As soon as dessert was finished, Tucker said, "I want to smoke. Let's start up for the singing, Charlie."
Symington would have liked to explore the rest of the club-house, though of course he did not say so. He did not even ask what the singing meant. But as they arose to leave the table he did ask a question about one of the portraits of the ancient and modern athletic heroes which line the walls.
"Yes, Charlie," said Tucker, "that's he."
"I remember just how he looked when he made that long, low drive, that time, in the ninth inning," Symington said, solemnly.
"Yes," said Tucker, briefly, "a great many of us will always remember his long, low drives. Here is your cap."
This was in reference to a large portrait at the end of the room. The frame had a deep black border.
Tucker and his friend, the other fellow, the University treasurer, whose name the prep. had forgotten, waited until entirely out of the house before lighting their pipes.
Two or three of the team joined Tucker and Symington and the University treasurer. The prep. felt that one of them was coming up beside him. He waited a moment and then glanced out of the corner of his eye. He caught his breath, but did not fall down. It was the captain of the 'varsity nine.
It's a very fine thing to be head man of your school and pitcher on your team, but oh, if the school could see him now!
"How do you like our club?" asked the captain in a voice something like other men's.