mildly surprised gaze on the boys
The driver of the car, still clutching the steering-wheel, turned a
mildly surprised gaze on the boys. “Now, what,” he asked slowly, “do you
think of that?”

“He lives the other side of the village. His father owned a lot of land
around here and made heaps of money selling it off. They call him ‘Babe’
Beaufort; this fellow, I mean, not his father; probably because he’s
so big.”

“I reckon you’re a big hit at those parties,” said Clint. “When it comes
to telling stories–”

“Suppose we do,” replied Clint cheerfully. “Who is he?”

“Oh, I’ve got sort of used to it now. After all, there’s a certain
excitement about having a watch like this. You never know whether you’re
going to be late or early. If I have to catch a train I always allow
thirty minutes leeway. It’s twelve o’clock, all right. Solomon’s quit.”
He nodded toward where the man in the blue overalls was unhitching the
horse from the mower. “You can’t fool Solomon on the dinner hour.”

“I don’t suppose so. That’s what he’s called, though. He never says
anything and so he seems to be all-fired wise. There’s a lot in that, do
you know? Bet you if I didn’t talk so much I’d get the reputation of
being real brainy. Guess I’ll have to try it.” He grinned broadly and
Clint smiled back in sympathy.

Morgan’s School was a stranger
What annoyed Brimfield Academy most about that beating was the fact that
Morgan’s School was a stranger. Being defeated in early season was
nothing to be sore about; it happened every year, sometimes several
times; and the score of 6 to 3 was far from humiliating; but to be
defeated by a team that no one had ever heard about was horribly
annoying. Of course Tracey Black insisted to all who would listen that
Morgan’s, instead of being unknown to fame, was in reality a strong team
with a fine record behind it and an enviable reputation in its own part
of the world. But Tracey didn’t convince anyone, I think, and the school
continued to be disgruntled for the better part of a week, or possibly
until the Varsity went away the following Saturday and won a clean-cut
victory from Benton Military Academy. Last year the two schools had
played a no-score tie game and consequently the Maroon-and-Grey’s
victory this year was more appreciated.

“Well, I’ll be glad to see some action,” remarked Amy, yawning.
“Compared to tennis this game is a regular ‘cold water sit-around’!”