Part 16 (1/2)
”Of course you made a fuss,” said Phil with a grin.
”Of course. I turned to apologize and so did she, and I knocked her hat all squeegee and she blushed and I got red, and then--well, I up and asked her if she had a brother at college.”
”That's going some,” commented Sid. ”What did she say? Did you learn her name? Where does she live?”
”Fair and softly, little one,” advised Tom, with a sort of a.s.sumed superciliousness. ”Trust your Uncle Dudley for that.”
He walked on a few paces.
”Well?” demanded Phil.
”Is that all?” cried Sid.
”No,” said Tom, provokingly mysterious about it.
”Go on. Tell a fellow, do.”
”What's the use?” asked Tom. ”I saw her walking off after the game with another fellow.”
”Who?” demanded his two chums.
”Langridge.”
”With him?” exclaimed Sid, and there was a new meaning in his tones.
”Who was the girl?”
”Her name was Madge Tyler,” replied Tom slowly.
”Madge Tyler!” repeated Sid. ”Why, her brother used to go here. He graduated two years ago. He was a crackajack first baseman. And so Madge Tyler is going with Langridge?” he questioned.
”Or he with her,” said Tom dryly. ”I don't see that it makes much difference. Why, hasn't he got a right to?”
”Oh, I s'pose if you put it that way, he has,” went on Sid. ”Only----”
and he stopped abruptly.
”Only what?” asked Tom.
”Only--nothing. Say, here's a chance to buy me that seltzer lemonade. I think you ought to stand treat for Phil and me, Tom, seeing that if it hadn't been for us the game would have been lost and you wouldn't have met Miss Madge.”
”I don't know that it has benefited me much,” replied Tom.
”What do you mean, you old cart horse?” asked Phil, thumping his friend on the back. ”Seeing the game won or meeting the pretty girl? I believe you said she was pretty.”
”I didn't say so, but she is--very. But I meant about meeting her.
Langridge seems to have a mortgage in that direction, I fancy.”
”He makes me sick!” exclaimed Phil. ”He and the airs he gives himself.
But come on in here,” and he turned toward a drug store. ”I'm like a lime kiln, I'm so warm. It's your treat, Tom.”