Page:The Winning Touchdown.djvu/237

Rh sure he had this one, and yet the name of his enemy

"There must be some mistake," he said, in confusion, for sometimes mistakes would occur in the indiscriminate trading of cards among friends.

"But I'm sure I never gave you that card to fill out, Mr. Langridge."

The bully shrugged his shoulders.

"I don't know that you figure in this at all," he said, with a sneering air. "I have this dance with Miss Clinton. May I have the honor?" and he bowed gracefully to the confused girl, and held out his arm.

"I—I don't" she began, in distress.

"This is not your dance," declared Tom, glaring at Langridge, reaching out his hand toward his own partner.

The rivals faced each other. Rivals again, though on a different field than the baseball diamond. An angry light gleamed in Tom's eyes—on the face of Langridge there was a supercilious sneer. They stood thus, at one side of the ballroom floor. The music was playing softly, and some were dancing, but the impending scene between Tom and Langridge was attracting attention.

Ruth realized it, and was very much distressed. Tom was determined not to give way, but he realized that to make further claim against Langridge