she was really
frightened.

The next night, however, he did not walk down the path to the gate in
view of the scholars, so that they might take notice that he declined
to accompany the baseball squad. Instead of that, he dodged back round
the corner of the academy, crossed the yard at the rear, and took the
footpath across the field to High Street.

He was lonely and cast down and bitterly disappointed; for had he not
sounded the professed friendship of his chums of yesterday and found it
very shallow! Not one of them had shown the decency to give him a word
of cheer; they were willing that he, who but a short time ago they were
regarding as their star slabman, should slide back into shadows and
forgetfulness, while a practical stranger from a distant part of the
country filled his place. It was hard to believe of them, but he told
himself he was glad to find out just what they were.

Had Grant himself shown a further inclination to friendly advances Phil
might have met him halfway, but the Texan had some pride of his own,
and he was not the kind to seek continued rebuffs. Had he known that
Springer was ready and yearning to yield, doubtless Rod would have lost
not a minute in again putting forth the hand of friendship; but, being
unaware of what was passing in Phil's heart, and feeling that already
he had tried to do the right thing, the boy from the Lone Star State
remained aloof with the others.

Halfway across the field, as the path curved round some bushes,
Springer came upon Herbert Rackliff, sitting on a stone, manicuring his
nails with the file blade of a pearl-handled knife, a cigarette
clinging to his moistened lower lip.

"Hello," said Herbert, with no intonation of surprise, as he looked up.
"How do you happen to be dodging across this way, Springer?"

Phil was annoyed. He had never liked Rackliff. Still here was some
one to whom he could talk, and desire to "chin" was strong upon him.
He stopped.

"This is a short cuc-cut for me," he explained. "What are you doing
here?"

"Trimming my nails a bit. Have to do my own manicuring down in this
jumping-off place, and I never have time for it mornings; barely get to
the old academy soon enough to escape the tardy record--sometimes I
don't escape. Never knew you to come this way before, even if it is a
short cut. In a hurry?"

"Ye-yes--no, not exactly; but this was as good a way as any."

"You don't seem to be practicing with the great Oakdal