CHAPTER XXII
SID DESPAIRS
"Wasn't it great!" demanded Dutch Housenlager, as he waltzed up to Tom,and tried to lead him out into a dance on the diamond. "Immense, eh?Pulling it out of the fire that way?"
"Yes, that's what we did--pulled it out of the fire," agreed Tom, with asmile. "We needed this victory, and I'm glad we won, but we've got toplay better--and that includes me--if we're to have the loving cup thisyear. Our batting and fielding could be improved a whole lot."
"Oh, of course," agreed Dutch, "but aren't you a bit proud of us,captain?"
"Oh, sure--of course," answered the pitcher heartily. "Let joy beunconfined," and with a yell of pure enjoyment he joined in theimpromptu dance.
Fairview was glum, but not cast down. They had cheered the winning team,and Ted Puder, the captain, came up to Tom.
"You certainly beat us fair and square," he acknowledged. "I hope youdon't think we had anything to do with Langridge using that mirror todazzle the eyes of your second baseman."
"Never thought of such a thing," declared Tom with emphasis. "The cadworked that trick up all by his lonesome. I guess he thought maybe Sidwas playing there, and he has a grudge against Henderson--yet thatcouldn't have been it either, for Langridge knows Sid is suspended, andanyhow, Sid was sitting directly back of the sneak, where Langridgecould have seen him."
"Yes, it's a good thing Sid detected him. Well, we'll beat you nexttime."
"Forget it," advised Tom with a laugh.
"Come on, cap," called Phil to him a moment later. "Let's look up Sid,and, incidentally, the girls."
"Sure," agreed the pitcher, and a moment later he and Phil were greetingMadge, Ruth and Mabel. But Sid had hurried away.
The little group strolled past the grand stand, Tom and Phil excusingthemselves while they went in to get on their street garments, the girlspromising to wait for them.
"Wonder where Sid went?" asked Tom.
"Give it up," replied Phil. "Langridge lit out, too; the cad! What achump he must be to think he could get away with a game like that!"
"Yes, it was almost as good to have Sid discover him trying it, as ifour old chum had held down the second bag," declared the captain. "Aflash at the right moment would have confused Pete, and might have costus the game."
"That's right. Come on, hurry up, or the girls will get tired ofwaiting."
The two went out, in time to see Langridge approaching the three youngladies. The Boxer Hall pitcher was striding over the grass toward MissHarrison, who stood a little apart from her two friends.
"I'm awfully sorry to have kept you waiting, Miss Mabel," beganLangridge. "The truth was, I had an important engagement, that I camenear forgetting."
"You haven't kept me waiting," was the cool answer.
"No? Well, I'm glad of it. Now, if you're ready we'll trot along. I meta friend of mine, Mr. Bascome, of Randall, and he will take us back toFairview in his auto."
"Thank you, I don't care to go," replied Miss Harrison.
"What? Don't you like rides in the gasolene gig?" asked Langridge, witha forced laugh.
"Oh, I didn't exactly mean that," went on Miss Harrison. "It's thecompany I object to."
"You mean Bascome? Why he's all right. Maybe he's a little too----"
"I mean you!" burst out the girl, flashing a look of scorn on him fromher blue eyes. "I don't care to ride with a person who seeks to takeunfair advantage of another in a ball game."
"You mean that mirror? That was all an accident--I assure you it was. Ididn't intend anything--honestly."
"You will favor me by not speaking to me again!" came in snapping tonesfrom the indignant girl. "I shall refuse to recognize you after this,Mr. Langridge."
"Oh, but I say now----" protested the bully, as he took a step forward.But Mabel linked her arm in that of Ruth, and, as Tom and Phil camealong just then, Langridge, who was aware that they had heard theforegoing conversation, slipped hastily away, with a very red face.
"Sorry to have kept you waiting," began Tom, unconsciously repeating theremark of Langridge. Miss Harrison seemed a little ill at ease, and Philblurted out:
"Oh, come on! Let's hurry, or there won't be any ice cream left atAnderson's. It's a hot day and the crowd must be dry as a bone. I know Iam. Come on, girls."
They had a merry little time, until it was necessary for the girls toreturn to Fairview, whither Tom and Phil escorted them.
"Did you say any more to Langridge, old man?" asked Tom of Sid, thatnight in the room of the "inseparables."
"No, it wasn't necessary."
"You should have heard Miss Harrison lay him out," exulted Phil. "Shecertainly put it all over him!"
"How?" demanded Sid eagerly, and his chums took turns telling him howthe blue-eyed girl had given Langridge his "walking papers" in a mannervery distasteful to that individual.
"No! You don't mean it!" exclaimed Sid joyfully. Then, as a look cameinto his eyes that his chums had not seen there since the first happydays he had experienced with Mabel Harrison, Sid went on:
"Say, what's the date of the Junior racket? I've mislaid my tickets."
"Why?" asked Tom mischievously, though he well knew.
"None of your affair," retorted Sid, but there was no sting in hisanswer.
"It's next Friday," put in Phil.
Sid tossed aside the things on his desk, and made a great fuss aboutwriting a letter, while Phil and Tom casually looked on, well knowingto whom the epistle was addressed. Sid made several false starts, anddestroyed enough paper to have enabled him to compute several problemsand tore up a lot of envelopes before he finished something that metwith his approval, and then he went out to post it.
"He's asked Miss Harrison to go to the Junior affair with him," saidPhil.
"Of course," agreed Tom. "I hope she goes."
Sid lived in an atmosphere of rosy hope for several days, but, when noreply came, he began to get uneasy. He eagerly accepted an invitationextended to him a few days later, to accompany Phil and Tom on a trip toFairview, Ruth again having asked her brother to call to talk about theproposed trip to Europe. The three chums found the three girls in thereception room, and Miss Harrison showed some embarrassment when Sidentered. With a view to dispelling it Ruth, with a rapid signal to herbrother, Tom and Madge, left the room, they following, leaving MissHarrison and Sid alone there.
"Lovely weather," remarked Sid desperately.
"Very," answered Miss Harrison, uncertain whether to be amused or angryat the trick played on her by her chums.
"Are you going to the Junior dance Friday night?" went on Sid. "I wroteand asked you--you got my letter, didn't you?"
"Yes, Mr. Henderson, and I should have answered before, but I wasuncertain----"
"Won't you let me take you?" pleaded Sid.
"I would like--won't you--can you explain a certain matter which I wishto know about?" she asked. "You know what I mean. Believe me, I'm notprudish, or anything like that, but--if you only knew how I feel aboutit--won't you tell me about that--that item in the paper accusing you?"she stammered. "If you weren't there, why can't you say so?" and sheleaned eagerly forward, looking Sid full in the face.
He scarcely seemed to breathe. There was a great struggle going onwithin him. He looked into the blue eyes of the girl.
"I--I can't tell you--yet," he said brokenly.
"Then I can't go with you to the dance," she replied in a low voice, andshe turned and left the room, going back to the den she shared with Ruthand Madge, while Sid went out the front door, and across the campus; norwould he stay, though Phil and Tom called to him, but walked off, blackdespair in his heart.