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 *ner beyond which she had disappeared she was far along the street, and hurrying as if in great fear that he would pursue her.

"It's too much for me," he murmured. "It's got me guessing. There's no getting around it, she dodged me. Why? She saw me last night, and did not speak. Why? I can hardly believe it of her. What have I done? She is the last person I'd ever fancied would do anything of the sort."

He did not long remain in doubt, for he was not a dull-witted man. The controversy about him was the cause of it all; she had heard what every one in Kingsbridge who took the slightest interest in baseball had heard, and she believed that he had spoken falsely to her. Impulsive, indignant, scornful, she wished to have nothing further to do with a man who could look straight into her eyes and tell her an untruth without a blush or as much as the turning of a hair.

"That's it," he said. "There's no other explanation. I must call on her this evening, after we get back, and tell her the straight truth."

The truth! If he had not been truthful, was he silly enough to fancy penitence would help him now?

The day proved tiresome and wretched for Tom