"Well, if there ain't my deadly rival!" he cried in what was intended to be a friendly manner, but which was silly. "Hello, Parsons! Come in and have a cigarette!" "No," was the answer in conciliatory tones. "I'm in a hurry to get back to the college. My time's nearly up." "So's mine--so's all of us. But what's the odds? We've got to have a good time once in a while, eh, fellows?" "Sure," came the chorus. "I can't smoke, I'm in training," spoke Tom, intending it to be a hint, if not to Langridge, at least to his companions. "So'm I, you old hunk of fried tripe! Have a smoke." "No," and Tom started on. "Hold on!" cried Langridge. "I'll go with you. I'm going to shake you fellows," and he waved his hand to his companions. "I'm going to be virtuous and go to bed with the larks. I wonder if larks do go to bed, anyhow." "You mean chickens," declared one of the others with a laugh. "Come on then, fellows, if Langridge goes back, we'll stay and have some more fun." Tom was not unwilling to play the good Samaritan, so linking his arm in that of Langridge, he led him down the street. The 'varsity pitcher was not as steady on his feet as he should have been. "I--I s'pose you'll tell Kindlings and Lighton about me, eh, what?" he asked brokenly as he walked along. "No," said Tom quietly. "But you ought to cut it out, Langridge, if not for your own sake for the sake of the team." "That's right, that's right, old man, I ought. You're a good sort of chap, too preachy maybe, but all right. I ought to cut it out, but I like fun." "You ought to give up smoking and drinking," went on Tom boldly. He had determined that this was just the chance he wanted and decided that he would take advantage of it. "There you go again! there you go again!" cried Langridge fretfully, with a sudden change of manner peculiar to him. "Don't go to lecturing. I get enough of that from Moses and Pitchfork. Give us a rest. I'm all right. Have another cigarette." "No," and Tom declined the proffered one. "Oh, I forgot you don't smoke. That's right. It's bad for the heart. I don't take 'em only once in a while." Tom tried to reason with him, but Langridge was not himself and answered pertly or else insulted Tom for his good offices. "You ought to give up gambling, too," Tom said, starting on a new tack. They were nearing the college now. "There you go again! there you go again!" exclaimed Langridge and he was almost crying, silly in his excitement. He sat down on a stone along the road and lighted another cigarette. "Now let's argue this thing out," he said. "I feel just like arguing, Parsons. Guess we'll call you 'dominie,' you're so fond of preaching. Let's argue."