That first relay race, in which the Junior Four of Central High took
part, passed like a night-mare for Laura Belding and her companions.
Every one of them was worried about Eve's disappearance--so worried that
they came perilously near not doing their very best.
But the rooters for their school got off with a splendid chorus when the
girls came on the field, and with all that enthusiasm Laura and her
comrades could not fail "to pull off some brilliant running," as Bobby
slangily expressed it.
And they did so. The four won the point for Central High, and next in
line was the one hundred-yard dash. Bobby, as fresh as a lark, came to
the scratch and prepared to do her very best against the representatives
from the four other high schools. There was a girl from Lumberport whom
she had been told to look out for. But Bobby proposed to "look out" for
nobody on this short dash. The girl who got off in the best form was
almost sure to win.
And that girl was Bobby. At the word she shot away like an arrow, and a
roar of approval burst from the seats occupied by the boys of Central
High.
"C--e--n, Central High!
C--e--n--t--r--a--l, Central High!
C--e--n--t--r--a--l--h--i--g--h, Central High!
Ziz--z--z--z----
Boom!"
Bobby seemed to be fairly borne along on that yell. She started ahead
and she kept ahead. Like a flash she went down the track and breasted
the tape quicker than it takes to tell it.
"Bobby Hargrew! She's all right!" sang the girls of Central High on the
benches.
Then girls and boys joined in, and finally the other schools added their
cheers to the paean of praise that sent Bobby back to the gym. building
with a delightful glow at her heart.
"Good for you, Bobs!" cried Jess, who stood in the sun in her blanket
coat. "That's another of the points we need. Why, we're going to wipe up
the field with them."
"But where's Eve?" panted Bobby. "Has anybody seen her?"
"No. She didn't come. She's left us in the lurch----"
"Not intentionally, I am sure," declared Bobby, quickly.
"Well, Mrs. Case is going to put Lou in for the broad jump if Eve
doesn't show up. And that miserable senior is as perky about it as she
can be. There she is yonder, all ready for the event, although it's not
due for an hour yet," added Jess.
The field was next cleared for folk dancing, taking part in which were
most of the freshman and sophomore classes of all five schools. This
attracted the adult spectators more than it did the girls themselves;
the latter's keenest interest was centered in the all-absorbing athletic
events.
One of the juniors kept watch at the entrance to the field, and sent in
word now and then that nothing had been heard or seen of Eve Sitz. Laura
and her other friends did not know that Margit had gone away with Chet
fielding to hunt for the missing girl.
"If she doesn't come pretty soon all will be lost!" groaned Nellie Agnew
as the field cleared after the folk dancing.
"Maybe Lou can carry the points for us," suggested Dora Lockwood,
doubtfully.
"Never in this world!" cried Bobby.
"Nor does Mrs. Case believe it. But it's the best she can do," said
Jess. "There! after this event comes the broad jump."
"See that nasty Lou Potter!" complained Bobby. "She's standing there,
grinning just like a Chessy-cat----"
"Hold on, Bobby, hold on!" exclaimed Nellie Agnew, admonishingly.
"Remember!"
"Remember what?" snapped Bobby.
"'Loyalty to Central High!' That's the battle cry."
"And right Nell is, Bobs," interposed Jess. "We've got to give that girl
the finest kind of a send-off when she goes into the field. Hearten her
up! Never mind how mean we think her, remember she represents Central
High, and the old school needs the points."
"Quite true, girls," said Laura. "When Lou goes out to jump, pass the
word to the boys to give her an ovation."
And just then there was some shouting at the gate, the crowd opened, and
a figure dashed through wildly and made for the gym.
"It's Eve! It's Eve!" shouted Bobby, fairly dancing up and down.
Margit Salgo was right behind the country girl. She hurried with her to
the dressing rooms, and before the broad jump was called, Eve appeared,
cool, smiling, and quite like her usual self.
"Mrs. Case! I protest!" declared Lou Potter, standing before the
physical instructor of Central High, as Eve approached. "This is my
chance. I demand the right to make this jump."
But the instructor only smiled and shook her head.
"Evangeline is in plenty of time," she said. "You are merely a
substitute, Miss Potter. Are you ready, Eve? Then, take your place with
the other contestants. You are Number 3."
News of Eve's nick o' time appearance had been circulated by Chet
Belding when he joined the Central High boys. When it came the girl's
turn to jump she received an ovation that startled the echoes.
And Eve did not disappoint her friends. She carried off the honors of
the broad jump by two inches over every other competitor, beating the
record established two years before.
Bobby did equally as well in the quarter-mile race. That was a trial of
greater endurance than her winning dash, but she came along ahead of all
the other sprinters, and won by a clean two yards.
Then Eve went into the field again and beat the famous Magdeline Spink,
of Lumberport, putting the shot, by ten and a quarter inches--making a
remarkable score for Central High, and establishing a record for
following classes to attempt to beat for some years to come.
Of course, the girls as a whole did not know for sure that any of the
seniors had had anything to do with Eve's being abducted to the Varey
flat; but because Lou Potter, and others, had been so positive that Eve
would not appear, the juniors could not help feeling suspicious.
Had it not been for Laura Belding, ever the peace-maker, friction might
have resulted that would have lasted through the remainder of the term
and spoiled the graduation exercises for Central High that year.
"We can afford to let the matter rest as it is," said Mother Wit, to her
junior class friends. "Central High won--we got the winning points--and
we stand at the head of our school athletic league. We can be satisfied
with our score.
"As far as these seniors go---- Well, the bad ones are not the entire
class. And, anyway, they will soon be graduated and we shall have no
more trouble from them. Let them be an example to us----"
"An example!" cried the irrepressible Bobby. "I guess you mean a
horrible example."
"Perhaps. At least, let us remember, when we are seniors, not to do as
they have done," concluded Mother Wit.
"If I'm any prophet," said Jess. "We won't be like them."
"Well, you are no prophet!" cried Bobby. "And don't talk to me any more
about prophets and fortune-tellers."
"Oh-ho!" mocked Nellie. "Bobby no longer believes in the Gypsy Queen!"
"I believe in nothing of the kind. I was a dreadfully foolish girl to
pay any attention to that wicked woman. You see, she was wrong. I got
into no trouble this term with Gee Gee, after all."
But Bobby said nothing to her friends about the greater fear that she
had had for weeks--the fear that her father might bring home a new wife.
She knew now that that had been merely a spiteful guess of the Gypsy
Queen, who knew Mr. Hargrew's circumstances, and thought it safe to warn
his daughter that he might marry again.
"The wicked old witch--that's what she is!" thought Bobby. "Father Tom
would never do that. I am going to be his housekeeper as well as his
partner." And nothing in the future could ever make Bobby Hargrew doubt
her father's word.
The girls of Central High--especially the juniors--carried off greater
honors after that Field Day; but never did they win trophies that gave
them more satisfaction than these.
Eve was sure to make a name for herself in the league in the future; and
Bobby had developed into quite a sprinter. Laura Belding looked forward
in the next year to developing other girls into all-round athletes who
would win points for Central High.
And indeed, they all--girls and instructors alike--looked forward to
immense benefit as well as pleasure to be derived from the future
athletic activities of the Girls of Central High.
THE END