Leon had tried to appear very earnest and sincere, but he made very little impression on the listening youth.
“I don’t take any stock in that stuff, Bentley,” declared Harry, promptly. “I know I’m not as good a man as Scott on the team, which makes me willing to get off any time Sterndale wants to fill my place.”
“Yah!” snarled Leon, showing his yellow teeth. “You’re just like all the rest; you’ll let Dick Sterndale wipe his feet all over you. I’m sick of the whole crowd; but I’m just as good a man as anybody on that team, and I’ll show Dolph Renwood up if he comes any sneaky business to throw me down!”
Then, lighting a fresh cigarette, and hearing other boys descending the stairs from the club-room, he hurried away, muttering to himself.
“Those nasty things he is smoking are turning his head,” said Carter, to himself. “If he doesn’t stop using so many of them, he’ll go daffy, for I can see that he’s getting worse and worse every day.”
CHAPTER XXIV.
FANNING THE FLAMES.
Leon was waiting for Don at the first corner when the latter started for school the following Monday morning. As usual, he was puffing a cigarette. The sight of him angered Don, who would have hurried straight on without speaking, but Bentley joined him, saying:
“I was watching for you, old man. Got something to tell you. I went down to the club-room after your dad came in on us so jerky Saturday night, and I found all the gang there, weeping over their defeat. It would have done you good to see them. A big lot of cry-babies! They had something to say about you, too.”
He had hurried on with his words, being shrewd enough to observe that the doctor’s son was in no very agreeable mood, and, as he anticipated, the final statement aroused Don’s curiosity, although an attempt was made to conceal it.
“What do you suppose I care what they say about me!” growled the dark-eyed lad, with a toss of his head. “They can say any old thing they like.”