Part 27 (1/2)

And everybody said that Sam Rover was the hero of the occasion.

CHAPTER XVIII

GOOD-BYE TO BRILL

The celebration at Brill that evening was one long to be remembered.

Bonfires blazed along the river front, and the students marched around them, and around the campus and the college buildings, singing songs and having a good time generally.

The others had insisted that the Rovers take part in these festivities, and so the boys had taken the girls to Hope, where Dora and Nellie were to remain until the next day.

”I must say I am mighty glad I came,” said d.i.c.k to his brothers, as he surveyed the shouting and marching students. ”This certainly takes me back to the days when I was here.”

”I'm going in for some fun,” announced Tom, and was soon in the midst of the activities. The students played jokes on William Philander Tubbs, old Filbury, and on a number of others, and the fun-loving Rover helped them all he could. An attempt was also made to get the captured banners of the freshmen and soph.o.m.ores from Sam's room, but this failed.

”The boys are rather noisy to-night,” said one of the professors to Dr.

Wallington.

”I agree with you, sir,” returned the head of Brill, ”but then they have something to be noisy about. Their victory was certainly well earned,”

and the doctor smiled indulgently.

Many had come forward to congratulate Sam on his fine work in putting through a double play una.s.sisted in the last inning.

”It saved the day for Brill,” announced Stanley, and many agreed with him.

The great game had taken place on Sat.u.r.day afternoon, so, as the next day was Sunday, Sam could do as he pleased. The Rovers had an early breakfast, and then lost no time in riding over to the seminary, where they found the others waiting for them.

”Oh, Sam, your playing was simply wonderful!” declared Grace, as she beamed on him. ”How you ever caught that fly in the last inning is beyond me.”

”Yes, and what do you think?” put in Grace's sister. ”Mr. Waltham said he thought it was quite an ordinary play--that any good, all-around player could have done what Sam did!”

”Maybe he was a bit jealous of Sam,” was Dora's comment, and as she spoke she looked rather keenly at Grace, who, of a sudden, blushed deeply.

”I suppose Waltham brought his sister and those girls back here last evening,” said Sam.

”Oh, yes,” answered Nellie, ”and they insisted that we join them in a little treat. Mr. Waltham drove down to Ashton for some ice cream, fancy crackers and candy, and we had quite a spread under the trees. It certainly was very nice of him to do it.”

”I suppose he's got so much money he doesn't know what to do with it,”

was d.i.c.k's comment.

”He was asking me about that tour that we propose taking this summer,”

said Dora. ”He added that he and his sister and maybe others were going to take a tour in his new car, but he hadn't decided on where they were going, and he thought it might be rather jolly if he joined our touring party.”

”Humph! I don't see----” began Sam, and then broke off suddenly.

”It would be lovely to have Ada along,” said Grace. ”She is a splendid girl, and we've become quite chummy since Nellie and Dora went away.”

”Well, we haven't any time to settle about that tour just now,”