“All right, but if you feel shaky towards eleven you come here and make them give you something; don’t wait for luncheon. Now then, fellows, I want every one of you to stay out of doors and loaf. No tennis to-day, no golf, no anything but loafing. Luncheon’s at twelve-thirty, remember, and the barges leave at one. So you want to be right on time when the doors open.”
“How about the river, sir?” someone asked. “Can we row or paddle?”
“I guess so, if you don’t do too much of it. But keep out of the sun all you can. That means you, too, you fellows,” he added, turning to the second table. “Keep out of doors, keep out of the sun, and keep quiet. Luncheon at half-past twelve.”
It was hard work getting rid of that morning. There were no lessons to learn, no recitations to attend, no examinations to tussle with. Dan and Alf found a shady spot at the edge of the woods and tried to read, but it was stifling hot, even there, and the books soon slipped out of their hands. Here Gerald found them after a while and Alf returned to a semblance of animation while he teased Gerald about the dinner party. It had been all arranged and the news was about school. Alf pretended that it was Gerald who was to give it and was vastly concerned about the cost.
At eleven Gerald left them to hurry down to Sound View and make the butler’s life a burden until the early luncheon was ready. Afterwards, when it was still only a few minutes past one, the automobile rolled around to the front door and Gerald and his father got in and sped up the hill to Merle Hall, where they took in Harry, officially pronounced well enough to see the game. Then, with flags flying, for Gerald had adorned the car with four Yardley banners, they sped off down the hill, across the bridge and away along the dusty road to Broadwood. They passed the barges half way over and received a cheer as they swept past. Gerald thought he had caught a brief glimpse of Dan in the second barge, but wasn’t certain. At all events, Dan was there and supremely happy. For at luncheon Payson had called across to him from the other table;
“Careful with your eating, Vinton. Don’t stuff. Danforth’s knocked out and you’ll start the game at second.”
[CHAPTER XXV]
THREE TO THREE
| YARDLEY | BROADWOOD |
|---|---|
| Durfee, ss. | Cross, 2b. |
| Colton, p. | Gale, 3b. |
| Condit, 3b. | Russell, cf. |
| Lawrence, rf. | Boudinot, rf. |
| Loring, lf. | Kent, ss. |
| Richards, c. | Patterson, c. |
| Millener, 1b. | Bray, 1b. |
| Vinton, 2b. | Minot, lf. |
| Smith, cf. | Herring, p. |