“I believe you boys did this on purpose,” challenged Madge, as they talked about the rain and the postponement.
“Don’t tell anybody—but we did,” whispered Tom with a smile. “The rain spells success for Randall.”
The girls denied it, of course, but in spite of the jokes of our heroes there was more or less of a feeling that Tom was right. The Fairview boys fretted over the delay, but were good-natured about it.
Toward evening the rain slacked up a little, and the girls granted the entreaties of the boys to come out for a walk, Miss Philock according the necessary permission rather grudgingly.
It was too wet on Monday for out-door work, and Tom, Sid, and the others kept to the gymnasium. There was a grim spirit about the work now, for the boys felt that chance had played into their hands and if they did not take advantage of it that there would be no more hope for them.
“Luck doesn’t strike twice in the same place, even if lightning does, the proverb to the contrary,” said Holly Cross.
Tom had a letter from his father that day, announcing that the final hearing in the lawsuit might come off any day now.
“And I wish I could know how it’s coming out,” Mr. Parsons wrote to his son. “It has me bothered and worried more than a little. I don’t want to take you out of college, Tom, my boy, but I’ll have to if I lose all this money. I may need you to testify in the case, but if I do I suppose I can reach you by telegram. If you do get a wire, don’t delay.”
“Wow!” mused Tom, as he read that. “I hope dad doesn’t send for me before the games. Not that I’m such a muchness, but it would sort of break up the combination if I had to leave suddenly. Well, there’s no help for it. If I have to go, I’ll have to go. If I don’t, in case dad should telegraph for me, he might lose the case, and I’d have to leave Randall.