CHAPTER XXXI
ON THE DIAMOND
Andy Blair stood in the middle of his room, carefully examining a bat hehad taken from a closet containing, among other possessions, hissporting things. The bat was a favorite he had used while at Milton, andhe was considering having it sand-papered and oiled. Or, rather, he wasconsidering doing the work himself, for he would not trust his choiceststick to the hands of another.
"Yes, she'll look a little better for a bit of attention, I think," saidAndy, half aloud. "Though I don't know as I can bat any better with it."
He gave two or three preliminary swings in the air, when the doorsuddenly opened, a head was thrust in and Andy gave it a glancing blow.
"Wow! What's that for?" the newcomer gasped. "A nice way to receivecompany, Andy! Where'd you learn that?"
"I beg your pardon, Bob, old man!" exclaimed Andy, as he recognizedHunter, Dunk's friend. "I was just getting out my bat to see how itfelt and----"
"I can tell you how it felt," interrupted Bob, with emphasis. "It felthard! Better put up a sign outside your door--'Beware of the bat.'"
"And have the fellows think this is a zoological museum," laughed Andy."I will not. But, Bob, I'm very sorry you got in the way of my stick.Does it hurt? Want any witch hazel or anything like that?"
"Oh, no, it isn't so worse. Good thing I wear my hair long or I mighthave a headache. But say--where's Dunk?"
"He was with me a little while ago. We stopped in the postoffice, and Ithought he came on here. But he didn't. Have you seen him?"
"No, but I want to. Gaffington and his crowd are going to have anotherblow-out to-night, and I wanted to make sure Dunk wouldn't fall by thewayside."
"That's so. Glad you told me. I'll do all I can. But say, he and I havehad a strenuous time to-day."
"What's up?" asked Bob. "I've been so blamed busy getting primed for aquiz that I haven't had time to eat."
"It's about the robberies--the quadrangle thefts," explained Andy. "Theyarrested Link Bardon."
"What! Your farmer friend?"
"Yes. Dunk and I bailed him out."
"Good for you! Now I suppose the thefts will stop."
"Not necessarily," returned Andy, quickly. "Link wasn't the thief."
"He wasn't? Then why did they pinch him? Of course I don't know anythingabout it, and if he's your friend, why, of course, you have a right tostick up for him."
"Oh, it isn't that so much," explained Andy. "I don't know him verywell; but I'm sure he isn't guilty of the thefts. There are some queercircumstances about them, but I'm sure they can all be explained."
"Well, it's your funeral--not mine," said Bob, with a shrug of hisshoulders. "I wonder where Dunk is. I think I'll go hunt him up."
"All right, bring him back here when you come," urged Andy.
"Yes, and I suppose you'll stand ready to greet us with a club--youcheerful reception committee!" laughed Bob. "Well, I'll see you later."
Andy sat down, placing his bat across his knees.
"So Gaffington is going to give another spread, eh?" he mused. "That'squeer--on top of the news mother sends in her letter. What did I do withit?"
He found it after looking through a mass of papers in his pockets, andread it again. Following its receipt at the college branch postofficeAndy had imparted the news to Dunk. Then the latter, meeting a friend,had walked off with him, while Andy came on to his room.
On reaching his apartment, Dunk not having come in, Andy found a noticefrom the Freshman Athletic Committee, stating that baseball practicewould soon start in the indoor cage.
Andy was an enthusiastic player, and had made a good record at Milton.As a freshman he was not eligible for the Yale varsity nine, but hecould play on his class team, and he was glad the chance had come tohim.
Andy was thinking of many things as he sat there in the room, now andthen swinging his bat. But he was careful not to let it go too close tothe door, in case other visitors might chance in.
"A whole lot of things have happened since morning," said Andy tohimself. "That sure was a strenuous time over poor Link. I wonder whathe'll do? Probably the college will fire him from his job. I guess I'llhave to see what I can do to get him another. But that won't be easywhen it becomes known that he's out on bail on a theft charge.
"Then there's that news about Mortimer. And to think that he's known allalong that he might have to leave Yale, yet he's been going on andliving as if his father's millions were in a safe deposit box. Iwonder----By Jove!" exclaimed Andy, leaping up. "I never thought ofthat. Why not? If he needs money----"
His train of thought was interrupted by a knock on his door, which hadswung shut as Bob Hunter went out.
"Come in!" invited Andy, and he started as Mortimer Gaffington slid in.Andy gave him a quick glance, but either Mortimer was a good actor, orhe did not feel his father's loss of money, providing the news Mrs.Blair had sent her son was correct.
"Hello, Andy," greeted Gaffington, as he slumped into an easy chair."Where's Dunk?"
"I don't know. Bob Hunter was just in looking for him. Make yourself athome--he may be in soon." In spite of his dislike of Gaffington, and hisfear lest he influence Dunk for evil, Andy could do no less than playthe part of host.
"Thanks, I will stay for a while," answered Mortimer. "Been looking forthieves again?" he asked, noting the bat in Andy's hand. He referred tothe time when Andy and his two friends had sought an intruder down thecorridor, and had only found Mortimer delving in a storeroom.
"No, not this time," laughed Andy. "But the freshman team is going toget together, so I thought I'd get out my fishing tackle, so to speak."
"I see. I guess the varsity indoor practice will start soon. Say, what'sthis I hear about someone being arrested for the quadrangle thefts?"
"It's true enough," replied Andy, looking sharply at his visitor. "LinkBardon was arrested, and Dunk and I got him bailed out."
"You did!" cried Mortimer, almost jumping from the chair.
"Why, was there anything strange in that?" asked Andy, in surprise.
"I should think so!" exclaimed Mortimer, sharply. "Here the wholecollege has been upset by a lot of robberies, and your own roommateloses a valuable watch. Then, as soon as the thief is arrested, youfellows go on his bail! Strange? Well, I should say so!"
"I didn't say we went on his bond," spoke Andy, quietly. "Dunk and Ionly got him a lawyer who arranged for it. But I don't believe Link isguilty."
"Well, that's a matter of opinion," said Mortimer, and there was angerin his voice. "Of course, though, if he's your friend you do right tostick up for him."
"Yes," agreed Andy, "he is my friend. And it's at a time like this thathe needs friends."
"Oh, well," said Mortimer, with a shrug of his shoulders, "let's forgetit. I wonder what's keeping Dunk?"
"Anything I can do?" asked Andy, wishing Mortimer would leave beforeDunk came in. He did not want his chum taken to Burke's for a "won't behome until morning" affair if he could help it.
"No, I want to see Dunk on a personal matter," said the caller. "Guess Iwon't wait any longer, though," and he arose to go out. Just as hereached the door Dunk came in whistling.
"Anything on?" Andy heard Mortimer ask quickly.
"No. Why?"
"Can I see you a moment outside?"
"Sure. I'll be back in a minute, Andy," said Dunk. "I met Bill Haganjust as I left the postoffice and he wanted me to look at a bull pup hewants to sell."
Dunk and Mortimer walked down the hall. Andy was a little anxious as towhat might develop, but he need have had no fears. Dunk returnedpresently, looking rather grave.
"Did he want you to go to his blow-out?" asked Andy, with the privilegeof a roommate.
"Yes, but I'm not going. He wanted some money. Said he was dead broke."
"And yet he's going to blow in a lot. Did you give it to him?"
"What else could I do? When a fellow's down and out that's just the timehe needs help."
"That's right," agr
eed Andy, thinking of Link. "But did Mortimer sayanything about his father's losses?"
"Not a thing. Just said he was temporarily broke, and asked for a loan.I couldn't refuse."
"No, I suppose not. But you must be strapped after putting up for Link.I know I am. I'm going to telegraph home."
"You needn't. I got a check in the mail to-night and I cashed it. I canlend you some if you want it."
"Well, I may call on you. But say, it's queer about Mortimer, isn't it?"
"Yes, but we don't know all the ins and outs of it yet. Maybe that rumorabout his folks losing all they had isn't true."
"Maybe. I'll write home and find out. Say, but I'm tired!"
"So am I! I'm going to stay in to-night."
So it came about that neither Dunk nor Andy went to the little affairMortimer gave on borrowed money. It was "quite some affair," too, as BobHunter reported later, having heard stories about it, and one or twoparticipants were suspended as a result of their performances after thespread.
After the rather exciting time concerning Link's arrest matters at Yale,as regards the happenings with which this chronicle concerns itself,quieted down. Link's case would not come up for trial for some time.Meanwhile he was allowed his liberty on bail. He was, of course,discharged from his position.
"But I've got another job," he said to Andy, a day or so later. "Thatlawyer is a good sort. He helped me. I'm just going to stick here untilI prove that I didn't have a hand in those robberies."
"That's the way to talk!" cried Andy. "You didn't hear where the hundreddollars came from, did you?"
"No, and I can see that my explanation of how I got it isn't going to bebelieved in court. But it's true, just the same."
"Then the truth will come out--some time," said Andy, firmly. "In themeanwhile, if I can do anything, let me know."
"Thank you."
The months passed. Spring was faintly heralded in milder weather, by thereturn of the birds, and the presence of little buds on the leaflesstrees.
Somewhat to the disappointment of Andy there were no more quadranglerobberies. That is, Andy was disappointed to a certain extent. For ifthe thefts had still kept up after the discharge of Link, it would atleast show that someone besides the young farmer was guilty. As it was,it made his case appear all the worse.
"But I'm not going to believe it!" exclaimed Andy. "Link is not guilty!"
"Go to it, old man!" cried Dunk. "I'm with you to the end."
Indoor baseball practice was held in the cage on Elm street, back of thegymnasium, and Andy was picked to catch for the freshman nine. Dunk, tohis delight, was first choice for pitcher. Then came intense longings toget out on the real diamond.
The chance came sooner than was expected, for there was an early Spring.The ground was still a little soft and damp, but it could be played on,and soon crowds of students began pouring out to Yale Field to watch thepractice and the games between the class nines, or the varsity and thescrubs.
"Come on now, Dunk, sting 'em in!"
"Fool him, boy, fool him!"
"Make him give you a nice one!"
"Watch his glass arm break!"
These cries greeted Dunk, who was pitching for the freshmen against ascrub nine one afternoon. It was a few days before the game with thePrinceton freshmen--the first game of the season, and the Yale freshmancoaches were anxious to get their nine into good shape.
"Ah! There he goes!" came a yell, as the scrub batter hit the ball Dunkpitched in to Andy. But the ball went straight back into the hands ofDunk, who stopped it, hot liner though it was, and the batter wasout--retiring the side.
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