CHAPTER V
ON THE EVE OF BATTLE
But little time remained before the first basketball game of the seriesbetween the sophomores and juniors. Both teams had been untiring in theirpractice. There had been no further altercations between them as to theuse of the gymnasium, for the juniors, fearing the wrath of Miss Thompson,were more circumspect in their behavior, and let the sophomore teamstrictly alone.
"They are liable to break out at any time, you can trust them just as faras you can see them and no farther, and that's the truth," cried NoraO'Malley. The sophomore players were standing in the corridor outside thegymnasium awaiting the pleasure of the juniors, whose practice time wasup.
"They are supposed to be out of here at four o'clock," continued Nora,"and it's fifteen minutes past four now. They are loitering on purposeThey don't dare to do mean things openly since Miss Thompson lectured themso, but they make up for it by being aggravating."
"Never mind, Nora," said Grace, smiling at Nora's outburst. "We'll whipthem off the face of the earth next Saturday."
"Well, I hope so," said Nora, "I am sure we are better players."
"What outrageous conceit," said Jessica, and the four girls laughedmerrily.
"By the way, Grace," said Anne, "I want to ask you something about thatlist you gave me. I don't quite understand what one of those signalsmeans."
"Trot it out," said Grace. "I'll have time to tell you about it before thepractice actually begins."
Anne took out her purse and began searching for the list. It was not to befound.
"Why, how strange," she said. "I was looking at it this morning on the wayto school. I wonder if I have lost it. That would be dreadful."
She turned her purse upside down, shaking it energetically, but no listfell out.
"Oh, never mind," said Grace, seeing Anne's distress. "It's of noconsequence. No one will ever find it anyway. Suppose it were found, whowould know what it meant?"
"Yes, but one would know," persisted Anne, "because I wrote 'Sophomorebasketball signals' on the outside of it. Oh, dear, I don't see how Icould have been so careless."
"Poor little Anne," said Jessica, "she is always worried over something orother."
"Now see here, Anne," said Grace, "just because you lost a letter lastterm and had trouble over it, don't begin to mourn over those old signals.No one will ever see them, and perhaps you haven't lost them. Maybe you'llfind them at home."
"Perhaps I shall," said Anne brightening.
"Now smile Anne," said Nora, "and forget your troubles. There is no use incrossing bridges before you come to them."
This homely old saying seemed to console Anne, and soon she was eagerlywatching the work of the team, her brief anxiety forgotten.
That night she searched her room, and the next day gave her desk in schoola thorough overhauling, but the list of signals remained missing.
The sophomore players with their substitute team met that afternoon in thegymnasium. It was their last opportunity for practice. Saturday they wouldrise to victory or go down in ignominious defeat. The latter seemed tothem impossible. They had practised faithfully, and Grace had been soearnest in her efforts to perfect their playing that they were completelyunder her control and moved like clockwork. There was no weak spot in theteam. Every point had been diligently worked over and mastered. They hadplayed several games with the freshmen and had won every time, so Gracewas fairly confident of their success.
"Oh, girls," she cried, wringing her hands in her earnestness, "don't makeany mistakes. Keep your heads, all of you. I am convinced we are betterplayers than the juniors, even if they did get the pennant last year. Forone thing I don't think they work together as well as we do, and that'sreally the main thing. Miriam, you missed practice yesterday. You aregoing to stay to-day, aren't you?"
Miriam nodded without replying. She was busy with her own thoughts. Shewished she could hit upon some way to humiliate Grace Harlowe. But whatcould she do? That was the question. The members of the team adored theirgray-eyed, independent young captain, therefore she would have to be verycareful.
She had been steadily losing ground with her class on account of herconstant association with the juniors, and the slightest misstep on herpart would jeopardize her place on the team. She had a genuine love forthe game, and since she couldn't play on the junior team, she concluded itwould be just as well not to lose her place with the sophomores. In herheart she cared nothing for her class. She had tried to be their leader,and Grace had supplanted her, but now Grace should pay for it.
All this passed through Miriam's mind as she covertly watched Grace, whowas reassuring Anne for the fiftieth time, not to worry over the lostsignals.
"Don't tell any one about it," she whispered to Anne. "You may find themyet."
Anne shook her head sorrowfully. She felt in some way that those signalswere bound to make trouble for her.
"By the way, girls," said Grace, addressing the team, "has any one anyobjection to Anne and Jessica staying to see the practice game? They haveseen all our work and are now anxious to see the practice game. They knowall the points, but they want to see how the new signal code works."
"Of course not," answered the girls. "We won't turn Oakdale's star pupilout of the gym. Anne shall be our mascot. As for Jessica, she is a matterof course."
"I object," said Miriam. "I object seriously."
"Object?" repeated Grace, turning in amazement to Miriam. "Why?"
"You know that it is against all basketball rules to allow any one in thegymnasium during practice except the regular team and the subs. If wefollow our rules then we shall be certain that nothing we do reaches theears of the juniors. We have always made an exception of Jessica, but Idon't think we should allow any one else here."
"And do you think that Anne Pierson would carry information?" exclaimedGrace sharply. "Really, Miriam, you are provoking enough to try thepatience of a saint. Just as if Anne, who is the soul of honor, would dosuch a thing."
An indignant murmur arose from the girls. They were all prepared to likelittle Anne, although they did not know her very well.
"How can you say such things, Miriam?" cried Nora.
"I didn't say she would," said Miriam rather alarmed at the storm she hadraised. "But I do think it is better to be careful. However, have it yourown way. But if we lose the game----"
She paused. Her judgment told her she had said enough. If anything didhappen, the blame would fall on Grace's shoulders.
Anne, deeply hurt, tried to leave the gymnasium but the girls caught her,and brought her back again. She shed a few tears, but soon forgot hergrief in the interest of the game.
"Girls," said Grace, as she and Nora and Jessica walked down the streetthat night after leaving Anne at her corner, "we must look out for Anne.It is evident from the way Miriam acted to-day that she will never lose anopportunity to hurt Anne's feelings. I thought perhaps time would softenher wrath, but it looks as though she still nursed her old grudge."
How true Grace's words were to prove she could not at that time foresee.
"Well," said Nora, "Anne is one of the nicest girls in Oakdale, and ifMiriam knows when she's well off she'll mind her own business."
The day before the game, as Grace was leaving school, she heard David'sfamiliar whistle and turned to see the young man hurrying toward her, alook of subdued excitement upon his face.
"I've been looking all over for you, Grace," he said, as he lifted his capto her. "I have something to tell you. This afternoon after school, Reddy,Hippy and I went out to the old Omnibus House. I wanted to show thefellows some things about my machine. While we were out there who shouldappear but Julia Crosby and some more of her crowd. They were having aregular pow-wow and were in high glee over something. We kept stillbecause we knew if they saw us they'd descend upon us in a body. Theystayed a long time and Julia Crosby made a speech. I couldn't hear whatshe said, but it seemed to be about the proper thing, for her satellitesapplauded about every two mi
nutes. Then they got their heads together andall talked at once. While they were so busy we skipped out without beingnoticed. I thought I'd better tell you, for I have an idea they areputting up some scheme to queer you in the game to-morrow; so look out forthem."
"Thank you, David," answered Grace. "You are always looking after ourinterests. I wonder what those juniors are planning. They are obliged toplay a fair game, for they know perfectly well what will happen if theydon't. Miss Thompson will be there to-morrow, and they know she has hereye on them."
"Put not your trust in juniors," cautioned David. "They may elude even herwatchful eye."
"You are coming to see us play to-morrow, aren't you, David?" asked Grace.
"I'll be there before the doors are open, with Reddy and Hippy at myheels," responded David. "Good-bye, Grace. Look out for squallsto-morrow."