CHAPTER XXXI

"IT'S TOO LATE TO BACK OUT!"

Gerhart and Langridge were walking along the road that led to Haddonfield. The freshman was filled with unreasoning rage against not only Phil, but Tom and Sid, as well.

"Probably all three know," said Gerhart. "I was a fool not to look to see if I left any clues behind when I was in the room."

"Maybe you were a fool for ever trying that signal and liniment trick at all," suggested Langridge, who did not mince words.

"Maybe," admitted his crony. "But I thought I could get back at Clinton, Cross and Lighton, for not letting me play. Only that Stoddard was such a white-livered chump I'd have pulled off the signal trick."

"As it was, you lost."

"Yes; but the game isn't over yet. There's still the Boxer Hall contest."

"You don't mean to say you're going to try and give away the signals in that game, do you?" cried Langridge.

"No; but I'm going to keep Clinton out of the game. If I can do that I'll feel that I'm even with him--the beast!"

"But can you do it? If you do it, it may make our team lose, for Clinton is one of the best players, and it's hard to substitute a quarter-back."

"I can do it; and I wish the eleven would lose! That's what I want to see!"

"You haven't got much college spirit," observed Langridge.

"I've as much as you. Weren't you in with me on this scheme?"

"I suppose so." Langridge didn't seem to derive much satisfaction from the admission.

"Of course you were. You hate Clinton and his bunch as much as I do."

"Yes."

"And you'd like to see 'em laid out good and proper, wouldn't you?"

"Yes," hesitatingly, "I guess so."

"Of course you would! Well, you're going to if you stick to me. I've got the best plan yet."

"What is it?"

"Come along to town, and you'll see part of it. I've got to get certain things, and then I'll be ready."

"You want to be careful you don't leave any evidence after you this time."

"No danger. Will you help me?"

"I guess so, as long as it isn't anything rash."

"No, it won't cause any permanent harm to any one, but it will knock Clinton out from playing the game, and that's what I'm after. Now come on. I want to get to Haddonfield before the college crowd starts. It won't do to be seen where we're going, or there might be an inquiry afterward."

About an hour later Langridge and Gerhart were in the telegraph office at Haddonfield. There might have been noticed about the sophomore a trace of nervousness as he walked up to the little window and inquired how long it would take to get some money from his uncle in Chicago.

"I want it to come by telegraph," Langridge explained. "I need it in a hurry."

"Yes, you college chaps usually do," said the agent. "Well, you can get it late to-night, I suppose, if you send a wire to Chicago now. How much would you need?"

"Oh, a couple of hundred; maybe five hundred."

The agent whistled.

"That's more than we have on hand here at a time," he said. "I'd have to get it from the bank, and that couldn't be done until morning."

"Well, there's no great hurry," went on Langridge. "Would I have to be identified to get it? My guardian--that's my uncle--frequently sends me money by telegraph when I'm off on trips."

"Oh, yes; you'd have to get some one to vouch for you," said the agent, "but that will be easy."

"Then I guess I'll telegraph for some," continued the sophomore, and he began filling out a blank under the directions of the telegrapher. Langridge, for a youth who had received money by wire before, seemed to require minute directions, and he kept the agent at the window for several minutes, holding his attention closely.

"There, I guess that will do," said the student at length. "I'll call to-morrow for the cash. Hope you have it for me."

"Oh, I'll have it if your uncle sends it."

"He's sure to do that," retorted Langridge with a smile.

"Lucky dog!" murmured the agent as he turned back to his desk. "Some of those college chaps have more money than is good for them, though."

Langridge hurried from the office. He was joined outside by Gerhart, who had preceded him out of the door by a few seconds.

"Did you get it?" asked the sophomore.

"Sure," was the gleeful answer, and Gerhart showed several yellow slips. "Lucky the door was unlocked, so I could sneak in. I just took the blanks and envelopes off his desk when you held him in conversation. You know, they keep the receiving blanks in a private drawer, but the sending ones which you used they leave out where any one can reach them. But it's all right now. I'll soon put it through."

"I wonder if I'll get that money?" spoke Langridge. "I took a big chance, but it seemed the only thing to do."

"Of course you'll get it, and I'll help you spend it. That's a fair division of labor, as Sam Weller used to say."

"Well, you'll have to do the rest," declared his crony as they walked back to college.

"I'll do it. Don't worry."

They proceeded in silence. Langridge grew less and less talkative, and to the jokes of Gerhart, who seemed in unusually good spirits, he returned monosyllabic answers.

"Say, what's the matter with you?" Gerhart finally exclaimed.

"Well, if you must know," answered Langridge, "the more I think of this the less I like it. It's a brutal thing to do. I wish I hadn't agreed to help you."

"But you have!" insisted Gerhart. "It's too late to back out now!"

"Yes, I suppose so," was the gloomy answer, and Langridge plodded on behind his crony.