“But why you should consider that my speaking to your sister was an insult, I can’t quite make out,” declared Langridge, with a sneer. “Neither she, Miss Tyler nor Miss Harrison resented it. But perhaps you consider yourself the knight errant of all girls. If so——”
“That will do!” interrupted Phil, sharply. “Leave my sister and her friends out of this discussion, if you please!”
“And if I don’t please,” sneered Langridge, “for I assure you that I do not, and——”
Phil fairly jumped for the bully and Ruth uttered a little cry. In another instant there would have been a scene which Phil, in his calmer moments would have regretted as greatly as any one.
[CHAPTER X]
THE BIG CALIFORNIAN
Tom saw what was about to happen, and his ready hand fell on his chum’s shoulder.
“Not here! Not now!” he whispered into his ear. “Some other time, Phil. Think of your sister—of the other girls. A crowd is gathering. Not now! Not now!”
Phil made a motion as if to shake off the restraining grasp, and then thought better of it. In the meanwhile, Sid had casually stepped in front of Langridge. The left half-back motioned to Gerhart to call aside his chum, and the bully’s crony was only too glad to do this, for he was somewhat of a coward, and he feared lest he, too, be entangled in the quarrel which seemed imminent.