Page:The Winning Touchdown.djvu/86

74 and Langridge, with a vindictive look at Phil, allowed himself to be led away. At the same time Tom, with a forced laugh, for the benefit of the crowd, walked Phil to one side.

"Say something!" he whispered, hoarsely. "Laugh, Phil, if you don't want to make it unpleasant for the girls. The people are beginning to ask questions."

The quarter-back at once rallied to save the situation. He clapped Tom on the back, and exclaimed:

"That's pretty good, old fellow! Pretty good. You must tell that story at the next frat. dinner. But it was a great game, wasn't it? Now, come on, Ruth, and we'll all go and have something to drink. Hot chocolate wouldn't be bad."

"Most delightful," chimed in Miss Harrison, with a grateful look at Sid and Tom, as she gallantly threw herself into the breach.

"So good of you," murmured Ruth, smiling, though her paleness belied her meaningless words, and she was trembling.

The three lads, each walking beside one of the girls—Tom with Ruth, Phil with Madge Tyler, and Sid with Miss Harrison—strolled toward the entrance gate of the football field.

"Nobly done, old chap," whispered Tom.

The crowd began to melt away.

"I thought there was going to be a fight,"