The game was halted. There were angry demands from several players as to why a stranger was allowed to come on the field. Others, recognizing the professor, clamored that it was all right.
“I came as soon as I could!” explained the medicine man to the Smith boys, who gathered about him. “I knew something must be wrong. I can’t locate Tithonus though. What is it? Bill’s glasses? Here they are, found in the most opportune way! Talk about golden rivers!”
The professor was panting from his run and his rapid talk. He held the glasses to Bill.
“Where did you find them?” gasped the pitcher.
“Just now, as I was coming across the campus. I left my wagon over in the road. As I was passing one of the cannon some of the janitors were cleaning it. There was a lot of leaves and rubbish in it. Then out fell the glasses just as I passed. I grabbed them up, and I knew the whole story.”
“You knew the whole story?” cried Cap. “Who put them there?”
“No, no! I can’t tell that!” declared Mr. Clatter, while North and Mersfeld looked at each other in relief. “I mean I understand it all—about your messages to me,” went on the medicine man. “At first I couldn’t imagine why you had telegraphed me. I knew you must be in some kind of trouble though.”
“Yes, we generally are,” murmured Pete.
“And, as soon as I saw the glasses fall from the cannon I realized what it was. Bill lost them, perhaps a bird took them for its nest. At any rate here they are, and it’s very lucky, too, for I can’t get any trace of Tithy. Here, Bill, put them on and play ball.”
“I don’t need them now,” answered the pitcher.