"October's better, more snap in the air," said the Gutter Pup. "September's muggy. I remember when I was matched against Slugger Kelly; it was so hot I lost ten pounds, and the fight only went five rounds, at that."
The old provocation had roused up the old antagonism in Lovely. He hardly dared trust himself longer in the room, so he bolted and slipped down to the Waladoo's room and out into the campus.
"Gee," he said to himself, with a sigh of relief, "if I could only get at him now!"
At taps he went cautiously to the Upper, by the back way, and gained the room of Charley De Soto, where he was told to turn in on the window-seat and take it easy.
Presently Turkey Reiter and Macnooder arrived to discuss the probabilities. Then Bojo Lowry, who could play anything, sat down at the piano and performed the most wonderful variations and medleys, until Lovely forgot any future engagement in the delight of gazing from his cushioned recess on real Fourth Formers, enjoying the perquisites and liberties of the Upper House.
Suddenly Macnooder glanced at his watch and announced that it was almost midnight. Lovely sprang up feverishly.
"Here, young Sporting Life," cried Turkey, "no champing on the bit! Just a dash of calm and tranquillity."
"Easy, easy there," said De Soto, with a professional glance.
"Ready here," said Macnooder, picking up a brown satchel. "I'll bleed him if he faints."
They separated, and, on tiptoe, by various routes, departed from the Upper, making wide circles in the darkness before seeking the baseball cage, Lovely Mead supported on either side by Charley De Soto and Turkey.