ur price if you win the game."

But how immeasurable was the distance between the shy consent to wear
Yale blue, and the pale, surprised agreement to his second proposal!
Wayne experienced a strange sensation of personal loss.

While he endeavored to find his tongue, Miss Huling spoke to one of the
boys standing near, and he started off on a run for the field.
Presently Huling and the other players broke for the car, soon
surrounding it in breathless anticipation.

"Wayne, is it straight? You'll pitch for us tomorrow?" demanded the
captain, with shining eyes.

"Surely I will. Bellville don't need me. They've got Mackay, of
Georgetown," replied Wayne.

Accustomed as he was to being mobbed by enthusiastic students and
admiring friends, Wayne could not but feel extreme embarrassment at the
reception accorded him now. He felt that he was sailing under false
colors. The boys mauled him, the girls fluttered about him with glad
laughter. He had to tear himself away; and when he finally reached his
hotel, he went to his room, with his mind in a tumult.

Wayne cursed himself roundly; then he fell into deep thought. He began
to hope he could retrieve the blunder. He would win the game; he would
explain to her the truth; he would ask for an opportunity to prove he
was worthy of her friendship; he would not mention the kiss. This last
thought called up the soft curve of her red lips and that it was
possible for him to kiss her made the temptation strong.

His sleep that night was not peaceful and dreamless. He awakened late,
had breakfast sent to his room, and then took a long walk out into the
country. After lunch he dodged the crowd in the hotel lobby, and
hurried upstairs, where he put on his baseball suit. The first person
he met upon going down was Reed, the Bellville man.

"What's this I hear, Wayne, about your pitching for Salisbury today? I
got your telegram."

"Straight goods," replied Wayne.

"But I thought you intended to pitch for us?"

"I didn't promise, did I?"

"No. Still, it looks fishy to me."

"You've got Mackay, haven't you?"

"Yes. The truth is, I intended to use you both."

"Well, I'll try to win for Salisbury. Hope there's no hard feeling."

"Not at all. Only if I didn't have the Georgetown crack, I'd yell
murder. As it is, we'll trim Salisbury anyway."

"Maybe," answered Wayne, laughing. "It's a hot day, and my arm feels
good."

When Wayne reached the ball grounds, he t