CHAPTER IX
A CLASH WITH LANGRIDGE
In the meanwhile football practice went on, and the team seemed to begetting into better shape, though there was much to be desired. Sam andPete did better, though they were uncertain, and there was much raggedwork, both in offensive and defensive plays, over which coach andcaptain shook their heads.
"Randall has got to do better than that," said Mr. Lighton, "if shewants to stay at the head of the league."
"Right!" agreed Kindlings. "Bricktop is coaching Sam all he can, but itneeds more than coaching to make a guard."
"Hope for the best," suggested the coach. "I wonder how our freshmenwill make out Saturday against Boxer Hall?"
"They'll win, of course," declared Dan, energetically.
The game between the two freshmen elevens of Boxer Hall and Randall wasquite an event, almost approaching the 'varsity struggles, and therewas a big crowd on hand at the Boxer Hall gridiron the followingSaturday when the contest was about to begin. Nearly all of the 'varsitysquad was present to lend moral and vocal support, and Bean Perkins wasin his element.
It was a hot battle from the very kick-off, and the two teams foughteach other up and down the field. There was considerable kicking andopen playing, but Randall depended on old-fashioned football, modifiedby Mr. Lighton, and secured the first touchdown. Boxer Hall gotone before the initial half was finished, and then there was muchspeculation during the intermission as to which side would win.
By tremendous efforts, ploughing through the line, bucking great holesbetween their opponents, and by putting up a great defense, Randallsucceeded in getting another touchdown, and a goal from the field, whileBoxer Hall was unable to score in the last half. It was a gloriousvictory, all the more so because Randall had lost the contest theprevious season.
The game was over. There had been cheers for the winners and losers, andcollege cries and songs galore.
"Come on over this way," urged Tom to Sid and Phil, who had sat with himduring the game. "I think I see Madge, Ruth and Mabel. There are a lotof Fairview girls here."
"Oh, trust you for seeing the lassies," half-grumbled Sid, yet hefollowed, for he had more than a passing liking for Miss Harrison.
As the trio approached the three girls, who were standing together onthe side lines, Tom suddenly plucked his companions by their sleeves.
"What's up?" demanded Sid.
"There's Langridge and Gerhart going to speak to them," said the end.
"What?" cried Phil, and a red glow suffused the quarter-back's face ashe saw the former bully of Randall speaking to his sister. "I'll notstand for that! I don't want Ruth to have anything to do with him!" ForLangridge was not the kind of a chap any fellow would want his sister toassociate with. In times past Langridge had been quite friendly withMiss Madge Tyler, but when she had discovered certain things about him,she had cut his acquaintance.
"Guess he's trying to get in with her again," suggested Sid.
"I'll put a stop to that!" exclaimed Phil, grimly, as he strode forward.Then he called peremptorily: "Ruth!"
His sister looked up, caught his eye, blushed a little and, with a wordto Langridge and Gerhart, moved off. Her two girl friends followed, andseemed glad of the chance to get away from the two sportily-dressedlads.
Langridge swung around, and at the sight of the three lads who, morethan any others, had been instrumental in causing him to leave Randall,his face turned a dull red.
"What's wrong, Clinton?" he called, sharply. "Do you think your sisteris too good to speak to me?"
"He evidently does," sneered Gerhart.
"Since you ask me--I do," replied Phil, calmly, and then he turned hisback on the angry Boxer Hall students and began to talk to his sisterand her friends, Tom and Sid joining in the conversation, not without alittle sense of embarrassment.
"Look here, if you think I'm going to stand for being insulted publiclythis way, you're mistaken, Clinton!" cried Langridge, hotly. He strodeforward, while Gerhart tried in vain to hold him back.
"Oh, Phil!" cried Ruth, reaching out her hand to halt her brother, butin an instant he had gone beyond where she stood. She clasped her handsin alarm, and Madge and Mabel, with heightened color, gathered close toher.
Langridge and Phil faced each other with flashing eyes, and Gerhartstood just behind the former bully of Randall, looking a bit alarmed,for Langridge had torn from his grasp with considerable force.
"Look out, Phil," spoke Sid, in a low voice, but Langridge heard him.
"You keep out of this!" he snapped. "I'll settle with Clinton first, andthen if you or Parsons want anything, you know where you can get it."
"Yes, and so do you!" declared Tom, stung by the bully's words. Morethan once had the plucky end proved his words, too.
"Oh, Tom!" breathed Madge, and she laid a gentle hand on his coatsleeve. "Don't--don't let them--fight!"
Tom slowly turned his gaze from the flushed and angry face of Langridgeto that of the beautiful girl at his side. She was pale, but smiledbravely. It was a tense moment. Phil and the bully still stood facingeach other, neither willing to give way. A little crowd, attracted bythe impending clash, was approaching.
Tom caught Sid's eye, and the latter, with a quick motion, indicatedthat he and Tom must interfere to prevent an encounter, at least thuspublicly.
"You--you insulted me," mumbled Langridge, his fists clenched, as heglared at Phil.
"Impossible," murmured Tom.
"I told you the truth, in answer to your question," retorted thequarter-back. "You brought it on yourself."
"But why you should consider that my speaking to your sister was aninsult, I can't quite make out," declared Langridge, with a sneer."Neither she, Miss Tyler nor Miss Harrison resented it. But perhaps youconsider yourself the knight errant of all girls. If so----"
"That will do!" interrupted Phil, sharply. "Leave my sister and herfriends out of this discussion, if you please!"
"And if I don't please," sneered Langridge, "for I assure you that I donot, and----"
Phil fairly jumped for the bully and Ruth uttered a little cry. Inanother instant there would have been a scene which Phil, in his calmermoments would have regretted as greatly as any one.