“But, Miss Lawrence!” cried Laura, aghast.
“You are delaying play, Miss Belding,” said the referee, sharply.
Laura looked at Hester with commiseration; but she did not have to speak. The culprit, with a red and angry visage, was already crossing the court toward the dressing rooms. Laura put in Roberta Fish, and play went on.
But the Central High team was rattled. East High got two goals—one from a foul—and so stood in the lead at the end of the half. The visiting team did not work so well together with the substitute player, and the captain of East High, seeing this fact, crowded the play to Roberta Fish’s side.
“My goodness!” whispered Bobby Hargrew, as they ran off the field at the end of the half. “I hope that’s taught Hester a lesson. And this is once when we need Hester Grimes badly.”
“I should say we did,” panted Laura.
“We’ve got to play up some to win back that point we lost, let alone beating them,” cried Jess Morse.
Nellie Agnew was the first to enter the dressing room assigned to the Central High girls. She looked around the empty room and gasped.
“What’s the matter, Nell?” cried Bobby, crowding in.
“Where is she?” demanded the doctor’s daughter.