CHAPTER XXI.THE PANGS OF JEALOUSY.Fillmore, who did not live in Baltimore, boarded with his sister, Mrs. Loder, on Calvert Street. He returned to his sister’s home, his mind occupied with thoughts of lacrosse and Inza Burrage. It must be confessed that he thought more of Inza than of the game at which he had won fame among his college mates.Reaching home, he found his sister and casually asked about the girls.“They’re in their room, Fred,” smiled Mrs. Loder. “I don’t think you’ll see anything more of them this evening. Be careful, you bad boy! you’re becoming altogether too interested in Miss Burrage. I’m afraid those eyes of hers have wrought havoc with your heart.”“Nonsense!” he laughed. “How foolish you are to get such a notion, sis. I like her because she’s so bright and interesting. I’m not the sort of fellow to get broken up over any girl. They’re all alike to me.”“Oh, I’ve heard youngsters like you talk before! You can’t fool an old married woman. I’ve seen what was going on.”In vain he protested that there was nothing “going on.”“You can’t fool me,” she repeated. “Inza Burrage is handsome and fascinating, and you’ve been sticking to the house in a most amazing way since she arrived.Haven’t you learned that she’s engaged to a Mr. Merriwell?”“Of course.”“She’s in love with him, too, so it won’t do you any good to waste your time. Don’t get to mooning round her. She’s aware that you are interested, and I think it’s beginning to annoy her. I have a fancy that’s one reason why both girls are sticking so close to their room to-night. They’re keeping away from you.”“They don’t have to!” he muttered, his pride touched and his cheeks hot.Then he wandered off by himself, turned on the electric light in the little reading room back of the parlor, flung himself on a leather-covered Morris chair and studied for an hour. Finally his thoughts wandered from his studies and he dropped the book. His eyes had begun to smart and burn, and he turned off the light.The doorbell rang. It was answered by a colored maid, and two young men entered. They gave the colored girl their cards, and she told them to step into the parlor and wait.The sliding door between the parlor and the little room occupied by Fillmore was partly open. He caught a glimpse of the two visitors and saw that both were fine-looking fellows. One had dark hair and eyes. The other sat down where Fred could see him. The light fell full on his face, and the youth on the Morris chair noted its unusual strength and manly beauty. The longer he gazed at that face the more deeply he was impressed by a conviction that the youngman was a person of great ability and force who was destined to make a mark in the world.“This will be a great surprise for the girls,” said the one of the dark hair.He of the fine face smiled, and his smile was fully as wonderful as the face which it lighted.“They will be more than surprised,” he said.A few moments there came a rustling on the carpeted stairs. With a rush that was little short of a run, Inza Burrage came down, followed a little later by Elsie Bellwood.Inza, her eyes shining like twin stars, her cheeks aglow, entered the room. The youth of the fine face sprang toward her and she was clasped in his arms.“Inza!” he cried, his voice hoarse with deep feeling.“Frank!” she answered. “Oh, Frank! Frank!”He kissed her again and again.Fred Fillmore started up, feeling in his bosom a terrible sensation that he had never before experienced. He could not bear to see her held thus in those strong arms and kissed in that manner. In his heart something seemed ready to burst. For a moment he stood with his hands clenched, longing to rush in there and tear her from the man.Then he turned away and fled with noiseless steps.“That’s the man!” hissed Fillmore, as he found his way to the rear of the house and ascended the back stairs. “That’s Merriwell!”He was astounded by his own emotions. He felt himself quivering from head to feet. Reaching his own room by way of the back stairs, he paced excitedly up and down.“I’d like to punch him!” he huskily muttered. “Jingoes! what is the matter with me? It made me furious to see him kiss her. I didn’t suppose anything could give me a feeling like that. What is the matter with me?”He was somewhat dismayed over it. After a time he slowly murmured:“By Jove! I am stuck on that girl! I didn’t know it before. That’s what ails me. If any one had told me I was hit so hard I’d felt like punching him. What am I going to do about it?”There didn’t seem to be much of anything to do, but his brain was awhirl, scores of wild fancies and ideas flashing through it. For a long time he paced up and down, gradually growing calmer. Finally he left his room and descended by the front stairs, whistling.In a careless manner he strolled into the parlor, stopping short and ceasing to whistle in apparent surprise as he beheld the four persons there.“I beg your pardon!” he exclaimed, starting to retreat.Inza rose.“Mr. Fillmore,” she called.“Miss Burrage,” he bowed. “I didn’t mean to intrude. I didn’t know——”“No intrusion,” she assured. “Let me introduce you to Mr. Merriwell. Frank, this is Mr. Fillmore, Mrs. Loder’s brother.”“Glad to know you, Mr. Fillmore,” said Merriwell genially, as he grasped Fred’s hand. “Miss Burragewrote me about you. You’re captain of the Hopkins lacrosse team, I think?”“I have that honor.”“An honor it is,” nodded Merry. “You are captain of the lacrosse champions of the United States at the present time.”Fillmore was then introduced to Bart Hodge.He noted that an unusual tide of color had suffused the cheeks of Elsie Bellwood, and now, of a sudden, he realized that she, like Inza, was a wonderfully pretty girl. The two girls were of strongly contrasting types.“Mr. Fillmore has been very good to us, Bart,” said Elsie.“Which places Frank and me under untold obligations to him,” said Hodge. “I have only one fault to find with him. He should have written me that you were ill. It was a crime for you girls to keep it from me.”“I wanted to write,” said Inza; “but she wouldn’t let me tell you that.”“Why, it was nothing,” declared Elsie. “I wasn’t going to break up your trip just because I happened to be a bit out of sorts. I suppose the climate was too severe after spending the early part of the winter in the West.”“We wanted you to keep on with us,” reminded Frank. “It was your own fault that you returned East when you did.”Fillmore was urged to sit down, and he accepted the invitation.“Let’s see,” he said, “I believe Miss Burrage toldme you were organizing a lacrosse team, Mr. Merriwell.”“It’s practically organized,” nodded Merry. “We’re going to play a few games at the close of the college season. We’ve arranged for two games already.”Fillmore lifted his eyebrows in surprise.“Well, you’re a hustler!” he smiled. “Are you going to have some Harvard players on your team?”“Five of them. Three were former Hopkins men.”“Will Herb Onslaw be one of the five?”“Yes.”“I don’t see how you induced him to play on a team where some one else is to be captain.”“Oh, that wasn’t difficult. I think Onslaw’s a very decent and modest chap.”“You don’t know him!”“It seems that you don’t like Onslaw.”“Not much, for I know he’s full of wind. He was dreadfully puffed up because Harvard happened to win from us. You know I was hurt in the game and did not play during most of the second half.”Hodge shrugged his shoulders and his lip curled the least bit. He detected the conceit in Fillmore.“I know about that. It was very unfortunate,” said Merry.“Of course I’m not saying we’d won if I hadn’t been hurt, but we had the lead when that happened. I think Onslaw was glad to see me go out of the game.”“He didn’t appear to me like a malicious chap.”“Oh, I presume he’s smooth enough. Sorry he’ll not be with Harvard next year. I’d like to get against him again.”“Possibly you will. We’ll give you a game right after the close of college, as soon as you like. I’d like to make arrangements for the game while in Baltimore. Of course, it’s possible your team will not play us, but we’re very anxious, and you shall have our first game together, if you’ll take it.”“Why, I wouldn’t be surprised if it might be fixed that way. Are you going to challenge us?”“Hadn’t thought of making it a challenge. Just fancied we might arrange a meeting, that’s all. Still, if you think we’d better make it a challenge——”“I don’t suppose it will make any difference. How long will you remain in the city?”“Until the day after to-morrow.”“Well, I’ll introduce you to our manager to-morrow, and you can see what you can do. I’ll urge him to make the game with you.”“Do! Who’s your coach, Abercrombie?”“He’s one of them.”“Good man. No one in this country knows more about the game.”“Who’ll coach your team?”“We’re going to have a Canadian.”“Oh!” exclaimed Fillmore. “You’re going in for the real thing! Some day we’ll put it all over those Canucks!”“Perhaps so,” admitted Frank; “but, to tell you the truth, I fear the players of this country will have to improve faster than they have to get away with the Canadians. We can trounce them at baseball; but at lacrosse and ice hockey they are going to keep the lead for some time.”“Don’t you believe it!” cried the Hopkins captain. “Their day is coming right soon. I’ll admit that they still outrank us, but the sport is comparatively new with us. We have not given it enough attention, and it hasn’t become popular with the public. It deserves to become popular.”“It will,” asserted Frank. “When people begin to realize what a pretty game it is they’ll take to it. The public has to be educated up to a thing like that. Lacrosse has hardly any of the dangerous elements of football, yet it is exciting, and the open playing permits spectators to see almost constantly everything that is taking place. There is no more graceful game played.”“Why, you’re a real enthusiast!” said Fillmore.“Just as I am an enthusiast in all clean, healthy sports. I believe in such things, and I take hold of them with delight. I’ve seen lacrosse played in Canada, and the work of two well-matched teams up there puts us in the shade. However, let the public show the interest for lacrosse that it has in college baseball and we’ll witness great advancement in the next few years.”“Have you played lacrosse yourself, Mr. Merriwell?”“A little.”“It’s a game at which practice counts for a great deal.”“Like baseball. Mere strength is of small matter in lacrosse. Speed, skill, nerve, and brains all come in. In this respect it has some advantages over football.”“Well, you can discuss all that to-morrow!” laughed Inza. “Just now I’m in favor of talking about otherthings. If you play the game here, Elsie and I will attend and root. Won’t we, Elsie?”“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” answered Elsie.“You’ll see something that will give you small satisfaction,” thought Fillmore; but he kept his thought to himself.
CHAPTER XXI.THE PANGS OF JEALOUSY.Fillmore, who did not live in Baltimore, boarded with his sister, Mrs. Loder, on Calvert Street. He returned to his sister’s home, his mind occupied with thoughts of lacrosse and Inza Burrage. It must be confessed that he thought more of Inza than of the game at which he had won fame among his college mates.Reaching home, he found his sister and casually asked about the girls.“They’re in their room, Fred,” smiled Mrs. Loder. “I don’t think you’ll see anything more of them this evening. Be careful, you bad boy! you’re becoming altogether too interested in Miss Burrage. I’m afraid those eyes of hers have wrought havoc with your heart.”“Nonsense!” he laughed. “How foolish you are to get such a notion, sis. I like her because she’s so bright and interesting. I’m not the sort of fellow to get broken up over any girl. They’re all alike to me.”“Oh, I’ve heard youngsters like you talk before! You can’t fool an old married woman. I’ve seen what was going on.”In vain he protested that there was nothing “going on.”“You can’t fool me,” she repeated. “Inza Burrage is handsome and fascinating, and you’ve been sticking to the house in a most amazing way since she arrived.Haven’t you learned that she’s engaged to a Mr. Merriwell?”“Of course.”“She’s in love with him, too, so it won’t do you any good to waste your time. Don’t get to mooning round her. She’s aware that you are interested, and I think it’s beginning to annoy her. I have a fancy that’s one reason why both girls are sticking so close to their room to-night. They’re keeping away from you.”“They don’t have to!” he muttered, his pride touched and his cheeks hot.Then he wandered off by himself, turned on the electric light in the little reading room back of the parlor, flung himself on a leather-covered Morris chair and studied for an hour. Finally his thoughts wandered from his studies and he dropped the book. His eyes had begun to smart and burn, and he turned off the light.The doorbell rang. It was answered by a colored maid, and two young men entered. They gave the colored girl their cards, and she told them to step into the parlor and wait.The sliding door between the parlor and the little room occupied by Fillmore was partly open. He caught a glimpse of the two visitors and saw that both were fine-looking fellows. One had dark hair and eyes. The other sat down where Fred could see him. The light fell full on his face, and the youth on the Morris chair noted its unusual strength and manly beauty. The longer he gazed at that face the more deeply he was impressed by a conviction that the youngman was a person of great ability and force who was destined to make a mark in the world.“This will be a great surprise for the girls,” said the one of the dark hair.He of the fine face smiled, and his smile was fully as wonderful as the face which it lighted.“They will be more than surprised,” he said.A few moments there came a rustling on the carpeted stairs. With a rush that was little short of a run, Inza Burrage came down, followed a little later by Elsie Bellwood.Inza, her eyes shining like twin stars, her cheeks aglow, entered the room. The youth of the fine face sprang toward her and she was clasped in his arms.“Inza!” he cried, his voice hoarse with deep feeling.“Frank!” she answered. “Oh, Frank! Frank!”He kissed her again and again.Fred Fillmore started up, feeling in his bosom a terrible sensation that he had never before experienced. He could not bear to see her held thus in those strong arms and kissed in that manner. In his heart something seemed ready to burst. For a moment he stood with his hands clenched, longing to rush in there and tear her from the man.Then he turned away and fled with noiseless steps.“That’s the man!” hissed Fillmore, as he found his way to the rear of the house and ascended the back stairs. “That’s Merriwell!”He was astounded by his own emotions. He felt himself quivering from head to feet. Reaching his own room by way of the back stairs, he paced excitedly up and down.“I’d like to punch him!” he huskily muttered. “Jingoes! what is the matter with me? It made me furious to see him kiss her. I didn’t suppose anything could give me a feeling like that. What is the matter with me?”He was somewhat dismayed over it. After a time he slowly murmured:“By Jove! I am stuck on that girl! I didn’t know it before. That’s what ails me. If any one had told me I was hit so hard I’d felt like punching him. What am I going to do about it?”There didn’t seem to be much of anything to do, but his brain was awhirl, scores of wild fancies and ideas flashing through it. For a long time he paced up and down, gradually growing calmer. Finally he left his room and descended by the front stairs, whistling.In a careless manner he strolled into the parlor, stopping short and ceasing to whistle in apparent surprise as he beheld the four persons there.“I beg your pardon!” he exclaimed, starting to retreat.Inza rose.“Mr. Fillmore,” she called.“Miss Burrage,” he bowed. “I didn’t mean to intrude. I didn’t know——”“No intrusion,” she assured. “Let me introduce you to Mr. Merriwell. Frank, this is Mr. Fillmore, Mrs. Loder’s brother.”“Glad to know you, Mr. Fillmore,” said Merriwell genially, as he grasped Fred’s hand. “Miss Burragewrote me about you. You’re captain of the Hopkins lacrosse team, I think?”“I have that honor.”“An honor it is,” nodded Merry. “You are captain of the lacrosse champions of the United States at the present time.”Fillmore was then introduced to Bart Hodge.He noted that an unusual tide of color had suffused the cheeks of Elsie Bellwood, and now, of a sudden, he realized that she, like Inza, was a wonderfully pretty girl. The two girls were of strongly contrasting types.“Mr. Fillmore has been very good to us, Bart,” said Elsie.“Which places Frank and me under untold obligations to him,” said Hodge. “I have only one fault to find with him. He should have written me that you were ill. It was a crime for you girls to keep it from me.”“I wanted to write,” said Inza; “but she wouldn’t let me tell you that.”“Why, it was nothing,” declared Elsie. “I wasn’t going to break up your trip just because I happened to be a bit out of sorts. I suppose the climate was too severe after spending the early part of the winter in the West.”“We wanted you to keep on with us,” reminded Frank. “It was your own fault that you returned East when you did.”Fillmore was urged to sit down, and he accepted the invitation.“Let’s see,” he said, “I believe Miss Burrage toldme you were organizing a lacrosse team, Mr. Merriwell.”“It’s practically organized,” nodded Merry. “We’re going to play a few games at the close of the college season. We’ve arranged for two games already.”Fillmore lifted his eyebrows in surprise.“Well, you’re a hustler!” he smiled. “Are you going to have some Harvard players on your team?”“Five of them. Three were former Hopkins men.”“Will Herb Onslaw be one of the five?”“Yes.”“I don’t see how you induced him to play on a team where some one else is to be captain.”“Oh, that wasn’t difficult. I think Onslaw’s a very decent and modest chap.”“You don’t know him!”“It seems that you don’t like Onslaw.”“Not much, for I know he’s full of wind. He was dreadfully puffed up because Harvard happened to win from us. You know I was hurt in the game and did not play during most of the second half.”Hodge shrugged his shoulders and his lip curled the least bit. He detected the conceit in Fillmore.“I know about that. It was very unfortunate,” said Merry.“Of course I’m not saying we’d won if I hadn’t been hurt, but we had the lead when that happened. I think Onslaw was glad to see me go out of the game.”“He didn’t appear to me like a malicious chap.”“Oh, I presume he’s smooth enough. Sorry he’ll not be with Harvard next year. I’d like to get against him again.”“Possibly you will. We’ll give you a game right after the close of college, as soon as you like. I’d like to make arrangements for the game while in Baltimore. Of course, it’s possible your team will not play us, but we’re very anxious, and you shall have our first game together, if you’ll take it.”“Why, I wouldn’t be surprised if it might be fixed that way. Are you going to challenge us?”“Hadn’t thought of making it a challenge. Just fancied we might arrange a meeting, that’s all. Still, if you think we’d better make it a challenge——”“I don’t suppose it will make any difference. How long will you remain in the city?”“Until the day after to-morrow.”“Well, I’ll introduce you to our manager to-morrow, and you can see what you can do. I’ll urge him to make the game with you.”“Do! Who’s your coach, Abercrombie?”“He’s one of them.”“Good man. No one in this country knows more about the game.”“Who’ll coach your team?”“We’re going to have a Canadian.”“Oh!” exclaimed Fillmore. “You’re going in for the real thing! Some day we’ll put it all over those Canucks!”“Perhaps so,” admitted Frank; “but, to tell you the truth, I fear the players of this country will have to improve faster than they have to get away with the Canadians. We can trounce them at baseball; but at lacrosse and ice hockey they are going to keep the lead for some time.”“Don’t you believe it!” cried the Hopkins captain. “Their day is coming right soon. I’ll admit that they still outrank us, but the sport is comparatively new with us. We have not given it enough attention, and it hasn’t become popular with the public. It deserves to become popular.”“It will,” asserted Frank. “When people begin to realize what a pretty game it is they’ll take to it. The public has to be educated up to a thing like that. Lacrosse has hardly any of the dangerous elements of football, yet it is exciting, and the open playing permits spectators to see almost constantly everything that is taking place. There is no more graceful game played.”“Why, you’re a real enthusiast!” said Fillmore.“Just as I am an enthusiast in all clean, healthy sports. I believe in such things, and I take hold of them with delight. I’ve seen lacrosse played in Canada, and the work of two well-matched teams up there puts us in the shade. However, let the public show the interest for lacrosse that it has in college baseball and we’ll witness great advancement in the next few years.”“Have you played lacrosse yourself, Mr. Merriwell?”“A little.”“It’s a game at which practice counts for a great deal.”“Like baseball. Mere strength is of small matter in lacrosse. Speed, skill, nerve, and brains all come in. In this respect it has some advantages over football.”“Well, you can discuss all that to-morrow!” laughed Inza. “Just now I’m in favor of talking about otherthings. If you play the game here, Elsie and I will attend and root. Won’t we, Elsie?”“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” answered Elsie.“You’ll see something that will give you small satisfaction,” thought Fillmore; but he kept his thought to himself.
Fillmore, who did not live in Baltimore, boarded with his sister, Mrs. Loder, on Calvert Street. He returned to his sister’s home, his mind occupied with thoughts of lacrosse and Inza Burrage. It must be confessed that he thought more of Inza than of the game at which he had won fame among his college mates.
Reaching home, he found his sister and casually asked about the girls.
“They’re in their room, Fred,” smiled Mrs. Loder. “I don’t think you’ll see anything more of them this evening. Be careful, you bad boy! you’re becoming altogether too interested in Miss Burrage. I’m afraid those eyes of hers have wrought havoc with your heart.”
“Nonsense!” he laughed. “How foolish you are to get such a notion, sis. I like her because she’s so bright and interesting. I’m not the sort of fellow to get broken up over any girl. They’re all alike to me.”
“Oh, I’ve heard youngsters like you talk before! You can’t fool an old married woman. I’ve seen what was going on.”
In vain he protested that there was nothing “going on.”
“You can’t fool me,” she repeated. “Inza Burrage is handsome and fascinating, and you’ve been sticking to the house in a most amazing way since she arrived.Haven’t you learned that she’s engaged to a Mr. Merriwell?”
“Of course.”
“She’s in love with him, too, so it won’t do you any good to waste your time. Don’t get to mooning round her. She’s aware that you are interested, and I think it’s beginning to annoy her. I have a fancy that’s one reason why both girls are sticking so close to their room to-night. They’re keeping away from you.”
“They don’t have to!” he muttered, his pride touched and his cheeks hot.
Then he wandered off by himself, turned on the electric light in the little reading room back of the parlor, flung himself on a leather-covered Morris chair and studied for an hour. Finally his thoughts wandered from his studies and he dropped the book. His eyes had begun to smart and burn, and he turned off the light.
The doorbell rang. It was answered by a colored maid, and two young men entered. They gave the colored girl their cards, and she told them to step into the parlor and wait.
The sliding door between the parlor and the little room occupied by Fillmore was partly open. He caught a glimpse of the two visitors and saw that both were fine-looking fellows. One had dark hair and eyes. The other sat down where Fred could see him. The light fell full on his face, and the youth on the Morris chair noted its unusual strength and manly beauty. The longer he gazed at that face the more deeply he was impressed by a conviction that the youngman was a person of great ability and force who was destined to make a mark in the world.
“This will be a great surprise for the girls,” said the one of the dark hair.
He of the fine face smiled, and his smile was fully as wonderful as the face which it lighted.
“They will be more than surprised,” he said.
A few moments there came a rustling on the carpeted stairs. With a rush that was little short of a run, Inza Burrage came down, followed a little later by Elsie Bellwood.
Inza, her eyes shining like twin stars, her cheeks aglow, entered the room. The youth of the fine face sprang toward her and she was clasped in his arms.
“Inza!” he cried, his voice hoarse with deep feeling.
“Frank!” she answered. “Oh, Frank! Frank!”
He kissed her again and again.
Fred Fillmore started up, feeling in his bosom a terrible sensation that he had never before experienced. He could not bear to see her held thus in those strong arms and kissed in that manner. In his heart something seemed ready to burst. For a moment he stood with his hands clenched, longing to rush in there and tear her from the man.
Then he turned away and fled with noiseless steps.
“That’s the man!” hissed Fillmore, as he found his way to the rear of the house and ascended the back stairs. “That’s Merriwell!”
He was astounded by his own emotions. He felt himself quivering from head to feet. Reaching his own room by way of the back stairs, he paced excitedly up and down.
“I’d like to punch him!” he huskily muttered. “Jingoes! what is the matter with me? It made me furious to see him kiss her. I didn’t suppose anything could give me a feeling like that. What is the matter with me?”
He was somewhat dismayed over it. After a time he slowly murmured:
“By Jove! I am stuck on that girl! I didn’t know it before. That’s what ails me. If any one had told me I was hit so hard I’d felt like punching him. What am I going to do about it?”
There didn’t seem to be much of anything to do, but his brain was awhirl, scores of wild fancies and ideas flashing through it. For a long time he paced up and down, gradually growing calmer. Finally he left his room and descended by the front stairs, whistling.
In a careless manner he strolled into the parlor, stopping short and ceasing to whistle in apparent surprise as he beheld the four persons there.
“I beg your pardon!” he exclaimed, starting to retreat.
Inza rose.
“Mr. Fillmore,” she called.
“Miss Burrage,” he bowed. “I didn’t mean to intrude. I didn’t know——”
“No intrusion,” she assured. “Let me introduce you to Mr. Merriwell. Frank, this is Mr. Fillmore, Mrs. Loder’s brother.”
“Glad to know you, Mr. Fillmore,” said Merriwell genially, as he grasped Fred’s hand. “Miss Burragewrote me about you. You’re captain of the Hopkins lacrosse team, I think?”
“I have that honor.”
“An honor it is,” nodded Merry. “You are captain of the lacrosse champions of the United States at the present time.”
Fillmore was then introduced to Bart Hodge.
He noted that an unusual tide of color had suffused the cheeks of Elsie Bellwood, and now, of a sudden, he realized that she, like Inza, was a wonderfully pretty girl. The two girls were of strongly contrasting types.
“Mr. Fillmore has been very good to us, Bart,” said Elsie.
“Which places Frank and me under untold obligations to him,” said Hodge. “I have only one fault to find with him. He should have written me that you were ill. It was a crime for you girls to keep it from me.”
“I wanted to write,” said Inza; “but she wouldn’t let me tell you that.”
“Why, it was nothing,” declared Elsie. “I wasn’t going to break up your trip just because I happened to be a bit out of sorts. I suppose the climate was too severe after spending the early part of the winter in the West.”
“We wanted you to keep on with us,” reminded Frank. “It was your own fault that you returned East when you did.”
Fillmore was urged to sit down, and he accepted the invitation.
“Let’s see,” he said, “I believe Miss Burrage toldme you were organizing a lacrosse team, Mr. Merriwell.”
“It’s practically organized,” nodded Merry. “We’re going to play a few games at the close of the college season. We’ve arranged for two games already.”
Fillmore lifted his eyebrows in surprise.
“Well, you’re a hustler!” he smiled. “Are you going to have some Harvard players on your team?”
“Five of them. Three were former Hopkins men.”
“Will Herb Onslaw be one of the five?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t see how you induced him to play on a team where some one else is to be captain.”
“Oh, that wasn’t difficult. I think Onslaw’s a very decent and modest chap.”
“You don’t know him!”
“It seems that you don’t like Onslaw.”
“Not much, for I know he’s full of wind. He was dreadfully puffed up because Harvard happened to win from us. You know I was hurt in the game and did not play during most of the second half.”
Hodge shrugged his shoulders and his lip curled the least bit. He detected the conceit in Fillmore.
“I know about that. It was very unfortunate,” said Merry.
“Of course I’m not saying we’d won if I hadn’t been hurt, but we had the lead when that happened. I think Onslaw was glad to see me go out of the game.”
“He didn’t appear to me like a malicious chap.”
“Oh, I presume he’s smooth enough. Sorry he’ll not be with Harvard next year. I’d like to get against him again.”
“Possibly you will. We’ll give you a game right after the close of college, as soon as you like. I’d like to make arrangements for the game while in Baltimore. Of course, it’s possible your team will not play us, but we’re very anxious, and you shall have our first game together, if you’ll take it.”
“Why, I wouldn’t be surprised if it might be fixed that way. Are you going to challenge us?”
“Hadn’t thought of making it a challenge. Just fancied we might arrange a meeting, that’s all. Still, if you think we’d better make it a challenge——”
“I don’t suppose it will make any difference. How long will you remain in the city?”
“Until the day after to-morrow.”
“Well, I’ll introduce you to our manager to-morrow, and you can see what you can do. I’ll urge him to make the game with you.”
“Do! Who’s your coach, Abercrombie?”
“He’s one of them.”
“Good man. No one in this country knows more about the game.”
“Who’ll coach your team?”
“We’re going to have a Canadian.”
“Oh!” exclaimed Fillmore. “You’re going in for the real thing! Some day we’ll put it all over those Canucks!”
“Perhaps so,” admitted Frank; “but, to tell you the truth, I fear the players of this country will have to improve faster than they have to get away with the Canadians. We can trounce them at baseball; but at lacrosse and ice hockey they are going to keep the lead for some time.”
“Don’t you believe it!” cried the Hopkins captain. “Their day is coming right soon. I’ll admit that they still outrank us, but the sport is comparatively new with us. We have not given it enough attention, and it hasn’t become popular with the public. It deserves to become popular.”
“It will,” asserted Frank. “When people begin to realize what a pretty game it is they’ll take to it. The public has to be educated up to a thing like that. Lacrosse has hardly any of the dangerous elements of football, yet it is exciting, and the open playing permits spectators to see almost constantly everything that is taking place. There is no more graceful game played.”
“Why, you’re a real enthusiast!” said Fillmore.
“Just as I am an enthusiast in all clean, healthy sports. I believe in such things, and I take hold of them with delight. I’ve seen lacrosse played in Canada, and the work of two well-matched teams up there puts us in the shade. However, let the public show the interest for lacrosse that it has in college baseball and we’ll witness great advancement in the next few years.”
“Have you played lacrosse yourself, Mr. Merriwell?”
“A little.”
“It’s a game at which practice counts for a great deal.”
“Like baseball. Mere strength is of small matter in lacrosse. Speed, skill, nerve, and brains all come in. In this respect it has some advantages over football.”
“Well, you can discuss all that to-morrow!” laughed Inza. “Just now I’m in favor of talking about otherthings. If you play the game here, Elsie and I will attend and root. Won’t we, Elsie?”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” answered Elsie.
“You’ll see something that will give you small satisfaction,” thought Fillmore; but he kept his thought to himself.