Ted stared.
“Well, some one must find him and tell him to hurry up. Joe, you’re dressed. Run up to South and find Sam. Tell him to hurry it up, will you?”
“He wasn’t at dinner,” said Jack, “so maybe he’s in hall now.”
“Yes, Joe, if you don’t find him in his room look in the dining hall, will you? Only tell him to get a move on. What do you think of Sammy, Dolph?” Ted continued as Joe Cassart sped away on his errand. “What time does he think the game begins, I wonder.”
“Sam? Isn’t he here? Where is he? I haven’t seen him since practice.”
“Neither have I. You don’t suppose——” Ted stopped and stared incredulously at Dolph.
“Nonsense!” answered the captain impatiently. “He’s around somewhere. Come on, fellows, and let’s go down.”
Nevertheless, Ted remained uneasy, and so, I suspect, did Dolph in spite of his seeming confidence. Their appearance on the field was the signal for a blare of music and cheering from the Boarders and groans and cat-calls from the enemy. The rival camps were on opposite sides of the diamond. A few boys were lolling in the grandstand, but the majority clustered as near the foul lines as they could get in order that their vocal and instrumental efforts at enlivening the contest might have full sway. The Towners were at practice and so the Boarders passed balls until their turn came to get on the diamond. Ted and Dolph kept an anxious watch for Sam, but he didn’t appear, nor was there any news of him. The Towners finished their warming-up and yielded the field. Dolph summoned Midget Green, who, as always, was hovering as near his hero as he could get, and whispered instructions in his ear. Midget lit out for the campus, while many of the Towners, guessing his errand, smiled broadly.
The umpire was Mr. Shay, the coach, and at two he called the Boarders in. Dolph won the toss and selected the field.