Page:The Winning Touchdown.djvu/82

70 seemed glad of the chance to get away from the two sportily-dressed lads.

Langridge swung around, and at the sight of the three lads who, more than any others, had been instrumental in causing him to leave Randall, his face turned a dull red.

"What's wrong, Clinton?" he called, sharply. "Do you think your sister is too good to speak to me?"

"He evidently does," sneered Gerhart.

"Since you ask me—I do," replied Phil, calmly, and then he turned his back on the angry Boxer Hall students and began to talk to his sister and her friends, Tom and Sid joining in the conversation, not without a little sense of embarrassment.

"Look here, if you think I'm going to stand for being insulted publicly this way, you're mistaken, Clinton!" cried Langridge, hotly. He strode forward, while Gerhart tried in vain to hold him back.

"Oh, Phil!" cried Ruth, reaching out her hand to halt her brother, but in an instant he had gone beyond where she stood. She clasped her hands in alarm, and Madge and Mabel, with heightened color, gathered close to her.

Langridge and Phil faced each other with flashing eyes, and Gerhart stood just behind the former bully of Randall, looking a bit alarmed, for