__CHAPTER XII A GUEST WHO WAS WELCOME
"It is Mr. Disbrow!" gasped Hazel.
"And he didn't sprain his ankle at all," added Jane.
"He must have injured it, for he is walking with a crutch," replied MissElting.
"Not a word, Disbrow. Come over here and sit down and fix your foot so itwill be comfortable. You may tell us all about it later on. Sam, fix aseat there for P. E. Somebody put down his coat for P. E. to sit on."
The newcomer was laughing.
"George, I'm not quite in swaddling clothes," he said, "nor am I whollyan invalid. Please introduce me to your friends."
George Baker flushed, for, in his joy at seeing Disbrow, he had neglectedthe formalities. He introduced the guest first to Miss Elting, then tothe Meadow-Brook Girls and afterward to the boys of the Tramp Club.Harriet had already begun making coffee and was preparing a luncheon forthe unexpected guest, who had had no supper as they afterward learned. Hewas given a place at the end of the table where he might stretch hisinjured foot. With all the girls and boys gathered about him watchingeach mouthful that the champion ate, Disbrow did full justice to thesupper, for he was hungry. During the meal he explained that the doctorswho had examined his ankle at the hospital had first pronounced it aserious sprain, after which they had revised their opinion, finding itmerely a slight strain which, within a few days, would entirelydisappear.
"I lost no time in hot-crutching it out to Meadow-Brook," added theEnglishman. "I knew that you wouldn't have said what you did in yourmessage unless you needed me. Mr. Mabie spotted me the instant I got downfrom the car. But, George, old chap, I don't think much of yourconveyances up this neck of America."
"We rode out on a lumber wagon," explained Charlie.
"Yes, and every joint in my body was properly shaken loose."
Miss Elting at this juncture called George aside and suggested thatarrangements be made for Mr. Disbrow to remain at the Meadow-Brook campthat night on account of his lame ankle. George assented and sent two ofhis fellows to the Tramp camp to fetch the tent they had set aside forDisbrow.
The girls had hung upon the champion's every word and gesture since hisarrival at the camp. But they had difficulty in making themselves believethat this man was the much-heralded champion. Disbrow was thin, pale anddelicate looking. His movements were slow and deliberate and he was whatJane characterized as "fussy." But he was Disbrow, the champion tennisplayer. There could be no doubt as to that. George knew. Yet it did seemalmost impossible.
Having finished his supper, Disbrow, with the aid of his crutch, hobbledabout pluckily, testing the strength of the strained ankle. Theysuggested that he stop. He said the ankle would be lame just so long asit was babied, that he proposed to throw away his crutch on the followingday.
"Now, old chap, tell me what it is all about?" urged the champion afterhaving resumed his seat at the end of the table. "Charlie told mesomething of what you wanted of me, but he was too excited to be clearabout it. It is some sort of a match game of tennis that you young ladiesare wanting to take part in, I understand."
"The coast championship," George informed him.
"And the young ladies, they are good players?" questioned the tennischampion.
"We practically never touched a racquet until within a few days ago,"said Harriet.
"Hm-m-m-m! How are they playing, George?"
"As badly as possible!" answered the captain with emphasis, whereat therewas a shout of laughter from the girls.
"Mr. Baker has described it correctly," added Harriet. "Please let meexplain the situation. Our young friends, the Tramp Club, as they callthemselves, entered the Meadow-Brook Girls in the Atlantic Coast TennisTournament, supposing, of course, that we played, and played well. Noneof us play tennis, but for the sake of showing them that we appreciatedtheir efforts, we promised to go in and do the best we could. Understand,Mr. Disbrow, they had bought a net, a complete outfit and carried it uphere in order that we might have opportunity to practice. We have beendoing so under Captain Baker's instruction, but I fear we have not playedin a manner to encourage him very much. The captain said you could whipus into shape if any one could do so. He was overjoyed when he saw in anewspaper a notice of your arrival in this country. I think you know therest. We were very unhappy when we learned of your accident. I think thatis all."
"Except to express our appreciation of your kindness in coming here,crippled as you are," added the guardian.
"It is nothing, Miss Elting. I would do a lot more for George, and nowthat I have met you and your young ladies, I thank him for sending forme. How many of you are there, Miss Elting?"
"There are five young women and myself."
"And how many will play?"
"Four, I believe. Miss Brown doesn't care to play."
"No, Buthter ith--" began Tommy, casting a tantalizing look at Margery.
Harriet nudged Tommy to be silent. The girls were trying their best tokeep from laughing at the little lisping girl's attempted fling atMargery, whose face had grown very red.
"And when is this tournament to take place?" questioned the Englishman.
"A little less than five weeks from now," answered George.
Disbrow uttered a low whistle under his breath.
"You--you expect to win something?"
"Of course we do," replied Harriet Burrell promptly. "Otherwise we shouldnot have decided to play."
Disbrow regarded her shrewdly.
"You at least have the proper spirit. Other things being equal, you oughtto win. But you must remember that tennis is not a game to be learned ina day. Years ordinarily are required to make the expert player. I am notgoing to say that I think you have no chance. I can not say until I haveseen you play. To-morrow we shall see what you can do. For my part, Ishall do my best for you. It follows that I am able to coach to the bestadvantage, but first of all you must be tennis players by instinct. Evenwere you fair players, you would have a task before you to prepareyourself for a tournament within the short time left. George, will thistournament call out any high-class material?"
"Herrington says it will, especially the Scott Sisters from Portsmouth,who are said to be near the professional class. I don't know of my ownknowledge how well they play."
"Hm-m-m. Not a very encouraging outlook, is it, young ladies?"
"I haven't had any reason to change my mind as to the result," remarkedHarriet.
"You mean you expect to win?"
"Yes, sir."
"That state of mind should go a long way toward the success of your club.All of you feel the same way?"
"We always agree with Harriet," answered Hazel, with an emphatic nod.
"A jolly good idea," muttered the Englishman, regarding each girl with asteady gaze of keen inquiry. He was noting their movements, their poise,with the eyes of an expert. This brief study encouraged P. EarlingtonDisbrow. He decided that the Meadow-Brook Girls were at least goodmaterial, but as for fitting themselves to play in a tournament at suchshort notice, he was doubtful, and they saw that he was. This did notchange the point of view of the Meadow-Brook Girls in the least, but itadded to the gloom of Captain Baker.
"Another matter that I wish to mention," said Miss Elting. "We cannotgive you any comforts up here in the woods. Perhaps you would prefer tohave us move into town, and----"
"By no means," replied the guest. "We should have a crowd at our heelsall the time. I don't mind saying that I purpose showing you some thingsabout tennis that I would be chary of other persons knowing. These thingsare what a merchant would characterize as his stock in trade. I'd be aproper idiot to give them away to others, wouldn't I, now?"
They agreed that he would.
"You may depend upon our discretion," the guardian assured him.
"I know that. It is unnecessary to tell me. Do I have far to go to get toyour camp, George?"
"You are to remain here to-night, Mr. Disbrow," replied the guardian."Two of the boys
have gone to their camp to bring a tent for you. Weshall make you as comfortable as possible, but it will not be exactlyhome comforts, you know."
"I am used to roughing it. I've played tennis pretty much all over theworld and have had to put up with some pretty rough quarters. I'm jollywell satisfied with a tent and a pair of clean blankets. This supper, letme tell you, I enjoyed more than anything I've had since I left England.I shall have to be careful or I'll put on too much flesh in the two orthree weeks I am up here. By the way, what is the physical condition ofthe young ladies, Miss Elting!"
"I do not see how it could be better," answered the guardian. "Theypractically live out-of-doors a good part of the year. I should say thattheir endurance is as great as it is possible to find in a woman, if thatis what you mean."
He nodded reflectively.
"I judged as much from the little I have seen of them. I trust you to seeto it that they do not overdo nor 'go stale' before the date set for thematch. An ambitious person is quite likely to try to do too much. He paysfor it bitterly in many cases. But we shall see after a day or so.To-morrow morning I wish to see the young ladies play. You naturally willplay in doubles at the tournament, so that is the way I shall have youplay to-morrow. Until then I can say nothing definite as to what we shalldo. How are their strokes, George?"
"Awkward," answered the captain frankly.
"That is the fault of their teacher. You haven't taught them properly."
"I did the best I could," replied George bitterly, "but it did not seemto me to be of much use. I am no tennis sharp, anyway."
"I'll not have you depreciating yourself that way, Captain," declaredMiss Elting warmly. "He has done nobly by us," she added to Mr. Disbrow.
"Yes, it isn't his fault that we have made so little progress," agreedHarriet.
"What about the court?" inquired the young Englishman.
"As good as I could make. I've played on worse ones," answered thecaptain.
"We shall have to look into that, too. It's an important factor, andconditions on the practice court must be as near a duplicate of those onwhich the tournament is to be played as possible. Will they be grass ordirt courts?"
"Dirt, so Herrington said. This one is dirt also."
"Well, I think when that tent is ready I will retire. How about it,Brother George?"
"It is up. The fellows are making your bed now."
"How thoughtless in me! I shall attend to that myself," said theguardian, rising hurriedly and going to the tent that the boys had set upsome little distance from the Meadow-Brook camp. Shortly after that Mr.Disbrow retired to his tent. The boys saw him safely stowed there, thenleft for their own camp.
The next day was to be a day of activity, a day of hopes anddisappointments which were destined to have an important bearing on theoutcome of their plans.