“I’m fond of them all, but Grace Harlowe is my ideal.” Harriet spoke with deep conviction. She had met Grace Harlowe and her three chums during the preceding summer. When the Meadow-Brook Girls had passed through Oakdale on their way home. They had remained over night with the Wingates, who were relatives of Tommy Thompson’s.
Hippy Wingate, Tommy’s cousin, had risen to the occasion and invited his particular group of friends, known as the Eight Originals, of whom much has been told in the “Grace Harlowe Books,” to meet the Meadow-Brook Girls. These wide-awake young people had spent a most delightful evening together and a firm comradeship had sprung up between the two sets of girls. Harriet and Grace Harlowe had at once established a permanent bond of fellowship, so it was hardly to be wondered at that the former’s first thought was of Grace.
“Of courthe we’ll let the Oakdale girlths know what marvelouth championth we are,” nodded Tommy. “I’ll thend Grathe a telegram mythelf the minute the tournament’th over, thaying we’ve won the cup.”
“Can you beat it?” murmured George, chancing to catch the laughing eyes of the guardian.
“No, George, I confess that I cannot,” answered Miss Elting.
“Maybe you might want to take the cup with you right now?” suggested the captain.
“Could we?” asked Tommy innocently, whereat there was a laugh at her expense.
“No, my dear. There are some little formalities to be gone through with first,” said Harriet. “We first have to win it after battling with some of the best girl players in the State. That done, we shall take the cup and carry out the plans already made. I think we had better attend to our errands now.”
“Oh, don’t go,” begged Tommy. “I could thtand here and look at it all the retht of the day.”
They started back toward the car. At the edge of the sidewalk Tommy turned and ran back to the window. The other girls stepped into the car and there they sat for fully five minutes until Tommy Thompson had impressed every line and curve of the beautiful trophy on her mind.
“You may break it if you look at it so hard,” warned George.
“Come, Tommy. Remember, you must get your rest and be ready for practice this afternoon,” called the guardian.
The little girl turned away reluctantly, andgetting into the car settled back in the seat, uttering a deep sigh of happy satisfaction.
“I thhall want to look at it all the time. I know I’ll thit up nighth looking at it,” she murmured.
No one answered her. Each girl was too deeply absorbed in her thoughts to speak at that moment. Then the car moved on and the exquisite trophy for which they were soon to enter the lists was left behind them. But Harriet resolved that the separation should not be for long. Captain George, on his part, took a different view of the matter.
“The disappointment will nearly kill them,” he thought.
The purchases made, Jane drove at her usual rate of speed until she reached the tournament grounds. She slowed down just long enough to gain the field, then put on full speed. The car went dashing over the lot, threatening every minute to upset. She did not even turn out for a group of workmen. They were the men who got out of the way, and just in time, too. No amount of argument on the partof her companions could induce Jane McCarthy to drive slowly. Of course, she would not have run over any one recklessly, but in trying to avoid doing so she might have upset her car and caused serious injury to her passengers.
The boys were still rolling their practice court with hand rollers, packing down a lump or digging it off here and there, giving as much attention to the task as if the tournament were to be played on that particular court.
“It is a shame for the boys to work so hard,” said Miss Elting.
“Do them good,” answered George carelessly.
“We thaw the cup, Tham,” cried Tommy, leaping from the car.
“Well, seeing is believing.”
“And each of uth ith going to have it in her home. Jutht think of that!”
“Just think of it,” scoffed Sam. “Makes me dizzy to contemplate. Aren’t you girls eating in the middle of the day any more or are you fasting for the tournament?”
They hadn’t thought of luncheon. They had been absorbed with matters of much greater importance.
“I don’t see anything that looks like a campfire,” said Hazel, glancing about her.
George led the way to the rear of the tents, where he pointed proudly to a fireplace made ofstones. Near it was a pile of dry wood, some soft for starting the fire, some hard for making a bed of hot coals.
“As you are not fasting, we shall proceed to get something to eat for you,” declared Captain George.
“No, indeed. You have done quite enough. We will get it ourselves,” answered Harriet, immediately setting about preparing the noonday meal, which in this instance would be eaten some time after noon. Her companions put on their aprons, and half an hour later Tramp Boys and Meadow-Brook Girls sat down to a light luncheon.
George told them such other news as he had learned, the plans for the tournament, how the names of the players who were to be opposed to each other were to be drawn, and the like. No one knew exactly whom she was to play against, no one would know until the drawings were made shortly before the game was to be played. This added a spice to the contest, though that was not the purpose of the regulation.
“You see,” continued the captain, “in case you were pitted against such players as the Scott Sisters, or those high-toned players from New York City, you might go down and out in the first set. Then you would be done for, for good and all this season, without a doubt.”
“You are mistaken,” answered Harriet promptly.
“I know the laws,” answered George with some warmth.
“Yes, but it is quite plain that you do not know the Meadow-Brook Girls. In the case you mention it would be the New York girls who would be done for, for good and all. You are mistaken, George. But we forgive you. We know your heart is in the right place.”
“There’s no use trying to tell you anything,” objected the captain warmly. “You are so stubborn.”
“Isn’t that the way to be?” questioned Harriet Burrell sweetly. “Or would you prefer to have us meek and to say, ‘Oh, yes, the New York girls will win, of course. We stand no chance, whatever; we are going to lie right down on the court and let them have their way’? Is that the way you would like to have me receive your remarks and answer them?”
“No!” exploded George, “not by a jug full. I withdraw my ungentlemanly remark and beg your pardon. You are right and I am wrong. You are always right. Tommy says so and I agree with her.”
“You thee, I am the withe one of the outfit, Mith Elting,” spoke up Tommy brightly.
“How many prizes are to be offered?” askedthe guardian, thus putting an end to the subject the young folks had been discussing. “I have heard nothing about it save the little you and Mr. Herrington have mentioned.”
“In the doubles, you mean? Well, there is the championship cup——”
“Our cup,” cut in Tommy. “You know we are each to have it in our hometh.”
“There is a smaller cup, too, I believe. There is also a gold bracelet and a few other consolation prizes, including a pair of rag dolls for the ones at the tail end of the procession. How would you like a nice, homemade rag doll, Grace?”
“I don’t want a rag doll, I want a thilver cup—thethilver cup,” protested Tommy indignantly. “I won’t have a rag doll!”
“Of course not,” agreed Harriet. “What a ridiculous idea! We shall have a silver cup, shan’t we, dear?”
“Thethilver cup,” corrected Tommy.
“Yes. And how soon will our court be ready for us, Captain?” asked Harriet, turning to the captain.
“Not until late this afternoon. You will want to get settled and rest and adjust yourselves.”
“No; I shall, for one, want to get to work as soon as I shall have properly digested my luncheon,” replied Harriet, and then, turning toCharlie Mabie, she added, “Charlie, you are actually getting thin.”
“No wonder. I’m doing all the running for both outfits. Up at the camp in the woods it was ‘Charlie, run to town and get so and so.’ Town was only twelve miles away, but Charlie runs just the same. Now it will be, ‘Charlie, run over to town and get a box of candy for the girls.’”
“Not for these girls,” interjected Harriet. “These girls are not eating candy at the present time. We are living plainly, I would have you understand. Tommy, I want you to help me for a little while. You are small and thin. Do you wish to assist me in working out something?”
“Yeth.”
“Then I wish you would stand up and let me see if I can hit you with the tennis ball. I want to try an experiment.”
“I gueth not. You had better try to hit a tree if you want thomething to hit. I don’t like thuch experimenth.”
“I’ll be the easy mark,” offered Sam. “You may hit me in the face, too, if you want to and can. Only don’t volley for my game nose. It is still a little tender from the wollop Grace gave it with her racquet that time. You won’t throw your racquet at me, will you?”
“Indeed, not,” answered Harriet with amerry laugh. “I just want to practise for accuracy.”
Sam posed as a mark for Harriet shortly after dinner, though she permitted him to try to avoid her returns. Sam succeeded part of the time, but not all of the time. Harriet had a little mystifying way of sending the ball at him and reaching almost any spot on his body at which she chose to aim. George said it was because Sam was too slow to get out of the way. Harriet smiled but made no denial. There was no regular practice play, however, until very late in the afternoon. Then for a time the girls limbered up on the court while the boys were placing the net.
Then they decided to play a set. Jane and Hazel won the first two games of the set, the other four games going to Harriet and Tommy. The second set, by agreement, was played much faster than the first had been. The girls really disposed of this set with a dash and spirit that they had not displayed at any other previous practice.
“Well, I’ll be jiggered!” declared George. “I didn’t think you had it in you to go through with it like that. That was a dandy, but not yet fast enough to win the big cup.”
Harriet laughed at him with that teasing laugh that always made George feel like chewing the brim of his hat to keep from making remarks. Harriet suggested that they play a slower game this time and try to put into practice all the tricks they had learned from Mr. Disbrow, to rehearse everything, in fact, that they held in reserve for their opponents when the time came to play the big games.
It was an interesting practice and one who had been looking on might have gained some valuable information as to what sort of a game the Meadow-Brook Girls intended to play in the tournament.
“Another thing that we need is a set of signals,” announced Harriet. “Now we all play with our right hands, so I suggest that we agree upon a certain set of signals to be made with the left hand as a direction to our playing-mate as to what to do. These signals must not be overdone, only used in case of extreme necessity. Not knowing how we shall be paired off on the playing day, we must all learn them alike. I have prepared a few already. We can add others as they seem to be needed.”
Harriet then explained her signals to her companions, which each one wrote down at her dictation while the boys looked on wonderingly. Sam had gone back to their own camp on an errand for George, so he was not a party to the plan. After they had read over their lists, Harriet went through the signals, requiring the others to interpret them as she made the signs. When unable to do so they had but to refer to their papers. This proved a very short cut to memorizing the signals.
“Of course,” continued Harriet, “we can’t be watching each other all the time for signals, but there may come moments when an understanding between the team-mates may be worth a great deal to each of them.”
“I don’t know whether P. E. will approve of this business or not,” said Captain Baker in a doubtful tone.
“If he does not, of course, we shall not use them,” answered Harriet readily. “I’ll tell you what we will do. We will play a game for him without telling him we are going to use signals, while all the time we will be signaling to each other. Then we will tell him and ask his judgment on the matter.”
“Agreed,” said George. “Now, if you think you have the signals down pat enough, suppose you play a game for me, using the signs as you find you can. You, Jane and Hazel, are not supposed to know anything about these signals for this game. Just don’t see them.”
A game was played, and several times during the progress of it Harriet or Tommy made use of the signals. The other team-mates could notwholly overlook these signals, hence they were in a measure on their guard for what followed each time, but the value of signals was so apparent that George declared himself fully convinced. He said there could be no doubt as to how P. E. would view them.
“How did you ever think of it, Harriet?” he questioned, gazing at her admiringly.
“I just dreamed them out at home the other night, but I had forgotten all about it until to-day.”
“Well, all I’ve got to say about it is that you are a mighty good dreamer. Now, we haven’t much time left before dark, so go ahead and play. Use your signals, use everything. Work fast and do your best. There’s no one to see you. No one comes around here. They know better when we men are on hand to watch over you.”
Despite George’s boast, however, a young man had been gradually working his way through the grove, approaching the tennis court from the rear of the tents, his stealthy movements as he darted from tree to tree being shielded from their view by the tents. As the shadows grew more dense in the grove he kept creeping closer. There was still plenty of light for the players, and their movements were quite plain to the spy who had stolen upon them.
Reaching a point some little distance removed from the camp and now to one side of it, a position that commanded a fairly unobstructed view of the tennis court, he drew a pair of opera glasses from his pocket and immediately became absorbed in watching the playing on the Meadow-Brook court. Now and then he was able to hear what was said, but, fortunately, when discussing the signals the girls and boys lowered their voices instinctively. If the fellow had been a keen student of the game he undoubtedly would have seen that something was being done that looked like learning a signal code, but whether or not he understood the meaning of the natural movements of the left arms and hands of the players cannot be said. He had not crept close enough to make his observations before they began to play.
While all this was going on Sam Crocker had been to the Tramp Boys’ camp and was on his way back. All at once he halted, and, shading his eyes, gazed at the figure. The fellow’s back was turned toward Sam. Then the latter saw the opera glasses. He understood at once. Some one was spying on the camp.
“Oh!” chuckled Sam, rolling up his sleeves, “here is food for reflection, and food for my two big fists. Now, Mr. Man, look out for yourself, for the avenger is certainly on your trail!”
The avenger was. Stooping low and moving with extreme caution, Sam Crocker crept slowly up toward the supposed spy, getting nearer and nearer. All at once, after straightening up, he uttered a whoop and sprang forward, hurling himself on the man at the tree.
The spy went down, more under the force of a well-directed blow that Sam had planted on the back of his neck than from the force of Sam’s weight that fell upon him.
“I’ve got him!” yelled Sam. “I’ve got the miserable spy. Come here, fellows, quick! Oh-h-h-h! Ouch!” There was a despairing wail in the voice of the Tramp Boy now. The note of triumph had left it.
Sam’s companions had sprung up with his first call and started into the grove, but though they could hear their companion they were unable to locate him.
Sam Crocker’s yells were now half smothered, so it seemed to his companions. Then all at once they saw Sam rise from the ground, saw him with both hands clapped to his face,heard his unintelligible yells for help. The boys ran at top speed.
“What is it?” shouted George.
“Catch him!” moaned Sam, suddenly sitting down again.
“Catch whom?”
“The spy! the spy! He’s getting away. He ran that way. Chase him.”
The boys now began to understand. With one accord they spread out and began running through the grove, shouting to each other as they ran, but no trace of Sam’s spy did they find. He had had ample time to make his escape while Sam was trying to make his companions understand what had happened.
The girls had dropped their racquets and ran out, following the boys. They found the unhappy Sam, hands still pressed against his face, rocking to and fro and groaning.
“Oh, Sam, you have hurt your poor nose again,” sympathized Miss Elting. “Get a pail of water. No, we will take him back to camp where we can give him better treatment,” said the guardian. Sam permitted himself to be assisted to his feet and slowly led back to the camp of the Meadow-Brook Girls. Miss Elting promptly set to work to wash the blood from his face so that she might determine how serious was the hurt that he had received.
It was while she was thus engaged that George and his companions returned. They were in none too good humor either.
“You are a fine one to send us off on a wild goose chase like that!” growled George. “I don’t believe you saw any one at all. You must have seen a shadow.”
Sam found his voice.
“Look at my nose! Does that look as if I hadn’t seen any one? Does my nose look as if I had met a shadow?” he roared, his roar ending in a groan, for, in opening his mouth, he had hurt his nose again.
“Tell us what you did see,” urged Baker, his voice growing sympathetic when he saw that Sam was suffering.
“I think we shall have to take him to a physician,” announced the guardian. “I fear this is a little beyond my ability as a surgeon. Can’t you wait until he is fixed up, George?”
“Yes, but if he’s able, he must tell us now,” replied the captain. “If there is anything at all to this we should know it at once. Think you can talk, Sam?”
“Ye—es, if you won’t nag me. Ouch!” Sam remonstrated as the guardian touched his suffering nose.
“Never mind. I won’t do it again,” said Miss Elting gravely. “I thought that perhaps Imight be able to straighten your nose, but see that is not best, nor had I better put on any adhesive plaster. The doctor would have to take it off, thus causing you useless additional pain. Tell them, please, if you are going to do so. We must get you to a doctor at once.”
“I was coming through the grove when I discovered a fellow hiding behind a tree,” explained Sam Crocker with many a halt and groan. “I crawled up toward him. I didn’t like his looks. Then I saw he had a pair of opera glasses. Through the glasses he was watching the girls at practice.”
“What!” shouted George. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I did, but you thought I had seen shadows. Shadows don’t give a fellow this,” he added, pointing to his own disreputable nose. “When I got up close enough I jumped upon him. I punched him at the same time. He went down and I on top of him. It looked like a soft thing for me. I yelled to you boys about that time. But Fate was against me. Do you know, that fellow knew all about my sore nose, knew that it was the one particular tender, sensitive spot on my whole body. The scoundrel jerked his elbow back just like this. It hit me on the nose and made me yell. Oh, it hurt awfully. I just rolled right off him and clapped both hands to my poornose. It was bleeding badly. Then the fellow jumped up. I made a grab for him; then, what do you suppose he did? He kicked me in the nose, kicked me right on the sorest spot in my whole body. I don’t mind being kicked, but to be insulted by being kicked on the nose—that’stoomuch for a self-respecting Tramp. If you catch him, don’t do anything to him. Just bring him to me.”
“Would you know the fellow if you were to see him again?” questioned George, frowning.
“I don’t know. I think so, although I saw his face only for a second.”
“How was he dressed?”
“He had on a pair of shoes, heavy ones,” was Sam’s innocent reply.
“What kind of suit?” persisted George.
“Didn’t notice it. Don’t think I saw it at all.”
“Boys, this is serious,” declared Captain Baker, turning to his fellow Tramps. “Some one has been spying while the girls were at practice. We should have posted guards, but I didn’t think we should be bothered this afternoon. There are some queer people around here. Of course, we can’t blame them for wanting to know all they can, but we may blame ourselves for letting them find out. We shall see to it, however, that this incident is not repeated.”
“I wonder if he saw our signals!” gasped Jane.
“He did, no doubt. We were making them about that time. But, girls, keep your eyes open. If the boys don’t catch the guilty ones, we shall undoubtedly do so when we get in the tournament. If this spying has been done in the interest of any of the players, the girls will know our signals when we face the net,” declared Harriet. “The spy may not have heard our explanations, but if he is sharp he will be able to identify the signals with the plays that follow. When any of you sees that her opponents understand our signals you will know you are getting close to the fellow who hurt Sam’s nose. Then you just watch. Are you going to send him to a doctor, Miss Elting?”
“I’ll take him in the motor car,” said Jane.
It was arranged in that way, Miss Elting and Captain George accompanying the injured boy, who really was suffering more than he ever remembered to have suffered in all his life. The other Tramp Boys remained with the Meadow-Brook Girls. The boys were angry and the girls indignant at the attack on Sam Crocker, but there was nothing to be done in the matter now except to wait and watch.
Sam was brought back in Jane’s car. His face was plastered until he was well-nigh unrecognizable, but it was the same old familiar voice that inquired if supper were ready. The girls had forgotten all about the meal. Their minds had not been on eating at any stage of this eventful day. They hurriedly set about preparing a meal for themselves and the boys.
“The doctor says he will not be permanently disfigured,” Harriet informed her companions. “Of course, he must not get any more such knocks on the nose. It’s too bad, now that the tournament is on.”
“I have my voice left,” answered Sam. “I can yell, and now that the plasters are there to hold my nose in place I won’t crack my face doing so. I’m going to do some yelling. Another fellow may be heard to yell, too, but he won’t yell in the same tone, not if I lay my gentle hands upon him.”
The girls were tired and they were to have a long day’s practice on the following day, so the boys were permitted to go to their own camp at an early hour in the evening. There the Tramps discussed ways and means of trapping the spy and giving him the thrashing he deserved, not so much on account of his having spied on them as because of his brutal kicking of Sam Crocker. The elbow jolt was necessary in order to free himself, but the kick in the nose was not. It was the kick that he should be punished for, the ladsdecided, after sitting in judgment on the matter for a long time. They, too, went to bed with their minds fully made up as to what they would do when they found the man. It would not have been a pleasant prospect for him had he known.
Next morning Harriet was out at daylight. Shortly afterward she saw the men setting the nets on the tournament courts.
“Here is our chance, girls,” she cried. “The nets are being placed. Get ready and we can have a long practice before the rest of the community is stirring.”
There was some grumbling, but Harriet being recognized as the leader among the girls, her suggestions were usually adopted. They were in this instance and were warmly seconded by the guardian. As soon as they could get ready they did so and were off across the fields, each eating a piece of bread. There were no Tramp Boys in sight at that early hour, only the workmen and a manager who was directing the placing of the nets on measurements already laid down. Jack Herrington had reasoned that some of the contestants might desire early practice and, to give them all an opportunity, had ordered the nets set up at daybreak.
Miss Elting asked permission to use the courts, which was granted; then the girls began a game, after first having warmed up, for themorning was chill. There being no one to see them except the men at work, they did not hesitate to use all their tricks and secret plays, making good use of the signals all through the set. Harriet and Tommy won the first game, Hazel and Jane the next.
Acting upon the suggestion of the guardian the girls were not playing fast games that morning, but instead they were playing for accuracy and perfection. They were devoting a great deal of attention these days to form, seeking to make their movements as graceful and artistic as possible and yet obtain the best results from their playing. In this instance Miss Elting was their critic.
So interested were the Meadow-Brook Girls in their work that they failed to see a man climb the fence from the street and cross the lot toward the courts. His approach was shielded by the stand built for the tournament spectators. They were unaware of his presence as he stood behind the stand, where he watched the whole of the second set. Then to their amazement he suddenly appeared before them, having walked around to the front of the stand without attracting attention to himself until Harriet Burrell had called “Game!”
“Caught red-handed,” cried a familiar voice.
Margery uttered a little scream.
“Thave me!” cried Tommy, dropping her racquet.
“Sorry to have frightened you, ladies, but glad that it was I who did it rather than some one else,” he said, stepping forward, laughing heartily at their confusion.
“It’s Mr. Disbrow,” cried Harriet. “Oh, we are glad to see you. How long have you been here?”
“Since the beginning of the set. You should be more cautious. How did you know but that one of your opponents might be watching and getting pointers from your practice? You certainly have been applying all the instruction I gave you.”
“It was a mistake,” agreed Miss Elting. “We were all too absorbed to think that any one might be looking on. How did you get here so early?”
“I just arrived, and, after leaving my bag at the hotel, thought I would walk over and have alook at the courts. It is too early for breakfast at the hotel, you know.”
“I am glad. You will now have breakfast with us. The boys have not yet arrived.”
“I did not expect to see them,” chuckled Disbrow. “But tell me, what is new? What do you hear about the other contestants?”
Harriet told him all that they had learned from George Baker, to all of which Mr. Disbrow listened gravely.
“Yes, I have heard as much. It seems a foregone conclusion that the Scott Sisters are going to win the cup. From what I have been able to learn they are accomplished players and have been in training for this match ever since early in the spring.”
“Yes?” Harriet’s eyebrows elevated ever so little. “You have lost your confidence in the Meadow-Brook Girls, then?”
“By no means. From what I have just seen here you girls will give a most excellent account of yourselves, but that doesn’t mean that you will win the cup. I do not see how you could even hope to do so after the very brief time you have spent at the nets. Had you finished?”
“We were going back to camp, but we will put on another game if you like,” replied Harriet.
“I wish you would. You may not find anotheropportunity when no others are about. After this afternoon I shouldn’t do more than just keep in good form. I mean, do no hard work on the court. Now, if you are ready, you may play a couple of games, keeping the same partners, and paying especial attention to team work.”
They did so, Harriet Burrell’s side winning each time, the two games being watched keenly by the Englishman, but without comment until the games were finished.
“Very good,verygood!” he cried, with something more than the usual praise in his voice. “I am satisfied that you have done a great deal more than really could be expected of you. In fact, I may say that I would not have deemed it possible for novices to get in such form as you are showing in so short a time. Do not set your hopes too high, but get as near the top as you can. I shall make it a point to circulate among the players who are here and renew old acquaintances. I may have something further to say on the matter this evening. Oh, no, I am not going to spy on our opponents. I merely want to hear from persons who know what the others have been doing, how they are showing up as to form and skill. I think I shall accept your invitation to breakfast with you. This air has given me an appetite.”
“We have a very good court at the camp,”said Miss Elting after the party had started for camp. “The boys have worked like Trojans to put it in excellent shape. It is a dirt court.”
“That is good. They are a fine lot of boys.”
“Yeth, and Tham bumped hith nothe,” Tommy informed him.
“So I hear. Poor Samuel. He is a most unfortunate mortal, but he is all to the good. That is a fine location for you. You should have some place in which to rest, however. You will have seven minutes after each third set, you know.”
“The teams are to have dressing tents near the courts if they wish,” answered Harriet Burrell. “Mr. Baker is going to put up one for us.”
“Good old George!” approved Mr. Disbrow.
At breakfast, which was a hearty meal in the case of the champion, he offered his criticisms of their playing that morning, making valuable suggestions and giving them a series of instructions regarding their playing when the real test was at hand—that of standing up before hundreds of people and yet being wholly unconscious of their presence.
The conversation was continued after breakfast, then the girls told him of their code of signals. Disbrow said he had observed them when they were playing the second set while he was watching from behind the stand. He agreed that it was an excellent idea provided they didnot give too much attention to watching for signals and thus overlook the more important things.
“Harriet ith going to let uth have the thilver polithh and cloth for the cup,” interjected Tommy wholly irrelevantly to the subject under discussion.
Mr. Disbrow laughed heartily.
“I sincerely hope you may have use for the silver polish,” he replied. “To-morrow, I believe, the singles are to be played off. You should see all of them and study the methods of the players critically, especially those whom you are to face in the courts next day. Here come the boys.”
“It’s P. E.!” shouted George the instant he caught sight of the Englishman sitting in the camp. The boys welcomed him boisterously, then George poured out all the news he had obtained. Later on he accompanied Mr. Disbrow to his hotel, where the two discussed the chances of the Meadow-Brook Girls. Neither the champion nor the boy saw any reason to change their opinions on this subject. That the girls might make an excellent showing they agreed, but that they stood any chance at all of winning the championship neither believed.
“It is simply an impossibility,” declared P. E. with emphasis. “I wish I might look at it ina different light. Perhaps we may change our minds after we see what the other people have been doing, but I doubt it. Have you seen any of the others play?”
George said he had not, but that he had some confidential reports on the work of the Fifth Avenues and the Riversides.
“How are they?” questioned Disbrow eagerly.
“Hot stuff,” answered George, “but very fancy. My, but they handle their racquets well!”
“That doesn’t necessarily make a champion,” suggested Disbrow thoughtfully. “But we shall see. I shall hope to have further information by this evening and still more to-morrow. I say, if I shouldn’t get back before dark, see that the girls play a couple of sets—light practice, mind you—after four o’clock this afternoon. And don’t let them work too hard during the heat of the afternoon. They are pretty fit physically now and I don’t want them to lose form. I think it is safe to say that no team in the tournament will enter the courts in better physical condition than the Meadow-Brooks. They are simply wonderful physically. I leave you to look after these things as I do not wish to take an active part. It would not be best for them.”
George agreed. All arrangements having been talked over and understood between Georgeand Mr. Disbrow, they separated, George to return to camp, the Englishman to spend the day among the tennis people, many of whom he knew, for the tournament had drawn as spectators tennis players of high and low degree.
Almost every person was talking tennis and discussing the merits of the respective teams. Of the Meadow-Brooks little was known. Some had heard of them, most had not, nor had the girls appeared on the streets of the town enough to be identified and placed. They were too busy with the serious affairs in hand to spend any time wandering about the summer resort in idle pleasure.
Every train that arrived during the day brought with it players and visitors. Early in the forenoon girls in white sweaters might have been seen at practice on the tournament courts. The Meadow-Brook Girls were at no time among them, nor were the Scott Sisters nor the Fifth Avenues and Riversides. The latter two were practising on their own private courts and the former were staying with friends and resting preparatory to the battle to be fought perhaps on the morrow.
It was after dinner that evening before Earlington Disbrow turned his footsteps toward the Meadow-Brook camp. He was not highly elated over what he had learned that day, but showednothing of this in his face or manner when he called on the girls. The boys were still there.
George reported that the girls had had a very satisfactory day’s practice, but that the Tramps had had difficulty in keeping spectators and curious players away from the place. The Tramps had literally thrown a circle about the Meadow-Brook Girls’ court, permitting no one to pass within the circle while practice was in progress.
“Will they play to-morrow?” questioned Dill.
“No. Mr. Herrington does not think it advisable. It will undoubtedly be late in the afternoon before the singles are run off, so he has decided to start the doubles on the following forenoon at ten o’clock.”
“What do you wish on the question of team-mates?” he asked, turning to Miss Elting.
“We have been leaving that to you.”
“Then I will offer my suggestion. I have talked it over with George and he agrees with me. I believe the best results can be obtained by arranging it as follows, Miss Burrell and Miss Thompson to play together, Miss McCarthy and Miss Holland to act as team-mates. Of course, Miss Thompson is not as heavy as I wish she were, but she makes up for that in a measure by her alertness. Have you any objections to the arrangement?”
“Indeed not,” answered the guardian. “Youhave expressed my own ideas on the question. None of the girls has expressed any preference, but I know they will be satisfied.”
“I for one am,” answered Harriet promptly. The other girls announced themselves as pleased with the arrangement.
“Then we will call it settled. I wish we might be drawn so that you girls could play the weaker teams first.”
“We do not wish any favoritism,” declared Harriet. “If we can’t win fairly and on our merits, we prefer to be beaten.”
“That is the sportsman-like spirit. That is the spirit that should prevail in all contests, as I am certain it will in this. You are going to be in hot company. I have learned something more about the playing of the Scott Sisters. They are fine players. I am not belittling your work, mind you. You play a splendid game—a marvelous game for the time you have been practising, but you must remember that one has to go through a few public matches before one learns to play well before people.”
“Yeth, we underthtand,” nodded Tommy.
“Then you think we shall not win?” questioned Harriet.
“I do not wish to discourage you, nor do I think you will so construe what I have to say. I think you will play a very fine game and that youwill not win the booby prize, but as for winning the cup, for the life of me I don’t see how you are going to do it. There! It’s out now.”
“You are one of those perthonth who have to be thhown, aren’t you?” lisped Tommy Thompson after a moment of deep silence following the discouraging announcement. “I gueth that we thhall have to thhow you.”
The morning following the conversation between the Meadow-Brook Girls and Earlington Disbrow dawned clear and cool, though the weather gave promise of being much hotter—in fact, the Weather Bureau had promised the hottest wave of the summer thus far, which the management of the tournament advanced as an added reason why every one should come to the seashore for the Coast Tennis Tournament.
The girls, in no way cast down by the doubts expressed by their instructor, were still full of determination to win or go down with colors flying to the breeze. That was the Meadow-Brook spirit. Now that each girl had been assigned her partner, the two teams got togetherand planned out the methods to be used by each of the two teams—in fact, planned everything that could be planned. It was the first public appearance of any of the girls of the Meadow-Brook camp, hence their behavior when they found themselves on the courts was still an unknown quantity. However, instead of worrying over their ordeal the girls had a lively round at their own net early in the morning before breakfast, then a cold bath, after which they were ready for breakfast.
They were alone, that morning, for breakfast, and enjoyed themselves very much. Only Tommy appeared to be nervous, but she soon forgot this in talking about the cup that she confidently believed would be in their possession on the following day.
They were not to play any more until after they had returned from the singles that were to be run off on this, the first day of the tournament. Mr. Disbrow they would not see again until they had reached the tournament grounds, but George and at least one of his companions were coming over to accompany Miss Elting and the girls to the tournament. The girls were looking forward to the arrival of their own parents, all except Harriet Burrell, who thought her father and mother would not be present. In a way she was glad of it, though she knew sheshould miss them, that she would give almost anything were they able to see her play and enjoy the proud distinction which she hoped and believed would come to her and her companions. But she was wise enough to keep nothing on her mind from that time until the end of the games, save the games themselves.
They repaired to the tennis grounds about an hour before the calling of the games. None of the girls shared the comforts of the grand stand. They preferred to be on the ground, where they could stroll about, where they could be close enough to watch and learn. That they did learn a great deal that day they admitted later on, for there were some excellent sets played in the singles. During the morning Mr. Disbrow came to them with a copy of the “draw” which had been made that morning, showing the assignments of the teams for the preliminary games in the doubles. The Meadow-Brook Girls perused the list eagerly.
“Oh, listen to this! Jane and Hazel play the Riversides first,” cried Harriet excitedly; “and, Tommy, you and I are listed to play our first match against the Fifth Avenues. That is what will happen if both these teams win in their preliminary matches, which, of course, they are bound to do. I don’t like to have to sit and wait until those preliminaries are over, but some onemust do it, I suppose. Some one always has to suffer for another person’s gain.”
“I am well pleased that both of you do not have to meet the top-notchers the first thing,” said Mr. Disbrow. “The meeting with a team nearer your own class will give you a chance to get a notch or two higher than you might otherwise attain. Miss Burrell and Miss Thompson will have an added disadvantage. They must try to profit by your experience.”
“Mr. Dithbrow, may I thay thomething perthonal?” asked Tommy sweetly.
“Yes, certainly.”
“Then I will thay it. You are a regular calamity howler. I thaid you were one of thothe perthonth who had to be thhown. Wait until to-morrow and we’ll thhow you.”
The Englishman doffed his hat politely.
“I think you are right, but perhaps I have had a motive in saying those things that you call ‘calamity howling.’ However, I shall explain what I mean after the games to-morrow. Watch this set; it is going to be a good one.”
“Are either of the top-notchers whom we are to meet playing in the singles?” whispered Harriet.
“No. Like yourselves, they are lying low and conserving their energies. The Scott Sisters I have not seen, nor the other two teams we havespoken of. I don’t know that any of them are on the grounds, though I presume they are.”
During the next hour there was little opportunity for conversation. The play held the attention of the Meadow-Brook Girls, Mr. Disbrow remaining near them, now and then calling their attention to improper plays or some particularly fine bit of playing that he wished them to impress upon their minds.
A very large crowd of people was in attendance; a greater attendance, even, was looked for on the morrow. Every player had hosts of friends to cheer for her and to shout encouraging words between the sets. The games were run off quickly, only two sets being long-drawn out when skilful players found themselves opposed to each other. Even these were limited to half an hour’s playing. The playing day ended about three o’clock in the afternoon, some contestants having made a miserable showing, others having shown such form as gave promise of future successes.
Mr. Disbrow went to camp to take dinner with the Meadow-Brook Girls as well as to watch their practice, which was to take place immediately upon their return to camp. He did not compliment them on their work that afternoon, but before leaving them that night he said:
“Remember, no work to-morrow morning.Sleep as late as you can comfortably and do not lie awake thinking of to-morrow. Time enough to think when you are before the net. Just try to imagine that it is a practice game with your humble instructor on the side lines ready to criticise you sharply for any shortcomings he may observe. Try to think, too, that there is nothing worth while at stake, even if you do not win out.”
“Yeth, there ith,” objected Tommy. “There ith a cup at thtake. I call that thomething.”
“I may look in on you after breakfast to see that you are all in working order,” continued Disbrow. “George, as the manager of the team, I would suggest that you see Herrington at nine o’clock in the morning to see that there are no changes in the arrangements. Miss Elting, it will be for you and Miss Brown to look after the physical comfort of the young ladies when they come in from the sets. You understand what to do, being an athlete yourself.”
The guardian nodded understandingly.
“Then, good-bye until to-morrow. Remember!” He shook a warning finger at the girls.
“We shall not forget,” answered Harriet simply.
“I feel,” said Tommy, after he had gone, “jutht ath though I were going to jail to-morrow. Thuppothe—thuppothe a girl thhould defeatme and I thhould throw my racquet at her and hit her on the nothe—would they thend me to jail for that?”
“Tommy!” exclaimed Harriet, “how can you say such a thing?”
“I can thay it all right. What I want to know ith may I do it, if I want to?”
“You most certainly may not,” answered Miss Elting sternly.
“Then I won’t,” decided the little girl.
“I should say you won’t,” returned Harriet, breaking out into a merry peal of laughter.
The boys remained in the camp for an hour after the departure of Mr. Disbrow, when they, too, prepared to go to their own camp. George promised that the boys would be over early. In the meantime the dressing tent would be pitched and made ready for them, so that the girls might go directly to their dressing tent from their camp. There they could rest until they were called for their turn, all of which George would attend to personally, removing any necessity for worry about arrangements.
The boys bade their friends good night, shaking hands with each girl and the guardian before leaving, then strode away in the darkness. The girls retired very shortly after the departure of the boys. All were weary, nor did they feel much like talking that evening. Miss Elting kissed each of them good night, and within fifteen minutes every Meadow-Brook girl was sound asleep. Healthy minds and healthy bodies had much to do with this.