The Meadow-Brook Girls on the Tennis Courts; Or, Winning Out in the Big Tournament

and placing a hand on the shoulder of the disconsolate George, who,

you what fools fellows can make

et, running to him. "We shall never forget

Margery. "What a lot of f

ritical eyes; "everything complete, even to racquets, and the best to be had in the market, too.

ded and

it belong?"

orge's face was taking on a deeper flush, the heel of one boot was digging more and more savag

he Tramp Club?" re

, but Geor

et it?" questio

it for more than a week-we could hardly wait till it got here. When it came,

all the way from Meadow-Brook

t here to carry it in his wagon. We carried it up from the road, about a mile

for anything we do for the Meadow-Brook Girls. The

that way," apologized Sam

was said, had already come to a certain conclusion regarding the thoughtf

ht this outfit, net, balls,

nly did,"

ladies, because we wanted it and for no other reason. We thought, seeing you were going to play in the tournament at Newtown, that you migh

g of these matters, realized that the boys must have purchased the outfit at a great personal sacrifice, thus increasing her wonder and admiration for the unselfish Tramp Club. As a matter of fact, the boys had sacrific

, with her chin in her hand, regarding th

se the outfit?" su

g up, his face refle

manded. "I beg your pardon. I didn't mean to spea

reciate the spirit behind it. But it is too bad that you have had t

're in up to our chins and we're going in

lost it. Billy Burgess was down on his knees crawling about in the bushes in search of it. Already a hopeful spirit was apparent in the faces of nearly all the boy

, we shall be able to have a lot of enjoyment out of the tennis outfit,

t lines of his face relaxing somewhat. "Well, I should s

ed Harriet laughingly. "We will agre

' No one but a tennis player would know about that word

rd and what it means, having heard Miss Elting use it. But we will put up the net just the same and have ever and e

ould cut but a sorry figure with such experts as the

n of the Granite State. Get busy, fellows. Don't stand about like a lot of wooden Indians waiting to be placed on your

e place the ne

ll of new interest now. "Wait. I'll trim down the bushes, then some of you get to work

work, with the result that a fairly level and smooth court had been constructed, George having paced off the measurements so that they were almost accurate. It would

was of interest to the Meadow-Brook Girls because they did not understand the purpose of it. They had no idea what the lines were for nor why th

aren't very plain, but plain enough, I guess, for all we shall require of them. I reckon we'll have time to volley a few ti

lancing a racquet on the fir

o do that?" demanded

as doing anything so rema

ow anything about the game. Sam, bring a ball here. You fellows are going to get a surprise in about a minute and a half.

with the racquet. She did not even hit the ball.

t was no stroke

Hazel struck at it with so much force that she spu

it?" cri

nnounced Sam solemnly. "I reckon that

ing of the game the ball must first touch the grou

it it so hard," apologized Har

to hit it so ha

l had been pressed into service. This time Harriet succeeded in serving it into the court of her opp

re you girls playing

. "Is there still a lurking idea in your

," pointing to Hazel. "There couldn't be any mistake ab

hem how to play

y have a try-out," s

panions. Margery started in by grasping the racquet f

uet artistically in one hand, then, when the ball meanders over into our court, we give it a genteel swat in th

ng laughe

d. "I think Margery will have no difficulty in

e would be a thuctheth in football becauthe thhe could fall on the ball

u 'serve' it. That's the polite way to exp

I do?" quest

took a hand in

ound up into the air, then you volley it back into your opponent's court. Then, the ball b

striking the ground if i

d dismally at

ep the ball going as long as the

roke, so accurate, in fact, that the ball sped true to its mark, hitting Buster squarely on the nose. The hurt of it was not so great

clared Tommy proudly, "b

g to her feet and touching her nose gingerly w

ding," assured Geo

ding it's broken.

kled into sharp lines. Tommy was very proud of her accomplishmen

d Miss Elting. "I believe you had better give it up and let Harri

f it kills me,"

sing Tommy Thompson, "don't you be so violent this time, Grace. Take it more slowly to begin with. Just drop it

commande

f. Margery, following Sam Crocker's advice, ran toward the ball making wild swings with her racquet. Luckily, ball and racquet met. Margery gave the ball a toss, but it was

osite court. Just before reaching the net she stubbed her toe on a root that had been ove

e!" moan

ped also and plunged forward head first, he