Part 35 (1/2)
”It isn't in the house. We'll go down to Morey's after supper settles and I'll blow.”
”To fizz?”
”Not this evening. Ale is good enough for this crowd.”
”Oh, I don't suppose we can kick at that. But we were speaking about Merriwell and the freshman crew. How are we to escape death at their hands?”
”Have another cigarette all around,” invited Parker as he pa.s.sed them.
”That's too slow, but I'll take a cigarette just the same.”
Hartwick got up and walked about in a corner, showing nervousness. They urged him to sit down and take things easy. He felt like making a break and getting out, but he knew they would roar with laughter if he did.
”You fellows are a lot of chumps!” he exclaimed, suddenly getting angry.
”You treat this matter lightly now, but you are likely to change your tune after the race.”
The boys were well satisfied, for they saw he was getting aroused.
”Oh, I don't know as we treat it so very lightly,” said Emery. ”We've got to have our fun, no matter what we may think.”
”But every one of you is of the opinion that we are going to have a cinch with the freshmen.”
”It does look easy.”
”Have they been easy thus far?”
”Oh, that's different.”
”You will find this is different when it is all over.”
”Now, see here, Hartwick,” said Parker; ”you are the only soph who does not think we have a soft thing with the freshmen. What's the matter with you?”
”Why, he wants to disagree with us, that's all,” said Browning. ”Why, he wouldn't eat anything if he thought it would agree with him. That's the kind of a man he is.”
Hartwick looked disgusted.
”Keep it up! keep it up!” he cried. ”But you'll find out!”
”Now, see here, man,” said Parker once more; ”are you stuck on Merriwell?”
Hartwick showed still greater disgust, his eyes flas.h.i.+ng.
”Stuck on him!” he cried. ”Well, not any! You fellows ought to know that! Stuck on him! That gives me pains!”
”Well, I couldn't see what ailed you unless you were.”
”It is because I am not stuck on him that I am so anxious to beat him, as you fellows ought to be able to see.”
”Oh, that's it? Excuse me! Well, now, how is he going to make a lot of lubberly fres.h.i.+es beat us?”