Holworthy Hall

“ REVERSE ENGLISH WHILE the varsity diamond was still undried by the March winds, and as long as the squad held practice in the cage, Monk Spinden wielded his pet bat with the ease and precision of a billiardist. No pitched ball was too swift for his eye to follow, no curve too deceptive for him to analyze, no fadeaway too elusive for him to misjudge. ”

“ Francis Wilcox, whose prominence in university life entitled him to vast consideration, came first, and advised Spinden that he was a disgrace to his club—an argument infinitely more powerful than if he had rested his hopes on the class, or the university. Wilcox said that Monk had it in him to play a rattling game, and that there were mighty few athletes in the club anyway, and that it was a distinct reflection on the constitution for a man who'd done so well in the cage to play like such a novice on the field. ”

“ Then Roger Ward, the best student of the crowd, dropped in, and observed that it was as much of a disgrace for an athlete to be lax in his studies as for him to break training. He managed to convey the impression that the dean had asked him to reason with Monk, so that Monk was horribly frightened, swore to keep off probation and not lower the reputation of his club with the faculty, for six of their men were on probation already—and never once suspected that McHenry had not only dictated Ward's course of rhetoric, but had also rehearsed him in it. ”

“ At that juncture, the regular Harvard third baseman was taken out, and a stocky young man raced from the players' bench to the accompaniment of a wild burst of cheers from the home rooters.
"Certainly," said McHenry to his companion. That's Phillips. He had a fierce slump in mid-season, but he came out of it all right. Only he couldn't pry Monk Spinden or that guy Smith out of their places, so they coached him for third. He's good at it, too—not as good as he was at short—but he hits better than the lad who went out, and he fields well enough." ”

“ A lanky pitcher was serving languid curves to the varsity men, who each took three whistling drives toward the marshes, three bunts, and made way for the next man. Smith, the prodigy unearthed by McHenry, had taken his three stinging drives, and his three accurately placed sacrifices, and Monk Spinden, who followed him, had done even better, when John Phillips came to the plate. ”

“ Large amount of furniture, and poor food. I sat next to the worst imitation of a college widow I ever hope to see."
"Always the way," said Spinden, striving to seem nonchalant and cheerful.
"Yes. You know I'm getting to believe in all this stuff about the amount of good it does a man to associate with high-minded women. Why, after I'd spent a couple of hours with that hilarious dame to-night, I just love the poor workingman! I could make friends with a cab driver! Yes, sir, those college widows make me appreciate men more than anything else I know!"
"College widow?" queried Spinden. ”

“ You simply go up to call, and that puts the kibosh on Monk. See?"
"Well—it's a pretty desperate remedy, Pep—'"
"Another half D will put Monk out of college!" flashed McHenry. "And besides, look what rotten ball he's playing!"
"Of course," mused Phillips, "a man hasn't any business to fritter away time with Cambridge girls. It gives me a pain in the neck. It's perfectly disgusting! I wonder how long I'd hold down the job of shortstop if I got to going around to sloppy tea parties! By gosh, a man has some duty to the university! ”

“ Was a mere girl—a college widow at that—to keep his beloved Monk from the varsity baseball squad? Why, you must have failed to catch the name—it was James Pepper McHenry who thought otherwise!
II
"You see," said Pepper to John Phillips, "I wouldn't butt into a man's private love affairs for any amount of money, but this isn't serious at all! It's a regular thing with some of the girls around Cambridge—they're crazy to meet athletes, and have 'em to tea, and dance with 'em, and blow about 'em to their friends; and poor old Monk thinks he's found an affinity! ”

“ Phillips might break a leg, you know, or both legs. You never can tell!"
"Well, that's the worst of it. This new man Smith is very much of a demon. If he beats out John for shortstop, that'll put me just one peg farther in the hole."
It occurred to McHenry that in founding the Harvard show rooms, which had made it possible for this same Smith to come out for the team, he might have compromised his plans for Spinden, but he smiled hopefully. ”

“ McHenry cheered him. "We'll start in Thursday evening—because that's when my other little committees begin to work. You're sure you're with me?"
"Absolutely!" declared Phillips. "By gosh, to think of a man letting himself get worried off the baseball squad on account of a—"
"Hush!" said McHenry piously. "We ought to show some respect for old age, John. Why, I'll bet she's twenty-eight if she's a day!"
III
Monk Spinden, who had acted much more civilized since his confession to McHenry, suddenly found himself assailed from all directions by his closest friends. ”

“ Pep, I like you a lot, and all that, but I wish you wouldn't come butting in like this on a man! I've got the deuce of a lot of work to do—"
"All right, all right! Don't rub it in! I'm going this minute. But—" He halted ”