Langridge at the first effort sent out a hot liner, which flew just over the pitcher’s head. The second baseman made a jump for it and the ball began to roll along in front of the center fielder. Amid a wild burst of yells Langridge raced for first and got there safely, not daring to go on to second, as Ogden had run down to help cover it.
“That’s the stuff! that’s the stuff! That’s the way to line ’em out!” chanted an excited voice, and Tom looked around to see the two silk-hatted “old grads” embracing each other and doing an impromptu dance in their seats.
“Aren’t they jolly!” exclaimed Miss Tyler.
“Very, but they’re crowing too soon. The game has only just begun. Boxer Hall will play strong.”
And Tom’s prediction came true, for in spite of the auspicious opening by Langridge, not a man crossed home plate for the Randalls that inning, the pitcher dying on third. Then it came the turn of the home team to show what they could do in holding down the visitors. It looked as if they were going to do it, too, for Langridge struck out the first two men. But he gave the next one a pass to first and was batted for a two-bagger by the following player, the inning ending with one run for Boxer. The Randall College boys and their girl supporters began to look anxious and so did some of the “old grads.” On the other side there was laughter, cheers and jollity, while some of the aged former students of Boxer began to chant oldtime college songs.
“Oh, I do hope our fellows win,” exclaimed Miss Tyler, and there was an anxious look on her pretty face, while she tapped her flag of colors impatiently against her little foot.
“Have you a bet on the game?” asked Tom. “A box of candy or some gloves?”
“No, but I want to see Randall win. Besides, Fred—I mean Mr. Langridge—he told me he was going to work hard for success, and I never like to see any one disappointed—do you?”
“No,” said Tom rather shortly. He really did not care to hear his rival’s praises sung by this fair damsel.
“Do you know,” she went on, “I’ve been thinking of what you started to tell me about him the other day. Is it really true?”