The disturbance brought Ruth and Agnes running from the house, but only in time to see the wrathful Seneca Sprague, his linen duster flapping behind him, as he disappeared along Willow Street. When Ruth heard about Billy Bumps' banquet, she sent the bag of apples to Seneca Sprague's little shanty which he occupied, down on the river dock.
"Of all the ridiculous things a goat ever did, that is the most ridiculous!" exclaimed Agnes.
"There's more than one hair in the butter this time," repeated Neale O'Neil, with laughter.
"I can't laugh, even at that stale joke," sighed Agnes.
"What's the matter, Aggie?" demanded Neale. "Have you soured on the world completely?"
"I feel as though I had," confessed Agnes, her sweet eyes vastly troubled and her red lips in a pout. "What do you think, Neale?"
"A whole lot of things," returned the boy. "What do you want me to think?"
"Mr. Smartie! But tell me: Have you heard anything about our basket ball team being set back? Eva told me she'd heard Mr. Marks was dreadfully displeased at something we'd done and that he said we shouldn't win the pennant."
"Not win the pennant?" cried Neale, aghast. "Why, you girls have got it cinched!"
"Not if Mr. Marks declares all the games we won last spring forfeited. I think he's too, too mean!" cried Agnes.