"Then it will be up to you, Gif, to show them what Colby Hall can do," said Spouter. He himself was not much of a ball player, although he had been on the nine occasionally. The young people had almost finished their ice cream and cake when they saw two girls and two boys come in. As they entered Ruth clutched Jack by the arm. "There is Tommy Flanders now!" she whispered, pointing to the larger of the two youths. Tommy Flanders showed that he was a good deal of a sport. He was dressed in a loud-looking suit, had pointed shoes, and he wore a cap set well back on his head. His face was rather red, and his forehead was overshadowed by a heavy mop of reddish-brown hair. "Hello, Ruth! How are you?" he called out pleasantly, when still at a distance. "Glad to see you," and he smiled at all of the girls and bowed. After this there was nothing to do but to introduce the newcomer, and he promptly introduced the two girls, who proved to be residents of Haven Point, and then introduced his friend, Pete Stevens. "Pete is going to be my backstop on our nine," explained Tommy Flanders. "You know, I suppose, that I am the pitcher," he added in an off-hand manner. "And he's one wonder pitcher, believe me!" piped in Pete Stevens. He was a stocky youth with small ferret-like eyes. "I understand you're going to have quite a nine," remarked Jack politely. "Say, it will be the finest baseball aggregation this part of the country has ever seen--that is, for a school nine," boasted Tommy Flanders. "You know, our school is long on athletics. We intend to put it over everything within traveling distance." "That is, provided the other schools are not too scared to accept our challenges," added Pete Stevens. "You won't find Colby Hall afraid to accept any reasonable challenge," retorted Gif, somewhat disgusted with the boasting manner of the newcomers. "We've waxed a few schools around here, and maybe we can take a round out of Longley Academy," Fred could not help but add. "You'll never take a round out of Longley, believe me," sneered Pete Stevens. "We'll put it all over you fellows just as sure as you're born." "Well, we'll see," remarked Jack, and his face showed that he did not admire having this discussion before the girls. "Say, I'll tell you what I'll do, Rover," said Tommy Flanders, advancing close to the young captain. "I'll bet you ten dollars that we win the first game of ball we play with you." "You'll have to excuse me, Flanders, but I'm not betting," answered Jack. "Afraid, are you?" "I said I was not betting. And now if you'll excuse us, we'll finish our ice cream and cake," added the young captain coldly. "Oh, well, if you're afraid to bet, we'll let it go at that," responded Tommy Flanders carelessly. Then he and his companion and the girls with them moved off to a table in the rear of the ice-cream parlor. "Of all the conceited fools----" began Andy, when Jack caught him by the arm.