CHAPTER XIX
FAIRVIEW AND RANDALL
Tom did not reply to Sid's almost sneering allusion to the unfortunatefact that he was barred from playing. There was little the captain couldsay, and when Sid went to Bascome's dinner, together with a number ofthe more sporty students, Tom and Phil, who were in bed, did not greettheir chum on his return.
"What's the matter with you fellows?" demanded Sid, as he entered thedarkened room, and proceeded to get ready to retire. "You'd think I'dcommitted an unpardonable crime. It was a jolly crowd I was with, andnothing out of the way. Bascome isn't half bad, when you get to knowhim."
"Only a little fresh, that's all," remarked Phil, while Tom mumbled afew words that might have been taken for anything.
The game with Michigan the next day demonstrated in how poor a conditionwas Randall, for the contest nearly went by the board, and Tom onlypulled it out of the fire by excellent pitching, though he was not inthe best of form.
"Well, we won, anyhow," remarked Phil that night.
"Yes, but nothing to boast of. I'm worried about the Fairview gameSaturday," said the captain.
"Do we play on their grounds?"
"No, they come here."
"Well, that's something in our favor. We'll have Bean Perkins and theother shouters with us. We've just got to win, Tom!"
"I know it, but----"
"There are no 'buts,' old man," declared the genial first baseman. "Justremember that the girls will be on hand, and they mustn't see us go downto defeat twice to a co-ed college."
"No, of course not," and Tom turned in.
The following days were devoted to practice--practice harder than anyyet that term, for Tom and the coach worked the men every spare hourthey could devote to the diamond, outside of lecture and study hours.Pete Backus improved wonderfully. He was not Sid's equal, but the bestsubstitute that could be found.
"Oh, Sid, but I wish you were going to play," said Tom, with a littlesigh, the night before the Fairview game.
"So do I," came in sorrowful tones from the second baseman. "But--Oh,well, what's the use of talking?" and he tried to laugh it off, but itwas a poor attempt.
Fairview was on hand early with a crowd of "rooters" and supporters,both young men and maidens, the next afternoon, when the Randall teamfairly leaped out on the diamond.
"I wonder if Ruth is here?" said Phil, as he stopped a particularly"hot" ball Tom threw.
"Let's take a look," suggested the pitcher, and while the grand standand bleachers were filling up the two strolled along, scanning thehundreds of faces.
"There she is!" cried Tom at length. "Miss Tyler's with her."
"And Miss Harrison is up there, too," added Phil. "And see who's withher--Miss Harrison, I mean."
"Who?"
"Langridge."
"By Jove! you're right," agreed Tom. "I guess he came to get a line onus. Well, he'll get it."
"Queer place he picked out to see the game from," went on Phil.
"Why?"
"It'll be sunny there, after a bit," replied Phil, for part of theseating accommodations on the Randall grounds were not of the best, andsome grand stands were little better than the bleachers in the matterof shade. "He'll have the sun almost in his face before the game is halfover," continued the first baseman.
"Well, if it suits him, we oughtn't to kick," said Tom.
"No, I s'pose not. Hello, if there isn't Sid, and he's going to sitright down behind Langridge and Miss Harrison."
"That's so. Maybe he doesn't see 'em. Rather awkward if he and Langridgehave a run-in here. But come on, we'll say how-d'y-do to the girls, andthen get at practice," and, after greeting their friends, and assuringthem that Fairview would go home beaten, Tom and Phil took their placeswith the other players.
"Now, fellows, we've got to win!" declared Tom emphatically just beforethe game started. "Last time we played Fairview we lost by a score often to three. Don't let it happen again."
"No, don't you dare to," cautioned Mr. Leighton.
A moment later the Randall players went out in the field, the home teamhaving the privilege of batting last. The umpire took the new ball fromits foil cover, and tossed it to Tom. The tall, good-looking pitcherlooked at it critically, glanced around the field to see that hismen were in position, and then sent in a few practice balls to DutchHousenlager, who loomed up big and confident behind home plate.
Ted Puder, the Fairview center fielder and captain, was the first manup, and was greeted with a round of cheers as he tapped his bat on therubber. Dutch signalled for an out curve and Tom delivered it, rightover the plate.
"Strike!" called the umpire.
"Wow!" jeered Fairview's friends, for Puder had not swung at it.
"Robber!" yelled some one, but the Fairview captain only laughed. "Makehim give you a good one, Puder," he said.
But waiting availed Puder nothing, for Tom neatly struck him out, andfollowed it by doing the same to Lem Sellig. Frank Sullivan managed tofind Tom's second delivery, and sent a neat little liner out towardBricktop Molloy, at short. Bricktop seemed to have it fairly in hisgrasp, even though he had to reach out to one side for it, but his footslipped, and the ball went on past him.
"Run, Frank, run!" screamed a score of voices, and Frank legged it forfirst, reaching the bag before Joe Jackson in left field could run upand redeem Bricktop's error by stopping the rolling ball.
"Never mind, two down--play for the batter," advised Dutch in a signalto Tom, and the pitcher nodded comprehendingly. Ned Williams, whofollowed Sullivan, knocked two fouls, both of which Dutch tried hard toget, but could not. Then Tom struck him out with a puzzling drop, and agoose egg went up on the score board for Fairview.
"Guess they're not finding us as soft as they expected," remarked HollyCross, as his side came in.
"It's early yet," advised Tom. "Wait until about the fifth inning, andthen talk."
"Do you wish to spank me?" asked Bricktop, as he came up to Tom, lookingsorrowful over his error.
"Don't do it again, that's all," said Coach Leighton.
"Not for worlds," promised the red-haired shortstop.