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diff --git a/75400-0.txt b/75400-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e7bf15d --- /dev/null +++ b/75400-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5930 @@ + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75400 *** + + + + + +THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH ON THE DIAMOND + + + + +[Illustration: FRANK GAVE NO SIGN OF THE EXCITEMENT THAT THRILLED HIS +EVERY NERVE.--_Frontispiece._ + + _Columbia High on the Diamond_ _Page 32._] + + + + + THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA + HIGH ON THE DIAMOND + + OR + + Winning Out by Pluck + + BY + GRAHAM B. FORBES + + AUTHOR OF “THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH,” “THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH + ON THE DIAMOND,” ETC. + + _ILLUSTRATED_ + + NEW YORK + GROSSET & DUNLAP + PUBLISHERS + + + + +The Boys of Columbia High Series + +BY GRAHAM B. FORBES + +_12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Price, per volume, 50 cents, postpaid._ + + + THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH + Or The All Around Rivals of the School + + THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH ON THE DIAMOND + Or Winning Out by Pluck + + THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH ON THE RIVER + Or The Boat Race Plot That Failed + + THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH ON THE GRIDIRON + Or The Struggle for the Silver Cup + + THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH ON THE ICE + Or Out for the Hockey Championship + + + GROSSET & DUNLAP + PUBLISHERS NEW YORK + + COPYRIGHT, 1911, BY + GROSSET & DUNLAP + + _The Boys of Columbia High on the Diamond_ + + + + +CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER PAGE + + I ON THE WAY TO THE GAME 1 + + II A WARM BEGINNING FOR CODDLING 11 + + III A GAME WORTH SEEING 22 + + IV THE RALLY THAT CAME TOO LATE 32 + + V A THUNDERBOLT IN THE SCHOOL 43 + + VI THE VINDICATION 54 + + VII THE IMPRINT IN THE CLAY 65 + + VIII TOEING THE MARK 74 + + IX A STUNNING SURPRISE 85 + + X ON THE RIVER ROAD 94 + + XI A TIME FOR QUICK THINKING 106 + + XII THE OLD PRINCETONIAN’S ADVICE 115 + + XIII LED BY A KINDLY FATE 124 + + XIV SAM SMALLING MAKES A PROMISE 133 + + XV “PLAY BALL!” 142 + + XVI MAKING A GOOD START 150 + + XVII NEARING THE END 159 + + XVIII AN UNFORTUNATE HIT 167 + + XIX WHAT UNCLE JIM KNEW 176 + + XX TWICE A PRISONER 185 + + XXI RALPH HEARS SOMETHING 194 + + XXII A PLAIN TALK WITH BILL KLEMM 203 + + XXIII WHEN CODDLING WEAKENED 211 + + XXIV WINNING AN UP-HILL GAME 220 + + XXV CONCLUSION 224 + + + + +THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH ON THE DIAMOND + + + + +CHAPTER I + +ON THE WAY TO THE GAME + + +“Give it again, fellows! For the honor of old Columbia--now, once more, +with a will!” shouted the cheer captain, Herman Hooker. + +“Ho! ho! ho! hi! hi! hi! _veni, vidi, vici!_ Columbia!” + +“Cast off there, somebody.” + +“Start your engine, Frank, old boy!” + +“Hurrah! we’re afloat on the raging Harrapin at last!” + +“Got any life preservers aboard, fellows?” + +Amid all this uproar and confusion Frank Allen, cool and collected, +gave a whirl to the crank to turn his engine over; and immediately a +succession of rattling reports testified to the fact that as master of +ceremonies he had given the expedition a good send-off. + +Then he handed over the engine to the charge of Abner Gould, the man +employed regularly by Commodore Adams, to whom the launch belonged. + +The _Geraldine_ had been loaned to the members of the Columbia High +School baseball team for this special occasion, by the owner, just then +away on business. + +Accompanied by several members of the Columbia band, they were now +on their way down the Harrapin river, to play their first game with +the Bellport High School nine, and enthusiasm waxed furious over the +prospect ahead. + +A peculiar condition of the weather had sadly disarranged the schedule +of the Harrapin River League. Three clubs composed the organization, +representing Bellport, Clifford and Columbia; and it had been agreed +that each was to play a trio of games with both opposing teams. The one +who came out ahead would, of course, be given the pennant, and hailed +as the champion for the year, an honor greatly coveted, since the three +towns were keen rivals in all athletic matters. + +While Columbia and Bellport had each played three games thus far, they +had all been with the third member of the league, Clifford. + +What seemed still more singular was the fact that in each of these +series Clifford had won one game and lost two. Consequently, Columbia +and Bellport were now _tied for first place_, with three games to be +played, while Clifford was out of the race completely. + +To-day was to see the first game between these two giants. And the +choice of ground had fallen upon Bellport. + +As this enterprising town lay quite a number of miles down the river, +it had been suggested that the Columbia nine journey that way by means +of Commodore Adams’ launch, which, with the services of his man, had +been gladly offered for the day. + +Of course the two towns were connected by a trolley, owned principally +by the father of Lef Seller, a junior in the school, and just now in +bad odor on account of some pranks he had played a short time before. +Special cars had been brought into use on this gala day to accommodate +the crowds desiring to witness the struggle that must accompany the +first meeting of the rival nines. + +With the flags of the Harrapin River Boat Club floating from stem and +stern, and the band tooting away gaily, the little launch left the +float, and started merrily down-stream. + +A roar from the crowd on the bank testified to the fact that, while all +Columbia could not journey over to Bellport to witness this impending +game, the sympathies of those compelled to remain at home were with +the boys who represented the honor of the High School on this occasion. + +“Say, this is what I call going to battle in style,” said Lanky +Wallace, the tall first baseman, as he shoved alongside Frank on the +crowded seat, and threw an arm around the other with the air of a chum. + +“I was just speculating on how we will return--with shouts and cheers, +or dolefully telling each other just how it happened,” remarked Frank; +but his smiling face was evidence of the fact that he had little fears +on that score as he looked around at the enthusiastic countenances of +his comrades. + +“If your arm’s in prime condition, as you say, I’m not worrying any on +that score, Frank. Coddling may be a wonder, just as they claim, but +once we get on to his curves there’s going to be some smashing work +done. I feel that I’m in for business at the old stand myself, to-day,” +returned Lanky, with a positive shake of his head. + +“Glad to hear you say it. A pitcher needs confidence in the ability of +his men to get runs, as well as field like a machine. We’ve just _got_ +to do that crowd up to-day, and that’s all there is to it.” + +“And we will, never fear, Frank,” observed Roderic Seymour, who, +leading senior though he was, considered it an honor to serve as +captain, and play second with the snappy nine Columbia had put into +the field this year. + +“Are we on time?” demanded Buster Billings, always afraid of getting +left, although worrying did not seem to reduce his abundant flesh so +that it could be noticed. + +“Yes, with a margin to spare, if the boat shoves along as she is doing +right now,” replied Lanky Wallace. + +Lanky, of course, covered first, and few balls ever passed through his +territory when he was feeling fit. + +Lef Seller was aboard the boat, since he was a member of the team, +though under a cloud temporarily, and forbidden by the faculty from +taking part in any baseball game during the season. This severe +punishment sprung from his action in playing an unusually mean prank +upon Frank, whom he chose to regard as his mortal enemy; and which +circumstance, together with many other interesting events, has been set +forth in full in the preceding volume of this series, called: “The Boys +of Columbia High; or, The All Around Rivals of the School.” + +Lef tried to join with his mates and appear jolly, but it was a great +effort, when his heart was sore on account of being listed as the black +sheep of the flock, to be shunned by self-respecting fellows. + +He had his own followers, who toadied to him on account of the money he +spent so freely; but none of them happened to be aboard the boat, so +Lef felt that he was in one sense out of his element. + +The beautiful home town faded out of sight up the river, and all eyes +began to be turned toward the bow, as they anticipated catching a +distant glimpse of Bellport at any moment. + +“Better save your wind until later, Herman!” called out Tom Budd, the +lithe shortstop, and a fellow who was a natural acrobat, doing stunts +in and out of season; so that no one was ever surprised to see him +spring into the air, catch a liner, turn completely over, and come up +smiling, with the ball held up for the umpire to take notice. + +“Plenty more left,” laughed the “best yeller Columbia ever had,” as he +waved his megaphone in the air, and led the boys in another song. + +It was a glorious day in June, and not one aboard that boat but felt +the inspiration of the magical sunshine and soft air. + +Half of the distance separating the rival towns had been covered by +this time, and the gallant little launch was making fine speed down the +current. + +“Looks like Clifford meant to be represented at the game, too,” +remarked one of the boys, pointing to the shore. + +Clifford was above Columbia, and on the other bank of the river. A +road led down to the vicinity of Bellport, where a ferry took farm +wagons across. And on this road a cloud of dust told that all sorts +of vehicles had been impressed into service to carry the baseball-mad +people to the scene. + +Fine cars shot along, blowing their horns, and steady-going farm +horses trotted evenly by the side of the road, all heading in the one +direction. It was enough to thrill the boys belonging to the team to +realize that all this excitement in the county was caused by their +crossing bats with the Bellport High nine. + +“Poor old Clifford never got a peep in this year,” mocked Jack Comfort, +said to be the best chaser after flies the school had ever known, and +who guarded center field. + +“Well, they had hard luck. The game they won from us showed that there +was cracking good stuff on the team. I never saw a better game in my +life, with the score tied in the ninth. Wow! that was some exciting!” +exclaimed Lanky, his eyes sparkling at the recollection. + +“It would have been our game if Ben Allison could have held that fly +out in left. He made a big effort, but dropped the ball,” remarked +Captain Seymour, sadly. + +“Well, I reckon that failure just knocked poor Ben out. He’s been no +good to the team ever since, and here we have to put our extra pitcher +in right garden just to fill in, because he’s a crackerjack pinch +hitter!” grumbled Buster. + +“That’s all right, boys, and I’m only too glad of the chance to play at +all. A freshman doesn’t often get on the team, and it’s mighty fine for +you to boost me up this way,” Ralph West hastened to remark. + +Ralph did not live in Columbia, being one of the pay students. He was +anxious for an education, and a fortunate chance had allowed him to +come to the thriving river town at the beginning of the school year. He +and Frank had become good friends, and the latter was deeply interested +in certain strange features connected with Ralph’s fortunes. + +“I think it’s a poor rule that keeps freshmen off the team so much. +They are better fitted to take part in sports then than later on, when +filled with ambition to excel in their studies,” said Jack Eastwick, +one of the juniors, and a substitute on the team. + +At this there was a universal howl, for Jack was notoriously averse to +studying under any and all circumstances, and depended upon a system of +“cramming” just before examinations to carry him through. + +“Now, there’s a wide difference of opinion on that question. For my +part, I fully agree with Coach Willoughby, who says----” but Buster +was seldom allowed to tell what this wonderful instructor, whom the +boys really believed existed only in the imagination of the fat right +fielder, had to say. + +As usual, a shout cut him short, and with an injured stare at the +laughing group, he relapsed into disdainful silence. + +“Where are their grounds located?” asked Ralph, who had never as yet +had an opportunity for visiting the Bellport field. + +“Half a mile below the town. Bellport is something of a manufacturing +place, and there’s going to be more or less of a rough element at the +game, for the factories have shut down for a half holiday, beginning +this Saturday, and the hands are sure to be out in force.” + +Frank looked a trifle anxious as he spoke, for truth to tell he had +more than once wondered whether a sense of fairness would animate that +rough element, or the desire to see Bellport win at any cost. + +“Listen! I thought I heard a roar just then. The wind is coming up the +river, and it must have been shouts from the ball field,” and Seymour +held up his hand to ask for silence. + +It was while they were thus straining their ears to catch the sounds +from below that all at once the familiar “pop-pop” of the exhaust +connected with the motor boat ceased, and soon their rapid progress +fell off. + +Immediately everybody started to shout at once, wanting to know what +had gone wrong. Frank sprang over to where Abner Gould bent over the +little motor. The man lifted a troubled face toward him. + +Every eye was glued on Frank as he started to examine the engine, for +they knew he had more of a practical knowledge of such things than any +one aboard, unless it might be the man hired by Commodore Adams to run +his launch. + +“What ails the thing, Frank?” demanded Buster, as the other raised up. + +“Yes, this isn’t the time for playing pranks. We’re nearly due now on +the field, and don’t want to be called shirks!” exclaimed Lanky, warmly. + +“Boys, I’ve got some bad news for you,” announced Frank. + +“What is it? Don’t keep us in suspense, old warhorse!” cried “Bones” +Shadduck, who played third on the team. + +“The motor has broken down, and we’re in a bad box!” declared Frank, +seriously. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +A WARM BEGINNING FOR CODDLING + + +A groan went up from full twenty throats, at this dismal announcement. + +“What shall we do? We can’t just float down like this. It would look +as if we were whipped before we began to play!” sang out Jack Comfort, +almost in a whine. + +“We’ve just got to swim for it, that’s all! Me for the cool drink!” +said Lanky, pretending to poise on the bow of the boat as if for a +plunge. + +Frank looked serious indeed, but it was something more than the fact of +the breakdown that worried him. He had reason for suspecting that Abner +Gould must have done something to bring about this condition of affairs! + +Still, he said nothing about it, not being sure. But he could not help +remembering that this man had a brother who was known as something of +a sport, and made himself conspicuous at many of the baseball games by +his disposition to bet upon the result, something that the faculty of +the several schools very much objected to, though unable to stop fully. + +Dimly Frank could see how there might be some connection between this +circumstance and their sudden delay. If Watkins Gould had been wagering +heavily against the Columbia team winning, everything that helped +disconcert them, and make them unduly anxious, was to his credit. And +Abner did not have a face that Frank thought could be trusted. + +“Don’t worry, boys,” he said, as the others crowded around, “there are +more ways than one for getting to Bellport. If necessary we could go +ashore and take the trolley.” + +“You might if they let us climb on the roof, for every car is loaded +down with people,” observed Paul Bird, Frank’s chum and catcher. + +“All right. Here comes Mr. Garabrant in his launch. Possibly he may be +glad to give us a tow.” + +Frank, as he spoke, kept his eyes on the face of the man who had +charge of the motor. He felt positive he saw a sudden look of keen +disappointment come upon it, though Abner, upon noticing that he was +being observed, tried to look pleased. + +“He did it, I’m dead certain!” was what Frank was saying to himself, as +a thrill of indignation passed over his frame. + +He could stand honest defeat, but when trickery was brought into play +it made him angry. At the same time he did not dream for a moment that +any one on the opposing team could have had a hand in this mess. + +Herman Hooker immediately got his megaphone into service. + +“Ahoy there, Mr. Garrabrant! Will you kindly head this way?” he shouted. + +The other launch immediately changed its course and approached. There +was quite a little company aboard, and evidently the party was headed +for the athletic field of Bellport, to witness the great game. + +“What’s wrong here?” asked the gentlemanly owner, as he stood up, the +better to see. + +“A breakdown, and we have really no time to monkey with repairs. Could +you give us a tow, sir?” asked Frank. + +“Only too glad, boys. It’s very evident that unless I do there would be +small chance for a game to-day. Hand us a painter, and we’ll make fast +to a cleat at our stern,” replied the Columbia business man, readily. + +This being quickly adjusted, progress was once more resumed. Perhaps +they did not move quite so fast as before, but that was a matter of +small moment. Once more the cheer captain led in vigorous shouts that +rang over the water, and brought answering cries from either shore. + +“There’s Bellport!” said Frank, directing the attention of Ralph to +the numerous tall chimneys that marked the manufacturing town; but they +were belching out no smoke this afternoon, for the plants lay idle, +with the vast majority of the busy workers in holiday attire heading +toward the athletic field. + +A landing was made, and jumping ashore, the boys gathered their +material of war, after which the march was taken up for the scene of +battle. + +And when they turned a bend in the road, with the fine field spread +before them, every fellow was thrilled to note the tremendous throng +that had gathered to see the game, and shout for their respective team. + +“Whew! where did they all come from?” gasped Lanky, as he gaped at the +host of waving handkerchiefs and hats that greeted their arrival. + +“The whole country is baseball mad, that’s what,” remarked Paul, as he +strode along at the side of the pitcher. + +“It’s a grand sight, and ought to spur every fellow to doing his level +best,” remarked the other, drawing in a big breath, for he had never +before known such a gathering to greet the Columbia High team, at home +or abroad. + +As usual, some of the boys began to pass balls as they moved across the +diamond. This was done to wear away any nervousness that the sight of +the immense crowd might have aroused. + +The Bellport team had been practicing for some time now, and were +ready to give up the diamond to the visitors. As the time for the +commencement of the game was not far away, Captain Seymour sent his men +out, and started Frank to warming up. + +The grandstand fairly swarmed with people, and the bleachers were +packed. Indeed, ropes had to be used to keep the crowd off the diamond, +and hundreds sat beyond the right field, where there happened to be +some shade. + +It sounded like Bedlam broke loose, what with the various school yells, +the cat-calls and shouts, and now and then a song breaking above the +clamor. Herman Hooker had hurried over to where his shouting clan +awaited him. They had kept a seat for him in the front row, where he +could jump up at the proper time, and lead the cheering with that +astounding foghorn voice of his. + +Frank noticed as he passed the ball in to Paul that Watkins Gould was +present, and apparently boldly seeking bets on the game. The bleachers +were occupied for the most part with the factory workers, a rough +crowd, and many of them ready to take a chance on their favorite team. + +When finally the Columbia boys came in after a strenuous practice +covering about a quarter of an hour, the many-colored flags fluttered +from the hands of those in the grandstand until the structure looked +like a great bunch of flowers; while from hundreds of lusty throats +rose the various class and school cries, blending in a surge of sound. + +Then Bellport took the field, their going out being the signal for a +tremendous ovation, for they had the full support of their town. + +Roderic Seymour had changed the batting list somewhat since the last +game played with Clifford. To Ralph was given the honor of leading off, +since he was playing in place of Ben Allison. The order ran in this +fashion: + + Ralph West--Left field. + “Bones” Shaddock--Third base. + Jack Comfort--Center field. + Lanky Wallace--First base. + Buster Billings--Right field. + Tom Budd--Shortstop. + Roderic Seymour--Second base. + Paul Bird--Catcher. + Frank Allen--Pitcher. + +Ralph was a fair batter, but a better waiter. For this latter reason he +had been given orders to take his time, and as he faced the opposing +pitcher, Coddling, who was said to be the best twirler Bellport had +ever turned out, he assumed a position of eagerness and expectancy, as +though burning with anxiety to strike. + +Coddling had never played against any of these fellows before. He was +therefore forced to depend entirely on what his catcher signaled. And +Clay, while on the team the preceding year, knew nothing about the +weaknesses of this new batter. + +Consequently Ralph got his base, after two strikes had been called on +him, one of which was really a miss at an outcurve. + +Of course the excitement began at once. A hum went around the field, +and Columbia stock arose, with mocking cries hurled at the local +adherents. + +Shaddock was a good hitter as rule. He had made something of a record +on the team the preceding year. The best he could do now, after +knocking three fouls, was to send one into the hands of the shortstop, +who failed, however, to double Ralph at second on account of a fumble. + +Intense interest was taken in the coming to bat of Jack Comfort. + +“Lace one out, old boy!” howled the Columbia bunch in the center of the +bleachers, where they had gathered to fairly split the atmosphere with +their shouts. + +“You can do it if you try! Over Lacy’s head, Jack!” + +Jack thereupon did try. Three times he swung on the ball, and as often +it came with a dull, sickening thud in the catcher’s big mitt, while +the grin on the face of Smith, Sr., the tall first baseman, was most +exasperating. + +A roar went up as Jack walked back to the bench shaking his head. +Those elusive “spit” balls of Coddling had him guessing, and silently +he stared at the slim pitcher who had proved his right to the name of +wizard, as if trying to fathom where his own efforts fell short. + +Now came Lanky Wallace. He was warmly greeted by friend and foe alike, +for somehow everybody knew the elongated Columbia first baseman always +did his level best, and played a clean, square game. + +Lanky was more fortunate than Jack, for he hit the second ball Coddling +floated up, hit it with a vim that sent the sphere whistling out toward +left, much to the surprise of the pitcher, and the delight of the crowd. + +As a man the entire mass swung to their feet to follow the course of +the ball. Smith, Jr., so called to distinguish him from his brother, +was covering ground at a great rate, in the hope of getting his hands +upon the flying horsehide ere it went past. + +“He’s got it!” whooped the Bellport enthusiasts, as the left fielder +made a fine leap in the air, and apparently snatched the ball down. + +“Not much he has! Go it, both of you! He knocked the ball down, but +never held it! Run, you lazybones. Make a homer of it, Lanky!” + +It seemed as though two thousand people were madly shrieking as the +runners sped around the bases. Smith, Jr., had recovered the ball, and +was relaying it home in the effort to catch Ralph at the plate. A great +slide, however, allowed the Columbia man to get his run. Meanwhile, +Lanky had reached third, and was held on that bag by the coach. + +With two out and a man on third Buster Billings swung his bat as if +ready to put the ball over the head of Snodgrass in right field. + +“Give me an easy one, Mr. Pitcher. I’m only learning how to swing on +’em. Coach Willoughby says----” and then Buster hit it! + +The ball took an awkward turn, so that although both the pitcher and +second baseman made a dive at it neither was fortunate enough to fork +the elusive sphere. Amid a frightful clamor the fat Columbia student +managed to get to first, where he presently stood, wiping his red face +with a bandana. + +Of course Lanky easily came in, and the score had been raised to two, +which was an encouraging start for the visitors, considering who was +doing the pitching. + +Tom Budd proved an easy victim, however. Coddling took a brace, and +although the Columbia shortstop certainly tried his best to connect +with one of the bewildering drops which were handed up to him, he +never touched the ball. + +So the inning ended for Columbia, and they took the field. Confidence +had, however, been installed in their hearts, for it seemed as if the +terrible Coddling might after all not be so very hard to get at. + +Frank had been up against most of these fellows before. He knew that +they had a reputation as heavy hitters, and once started were hard to +stop. + +Snodgrass, the first man up, usually managed to draw his base. His very +attitude at the plate bothered a pitcher, which was just what he meant +it to do. + +But Frank was determined that he should strike, and sent swift balls +directly over until he had managed to get the other just where he +wanted him. Then a well directed outcurve deceived Snodgrass. He went +back to the bench amid the groans of the crowd. + +Then up rose Hough, the doughty second baseman, who was playing in +place of Captain Cuthbert Lee, on the sick list, with his trusty bat. +He knocked imaginary dirt from the soles of his shoes and took his +place. Hough had a good batting eye, and could pick one out all right. + +Two balls and one strike had been called when he swung viciously. The +sound of the connection was like a rifle report, and instantaneously +the immense crowd gave a howl of delight. + +Again was there an upheaval, as every eye tried to follow the flight of +the rapidly shooting ball. + +It was headed for the territory of Buster, and the fat fielder was +straining every nerve to get within reaching distance of the flying +sphere! + + + + +CHAPTER III + +A GAME WORTH SEEING + + +“See the ice wagon move!” + +“It’s got an engine attached to it somewhere, fellows!” + +“Will he get it--maybe, maybe not!” whooped Jack Eastwick. + +“It’s a balloon, that’s what it is!” howled one Bellport enthusiast. + +They saw Buster glancing over his shoulder once or twice as he ran. It +was a perfect wonder that he did not stumble and fall flat, for on more +than one former occasion that was what had happened to the apparently +clumsy fielder. + +But Frank had high hopes. He knew that Buster could rise to an +emergency, and really accomplish the impossible--for such stockily +built fellows of his class. He held his breath as the fielder turned +squarely around and threw up one of his hands. Hough was already +shooting down toward second in wild haste. If Buster made a mess of it +the hit was likely to count a home run, for it had enough steam behind +it to carry far afield. + +“He did it, Buster did it!” cried dozens of voices, as though the +speakers had considerable difficulty in believing their own eyes. + +Then a fierce wave of sound went surging over the field. It was a fine +play that appealed to the sportsmanlike spirit of an American crowd, +so that even the warmest adherents of Bellport High joined in the +tremendous cheer that awoke the echoes in the hills near by. + +And Hough walked in from second, shaking his head, and looking back +toward the plump fielder as though he felt that he had been robbed. + +Two out! It was a splendid beginning, and nerved Frank to keep up the +good work. If the balance of the boys only did their duty as Buster had +shown how, the game would turn out to be a one-sided affair at best. + +But Frank knew the vagaries that attach to baseball, which serve to +give it its greatest charm. No game is won until the last man is put +out. A rally can cause a winning team to go all to pieces, so that +their opponents fairly “shoot holes through their ranks.” + +“Banghardt next!” + +“He’s the boy who can do it, else why his name?” + +“Watch him knock the cover off the ball! See the fielders move out. +Oh! Allen knows this chap. He’s the swift bunch, all right!” + +After all this boasting it must have been a bit humiliating to the +Bellport boosters to see their idol strike out; but that was what +the mighty Banghardt did. Three separate times did he send that +wagon-tongue bat of his whistling through the air, each occasion being +marked with a distinct grunt as it met only vacant space, for the ball +was not where he believed it to be. + +“Better luck next time, Tony! Taking his measure are you?” yelled a +Columbia boy, derisively, as the fielder threw his bat savagely away, +and started out to attend to his territory, for the inning was over. + +Coddling took a brace after that first unfortunate affair, and the next +three visitors who faced him were mowed down in regular order. His +curves were most exasperating, his speed terrific, and he could mix a +few fadeaway balls with the others in a fashion that kept the batter +guessing all the time. + +So once more Frank went into the box to face the hard-hitting Bellport +men. + +“Promises to be a warm game,” remarked a man who happened to be sitting +beside Lef Seller on the bleachers. + +“Oh! I don’t know,” replied the disgruntled Columbia student, a pitcher +of no mean merit himself, and who, but for his own misconduct, might +have been serving on the team as a substitute. “That Coddling is a +marvel sure, and they say he gets better right along, finishing strong. +It’s different, with Frank. You see he starts well, but any little +thing is apt to rattle him badly, so that he goes to pieces.” + +This was not so, as Lef well knew, but he could never resist the +temptation to give the boy he hated a sly and underhand dig. + +The gentleman looked at his hat-band curiously. + +“You’re from Columbia, too, I believe, judging from the purple and gold +ribbon you wear?” he remarked, with a slight sneer. + +“Oh! yes, I used to pitch for them last year, but the faculty jumped on +me for some foolish little thing I did, and refused to let me take part +this season. Frank does his best, we all know, but he isn’t just as +steady as he might be,” continued Lef, brazenly. + +“That’s queer. I had an idea Frank was about as cool a player as I had +ever seen in my old days at Princeton. If that’s the reputation he has +then I’ve made the poorest play of my life, and I used to be considered +a judge. Buster gave me to understand differently.” + +“Then you know Buster Billings?” asked Lef, quickly and uneasily. + +“Why, I’m stopping at his house just now,” came the reply. + +“Oh! then I can understand how it comes you think so highly of Frank, +because he has a few chums always ready to sneeze when he takes snuff. +There are some others in Columbia, and I own that I’m one of the gang, +who believe Frank Allen to be a greatly overrated athlete. There! did +you see him pass that man. He never pitched near the plate. I told you +he could be easily rattled!” + +“Wait, my boy. Many a pitcher, as you know, does that, when he feels +it in his bones that the batter is able to hit the ball. Besides, +perhaps he knows that the next man is an easy mark for him,” remarked +the gentleman, who seemed to be quite at home with regard to the fine +points of the game. + +“That Smith, Jr., is the left fielder, and I have seen him send the +ball out of sight. But his brother is no pie either, and if Frank +thinks he’s going to mow him down he has another guess coming,” +muttered Lef, eagerly watching, and ready to howl should the batter +connect. + +“One strike!” announced the umpire, though the man had not swung at all. + +With the next ball he did strike viciously, but the merry plunk as the +horsehide sphere settled comfortably in the big mitt of Paul Bird told +that he had failed to properly gauge the line of its rifleball flight. + +After that came a foul and two balls. Frank believed he had his measure +taken, and it was with the utmost confidence that he sent in one of his +tantalizing out-curves. + +“You’re out!” shouted the umpire. + +The man on first had not dared run down, for he knew Frank’s battery +mate was a remarkably accurate thrower to second; and that only on rare +occasions had any opposing player purloined that sack while Paul Bird +stood behind the plate. + +“Only one down!” shouted the coach near first, dancing about in an +effort to divert the pitcher’s attention from his business; but Frank +was up to all such stale tricks, and paid no attention to Snodgrass, +his eye being on Lacy at the bat, and Smith, Jr., on the initial sack. + +Lacy was reckoned the dude of Bellport High. He always seemed as though +“walking on eggs,” as some of the Columbia fellows said, and his manner +of dressing in the very latest style had gained him the name of being a +dandy. But when it came to covering that short field he had few peers +among the school teams in that part of the country. + +He could also lace them out on occasion, too, having that very +desirable quality in a successful player, called a “batting eye.” + +Frank knew him of old, and played him cautiously. In spite of his care, +however, Herb reached out and tapped one of his outshoots. The ball +went plunging in the direction of short, and the crowd gasped to see +how that acrobatic Tom Budd did his part of the business. + +He threw himself headlong at the passing ball, as though his legs +were unable to carry him fast enough. They saw him turn a complete +somersault and land on his feet like an acrobat in the circus. + +“Wow!” howled the amazed Bellport players, as Tom whirled and sent the +ball to Seymour on second, who instantly relayed it to Lanky just in +time to cut off the leaping Lacy while he was yet in the air. + +“A double! What do you think of that for playing?” shrieked the +Columbia crowd, standing on their feet, and waving the colors of their +school as if frenzied. + +“What sort of a human hinge have you got out there in short?” asked the +gentleman alongside Lef; “I’ve seen some clever plays in my time, but +that certainly beat them all out. Can that chap play baseball standing +on his head?” + +“Oh! that’s Tom Budd, and he’s always doing stunts. Sometimes he +succeeds, but more often makes a muss of it,” grunted Lef, who had +felt disgusted to see Bellport mowed down so easily when things looked +bright for a run. + +“I’m glad I happened to see him when he succeeded, then. That was worth +ten times the price of the admission. I came to see a baseball match, +but this is as good as a circus,” laughed the other. + +Lef moved away. Somehow or other he felt that he would be in more +congenial atmosphere among some of the Bellport rooters, and listening +to derogatory remarks concerning the fellow he detested. + +It was Ralph at the bat again, and this time he went out on a fly that +Snodgrass captured after a hard run. Shadduck fanned after knocking +about seven fouls that gave Clay a number of hard runs without any +success at corraling one. And while Jack Comfort managed to lift one +that landed him on first, he perished on the way to second, owing to +Clay’s straight shoot to the bag. + +In their half of the third, Bellport managed to put one run over. +Shaddock fumbled a hot liner that came his way, allowing the stout +Bardwell to gallop to first. Then Clay lifted a fly that, while caught, +gave the other a chance to land on second. + +“Play the game, fellows!” shouted the eager watchers, as the pitcher +took his place to bat. + +Coddling bunted, and while out at first the chance was given Bardwell +to settle himself comfortably on third. + +This compelled Snodgrass to hit, something he seldom did, preferring to +get his base on balls. With a lucky little pop fly that neither Lanky +nor Buster could reach before it fell, he brought his man in. + +Hough went out on a long fly to Comfort, so that the score was now two +to one in favor of Columbia. + +Frank, when coming in, glanced up toward the grandstand. He knew very +well just where his sister and Minnie Cuthbert were seated, and nodded +his head with a smile in answer to the furious waving of the little +purple and gold banners both girls carried. It was an inspiration to +him to know that they were watching his work. + +Then he looked up at the beautiful pennant that floated over the field, +offered by the same Mr. Garabrant who had towed their disabled launch, +to the club winning the greater number of games in this tri-school +league series of battles on the diamond. + +“You’ll get it, Frank, never fear!” shouted some one from the +bleachers, seeing that look he gave. + +“Don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched,” jeered a Bellport +rooter. + +“It’s a bully good fight, all right,” admitted a Clifford man, “and +we’re only sorry to be out of it up our way. But most of our people +want Columbia to win.” + +Three more innings saw no change in the score. Several hits were made +off each pitcher, but good fielding, and a tightening up all around, +prevented any damage resulting from such isolated cases. + +So the seventh commenced, with the strain greater than ever. + +“Hold them down, Frank! You’ve got it, if you do!” + +“But do some little batting yourselves, boys. Get at him! Coddling’s +easy when you just know how!” jeered the other side. + +When Paul Bird stepped up to the plate to take his turn at the +beginning of the seventh some one started to sing, “Columbia, the Gem +of the Ocean.” A score of voices instantly joined in, followed by +hundreds of others, until there was so much noise that the decisions +of the umpire could not be heard above it, and he had to depend on +gestures entirely. + +And while the uproar was at its height Paul was sent to first on balls! + +“Coddling is getting rattled, boys! Keep it up!” shrieked a dozen +frantic Columbia fellows, waving their ribbon bedecked hats wildly. + +“Watch Frank bring him in with a three-bagger! He can do it, all +right!” sang the crowd, as the pitcher stepped quietly up to the plate. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE RALLY THAT CAME TOO LATE + + +Frank gave no sign of the excitement that thrilled his every nerve. He +realized that possibly a fortunate hit on his part right then and there +would eventually win the game. + +Despite the furious racket that kept up on every hand, he faced +Coddling, and prepared to do his very best to at least advance the +runner. + +As a rule pitchers are not reckoned good batters, but Frank Allen had +always been known to hit well. Coddling therefore tightened up, and +determined to put his rival out of the running by tempting him with +some of his astonishing assortment of curves and drops, for his swift +ball had already cost him dear, so that he was afraid to use it often. + +Frank even allowed a strike to be called on him before he picked out +one that seemed to his liking. What he did to that ball was a caution. +It sailed away out in right, and Snodgrass had the run of his life to +chase after it. + +Paul, reaching second, paused, an instant, for if the ball were caught, +he would have some difficulty getting back to first in time. + +“Go on, Paul!” bellowed the coach through his hands. + +The noise had broken out worse than ever, so that each player had to be +a law unto himself just then. + +“He muffed it! Run! run! run!” whooped everybody who had the interest +of Columbia at heart, while the Bellport adherents looked dismal enough. + +It was an excusable error, for the fielder had fallen headlong at +the instant his fingers touched the ball. He was up like a flash and +chasing after it. Paul circled the bases and easily came home, but the +coach held Frank at third, as the ball was coming in when he reached +there. + +Nevertheless, it had been a three-bagger, despite the mess Snodgrass +had made of his effort to capture the fly, and a run had resulted. +Frank had reason to feel satisfied with himself as he crouched there +and panted for breath. + +He knew that the chances were he would be a little off in his work +unless this inning lasted for some time. That was one reason why his +fellow players tried to delay matters as best they could within reason. +Ralph tied his shoe, and then knocked three fouls, finally going out on +one that Clay managed to get after a furious rush among the crowd to +the right, and which brought him much hand-clapping. + +Then Bones Shadduck tried his hand. He wanted to bring Frank in, and +struck savagely at what he considered fair balls; but Coddling had him +guessing, and finally put him to sleep with a fadeaway that had not +even reached the plate when the batter tried to knock it out of sight, +and “fell all over himself,” as Lanky said, while doing so. + +In their half of this inning the Bellport boys seemed to awaken from +the trance that had been binding them. There was a hustle and an energy +to their play that told Frank he had better take care, or a batting +rally would set in under which Bellport would speed to victory as on +former occasions. + +Bardwell opened with a hit that bounded off the shins of Seymour. When +the captain and second baseman of Columbia managed to snatch up the +ball it was too late to head the runner off, though Bardwell was a +clumsy man on bases. + +He pretended to limp around as though he had been spiked or something. +The trick is, of course, as old as the hills. It only happens when +a better runner is wanted on the initial bag. Seymour nodded his +head when the Bellport captain called out, and accordingly Lacy was +substituted for the elephantine Bardwell. + +Clay tried to bring him in with a big hit away out in center, but +Comfort was on his job in that territory, and managed to corral the +ball after backing out, even though he could not keep Lacy from taking +second. + +Then came Coddling. He was no great batter, but there are times when +baseball is full of surprises, and Frank was taking no chances. + +“Fan him, Frank!” shouted an excited rooter from the grandstand. + +“Let him hit it! Encourage a hard-working man a little!” called another. + +Coddling tried his level best, but that did not seem good enough, +for he presently walked back to the bench, with three strikes marked +against his record. + +Snodgrass waited, and got his base, though Frank considered that the +umpire was unusually severe with him in calling balls, when he cut the +plate with at least one of those that counted against him. + +“Now, Hough, you know what to do!” + +“Yes, Hough, lam it good and hard over old Billings’ head. He’ll never +get another like he did that first one. That was an accident!” + +“You’ve got him up in the air, boys! Lead that horse into the stable!” + +Dozens of like cries sounded everywhere. It is a part of the game to +try and rattle the pitcher when such an emergency arises. + +Still, that faint smile remained on the face of Frank Allen, as he +prepared to take the measure of this hard-hitting Bellport player, who +had broken the reputation of at least one promising pitcher. + +With two out, and men on first and third, Hough certainly had reason +to do everything in his power to make a hit. Then came the sharp shock +as the bat met one of Frank’s curves on the nose, and the ball went +shooting down toward third. + +Shadduck stopped the speedy one as best he could, but it was coming +like a comet, and he could not hold it. Jumping after the ball, he +snatched it up. The chances of getting it to Paul were rather meagre, +but it was his business to try, and he shot it for home. + +No doubt the very rapidity of the play unsettled him, so that he failed +to send the ball exactly where it would have cut the runner off. Paul +had to reach out after it, and then tag the sliding runner. + +“Safe!” shouted the umpire, who was there on the spot to see. + +Meanwhile Paul had tossed the ball back to Shadduck, for there was +danger of Snodgrass coming down from second while all this was going +on; in fact, he had to be driven back with threatening gestures. + +With two men on bases and two out, the inning still had possibilities, +and loud waxed the exultant cries of the Bellport rooters as they sang +their school song and made a great demonstration. + +“Got him up in a balloon! He’s ascending, all right, boys! Give him +another push, Tony!” + +Banghardt stepped up full of confidence, and faced the pitcher with +determination in his eye. Just two minutes later he dropped his bat and +trotted out toward center, for the umpire had said that three balls +which sailed past him were along the strike order--and the umpire +belonged to Bellport, too, so that there could be little doubt but what +he was right. + +So the eighth began with Columbia still one run to the good, and +Bellport just as positive as ever that they could not only make the +lone tally necessary to tie, but add a few more for good measure. + +Comfort, Lanky Wallace and Billings tried to accomplish something while +they remained for a fleeting space of time on deck, but Coddling seemed +to have taken a new lease of life, and they were unable to connect with +a single one of his elusive benders. + +Frank shut his teeth hard as he went into the box in turn. He was not +given to weakening, despite all that the envious Lef had declared; and +his arm felt just as good at that minute as in the second inning. + +All Smiths looked alike to him, judging from the way he struck the two +brothers out, one after the other. + +Herb Lacy managed to work him for a free pass to first, but after all +it did him little good, for the next batter, Bardwell, lifted a foul +that Paul gathered in against the grandstand, to the accompanying +cheers of the occupants. + +This brought affairs down to the ninth, and all over the field there +was intense excitement. + +“This is the lucky Bellport inning!” shouted one fellow, encouragingly. + +“Watch them run the game out right here!” + +“Will they? Maybe, maybe not!” answered Jack Eastwick. + +Herman Hooker had jumped to his feet as Columbia went to bat for the +last time. Up to the present he had been content to play a minor part, +but now his time had come. + +“Give it to them, boys--give them the slogan we love, good and strong. +Hi! hi! hi! ho! ho! ho! _veni! vidi! vici!_ Columbia! Siss! boom! ah!” + +Amid such a pandemonium Tom Budd struck out, though he died trying to +find one of those balls which Coddling seemed to be twining around his +neck. Seymour was somewhat more fortunate. He raised a fine fly, but +unfortunately it landed in the outstretched hands of Smith, Junior, who +did not seem to stir a yard. + +Paul Bird made a lucky hit that should have been an out, but the +players were so nervous by this time that Lacy actually fumbled the +ball. Frank, with all the encouragement that might accompany such +backing as could spring from the “best yeller Columbia ever had,” as he +jumped up and down, and waved his megaphone violently, sent a hot liner +straight at Hough on second that nearly took him off his feet, though +he held it. + +And then Bellport came to the bat. Every man looked grimly confident. +Clay made a hit out of the first ball that came along, reaching out and +stealing what was meant to be a wide one. + +How those Bellport rooters did shriek and jump! It seemed as though +they would go crazy as they begged and implored Coddling to win his own +game by advancing the runner by a little bunt. + +“He just can’t do it, boys!” called one fellow, after Coddling had +twice thrust out his bat and failed to even touch the speeding ball. + +“Give him a pair of smoke glasses; the sun’s in his eyes!” + +“Three times and out, Coddling--take care, old hoss!” + +This time Coddling, in despair, struck savagely, and perhaps to his own +surprise, tapped the ball smartly toward second. + +“Double ’em up!” arose the howl like a flash, for the average baseball +rooter can see the possibilities of a play as soon as a player. + +And that was just what happened. Seymour snatched the ball from +the ground with one hand, leaped over to his sack, and as his foot +touched the same he threw for Lanky on first. Coddling was caught ten +feet away, and a mighty groan attested to the strain under which the +Bellport crowd was resting. + +Snodgrass again found that he just had to strike, for Frank was putting +them over on purpose now, having full confidence in the men back of +him. Smash! went the ball. Lanky fell over very much like a ten pin +that has been caught by a rapidly moving ball, but as he sat there he +held up his hand to prove that he had forked the sphere out of the air +and gripped it tight! + +The game was over, and it had been a heartbreaking one all around. +Immediately the great crowd flooded the ground, and the players were +swallowed up in groups of admiring rooters. Herman Hooker led his +gallant band in another cheer, in which the defeated Bellport team came +in for a share of the shouting; after which there was a wild rush for +all means of transportation whereby the thousands could hope to reach +their homes in the neighboring towns. + +When the Columbia players reached the river they found that during +their absence Abner Gould had succeeded in repairing the motor, so +that it was now in condition to take them back home. Frank could not +be sure that his suspicions were well founded, and hence he decided to +say nothing about the matter. If the man had been hired by his sporting +brother to delay the Columbia team, and annoy them so that they would +go upon the field nervous and unstrung, he had been caught in his own +trap. + +Ralph West seemed anxious to speak to Frank in private. They were on +the way up the river, and most of the boys had stretched out, talking +over the various thrilling events of the great game, when Ralph dropped +down beside Frank. + +“I’ve been wanting to say a few words to you ever since we left +Columbia, but couldn’t get the chance,” he said in a low tone. + +Frank could see that he was unduly excited, and he did not believe that +this came wholly from his clever work in the recent game. + +“All right, Ralph; what is it?” he asked encouragingly, for they had +been good friends for some time, and Frank knew all about certain +strange events connected with the past life of the freshman who had +made good on the Columbia nine. + +“I went to the post-office just before we started out,” commenced Ralph. + +Frank started, and looked at him eagerly. + +“This is just after the first of the month, and that mysterious letter +with the money enclosed used to always come at such a time. Well, what +happened?” he asked. + +“I got the letter,” replied Ralph, drawing a long breath. + +“With the money in it?” + +“Yes, just as before,” answered the freshman, gulping hard as something +seemed to choke him; “and not a single word. Frank, it’s all opened up +again, and I must know who is sending me this money. You promised to +help me, and I’ll never rest easy until I learn who I am!” + + + + +CHAPTER V + +A THUNDERBOLT IN THE SCHOOL + + +“Let me see the envelope, Ralph,” Frank said, soothingly. + +“Here it is, and it comes from your uncle’s office, as before.” + +“That’s a fact, and I’m going to ask Uncle Jim again to tell us what +he knows of this queer arrangement. Somebody wants you to get an +education, and takes this strange way of supplying the money. It’s been +coming ever since last summer, hasn’t it, Ralph?” + +“Yes. And you know that Mr. and Mrs. West, whom I always believed to +be my parents, until lately, admitted that I was only adopted by them, +taken from the poorhouse. Then there was that poor Ben Davis. It looked +to me that he might be the one; but we saw him before he died, and he +denied that he knew anything about me. Oh, this is a terrible fix for a +fellow to be in!” + +“Cheer up, old chap. Come around to-night, and I’ll get father to take +a hand in the game. Perhaps he can induce Uncle Jim to explain who +sends this money on the sly through him. He said he had promised not +to tell, but dad may influence him some way. I wouldn’t say anything +more about it now. The fellows are looking over this way, as though +wondering.” + +So Ralph tried to change his look of anxiety and gloom to one that +corresponded more nearly with the uproarious delight that caused the +others to break out in almost continuous cheering under the inspiring +influence of Herman Hooker. + +That energetic individual was as hoarse as a crow by this time, +however, and had to give a rest to the “best yelling voice that +Columbia ever knew,” taking it out in gestures that were almost tragic. + +And so in the evening of that never-to-be-forgotten day they arrived +home, to find the town gaily decked in bunting, and crowds of students +parading the streets cheering and singing. + +Columbia promised to be painted red that night of the great victory +over the strong Bellport team. Even the girls joined in the cheering +and singing; while an old cannon was made to do duty on the green, with +a salute to the boys who had carried the colors of Columbia High to +victory that day. + +One returning pilgrim saw nothing to boast about in the snatching of +this close game from Bellport. That was Lef Seller. All the way back +he had been in more or less of a wordy war with various enthusiastic +rooters on the trolley, and his remarks had been of a nature that +almost caused him to be tossed overboard. + +“His father may own this road, but that doesn’t excuse him for running +down his own school!” declared one of the old graduates of Columbia +High, in disgust. + +Lef was in a very bitter frame of mind. To see Frank come out a winner +was like gall and wormwood to his envious spirit. He racked his brain, +with the idea of finding some way of “pulling that climbing duck down a +peg,” as he muttered to himself. + +As a rule, when Lef Seller set about discovering some means of playing +a “trick,” as he called it, upon a school mate, he usually managed to +get there, even though the gun he held sometimes kicked worse at the +butt than it did damage from the muzzle. + +“Be sure and come around after supper, Ralph. I’d ask you to go home +with me now, but I know you want to wash up and get into some other +duds. I’ll look for you,” remarked Frank, as the crowd went ashore and +walked into the town. + +“I’ll be there. This matter is a mighty serious one with me, and if +your father will only give me a little help I’d be obliged,” and Ralph +shook the hand of his friend warmly. + +“Poor chap,” said Frank to himself, as he walked away and cast a glance +over his shoulder to note that the other had dropped his chin upon his +breast as though lost in sad thought. “It must be a nightmare of a time +not to know who you are. And then there’s this money that comes every +month from some unknown source. Whoever can it be sending it? Uncle Jim +_must_ tell, that’s all there is to it.” + +Uncle Jim meant Judge James Decatur Allen, away down in New York. Frank +had already appealed to him, but the lawyer in reply had said he did +not feel able to explain the mystery, since he had given his word to +his unknown client. + +That night there was a council of war. Mr. Allen heard the whole story, +and was deeply interested in the fortunes of poor Ralph. + +“I’ll write to Jim to-morrow, and explain things. No matter if he has +promised, he ought to take pity on you, Ralph, and give you a hint. If +you knew it wasn’t your relatives who were sending this money, your +mind would be at ease, I suppose?” was what the gentleman had said. + +“I might refuse to accept another cent of it in that case,” replied +Ralph, sturdily. + +“While I can understand how you feel about that, let me caution you +to go slow about looking a gift horse in the mouth. An education is +priceless, and even if the money came from some distasteful source, you +could still receive it and make up your mind to positively return it +some day.” + +“Thank you, sir; that is what I meant to do, anyway,” said Ralph. + +“Meanwhile say nothing about this. When I hear from Jim I’ll have +another talk with you. Perhaps he may see fit to confide enough to me +so that I can at least ease your mind. And, Ralph, consider that this +is something of a second home to you. We have all grown to like you +very much, my lad.” + +Ralph could not reply, for he seemed too full of sentiment for +utterance; but he squeezed the hand Mr. Allen gave him, and his look +was eloquent enough. + +On the following week there was little talked of at school but that +wonderful game at Bellport. The next one, on the following Saturday, +would be played on the Columbia grounds; and the third as dictated by +fortune in the way of a tossed coin. + +Lef Seller was green with envy at the praise he heard concerning the +masterly way Frank had pitched. + +“Just as if nobody ever won a game before. Huh! there are half a dozen +to my credit, and some of ’em as hot as that one. But did you ever hear +of the old school going crazy over my work. I guess not! But that +Allen--oh, splash! I get sick hearing the mention of his name!” + +That was the way he talked to his two cronies. Bill Klemm and Tony +Gilpin, after school was out, about the middle of the week. + +Lef was sure of sympathy in this quarter, and it did much to bolster up +his resolution to get even with Frank, no matter what happened. + +“Course you couldn’t ’spect to be looked at in the light of a hero. +It’s only the fellers what strut around and try to look like tin gods +on wheels that gets the ribbons. Look at them gals talking to him now. +He ain’t any better lookin’ than you, Lef, but he’s just got Minnie +dead struck after him,” remarked Tony, with his usual disregard for all +the rules of grammar. + +“Aw, let up on that, won’t you? Want to rub salt in a feller’s cuts, I +guess. Don’t I see it all, and ain’t I just boiling with madness. She +used to think somethin’ of me before she got going with that conceited +little Helen Allen, and Frank, he butted in. I never will forgive him +for that, and it won’t be long before he’ll get his, all right!” and +Lef nodded his head as he spoke, in a suggestive way those cronies of +his understood meant fight. + +But the tactics of Lef were never along that order which brought about +an open rupture. Fight he would, if he could get the object of his +hatred alone, and have backing of his own, so that the odds were three +to one; but Lef had too much respect for the strong muscles and agility +of Columbia’s crack athlete to risk a solitary meeting with him. + +No matter what he had in his mind he would not confide in either of the +others. When they asked him he simply put his tongue in his cheek and +grinned, which signs they understood meant trouble for Frank Allen. + +On Thursday morning, after the exercises in the assembly hall, the +principal of the school, instead of dismissing the various classes +to their rooms, asked them to remain, as he had a communication of +importance which he wished to make. + +Expectation was on tiptoe immediately. + +Crafty Tony Gilpin, stealing a side look over toward Lef, caught a +fleeting glow of expectancy in his eyes, while his manner of leaning +forward indicated that he might know what was coming. + +“He’s gone and done it!” was Tony’s prompt inward declaration, and +immediately his admiration for his chief was increased tenfold. + +Every eye was fastened upon Professor Parke as he stood up facing them. +The ordinarily genial teacher looked very sober, and this fact caused +many a heart to beat with apprehension, as various lads imagined that +some prank in which they were concerned had been found out, and public +disgrace was to follow. + +“Young ladies and gentlemen,” began the professor, who was always in +the habit of addressing the students in this dignified way, just as +though his training as a college man would allow of nothing else, “I +have a very painful duty to perform this morning, and one I never +thought would devolve upon me here at Columbia, though I have heard of +it happening elsewhere.” + +You could have heard a pin drop as he stopped for a moment. Two hundred +and fifty hearts were thrilled by his words. Every one present, save, +possibly, one, wondered what it could be the professor was about to +say. Tony was still shooting those fugitive glances across the room, +and each time he observed the actions of his comrade he kept repeating +to himself: + +“Lef knows! He’s in this game, all right. He said he’d do _something_, +and I just reckon he has, all right. Bully for Lef!” + +The professor spoke again, and his voice carried to the furthest point +in that large room, so that every one could hear what he said. + +“I repeat that I have had a shock. I did not believe there could be a +student under my charge so dishonorable as to attempt anything so small +and mean as this seems. And I am sure that every one here, save the +miscreant who is guilty, will agree with me in saying that, when you +hear how he planned to take advantage of the rest of you.” + +Lef was licking his lips now, and trying hard to hide the grin that +seemed to want to creep over his face. He had all the appearance of +one who was enjoying a delightful treat, and yet who, for diplomatic +reasons, did not want other eyes to note the fact. + +“Yesterday afternoon,” continued the Head, slowly, while his eyes roved +around the room, “I received the first batch of examination papers from +the printers, far in advance of the usual time. I counted them three +times, and marked the number on a slip, so that I could always be sure +none were missing.” + +A half suppressed sigh seemed to pass over the room. Most of the +students could begin to guess at what was coming. They understood now +what the professor intended to convey when he spoke of every one being +cheated by the work of the malefactor. + +“Something called me away just then, and I did a very unwise +thing--thrust the packet of papers into my desk, and left the latter +open; but I never dreamed that any one in this school could be guilty +of stealing the questions that mean the promotion of the juniors in +this year’s classes. + +“I was away about half an hour. Upon returning, something seemed to +tell me that my desk had been entered, since things were plainly +disturbed. And when I recounted the packet _I found just one paper +short_!” + +Again he paused, and the entire assemblage seemed to catch its breath, +waiting. + +“When I had made sure that one of the papers was gone, my pleasure over +the fine showing of Columbia in the week just passed fled. I knew that +unless that stolen paper were found, the entire batch would have to be +destroyed, for fear lest it be passed around, and make our examination +a mockery. + +“This morning I received a singular communication from an unknown +party, who claims that he dares not sign his name, because it would +make him enemies; but he affirms that he saw a certain student coming +out of the office during yesterday afternoon, and that following him +up, he discovered him looking at a piece of paper which seemed to him +to be a set of questions used in our yearly examinations. + +“As a rule, I seldom take any notice of anonymous communications, but +in this case I feel it a duty I owe the entire junior class to do +everything in my power to discover the guilty one. The name mentioned +in this communication was one that stunned me; but since it has been +brought before my attention, there seems to be nothing for me to do +but request the person in question to plead guilty or innocent.” + +Then he swept his eyes around, while many a lad shivered in mortal +fear, until finally, they came to a pause, and the professor exclaimed: + +“Frank Allen, come forward, please!” + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE VINDICATION + + +“Oh!” + +It seemed as though a score of voices framed that one word. A few of +the students looked pleased because suspicion seemed to have alighted +upon a shining mark, but the vast majority were shocked and stunned. +Helen turned as white as a little ghost, while Minnie Cuthbert half +rose from her seat, and stared at the principal as though she thought +he had surely taken leave of his senses. + +Frank stood up quickly. He could not help it if his face burned +just then, for any one would naturally be confused at so sudden an +accusation. + +Almost as quickly the color left his face, and he flashed a defiant +look around, as if to discover who it was chuckled, for it appeared +that Lef could not wholly contain himself. + +Frank walked directly in front of the professor, and looked him +straight in the face. He bore himself proudly, as might an innocent lad +upon whom unjust suspicion had been cast. If some enemy had done +this, Frank did not intend to let him have the satisfaction of seeing +how it hurt. + +[Illustration: FRANK WALKED DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE PROFESSOR, AND +LOOKED HIM STRAIGHT IN THE FACE. + + _Columbia High on the Diamond._ _Page 54._] + +“Frank, were you in my office alone at any time yesterday afternoon?” +asked Professor Parke steadily, as he gazed at the lad before him, +and those who knew anything about reading expression would have seen +readily enough that it was more like a look of sincere affection that +he gave the boy than one of accusation or doubt. + +“I was not, sir,” came the immediate response, clear-cut and ringing. + +“This communication, which, as I said before, has no name attached to +it, states that you probably have that examination paper in your pocket +at this moment. Is there any truth in that assertion, Frank?” went on +the principal. + +“So far as I know, sir, there is not. I am perfectly willing to have +any one search me over. In fact, sir, after what has been said I +_demand_ that it be done,” said the student, indignantly. + +“Suppose you do it yourself, Frank. Place everything in your pockets on +my desk here, please.” + +With a smile Frank started to obey. Of course, every eye followed each +of his movements, and Lanky Wallace, who happened to be just behind +Lef, wondered why the fellow gripped his desk and partly arose, as his +lips kept forming unuttered words, and he trembled all over. + +Suddenly Frank’s smile faded. He had a troubled look on his face as he +slowly drew something out, took one swift glance at it, and then handed +it up to the professor. + +“It’s the paper!” + +“Oh, he had it after all!” + +“How did it ever happen? I don’t believe he ever took it!” + +“Isn’t it dreadful, girls?” this last from Emily Dodsworth, who had +often tried to interest Frank Allen in her own simpering self, but +without success. + +Frank stood there, looking straight up into the eyes of the principal. + +“This is indeed the missing examination paper. The unknown party to +whom we are so heavily indebted certainly told the truth when he said +it would be found in your pocket, Frank. Are you willing to answer me +one question?” + +“I will answer as many as you ask me, sir,” replied the boy, without +quailing. + +“Have you ever seen this paper before, Frank?” + +“I give you my word for it, sir, that I never set eyes on it until +I drew it out of my pocket just now. I don’t know how it got there, +unless some fellow put it there for fun, or to injure me.” + +A few smiled disdainfully. They were the ones who had always been +envious of Frank Allen’s popularity in the school, and rejoiced to see +him even temporarily under a cloud. + +But there were ten to one who looked terribly stunned, and found it +hard to realize that the boy they had all admired as a shining example +of honesty and candor could even be accused of so despicable a thing as +this, the smallest, meanest cheat of which any student could be guilty. + +“I wish to state right here, Frank, that I believe you are speaking the +exact truth,” said the professor, with one of his rare smiles; “and I’m +going to explain just what I mean by that, if you will all sit back in +your seats and listen.” + +The silence became profound. Even Lef had drawn within his shell, so +to speak, at this unexpected remark from the Head, as if he might +have been a cautious old tortoise. He scented trouble from afar, and +was preparing to put on an innocent look. When Lef was really on his +guard, it would require a keen eye indeed to detect guilt in his face. +He could stare any one in the countenance and lie out of any hole +deliberately and vehemently. + +“In the first place,” went on the principal, “I have always set it +down as an absolute fact that in nine cases out of ten an anonymous +communication is the work of a sneak, a coward, and generally a +criminal, who wants to throw dust in the eyes of possible pursuers, so +as to effect his own escape. Either that, or else it is his intention +to ruin the reputation of the party he accuses. + +“It might give me more or less embarrassment, though not anxiety, in +the premises, Frank, on account of this paper being found on your +person, only for one thing. And that was just where circumstances +conspired to make the wretch who could so miserably plot to harm a +fellow student, overreach himself. + +“After I had placed those papers in my desk, I went straight to the +gymnasium, where you were practising, and called you aside. In my +company you went to ascertain about certain matters that you had called +to my attention, and where repairs were absolutely necessary. And I +wish to state emphatically that during the half hour I was from my room +Frank Allen was actually at my side every minute of the time until I +stepped into my office again!” + +He paused, as if to let the effect of his statement sink into the minds +of the whole assemblage. Then there came a ripple that immediately +broke into a deluge of cheers, until the entire building seemed to +vibrate with the tremendous volume of sound. + +Nor did Principal Parke raise a hand to assuage the voluntary tribute +to the popularity of the boy who had been under so unjust a suspicion! +Mr. Amos Wellington, one of the other men teachers, raised a hand +feebly, but who cared for his protest when the Head, by his silence, +gave tacit consent to the shouts. + +Then Professor Parke bent over and offered his hand to Frank, which +action was the occasion for more cheers and a tiger, as well as the +school yell. There certainly had never been such an extraordinary +spectacle seen in old Columbia High during the twenty years of its +existence. + +And Lef shouted just as loudly as the rest! He did not dare hold +back, lest suspicion be turned his way. He was trembling in his shoes +even then as the enormity of his iniquity burst upon him. What if +the janitor, Soggy Dolan, had glimpsed him when he slipped out of +the office, for the latter had gone past with a step ladder on his +shoulder, and might have turned his head, unknown to the culprit. + +Lanky thought it queer that Lef should seem so pleased over the +vindication of one toward whom he was known to bear only ill will. He +imagined that this sudden change of heart on the part of Lef might be +placed in the same category as the suspicion said to attach to the +Greeks bearing gifts. + +And so, after all, the incident that had been planned as calculated to +attach infamy to Frank’s name only served to raise him still further in +the estimation of his schoolmates, and the teachers of Columbia High. + +And it was certainly a pleasure to have them all swarm around him +later on, to declare their satisfaction and delight at his complete +vindication. + +Frank was far from satisfied. + +It was a dreadful thought to realize that he had an enemy in the school +vindictive enough to do such a terrible thing as this, simply to crush +him. + +“Ten to one I could guess who he is,” said Lanky, angrily. + +“Have you any proof of it?” asked Frank. + +Lanky was forced to admit that his declaration was only grounded on +certain suspicious circumstances. He would have told of Lef’s queer +actions, but Frank declined to listen. + +“I’m going to try and find out the truth for myself, Lanky; but +whatever I do, I won’t accuse any one until I can pin him down with +indisputable proof,” he said. + +“And then what, Frank?” + +“Well, I won’t say, but the miserable coward who would try to strip a +fellow of his reputation hadn’t ought to be allowed to go free,” and +had Lef seen the flash in the eyes that accompanied these words, he +would very likely have trembled more than ever, and tried to walk a +chalk-line. + +Frank sought the principal after school. He found the professor in his +office, and the other welcomed him with a warm smile. + +“What can I do for you, Frank? You understand that not for a single +minute did I dream that you were guilty. I had remembered the +circumstances of your being in my company every bit of the time while +I was out of here, and the thief crept in to rob my desk. But I would +give a good deal to be able to find out who played so mean a trick upon +you.” + +“Will you let me see the paper you received, sir?” asked Frank. + +“That you will find in my waste-paper basket yonder. Now that you +mention it, I can see that it was unwise of me to toss it aside +contemptuously. Have you found it, my lad?” + +“Yes, sir,” said Frank, bending over. + +“I see, you think it possible to recognize the writing. But in this +case the scoundrel followed the usual custom with all anonymous letter +writers, for he simply printed the words,” remarked the principal. + +“Yes, sir, I notice he did. And the paper seems to be just what is used +by every student in school, as the supplies come from you,” observed +Frank, still examining the crumpled sheet. + +“I’m afraid that we may never know who did it, unless through some +accident.” + +“Where did you find this note, sir?” continued the boy, eagerly, as +though a sudden idea had struck him. + +“Slipped under my door here when I opened it this morning. You know +Mr. Dolan does not open my office save on Saturdays, when he cleans. +Whoever put the paper under the door chose a time when no one was +likely to see him.” + +“You threw this in the basket as soon as you read it, sir?” + +“Yes, for, as I remarked, I was indignant,” replied the professor, +curiously wondering what all these questions implied. + +“And at that early time I don’t suppose you were using your ink at all, +sir?” + +“Certainly not, Frank. What makes you ask that, lad?” + +Frank spread the paper, which he had smoothed out, before the gentleman. + +“You see, sir, whoever wrote this used ink; and in some way or other he +must have gotten a certain small amount on his fingers and thumb. Look +here, and you will see where there is a very plain imprint of a thumb, +and from the other marks that accompany it, I should say that it is the +_left_ thumb, too!” + +“You interest me amazingly, my boy. And it is all just as you say. I +do declare, it must be the left thumb that has left an imprint here. +I see what you have in mind, Frank. Go your own way about it. If you +discover the guilty one, I leave it to you entirely whether you bring +him before me or not. This is your especial affair, and you can manage +it as you please.” + +“Well, I happened to be reading lately how they take the imprint of +criminals’ thumbs over in France, and that no two are exactly alike. +With other measurements, it is called the Bertillon system, and has +been found to work well. There, I have made an impression of my left +thumb, and you can see, sir, that the lines are very much unlike this +one.” + +“Frank, you are correct, and I give you credit for so much acumen. +But do you want me to call every boy in school in here and take an +impression of each left thumb, so that we can discover the one rascal?” +smiled the principal. + +“Oh, no, sir, but I thought I’d like to try on my own hook, to see if I +could land him,” exclaimed Frank. + +“All right, go ahead. I give you free permission, and wish you luck. +And, Frank, perhaps you have already some idea as to what direction +you mean to hunt first of all,” this last with uplifted eyebrows and a +questioning look. + +“Well, sir,” said Frank, as he turned to depart with the precious paper +safe in his pocket, “I suppose I have suspicions, but they may be +unjust toward a certain party, and I wouldn’t mention them to any one. +Thank you, Professor, for helping me. If I succeed, perhaps I may bring +the proof to you. It all depends upon circumstances.” + +“Ah, yes,” murmured the professor, after he found himself alone; “I can +understand what that means. If the rascal pleads only strong enough +that generous lad will even go so far as to forgive him, and hush the +ugly matter up, for the honor of Columbia. Would that there were more +like him!” + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE IMPRINT IN THE CLAY + + +“I don’t believe in it, that’s all!” said Lanky Wallace, with a shake +of his head. + +“Well, now, for my part, I’m not so hard to convince. Just because +they look alike at first glance is no reason why it would be so if you +put our hands under a magnifier. I kind of side with Frank,” observed +Buster Billings. + +They were gathered in a group in the gymnasium, and chattering like +magpies. A dozen or more boys had dropped in after school Thursday +afternoon, as a drizzling rain prevented any outdoor work, and there +were many temptations for lovers of athletics in that well equipped gym. + +“Do you mean to tell me,” burst out Lanky, with a look of scorn, “that +everybody’s two hands differ, and that yours are entirely unlike mine. +I just fail to see it, and I’m not the only one, either.” + +“That’s so,” remarked Jack Eastwick; “as for me, I side with Lanky. +You’ll have to show me, Frank, before I’ll back down.” + +Others of the boys began to gather around, attracted by the animated +discussion, just as Frank had been hoping they would. He had noted the +fact that Lef Seller was in the place, not doing much in the way of +exercise, for he had been debarred from competing in the track team or +taking part in any athletic rivalry for the balance of the term, and +could only look on and make sarcastic remarks. + +But, somehow, there seemed to be an attraction to Lef in the person +of Frank Allen. Perhaps it may have been on a par with the fatality +that draws the silly moth to the flame of the candle. He had tried to +wrong the other terribly, and, the plot having failed, he seemed eager +to catch anything that was said concerning the matter by Frank or his +chums. + +So, among the rest, he lounged over to the spot where Frank sat, +upon the edge of a little table, idly swinging his leg to and fro. +Apparently Frank never paid the slightest attention to the presence of +Lef; but, truth to tell, he was keenly alive to the fact. + +“What’s all this talk about over here?” demanded Seymour, pushing into +the group. + +Lanky took it upon himself to explain. + +“Why, Frank was springing a joke on the lot of us. He says that our +two hands are totally unlike--that if an impression was made of each +fellow’s right and left, he’d never dream they belonged to the same +body. What do you think of that, Rod. It’s going some, for Frank, eh?” + +The captain of the nine looked thoughtful. + +“You may smile at it, fellows, but really I’m inclined to side with +Frank. I’ve read some strange things along that line lately, and +believe there’s considerable truth in it,” he marked, soberly. + +At this Lanky laughed jeeringly. He had been taken into the scheme far +enough by Frank to know how to play his part. And out of the corner +of his eye he saw that Lef Seller had hung to the outskirts of the +crowd, listening with some show of interest to what was said. Lef, as +a rule, had been frowned upon of late when he came around, and as no +one noticed him now, he felt encouraged to remain. No boy likes to feel +that he is an outcast among his schoolmates. + +“Prove it, Frank!” scoffed Lanky. + +“Yes, make your assertion good, old chap!” echoed Buster, encouragingly. + +“Well, why not? And here’s a splendid chance to make the test,” +declared Frank, jumping down from his seat. + +He strove to act as though badgered into the exposition of his belief, +when to tell the actual truth, the stage had all been set beforehand +for just this opening. + +“What’s he going to do, boys?” asked Jack Eastwick. + +“Oh, I get on to his curves. See there, on that window seat are a dozen +little boxes. You know what they contain, fellows?” cried Lanky. + +“The modeling clay Mr. Oswald uses in his geographic lectures!” said +Tom Budd, as he placed his hands on the table Frank had just vacated, +gave a hitch to his lower extremities, and after a whirl through the +air like a cart wheel, once more calmly alighted on his feet. + +“That’s just what. I’ve seen him show the topography of a dozen +countries with that stuff. It’s a fad of Ossie’s. But what can Frank +want with it? Is he going to manufacture some artificial hands to prove +his words?” asked Jack, the doubter. + +“Now, look here, you fellows who doubt my assertion. I’m going to make +good; not only in my own case, but every one of you have got to be +convinced by seeing how your own hands differ in a dozen ways. Each +fellow take one of these trays, just as I am doing. Are you game to +try?” asked Frank. + +“I’m ready for the test, and I’m not giving back a word. Convince me, +and I’ll own up, but I’ve got to be shown,” declared Lanky. + +“Me, too!” echoed Jack, seizing a little box and leveling the clay with +a pad used for the purpose, until it was perfectly smooth. + +And Lef took the last tray! Frank chuckled when he saw that, for he +felt that there was some hope at least that his neat little plan might +not fall down in the start through the suspicion of the one at whom it +was aimed. + +“Bless the little innocent’s heart!” whispered Lanky in Frank’s ear. + +“First of all, every fellow write his name on the tablet in front of +his tray, so we’ll know which is which,” said Frank, earnestly. + +“That’s so,” grinned Buster, “for I declare, if I’d want to stand +sponsor for some of the paws other fellows own.” + +“The sentiment is kindly returned, Buster. You are welcome to a +monopoly of your own kind of paws. Now, what, Frank?” queried Seymour. + +“All got your signature down? Well, pad the stuff until it’s just as +smooth as the ice was last winter on the Harrapin, up near Rattail +Island.” + +“Or as smooth as Lanky here when he’s got his Sunday duds on,” +suggested Buster, with a chuckle. + +“Now be very careful how you press your right hand gently down in the +clay on that side of the tray. Lift it out quietly, so as to leave a +positive impression. Got that, everybody?” Frank went on, suiting the +action to the words himself. + +“I’m on, all right!” called out one. + +“Me, too, and it’s just a dandy impression I made!” declared Buster, +exultantly. + +“You always do, especially when you take a header over the handlebars +of your wheel. I’ve seen it!” spoke up Lanky, ready to get back at his +chum for the various sly digs he had received. + +Frank had his eyes about him. He knew that Lef was following up the +little experiment just as eagerly as any of the others. It kept him +near them, and thus he could hear what they might be talking about. If +suggestions were offered concerning the identity of the unknown who had +tried to get Frank into trouble, Lef was yearning to know the drift of +the sentiment. + +“Now, do the same with the left hand,” Frank went on calmly, though +his heart was undoubtedly beating faster than its wont; “and be mighty +careful not to let it overlap the imprint of the right. How about that, +fellows?” + +“Mine is a perfect success!” declared Lanky, triumphantly. + +“And mine’s a blooming failure. What shall I do about it, Frank?” +called out Buster, in disgust. + +“Smooth it off and try again, until you’re satisfied you’ve got a +perfect impression of each hand,” answered the master of ceremonies. + +“What comes next?” + +“Lay the trays down here on the table so we can all get around. +Wait just a minute, fellows. I’ve sent up to borrow Mr. Oswald’s +big magnifier. That is going to prove my assertion so that even the +scoffers will have to admit its truth. And here comes Alfred with the +glass.” + +Frank took one look at the contents of the tray upon which he had +written his own name. Then he handed the glass to Buster. + +“Examine closely. Note first that there is a considerable difference in +width. Then measure the same finger on each hand and you will see they +differ in length. Next pay attention to the peculiar markings. No two +fingers are alike in that respect, not even your own. Well, is it so, +Buster?” asked Frank. + +“Wow! I’m a misfit all right! Somebody must have got my other hand in +the shuffle. The worst of it is, how am I to tell which one really +belongs to the Billings family?” lamented the fat student, sighing in +pretended distress. + +So the glass went around. Frank stood still while Lanky followed the +movement of the magnifier until every one had taken a look, and was +ready to admit the truth of what Frank had said. + +“No two alike in the whole bunch. I never would have believed it,” +admitted Lanky, who had been peering at every impression. + +Without appearing to do so, he had managed to crowd several of the boys +away from the table, and among them Lef; but having seen the wonders of +the magnifying glass proven, like most of their type they had suddenly +lost interest in the matter, and were already turning their attention +toward the parallel bars, the swinging hoops and the punching bags. + +Left alone at the table, Frank made a pretense of arranging the trays +just as he had found them, now and then taking a look through the +magnifier. He had his eye on Lef and waited until the other was engaged +in some stunt at which he excelled. + +At first Lef had been debarred even the privileges of the gymnasium +on account of his playing a miserable trick upon Frank as the editor +of the Columbia monthly paper; but after a bit this order had been +rescinded, so that now he was allowed to join his fellows in their +muscle-building work. + +When Frank presently saw the name of Lef Seller written on the white +tab of a moulding tray, and discovered that the imprints of the other’s +hands were plainly stamped there before him, he eagerly held his glass +over the box. At the same time he drew out the paper that had come to +Professor Peake, and compared the delicate tracery of lines on the +thumb with that which Lef had left behind him in the moulding clay. + +There could be no possible mistake! + +The same thumb had made both impressions beyond a possibility of doubt! + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +TOEING THE MARK + + +“So it was that cur, just as I expected!” + +Frank felt a glow of indignation pass over him at the conviction that +he had by this simple but positive means of identification discovered +the thief who had not only stolen the examination paper, but tried to +rob him of his good name. + +He and Lef had always been at war. Bitter rivals in all things, they +had on many occasions faced each other on opposite sides. And because +Frank usually managed to win in these contests Lef hated him bitterly. + +Frank was puzzled as to what he should do. His first thought was to +hasten to the principal’s office and show him the proof of the charge +he could make. Then he shook his head. Somehow that seemed to be too +severe, for it would possibly result in the expulsion of the other +student of Columbia High. And Frank hardly fancied having such a +responsibility thrust upon his shoulders. + +“I’ll charge him with it, and if he says he’s sorry, let the matter go. +Anyhow, the mischief’s done. Those papers will have to go back, and +others be sent on. The little experiment has afforded me more or less +amusement, and that counts for something. If I can only get Lef over +here alone.” + +A bright thought struck Frank even while he was puzzling over this +matter. + +“That’s the idea--I can slip into the lunch room, and coax him there.” + +First of all he carried the tray of moulding clay through the +convenient door. Mrs. Louden, who had charge of the lunch counter, was +still busily engaged. She made it a rule to linger when a bunch of the +boys were working in the adjacent gymnasium, since that sort of thing +developed enormous appetites, and many an extra dollar found its way +into her till through this afternoon source. + +After doing this Frank passed outside again. + +“How?” remarked Lanky, as he sidled up alongside his friend. + +But this was not intended to be an Indian salutation. Lanky was deeply +interested, and wanted to know. + +“I was right,” said Frank. + +There was no exultant strain to his voice such as one might expect. +Truth to tell, he felt only indignation and disgust because of the fact +that any fellow who had the home training Lef Seller enjoyed should +descend so low as to endeavor to ruin a companion’s reputation. + +“Then soak him, pard! Show the measly skunk no mercy! He ought to be +kicked out of Columbia, and that’s the truth!” gritted the other. + +Lanky knew his chum’s tenderness of heart, and was afraid that Frank +might be too easy with the culprit. + +“Don’t forget what you promised me when I let you in on this!” + +“Oh! yes, you tied my hands good and hard, so that I couldn’t let out +even one measly little squawk. But my word is as good as my bond. Have +it your own way, but I certainly hope you’ll finish that fellow’s +loping so that he’ll never try any more of his funny business on you +again,” grumbled Lanky. + +“That would be almost too good,” laughed Frank; “and now, while I go in +the lunch room will you manage to tell Lef that some one wants to see +him there?” + +“Sure I will,” grinned the other. + +“And try to keep the boys out for a little while, will you, Lanky?” + +“If it’s possible, but you know as long as any fellow has a nickel in +his jeans, and the spirit moves, he can’t be kept away from Mother +Louden’s grub corner with a derrick. But I’ve just thought of a funny +story I’ll tell ’em after Lef has gone to the block.” + +Lanky hurried away, while Frank passed through into the other room. + +Two minutes later Lef hurried into the place and looked around. He +seemed disappointed, and frowned. Possibly the conceited fellow may +even have imagined from the air of mystery that Lanky assumed when +telling him some one wanted to see him, that one of the girls, even +Minnie herself, was there with a message. + +Frank beckoned to him, earnestly. He saw Lef’s face turn red at once, +but since no one could ever accuse the fellow of a lack of nerve, it +was not strange that he started toward the corner where Frank was +standing hiding something behind him. + +When Lef reached the other he was sneering as he said: + +“Was it _you_ sent for me? If I’d known it, I wouldn’t have taken the +trouble to come, and you understand that, or you wouldn’t have had +Lanky make me believe it might be Minnie.” + +Frank flushed a trifle at the mention of that name, for he and Lef had +long been competitors for the favor of the prettiest girl in Columbia. + +“That would have been too bad, for you, Lef,” he said, quietly. + +“Oh! say you so. Perhaps you’ll take the trouble to tell me why?” +observed the other, apparently as bold as ever, though Frank could +detect a little uneasiness about his manner that told of newly awakened +fears. + +“Because if you hadn’t come I’d have taken the matter up with Professor +Parke,” and Frank looked him straight in the eye as he spoke. + +“Matter--what matter?” demanded Lef, shivering at the same time. + +Frank stepped aside, and in so doing exposed upon the table one of the +little trays used by Mr. Oswald when instructing his pupils in the art +of the mapmaker. + +“That’s your tray, Lef; it has your own signature on the tag to make +certain.” + +“Oh! I don’t deny it. But what under the sun are you driving at, +Frank Allen? I’m beginning to believe that all the praise that’s been +showered on the mighty factor in saving that punk game last Saturday +has gone to his head, and that you’re getting ratty.” + +“Wait and see. There’s the imprint of your left hand as plain as day. +You heard me say that no two fingers in the world would make the +same impression, or thumbs either for that matter. Well I’m going to +show you that the _same thumb_ can and always will make a similar +impression; and many a rascal has gone to jail just because of it.” + +With a quick motion Frank flirted a paper before the astonished eyes +of the boy who stood there. Lef turned as white as a ghost, and had to +grit his teeth to keep from having them chatter with his sudden fright. + +Had the ground opened and threatened to swallow him just then he could +hardly have been more astonished and dismayed. It is the feeling of the +rogue whenever his own handiwork arises unexpectedly to confront and +confound him. + +“I guess you know that paper, Lef, all right,” said Frank, meaningly. + +Lef pretended to lean forward to read it, but in reality he was trying +to shield his face until he could screw up a little of his ordinary +courage and brazen assurance. + +“Rats!” he exclaimed at length, though his voice trembled almost +piteously, and instead of the customary fire in his eyes they seemed +to be filled with a dumb entreaty; “I see that you’ve got the paper +the professor said came to him. What of it? I ain’t got anything to do +with that, and nothing you can say will make anybody believe it, Frank +Allen!” + +“But you signed it yourself, Lef, as plain as day!” declared Frank. + +“What’s that? Think I’m a fool, do you? Sign nothing! The fellow who +wrote that scribble was wise enough to make only his mark,” sneered +Lef. + +“Well, in this case his mark is as good as his name,” went on Frank. + +Lef began to tremble. He realized that there was something terrible +back of these words, so calmly spoken by the boy he had come to fear +more than any one he had ever known. + +“Tell me how?” he demanded, with one more futile attempt at bluster. + +Frank pointed to the blur on the edge of the sheet, where a thumbmark +was plainly visible in ink. + +“That’s your signature, Lef! You never thought when by accident your +thumb made that blur that you were signing your name here, but that’s +just what you did. The proof lies in that little drawer where you made +the impression of your left hand. Alike as two peas they are, Lef. That +would convict you in any court. It stamps you as the low, mean cur that +you are, who would try to ruin a companion’s reputation just to gratify +his love of revenge!” + +Lef stared at the small tray of moulding clay in which the plain +impression of his hands could be seen. + +“You--did--that as a trap!” he gasped. + +“Well, just as you will. If it was a trap you fell into it neatly +enough, and you’re caught now. The evidence is there, and if I showed +it to Professor Parke I guess we wouldn’t be bothered with you at +Columbia High much longer,” went on Frank, sternly. + +“Say, you wouldn’t be mean enough to do that, Allen, I hope? I +acknowledge the corn about this thing. I did do it, but more to get +you knocked off the baseball team than anything else,” said Lef, in +pretended humility. + +All the while he was edging toward the table; but if Frank suspected +his design he took no measures to stop the other. + +“What good would that do you?” demanded the one Lef had injured. + +“I used to pitch for Columbia, yes, and won many games for them up +to the time you knocked me out. I’ve never got over being sore for +that. Lots of times I’ve tried to get even. You know how. Sometimes +I succeeded in giving you a jolt; but more times the shoe was on the +other foot. This seems to be one of that sort. I never thought the old +man had you with him all the time he was out of his den.” + +“But you haven’t answered my question--how would it profit you even if +I was dropped from the team?” continued Frank, persistently. + +“Why, I had some hope that when the team was left without a pitcher +enough influence might be brought to bear on the Head to let me take my +old place in the box again. That’s all I did it for; Frank; I give you +my word.” + +“I suppose you look at such things differently from the way others do; +and perhaps you even now believe it wasn’t such a dirty trick after +all. I’m just wondering whether I’d better accept an apology from you +and let it go at that, or take the matter before Professor Parke.” + +Lef made a sudden movement of his hand, and the little tray was dumped +from off the table, depositing its contents in a mass upon the floor. + +“What did you do that for?” demanded Frank. + +“Destroying the evidence, that’s all. I guess you’ll have some +difficulty now about proving the ridiculous assertion you just made. Of +course I never dreamed of playing such a mean trick as stealing that +paper, and hiding it on you! And, Mr. Smarty, my word ought to be as +good as yours, any day!” + +He thrust his face out as he spoke, in his usual disagreeable way, +thinking he had played a clever trick on the other. + +“You’re wrong there. Although you’ve destroyed that little print you so +kindly made me you can’t very well get rid of the original so easily,” +said Frank, pointing down at the left hand of the other. + +And Lef fell back in sheer dismay. He had forgotten that it was the +mark of his thumb to which Frank referred. + +“The professor could easily insist upon you convicting yourself by +stamping another thumb-print alongside this one. He asked me if I +wanted to have every fellow in Columbia make his mark, so that the +right one could be found; and I told him I preferred going about it in +my own way.” + +“Then--he knows?” asked Lef, in new alarm. + +“About the imprint on the paper, yes. He admitted that it was a +possible way for identifying the one who had taken it out of his desk,” +was Frank’s answer. + +“And you’ve got to tell him then?” with a groan, and a sinking of his +head on his chest. + +“No, he said he’d leave that to me entirely; but that, if I succeeded, +and gave him the proof he’d do the rest!” + +Like all cowards caught in their own toils, Lef was not beneath playing +upon his emotions in order to secure immunity. To the surprise of Frank +the other suddenly grasped his hand and there seemed to be a look of +sincere agony on the face that was thrust close to his. + +“Then I hope you’ll be above giving me away, Frank. I’ve been a cur. +I admit it, and don’t deserve to be let down easy; but I’d hate to be +expelled from school, because, you know, my mother has set her heart +on my graduating, and going to college. It would break her all up. I +haven’t been what I ought to be, but this is going to be a lesson to +me, sure it is!” + +Frank deep down in his heart believed the fellow was a hypocrite; but +under the circumstances what could he do, now that Lef had brought his +mother into the affair? Frank knew her well, and believed she was an +estimable lady who certainly deserved to have a better son than fortune +had given her. + +“I don’t know whether to believe you or not, Lef; but at any rate I +guess I’ll keep my own counsel, for a while at least,” he said. + +And as Lef moved away, he was secretly laughing in his heart at the +easy way he had tricked his rival. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +A STUNNING SURPRISE + + +“Everybody report on the field this afternoon for practice!” called +Lanky. + +It was on Friday morning, and most of the members of the nine chanced +to be within hearing distance of his shout. + +“Bellport will be over here to-morrow, and with their teeth set to drop +us down a peg,” remarked Jack Eastwick, who, while no ball player of +moment, always manifested the greatest interest in the success of the +team. + +“Hope the weather keeps on as fine as it is to-day,” said Tom Budd, +as he turned a few flipflaps around the group; but the boys were so +accustomed to his antics that they paid little attention to them, +although a stranger would have stared with amazement to see his really +wonderful stunts. + +“And that Frank’s arm is as full of ginger as it was last Saturday. My! +but he did shoot them in. I heard some of the Bellport players talking +about it after the game. They’re afraid of Frank, fellows, actually +afraid!” + +Lef Seller, who was hanging near, turned his head away to conceal the +sneer that persisted in settling upon his face when he heard Buster +make this announcement. + +It was like gall and wormwood to Lef to hear any one say good things of +Frank Allen. Every time this happened it seemed as though he were being +robbed of something that by right should belong to him. + +When they gathered that afternoon on the diamond, Lef was around to +watch and criticise as the humor seized him. And Tony Gilpin also made +his appearance, although seldom seen of late on the athletic field. + +“No show this afternoon to get it, Lef,” he remarked, as he threw +himself down near the other on the grass under a tree that grew outside +the confines of the grounds. + +“Rotten luck! Of course he wouldn’t carry it in his baseball uniform. +That means we’ll have to wait our chance. And till I get my fingers on +that paper I don’t dare so much as peep for fear that he shows me up,” +grunted Lef. + +From which it may be readily understood that he was even then laying +plans looking to another robbery, this time in order to destroy all +evidence of his participation in that other offense. So one crime +often leads to another, after the first step has been taken along the +broad way. + +The boys were soon batting and throwing, while waiting for the arrival +of enough fellows to make up the scrub team. + +Captain Seymour was a clever manager and he had noticed just where the +team had seemed a bit weak during that great game with Bellport. It +was now his aim to strengthen those lame spots as best the short time +allowed. + +Those who had made errors of judgment were to be put through a course +whereby they might reasonably remedy that defect. If a fielder had +shown wavering in the matter of running in on a fly or backing away, he +was to be bombarded with high, vaulting ones until he seemed perfect. + +And so it went on. Columbia just then had no regular coach, since the +instructor at the school, who had played that benevolent part with +them earlier in the season, had been called away by the illness of his +father. + +“Who’s missing?” called Seymour, as he began to pick out his men, and +arrange with the captain of the scrub for the opening of a little +five-inning game. + +“All here but Buster Billings!” announced some one. + +“And there he comes toddling along now!” another called out. + +“Buster never would hurry if the world was coming to an end,” said +Lanky. + +“You wrong him there. Send a fly out in his territory and see him go. +Once he makes a start and he can whoop things up like a wild broncho on +the plains. The only trouble with Buster is he can hardly stop after he +gets wound up. I saw him knock down a whole section of a board fence +once,” laughed Frank. + +“Who’s he got with him?” asked “Bones” Shadduck. + +“It’s a gentleman stopping at his house. I saw him come last night,” +one of the boys answered quickly. + +“Mr. Billings is having lots of company lately. I met another gentleman +at the game last week who said he was visiting at their house,” +remarked Jack Eastwick. + +Buster came puffing up, his face rosy as ever, and a set grin upon it. + +“Hello! fellows, a little late, am I? Well, Rome never was built in a +day. Plenty of time to do all the practicing we want. And since we’re +going to have a real hot game of it why I thought I’d bring an umpire +along!” + +He pointed to the gentleman at his side, who was smiling as if pleased +to be among such a lot of happy-go-lucky young athletes. + +“Reminds me of my salad days at Princeton, boys. As George here says +I’ll be only too glad to prove of any assistance to you, either in the +way of umpiring, or giving you a few pointers,” the tall man remarked. + +Buster threw out his chest, and the light of a long-delayed triumph +shone in his eyes as he exclaimed: + +“Fellows, allow me to introduce my friend, Coach Willoughby!” + +“What!” + +More than a dozen pairs of dilated eyes stared first at Buster and then +toward the smiling and bowing gentleman with the athletic build, who +began throwing off his coat as though anxious to get down to business. + +For a long time past Buster had been quoting Coach Willoughby as an +authority on all manner of sports in the gymnasium and on the field. +By degrees his comrades had grown to look upon this personage as an +imaginary party, and it had of late become a regular habit with them to +shout every time Buster started to quote what his patron saint would +advise under such and such circumstances. + +Imagine their amazement, then, to have him not only prove the truth +of this wonderful man’s existence, but to actually have him there on +their humble athletic field to coach them in their work! + +“Hurrah! three cheers for Buster!” whooped Jack Comfort, as though by +that means they might in some measure atone for all the indignities +they had heaped upon the head of the fat student in times past. + +“And three for Coach Willoughby!” echoed Paul Bird, throwing up his +catcher’s mitt. + +They were given with a will, while the object of the attention, Buster, +assumed an attitude, and allowed a beautiful smile to light up his +good-natured face. + +Ralph was to pitch for the scrub. Taken in all there was a pretty good +set of players back of him, and Frank knew that he would have to do his +best unless the regulars wanted to take chances of being beaten, which +would have a demoralizing effect upon the team just at the threshold of +their second struggle with Bellport. + +Ralph never pitched better. He had that wonderfully elusive ball of his +working in a way that deceived the heaviest batters most alarmingly. + +Coach Willoughby proved his thorough knowledge of the game right from +the start. He gave Paul several little pointers that opened the eyes +of the catcher to some of his faults and weak places. More than this, +he frequently called the players of the batting team about him and +explained how certain plays could be made with far greater chances for +success than by the older methods they were following. + +“Sure Coach Willoughby is right up to date,” grinned Buster, when one +of his mates remarked that the old Princeton player must have kept +track of the game ever since leaving college. + +When the fourth inning had ended, with just one more to play, for the +afternoon was waning, the score was very close, being just five to +four, in favor of the regulars, and most of these runs had been the +result of errors rather than a weakness on the part of either pitcher. + +In this inning Frank put on every ounce of steam he could muster. The +result was the complete discomfiture of the enemy, who could not even +manage to connect with the ball. + +“Fine work, my boy!” complimented the coach and umpire; and Frank +blushed, since it must mean something to be spoken to in this way by so +old and experienced a Princeton graduate as Coach Willoughby. + +Not to be outdone, Ralph, too, exerted himself in this inning. One +little pop fly that was gathered in by the first baseman was the result +of his labor; and the scrub team came in, perspiring freely, but +grinning with the chase they had given the regulars. + +“Columbia High has reason to be proud of possessing two such clever +young twirlers as these boys. I’m going to see that game to-morrow, +if I have to break an important engagement to do so,” declared the +gentlemanly umpire, earnestly, as he walked with several of the players +through the town on his way to Buster’s house. + +Buster was apparently the happiest fellow in town. Every time he looked +at the sun-burned gentleman he seemed to be saying: + +“Maybe you’ll believe me now, fellows--maybe you’ll listen when I quote +my favorite authority. This day has seen my complete revenge, and I’m +satisfied!” + +“By the way, do we pass the post-office, George?” asked Coach +Willoughby; “for you see I forgot to tell them at the office to address +me here in care of your father, and there might be an important letter +waiting for me.” + +“We can stop in and see, sir,” remarked Frank, eagerly; but Buster did +not notice that he was more than ordinarily interested. + +“Then let’s do so, please, for here is the building. Wait for me boys, +or will you come in?” and with Buster and Frank at his heels the old +Princeton player pushed through the doors. + +He stepped up to the window where Harvey Brooks waited upon the +patrons of the general delivery department. + +And then Frank heard him say in a matter of fact tone of voice: + +“Anything here for Mr. Pliny Evans Smith?” + +“Yes, sir, one letter for you!” came the answer. + +The gentleman athlete received it, tore the end off and was speedily +devouring the contents. Frank looked at Buster, who turned as red as a +turkey gobbler, and then gave a hysterical little gurgle. + +The evidence seemed plain that this wonderful Coach Willoughby had been +stamped a fraud of the first water! + + + + +CHAPTER X + +ON THE RIVER ROAD + + +“Hello! boys, what’s wrong here?” + +Coach Willoughby looked first at Buster’s glowing and confused face, +and then toward Frank’s smiling countenance. + +Buster simply pointed to the envelope which had fallen to the floor. As +the truth broke upon the mind of the other he laughed heartily. + +“Out of their own mouths are the wicked conspirators condemned. See +what a nice mess you’ve coaxed me into, George! Here I am apparently +unmasked before this fine, mettlesome prize pitcher of yours.” + +He turned to Frank, and assumed a little more serious look as he +continued: + +“My name is Willoughby, only that and nothing more. I am a Princeton +graduate, and, as you have seen, I’ve been something of an all-around +athlete in my day, too. Recently I have been doing some umpiring in a +minor league, and as my wife doesn’t like the idea of seeing my name +printed in such a connection I use the one of Pliny Evans Smith. That’s +all there is to it boys, I assure you.” + +“You’ve done wonders for our team this afternoon, sir, and if we only +had the benefit of such advice oftener it would be greatly to our +benefit,” declared Frank. + +“Thank you for the compliment, my lad. My heart is always with the +boys, and I believe I’d stop to witness a good game of ball even though +it threatened to cost me a slice of my fortune. And Frank, once upon a +time I _was_ a pitcher; even if I did go to the well once too often,” +the visitor laughed. + +“I wish you had shown me a few more tricks about pitching, Mr. +Willoughby,” said Frank. + +“Oh! I will, gladly,” said the ex-Princeton man, readily enough, +“although most of the games I knew have been outlawed by time.” + +Some of the girls were playing basket-ball upon the school green. The +sight appealed to Coach Willoughby, and he expressed a wish to stop +over a brief time to witness the conclusion of the fiercely-contested +game. + +Among the rest, Helen Allen and Minnie Cuthbert were doing pretty good +work for the side they happened to be on. + +The visitor applauded certain plays, and almost before any one knew it +he was suggesting others that opened the eyes of the girls to the fact +that they had an authority on sports with them. + +So Buster was called upon to introduce his father’s friend, and for +half an hour Coach Willoughby entered into a free lecture of advice +connected with the fascinating exercise of basket-ball. + +And when finally the lesson came to an end, Frank walked down the +street with both the girls, nor did he turn in at his own gate, but +continued on until Minnie had been safely escorted to her home. + +He was conscious of the fact that Lef Seller saw him, for they met face +to face; but Lef assumed a pleasant look and acted as though he was the +last fellow in Columbia to think of bearing malice. + +If Frank could have seen how he pounded the pillows about when once +safe up in his own room at home, muttering wild threats as to what +he would do sooner or later to the fellow who had cut him out of all +the good things in life, he might not have whistled so cheerily as he +hurried back home for supper. + +It was the night before the big battle with Bellport on the home +grounds of Columbia High. The whole town seethed with anticipation of +what the following afternoon might bring forth. Hundreds of anxious +eyes scanned the bright heavens, and tried to predict the weather that +was to be meted out to them. + +Even the girls were adding their prayers to the clerk of the weather +so that he would grant them a fine day like the preceding Saturday had +been. There was so very much at stake in connection with that game. +If Columbia won, the championship pennant was theirs for the year; if +she lost, then another game must be played to decide the matter, thus +prolonging the agony a whole week! + +There was to be no more practice in the morning, for Seymour believed +his men were all in apple-pie condition, and that too much work might +make them “go stale.” + +Hence they would be allowed to do whatever they pleased during +the morning, providing every one turned out at three sharp in the +afternoon, for the game was to begin at three-thirty. + +It was in the morning that Frank appeared at the house where Ralph +boarded. The other saw him far down the street, and was out on the +stoop by the time Frank arrived. He looked eagerly at the visitor, as +though a hope had flashed into his mind that the other brought news. + +“How are you feeling this morning, Ralph? How’s that arm? Hope you +didn’t try it out too hard yesterday afternoon. There’s no telling, +you know, and perhaps you might be called on to do your duty to old +Columbia to-day.” + +Ralph looked at his friend, and his eyes began to show anxiety. + +“Oh! I hope you’re not going to say something has happened to knock you +out, and this such an important game, too?” he exclaimed. + +“Now I should have known that you’d jump to such a conclusion, and it +was silly of me to put it that way. No, there’s not the slightest thing +the matter with me that I know of, Ralph. My arm feels just fine, and I +think I’m fit to pitch the game of my life; but as they say, you can’t +most always sometimes tell. Perhaps they may knock me out of the box +to-day,” laughed Frank. + +“I don’t believe it can be done,” declared Ralph. “Why, there were only +three clean hits made off you last week; and from the way you put them +in yesterday, I firmly believe you’re ten per cent stronger now than +you were a week ago.” + +“But they may have gauged my delivery then, and be on to most of my +little tricks, you see. Besides, I heard that during the week they have +had that Clifford pitcher, Gus Hartigan, tossing them up every p. m., +and our boys say that he is a ringer for a certain Frank Allen in his +style of delivery.” + +Ralph looked surprised at hearing this. Nevertheless he would not +confess that he entertained the least doubt about the ability of the +boy he admired to make the heavy batters of Bellport “look small.” + +“I only hope nothing happens to make me break into that game. I’m +afraid that I’m too green as yet to go up against such seasoned +veterans as those fellows,” he observed, with a shake of the head to +emphasize his fears. + +“You’re too modest, old fellow, by half. Don’t you call our regular +nine just as well seasoned, and didn’t you hold us down to five hits +yesterday, and one of those a base scratch? I’d just like to see those +hustling batters from the smoky town breaking their backs trying to get +up against that fine healthy ball you throw, that’s all,” and Frank +felt of the muscle in the arm of his comrade, at the same time raising +his eyes as if in wonder. + +“But you didn’t come here to tell me just that, Frank?” continued +Ralph! “there’s something more, isn’t there?” + +“Why, yes, to tell the truth, I wanted to have a quiet little chat with +you.” + +“All right. Will you come up to my room?” eagerly asked Ralph. + +“I hate to stay indoors this beautiful June morning. Get your cap and +let’s walk out along the river road. We can be alone there, and at the +same time enjoy what both of us love--Nature.” + +“All right, Frank. Wait up just a minute, will you?” + +In a short time they had left the confines of the town behind them, and +found themselves under the trees along a favorite drive that followed +the course of the picturesque Harrapin river. + +The spring rains had come rather late, and the water was unusually +high for the time of year. It was boiling along at quite a merry pace, +gurgling, and in some places creating quite a furore. + +“Now, what was it you wanted to tell me, Frank?” asked Ralph, when they +had been walking briskly along for a mile or so, with Frank so busied +in his thoughts that he had apparently quite forgotten the real reason +for their morning exercise. + +“Why, to be sure. Excuse me for seeming to neglect it so, old fellow. +Truth is, I was bothering my head over a personal matter, and wondering +what influence that fellow Lef Seller could bring to bear that would +ever induce Minnie to go out riding with him; for I saw them start off +as I was on the way to your house.” + +Frank possibly turned a bit red as he spoke; but then every one knew +just how much he thought of Minnie; and it had stabbed him to the +quick to see her seated in that fine vehicle of the Sellers, with the +grinning Lef at her side. + +Cudgel his brain as he would, Frank could remember no cause he had +given her for treating him this way. They had parted on the preceding +evening with a laugh, and Minnie had seemed just as much pleased to be +in his society as ever. And yet she had bowed to him rather frigidly, +he thought, as he met them; while Lef could not for the life of him +restrain that contemptuous grin. + +Ralph understood. They must have driven up the river road, then. That, +in a measure, would explain just why Frank chose to walk that way. Upon +the freshman’s face a look of real sympathy gathered; but he was too +wise to attempt to express it in words. + +“I can see the tricky hand of that Lef Seller somewhere back of this +thing, and you can bet he’s said something or other to set her against +you, Frank,” he did manage to remark. + +“I wonder if he would dare, knowing that I can break him if I choose,” +muttered Frank, as he mechanically put his hand into his inner coat +pocket. + +Then he began to feel more hastily, a look of concern coming over his +face. By the time he had covered every pocket in his garments he smiled +grimly. + +“Well, a fellow has to get up bright and early in the morning to keep +ahead of that cunning old fox!” he said, bitterly. + +“What’s the matter, Frank?” demanded his companion, who had been +surveying his actions with wonder written all over his face. + +“I had something that seems to have taken wings and flown away, that’s +all.” + +“But you act as though it concerned Lef,” Ralph kept on. + +“It did, though I don’t doubt that he’s burned the paper before now. +Just how it was taken bewilders me. I was out last night, yes, and in +a bunch of fellows at the class meeting. You know we’re getting up +something of a surprise on the seniors, in the shape of the annual +supper and dance which the juniors give to the graduating class. Lef +was there, but he avoided me all night. The only fellow I could suspect +would be that sneak, Asa Barnes, who seemed to want to be unusually +confidential with me. And doubtless he swiped the paper at some time +when I wasn’t paying much attention; for I’ve been told that he can +play all the sleight of hand tricks of a magician.” + +“Paper--you keep saying that, and I don’t understand?” expostulated +Ralph. + +“No more you do, Ralph. And I’m going to tell you now, only it’s to be +a dead secret between us.” + +“I’ll never repeat a word of it without your permission,” remarked +Ralph; at the same time thinking how strange it was that his companion +kept pushing this matter forward ahead of the affair that concerned +him, Ralph, so deeply. + +“You remember Professor Parke telling about the anonymous note he +received?” + +“Why, of course; and is that the paper you mean? What were you keeping +it for, and why should Lef want to get hold of it?” asked Ralph, +quickly. + +“Oh! you’re a little too rapid. Listen. On that paper was a little +blur. I made it out to be the mark of some one’s left thumb, and the +professor agreed with me.” + +“What! did that have anything to do with what you were telling us +Thursday afternoon in the gym about finger prints, and all that stuff?” +flashed the astonished freshman. + +“Everything to do with it, since that was only a little dodge of mine +to get Lef Seller to make a plain impression of his left thumb. And, +Ralph, it corresponded exactly with the mark on the paper!” + +“Well, I declare, you do wonderful things, Frank! I never heard of +anything quite so clever as that. Did you accuse him of it when he went +in the lunch room?” + +“Yes. Of course he denied it first. Then I told him how I knew. He +knocked the tray that carried the imprint of his hands, on the floor, +and defied me; but I simply stated that he could be made to show the +print of his thumb at any time by the Head!” + +“Good! What did he do then?” continued the eager Ralph. + +“Knuckled down and pleaded with me not to give him away. Promised to +turn over a new leaf and all that,” said Frank, shrugging his shoulders. + +“But you surely didn’t believe him?” + +“No, but you see I couldn’t find it in me to tell on him, as it would +mean his being expelled. But Lef knew that he was in my power just so +long as I held that paper with the thumb-print on it.” + +“I see. And, slippery customer that he is, he hired that other scamp to +steal it out of your pocket. That was an easy thing for Asa to do, if +all they say about his palming is true. Then it’s gone, as you say!” +dolefully remarked Ralph. + +“It seems so. And that accounts for his perky airs this morning. He was +laughing at me, partly because he felt he could snap his finger in my +face, and then because Minnie had gone riding with him. Oh! well, I’m +not going to bother my head about Lef Seller and his evil fortunes. If +Minnie--but the least said about that the soonest mended, I guess,” and +Frank closed his lips resolutely. + +“Then perhaps you won’t mind going back to my affairs again, eh?” +insinuated the freshman. + +“I declare I must ask you to forgive me again, Ralph, for being so +neglectful of your interests. I only wanted to see you to say that +father has heard from Uncle Jim, and that he writes he is coming up +here to Columbia and will see you personally. Uncle Jim also says +that----” + +But what the New York lawyer wrote was fated not to reach the ears +of the party so deeply interested, just then at any rate. A scream +smote the air, coming from some point around the nearest bend of the +river road, and accompanying this the boys heard a wild voice, and the +confused trample of a horse’s hoofs! + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +A TIME FOR QUICK THINKING + + +“What is that, Frank?” cried Ralph, in excitement. + +“Sounds like a horse running away!” replied the other. + +Ralph saw his comrade’s face turn ashy white. Then he remembered +something Frank had said only a short time before. + +“Oh! what if it is Lef’s horse!” + +Frank only groaned, and shut his teeth hard together. But at the same +time he started to run forward. He had only taken half a dozen paces, +when something shot around the bend. + +“There it is, Frank!” shouted Ralph, ready to do anything in his power +to assist his friend, yet hardly knowing just what to attempt first. + +He thought of swinging his arms above his head wildly, of waving his +hat, as he had read of cowboys doing when they wished to turn runaway +steers; but then the river road at this point was narrow, and if the +frightened animal ever swerved, it was almost certain to topple over +into the water, which was both deep and swift. + +“It’s them--Lef and Minnie!” + +The white lips of Frank formed these words as he still staggered +onward, though there was little need of this. Surely the plunging +horse, mad with terror, would reach him before he could take half a +dozen breaths. + +What could he do to bring the beast to a halt? He saw Lef half standing +up and sawing wildly at the lines, dragging the horse’s head from side +to side with the energy of his action. But what almost froze the blood +in Frank’s veins was the sight of that pitiable, shrinking figure +cowering down in the seat just behind. + +How well he remembered that bright red dress. He had thought the girl +never looked so pretty as the day she first wore that; and he mustered +up courage enough to tell her so, too. And now--Frank gulped something +down that threatened to choke him, and tried to set his muscles for a +mad spring when the runaway horse came up with him. + +“Get out of the way! You’ll scare him into the river!” howled the +badly-rattled Lef, as he continued to saw away at the lines as if for +dear life. + +That was just what Frank thought would be the best thing that could +happen. As it was, an upset might cost one or both lives, if the +occupants of the swaying vehicle were hurled upon the rocks at the side +of the road. + +Instead of getting out of the way, as Lef seemed to want, he stood as +if rooted there. He even did more, for he snatched off his hat and +waved it in order to make the horse sheer. + +“Stop that, you fool!” + +Lef fairly shrieked these words. He evidently thought Frank had taken +leave of his senses, and would bring about a disaster. On the contrary, +the boy in the road had calculated wisely, and saw that there was a +chance of bringing that wild race to a halt without a terrible smash. + +It turned out exactly as Frank had figured. The animal, startled at +seeing this figure in the middle of the road, with wildly waving arms, +and uttering hoarse shouts, jumped to one side. + +There was the hill to the right, and hence the only way in which the +beast could leave the road was in the direction of the river. + +It lay close to the thoroughfare at this point; indeed, passersby +had always been in the habit of pulling up right there to admire the +magnificent view up and down the romantic looking stream. + +[Illustration: HE WAVED HIS HAT IN ORDER TO MAKE THE HORSE SHEER. + + _Columbia High on the Diamond._ _Page 108._] + +Horse and vehicle shot over the bank, and with a terrific splash +vanished in the swirling water. It seemed too bad that necessity +compelled the sacrifice of that much admired red dress, Frank +thought, but there was no other way. + +“They’ll drown! Oh! my, what a splash! Frank, run! run!” + +It was folly for Ralph to shout after this fashion, for his companion +was on the jump even before the horse had touched the surface of the +river. Frank had eyes for only one thing, and that the figure of Minnie. + +As he ran he saw the vehicle behind the swimming horse. Lef was hanging +to it desperately, as badly frightened a boy as ever lived; for, +strange to say, he could not swim a stroke, having a mortal dread of +water. + +He was trying to yell something, but had swallowed so much of the +river that his words were next to unintelligible. But Frank had by now +discovered another struggling figure a little back of the vehicle and +horse. + +“It’s Minnie!” was what his white lips framed as he madly jumped down +the bank, tearing off his coat as he went. How he ever managed to free +his feet from the low shoes he was wearing, Frank never knew, for he +had not the faintest recollection of doing anything of this sort. + +Now he was in the river, and swimming with all his power toward that +splashing form which, because of the glimpses he had of the bright +color, he knew must be the imperiled girl. Her dress seemed to be +helping her to keep afloat, though this would only last for a minute or +so, when it must become soaked, and serve to drag her down. + +The water was very deep at this point. Moreover, the current had a full +swing, and swept along rapidly. On the other hand, fortunately, Minnie +was only a comparatively few yards away from the shore, so that the boy +did not have to cover any great distance before reaching her. + +As he swam Frank was shouting hoarsely, his strained eyes fastened upon +the object of his intense solicitude. + +“Keep it up, Minnie! Fight hard! I’m coming to you! It’s all right!” +was the burden of his encouraging cries. + +Then he reached her, and began to tow her toward the bank. The girl was +almost hysterical with fright, so that Frank was put to it to avoid +having her arms wrapped about his neck. Dragging her thus, and all the +time trying to soothe her by encouraging words, he gained foot after +foot. + +“Here! this way, Frank!” + +Ralph had waded into the water until it was up to his waist. He also +held out a stout stick he had snatched from the ground. And when the +fingers of the swimmer closed upon the knob at the end of this friendly +club he knew it was over. + +In another minute he had emerged from the water, still holding fast to +the form of Minnie. But the girl did not faint. Far from it; she was +now filled with indignation toward the wretched Lef, who had been drawn +out of the river by the horse, and was even then dripping on the low +shore. The subdued animal made no effort to continue his mad flight; +the cold water had taken all this desire out of him, and he looked +about as dejected as his master. + +Frank was immediately engaged trying to wring some of the water out of +the girl’s skirt, and at the same time seeking to cheer her up, for she +was now sobbing hysterically after her recent double fright. + +Lef, finding that his horse would stand, now pushed toward the group. +His teeth still chattered, more from recent fear than anything else. At +the same time he was full of anger toward Frank, who had as usual been +on the spot to win the laurels while the husks came his way. + +“What did you do that for? The whole thing’s your fault, Frank Allen! +Minnie can blame you for her ducking; and you might have cost one of +us a life. I believe you did it just to have a chance to play the hero +part you’re so fond of!” + +So Lef sputtered as he shook his hand in front of Frank’s face. + +The stooping boy looked up. There was a smouldering fire in his own +eyes, for he believed that only for the cowardly nature of Lef and his +inability to manage the horse this thing need not have occurred. + +“Look there, _you_!” he said, sternly, pointing down the road. + +Lef, looking, saw a furniture van coming along. It took the entire +width of the narrow river road, and was at a spot where cruel rocks +abounded on either side. + +“You must have met that thing. The horse would have dashed to one side, +and the buggy been overturned among those rocks. And you can understand +what must have followed. That’s why I made him shy! I knew it was ten +times safer for you both to be dragged into the river than thrown out +down the road!” + +Lef was mute with horror. He realized that this quick-witted boy had +sized up the situation in a second, and acted promptly. + +After all, there was no damage done save to their ruffled feelings, and +Minnie’s lovely red dress. But the girl would not speak to Lef, even +when he asked her if she would get into the vehicle again. + +“Frank, you’ll walk home with me, won’t you?” she said, turning to him, +with the same old glow in her blue eyes. + +“Only be too glad; and besides, I think the exercise would be the best +thing for you after your ducking. Ta! ta! Lef. The next time you ask a +girl to go out riding be sure you take a horse you can manage.” + +Lef could not make any reply. He was too full of anger to speak, and +turning away he went back to his horse. After the furniture van had +passed he jumped in and sped the animal, now tractable enough, down the +road. The three pedestrians stepped aside to let him pass; but not a +word was said, although Ralph did wave a hand mockingly after him, as +if speeding his homeward flight. + +“What caused the runaway, Minnie?” asked Frank, as they walked on, +after Ralph had secured Frank’s coat and shoes, the warm sunshine and +air rapidly drying the water-soaked garments of the party. + +“I really hardly know. Something I said must have made Lef angry, for +he began to whip the horse unmercifully, although I told him it was +cruel. We had turned to come back, you see. Oh! I was so frightened! +I’ll never go riding with him again. I only hope my mother will never +know,” she said, entreatingly. + +“She won’t from me, and I can answer for Ralph here,” said Frank, +promptly. + +Half an hour later the boys parted from Minnie and turned toward +Frank’s house. + +“What’s the matter with your arm, Frank?” asked Ralph, who had been +noticing that the other kept feeling of it every now and then. + +“I’m afraid I bruised it against a rock when I jumped in; and, hang the +luck, of course it happens to be my pitching wing. You may have to get +in that box to-day, after all, Ralph, and fight for the glory of Old +Columbia,” the other said, soberly. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE OLD PRINCETONIAN’S ADVICE + + +“Oh! I hope not!” exclaimed Ralph, in dismay, as he eagerly pounced on +the arm Frank had been rubbing. + +“Come in with me, and I’ll see what some liniment can do for it,” +remarked the other, calmly; but it was evident from his manner that he +believed there might be something more serious the matter than a slight +bruise. + +When Frank had stripped, so that his arm could be examined, it was +found that he had a nasty black and blue mark as a result of coming in +contact with a rock in his impetuous dash into the river. + +“The worst of it is that the muscle is affected. Every time I close +my hand it causes intense pain. I couldn’t do that hundreds of times +during the afternoon. Ralph, it’s positively up to you to-day!” he +said, finally. + +Ralph sighed deeply. + +“I’m awful sorry. Not that I won’t do my level best to take your +place; but only for this I believe we would have won that pennant +to-day. It’s fortunate there’s another game to follow,” he said, trying +to cheer up. + +“We’ll get this game, all right, don’t worry about that. Before the sun +goes down perhaps every fellow will be shouting the praise of the new +pitcher. I’m just anxious to see those Bellport batters try to size up +that spit ball of yours.” + +“That’s mighty white of you to say so, Frank. And you can depend on it +I’ll do my level best,” returned the other, firmly. + +“No fellow can do more. And now, suppose we return once more to that +affair of yours. Twice we were interrupted when I started in to tell +you,” and Frank pushed his guest down into a comfortable sleepy-hollow +chair. + +“Oh! yes. Do you know I’d forgotten that entirely, with so much other +excitement going on. You said your uncle wrote he intended paying your +folks a visit soon, and would meet me. I hope he makes up his mind to +tell me all he knows. It means everything to me, you see,” returned +Ralph. + +“I intend to make him tell. He just can’t go back to the city again +without letting either father or else myself know all he does. But +perhaps that may not amount to much after all, Ralph.” + +“What do you mean, Frank?” + +“Why, you see, perhaps this mysterious person who wants to do you some +good, and yet hide his, or her, light under a bushel, may have taken +measures to send the money each end of a month to my uncle, and that he +doesn’t know himself who really hands it over to him,” Frank continued; +for he feared that his friend might allow his hopes to soar too high, +only to meet with grievous disappointment. + +Ralph sighed and shook his head. + +“I see what you mean, and I’ll try not to be too sanguine. But I do +hope something will come up soon to relieve this awful suspense. And +now I want to forget all about that, and remember only the game--and +Columbia High!” + +“Good boy, Ralph! You’re made of the right stuff. And never let it +occur to you once that we’re going to lose this game, no matter if +the score is five to one at the end of the seventh inning. Depend on +the boys to do their part in slamming out the ball, while you pitch +steadily away like a machine.” + +Ralph soon took his departure. + +The news would soon creep around Columbia, and many of the enthusiastic +supporters of the school team must feel a quiver of apprehension when +they learned that reliable Frank Allen could not pitch that afternoon. + +His enemies would crow over the fact. Doubtless some of them, inspired +by the malicious tongues of Lef and his cronies, might even whisper +that Frank had been overtaken with a case of “cold feet,” and shirked +his duty. + +Ralph went straight to the home of Paul Bird. + +The morning was still young and there would be plenty of time for the +new battery to practice together, and arrange all needed signals. Ralph +had not as yet played a regular game with Paul behind the plate, so +that it was necessary they should come together, since so much depended +on their acting in concert. + +As it happened, Buster was out walking with the visitor at his house, +and seeing a couple of boys hard at work in a lot, they drew near. To +his surprise he discovered that it was Ralph and Paul. + +“Here, what does this secret work mean? Going to spring a surprise on +the enemy when they show up this p. m.?” he demanded. + +“Then you haven’t heard?” asked Paul, eagerly. + +“About what? Goodness gracious! don’t go telling me that anything’s +happened to Frank!” ejaculated Buster. + +“He won’t be able to pitch this afternoon, and Ralph has to go in. +That’s why we are tossing a few here, so as to get in touch,” replied +the catcher. + +“What happened? Has Frank fallen sick? Did he get waylaid last night +on the road home from the meeting. I’ve known pitchers to be pounded +in order to keep them out of a game. Tell me, won’t you, fellows? I’m +quivering like a bowl of jelly with eagerness. This _is_ a nasty mess.” + +“Oh! I don’t know,” returned Paul, with a smile at Buster’s anxiety, +and the look of grief on his red face, “it might be worse. Frank’s a +dandy pitcher, but I guess he has little on Ralph here. If he gets that +spit ball of his working right it’s going to be one, two, three for +Bellport.” + +“But is Frank hurt; I must know?” insisted the other. + +“He got a bruise on his arm this morning while we were out walking. +Nothing serious, but it interferes with his muscles when he grips a +ball. He is going to be on the field, and if they knock me out of the +box, why, Frank will have to go in, no matter how he feels. But I hope +it won’t be so bad as that,” smiled Ralph. + +“Well, suppose you let my friend, Coach Willoughby, give you a few +pointers that may be useful. He’s seen a lot of pitchers in his time, +and used to throw them in for the Tiger once himself,” suggested Buster. + +“Oh! if he only would, I’d be ever so much obliged. You see, Mr. +Willoughby, I’m only a tenderfoot at this thing, and I’ve got heaps to +learn!” cried Ralph. + +“No doubt of that, my lad, but if yesterday’s performance is a fair +sample of your ability to puzzle the batter, I rather think you’ll +have some of these heavy Bellport hitters knocking holes out of the +atmosphere this afternoon. What you need fear most of all is lack of +confidence. Get it in your head that you _can_ do a thing, and that +you’re just _going_ to do it, and nine times out of ten you _will_ do +it.” + +And then the old Princeton “grad” began to put the young battery +through a course of instruction that delighted their hearts. He even +took a turn in the box himself and sent some sizzling hot ones down +that rather staggered Paul. + +“You may be a ‘has-been’ as you say, sir, but I wouldn’t like to stand +up before you if you were in your prime,” remarked the catcher, as he +blocked a ball that nearly took him off his feet. + +“Thank you, Paul. That’s as sincere a compliment as I ever received. +And now, Ralph, one more turn here in the box and I think you will have +exercised that wing of yours quite enough for this morning. Be careful +of it, so that you don’t take cold between now and ball time. I’m +satisfied that the good people of Columbia will see a game worth the +price to-day.” + +Ralph felt ten per cent. better after having this talk and work with +the veteran player. He knew that he could carry out his end of the +arrangement if he only managed to keep up his courage and confidence. + +So it was in that frame of mind he ate his lunch, and later on dressed +for the expected game. + +Although it was hardly yet half-past two o’clock, a steady stream of +people had commenced to pour out in the direction of the big field +where the Columbia sports were carried on, from baseball and running, +to football in the autumn. + +This level tract was at a considerable distance from the town. Being +between Columbia proper and the town of Bellport down the river, it +could be reached by the trolley, or vehicles. As many people did not +care to ride, and the walking was good, the mile of road was covered +with pedestrians, many of them boys in squads, all earnestly discussing +the coming contest, and the chances of victory. + +Hundreds were also pouring into the place from Clifford above. Cheated +out of a show in the contest by a perverse fate, the fans of that town +were just as anxious to see which of their rivals would come out ahead +in the series. + +Ralph was a very modest boy. He purposely took a roundabout course to +the ball field, when starting forth, as he wished to avoid meeting +with the crowds that thronged the trolley cars and the main road. + +He knew he could easily make the grounds in good time, though his +detour would cause him to pass over two miles instead of one. And just +then Ralph really wanted to have a little more time by himself to brace +up for the exciting event that was before him. + +So, making a turn, he walked through the woods. The smell of the cool, +shady spots under the trees seemed to soothe his nerves, and he was +rapidly getting the firm grip on himself that he wanted, and which +would be so essential to the success of his contemplated work. + +He had no thought of anything happening to detain him on the way. +Frank might have enemies bitter enough to attempt such mean tactics, +but thus far Ralph did not know of any person who would have an object +in keeping him out of the game, unless it might be that undesirable +character, Watkins Gould, who staked his money on Bellport that other +day, and lost. + +So Ralph had covered about half of the distance, and was aiming for a +spot where, emerging from the thick woods, he knew he could strike a +road leading directly to the athletic field. + +“What was that?” he asked himself, suddenly stopping in his quick walk, +for he thought he had caught a sound not unlike the sobbing of a child. + +It seemed to well up from the thicket on his right. Perhaps Ralph may +have had one fleeting suspicion that there could be a trick connected +with the matter; but when he heard the piteous cry a second time he +plunged straight toward the spot. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +LED BY A KINDLY FATE + + +“Well, I declare!” + +Ralph West stood rooted to the spot for a couple of seconds, as he +allowed this exclamation to escape from his lips. + +Perhaps he had half expected to have a couple of fellows pounce upon +him as he pushed the branches aside; which would account for the manner +in which his fists were clenched, and his teeth set. + +What he saw was an entirely different spectacle. A little girl was +seated on a hummock, rocking to and fro, with her childish face +tear-stained, and full of bodily anguish. + +The blood upon her hand told that she must have fallen and hurt herself +badly. No doubt it was the sight of the blood that frightened her even +more than the pain. + +Ralph sprang forward, and the tear-stained face was turned up to him +eagerly. + +“What’s happened to you, little one?” asked the boy, as he bent down. + +Already had he taken a clean handkerchief out, and shaken it from its +folds. Thank goodness he had supplied himself liberally, with a hot +game before him. Picking up the mangled hand, he saw that it was in +need of immediate attention, as possibly a heavy rock had fallen on the +fingers. + +Ralph began to tenderly wrap his handkerchief about the torn fingers, +at the same time speaking soothingly to the child. She had ceased +crying and was looking at him wonderingly. Doubtless his baseball +uniform astonished her greatly. + +“It fell on me,” she managed to say, pointing to something near by; and +Ralph saw that his surmise had been correct in so far as it concerned a +stone. + +“But what are you doing here; where do you live?” he asked, anxiously. + +The child should not be left here in these woods with so serious a +wound as the crushed fingers would likely prove. And yet his time was +not wholly his own, since he must be on the field presently in order to +practice before the calling of the great game. + +“I’m Mary Smalling,” said the child, with utmost confidence and +simplicity, as if every one ought to know after that. + +Ralph had caught sight of a dinner pail on the ground near by. It was +empty, too, which fact gave him the impression that the little girl +might have been on the way home after carrying a noonday meal to her +father. + +He had an indistinct recollection of hearing the name before. Perhaps +it was in connection with a new family that had come to live on the +outskirts of the town; but just then in his confusion of ideas he could +not for the life of him tell whether it had been on the other side +along the river road, or to the west. + +“Where does your father work?” he asked, on a hazard. + +“For Mr. Gregg,” came the immediate answer. + +“At the mill, the flour mill?” asked the boy, quickly. + +A nod of the little auburn-crowned head answered him. Then Ralph knew +what his duty was. He remembered that the mill was only a quarter of +a mile away from the spot where they were at that moment. Perhaps the +child’s home might be even closer, but he could not take the chances of +hunting for it. + +“I’m going to carry you to your father, Mary. You’re not afraid of me, +are you?” he asked, bending down again; for some one ought to get her +to a doctor without much delay, so that it might be discovered whether +any bones had been broken by the cruel fall of that heavy stone. + +“Me? Oh! no,” she said, instantly, which pleased Ralph more than he +cared to say, for it told him his manner had inspired confidence in the +little maid. + +So he gathered the wee mite of humanity up in his arms, and having +decided upon which direction he should take, strode off. + +“But--my dinner pail! Daddy won’t like me to lose it!” wailed the +child, after they had gone fifty paces. + +Nothing would do but that Ralph must return in order that she might +clutch it in her one well hand. Then again he made a start. It was +provoking that an accident like this should delay him just when minutes +were of so much value. But Ralph could not have had the heart to leave +that innocent child crying there alone in those dense woods even though +a dozen ball games depended on his showing up at a certain time. + +The little one proved more of a load than he had anticipated. Several +times he would have been glad of a chance to rest and put her down; but +the passage of time kept staring him in the face. + +Ralph hoped that this encounter would not prove to be his undoing. +He had grave fears that the strain of carrying the child so great +a distance might shake his nerves in a way he would feel to his +disadvantage during the progress of the game. + +Little did the boy realize how a benevolent fortune was playing +directly into his hands, and that the very thing he feared might be a +calamity was fated to be but another stepping stone on the road to good +luck. + +The little girl had stopped crying. He could see her bright eyes +looking up into his face every time he glanced down. As he staggered +along Ralph kept talking in his cheery way, and no doubt that had +considerable to do with her appearance of contentment. + +At last, when Ralph feared he could hold out no longer, he heard the +familiar whirr of the big water wheel, and caught a glimpse of the mill +through openings in the trees. + +“We’re almost there, Mary, and you will soon be with your father,” he +said, smiling down at her. + +“That will be nice. I’m glad you came,” the child answered; and Ralph +believed there was enough of genuine gratitude in those simple words to +repay him doubly for all his trouble. + +All he begrudged was the time it had taken. Only for that he would not +have cared had the distance been thrice as long, for it was certainly a +pleasure for this lad to do a service to a helpless little creature in +trouble. + +He reached the road over which the supplies of the flour mill were +carried, as well as the milled product hauled away. It was easier +going now. + +“There’s my daddy!” exclaimed Mary, struggling up in his arms. + +Her voice must have reached the ears of a man who was working just +outside the door of the mill, for he turned hastily and looked toward +them. A moment later and he started on a run toward Ralph. + +The boy could see that his face betokened alarm. It was not exactly a +bad face, though there were the marks of dissipation upon it, showing +that Mary’s father had not always led the best sort of a life. + +“What’s the matter. What’s happened to the child?” he cried, hoarsely, +as he came closer to the boy, who had stopped in his tracks now. + +“Anyhow, he loves the little girl, that’s sure,” thought Ralph, as he +saw the look of agony that made the man’s face turn white. + +“She’s hurt her hand quite badly. I think a rock must have fallen on it +while she was picking wild flowers, or reaching into the burrow of a +chipmunk. Be careful, sir, it’s bleeding a lot,” said Ralph, as the man +took her from his arms. + +“But I didn’t lose the bucket, daddy, like you said I would!” cried the +child, still gripping the tin tightly. + +“Never mind the bucket, darling; it’s your hand I’m thinking about +now. Where did you find her, my boy?” asked the man, eagerly. + +Ralph was almost panting after his long and tiresome walk, burdened as +he had been. He was only waiting to get his breath, so as to say that +the little girl ought to be taken to a doctor without delay, and then +expected to start in a hurry for the athletic field. + +“About a quarter of a mile from here, and in the woods. I think she +must have been on the way home. I was taking a roundabout way to the +baseball field, you see, where I have to pitch a game for Columbia this +afternoon,” Ralph explained, seeing the man look inquiringly at his +suit. + +“And you turned out of your way to carry my child all the way here! +It was kind of you to do that, my boy, and I won’t forget it in a +hurry. This girlie is everything in the world to me, I tell you. Thank +you a thousand times for your trouble, and any time Sam Smalling can +do anything to return the favor you just call on him, hear?” and he +squeezed Ralph’s hand with emphasis. + +“Oh! that’s all right. I wouldn’t have minded it a bit, only I was +afraid I might be late for the game,” said Ralph, preparing to go. + +“And everything depends on the pitcher, I know. That makes it all the +kinder of you, turning aside as you did. I hope you’ll stop in and +see us some time, my boy. We live in the Grant cottage, on the road +to Menhaven. The girl will be glad to see you, and her mother, too, I +wager.” + +“I’ll try to, some time later. But I hope you can get her in to town to +let a doctor look at those fingers without delay. If a bone is broken +it ought to be set, you know,” said Ralph, over his shoulder, for he +had started off. + +“Hold on a minute, my boy. There’s our wagon and horse right handy. +I’ll speak to the boss, and take the rig to drive to town right away. +And by jumping in you can get to the baseball grounds quicker than if +you walk; besides having a little rest. Wait up a minute. You haven’t +told me your name, either, you see.” + +Halted by these words from the father of Mary, Ralph turned on his +heel. He saw that what the other had said was true, and that by waiting +a bit he could ride with advantage to himself. + +“I guess that’s a fact, and if you’re going right away I’ll hang on +behind. To tell the truth, I’m a little mixed up in my bearings, and +might get lost if I went without a guide. You see, I’ve only lived +about here since last fall. My name’s Ralph West! Why, what’s the +matter, sir?” for the man had started back while he was speaking, and +stared at him as if suddenly given a shock. + +“Ralph West? Do you mean to tell me that _you_ are the boy, then? And +that some fatality has brought _you_ to do a favor for me and mine? +This is the last straw on the camel’s back. I was weakening before; now +I don’t see how I can hold out!” + +And hearing these muttered words, Ralph realized with a thrill that Sam +Smalling, the father of the child he had assisted, must know something +about his mysterious past! + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +SAM SMALLING MAKES A PROMISE + + +For the time being Ralph forgot all about the fact that he was nearly +due on the baseball field that afternoon. Sam Smalling’s words seemed +to indicate that he might be in possession of some knowledge concerning +the things which the boy was fairly wild to know. + +“Oh! what do you mean?” he asked, in trembling tones, as he came back +to clutch the sleeve of the man’s shirt eagerly, and fasten a pair of +anxious eyes on his face. + +Smalling was visibly shaken. He tried to avoid the gaze of Ralph at +first, and looked down at his feet in the manner of a man whose sins +had suddenly arisen to confound him. + +“You must know something about me, Mr. Smalling, or you wouldn’t have +said what you did. I’ve only recently learned that I was adopted by +the people I’ve always believed to be my own parents; and ever since +that time I’ve been just wild to learn who I am. Do you know?” demanded +Ralph. + +The other moved uneasily, and his rather shifty eyes still refused to +meet the penetrating gaze of the boy. + +“Mebbe I do, and again mebbe I don’t. Come and see me again, boy, and +perhaps I can help you find out what you want,” he muttered, with a +shake of the head, as if not wholly satisfied to speak more plainly +off-hand. + +“But why not now? Oh! if you only knew how I lie awake nights wondering +and wishing, I’m sure you’d tell me all you know, sir. It’s a terrible +thing to be ignorant of who you are! No matter what my parents may have +been, I’d rather know than keep on this way. Please tell me!” Ralph +pleaded. + +“Not just now. It comes on me too sudden like. I must have time to +think it over and see just where I stand. There’s more than one thing +to be considered. But I’ll tell you this, Ralph, after what you’ve done +for my little girl to-day I’m mighty much inclined to break my word, +and speak soon.” + +“Then I suppose I’ll just have to wait, Mr. Smalling; but I do hope +you’ll not be too long. When can I come to see you about it, sir?” +Ralph went on, meaning to strike while the iron was hot. + +“Come to-night, then. And I reckon you can expect to hear something +that will do you good. But we must get off now. I’m anxious to get Mary +to town, so a doctor can look after her hand; and as for you, the +sooner you drop in on that baseball game the better, I reckon,” said +the man, hurrying over to where the owner of the flour mill seemed to +be working. + +Then Ralph remembered that his time was not his own--that there would +by now be a tremendous crowd assembled on the athletic grounds, +watching the snappy work of the rival teams, and his absence must be +causing the Columbia High players considerable anxiety, to say the +least. + +Some of the spectators, who happened to know that Ralph was slated to +go in the box in place of Frank Allen, would even be cruel enough to +declare that the novice must have been attacked with a case of stage +fright, and retreated from the grounds after seeing the immense throng +which he would have to face. + +So Ralph tried to forget all his personal affairs for the time being, +and think only of his duty toward his school. + +Now that she had found her father again, Mary seemed to be satisfied. +Ralph used another spare handkerchief to make a loop in which the +injured hand could be suspended; and the little girl thanked him with +her bright eyes. + +By the time this had been done Smalling came up with the team. Ralph +lifted the girl to the seat beside her father. + +“Come up here with us; plenty of room, Ralph,” said the man; and seeing +that he spoke truly, Ralph hastened to comply, although he had been +about to swing himself up behind, with his feet dangling over the +tailboard. + +Consulting his watch, a little nickel affair costing but one dollar, +he discovered that he should have been on the field before this. +The rescue of Mary, and carrying her all this way, had consumed +considerable time. + +Smalling urged the horses to do their best. He was naturally anxious +about his child, and, moreover, knew that minutes were exceedingly +precious to the boy who had stepped aside to do this kindly act. + +“I reckon you won’t be sorry for what you did, boy,” he said, turning +his head as they pushed forward over the country road. + +His words gave Ralph the keenest sort of satisfaction. He was thrilled +with the thought of how his good star must have been in the ascendent +when it urged him to investigate the meaning of those apparent sobs in +the bushes. + +“And to think how near I came to passing by, thinking it might only be +some fellow trying to trick me,” was what Ralph was saying to himself +all the while. + +The man who drove seemed to be consumed with a desire to learn +something more about the other, for he began to ask questions. + +“Did the old folks treat you white, Ralph?” was his first demand. + +“If you mean Mr. and Mrs. West,” replied the other, quickly, “I can +say yes, perhaps far better than I deserved, since I was none of their +flesh and blood. I think I’ve always looked on them just as other boys +do their own parents--up to lately, when money started to come to me +every month from an unknown source, and then doubts began to awaken in +my head, for I saw them talking together often as though trying to make +up their minds to tell me something.” + +“Money--how was that?” asked Smalling looking deeply interested. + +“Why, along last summer I got a letter from the office of a New York +lawyer. It had forty dollars in it, and just a couple of lines saying +that I was to accept the gift with the idea of getting an education, +and that the same amount would come every month.” + +“Phew! Looks like something had touched his heart after all! Forty +dollars, eh? And has it always come, Ralph?” asked the driver, keeping +his eyes fixed upon the horses’ heads, as if unwilling to meet the +boy’s questioning gaze. + +“Yes, always. That was how I came to Columbia to attend the high +school, for I was wild to get an education,” replied Ralph, soberly. + +“Just so, and naturally, too. You come by that desire all right, I +guess,” muttered Smalling, who seemed to be more or less embarrassed. + +A strange thought came into Ralph’s mind. What could this confusion on +the part of the other signify? He looked eagerly into the face of the +little girl sitting beside him. Truth to tell, he was wondering if it +could possibly be that Mary might turn out to be his sister! + +And, as if something had told Smalling what was flitting through the +brain of the boy, he turned his head and looked at him. + +“Oh, no, it ain’t that, Ralph. You’re nothing to me. I’ve been a bad +man in my day, but I give you my word I’d never desert a kid that +belonged to me. Drink has been at the bottom of all my evildoing, +though it is my own fault. Latterly, I’ve managed to get a grip on +myself, and p’raps it ain’t too late to wipe out some of my past. You +come to see me this night, lad, and don’t fail. I reckon I’ll be in a +frame of mind to let a few things drop. I ought to, I know. There’s +something more than accident in our meeting up in this way. It means +Fate, that’s what!” + +“I’ll be there, without fail, sir. How could I keep away? And, oh, +I hope and pray you won’t change your mind between now and night,” +faltered the boy, as he put his hand out and touched that of the driver. + +Perhaps it was that confiding touch that did it, or possibly Smalling’s +eyes chanced to fall upon the neatly bandaged hand of Mary just then, +and he was overwhelmed by a sense of the debt he owed this lad. + +At any rate he impulsively grasped that extended hand and squeezed it +warmly. + +“I’m going to do more than give a half promise, Ralph. Take my word +for it, that when you come to-night I’ll clear up pretty much all this +affair about who and what you are. And, lad, you needn’t worry any +more, because it’s goin’ to be all right,” was what he said. + +“Oh, thank you ever so much for that promise! It will give me heart to +do my level best to-day; and I have need of such a spur, I assure you, +Mr. Smalling. There, I had a glimpse of the baseball field just then; +and listen, what can they be shouting for?” asked Ralph, as a mighty +cheer came rolling toward them. + +“Some feller has made a star play in practice, I reckon. I’m some keen +on ball myself, and calculated on getting over later to the game. +P’raps I’ll stop off on the way out from town, though the girl had +better be took home to her ma.” + +“Your wife is living, then?” asked Ralph, even while he was trying to +steady his nerves for the sight that would soon break upon his vision +as he entered the big enclosure where Columbia High boys usually met to +enjoy baseball, football, and most outdoor sports. + +“Oh, yes, and Mary has several brothers and sisters. But she always +wants to be the one to fetch my dinner,” and from the way he looked +down at the girl it was evident that she must be his favorite. + +“Here’s where I must jump out, sir,” said Ralph, suiting the action to +the word as they came opposite a big open gate. + +“Then I’ll look for you to-night?” asked Smalling, his eyes ranging +up and down the clean built figure of the lad approvingly, and with a +light kindling in his eyes. + +“Unless they do me up so well this afternoon that I can’t walk, I’ll be +there,” replied the other, smilingly. + +“Goodby, Ralph,” said the little girl, holding out her well hand. “I +won’t forget how nice you was. And I’m going to do up these for you, +too,” pointing to the several handkerchiefs Ralph had used to bind up +her hand, and make a sling. + +“All right. That’ll be fine. Goodby, both of you, until to-night!” + +He turned away with a sigh. It seemed almost too good to be true that +he was going to hear great news so very soon. Ralph could hardly +believe that he was not dreaming. + +And then as he entered through the gate vehicles used, he saw the +athletic field and the tremendous throng that packed it. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +“PLAY BALL!” + + +“Who’s the umpire, Lef?” demanded Bill Klemm. + +“Name’s Willoughby. Used to be a pitcher for Princeton away back, they +say.” + +“What they got him in for? Where’s Grigson, the regular umpire?” +continued Bill, as though his comrade might be an information bureau. + +“Laid up, I hear. Captain Seymour says this feller beats Grig all +hollow. Guess they’ve got it all rigged up to throw the game for +Columbia. I wouldn’t put it past that Frank Allen and his bunch of +toadies,” growled Lef, still sore after his experience of the morning. + +“But they say Frank ain’t going to toss ’em over to-day. Got hurt this +morning in some way. One fellow told me he jumped in the river and +hauled Minnie Cuthbert out. Nobody seems to know just what happened, +but his arm’s black and blue where he hit a rock,” went on Bill, at the +same time eyeing his friend closely, for he had heard Lef chuckle as +though quite tickled. + +“So that’s what happened to little Frankie, was it? Served him right. +He ought to mind his own business. I reckon I’d tamed that hoss down +soon if he hadn’t cut in when he did,” grumbled Lef. + +“What’s that?” demanded Bill, suspiciously, and showing keen interest. + +“Never you mind. Tell about it another time. I know just what Frank +Allen did. He’s always playing to the gallery, you know. Then who’s +going to pitch for Columbia?” asked the other, turning the question +aside. + +“They say Ralph West,” replied Bill. + +“That country kid. Why, these heavy batters of Bellport will just eat +him alive. It’s a pity they can’t give _me_ a chance to show what I can +do. I’m better by long odds than I was last year, and I held ’em down +to three hits one game. Remember that, don’t you, Bill?” + +“Course I do. But I’m lookin’ for that come-on. Why ain’t he showin’ +up and doin’ some practicin’? P’raps he’s got the big head, and thinks +he don’t need to work out any before the game?” suggested Bill, +maliciously. + +“I kind of guess it’s just the other way, Bill,” laughed Lef. + +“You mean he’s got cold feet, and won’t show up at all. Well, that +would be a joke now. What d’ye suppose they’d do in such a case, Lef?” + +“Either the wounded hero would have to go in and be slaughtered, or +else they’d have to temporarily lift my suspension, and let me toe the +mark.” + +“I reckon you’re fit, all right, Lef. I’ve been ketchin’ you for a +week, and I never thought you had so many cute tricks in you. And +speed, why it’s there to burn. I hope they do let you have a chance,” +remarked Bill. + +Lef uttered a grunt of disgust. + +“It’s all off,” he said, with a shrug of his shoulders. + +“What d’ye mean?” asked Bill. + +“Look yonder at that wagon stopping on the road by the gate. A feller’s +jumped out, and he’s got a baseball suit on, too. It’s that sneak +Ralph, as sure’s you’re born. I’m on to his curves, all right. He just +wants to keep the crowd in suspense, you know, and then get the cheers +when he shows up. Bah! he makes me tired, that’s what.” + +Lef judged others by himself. Under similar conditions that was just +what he would have done, for applause was sweet in his ears. + +When Ralph was seen running across the field there was a rippling cheer +that advanced into a positive roar. The boy’s face flamed, for he was +not accustomed to being in the limelight. Still, he paid no attention +to the shouts that greeted his coming, but hastening over to where the +boys were still practicing he met Captain Seymour. + +“Glad you’ve turned up, Ralph. The boys were beginning to get a little +worried about you, and Frank just said he’d go in if necessary, though +his arm is in a bad way, and he might injure it for keeps. We want him +for the last game--if there is going to be another,” said Roderic, +looking closely at the other, as if to make up his mind whether Ralph +had brought his nerve with him. + +“The delay was entirely unavoidable. I had to carry a little child half +a mile. She had crushed her hand. That is her father in the wagon with +her, on the way to the doctor’s. Hello! Frank! better late than never. +Send her in, Paul! How long can I have to warm up, Captain?” said +Ralph, as he caught the ball, and began to return it, quietly at first, +but with increasing pressure as his muscles responded to the demand +made upon them. + +“The umpire says that the time is almost up; but on account of your +coming late he will postpone calling the game ten minutes. Now, do your +prettiest, Ralph. I hope you get that trick ball working handily this +afternoon,” returned the other, who was plainly more or less nervous. + +“I’m feeling in fine shape, Captain. If they knock me hard it will be +because I’m out of my class, I expect,” was the confident rejoinder he +received. + +For fully ten minutes then the young pitcher was the center of +observation. Friends and foes alike commented upon his style of +delivery. When he sent in an extra swift one a murmur of admiration +bubbled forth. + +“I guess he’s the right sort,” called the sanguine Columbia adherent. + +“If only he don’t lose his head when those hard hitters begin to reach +his ball a little. They’ve sent more than one horse to the stable to be +blanketed,” declared another, less confident. + +Many secretly sighed because Frank Allen was temporarily out of the +game. + +“Hope he’ll be all right by next Saturday, then. We can afford to lose +this game, boys. It’ll only square things, and make it all the more +interesting,” cried still another skeptic. + +“Give the boy a chance, will you?” demanded a man near by; “you talk +like he’s thrown this game away already. I tell you he shows up well, +and perhaps some of you croakers will get a surprise yet!” + +“That’s the talk; encourage the boy!” called another spectator. + +“He needs it all right,” jeered a Bellport rough; “why, what our +fellows will do to that kid will be a shame. It’s like takin’ candy +from the baby, that’s what!” + +And all these floating exclamations came to the ears of Ralph as he +stood there near the end of the bleachers and continued to send them in +to Paul. He had his teeth set, and was, as far as outward appearances +went, as cool as a veteran. + +Coach Willoughby, ready for the fray, gave him a signal just then. It +signified that there had been sufficient practice, and that he was +about to call the start in another minute or two; so Ralph drew on his +sweater, not wishing to catch cold, for despite the hot sun there was a +cool breeze blowing. + +Frank wanted to have a last brief talk with his friend. He knew more +about the peculiarities of the Bellport team than Ralph possibly could, +and was able to tell him just how some of them could be coaxed to +strike at an impossible ball. + +“Notice that their captain, Cuthbert Lee, is on his old job to-day at +second, in place of Hough. He’s a hard hitter, Ralph, but from what I +know of him I think your teaser ball will fetch him. Only don’t use it +too often. And if he ever gets on a base keep your eye on him. He’s the +fastest runner they have, and can steal bases to beat the band, while +the pitcher is winding up.” + +“Glad you told me, Frank. After the game wait up for me. I’ve got +some grand news to tell you,” observed the pitcher, getting up and +discarding his sweater as the loud voice of the old Princeton player, +now serving as umpire, was heard saying: + +“Play ball!” + +Frank took one look at the sparkling eyes of his friend. + +“Tell me, is it about that thing?” he asked, eagerly, and Ralph, +turning as he started to walk off, nodded his head in the affirmative. + +“Bully! You just make up your mind you’re going to win, Ralph. I seem +to feel it in my bones you are!” Frank said, confidently. + +Ralph picked up the new ball which the umpire had tossed into the box, +and sent a few sizzling ones to first base while the balance of the +team hurried to their places in the field. + +The crowd had become strangely silent now. Every eye was glued upon the +new pitcher, and of course anxiety made many a Columbia heart nervous, +for Ralph was as yet an untried quantity against a regular team. Many +had faith in him, or professed to have, though secretly even his +boldest adherents found themselves wondering how he would act if those +Bellport fellows ever began to bombard his curves as they had been +known to do to more than one phenomenon in the past. + +The lineup of the Bellport team was just the same as on the preceding +Saturday, with the one exception of second base. Here the familiar +figure of Cuthbert Lee was to be seen, and his cheery words gave +confidence to his men. + +The batting order of the visitors ran as follows: + + Snodgrass--Right field. + Lee--Second base. + Banghardt--Center field. + Smith, Jr.--Left field. + Smith, Sr.--First base. + Lacy--Shortstop. + Bardwell--Third base. + Clay--Catcher. + Coddling--Pitcher. + +As usual, Snodgrass could be depended upon to work the pitcher for +a free ticket to the initial sack, if it was within the range of +possibilities. He was a good waiter, and a fine judge of balls. + +“Put ’em over for this beanery waiter!” + +“Make him hit her out, West!” + +“Don’t forget you’ve got eight other fellows back of you, boy!” + +“Now, soak it to him, youngster. You know!” + +Ralph suddenly shot the ball at the batter like a flash. It passed +straight over the plate as though it cut the same in two equal parts. + +“Strike--one!” shouted the umpire, even as Snodgrass jumped back, +pretending that he had to dodge, though he grinned at the same time. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +MAKING A GOOD START + + +Through the grandstand and over the field a wave of enthusiasm went. + +Ralph paid no attention to the various shouts that greeted his first +delivery. He tried to see how he could work his wonderful “spit” ball +next, and while Snodgrass struck he never came within inches of a hit. + +Derisive cries began to be heard. + +“Get Snodgrass his glasses!” + +“Put him out to pasture; he’s outlived his usefulness!” + +Trust the ingenuity of schoolboys to invent scores of cries calculated +to unnerve the batter. But Snodgrass only grinned and waited, crouching +there as though ready to annihilate the next ball that came along. + +Ralph thought it policy to try a couple of outshoots, and as the batter +failed to strike they were called balls. It was time now to take his +measure again, and Snodgrass knew what was coming. + +“Three strikes--batter is out!” followed a wicked sweep which the +Bellport right fielder made at the erratic “spit” ball that Ralph +handed up. + +Lee stood there calmly awaiting his turn. There was something in his +attitude to tell Ralph he had more to fear from the captain of the +rival team than any other man on it. + +Twice Lee struck at elusive balls. Then he managed to connect with one +and sent a screamer at “Bones” Shadduck on third, which that worthy +succeeded in knocking down, though recovering the ball just too late to +catch the swift runner. + +“Now we’re off!” howled the coach, as he came running up to take his +place near the man on first. + +Hardly had he spoken than the ball came plunk into the hands of Lanky, +who had been expecting such a thing. Lee had danced off, as was his +usual custom. He made a desperate plunge for the bag, but Lanky got him. + +“You’re out!” shouted the umpire, waving his hand suggestively. + +Such a whoop as went up! It seemed as though the crowd had gone wild. +Bellport supporters looked each other in the face. + +“What’s this we’ve struck?” said one, blankly. + +“He caught Cuthbert napping, sure! I never knew that to happen before!” + +“He’s a wonder at throwing that ball to first. Guess we ain’t going to +steal many sacks on that kid to-day, you hear me?” exclaimed another. + +“Oh! rats! you give me a pain! That was only an accident. He couldn’t +do it again in a year of Sundays!” ejaculated one of the Bellport +players who was lounging near the bleachers. + +“Perhaps not,” laughed a Columbia graduate, “but all the same he’s got +you fellows guessing, and you’ll cut your leads short at bases while +he’s in the box.” + +Banghardt, after knocking three fouls, also struck out. This record +against such known heavy hitters delighted the crowd. A rattling cheer +and much hand-clapping greeted the incoming of Ralph. Of course he had +to doff his cap, and smile; but at the same time he did not appear to +be excited. + +The umpire was watching him curiously, for Ralph had interested the +veteran Princeton player very much. + +“I think he’s going to do himself proud to-day. These fellows may win, +but not through that boy going up in the air. He knows how to master +himself,” was what he said to Frank Allen, as he took a drink from the +water bucket. + +“I knew he had it in him; and I’m rather pleased that an accident kept +me out of the box to-day. It may be the making of Ralph,” replied the +other; and hearing such warm, generous words, the umpire nodded his +head in appreciation. + +He had doubtless known so much shallow envy among ball players that +such an exhibition of pure devotion to the interests of the school +pleased him greatly. + +The lineup of Columbia had been altered somewhat, on account of Ralph +taking the place of Frank as pitcher. This threw him last on the +batting order. Ben Allison, the regular right fielder, was fortunately +able to occupy that place, and consequently he faced Coddling first. + +By the way Coddling threw a few to his first baseman it was evident +that he had felt the defeat of the previous Saturday keenly, and was +there with blood in his eye, determined to retrieve that disaster. + +“Look at that, will you? Ain’t he got speed to burn to-day? I’m sorry +for Columbia, boys,” called a Bellport student, with the colors of his +school on his hat. + +“Get out your wipers, boys. It’s sure going to be a funeral!” mocked a +boy who boasted of the famous orange and purple. + +“Let up, you fellows. He’s going to pitch one now!” shouted a man near +by; and again the interest was centered upon the pitcher’s box. + +Coddling wound up and shot one over. Allison promptly struck, but his +bat only whistled through the air, for the excellent reason that the +ball was not within six inches of where he supposed it to be. + +“Say, Mister Coddling is some at that sort of thing, you see!” howled +a delighted Bellport supporter, jumping up and addressing the bleacher +crowd. + +“Sit down!” + +“Hire a hall and take a day off!” + +“Watch him send another disappearing ball down the line, boys!” + +Coddling did. He had Allison guessing right from the start. Perhaps +that was because the right fielder had not faced him as yet this +season, and his enforced layoff had rather weakened his batting eye, +for usually Ben was a reliable hitter. + +When he struck for the third time, and the umpire waved him away, +Allison only grinned and trotted back to the bench, shaking his head +humorously. + +“Bones” Shadduck took his place, and was immediately greeted with a +series of entreaties to accomplish something. + +“Hit her out, even if you are caught!” his admirers yelled. + +Shadduck made ready to do his best. One strike was called, and as yet +he apparently had not gauged the delivery of the wizard pitcher, who +faced him with that tantalizing smile on his face. + +Then he bunted, and was off for first like a shot. Coddling made a wild +dash for the ball, which had started to roll along the line toward the +sack. It looked as though it would go foul, and perhaps that was what +kept the agile pitcher from trying to snatch it up. When he did, it was +too late, for Bones had galloped over first, and was safe. + +Jack Comfort’s business was to sacrifice him down along the line. He, +too, bunted, and while easily out himself, Bones had seen his signal, +and got a lovely start, so that he found himself squatting on second. + +“That’s the way to do it! Play the game! Now, Lanky, you’re IT!” + +Lanky managed to knock a grounder that landed him on first, and +Shadduck on third. + +“Coddling, take a brace and put ’em over!” + +Then stepped up Buster Billings. His appearance always created a ripple +of amusement, on account of his ponderous calves. Buster only winked +knowingly at the yelling crowd and raised his bat, waving it to and +fro, cautiously. + +“Why, the feller thinks he can bunt now. Say, don’t you know there’s +two out?” + +“Let Buster alone. He knows his business, you’ll see? That’s only his +gentle way.” + +“And he can bat some, fellers, believe me!” + +Buster heard this last remark. + +“Thank you awfully for that kindness!” he remarked. + +“One strike!” said the umpire. + +“Hey, was that a baseball or a cannon ball that whizzed past?” demanded +Buster, pretending to be greatly astonished when he heard the thud of +the horsehide sphere in Clay’s old mitt. + +And then he smote the very next ball that came spinning along, smote it +with so much energy that it sailed away toward center field, with Tony +Banghardt running like a wild broncho in the endeavor to get under. + +Of course Shadduck was away at once, since there were already two out. +Looking over his shoulder as he bolted like a frightened deer, he saw +Banghardt make a gallant effort to spear the descending ball with +extended hand; but he lacked a few inches of being in a position to +accomplish this. + +Bones came home and the batter managed to land on second, whereas +another player might have reached third, while Lanky perched on third, +unable to get home. Still, the crowd forgave Buster for his slow +running and assured him he was all right. + +It would have made no difference at any rate, for Tom Budd struck out, +after he had knocked up four fouls and quite tired Buster with false +starts. + +One inning had been played. The score stood one to nothing, in favor of +Columbia. + +“Good boy! Do it some more, West!” + +Ralph went into the box for that second inning, resolved to continue +his cool methods, and not allow anything to rattle him. + +His first man he managed to get with considerable effort. Smith, Jr., +was possessed of a good batting eye, and could not be easily fooled +with fade-aways and such. Still, he fell before that wonderful spit +ball that had such an erratic course, and the umpire finally announced +that the sizzling straight one that burned over the plate was the +signal for him to go into retirement. + +After that Smith, Sr., stood up to give an account of himself. He never +appeared without his usual grin, and even the taunts of the crowd did +not change his expression an iota. + +“Smash!” + +That was Smith, Sr.’s bat connecting with the ball. + +“Run!” shrieked scores of voices, as the bleachers arose to a man to +see just where the ball had gone. + +Allison was after it, and making rapid progress over the stubby grass +in left. + +“He can get it--good old Ben is on the spot!” yelled one well wisher. + +“Will he--maybe, maybe not!” sang out Jack Eastwick, mockingly. + +Allison did his best to get there; but there was too much steam to that +hit, and it escaped him, while Smith cantered home amid a salvo of +frenzied shouts. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +NEARING THE END + + +The game moved along slowly. + +Seven full innings had been played, and the score was still low. It had +swung around until it stood in favor of Bellport, four to three. + +“It’s anybody’s game yet!” shouted several. + +“Get into harness, boys! Put on another wrinkle and win out! You can do +it, Columbia!” + +“Where’s Herman Hooker? Get that voice of yours working just now. Give +the boys encouragement. That’s all they want to pull out! Start her up, +Herman!” + +“Yes, tune up, Herman!” + +And as Bellport came to bat for the beginning of the ninth, with no +change in the score as yet, Herman marshalled his cohorts in the +bleachers, and with that strident voice of his to lead, began to cheer +in concert, bleat out the famous school cry, and sing “Columbia, the +Gem of the Ocean,” the immense crowd joining in until the volume of +sound might have been heard a mile away. + +“Careful, Ralph; this is a crisis!” Frank Allen had said as his friend +picked up his glove and started toward the box. + +Ralph looked perfectly cool. Indeed, many who saw him, and knew that +this was his first game in big company, prophesied that he would turn +out to be the greatest pitcher Columbia had ever known, given a little +more experience. + +He had just sent one over, and smiled to hear the umpire instantly +call a strike, when there arose a medley of voices from the point just +beyond the termination of the bleachers. + +Ralph had accepted the ball from his catcher, and held it gripped in +his hand as he took a step back into his box. Naturally his attention +was directed toward the spot, where he saw a tremendous commotion had +started, with men and boys swarming back. + +“A fight! A fight!” was the first cry that passed around to the +grandstand, and hundreds immediately stood up to see, their interest in +the game for the moment forgotten. + +But they immediately discovered that it must be something else that had +caused this stampede, for the runners appeared to be frightened. What +could it be? Frank shouted to Police Chief Hogg, and the latter started +on the run for the scene of disturbance. + +Every man, woman and child was now standing up and craning necks to +find out the truth. They saw people running, women showing symptoms of +terror, and even men trying to put space between themselves and some +mysterious danger. + +Then a shout went up, for upon the field had suddenly appeared a bull, +showing symptoms of anger, and evidently in a mood to launch himself +at the crowd, many of the ladies wearing gaily-colored garments that +appeared to arouse the fighting spirit of the animal. + +Some of the boys of Columbia recognized the bull as one belonging to +a farmer who owned the property adjoining the athletic field on the +right, and back of the grandstand. A high fence shut off this pasture, +but perhaps some of the boards may have fallen down. At any rate, there +was the bull trotting straight toward the diamond, with hundreds of +frantic people going into a panic. + +“He wants to toss a few over! Give the bull a chance!” shouted a funny +fellow from the safety of the grandstand; but had he been out there on +the field doubtless he would ere this have been taking to his heels, +like the majority of the alarmed spectators. + +Frank immediately suspected that some thoughtless scamp who loved a +prank without counting the cost may have coaxed the bull to the opening +made in the fence, by waving a red handkerchief, and then dodging when +he had accomplished his purpose. + +“Get bats, fellows; we’ve got to chase him back to cover!” he shouted, +suiting his action to his words. + +Other players also snatched up some of the war clubs, and thus armed +they bore down on the object of their solicitude. Meanwhile the bull +had trotted straight for Ralph in the box. It looked as though the +animal meant to follow up the advice of the joker in the grandstand, +and ascertain whether he could knock the pitcher out of the box. + +Ralph stood his ground. Indeed, he hardly knew what to do, such was the +tremendous clamor all around him. + +“Soak him one, you!” howled a fellow who stood on the top seat of the +bleachers, and waved his arms. + +It was so easy to tell another what to do just then, especially when in +an apparently safe place himself. + +“Yes, hit him in the eye, Ralph! Here’s your chance to win your own +game!” + +“Shoo the bully old boy away! He’s interfering, with our game!” + +“It’s a set-up job of Columbia when they’re getting licked, that’s +what!” + +Ralph heard everything that was said. At the same time he drew back +his arm, with the intention of delivering as swift a ball as he +possibly could. Of course, it could hardly be expected that such a puny +thing as a baseball would be sufficient to drive the bull away; but it +was all Ralph could do--and he did it to the best of his ability. + +“Straight to the bull’s-eye, Ralph!” came a last shout, just as he let +go; and somehow it gave the boy more or less satisfaction to know that +he had indeed done as directed. + +The hard ball struck the animal with tremendous force on the side of +the head, and, bounding off, fell upon the diamond. Perhaps the blow +astonished the unwelcome visitor at the game. He seemed to stop a few +seconds as if trying to figure just where the new assault had come from. + +“At him, boys!” shouted Frank, enabled to come up because of this +little delay. + +A dozen lads, Bellport players as well as those of Columbia, had armed +themselves with bats. They were close at Frank’s heels when he started +in to belabor the bull on the flanks vigorously. + +One assailant the big fellow might have attacked, but the multitude +cowed him. Possibly he was not a very vicious animal after all. Be that +as it might, the boys surrounded him like a wall, and forced him to +trot off toward the broken fence. He was last seen kicking up his heels +as he went through the gap, and his bellow a few seconds afterward +announced that while he may have thought it prudent to retreat before +superior numbers, his spirit was not crushed. + +Frank, while the others returned toward the diamond, winded a little +from their efforts, took a look at the fence as he was temporarily +fixing up the several boards that lay upon the ground. + +“These were all right before the game started. Either some fellows +knocked them off to get in without paying, or else it was a set-up job +to give trouble.” + +This last idea made him instantly think of the fellow most likely +to engineer a miserable game like this--Lef Seller. He remembered +seeing the bully over on the field at the end of the bleachers some +little time before, and several of his cronies with him. Could he +have possibly taken advantage of every eye being riveted on the close +game to play this dangerous prank? Some one might have been seriously +injured by the coming of the bull. + +“What’s this.” + +Just before putting up the last plank Frank had thrust his head through +the opening to see what had become of the baffled bull. His eye had +fallen on something red lying in the rank grass close to the fence. + +“It’s a red bandana handkerchief, and a new one, too, that has never +even been in the wash. And that was what they used to lure Mr. Bull in +here. Well, perhaps a fellow may think that a joke, but if half a dozen +women or children had been gored he might have gone to prison for it.” + +He looked at the gaudy thing again. + +“Perhaps I may be able to find out who owns this. Looks like it must +have been bought this very day. Anyhow, ‘finders keepers,’ and I’m in +one stunning red bandana blower,” and, laughing as he stowed it away, +he returned to see the continuation of the close game. + +Smith, Sr., was on deck, with his bat making little circles as he +waited for his chance to whack the ball. He had a peculiar “crouch” +that amused the crowd; but as the elongated first baseman was a natural +hitter, much could be forgiven him. In baseball a batting eye is like +the mantle of charity, since it covers a multitude of sins. + +Smith, Sr., did hit it, too, though he should have been an easy out, +only that the ball took an unexpected bounce just as Seymour had set +himself to gobble it, and shot over his head. + +“Oh!” came in a groan from all over the field, though every one who +knew the game understood it was none of the second baseman’s fault, +since he never even touched the ball. + +Smith reached first, and made a grand bluff of galloping down toward +second to draw the throw, but without success. + +Lacy was a shrewd one, and sacrificed himself for the good of the +cause, advancing his comrade nicely to second. Bardwell tried the same +thing, but tapped the ball too hard. Consequently it went quickly to +Ralph, who snatched it up, hurled it like a cannon ball to third, +catching the runner; and then it was shot across the diamond in time to +just double up the stout Bardwell as he jumped for the first sack. + +“Now, what do you think of that?” shrieked the local boys in chorus, +led by the “best yeller Columbia ever had.” + +“Never could do it again in a hundred years. Bardwell stumbled, as he +generally does. Luck was against us!” answered one of the Bellport +shouters, promptly. + +Bellport had finished their side of the game. Columbia still had an +inning to play, with one run to tie, and two to win! + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +AN UNFORTUNATE HIT + + +“Who’s up?” demanded Paul Bird, as he tossed his mask and chest +protector aside, wiped his steaming face, and picked up a bat. + +“You are, and if ever you made a base hit get one in now!” said Captain +Seymour. + +“Yes, everything depends on this inning. We can do it if we try, +fellows!” exclaimed Ben Allison, also selecting his favorite piece of +ash. + +Once again the crowd settled down, though the anxiety felt was plainly +depicted on the faces all around. + +The noise had broken out again worse than ever. Even the voice of the +brazen-throated Princeton man could not be heard, and he depended on +signals to announce whether it might be a ball or a strike. Not one of +those boys but whose nerves thrilled with the intense strain. And it +can easily be understood how Coddling must have suffered as he toed +the slab once more to try and mow the Columbia boys down, so as to +prevent a run. + +“You know how to do it, Coddling. Give them some of your famous +teasers, and see ’em break their backs trying to connect!” + +“Yes, Coddling, one, two, three for yours, now. And start right in with +this guy of a catcher!” + +“What have you got on him, hey? Did he let a ball pass him like your +feller? He ain’t so hefty, but he’s the stuff they make champions out +of!” declared a Columbia backer, a brawny blacksmith, whose appearance +alone was enough to inspire respect, so that the Bellport man dared +make no answer. + +Paul waited. He did not want to appear too anxious. He knew that the +man who was hurling that ball over was just as nervous as they make +them, and he hoped to profit by this. Still, he could not hold off when +he felt sure he saw a ball coming within his reach. + +Too late after he struck he learned that it was one of Coddling’s +shrewd outshoots, and that it had jumped beyond his reach. + +“Get a pole, sonny!” advised some one from the crowd. + +“He felt for it that time; now he’s going to take some!” shouted +another. + +“Strike two!” came the voice of the umpire, though Paul had not tried +to connect; and that was one of Coddling’s equally clever inshoots +which had seemed as if about to miss the plate by a foot, yet took a +sudden turn and shot in. + +If one were only a mind reader, Paul thought, and could guess every +time what the pitcher intended to do, how easy it would all be. + +Suddenly changing his hold upon his bat, Paul thrust it out with the +intention of bunting. He managed to connect, and was off like a flash, +though doubtful as to his chances for reaching first, for he felt that +he had not made as neat a drop of the ball as he had hoped. + +Still, the ball player to be successful must try to the utmost, no +matter how discouraging the prospect, always hoping that some little +luck may turn things his way--a dropped or fumbled ball has given many +a base that was not earned. + +“Run, Paul! Harder and you’ll get there!” shrieked Herman through his +megaphone, and the sound seemed to spur the catcher to even greater +exertions. + +Runner and ball seemed to arrive at the same second. Some shouted that +he was out, and partisans of Columbia cried that he was safe. The +umpire steadied his hand. That meant the runner had the benefit of the +doubt, and should remain where he was on first. + +Then Bedlam seemed to break out! Even though every fan from Bellport +knew deep down in his heart that the decision was just, still he felt +it incumbent on him to howl at the umpire, and the ancient word, +“robber!” was heard right and left. + +The old Princeton man only smiled, and turned his attention to the +game. Doubtless he chuckled at hearing the old familiar outbursts +to which he had listened many a time himself, and perhaps joined in +shouting at the referee. + +By degrees the excitement began to ooze out, as attention became +riveted on the next man at bat. This was Ralph. + +They had failed to rattle him while in the box, but that did not +prevent the Bellport legions from indulging in a most astonishing din. +Ralph never noticed what was going on. His eye was on Coddling. He +wanted to guess what sort of a ball the clever Bellport twirler meant +to dish up to him. + +“Watch that feller! He’s going to win the game if you let him hit it!” + +“Strike him out, Coddling. He’s dead easy!” + +“Hey, Ralph, old boy, you know what I told you? Nothing less than +a three-bagger will do! Hear me?” called one fellow, who did not +even know the batter to speak to; but on the ball field astonishing +familiarity becomes the rule. + +Ralph had his teeth set hard. If it depended on him to win the game +he meant that they should not be disappointed. He watched Coddling +eagerly, yet with every muscle set for instantaneous work. + +Whack! + +“He done it! I told you so!” + +Ralph was jumping for first, while Paul had run down to second. The +third baseman had knocked the ball down, but had to chase it, so that +Coddling rushed over to cover third as in duty bound, in case Paul +attempted to come along. + +But he went back to second, quite contented. Columbia stock rose just +about then; and Herman again led his crowd whooping in concert: + +“Ho! ho! ho! hi! hi! hi! _veni! vidi! vici!_ Columbia! Sis boom, ah!” + +“Once more, fellows! You can do it! They’re going to pieces! See ’em +creeping in, expecting to make a double play. Over the second base, and +win the game, Ben, and the pennant!” + +Allison meant to do that same thing. He took a firm grip on his bat, +and settled in his box to strike. Since that first time he had faced +Coddling three times, and on every occasion had connected with the +ball, though twice he went out, once at first and again when trying to +stretch a fine hit into a triple, much to the disgust of his backers. + +The noise died away as if by magic. Every one was holding his or her +breath, in the expectation of giving vent to a whoop when Allison had +either done what he set out to do or passed out. + +Seymour stepped out and whispered to the batter. + +“He’s telling him to bunt!” cried a few, expecting that this would be +the program; and not realizing that with the infield playing short it +was next to suicidal to attempt anything along this order, and meant +double play. + +Both basemen were playing well off, because they had nothing to fear. +Excitement was keyed up to top notch. + +“Look out for Banghardt!” shrieked a coach; and Paul found that the +center fielder had crept in, so that he came near being cut off from +his bag. + +Again Coddling wound up to pitch. Allison let the sphere pass. + +“One ball!” + +The next time it came the batter smote it full “on the nose” and the +sound of the collision electrified that entire assemblage like a shock +from a gigantic battery. But alack and alas! as sometimes happens, +while he drove the ball directly in the line he had marked out, it +chanced to be just a few feet too low! + +To the horror of the Columbia adherents it landed full in the eager +hands of the second baseman, who held it fiercely for just a second, +when he sent it with all his might to Bardwell on third, but not +before touching his own base. + +Was it a triple? There was a wild upheaval on the part of the entire +mass of spectators. Paul had thrown himself headlong for the bag, but +that swiftly-sent sphere was there just before him! + +The umpire made a sweeping motion of his hand. Paul was out, and +consequently Bellport had won the game by making a wonderfully clever +triple in the last inning! + +Bedlam broke loose right then and there, and the crowd surged over the +field, whooping and howling their various class yells. Herman led in a +volcanic cheer for the clever players who had managed that remarkable +play; and followed this with shouts for both teams. Then songs were +sung, and the boys fraternized. + +It had been a splendid exhibition of work on both sides. No one need be +ashamed of having lost such a game as that, as Frank hastened to assure +Ralph, who was naturally feeling a little sore over such a sudden +downfall to his high hopes. + +“The fortune of the game, old chap! Got to get used to it. Why, just +before Ben knocked into that triple it looked as if we had ’em dead +easy. Oh! why couldn’t he have pulled off one of his favorite little +flies just over second! But what’s the use crying over spilt milk? You +did great work in the box! Every one is saying we picked up a prize +when we came across you, Ralph.” + +By this time Ralph could himself smile a little. + +“After all, I came out twice as well as I expected. If you don’t think +my work was the cause of the defeat I ought to be satisfied. I thought +that bull coming on the field broke me up a little. But, then, they +didn’t make another run,” he said. + +Frank threw an arm around his friend and walked away with him. He +wanted to get out of the crowd so that they could talk. He had heard +what Ralph told Captain Seymour, and was naturally curious to learn +about the little adventure that had delayed the arrival of the new +pitcher. + +Besides, there had been those thrilling words spoken by Ralph in +connection with something that bore upon his own tangled fortunes. What +could have happened? + +“Now, you know I’m just burning up with curiosity to hear what’s been +going on, Ralph. What about this little child you carried home after +she hurt her hand; and how does that happen to have any connection with +your own matters?” he remarked, when they found themselves removed +to some degree from the crowd that was swarming along the road back +to Columbia, some to take the trolley for Bellport, others river +conveyances for Clifford and beyond. + +Ralph turned a glowing face upon his friend. + +“Oh! Frank, I can hardly believe it even now, it seems so very strange! +Just to think, because I wouldn’t believe some fellows were trying to +get me in the bushes, where they could keep me from showing up, I’m +going to hear the truth about the past, and who I really am!” + +“Hurrah! that’s great news you’re telling me, and I’m sure as glad as +if I’d found another dad myself!” exclaimed Frank. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +WHAT UNCLE JIM KNEW + + +“Of course you are, Frank! Don’t I know what an interest you’ve taken +in this affair?” + +Ralph looked into the face of his friend as he spoke, and there was +sincere affection in his expression. + +“But tell me what happened, for I’m just wild to know, Ralph.” + +The other had looked around several times while they walked away from +the field that had so lately been the arena for that fiercely-fought +battle of the bats. + +“There’s some one following us, Frank,” he said, uneasily. + +“Oh! come, you’re nervous after all this strain, and imagining things. +I guess it’s only some fellow who happens to want to go the same way we +do.” + +But when Frank had turned his head, to the surprise of his comrade he +gave vent to an exclamation. + +“Well, I declare if I don’t believe it is him!” he ejaculated, and his +face took on an expression of pleasure. + +“Who is it?” asked Ralph, eagerly. + +“Why, who but my uncle Jim!” was the reply. + +Ralph went a little white. Really things were happening very rapidly, +once they had taken a start. He observed with deepest interest the big +man who was breathing hard as he managed to overtake them; and Ralph +took especial note of the fact that he seemed to have a very genial +face. + +“Hello! there, Frank; I thought it was you; but you boys walk so fast I +had more or less trouble in overtaking you, and as to getting through +that crowd to speak to you on the field, it was utterly impossible! How +are you, my boy?” and the big man from New York held out his hand to +his nephew. + +“Glad to see you, Uncle Jim. And it’s plain that you are just as fond +of baseball as ever. Sorry you saw Columbia go down in defeat, though,” +said Frank. + +“Oh! that comes to every club sooner or later; and in this case it was +one of those accidents that can never be avoided. I saw the last few +innings, and that triple play took my breath away. I give you my word +that contest was the equal of any I’ve seen this year among the big +leagues. And isn’t this the game little pitcher who held them down so +well?” with a curious glance at Frank’s companion. + +“Sure it is, and he would have won his game only for that streak of +tough luck. Uncle Jim, let me introduce to you my friend, Ralph West!” + +The lawyer started and looked closer than ever at the second boy. + +“Glad to meet you, Ralph. And, to tell the honest truth, it was to +see you that I’ve journeyed up here just at a very busy time in my +practice.” + +He still kept his eyes fastened on the face of the boy, which of course +he could see had gone white. + +“I’m glad to meet you, sir; and it’s mighty nice for you to say such +kind things about my work. I’m green at it yet, but hope to do better +after more practice,” Ralph managed to say. + +“No doubt of that, not a bit. You’ve got all the earmarks of a ‘comer’ +in that line. But, Ralph, I wish I were bringing you better news than I +am able to. I’ve been convinced by my brother that it is only right to +tell what little I know in connection with that money, regardless of my +promise. I’m only sorry I happen to know so little, that’s all. But it +may start you along the right road.” + +“Thank you, sir. Every little must help. I’ve been fortunate enough +to-day to meet a man who seems to know something about the mystery of +my life; and he’s promised to tell me all this very night. So that +good luck seems to be swinging around my way just now.” + +“Yes, Ralph seems to have been able to have done this man a great +favor. As near as I can make out he found a little child in the woods +with her hand crushed. She was crying bitterly. Ralph was on his way +by a roundabout route to the ball-grounds when this happened; yet he +carried that child a long distance to her father. And it seems that +the man recognized Ralph, or on hearing his name, I don’t know which, +only that he promised to tell him something to-night,” remarked Frank, +eagerly. + +“Fine! couldn’t be better all around,” said the lawyer, enthusiastically. +“I see that to have been of any assistance I should have turned up +earlier. But I had some very important cases on the docket; and was not +quite sure that I ought to break my word until I received an urgent +letter from Frank’s father here. I can tell you just what I know in a +very few words, if you want me to, Ralph?” + +“I am wild to hear, sir, and was just wondering how I could hold out +several hours until night came along. Please start right now, Judge +Allen!” exclaimed the boy. + +“Well, I am a man of very few words, which you will admit is singular +in a member of the legal profession. The facts in the case are these: +Last summer there walked into my office a gentleman whose card I have +here with me.” + +Ralph glanced at the bit of pasteboard, and was strangely thrilled to +read the name “Arnold Gregory Musgrove.” + +“Musgrove!” he repeated to himself several times, as though it seemed +to find a singular response somewhere in the cells of his brain. +Oh! could it be possible that his name was the same as that of the +mysterious gentleman? + +The keen-eyed lawyer knew instinctively what must be passing in his +young mind, for he shook his head seriously. + +“It may be just possible, Ralph, but until you hear what this other +party has to say I wouldn’t build up too many hopes in that direction. +What I have to tell you will not put you in possession of the positive +facts. But to resume. This gentleman first of all asked me if, in the +line of my business, I would undertake a little charitable work for +him, and I, of course, said I was there for any position of trust +connected with estates or otherwise; for you know, Frank, that much of +my income consists of remuneration received from the care of property, +as I am what is called an estate lawyer. + +“Well, he told me that he had had a dear friend who had died in abject +poverty years back, and left a boy who had been taken to the poorhouse +away up in the country. The truth had only come to him of late, and +he wanted to do something for that lad, but secretly, so that his name +might never be known in connection with the matter.” + +Ralph gripped the hand of Frank convulsively at hearing this; but he +did not utter one word, only kept his glowing eyes fixed upon the +lawyer’s sympathetic face. + +“Upon investigating he had found that the lad had been taken into their +home by a couple named West, living in the village of Scardale. He +also seemed to know that the boy was keenly desirous of securing an +education, from which he was now debarred by the lack of means of his +supposed parents. + +“And so after binding me to secrecy he explained his plan of action. +I was to act as his intermediary, sending a stated sum the first of +every month, and never letting a single hint fall as to whence it came. +Sitting there at my typewriter, Mr. Musgrove himself wrote those few +lines accompanying the first remittance. And I have never seen him +since that day, though I learned he was in Europe traveling with a +widowed sister.” + +Ralph sighed heavily. + +“I wonder if it can be true? And if it is, why shouldn’t he want to +tell me just who my father and father were? If I could only meet him +face to face I would ask him that, and expect an answer,” he said, +slowly. + +“Well,” said the lawyer, with a little laugh, “from what I saw of this +Musgrove I’m afraid you wouldn’t meet with great success. I didn’t +wholly like his looks. There was something shifty in his eye, although +he was rather a handsome gentleman, and evidently accustomed to the +best in the land.” + +Frank spoke up just then. + +“I can guess that you’ve been considering the whole strange affair +since you got my letter, Uncle, and have arrived at some sort of +conclusion yourself. Won’t you tell us what you suspect, please?” he +said, urgently. + +“That’s a hard thing to put up to a lawyer, accustomed to dealing only +in stern facts, and eliminating fiction from his figuring. But since +meeting Ralph here I’ve made up my mind to turn to his side of the +case. In fact, before coming up I wrote to the address Mr. Musgrove +left me, informing him that I must throw up his affairs, since business +was too pressing. That leaves me free-handed; and I can assist your +young friend, Frank, without stultifying myself.” + +“I knew you would, Uncle Jim. And now tell us what you think!” cried +Frank. + +“Just this: I have a suspicion that Mr. Arnold Musgrove may have had +a hand in some business in the past that would not bear inspection. +In other words, that he was responsible for that boy being left at +the door of the poorhouse! That is a bold assertion to make, without +positive proof, and I would hardly like to stand sponsor for it in +court; but I am only telling you this in secret.” + +“Yes, go on, please,” said Frank, throwing an arm again around Ralph’s +shoulders, for he knew the other was trembling violently with emotion. + +“And as the years rolled on he must have kept informed about what +happened, for he knew all about how Ralph had been adopted by the +Wests; yes, even to his ambition for an education. I imagine the man’s +conscience has begun to reproach him as he grows older; and that it has +finally forced him to do something to compensate in a small way for his +action!” + +After the lawyer had ceased talking there was silence for a full +minute, broken finally by Frank, saying: + +“Well, perhaps he may know it all to-night. I’ve got my suspicions +already, but I’m not going to say anything yet. But I tell you I won’t +sleep a wink to-night until I’ve heard what Ralph has to report. By +the way, did you ever find out what the name of Mr. Musgrove’s widowed +sister was?” + +“Yes, I had that much curiosity. It is Mrs. John Langworthy, and her +husband was a very smart and wealthy lawyer years ago,” replied Uncle +Jim, with a knowing smile. + +“H’m; Langworthy, eh?” and Frank looked meaningly at Ralph, as he +echoed the name. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +TWICE A PRISONER + + +It was a peculiar coincidence that the freshman spread was to come off +this same night that meant so much to Ralph. + +The sophomores had been wild to glean the particulars, so that they +might in some fashion manage to break up the feast, either by kidnaping +some of the first-year students, get possession of the president of the +class, or else purloin the good things that had been laid in for the +spread. + +Ralph had intended going, for it promised to be great fun. This new +turn to his own private affairs, however, knocked the notion out of his +head. Indeed, he forgot about it entirely. + +The minutes dragged terribly, and yet he knew that he ought to wait a +decent time to allow Sam Smalling and his little family a chance to eat +their supper. + +About a quarter to eight he could hold back no longer. It was getting +dark, but he had asked questions of Frank, and knew just where to find +the cottage in which the Smallings lived. + +To reach it he must walk almost a mile around the town; but that, he +expected, would be a matter of only ten or fifteen minutes at most. + +So wrapped up was Ralph in his own affairs that he never once thought +of looking around him when he stepped out of the gate and started off. +Had he done so he would have discovered several dusky figures dogging +his footsteps in a very suspicious manner. + +They kept just so far in his rear until the town had been left behind, +and the country was at hand. Of course these were sophs bent upon +keeping the new favorite of the freshies from attending that dinner, +which was doubtless to be spread in some isolated barn far beyond the +confines of Columbia, in order to lessen the chances of the second +class interrupting the feast. + +Suddenly Ralph’s sober thoughts were interrupted. He found himself +pounced upon and borne to the ground. In vain he struggled, for three +proved too much for even the athletic hero of that afternoon game. + +At first he was amazed at what was happening, and thoughts of some +rascals boldly playing the part of highway robbers flitted through his +mind. + +Then a face was thrust close to his, and a voice said: + +“Your goose is cooked, freshie. No fine spread in yours this night. +Instead, you will occupy a dungeon until the midnight hour has struck. +And if our plans carry right we’ll have gobbled your class grub long +before then.” + +Of course the truth flashed through Ralph’s mind now. He knew that +he had fallen into the clutches of the watchful sophomores, eager to +capture all the leading lights of the lower class, and spoil the long +anticipated treat. + +It was exasperating to say the least. Of course none of them would +believe him if he declared that he had no idea of attending the dinner, +and was bent on private business of the utmost importance. + +Just as he expected, when he started to speak of this they only jeered +him. + +“Tell that to the marines, freshie. Don’t we know that they expect to +elect you the president of the class to-night, in place of Rud Kipling, +who went home last week sick? Oh! no, you don’t get loose until the +clock strikes twelve, so save your breath. Tie his hands, boys, and +bring him along. I know a cot beneath the hill, and there we’ll chuck +him in to ruminate, while we hike after that grub.” + +They assisted him to his feet after his hands had been rudely lashed. +Through a woods they walked, whispering at times. Ralph was really +angry at this unexpected bit of hard luck. If the boys only knew what +it meant to him to have his liberty they could not have the heart to +hold him a prisoner in this way. + +Coming to an old cabin, once the home of charcoal burners, but long +deserted, they thrust him inside and, closing the door, fastened it in +some manner. + +When the mocking voices of the sophomores had died away in the +distance, and Ralph found himself alone, he set about trying to effect +his escape. Had it been the dinner alone that was the inducement +he might have taken it philosophically, and simply laughed at his +predicament; but while he remained there, precious minutes were +passing, and the story of his mysterious past waiting to be told. + +He struggled with the cord they had wrapped about his wrists. The sophs +were far from being experts in tying up a prisoner, so that there was a +chance for Ralph to work his hands free. Force would not accomplish it, +but by manipulating his right hand he was presently able to draw it out +of the bonds. + +There remained only the door between him and liberty. He examined this +part of the structure, to find, as he suspected, that it was just as +flimsy as the rest of the old cabin. Consequently, when he threw his +weight against it, after several attempts, the door gave way with a +crash. + +Striking a light, Ralph found that all this had only taken just fifteen +minutes. It was now eight o’clock plus seven minutes; and he was free +to go his way. + +Another thought came into his mind. Loyalty to his class struggled with +this wild desire on his part to hasten to the home of Sam Smalling, so +as to hear all he had to say. + +Was he not in duty bound to warn his fellows in some manner? From what +words the sophomores who had captured him had let drop, it was evident +that they knew where the spread was to take place, and that a raid was +being organized, looking to the stealing of the dainties provided for +the freshman dinner. + +Ralph thought it over, even as he was hurrying along. After all, it +seemed up to him to do something to save his class the mortification of +being made the laughing stock of the vindictive second-year boys, who +were evidently abroad in force, bent on breaking up the spread. + +Now that he came to consider the matter, the place of secret meeting +was in the same direction. No wonder his captors were positive that he +had been heading for the rendezvous when overtaken with disaster. + +“I might go out of my way enough to meet some of the boys, and put +them on their guard,” he said, finally. + +That was Ralph’s nature all over, ever ready to sacrifice his own +interests in order to benefit those with whom he was associated. It +was the spirit instilled in the souls of the Delta Pi members--loyalty +first of all to the school, and next to one’s class. + +So Ralph made his way along cautiously. He was in mortal fear lest he +be pounced upon at any moment by others of the prowling sophs, and held +once more a prisoner. + +In this fashion he drew near the farm where stood the barn hired for +the occasion by the freshmen. No doubt it was completely surrounded +by a cordon of eager sophs, anxious to accomplish their work of +retaliation, for the freshmen had effectually broken up their +entertainment earlier in the season. + +Hearing voices coming along the road, indicating a large company of +boys and girls, Ralph knew that the main body of his fellow class +members must be approaching, having gathered in town somewhere, since +the girls refused to attend unless suitably protected. + +Of course the sophomores would not dare attack this group. Indeed, +their plans covered a different field entirely, since they contemplated +making way with the provisions that were being carried to the spread. + +Ralph waited until they were exactly opposite. + +“Watchman, what of the night?” he asked, suddenly appearing among them. + +Several of the freshmen, thinking that an attack was about to be sprung +on them, had started to grapple with the single figure. The passwords +spoken by Ralph, however, reassured them. + +“Don’t mention my name, anybody,” said Ralph, in an impressive +whisper; “for some of the sophomores are hiding near by. They think +I’m a prisoner in the old hut of the charcoal burners in the woods. I +escaped and came here to tell you that they know all about the place of +meeting.” + +“Then somebody leaked, that’s all,” grumbled one of the boys, angrily. + +“I suppose so. But they mean to get a chance to steal your grub. Look +out for them, fellows. Keep a good watch out,” said Ralph, impressively. + +“Hey! hold on, where are you going to?” demanded one of the group as +Ralph started to slip away. + +“Sorry, but I can’t be with you to-night, fellows. Some mighty +important business of a private character chains me down,” explained +the other. + +“No, you don’t now. You’re needed at the spread more than any other +fellow; and we don’t mean to let you off this time. Private matters +must wait when the class of Umty Fourteen has the call. Duty before +pleasure, you know. Besides, you’re IT to-night, and we just won’t get +on without you. Come on!” + +Ralph thus found himself in another fix, and could well exclaim to be +delivered from his friends. First the enemy had captured him and tried +to keep him a prisoner until midnight. And now the fellow members of +his class, having determined to elect him president for the balance +of the season, seemed equally bent on preventing him from keeping his +appointment with Smalling. + +He said nothing further, but walked along with the crowd. All the +while he was keeping his eyes open in the hope of seeing a chance to +drop out, and giving his classmates the slip. He could not bear the +thought of postponing the interview with Sam Smalling that might mean +everything in the world to him. + +They had reached the barn before he found his opportunity. A number of +freshmen had come on at dusk to guard the place, so that their enemies +might not take possession unawares, and shut them out. + +While the two divisions were fraternizing Ralph saw his chance, and +dodged aside. + +“Here, where’s Ralph West gone to? We mustn’t let him slip away,” said +a voice. + +“He was here a minute ago, but now he’s gone!” cried Helen Allen, in a +plaintive voice; and Ralph felt doubly sorry that he was compelled to +forego a pleasant evening in the company of Frank’s sister. + +Scurrying through the end of the barn, he reached the open air. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +RALPH HEARS SOMETHING + + +Ralph had become cautious by this time. + +“Two narrow squeaks, and the third time may see me held tight,” he said +to himself, as he crouched there, looking around. + +He knew positively that the anxious sophomores were hiding everywhere +about, their eyes on the barn where the freshmen had vanished, bearing +their dinner with them. How to creep away undetected was a question for +the lad to solve. He found where the darkness lay most heavily, and +laid out his line of retreat accordingly. + +He was just about to rise when he thought he had crept far enough away, +when he heard a fluttering of the bushes near by. + +“Are the birds all in the coop?” asked an unseen crouching figure. + +Ralph knew that he had been taken for one of the second-year boys. His +ready wit came to the front, so that he instantly replied: + +“Yes. And the captain wants you all to creep in closer. I’m rounding +the gang up. Move along!” + +He came near laughing aloud to see not one, but three shadowy forms +crawling off in the direction of the barn, and leaving the path free +for the escaping freshman. + +“Ta! ta! and many thanks!” whispered Ralph, as he waved a hand after +the last of these figures. + +Then he started away, and it must be a pretty clever sprinter who could +overtake him now, once he made a break. In several directions he heard +low voices calling, as though the hidden sophomores wondered who it +could be running along the road. But there was no pursuit made, for +which the already weary Ralph felt glad. + +He had gone through with a tremendous amount of mental and physical +strain that day, and had no desire to continue with another series of +adventures. + +So he presently arrived in the near vicinity of the cabin home of Sam +Smalling. + +“There’s a light in the window,” he muttered, as he drew near; “and +that looks as if he expected me.” + +Ralph was shivering, not with the cold, or even because of his double +adventure that night, but with apprehension. He dreaded lest a +disappointment might await him. Perhaps, after all, the story Smalling +had to tell might not shed any particular light on his history. + +Another thing that had begun to give him anxiety. He wondered whether +he might not be the child of that same Arnold Musgrove, and that from +some cause or other his father was ashamed to own him! + +Bracing himself, he stepped up to the door of the humble cabin. + +Hardly had he knocked before the door was opened. + +“Glad to see you, Ralph. I began to think you wasn’t going to turn up, +it was getting so late,” said the man, holding out his hand and drawing +him inside. + +“I was delayed on the way. Our class is giving a spread to-night, and +the sophs got hold of me, making me a prisoner. I had some trouble +breaking away. Then I had to go and warn the fellows so they might +not be taken by surprise. But after all it isn’t much after half-past +eight, sir.” + +Ralph while speaking was looking around. + +“Surprised to see me alone here? Well, to tell the truth I was ashamed +to let the missus know what a mean thing I done aways back, and I got +her to take all the kids and go over to stay with a neighbor to-night. +The woman’s sick, and my wife can make herself useful there. I wanted a +clear field, because I’ve got something to say I’m mighty much ashamed +of,” said Smalling, slowly. + +“Before you tell me anything I think I ought to let you know what’s +happened to me since I met you this afternoon.” + +So saying, Ralph rapidly narrated what the New York lawyer had told +him. The man listened eagerly, though his manner was rather moody. + +“Yes,” he said as Ralph finished, “it all seems to agree with what I +know, only I wasn’t so sure about them names. The man called himself +Andrew Jackson when he hired me to help him out years back. Money +tempted me; and besides, at that time I hadn’t met the woman that +helped me get the better of my drink habit. Mind, I ain’t makin’ +excuses for what I done. It was a low game, and I’ve often thought +about it since, wondering what had come of the baby I helped kidnap!” + +“Oh!” + +Ralph could not keep back that one exclamation. It seemed to him +that he must either be dreaming, or else deep in some romance. That +these matters were connected with his own life seemed bordering on an +absurdity. + +“You must be about fourteen now, Ralph, I judge. It was nigh that time +back that I fell in with a gentleman who seemed to have plenty of +money, and wanted some one to help him play a little game. As I said, +at that time I was drinking hard, and conscience seldom bothered me; so +I joined forces with him, and together we did the business. + +“He brought the baby to me in the night. It was a boy about three +months old, and even if he had dressed it in ragged and dirty clothes, +I knew that it must have come from some family away up in life. It had +the looks of an aristocrat. + +“I obeyed orders, and carried that kid far away from New York. Up +here in the country I left it in charge of an old woman for a month. +That was to wait till all the hue and cry had died out, you see, and +was according to my orders. Then I took the baby and left him at the +poorhouse door!” + +Again Ralph sighed. It seemed to him that he was in a trance. Smalling +had allowed his head to fall forward upon his chest, as though he could +hardly bear to look into the eyes of the lad he had injured so deeply. + +“Oh! please go on! How did you know that I was taken by the Wests, and +called Ralph? Tell me everything--I must know all, now!” pleaded the +boy, with his voice quivering. + +Smalling looked up. + +“I’m going to tell everything now, Ralph, because I’m sorry I ever had +a hand in this game. I can see now what that scoundrel was after, and +how he used me as a tool. Even if I go to jail for it, I’m going to +tell the truth!” + +He brought his fist down upon his knee as he spoke in this manner. + +“Three years afterward I just chanced to be up in these parts again for +a little stay. To tell you the ugly truth, I was hiding from the police +at that time. While here I remembered about that kid, and asked a few +cautious questions. In that way I learned that the Wests had adopted +you, and that they called you Ralph. And when I heard that they were +a good family, and would treat you white, why, I just kinder let the +thing slip out of my mind, believing that you’d be happy without ever +knowing that they wasn’t your real parents. + +“I admit that more’n once I tried to find that gent. Them times was +when I was hard up and thought I might threaten him into giving me some +more coin. But he seemed to have covered his tracks too well for me. I +reckon I hunted New York all over thinking to see him, but it was no +go. Now I suppose it was because he kept on the other side of the ocean +most of the time.” + +“Then you remember what he looked like, do you?” asked Ralph, eagerly. + +At this Sam Smalling chuckled. + +“It’s better than that, my boy, far better. I’ve got a picture of my +benevolent employer, took in the queerest way you ever heard of.” + +He drew out an old pocketbook, and rummaging through this found a small +piece of cardboard which he handed to the boy. + +Ralph uttered an exclamation of astonishment. + +The photograph was weak, having either faded from age, or else because +of insufficient light at the time of taking; but it was easy to +distinguish in one of the two figures a man who much resembled Sam +Smalling. + +“Why, isn’t this you?” demanded Ralph. + +“No other. And that chap standing there is Mr. Andrew Jackson, as he +called himself, which I believe is the same as Mr. Arnold Musgrove,” +replied the man. + +“But what is he handing you--that bundle?” gasped the boy, suspecting +the truth. + +“That was _you_, Ralph, the poor little baby that he wanted to have +disappear! Yes, this picture was taken at just the minute he gave you +to me. You wonder how that could ever happen, and I’ll tell you. I was +bunking at the time with a drunken photographer, and he knew what I was +going to do. It was his suggestion that he try and get a picture of the +man of money. I remember we had a hazy notion that it might help us to +get money out of the chap later on.” + +“And he managed it, then?” asked Ralph, wondering; for flashlights were +hardly in use so far back, and this picture showed no signs of having +been taken in that fashion. + +“He did, though I don’t know how. The click of the machine startled +my employer, and he came near dropping the baby; but I told him it was +a window creaking upstairs in the old building, and he believed it. +But after all the picture never did either of us any good, for I never +could find Mr. Jackson again to ask a loan on the strength of it,” and +the man laughed disdainfully. + +“But now the picture promises to come in valuable to me. Oh! will you +please let me have it to give to Mr. Allen, who is going to carry my +case out for me?” + +“Certain I will. And, Ralph, though it may cost me dear I stand ready +to testify to my part in this here rascally game when the time comes. +I give you my word on that, lad, come what will,” said Sam Smalling, +resolutely. + +Ralph squeezed his hand when he replied. + +“Perhaps it may not be necessary at all. I promise you that you will +not be brought into the matter if it can be helped; and Judge Allen +will find a way, with this picture to help out, I’m sure. Oh! I wonder +how that man could have been so cruel. And do you really think that his +sister, this widow, Mrs. Langworthy, can be--_my mother_.” + +“That’s what it seems like, and you can make up your mind to it, money +was at the bottom of his game when he stole you and had me take you +away. Sounds like a story out of the books, but I guess people to-day +ain’t a bit different from old times.” + +“I’m glad I came here to-night; and, Mr. Smalling, after what you’ve +said and done don’t think I’m going to hold it against you. I’m too +happy myself to want to make anybody suffer. And later on I expect to +drop in here to see you again, you and little Mary,” said the boy, +rising to go, for he was now just as anxious to see and consult with +Judge Allen as he had been to reach Sam Smalling’s home. + +“I’ll expect you, Ralph. I’m glad this happened as it did. It’s just +Fate, that’s what! But the best of luck go with you, lad; and remember +to call on me if there’s any hitch to the game. Good night, Ralph, good +night.” + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +A PLAIN TALK WITH BILL KLEMM + + +“There, what do you think of it, Frank?” + +Ralph sat back in a chair in his friend’s den, and waited to hear the +decision of the one in whose opinion he had such faith. + +“It seems as clear as print to me, and I’m tickled nearly to death at +the way things are turning out It was mighty nice in you coming here +to-night on the way home, and relieving my anxiety,” said the other, +vigorously wringing the hand of his visitor. + +“But I had a double motive. I hoped to see your Uncle Jim, and now you +tell me he’s away for the night--gone with your father to see a sick +friend over the mountain, and won’t be back until morning. But what do +you make of all this strange story?” + +“That pretended Mr. Andrew Jackson is, of course, Arnold Musgrove. And +you are the baby he turned over to Sam Smalling years ago. This picture +is what will clinch matters, if he puts up any denial. As to just who +you are, I have strong suspicions, I must say,” returned Frank. + +Then he wrote something on paper and thrust it before Ralph. + +“How would you like to start out fresh under that name, eh?” + +“Jack Langworthy!” read Ralph, and then threw himself suddenly forward +so that his arms clasped Frank around the neck. + +Nature had given way. So long had he been fighting to hold in his +emotions that he could control himself no longer. + +“I know I’m a fool and a baby to do this, but it just seemed as though +something broke loose and swamped me,” he said, finally, as he wiped +the moisture from his eyes, and tried to smile in Frank’s face. + +“I don’t blame you a bit. In fact, I think you’ve done bully to hold +in so long. And then the strain of that game to-day was enough alone +to knock the props out from under any fellow. But cheer up, Ralph! +It’s going to be all right now, for the sky has brightened, and I bet +a cookey you find a loving mother inside another month. Just think of +it, will you? Hurrah! But I say, it’ll take an everlasting long time to +learn to say Langworthy instead of West; for it’s a big mouthful.” + +Ralph felt better after that. + +“I’ll be around to-morrow without fail to talk it all over with your +uncle. Please don’t let him know anything about it until I come. I’d +like to be the one to tell him the story, Frank.” + +“I’m mum on that score. But I wonder if those sophs succeeded in +stealing the spread of the freshmen, or were they kept out of the barn +by main force? You’ve got some husky chaps in your class this year, and +they could give a good account of themselves in a scrap. But Helen will +tell me later,” laughed Frank, as his comrade started for the door. + +Ralph was really quite exhausted, and knew that he must get home and to +bed. The tremendous strain of that strenuous day was indeed telling on +him. + +It was well on to midnight before voices outside announced that the +freshmen had returned from the country. Helen came in, her face aglow +with excitement, to tell what a tremendous scuffle had followed the +attempt of the sophomores to break in and spoil the spread. + +“But our boys put them out all right, Frank! Oh, it was a tremendous +time. Perhaps some of us girls were in the scrimmage, too, for I know +I found this cap in my hand when it was all over,” and she laughingly +held up a boy’s headgear, decorated with the ribbon of the second +class, as well as the purple and gold of Columbia. + +And that was all Frank could coax her to tell. He could look back to +several similar experiences in his own school life, and appreciate what +it meant to these freshmen, for Frank was a junior now. + +In the morning Frank sauntered around to a certain modest house in +town, where he greeted a young fellow by the name of Gabe Brown. Gabe +was in the store which Frank’s father ran, known as the department +store of Columbia. Moreover, he had charge of a certain counter in +which Frank was somewhat interested just then. + +“Hello, Gabe!” he said, as the other looked surprised at seeing the son +of his employer look up on Sunday morning, “just wanted to get a little +information from you. Here’s a new bandana handkerchief I picked up +yesterday. Some fellow dropped it out at the baseball grounds, and I’d +like to find out who he is. Can you help me?” + +Gabe took the article, and examined it. + +“Came from our place, didn’t it?” continued Frank, seeing his smile. + +“It sure did, and I think I know whose it is, Frank,” replied the +salesman. + +“How could you be sure? Lots of these are sold every season.” + +“Well, you notice that it’s just about new, and never been washed, for +the stiffening is in it still. That shows it was bought recently, don’t +it?” asked Gabe. + +“Sounds reasonable,” admitted Frank, for this was just what he himself +had in mind all along. + +“Well, we ran out of these a week back, and ordered more. They got in +Friday evening, and I sold just one yesterday. They’re different in +design from our old ones, too. See the point?” said Gabe, triumphantly. + +“Sure. Who bought that one, now?” + +“Mr. William Klemm, Jr.,” came the expected response. + +“Thanks; I thought so,” and Frank turned away, leaving Gabe looking +after him and muttering: + +“I reckon something’s going to happen close to Billy Klemm just about +now.” + +Frank saw the object of his solicitude on the street in front of a +vacant lot. Bill had slipped out to meet one of his cronies on the sly, +and perhaps puff a cigarette in the cool of that Sunday morning. + +“Morning, Bill. Lost something yesterday, didn’t you?” and Frank held +up the red bandana. + +Bill started to put out his hand, and then drew it cautiously back, as +though he might have scented a trap. + +“Naw, ain’t got any bandany rag. Belongs to some other fellow. What +made you reckon I owned it?” he said, suspiciously. + +“Because Gabe Brown says he sold you this particular one from a new lot +that just came in, and different from the old ones. You were in a hurry +to jump yesterday, Bill, when that bull started for the hole in the +fence!” + +Bill shut his teeth hard and looked as if about to hotly deny that he +knew anything about that matter. + +“Better go slow, Bill, or I might be tempted to step around and tell +your dad a few things. Keep going with Lef Seller, and you’ll bring up +in the lockup sooner or later. And, Bill, it’s a lucky thing for you +that no one was seriously hurt yesterday when you let that savage beast +in on the crowd. If there had been, I’d see to it that you were made to +pay the piper.” + +The awkward fellow looked frightened, and let his head drop on his +chest. + +“’Twas only a joke,” he mumbled, “but some fellers they never see +anything funny.” + +“Not when the joke endangers human life, and there were lots of kids +around in the ball-grounds. Here, take the bandana, and stop pulling +chestnuts out of the fire for Lef Seller, just like the cat did for the +monkey.” + +Bill finally accepted the handkerchief, and tried to put a bold face on +the matter, saying: + +“Guess if anything, the old bull he’s got a right to kick, ’cause he +near had the life pounded out of him with them bats. It’s white of you +not to peep, Frank. I reckon I’ll take your advice, and cut Lef out.” + +But Frank was not deceived. He knew the kind of fellow Bill was, and +that there would be a very small chance of reforming his ways. + +“Yes,” Frank was musing to himself as he walked away, “they say there +was a certain old gentleman with horns and cloven hoofs who, when he +was sick, sighed to be a saint; but when he got well was he? Not any! +And Bill Klemm only feels sorry when he thinks he’s in for a licking at +home, or in school.” + +When Mr. Allen and Uncle Jim returned, Ralph was on hand. He and the +lawyer went “into executive session,” as the latter laughingly said, +and remained in the library for a full hour. + +“He’s going to fix it for me,” declared Ralph, later on, as he and +Frank walked down the road together. + +“Then he thought it a clear case, did he?” asked his chum, eagerly. + +“So much so that he says he will start across to Italy in a week, after +his big case is over with, and see the lady himself,” replied Ralph, +promptly. + +“Bully for Uncle Jim! Didn’t I tell you he was game. But what does he +do that for, when he could cable?” + +“He’s a lawyer, and cautious. Besides, he says, and it looks good to +me, that a man who could steal a baby away from his sister for the +sake of gain, wouldn’t be above opening her mail, or even reading a +cablegram. It might put him on his guard, and spoil things. And so he’s +going himself. Oh, Frank, that will be a long month to me!” + +“But with such happiness coming you can stand it. Think of the past, +and how different things look now. Ralph, old chap, I’m sure glad it’s +happening this way. Besides, it’ll give a fellow a chance to repeat +that name Langworthy a few times to myself, so as to kind of get used +to it.” + +“Don’t be too dead sure,” remarked Ralph. “You know the old saying, +there’s many a slip between the cup and the lip. But I’m glad you +say your arm is getting on nicely, for you’ve just got to pitch next +Saturday, and pull old Columbia through to glory.” + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +WHEN CODDLING WEAKENED + + +Crash! + +“Wow! Look at that ball go, will you?” + +“And two men on bases! Here’s where we climb all over poor old +Columbia!” + +“What’s the score now?” + +“Seven to five, and this makes it----” + +“Hold on, there; you’re counting your chickens before they’re hatched. +Did you notice that reliable old Jack Comfort got under that screamer, +and tagged it? And if you look sharp enough, Bellport, you’ll see two +husky lads tearing back to try and make their bases before the ball +comes; but it’s no go! There, Seymour has it on his man, and watch him +send the ball to Lanky! All out! Set ’em up in the other alley, boys!” + +Such a frightful noise as followed this splendid play on the part of +the club that was coming up from behind. What with Herman Hooker and +his squad of howlers, megaphone and all, together with a thousand +other brazen-throated shouters, it really seemed as though the very +earth trembled. + +It was the ending of the seventh inning. The game was being played in +Bellport, since they had been fortunate enough to win the toss. That +was the first sign of luck in their favor. Besides, everybody knew that +Frank Allen was still somewhat handicapped by his accident, though he +had the grit to continue in the box as long as Captain Seymour wished. + +At one time the score had been seven to three, so that as the game +progressed it began to seem that the Columbia High boys were climbing. +They had had their little juggle, in which every man nearly did +something foolish, and runs piled in; after which they had settled down +to serious business. + +“They’re creeping up, boys, creeping up!” shouted Herman, encouragingly. + +“Sure they are, and if the game only lasts ten hours more it looks like +Columbia might come in neck and neck with Bellport,” jeered one of the +mill workers. + +Watkins Gould was about, and evidently making wagers, although he did +not dare show the color of his money. There was more or less talk about +finding some means of keeping him out, since he had been known to try +and influence a player to do some underhand work and throw a game. + +The eighth inning began. + +Seymour had been encouraging his men to make a break and do some +consecutive batting that would count. + +“We only need two runs to tie, three to win, fellows. Somebody jump on +first, and then the rest of us get busy with our little bats!” he was +saying, as his men came hustling in from the field to the bench. + +“Batter up!” called the umpire. + +“That means me,” sang out Ben Allison, as he stepped forward to the +plate. + +Coddling looked unusually savage. The fact of the matter was he knew +that these boys of Columbia were rapidly getting on to his curves. The +last inning they had hit him freely, and seemed ready to take up the +good work again right now. + +When that feeling pinches at the door of a pitcher’s heart, he is going +to hurt himself trying to excel. Coddling’s one great mainstay had been +his coolness under any and all conditions; and when he allowed himself +to show signs of anger he not only injured his chances, but gave +encouragement to the enemy. + +Ben could always hit the Bellport pitcher. If he got on first there +were other dangerous batters to follow. Just then they looked like real +giants to Coddling; and yet at another time he had smiled disdainfully +at the same fellows, and with coolness struck them out in succession. + +Allison was a good waiter usually. To-day he took toll of the very +first ball that the Bellport pitcher sent twisting on its way. When a +team gets in its stride, and is hitting with perfect confidence, all +balls seem to look alike to them, and it is next to impossible to keep +the sphere out of their reach. + +“That’s the way, fellows! Here’s Ben waiting for his ticket around the +course. Bones, push him along, will you?” shouted Herman Hooker through +his megaphone. + +Just as if he were taking his orders from that source, what did +Shadduck do but lay down the most beautiful little bunt imaginable, +right along the line, but keeping well within bounds. + +“Go it, you heifer!” shouted the bleachers. + +Bones never got to first, but there was a grin on his freckled face as +he turned aside and retraced his steps, for he had landed his comrade +on second, and that was what he had been instructed by Captain Seymour +to do. + +Then up stepped Jack Comfort. It looked as though he meant to duplicate +the performance of Bones, for he made a stab at the first ball. But +that was only in the line of a trick with Jack. All the while he was +picking out just where he could swipe the next ball that came along. + +[Illustration: BEN MADE A GALLANT SLIDE FOR HOME. + + _Columbia High on the Diamond_ _Page 215._] + +As the bat and ball came together with a vicious smash, there burst +from the frantic crowd a howl such as had never before been heard on +those Bellport grounds. + +“Run, Jack, run! Go it, Ben, you slow-coach. Hurry! the ball’s after +you!” + +Ben made a gallant slide for home, though there was hardly any +necessity for it. Still, he believed in making sure; and the ball did +plunk in the catcher’s mitt even as his hand fell on the plate. + +“One run!” + +“A man on second, and only one out!” + +“Keep it going, you tigers. You’ve got Coddling’s measure all right. +Put the Indian sign on him! Give us another cheer, Herman!” + +“All together, then, and with a whirl! Here you go, now! Ho! ho! ho! +hi! hi! hi! _veni! vidi! vici!_ Columbia! Siss! boom! ay!” + +Herman and his cohort could not sit through such excitement as this. +They had left the bleachers and were jumping up and down like a group +of wild Indians, waving their arms, dancing in a circle, and shrieking +until every mother’s son gave promise of being as hoarse as a crow on +the morrow. + +If noise could coax Columbia to win this up-hill game, there was +certainly every inducement in the world for them to accomplish that +task. + +Lanky Wallace to the bat. Lanky had not distinguished himself overly +much thus far during the day. + +“He’s due for a hit, fellows, mark me!” cried one enthusiast, and Lanky +heard, for he grinned and nodded, as if he felt it in his bones. + +Coddling was wabbling by now. He had weakened in the great strain. +Somehow he believed in his soul that Lanky had it in for him, and +actually began to toss wide ones, having less fear of the next two +batters. But Lanky was indignant, and did not mean to be cheated of his +prey. If the mountain refused to come to Mahomet, then Mahomet must go +to the mountain. + +“Step out and take one, Lanky, old boy!” + +“Don’t you dare let him pass you! He’s tricky, all right, and he knows +you can swat it! Oblige us, Lanky, please!” + +Lanky evidently could not find it in his heart to refuse such pleading. +And he “swatted it” so very hard that Smith, Jr., had to run like a +deer to keep the long-legged first baseman from making a clean sweep of +the bases. + +The score tied, and a man on third, with only one out! + +Imagine the racket that ensued. Men began to shake hands with each +other in their intense emotional excitement, that is, men who owned to +a partiality for Columbia. As for the good people of Bellport, they +cheered in a faint way, feeling the strain, but not exactly liking the +way things were going against them. + +“Now, Buster, _you_ know! Pick out a good one, and send it over the +fence!” + +Buster wanted to do just that. It would have pleased him immensely +to have been the one to bat in the run needed to lead the score, and +possibly win the game. + +But he was over anxious, or else Coddling got a new grip on himself; +for Buster ingloriously struck out. A groan went up from the Columbia +High partisans, for they had been indulging in hopes that the wonderful +Coddling had gone to pieces. + +Tom Budd stepped up to try his luck. He had been responsible for one of +the earlier runs in the game, and there was hope that he could connect +with a twister, just as before. + +When the smack of the bat announced that he had, a shout started to +break loose; but it instantly degenerated into a groan, followed by +whoops from the Bellport adherents. For Tom Budd had knocked up a +soaring foul that dropped into the big mitt of Clay, and was smothered +there. + +During their half of the eighth the Bellport boys went out one, two, +three. + +So the ninth inning opened. + +Once again the Columbias had a chance to distinguish themselves. +Seymour himself started things moving this time with a hot one that +stung the hands of Herbert Lacy at short, so that he fumbled it, and +the runner just reached the bag in time to be called safe, though it +was a close call. + +Paul Bird knew that it was his part of the play to advance the runner +a base. He waited carefully while Coddling took his time and recovered +his wind. Then Paul tapped a bunt close to the plate. Clay, in his +eagerness to handle it, fought the ball. It was just about two seconds, +but he saw he had lost his man at second, and had to hustle hard to get +Paul at first. + +Was this inning to be a repetition of the last one? everybody sat up +and seemed to be holding their breath in suspense. Everything depended +on what Frank Allen could do, when a hit might mean the game. + +Frank tried to calm his nerves as he stepped into the batter’s position +and gave a reassuring glance toward the grandstand, where he knew full +well a pretty girl was waving her little flag, and praying in her heart +that he would win his own game with the single hit that was needed at +this critical point. + +Coddling was winding up preparatory to throwing, when Frank received a +signal from Captain Seymour at second that told him to wait. He knew +what that meant, and that the fleetfooted Columbia man was about to +get enough of a lead to steal third. + +With Clay behind the bat, that was indeed a risky thing to attempt; but +no one was apparently expecting such a move, and in that it stood a +chance for succeeding. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +WINNING AN UP-HILL GAME + + +Just at that moment there was such a dreadful clamor all over the field +that hearing any note of warning was utterly out of the question. The +Columbia cheer captain had started in again with his corps, and what +they did to rend the atmosphere with their racket was wonderful. + +Coddling knew from the hasty gesture of the catcher that something was +going on; but he had wound up for a throw, and could not hold back +without a balk. The best he could do was to send it in direct to Clay’s +hands, in order to give the other a fair chance to throw to third, so +as to catch the purloiner of sacks. + +Of course, Frank made a wild sweep at the ball. That was a part of +the game, to help disconcert the catcher. Clay stopped the ball +successfully, but it came at such an angle that he was not in exact +position to hurl the sphere to third. + +A second counts for considerable at times in baseball. Seymour slid +like a Western avalanche. His extended fingers touched the base just as +Bardwell grabbed the spinning ball, and dropped to touch him. + +The umpire extended both hands. That meant, of course, the runner was +safe, and a shriek went up from that immense crowd. + +Now Frank faced Coddling again. Only a nice little base hit was needed +to bring the runner home. Would the Columbia pitcher be equal to the +call, or must trusty old Ben Allison be delegated to the task? + +Frank struck! The “smack” electrified every heart in that great throng! + +Far away out over the center field soared the ball, and several +thousand eyes followed its flight. Every player knew that the thing had +been done, although there was Tony Banghardt chasing wildly to get out +far enough to hold the ball. + +“He’ll get it! Not this time, Columbia! Tony’s going to hold that +balloon!” howled a half-crazy Bellport backer, as he stretched his neck +to watch. + +“You’ve got another guess coming, old fellow. What will the man on +third be doing all that time eh?” jeered a Columbia student. + +Banghardt did get under. He made a magnificent catch, and held the +ball, even though he rolled over twice in so doing. But Seymour had +shot from the third bag the very second the ball fell. He was racing +like a wild broncho for home as Tony rolled about in the field. And by +the time the Bellport player managed to regain his feet to hold up the +ball, a run had crossed the plate for the visitors! + +Again and again did Herman Hooker lead his demonstrative band around. +They howled, they cheered, they shrieked; and those who had lost +control of their voices jumped up and down like dancing dervishes. + +_Columbia was a run to the good!_ + +Allison went out, shortstop to first. Then came the Bellports to the +bat, grim and determined, with Lee first to the plate, and ready to +smash the ball over the fence. Frank felt his lame arm troubling him, +but he set his teeth hard. He must hold out now to the end. This game +meant everything to Columbia High, and he was determined not to lose +it, if such a disaster could be avoided. + +And every other man on the team felt just the same way. When Lee did +go after an outshoot, and give it a frightful crack, the crowd uttered +an involuntary “oh!” and then followed it with a tumultuous burst +of cheering. It was that acrobatic shortstop, Tom Budd, who became +responsible for this mad applause; for he had thrown himself to one +side, made a stab for the speedy passing ball, turned a complete +somersault, and upon landing on his feet shot the sphere at Lanky on +first in plenty of time to head off the runner. + +Banghardt came next. The Bellports died hard, and Tony might have +followed up his brilliant catch with a hard hit, only he was short +of breath. Consequently after knocking two wicked fouls, the umpire +decided that he had allowed another good one to pass over the plate. So +Tony was invited to retire. + +Smith, Jr., appeared as the last hope. Already were the players +beginning to put their bats away in the bags, as though the game might +be reckoned as good as over. Frank never faltered a particle. This man +was just as dangerous as though a dozen came after him. There must be +no let-up in speed or curves; for many a game apparently won has gone +the other way through over-confidence. + +Three times did Smith sweep the air without discovering until too late +that he had bitten at deceivers. Then a roar broke out that dwarfed all +previous noises! + +The game belonged to Columbia High! It meant that the coveted pennant +of the Tri-School League belonged to Columbia High for this season! + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +CONCLUSION + + +That night a crowd gathered in the big assembly room of the Columbia +High School to see Roderic Seymour and his gallant boys receive the +splendid flag which the girls of Columbia High had purchased to fly +upon the staff at the athletic grounds whenever a game of any sort was +in progress. + +Helen Allen had been chosen to make the presentation address, because +she was known to be the best speaker among Columbia’s fair ones. And +both Paul Bird and Ralph West thought her the prettiest girl in the +wide world as, with rosy cheeks and sparkling eyes, she told what pride +the sisters of the Columbia boys took in their sterling fight for the +baseball pennant. + +If there was one disgruntled fellow in that big hall it must have been +Lef Seller, who had seen so many of his schemes for getting even with +his rival, Frank Allen, go astray of late. He had come because somehow +he could not keep away; but during the exercises, while everybody +else seemed to be filled with delight, Lef could only grit his teeth, +and mutter low threats to himself, still cherishing the hope that the +day would come when fortune might once more shine upon him, to the +confusion of his enemies. + +Although the school term was nearly ended that seemed to be no reason +for Columbia High losing all interest in outdoor sports. There were +other days to come, and that not far distant, when these sturdy lads +of the banner high school would meet again in friendly struggles with +their student rivals of Bellport and Clifford. Something of the nature +of these contests may be gleaned from the title of the next volume in +this series, to be called, “The Boys of Columbia High on the River; or, +The Boat Race Plot That Failed.” It will be found crammed full of the +further doings of these wideawake lads, in whose fortunes we have found +ourselves so deeply concerned. + +While the yearly examinations were being conducted as usual, Ralph +found it exceedingly difficult to concentrate his mind on his work. He +knew that Judge Allen had taken passage for Europe, in order to follow +up the mysterious travelers, who had last been heard from in Italy. + +So the school year closed in a blaze of glory. Principal Parke declared +they had never known a more successful season, and with the percentage +so high. The graduation exercises passed off without a hitch; nor was +the electric current cut off on this occasion, as had happened once +before, when mischief-makers severed the wires, and lamps had to be +brought in so that Lanky Wallace could complete his declamation. + +Ralph was frequently in consultation with his good friend Frank, while +he waited to hear from abroad. + +“What would I do without you, Frank?” he said, as they sat under the +apple tree on that July morning just a day or two before the Glorious +Fourth. + +“Oh, you’d manage to get on all right,” returned the other, quickly. +“Cheer up, old fellow. It’s always darkest just before dawn. You’ll get +a letter any day now, and perhaps written by the one you are longing to +hear from most. Try and put it out of your mind for a bit, and think of +the great times we expect to have on the river.” + +“That’s always the way with you, Frank. You manage to chase away the +blues better than any medicine made. I’m going to laugh, and try to +forget my troubles for a little while. Yes, the letter is on the way +now, I don’t doubt; but oh! how the days drag along, waiting for news,” +sighed Ralph. + +“Here comes Helen. Now we’ll go inside and have her give us some music +that is bound to liven us up. I just feel like singing, and it will do +you good,” cried Frank. + +Ralph was nothing loath. There was an attraction about Frank’s charming +sister that always appealed to the homeless lad. So they were soon +gathered about the piano, and joining voices in such old favorites as +“Tenting To-night,” “I Know a Bank,” “Upidee,” and many others. + +“Now, let’s wind up with the ‘Red, White and Blue,’” said Frank, when +Ralph had declared he must be going. + +So, as on many a hard fought athletic field, the familiar words of the +grand old tune rolled out--always a favorite with these students of the +famous high school bearing the same cherished name: + + “O, Columbia, the gem of the ocean, + The home of the brave and the free, + The shrine of each patriot’s devotion, + A world offers homage to thee!” + + +THE END + + + + +TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES: + + + Italicized text is surrounded by underscores: _italics_. + + Perceived typographical errors have been corrected. + + Inconsistencies in hyphenation have been standardized. + + Archaic or variant spelling has been retained. + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75400 *** |