody stand up!" and the big crowd arose to get some relief from
+sitting still so long.
+
+The seventh was destined to be lucky in spite of the efforts of Tom and
+his men to hold back Fairview.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI
+
+RANDALL IN THE TENTH
+
+
+Lem Sellig, who was up first for Fairview, had what Tom thought was
+a wicked look in his eye. Whether Tom lost control or whether Lem
+surprised himself and his friends by finding the ball, in spite of its
+puzzling curve was not known, but at any rate he knocked a two bagger,
+and it was almost a three sacker, for the center fielder dropped the
+ball, and had some time in finding it in the grass before he threw it in
+just in time to shut off Lem from going to third. This stroke of luck
+seemed to give Fairview confidence, and Frank Sullivan almost duplicated
+Lem's trick, bringing in the third baseman, and getting to second
+himself.
+
+"Now we're going to walk away from 'em," declared Lem, as he tallied the
+first run for his side, and it did look so, for Ned Williams found Tom
+Parsons for a couple of fouls. But the fatal blow was wanting, and Ned
+went back to the bench, amid groans. Sullivan stole to third on a ball
+that managed to get past Dutch at home, and then followed a wild scene
+when John Allen knocked a pretty fly, bringing in Frank, but getting out
+himself. This made the score two to three in favor of Randall, and there
+was a nervous tension when Tom got ready to attend to Herbert Bower, the
+next man up.
+
+"I've got to dispose of him with some style," thought the Randall
+twirler, "or our fellows will get rattled. Let's see if I can't do it."
+
+It looked a bit discouraging when his first two deliveries were called
+balls, but the next three could not have been better, and Bower was
+struck out.
+
+"All we've got to do is hold 'em down now, and we've got the game,"
+declared Dutch, as he walked with Tom in from the field.
+
+"We've got to get some more runs," insisted the captain.
+
+But they didn't. Dutch, Phil and Holly went down in one, two, three
+order. And a zero went up in the seventh frame for Randall.
+
+Tom struck out Sam Soden for a starter in the eighth, and then he lost
+his balance, or something else happened, for he issued a free pass to
+first for Simonson, amid a chorus of groans from the Randall lads, and
+jeers from Fairview, who hurled such encouraging remarks at Tom as
+these:
+
+"We've got him going now!"
+
+"He's all in!"
+
+"We have his goat!"
+
+"Talk about glass arms!"
+
+Whether it was this jeering, or whether Tom was really tired, did not
+develop, but, at any rate, Ed Felton, who followed Simonson, placed a
+magnificent hit just inside the first base line, and with such speed
+did it go that it sifted down in through the seats of the right field
+bleachers, and Ed scored the first home run of the game, bringing in
+Simonson, whose tally tied the score; the homer putting Fairview one run
+ahead.
+
+"Now we've got 'em! They're easy fruit!" yelled the Fairview throng, the
+girls from the college blending their shrill voices with those of their
+male companions. Tom was rather shaky when he and Dutch held a little
+consultation in front of home plate, as Puder walked up with his stick.
+Puder singled, and Tom was getting worried, but he managed to pull
+himself together, and struck out Sellig and Sullivan, killing Puder on
+second, and halting any further scoring by Fairview that inning.
+
+"Maybe you'd better put Rod Evert in the box in my place," suggested Tom
+to Mr. Leighton, as the Randall nine, much dispirited, came up for their
+turn at the bat, the score being four to three in favor of Fairview.
+
+"Nonsense!" exclaimed the coach. "You'll do all right, Tom. This is only
+a little slump."
+
+"I _hope_ this is the end of it," remarked the pitcher. "We can't stand
+much more."
+
+"I'll duplicate Felton's home run," promised Dutch.
+
+"That's the way to talk," declared Ed Kerr, who was not feeling very
+happy over the showing made by the team of which he was manager.
+
+But alas for Dutch's hope! He didn't get a chance to bat, for Woodhouse
+struck out, and Molloy and Pete Backus followed.
+
+"If we can hold 'em this inning, and then get two runs, it will do the
+trick," remarked Holly Cross at the beginning of the ninth.
+
+"If," spoke Tom dubiously, for he was beginning to lose heart. However,
+he gritted his teeth and, after a few warming-up balls before Ned
+Williams came up, he pitched to such good advantage that Williams was
+out in record time. John Allen swiped savagely at the horsehide, but it
+was not to be, and he walked back to the bench, while Bower came out, a
+smile of confidence on his face.
+
+"Here's another home run," he prophesied, but Tom, in his heart, decided
+it was not to be, nor was it, for Bower struck out. This still left the
+score four to three, in favor of Fairview at the ending of the first
+half of the ninth inning. Randall needed two runs to win, but one would
+tie the tally, and give them another chance. It would also afford
+another opportunity for Fairview.
+
+The big crowd was on edge. Songs and college cries were being hurled
+back and forth from grand stand and bleachers.
+
+"The 'Conquer or Die' song, fellows," yelled Bean Perkins, and the
+strains of "_Aut Vincere Aut Mori!_" sung in Latin, welled sweetly and
+solemnly over the diamond. Tom Parsons felt the tears coming into his
+eyes, as he walked in.
+
+"Oh, if we only can win!" he breathed.
+
+He was up first, and he almost trembled as he faced the Fairview
+pitcher. There was a mist in his eyes, but somehow he managed to see
+through it the ball that was coming swiftly toward him. It looked good
+to his practiced eye, and he swung at it with all his force. To his
+delight there followed that most delightful of sounds, the "ping," as
+the tough mushroom bat met the ball.
+
+"Oh! Oh! Oh! A pretty hit! A beaut!" Tom heard the crowd yell, as he
+tossed aside the club, and started for first like a deer.
+
+"Go on! Go on!" yelled Holly Cross. "Keep a-going, Tom!"
+
+Tom kept on, swung wide around first, and then legged it for second. The
+ball had gone well over the center fielder's head, and he was running
+back toward the daisies after it. "Go on! Go on!" implored Holly. Tom
+reached third before the ball was fielded in, and he remained there
+panting, while Joe Jackson took his place at home plate, swaying his bat
+to and fro.
+
+"None gone, Tom on third and Joe at bat," mused Mr. Leighton. "I wish
+Joe was a better hitter, but maybe he can knock out a bingle that will
+do the trick."
+
+Joe did, though it was more through an error on the part of the second
+baseman, who muffed the fly, than any ability on Joe's part, that the
+Jersey twin got to first.
+
+Tom came in, amid a burst of cheers and yells, scoring the tying run.
+Would there be a winning one, or would ten innings be necessary?
+
+Jerry Jackson struck out, while his friends groaned, but Joe, with
+desperate daring, managed to steal second. Then up came Dutch
+Housenlager, and when he hit the ball a resounding whack the heart of
+more than one lad was in his throat. But, by a desperate run, the left
+fielder caught the fly, and Dutch was out, while Joe Jackson was on
+third. He died there, for Phil, to his great chagrin, struck out. The
+score stood a tie 4 to 4.
+
+"Ten innings! Ten innings!" yelled the crowd.
+
+Bean Perkins and his fellows were singing all the songs they knew. So
+were the Fairview cohorts, and the scene was a wild one.
+
+"Hold 'em down, Tom; hold 'em down!" implored the coach as the plucky
+pitcher went to his box.
+
+It looked as if he was not going to do it, for he passed Sam Soden to
+first, and duplicated the trick for Charley Simonson and with two men on
+bases, not a man down, and Tom as nervous as a cat, it began to look
+dubious for Randall. The crowd was on edge. So was Tom, with two lively
+runners on the first and second bags to watch. Several times he threw to
+first, hoping to catch Simonson napping, but it was not to be.
+
+Suddenly Pete Backus, who was holding down second base, threw up his
+hand to shield his eyes, and Tom saw a dazzling streak of light flash
+across from the grand stand.
+
+"What's the matter, Pete?" asked the pitcher.
+
+"Some girl up there must have bright buttons on, or a hat pin made of
+diamonds, for they're flashing in my eyes," complained Pete. Then the
+flash vanished and Tom was about to pitch a ball for Ed Felton, who was
+up, when, as he gave a comprehensive look at first and second, he again
+saw the dazzling gleam in Pete's eyes.
+
+"We'll have to stop that!" exclaimed the captain. "I'll ask Kerr or Mr.
+Leighton to speak to whoever's wearing such bright adornments."
+
+"Funny it should hit me in the eyes all the while," complained Pete,
+changing his position, but the beam of light followed him.
+
+"Some one's doing that on purpose," declared Tom, and he fairly ran
+toward the grand stand. But before he got there he saw something
+happening.
+
+The beam of light came from that section of the stand near where Tom had
+noticed Langridge and Miss Harrison sitting. Then, as he raced on, he
+also remembered that Sid sat there too. A terrible thought came to him.
+Could Sid be trying to disconcert the player who was taking his place,
+by flashing a mirror in his eyes?
+
+"Of course he wouldn't do such a dirty trick!" said Tom to himself, a
+moment after he had entertained the thought.
+
+The captain reached the stand, in company with Dutch, who had run back
+in response to the pitcher's motion, in time to see Sid leap to his
+feet, reach forward toward Langridge, who sat in front of him, while the
+deposed second baseman exclaimed:
+
+"You mean sneak!"
+
+"What's the matter?" asked Langridge coolly, as he turned an insolent
+stare on Sid. "Mad because I'm with Miss Harrison?"
+
+"No, you cur! But I see what you're doing! Hand over that mirror!" and
+before Langridge could protest Sid had yanked him backward, partly over
+the seat, and had grasped the right hand of the former Randall
+student--a hand containing a small, circular mirror.
+
+"You were flashing that in the eyes of our second baseman, you sneak!"
+cried Sid hotly. "I was watching you! You held it down, where you
+thought no one would see. You ought to be kicked off the stand!"
+
+"I did not!" declared Langridge brazenly, yet there was fear in his
+manner, and the mirror was mute evidence. "I was just going to hand it
+to Miss Harrison," he went on. "To let her see if her hat----"
+
+The girl turned her blue eyes on him, and shrank away from the notice
+attracted to her escort. Langridge did not complete his lie.
+
+"I saw what you were doing," went on Sid. "Wasn't something flashing in
+Pete's eyes?" he asked, as Tom and Dutch, with some of the other Randall
+players, stood on the ground, in front of where the scene had taken
+place.
+
+"That's what I came in to see about," declared Tom.
+
+"I--I didn't know it was shining in his eyes," stammered Langridge. "Let
+go of me, Henderson, or I'll make you!"
+
+Sid did not want to make a scene, and released his hold of Langridge.
+Tom, by a motion, signalled to Sid to say nothing more, but it was
+principally on the score of not wanting to further subject Miss
+Harrison to embarrassment, rather than to save Langridge from
+punishment. Then, too, there was only slim proof against Langridge. Sid
+grabbed the mirror away from the bully, and the latter dared not
+protest. There were some hisses, and Miss Harrison blushed painfully.
+Langridge tried to brazen it out, but, with a muttered excuse that he
+wanted to get a cigar, he left the stand, and the blue-eyed girl, after
+a frightened glance around, went and sat with Ruth and Madge. Sid looked
+as if he wanted to follow her, but he did not dare, and after Tom, Ed
+Kerr and Mr. Leighton had consulted together for a few minutes, it was
+agreed to take no action against Langridge, who had sneaked off.
+
+"He did it, all right," decided Tom. "He wanted to rattle Pete and make
+us lose to Fairview, but we're not going to do it."
+
+"Indeed not," asserted the coach. "Hold 'em down now, Tom. One run will
+do the trick."
+
+There were two men on bases, and none out when Ed Felton resumed his
+place at home, and Tom was inclined to shiver when he remembered what Ed
+had done to the ball before. But the pitcher took a strong brace, and
+struck out Ed, much to that worthy's surprise.
+
+Then, by some magnificent pitching, in the face of long odds, Tom
+retired Puder and Lem Sellig with an ease that he himself marveled at.
+His arm seemed to have gotten back some of its cunning.
+
+A zero went up in the tenth frame for Fairview.
+
+"That looks good to me!" cried Holly Cross, dancing about. "If we can't
+get in one run now, Tom, we ought to be put out of the league."
+
+"Well, it's up to you, Holly," remarked Tom. "You're up first."
+
+"By Jove, you'll not be ashamed of me!" declared the big center fielder.
+
+He rapped out a nice bingle that took him to second base. Then came Dan
+Woodhouse, and he struck out, amid groans.
+
+Bricktop walked up with an air of confidence, amid encouraging comments
+from his chums. The Fairview pitcher was getting a little rattled, and
+threw so wild that the catcher, though he jumped for the ball, missed
+it, and had to run back while Holly, who had stolen to third, came
+in with a rush. There was a mixup at the plate, as Holly slid in,
+accompanied by a cloud of dust, but the pitcher, who had run up to
+assist the catcher, and make amends for his wild throw, dropped the
+ball, and Holly scored the winning run.
+
+There was a moment of silence until the big crowd and the players
+appreciated what it meant to pull out a victory in the tenth, and that
+after an exceedingly close game. Then came a burst of cheers, and
+applause that made the grand stands and bleachers rattle.
+
+"Wow! Wow! Wow!" yelled the exultant Randallites, and they capered
+about in very joy, like wild Indians, slapping each other on the back,
+punching and being punched, cheering for themselves and for Fairview by
+turns.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII
+
+SID DESPAIRS
+
+
+"Wasn't it great!" demanded Dutch Housenlager, as he waltzed up to Tom,
+and tried to lead him out into a dance on the diamond. "Immense, eh?
+Pulling it out of the fire that way?"
+
+"Yes, that's what we did--pulled it out of the fire," agreed Tom, with a
+smile. "We needed this victory, and I'm glad we won, but we've got to
+play better--and that includes me--if we're to have the loving cup this
+year. Our batting and fielding could be improved a whole lot."
+
+"Oh, of course," agreed Dutch, "but aren't you a bit proud of us,
+captain?"
+
+"Oh, sure--of course," answered the pitcher heartily. "Let joy be
+unconfined," and with a yell of pure enjoyment he joined in the
+impromptu dance.
+
+Fairview was glum, but not cast down. They had cheered the winning team,
+and Ted Puder, the captain, came up to Tom.
+
+"You certainly beat us fair and square," he acknowledged. "I hope you
+don't think we had anything to do with Langridge using that mirror to
+dazzle the eyes of your second baseman."
+
+"Never thought of such a thing," declared Tom with emphasis. "The cad
+worked that trick up all by his lonesome. I guess he thought maybe Sid
+was playing there, and he has a grudge against Henderson--yet that
+couldn't have been it either, for Langridge knows Sid is suspended, and
+anyhow, Sid was sitting directly back of the sneak, where Langridge
+could have seen him."
+
+"Yes, it's a good thing Sid detected him. Well, we'll beat you next
+time."
+
+"Forget it," advised Tom with a laugh.
+
+"Come on, cap," called Phil to him a moment later. "Let's look up Sid,
+and, incidentally, the girls."
+
+"Sure," agreed the pitcher, and a moment later he and Phil were greeting
+Madge, Ruth and Mabel. But Sid had hurried away.
+
+The little group strolled past the grand stand, Tom and Phil excusing
+themselves while they went in to get on their street garments, the girls
+promising to wait for them.
+
+"Wonder where Sid went?" asked Tom.
+
+"Give it up," replied Phil. "Langridge lit out, too; the cad! What a
+chump he must be to think he could get away with a game like that!"
+
+"Yes, it was almost as good to have Sid discover him trying it, as if
+our old chum had held down the second bag," declared the captain. "A
+flash at the right moment would have confused Pete, and might have cost
+us the game."
+
+"That's right. Come on, hurry up, or the girls will get tired of
+waiting."
+
+The two went out, in time to see Langridge approaching the three young
+ladies. The Boxer Hall pitcher was striding over the grass toward Miss
+Harrison, who stood a little apart from her two friends.
+
+"I'm awfully sorry to have kept you waiting, Miss Mabel," began
+Langridge. "The truth was, I had an important engagement, that I came
+near forgetting."
+
+"You haven't kept me waiting," was the cool answer.
+
+"No? Well, I'm glad of it. Now, if you're ready we'll trot along. I met
+a friend of mine, Mr. Bascome, of Randall, and he will take us back to
+Fairview in his auto."
+
+"Thank you, I don't care to go," replied Miss Harrison.
+
+"What? Don't you like rides in the gasolene gig?" asked Langridge, with
+a forced laugh.
+
+"Oh, I didn't exactly mean that," went on Miss Harrison. "It's the
+company I object to."
+
+"You mean Bascome? Why he's all right. Maybe he's a little too----"
+
+"I mean you!" burst out the girl, flashing a look of scorn on him from
+her blue eyes. "I don't care to ride with a person who seeks to take
+unfair advantage of another in a ball game."
+
+"You mean that mirror? That was all an accident--I assure you it was. I
+didn't intend anything--honestly."
+
+"You will favor me by not speaking to me again!" came in snapping tones
+from the indignant girl. "I shall refuse to recognize you after this,
+Mr. Langridge."
+
+"Oh, but I say now----" protested the bully, as he took a step forward.
+But Mabel linked her arm in that of Ruth, and, as Tom and Phil came
+along just then, Langridge, who was aware that they had heard the
+foregoing conversation, slipped hastily away, with a very red face.
+
+"Sorry to have kept you waiting," began Tom, unconsciously repeating the
+remark of Langridge. Miss Harrison seemed a little ill at ease, and Phil
+blurted out:
+
+"Oh, come on! Let's hurry, or there won't be any ice cream left at
+Anderson's. It's a hot day and the crowd must be dry as a bone. I know I
+am. Come on, girls."
+
+They had a merry little time, until it was necessary for the girls to
+return to Fairview, whither Tom and Phil escorted them.
+
+"Did you say any more to Langridge, old man?" asked Tom of Sid, that
+night in the room of the "inseparables."
+
+"No, it wasn't necessary."
+
+"You should have heard Miss Harrison lay him out," exulted Phil. "She
+certainly put it all over him!"
+
+"How?" demanded Sid eagerly, and his chums took turns telling him how
+the blue-eyed girl had given Langridge his "walking papers" in a manner
+very distasteful to that individual.
+
+"No! You don't mean it!" exclaimed Sid joyfully. Then, as a look came
+into his eyes that his chums had not seen there since the first happy
+days he had experienced with Mabel Harrison, Sid went on:
+
+"Say, what's the date of the Junior racket? I've mislaid my tickets."
+
+"Why?" asked Tom mischievously, though he well knew.
+
+"None of your affair," retorted Sid, but there was no sting in his
+answer.
+
+"It's next Friday," put in Phil.
+
+Sid tossed aside the things on his desk, and made a great fuss about
+writing a letter, while Phil and Tom casually looked on, well knowing
+to whom the epistle was addressed. Sid made several false starts, and
+destroyed enough paper to have enabled him to compute several problems
+and tore up a lot of envelopes before he finished something that met
+with his approval, and then he went out to post it.
+
+"He's asked Miss Harrison to go to the Junior affair with him," said
+Phil.
+
+"Of course," agreed Tom. "I hope she goes."
+
+Sid lived in an atmosphere of rosy hope for several days, but, when no
+reply came, he began to get uneasy. He eagerly accepted an invitation
+extended to him a few days later, to accompany Phil and Tom on a trip to
+Fairview, Ruth again having asked her brother to call to talk about the
+proposed trip to Europe. The three chums found the three girls in the
+reception room, and Miss Harrison showed some embarrassment when Sid
+entered. With a view to dispelling it Ruth, with a rapid signal to her
+brother, Tom and Madge, left the room, they following, leaving Miss
+Harrison and Sid alone there.
+
+"Lovely weather," remarked Sid desperately.
+
+"Very," answered Miss Harrison, uncertain whether to be amused or angry
+at the trick played on her by her chums.
+
+"Are you going to the Junior dance Friday night?" went on Sid. "I wrote
+and asked you--you got my letter, didn't you?"
+
+"Yes, Mr. Henderson, and I should have answered before, but I was
+uncertain----"
+
+"Won't you let me take you?" pleaded Sid.
+
+"I would like--won't you--can you explain a certain matter which I wish
+to know about?" she asked. "You know what I mean. Believe me, I'm not
+prudish, or anything like that, but--if you only knew how I feel about
+it--won't you tell me about that--that item in the paper accusing you?"
+she stammered. "If you weren't there, why can't you say so?" and she
+leaned eagerly forward, looking Sid full in the face.
+
+He scarcely seemed to breathe. There was a great struggle going on
+within him. He looked into the blue eyes of the girl.
+
+"I--I can't tell you--yet," he said brokenly.
+
+"Then I can't go with you to the dance," she replied in a low voice, and
+she turned and left the room, going back to the den she shared with Ruth
+and Madge, while Sid went out the front door, and across the campus; nor
+would he stay, though Phil and Tom called to him, but walked off, black
+despair in his heart.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII
+
+FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES
+
+
+Tom and Phil went to the Junior dance, taking Madge and Ruth, and,
+though they enjoyed it thoroughly, there was a little sorrow in the
+hearts of the two lads that Sid was not there to share the pleasure with
+them.
+
+"I wonder why he didn't come?" asked Phil of Ruth, as the four stood
+chatting about his absence, over an ice, during an intermission.
+
+"You ought to be able to guess," replied his sister.
+
+"Why?" persisted Phil.
+
+"Because a certain person with blue eyes didn't."
+
+"Oh, you mean----" and Phil would have blurted out the name, had not
+Miss Tyler laid a pretty hand over his mouth.
+
+"Hush," cautioned Madge. "No names out in company, if you please."
+
+"Oh!" exclaimed Tom comprehendingly. "How is she?"
+
+"Rather miserable," answered Ruth. "She wouldn't come with us, though we
+knew you boys wouldn't object."
+
+"Of course not," spoke Phil quickly.
+
+"And she stayed there in the room, moping."
+
+"Just like----" began Phil, and again the pretty fingers spread
+themselves across his lips.
+
+"It's too bad," resumed Tom. "If he only would explain then----"
+
+"Then everything would be all right," finished Ruth. "But he won't. Talk
+about women having a mind of their own, and being stubborn! I know a
+certain young man very much that way."
+
+"Oh, you mustn't talk so about him," expostulated Phil. "He's all right.
+There's something queer at the bottom of it, and I shouldn't be
+surprised to learn that Langridge had had a hand in it."
+
+"By Jove, I never thought of that!" exclaimed Tom. "Maybe you're right.
+I wonder if we could do anything to help?"
+
+"Better not meddle," cautioned Ruth. "Madge and I tried to use our
+influence, and were roundly snubbed for our pains. It's too bad, but
+maybe things will come right after a while. Oh, there's a lovely waltz!
+Isn't it perfectly grand!" and her eyes sparkled in anticipation as
+Tom led her out on the floor while the music welled forth in dreamy
+strains.
+
+Back in the "den of the inseparables" Sid sat in gloomy loneliness,
+making a pretense of studying.
+
+"Oh, hang it all!" he cried at length, as he flung the book from him,
+knocking down the alarm clock in its flight. "What is the use? I might
+as well give up."
+
+Then, as he noted the cessation of the fussy ticking of the timepiece he
+crossed to where it lay on the ragged rug, and picked it up.
+
+"Hope it isn't damaged," he murmured contritely. He shook it vigorously,
+and the ticking resumed. "It's all right," he added, with a breath of
+relief, "you couldn't hurt it with an axe. Guess I might as well turn
+in. But I wish----" he paused, shrugged his shoulders helplessly, and
+did not finish.
+
+There came a knock at the door, and Sid started. He flung open the
+portal, and Wallops, the messenger, stood in the hall.
+
+"A note for you, Mr. Henderson," he said. "A fellow just brought it."
+
+Sid snatched it eagerly, a hopeful look showing on his face. Then, as he
+saw the writing, there seemed to come into his eyes a shadow of fear.
+
+"All right, Wallops," he replied kindly, and he closed the door.
+
+"Again," he exclaimed. "Oh, will this never end? Must I carry this
+secret all through college?" and he tore the note to bits. Then he
+slipped on another coat, pulled a cap down over his eyes and went out.
+
+"Why, Sid isn't here!" exclaimed Phil, when he and Tom, bubbling over
+still, with the spirit of the dance, came back to their apartment, after
+having escorted the girls home.
+
+"That's right," agreed the pitcher, "and he's not allowed any more
+passes since that affair with the pocket flask. He's taking chances to
+slip out. Zane will be almost sure to catch him, and a few turns like
+that and Sid will be expelled. I wonder what's gotten into him lately?"
+
+"Give it up," responded Phil. "Let's hope that he won't be nabbed."
+
+It was a vain hope, for Sid, coming into college about three o'clock
+that morning, was detected by the proctor. There was quite a stir over
+it, and Sid came mighty near expulsion. Only his fine scholarship saved
+him, but he was warned that another offense would be fatal to his
+chances.
+
+Sid said nothing to his chums, but maintained a gloomy reserve, which
+wore off in a few days, but still left a cloud between them.
+
+Meanwhile Tom was kept busy with his studies and his interest in the
+nine, while Phil was "boning" away, seeking a scholarship prize, and
+devoting as much time as he could to practice on the diamond.
+
+Sid, barred from participation in regular games, was, however, allowed
+to practice with the 'varsity, and play on the scrub as suited his
+fancy, and Tom was glad to have him do either, for he cherished a secret
+hope that the ban might be removed before the end of the term, and he
+wanted Sid to keep in form. As for the second baseman he was becoming a
+"crackerjack" wielder of the stick, and at either right or left hand
+work was an example to be looked up to by the younger players, and his
+average something to be sighed after.
+
+It happened one afternoon, a few days prior to an important out-of-town
+game Tom's nine was to play, that the captain came upon Ed Kerr, the
+manager, busy figuring, in a corner of the gymnasium, his brow as
+wrinkled as a washboard.
+
+"What's the row?" asked Tom. "Conic sections or a problem in trig, Ed?"
+
+"It's a problem in finance," was the response. "Ferd Snowden, the
+treasurer, has just handed me a statement of how the nine's finances
+are, and, for the life of me I can't see how it happened."
+
+"How what happened."
+
+"The shortage."
+
+"Shortage?" and there was a frightened note in Tom's voice.
+
+"Yes, shortage. I thought we were running along pretty well, but
+according to Snowden we're in debt to him about ten dollars, for money
+he's advanced from his own pocket. He says he can't afford any more,
+and--well, it means we can't play Richfield Saturday."
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"Because we haven't money enough to take the team out of town, and back
+again. Besides, Dutch needs a new catching mitt. I don't see how it
+happened. I thought we were making money."
+
+"So did I. Let's go have a talk with Snowden."
+
+The treasurer of the nine could only confirm his statement. He showed by
+figures that the amount of money taken in had not met the expenses, so
+far.
+
+"The crowds haven't been what they ought to have been," Snowden
+explained. "Randall isn't drawing as it used to."
+
+"We're playing better ball," fired Tom at him.
+
+"That may be. I'm only talking from a money standpoint. We're in debt
+ten dollars. Not that I mind, for I don't need the money, but I thought
+Kerr ought to know. I can't advance any more, and the team can't go to
+Richfield without cash for railroad fare."
+
+"That's right," agreed Tom, scratching his head. "Well, the only thing
+to do is to call a meeting and ask for subscriptions. The fellows
+will easily make up the deficit, and give enough over to provide for
+traveling expenses. Dutch can use his old glove for a few games yet, and
+we ought to get enough out of this Richfield game to put us on our feet.
+After that we have a number of contests that will draw big crowds. Then
+comes the final whack at Boxer Hall, and that is always a money-maker.
+We'll come out right yet, Ed. Don't worry."
+
+"I'm not, only it looks as if I hadn't managed things right."
+
+"Nonsense! Of course you have. The fellows will go down in their
+pockets. I'll call a meeting for this afternoon."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV
+
+PITCHFORK'S TALL HAT
+
+
+There was a buzz of excitement among the college students when the
+notice had been read, calling for a meeting of the athletic committee,
+to straighten out a financial tangle. There were various comments, and,
+though some remarked that it was "always that way," and that a "few
+fellows had to be depended on for the money," and like sentiments, the
+majority of opinion was that the sum needed would quickly be subscribed.
+
+"Why don't they make the ball nine a stock concern?" asked Mort
+Eddington, whose father was an "operator" in Wall street. "If they sold
+stock, lots of fellows would be glad to buy."
+
+"Yes, considering that the nine has made a barrel of money every year,
+it would be a paying proposition," added Holly Cross. "But we don't do
+business that way, Eddington, as you'll learn when you've been here more
+than one term. What money we have left over at the end of the season
+goes to help some college club, or a team that hasn't done so well.
+We're not stock jobbers in Randall."
+
+"That's all right. Maybe you'll be glad of some money you could have
+from selling stock, before you're through," sneered the "operator's"
+son.
+
+"Oh, I guess not," responded Dutch. "The fellows will toe the mark with
+the rocks all right."
+
+"My uncle says it's all in how a team is managed," began a voice, and
+Ford Fenton strolled up. "My uncle says----"
+
+"Get out of here, you shrimp!" cried Holly Cross, making a rush at
+Ford. "If your uncle heard you, he'd take you out of this college for
+disgracing him."
+
+"That's right," agreed Dutch, making a playful attempt to trip up Ford,
+which the much-uncled youth skillfully avoided.
+
+"You're right, just the same," declared Bert Bascome, who came up at
+that juncture. "The team hasn't been managed right, and I'm going to
+have something to say about it at the meeting."
+
+The session called by Tom to consider financial matters was well
+attended. Tom, by general consent, was made chairman.
+
+"You all know what we're here for," began the captain, who was not fond
+of long speeches. "The nine needs money to help it out of a hole."
+
+"Who got it in the hole?" asked Bascome with a sneer.
+
+"Bang!" went Tom's gavel.
+
+"You'll have a chance to speak when the time comes," said the pitcher
+sharply. "I'll be through in a minute."
+
+Bascome sat down, muttering something about "manager" and "money."
+
+"We need cash," went on Tom, "to carry us over a certain period. After
+that we'll have plenty. We haven't made as much as we expected. Now we'd
+like subscriptions, and if any fellow feels that he can't afford to give
+the money outright, don't let that stand in his way. We'll only borrow
+it, and pay it back at the end of the season. Of course, if any one
+wants to give it without any strings on it, so much the better. I've got
+ten dollars that goes that way."
+
+"So have I!"
+
+"Here too!"
+
+"Put me down for fifteen!"
+
+"I've got five that isn't working!"
+
+These were some of the cries that greeted Tom's closing words.
+
+"I'll let the treasurer take it," announced the chairman. "Get busy,
+Snowden. We've got enough now to take the team out of town."
+
+Phil, who was sitting near Sid, looked at his chum, and remarked:
+
+"You're going to help us out, aren't you, Sid? Seems to me I saw you
+with a fair-sized roll yesterday."
+
+"I--I'd like to help, first rate," answered Sid, in some confusion,
+"only I'm broke now."
+
+Phil did not reply, but there was a queer look on his face. He was
+wondering what Sid had done with his money. This was the second time he
+had unexpectedly "gone broke."
+
+Subscriptions were pouring in on Snowden, and it began to look as if
+Tom's prophecy would hold good, and that the boys only need be told of
+the needs of the nine to have them attended to. Bert Bascome, who had
+been whispering with Ford Fenton, and some of his cronies, suddenly
+arose.
+
+"Mr. Chairman," began Bascome.
+
+"Mr. Bascome," responded Tom.
+
+"I rise to a question of personal privilege," he went on pompously.
+
+"What is it?" asked Tom, trying not to smile.
+
+"I would like to know why it is that the nine hasn't made money enough
+to carry itself so far this season, when it has played a number of
+games, and won several?" went on Bascome.
+
+"One reason is that the attendance was not large enough to cover
+expenses, and leave a sufficiently large sum to be divided between our
+team and the ones we played," stated the captain, wondering what Bascome
+was driving at.
+
+"I would like to inquire if it is not because the team was not properly
+managed?" shot out Bascome. "I believe that if Ford Fenton had been
+elected we----"
+
+"Drop it!"
+
+"Dry up!"
+
+"Put him out!"
+
+"Treason!"
+
+"Fresh! Fresh!"
+
+A score of lads were on their feet, shouting, yelling, demanding to be
+recognized, shaking their fists at Bascome and uttering dire threats.
+
+"Mr. Chairman, may I spake wan wurd!" cried Bricktop Molloy, in his
+excitement lapsing into a rich brogue.
+
+Tom was banging away with his gavel, but he managed to make his voice
+heard above the tumult.
+
+"Mr. Bascome has the floor!" he cried.
+
+"Put him out!"
+
+"Who is he, anyhow?"
+
+"Whoever heard of Bascome?"
+
+Again the cries; again the banging of the gavel, and at last Tom
+succeeded in producing quiet.
+
+"Mr. Bascome has the floor," the chairman announced. "Do I understand
+that you ask that as a point of information?" and Tom gazed at the
+wealthy freshman, who, through all the tumult, had maintained his
+place, sneeringly indifferent to the threats made against him.
+
+"That's what I want to know," he stated.
+
+"I'll let the entire college answer that if necessary," declared Tom.
+"Mr. Bascome has asked a question----"
+
+"Don't answer him!" yelled Dutch.
+
+Bang! went the gavel. From his corner where he had been seated, doing
+some figuring, Ed Kerr arose--his face white.
+
+"Mr. Chairman! A question of personal privilege!" he cried.
+
+"Go on!" answered Tom, forgetting his parliamentary language.
+
+"I beg to tender my resignation as manager of the Randall baseball
+nine!" cried Ed.
+
+"No! No!"
+
+"We won't take it!"
+
+"Make him sit down!"
+
+"Don't listen to him!"
+
+"Let's haze Bascome!"
+
+"Fellows, will you be quiet?" begged Tom. "I won't recognize anyone
+until you're quiet!" and he banged away.
+
+Gradually there came a hush, while both Bascome and Kerr remained on
+their feet.
+
+"There is a question before the house," went on the captain, "and until
+that is settled I can't listen to anything else. Mr. Bascome wants to
+know whether the present financial trouble of the nine is not due to the
+manager. How do you answer him?"
+
+"No! No! No!" came in a great chorus.
+
+Tom turned to Ed Kerr.
+
+"Are there any who think otherwise?" asked the chairman.
+
+"Yes," called Bascome, and he was supported by half a dozen, including
+Ford Fenton. There were groans of protest, but Tom silenced them.
+
+"I think Mr. Bascome has his answer," declared the chairman. "You
+have an almost overwhelming vote of confidence, Mr. Manager, and
+I congratulate you. Is there any further business to come before
+the meeting. Oh, yes, I almost forgot. How are you making out, Mr.
+Treasurer?"
+
+"Fine!" cried Snowden. "All we need and more, too."
+
+"Good! Then the meeting is adjourned. We don't need any motion," and Tom
+started to leave the little platform.
+
+"Look here!" blustered Bert Bascome, "I'm a member of the athletic
+committee, and you can't carry things in this high-handed manner. I move
+that we go into executive session and consider the election of a new
+manager. Mr. Kerr has resigned, as I understand it."
+
+"Forget it!" advised Dutch Housenlager, and he stretched out his foot,
+and skillfully tripped up the noisy objector, who went down in a heap,
+with Ford Fenton on top of him.
+
+"Here! Quit! I'll have you expelled for that!" spluttered Bascome,
+rising and making a rush for Dutch. But he was surrounded by a mass of
+students, who laughed and joked with him, shoving him from side to side
+until he was so mauled and hauled and mistreated that he was glad to
+make his escape.
+
+"Little rat!" muttered Holly Cross, as he saw Bascome and Ford going off
+together. "That's all they're good for--to make trouble."
+
+"Yes," agreed Tom, "Bascome's been sore ever since he couldn't have his
+way about electing Ford Fenton manager. But I guess we're out of the
+woods now. Get in good shape for the Richfield game Saturday, fellows."
+
+The crowd rushed from the gymnasium, laughing and shouting, and refusing
+to listen to Kerr, who still talked of resigning, though he was finally
+shown that the objection to him amounted to nothing. It was still light
+enough for some practice, and most of the lads headed for the diamond.
+Tom, Phil and Sid walked along together. As they passed under the side
+window of the East Dormitory, where the freshmen and seniors roomed,
+Phil spied, hanging from a casement, a tall, silk hat.
+
+"Get on to the tile!" he cried. "Some blooming freshman must have hung
+it there to air, ready for a shindig to-night. Bet you can't hit it,
+Tom. Two out of three. If you do I'll stand for sodas for the bunch."
+
+"It's a go!" agreed the pitcher.
+
+"Here's a ball," remarked Sid, handing Tom one. "Let's see what you can
+do."
+
+Tom fingered the horsehide, glanced critically at the hat, which hung on
+a stick out of the window, and then drew back his arm.
+
+"Here goes!" he cried, and, an instant later the ball was whizzing
+through the air. Straight as the proverbial arrow it went, and so
+skillfully had Tom thrown, that the spheroid went right into the
+hat--and, came out on the other side, through the top of the crown,
+making a disastrous rent. Then ball and hat came to the ground together.
+
+"Fine shot!" cried Phil admiringly.
+
+"That hat won't do duty to-night," observed Sid. "You knocked the top
+clean out, Tom," and he ran forward to pick it up. As he did so he was
+aware of an indignant figure coming from the dormitory. So, in fact,
+were Phil and Tom. A moment later, as Sid held the ruined silk hat in
+his hands, Professor Emerson Tines confronted the lads.
+
+"May I ask what you young gentlemen are doing with my hat?" he asked in
+frigid tones.
+
+"Your--your hat?" stammered Tom.
+
+"My hat," repeated the stern teacher. "I was a witness to your act of
+vandalism. You may come with me to Dr. Churchill at once!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV
+
+A PETITION
+
+
+Phil, Tom and Sid stood staring blankly at one another. Sid still held
+the broken hat, until Professor Tines came up and took it from him.
+
+"Ruined, utterly ruined!" murmured the teacher. "My best hat!"
+
+"We--I--that is I--didn't know it was your hat," stammered Tom. "I threw
+the ball through it."
+
+"You didn't know it was my hat?" asked Professor Tines, as if such
+ignorance was inexcusable. "Whose did you suppose it was, pray?"
+
+"Some galoot's--I mean some freshman's," stammered Phil. "You see, it
+was hanging from a window in the freshmen's dormitory, and----"
+
+"It was not hanging from the window of any student in the first year
+class," declared the instructor pompously. "I had sent my silk hat
+to one of the janitors, who makes a practice of ironing them. He had
+finished it, and hung it out to air, when you--you vandals came along.
+I distinctly saw you throw at my hat, sir," and Professor Tines shook
+his finger at Tom.
+
+"I--I know it, sir. I admit it," confessed the captain. "Only--only----"
+
+"We didn't know it was your hat, sir," went on Sid. "I'm afraid it's
+quite--quite unfit to wear, sir," and Sid tried to put the flapping
+piece back into place, for the professor had dropped the tile, and Sid
+had picked it up.
+
+"Unfit to wear! I should say it was. Fit to wear! Why I intend
+delivering a lecture on 'The Art of Repose as an Aid to High Thinking'
+and now, sir--now, you young vandals have ruined the hat I was going to
+wear! It's infamous--infamous! I shall have you expelled! I shall let
+your parents know of your shameless conduct! I shall have you dismissed
+at once!" and the irate professor shook his fist first at Tom, then at
+Sid and then at Phil. "Your conduct is a disgrace to the school!" he
+went on. "Here, give me my hat!" and he fairly snatched it from Sid.
+"Come with me at once to Dr. Churchill. He shall know about this
+outrage!"
+
+"If you please, Professor Tines, we didn't know it was your hat," was
+about all Phil could think of to say.
+
+"So much the worse. You thought it belonged to some defenseless student,
+and that you could ruin it with impunity. But I shall soon show you how
+mistaken you were. Come with me at once!" and Professor Tines, holding
+his hat in one hand, seized Tom's coat sleeve in the other, and led him
+toward the president's office, followed by Phil and Sid.
+
+"I--I have a tall hat, which I'll give you, until you can have this one
+fixed," spoke Sid, as they walked along.
+
+"Until I get this one fixed? It is beyond fixing!" declared Mr. Tines
+wrathfully.
+
+Good Dr. Churchill looked pained when the three culprits were ushered
+into his presence.
+
+"Look here, sir! Look here!" spluttered Professor Tines, his voice
+fairly trembling as he thrust the battered hat close to the president,
+who was near-sighted. "Just look at that, sir!"
+
+"Ha! Hum!" murmured the doctor. "Very interesting, I should say. Very
+interesting."
+
+"Interesting?" and Mr. Tines stood aghast.
+
+"Yes. I presume you have been illustrating to your class the effect of
+some explosive agent on soft material. I should say it was a very
+complete and convincing experiment--very complete, convincing and
+interesting. I congratulate you."
+
+"Congratulate! Interesting experiment!" gasped the irate "Pitchfork."
+
+"Yes. It was very well done. My, my! The crown of the hat is almost
+completely gone. Almost completely," murmured the doctor, looking
+interestedly at the dilapidated tile. "What sort of an explosive did you
+use, Professor Tines? I trust your class took careful notes of it."
+
+"Explosion!" burst out Professor Tines, looking as if he was likely to
+blow up himself. "That was no explosion, sir! My best hat was ruined by
+a baseball in the hands of these vandals, sir! I demand their expulsion
+at once."
+
+"Baseball?" queried Doctor Churchill.
+
+"I threw it, sir," declared Tom quickly. "I'm very sorry. I did not know
+the hat belonged to Professor Tines, and I will pay for it at once," and
+the captain made a motion toward his pocket.
+
+"Let me have the whole story," requested the president, and Tom thought
+there was a twinkle in his eyes. Professor Tines related most of it,
+in his usual explosive fashion, and the lads could only plead guilty.
+The owner of the hat ended by a demand for their dismissal, and Dr.
+Churchill said he would take the matter under advisement, but there was
+that in his manner which gave the culprits hope, and when he sent for
+them a little later, it was to pass the sentence that the three of them
+must go shares in buying a new hat. Tom wanted to stand all the damage,
+but Dr. Churchill, with a half-laugh, said he must mete out punishment
+all around.
+
+"I say, will you lend me my share of the money, for a few days?" asked
+Sid, of Tom, when they were on their way back to the room.
+
+"Sure!" was the answer. "Say, what do you do with all your cash, Sid?"
+for Mr. Henderson was known to be well off.
+
+"I--er--Oh, I have uses for it," replied Sid, and he hurriedly turned
+the conversation.
+
+The nine played Richfield, a strong college team, on Saturday, and was
+nearly beaten, for just when some good hitting was needed, Pete Backus,
+who was filling Sid's place, went to the bad. Randall did manage to
+get the lead of a run, and kept it, due mainly to Tom's magnificent
+pitching, but the final score was nothing to boast of, though Randall
+came home winners.
+
+"We certainly do miss Sid," remarked Tom, as he was sitting beside Phil,
+in the train on the way back. "If there's anything that's going to make
+us win or lose the championship this year it's batting, and that's Sid's
+strong point. I wish we could get him back on the team."
+
+"Maybe we can."
+
+"How?"
+
+"By getting up a petition, and having all the fellows sign it. Maybe if
+the faculty understood what it meant they would vote to rescind the
+order not allowing Sid to take part in games."
+
+"By Jove, it's worth trying!" cried Tom. "We'll do it! I'll go talk
+with Ed Kerr and Mr. Leighton."
+
+The manager and coach thought the plan a good one, and a few days later
+a petition was quietly circulated. Nothing was said to Sid about it, for
+fear he would object. The students were anxious to get their names down,
+and soon there was an imposing list.
+
+"I want to get the freshmen now," decided Tom, one afternoon, when the
+petition was nearly ready for presentation. "I'm making a class affair
+of it, each year's students by themselves, and I let the freshmen go
+until last. I'll see Bascome, who is the class president, ask him to
+call a meeting, and have his fellows sign."
+
+Tom sought out Bascome a little later, and explained what was wanted,
+asking the freshman to call a session of his classmates.
+
+"In other words you want me and my friends to help you out of a hole?"
+asked Bascome, and he was sneering.
+
+"That's about it," answered Tom, restraining a desire to punch the
+overbearing freshman. "We want to strengthen the nine, and we can do
+it if we can get Henderson back on it."
+
+"Then you'll never get him back with my signature nor that of my
+friends!" cried Bascome. "I'll get even with you fellows now, for
+the way you've treated me!"
+
+He was sneering openly. Tom looked him full in the face.
+
+"You sneaking little cad," was what he said, as he turned away.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI
+
+TOM STOPS A HOT ONE
+
+
+There was much excitement of a quiet sort when it was known what stand
+Bascome had taken. He was roundly condemned by the sophomores, juniors
+and seniors, and even by a number of the freshmen students. But Bascome
+remained firm, and he carried the class with him. Only a few freshmen
+put their names down on the petition, and they resigned from the
+exclusive freshman society to be able to do so.
+
+For there was, that year in Randall, a somewhat bitter feeling on the
+part of the whole freshman class against the sophomores, on account of
+some severe hazing in the fall. It had created trouble, had engendered a
+sense of injury, and there was lacking a proper spirit in the college.
+
+This had its effect, and the freshmen were almost a unit against the
+nine, which (and this was perhaps unusual) happened to be composed
+mainly of sophomores that season.
+
+"What do you think of the dirty sneak?" asked Tom of Phil, to whom he
+narrated the refusal of Bascome.
+
+"Think of it? I'd be ashamed to properly express myself, Tom. It's
+rotten, that's what it is. But I guess we've got enough names as it is."
+
+"Hope so, anyhow. I'm going to send it in, at any rate."
+
+The petition was duly delivered to Dr. Churchill, and a faculty meeting
+was called. A unanimous vote of the corps of instructors was needed
+to reinstate a student suspended from athletics for a violation of
+the rules, such as Sid had been accused of, this being one of the
+fundamental laws of the college since its inception. Now the absence
+of the names of the majority of the freshman class tended to operate
+against the petition being accorded an unprejudiced hearing, but what
+did more to keep Sid out was the vote of Professor Tines.
+
+The latter could not get over the destruction of his silk hat, though a
+new one had been purchased for him, and when the final vote was taken he
+barred Sid from getting back on the nine.
+
+"I have reason to believe that Mr. Henderson is inclined to too much
+horse-play," he said, "as indicated by what he did to my hat. Again,
+if he were a popular student the freshmen would have joined in the
+request. They did not, as a class, and so I am constrained to vote as
+I do."
+
+None of the faculty--even Professor Tines--knew the real reason why the
+freshmen names were not down, and no one cared about mentioning it,
+for it was not a thing for students to discuss with the teachers. Mr.
+Leighton did his best, in a delicate way, but it was of no use. The
+petition failed, and not a few members of the faculty were deeply
+grieved, for they wanted to see a championship nine in Randall. Still
+they would not argue with Professor Tines.
+
+And the chances of Randall winning the championship and the loving cup
+seemed to be diminishing from day to day, in spite of the strenuous
+efforts of Tom, Ed Kerr and Mr. Leighton. There was something lacking. No
+one could just say what it was, but there was a spirit of uncertainty,
+and a sense of worriment in the nine, that did not operate for perfect
+team work.
+
+Tom threatened and pleaded by turns, but his words had little effect.
+The men showed up well in practice, and played a fast and snappy game
+with the scrub, but when it came to going out on the diamond there was
+a lack of batting ability and an absence of team work, that had a bad
+effect, and several games were won only by narrow margins, while some,
+that should have been won, were lost.
+
+"We play Boxer Hall, Saturday," observed Tom, in his room with Phil and
+Sid one evening. "I wonder how we'll make out."
+
+"It isn't the last game, is it?" inquired Sid.
+
+"No, there's one more, and another with Fairview. But I'm not worrying
+much about the co-eds. It's Boxer that has me guessing. Oh, Sid, but I
+wish you were with us."
+
+"So do I," and Sid turned his face aside.
+
+"Can't you get back?" asked Phil. "Can't you go to Dr. Churchill, and
+explain--about that bottle of liquor--you know."
+
+"No," answered Sid gently, "I can't."
+
+"The nine may lose," declared Tom.
+
+"I'm--I'm just as sorry as you are, Tom," said the second baseman
+earnestly, "but it's out of the question. I can't explain--just yet."
+
+"Can you ever?" demanded Phil eagerly.
+
+"Perhaps--soon now. I am hoping every day."
+
+"Have you given a--a sort of promise--to some one?" asked Tom gently.
+
+"Yes," replied Sid in a low voice. "It's a promise, and a great deal
+depends on it--even more than the championship of Randall college." And
+that was all Sid would say for the time being.
+
+The game with Boxer Hall was a hard one. Tom and his men had to work
+for everything they got, for Langridge seemed to have improved in his
+pitching, and the fielding of Randall's enemy was a thing to rejoice the
+heart of her captain and coach.
+
+The game ran along to the seventh inning with some sensational plays,
+and the score was 6 to 4 in favor of Boxer. Then Langridge grew a bit
+wild, and issued several passes until the bases were full, when a three
+bagger which Holly Cross knocked brought in three runs, and put Randall
+one ahead. There was wild delight then, and as none were out it looked
+as if Randall would be good for at least two more runs. But Langridge
+got control of the ball, and struck out three men, and the next inning
+Boxer put in a new pitcher--a semi-professional it was whispered, though
+Tom and his fellows decided to take no notice of the talk.
+
+Then began a desperate effort on the part of Boxer Hall to get in two
+more runs in the remaining two innings. They adopted unfair tactics, and
+several times the umpire warned the men on the coaching line that they
+were violating the rules.
+
+Tom managed to stiffen his work in the eighth, and, though two men got
+walking papers, no runs came in, for the next three batters went down
+and out under the influence of Tom's curves. But that inning saw no runs
+for Randall, either, and when her men came in for their last chance Tom
+pleaded with them to get at least one more to clinch the victory that
+was held by such a narrow margin. It was not to be, however, and a zero
+went up in the Randall space on the score board.
+
+The score was 7 to 6, in favor of Randall, when Boxer Hall came up for
+the ending of the ninth inning.
+
+"If we can only hold 'em there," thought Tom wearily, for his arm ached.
+Still he would not give up, though Rod Evert was anxious to fill the
+box.
+
+Tom struck out the first man, gave the next one a pass, and was hit for
+a single by the third batter. Then the Randall captain knew he must work
+hard to win. He struck out the next batter, and as Dave Ogden, who
+followed, was a notoriously hard hitter, Tom was worried. A three
+bagger, which was Ogden's specialty, would bring in two runs, and win
+the game for Boxer.
+
+Dutch signalled for a drop, but Tom gave the negative sign, and indicated
+that he would pitch an out. As the ball left his fingers he was aware
+that it had slipped and that Ogden would hit it.
+
+He did. There was a resounding "whack" and the ball, a hot liner, came
+straight for Tom. The Boxer Hall crowd set up a yell, thinking their man
+had made good, and that two runs, at least, would come in. For no one
+expected to see Tom stop the ball.
+
+But he did. It was well over his head, and passing him on the right
+side. He leaped into the air, and with his bare hand caught the
+horsehide. The impact on his unprotected palm was terrific, and he was
+at once aware that he had split the skin. But though a pain, like a red
+hot iron, shot down his arm, he held on.
+
+[Illustration: HE LEAPED INTO THE AIR AND WITH HIS BARE HAND CAUGHT THE
+HORSEHIDE.]
+
+"Batter's out!" cried the umpire. Then, amid the wild and frenzied
+shouting of his chums, Tom dropped the ball, and walked in, his arm
+hanging limply by his side, while Dutch and Mr. Leighton ran anxiously
+toward him.
+
+But what did Tom Parsons care for an injured hand? He had saved Randall
+from defeat, for that ended Boxer's chances, two men died on bases, and
+the game was over, the score being 7 to 6 in Randall's favor.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVII
+
+GLOOMY DAYS
+
+
+"Much hurt?" inquired Mr. Leighton anxiously, as he reached Tom's side.
+
+"Oh, nothing to speak of," replied the plucky pitcher carelessly, but
+when he held up his hand a few drops of blood trickled from it, and
+there was a thin, red line across the palm.
+
+"You shouldn't have stopped that ball!" exclaimed Dutch, half savagely.
+
+"I shouldn't? Do you think I was going to stand there and let it go by,
+and lose us the game?" demanded Tom. "I guess not--not for two sore
+hands!"
+
+"But, it's your pitching hand," expostulated Dutch. "We need you the
+rest of the season, and the championship is far from won--in fact it's
+almost as far off as the stars," he added in a low voice, for he, too,
+had noted the lack of team work in the present game, and some that had
+preceded.
+
+"Oh, don't be a croaker," advised Tom, trying to speak lightly though he
+was in considerable pain. "I'll be all right in a week. We haven't any
+hard game until then, and we'll go in and clean up all the roosts around
+here before the season closes."
+
+"I hope so," remarked Mr. Leighton in a low voice. "You had better let
+the doctor look at that hand, Parsons. No use taking any chances."
+
+The injury was temporarily bandaged and Tom, with a queer feeling about
+him, that was not at all connected with his wound, changed his uniform
+for street clothing and returned to Randall with the nine. Dr. Marshall,
+later, dressed the hurt, and decided that Tom must refrain from playing
+ball for at least a week--perhaps longer.
+
+"I'll have Evert warming up all this week," decided the coach. "We play
+the Branchville nine Saturday, and ought to win easily. Then I think
+you'll be ready for Fairview the following week, and Boxer Hall after
+that."
+
+"The last two big games," murmured Tom. "We've got to win them both if
+we want the championship, and I'm afraid----"
+
+"Oh, cheer up!" advised Phil. "I know I played rotten to-day, but I'll
+do better next time. Please forgive me?" and he assumed a mocking,
+contrite air, at which Tom could not help laughing.
+
+"Get out!" exclaimed the captain. "You know I wasn't referring to you.
+But, seriously, Phil, something's got to be done. Think of it! We pulled
+through by the skin of our teeth to-day----"
+
+"By the skin of your hand, you mean."
+
+"Well, have it that way, but consider. Next Saturday will be an easy
+contest. Then comes Fairview and Boxer, both after our scalps. As it
+stands now we have played a number of games besides those with our two
+big enemies and are tied with Boxer for first place, and the possession
+of the loving cup. If we lose the Fairview game, and Boxer beats
+Fairview we will still have a show, by beating Boxer ourselves, but if
+it goes the other way we're out of it. Our only hope is to do up both
+Fairview and Boxer, in succession, and how we are going to do it is more
+than I can tell."
+
+"Oh, we'll do it--somehow," declared Phil.
+
+Matters, as regarded the baseball nine, did not improve much in the next
+few days, and Tom was filled with gloomy thoughts and dire forebodings.
+Though he was on hand at every practice the lads missed his sure arm
+in the pitching box, though Evert did fairly well. The game with
+Branchville proved fairly easy, though Randall did not shine with any
+unusual brilliancy.
+
+"Hang it all, something's got to be done!" declared Tom on the night
+after the game. He was nervous and irritated, for his hand pained him,
+though it was nearly healed, and he was going to pitch in practice on
+Monday.
+
+"What can be done?" inquired Phil, who was critically examining a new
+glove he had purchased.
+
+"Sid, we might as well have it out," went on Tom, and he squared his
+shoulders as if for a fight, as he confronted the deposed second
+baseman. "Are you or are you not going to play with us again this
+season? You know we need you. We want you to help us to bat to win. Are
+you going to do it?"
+
+"Why, it doesn't depend on me," answered Sid, in apparent surprise. "If
+the doctor says the word I'll jump right in, and do my best. You know
+that. It's up to the faculty. If they remove the ban----"
+
+"No, it's not up to the faculty!" declared Tom vigorously. "It's up to
+you, and you know it. It's up to you to save the Randall 'varsity nine!"
+
+"Up to me?" Sid had arisen from his seat near the window, and stood in
+the middle of the room.
+
+"Up to you," repeated Tom. "You know, as well as I do, that you weren't
+guilty when Zane caught you with the liquor. You had that for some one
+else, and you're trying to shield him. You never use it--you had no use
+for it, yet you kept still when they accused you, and didn't tell. Now
+it's time to tell--it's time to say you were innocent--it's time to come
+out and end this mystery. The team needs you! All you've got to do is to
+tell the truth, instead of keeping silent, and you know the faculty will
+exonerate you. Then the ban will be removed, and you can play. That's
+why I say it's up to you. Isn't it now? Own up, Sid; did you have that
+liquor for yourself? If you told the truth about it couldn't you get
+back on the team?"
+
+Tom was fairly panting from the force of his appeal. Sid's face was
+strangely white, as he turned to look the captain full in the eyes. For
+a moment he did not reply, and the breathing of the three chums could
+plainly be heard, for Phil was as much agitated as either of the others.
+
+"Answer me, Sid," pleaded Tom.
+
+"I can't answer everything you ask," spoke Sid, in a low voice. "As I
+told you before, I gave a promise, and, until I am released from it, I
+can't speak--my lips are sealed."
+
+"But you didn't have that liquor for yourself," persisted Tom. "Did you,
+now?"
+
+"I'm not going to answer that," and Sid's hands were gripped on the back
+of a chair, until his knuckles showed white with the strain.
+
+"Sid Henderson, will you--dare you say that if you told the truth about
+this miserable business you would not be reinstated and allowed to
+play?" went on the captain relentlessly. "If you told the whole story,
+couldn't you get back on the team?"
+
+"I'm not going to tell," said Sid slowly.
+
+"Then you don't want to get back on the team?" fired Tom quickly.
+
+"More than you know--more than you know," was Sid's answer, as he went
+out of the room.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVIII
+
+A FRESHMAN PLOT
+
+
+Tom stood staring at the door which closed after Sid--staring as if he
+could not believe what he had heard. He was roused from his reverie by
+Phil's voice.
+
+"I'm afraid you've only made matters worse, Tom."
+
+"Made 'em worse? They can't be any worse," was the testy reply. "Hang it
+all! We're about as bad off now as we well can be. I wanted to get Sid
+back on the team, and--and----"
+
+"There's something we can't get at," declared Phil. "It is something
+pretty strong, or Sid would never keep quiet and see the college lose."
+
+"Not unless he's altogether different from what he was last term,"
+agreed Tom, with a puzzled air. "He once said he hoped he would be
+able to tell us what his secret was--soon--I only wish the time would
+come--soon--we need Sid's stick work on the team. I wonder if it has
+anything to do with a girl--Miss Harrison?"
+
+"She's only one factor in the game. I fancy that was what Sid meant
+when he said he wanted to get back on the team more than we realized--he
+meant that it was so Miss Harrison would be friends with him again, for
+the same thing that caused the disagreement between them, got Sid into
+trouble with the proctor. And, if what Ruth says is true, Miss Harrison
+cares a lot for Sid."
+
+"Oh, you can't tell much about girls," retorted Tom, with an air of a
+youth who was past-master in the art of knowing the feminine mind. "Of
+course that's not saying that Ruth doesn't mean what she says," he added
+hastily, for Phil was her brother. "But look at how Miss Harrison went
+with Langridge."
+
+"Only a couple of times, and I fancy she didn't know his true character.
+She gave him his quietus soon enough after the trick he tried to play
+with the mirror."
+
+"That's so. Well, I wish this tangle would be straightened out somehow.
+It's getting on my nerves."
+
+"A baseball 'varsity captain shouldn't have nerves."
+
+"I know it, but I can't help it. Hello, some one's coming. Maybe it's
+Sid."
+
+"No, it's Dutch Housenlager, by his tread," and Phil's guess was right.
+
+"Glad I found somebody in," remarked Dutch, as he was about to throw
+himself with considerable force on the old sofa. Tom grabbed the
+catcher, and shunted him off to one side so violently that Dutch sat
+down on the floor, with a jar that shook the room.
+
+"Here, what's that for?" he demanded, somewhat dazed.
+
+"It was to save our sofa," Tom explained. "You were coming down on it as
+if you were making a flying tackle. It would have been broken like a
+half-sawed-through goal post if you had landed. I side-tracked you,
+that's all."
+
+"Oh," answered Dutch, as he slowly arose. "Next time I wish you'd serve
+notice on me when you're going to do a thing like that, and I'll wear my
+football suit," and he rubbed his back gingerly.
+
+"Would you mind translating your remark about being glad you found
+somebody in?" requested Phil.
+
+"With pleasure, son. I've been to about sixteen different domiciles this
+evening, and every one was vacant. I've got something to talk about.
+Where's Sid?"
+
+"He went out a while ago," answered Tom, uneasily.
+
+"Seems to me you fellows aren't as chummy as you once were," remarked
+Dutch, taking a seat in the old armchair, after a questioning look at
+Tom, who nodded a permission.
+
+"Oh, yes, we are," exclaimed Phil quickly. "Isn't it fierce that Sid's
+off the team."
+
+"Rotten--simply rotten," agreed Dutch. "Just when we need him most. Why
+didn't you chaps keep him in the straight and narrow path that leads to
+baseball victories?"
+
+"We tried," came quickly from Phil. "But Sid----"
+
+"Oh, it'll be all right," interrupted Tom. "I think things will
+straighten themselves out." In his heart he did not believe this, but he
+did not want Dutch to go away with the idea that there was a cloud
+hanging over the "inseparables." That would never do. "I have an idea
+that the faculty will relent at the last minute," went on the captain.
+"Especially when they know that the championship depends on it. Then
+they'll let Sid play. If they don't we'll get up another petition, and
+make Bascome and his crowd sign, or we'll run 'em out of college."
+
+"Speaking of the freshmen brings me to what I came here for," declared
+Dutch, and Tom gave a sigh of relief, that their visitor was away from
+the delicate subject. "What are we going to do to fool the first years,
+and keep 'em away from our spring dinner?" demanded Dutch. "That's what
+I called about. The dinner is to be held next week, a few days before
+our game with Fairview, and, naturally, the freshies will try to break
+it up."
+
+"I've been so busy with getting ready for the exams and baseball, that I
+haven't given the dinner much thought," declared Tom. "Of course we've
+got to have it, and we must fool the freshies."
+
+"Sure," agreed Phil. "Let's go have a talk with Holly Cross. He may be
+able to suggest something."
+
+"Come on!" called Dutch. "We'll call on Holly."
+
+As the three strolled down the corridor, out on the campus, and in the
+direction of Holly's room, the genial center fielder having an apartment
+in one of the college club houses, Dutch nudged his companions.
+
+"Look," he remarked, "there go Ford Fenton and Bert Bascome, with
+several freshies. I don't like to see one of the sophs mixing it up so
+close with the first years."
+
+"Me either," agreed Tom. "Ford ought to stick to his own class. The
+trouble is few of our fellows like him, on account of his ways and his
+'uncle,' whereas the freshmen will stand for them. That's why Ford hangs
+out in their camp. But with our annual spring dinner coming off, I don't
+like it."
+
+"Oh, Ford wouldn't dare betray us," was Phil's opinion. They kept on
+across the campus, and were soon in Holly's room, where plans for the
+dinner were eagerly discussed.
+
+If they could have seen what took place a little later in the room of
+Bert Bascome, the four sophomores would have had more cause than ever to
+regret the intimacy between Ford Fenton and some of the first-year
+crowd.
+
+"It's your best chance to get even with them for making fun of you,
+Ford," Bascome was urging the lad whose uncle had once been a coach at
+Randall. "It will serve them right."
+
+"But I hate to give their plans away," objected Ford. "I'm a sophomore,
+and----"
+
+"They don't treat you as one," urged Henry Delfield, Bascome's crony.
+"It will be a fine chance to get back at them."
+
+"Suppose they find out that I told?" asked Ford.
+
+"They never will. We'll see to that," promised Bert eagerly. "All we
+want you to do is to tell us where the dinner is going to be held. We'll
+do the rest. There'll be a fight, of course, when we arrive, to break it
+up, and, just so Parsons, Clinton, Henderson and that crowd won't be
+suspicious, you can pitch into me--make believe knock me down, you know,
+and all that. Then they won't have any suspicion of you."
+
+"Think not?" inquired Ford.
+
+"Sure not. All we want is a tip, and when you've given it you'll be in a
+position to laugh at those fellows who are laughing at you so often."
+
+"That's right, they do make a lot of fun of me," said Ford weakly. "All
+right, I'll let you know, as soon as I find out where the dinner's going
+to be held. But don't squeal on me," and the prospective traitor looked
+apprehensively at the plotting freshmen.
+
+"Not for worlds," Bascome assured him solemnly, and Ford left, promising
+to deliver his classmates into the hands of their traditional enemies.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIX
+
+THE SOPHOMORE DINNER
+
+
+When Phil, Tom and Dutch Housenlager came from Holly's room that
+evening, they were just in time to see Ford Fenton emerge from his
+plotting conference with Bascome and his cronies.
+
+"I don't like that," exclaimed Phil. "Ford has been in with those
+fellows for some time."
+
+"Probably trying to think up some scheme so he can get to be baseball
+manager next year," suggested Tom.
+
+"No!" cried Phil. "By Jove, I believe I have it. Come on back to Holly's
+room for a few minutes," and he took hold of his chums and fairly led
+them away, much to their mystification. There was another conference,
+which lasted a long time, and for a day or two thereafter much activity
+in the ranks of the sophomores.
+
+The dinner was to be a "swell" affair, to quote Holly Cross. An
+elaborate menu had been decided on, and there were to be several
+"stunts" more or less elaborate on the part of the "talented" members
+of the class. The affair was to be held in a hall in Haddonfield, and
+the great object of the second-year fellows, of course, was to prevent
+the time and place of the dinner becoming known to their enemies, the
+freshmen.
+
+"Do you s'pose they'll bite?" asked Tom, an evening or two later, as
+he, together with Phil and Sid and Holly, were in the room of the
+"inseparables."
+
+"It depends on us," answered Holly, who was the president of the
+sophomores. "I think they'll trail along when they see us go out."
+
+"If they don't have some of their number trail after the main bunch,"
+spoke Phil.
+
+"We'll have to take our chances; that's all," came from Sid. "Well, are
+we all ready?"
+
+"Pretty nearly," answered Holly. "I want to wait until it's a little
+darker. Then we'll slip off. I hope the chap is there with the auto."
+
+"He promised to be," said Tom, and they sat about, waiting impatiently
+for the hour of action to arrive. It came finally, ticked off by the
+impatient little clock, and four figures stole from the sophomore
+dormitory, and hurried across the campus.
+
+"There they come," said Tom, in a low voice, a moment later. "They're
+trailing us all right. See 'em sneaking along on the other side?"
+
+"Sure," spoke Phil. It was just light enough to discern a number of
+hazy figures creeping along a boxwood hedge.
+
+"See anything of that traitor, Fenton?" asked Holly, in a low voice.
+
+"No, he's with the other crowd," answered Tom. "He's in fear of his life
+that we'll find him out."
+
+"As if we hadn't already," added Sid.
+
+Hurrying along, the four lads entered a trolley that was headed for
+Haddonfield. They looked back, as they were on the platform, and saw the
+shadowy figures leap into an auto which they knew belonged to Bert
+Bascome.
+
+"They're coming," spoke Sid.
+
+"And we'll be ready for 'em," added Tom.
+
+A little later Tom and his chums were in the town and they hurried to a
+building, containing several halls or meeting rooms, where the students
+frequently held dinners, or gave dances and other affairs.
+
+"Did you see anything of them since we arrived?" asked Holly of Tom as
+they scurried into the structure.
+
+"No, but they'll be on hand. Ford has tipped them off all right; the
+little puppy! Say, what ought we to do to him? Tar and feathers, or give
+him the silence?"
+
+"We can settle that later," remarked Phil. "Just now let's see how we
+make out against the freshies. It's tough to have to acknowledge that
+there's a traitor in the class."
+
+"It sure is. Come on, now I hope everything is here."
+
+A man came out of a room as the four sophomores knocked on the door.
+
+"All arranged?" asked Tom eagerly.
+
+"Yes. Now I hope you young gentlemen don't have too much of a fight.
+Don't break the furniture."
+
+"Not any more than we can help," promised Sid.
+
+"When the other fellows come--I mean the freshmen, let 'em right up,"
+instructed Holly. "We'll be ready for 'em. Are the rear stairs clear?"
+
+"Yes, you can slip out that way, and I put double locks on the door
+you'll go out of."
+
+"And a spring lock on the one they'll enter by?" asked Tom.
+
+"Yes, just as you told me. Now don't do too much damage," and the man,
+the proprietor of the place, seemed somewhat apprehensive.
+
+"Oh, we'll pay for everything," agreed Holly. "Well, we're ready any
+time Bascome and his crowd are."
+
+"I'm glad the sophs didn't think of a game like this to play on us when
+we tried to break up their dinner last year," observed Sid, as the four
+entered the room.
+
+The place presented a curious sight. There was a table set as if for a
+banquet, with plates, knives and forks, glasses, and with the usual
+candles burning in silver candelabras. At the head of the banquet board
+was a stuffed figure, representing a Randall college student, with the
+college colors in gay ribbons pinned on one side of his caricature of a
+face, while the sophomore hues adorned the other side.
+
+"Got the camera and flash powder?" asked Holly.
+
+"Right here," answered Sid, who, because of his knowledge in that line,
+had been selected for this post of honor.
+
+"They'll be here pretty soon now," prophesied Tom. "Bascome has his
+crowd in waiting somewhere, and he just lingered around college until he
+saw us start. Then they'll delay until they think we're all here, and
+they'll rush in, and make a rough house."
+
+"That is, they _think_ they will," corrected Phil, with a grin. "I
+rather think they'll be surprised some."
+
+The four moved about the room, completing their arrangements, while Sid
+busied himself with a large camera, which was focused on the door
+leading into the banquet hall, and got ready a flashlight powder.
+
+"I think I hear them coming," spoke Tom in a whisper, about half an hour
+later. "Get ready, Sid."
+
+"I'm all ready."
+
+They listened. Out in the corridor there were shuffling noises, as if
+several persons were trying to walk quietly. There was a brushing
+against the door, and a cautious whisper.
+
+Suddenly the knob of the portal was tried, and a voice in the hall
+cried:
+
+"Give up, sophs! We've got you!"
+
+Several bodies flung themselves against the door, and to the surprise of
+the freshmen, who were headed by Bascome and Delfield, they found that
+the portal was not locked. It opened easily--so easily, in fact, that
+several of the lads fell to the floor, and the others rushed over
+them. There was a scene of confusion, and this probably prevented the
+attacking freshmen from seeing that only four sophomores were present.
+The first year lads caught sight of the table, with its glistening array
+of silver and glass, and they took it for granted that they were in the
+banquet place of their enemies.
+
+"Come on, fellows! We've got 'em!" yelled Bascome, scrambling to his
+feet. "Upset things, and then capture Holly Cross. There he is!"
+
+With a yell his cronies sprang to obey the sporty freshman. They fairly
+tumbled over each other until they filled the room. Then, with a bang,
+the door by which they had entered slammed shut behind them, fastening
+with a strong spring lock on the outside.
+
+"All ready with the camera, Sid!" cried Holly.
+
+"All ready," answered Sid.
+
+Then, for the first time the freshmen seemed to realize that only a
+small number of sophomores were present--four, who were ensconced behind
+a table, and near an open door.
+
+"Welcome to our banquet, freshies!" cried Tom.
+
+Holly Cross caught up the effigy of a sophomore and tossed it at
+Bascome. The freshman leader, taken by surprise, clasped the figure in
+his arms, and Phil yelled:
+
+"Let 'em have it, Sid!"
+
+There was a blinding flash, and a dull boom, as the flashlight powder
+exploded, and it was followed by a gasp of fear from the freshmen. Then
+Holly switched on the electric lights, which had been turned off, and
+addressed the huddled group of freshmen.
+
+"Gentlemen, I hope you enjoy your call," he said. "As for us, we have
+to leave you, as we are already a little late for the banquet. This is
+only a sample of what we will have, and as a sort of memento of this
+auspicious occasion, let me inform you that we have a flashlight
+photograph of you in your most interesting poses. Bascome, smile a
+little, if you please--that's it--look pleasant. That will do. You may
+lay aside the rag doll now."
+
+With a strong expression the freshman president cast aside the effigy,
+and yelled:
+
+"Fellows, we're stung! But we can prevent these four from going to the
+banquet, anyhow! Get at them!"
+
+He leaped across the table, followed by several of his fellows.
+
+"Too late! Sorry to leave you!" cried Tom, as he and his chums glided
+through the open doorway behind them, Sid taking the camera with him.
+
+The door was hastily pulled shut, and bolted, barred and locked, just as
+the group of infuriated freshmen threw themselves against it.
+
+"Trapped!" Tom heard Bascome shout from the other side of the portal.
+"Try the other door!"
+
+"That's locked, too," came the despairing cry. "We're caught!"
+
+"That's it!" cried Phil exultantly. "Ta-ta, freshies! Next time you
+listen to a traitor, take care to lay better plans. We're off to our
+annual feed. When you get out come along, and we'll give you the
+leavings. You can have Fenton, too," and the four who had successfully
+turned the trick on their class enemies, hastened off, leaped into a
+waiting auto, and were soon at the banquet hall, where their fellows
+were anxiously expecting them.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXX
+
+TOM'S LAST APPEAL
+
+
+"Did it work?"
+
+"Were they surprised?"
+
+"Did you get their picture?"
+
+"How was it?"
+
+A dozen other questions, besides these, were asked of Tom and his chums,
+as they entered the hall where the real sophomore banquet was about to
+take place. Around them eagerly thronged their classmates, all anxious
+to know how the trick had developed, for, it is needless to say that
+Ford Fenton's treachery was discovered, and plans laid to offset it,
+with what effect the reader has learned.
+
+"It worked like a charm," responded Holly Cross.
+
+"And I think I have a fine picture of them rushing in, and Bascome
+hugging the dummy," added Sid. "Now I'll take a flash of this banquet,
+and we'll post 'em all over college, with a notice saying: 'Gaze on this
+picture--then on that!' It will be great!" and he proceeded to arrange
+his camera to take a different view of the banquet scene.
+
+"Where's Fenton?" inquired Tom, looking around.
+
+"He didn't come," replied Dutch Housenlager. "We've been waiting for
+him."
+
+"Nasty scandal to get out about Randall," commented Phil.
+
+"Oh, we'll take care that it doesn't get out," responded Holly. "Ford
+will keep still, and I'll make a school-honor matter of it for the
+others. Only Fenton had better go back to his friends," he added
+significantly.
+
+I presume my readers have already guessed how the affair came about.
+Holly and his chums suspected, after seeing Fenton so chummy with
+Bascome and his crowd, that there might be at least a "leak" in regard
+to the time and place of the sophomore dinner. To forestall any such
+event, a ruse was adopted. It was arranged to hold the real dinner in a
+seldom-used hall, but to go ahead with arrangements as if one was going
+to take place in the usual building. To give color to this, Holly, Tom,
+Sid and Phil pretended to sneak off, as if to avoid the freshmen, but,
+in reality, to lead them on. Bascome and his followers trailed after,
+were drawn into the hall where the "fake" dinner table was set, and
+trapped, as told. They were locked in, and it was some time before they
+could summon help to open the doors.
+
+Meanwhile the real banquet came off most successfully. Later the
+picture Sid had taken, of Bascome and the freshmen, rushing pell-mell
+into the supposed dining hall, was developed and printed, while its
+companion-piece was hung up with it, showing the triumphant sophomores
+gathered at the board, making merry. It made a great hit, and the
+freshmen did not hear the last of their defeat for many moons.
+
+As for Fenton, he was made aware, that very night, of the fact that his
+indiscrete conduct, to give it the mildest term, was common knowledge.
+He withdrew from college, fearing the just wrath of his classmates, but,
+lest the scandal might stand against the fair name of Randall, he was
+induced to come back. He was promised that no punishment would be meted
+out to him, and none was, in the common acceptance of that term. But his
+life was made miserable in more ways than one.
+
+The spring term was drawing to a close. With all the excitement attending
+the annual examinations there was mingled with it the anxiety about the
+baseball team, and Randall's chances for winning the championship, and
+the gold loving cup. The latter was placed on view in one of the
+Haddonfield stores, and daily a crowd of persons, including many
+students, could be seen in front of the place.
+
+"I wonder if we'll get it?" asked Tom of Phil, a few days before the
+final game with Fairview.
+
+"How are you on pitching?" asked Phil, for Tom had done little more than
+light practice since his accident.
+
+"All right, I think. My hand is in fair shape."
+
+"Pity you're not a southpaw, or else it's too bad you caught that ball,"
+said Phil.
+
+"Nonsense. I can pitch all right, and I would have felt like leaving the
+team, if I had let that liner get past me, hot as it was. No, I'm not
+worrying from my end, though perhaps I should. It's our batting I'm
+alarmed about. Hang it all, if only Sid----"
+
+"There's no use going over that again," and Phil spoke quietly.
+
+"No, I presume not. Well, we've just got to win from Fairview."
+
+"Suppose it would do any good to tackle Sid again?"
+
+"I don't know. I'll try, if I get a chance. I wish I knew his secret."
+
+The chance came sooner than Tom or Phil expected it would. It was the
+evening of the day before the final game with Fairview. There had been
+hard practice in the afternoon, and though Tom found himself in good
+shape, and noted an improvement in his fielding forces, the batting was
+weak. He was tired, and not a little discouraged. His one thought was:
+
+"If I could only get Sid to play, it would strengthen the whole team. He
+would stiffen the rest of 'em up, and stiffening is all that some of
+them need. Oh--well, what's the use."
+
+Tom and Phil were alone in the room, discussing plans for the game the
+next day, when Sid entered. One look at his face showed that he was
+moody and out of sorts. He had been off on a tramp, after biology
+specimens, and with scarcely a word to his chums he began changing his
+field clothes for other garments.
+
+"Going out this evening?" asked Phil.
+
+"No. Guess not," was the rather short answer. "I've got to do some
+studying. What have you fellows got on the carpet?"
+
+"Rest," answered Tom, and after supper he returned to the apartment, and
+stretched out on the creaking sofa, while Phil occupied the easy chair.
+Sid was at his desk writing, when a knock came at the door.
+
+The deposed second baseman started, and half arose. Then he sat down
+again.
+
+"Well, aren't some of you going to answer it?" asked Tom. "I'm too tired
+to move."
+
+"Same here," added Phil, but, as he was nearer the portal than Sid, he
+got up, with much groaning, and opened the door. Wallops stood there.
+
+"A message for Mr. Henderson," he announced, and he handed Phil a
+letter.
+
+"Here! Give it to me!" cried Sid, almost snatching it from Phil's
+fingers.
+
+"I was just going to, old man," was the gentle answer, and it seemed as
+if Sid was afraid his chum would see the writing on the envelope.
+
+Sid tore open the epistle, read it at a glance, and tore it up,
+scattering the fragments in his waste paper basket. Then he strode over
+to his closet, and got out his coat and cap.
+
+"Going out?" asked Phil, politely interested.
+
+"Yes--I've got to," muttered Sid.
+
+Tom slowly arose from the old sofa, the boards on the back and front
+creaking dismally with the strain.
+
+"Sid," spoke Tom, and there was that in his voice which made Phil and
+Sid both look at the captain. "Sid, I'm going to make a last appeal to
+you."
+
+"No--don't," almost begged the second baseman, and he put up his arm, as
+though to ward off a blow. "Don't, Tom, I--I can't stand it."
+
+"You've got to!" insisted Tom, almost fiercely. "I've stood this long
+enough. It's not fair to yourself--not fair to the nine."
+
+"I don't know what you mean," and Sid tried to speak calmly.
+
+"Yes, you do," and by this time Tom was on his feet, and had walked
+over toward the door. "Yes, you do know. You received a note just now.
+There's no use in me pretending I don't know what it is, for I do."
+
+Sid started.
+
+"I mean," went on Tom, "that I know what it portends. I don't know who
+it's from, and I don't care; neither do I know what's in it. But I do
+know that it calls you out----"
+
+"Yes, I've got to go," murmured Sid, as though it was a summons from
+fate, and he could not avoid it.
+
+"You've got to do nothing of the sort!" cried Tom. "Don't go!"
+
+"I've got to, I tell you!"
+
+"To that gambling hall? To lose your money again? Haven't you manhood
+enough to say 'no'? Can't you stay away? Oh, Sid, why do you go? Why
+don't you be fair to yourself--fair to the nine? We need you!"
+
+Tom held out his hands appealingly. There was a mist before his eyes,
+and, he fancied, something glistened in those of his chum. Phil stood,
+a silent spectator of the little scene, and the clock ticked on
+relentlessly.
+
+"Don't you want to help us win?" asked Tom.
+
+"You know I do!" exclaimed Sid brokenly.
+
+"Then do it!" cried Tom, in ringing tones. "Break off this miserable
+life! Give up this gambling!"
+
+"I'm not gambling!" cried Sid, and he shrank back, as though Tom had
+struck him.
+
+"Dare you deny that you're going from here to the gambling den in
+Dartwell?" asked Tom, with flashing eyes.
+
+Sid was silent.
+
+"You don't dare deny it," went on the captain. "Now, Sid, I've made my
+last appeal. From now on I'm going to act. I'm captain of the nine,
+and what I say goes. I say you sha'n't go out to that gambling hall
+to-night!" and, before either of his chums were aware of his action, Tom
+had sprung forward, locked the door, and taken out the key. "There!
+Let's see you go out now!" cried Tom, as he planted himself in front of
+the portal and folded his arms, a picture of defiance.
+
+Sid acted as if stunned for a moment. Then, fairly springing forward, he
+cried:
+
+"Stand aside, Tom! I've got to go out now! You don't understand. Stand
+aside and let me pass!"
+
+"I'll not! You sha'n't make a beast of yourself any longer!"
+
+"Stand aside or I'll tear you away from that door and burst it open!"
+and Sid fairly hissed out the words.
+
+Tom never moved. Calmly he faced his chum. Though his face was stern,
+there was a look of deep sorrow on it. As for Phil he knew not what to
+do or say.
+
+"Once more," asked Sid, and his voice was calmer, "will you stand aside,
+or have I got to force you?"
+
+"You're not going out of here to-night," repeated Tom. "This has got to
+end. I'm going to find out your secret--the secret you are keeping in
+spite of your better self. We'll get at the bottom of this--we'll
+restore you to yourself, Sid--to the nine that needs you. We'll have the
+ban removed!"
+
+Once more he held out his hands appealingly.
+
+"I ask you for the last time, will you stand back?" came from Sid, in
+steely tones.
+
+"No!" cried Tom resolutely.
+
+"Then I'll make you!" and Sid approached closer. He made a grab for
+Tom's outstretched right hand, and wrenched it cruelly. In spite of
+himself Tom gave a cry of pain, for the injury was tender yet.
+
+This seemed to break the spell. Phil sprang forward.
+
+"Sid--Tom!" he cried. "What are you doing?"
+
+They seemed to realize, then, that they had nearly come to blows. With
+a sob, almost of despair, Sid released his hold of Tom's hand, and
+staggered back. At the same time the captain, reaching in his pocket for
+the key, inserted it in the door, and shot back the lock.
+
+"You may go," he said gently.
+
+Sid, with never a word, but with a look of anguish on his face, as if he
+was torn between two fates, passed out.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXI
+
+THE BAN LIFTED
+
+
+"I never knew that clock ticked so loud," remarked Tom, after a silence
+that seemed interminable. "Listen to it."
+
+"It does make an infernal racket," responded Phil, and his voice sounded
+strange to him. So great had been the strain engendered by the dramatic
+departure of Sid, that both Tom and Phil felt the awkwardness of
+speaking of commonplace matters after it. "Guess we'll get a new
+ticker," suggested Phil, for want of something better to say.
+
+"No," answered Tom slowly. "Old things are best after all--even if they
+don't keep just the right time. I'm attached to that clock."
+
+Somehow Tom felt that the simile might apply to Sid, but he did not
+mention it.
+
+"Is your hand--did he hurt it--I mean is it all right?" stammered Phil.
+
+"Oh, yes," replied Tom, with a glance at it. "Sid gave it a wrench, but
+I guess it will be all right to-morrow. I can't understand him, can
+you?"
+
+"No, and I've given up trying."
+
+"No, don't do that!" begged Tom. "We've just got to save Sid."
+
+"But if he won't let us?"
+
+"We must do it in spite of himself. I will try to think of a way," and
+Tom threw himself back on the sofa, and turned his face to the wall.
+Phil walked softly across the room, and sat down in the big chair.
+Somehow it seemed as if their chum had gone, never to return. For more
+than an hour the two sat there, neither speaking, and the clock ticked
+on relentlessly.
+
+"Well," remarked Tom at length, with a sigh, "guess I'll turn in."
+
+Sid was in his bed when the two chums awoke in the morning, though
+neither Phil nor Tom had heard him come in. He did not refer to the
+happening of the previous night, but after chapel, which was made
+particularly solemn by a short sermon by the doctor on the prodigal son,
+Sid drew away from his chums, who started for their classes.
+
+"Where you going?" asked Tom, for Sid and he had the same studies this
+morning period.
+
+"Up to see Moses," was the answer, "Moses" being the students' pet name
+for Dr. Churchill. "Zane caught me again last night. I was out after
+hours without a permit. I'm in for it I guess," and Sid laughed
+recklessly.
+
+"Why, old man----" began Tom, and then he stopped. He did not know what
+to say. Then he felt it would be better to say nothing, and he hurried
+on to the lecture, anxious to have it over with, and get out on the
+diamond with his men, for the final game with Fairview was to come off
+that afternoon.
+
+Tom and Phil did not see Sid again until after the game, and then they
+felt in no condition to dwell upon his trouble, for Randall had been
+beaten by Fairview.
+
+It was a never-to-be-forgotten battle of the diamond. It opened well for
+Randall, for Tom felt a fierce anger at fate in general, that nerved him
+to pitch as he had seldom pitched before. Then things began to go
+backward, for his hand was in no condition to stand the fierce work
+necessary. Mr. Leighton saw this, and deciding to save Tom for the Boxer
+Hall game, took him out of the box, and put in Evert. After that it was
+all over but the shouting, and Fairview piled up eleven runs against
+Randall's five. It was a miserable and dispirited lot of players that
+filed back to Randall that evening, nor could the sympathy of Ruth and
+Madge take any of the sting out of it for Tom.
+
+"It isn't so bad," remarked Phil, in a consoling sort of voice. "We
+still have a chance."
+
+"A mighty slim chance," grumbled Tom. "Almost none at all. Oh, if old
+Sid had only been with us!"
+
+"There's no use talking about that now," went on Phil. "We simply must
+devote all our energies to the Boxer Hall game."
+
+"No use thinking of that unless Fairview loses to them," came from Tom,
+gloomily.
+
+"Oh, cheer up!" urged Phil. "You can't win the championship by feeling
+that way," but his words did little to dispel the gloom in the heart of
+the captain.
+
+For the next few days there was hard practice. Tom's hand received
+special attention, and it was hoped that he could last the entire Boxer
+game. The batting improved very much, and the 'varsity nine was as much
+on edge as it was possible for it to be. Meanwhile there was anxiety
+over the outcome of the Fairview-Boxer game.
+
+For some time past the Randall players had been reckoning percentages.
+It must be remembered that the games described in detail in this volume
+were not the only ones played by the rival colleges in the league. There
+were many more contests than those set down here, but space will not
+permit their description.
+
+Sufficient to say that, reckoning in some forfeited contests, and
+computing the standings on the basis of games won and lost, it developed
+that if Boxer Hall beat Fairview it would make a tie for first place
+between Boxer and Randall, and all would then depend on the final
+contest between those two latter teams.
+
+Therefore it was with no small jubilation that the news was received, a
+week later, that Boxer had downed Fairview.
+
+"Now for _our_ chance to win!" cried Tom, brightening up a little. "All
+we have to do is to wallop Boxer, and the loving cup is ours. But Oh,
+Phil! if we only had Sid!"
+
+"That's right. Have you noticed how queer he's been acting of late?"
+
+"Oh, it's the same old story. I'm done now. I made my last appeal. By
+the way, I didn't hear what happened the time he was last caught by
+Zane. What was the verdict?"
+
+"It hasn't been announced yet. Faculty held a meeting but deferred
+action. It means expulsion, of course. Poor old Sid!"
+
+"Well, he brought it on himself."
+
+"How do you know?" asked Phil sharply. "Maybe there's something we don't
+understand."
+
+"And we never will," added Tom bitterly. "I consider that Sid has done
+as much as any one to defeat the team if we lose the last game."
+
+"Oh, don't think that. How's your hand?"
+
+"Fine! I can last all right. It's the batting I'm worried about.
+Langridge will do his worst, and we must look for a fierce game. We've
+got to practice until the gong rings."
+
+Tom worked his men to the limit, with Coach Leighton to help him.
+Matters seemed a little brighter, and in spite of his words Tom had a
+forlorn hope that, after all, the faculty might relent, and allow Sid to
+play.
+
+But this hope was dashed to the ground the night before the game. Then
+Sid came into the room, despondency showing on his face and in every
+motion. He began hauling his things out of the closet and bureau, and
+packing them in his trunk.
+
+"What's up, old man?" asked Phil in great surprise.
+
+"I'm leaving."
+
+"Leaving?" burst out Tom.
+
+"Yes. Expelled. Faculty just had a meeting on my case, and it's all off.
+I'm done!"
+
+"Look here!" cried Tom. "Are you going to let it go this far, Sid?
+Aren't you going to speak--going to tell your secret, and exonerate
+yourself?"
+
+"I can't," answered Sid simply, and his tone was so miserable that his
+chums forebore to question him further. His trunk was soon packed, and
+he left the room. Neither Phil nor Tom felt like talking and went to bed
+early. Sid did not return that night, and the two ball players were out
+early, for practice on the diamond, in anticipation of the great and
+deciding game which was to take place that afternoon on the Boxer Hall
+grounds.
+
+A little before noon, when the team had gone to the gymnasium for a
+light dinner, and to have some last secret instruction from the coach
+and Tom, Sid Henderson crossed the college campus. With him was
+an individual whom, had Phil or Tom seen, they would have at once
+recognized as the sporty youth who had met Sid the day of the island
+picnic. But there was a great change noticed in the young man. He no
+longer wore the "loud" suit and the brilliant tie; he no longer smoked a
+cigarette, and there was a chastened air about him.
+
+"Don't you feel a bit nervous about it, Guy?" asked Sid.
+
+"Not a bit, old man. It's a bitter dose to swallow, but I need it, I
+guess. I wish I could do more for you. Are you sure it isn't too late?"
+
+"I hope not. The team hasn't gone yet. There's just a chance."
+
+"Well, I can't thank you enough for all you've done for me. No one else
+would have done as much. No one else would have kept his promise in the
+face of such odds. It wasn't right for me to ask you."
+
+"We agreed not to talk about that, you know, Guy."
+
+"I can't help mentioning it. Lead on. I'll explain to Dr. Churchill, and
+all the rest of them."
+
+The two disappeared into the doctor's residence, and, presently there
+might have been seen wending their way thither the various members of
+the Randall college faculty.
+
+What took place occurred behind closed doors, and what that was, only
+was known afterward when Sid made his explanation. Sufficient, for the
+present, to say that the meeting was a protracted one, much to the
+restlessness of several of the younger professors who wanted to go to
+Boxer Hall to witness the championship struggle.
+
+"Well, then, are we all agreed?" asked Dr. Churchill, as he smiled
+kindly on Sid, and regarded with a pitying glance the youth whom the
+second baseman had addressed as Guy.
+
+"I think so," answered Professor Tines. "I seldom like to reverse myself,
+but I feel that it is warranted on this occasion. I will vote to remove
+the ban that has been on Mr. Henderson, and restore him to his full
+college rights and privileges."
+
+"I think we all feel the same way," spoke Professor Bogardus, the
+science teacher, "and I am glad that I can change my vote."
+
+"I think we all are," went on Dr. Churchill. "Mr. Henderson, I
+congratulate you, in the name of the college, for bearing up as you did,
+in the face of heavy odds. You are now a Sophomore in good standing,
+and----"
+
+"May I play on the team?" burst out Sid.
+
+"You may," answered the genial old doctor, his eyes twinkling, "and I'll
+be there to see you win, at least for the last part of the game. The ban
+is removed, Mr. Henderson."
+
+"Thank you, all," spoke Sid feelingly to the assembled professors. Then,
+turning to his companion, he added: "Come on, Guy. I'm going to get in
+the last game, after all."
+
+"No, I'll not come. You've had enough of me. I'm going back to mother.
+She--she needs me now," and the former sportily-attired lad turned away.
+
+Sid hurried over to the gymnasium. His heart was beating in wild
+exultation. At last he was eligible to play on the nine! He could help
+them to win, for that Randall would lose never entered his head.
+
+He reached the gymnasium. It seemed strangely deserted and quiet for a
+championship day. Sid felt a sense as if an icy hand was clutching his
+heart.
+
+"Where--where's the ball nine?" he asked one of the janitors.
+
+"The ball nine?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+Sid thought the man would never answer.
+
+"Oh, the ball nine has gone over an hour," was the reply. "They went to
+Boxer Hall in a big automobile--a rubberneck they calls 'em."
+
+"Gone! Over an hour!" gasped Sid. "Can I get there in time--in time to
+play? I must! I will! It's my last chance! Oh, I must get there!" and he
+started on a run for the trolley line that led to Boxer Hall.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXII
+
+A PERILOUS CROSSING
+
+
+Sid hurried on, his thoughts in a wild tumult. In his pocket was a note
+from Dr. Churchill, restoring him to all his rights and privileges. Sid
+had asked for it, lest Boxer Hall protest his entrance into the game at
+the last minute, for Sid was fully determined to play, and help his team
+to win. He knew he was in good form, for he had not neglected practice.
+
+"If I can catch the next car," he thought, "I'll be in time." Then, as
+he caught sight of something yellow through the trees on the banks of
+Sunny river, along which the electric line extended, he exclaimed:
+
+"There's a car, now! I'll have to sprint for it. Glad I didn't stop to
+get my suit. I can borrow one from a sub when I get there, I guess." He
+broke into a run, but noted, curiously, that the car did not seem to be
+moving very fast. Then, as he made the turn in the road, he saw that it
+was standing still, and that a number of the passengers were walking
+about, idly. "Must have had a fuse blow out, or a hot box, and they're
+waiting to cool it," he mused. "Lucky for me, as the electrics don't run
+very often from now on."
+
+Sid dropped into a walk, and was soon at the stalled car.
+
+"What's the matter?" asked the second baseman of the motorman, who was
+sitting on a grassy bank, idly chopping at a stone with his controller
+handle.
+
+"Power's off."
+
+"For long?" asked Sid, his heart thumping under his ribs.
+
+"Hard to say. It's been off nearly an hour now, and the conductor just
+telephoned in, and they said it might be an hour more."
+
+"An hour more! Then I can't get to Boxer Hall in time for the game."
+
+The motorman looked quizzically at Sid.
+
+"Not unless you walk, or hire an auto," he remarked, and fell again to
+hammering the stone. The other passengers were fretting, complaining, or
+accepting the situation philosophically, as befitted their natures. Sid
+made up his mind quickly.
+
+"I can walk to Fordham junction, and take the train," he decided. "From
+Bendleton, which is the nearest railroad station to Boxer Hall, it's
+only two miles. Maybe I can run it in time, or perhaps I'll meet some
+one who will give me a lift. Anyway, that's my best chance. I'll do it,"
+and, with a final glance at the stalled car, hoping he might see the
+flashing up of the lights on it, which would tell of the power being
+turned on, Sid turned and made off toward the distant railroad station.
+
+As the janitor had informed Sid, Tom and the other ball players,
+including the substitutes, had made an early start in a large
+automobile, carrying twenty passengers. It was of the type known as a
+"rubber-neck," from the fact that they are used in big cities to take
+visitors to the scenes of interest, there to "rubber," or stretch their
+necks in gazing aloft.
+
+"See anything of Sid, as you came away?" asked Holly Cross, who sat
+beside Tom and Phil, as the auto swayed along.
+
+"No," answered Tom briefly. "I fancy he's left for good. Poor old Sid!
+Isn't it a shame that he went to pieces as he did? If we only had him
+now our chances would be brighter."
+
+"Would you play him if he came along?" asked Phil.
+
+"Of course--provided I could--that he was in good standing so Boxer Hall
+couldn't protest. But what's the use of talking?"
+
+"Is he in good form, captain?" asked Bricktop.
+
+"Sid never goes stale," answered Tom. "Besides, with his ability to
+slice a ball to right or left field in a pinch, hitting right and left
+handed as he does, it would be just great for us to-day."
+
+"Still worrying?" asked Phil.
+
+"Of course. So would you, if you were in my place. Don't you know what
+this game means to us?"
+
+"Sure we do, me lad," answered Bricktop, kindly. "But say this over to
+yourself a few times and you'll feel better. 'Tis a proverb of me old
+Irish ancestors. 'Soft an' aisy goes far in a day,' that's it. 'Soft
+and aisy goes far in a day.' Remember that, Tommy, me lad, and take it
+'aisy' as the good Irish say. We'll win--never fear--we'll win."
+
+There was talk and laughter, serious conversation and much chaffing as
+the auto rumbled along. They had started early and thought they would
+have plenty of time, but something went wrong with the steering gear
+once, and a second time the water in the radiator needed replenishing,
+so that with the delays it left the players with no more than time to
+get to Boxer Hall in season for the game, and left hardly any time for
+practice.
+
+"Hadn't you better hit up the pace a little, my friend," suggested Mr.
+Leighton to the chauffeur.
+
+"I will, yes, sir," was the answer, and the big car did make better
+time, for it was on a good road. The team fell to laughing and joking
+again, but suddenly stopped, as the auto once more came to a halt just
+before crossing Pendleton river, a stream somewhat larger than Sunny
+river, and intercepting the main road between the two colleges.
+
+"What's up now?" asked Tom.
+
+"The drawbridge is open," replied the chauffeur.
+
+The players stood up and looked across the river. The draw, which was
+necessary on account of a number of sailboats on the stream, was swung,
+making an impassable gap, for the stream at that point was swift and
+deep. Some men were seen on the middle of the bridge.
+
+"What's the matter? Why don't you swing shut that bridge?" yelled Phil.
+
+"Can't," answered one of the men.
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"The machinery that operates the draw is broken. We swung the bridge
+open to let a boat pass, and now we can't close it again. We've sent for
+some mechanics to repair it."
+
+"How long will it take?" yelled Tom.
+
+"Oh, not long. Two or three hours, maybe."
+
+"Two or three hours! Great smokestacks!" howled Tom. "That will be too
+late for us. We can't get to the game on time!"
+
+"Of course not!" agreed Holly Cross. "And Boxer Hall will be just mean
+enough to call a forfeit, and claim the championship!"
+
+"Say, you've got to swing this bridge shut, and let us pass!" sung out
+Phil.
+
+"Can't!" yelled the men who were on the bridge, marooned as it were.
+"We've tried, but it won't budge."
+
+"What's to be done?" asked Jerry Jackson.
+
+"Yes, what's to be done?" echoed his twin brother.
+
+"Guess we'll have to swim for it," suggested Dutch Housenlager. "That
+is, unless Grasshopper Backus can jump over with us on his back, one at
+a time."
+
+But, though they could joke over the situation, they all knew that it
+was serious. The time was drawing close, and they were still some
+distance from Boxer Hall. Further inquiry of the men on the bridge did
+not help matters, nor did the fuming and fretting of Tom and his chums.
+
+"Can't you suggest a plan?" asked Mr. Leighton of the chauffeur.
+
+"Well, there's another bridge about five miles below here."
+
+"That's too far. Ten miles out of our way. Time we went there, and got
+back it would be too late. Boxer Hall would claim the game. Can nothing
+be done?" and the coach looked at the swiftly swirling river. At that
+moment a man driving a mule hitched to a buckboard came along. He took
+in the situation at a glance.
+
+"Stuck, eh?" he remarked sympathetically.
+
+"That's what," replied Bricktop Molloy. "Maybe ye happen t' be a fairy,
+Mr. Man, an' can help us across."
+
+"Why don't you try the ford?" asked the man.
+
+"Ford? We didn't know there was one," said Tom.
+
+"Sure there is. About half a mile below here. It's where the river is
+shallow, and many's the time I've driven across before this bridge was
+built. The water's a leetle high now, but I guess your ark could make
+it. Will it go in water?"
+
+"If it's not too deep, and there's good bottom," was the chauffeur's
+answer.
+
+"Oh, it's good bottom, but, as I say, it's a trifle deep."
+
+"Try it, anyhow," suggested Tom. "It's our only chance. Go ahead."
+
+This was the sentiment of all, and the players getting into their seats
+again, which they had left to gaze at the river, the auto was backed up,
+and headed for the ford, the man with the buckboard going in advance to
+show the way.
+
+As he had said, the water was rather high, and it seemed to swirl along
+dangerously fast. He would not venture in with his mule, but, after a
+look at it the chauffeur said he would try it.
+
+"I'll be all right," he announced, "if the water doesn't come up high
+enough to short-circuit the batteries or the magneto."
+
+"Let her go!" cried Tom.
+
+Backing up, to get a good start down the slope that led to the ford, the
+chauffeur turned on full speed. Into the river went the big auto, with
+its heavy load. The water splashed up in a spray as the front wheels,
+with the big tires, struck the limpid surface. A moment later the entire
+machine was in the water, submerged to the hubs.
+
+"It's all right! Go on! Go on!" urged the man with the mule. "It won't
+be much deeper than that."
+
+"If it is we're done for," remarked the chauffeur in a low voice.
+
+It was a perilous passage, but the Randall nine was too anxious over the
+consequences of delay to mind that much. The man in charge of the auto
+was rather white-faced, but he gripped the steering wheel, and kept on
+high speed, though he throttled down the engine a trifle as he neared
+the middle of the river. The big machine careened dangerously, and
+several clung instinctively to the sides.
+
+"Can you make it?" asked Mr. Leighton anxiously.
+
+"I don't know," replied the chauffeur, as he peered at a bit of smooth
+water directly ahead. It looked to be deep, and he was contemplating
+turning to one side, though their guide had warned him to steer straight
+for the other side.
+
+"Keep on! Keep on!" cried the man with the mule encouragingly. "Straight
+ahead, and you'll be safe!"
+
+The chauffeur yanked the gasolene lever over the rachet, opening the
+throttle wider, and the car shot forward at increased speed. It swayed,
+and seemed about to topple over, righted itself, almost like a thing
+alive, and then, with a crunching of gravel, was out of the stream, and
+climbing the slope that led from the ford to the road.
+
+"By Jove! I'm glad we're over that!" exclaimed Tom, with a sigh of
+relief. "Speed her up now, and get us to Boxer Hall!"
+
+Half an hour later the players were on the diamond, being received by a
+crowd of their friends who had preceded them to the game earlier in the
+day, for the last game of the season was a gala affair, and the Randall
+lads usually came over to Boxer Hall early in the morning.
+
+"Now for a battle to the death," said Tom grimly, as he led his men out
+to practice.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIII
+
+THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
+
+
+From grand stands and bleachers came cheers, yells, songs and cries of
+many kinds. There was a record-breaking crowd, every seat seeming to
+be filled when the two nines, in their natty uniforms, began their
+warming-up work. In the bleachers were many townspeople, both Randall
+and Boxer Hall adherents. It seemed as if the unprotected seats,
+shimmering in the hot sun, were composed of mats of straw hats, with
+colored bands for ornaments.
+
+In the grand stands there was a conglomeration of many colors, formed
+by the hats of girls, and the gay banners they carried, the yellow and
+maroon of Randall mingling with the red and green of Boxer Hall, a
+combination lately adopted.
+
+"Great crowd," commented Phil to Tom.
+
+"Yes. But say, look at Langridge send 'em in!" for the rival pitcher was
+warming-up with Stoddard, his catcher.
+
+"Ruth and Madge are here," went on Phil.
+
+"Are they? I wonder if Miss Harrison will come?"
+
+"Guess so. S'pose Sid will be on hand?"
+
+"I doubt it. But come on, let's have a talk with Leighton and Kerr. They
+may want to say something."
+
+The practice went on, the usual conferences took place between captain
+and captain, manager and manager. Boxer Hall, as the home team, had the
+privilege of batting last. Batting orders were submitted for inspection,
+and the umpire took several new balls from his valise, and stripped from
+them the foil covering. With the exception of Pete Backus in place of
+Sid, the Randall team was the same that had played the 'varsity games
+all season, though the batting order was different, Holly Cross leading
+off, he having improved greatly in stick work. There was no change in
+the Boxer team, from when she had last played Tom's men.
+
+The gong rang sharply. The buzzing talk and laughter on the grand stands
+ceased, as the umpire announced the batteries. There was a moment of
+consultation among the two nines, and then Stoddard, who was Boxer's
+captain that year, motioned to his players to take the field. He donned
+his mask and protector, and adjusted his big glove. Langridge, with a
+cynical smile on his face, walked to the pitcher's box. He threw four
+preliminary balls to Stoddard, who then signified that he was ready.
+
+"Play ball!" called the umpire, and Holly Cross stepped up to the plate.
+
+Langridge "wound up" and sent in a swift one. Holly did not offer to
+strike at it.
+
+"Strike wan!" howled the umpire, who was a bit Irish, throwing one arm
+up in the air. There was an indrawing of breath on the part of the
+Randall players.
+
+"It was a mile outside," complained Tom.
+
+"Hush!" cautioned Mr. Leighton.
+
+Holly struck at the next one, and missed. The following was a foul, and
+this gave his friends some encouragement.
+
+"Lambaste the next one!" yelled Bean Perkins from amid his throng of
+singers and shouters. But Holly struck out. Nor did any better luck
+attend Dan Woodhouse, who fanned. There was a wicked look in the eyes
+of Bricktop, as he walked to the plate, and perhaps for that reason
+Langridge walked him. He seemed to know he would have "easy fruit" in
+Pete Backus, who was taking Sid's place, and he did, for he easily
+struck him out, and Bricktop died on second, which he had stolen. No
+runs for Randall that inning.
+
+It was not without a nervous tremor that Tom walked to the box, to see
+what he could do against Boxer. He wondered how his hand was going to
+stand the strain, though it seemed to have healed perfectly.
+
+After exchanging the regulation number of practice balls with Dutch
+Housenlager, Tom was ready for Ralling, who was first up at the bat for
+Boxer Hall.
+
+Dutch signalled for a puzzling drop, and Tom delivered it, but Ralling
+took a quick step forward, and, before the curve "broke" he got his bat
+on it, and sent a pretty single just over Bricktop's head, though the
+plucky shortstop leaped high to get it. Ralling was safe on first.
+
+McGherity fanned twice, but the third time he, too, found the ball, and
+rapped out a two bagger, bringing in Ralling, who had managed to steal
+to second, though Tom tried desperately to throw him out. Roy Conklin
+was up next, and struck out, and then came Arthur Flood's turn. How it
+happened Tom couldn't tell, but the ball twisted in his hands, and
+instead of an out curve it went over the plate straight, and at slow
+speed.
+
+Flood hit it a mighty "poke" and away the horsehide spheroid sailed,
+well over the head of Holly Cross in center field. But Holly pluckily
+raced after it, and, though McGherity came in with a run, Flood found it
+expedient to linger on third. By this time all Boxer Hall was in a
+frenzy of delight, for they were two runs to the good, and only one out.
+But there were two, a moment later, for Flood, taking chances, was
+caught napping on the third bag, and put out by a quick throw. George
+Stoddard fanned, and that ended the inning, with the score 2 to 0, in
+favor of Boxer Hall.
+
+Randall could not score in the next inning though Tom knocked a two
+bagger. He stole third, and then had to stay there and watch the Jackson
+twins and Dutch Housenlager ingloriously fan the air. It was bitterness
+as of gall and wormwood, but Tom tried not to show it, as he took his
+place in the box for the ending of the second inning.
+
+Things looked a little brighter when Pinkey Davenport laid down a little
+bingle, almost in front of Tom, who tossed it to Phil, on first, and
+there was one down, with scarcely an effort. Then Langridge sent a neat
+little fly to Pete, on second base, and Bert Hutchin fanned, making
+three out in such quick succession that the wild cheering of Boxer Hall
+was checked, and Bean Perkins and his cohorts had a chance to let loose.
+
+"Now, Randall, do 'em up! Wallop 'em!" shouted a tall dignified man,
+accompanied by two pretty girls who sat well down in front on the center
+grand stand. "Eat 'em alive! Eat 'em alive!"
+
+"Oh, papa!" cried one pretty girl, clasping his left arm.
+
+"Oh, papa!" exclaimed the other pretty girl, seizing his right arm.
+
+"That's all right, my dears," he answered. "Don't you suppose I want to
+see my old college win? And they will, too! Those boys have grit!"
+
+"Yes, but they're short one of their best players," said a man next to
+the "old grad," and he told about Sid, for that was common knowledge
+now.
+
+A goose egg went up in the Boxer frame that inning, and Tom looked
+happier. But, try as his men did in their share of the third, nothing
+resulted, though Woodhouse laid out a pretty liner, which was caught,
+after a run, by Sam Burton. Then came the heart-breaking last of the
+third, when three runs were added to Boxer's score.
+
+"Go on back home!" yelled some Boxer enthusiast at the Randall team.
+"You can't play ball! Go back!"
+
+"Not until we have your scalps!" declared Bean Perkins vindictively.
+
+Seated together on the middle grand stand, Madge Tyler, Mabel Harrison
+and Ruth Clinton looked at each other.
+
+"Looks pretty bad, doesn't it, Ruth?" asked Madge.
+
+"Don't talk," said Ruth in a low voice, as she saw her brother's team
+coming in. "I'm--I'm just _praying_ for them, Madge."
+
+A ray of light came to Randall in this inning for, though Pete Backus
+struck out, Tom laid down a pretty two bagger and came home on what was
+intended as a sacrifice hit by Joe Jackson, only it was fumbled and
+Joe got to first. Then Jerry fanned and Dutch got out on an almost
+impossible foul that Stoddard grabbed, banging up against the grand
+stand to do it.
+
+"One to five," remarked Tom musingly, as he went to his box, for the
+ending of the fourth. "Well, we can't be whitewashed, anyhow, but I
+guess it's all up with us."
+
+It seemed so, for in that inning Boxer added two runs to her credit,
+even if again Tom did strike out Langridge. The score was 7 to 1 against
+Randall now. In the fifth inning Tom's side gathered in one run, Phil
+making it on a sacrifice by Holly Cross, and Boxer further sweetened her
+score by another tally. In the beginning of the sixth Randall had the
+joy of seeing another single mark go up in her frame.
+
+"We've got three runs," Tom remarked to Phil, as he went to his box.
+"One more in each inning will look pretty, but it will hardly do the
+work," and he spoke bitterly.
+
+"Hard luck, old man, but maybe it will turn," came from Phil.
+
+But, alas for hopes! Many things happened in the last half of the sixth,
+and when they were done occurring there were four runs chalked up for
+Boxer. Tom rather lost control of himself, and had walked two men, while
+there was ragged field work to account for the rest of the disaster. And
+now the score stood 12 to 3 in favor of Boxer Hall. It seemed like a
+farce, and even Boxer Hall was tired of cheering herself. Tom saw the
+championship slipping away after all his hard work. Even Bricktop
+Molloy, usually cheerful in the face of heavy odds, did not smile, and
+Mr. Leighton looked gloomy.
+
+"Well, let the slaughter go on," remarked Tom, as he came in with his
+men, to see what the seventh inning held in store for them.
+
+"I guess you'd better let Evert pitch the rest of the game, Mr.
+Leighton," said Tom, as he sat down on the bench beside the coach. "He
+can't do any worse than I've done."
+
+"Nonsense! Things may take a turn even yet, though I admit they look
+rather bad for us. I hope----"
+
+But Mr. Leighton did not finish. There seemed to be some dispute with
+the man on guard at the players' gate.
+
+"No, you can't go in," said the official. "How do I know you are a
+member of the Randall team?"
+
+"Why, of course I am!" cried a voice, and, at the sound of it, Tom
+looked up quickly.
+
+"Sid Henderson!" exclaimed the captain.
+
+"Oh, Tom! Tom!" cried Sid. "Am I in time?" and he pushed past the gate
+tender.
+
+"In time? Yes, to see us walloped," answered the captain bitterly.
+
+"In time? What do you mean?" and Mr. Leighton caught at a strange note
+in Sid's voice.
+
+"To play the game!"
+
+"Play the game?" Tom had leaped to his feet.
+
+"Yes. It's all right. Here's a note from Dr. Churchill. The ban is
+removed. I can play--I can play!"
+
+Tom ran over, and threw his arms around Sid. The game came to a sudden
+stop. The note was examined. Mr. Leighton told the umpire to make the
+announcement that Sid Henderson would bat for Pete Backus that inning,
+and take his place in the game after that.
+
+"I protest!" cried Langridge, coming up with an ugly look on his face.
+
+There was a conference of the officials, but in the end they had to
+admit that Sid was eligible, and the game started again. But with what
+a different feeling among the Randall players! It was as if new life
+had been infused into them. Bean Perkins started the song, "We're Going
+to Wallop 'em Now!" and it was roared out from several hundred lusty
+throats.
+
+Nor was it unjustified; for with a grim viciousness, after Holly Cross
+had struck out, Dan Woodhouse rapped out a three bagger the moment he
+came up to the bat, and Bricktop followed with a two-sack ball, bringing
+in Kindlings, while Sid, with a happy look on his face, looked grimly at
+Langridge, as if telling him to do his worst. The stands were still
+trembling under the stamping that had followed Dan's arrival home with
+a run, and when Sid swung at the ball, and duplicated Dan's trick,
+bringing in Bricktop, there was a wild riot of yells. They were kept up
+even when Tom sacrificed to bring Sid home, and then Joe Jackson got to
+first on a fly that McGherity muffed. Jerry, by hitting out a pretty
+liner, enabled his brother to get to third, while Jerry was held on
+first. Up came Dutch and he clouted the ball to such good purpose that
+he got to third, and the Jersey twins scored. Then poor Dutch died on
+third for Phil fanned out. But nothing could dampen the enthusiasm of
+the Randallites then, for they had secured five runs, and the score
+stood only 12 to 8 against them now.
+
+"Oh, we can catch up!" yelled Bean Perkins. "Now for the 'Conquer or
+Die' song, fellows," and the strangely beautiful and solemn strains of
+the Latin melody floated over the field.
+
+Tom's men began to play like fiends. They seemed to be all over the
+field, and, though Tom was hit for a single, not another man got to
+first.
+
+"Oh, if we can only hold 'em down, and bring in a few more runs we've
+got 'em!" panted Tom, as he came to the bench in the beginning of the
+eighth, and sat down beside Sid. "But say, old man, how did it happen
+that the doctor let you play at the last minute?" he asked, while the
+others waited for Sid's answer.
+
+"I'll tell you later," the second baseman promised. "Gee, but I had a
+time getting here! Trolley wasn't running, and I had to come by train.
+Thought I'd have a long walk, but I met a fellow in an auto and he gave
+me a lift. Then, just as I got here I heard that the trolleys started
+running about five minutes after I left the stalled car. But, Tom, are
+we going to win?"
+
+"We sure are," declared the captain, clapping Sid on the back.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIV
+
+BATTING TO WIN
+
+
+But, though things had started off with a rush in the seventh, they went
+slower for Randall in the eighth, and one run was all that could be
+gathered in. Holly Cross got to first, and managed to steal second and
+third, while Kindlings Woodhouse and Bricktop ingloriously fanned. Sid
+laid out a beautiful three-bagger, bringing in Holly with the run. Then
+Tom was walked, much to his surprise, with Sid on third, and Joe Jackson
+got a pass, thus filling the bases. Randall was wild, for it looked as
+if a big play would be pulled off, but Jerry Jackson fanned, and the
+three men expired on the bags.
+
+"Hold 'em down, fellows! Hold 'em down!" pleaded Tom. "We only need four
+runs to win the game, if we can keep 'em from scoring in their next two
+whacks."
+
+"If," remarked Phil cynically. "Ever see a white black-bird, Tom?"
+
+"Oh, we'll do it!" declared Sid savagely.
+
+Tom did manage to retire Boxer without a run, surpassing himself by the
+excellence of his curves. He was more like himself now.
+
+Then came the memorable ninth inning, which, when Dutch started it off
+by fanning out, looked as if the end had come. It looked even more so
+when Phil Clinton also whacked only the air and there was a curious hush
+over the big crowd as Holly Cross walked to the plate.
+
+"Now, Holly!" yelled Bean. "Another like you gave us before. There's
+only two out!"
+
+It looked rather hopeless, with two out, but Holly slammed out a single
+bagger. Dan Woodhouse followed, and hit well, Holly getting to third in
+the confusion. Then came Bricktop, his red hair all awry.
+
+"For the love of Cæsar hit it on the nose, old man!" pleaded Tom.
+
+"I'll do it for your sake, me lad," answered Bricktop calmly, and he
+proceeded to swing on the ball. He knocked a hot little liner to
+Langridge, and there was a groan as the pitcher, seemingly, caught it,
+but it bounded out of his hands, rolled between his legs and when he had
+picked it up Bricktop was at first, where he was called safe, though the
+Boxer players protested it. Holly had started for home, but when he saw
+Langridge stop the ball he ran back, and it was well he did so, for he
+was now safe there, as was Dan Woodhouse on second.
+
+The bases were full, there were two out, and it needed four runs to win
+the game when Sid Henderson came up to the bat. He was as cool as if he
+was the first man up in a small game, and not one on whom a championship
+depended.
+
+"Oh, Sid, old man, bat! bat! bat!" pleaded Tom in a low voice. "Bat to
+win! It all depends on you, now!"
+
+[Illustration: "BAT TO WIN! IT ALL DEPENDS ON YOU!"]
+
+Sid did not reply. He was watching Langridge narrowly, for he knew that
+pitcher's tricks of old. Sid did not strike at the first ball, for it
+was away to one side, but the umpire called a strike on him and there
+was a howl of protest. It was quickly hushed. Langridge "wound up"
+again, and sent in a swift one.
+
+With an intaking of his breath Sid swung at it. Almost before he
+connected his bat with the horsehide he was aware that he would make a
+good strike. There was a sweetness to the resonant vibration of the
+stick, as he cast it from him, and sprinted for first. He could not see
+where the ball had gone, though he had had a momentary glimpse of it
+going over center field, but he trusted to Tom, who was in the coaching
+box at first, urging him on.
+
+"Oh! Oh! Oh!"
+
+"Pretty hit!"
+
+"What a soaker!"
+
+"Run! Run! Leg it, you old sock doger!" yelled the man with the two
+pretty daughters, as he recklessly swung his silk hat in the air.
+
+"A home run! A home run!" cried Phil, capering about, and hugging the
+Jersey twins, one in each arm.
+
+Upward and outward sped the ball, away, far away over the center
+fielder's head. He ran back for it, became confused and began wildly
+searching around in the deep grass of far outfield.
+
+"Come on in! Come on in, everybody!" Tom was yelling, and swinging his
+arms like the sails of an old windmill.
+
+Holly raced over home plate, followed by Kindlings. Bricktop was racing
+in from third, followed by Sid, who had made such a magnificent hit.
+Bricktop tallied the tying run, and Sid was now running up from third,
+running as he had never run before, for he felt that it all depended on
+him now. The fielder had the ball by this time, and had thrown it to the
+second baseman, who swung about and relayed it home, but it was just a
+second too late, and Sid crossed the rubber on a grand slide. Four runs
+in succession! Oh, how the Randallites did yell! How they howled! How
+they stamped until the grand stands trembled, while as for the members
+of the team they fairly smothered Sid!
+
+But the game was not over yet. Tom Parsons was up next, and, though as
+nervous as a girl, he managed to make a single off Langridge, much to
+the latter's disgust, for he was being hooted and howled at almost to
+the limit. Then Joe Jackson was struck out, and that ended Randall's
+chances. But the score was 13 to 12 in her favor, and if they could
+retire Boxer Hall without a run, the championship was theirs.
+
+Tom did it. How, is Randall history now, and any "old grad" will gladly
+relate it to you. How two men were struck out in almost less time than
+it takes to tell it, and how Tom caught an almost impossible fly by
+leaping high in the air as it was sailing over his head, and downed his
+third man. And that was the end. Randall had won the championship.
+
+Oh, what a scene there was on the diamond then! Of course, Boxer cheered
+her rival, and then, hardly waiting for the answering compliment from
+Tom's men, they filed to their dressing rooms.
+
+"Oh, Sid, it was great! Great!" cried Tom, hugging his chum. "Simply
+great, old man!"
+
+"Up with him!" commanded Phil, and Sid was hoisted to the shoulders of
+his fellows, and carted around, much to his embarrassment.
+
+"A bully game! Whoop-de-doodle-de!" cried the man with the pretty
+daughters.
+
+"Oh, papa!" they cried protestingly, blushing at the notice attracted to
+them.
+
+"Let me alone!" he retorted. "Didn't my old college win? Wow! Wow! Wow!"
+and he began to dance, while his daughters blushed more deeply. But who
+cared?
+
+The diamond was overrun with spectators, anxious to shake hands with the
+victorious players, especially with Sid, who had batted the way to
+victory.
+
+Three pretty girls made their way through the press.
+
+"Are congratulations in order?" asked one.
+
+"Of course, Miss Tyler," answered Phil.
+
+"Sure," added Tom, clasping the hands Ruth Clinton held out to him. Sid
+stepped to one side, as Mabel Harrison came up. He was rather pale under
+his tan.
+
+"Come on, let's all go off and have some cream," proposed Phil. "Come
+along, Sid, you and Miss Harrison----"
+
+He paused in confusion, for he had, for the moment, forgotten the cloud
+between the two. Mabel Harrison blushed, and was about to turn away, but
+Sid stepped forward.
+
+"I will only be too happy," he said, "if Miss Harrison will----"
+
+"You know--you know----" she stammered in confusion. The six were
+somewhat by themselves now, for the crowd had surged away.
+
+"It's all right!" exclaimed Sid, and there was a joyous look on his
+face. "I can, and I'm going, to explain everything, now. You needn't
+hesitate about coming with me, Miss Harrison. See this," and he held out
+a duplicate of the newspaper clipping that had been fraught with such
+results. "I don't wonder you fellows thought I was going the pace,"
+continued Sid, "nor do I blame you, Miss Harrison, for not believing in
+me. This is the first chance I've had to explain. I was in that gambling
+raid told of here."
+
+"You were?" and the girl recoiled a pace.
+
+"Yes," resumed Sid, with a little smile, "I went there to rescue my
+cousin. His name is Guy Norton, and he is the same flashily-dressed
+young man you saw me with at the picnic. Guy's father died a short time
+ago, leaving him a fortune, which he proceeded to get rid of as quickly
+as possible. He took to gambling, and fast company, though his widowed
+mother never knew it. She supposed him attending to business in
+Dartwell, but, instead, Guy was dissipating. His sister, Clara, knew
+of it, however, and wrote to me to try to save her brother. She
+came to Dartwell to help look after him, and boarded with him. I had
+considerable control over Guy, for we used to be little chaps together,
+and I once saved him from drowning, so he would generally do as I said.
+So I promised his sister I would save him, and gave my word not to tell
+anything about it, as she wanted to keep all knowledge from her mother,
+who had a weak heart, and who, she knew, would die if she ever knew her
+son was a gambler.
+
+"My first service was to take Guy out of a gambling hall, his sister
+having written me a hasty note to the effect that he had gone there with
+a large sum of money."
+
+"That piece of paper, with the word 'trouble' on it must have been from
+her note," remarked Phil. "We picked it up in the room, after you went
+out so quickly that rainy night, Sid."
+
+"Yes," assented the victorious second baseman, "Guy was in trouble, sure
+enough. I went to Dartwell, and managed to get my cousin to leave the
+place, just before the raid. As we went out, however, the police came
+in, and Guy and I were caught. He fought the officers, and called out my
+name, in asking me to help rescue him. Instead I advised him to submit.
+He was taken away, but I easily proved that I had nothing to do with the
+gambling, and I was allowed to go. I went to Guy's boarding place, and,
+from his sister, got money enough to pay his fine, together with some I
+had. In some way my name got in the papers. Guy might have recklessly
+given it instead of his own, thinking to keep the knowledge from his
+mother.
+
+"My cousin was released the next morning, but he made me promise never
+to tell of his scrape. That was what sealed my lips. He promised to
+reform, if I kept silent, and I did, though it was hard--terribly hard,"
+and Sid looked at Miss Harrison, in whose blue eyes there were traces of
+tears.
+
+"As I knew Guy's mother had a weak heart, and that the least shock might
+be fatal, I dared not even ask her advice. Clara and I decided to fight
+it out alone. She arranged to send me word by a messenger, whenever her
+brother went off with his gay companions, and I promised to go and bring
+him away, no matter what the hour.
+
+"I did go, many times, to your wonderment, Tom and Phil, and once I had
+to cancel a promise I made to take Miss Harrison to an affair. But I
+could not break my word. On one occasion Guy, who was not himself,
+recklessly came to the college seeking me. He had a bottle of liquor
+with him, and I took it away from him, hurrying him back to Dartwell.
+But Mr. Zane caught me, and, as I was on my honor to Guy and his sister
+to keep silent, I could not explain. I took my punishment, being barred
+from the team, and kept still, though it was hard--very hard."
+
+"You were a hero!" exclaimed Mabel Harrison, her blue eyes bright with
+admiration.
+
+"Oh, no, hardly that, I guess," answered Sid, but he smiled gratefully.
+"Well," he resumed, "so it went on. I dared not tell, for I had given my
+word, though I was sorely tempted that day he came for me at the picnic,
+and nearly disgraced me. But Guy would not release me, and his sister
+pleaded for just a little longer try at saving him, and I consented. I
+paid his gambling debts many times, and, often, it left me temporarily
+without money.
+
+"Things looked very black, Guy would not heed my requests to stop
+gambling, and I did not care what happened. I even went to Bascome's
+dinner, thinking to get away from my troubles. Then, when everything
+seemed to go by the board, and I had been expelled for being caught
+out late, when I had gone one night to get Guy away from reckless
+companions, he suddenly reformed. He met some girl, I believe, who had a
+hand in it. At any rate he turned over a new leaf, gave up his gambling,
+and, what relieved me, confessed everything to his mother.
+
+"She was much affected, but she forgave him, and is to take him abroad
+this week, to straighten him out. That was the end of my thralldom.
+To-day Guy went with me to Dr. Churchill, made a clean breast of it,
+told what I had done, and why, and before the assembled members of the
+faculty, proved my innocence. It was just in time to allow the lifting
+of the expulsion ban, and permit me to play--only I had a task to get
+here in time----"
+
+"But you did, old man!" cried Tom, seizing his chum's hand--only one,
+however, for, somehow Mabel Harrison had the other. "You were in time to
+help us bat to win! Sid, can you forgive us?"
+
+"Forgive? There's nothing to forgive," declared Sid, and his eyes were
+moist. "I don't blame you in the least for thinking I was doing the very
+things I was trying to save my cousin from. Many a time I went broke on
+his account, but I didn't mind, for he was worth saving, for the sake
+of his mother and sister, if not for himself. He's all right now, I
+believe, and thoroughly ashamed of himself."
+
+"Thanks to you," put in Madge Tyler.
+
+"Oh, I think you were perfectly splendid, Mr. Henderson!" cried Ruth
+Clinton, with shining eyes.
+
+Mabel Harrison did not say what she thought, but the look from her blue
+eyes was enough for Sid. He held her hand, and--Oh, well, what's the use
+of telling on a chap, anyhow? You'd have done the same, I guess, if you
+had been there.
+
+There was a little pause after Sid had finished his story, and all about
+sounded the victorious yells and songs of the exulting Randallites.
+
+"Well, are you ready for those plates of cream, now?" asked Phil.
+"Talking is dry work. So that was your secret, Sid?"
+
+"That was it, and hard enough it was to keep, too, at times, let me tell
+you," and the second baseman sighed.
+
+A little later a jolly party sat in an ice-cream parlor, and their merry
+laughter and jests brought smiles to more than one countenance, as the
+other guests looked on and listened.
+
+"Why do you suppose Mr. Langridge sent that false clipping from the
+newspaper to you--I mean the one about Sid?" asked Ruth of Mabel.
+
+"Oh, I--I don't know--exactly," answered the blue-eyed girl, but I
+suspect that she did know, but did not want to say, for she was done
+with Langridge forever.
+
+"Now for college, and a procession in honor of our victory, the loving
+cup, and Sid Henderson--with bonfires and feasting on the side,"
+remarked Captain Tom, a little later, when reluctant good-bys had been
+said to the girls. And the celebration in Randall that night was marked
+for years afterward in prominent letters in the college annals. Dr.
+Churchill made a thrilling speech, and even Professor Tines condescended
+to smile. The loving cup was carried at the head of a triumphant
+procession, the light from many gala-fires glinting from its polished
+surface.
+
+"Well, it's all over," remarked Tom, several hours later when he, Phil
+and Sid were together in their room. "My, but it has been a baseball
+season, though!"
+
+"A great one," commented Phil. "We've got a corking good team. I only
+hope we have as good a one when it comes time to kick the pigskin."
+
+"Oh, I guess we will," spoke Sid slowly. They did, as will be related in
+the next volume of this series, to be called "The Winning Touchdown," a
+tale of college football in which we shall meet all our old friends
+again.
+
+"Well," went on Sid, after a pause, "I don't know what you fellows are
+going to do, but I'm going to turn in. I'm dead tired after my long
+tramp," and he began to get ready for bed, while Tom and Phil, sitting
+by the open windows, listened to the shouts of the revelers out on the
+campus, for many had not yet had enough of the joys of victory. Then, as
+the captain threw himself on the old couch, and Phil curled up in the
+easy chair, the fussy alarm clock went off with a whirr, the bell
+jangling discordantly.
+
+"Time to get up, Sid, instead of going to bed," remarked Phil with
+a laugh, as he silenced the racket, and then the three chums--the
+inseparables--stood and looked at each other, while the clock resumed
+its interrupted ticking, and the shouts of the celebrators came in
+faintly on the night wind.
+
+
+THE END
+
+
+
+
+THE COLLEGE SPORTS SERIES
+
+BY LESTER CHADWICK
+
+_12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Jacket in Colors_
+
+_=Price per volume, $1.00, postpaid=_
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+_Mr. Chadwick has played on the diamond and on the gridiron himself._
+
+
+ 1. THE RIVAL PITCHERS
+    _A Story of College Baseball_
+
+Tom Parsons, a "hayseed," makes good on the scrub team of Randall
+College.
+
+
+ 2. A QUARTERBACK'S PLUCK
+    _A Story of College Football_
+
+A football story, told in Mr. Chadwick's best style, that is bound to
+grip the reader from the start.
+
+
+ 3. BATTING TO WIN
+    _A Story of College Baseball_
+
+Tom Parsons and his friends Phil and Sid are the leading players on
+Randall College team. There is a great game.
+
+
+ 4. THE WINNING TOUCHDOWN
+    _A Story of College Football_
+
+After having to reorganize their team at the last moment, Randall makes
+a touchdown that won a big game.
+
+
+ 5. FOR THE HONOR OF RANDALL
+    _A Story of College Athletics_
+
+The winning of the hurdle race and long-distance run is extremely
+exciting.
+
+
+ 6. THE EIGHT-OARED VICTORS
+    _A Story of College Water Sports_
+
+Tom, Phil and Sid prove as good at aquatic sports as they are on track,
+gridiron and diamond.
+
+
+_Send For Our Free Illustrated Catalogue_
+
+
+CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers   New York
+
+
+
+
+SEA STORIES FOR BOYS
+
+BY JOHN GABRIEL ROWE
+
+_Large 12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Colored jacket_
+
+_=Price per volume, $1.00 Net=_
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+_Every boy who knows the lure of exploring and who loves to rig up huts
+and caves and tree-houses to fortify himself against imaginary enemies
+will enjoy these books, for they give a vivid chronicle of the doings
+and inventions of a group of boys who are shipwrecked and have to make
+themselves snug and safe in tropical islands where the dangers are too
+real for play._
+
+
+ 1. CRUSOE ISLAND
+
+Dick, Alf and Fred find themselves stranded on an unknown island with
+the old seaman Josh, their ship destroyed by fire, their friends lost.
+
+
+ 2. THE ISLAND TREASURE
+
+With much ingenuity these boys fit themselves into the wild life of the
+island they are cast upon in storm.
+
+
+ 3. THE MYSTERY OF THE DERELICT
+
+Their ship and companions perished in tempest at sea, the boys are
+adrift in a small open boat when they spy a ship. Such a strange
+vessel!--no hand guiding it, no soul on board,--a derelict.
+
+
+ 4. THE LIGHTSHIP PIRATES
+
+Modern Pirates, with the ferocity of beasts, attack a lightship
+crew;--recounting the adventures that befall the survivors of that
+crew,--and--"RETRIBUTION."
+
+
+ 5. THE SECRET OF THE GOLDEN IDOL
+
+Telling of a mutiny, and how two youngsters were unwillingly involved in
+one of the weirdest of treasure hunts,--and--"THE GOLDEN FETISH."
+
+
+_Send For Our Free Illustrated Catalogue_
+
+
+CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers   New York
+
+
+
+
+THE JACK RANGER SERIES
+
+BY CLARENCE YOUNG
+
+_12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Jacket in Colors_
+
+_=Price per volume, $1.00, postpaid=_
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+_Lively stories of outdoor sports and adventure every boy will want to
+read._
+
+
+ 1. JACK RANGER'S SCHOOL DAYS
+    _or The Rivals of Washington Hall_
+
+You will love Jack Ranger--you simply can't help it. He is bright and
+cheery, and earnest in all he does.
+
+
+ 2. JACK RANGER'S WESTERN TRIP
+    _or From Boarding School to Ranch and Range_
+
+This volume takes the hero to the great West. Jack is anxious to clear
+up the mystery surrounding his father's disappearance.
+
+
+ 3. JACK RANGER'S SCHOOL VICTORIES
+    _or Track, Gridiron and Diamond_
+
+Jack gets back to Washington Hall and goes in for all sorts of school
+games. There are numerous contests on the athletic field.
+
+
+ 4. JACK RANGER'S OCEAN CRUISE
+    _or The Wreck of the Polly Ann_
+
+How Jack was carried off to sea against his will makes a "yarn" no boy
+will want to miss.
+
+
+ 5. JACK RANGER'S GUN CLUB
+    _or From Schoolroom to Camp and Trail_
+
+Jack organizes a gun club and with his chums goes in quest of big game.
+They have many adventures in the mountains.
+
+
+ 6. JACK RANGER'S TREASURE BOX
+    _or The Outing of the Schoolboy Yachtsmen_
+
+Jack receives a box from his father and it is stolen. How he regains it
+makes an absorbing tale.
+
+
+_Send For Our Free Illustrated Catalogue_
+
+
+CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers   New York
+
+
+
+
+_Everybody will love the story of_
+
+NOBODY'S BOY
+
+By HECTOR MALOT
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+The dearest character in all the literature of child life is little Remi
+in Hector Malot's famous masterpiece _Sans Famille_ ("Nobody's Boy").
+
+All love, pathos, loyalty, and noble boy character are exemplified in
+this homeless little lad, who has made the world better for his being in
+it. The boy or girl who knows Remi has an ideal never to be forgotten.
+But it is a story for grownups, too.
+
+"Nobody's Boy" is one of the supreme heart-interest stories of all time,
+which will _make you happier and better_.
+
+
+_4 Colored Illustrations. $1.50 net._
+
+_=At All Booksellers=_
+
+
+CUPPLES & LEON CO.   Publishers   New York
+
+
+
+
+THE KING OF THE MOUNTAINS
+
+(_Le Roi des Montagnes_)
+
+By EDMOND ABOUT
+
+_Translated by Florence Crewe-Jones_
+
+_Illustrated by George Avison_
+
+_12mo. Illustrated. Beautiful cloth binding, stamped in gold. Jacket in
+colors._
+
+_=Price $1.50 Net=_
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Edmond About's classic masterpiece of whimsical humor, romantic action
+and wild surroundings, appeals to all classes and ages of readers. The
+lawless, happy-go-lucky bands of the Grecian mountains, bargaining with
+prisoners and government officials in a kind of uncivilized traffic,
+affords the uncertainty in adventure which makes delightful reading for
+boy or man.
+
+Hadji Stavros is the never-to-be-forgotten representative of the right
+to get without limits. To him the only injustice or error in life was
+in being weak, in which any unselfishness was weakness. And yet, he
+allowed his love for his daughter to overthrow his system of life. To be
+entertained by "The King of the Mountains" as a dramatic story is not
+enough, it is a profound study of character and life.
+
+
+CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers   New York
+
+
+
+
+THE WEBSTER SERIES
+
+By FRANK V. WEBSTER
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Mr. Webster's style is very much like that of the boys' favorite author,
+the late lamented Horatio Alger, Jr., but his tales are thoroughly
+up-to-date.
+
+Cloth. 12mo. Over 200 pages each. Illustrated. Stamped in various
+colors.
+
+Price per volume, 65 cents, postpaid.
+
+    Only A Farm Boy
+    _or Dan Hardy's Rise in Life_
+
+    The Boy From The Ranch
+    _or Roy Bradner's City Experiences_
+
+    The Young Treasure Hunter
+    _or Fred Stanley's Trip to Alaska_
+
+    The Boy Pilot of the Lakes
+    _or Nat Morton's Perils_
+
+    Tom The Telephone Boy
+    _or The Mystery of a Message_
+
+    Bob The Castaway
+    _or The Wreck of the Eagle_
+
+    The Newsboy Partners
+    _or Who Was Dick Box?_
+
+    Two Boy Gold Miners
+    _or Lost in the Mountains_
+
+    The Young Firemen of Lakeville
+    _or Herbert Dare's Pluck_
+
+    The Boys of Bellwood School
+    _or Frank Jordan's Triumph_
+
+    Jack the Runaway
+    _or On the Road with a Circus_
+
+    Bob Chester's Grit
+    _or From Ranch to Riches_
+
+    Airship Andy
+    _or The Luck of a Brave Boy_
+
+    High School Rivals
+    _or Fred Markham's Struggles_
+
+    Darry The Life Saver
+    _or The Heroes of the Coast_
+
+    Dick The Bank Boy
+    _or A Missing Fortune_
+
+    Ben Hardy's Flying Machine
+    _or Making a Record for Himself_
+
+    Harry Watson's High School Days
+    _or The Rivals of Rivertown_
+
+    Comrades of the Saddle
+    _or The Young Rough Riders of the
+    Plains_
+
+    Tom Taylor at West Point
+    _or The Old Army Officer's Secret_
+
+    The Boy Scouts of Lennox
+    _or Hiking Over Big Bear Mountain_
+
+    The Boys of the Wireless
+    _or a Stirring Rescue from the Deep_
+
+    Cowboy Dave
+    _or The Round-up at Rolling River_
+
+    Jack of the Pony Express
+    _or The Young Rider of the Mountain
+    Trail_
+
+    The Boys of the Battleship
+    _or For the Honor of Uncle Sam_
+
+
+CUPPLES & LEON CO., Publishers, NEW YORK
+
+
+
+
+_The Boy Hunters Series_
+
+_By Captain Ralph Bonehill_
+
+12mo. Illustrated. Price per volume, $1.00, postpaid.
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+ FOUR BOY HUNTERS
+ _Or, The Outing of the Gun Club_
+
+A fine, breezy story of the woods and waters, of adventures in search of
+game, and of great times around the campfire, told in Captain Bonehill's
+best style. In the book are given full directions for camping out.
+
+
+ GUNS AND SNOWSHOES
+ _Or, The Winter Outing of the Young Hunters_
+
+In this volume the young hunters leave home for a winter outing on the
+shores of a small lake. They hunt and trap to their heart's content, and
+have adventures in plenty, all calculated to make boys "sit up and take
+notice." A good healthy book; one with the odor of the pine forests and
+the glare of the welcome campfire in every chapter.
+
+
+ YOUNG HUNTERS OF THE LAKE
+ _Or, Out with Rod and Gun_
+
+Another tale of woods and waters, with some strong hunting scenes and a
+good deal of mystery. The three volumes make a splendid outdoor series.
+
+
+ OUT WITH GUN AND CAMERA
+ _Or, The Boy Hunters in the Mountains_
+
+Takes up the new fad of photographing wild animals as well as shooting
+them. An escaped circus chimpanzee and an escaped lion add to the
+interest of the narrative.
+
+
+CUPPLES & LEON CO., Publishers, NEW YORK
+
+
+
+
+THE SADDLE BOYS SERIES
+
+By CAPTAIN JAMES CARSON
+
+12mo. Illustrated. Price per volume, 65 cents, postpaid.
+
+All lads who love life in the open air and a good steed, will want to
+peruse these books. Captain Carson knows his subject thoroughly, and his
+stories are as pleasing as they are healthful and instructive.
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+ THE SADDLE BOYS OF THE ROCKIES
+ _or Lost on Thunder Mountain_
+
+Telling how the lads started out to solve the mystery of a great noise
+in the mountains--how they got lost--and of the things they discovered.
+
+
+ THE SADDLE BOYS IN THE GRAND CANYON
+ _or The Hermit of the Cave_
+
+A weird and wonderful story of the Grand Canyon of the Colorado, told in
+a most absorbing manner. The Saddle Boys are to the front in a manner to
+please all young readers.
+
+
+ THE SADDLE BOYS ON THE PLAINS
+ _or After a Treasure of Gold_
+
+In this story the scene is shifted to the great plains of the southwest
+and then to the Mexican border. There is a stirring struggle for gold,
+told as only Captain Carson can tell it.
+
+
+ THE SADDLE BOYS AT CIRCLE RANCH
+ _or In at the Grand Round-up_
+
+Here we have lively times at the ranch, and likewise the particulars of
+a grand round-up of cattle and encounters with wild animals and also
+cattle thieves. A story that breathes the very air of the plains.
+
+
+ THE SADDLE BOYS ON MEXICAN TRAILS
+ _or In the Hands of the Enemy_
+
+The scene is shifted in this volume to Mexico. The boys go on an
+important errand, and are caught between the lines of the Mexican
+soldiers. They are captured and for a while things look black for them;
+but all ends happily.
+
+
+CUPPLES & LEON CO., Publishers, NEW YORK
+
+
+
+
+ Transcriber's Notes:
+
+ --Text in italics is enclosed by underscores (_italics_); text in
+   bold by "equal" signs (=bold=).
+
+ --Printer, punctuation and spelling inaccuracies were silently
+   corrected.
+
+ --Archaic and variable spelling has been preserved.
+
+ --Variations in hyphenation and compound words have been preserved.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Batting to Win, by Lester Chadwick
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 41206 ***