For the Honor of Randall Part 32

"Well, it's a wonder you wouldn't thank me," said Frank to his chum, when they were rowing back toward Randall.

"Thank you--what for?"

"For giving you the chance you needed. I took Mabel and myself off so you could straighten things out. Did you?"

"I did!" exclaimed Tom with a laugh. "It's all right now. We're friends again. Much obliged!"

"Good. I thought though, from the serious looks you both wore as the boat came to sh.o.r.e, that it was all off."

"No, that was on account of something we saw. Shambler was back there a way, talking with a questionable looking chap."

"Ha! The same one who called for him one day?"

"Yes. I don't like the looks of it. It seems as if something was up."

"Oh, you're too much given to imagining things, Tom," declared Frank.

"Shambler's all right, I think."

"Well, I'm sure I hope so, and yet----" Tom shook his head without finishing the sentence, and the remainder of the row was finished in comparative silence.

CHAPTER XXII

CURIOSITY

Tom said nothing to either of his other chums about seeing Shambler in that rather lonely spot along the river. Nor did he tell Frank all the details of the little scene.

"If it's all right, there's no use making a fuss over it," reasoned the pitcher, "and if there's something wrong it isn't up to me to bring it out. I'll keep still about it."

There were busy times at Randall now, for with the near approach of the day of the games, practice went on almost without let-up. Frank was in such shape that he declared he would jump, and he had also done so well in the weight throwing trials that it was decided to have him as one of the contestants for that event.

"Everybody do his best now!" urged Holly Cross, as he hustled the lads out on the field for practice one day. "Beat your own records, and then do even better next week."

It was the final practice before the posting of the names of those who would take part, and though it was expected that there might be some changes, there were none of any moment. The same ones whom I have already mentioned were finally decided on to uphold the honor of Randall, though a few new lads were entered as emergency material, several of them developing into available contestants almost at the last minute.

"There's going to be a slight change in the program," remarked Kindlings to the crowd of boys when practice was about over. "We're going to have a big hurdle race the day before the other games, and one or two events for the younger lads."

"How's that?" asked Tom.

"Well, after going over it all, the committees decided that there wouldn't be time to run off all the events in one day, and so we decided to have a preliminary meet one afternoon a few days before the main one.

Everyone seemed to like the idea, which was brought up by Exter, so we fell in with it. The hurdle race is always popular, and if we split up things, we'll get two crowds instead of one, and make that much more money."

"Good idea," declared Frank. "Me for the hurdle."

"Better save yourself for the main show," warned Holly.

A meeting of the committees of arrangements from the four colleges was scheduled for the next afternoon, and, as Tom, and some of the other lads had time to spare they went with Holly, Kindlings, and the others of the committee to attend. The session was to be held at Exter.

"There's Shambler," remarked Phil, as with his chums and the others, they stood waiting for the trolley. "I wonder if he's coming?"

"It's a free country," declared Frank. "We can't stop him."

"h.e.l.lo, fellows," greeted the new student, as he sauntered up. "Guess I'll take in the show if you haven't any objections."

"No, come along," invited Holly, for he realized that considerable depended on Shambler in the coming games.

"How's the foot, Simpson?" went on the lad who had caused the mischief to Frank.

"Oh, it's all right, practically. But that doesn't mean that I want you to jump on my back again," exclaimed the Big Californian, with a laugh.

"No danger," promised Shambler. "I thought I'd like to size up some of these Exter lads, and see what sort of material we've got to go up against," he explained to Kindlings, who nodded comprehendingly.

There were a number of lads from Boxer Hall, and several from Fairview on hand at Exter when the committee went into session. The meeting was held behind closed doors, and meanwhile those who had come as spectators strolled about over the Exter grounds.

"Some college all right," admired Shambler, who was making himself very much at home all over the place.

"But it can't come up to Randall, even if it is newer," declared Phil.

"You can't make a college in a year or so."

The Exter lads were sociably inclined, and made their guests informally welcome. There was talk among the representatives of the four inst.i.tutions about the coming games.

"Is that lad one of your contestants?" asked an Exter youth of Tom, who at the time was standing off by himself.

"Which one?" inquired the tall pitcher.

"Shambler, I think he calls himself," and the new student was pointed out.

"Oh, yes, that's Shambler," replied Tom. "He's going in the mile run for us. We're counting a lot on him. But why do you say he 'calls' himself Shambler?" and Tom's old suspicions at once recurred to him. "Isn't that his name?"

"Yes, as far as I know. I wasn't just certain of it, that's all. So he's going to run for you? Do you know much about him--where he came from?"

"Harkness, I believe. Why, do you know him?"

Tom was somewhat impressed by the curiosity of the Exter student.

"I think I have seen him before," was the slow and rather puzzling reply. "But maybe I'm mistaken. You're going to take part; aren't you?"

"Well, I'm a sort of filler-in," laughed Tom. "Baseball is my strong point."

"Same here. I'm glad to have met you. Maybe we'll have some fun on the diamond after these games."

"Maybe," and Tom turned aside, with the intention of joining his chums.

As he did so he saw the Exter lad, who had introduced himself as Hal Durkin, link arms with another youth from his own college. Tom could not help overhearing what they said.

"Did you learn anything?" asked the lad who had joined Durkin, and who, Tom learned later, was Jack Pendleton.