Helen explained, with the pride of one displaying her own handiwork: "Mr. Speed defends the Flying Heart to-morrow. You are just in time to see him."
"When did you learn to box, Wally?" Covington was genuinely amazed.
"I'm not going to box. It's a footrace. I'm training—been training ever since I arrived."
In his first bewilderment the latecomer might have unwittingly betrayed his friend had not Jean suddenly inquired:
"Where is Roberta?"
"Roberta!" Covington tripped over one of his crutches. "Roberta who?"
"Why, Roberta Keap, of course! She's chaperoning us while mother is away."
The hero of countless field-days turned pale, and seemed upon the point of hobbling back to "Nigger Mike's" buck-board.
"You and she are old friends, I believe?" Helen interposed.
"Yes! Oh yes!" Culver flashed his chum a look of dumb entreaty, but Speed was staring round-eyed into space, striving to read the future.