Page:Castlemon--Joe Wayring at Home.djvu/245

 don't want to. The fun is only just beginning."

"And are you going to stay here and enjoy yourself and assist in making the meet a success when one of your friends is barred out?" exclaimed Noble, indignantly. "I didn't think that of you, Prime. Why didn't you stay close to me so that you could put in a word to help me? You knew what I was going to do."

"I couldn't stay close to you. Those fellows in the lead made the pace so hot that I had to fall behind, and I didn't see the foul when it occurred."

"No matter for that. You could have said something in my defense if you had wanted to; but instead of standing by me, you left me to fight Joe Wayring and the judge alone. Look there! Bigden's cousins are not going back on him as you are going back on me. Tom is preparing to go home, and they are going with him."

But Noble did not know what a stormy time Tom had with Loren and Ralph before he could induce them to forego all the sports and pleasures of the meet. Loren was particularly obstinate. He was satisfied now that he was a pretty