Batting to Win

the three girls. They heard him coming, and turned around, whil

'm awfully sorry, Miss Harrison, but-er-I can't take you to the

e pretty girl, that had been merry and dancing, as sh

that I have received a message-I have got to go away-I-er-I can't explain, but some one is in trouble, and I-I'm awfully sorry," he blur

tones. Her blue eyes seemed to flash, and she drew herself up proudly. Madge and Rut

glad to take you," went

o to the theatricals after all. Come on, girls, or we will be late fo

nd baseman. "I thought-that is-you see-I can'

od afternoon, Mr. Henderson," and she swept away, leaving poor Sid staring after her with bewilderment in his eyes. It

. "Is it all right? Am I to have the p

blurted out Sid. "I ca

u do make up to one, and something happens, you say you can't understand them. No man can, ol

eplied the pitcher. "Bu

told her I couldn't p

her why?" in

ve got to go away for a short time, that's all. It's fearfully important, of course, or I wouldn't break a date with a girl.

cried the am

as going to hav

whether it would b

as you and Miss Clinton and Miss Tyler were all

the chumps!" b

arreled one

ong?" asked Si

en happens, why then, I say, you coolly tell her you have arranged for her escort. You don't give her a chance to have a word to say in the matter. Why, man alive, it's just as if you were her guardian, or grandfather, or something like that. A girl likes to have a voice in th

e'll be mad?" aske

u again," declared Tom, with a

. "I've just got to go away, that's all," and

caught by Proc. Zane again," cauti

eached their room, to put on clothes other than sporting ones for supper, Sid was not in the

f," rema

marked Phil. "But come on, we'll get an e

ut Miss H

be glad to take her, of course, but I'm

rse not. We

back in their room, where they began to lay out their dress suits, and to debate over which t

ing a tight fifteen collar to fit on the same size shirt, "doesn't it st

time, and each time he scoots off

back last night, smelli

t he does

n there's the fact of him having no money

Tom, somewhat exhausted by his struggle with his collar, sank down on

a sight!" he cried, jumping up, and s

t shape, and you've knocked it all squee-gee!" for

dressed after a whil

oted to dress or his own good looks, much adornment of their persons must be excused on the part of the

ed Phil. "Shall we l

s rotten mean to mention it, and I only do it to see if you have the s

mbl

t it. Then coming in late, all perfumed with tobacco, and getting caught, and not having any money and-and-O

two stood there, looking around their common home, marked by the absence of Sid, the fussy littl

asked To

ght," replied Phil. "Sid, of all chaps, tho

on to come to the theatricals with himself and Ruth, but the blue-eyed girl pleaded a headache (always a lady's privilege), and said

awake, so they did not disturb him, refraining from even talking in whispers of the jolly time they

seemed to hit on one that pleased him, and went out to mail it. Amid the torn scraps about his desk Phil and Tom could not h

uare himself,

" added Phil. "It will all com

e had written again to Miss Harrison asking her to go with him to a dance,

onged out on the diamond, "we're getting into some kind of shape. Get back t

ioned Coach Leighton. "It isn't improving the way it ought, a

cktop Molloy. "Have ye heard the news, byes?" for sometimes the re

is it?"

dge is playi

bully who used to be h

," retorte

ed him?" inqui

sort of a course at

ed Tom, as he thought of the dastardly trick Langridg

s want to improve your batting-that's all. Your field work

m and Dutch Housenlag

on the coach. "Oh, by the way,

ice has been posted. Come on, we'll have a scrub ga

voice from a small knot

n attempt to penetrate the crowd and get a

shouted J

e on ice!" add

and Proc. Zane will catch h

n Ford, but such a storm of protesting

talk of for manager," sa

the pitcher. "We will rush Ed Kerr thr

ike well-built machines. Tom struck out three men, one after the other, in the second inning, and repeated the trick in the last. Sid Henderson rather surprised the coach by making a safe h

ented Mr. Leighton. But Sid did

commanded Tom, as the game ended, the pitcher

of a baseball manager was something of no small importance. For several reasons no manager had been selected at the close of the previous season,

e majority, Ed Kerr, the catcher of the previous season was favored, but,

ced that Bert Bascome, a freshman who was said to be quite wealthy, was the center of a group of excited youths, of whom Ford Fenton was one. Fo

observed Phil Clinton to Dutch. "

r ten votes," was the answer.

Mr. Leighton, who was in the hall, was prompt

nd the sooner we get it over with the better, I presume.

was on his fee

irman,"

r yourself or your b

y and Joe, the "Jersey twins" were always so much in accord that what one di

" he began aga

g out Snail Looper. "Jerry

s," pleade

came from Ford Fen

t d

him

zle

len

polic

he hose

ve he ever h

of the cries t

was finally restored, but Fenton did n

lace in nomination," he went on, "a manager who, I am sure, will fulfill the duties in the most acceptable manner;

is

me

o long-wind

us his

to name Fo

rse-play, led by

nt Mr. Leighto

Ed Kerr!" su

me from his bro

ated," spoke the chairma

as on his feet. He had a sneering, supercilious air, that was in distinct bad taste, yet he seemed to hav

t interrupt. "When I came to Randall college," went on the freshman, with an air as if he had conferred a great fa

it

s eati

ame the cries. Bert

nations before mo

not been closed," su

red Bascome sarcastically. He s

nt, however. Have you a name to place in nomination?

sh to state that I am actuated by no sense of feeling against Mr. Kerr, whom I do not kn

uestion!" sh

man!" deman

e, holding his ground well, "and I honor him. I believe,

g!" was a ge

rr, springing to his feet,

he floor," spoke M

s the cry from half

" shouted Bascome, for he saw the ri

ry Delfield, who was the c

Tom quickly, and this time Phil Cl

Leighton, when the usual formalities had been com

see who's with us and who's against us

ten ballot," cal

he chairman, and it went overwhel

this test had demonstrated how fe

of hands, Kerr's name being voted on first. He had tri

ng, changing their votes after having declared for a secret ballot, and all of Bascome's carefully laid plans, and his scheming for several weeks past, to get som

to his uncle than anything else he could have done. Bascome was excitedly whispering to some of his chums, bu

hil with a sigh of relief, as he and

dded Tom. "Come on, Sid, I'll take you and Phil d

s evening," said Sid, a

?" asked Tom, almos

ss Harrison," was the so