“Oh, of course,” agreed Dutch, “but aren’t you a bit proud of us, captain?”
“Oh, sure—of course,” answered the pitcher heartily. “Let joy be unconfined,” and with a yell of pure enjoyment he joined in the impromptu dance.
Fairview was glum, but not cast down. They had cheered the winning team, and Ted Puder, the captain, came up to Tom.
“You certainly beat us fair and square,” he acknowledged. “I hope you don’t think we had anything to do with Langridge using that mirror to dazzle the eyes of your second baseman.”
“Never thought of such a thing,” declared Tom with emphasis. “The cad worked that trick up all by his lonesome. I guess he thought maybe Sid was playing there, and he has a grudge against Henderson—yet that couldn’t have been it either, for Langridge knows Sid is suspended, and anyhow, Sid was sitting directly back of the sneak, where Langridge could have seen him.”
“Yes, it’s a good thing Sid detected him. Well, we’ll beat you next time.”
“Forget it,” advised Tom with a laugh.
“Come on, cap,” called Phil to him a moment later. “Let’s look up Sid, and, incidentally, the girls.”
“Sure,” agreed the pitcher, and a moment later he and Phil were greeting Madge, Ruth and Mabel. But Sid had hurried away.
The little group strolled past the grand stand, Tom and Phil excusing themselves while they went in to get on their street garments, the girls promising to wait for them.