CHAPTER XV
AN UNEXPECTED DEFENSE
There wasn't much said in the room of the chums after Sid had "goneoff the handle," as Tom expressed it later. In fact there was not muchthat could be said. Phil shrugged his shoulders and glanced at Tomin a significant manner, and the captain of the nine shook his headdiscouragedly. Matters were getting worse, he thought, and he began tofear for the effect of Sid's trouble on the second baseman's ability asa player. But what could be done?
Though he did not refer to the scene of the previous evening, when hegreeted his chums next morning, Sid, by his manner showed that herealized it. There was a tender gruffness in his words and actions, andhe seemed so contrite, and so anxious to make amends that Phil and Tomdid not have it in their hearts to stand out against him.
"A fine day for practice," observed Tom, as he sprang out of bed, at thefirst summons of the alarm clock.
"Caesar's battle-axe! What's going to happen?" demanded Phil, lazilyturning over. "You're up, Tom."
"Sure. I'm behind in my psychology work, and I've got to attend a stifflecture this morning and stand for a quizz afterward. I'm afraid I'llslump."
"I'll help you," came unexpectedly from Sid. "I've been all over thatstuff, and I know what Pitchfork will try to stick you on. Get somethingon, and I'll help you bone."
This was unexpected on Sid's part, but Tom was none the less grateful,and soon the two were delving deep into problems of mind and matter,while Phil protested that it was against all rules, and that he wantedto sleep.
Tom did well in the "quizz," and this made him more than ever anxious tohelp Sid in his trouble. But the second baseman made no reference to it,and in practice that afternoon he did better than in several previousdays at his stick work.
"We'll eat up Dodville," prophesied Tom exultantly. "That's the way tolambast 'em, Sid!"
But Randall didn't "eat up" Dodville. They beat the preparatory schoolnine, as indeed they should have done, but the score was no greatshowing of the abilities of Randall.
For the smaller lads hit Tom rather too frequently, and their fieldingwas a joy to the heart of their coach and captain. Even Mr. Leightoncomplimented them on it, and he did not say much to his own men, who, tosay the least, were a bit ragged.
"Dodville shouldn't have gotten more than one run," declared the coachas the nine was returning, "yet you fellows let them get six."
"Yes," added Tom bitterly. "I can see a large, gold-framed picture of uswinning that loving cup, when we go up against Boxer Hall and Fairviewagain."
"You needn't talk," declared Sid, somewhat bitterly. "You issued plentyof walking papers to-day, and they found you several times, in spite ofyour curves."
"I didn't muff a ball, and let a man get away from me on second,though," retorted Tom.
"Oh, come on, fellows, let's sing," proposed Holly Cross, as a way outof the difficulty, and when some of the old college lays had beenrendered the team was in better humor.
That evening, when Tom was putting a new toe-plate on his shoe, andSid was pretending to study in one corner of the room, but scarcelyglancing at his book, there came a summons at the door. Sid jumped upat the knock, and there was a look of apprehension on his face, whichvanished, however, when Wallops, the messenger, came with word that Philwas wanted on the telephone. The first baseman returned presently, toannounce:
"My sister wants to see me, over at Fairview."
"Anything the matter?" asked Tom quickly, and with suspicious interest.
"No, she has a letter from dad, with something in about vacation plans,and she wants to talk to me about it. I'll be back soon. Don't sit upfor me--ta-ta," and Phil was gone.
It was not quite as difficult for him to gain admission to the youngladies' side of the Fairview institution as it had been for Tom, on onememorable occasion, when he had called to tell Ruth that her brother hadbeen hurt in a football game. Then Miss Philock, the preceptress, seemedto think Tom was going to carry off some of her charges out of hand.
"What is it, sis?" asked Phil, when his sister had come down to talk tohim.
"Oh, it's about where we're going this summer. Dad and Momsey have leftit to me. I want to go to Europe awfully, Phil, and if you and I bothask, maybe they'll take us. Will you? That's what I wanted to see youabout, and I couldn't wait to write, so I telephoned. Don't you want togo to Europe?"
"Not much! I'm going camping with Sid and Tom. No Europe for me! We'regoing to do Yellowstone Park, and----"
"Oh, Phil, and I was so counting on Europe," and Ruth began to arguewith her brother. In the midst of it the door of the little receptionroom opened, and in came Madge and Miss Harrison.
"Oh, excuse us, dear," exclaimed Madge. "We didn't know you were here."
"Do stay," urged Ruth. "It's only Phil. Perhaps you can help me persuadehim to join with me in begging the folks to take us to Europe," andPhil's sister looked knowingly at Madge.
"Oh, wouldn't that be fine!" exclaimed Miss Tyler. "I heard mamma andpapa talking about making a tour this year, and of course if they wentI'd go too. Then we might see each other, Ruth. I don't see why you'reso opposed to Europe, Mr. Clinton."
"Oh, I'm not," answered Phil quickly, doing some hard thinking before hereversed himself. "In fact I rather like it. Perhaps we will postponethe camping trip and--er--well, I don't care, sis. If you can work thefolks for a trip across the pond I'm with you."
"Oh, thank you so much!" exclaimed Ruth, and she made a motion as thoughto kiss her brother, only Phil ducked.
"How fortunate you people are to go abroad," spoke Miss Harrison. "I'vebeen longing to go," and they began to talk of many things they wishedto see. From that the talk switched to baseball, and before she thoughtRuth remarked:
"Is Mr. Henderson batting as well as ever?"
"Not as well as he might," declared Phil, and he spoke not to disparageSid, but merely as a lover of his team. "There's something wrong withSid," he went on, scarcely aware of what he was saying. "He's goingdown, somehow. I'm afraid he's gotten in with a bad crowd. That sportychap we met him with isn't doing him any good, and Sid will slump, if heisn't careful. He used to be a steady chap, but I'm afraid he's going tothe bad."
"Oh, what a shame!" remarked Ruth.
"Yes, and he was so steady," added Madge.
Miss Harrison was biting her lips. Her face had first flushed, but nowwas white.
"I think it's very mean of you to say such things about him when heisn't here," she burst out. "Sid--I mean Mr. Henderson--doesn't--Imean--I'm sure he wouldn't--anyhow, why don't you be fair to him?" and,before any of the others could answer, she burst into tears and fledfrom the room.