When they arrived at the station, however, it was nearly train time, and the Fardale boys were there, while the Fairport lads had come down to see them off. There was a great crowd on the platform.
“Oh, here you are, Doris!” exclaimed Zona Desmond, as with Bessie Dale she hastened to meet her friend. “We have been worrying about you.”
“No need of worrying about me,” laughed Doris. “Hal can take care of me; can’t you, Hal?”
“I think I can,” he declared. And the light in his eyes and the look on his face made such a change in him that Zona was astonished. Not only was she astonished, but suddenly she grew worried; and, at the first opportunity, while Doris was speaking with Bessie, she drew Hal a little to one side and whispered anxiously:
“What have you been telling her? I hope you didn’t breathe a word of what I told you. If you did she will never forgive me.”
“Don’t worry,” he retorted. “Whatever I have said, I have not mentioned your name.”
“You mustn’t,” said Zona. “If you do I will never tell you anything else as long as I live, Hal Darrell!”
“It is all right,” he again assured her. “Here comes the train.”
The train drew up at the station, and the Fardale crowd boarded the cars, while the Fairport boys merrily bade them “so-long!”
“We will see you again Wednesday, Merriwell!” cried Don Roberts. “We will finish the game then.”