CHAPTER VI
THE DEEPEST POSSIBLE DISGRACE
A feeling of depression swept over Grace Harlowe as she looked out thewindow the next morning. The rain was falling heavily and the skies weresullen and gray.
"What a miserable day for the game," was her first thought. "I do hope therain won't keep people away. This weather is enough to discourage anyone."
All morning she watched anxiously for the clouds to lift, going fromwindow to door until her mother told her to stop fretting about theweather and save her strength for the coming game.
The game was set for two o'clock, but at one, Grace put on her raincoatand set out for the High School. She knew she was early, but she felt thatshe couldn't stay in the house a minute longer.
One by one the sophomore team and its substitutes assembled, but the rainhad dampened their spirits and the enthusiasm of the past few days hadleft them.
Grace looked worried, as she noticed how listless her players seemed. Shewished it had been one of those cold, crisp days that set the bloodtingling and make the heart beat high with hope.
Still Grace felt confident that her team would rise to the occasion whenthe game was called. They were two well-trained, too certain of theirpowers to ever think of failing.
The bad weather had evidently not depressed the spirits of theiropponents. The juniors stood about laughing and talking. Julia Crosbymoved from one girl to the other whispering slyly.
"Wretch!" thought Grace. "How disagreeable she is. She was born too late.She should have lived in the middle ages, when plotting was the fashion.She is anything but a credit to her class and dear old Oakdale HighSchool."
Grace's rather vehement reflections were cut short by the approach of MissThompson, who stopped to say a word of cheer to the girls before takingher seat in the gallery.
"Well, Grace," she said, "this is a rather bad day outside, but stillthere will be a few loyal souls to cheer you on to victory. May the bestman win. You must put forth every energy if you expect to conquer thejuniors, however. They have held the championship a long time."
"They will not hold it after to-day if we can help it," answered Grace."We feel fairly sure that we can whip them."
"That is the right spirit," said Miss Thompson. "Confidence is firstcousin to success, you know."
"Was there ever a teacher quite like Miss Thompson?" asked Nora as theprincipal left them to take her seat in the gallery.
"She is a dear," said Marian Barber, "and she's on our side, too."
"There's the referee now!" exclaimed Grace. "Now, girls, make up yourminds to play as you never played before. Remember it's for the honor ofthe sophomores."
By this time the gallery was half filled with an audience largely composedof High School boys and girls. A few outsiders were present. Mrs. Harlowehad come to see her daughter's team win the game, she said; for she knewthat Grace's heart was set on victory.
The referee, time-keeper and scorer chosen from the senior class tooktheir places. The whistle blew and the teams lined up. There was a roundof loud applause from the fans of both teams. The players presented a fineappearance. The earnest, "do or die" expression on every face made thespectators feel that the coming game would be well worth seeing.
The rival captains faced each other, ready to jump for the ball theinstant it left the referee's hands. There was a moment of expectantsilence; then the referee put the ball in play, the whistle blew and thegame began. Both captains sprang for the ball, but alas for thesophomores, Julia Crosby caught it and threw it to the junior rightforward. It looked for a minute as though the juniors would score withouteffort, but Nora O'Malley, who was left guard, succeeded so effectually inannoying her opponent that when the bewildered goal-thrower did succeed inthrowing the ball, it fell wide of the basket. It had barely touched thefloor before there was a rush for it, and the fun waxed fast and furious.
During the first five minutes neither side scored; then the tide turnedin favor of the juniors and they netted the ball.
Grace Harlowe set her teeth, resolving to play harder than ever. Thejuniors should not score again if she could help it. Nora had the ball andwas dribbling it for dear life. Grace signaled her team, who respondedinstantly; but, to their consternation, the juniors seemed to understandthe signal as fully as did their own team, and quickly blocking theirplay, scored again.
There was a howl of delight from the junior fans in the gallery. Thesudden triumph of the enemy seemed to daze the sophomores. They looked attheir captain in amazement, then sprang once more to their work. But thetrend the game was taking had affected them, and in their desperateefforts to score they made mistakes. Miriam Nesbit ran with the ball and afoul was called, which resulted in the juniors scoring a point.
Nora O'Malley, in her excitement, caught the forward she was guarding bythe arm, and again a foul was called; this time, however, the juniors madenothing from it. But the precious time was flying and only four minutes ofthe first half remained. Again Grace signaled for another secret play, andagain the juniors rose to the occasion and thwarted her.
It was maddening.
The score stood 7 to 0 in favor of the juniors. Miriam Nesbit had the ballnow, and was trying to throw it. She stood near the junior basket. Eludingher guard, who was dancing about in front of her, she made a wild throw.Whether by accident or design it was hard to tell, but the ball landedsquarely in the junior basket. A whoop went up from the gallery. Thewhistle blew and the first half was over. The score stood 9 to 0 in favorof the enemy. The last two points had been presented to the juniors.
Up in the gallery discussion ran rife. The admirers of the juniors wereloud in their praise of the superior ability of the team. The juniorclass, who were sitting in a body at one end of the gallery, grewespecially noisy, and were laughing derisively at the downfall of thesophomores.
Miss Thompson was puzzled.
"I cannot imagine what ails my sophomores," she said to the teacher nextto her. "I understood that they were such fine players. Yet they don'tseem to be able to hold their own. It looks as though their defeat wereinevitable, unless they do some remarkable playing during the next half."
Mrs. Harlowe, too, was disappointed. She wondered why Grace had boasted somuch of her team.
"After all, they are little more than children," she thought. "Thosejuniors seem older to me."
As for Grace and her team--they were sitting in a room just off thegymnasium gloomily discussing the situation. Tears of mortification stoodin Nora's eyes, while Grace was putting forth every effort to appear calm.She knew that if she showed the least sign of faltering all would be lost.Her players must feel that she still had faith in their ability to win.
"We are not beaten yet, girls," she said, "and I believe we shall make upin the last half what we lost in the first. Work fast, but keep your witsabout you. Don't give the referee any chance to call a foul, we can'tspare a minute from now on. When I give the signal for a certain play, beon the alert, and please, please don't any of you present those juniorswith any more points. I'm not blaming you, Miriam, for I know that lastthrow of yours was an accident, but I could have cried when that ball wentinto the basket."
Miriam's face flushed; then realizing that all eyes were turned towardher, she said sarcastically:
"Really, Miss Harlowe, it's so kind of you to look at it in that light.However, anyone with common sense would have known without being told thatI never intended that ball for the juniors."
"I am not so sure of that," muttered Nora, who, seeing the hurt look thatcrept into Grace's eyes at Miriam's words, immediately rose in behalf ofher captain.
Miriam whirled on Nora.
"What did you say?" asked Miriam angrily.
Before Nora could answer the whistle blew. Intermission was over and thesecond half was on. The teams changed baskets and stood in readiness forwork. Once more Grace and Julia Crosby faced each other. There was amalicious gleam in Julia's eye and a look of determination in Grace's.With a spring, Grace caught
the ball as it descended and threw it to Nora,who, eluding her guard, tossed it to Miriam. With unerring aim Miriam sentthe ball into the basket and the sophomores scored for the first time.
Their friends in the gallery applauded vigorously and began to take heart,but their joy was short-lived, for as the play proceeded the sophomoressteadily lost what little ground they had gained. Try as they might, theycould make no headway. Grace called for play after play, only to find thatin some inexplicable way the enemy seemed to know just what she meant, andacted accordingly.
The game neared its close and the sophomores fought with the desperationof the doomed. They knew that they could not win save by a miracle, butthey resolved to die hard. The ball was in Miriam's hands and she made afeint at throwing it to Nora, but whirled and threw it to Grace, who,divining her intention, ran forward to receive it. There was a rush on thepart of the juniors. Julia Crosby, crossing in front of Grace, managedslyly to thrust one foot forward. Grace tripped and fell to the floor,twisting one leg under her. The ball rolled on, and was caught by theenemy, who threw it to goal just as the whistle sounded for the last time.The juniors had won. The score stood 17 to 2 in their favor. The scorerattempted to announce it, but her voice was lost in the noisy yells of thejunior class in the gallery.
The fact that Grace Harlowe still sat on the gymnasium floor passed for amoment unnoticed. In the final grand rush for the ball, the other playersfailed to see that their valiant captain still occupied the spot where shefell. Tumbles were not infrequent, and Grace was well able to take care ofherself.
Anne Pierson alone saw Julia Crosby's foot slide out, and, scentingtreachery, hastily left her seat in the gallery. She ran as fast as shecould to where Grace sat, reaching her a few seconds after the whistleblew.
"Good little Anne," called Grace. "You have come to my rescue even thoughthe others have deserted me. Perhaps you can help me up. I tried it, butmy ankle hurts every time I try to stand."
Her face was very white, and Anne saw that she was in great pain.
By this time Grace's team, realizing she was not with them, began lookingabout, and rushed over to her in a body. David, Reddy and Hippy appearedon the scene, as did Mrs. Harlowe, accompanied by Miss Thompson.Excitement reigned. The boys lifted Grace to her feet; but she cried withpain and would have fallen had they not held her.
"She has sprained her ankle!" exclaimed Miss Thompson. "How did it happen,Grace? I did not see you fall."
"I don't know, Miss Thompson," said Grace faintly. "It all happened soquickly I didn't have time to think about it."
"It certainly is a shame," cried Anne. "And I know----"
Just then Grace gave Anne a warning glance and shook her head slightly.Anne closed her lips and was silent.
"What were you saying, Anne?" asked Miss Thompson.
But Anne had received her orders.
"I am so sorry that Grace has been hurt," she said lamely.
A carriage was ordered and Grace was taken home, Anne and Mrs. Harloweaccompanying her. Mrs. Harlowe sent for their physician, who bandaged theswollen ankle, and told Grace that the sprain was not serious. Sherefused, however, to go to bed, but lay on the wide lounge in the sittingroom.
"Just keep quiet for a few days, and you'll be all right," said Dr. Gale."You girls are as bad as boys about getting hard knocks. It looks asthough basketball were about as barbarous as football."
"It is a dear old game, and I love it in spite of hard knocks," said Graceemphatically.
"I like your spirit, Grace," laughed Dr. Gale. "Now, remember to treatthat ankle well if you want to appear again in the basketball arena."
"Grace," said Anne, after the doctor had gone. "You know how it happened,don't you?"
"Yes," answered Grace, after a little hesitation. "I do."
"What are you going to do about it?" asked Anne.
"I don't know," said Grace. "I am not sure it was intentional."
"Grace," said Anne with decision, "it was intentional. I watched her everyminute of the game, for I didn't trust her, and I saw her do it. I was soangry that when Miss Thompson asked how it happened I felt that I musttell, then and there. It was you who prevented me. I think such a trickshould be exposed."
"What a vengeful little Anne," said Grace. "You are usually the last oneto tell anything."
She took Anne's hand in hers.
"It's just this way, Anne," she continued. "If I were to tell what JuliaCrosby did, Miss Thompson might forbid basketball. That would be dreadful.Besides, the juniors would hardly believe me, and would say it was a caseof sour grapes, on account of the sophomores losing the game. So you see Ishould gain nothing and perhaps lose a great deal. I believe that peoplethat do mean things are usually repaid in their own coin. Julia didn'treally intend to hurt me. Her idea was to prevent me from getting theball. Of course it was dishonorable and she knew it. It is strictlyforbidden in basketball, and if her own team knew positively that she wasguilty, it would go hard with her. There is honor even among thieves, youknow."
There was a brief silence. Grace lay back among the cushions, looking verywhite and tired. Her ankle pained her severely, but the defeat of herbeloved team was a deeper hurt to her proud spirit.
Anne sat apparently wrapped in thought. She nervously clasped andunclasped her small hands.
"Grace," she said, "don't you think it was queer the way the juniorsseemed to understand our signals. They knew every one of them. I believethat they found that list and it is all my fault. I had no business tolose it. I felt when I couldn't find it that it would fall into the wronghands and cause trouble. I don't care for myself but if the girls find itout they will blame you for giving it to me. You know what Miriam said theother day. Now she will have a chance to be disagreeable to you about it."
Anne was almost in tears.
"Anne, dear," said Grace soothingly, "don't worry about it. I am notafraid to tell the girls about that list, and I shall certainly do so.They will understand that it was an accident, and overlook it. Besides, weare not sure that the juniors found it. I will admit that everythingpoints that way. You know David warned us that they had some mischief onhand. If they did find it, the only honorable thing to do was to returnit. They are far more at fault than we are, and the girls will agree withme, I know."
But Anne was not so confident.
"Miriam will try to make trouble about it, I know she will. And I am toblame for the whole thing," she said.
Grace was about to reply when Mrs. Harlowe appeared in the door with atray of tempting food.
Anne rose and began donning her wraps.
"Won't you stay, Anne, and have supper with my invalid girl?" said Mrs.Harlowe.
"Please do, Anne," coaxed Grace. "I hate eating alone, and having you heretakes my mind off my pain."
Anne stayed, and the two girls had a merry time over their meal. Grace,knowing Anne's distress over the lost signals, refused to talk of thesubject. Jessica and Nora, David, Hippy and Reddy dropped in, one afterthe other, to inquire for Grace.
"There is nothing like accidents to bring one's friends together,"declared Grace, as the young people gathered around her.
"I told you to look out for squalls, Grace," said David. "But you didn'tweather the gale very well."
"Those juniors must have been eavesdropping when you made your signalcode. They understood every play you made. By George, I wonder if thatwere the meaning of that pow-wow the other day. Some one must have putJulia Crosby wise, and that's why she called a meeting at the OmnibusHouse. It's an out-of-the-way place, and she thought there was no dangerof being disturbed.
"Who could have been mean enough to betray us?" cried Nora. "I am surenone of the team did, unless----" Nora stopped short.
She had been on the point of using Miriam's name, but remembered just intime that Miriam's brother was present.
"If we knew the girl who did it, we'd certainly cut her acquaintance,"said Reddy Brooks.
"Never again should she bask in the light of our soci
ety," said Hippydramatically.
"None of our friends would do such a thing," said David soberly. Then,turning to Anne, "What's your opinion on the subject, Queen Anne?"
But Anne could find no answer. She simply shook her head.
Grace, knowing Anne's feelings over the affair, came to the rescue.
"Anne's opinion and mine are the same. We feel sure that they knew oursignals, but we believe they accidentally hit upon the knowledge. There isno use in crying over spilt milk. We shall have to change all our signalsand take care that it doesn't happen again. And now let's talk ofsomething more agreeable, for basketball is a sore subject with me in morethan one sense." The talk drifted into other channels much to Anne'srelief.
"I have an idea!" exclaimed Hippy.
"Impossible," said Reddy. "No one would ever accuse you of such a thing."
"Be silent, fellow," commanded Hippy. "I will not brook such idlebabbling." He strutted up and down the room, his chest inflated and onehand over his heart, presenting such a ridiculous figure that he raised ageneral laugh.
"Speak on, fat one. I promise not to make any more remarks," said Reddy.
"I propose," said Hippy, pausing in his march, "that we give an impromptuvaudeville show for the benefit of Miss Grace Harlowe, once an activemember of this happy band, but now laid on the shelf--couch, I mean--forrepairs."
"Done," was the unanimous reply.
"Now," continued Hippy, "get cozy, and the show will begin. Miss NoraO'Malley will open the show by singing 'Peggy Brady,' as only an Irishcolleen of her pretensions can."
Nora rose, looked toward Jessica, who went at once to the piano toaccompany her, and sang the song demanded with a fascinating brogue thatalways brought forth the applause of her friends. She responded to anencore. Then Anne's turn came, and she recited "Lasca." Hippy next favoredthe company with a comic song, which caused them to shout with laughter.Jessica did her Greek dance for which she was famous. The performanceended with an up-to-date version of "Antony and Cleopatra," enacted byDavid, Reddy and Hippy, with dialogue and stage business of whichShakespeare never dreamed.
It was a product of Hippy's fertile brain, and the boys had beenrehearsing it with great glee, in view of appearing in it, on some fittingoccasion, before the girls.
David, gracefully draped in the piano cover, represented Egypt's queen,and languished upon Marc Antony's shoulder in the most approved manner.Reddy, as the Roman conqueror left nothing to be desired. The star actorof the piece, however, was Hippy, who played the deadly asp. He writhedand wriggled in a manner that would have filled a respectable serpent withenvy, and in the closing scene bit the unfortunate Cleopatra so venomouslythat she howled for mercy, and instead of dying gracefully, arose andengaged in battle with his snakeship.
Grace forgot her sprained ankle and laughed until the tears rolled downher cheeks.
"You funny, funny boys," she gasped, "how did you ever think of anythingso ridiculous!"
"Hippy perpetrated the outrage," said David "and we agreed to help himproduce it. We have been practising it for two weeks, only we don'tgenerally end up with a scuffle. I hope you will pardon us, Grace, but thedesire to shake that husky Egyptian reptile was irresistible."
"There is nothing to pardon," replied Grace, "and we have only thanks tooffer for the fun you have given us."
"It was indeed a notable performance," agreed Nora.
"Girls and boys," said Anne, "it is almost ten o'clock and Grace ought tobe in bed. I move that we adjourn."
"Second the motion," said David. "We have been very selfish in keepingpoor Grace up when she is ill."
"Poor Grace is glad you came, and isn't a bit tired," replied Grace,looking fondly at her friends. "You must all come to see me as often asyou can while I am laid up. I shall be pretty lonely for a few days."
The young folks departed, singing "Good Night, Ladies" as they troopeddown the walk.
"What a pleasure it is to have such dear, good friends," thought Grace asshe lay back on her couch after they had gone. "They are well worth allthe loyalty I can give them."
She went to sleep that night unconscious of how soon her loyalty to one ofthem would be put to the test.