The Lucky Seventh

But the maid who responded to his ring assured him that Master Morris was in, and led the way to the gray-and-gold reception room. He decided to take no chances with the spindle

clusion that the room was pretty but uncomfortable when footsteps sounded

put you in here for? This room gives me the cr

agazines on them. From the porch one looked across a carefully kept lawn to where a symmetrically clipped hedge bordered Louise Street. Mr. Brent owned not only the block on which his estate was located, but some eight or nine adjoining blocks besides, his property running from his back line across

orget or allow others to forget that he was Jonathan Brent's son and heir. But, in spite of that, he was not unpopular, and if there was any snobbishness about him it was unconscious. In fact, there were one or two of his acquainta

e was glad to see him, and for several minutes gave Gordon no chance to state h

t's too bad, isn't it? I don't see why he needs to cut up th

iver. That would make it pretty far from school, th

is head, and G

bjection to our using the field until they began to build on it. I don't think they've

You see, we had a sort of row about an automobile. He kind of promised last Christmas that he'd get me a runabout this Spring, and when I asked about it he put me off; and so I"-Morris grinned-"I went ahead and got Stacey to order one for me.

very enthusiastically. "Maybe

way. What are you going to

s and the formation of the ball club. "I suppose

don't move out to the Point until the seventeenth this summer. Dad's full of business and as grouchy as the dickens. Sis an

at the idea of Fudge Shaw playing. Gordon had an uneasy feeling that Morris perhaps r

ly and approvingly. "I dare say Caspar will want

emember him," he said, "but I'm n

. He's a dandy chap, Billings. I don't see, though, where he's going to get enough fellows at the Point to make up a nine, unless there are more there this year tha

who is going to Rifle Point in the Fall," said Gordon. "He's going t

do that? Coa

his class at school. He wants to earn some money, and th

ike his and had to live on crutches, I'd-I'd--" But words failed him. He sh

. He told me. Something

d, and then added morosely, with a wry smile: "It might be a mighty good scheme if I had him coach me a bit. I've got to take my college exams next year, and I know blamed well I won'

go and see your father about the field. I'd like to play, though, some t

h myself this year, and I'm all out of trim. Sis and I had a

s well," murmured Gor

ht to be around somew

ent. "She's coming down," he announced. "Don't hurry off. Dad will be in his office all the morning, I guess. I hope

, unlike him, was light in coloring, with brown hair that just escaped being yellow and a very fair skin and blue eyes. She was not a beauty, but she was pretty in spite o

ated herself on the edge of Morris' chair. "Not since the school

-I don't dance very well," he said. "I t

re Grace Leveri

, Gra

lly nice

I meant that-she's

very wide. "But I'm only fifteen, Gordon.

ce so much was because I thought she wasn't old enough to be fuss

d Louise. "You'll have to make it up this summer by c

. But, really and truly, I'

to her brother. Mo

though. I've been trying to get him to stay and p

e played on. If you will, I'll bring you out the bigge

ut-some ot

"I don't think you're as nice as

, father's going to cut up the athletic field

r?" she

ves the school in

h a nice field, too! I don't think he ought t

et me to ask dad to let the fellows use the field until he began to cut it up, but I told him that he'd

e up the idea of that automobile, Morris.

grumbled. "She was all right before th

you think he ought to drive an auto, Go

er had much experience with automobiles. I

"He'll have an accident, kill him

chap. I've done it. When I get the car you'll be tickled

And I think it would be much better for you to wait another year or two. Papa won't

as I please with it," responded her bro

hings like that! Papa never actu

'm going to have it. Stacey would think I was a pretty fun

ying the things nowadays. Well, I'll be going, I guess. Good-bye. Good-bye, Louis

t of the time; or I shall be until I get my car."

ce every dance with me," Louise reminded, as she and Morris acco

rst dance," replied the visitor grimly. "But I'

n, Morris didn't seem really happy and contented, and never had. He always appeared to have a quarrel with someone or something. Sometimes it was the teachers at High School, who were imposing on him; once it had been the baseball coach, Mr. Farrel, who, according to Morris, was keeping him off the team for spite, and now it was with his father. It would

A clerk took his name doubtfully and indicated a chair for him to sit in while he waited Mr. Brent's pleasure. As it happened, although the mill president was a very busy man, G

ing from the top of the big desk which, until Gordon had crossed the room, hid Mr. Brent from view. A chair was set at the end of the de

n-shaven and the grizzled brown hair had retreated until the top of his head was as bald and shining as the white-enameled newel-post at the foot of the Merricks' sta

y boy?" he asked, in a qui

Brent," responded Gordon. "I heard yesterday that

ight. Wh

of us are getting up a nine to play this summer, and I wondered

hat's your na

sir; Gordo

Merrick

s,

her. Are you in

s,

w my

this morning. I thought maybe h

ny smile moved the corners

ld as long as you don't interfere with the engineers or workmen. I b

you, Mr

you boys are going to

. It-it's been a

t longer, but I need the ground. I suppose yo

agreed Gordo

Morris

, we-we know each

h? What's the matter

t-but we don't see

t he li

so. He

g to you about an a

ed it." Gordon began

e one of t

, s

ke

. I think it would be

your father

e could afford i

Besi

t think I was-was o

ld are

een,

r would let you have one if you were

ead. "I don't beli

urself to the field, Merrick. G