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Rackliff looked still more weary. "I detest the thing," he said. "Come, old chap " "I've got only money enough for my own fare," said Roy. "You'll find riding my motorcycle better than walking." "That's right," sighed Herbert resignedly. "I'll take it." Phil Springer returned to Oakdale in a wretched frame of mind.
Rushing out of the house, he had reached the sidewalk when, to his unspeakable relief, round the corner from Willow Street came Rackliff, somewhat dust-covered and perspiring, trundling the motorcycle. Hooker glared at him. "What do you mean by taking my machine without asking?" he rasped. "Where have you been with it?"
"You've got a cold, and it has settled on your lungs. You're none too strong, Herb, and you'd better look out. I guess you won't be able to take in the game to-day." "Yes, I will!" cried Rackliff suddenly. "I wouldn't miss it for a fortune. Oh, I've got money bet on that game, Dade." "Well, Orv Foxhall is outside with old man Foxhall's bubble. Great car, that. And you should see Orv drive her.
Rackliff accepted the money and pocketed it "Don't suppose you want a receipt?" he asked, laughing. "Nun-no," faltered Phil, suddenly realizing that Herbert could deny the whole transaction if he saw fit to do so, and that there would be no way of proving it had ever taken place.
"I certainly am," agreed Rackliff; "I'm up against it. Never was knocked out like this before. Why, I can't even smoke a cigarette, it makes me bark so. You can imagine how tough that is on me. Sometimes I'm half crazy for a smoke I'm shaking all over; but when I try it I just have to quit by the time I've taken three whiffs." "You've smoked too many of those things, that's what's the matter.
In truth, Rackliff was a sight, and Springer restrained a laugh with some difficulty as he observed: "It must have taken you a deuce of a while to get back on that thing, for the game was over by three o'clock." "Half past three," corrected Herbert, turning to trundle the motorcycle toward the carriage house, the door of which, seen through the twilight, was standing open.
I came over to kill a little time, but it's grown monotonous for me, and I'm going to beat it." "I think I'll get out myself," said Hooker, descending from the bleachers. Rackliff accompanied him to the gymnasium, where Roy hastened to strip off his baseball togs and get into his regular clothes. "What made you quit pitching so soon?" questioned the city lad, lingering near.
Alternately buoyed by hope and weighted by fear, he had passed the most trying hour of his life, and now in his bosom he carried a heart that seemed sick and faint and scarcely able to pump the blood through his veins. "I was a fool to listen to Rackliff," he muttered; and over and over he kept repeating, "I was a fool, a fool!"
Springer, knowing Dingley, Barville's leading batter, who was again up, was dangerous, tried two wide ones to start with; but the fellow did not even wiggle his bat at them. "Get into it!" called Rackliff suddenly, as Phil swung into his delivery for the third ball.
"You were mistaken sadly mistaken. It's been an expensive blunder in judgment for both of us." A flush rose into Hooker's pale cheeks, and he stood up. "Now, look here, Mr. Rackliff," he said harshly, "don't you try to shoulder it all on to me. I won't stand for that. You professed to be dead sure that under any circumstances Barville could down Oakdale.
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