"What?"
"Perhaps you haven't seen Ready catch? He is a good one!"
"You need a strong battery, Frank!" Elsie asserted.
"Yes, like you and Hodge," nodded Inza. "I'm afraid Badger and Ready will not be able to work well together. They haven't played together before, I believe?"
Inza was full of bright, snappy conversation, as they sped homeward in the car with Merriwell. But Elsie was unusually silent.
"She can't get Mrs. Moran out of her mind," Frank thought.
He left them at the door, for the hour had grown so late that he felt he could not just then spare the time to go into the house, much as he wanted to do so. Inza and Elsie went up-stairs together. Winnie was out or in another part of the house.
Inza shrugged her shapely shoulders.
"What is the matter, Elsie, dear?"
Elsie's lips were quivering as she faced round and confronted her friend.