Page:Lefty o' the Bush.djvu/163

 "If you will leave it to me," he promised, "I'll not embarrass you by giving him reason to believe we have had a discussion about him."

"Very well," said the girl faintly, standing her ground.

Locke and his companions lifted their caps as they drew near, and Bent, unsmiling, lifted his hat. In a cold voice, he called:

"O, Locke, I say, would you mind stopping a moment?"

A flicker of surprise passed over Lefty's face. He stopped, and his companions went on.

"How do you do, Mr. Locke?" said Janet, in a voice which she tried hard to keep steady.

"I didn't see you at the game Tuesday, Miss Harting," said the pitcher.

"I wasn't there. I should have enjoyed it, but father is opposed to the game, and objects to my attending."

"You will be missed."

King's teeth clicked, and the frigid expression on his face was blotted by a hot frown. He measured Locke with his eyes, getting for the first time the impression that the man was far better set up than he had supposed, and not quite as slender. Also, he was struck by the conviction that Locke was older than he had fancied; although his face