CHAPTER X
THE BIG CALIFORNIAN
Tom saw what was about to happen, and his ready hand fell on his chum's shoulder.
"Not here! Not now!" he whispered into his ear. "Some other time, Phil. Think of your sisiter—of the other girls. A crowd is gathering. Not now! Not now!"
Phil made a motion as if to shake off the restraining grasp, and then thought better of it. In the meanwhile, Sid had casually stepped in front of Langridge. The left half-back motioned to Gerhart to call aside his chum, and the bully's crony was only too glad to do this, for he was somewhat of a coward, and he feared lest he, too, be entangled in the quarrel which seemed imminent.
"Go away, Langridge," advised Sid, in a low voice. "If you want satisfaction later I'm sure our friend will give it to you. But not now."
"Yes, come on," urged Gerhart, linking his arm in that of his friend. He swung him around,
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