Two weeks later Dan arrived at the Tait School. Walter already had been on the ground two days, and when his friend at last was directed to the room he was to occupy, he came with a heavy canvas bag in his hand and found himself face to face with Walter and another boy, who was introduced to him as Sin Bradley. CHAPTER XIV NEW ACQUAINTANCES “Hello――o――o, Dan!” Walter had exclaimed as he first caught sight of his friend in the doorway. “Come right in! I’m mighty glad to see you!” The impulsive Walter had leaped from the chair in which he was seated and darting to the door seized Dan by the hand, then grasped his canvas bag which he hurriedly took into the little bedroom which Dan was to occupy. Turning quickly about he said to Sinclair: “Sin, this is the new fellow I was telling you about. Stand up and do yourself proud to shake hands with Dan Richards. He’s going to be the new pitcher on the Tait School nine and he’ll make our opponents work some!” “Pleased to meet you,” said Sin drawlingly, as he shook hands with the new boy. The contrast between the two for the first time struck Walter almost with the force of a blow: one easy and self-possessed in his manner, dressed in the latest fashion, and having the confidence that is the result of the possession of wealth and all that money implies; the other quiet, but still somewhat self-conscious. His clothing manifestly was not made by a fashionable tailor, and his face and hands showed the effect of his toil in the fields. For a moment Walter almost felt as if Dan must be painfully aware of his own deficiencies. But if the newcomer was abashed in the presence of Sinclair Bradley, his manner at least failed to betray it. “I was late,” said Dan simply as he responded to Sin’s greeting, and then in response to Walter’s suggestion seated himself in one of the large easy chairs in the room. “I guess I’m not very much of a traveler, for I stood still in the depot at Lee Junction and let my train pull out and leave me.” “You’ll learn,” laughed Walter a trifle noisily. “How long did you have to wait?” “Two hours.” “That’s too bad. You’ll know better next time.” “How did you leave all the old folks at home?” asked Sin with a drawl. “They were well when I left,” replied Dan quietly. “Good. How is Silas?” “Silas who?” “I don’t know the particular individual. Just Silas, I fancy.” “Silas, the harness-maker, is in good health.” “How are the crops?” “Pretty fair.” “Do you raise much hay?” “Not a great deal.” “What do you do with the hay-seed?” “We don’t raise any.” “Is that so? I fancied you did. Don’t all farmers raise hay-seed?” “No,” replied Dan quietly, looking calmly at Sin as he spoke. “I confess my ignorance. You must forgive me.”