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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c5f9534 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #55715 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/55715) diff --git a/old/55715-0.txt b/old/55715-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 2631f30..0000000 --- a/old/55715-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,9341 +0,0 @@ -Project Gutenberg's Those Smith Boys on the Diamond, by Howard R. Garis - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license - - -Title: Those Smith Boys on the Diamond - Nip and Tuck for Victory - -Author: Howard R. Garis - -Release Date: October 9, 2017 [EBook #55715] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THOSE SMITH BOYS ON THE DIAMOND *** - - - - -Produced by David Edwards, David E. Brown and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -book was produced from scanned images of public domain -material from the Google Books project.) - - - - - - - - - -[Illustration: SAFE AT HOME] - - - - - THOSE SMITH BOYS - ON THE DIAMOND - - OR - - NIP AND TUCK FOR VICTORY - - BY - - HOWARD R. GARIS - - _Author of - Uncle Wiggily and Alice in Wonderland, Uncle Wiggily - Longears, Uncle Wiggily and Mother Goose, - Uncle Wiggily’s Arabian Nights_ - - [Illustration] - - MADE IN U. S. A. - - M·A·DONOHUE·&·COMPANY - CHICAGO NEW YORK - - - - - Made in U. S. A. - - - COPYRIGHT, 1912 BY - R. F. FENNO & COMPANY - _Those Smith Boys on the Diamond_ - - - - -CONTENTS - - - CHAPTER PAGE - - I A CLOSE GAME 9 - - II A FIRE DEPARTMENT RUN 19 - - III A LEAKY BOAT 30 - - IV A GREAT HOME RUN 39 - - V OFF FOR WESTFIELD 50 - - VI A LIVELY HAZING 58 - - VII MOVING THE SENIOR STONE 69 - - VIII ORGANIZING THE NINE 77 - - IX BILL IS HIT 84 - - X THE DOCTOR’S VERDICT 91 - - XI MEETING AN OLD FRIEND 96 - - XII PROFESSOR CLATTER’S PLAN 105 - - XIII BILL IS HIMSELF AGAIN 113 - - XIV THE TRY-OUT 125 - - XV THE CONSPIRATORS 131 - - XVI CAUGHT 136 - - XVII BILL’S PITCHING 141 - - XVIII A PLOT AGAINST BILL 154 - - XIX THE PROFESSOR’S WARNING 160 - - XX THE PLOTTERS CAUGHT 171 - - XXI AN INTERRUPTED SUPPER 181 - - XXII HITTING A BULLY 190 - - XXIII THE FIGHT 197 - - XXIV THE KIDNAPPED PITCHER 203 - - XXV TO THE RESCUE 211 - - XXVI JUST IN TIME 219 - - XXVII A SCRIMMAGE 230 - - XXVIII THE GLASSES ARE GONE 235 - - XXIX MERSFELD IN THE BOX 239 - - XXX BILL’S FALL 245 - - XXXI “PLAY BALL!” 250 - - XXXII NIP AND TUCK FOR VICTORY 257 - - XXXIII WINNING THE PENNANT 263 - - - - - THOSE SMITH BOYS ON THE - DIAMOND - - OR - - NIP AND TUCK FOR VICTORY - - - - -THOSE SMITH BOYS ON THE DIAMOND - - - - -CHAPTER I - -A CLOSE GAME - - -“Come on now, Bateye, soak it in!” - -“Say, are you going to hold that ball all day?” - -“What’s the matter with you; didn’t you ever see a horsehide before?” - -“Oh, for the love of Mike! Throw it! Throw it! Do you want to give ’em -a run?” - -“That’s the way! Wake up, Bateye!” - -These were only a few of the expressions and questions hurled by the -other players at Bateye Jones, the Freeport rightfielder, who, after -running back to recover a ball that had passed high over his head, was -holding the sphere for a moment until he had made sure of the position -of the runner, Jake Jensen, of the Vandalia team. - -“Throw it! Throw it! You can take a picture of it after the game!” -howled Captain John Smith of the Freeport nine, as he danced about -behind home plate, and saw Tom Evans come in from third, and noticed -Jensen legging it around from second. - -Bateye threw, and, mingling with the cries of the players and the yells -of the crowd, there were groans of anguish as the ball passed high over -the second baseman’s head, who jumped for it in vain. - -Bill Smith, the wiry little pitcher, made a successful grab for the -horsehide as it bounced on the ground, captured it, and hurled it to -third, just in time to catch Jensen there. - -“Out!” yelled the umpire. - -“Aw, say, I beat it a mile!” protested the panting runner. “What’s the -matter with you, Foster?” - -“Out,” said the umpire again, waving his hand to indicate that Jensen -was to leave the bag. - -“Say, I’ll leave it to anybody if I—” - -“Come on in,” invited Rube Mantell, captain of the Vandalias in a weary -tone, and Jake shuffled to the bench. - -“Mighty lucky stop, Bill,” called Pete, or “Sawed-off” Smith, to his -brother the pitcher. The small-statured lad again took his position at -short stop which he had left for a moment. “I wonder what’s the matter -with Bateye to-day? That’s the second error he’s made.” - -“Oh, I guess he got a bit rattled with so many howling at him,” spoke -Bill good-naturedly. “Come on now, Pete. There are two down, and we -ought to wallop ’em easy when it comes our turn. Watch me strike Flub -Madison out.” - -Bill, who was the best pitcher the Freeport team had secured in -several seasons, again took his place in the box, while his brother -John, or “Cap” from the likeness of his name to that of the old Indian -fighter, resumed his mask, after shooting a few indignant looks in the -direction of the unfortunate Bateye Jones. - -“He’s got to improve if he wants to stay on the team,” murmured Cap -Smith as he waited for the next ball. “I s’pose he’ll excuse himself by -saying the sun was in his eyes, or something like that. Or else that -he can’t see well in the daytime. He certainly can see good at night. -Old Bateye—well, here goes for the next one,” and Cap plumped his fist -into the big mitt, and signalled to his pitching brother to send in a -slow out curve to Flub Madison who took his place at the plate. - -It was the ending of the eighth inning, and the score was seven to -six, in favor of the Freeport lads. The game was far from won, for -their opponents were playing strong, and still had another, and last, -chance at the bat. To win meant much for the team on which the Smith -Boys played, for they wanted to capture the championship of the County -League, this being one of the last games of the season. - -“One ball!” hoarsely called the umpire, as Bill unwound, and sent the -horsehide sphere plump into the mitt of his older brother. - -Cap looked an indignant protest, and hesitated as he tossed the ball -back. It was as clean a strike as could be desired, but it was not the -first time the official had favored Vandalia that day. The game was on -their grounds, and the rivalry that existed between the two cities, -located on either side of the Waydell river, was carried even into -baseball. - -“Make him give you a nice one, Flub,” called some of his friends. - -“He’ll walk you, anyhow,” added another sarcastically. - -Bill Smith gritted his teeth but said nothing. He shook his head as -his brother signalled for the same kind of a ball, and sent in a swift -drop. Flub bit at it, and swung viciously. - -“Strike one!” sounded sweet to the ears of the pitcher and catcher. - -There was a vicious “ping” as the next ball was sailing over the -plate, and for a moment the hearts of the Freeport nine and the hopes -of their supporters were like lead, but they turned to rejoicing an -instant later, as they saw the ball shoot high over the extreme left -grandstand, and disappear. - -“Foul strike!” called the umpire, as he tossed a new ball to Bill. - -Cap signalled for the fast drop, and his brother nodded in assent. - -“Three strikes! Batter out!” was yelled a moment later and Flub threw -down his stick in disgust, and walked toward the outfield. - -“Now’s our last chance!” exclaimed Bill to John, as he came running -in, while the teams changed places. “We ought to get at least three -runs—in fact we need ’em if we’re going to win, for they’ve got three -of their best hitters up when they come for their last dips. But if we -can get a lead of four runs we’ll be all right.” - -“Yes, we’ll be all right if Bateye doesn’t go to sleep again,” grumbled -Cap. “Say, what’s the matter with you?” he demanded as the unlucky -rightfielder filed in. - -“Why—er I—that is I—” - -“Oh, out with it! You’re holding that talk as long as you held the -ball. Don’t do it again!” and Cap, who never could be ill-natured for -very long, condescended to smile, while Bateye promised to do better in -the future. - -“Now Doc, show ’em how to make a home run,” suggested Pete, as Harry or -“Doc” Norton, dubbed with the medical term by virtue of his father’s -profession, came up to the bat. Doc tried hard, but only got a single. -He was advanced to third when Norton Tonkin rapped out a nice two -bagger, but that was as far as luck went for the Freeport nine that -day. The next three players struck out under the masterly pitching of -Nifty Pell, and the three Smith Boys did not get a chance. - -“Well, we’re one run to the good. If we can hold ’em down the game’s -ours,” observed Pete, as he walked out with his brothers, followed by -the rest of the team. “It’s up to you, Bill.” - -“I know that, Sawed-off,” was the answer. “I’ll do my best, but I can’t -play the whole game. Crimps! But I _would_ like to win this game! -They’ve been making so many cracks about putting it all over us!” - -“We’ve _got_ to win!” said Cap Smith fiercely. “We need this to help us -get the pennant. Don’t get nervous Bill, and you can do ’em. Try that -up shoot on Scurry Nelson.” - -The last half of the ninth inning began. There were agonized appeals -from the Vandalia supporters for the nine to cinch the tying run, and -then to bring in half a dozen more for good luck. - -“They shan’t do it, if I can help it!” murmured Bill Smith -half-savagely, as he took his place. - -Noticing the manner in which Bill stung in a few practice balls his -brother behind the plate smiled happily. - -“Bill hasn’t lost any speed,” he thought gleefully. - -Scurry Nelson swung with all his force at the first ball, and his bat -passed neatly under it. - -“Strike one!” came from the umpire, as if it made no difference to him. - -“Only two more!” howled the supporters of the Freeport nine. “You can -do it, Bill!” - -Bill tried the same kind of a curve again, and got away with it, but on -the third attempt, after giving a ball on purpose, he heard the fatal -“ping” and a swift grounder got past Pete. - -There were groans of dismay from part of the crowd, accompanied by -howls of delight from the other half, as Scurry landed on first. Bill -felt his heart wildly beating, and Cap thumped his big glove viciously. - -The Vandalia team on the bench was in transports of joy. Already -they saw their enemies vanquished. Bill calmed himself by an effort, -and even smiled as he faced Buck Wheeler the next man up. Buck was a -notoriously heavy hitter and it seemed as if he would knock the cover -off the ball when he swung at the first one Bill sent in. Only he -didn’t hit it. - -And he didn’t hit the next two, either, though he made desperate -efforts to do so, and there was not quite so much elation on the faces -of the Vandaliaites as the next man got up. He knocked a little pop -fly, which Bill caught with ease making two out and, as quick as a -flash the pitcher turned and threw to second, toward which bag Scurry -was legging it for all he was worth. Bill was just a second too late, -however and the runner was safe. - -“Two down! Only one more, and the game is ours!” came the encouraging -yells from the grandstand where the Freeport supporters were crowded. - -Bill smiled happily and got ready for the next man, at the same time -watching Scurry on second. The following player was Will Longton, and -had a high batting average. There was a smile of confidence on his face -as he stepped to the plate. - -Bill sent in a puzzling twister, and Will smiled as he refused to bite -at it. - -“Ball,” called the umpire. - -“Take it easy! He’s afraid, and he’ll walk you,” was the advice Will -got. He was still smiling confidently when the next ball whizzed past -him. - -“Strike,” came from the umpire, with obvious reluctance, since he -wanted to see his friends win. Will looked an indignant protest at the -official, and rubbed some dirt on his hands, so that he might better -grip the bat. - -“Watch him soak the cover off!” howled an enthusiastic admirer. - -Longton did hit it, but only a foul resulted, and Scurry, who had -started for third, had to come back. - -“You know how to do it, Bill,” called the catcher to his brother, -giving him a sign. Bill nodded, and the next instant, amid a breathless -silence a swift ball shot from his hand, straight for the plate. - -With an intaking of breath Will Longton swung at it with such force -that he turned completely around, and the look of astonishment on his -face was mirth-provoking, as he realized that he had missed. - -“Pung!” went the ball as it settled into the pit of Cap Smith’s glove, -and the voice of the umpire, as he called “Three strikes—batter out!” -was lost in the howl of delight that welled up from grand stands and -bleachers as the crowd realized that Freeport had held their opponents -down in the last inning, and had won the game. What if it was only by -one run? One run has often won a league championship. - -“Great work, Bill!” cried Pete as he ran in, clapping his brother on -the back. - -“That’s the stuff!” agreed Cap, as he hugged the pitcher. “We did -’em! Come on now, we can catch the next boat across the river if we -get a move on,” and the Smith boys, followed by the rest of the team, -hastened to the dressing rooms, stopping only long enough to return the -cheer which their opponents gave them. - -The crowd was surging down from the stands, talking about the close -game, discussing the best plays, arguing how if such a man had done -differently the result would have been changed, and speculating as to -Freeport’s and Vandalia’s chances for winning the pennant. - -“What are you fellows going to do to-night?” asked Bateye Jones a -little later as he stood talking with his chums, the Smith Boys on the -little ferry boat which ran across the river from Vandalia to Freeport. - -“Nothing special, I guess. Why?” inquired Bill. - -“What do you say if we give the fire department a run?” - -“Give ’em a run?” asked Cap with a puzzled air. “What do you mean?” - -“Why they haven’t been out in nearly two weeks, and they’re just -waiting for a chance to show off their new uniforms, and try the new -chemical,” spoke Bateye. “I say let’s give it to ’em.” - -“How?” asked Pete, who detected a gleam of fun in the half-closed eyes -of the lad who had such a habit of being out nights, and such a reputed -ability to see in the dark, that it had gained him the name of Bateye. -“How you going to do it?” - -“Easy. Come over here, and I’ll tell you. Come on, Doc, and you, too, -Norton.” - -The two lads thus addressed, together with the Smith boys, moved -forward on the little boat. - -“I saw Spider Langdon and Beantoe Pudder looking at us,” explained -Bateye, when they were safe in a corner of the craft, “and I didn’t -want them to get on to us. Now here’s my scheme. We can have some fun, -and, at the same time give the department a chance to show off,” and -with that Bateye began to whisper the details of his plan. - -It did not take long to disclose it, and at the conclusion he asked: - -“Will you do it, fellows?” - -“Will we? Will a cat eat warm milk?” demanded Pete, as if there was no -question about it. - -“But say, there won’t be any come-back, will there? We got into trouble -enough with the railroad people, and by flying our kite with Susie -Mantell on the tail of it last year, so I’m not looking for any more,” -said Cap Smith solemnly. - -“Oh, this will be all right,” Bateye assured them. “Now I’ll come over -about eight o’clock, and make a noise like a tree toad. Then you come -out. But lock up Waggles, your dog, or he might give the scheme away.” - -“We will,” promised Bill, and then the boat tied up at the wharf, and -the ball players in advance of the crowd rushed off. - -“Say, I’ll bet there’s something doing,” said Beantoe Pudder to Spider -Langdon, as they followed the throng. - -“Why?” asked the long legged lad, who was nicknamed “Spider.” - -“Because I saw those Smith Boys and Bateye talking together, and—” but -at that moment Sam Pudder stumbled and would have fallen, had not his -chum caught him. - -“There you go again, Beantoe!” exclaimed Spider, as he helped him -regain his balance. “What’s the matter with you?” - -“It’s these new shoes, I guess,” and Beantoe, who owed his title to his -habit of stumbling, limped along. “But as I was saying, I saw the Smith -fellows and Bateye and Doc talking together. There’s something doing. -Let’s watch and see what it is,” he concluded. - -“All right, I’m with you. We’ll hang around to-night, and maybe we -can spoil their game,” and the two cronies who, among other things in -common, had a dislike for the Smith Boys and their friends, hurried -along, whispering together. - -Meanwhile the members of the Freeport Volunteer Fire Department were -all unaware of the plot brewing against them. - - - - -CHAPTER II - -A FIRE DEPARTMENT RUN - - -“Well, boys, how did you make out at the game?” asked Mr. Smith, as his -three sturdy sons tramped into the house a little later. - -“Fine,” answered Pete. “It was a close game, but we won.” - -“Good!” exclaimed the father. “I wish I’d been there.” - -“What’s Mrs. Murdock got for supper?” demanded Bill, as he sniffed -various odors coming from the kitchen. “I hope it’s roast lamb!” - -“I want sausage and potatoes!” cried Pete. - -“Get out! It’s too early for sausage,” asserted Cap. “Guess again, -Pete.” - -“What is it, Mrs. Murdock?” demanded Bill, as the housekeeper just then -entered the room. - -“Roast beef and baked potatoes,” she answered, and there was a chorus -of delighted howls. - -“Fine!” cried Bill a second afterward making a rush for the buxom lady -who had kept house for Mr. Smith, since his wife’s death some years -before. The other brothers, following Bill’s lead, tried to kiss her at -the same time, but she shut herself up in the pantry for refuge, and -declared that they would not only be the cause of making the potatoes -burn, but would also spoil the roast if they did not raise the siege. -So they capitulated, and a little later were sitting down to a meal, -with such appetites as only bless those who play ball. - -And while the meal is in progress I will take the opportunity of -introducing you to the Smith lads a little more formally. - -There were three of them, as you have guessed, John the eldest, then -William, or “Bill,” as he was always called, and Pete, the youngest. -They lived with their father and the housekeeper in a large, old -fashioned house in the town of Freeport, on the Waydell river. Across -the stream was the town of Vandalia, and, as told in the first volume -of this series, entitled “Those Smith Boys,” there was much rivalry -between the two places. - -In the initial volume it was related how the Smith boys, who were -always getting into mischief, but who did not mean to do wrong, started -off a handcar, which ran away down grade on the new line of the Green -Valley Railroad. - -The handcar rushed through the railroad construction camp, knocked down -a water tank, crashed into the tent of the chief surveyor, and made -such a rumpus generally that the Smith boys, fearing the consequences, -ran away. - -It was a question whether the railroad would locate a station at -Vandalia or at Freeport, and the decision was almost in favor of -Freeport when the Smith boys, played their unfortunate trick. Then -the chief surveyor determined to place the depot in Vandalia, out of -revenge. - -The Smith brothers had many adventures during the time they were away -from home. They were looking for a thumbless man, whom they suspected -of having robbed their father, and in their journeyings fell in with -Theophilus Clatter, a traveling vendor of patent medicines, patent -soap and a patent stain remover. They also met with Duodecimo Donaldby, -who posed as a rain-maker, or a horse doctor, as suited his convenience. - -The boys became traveling showmen to aid in the work of selling the -patent medicine and soap, after their friend, Mr. Clatter, had been -arrested for telling fortunes, and all the while the lads kept a -lookout for the thumbless man. - -How they found him, and overheard him discussing a plot to rob the -paycar of the railroad, how they frustrated his plans, saved the car -and won the gratitude of the railroad officials is told of in the book. -Also how it was decided, as a sort of a reward for what the Smith boys -had done, to locate the railroad depot in Freeport after all. So the -thoughtless prank of the lads turned out well after all. - -Part of the money stolen from Mr. Smith was recovered, and the boys -also received a reward from the railroad company. Their father had -planned to send them to Westfield Academy, immediately after their -return from journeying about the country, but his financial and other -matters prevented, so the boys had spent the winter helping him. - -Mr. Smith’s business affairs were now in good shape, and he was quite -well off, so he determined that with the opening of the fall term at -Westfield, his sons should attend there. - -All summer the boys had been having a good time at various sports, of -which baseball was chief. They were valued members of the Freeport -nine, and it looked as though they would do more than their share in -helping that team win the pennant. Only a few more games remained to -be played before the season would be over. - -“And then for Westfield,” remarked Pete at the supper table that night, -as they talked over their plans. - -“I hope we can get on the nine there,” said Cap. - -“Oh, sure we can,” declared Bill. - -“Well, just because you can pitch well in the county league, doesn’t -say that you’ll make good at Westville,” objected Cap. “They play big -college teams there, you know.” - -“Well, I’m not afraid of a college team,” said his brother. “We’ll make -the nine—you see.” - -“Hark! What’s that?” asked Pete suddenly, listening intently. - -The sound of a tree toad came in through the opened window. - -“Bateye Jones,” murmured Cap. - -“Are you boys going out?” asked Mr. Smith, looking up quickly from the -paper he was reading, as he heard the name of the lads’ chum. - -“We—er—that is we thought of it,” replied Bill. - -“Well I do hope you won’t get into any more mischief,” went on their -father. “I’m about tired of hearing everything that happens in this -town laid to ‘Those Smith Boys.’” - -“So are we, dad!” exclaimed Cap. “And half of the things that are done -aren’t up to us at all.” - -“Well, perhaps that’s so. But be careful now.” - -“Yes,” they promised in a chorus, as they hurried out to meet Bat-Eye. -And they really meant to do as they had said, but they were full of -life and energy, and—well, you know how it is yourselves. Things -don’t always turn out as you think they will. - -A little later six figures might have been seen hurrying away across -lots in the rear of the Smith homestead. There had been some earnest -whispering before their departure, and from the manner in which they -hastened away it might have been argued, by anyone who knew the lads, -that something was going to happen. - -Then, a few seconds after the six had melted away in the darkness, two -other figures rose up from the deep grass where they had been hiding. - -“There they go, Beantoe,” whispered one lad. “I wonder what’s up?” - -“We’ll soon find out, Spider,” was the response. “Come on, we can -easily follow them.” - -Cautiously the two sped on in the blackness. Just ahead of them could -be seen the group of six, and, from time to time, the twain could hear -the voices of the Smith Boys, and their chums, Bateye Jones, Doc Lutken -and Norton Tonkin. - -“Can you hear what they’re saying?” whispered Beantoe. - -“Naw, but we don’t need to. We’ll just follow ’em.” - -The six led their shadowers quite a chase, and it was not until half an -hour later that the foremost lad turned into a vacant lot that stood on -the outskirts of the town. In the middle of the lot was a tumble-down -barn and shed, long disused, and useful only as an abiding place for an -occasional tramp. - -“Gee whizz!” exclaimed Beantoe, as he and his crony sank down out of -sight in the grass, for the six had come to a halt in front of the -ancient structure. “Gee whizz! All this round-about way, when they -could have walked down the road to this place in ten minutes.” - -“That’s all right,” argued Spider. “That shows that something is up. -They didn’t want to be seen coming here, and so they went around -through the lots. Say, do you know what I think?” - -“No, but I know what I think! I think we’re chumps for coming after -them! What does it amount to, anyhow?” - -“I’ll tell you,” whispered Spider. “They have a secret society, and -they hold meetings here. That’s why they go about it so carefully. But -they can’t fool us. We’re right here, and we’ll sneak up, hear all they -say, and then where will their secret society be, I’d like to know?” - -“Do you really think so?” - -“I’m sure of it. Look, they’re going in the barn.” - -The two lads who were hiding in the grass, just beyond the fence that -enclosed the old shed, raised their heads and looked. Surely enough the -Smith boys and their friends were entering the deserted barn. - -“Let’s go up and listen,” proposed Spider. - -“No, wait awhile,” advised Beantoe. “Give ’em a chance to get started, -and we can hear all they say.” - -“They’re making a light!” exclaimed Spider. - -“Sure! Maybe they’re going to initiate new candidates into their -society. They think they’re great stuff, but wait until they find out -that we know all their secrets and passwords. Then they’ll come down -off their high horses.” - -“Sure! Come on up now. They must be started by this time.” - -Carefully getting up from their hiding places the two spies cautiously -advanced toward the old barn. - -“They’re lighting up all over,” observed Beantoe eagerly. “Must be -going to have a regular celebration.” - -“I guess so. Come on over on this side. There’s a little window that we -can look in.” - -Spider was leading the way, and, just as he reached the window in -question, his companion, as was his habit, unfortunately stumbled over -a stone. - -“Oh, there you go again, Beantoe!” exclaimed Spider wrathfully. - -“I—I know it,” admitted his crony. “Gee horse, but it hurts!” - -“Well, keep quiet and come on. I guess—” - -But what Spider guessed he never told, for at that moment there was a -rush of figures from the barn, and the two spies were surrounded. - -“We’ve caught ’em!” cried Cap Smith gleefully. - -“Who are they?” asked Bill. - -“I’ve got Beantoe Pudder,” announced Doc Lutken, making a grab for the -stumbling lad. - -“And here’s Spider Langdon,” added Pete Smith, taking a tighter hold of -the struggling youth. - -“What were they doing?” inquired Cap. - -“Following us, of course,” said Norton Tonkin. - -“We were not!” denied Beantoe, but the evidence was against him. - -“I wonder what they want?” asked Bill. - -“They must have known what we were going to do, and they want to squeal -on us,” suggested Bateye. “What shall we do?” - -“Is it too late to stop it?” asked Bill, with a glance toward the barn. - -Inside could be seen several flickering lights. - -“Sure, it’s going hard,” answered Pete. “We can’t put it out.” - -“Then let’s make ’em stand for it,” suggested Bateye. “They’ll squeal -anyhow, so let’s make ’em take their share of the blame. It won’t -amount to much anyhow, for dad was going to have the place pulled down, -and he won’t care what happens to it. We’ll tie Beantoe and Spider to -the fence here, and run and give the alarm. The firemen will loosen ’em -when they get here.” - -“Oh, don’t tie us up!” pleaded Beantoe in alarm. - -“No, don’t leave us here!” begged Spider. “We’ll never say a word about -your secret society. Not a word, honest we won’t!” - -“Who said anything about a secret society?” demanded Bill. - -“Why, ain’t that what you came out to the barn for?” asked Beantoe. - -“And did you follow us to hear the secrets?” inquired Pete, beginning -to understand something. - -Beantoe and Spider maintained a discreet silence. - -“By Jinks! that’s it, fellows!” cried Bill. “Say, this is rich! Tie ’em -to the fence, and leave ’em. Then we’ll give the alarm! Say, this is -great!” - -“Oh, don’t tie us! We won’t tell!” wailed Beantoe and Spider in a -chorus. - -But their foes were relentless, and in a few minutes the two spies -were secured to the fence across the road from the barn. Meanwhile the -flickering lights in the old structure had increased. Smoke was pouring -from the windows and doors. - -“There, you can tell any story you like now,” said Pete, as he fastened -the last knot. “Maybe they’ll believe you and maybe they won’t.” - -“Oh, we Smith boys will be blamed anyhow,” was Bill’s grumbling opinion. - -“Then we might as well have the game as the name. Come on, it’s going -good now. We’ll give the department something to do.” - -With a final look at the barn, and the lads who were tied to the fence, -the Smith boys and their chums began to run down the road in the -direction of the town. As they left, the whole interior of the rickety -structure was lighted up, and the smoke poured out thicker than ever. - -“They’ve set the barn on fire!” yelled Beantoe, as he struggled to get -loose. - -“And they’re going to put the blame on us,” added Spider, threshing -about with his long legs. - -“But we’ll tell who did it!” - -“What good will that do, when they find us here. Besides those fellows -will give the alarm, and that will throw suspicion off them.” - -“But look how we’re tied.” - -“I know it, but they’ll say we did it ourselves. Oh, I wish we hadn’t -followed those Smith boys!” - -“So do I!” - -Swiftly running down the road, the boys in question, and their chums, -set up a loud cry: - -“Fire! Fire! Fire!” - -They were on the outskirts of the town now, and the yell was soon taken -up by many voices. - -“Fire! Fire! Fire!” - -“Where is it?” demanded several. - -“The barn on my father’s place,” answered Bateye Jones pantingly. - -Some one rang the alarm bell on the tower of the hose house. - -The few firemen on duty began to rush about, and hitched up the horses. -Other volunteers from nearby houses hastened to the hose house. A red -glare could be seen reflected on the sky. The fire department at last -had a chance for a run, and the members rejoiced in it, for there had -been many days of inactivity. It mattered not that the barn was a -worthless structure, better burned than left standing. It was a chance -to get out the new apparatus, and must not be missed. - -The hose wagon and chemical engine combined rattled out of the house. -Men shouted various unimportant directions. The horses were scarcely -awake. - -“There they go!” exulted Bateye as he and the others prepared to race -back to the scene they had so recently left. - -“S’pose they find out we did it?” asked Pete. - -“It doesn’t matter,” said Bateye. “I got leave from dad to burn the -barn, only he didn’t know I was going to do it to-night. He wants to -put up a silo for cattle fodder on the place, so the barn had to come -down, anyhow, and burning was the easiest way. But I thought we might -as well have some fun out of it while we’re at it.” - -“Sure!” agreed Cap Smith. - -And then the boys, and scores of others, ran on, while voices -multiplied the cry of: - -“Fire! Fire! Fire!” - - - - -CHAPTER III - -A LEAKY BOAT - - -The old barn made a good blaze. Beantoe and Spider, tied with their -hands behind them to the fence, could not help but admit that. - -“Say, it’s a peach of a fire all right!” exclaimed the long-legged lad, -as he vainly struggled to free himself. - -“It sure is! I wonder if they’ll arrest us?” - -“Of course not. If they did I guess Bateye and the others would be -square enough to own up to it.” - -“I guess so, but maybe the firemen will be mad when they find out about -it.” - -“Get out! They’ll only be too glad of a chance to use the new hose. -Besides Cooney Humpville hasn’t used his new trumpet yet. Say, it’s -getting warm all right!” - -“Yes, but it won’t be any hotter. It’s at the worst of the blaze now. -Why don’t the firemen come?” - -“Here they are!” cried Spider. - -From down the highway came a confused sound—shouts and yells mingled -with the galloping of horses and the rumble of the hose wagon. - -Up dashed the Freeport fire department, glorious in red shirts and red -helmets, with the red hose wagon in their midst. - -“Unreel the hose!” yelled the chief. - -“Better take the chemical line in first, Cooney,” suggested one of the -red shirted men. - -“Aw, don’t call me Cooney; call me Chief!” begged the head of the -fire-fighters. “I say put the hose on the hydrant and squirt.” - -Several men started to do this, but it was found that the nearest fire -plug was farther away than the hose would reach, so it was unavailable -for the fire. - -“We’ve got to take the chemical, Cooney!” called another man. “Run the -wagon nearer.” - -“Aw, don’t call me Cooney, call me—” but his men did not stay to -listen to his renewed pleading. The horses had been unhitched, and led -away. Willing hands now dragged the wagon closer to the burning barn, -and soon two lines of small hose to carry the chemical stream were -unwound. - -“Let her go!” yelled the men in a chorus, and the engineer who operated -the tanks, screwed down the wheel valve that broke the bottle of -sulphuric acid into the solution of soda and water. - -Two foamy streams spurted from the hose nozzles, but it was easy to -see that they would have little effect on the blaze. A lot of water -was needed, and that was not available. Still, even though the old -barn burned to the ground no harm could result. There were no other -buildings within an eighth of a mile. - -“Look here!” suddenly cried some of the firemen as they neared the -fence, and then they discovered Beantoe and Spider tied to the rails. - -“Who did it?” - -“How did it happen?” - -“Did you see anyone start the fire?” - -“How did you get tied up?” - -Questions were fired at the two lads, who were soon released. They -looked through the gathering throng for a sight of the Smith boys and -their chums. Beantoe saw Bateye laughing at him. - -“There are the fellows who set the barn on fire!” cried the stumbling -lad. “We saw ’em; didn’t we Spider?” - -“Sure; and they tied us up,” and, forthwith the tale was related to -such of the firemen and the crowd as would listen. And this was a -goodly number, for it was seen that it was useless to try to save the -barn, and all that could be done was to watch it burn, harmlessly. - -“And those Smith boys tied you up?” demanded Chief Humpville, “and -burned the barn?” - -“Sure they did,” asserted Bateye. “Them an’ Doc an’ Bateye.” - -“Just as likely as not these fellows set the barn, and tied themselves -up,” ventured a fireman, nodding at the captives. - -“That’s right; for the Smith brothers, and Bateye ran in and gave the -alarm,” added another. - -“Didn’t I tell you how it would be,” wailed Spider. “I knew they’d -blame us.” - -The twain protested, even unto tears, that they had no hand in the -prank, and when they related, with much detail, how they had been -surprised and caught the tide turned in their favor. - -“You might know those Smith boys would be up to some such game as -this,” remarked Mr. Wright, who kept the feed store. “They ought to be -arrested for arson.” - -“That’s right; or else sent away to the reform school,” added Mr. -Henderson, who sold shoes. - -“I hear they are going away to school this fall,” declared Mr. Flint, a -retired merchant. - -“Well, they can’t go any too soon to suit me,” went on Mr. Wright. -“They’re always doing something—those Smith boys are!” - -“But you must admit that they helped get the railroad to come here,” -suggested Mr. Blanchard, the grocer. - -“Yes, but they’re like a cow that gives a good pail of milk and then -kicks it over,” asserted Mr. Flint. “But I ain’t going to stay here any -more. The fire’s most out, and I guess it’s a good thing the old barn -went. It was only good for tramps.” - -In spite of the usual feeling against the Smith boys this was the -general sentiment, and when Chief Humpville wanted to make a charge of -arson against the lads, he was persuaded not to. - -“And so you fellows really did it; eh Bateye?” asked the chief, when -the lad who could see in the dark had admitted his part in the affair, -together with the Smith boys. They did it to clear Beantoe and Spider, -who were deemed guilty by some. - -“Sure I did it,” admitted Bateye shamelessly. “Aren’t you glad you had -the run?” - -The chief and his men were, but did not want to say so, for their new -helmets and red shirts had been audibly admired, and the new apparatus, -though its chemical streams were not effective against the fire, -because of the start the blaze had acquired, were a source of pride to -the townspeople. - -“Ain’t it against the law to set a fire?” demanded the chief, bound to -maintain his dignity. - -“Not when you have permission,” asserted Bateye, “and my dad said I -could get rid of the barn any way I liked.” - -“Did he say you could burn it?” asked the chief. - -“Well, not exactly, but I liked that way better than any other, and so -we did it. I knew nothing could happen, as there wasn’t any wind.” - -The chief felt the uselessness of making any comments, especially as -Mr. Jones was in the crowd, and confirmed what his son said. - -“But I certainly didn’t know he intended to burn it at night,” said -Bateye’s father, “or I would have prevented him. However it’s done, and -I’m glad the barn is gone. And if the firemen think—” - -“Oh, that’s all right, Mr. Jones,” said one of the red-shirts with a -laugh. “We were getting too fat lying around. The run did us good.” - -It was not long ere the barn was but a heap of glowing embers and -then the chief, calling hoarsely through his new trumpet, ordered -the apparatus to “take up” though there was little to take up, and -the department slowly went back to headquarters. The crowd followed, -talking excitedly of what had happened. - -“I guess you fellows won’t take after us next time; will you?” asked -Cap of Beantoe and Spider, as the two lads passed by. - -“Humph! You just wait; that’s all!” threatened Beantoe, vaguely. “We’ll -get square with you yet!” - -“That’s what,” added Spider, striding along on his thin legs. - -“They’ve got to think up something mighty soon,” said Bill, as he and -his brothers and their chums turned down a street that led to their -homes. “We’re going off to school in about three weeks.” - -“Not before the close of the ball season, though; are you?” asked -Bateye anxiously. “We can’t win the championship if you go.” - -“Oh, we’ll finish out the season on the nine,” promised Cap. “And I -guess our team will win, if you don’t make any more wild throws.” - -“Nary a one,” promised Bateye fervidly. - -It was several days before the town got over talking about the fire. -Mr. Smith heard of the part his sons had taken in it, and talked -severely to them. - -“Why are you always up to such risky tricks?” he asked. - -“This wasn’t risky,” declared Bill in justification. - -“We didn’t think it was any harm,” added Pete. - -“That’s the trouble. You don’t think enough. You didn’t think the time -you started the runaway handcar, and you remember what happened. Now be -more careful.” - -They promised, and Mr. Smith, who was a very busy man, sighed and -wished the boys would settle down and be less playful. - -“Maybe when they get to the Academy, life there will help to settle -them,” he said with a shake of his head. Whether it did or not we shall -soon see. - -Meanwhile Beantoe and Spider were racking their brains for some plan to -get even with the Smith boys and their friends. - -“I don’t care so much for Bateye and Doc. and Norton,” said Beantoe, -“but I would like to play a trick on Pete and his brothers.” - -“I’ll see if I can’t think of one,” promised Spider. A few days later -he came to his crony with joy written on his face. “I think we have -them,” he said exultingly. “There’s a chance to put one over the Smith -boys.” - -“How?” - -“Come along, and I’ll show you. They’re going out fishing. I just saw -Bill down to the hardware store buying some hooks, and I heard him tell -Bateye they were going down past the swimming hole.” - -“Well, what’s the answer.” - -“We’ll stop at my house, get an auger and a loaf of bread, and I’ll -tell you on the way.” - -“What’s the auger and bread for?” - -“I’ll show you. Come on. I want to get to their boat before they -arrive. Then we’ll hide and see some fun.” - -A little later Beantoe and Spider stole cautiously to the Smith boys’ -boat house on the banks of the Waydell river. - -“You keep watch, and I’ll bore the holes in the boat,” suggested -Spider. “It won’t take long.” - -He was soon busy with the auger, and then his crony understood. - -“I see!” he exclaimed. “You’re going to make holes in the boat, and -then when they’re out fishing, it will sink!” - -“Sure! You’re a regular detective,” said Spider, boring away while -Beantoe watched. - -“But won’t the water come in as soon as they start out, and won’t they -get on to the trick,” asked the stumbling lad after thinking it over. - -“That’s where the bread comes in,” explained his friend. “I’ll make a -lot of holes, and stuff them up with bread. Then I’ll smear dirt over -the bread and it won’t show. It will stay in the holes until Bill and -the others get out in the middle of the river and then it will soak up, -and come out. The boat will leak like a sieve, and they’ll have to swim -ashore.” - -Spider worked industrially, and soon had a number of holes in the -bottom of the fishing skiff. The holes were well plugged with bread, -and smeared over so that they did not show. - -“Here they come!” suddenly warned Beantoe. - -“Well, I’m done!” - -Spider threw away what remained of the bread, put the auger under his -coat, scattered to one side the pieces of wood that had resulted from -the boring, and then he and his companion made a dash for the bushes, -just as the three Smith brothers came in sight, with their fishing rods -over their shoulders. - -“Looks like a good day for bites,” remarked Pete, as he got in the -stern of the boat. - -“Sure,” agreed Bill, pausing on the bank to see if he had all his -tackle. - -“Get in, Bill, and I’ll shove off,” proposed John, for the boat was -drawn partly up on shore. - -“Now watch the fun,” whispered Spider to Beantoe, as they peered from -the bushes, and saw the boat being rowed toward the middle of the deep -river. - -“Maybe they’ll be drowned,” suggested Beantoe rather frightened. - -“Those fellows? Naw! They can swim like fishes, but their clothes will -get wet, and it’ll serve ’em right for the way they treated us at the -fire.” - -“How soon before the boat will begin to leak?” - -“It ought to in a few minutes now. Gee whillikins! But I’m glad I -thought of that trick! Won’t they be surprised when the water comes -rushing in?” - -“They sure will,” and then the two cronies eagerly watched the Smith -boys, who, all unconscious of the fate in store for them, were rowing -down toward the fishing grounds. - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -A GREAT HOME RUN - - -“Wow!” suddenly exclaimed Bill Smith, as he gave a start that nearly -upset the boat. - -“What’s the matter, did you jab yourself?” asked Pete. - -“Yep. Ran a hook into my thumb,” answered Bill, as he carefully -extracted the barb, while Pete, who was rowing, rested on the oars and -looked critically at the few drops of blood which oozed forth. - -“Does it hurt?” he asked, rather needlessly. - -“Does it hurt? No, I do this every day just for exercise!” retorted. -Bill sarcastically as he put the injured thumb into his mouth. - -“Shouldn’t do that,” observed Pete. - -“Do what; jab myself? Don’t you s’pose I know that, you amiable loon?” - -“No, I mean put your bleeding thumb into your mouth. You are likely to -get germs in it.” - -“In which, my thumb or my mouth?” - -“Say, when you two fellows get through chinning, I wish you’d pass me -down the box of hooks. I want to put on a smaller one,” observed Cap, -who was getting his line ready. As he spoke he looked down into the -bottom of the boat, and asked: - -“Who’s been eating crackers here?” - -“Crackers? Nobody,” answered Bill. “Why?” - -“Because there are a lot of cracker crumbs or bread crumbs under the -seat here, and—” - -Cap gave a sudden start, and looked toward shore. There was a slight -movement in the bushes, and Beantoe and Spider who had been peering -eagerly out, withdrew their heads into the shrubbery. - -“The water must be coming in now!” exulted Spider. - -“Sure!” agreed his crony. - -Cap was anxiously staring at the bottom of the boat. He put his finger -on a certain spot. The finger nearly went through a soft place, and a -second later some water began trickling in. - -“By crimps! I’m on to their game!” cried Cap. “Quick, fellows! Those -cork floats from the box! Stuff ’em in the holes!” - -“What holes?” demanded Bill, removing his thumb from his mouth that he -might speak the more plainly. - -“The holes Spider and Beantoe bored, and then stuffed up with bread,” -answered Cap. “It’s an old trick. I suspected something when I saw -the crumbs. They didn’t clean ’em all up. Lively now! Cracky! Here’s -another hole. Hand over those corks, Pete, if you don’t want to swim -ashore. Quick now, and don’t let those fellows suspect. We’ll plug the -holes, and go on as if nothing had happened. Lucky we’ve got plenty of -corks.” - -“Hey! There’s a lot of water coming in here!” called Bill. - -“Keep quiet!” ordered his elder brother. “Plug it up. Don’t let on -that there’s anything wrong. Beantoe and Spider are on shore watching -us. I just saw the bushes moving, and there’s no wind, so they must be -there. Say, are you going to be all day with those corks, Pete?” - -Thus livened up Pete passed back the box of bottle-stoppers. By this -time the bread in several holes in the boat had become soaked through, -and the water was coming in at a lively rate. But Cap and his brothers -worked fast. They could see by the little bulges, caused by the -swelling plugs of bread, where the holes were, and, soon they had them -all stopped up before enough of the river had entered to do any harm. - -“Now row on, Pete,” ordered Cap. “I guess we went them one better this -time.” - -“Say, my feet are getting damp,” objected Pete, for there was a little -puddle of water under his seat. - -“Pity about you!” sneered Cap. “If it hadn’t been for me thinking of -these corks you’d be wet all over. Row on, now, and when we get around -the bend where those fellows can’t see us, we’ll sponge out. They’ll be -wondering why their trick didn’t work. Row on!” - -And, as Pete rowed, sending the boat along the river, it was watched -by two very much puzzled lads on the bank. They wondered why the boat -didn’t sink. - -“Say, I thought you said they’d have to swim ashore,” observed Beantoe -rather contemptuously to his crony. - -“They will, in a minute. Maybe I pressed the bread in too hard, and it -takes a while to soak up. But the boat will sink in a few seconds.” - -They resumed their watching, and, though they saw the three brothers -doing something in the boat, the hidden ones never dreamed that the -Smith boys were plugging up the holes with corks. - -“It’s got to sink pretty soon now, if we want to see the fun,” observed -Beantoe, after an anxious pause. - -“I think it’s going down some,” said Spider doubtfully, wondering -whether he had not worked the scheme right. - -“Yes, it’s going down stream, to the fishing hole,” spoke Beantoe. “I -guess it’s all up with the joke.” - -They realized that it was all over as far as they were concerned a few -minutes later, when the boat containing the Smith boys passed around -the bend and out of sight, apparently in as good a condition as it had -ever been, and not leaking a drop. - -“Well, what do you know about that?” demanded Spider, as he got up and -stretched his cramped legs, for they had been crouching in the bushes. - -“What do I know about it?” demanded Beantoe in accents of disgust. “I -know that you don’t know how to play a joke; that’s what I know. I -thought we’d see some fun, and watch those fellows have to swim ashore.” - -“So did I, but—but something went wrong, or else they got on to the -game, and stuffed up the holes,” answered Spider, helplessly scratching -his head. “Come on, I’ll treat you to a chocolate soda.” - -This somewhat consoled Beantoe, but there was anguish in the hearts of -the cronies when, that evening, as they were down at the post office -with the usual crowd of boys, the Smith brothers, who had returned from -a successful fishing trip, stepped up to the plotters. - -“Here’s something for you and Spider, Beantoe,” remarked Cap, holding -out his hand. - -“What is it?” demanded the stumbling lad, backing away, for he feared a -trick. - -“Something to stop up holes in boats,” answered Cap, as he showed a lot -of corks. - -There was a chorus of laughs for the Smith boys had told the story, and -the joke was distinctively on Beantoe and his crony. They slunk away, -and Spider had to stand treat for several more sodas before his chum -would forgive him for being led into a plot that was so easily turned -against themselves. It was some time before they again ventured to play -a joke on our heroes. - -Meanwhile the baseball season was drawing to a close, and the -championship of the county league lay between Vandalia and Freeport. It -came to the final game, the play-off of a tie. - -“Now fellows,” remarked Cap, one afternoon, as they journeyed toward -the diamond in Freeport, where the closing contest was to take place, -“we’ve just got to win to-day. It means the pennant for us.” - -“And for Vandalia—if we lose,” added Pete, in a low voice. - -“But we’re not going to lose, Sawed-off!” exclaimed Bill, as he swung -his pitching arm around to limber it up. “Are we, Cap?” - -“Not much,” and the tall lad thumped his big mitt. “Don’t let anything -get past you to-day, Pete.” - -“I won’t. Is Bateye going to play?” - -“Yes, but he’s improved a whole lot. My! There’s a big crowd out!” -added Cap, as he neared the grounds and saw the great throng on the -stands, and scattered about the field. - -“Hear ’em yell,” remarked Bill. - -“Yes, Vandalia is out for blood to-day. Lucky we won the toss, and have -the game on our grounds. It’s a good part of the battle.” - -The Smith boys were soon out on the diamond with their teammates, -doing some hard practice. The crowds increased for not only was there -an intense baseball fever in both towns, but, because of the natural -rivalry between the places, a game between Freeport and Vandalia, -always brought out a record-breaking attendance. - -“Play ball!” called the umpire, and the game was on. - -It was a hot contest from the very beginning, when Rube Mantell of the -Vandalias knocked out a two-bagger with the first ball Bill delivered. - -“Oh wow! Pretty one! Pretty one!” yelled the crowd. “That’s a beaut! -Take third! Take third!” shouted some enthusiastic one, but the ball -was fielded in too quickly. - -There was a grim look on Cap’s face as he gave the signal to his -brother in the box, and Bill nodded. He struck out the next man, who -was a heavy hitter, gave the following player his base on balls, and -struck out the third. The succeeding man knocked a hot liner which -Pete, at short, stopped, almost at the risk of his life, and a goose -egg went up in the first frame for Vandalia. - -“Oh, not so bad; eh?” asked Cap, as Bill came in to the bench. - -“No, but I nearly had heart disease when Rube whacked it that first -time.” - -“Aw, that was an accident. He can’t do it again.” - -Then Freeport went to bat and succeeded in getting one run over the -plate, much to the joy of her supporters. Vandalia duplicated this -in her second chance, and the game ran along to the seventh inning -without another run being chalked up. - -“Here’s where we do something,” announced Jake Jensen, of the opposing -team, as he took his place, and swung his mushroom bat menacingly. But -he only fanned the wind, as did his successor. - -Then Flub Madison knocked as pretty a three-bagger as was seen in -many a game, and before Bateye could get the ball in, the runner was -speeding away from the last bag. But, as he turned, Doc. Lutkin who was -covering third, limped to one side with an expression of pain on his -face. - -“Flub has spiked Doc!” yelled Pete, running over to his friend. The -ball bounced in front of Doc, and Pete caught it, but Flub had seen it -coming, and was back on the bag. “You spiked him on purpose!” cried -Pete, drawing back his fist. - -“I did not!” asserted Flub angrily. “He got in my way! I couldn’t help -it!” - -“I saw you do it on purpose—you want to kill off our men!” went on -Pete menacingly, and there might have been a row, had not Cap run down -from home, and quieted his brother. - -“I’m sorry,” said Flub contritely. “Are you much hurt, Doc?” - -“Oh, I—I guess I can play,” answered the plucky lad, “but I can’t run.” - -“We’ll let you have a runner,” proposed the captain of the Vandalia -nine. It was the least he could do. Doc’s foot was punctured in the -fleshy part, and, after it had been treated, the game went on. Flub -came in on a little fly by Nifty Pell, and that put the Vandalias one -run ahead whereat there was great rejoicing. - -“We’ve got to do ’em now or never,” declared Cap grimly, when he and -his mates came up for their turn. - -They tried hard, but fate was against them, though Bill was called out -at first on a close decision which even the crowd characterized as -“rotten.” - -But it stood, and when that inning was over the score was two to one, -in favor of Vandalia. - -“Well, we have one more look in, and then—” Cap paused suggestively. - -“I can see that pennant going across the river,” announced Bateye -gloomily. - -“Say, you never were any good at seeing things in the daytime,” -declared Bill. “You want to take another look, Bateye. We’re going to -win!” - -There was a positiveness in Bill’s tones that seemed to infuse itself -into the spirits of his teammates. There was a brief consultation among -the Freeport players, and exhortation from the captain and manager, and -then the final inning began. - -Vandalia played desperately—played for blood, and got it—in the shape -of one run, putting them two ahead. It was due to an error of the -centre fielder, who slipped when he had a nice fly in his hands, and -there was a groan of anguish. Then the Freeport players settled grimly -down, and Bill struck out three in succession. - -“Three runs to win!” said Cap in tense tones as he took off his mask -and chest protector. “We’ve just got to get them.” - -Pete brought in one, and after a desperate race when he was nearly -caught on third, Norton Tonkin landed another, sliding home in a cloud -of dust when the third baseman threw the ball to the catcher, just -above the latter’s head, which error tied the score. - -“Now for the winning run!” said Pete, as his elder brother went to the -bat. But the chances were against the Freeport team getting it, as -there were two out, and the Vandalia pitcher was lasting well. Still -the score was tied and there would be another inning if Cap did not -make good. - -“But I’m going to bring in a run,” he told himself grimly, as he rubbed -some dirt on his hands, and took a firm grip of the stick. - -The ball came whizzing toward him. He was half minded to swing at it, -but a signal he had caught passing between the pitcher and catcher -warned him, and he let it pass. - -“Strike!” called the umpire. Cap opened his mouth to say something, and -then thought better of it. - -“You won’t fool me again,” he called to the man in the box, with a grim -smile. - -“Whack!” That was Cap’s stick meeting the horsehide. Out sailed the -sphere, a long, low straight drive into right field—away out among the -daisies. - -“Oh, wow!” - -“Oh, pretty!” - -“Oh, a sweet one!” - -“Run, you old war-horse! Run, you scob! Run!” - -“A homer! A homer!” - -“All the way round! Come on in!” - -These were some of the yells that greeted Cap’s performance. But he -did not stay to listen to them. On he sped for first and rounded the -initial bag with a swing that carried him well on to second. - -On and on he went, running as he had never run before since he felt -that on him now depended the championship. - -“Run! Run you lobster!” - -“Run, you dear old goat!” - -“Run, Cap, run!” - -“Come on, boy! Oh, a pretty one!” - -The grandstand was rocking and swaying with the stamping of feet. The -cheers were deafening. The Vandalia players were almost stupefied. The -Freeporters were dancing up and down in a wild delirium of joy. - -The rightfielder was running after the ball like mad. He had picked it -up. He was throwing it in. Cap was speeding toward third. He had passed -it when the fielded ball was in the air. Could he beat it home? - -That was what everybody wanted to know. On and on ran the player. -Nearer and nearer came the ball. The second baseman had it now. He -threw it toward the Vandalia catcher, who, with feet well braced apart -was waiting for it with outstretched hands. - -Cap was almost exhausted. His legs felt like wooden ones, but they kept -going like the pistons of an engine. - -“Come on, boy! Come on! Come on!” - -“Oh you Cap!” - -“Beat it! Beat it!” - -Cap dropped like a shot and slid, feet foremost. The catcher reached -forward. There was a vicious “ping!” as the ball landed in his big mit. - -There was a moment of intense anxiety. A cloud of dust hid catcher, -runner and umpire from sight. - -And then, from this mist of dirt, in which three figures could dimly be -seen moving about, came this one word: - -“Safe!” - -Oh, what a howling there was! What cheers, what yells, what thumpings -on the back, what improvised war-dances, what shakings of hands! - -For Freeport had won, almost on the last chance and had the pennant. No -wonder Cap Smith was overwhelmed with praise as he walked panting to -the bench. - -“Say, I guess there’s something in those Smith boys after all,” -remarked Mr. Flint, who had torn his score card to bits as he wildly -whooped himself hoarse while watching the home run. - -“Well, they might be worse,” conceded Mr. Henderson. - - - - -CHAPTER V - -OFF FOR WESTFIELD - - -Whether it was because their trick of putting holes in the Smith boys’ -boat did not work, or because they wanted to get even with the brothers -on general principles was not made clear, but certain it was, that a -few days after the closing ball game, Beantoe and Spider made another -attempt to perpetrate something on our heroes. - -“This time it will come off all right,” Spider had assured his crony. - -“It ought to; we spent time enough on it,” said the stumbling lad. “I -certainly hope it does.” - -With much labor and secrecy the two conspirators had made a lot of -sharpened stakes, and tied stout cords to them. They had also prepared -a quantity of molasses and lampblack. - -“We’ll wait until they’re in their ‘coop,’ holding a meeting,” -explained Spider. “Then we’ll drive these stakes in the ground at the -foot of the stairs, so they’ll trip over the strings when they rush -down. And if they fall into the lampblack and molasses, we can’t help -it; can we?” he chuckled. - -“Of course not,” answered Beantoe, with a malicious grin. “But how are -you going to get them to rush out of the coop?” - -“Oh, I’ll show you.” - -“And s’pose they catch us at it?” - -“I don’t believe they will. It won’t take but a couple of minutes to -stick in the stakes. The ground’s soft and the stakes are sharp. We’ll -work it to-night, for it will be good and dark, and I heard Cap tell -Bateye and Doc. to come over after supper, so they’ll all be there.” - -“Good. We’ll get square this time.” - -A little later two figures, carrying some stakes and a can, might have -been seen proceeding cautiously toward the Smith homestead. The two -figures did not go boldly up and ring the front door bell. Instead they -sneaked around in the rear where there was an old workshop, which had -been converted by Cap and his brothers into a sort of “coop” or den, -where they held meetings and talked over pet schemes. - -Entrance to the coop was obtained by means of an outside stairway, -which led to the second floor, where the meetings were always held, in -a room, the walls of which were hung with bats, masks, fencing foils, -boxing gloves, fishing poles and other trophies dear to boyish hearts. - -It was at the foot of this outside stairway, after carefully looking -about to see that they were not observed, that Beantoe and Spider began -thrusting the sharpened stakes into the ground. Then they wound the -stout cord in and out among them, making a maze of string, which, if -anyone ran into unexpectedly in the dark, would be very likely to trip -him up. - -“There, now to spread the molasses and lampblack around and give the -alarm,” said Spider, when they had nearly finished their preparations. - -“Are you sure they’re up there?” asked Beantoe. - -“Pretty sure. You can see the light, and I heard a lot of voices.” - -They listened a moment and caught the unmistakable tones of Cap Smith. - -“It’s all right,” whispered Spider. “Pour the stuff out, Beantoe.” - -“Aw, I don’t wanter. You’d better,” objected the tripping youth. - -“I will not! Didn’t I get all the stuff, and stick in most of the -stakes?” - -“Well, I sharpened some. Besides, I’m afraid if I pour it I might slip -and fall into it.” - -“That’s so, I didn’t think of that,” and as Spider recalled the -unfortunate habit of his crony he took the can of molasses and -lampblack from him, and began making a trail of it all about the foot -of the stairs, walking backwards so as to keep out of it himself. - -“I guess that will do,” announced the long-legged lad at length. “Now -we’ll hide back here and watch the fun. I’ll bring ’em out.” - -“How?” - -“Listen, and you’ll hear.” - -Spider drew from his pocket a blank cartridge pistol. Looking as well -as he could in the dark, to observe that his companion was hidden, -Spider fired two shots in the air, and immediately gave a very good -imitation of a dog’s agonized howling. - -“They’ll think it’s their dog, Waggles,” whispered Spider, “and they’ll -come out quickly enough.” - -His surmise was correct. The door of the coop, at the head of the -outside stairway was suddenly thrown open, and in the glare of light -could be seen Cap Smith standing. - -“What is it?” the hidden ones could hear those in the coop asking. “Is -Waggles shot?” - -“Can’t be Waggles—he’s here,” answered Cap. “Come back!” he ordered as -the dog, with a whine, started down the stairs. - -“But it was some dog,” insisted Pete, coming to the door, and joining -his brother as he peered out into the darkness. - -“Sure it was—and two shots. I’m going down to see.” - -“I’ll come too,” volunteered Pete. - -“I told you I’d get ’em out,” whispered Spider, and Beantoe grunted. - -Cap started down the stairs, followed by Pete. Bill together with Doc. -and Bateye came after them. - -“Now watch carefully!” whispered Spider, trying not to laugh. - -Suddenly Cap uttered an exclamation. He had run into the first string. -He swung about, got tangled in another and went down, for his feet -slipped in the molasses. - -“Great Scott!” he cried. “Look out, fellows, there’s something wrong -here! Keep back!” - -But his warning came too late. Pete made a jump to help his brother, -and he too went down, sprawling in the sticky stuff. - -“It’s glue!” he yelled. “Show a light!” - -“What’s the matter?” demanded Bill. - -“Get a light,” repeated Sawed-off, as he floundered about. - -“Keep back!” yelled Cap. - -There was so much confusion that Bill, Doc, and Bateye came down to -see what the trouble was. Then, they too, got tangled in the cords, and -went ingloriously down, the sticky and black stuff getting all over -their clothes, hands and faces. - -“Oh wow! This is awful!” panted Cap, as he crawled out, and being now -able to dimly make out the cords and stakes he could avoid them. “It’s -a trick!” he cried. - -“Time for us to skip,” murmured Spider who was doubled up with -laughter. “I guess this one works all right; didn’t it Beantoe?” - -“It sure did. But come on, or they’ll catch us.” - -They started to crawl away. Cap staggered up the stairs and got a -lantern. He came down, and by the light he saw what sorry looking -objects were his brothers and chums. - -“Oh, this is fierce!” he wailed. - -“You’re a peach!” cried Pete. “Look at him, Bill!” - -“We’re _all_ covered with the stuff!” exclaimed Bateye, who looked like -an amateur minstrel. - -“Hark!” whispered Cap. - -The sound of some one stumbling in the bushes came to the ears of the -brothers. It was the unfortunate companion of Spider, falling down. - -“Beantoe Pudder!” cried Cap. “He and Spider did this!” - -He made a dash in the direction of the sound. Beantoe got up and tried -to run, but went down again, dragging Spider with him, for the latter’s -long legs got tangled up in a garden rake. - -“Come on!” cried Cap to his brothers after a rush as he stood over the -conspirators. “I’ve got ’em both!” - -They tried to arise, but Cap pushed Beantoe back, and grabbed Spider. -He knew it would take the stumbling lad some time to get up, and before -he could do so, Pete was on hand, and had made a prisoner of him. - -“Both of ’em!” exulted Bill, who came up on the run. “What shall we do -with ’em?” - -“Give ’em a dose of their same medicine,” decided Cap grimly. And it -was done. - -When the unfortunate Beantoe and Spider were released from the hands -of their enemies they were even sorrier looking objects than were the -Smith boys and their chums. For the work of rolling the conspirators -in the lampblack and molasses had been thoroughly done, whereas our -friends only had some scattered spots on themselves. - -“Oh, let us go!” begged Beantoe, “we’ll never do anything to you again!” - -“Yes, please let us go, and we’ll always be your friends forever,” -promised Spider eagerly. - -“Not much you won’t be our friends!” declared Cap. “We wouldn’t let you -be friends even with our dog, Waggles. Now, fellows, into the ditch -with them, and I guess that will end it.” - -“Oh, don’t!” wailed Spider. - -“Please don’t!” begged Beantoe. But no heed was paid to their protests, -and into the ditch at the end of the garden they were thrown, from -whence they clambered, dripping with slime, and very much chastened in -spirit. - -“But they certainly did put one over us,” admitted Bill, a little -later, as he and his brothers and chums were cleaning themselves off as -best they could. - -“Yes, and even though we got back at them, it won’t take the molasses -out of our clothes,” said Pete ruefully. - -“Maybe Mrs. Murdock won’t make a fuss!” observed Bill uneasily, and the -housekeeper did, even to the extent of complaining to Mr. Smith. - -“Now, boys, this practical joke business has got to stop,” said their -father, when he heard the story next morning. “Spoiling your clothes is -too much.” - -“But, dad,” objected Cap, “it was Beantoe and Spider who worked it on -us. We didn’t do it!” - -“Well, they wouldn’t have done it if you hadn’t done something to them -first.” - -“No,” protested Bill, “they were mad because the boat trick didn’t -work.” - -“And they tried that scheme on you because of what you did to them at -the fire,” remarked Mr. Smith. “No, boys, it must stop; and to make -sure of it, I’m going to send you away.” - -“Send us away?” faltered Cap. - -“Yes. It’s the only means by which I can have any peace. I know you -don’t mean any harm, but I never know what is going to happen next. -I have arranged for you to go away to boarding school—the Westfield -Academy, as you know. The term does not open in two weeks, but I can’t -stand this any longer. Mrs. Murdock, help the boys to pack up. I’m -going to send them to school at once, and have them out of the way. I -have been thinking of this, and I wrote to Dr. Burton, president of -Westfield, asking if they could come. He said they might, so get ready -to go, boys.” - -Mr. Smith tried to speak severely, but there was a half smile on his -lips. The boys said nothing for a few seconds. Then Cap softly cried: - -“Hurrah for Westfield!” - -“I’m afraid I haven’t quite made the punishment fit the crime,” said -Mr. Smith softly, as he turned away. “But off you go, boys. You’ll -start to-morrow, and I hope you will like it. You may be a bit lonesome -at first, but it will give you a chance to get acquainted with the -school and grounds before the other students arrive. Now I’ll have a -little quietness,” and Mr. Smith went to his library, while the boys -executed a noiseless war dance. - -“Oh, those boys! Those boys!” exclaimed the housekeeper throwing up her -hands hopelessly. - -How they managed to get ready on such short notice the brothers hardly -knew, but they accomplished it, and the next afternoon, having bidden -their friends good-bye, they took the train for Westfield Academy, an -institution of learning about one hundred miles away. - -“Now remember,” called Mr. Smith after them, “no more practical jokes.” - -“That’s right,” promised Cap. “We’re going to play baseball as soon as -the spring season opens.” - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -A LIVELY HAZING - - -“Wow! But this is a lonesome place!” exclaimed Cap Smith, as he and -his brothers were set down by the depot stage in front of the gates of -Westfield Academy. - -“And we’ve got it all to ourselves for two weeks,” added Pete. “I -wonder how we can stand it?” - -“Got to,” declared Bill grimly. “Say, they’ve got a beaut diamond,” and -he motioned toward the baseball field. - -“Nothing doing in that line until spring,” commented Cap. “Football has -the call now, but I don’t s’pose we’ll get a look in at that. Well, -come on,” and he went through the massive bronze gates. - -“Where you going?” demanded Bill. - -“Up to see Prexy. Dad gave me a letter for Dr. Burton, the president, -and we want to pay our respects, and find out where we’re going to -sleep to-night. I don’t exactly feel like camping out on the grass.” - -“Me either,” came from Pete. “Say, as soon as we can get into some old -togs can’t we get up a game. Maybe there are some fellows sent on here -early, like us, and we can pick up a nine.” - -“I’m afraid not, son,” spoke John, “but that looks like a place where a -college president would hang out. Come on, we’ll give it a trial.” - -A little later they were shaking hands with the venerable Dr. Burton, -who made them genially welcome, but looked all the while as if he -didn’t quite know what to do with them, and wished they would take -themselves off, or go away so that he could get back to a volume of -Chinese proverbs on which he was working, making a translation of it -into modern Hebrew. - -“I’m very glad to see you young gentlemen,” he said, “and I hope -you will like it here at Westfield. The students will—ahem—arrive -shortly.” That was all the reference he made to the fact that our -heroes were sent on ahead of the time as a sort of punishment, and the -boys were duly grateful. - -“I have arranged for you to have rooms, temporarily, in the senior -dormitory,” went on Dr. Burton. “Professor Landmore, the science -instructor is there, and he—er—he will, ahem—look after you,” and -the good doctor seemed a trifle embarrassed. - -“I guess he thinks we sure do need looking after,” murmured Pete, when -he and his brothers had settled down in a big room containing three -beds, which apartment was to be their home until the term opened. - -“Shall we decorate?” asked Bill. - -“What, put up all our trophies? Not much!” exclaimed Pete. “Wait until -we get into our own flat, and see what sort of neighbors we have. This -will do for now. I’m going to get unharnessed,” and he proceeded to don -some more comfortable clothes than those in which he had traveled. - -A little later the brothers were out on the deserted diamond, tossing -balls back and forth, and batting them. In vain they looked for some -one with whom to organize even half a nine, and finally they gave it -up, and strolled about, looking at the college buildings, walking over -the football gridiron, and speculating as to what sort of fellows they -would get chummy with when the students arrived. - -For two weeks our heroes lived rather a dull life, though Professor -Landmore made friends with them, and took them on long walks collecting -science specimens. Once he went fishing with them, but he paid little -attention to the sport after he had captured a new species of frog, -notes concerning which he proceeded to enter at great length in a book, -while the Smith boys pulled out some fine specimens of the finny tribe. - -That night, the final one before the opening of the term, our friends -were given their regular rooms in the Freshman dormitory—three -connecting apartments, not very large, but just suitable for the boys. -And straightway the brothers began to decorate the walls, each in his -own peculiar way. - -With their choice possessions and trophies hung up, the brothers -gathered in Pete’s room that night for a talk before turning in. - -“Well, the crowd will be here to-morrow,” observed Bill. - -“Yes, and then for some lively times,” added Pete. - -“How do you mean?” asked Bill. - -“Initiations, and hazing and all that. But we’ll have to stand it.” - -“Surest thing you know,” declared Cap. “We all want to make the ball -team this spring, and if we balk out of the hazing I know what that -means.” - -“Are you going to take all that comes?” asked Bill. - -“Well, up to a certain point, but if it gets too strenuous, I’ll take a -hand myself. But we can’t tell until the time comes. Now let’s get to -bed.” - -Lively were the scenes that took place the next day. With the arrival -of many new students, the return of old ones, the assigning of the boys -to their rooms, the making up of classes, it is a wonder that poor old -“Prexy’” did not desert. But he took everything calmly, and soon a sort -of order came out of chaos. - -The Smith boys found themselves in the midst of a lively colony of -students in their dormitory. There were five rooms on a short corridor, -and of these our heroes had three. Pete’s apartment was between those -of Bill and John’s, while the letter’s adjoined the room of Donald -Anderson, a new lad who was at once dubbed “Whistle-Breeches” by some -senior from the fact that Donald wore corduroy trousers, which squeaked -or “whistled” as he walked. As soon as he learned why he was so -christened, he got rid of the offending garments, but the name stuck, -and “Whistle-Breeches” he remained to the end of his course. - -Next to Bill there roomed a well-dressed, supercilious lad, who was -reputed to be quite wealthy, and his overbearing manners added to this -surmise. He was James Guilder, but he was at once christened “Bondy” -for he had boasted of his father’s stocks and bonds. - -Behold then, these five lads domiciled together in the Freshman -corridor. Across the hall from Pete’s room, was a larger apartment, -which, as befitted his station, held a lordly senior, one Dick Lawson, -who rejoiced in the name of “Roundy” because he was fat. He was also -good natured, and though the school authorities had placed him there -to have a sort of leavening effect on the Freshmen, he was too good -natured to be any sort of a monitor. - -After the first supper, partaken of with the entire school assembled in -the refectory, the three Smith boys went to their rooms, not knowing -what else to do. - -“I say, we’re not going to stay in like chickens; are we?” demanded -Bill. - -“No, but take it easy,” advised Cap. “We want to get the lay of things -before we start anything.” - -“That’s all right,” agreed Pete. “Do you know what the Freshmen do the -first night?” - -“Get hazed?” ventured Cap. - -“No, they go out and collect signs from around town—pull ’em off, you -know; bootblack signs, restaurant signs—any kind—and decorate their -rooms with ’em. Let’s do it. Whistle-Breeches said he’d go.” - -“Let’s don’t,” came from Cap calmly. “To-morrow will do as well, and I -want to look over some lessons. We’ve got to buckle down to work here. -It isn’t like the school at home.” - -“Wow! I say you’re not going to become a greasy grind so soon; are -you?” demanded Bill in contempt. - -“Not exactly,” answered Cap, “but we didn’t come here just to have fun. -Dad expects something of us.” - -“Of course,” agreed Pete, “and we won’t disappoint him, either. I guess -I’ll—” - -But a knock on the door interrupted him, and a voice called out: - -“Open up, Freshies!” - -“The hazers!” whispered Bill. “Shall we stand ’em off?” - -“Might as well get it over with,” suggested Cap. “Just stick together, -that’s all, and when I give the word, which I’ll do if they get too -strenuous, just sail into ’em as we did into Beantoe and Spider that -time.” - -“Sure,” agreed his brothers. - -“Come on, Freshies! Open up or we’ll break in!” and the summons was a -thundering one. - -“Coming!” cried Pete gaily, and he swung back the portal to confront a -crowd of Sophs and Juniors, who had taken it unto themselves to do some -hazing. - -“Oh, this is fruit! This is easy!” was the cry, as they saw the Smith -brothers. - -“Please—please you—you won’t be too—too rough, will you fellows?” -pleaded Pete, in simulated terror. - -“Rough? Oh no, we’ll be as gentle as lambs; eh boys?” retorted one of -the hazers. - -“Oh, no, we won’t do a thing to them!” cried another. - -“Who’s in the next room?” demanded the leader of the band. - -“Bondy Guilder,” replied Bill, indicating the room adjoining his, where -the wealthy lad was domiciled. - -“And on the other side?” - -“Whistle-Breeches Anderson.” - -“Good! Yank ’em both out, boys,” was the order, and some of the cohorts -left to execute it, while our three heroes were pulled and hauled from -their apartments, going not unwillingly, as they thought of Cap’s plan. - -“Out on the diamond with them,” ordered the leader, who was addressed -as “Senator” but with whom the Smith boys were not acquainted. “Bring -along the other two.” - -Pete and his brothers soon found themselves in the midst of a motley -crowd of Freshmen, more or less alarmed over the ordeal in prospect. -Some were cravenly begging to be let off. Others were threatening and -some, like our friends, were silent, taking it as a matter of course. - -“Now then, the gauntlet for some one,” ordered the Senator. “Line up, -fellows. Here’s a good one to start with,” and he hauled Bondy Guilder -out from the press. - -“Hands off!” exclaimed the wealthy lad angrily. - -“Oh, ho! High and Mighty; eh? Well, that doesn’t go at Westfield. Send -him down the line, fellows,” and the Senator gave Bondy a shove. The -hazers had lined up in two files, armed with bladders, rolls of papers, -books and stockings filled with flour. It was a reproduction of the old -Indian gauntlet along which hapless prisoners had to pass, being beaten -and clubbed as they ran. - -“You chaps are doing this at your own risk!” cried Bondy trying to -break away. - -“That’s all right, sport! We’ll chance it,” came the answer. “Run, you -lobster, or you’ll get the worst of it!” - -“I—I protest!” cried the victim, as he turned to see who had hit him -with an inflated bladder, in which corn rattled. - -“He doth protest too much!” cried a laughing hazer, fetching Bondy a -resounding thump with a slap-stick. - -“Run!” shouted the Senator, giving him another shove, and the wealthy -lad ran perforce, since he was half-pushed, half-pulled the length of -the double line. - -And what a trouncing he got! He was at once recognized as a -supercilious and overbearing lad and the punishment to fit the crime -was duly meted out to him. He reached the end of the gauntlet rather -much the worse for wear, and his spruce new suit was in need of a -tailor’s services. - -“Now for the next!” cried the Senator. “Where’s that Whistle-Breeches -fellow?” - -“Here,” answered Anderson. - -“Well, we’ll let you off easy, for you look like a good sort.” -Whistle-Breeches was grinning in an agony of apprehension. “Can you -sing?” he was asked. - -“A—a little.” - -“Dance?” - -“Even less.” - -“Good, then you’ll do the Highland fling. Here, who’s got the mouth -organ?” - -“I have,” was the answer from the ranks of the hazers. - -“Pipe up a Scotch hornpipe. Where’s that whitewash brush, and skirt. -Off with his trousers.” - -Before Donald could protest he was minus his lower garments and a short -skirt of Scotch plaid had been slipped over his head, and fastened -behind. Then a dangling whitewash brush was hung about his hips, in -imitation of a Scottish costume, and while the mouth organ made doleful -music Whistle-Breeches as well as he was able, which was not very good, -did a dance. - -“Livelier!” was the command, amid a gale of laughter, and livelier it -was, until even the hazers were satisfied. - -“Next,” called the Senator, like a barber. - -“Here are three we can work off together,” volunteered some one, and -Pete, Bill and John Smith were thrust forward. - -“What’ll it be?” demanded the Senator. - -“Blanket tossing,” called several. - -“No, the pond test.” - -“Too cold for the water. We’ll give ’em the blanket degree. Bring out -the woolens.” - -Some heavy horse blankets were produced and with the hazers holding to -the corners, our heroes were tossed up into the air, and caught as they -came down with sickenish feelings. But they had been through the ordeal -before, and knew what to do. They kept quiet and were not hurt. - -But when Bill and Pete were tossed together, it was not so much fun, -and they very nearly had an accident. Altogether it was rather a tame -hazing, and the Sophs and Juniors felt it so. - -“The pond! The pond!” was the cry. - -“That means a ducking,” said Cap in a whisper to his brothers. “We -won’t stand for that. Let ’em take you along easy, until they get you -right to the edge, and then take a brace, and pitch in the first man -you can grab. I’ll whistle when it’s time. They won’t suspect anything.” - -“The pond! The pond!” was the cry again raised, and though the Senator -and some of the older students were a bit averse to it they had to give -in to the majority. - -“Come on!” cried the crowd, hustling Pete and the two other lads along. -“It’ll be over in a minute and you’ll feel better for it,” consoled one -hazer to Cap. - -“Do you really think so?” he asked gently. - -“Sure,” was the reply, and the youth wondered why the three did not -make more of a fuss. He found out a little later. - -“Much against our will, we are compelled to initiate you into the -mysteries of the Knights of the Frogs,” said the Senator, as the crowd -lined up on the bank of a pond not far from the football gridiron. - -“Go ahead,” said Cap easily, glancing on either side where his brothers -stood. “Is it deep?” - -“Only to your waist,” answered the Senator. “Can you swim?” and he was -in earnest for he would have stopped the hazing had he found either of -the candidates deficient in the watery pastime. - -“A little,” admitted Bill. “Oh, please—please don’t throw us in!” he -pleaded suddenly. - -“No, don’t—I—I have a cold,” added Pete, taking his cue. - -“I—I’d a good deal rather have something else, if it’s all the same to -you,” put in Cap, pretending to shiver. - -“I thought we’d get their goat!” shouted a lad who had been -disappointed that the candidates did not show more fear. “All ready -now, in with ’em!” - -The three Smith brothers allowed themselves to be led close to the edge -of the pond. On either side of each lad stood a hazer, with one hand on -a collar and the other grasping the seat of the trousers. - -“All ready!” again called the leader. “I’ll count three and in they go!” - -“One!” came the tally, and the throwers swayed their victims slowly to -and fro. - -“Two!” came the count. - -But before the third signal could be given there came a whistle from -Cap. At that instant the hazers had eased back ready for the forward -motion at the word three! - -But it did not come. Instead Pete, Cap and Bill seemed to slip down. -In an instant they were loose. But they did not run. - -Instead they put out their feet, one after the other gave vigorous -shoves, and six forms, dextrously tripped, lay prostrate on the sod. -They were the forms of the lads who had expected to toss into the pond -the three Freshmen. - -“In with ’em!” cried Cap, and before the astonished hazers knew what -was up, one after the other had been rolled down the sloping bank of -the pond, into the water. - -The tables had been turned most effectively, and, as our heroes fled -off through the night they heard some one call: - -“For the love of tripe, what are we up against? Who were those fellows?” - -“Th—those—those Smith boys!” was the spluttering answer of one who -crawled out of the frog pond. - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -MOVING THE SENIOR STONE - - -“It occurs to me,” remarked Cap Smith one evening about a week after -the hazing, when his two brothers and Whistle-Breeches had foregathered -in the elder Smith lad’s room for a talk, “it occurs to me, fellows, -that we’re not doing much to uphold the honor and dignity of the -Freshman class. What about it?” - -“Not doing much?” demanded Bill. “Say, didn’t we put it all over the -fellows who tried to haze us?” - -“Yes, for the time being, but they caught us later, and man-handled -us about twice as badly as if we’d let them carry out the original -program,” answered Cap musingly. - -“Well, didn’t we win the cane rush, and can’t we carry our sticks?” -asked Pete as he mended a broken bat in anticipation of spring. - -“Yes,” admitted Cap, “we did win the rush, and we ought to have, for -the Freshman class is big this term. That’s what I’m complaining of, -it’s so big, and there are such a lot of fine fellows in it—not to -mention ourselves—that it ought to do something to make its name known -and feared for generations to come in the annals of Westfield.” - -“Meaning just what?” asked Whistle-Breeches, as he carefully marked a -page in his algebra, lest he forget it. - -“Meaning that we ought to get busy. Now have you fellows anything to -propose?” - -“We might paint the class numerals on the bell tower. That hasn’t been -done in a couple of years I understand,” spoke Bill. - -“Childish,” was Cap’s objection. - -“Let’s go about town, changing all the signs in front of the stores,” -came from Pete. “The Freshmen did that one year, and a chap with a pair -of shoes to fix took them into a millinery joint. That would be sport.” - -“Regular high-school game,” was what Cap said. “That’s old. Think of -something new.” - -“Besides, it isn’t altogether safe,” added Whistle-Breeches. “I tried -to get some signs for my room the other day, and I did get a nice one -from a ladies’ hair dressing parlor, but the proprietor turned out -to be a man, and he spotted me. It cost me just seven-fifty for that -sign. I could have had one made for a dollar. I’m not stuck on the sign -racket. But, Cap, how about taking down the Junior flag pole? We could -dig it up some dark night and shift it over to the football field.” - -“That wouldn’t be so bad,” remarked Cap condescendingly. “But I have -what I think is a better plan. You know that big meteor, or piece of a -meteor, that stands just off the middle of the main campus?” - -“The Senior stone?” asked Bill. - -“That’s it. Now what’s the matter with taking that and depositing it on -the college front steps some dark night?” - -“What, move the Senior stone?” cried Whistle-Breeches aghast. - -“Exactly,” answered Cap, “it isn’t chained down; is it?” - -“No, but it weighs several tons,” declared Bill, “and besides it is -almost sacred. Why, it’s a piece of a meteor that some polar discoverer -brought back and presented to the school. The Seniors have always -claimed it, and that’s where they hold their farewell doings every -commencement.” - -“I know it,” said Cap. “All the more reason for moving it. The meteor -must be tired of staying so long in one place. Besides we owe the -Seniors something, for the way they turned in and helped the Juniors -haze us this term.” - -“But—move the Senior stone!” gasped Pete, as if it was a crime unheard -of. - -The Senior’s stone at Westfield was an ancient and honorable -institution. I forgot how many years it had occupied a spot on the -campus, and, as Bill said, the graduates always gathered about it at -Commencement and had “doings” there. The stone, which was of meteoric -origin, was very heavy, and was considered almost sacred to the upper -class. Freshmen were required by school tradition to take off their -hats when passing it. - -“Now what do you say to it?” asked Cap, when the idea had sufficiently -filtered through the minds of his brothers and their visitor. “Wouldn’t -that be worth doing?” - -“If we could manage it,” answered Pete. “But it’s infernally heavy, and -how could we shift it?” - -“Easy,” answered Cap. “I’ve got it all worked out.” - -“It would take half the class to carry it,” went on Bill, “and if we -get a crowd like that out on the campus at night the faculty would be -on in a minute, to say nothing of the Seniors.” - -“I don’t intend that half the Freshman class, or even ten members of it -shall have a part in it,” went on Cap. “We four are enough.” - -“What, to move that big stone?” cried Bill. - -“Hush!” exclaimed his elder brother. “Do you want to give the scheme -away? Not so loud. Evidently you haven’t studied physics lately; and -the principles of the wedge, lever, pulleys and the like are lost on -you. I have the very machine needed to move the stone, and if you -fellows will help we can do it to-night.” - -“Of course we’ll help!” said Pete. - -“We haven’t done much lately,” added Whistle-Breeches. “I’m with you. -But why to-night? It’s late now.” - -“So much the better. We can get out without any one seeing us. Besides -the Seniors are having a class meeting to-night and they won’t spot us. -If you’re ready come on.” - -The others hesitated a moment, and then prepared to follow Cap. That -leader, having ascertained by a careful observation that the coast was -clear below, let himself out into the corridor, went down it a short -distance to see that no scouting monitor was on the alert, and then -signalled to his brothers and Whistle-Breeches. - -A little later four shadowy forms, skirting along in the darkness made -their way softly out of the school grounds. - -“Where are you going?” asked Bill, as Cap led them along a road which -was dug up for the putting in of a sewer and water system. “This is as -bad as crossing the Alps.” - -“Well, beyond the Alps lies Italy, and beyond these dirt piles is -the machine we need for moving the Senior stone, my lads,” was Cap’s -whispered answer. “Come on, we are almost there.” - -They proceeded in silence until there came a sudden cry of dismay from -Bill. - -“What’s the matter?” inquired Cap. - -“Oh, I stumbled in a hole! Say, it’s as dark as red ink, and full of -gullies along here.” - -“You’re as bad as Beantoe,” declared Pete. “Come on. How much farther, -Cap?” - -“It’s around here somewhere I think. I spotted it to-day as I was -coming from town, and that’s how I happened to think of the scheme. Ah, -here it is,” and in the semi-darkness he went over to something that -looked like half of a wagon truck. It consisted of two high wheels, -with an iron arrangement between them, a long pole or lever and several -chains. - -“What’s that, for the love of tripe?” demanded Bill. - -“That,” said Cap, “is a stone-carrier, a pipe-carrier, a stump-puller -and is also used in a variety of other ways to lift heavy weights -and transport them from one place to another. The technical name has -escaped me, but I think that will answer you,” and with this delivered -in his best class room style, Cap took hold of the long pole and began -moving the machine out from amid a pile of sewer and water pipes. - -“Say, I believe that _will_ do the trick!” exclaimed Bill admiringly. - -“Of course it will,” declared Cap. “Come on, now. We haven’t any too -much time, for the Seniors may come out of meeting any minute, and some -may take a notion to stroll around the campus, though it’s not likely.” - -Behold the conspirators then, a little later, trundling the big -two-wheeled affair along the dark road. Fortunately the dirt was -thick, and the machine made no noise. Also the campus grass was long -and soft and the wheels rolled smoothly along. - -A careful bit of scout-work on the part of Bill, a cautious approach -and soon the plotters were beside the meteor ready to fasten the chains -around it, lift the heavy weight by the enormous leverage of the long -handle, and wheel it to the main school steps. - -Cap and Bill adjusted the chains, handling them with care, so that they -would not rattle. The links were soon fastened about the stone. - -“All ready now?” asked Cap in a whisper, as he took his place at the -lever. - -“Let her go,” answered Pete. - -Cap and his two brothers bore down on the handle. Something began to -give. Suddenly there was a hoarsely whispered appeal. - -“Oh! For cats’ sake! You’ve got my foot caught in the chains! You’re -lifting me with the rock!” - -It was the unfortunate Whistle-Breeches who had been stationed near the -meteor to steady it when it was raised from its ancient bed. - -“Hurry up, get loose!” commanded Cap, and he and the others raised the -pole until the chains were slackened sufficiently for Donald to get his -foot out. - -“All right, go ahead!” he called. - -There was a creaking of wood and metal. The big lever came slowly down. -More slowly Whistle-Breeches saw the meteor being raised. At last it -was free from the ground, and was slung, in the chains, between the two -big wheels. - -“All right!” he whispered. “She’s free!” - -“Come on then,” ordered Cap, and they started across the campus, -pulling after them the Senior stone, which from the time when the mind -of man ran not to the contrary, had reposed in a place of honor. Now it -was moved. - -“Right in the middle of the steps,” suggested Cap, and they bent their -course in that direction. A little later the heavy stone, weighing -several tons, was carefully lowered on the big paving flag that marked -the beginning of the main school entrance. - -“I rather guess they’ll open their eyes when they see that,” said Cap, -as he wheeled the machine away, and stood off to observe the effect. -Truly the meteor rested in a strange place. - -“Come on—no time for artistic observation,” suggested Bill. “We may -get caught. Let’s make a get-away.” - -“Sure,” agreed Whistle-Breeches, and silently through the darkness they -sped with the wheeled affair. - -As they were leaving the college grounds they heard some one -approaching along the road which they must take to return the lifter. - -“Some one’s coming! Duck!” whispered Cap hoarsely. - -“And leave this?” asked Bill. - -“Sure. Shove it into the bushes.” - -They tried to carry out this plan, but, even as they were doing so some -one came into sight. There was just light enough to see that the man -was Professor Landmore of the science class, and at the sight of him -the four lads, abandoning the machine, made a headlong dive for the -bushes. - -“Who’s there?” demanded the professor, suddenly halting. - -No answer, of course; only the sound of hurried flight. - -“I demand to know if you are Westfield lads!” went on the instructor -vigorously. - -“Think he recognized us?” asked Bill, as they paused for breath, for -they were now well hidden. - -“I don’t think so,” answered Cap, peering through the bushes. - -“He’s gone to look at the two wheels,” reported Bill, who was also -making an observation. - -“Then we’re safe,” decided Cap. “He’ll make a book of notes about it, -and calculate how much more weight it could lift if it had bigger -wheels, and a lever twice as long. Come on, we’ll get back to our -little beds,” and he started away as stealthily as possible. - -“But won’t he see the machine, and know how the stone was moved?” asked -Pete. - -“What of it? We can’t help it, and even a member of the Senior class in -differential calculus and strength of material will know that meteor -couldn’t move of itself. As long as Prof. didn’t see us I don’t care. -Come on.” - -And, before they made their silent ways into their rooms that night, -the four conspirators took another look at the big stone of Senior -fame, resting in its unaccustomed place. - -“There’ll be a row in the morning,” was Cap’s opinion. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -ORGANIZING THE NINE - - -Nobody was late for chapel next day—a most unusual occurrence. But the -news of the removal of the stone had early become known, and before -the first call for breakfast almost the entire school was out on the -campus, gazing at the work of the Smith boys and Whistle-Breeches. - -“Say, that was a peach of a stunt all right,” was the general comment. -“Who did it?” - -“Well, if we find out who of you Freshies did it, there’ll be something -_else_ doing,” was the angry retort of the Seniors, since, just before -leaving the stone, Cap had painted on it in hastily scrawled characters: - - “COMPLIMENTS OF THE FRESHMEN.” - -“Don’t you wish you knew?” demanded Pete, with a wink at his brothers. - -“What would you do if you did know?” asked Bill. - -“Make you fellows roll it back with your noses,” was the grim answer. - -“How in the mischief did they do it?” some of the cooler-headed Seniors -wanted to know. - -“Why the little beggars must have used a platform, on long poles to -carry it on,” decided one of the upper class. “Though how they got -away with it, and so quietly, is a mystery. How are we going to get it -back?” - -“Have to hire a gang of men I guess,” said a companion dubiously. - -The matter was spoken of by Dr. Burton at the morning exercises, and he -requested whoever had perpetrated the “alleged joke,” as he called it, -to make himself, or themselves, known. Of course no one confessed, nor -did the good doctor expect them to, but he had done his duty, and then -he hurried back to his study to resume work on translating some clay -tablets, of early Assyrian characters, a friend had sent him. - -It was Professor Landmore who solved the problem, by telling his class -that day of a curious machine he had seen for applying the principle of -the lever, and he described the big two wheeled affair he had noticed -beside the road the previous evening. Then the secret was out, and the -Seniors learned how the trick had been worked. It was even rumored -that the Smith boys had had a hand in it, but nothing came of it, and -the upper classmen had to endure the taunts and stings of the Freshmen -until, by hiring some of the sewer contractor’s men, the stone was put -back in its old place. - -But the joke created quite a stir, and our heroes were considered -“honor men” in the Freshman class, which had gained undying fame by so -simple a means, for it was many years before the story of the removal -of the Senior stone grew stale in the annals of Westfield. - -But now matters were more or less settled down in the school, and our -three friends gave at least part of their time to study. Meanwhile -they had joined several Greek letter fraternities, and were having -their share of college life. They wanted to make the Varsity football -team, but failed, as there was an overabundance of material that fall. -However they did make the Freshman team, and proved themselves worthy -of the honor. But as I intend to tell of the prowess of the Smith boys -on the gridiron in a book to follow this, I will merely mention now -that Bill, Pete and Cap did more than their share of work in winning -the Freshman championship for the school, after many hard-fought -battles. - -The final game on the gridiron had been played, and the Westfield -Varsity had won. Long hair was sacrificed to the barber’s shears, dirty -suits and leather pads were laid away, and nose guards and helmets put -upon the shelf until another fall. Then began a winter of more or less -discontent, according as the lads liked or disliked study. Our heroes -were about the average, neither better nor worse. - - * * * * * - -There was rather a more balmy feeling to the air than had been noticed -in some time. The snow had gone, and the grass that had been brown and -sear was beginning to take on a tinge of green. Cap Smith, mending -a rip in his big catching mitt looked out of the window, yawned and -stretched lazily. - -“Too much study?” asked Bill. - -“No, I think I’m getting the spring fever. How about you, Pete?” - -“Same here. I’m tired of this measly Latin. Say, where is that new -mushroom bat I bought the other day?” - -“I don’t know, unless Whistle-Breeches borrowed it to prop his window -up with. Jove! but it’s getting warm!” - -“I like his nerve if he has,” and Pete made a hasty journey to the -room of the lad at the end of the corridor, returning with the stick in -question, and followed by the culprit himself. - -“I didn’t know it was a _new_ bat,” said Whistle-Breeches in -extenuation. “Besides there won’t be any baseball for a month.” - -“There won’t, eh?” retorted Bill. “I’ll bet they’ll have the cage up in -the gym this week.” - -“I heard something about it,” admitted Cap. “Mr. Windam, the coach, -said he’d soon be on the lookout for candidates.” - -“Think we have any show?” asked Pete eagerly. - -“I guess so. We had a good record from home.” - -“That doesn’t count so much here,” was the opinion of Whistle-Breeches. -“I’d like to make the nine, but I’m afraid I won’t.” - -“Where do you play?” asked Cap, sizing up his chum with a professional -eye. - -“Right field.” - -“Then you bat some?” - -“I did a little better than two eighty-nine last year,” was the modest -answer. - -“Then you ought to get in all right. Now I want to catch, and Bill -wants to pitch,” went on Cap, “and—” - -“And I’d like to fill it at short,” interrupted Pete. - -“And that’s the trouble,” came from Bill. “It would look too much like -a family affair if we were all on the nine.” - -“Oh, I don’t know,” said Whistle-Breeches. “If they want good players—” - -“They’ll take us,” declared Cap with a laugh. “Well, even if we can’t -make the Varsity, we’ll have some games. I wish the ground would dry up -a bit, so we could get out and have some practice.” - -Bill leaned forward and looked from the window, which gave a view of a -path leading to the gymnasium. On a post not far away from the building -was a bulletin board, and at that moment Forbes Graydon, captain of the -Varsity nine, was tacking something up on it. - -“Wonder what that is?” asked Bill idly. - -“Let’s go look,” proposed Pete. “Come on, Whistle-Breeches.” - -They hurried down, and after a hasty reading of the placard waved their -hands to Cap and Bill, who soon joined them, together with a throng of -other students. - -For the notice gave announcement that all who wished to try for the -baseball team were to report in the Gymnasium that afternoon, when -matters pertaining to the organization of the nine would be talked over. - -“Shall we go, fellows?” asked Cap. - -“Go? You couldn’t keep me back if you hitched me to the Seniors’ -meteorite,” declared Bill with energy. - -“Going to try for it, Bondy?” asked Whistle-Breeches of their wealthy -neighbor at Bill’s end of the corridor. - -“Me? No. Baseball is such a rough and dirty game. But I shall cheer for -our team, and back it with my money, of course. Do you think we have a -chance to win the championship? I’d like to wager something on it.” - -“Oh, you and your money!” growled Whistle-Breeches as he turned away in -disgust. “We play ball at Westfield for the _game_—not for _bets_!” - -“Ah—really!” exclaimed James Guilder in supercilious tones as he wiped -his glasses with his silk handkerchief. - -There was a big crowd in the gymnasium that afternoon, when Mr. Windam, -who occupied the platform with Captain Graydon and J. Evans Green, the -manager, banged his gavel for order. - -“You all know why we are here, so there is no use wasting time going -over that,” said Mr. Windam. “There are several vacancies on the -Varsity nine, and we shall be glad to have new candidates announce -themselves. You new men will all be given a fair try-out, and those who -do not make the team will become substitutes. - -“I might add, though you probably all know it, that we won the pennant -last year by only a narrow margin. It is going to be hard to keep it -this year, for I understand Tuckerton College, our most formidable -rival, has an exceptionally strong team, and they are after our scalps.” - -“Well, they won’t get ’em!” Voice from the throng. - -“Not if we can help it,” went on the coach. “Only I want to warn -you that we expect top-notch playing from every member of the team. -Financially we are in good shape, and just as soon as the candidates -can be picked out we’ll begin work in the cage. This week, if possible. - -“Now, Mr. Green, Captain Graydon and myself will take your names if you -will come forward.” - -There was a moment’s hesitation, and then Cap Smith, with a look at his -two brothers, arose and walked toward the platform. There was a murmur -in the throng as Pete and Bill followed, and as Whistle-Breeches got -up. - -“The whole Smith family!” called a voice, and there was a snicker of -mirth. - -“Well, maybe we’ll be glad of more of the Smith boys before the season -is over,” said Mr. Windam good-naturedly. “Now boys, your names, and -the positions you’d like to have.” - -The organization of the Westfield nine was under way, and as Cap and -his brothers noted the number of candidates they began to fear that -their chance of all being together on the team was a slim one. - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -BILL IS HIT - - -“Well,” asked Mr. Windam, as Cap stood before him. “What name?” - -“Smith—John.” - -“Um. Spell it with a ‘Y’” - -“Not much. Just plain Smith.” - -“Good; and the position?” - -“Catcher.” - -“We’ve got three, but never mind. Accidents will happen. Next!” - -“Smith,” said Bill laconically. “Plain Bill.” - -“I see. And you’d like to be—” - -“Pitcher.” - -“Good again, as Mr. Pumblechook would say. Do you know Mr. Pumblechook?” - -“Slightly,” answered Bill, as he recalled his Dickens. - -“Pitcher; eh?” mused the coach, as he jotted Bill’s name down. “We’ve -got about seven candidates, but the more the merrier. Glass arms are -catching. Next!” - -“Smith—Peter,” and the third member of the well-known family stood -forth. - -“Great Scott! Any more? What is this anyhow, a family affair?” - -There was a laugh, and Mr. Windam wrote Pete’s name down with -“shortstop” opposite it. - -“Not so bad,” the coach murmured. “We need a good man at short, and you -look as if you’d fill the bill.” - -Sawed-off smiled in a gratified manner, and the taking of names -proceeded. There was a large number of candidates, and they appeared -promising, the coach, captain and manager agreed as they looked them -over later. Then, announcing that work in the cage would start in two -days, and admonishing the lads to be on hand, and do their best, the -meeting was called to a close. - -“Think we’ll make it?” asked Bill anxiously as he and his brothers, -together with Whistle-Breeches, walked to their rooms, to at least make -a pretense of reading and studying. - -“We will if work is going to count for anything,” declared Cap. - -The work soon began, and within the next few days there was a -considerable weeding-out. - -Our heroes were lucky, or, rather their former good playing stood them -in excellent stead, and they, together with their friend of the former -corduroy trousers, were among the fit survivors. True they were not -assured of any particular positions on the team, but they realized that -they would be fortunate if they made the Varsity at all. In batting -Pete did better than either of his brothers, and he received some -compliments from the coach. - -Cap was on the anxious seat regarding his position behind the bat, -and it was not until on one occasion he did some fearless work, and -demonstrated a good throwing ability that he drew from the coach and -captain a word of praise that meant much. - -“I guess you’ll do, ‘Plain’ Smith,” said the coach with a reassuring -smile. “Of course I can’t tell until I see you out of doors, but you -look good to me.” - -“How about Bill?” asked Cap anxiously, for he wanted to see his brother -fill the twirling box, and he knew that the control Bill had of the -ball, his curving ability, and his lasting qualities would win him a -place if he had a fair try-out. - -“Well, I don’t know,” was the somewhat dubious answer. “Alex Mersfeld -pitched all last season, and naturally he’s entitled to it again. He’s -our star man, but of course if your brother is better—well, we’ve got -to have the best—that’s all. I don’t play any favorites.” - -And with this Cap had to be content. - -Spring came with a rush, the ground dried up, and two weeks after -the applications for the team were all in out-of-door practice was -ordered. Then the ranks were further thinned, but our heroes and -Whistle-Breeches still held their own. - -Cap was slated as first substitute catcher, and Pete was honored with a -firm place on the Varsity as shortstop. But with Bill it was different. -Mersfeld held his old position, and there was no denying that he had a -good arm. - -Still, when Bill got a chance to show what he could do he opened the -eyes of the coach and captain. - -“If we ever need to take Mersfeld out there’s a chap who can fill the -box to perfection,” declared Mr. Windam. “I almost wish we could play -him regularly.” - -“But he’s only a Fresh,” objected the captain, “and if we put the three -Smith boys on the team, it’ll be said we are trying to make a family -affair of it.” - -“Can’t help it—we want to win.” - -And, as the days went on the Smith boys further demonstrated their -abilities. Practice was now held regularly and there were games between -the Varsity and scrub nines, Bill pitching on the latter team. His -curves were a source of wonder and delight to his team mates, and -chagrin to his opponents, and on one occasion, when they did not get a -hit off him in five innings, the coach shook his head in doubt. - -“I don’t know about it,” he murmured. “If he keeps on improving as he -has he’ll displace Mersfeld.” - -“Nonsense!” said the captain easily. - -It was one afternoon toward the close of a practice game, when the -scrub was one run ahead, and the coach was exhorting the Varsity lads -to “perk up,” and put some ginger into the contest. Bill was in the -box, and had been doing some excellent work for the scrub when Graydon, -of the Varsity, came up to the bat. - -“Now’s a chance to strike me out!” he called good-naturedly. “If you -don’t I’m going to make a home run.” - -“Then you’d better go sit down now,” replied Bill, as he wound up for -a swift out. It went from his hand with a speedy whizz, and the batter -caught it squarely on his stick. There was a resounding whack, and the -ball came straight for Bill, at about the level of his head. - -He put up his hands for it, instinctively, but so swift was the -horsehide sphere traveling that it broke through and hit him on the -head, just over the left eye. He dropped like a stone, and Graydon, -tossing aside his bat, raced for the fallen lad. - -“By Jove old man!” he cried contritely, all thoughts of the game -forgotten. “I’m sorry for that. Wow! But that’s a nasty bump!” - -Poor Bill was lying in Graydon’s arms, unconscious, while a big lump -was swelling up on the pitcher’s head. - -“Some water!” cried Graydon, and they brought the pail. Pete and Cap -hastened up, as did Mr. Windam. - -“Now don’t cut off all the air,” said the coach. “Harris, perhaps you’d -better ask Dr. Blasdell to step down,” there being a physician on the -school’s staff of teachers. - -But Bill opened his eyes as the cold water trickled down his face, and -murmured: - -“I’m—I’m all right. I’m not hurt—just a little dizzy.” - -“Take it easy, old man,” advised the coach. “A little more water. Here, -Snyder, mix a little of that aromatic spirits of ammonia. You’ll find -the bottle in my valise,” for Mr. Windam kept a few simple remedies in -readiness for first aid to the injured. - -Soon Bill was much better, and there was no need for the services of -Dr. Blasdell, who came hurrying down at the summons. He found that -there was no apparent injury to Bill’s skull, and the plucky pitcher -wanted to go on with the game, but they would not hear of it, and put -another man in, while our hero was taken to his room to lie down. The -Varsity won the game, but took little credit for it, and when the -contest was over there were many inquiries for Bill. - -“Well, how do you feel?” asked Pete the next day, as his brother got up -and looked in the glass at the strip of plaster over the big bump, for -the skin was broken. - -“I feel as though I tried to stop a taxicab with my head. Dizzy, you -know. But I guess it will pass over.” - -He felt much better as the day passed, and wanted to get into practice -that afternoon, but the coach would not let him. - -However, on the following afternoon, Bill insisted so strenuously -that he was allowed to get into a uniform, and take his place on the -diamond. There was no game, but he and Cap did some work together. - -The first few balls Bill pitched went a bit wild, and his brother did -not pay much attention to them, but when, after he had delivered about -the seventh one, and it went wide of the plate, Cap called: - -“Get ’em over, Bill. They’re a bit too far out.” - -“Too wide! What’s the matter? That cut off as big a corner of the plate -as you’d want.” - -“What? It was four inches out.” - -“Nonsense!” exclaimed Bill. “You can’t see straight. Here, how’s this?” - -The ball shot from his hand, but Bill had to step some distance out to -gather it into his big mitt. - -“Worser and worser,” he said with a smile. “Guess your vacation didn’t -do you any good.” - -“Say, what’s the matter?” demanded Bill somewhat peevishly. “I’m -getting those over all right.” - -“Then there’s something the matter with your eyes,” declared his -brother seriously, and he looked anxiously at the younger lad. - -“Watch this!” called Bill. - -He threw very carefully but he seemed to lose control of the ball, -which ability was one of his best features. It again went wide, and Cap -had to reach out for the sphere. - -The catcher shook his head. - -“How are your eyes, Bill?” he asked kindly, walking toward his brother. -“Maybe the jar they got when you were hit, sort of put them on the -blink for a few days. Don’t you think so?” - -“I don’t see how it could be. Just try a few more.” - -They did, but Cap only shook his head. Other players were noticing -something wrong, and as soon as Cap saw this he called the practice off. - -“We’ve had enough for to-day,” he declared, as though it was of no -consequence, but Bill knew that his brother’s light tone covered a -deeper meaning. There was a vague alarm in the heart of the lad who -aspired to be the Varsity pitcher. - -Was his eyesight going back on him? Was he losing his control? What -ailed him? - -He hardly dared answer, yet he resolved to put it to the test soon. - -“My head does feel a little queer,” he admitted to himself, and much -against his will. “And my eyes—my eyes—I wonder if there can be -anything wrong?” and he walked moodily off the diamond, while Cap and -Pete gazed apprehensively after him. - - - - -CHAPTER X - -THE DOCTOR’S VERDICT - - -“Maybe if you take a few days’ rest you’ll be all right, Bill,” -suggested Pete a little later, when the brothers were in their -connecting rooms. - -“That’s it,” agreed Cap eagerly. “A rest will do you good, Bill, and -then you’ll be in shape for the try-out just before the first league -game. Take a good rest.” - -“I’m not tired,” protested Bill who sat in a corner nervously fingering -his pitching glove. “Why should I need a rest?” He asked the question -fiercely as though there was some disgrace attached to it. - -“But your eyes,” said Cap. “You know you’re off in your pitching.” - -“That’s right—I did rotten to-day, and if I’d been in a game they’d -have knocked me out of the box. But I’ll be all right in a few days -more. That lump is still as sore as the mischief,” and he tenderly felt -of the place where the batted ball had hit him. - -“And if you don’t get all right?” asked Cap softly. - -“Then I’ll see a doctor!” exclaimed Bill with energy. “I’m not going to -lose a chance to pitch on the Varsity this season, and I believe I will -have a chance. I’ve been watching Mersfeld, and he’s not such a wonder.” - -“I don’t think anything of him,” admitted Cap. “I’ve caught for him -in a couple of practice games, and he hasn’t half your speed, though -he has some nice curves, and a good control. I don’t believe he’d last -through a hard game.” - -“Oh, we’ll fix Bill up, and have him on the Varsity yet,” declared -Pete easily. He could afford to speak thus for he was sure of his own -position at short, and Cap had at least a tentative promise of being -behind the bat in a number of the big games that would soon be played. - -The brothers talked over the situation, and then fell to studying, -with more or less energy, until interrupted by the entrance of -Whistle-Breeches and Dick, or “Roundy,” Lawson, the genial senior -having gotten into the habit lately of calling on his neighbors. - -“What’s wrong?” demanded Whistle-Breeches as he noticed Bill’s rather -dejected attitude. - -“Oh, I’m on the blink. Can’t see to throw straight,” and then the -story, which was already known to several in the school, was told. - -“I’ll tell you what it is,” began Lawson, and his words were carefully -listened to, as befitted a Senior. “You want to see a doctor, Bill.” - -“You mean Doc. Blasdell?” - -“No, he’s all right for a pain on your insides, but I mean an eye -doctor—an oculist. I know a good one. I had trouble with my eyes once, -and I went to him. He can fix you up. Maybe there’s a little strain -which some medicine will cure. Why don’t you go to see him?” - -“I believe I will. It’s tough to be knocked out before the season -starts. I’ll go to-morrow.” - -Then they fell to talking of the baseball prospects, how this player -was making out at first, another in the field, what the chances were -for good batters, the prospects of Westfield holding the pennant, and -kindred matters. - -All the while Bill sat in a darkened corner, for Lawson had insisted on -this since his advent into the room, saying that darkness was good for -weak eyes. And poor Bill fingered his pitching glove, wondering if he -would ever get back into the box again. Cap was straightening a bent -wire in his mask and Pete was re-winding some tape on a favorite bat -that always opened at the split every time he used it. But he could not -bring himself to throw it away. - -“Mind now,” stipulated Lawson, as he and Whistle-Breeches took their -leave, “you see that eye man to-morrow.” - -And Bill promised. - -They went to the oculist’s together, Cap and Bill, and the pitcher was -put through a number of tests. He sat and looked at candles, while -the medical man put a lens in front of the lights, and turned the -glass sideways to make the single image develop into two. Then when -Bill admitted that the two lights were not on the same level (as they -should have been to one of normal vision) the oculist shook his head -doubtfully. - -Next he looked through the eye away into the back of Bill’s head, with -a queerly constructed instrument, and reflected glaring lights into -the lad’s orbs until he blinked in pain. Reading cards of different -size type, taking a stick, and trying to impale a series of concentric -circles, first with his left eye closed and then with the right one -shut, ended the test. - -“Well,” announced the oculist at length, “it’s not as bad as it might -be. Your left eye is considerably out of focus, and I should say it was -caused by some pressure on the optic nerve—possibly the result of that -blow with the ball.” - -“But what can be done about it?” demanded Bill with a note of despair -in his voice. - -“Well, nothing much. In time it may readjust itself, and again—it may -not.” - -“Do you mean that I’ll always be this way—not able to throw straight?” -demanded the pitcher almost springing up from his chair. - -“Easy now, old man,” cautioned Cap in a low voice. - -“Won’t I ever be able to throw straight again?” cried poor Bill. - -“I’m afraid not,” answered the doctor. “Of course if the pressure on -the nerve could be removed it would be possible, but that would take -an operation, and I don’t recommend it. In fact it might make matters -worse. But it’s not so bad. It will cause you no annoyance.” - -“No annoyance?” - -“Not a bit. You can see as well as ever. You can read, write, walk -about, in fact only in matters requiring a critical judge of distance -will you be at all hampered.” - -“But that’s just it!” cried Bill. “I _need_ to be a judge of distance -if I’m going to pitch on the team.” - -“I’m sorry, but you can’t pitch any more,” was the doctor’s verdict, -and to Bill, who like his brothers had his whole soul wrapped up in -baseball, the words sounded like a doom. - -“Not pitch any more?” repeated Bill dully. - -“Not until that nerve pressure is removed,” was the answer, “and I -advise against any operation for that. I can fit you with a pair of -glasses that will take off any strain when you are reading, and that’s -all you need. But you can’t pitch—that is if you have to be accurate.” - -“And that’s just what I have to be,” murmured Bill. “Not pitch any -more—not pitch any more,” and he covered his eyes with his hand, and -swayed uncertainly. - -“There—there old man!” spoke Cap, a trifle hoarsely, for he was much -affected by the way his brother had taken the blow that had fallen. -“Maybe it won’t be as bad as it seems. You may get better.” - -Bill shook his head despondently. - -“Come on,” he said to his brother. “I—I’ll come back for the reading -glasses later, doctor. I—I don’t just feel like it now,” and Cap -linked his arm in that of Bill’s and led him away, the footsteps -seeming to recite mockingly over and over again, like some death knell. - - -“You can’t—pitch—any—more! You can’t—pitch—any—more!” - - - - -CHAPTER XI - -MEETING AN OLD FRIEND - - -For some time after leaving the doctor’s office neither Cap nor Bill -spoke. The latter stumbled along, his mind filled with gloomy thoughts, -and as for Cap he was wondering what he could say to take the pain from -his brother’s heart. Wisely he concluded that he could say nothing. At -length Bill spoke. - -“Well, what do you think of it?” he asked. - -“It might be worse,” replied Cap, as cheerfully as he could. - -“Worse!” Bill laughed mirthlessly. “I don’t see it.” - -“Why you might be blind, or not able to see to read or get about -without wearing goggles and using a cane. As it is you only needed -specs to read with. And maybe the nerve will get well of itself.” - -“Yes, after the season is over, and I lose all chance of playing on -the Varsity. I tell you I want to pitch, Cap. That’s one reason why we -picked out Westfield,—because of the good nines they have here.” - -“I know it; but what’s to be done? If you can’t control the balls, and -place them where they ought to be, you know—” - -“Yes, I know how it is,” and he spoke bitterly. “I’d be of no use in -the box. Well, I s’pose there’s no help for it,” and Bill picked up a -round stone, and threw it at a telegraph pole. He missed it by a foot, -though usually he was a good shot. He laughed mirthlessly, and turning -to Cap said: “See how it is?” - -“Oh, well, don’t take it so hard. That was a nasty blow you got, and -the effects may be a long time wearing away. But I’m sure you’ll be all -right next season, if you’re not this.” - -“But a whole season off the diamond!” gasped Bill in dismay. - -“Oh, you don’t need to get off. Maybe Windam will play you in the -outfield. You can catch; can’t you?” - -“Yes, but I want to be in the box. However if I can’t—I can’t,” and -seeing that he was causing Cap pain by his manner, Bill tried to assume -a more cheerful air. - -“Graydon will be cut up over it,” said the elder lad, referring to the -player whose batted ball had been responsible for Bill’s mishap. - -“It wasn’t his fault,” declared the pitcher. “I ought to have known -better than to try to stop it at such close range. It was going like a -bullet. I should have passed it.” - -“You couldn’t—and be a Smith boy,” exclaimed Cap with a laugh. “We’d -take a chance on anything in the shape of a ball, I guess.” - -“Well, I’ll go back in a couple of days, and get the reading glasses, -and maybe they’ll help some,” decided Bill, as they walked on. They -were nearing the college, the many buildings of which could be seen -in the distance above the trees, the red tiled roofs making a pretty -picture seen through the green foliage. - -“Hello, something’s going on!” exclaimed Cap, as they swung into the -main road that led up to the grounds. “Look at the crowd.” - -“Baseball game?” suggested Bill. - -“No, they’re away this side of the diamond. There’s some sort of a -wagon there—a Gypsy van, I guess. Maybe some of the fellows are having -their fortunes told. Come on, we’ll get in the game, and have some fun.” - -“Maybe it’s an ambulance, and some one is hurt.” - -“Get out! They don’t have ambulances around here.” - -The brothers increased their pace, and as they neared the vehicle -something vaguely familiar about it attracted the attention of Bill and -Cap. They looked at each other. - -“It can’t be him!” exclaimed Bill. - -“It looks like his rig, though,” assented Cap. “But it’s painted a -different color. I wonder—?” - -“Hark!” cautioned his brother. - -They were close to the throng of students now, but could only see the -top of the wagon, which was a covered one. A voice could be heard -droning away like this: - -“Young gentlemen, it is one of the greatest pleasures of my life to -speak to students—to persons of learning, in which class I am so -fortunate as to count myself, though in an humble capacity. Learning, I -may say, extends even to the noble steed which draws my equipage, whose -cognomen is, I may say derived from—” - -“That’s all right, old sport, what’s the horse called?” demanded one of -the students, with a laugh. - -“Yes, get down to business,” added another. - -“Right you are, young gentlemen,” admitted the voice, though Bill and -Cap could not yet see the speaker. They observed their brother Pete -beckoning frantically to them, and they increased their pace. “Right -you are,” resumed the owner of the covered wagon. “The name of my noble -animal is Pactolus, called after, I need not remind you—” - -“The river of Lydia in which the King Midas washed himself one Saturday -night, so that he put the golden touch on everything,” interrupted -one of the classical students, and there was a laugh, but it did not -disconcert the traveling vendor, for such Bill and Cap now knew him to -be. - -“Exactly,” he admitted. “The river whence ever after the visit of the -king, the sands became golden. Thus I named my horse Pactolus in the -hope that some day he might stumble into a river which, if it did not -turn him to gold might at least make him a steed of silver. - -“But, young gentlemen of Westfield, which I understand is the name of -the school in the distance, I did not attract you hither by the magic -of my voice and playing to talk to you on classical subjects. This is -a practical world, and we who live in it must also be practical. Whoa, -there, Pactolus!” This as his steed showed signs of restiveness, due to -the fact that some of the boys were tickling his ears. - -“Whoa, Pactolus. Never mind if some of your longer-eared brothers are -whispering to you to entice you away to pastures green—stay you here!” - -This reference to donkeys had the effect of causing the mischief loving -lads to hastily draw away from the horse, in some confusion, for there -were snickers at their expense. - -“It is a practical world,” resumed the speaker, “and we must recognize -that, and be practical ourselves. Now there is nothing more practical -for the removal of any kind of misery, whether inward or outward, than -my Peerless Permanent Pain Preventative, which is good for both man and -beast, and eradicates all the ills that flesh is heir to, and some that -it is not. Good for man and beast I repeat. See! I use it on myself,” -and suiting the action to the word, the man, who had black flowing -locks, as Bill and Cap could now see, and who wore light trousers, a -red and green striped vest and a red shirt with black polka dots—this -man vigorously rubbed some stuff from a bottle on his big forearm. - -“There I had a pain—’twas there, ’tis gone. ’Twas mine, ’tis -yours—for the asking,” and he waved his hand toward the throng of -students who laughed again, and seemed amused by the clatter of the -traveling medicine man. - -“Think not it is only for external pain—’tis also for the ills of the -inner organs. See, I take some thusly,” and, tilting back his head the -speaker swallowed a generous potion from the bottle. “Good for man and -beast,” he went on, smacking his lips. “As harmless as a baby, and as -powerful as an electric current. See, Pactolus minds it not, yet it -will take the stiffness from him like magic,” and, leaning forward he -rubbed some of the contents of the bottle on the animal’s flank. - -Pactolus merely looked around, waved his ears slowly to and fro, and -seemed to take but a mild interest in the matter under discussion. -Probably he was used to it. - -“Now who wants a bottle of this wonderful remedy?” went on the man. -“The regular price is one dollar, but to introduce it among gentlemen -of learning I am selling it for the small sum of twenty-five cents—a -quarter—and it would be cheap at half the price. Or, if you have -no immediate need for this, let me introduce to your favorable -consideration and notice, my Rapid Robust Resolute Resolvent, which -is a cake of soap guaranteed to take out stains on linen, silk, wool, -cotton, velvet, calico and satin, the skin of the hands or face, from -wall paper, newspaper, writing paper or wrapping paper. Positively -nothing like it known to science. - -“Or, if you care not for these, I have others. My Spotless Saponifier -is a soap worthy to be used by all the gods that on Olympus dwell, -and it sells for only ten cents a cake. An’ you like that not, let -me introduce to your polite and favorable consideration my Supremely -Sterling Silver Shiner. Nothing like it known for cleaning silver, -gold, brass, copper, pewter, iron, lead, bell-metal, watch chains, -baseball bats, and gloves, and for brightening up a dull intellect it -has no equal, though I despair of selling any for that purpose when I -gaze on the bright, smiling and intelligent faces before me.” - -There was a mocking groan from the students at this, and some more -laughter. - -“And now,” went on the vendor, “who will be the first to purchase some -of my Peerless Permanent Pain Preventative, my Rapid Robust Resolute -Resolvent, my Spotless Saponifier or the Supremely Sterling Silver -Shiner? Who will be the first?” and the man, who was as gaudily attired -as his wagon was painted, advanced into the crowd. - -There was a moment of hesitation, and then Cap, Bill and Pete, who were -standing together, exchanging queer glances, heard Bondy Guilder say in -a low voice to some of his particular cronies in the sporting set: - -“I say, fellows, let’s have some fun. Let’s upset his old apple cart, -and spill his Pain Killer and other stuff. He has nerve, trying to do -business so near the school. There ought to be a rule to keep these -peddlers away. Let’s make a rough house for him.” - -“Sure! Go ahead! We’re with you!” agreed several. “Come on, we’ll all -make a rush together.” - -Cap and his brothers heard. They looked at each other and nodded. - -“Here you are, young gentlemen! Here you are!” the voice of the vendor -was murmuring. “You have listened with gratifying attention to the -patter of Professor Theophilus Clatter, and now you may buy his wares. -You need not beware of the wares of Theophilus Clatter!” he declaimed -in a sing-song voice. - -“That’s him!” exclaimed Pete. - -“Of course,” agreed Bill. - -“And they’re going to make a rough house for him,” added Cap. “Shall we -stand for it?” he asked in a low voice. - -“How are we going to stop them?” demanded Bill. - -“If we say he’s a friend of ours I think they’ll pass it up.” - -“Acknowledge him as our friend before this crowd—tell how we traveled -with him and sold patent medicines,” asked Pete. “They’d laugh at us!” - -“What of it?” inquired Cap indignantly. “Professor Clatter helped us -when we were in a hole, after we’d run away from home. It’s up to us -to help him now. I’m going to stand up for him. If the boys get going -they’ll demolish the wagon, and everything in it. We can’t have that.” - -“I guess not,” agreed Pete and Bill in low tones. - -“Come on then,” suggested their elder brother, edging his way through -the throng. - -The plan proposed by the rich bully had taken the fancy of his fellows. -The word was passed around and the students got ready for a rush that -would overturn the wagon. Already they were jostling the professor who -was aware of a change in the temper of the students. He looked around -uneasily, and glanced back at his wagon. Quite a throng was now between -him and the vehicle. He turned to retreat, vaguely alarmed, but found -himself cut off. - -“My Rapid Robust Resolute Resolvent,” he was saying, “is guaranteed -to—” - -“Come on now, fellows, over with the wagon!” cried Guilder. -“Altogether, with a rush! Make a rough house! This faker has no -business here!” - -The rush started but before it could get under way, Cap, Pete and Bill -Smith had sprung up on the steps that were let down from the back of -the vehicle. They stood together looking over the crowd of their fellow -students. - -“Hold on!” cried Cap calmly, raising his hand for silence. - -“What’s up?” demanded Bondy with a sneer. - -Professor Clatter, with a look of wonder on his face was staring at the -three Smith boys. - -“No rough house here,” said Cap determinedly, noting with relief that -nearly every one in the crowd was a Freshman. Had they been Sophomores, -Juniors or Seniors he would hardly have dared take the stand he did. - -“No rough house? Why not?” demanded the rich lad. “Why can’t we have -some fun with this fellow?” - -“Because,” went on Cap resolutely, and no one knew what an effort it -was to make the announcement in an exclusive crowd of students, “this -man is a friend of my brothers and myself. If you’re going to make -trouble for him, you’ve got to reckon on us,” and Cap standing there, -with his brothers beside him, looked sturdy enough to put up a pretty -good argument. - -“Your friend?” sneered Bondy. - -“Our friend,” repeated Cap calmly. “So you’ll please pass him up, as a -matter of class courtesy.” - -It was an appeal that could not well be denied. - -“Listen to Professor Clatter’s friend!” cried several of Bondy’s -cronies. - -“Proud to acknowledge it,” put in Bill in drawling tones, “and so would -you, if you knew the story.” - -Professor Clatter was still staring at the three lads on the steps of -his wagon. - -“The Smith boys! The Smith boys!” he murmured. “I’d never have believed -it. Whoa, Pactolus! We have unexpected allies,” and he made his way -through the crowd of wondering students to where our three heroes -waited for him on the wagon steps. - - - - -CHAPTER XII - -PROFESSOR CLATTER’S PLAN - - -Standing there, facing their fellow students who were gathered in a -mocking crowd about the medicine wagon, Cap, Bill and Pete hardly knew -how to begin, nor what to talk about after they had started. - -“Do you mean to say you’re going to stick up for—for _this_ person?” -demanded Bondy, and he put all the scorn of which he was capable into -the words. - -“We certainly do,” declared Cap firmly. “If you’ll let us explain, -we’ll—” - -“Young gentlemen, permit me,” broke in the voice of Professor Clatter. -“I believe I can—” - -“No more of your patent medicine jargon!” interrupted some of Guilder’s -cronies. “We’ve had enough.” - -“I wasn’t going to speak of my wares,” said the vendor simply. “I hope -you will give me credit for knowing how to deal with gentlemen—when I -see them.” - -There was a laugh at this, and the Professor knew he had at least some -of his audience with him. - -“I was going to ask my friends, the Smith boys, to allow me to make the -explanation,” Mr. Clatter went on. “I believe I can give all the facts -necessary.” - -He looked at Cap, who nodded an assent. Then, mounting the steps beside -the lads, the vendor of the Peerless Permanent Pain Preventative and -the various other nostrums, told simply, but effectively, how, one -morning, he had met our three heroes as they were fleeing from home, -under the mistaken notion that they were to be tarred and feathered. -Mr. Clatter related how he had provided them with breakfast from his -wagon, how they had traveled about with him, selling his goods, taking -part in a sort of minstrel show, all as related in the first volume of -this series. - -“And when I was arrested for innocently practicing palmistry, in an -effort to locate a man who had robbed their father, these boys kept on -with the business alone, and made money enough to pay my fine,” said -the professor. “I can never thank them enough for what they did, and -now they have more than ever put me in their debt by standing up in -this friendly fashion for me when—well, I know you young gentlemen -love fun, but this wagon and stock is all I have in the world,” he -concluded simply, and there was a break in his voice. - -For a moment there was silence, and then the story, which the professor -told much more dramatically than either of our heroes could have -presented it, had its effect. - -“By Jove! That was no end of a lark!” exclaimed Roundy Lawson. “I wish -I could travel around like that, and eat when I pleased.” - -“That was _rich_!” declared Whistle-Breeches Anderson. “Why didn’t you -ever tell us that, Cap?” he demanded. - -“I never thought you fellows would care about hearing it. But now, -boys, do you blame us for sticking up for Mr. Clatter?” - -“Not a bit of it!” came in an emphatic chorus. “You’re all right, -professor!” - -“Pass out some of that Rapid Resolute Resolvent!” - -“I want some of that Spotless Soap!” - -“Me for the Pain Killer. I ate too much dinner!” - -“A little silver polish will about suit me!” - -The students were clamoring for the wares, now, and the vendor, who had -shaken hands with our heroes, and whispered to them how grateful he -was, began passing out his goods. Whether the students really wanted -it, or only bought out of sympathy, or because of a class spirit, -mattered little as long as he sold the articles, and the professor did -a thriving trade. - -“Come on,” disgustedly called the rich lad to the cronies in his own -particular set, “I might have known better than to come to Westfield. -I was warned that a number of common persons attended it, and now I’m -sure of it. I shall write father and have him withdraw me at once.” - -“Why don’t you withdraw yourself, and save daddy the trouble?” asked -Whistle-Breeches as the rich lad passed on amid his chums, with a sneer -on his face. - -All danger to the professor’s wagon was now over, and he at once made -friends among the students, for he was a man who had traveled much, and -his ways, while suiting his particular business, were genial and kindly -when once you knew him, though at first they might seem bombastic and -uncultured. He knew how to gain the attention of an audience. - -“Well, it’s a real pleasure to see you boys again,” went on the -professor when the desire of the crowd for his wares had been -satisfied, and when most of the students had strolled away. “And so -you are attending school here? Well, what has happened since last we -met?” - -“Lots,” declared Cap, and he proceeded to tell the main facts. - -“Are you still traveling about in the same way?” asked Pete. - -“Yes, but I don’t do any more palmistry. It’s too risky. But what’s the -matter with you, Bill? You don’t seem well.” - -“Got hit with a ball,” explained the lad, touching the place where -there was still a lump on his head. - -“Too bad, but you’ll soon be over it. Pactolus once kicked me, and it -was a week before the swelling went down.” - -“The swelling is the least part of it,” spoke Bill gloomily, and Pete, -who had not yet heard of the result of the visit to the oculist, looked -in alarm at his brother’s tone. - -“What’s the trouble?” inquired Mr. Clatter. “Perhaps some of my pain -killer will help you. It’s good stuff in spite of the way I sell it. I -used to know something of medicine. Let me wrap you up a bottle for old -times’ sake.” - -“No,” answered Bill wearily, “it isn’t the pain. But I can’t pitch any -more,” and he told the whole story, sitting inside the wagon, which was -equipped for living in Gypsy fashion, his brothers and the professor -listening sympathetically. - -“Can’t pitch; eh?” murmured Pete. “That’s tough.” - -“It sure is,” declared Bill. “And I’ve got to wear glasses when I read. -I might as well resign from the team right away.” - -Professor Clatter looked critically at the lad who sat near him. Though -it had been many years since the vendor had played ball, he had not -lost his love for the game, though he never belonged to a regular nine. -But he appreciated what it meant to Bill. - -“When do you get your reading glasses?” he asked casually. - -“Oh, I’m in no hurry to become a ‘four-eyes,’” replied Bill bitterly. -“I’ll get them next week. Jove, but it’s tough!” and he shook his head. - -“Well, we must be getting back,” said Cap, after a pause. “I’ve got -some boning to do.” - -“Same here,” added Pete. But Bill got up in silence to follow his -brothers. - -“Can’t you come and see me again?” asked Professor Clatter anxiously -as his young friends descended the steps. “I’m going to stay in this -neighborhood for some days and I’d like to talk over old times with -you. Yes, Pactolus, I’m going to unharness you, and let you crop of the -green herbage,” and he proceeded to release the horse from the shafts. -“Pactolus and I understand each other,” he went on. “At least he knows -what I say to him, though I have not yet mastered his language. It -takes Dean Swift for that.” - -“Has he stumbled into the river of gold yet?” asked Cap. - -“Not yet, but I look at every stream eagerly as we pass over or through -it, when it is not too deep. Some day perhaps the sands will be -golden,” and the medicine man laughed gaily. “But do come out and see -me some night when you have a chance. I’m going to camp on the other -side of town. Come out to-night, if you will. I’ll probably have an old -friend there to greet you.” - -“Who?” asked Pete. “Not the thumbless man?” - -“No, he’s safe in jail, I hope. But what would you say to Duodecimo -Donaldby?” - -“The weather prophet?” asked Bill, with a show of interest. - -“The same,” answered the professor, “though whether he is still engaged -in making it rain, or whether he is doctoring horses I know not. He -changes his occupation from day to day, and from night to night, like -the phases of the moon, but I expect him.” - -“Then we’ll come,” decided Cap earnestly. “I should like to see him -again. Dear old Duodecimo! He was a queer chap.” - -“And he hasn’t changed any,” was the professor’s opinion. “Well, I -shall expect you then. Remember, on the other side of town. Now can’t I -give you some soap, or pain killer or—or something?” - -He seemed so eager about it that they did accept a bottle of the pain -killer, which was excellent for sprains. Then they took their leave, -promising to come back that night. - -“I expect to do a little business early in the evening so if I am -clattering when you arrive, just wait in the crowd for me. I still do -some singing and banjo playing to draw a throng. I don’t s’pose you -boys would like a try at your old job?” and he laughed heartily. - -“I’m afraid it would hardly be in keeping with our characters as -students at Westfield,” said Pete. “But say, if you’ll stay around here -long enough maybe we can get the glee club to do a stunt for you.” - -“That would be asking too much,” declared the genial professor, with a -wave of his fat hand on which still sparkled the diamond ring. “Well, -farewell until the shades of night do fall.” - -“The same old professor,” remarked Cap, as he and his brothers strolled -toward the school buildings. - -“Yes, I’m glad we could help him—they would have put him on the blink -for keeps,” said Pete earnestly if a bit slangily. - -Bill said nothing, but there were bitter thoughts in his heart as he -walked on, and nothing his brothers could say or do served to cheer him. - -Meanwhile Professor Clatter, standing in the back room of his wagon, -which was his house, his store, his sleeping apartment and his theatre -of entertainment, watched the three boys. - -“Fine fellows,” he murmured. “It’s too bad about Bill. I wonder if I -couldn’t help him? He’ll have to wear glasses—wear glasses and play -ball—I wonder if it could be done? I don’t see why not, especially in -the pitcher’s box. Now I wonder if Duodecimo will be on hand? - -“If he comes I have a plan to propose to him! Jove, I don’t see why it -wouldn’t work. If he hasn’t forgotten all he used to know about eyes it -ought to! I’ll chance it, anyhow. Yes, that’s what I’ll do. Maybe I can -fix up a scheme so that Bill can pitch on the Varsity team after all. -I’d like to. Yes, I’ll propose it to Duodecimo, and see what he says,” -and, filled with pleasant anticipations about his plan, Professor -Clatter proceeded to get his simple meal on the little oil stove he -carried in his wagon. - -“What ho! Mercurio!” he cried, clapping his hands. “Come, base varlet, -set out the magic table, for I am an hungered and would’st dine!” - -And then, having given his orders to his menial, Mr. Clatter, highly -pleased, proceeded to carry them out himself. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII - -BILL IS HIMSELF AGAIN - - -“Well, are you coming?” asked Pete of Bill as he tossed into a corner -of his study one of a pile of books over which he had been doing more -or less “boning” in the last hour. - -“Coming where?” - -“Over to see Professor Clatter. Cap’s ready.” - -“Oh—I don’t know.” Bill spoke listlessly. He had been trying to study -but a curious watery mist came into his eyes, and, try as he did to -brush it away, the film seemed to return. The eye near the injured spot -smarted and burned. - -“Come ahead,” urged Cap, entering his brother’s room at that moment. -“Whistle-Breeches wants to go and see the performance.” - -“All right, you fellows go, and I’ll stay here. I don’t care much about -it.” - -Cap winked at Pete. They understood Bill’s despondency, and were -determined to get him out of the slough of it. - -“Oh, it’ll be sport—like old times,” urged Cap. “The professor will -do his singing and banjo act, and I’ve a good notion to get up on the -platform and show Whistle-Breeches how we used to earn our board and -lodging.” - -“Better not, Bondy might spot us and there’d be a faculty row. He’d be -just mean enough to squeal. But come on, Bill. The professor expects -us. Say, remember the time after he got nabbed, and we tried to take -the spot out of the man’s vest, and it turned green, red, yellow and a -few other colors? Remember that, Cap?” - -“I should say I did!” exclaimed John Smith. “I thought sure it was all -up with us,” and he laughed heartily. A smile came over Bill’s gloomy -face. Pete saw it and nudged his brother. - -“We’ll see the rain-maker again,” went on Pete. “Better come, Bill. -Don’t worry about your eyes, and pitching and all that. Maybe it will -come out right.” - -“Yes, it’s easy enough for you fellows to talk, for you can play ball, -but—Oh well, what’s the use of kicking. I s’pose I’ll get in form -again for next year,” and with rather a bitter laugh Bill prepared to -follow his brothers. - -As they had been on their good behavior of late, and as there was such -a competition for places on the ball team, it was decided that they -should get permission to make a trip to the village instead of trying -to run the guard. - -“I’m not hankering to have the proctor’s scouts nab me,” explained -Cap, “and I guess we can get a pass all right if we put it up to Nibsy -good and strong,” the aforesaid proctor who rejoiced in the appelation -Alexander McNibb being thus designated. - -They obtained permission easily, though the proctor looked at them -rather sharply, and Pete wondered if he recognized in him and his -brothers the lads who had, a few nights previous, wheeled a town -sprinkling cart into the middle of the school inner court and left -it there with an admonition printed on a big placard adorning it, -recommending that certain members of the sporting crowd get aboard the -water vehicle. But if the proctor knew anything he kept it to himself, -and, a little later the three Smith boys, and Whistle-Breeches were -trudging toward town. - -They saw the glare of the gasoline torches on the professor’s wagon -before they heard his voice, but it was not long ere they recognized -his resonant tones calling out the merits of his Rapid Robust Resolute -Resolvent and other wares. - -There was a large throng about the wagon, and business was good. The -professor, looking over the heads of his audience recognized our -heroes, and nodded to them pleasantly, yet never ceasing his “patter.” -Between the sale of his remedies and soap, he rendered several ballads -accompanying himself on the banjo. - -“It sure does remind me of old times!” exclaimed Pete, humming the -chorus of the song the professor was singing. - -“Cut it out!” advised Cap hastily. - -Bill was not very talkative, but Whistle-Breeches enjoyed the affair -immensely, and was greatly interested in what Professor Clatter called -his “patter.” - -“We ought to get him to some of our class rackets,” said Donald. “He’d -be no end of a lark.” - -“I guess he doesn’t stay in this part of the country long—nor, in fact -anywhere more than a couple of nights,” replied Pete, and, as he spoke -he looked beyond the gaudily decorated vehicle of the medicine vendor -and caught a glimpse of another wagon drawn alongside the road. It was -one with something like a three inch quick-firing gun projecting from -the covered top, and Pete whispered to his brothers: - -“There’s Duodecimo Donaldby’s rig if I’ve got my eyesight left. I -wonder if he’s shooting rain-making bombs for a living now, or curing -sick horses?” - -“We’ll soon know,” said Cap. “The professor is nearly through.” - -The crowd having exhausted the entertaining features of the medicine -man’s little effort, and the sale of the remedies and soaps being about -at an end, Mr. Clatter announced that he was through for the evening. -The people began to disperse, and soon Cap, with his two brothers and -Whistle-Breeches were seated inside the snug little wagon, enjoying a -cup of tea and some cakes which the professor set before them. - -“I’m glad you boys came,” he said, as he looked in the tiny teapot to -see how much of the beverage remained. “I want to have a talk with -you—but hold on, I was almost forgetting an old friend.” - -He stepped to the window of his vehicle, poked out his head, and -gave a call which was at once answered. Presently some one was heard -approaching, and, as the door opened the head of the character known to -our friends as the “rain-maker,” was thrust inside. - -“Welcome to the Smith boys!” he called. - -“Enter!” invited Mr. Clatter. - -“Yes, come in and talk over old times, Mr. Donaldby,” added Pete. - -“Hush! Not that name!” exclaimed the weather prophet, with a warning -finger laid athwart his lips. “Not that name or by a shattered -cirrus-nimbus cloud you’ll have the authorities about my ears!” - -“How about Mirthrandes Hendershot?” asked Cap. - -“No—no! Not that! Not that! Spavin, ring bone and blind staggers are -things of the past. I dare not undertake to cure any more horses.” - -“Just what _are_ you doing?” asked Pete, as the former weather prophet -entered and took a low stool. - -“Ah, now we are coming to it,” was the answer with a smile. “In the -first place my name—how does Tithonus Somnus strike you?” - -“An odd combination,” remarked Cap, recalling the one ancient god who -was turned into a grasshopper, and the other who symbolized sleep. - -“Odd, and so much the better,” went on Mr. Somnus. “It typifies my -calling.” - -“Which might be—?” asked Bill suggestively. - -“Which might be almost anything, and nothing, and which, at times is -neither or both, but which at present is that of astronomer ordinary. -That is my present occupation. I go about the country initiating -the farmers and country folk into the mysteries of the heavens. In -fact I jump about from place to place, hence the name Tithonus. I -jump while others sleep, and show the stars which only come out at -slumber-time—hence the name, Somnus. Is it clear?” - -“Perfectly so,” answered Whistle-Breeches, who thought the astronomer a -most delightful character. - -“And so you are showing the stars and moon?” asked Pete. - -“On all except cloudy nights,” was the reply. “I find it pays well. -Only misfortune seems to follow me. The other night when there was -a most delightful moon, I had trained my telescope on it, and was -admitting the populace to the view at so much per ‘pop’ as it were. I -could not understand the murmurs of indignation that arose from some of -the gazers, nor the expressions of wonder from others, until taking a -look myself, I saw a strange and weird countenance peering at me from -the end of the telescope. I had been describing the mountains of the -moon, but lo! they turned out to be the whiskers and eyes of my pet cat -Scratch, who, perched upon the roof of my wagon, was calmly gazing down -through the object lens.” - -“A cat!” cried Cap. “No wonder the people couldn’t understand what they -saw.” - -“And so I was in ill-repute,” continued the astronomer gloomily, “and -had to travel on. Then it was cloudy to-night so I can do no trade. But -enough of this, tell me of yourselves,” which the boys proceeded to do. - -The talk worked around to Bill’s misfortune, and as soon as this topic -was reached Professor Clatter, who had hitherto been talking but -little, evidenced a sudden interest. - -“Now it is my turn to say something,” he said. “I asked you boys to -come here for a purpose, and the purpose was connected with my friend -Duodecimo—I beg your pardon, Tithonus Somnus. In the first place, -Tithy, which I will call you for short, in the first place, Tithy, have -you forgotten what you used to know about spectacles?” - -“Spectacles? No,” was the reply. “But what in the world has that to do -with baseball, and the fact that Bill will have to give up pitching?” - -“I’ll get to that in time,” replied the professor. “You used to go -about the country fitting people with glasses, did you not, Tithy?” - -“I did, until they passed a law requiring one to maintain a fixed -residence if he would practice as an oculist, and then I became a -weather prophet, a rain-maker, a horse doctor and other professional -men in turn.” - -“Exactly,” said the professor. “And am I right in thinking that you -still have your eye-testing apparatus with you, and also some of the -spectacle lens?” - -“You are. In fact I have made a small telescope of some of my glasses. -You may not think so,” he went on, turning to the lads, “but I -received a fine medical education, and I specialized in eyes. I was -once considered a good oculist, but love of a roving life precluded me -practicing with success. Still I have not forgotten my knowledge.” - -“I thought not!” exclaimed Mr. Clatter with energy. “That’s why I asked -the boys to come here to-night to meet you. I had a plan in mind, and I -hope, with your aid, Tithy, to carry it out. - -“Bill, here, wants to pitch on the Varsity nine. He has a good chance, -or, rather he had a good chance, until his unfortunate injury lost him -a certain necessary control of the ball. Am I not right?” he asked, -appealing to the youth in question. - -“That’s right,” answered Bill, wondering what was going to happen. - -“Very well then. Now it seems that with the proper glasses the -temporary defect in your vision would be corrected as far as reading -was concerned; wouldn’t it?” - -“That’s what the doctor said.” - -“Correct again. Now then, if you can wear glasses to read with, why -can’t you wear them to play ball with?” - -“Play ball in glasses!” cried Bill. - -“It has been done,” went on the professor easily. “Of course it would -be rather hard for a catcher or a baseman to wear them, with the -necessity of having to catch balls thrown with great swiftness. But -it’s different with a pitcher. He practically only throws the ball, and -it is returned to him easily. Glasses would not be a hindrance to you. -In fact, in your case, they would be a help.” - -“I—I never thought of wearing glasses and pitching,” stammered Bill. - -“All the more reason for thinking of it now. Here is my plan.” - -The professor motioned for the boys and the astronomer to give close -attention. - -“We’ll get Tithy here to give you a good examination,” said Mr. -Clatter, “and we’ll have him make you a special pair of glasses. He’ll -put them in a strong frame, so they will set close to your face, and -fasten on securely. They won’t come off no matter how hard you run, -and in fact you may not need them when you’re at the bat. But you do -need them to pitch with, and you’re going to have them. Can you make an -examination to-night, Tithy?” - -“Better than in daylight. I have all the instruments, and I think I -could make the glasses.” - -“Then it’s all settled!” declared Mr. Clatter, as if that was all there -was to it. “Come along, boys, we’ll go over to the other palace car, -and see what happens. Bill, you’re going to pitch again, and if you -don’t make the Varsity it’s your own fault!” - -The medicine man had rattled on at such a rate that the boys had hardly -had a chance to speak. As for Bill his brain was in a whirl. He did -not know whether or not to have any faith in what was proposed. - -“Do you really think it can be done?” he asked. - -“Of course it can!” declared Mr. Clatter. - -“I can make the glasses all right,” answered Mr. Somnus with -professional pride. - -“But could I pitch with them on?” asked Bill. - -“I don’t see why not,” was Cap’s opinion. - -“Wouldn’t the fellows laugh me off the diamond?” - -“I’d like to see them do it!” exclaimed Whistle-Breeches fiercely. - -“If you can’t play, after you show that you can still pitch as good as -before, Cap and I won’t be on the team,” declared Pete with energy. - -“Oh, I’m not going to act that way about it,” spoke Bill, but there was -a more hopeful look on his face. - -A little later he was again being put through the eyesight test. Mr. -Somnus, as he preferred to be called, was in his element. He had a very -good set of instruments, and he very soon demonstrated that he knew his -business. - -“Ha! Hum!” he exclaimed from time to time, as he made test after test, -and jotted down the results of some calculations on paper. “I find -that you will have to have a very peculiar pair of lens,” he said. “I -haven’t them, but I can get them for you.” - -“And will the defect in my eyes be corrected?” asked Bill eagerly. - -“You’ll never know you had it,” was the confident answer. “The injury -was a peculiar one, involving, as the other doctor told you, one of the -optic nerves. It may pass away at any time, but while it exists it must -be corrected. Glasses will do it, and inside of a week I predict that -you will pitch as well as before. Shall I make the glasses?” - -“Yes!” fairly shouted Bill. “I don’t care what they cost.” - -The details were soon arranged. Mr. Somnus knew of an establishment -where lens for glasses were ground, and he undertook to procure them -for Bill. He would return with them in a few days, he said, and adjust -them in a proper frame—a frame that would admit of rough play. - -“Then we’ll see what happens,” said Professor Clatter. “I have to -travel on in the morning, but I’m coming back to see the test. I’m -interested in this,” and the honest, if somewhat eccentric character, -clapped Bill heartily on the back. - -The pitcher’s spirits had come back to him, and on the way back to the -school that night he laughed and joked with his brothers as before. - -It seemed as if the time would never pass. Baseball practice was the -order of the day now, and every afternoon the Westfield diamond was -thronged with prospective members of the Varsity nine. Cap was more -than ever assured of a place as catcher, Pete, as I have said, was -the regular Shortstop, but poor Bill had to wait, and see his rival, -Mersfeld, filling the box. - -“But keep up your spunk,” Pete told his brother one afternoon, -following a grueling practice. “They’re not half satisfied with -Mersfeld, and if your glasses are any good at all you’ll have his -place.” - -“I don’t want to put him out,” said Bill. “If I only get a chance to -play in some of the big games I’ll be satisfied.” - -He refrained from pitching during the time he was waiting, and was -excused from some of his studies until he had the reading glasses the -town oculist made for him. - -Then, one day, came a note from the rain-maker stating that he and his -wagon were in their former place, and that the “ball-glasses,” as Bill -called them, were ready. - -“Now for the test!” cried Mr. Somnus, as Bill, his brothers and -Whistle-Breeches arrived at the improvised camp early one afternoon. -Cap had brought his mask and glove and was to catch for his brother. - -“I hope my plan works,” murmured Mr. Clatter. - -The special lenses which Mr. Somnus had had made were fitted into a -strong, black rubber frame, and it set close to Bill’s eyes. It gave -him an odd appearance, but it was just the thing for playing a game of -ball. He had demonstrated that he could bat well without any glasses, -so he would only have to be a “four-eyes,” as he dubbed himself, in the -pitching box. - -The glasses were put on. Bill took a ball, and walked off a short -distance while Cap donned his mask and mitt. - -“Let her go!” he called to his brother, who was “winding up,” in his -usual fashion. A square stone had been laid down as a plate. - -There was an anxious moment among the little knot of spectators. Bill -drew back his hand, worked his arm a couple of times, squinted through -the glasses, and then with the speed of a miniature projectile, the -ball left his grip and sped toward Cap. - -“Biff!” That was the ball hitting the big mitt. - -“Strike!” yelled Cap. “It was over the plate as clean as a whistle, but -it had a curve to it that would fool Hans Wagner himself! Good work, -old man!” - -“Try another!” called Bill, trying to keep his voice cool. - -Once more the ball went over the plate cleanly. - -“Strike!” called Cap again. - -“Are they all right?” asked Bill. - -“Right as a trivet! Oh, Bill, you’re yourself again!” - -There was a moisture in the pitcher’s eyes, but the odd glasses -concealed his tears of gratitude. - -“Hurrah!” yelled Professor Clatter leaping about like a boy. “Now -you’ll make the Varsity; eh Tithy?” - -“He will! I can read it in the stars!” said the little astronomer, -gaily. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV - -THE TRY-OUT - - -That Bill was delighted to find his former skill had not deserted him -goes without saying. It was tempered a bit by the fact that he had to -wear glasses, but that could not be helped. - -“I wonder how Mr. Windam will take to ’em?” he asked his brothers as -they walked back to school together. - -“He won’t care as long as you can pitch the way you did this -afternoon,” declared Cap. - -“I wonder what Graydon will say?” - -“I don’t see how he can say anything,” came from Whistle-Breeches. “Any -captain wants the best pitcher he can get.” - -“And as for J. Evans Green, he’s the kind of a manager who wants to -see games won, and keep possession of the pennant,” declared Pete. -“There won’t be any kicking about the glasses, Bill. He’d let you wear -hoop-skirts if it made you play better.” - -But there was objection to Bill when he appeared for practice wearing -the odd goggles, though it did not come from coach, captain or manager. -It was first voiced by Bondy Guilder, and some of his cronies. - -“Why don’t you play a lot of men with crutches, and their arms in -bandages?” asked the rich youth with a sneer. - -“I would if they could do better than some fellows I know who seem to -think a ball will bat itself and catch itself,” declared the captain -with energy, for there had been a slump in practice that day. - -It even extended to Mersfeld the crack pitcher who issued passes to a -number of men and was hit more times than he liked to count. - -“What’s the matter with you?” demanded the coach half savagely as the -scrub pulled over three runs in succession, and Mersfeld walked another -man to first. “Are you dreaming that this is a tennis match, or don’t -you want to play?” - -“Of course I want to play!” was the reply, “only I can’t be at -top-notch all the while.” - -“You’ve got to!” was the curt decision. “If you don’t do better than -this in the final try-out you’ll be a substitute instead of a regular.” - -“And I suppose ‘Foureyes’ Smith will have my place?” suggested Mersfeld -with a sneer. - -“It’ll go to the man who does the best work—four eyes or eight -eyes—rest assured of that. Now put some ginger into your pitching, if -you can!” - -Stung by the words of the coach Mersfeld did a little better, and the -Varsity saved the game by a narrow margin. But there were many whispers -around the school and in the gymnasium that day there were strange -rumors of a shake-up in the team, rumors of the strong nines which the -Tuckerton Sandrim and Haydon schools had ready to put on the diamond to -battle for the pennant in the interscholastic league. - -The opening of the season was not far off. Day by day the practice on -the Westfield diamond grew harder and more exacting. Bill had gotten -back all his former skill, and the little rest seemed to have done him -good, for his speed increased, and his curving ability was considered -remarkable by his friends. He had gotten used to the glasses which he -only wore when in the box, and he hardly noticed them at all. - -Mersfeld, too, had taken a brace, and was doing good work, whereat -coach and captain were glad. - -“I guess he’ll make out,” said Graydon one night when he and Mr. Windam -were talking over matters. “But I’m glad we have Smith to fall back on.” - -“So am I. Smith may be first pitcher yet. When have you arranged for -the try-out game?” - -“Day after to-morrow. We’ll play Mersfeld four innings on the Varsity -and then give Smith a show. That will be the test.” - -There was so much interest in the try-out that almost as big a crowd -assembled on the diamond to witness it as usually was present at a -match game. Bill was a trifle nervous for he realized what he was up -against, and as for Mersfeld, that pitcher went about with a confident -smile on his face. - -“Are you going to make it?” his friends asked him. - -“Of course I am,” he assured them. “I’ll pitch against Tuckerton all -right Saturday.” - -For the first league game was to take place then, and it was -unofficially announced that the players who made the best records in -this, the final try-out would have the honor of representing Westfield -on the diamond at the opening of the season. - -“Play ball!” called the umpire, and Bill watched his rival take his -place in the box. How he longed to be there himself! But he knew his -turn would come, and he felt in his pocket to see if his precious -glasses were safe. Without them he would be lost, and he wished now -that he had had two pairs made for emergencies. He decided he would try -to locate the traveling astronomer and get another set. - -The game opened up with a snap, and this was maintained right along. -Everyone was doing his best, for it was no small honor that was at -stake. There was no denying that Mersfeld did well for the first three -innings. There was only one hit off him, and in the fourth he struck -out two men in quick succession. - -Then, whether it was a slump, whether he went stale, or whether it was -nervousness due to the fact that he was under close observation did not -manifest itself, but the fact remains that, after getting two men out, -he grew wild, passed one of the poorest batters, was hit for a three -bagger by the next, and when another got up, and knocked a home run, -there was pandemonium among the members of the scrub nine. - -“What’s got into Mersfeld?” was the general inquiry. - -Nobody knew, and when the fifth inning opened, with Bill in the box, -there was intense excitement. Bill adjusted his glasses and got ready -to pitch. - -“Now watch Foureyes put ’em over!” sneered Bondy Guilder. - -“That’ll do!” called Mr. Windam sharply. “This isn’t a match game, and -there’s no need of rattling one of our own men. Save your sarcasm, -Guilder, for Tuckerton!” - -Bondy muttered something under his breath, and walked over to talk to -Mersfeld, who was darkly regarding his rival from the coaching line. - -Bill was a bit nervous but as Cap had been sent in to catch the pitcher -grew confident as he saw the friendly face of his brother, and caught -the well-known signal for an out shoot. - -Bill nodded in confirmation, drew back his arm, hesitated a moment, -wondered for one wild second whether he was still himself, and could -see to make the curve, and then—he threw. - -“Strike one!” howled the umpire, and then Bill knew that he _was_ -himself, and a fierce joy welled up in his heart. He caught the ball -Cap tossed back to him, and sent it stinging in again. - -“Strike two!” was the reassuring call, and the batter pounded the plate -in desperation, for he had not before moved his stick. - -He swung viciously at the next one, and—missed it clean. - -“That’s the boy!” - -“Go at ’em!” - -“Put some more over like that!” - -“Give the next one a teaser!” - -Thus Bill’s friends encouraged him. - -The try-out game went on, growing more fierce as each player struggled -to make a record. Bill was a marvel with the ball. But one hit was -registered off him during the five innings that he pitched. After the -contest there was a consultation among the captain, manager and coach -and it was announced to the anxiously waiting ones that Bill Smith -would pitch the first five innings of the opening game with Tuckerton, -with Mersfeld as second pitcher, while Cap Smith would catch for his -brother, and Dean Denby for Mersfeld. - -“I told you that’s how it would be!” cried Whistle-Breeches clapping -Bill on the back with such heartiness that the pitcher’s glasses nearly -flew off. - -“Boy, I’m proud of you!” spoke Cap fervently. - -Mersfeld said nothing but there was a bitter feeling in his heart. - -“An upstart Freshman!” he muttered as he passed by Bondy Guilder. - -“That’s what,” agreed the rich youth, “and I’d like to see him taken -down a peg. Do you know how it can be done?” - -“No,” replied the rival pitcher. - -“Come here and I’ll tell you,” suggested Bondy, and the two walked -across the diamond arm-in-arm, talking earnestly, and the talk boded no -good for Bill Smith. - - - - -CHAPTER XV - -THE CONSPIRATORS - - -There was plenty to talk about that night. The rooms of the Smith boys -were thronged with some old and many new admirers, for nothing succeeds -like success, and now that Pete was officially named as Varsity -shortstop, now that Bill had the preference, at least in the opening -game, as pitcher, and when Cap was named to catch for his talented -brother our heroes found themselves very much in the lime-light. - -“To think of all three of us making the Varsity in our first year!” -exclaimed Bill, as he received the congratulations of several new -acquaintances. - -“It’s great!” declared Cap. “I’m afraid our rivals will dub it the -‘Smith Nine,’ instead of Westfield.” - -“Let ’em,” declared Captain Graydon, who was present. “I don’t care -what they call the nine if we keep the league pennant. But let me tell -you Smith boys, and all you other baseball fellows who are here, it’s -going to be no easy matter. Tuckerton has a battery that’s hard to -beat, and Haydon has a better team than ever before. We’ve got our work -cut out for us.” - -“And we’ll make good!” exclaimed Whistle-Breeches, who was happy -because he had been promised at least part of the opening game, even -though he was in centre field. - -But among the visitors to the rooms of our heroes Mersfeld and Bondy -were conspicuous by their absence. The failure of Mersfeld to call -was commented on, and it was openly said that he was jealous. And as -Westfield was an institution where the school spirit was especially -strong this was all the more marked. - -“I’m sorry there’s a feeling between the two pitchers,” said Captain -Graydon to Mr. Windam as they walked to their dormitories together -after the informal little visit. “For both Smith and Mersfeld are fine -fellows. We may need them both before the season is over.” - -“I expect we will. But we couldn’t pass over Mersfeld’s poor work -to-day. By putting Smith ahead of him it may spur him up a bit.” - -“I hope it doesn’t spur him up to any mischief,” murmured the captain -dubiously. - -“Mischief; how?” - -“Well, he has a very ugly temper, and once he gets aroused—well, the -worst he can do is to withdraw from the team, I suppose.” - -“I’d be sorry for that,” went on the coach. “But we really have a find -in Smith. He’s better than before his injury, or else those glasses -help him.” - -“I guess it’s the glasses. No one’s vision is perfect the doctors say, -and perhaps we’d all be better for spectacles. I was just thinking what -would happen if they became broken in a critical game. Bill couldn’t -pitch.” - -“That’s so. He ought to have a pair in reserve. I’ll speak to him about -it.” - -Then the coach and captain fell to talking about other baseball -matters, including the coming game on Saturday, and the chances for -winning. - -Bill and his brothers rejoiced among themselves, and with their -friends, and a letter telling about the honor that had come to the -Smith boys was sent to their father, all three joining in making it a -sort of composite epistle. - -“Two days more and we’ll see what we can do on the diamond in a league -game,” said Cap, as he got ready to do some neglected studying. “Now -don’t mention ball again for an hour. I nearly slumped in Latin to-day, -and if any of us fall behind we’ll be hauled up and put out even if we -knock a home run. So buckle down, fellows.” - -It was hard work to apply oneself to lessons after the events of the -day, but they did it—somehow. - -Meanwhile, strolling along a dark and infrequented road that led back -of the school buildings, were two figures deep in conversation. - -“It’s too risky a game to play,” objected Mersfeld, as he strode -moodily along. - -“But you don’t want him to knock you out of your place, do you?” -demanded his companion, Bondy Guilder. - -“No, of course not. But suppose I’m found out?” - -“You won’t be. I can get the glasses easily enough, for his room is -right next to mine. I was going to change, for I don’t fancy the crowd -he and his brothers trail in with—they’re regular clod-hoppers. I’m -glad now I didn’t, for it will give us just the chance we want.” - -“What have _you_ got against him?” asked the pitcher. - -“Oh, he’s a regular muff, and he thinks he’s as good as I am,” was the -illogical answer. “I’d be glad to see him off the nine. It ought to be -composed of more representative school fellows, anyhow than a lot of -‘Smiths.’” - -“I haven’t anything against the name, but I have against Bill,” said -Mersfeld. “He shoved himself in, and pushed me out—and I’d like to get -even.” - -“You can, I tell you. If I get hold of his glasses he can’t pitch in -the game Saturday.” - -“Can’t he get another pair?” - -“Not the way I’ll work it.” - -“Why not? Suppose you do manage to sneak in his room and get his -goggles. He’ll miss them sure as fate, and send for another pair.” - -“No he won’t.” - -“Why not?” - -“Because I won’t take them until Saturday morning, or just before the -game, and it will be too late to get another pair. Or, better still, I -can take out the special lenses that are in the frames, and substitute -others. Then he won’t suspect anything, he’ll go to the box, pitch so -rotten that Graydon will have to take him out, and you’ll go in. Bill -won’t know whether it’s the glasses, or whether his eyes have gone back -on him again. How’s that for a trick?” - -“It’s all right I guess,” was the hesitating answer. “I rather hate -to be a party to it,” went on the pitcher, who was not a bad chap at -heart. “But—” - -“But he had no right to come here and supplant you,” put in Bondy. - -“No, that’s right. Well, can you get the glasses from his room?” - -“Sure, and I’ll arrange to have other lenses to slip in them. I’ll -get the size, and they’re easy to change. I was close to him to-day, -and I saw how the rubber frames were made. I guess Bill won’t be such -a wonderful pitcher when I get through with him,” and Bondy chuckled -as he and his fellow conspirator turned around and walked back toward -school. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI - -CAUGHT - - -There was an air of subdued excitement all about Westfield, that -extended even to good old Dr. Burton. He even found it rather difficult -to apply himself to translating some early Assyrian tablets into modern -Hebrew as a preliminary to rendering them into ancient Chinese. - -The various members of the faculty found their students paying rather -less than the usual attention to the lectures, and in one quiz, when -Cap Smith was asked concerning the raising of an unknown quantity to -the nth power his answer was: - -“He’s out on first!” - -“Doubtless true, but unfortunately Westfield has no chair for the -science of applied baseball,” answered the professor as the laugh went -rippling around the room. - -But the spirit of the game was in the air, it hung about the school -buildings, lingered in the dormitories, and the very smell of chemicals -in the laboratory seemed replaced by the odor of crushed green grass, -the whiff of leather and the sound of the explosions of the miniature -Prince Rupert’s drops, as the science teacher demonstrated the effect -of a sudden change in the strain of a congealed body seemed to the lads -to be the blows of the bat on a ball. - -Over on the diamond, which had been as carefully groomed as a horse -before he is led out to try for the blue ribbon, were any number of -eager enthusiasts practicing. There were talks between the coach and -captain, anxious conferences with the manager, and on every side could -be seen lads in their uniforms carefully looking after balls, bats, -masks or chest protectors. Some were tightening the laces of their -shoes, others mending ripped gloves, while Bill Smith had indulged in -the luxury of a new toe plate. - -For the next day would mark the opening of the Interscholastic league, -and the first big game—that with Tuckerton—was to be played. - - “And you must wake and call me early, - Call me early, Peetie dear, - For to-morrow is the opening - Of the dear old baseball year.” - -Thus Cap misquoted the verse, and joined his brothers and chums in the -laugh that followed. - -But if there were many hearts that rejoiced at the near prospect of the -big opening contest, there were two lads whose souls were filled with -bitterness. One was Mersfeld, the partially deposed pitcher, and the -other Bondy Guilder, who, for no particular reason, had come to almost -hate Bill and his brothers. - -“Do you think you can get the glasses?” asked Mersfeld of his crony, on -the night before the big game. - -“Sure. I’ve been watching Bill—his room’s next to mine you know—and I -know just how he goes and comes. I have some ordinary lenses all ready -to slip in the place of the special ones I’m going to take out.” - -“How’d you get the right size?” - -“Oh, I made a pretence of wanting to see his glasses and while I had -them I pressed a sheet of paper on them, got an impression of the size, -and got the lenses in town. They are not an unusual size, only they’re -ground differently to bring one eye in focus with the other. Bill won’t -pitch more than one inning in the game to-morrow, and then you can go -in.” - -“But he’ll know what’s wrong as soon as he has his eyes, and the -glasses tested again.” - -“What of it? He won’t suspect us, and all you want is a chance to make -good; isn’t it?” - -“Yes, for if I do make good in the opening game I’m sure they’ll have -to let me stay through the season, and Bill won’t be in it. I’m glad -you’re helping me.” - -“I’d do more than that to put one over on the Smith boys. I don’t like -them. I wish they’d get out of Westfield.” - -Bondy had his plans all laid, and had, after considerable trouble -secured a pair of lenses to replace those in Bill’s pitching glasses. -Now, like some spider watching for his hapless prey, he sat in his room -on the morning of the day of the big game, waiting for a chance to -sneak in and make the substitution. He felt that he could do it, for no -one ever locked his door at Westfield, and Bill had been in the habit -lately of spending a lot of time in the apartment of Whistle-Breeches. - -But now Bill was in his room, and Bondy was impatiently waiting for him -to go out. The sneak knew that if he could change the glasses the trick -would not be discovered until after Bill was in the box, for he did not -use the goggles in preliminary practice where there was no home plate -over which to throw. - -“Hang it all! Why doesn’t he go?” thought the rich lad as he peered -from the partly-opened door of his study, and saw Bill moving about in -his room. The pitcher was taking a few stitches in his jacket, which -had been ripped. “I haven’t much more time,” mused the conspirator, -“for they’ll soon go out to practice, and he’ll take the goggles with -him.” - -There was a call from down the corridor. It came from the room of -Whistle-Breeches. - -“I say Bill, where are you?” - -“Here. What’s up?” - -“Give us a hand, will you? I can’t get this needle threaded and there’s -a hole in my stocking as big as your fist. I wouldn’t mind, only it’s -opening game and we want to look decent. I caught it on a nail.” - -“Wait a minute. I’ll be with you,” sung out Bill, and dropping his own -work he darted for the room of his chum. - -“Just my chance!” whispered Bondy. “But I haven’t much time!” He had -the substitute lenses ready, and a small screw driver with which to -open the frame and make the change. - -Into Bill’s room the sneak darted when he saw the pitcher enter the -study of Whistle-Breeches. A rapid glance around showed him where the -goggles were—in their usual place on top of a shelf of books. - -It was the work of a minute to secure them, and begin to loosen the -screws. Bondy worked feverishly, but his very haste and nervousness -were against him. His hands trembled, and he was in a sweat of fear. -One glass was almost loose, when, with a suddenness that was as -startling as a clap of thunder would have been, the door leading from -Bill’s to Pete’s room opened, and the shortstop entered. He did not -notice Bondy at first, as the latter stood in the shadow of the book -shelves, and this fact gave the conspirator time to shove the screw -driver and extra lenses into his pocket. - -“Caught!” he murmured under his breath. - -The tinkle of glass caught Pete’s ears, and he wheeled around. - -“Oh! Hello, Bondy!” he exclaimed, and then catching sight of his -brother’s goggles in the other’s hands he quickly asked: - -“What are you doing with those glasses?” - - - - -CHAPTER XVII - -BILL’S PITCHING - - -For a moment Bondy did not answer. On his face there was a sickly grin, -and he seemed to turn a sort of greenish white. - -“What are you doing with those glasses?” repeated Pete as he took a -step forward. - -“I—er—I just came in to see Bill,” stammered the rich lad. “He was -out, and I—I—er I was looking at them. Queer lenses; aren’t they? One -seems to be loose. I was going to tell Bill he ought to tighten it.” - -No wonder it was loose, for the sneak had partly taken out the screw. -The expression on Pete’s face changed. He had had a quick suspicion -that all was not right, but he began to feel now that perhaps he was -mistaken. - -“See, here is the loose glass!” went on Bondy eagerly, for he was quick -to notice the altered expression on the other’s countenance. “It ought -to be tightened, or it might drop out during the game, and become -broken. You can tighten it with a knife.” - -He dared not offer his own screw driver. - -“That’s right; it does need fixing,” admitted Pete. “Much obliged for -noticing it, old man. Bill might not have seen it.” - -“Yes, I just came in—er—to ask Bill how his arm was, and I noticed -the glasses,” went on the visitor lamely. - -“Why, what’s the matter with his arm?” asked Pete quickly, and in some -alarm. - -“Oh, nothing, I—I just wondered if it would hold out.” - -“Oh, I guess it will. There, the glass is tight now,” and Pete, who had -used his knife to set the screw, tapped the rubber frame to listen for -any vibration. There was none. - -“Well, I’ll be going,” announced Guilder, with an air of relief. “See -you at the game. It’s most time to start,” and he slipped from the -room, just before Bill returned. - -“I wonder what he wanted?” mused Pete, looking after the retreating -figure of the rich lad. “Mighty funny his getting friendly all of a -sudden. I wonder what he wanted?” - -Pete looked at his brother’s glasses. He glanced toward Bondy’s room, -and pondered again. Just then Bill came in. - -“Say, son, you ought to keep these locked up,” remarked Pete, handing -the glasses to him. - -“Why?” - -“They might get broken if you leave them around so promiscuous. I just -tightened a screw.” - -“Thanks. Crimps! but I’ve got to hustle. I was showing Whistle-Breeches -how to mend a rip in his stocking. He was for tying a string around -it as if it was a bag he was closing up. Well, we’ll soon be -slaughtering—or slaughtered; eh?” - -“Yes, how about you?” - -“Fit as a fiddle. I wish I had to pitch the whole game.” - -“Maybe you won’t after you see the way they knock you out. They’ve got -some hard hitters.” - -“I’m not worrying. Is Cap on the job?” - -“Yes, we’re all ready. What are you waiting for?” - -“Just got to put a few more stitches in this jacket. I’ll be right -over. Go ahead.” - -“No, we’ll wait for you,” and Pete took a chair in his brother’s room. -He was thinking of Bondy’s visit but he made up his mind to say nothing -about it at present. After all he might be wrong in his suspicion, but -he resolved to keep a sharp lookout. - -Soon Bill had finished his sewing task, and went out with his brother. -Cap joined them, and a little later they were on the diamond, indulging -in some light practice. - -Down the road came the sound of songs and cheers, mingled with -indiscriminate yells. Then came the blast of horns. - -“The cohorts of Tuckerton!” cried Cap. “Here they come!” - -Several big stages swung into view, laden down with students and girls, -for the boys had brought a lot of their young lady friends to see the -game. - -The vehicles were gay with colors—flags and banners waved from canes -and long staffs. Horns adorned with the hues of Tuckerton were waved -and blown. Then came more songs, more cheers, more wild yells, and more -rioting of colors, as the banners, flags, ribbons and streamers were -shaken at the crowds of Westfield students who poured out and greeted -their rivals. - -As the stage loads of spectators drew up and were emptied, another -carryall swept along the road. It contained the opposing nine, and in -grim silence, like gladiators coming to the battle, they alighted. - -“Three cheers for the best nine in the league!” called the leader of -the Tuckerton cohorts, and the yells came in quick response. - -“Now three cheers for the second beet nine—the one we’re going to -wallop—Westfield!” called the same youth who was almost hidden behind -a big bow of his school colors. - -Westfield was appropriately serenaded, and then they returned the -compliment. The grand stands and bleachers were now beginning to fill, -for a game of baseball between these two schools was worth coming a -long distance to see. - -“Gee! what a lot of pretty girls!” exclaimed Pete as he stood with his -brothers near home plate after some sharp warm-up practice. - -“You let the girls alone—until after the game,” advised Cap. - -“There _is_ a big crowd,” remarked Bill. - -“Don’t let it fuss you,” suggested his older brother, for Bill was -likely to get a bit nervous, and he had never played in such a big -and important game before. “Come over here and we’ll try a few balls. -Better wear your glasses to get more used to them.” - -“Gee! maybe it’s a good thing I got caught as I did,” mused Bondy as -he saw Bill putting on the goggles before the game had started, as he -was practicing with Cap. “He’d have found it out by now, and the game -would have been all up. But I’ll get him yet! I wonder why Mersfeld -doesn’t come around. He acts afraid.” - -The other pitcher was afraid—horribly so. His heart misgave him for -consenting to the trick, and yet he let it be carried out. At least -he supposed it had been, for he took pains to keep out of the way of -Bondy. And when he saw Bill in the goggles pitching a few preliminary -balls to his brother, he wondered what sort of balls they were. - -“How long will he last—how long?” he murmured, for he thought the plot -had been carried out. - -The crowds increased. The Tuckerton nine and substitutes trotted out -for practice, and good snappy practice it was. Captain Graydon shook -his head as he watched. - -“They’ll come pretty near having our numbers,” he remarked. - -“Nonsense!” exclaimed the coach. “They play fast and snappy, that’s a -fact, but we can do the same.” - -“No, that’s just where our men fall down,” went on Graydon. “They’re -good stickers, and can pull a game out of the fire in the last few -innings, but they don’t wake up quickly enough. That’s what I’m afraid -of. I wish we had decided to let Smith pitch the last half instead of -the first innings.” - -“Say, that’s what we’ll do!” suddenly exclaimed the coach. “This is -the first chance I’ve had to get a line on the Tuckerton boys, and -I believe it will be policy to put Mersfeld in at the opening. He’s -feeling sore, and he hasn’t as good lasting qualities as I’d like. -We’ll put him up first, and if he can’t hold ’em down we can change at -any time. I’ll tell Smith.” - -Bill felt a sense of disappointment that he was not to open the game, -but he knew better than to dispute with the coach. Cap looked as -though he could not quite understand it, and he wondered if it was a -sample of what would happen in other games. - -“We’ve got to save you two for a pinch,” explained Graydon to the -catcher, just before the game was called. “Begin to warm-up again after -the third inning.” - -The preliminaries were over, and the Tuckerton men took their places on -the bench, the home team having last chance at the bat. The Westfield -nine walked to the field, and Bill and Cap took their places with the -other substitutes. - -“I wonder what’s up?” mused Mersfeld as he was told to go to the box. -“He must have the changed glasses and Mindam and Graydon have seen how -punk he is even in practice. Here’s where I get my chance!” - -The game began, and the first crack out of the box netted a two-bagger -for the initial hitter of the Tuckerton nine. Mersfeld smiled a sickly -smile as the ball came back to him. - -“It’s all right,” called Denby reassuringly from behind the bat. “We’ll -get this fellow.” - -Mersfeld did strike him out, after the man had made two foul strikes, -and, feeling a trifle nervous the twirler issued walking papers to the -next hitter, who had a high average for stick work. - -“Work for this man,” signalled the catcher to the pitcher, but -Mersfeld, as he was about to throw was aware that the first hitter was -stealing to third. He shot to the baseman quickly—but wildly. It went -over his head, in among a crowd of spectators, and before the ball -could be fielded in the man was home with the first run of the game, -and with only one out. - -What a wild burst of songs and cries of gladness came from the stands -where the visitors were! Flags and banners waved, and the shrill voices -of the girls seemed to mock the Westfield players. - -“Starting in bad,” murmured Bill to Cap. - -“Oh, well, all our fellows are a trifle nervous. I guess we’ll make -good.” - -Mersfeld redeemed himself a few seconds later by striking out the next -man up, and with two down, the last man knocked a little pop fly. It -looked good but Pete got under it, and had it safely in his hands when -the runner was ten feet from first. - -“Well, now to see what we can do,” remarked Graydon as he came in from -first with his men eager to get a chance at the sticks. - -They did not do so much, for there was an excellent battery against -them, and one run was all they could tally. But it tied the score, and -gave the home rooters something to shout for. - -Whether it was nervousness or whether his conscience troubled him -was not made known, but Mersfeld seemed to get worse as the game -progressed. His throws to the basemen were wild, and he practically -lost control of the ball, while his curves broke too late, and the -opposing team readily got on to them. - -“Oh, we’ve got the pitcher’s ‘Angora’ all right!” chanted the visiting -rooters, that being the classical term for “goat” or nerve. - -“And I believe they have,” admitted the coach, when the fourth inning -opened with the score eight to one in favor of Tuckerton. They had -garnered two in the second frame, three in the third, and a brace in -their half of the fourth. The one lone tally was all Westfield had when -they came to bat in the ending of the fourth, and though they worked -fiercely not a man got over the rubber. - -“Smith and Smith is the new battery for the Westfield team!” announced -the umpire as Graydon’s men went out to the field at the opening of the -fifth. Mersfeld had not said a word when ordered from the box. He knew -he had been doing poor work, but with a bitter feeling in his heart -he watched to see how Bill would make out with, as he supposed, the -changed glasses. - -“Now watch the celebrated Smith brothers work!” cried a Tuckerton wag, -as Cap and Bill took their places. - -“Yes, and they _will_ work, too!” murmured Pete. - -“At least if we can’t get any more runs, I hope we can keep the score -down,” thought the coach, to whom the game, thus far was a bitter -disappointment. All his work so far that season seemed to have gone for -naught. - -Bill was smiling confidently, as he took his place in the box. The -crowd which had not before had a good look at him, caught sight of the -goggles, and instantly there was a chorus of cries. - -“Foureyes! Foureyes!” - -It was what Cap and Pete had feared would happen. Would it bother their -brother? - -Bill showed no signs of it. He did not appear to resent the name, but -smiled back at his tormentors in an easy fashion. - -“I wear these so I can strike out more men!” he called. - -“I guess he’ll do,” murmured the anxious captain on first base, and the -embittered coach took heart. - -Cap and Bill exchanged a few preliminaries, and then signalled for the -batter to take his place. The man up was a terrific hitter and Bill -used all his wiles on him. First he purposely gave him a ball, and then -sent in a slow teaser which the man did not strike at, but which the -umpire counted. - -“Here’s where he fans!” thought Bill, as he tried an up shoot. It -made good, and the bat passed under it cleanly. There was a murmur of -chagrin from the stick-wielder’s fellows and he resolved to knock the -cover off the next ball. - -But alas for hopes! Once more he swung wildly—and missed. - -“Out!” howled the umpire gleefully, for his sympathy was with -Westfield, as much as he dared show it. - -And when the next two men never even touched the ball there was joy -unbounded in the ranks of the home team, for now they saw a chance for -victory. - -“I don’t see that you did anything,” whispered Mersfeld to Bondy as the -change was made for the ending of the fifth. - -“Didn’t get the chance,” whispered back the plotter. “I was nearly -caught. But this isn’t the only game. There’ll be other opportunities.” - -Westfield was at the bat, and it must have been the effect of Bill’s -pitching for every man up made a hit, and the bases were soon filled. -But only two runs came in, for the opposing team took a brace at an -opportune time for themselves, and in season to prevent too heavy -scoring by the Westfield lads. - -“Now only six runs to beat ’em!” called Captain Graydon cheerfully, as -though that was a mere trifle. “Keep up the good work, Bill, and we’ll -dedicate a chapel window to you.” - -Bill did. He surpassed even his own previous pitching records, and did -not allow a hit in that inning, while in their half of it Westfield got -one, making the score four to eight in their opponents’ favor. - -“Now for the lucky seventh!” called the coach, when that inning -started. “Don’t let them get a run, Bill, and help our fellows to pull -in about a dozen.” - -Bill smiled, and—struck out the first two men. Then one of the heavy -hitters managed to get under a neat little up shoot, and sent it far -out over the left fielder’s head. It was good for two bags, and the -next man brought the runner in, to the anguish of Bill, who feared he -was slumping, as there had been two hits off him in succession. But -with a gritting of his teeth he held his nerves in check, and that -ended the scoring for the first half of the seventh. - -“Now, boys, eat ’em up!” pleaded coach and captain as Bill and his -teammates came in. They did, to the extent of three runs, which seemed -wonderful in view of what had previously been done, and there was a -chance for wild yelling and cheering on the part of the home rooters. - -With the score seven to nine, when the eighth opened, it looked better -for Westfield’s chances, and when she further sweetened her tallies -with another run, brought in by Pete, there was more joyful rioting. - -“They mustn’t get another mark!” stipulated the captain when the final -inning opened. “Not a run, Bill.” - -“Not if I can help it!” the pitcher promised. From a corner Mersfeld -watched his successful rival—watched him with envious eyes. - -From the grandstand Bondy also watched, and muttered: - -“I won’t fail next time. I’ll spoil your record if it’s possible!” - -Amid a wild chorus of songs and school cries Bill faced his next -opponent. He proved an easy victim, as did the lad following, but -from the manner in which the third man began hitting fouls it seemed -to argue that he would eventually make a hit. And a hit at this stage -might mean anything. For Westfield needed two runs to beat, and they -were going to be hard enough to secure—every member of the team knew -that. - -It was the fourth foul the batter had knocked. The others had been -impossible to get, though Cap had tried for them. Now, as he tossed off -his mask, and stared wildly up into the air to gage the ball he heard -cries of: - -“Can’t get it! Can’t get it!” - -“I’m going to!” he thought fiercely. He ran for it, and was aware that -he would have to almost run into the grand stand to reach it. The crowd -made way for him. Into the stand he crashed, with a shock that jarred -him considerably, but—he had the ball in his hands! - -“Wow! Wow! Wow!” cheered the crowd, even some of the Tuckertons -themselves. The side had been retired without a run, and they cheered -Cap’s fine catch. - -“Now for our last chance!” said Captain Graydon when his men came in. -“We’ve just _got_ to get two runs. No tenth inning—do it in this!” - -“Sure!” they all agreed. - -Whistle-Breeches came up first, and when he had fanned out he went off -by himself and thought bitter thoughts. For he had narrowed the team’s -chances. - -“Don’t worry, we may do it yet,” said the coach kindly but he hardly -believed it. - -Graydon made good in a two bagger, and got to third when Paul Armitage -made a magnificent try, but was out at first. And that was the -situation when Cap Smith came up. There were two out, a man on third, -and two runs were needed. Only a home run it seemed could do the trick. - -“And a home run it shall be!” declared Cap to himself. - -But when he missed the first ball, and when, after two wild throws a -strike was called on him, it looked as if the chances were all gone. - -“He’ll walk you!” shouted some sympathizers, but the Tuckerton pitcher -had no such intentions. He was going to strike Cap out, he felt. - -“Whizz!” went the ball toward the catcher. Cap drew back his bat, and -by some streak of luck managed to get it under squarely. He put all the -force of his broad shoulders into the blow, and when he saw the ball -sailing far and low, he knew it would go over the centre fielder’s head -and into the deep grass beyond. - -“It’s a home run or a broken leg!” murmured Cap, as he dashed away -toward first. - -“Oh you Cap!” - -“Pretty! Pretty!” - -“A lalapalooza!” - -“Run! Run!” - -“Keep on going!” - -“Come on in, Graydon! Come home! Come home!” - -Thus the frantic cries. - -Graydon was speeding in from third, and desperate fielders were racing -after the ball. It could not be located in the tall grass, and Cap was -legging it for all he was worth. - -“Run! Run! Run!” Thus they besought him. Graydon crossed the rubber -with the tying run, and still the ball was not found. Then, as Cap -passed second, a shout announced that a fielder had it. But he was far -out, and the second baseman knew his teammate could never field it in -from where he was. He ran out to intercept the ball, as Cap was legging -it for home. - -“Thud!” The second baseman had the horsehide. He turned to throw it -home, and the catcher spread out his hands for it. But Cap dropped and -slid over the plate in a cloud of dust, and was safe just a second -before the ball arrived. - -Westfield had won! And on the last chance! - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII - -A PLOT AGAINST BILL - - -What rejoicing there was among the members of the nine and the -supporters of the team! How the lads howled, their hoarse voices -mingling with the shrill cries of the girls! Sober men danced around -with their gray-haired seat-mates, and several “old grads” who had -witnessed the contest jumped up and down pounding with their canes on -the grandstand until it seemed as if the structure would collapse. - -“Good boy, Cap!” cried Bill, clapping his brother on the back. “Good -boy!” - -“All to the horse radish,” added Pete. - -“Oh, you fellows didn’t do so worse yourselves,” remarked John, as he -tried to fight off a crowd that wanted to carry him on their shoulders. - -He was unsuccessful, and a moment later was hoisted up, while a -shouting, yelling, cheering procession marched around the grounds, -singing some of the old school songs of triumph. It was a glorious -victory. - -It was fought all over again in the rooms of the boys that night, and -the team was praised on all sides. - -“Still it was a narrow squeak,” declared the coach to the captain, -“and we’ve got to do better if we want to keep the championship.” - -“Oh, I guess we’ll do it,” answered Graydon. “Those Smith boys are a -big find.” - -“I should say so! I don’t know what to do about the battery, though. We -can’t let Mersfeld and Denby slide altogether.” - -“No, we’ll have to play them occasionally. And Mersfeld isn’t so bad -sometimes. He gets rattled too easily, and Bill Smith doesn’t. Well, -come on out and I’ll blow you to some chocolate soda.” - -Meanwhile the Smith boys were having a jollification of their own in -their rooms, whither many of their friends had gone. Bill brought out -some packages of cakes, and bottles of ginger ale and other soft stuff, -on which the visitors were regaled. - -“Here’s more power to you!” toasted Billie Bunce, a little fat junior, -who was not above making friends with the freshmen. - -Mersfeld did not attend the little gathering in the rooms of our -heroes. And had they seen him, in close conversation with Jonas North, -a little later, and had they heard, what the two were saying, they -would not have wondered at his absence. Mersfeld met North as the -latter was strolling about the campus. - -“What’s going on up there?” asked North, as he motioned to where lights -gleamed in the rooms of our friends, for it was not yet locking-up time. - -“Oh, Smith Brothers and Company are having some sort of an improvised -blow-out,” replied the temporarily deposed pitcher. “Those fellows -make me tired. Just because they helped pull one game out of the fire -they think they’re the whole cheese. I’d like to get square with -Four-eyes somehow or other.” - -“Why don’t you?” proposed North, with a grin. “Seems to me you ought to -be able to ‘do’ him.” - -“I am, if it came to a fight, but I wouldn’t dare mix it up with him.” - -“Why not?” - -“Because there’d be a howl, and everyone would say I did it because I -was jealous. I’d have to have some mighty good excuse to warrant wading -into him.” - -“Well, can’t you think of one?” - -“No, I can’t. I’d like to get square with him, though.” - -“Put him out of business you mean—so he couldn’t pitch for a while?” -asked the bully. - -“That would do, yes.” - -“You might put up a job to burn his hands with acid in chemistry -class some day. Just a little burn would do. You could say it was an -accident.” - -“No, that’s too risky,” remarked Mersfeld, after thinking it over. -“I’d like to have it come about naturally. Now if he or his brothers -would try some trick, and get caught—suspended by the faculty for a -month—or laid off from athletics, that would do. But the Smith fellows -seem to have given up pranks lately, and have buckled down to lessons. -I guess they’re afraid.” - -North did not answer for a few moments. He walked along, apparently -deeply thinking. Suddenly he exclaimed: - -“I believe I have it! Get them caught while doing some fool cut-up -thing, such as is always going on around here. That would do it, if we -can get them into something desperate enough so they’ll be suspended. -Fine!” - -“Yes, it’s all very well enough to say ‘fine!’ But how are you going to -work it? Haven’t I told you that they’ve cut out jokes?” - -“That’s all right. We can get ’em into the game again.” - -“How?” - -“Easy enough. All they need is to have some one to make a suggestion. -They’ll fall into line quickly enough, and then—have McNibb catch ’em -in the act, and it’s all off with their baseball. I haven’t any love -for ’em, either, and I’d like to see ’em out of the game. They don’t -belong in our class here.” - -“Oh, they’re all right, but they think they’re the whole show,” -complained the pitcher bitterly. “All I ask is for Bill Smith to get -out of the box, and let me in. I can do as good as he!” - -“Of course you can,” agreed North, though if Mersfeld could have seen -the covert sneer in the bully’s smile perhaps he would not have been so -friendly with him. “Well, if you’ll help, I’ll work it. We’ll have ’em -caught in the act—say painting the Weston statue red or green—that -ought to fetch ’em.” - -“Yes, but how are you going to arrange to have ’em caught?” asked -Mersfeld. - -“Easy enough. Here’s my game,” went on North. “First we’ll propose to -Bill or Cap, or to the other brother, that as things around the school -are a little dull, they ought to be livened up. They’ll bite at the -bait, for they like fun, and when they hear that it would be a good -stunt to decorate the big bronze statue of old man Weston, in front of -the main building with green or red paint, they’ll fall for it.” - -“Yes, but they know enough not to get caught, even if they go into the -trick.” - -“They can’t help being caught the way we’ll work it,” was the crafty -reply. - -“Why not?” - -“Because the night they select for the joke—and we’ll know when it -is—there’ll be an anonymous letter dropped at Proctor McNibb’s door, -telling him what is going to be pulled off. He’ll get on the job, and -catch the Smith boys at the game. How’s that?” - -Mersfeld meditated a moment. - -“I guess it will do,” he said slowly—“only,—” - -“Well, what’s the matter with my plan?” demanded the bully half angrily. - -“If you or I propose such a game to Bill or his brothers they’ll smell -a rat right away.” - -“Of course they will, but you don’t s’pose I’m such a ninnie as to -propose it ourselves; do you?” - -“What then?” - -“Why I’ll have some one who is friendly to them do it. Oh, don’t worry, -they’ll fall for it all right enough. Now come on over to my room, -and we’ll fix it up,” and the two cronies, one a rather unwilling -participator in the plot, walked along the campus, casting back a look -at the gaily lighted windows of the apartments of the Smith boys. - -“Hang it all!” mused Mersfeld as he tried to quiet an uneasy -conscience, “I don’t want to get those fellows into trouble, but I -want to be back in my rightful place as pitcher on the Varsity.” - -And then he and North went into the details of the plot against our -heroes, against Bill more particularly, for it was he whom Mersfeld -wanted to displace. - - - - -CHAPTER XIX - -THE PROFESSOR’S WARNING - - -“Say, Cap, don’t you think things are rather slow, not to say dreary -around here?” asked Bob Chapin a few days after the ball game, as he -strolled into the elder Smith lad’s room, and appropriated the easiest -chair. “It’s the spring fever or the summer sleeping sickness coming -on, I’m sure.” - -“What’s up now, Bob?” asked Bill, as he tossed aside his chemistry, -glad of an excuse to stop studying. - -“What Bob needs is to train for the eleven or get into a baseball -uniform,” added Pete. “He’s getting fat and lazy, and he hasn’t any -interest in life.” - -“Get out!” cried the visitor, who did not go in for athletics, and who -preferred to be considered a “Sport,” with a capital “S,” wearing good -clothes and spending all his spare time in a town billiard parlor. “You -get out, Pete. Didn’t I try for the glee club?” - -“Yes, but you were too lazy to practice,” remarked Cap frankly. - -“How brutal of you!” cried Chapin, with a mock theatrical air. “Didn’t -I even forgive my enemies and beg them to take me into the banjo club?” - -“Which, for the good of the service, they refused to do,” went on the -elder Smith. - -“Oh, have you no mercy?” asked the visitor in a high falsetto voice, -striking an attitude. - -“We’re all out of it—expect a fresh lot in next week,” answered Bill. -Then after a pause he added: “Now there’s a thing you could do, Bob.” - -“What’s that?” - -“Go in for theatricals. Why don’t you join the Paint and Powder club?” - -“Oh, I don’t know. Afraid of spoiling my complexion with burnt cork and -grease preparations, I guess,” was the indolent reply. “But I don’t -want to discuss myself. I was asking if you fellows didn’t find it dull -here? Why, there hasn’t been a thing pulled off since we brought the -calf into the ancient history class two weeks ago. It is frightfully -dull at Westfield. Don’t you think so, really?” - -“Hadn’t noticed it,” replied Cap. “What with baseball practice, and -digging and boning and lectures and writing home occasionally for money -we manage to exist; eh fellows?” - -“Sure!” chorused his brothers. - -“Well, I say it’s dull,” went on Chapin. “Now you fellows used to cut -up some, when you first came, but you’d think you had all reformed the -way you’ve been keeping quiet lately.” - -“There’s nothing to do,” complained Bill, in whom the spirit of -mischief burned more strongly than in his brothers. “Show us a good -lively time and we’ll be in on it.” - -“I can’t show it to you,” replied Chapin. “You’ve got to make it for -yourselves.” - -“Well, I’ll do my share,” went on Bill eagerly. “Why, is there -something up?” - -“Now, Bill, you haven’t any time to undertake any pranks you know,” -admonished Cap, but his voice was not at all commanding, and there was -a gleam of interest in his eyes. - -“Yes, cut out the funny business,” added Bill. “But what is it, anyhow, -Bob? No harm in telling; is there?” - -“Sure not. I was just wishing a racket would break loose, and I -happened to think of something a while ago. It would take some nerve to -do it though, and maybe you fellows—” - -He paused significantly—temptingly. - -“Say, who says we haven’t got the nerve?” demanded Bill quickly. - -“Now, Bill go easy,” advised his older brother, but he, too, looked -interested. - -“Oh, well, certainly you have the nerve,” admitted Chapin. “But it’s -risky.” - -“Are you willing to go in on it?” asked Pete quickly. - -“Of course,” was the instant rejoinder. - -“Then name your game!” came from Bill, “and you’ll find us right behind -you up to the muzzle of the cannon. Out with it!” - -“Oh, I wish you’d stayed away,” spoke Cap. “I’m back in my -trigonometry, and if I flunk—Well, I suppose we may as well hear what -you’ve got up your sleeve,” and he laid aside his book, with a laugh -and a half-protesting shake of his head. - -Bob’s first act was to go over to the door of Cap’s room, in which the -gathering took place, and see that the portal was tightly closed. Then -he listened at the keyhole. - -“Is it perfectly safe?” he asked in a whisper. “Can anyone hear us?” - -“Say, what are we up against?” asked Cap with a laugh. “Is this a -gunpowder plot, or merely a scheme to burn the old school.” - -“Listen, and I will a tale unfold,” went on Chapin. “Gather ’round, my -children, gather ’round the camp-fire and Anthony shall tell us one of -his famous stories. So they gathered ’round—” - -“Oh, get along with it—we’ve got to do some boning to-night, Bob,” -complained Pete. “We’ve heard that camp-fire joke before.” - -“Do you know the bronze statue of ‘Pop’ Weston in front of the school?” -asked the visitor in a stage whisper. - -“Do we know it? The statue of the founder of Westfield? Well I should -bust a bat but we do,” answered Bill. - -“What do you think of the color of it?” asked Chapin. - -“What do you mean?” Cap wanted to know. - -“I mean wouldn’t it look prettier red or blue or pink, than the shade -it is now?” - -He paused to look at the three brothers. They did not answer for a -moment. Then Bill exclaimed: - -“Say, is that what you mean—to paint the statue?” - -Chapin nodded slowly. - -“It’s—sacrilege,” whispered Cap. - -“Only an iconoclast would dare think of such a thing,” declared Bill. -“But—” there was an eager light in his eyes. - -“It was done once, years ago,” proceeded the tempter, “and the whole -Freshman class was suspended for a week, as the faculty couldn’t find -out who did it. It has been many, many, weary years since such an honor -fell upon us Freshmen,” and he sighed deeply, as though in pain. - -“By Jove!” exclaimed Cap softly. The daring plot appealed to him, -conservative as he was. - -“How did they get the paint off?” asked Pete. - -“It had to wear off,” replied Chapin. “But I don’t want to do anything -like that. We can use water colors, and they won’t spoil the bronze, -and really it would be a little too rotten to make such a mess of it. -Just tint it a light Alice blue, or a dainty Helen pink—it will wash -off, but it will look pretty for a while, and the freshmen class will -have made a name for itself that it can be proud of. Are you with me? -It can easily be done, and the chances are we won’t be caught. How -about it?” - -“I’ll do it!” exclaimed Bill quickly. - -“I don’t know,” began Cap. - -“Oh, come on,” urged Pete. “It’s been a long time since we’ve had any -fun.” - -“If we’re caught, it means good-bye to balls and bats,” went on the -eldest brother. - -“But we won’t be caught,” declared Chapin eagerly. “Besides, what if we -are—that’s half the fun.” - -“All right, go ahead,” agreed Cap. “Might as well be killed for a sheep -as a lamb, I guess. I’m in on it.” - -“Now about the paint,” went on the tempter, as he again listened at -the door. “We’ll have to be careful where we get it, as McNibb is a -regular detective for following a clue. It ought to be bought out of -town.” - -“That’s so,” agreed Pete. - -“Hold on, I have it!” cried Bill, after a moment’s thought. “Professor -Clatter.” - -“Professor Clatter?” inquired Chapin. “You mean that medicine man with -his queer wagon?” - -“Exactly,” went on the pitcher. “I saw him in town the other day, and -he said he was coming back to play a return engagement near here. He’s -got some new kind of stomach dope or something like that. Besides, -he has some patent face powder that he says he got at a bargain, and -he’s going to try and work it off on the ladies in the crowd. It’s -a beautiful pink, and it’s harmless. I was looking at a box of it, -and it got on my hands. Say, for a few minutes I had the nicest baby -complexion you’d want to see. But it all washed off as easily as soap.” - -“Well, what’s the answer?” asked Chapin, as Bill paused. - -“Why we’ll get some of that powder from the professor, mix it up, and -use it on the statute. It will come off easily and I defy Proctor -McNibb to trace where it came from. The professor is a friend of ours, -and he’ll keep mum.” - -“The very thing!” cried the visitor. “When can you get it?” - -“To-morrow, or next day,” answered Bill, who had now entered heart and -soul into the piece of mischief. “I’ll get enough to give Pop Weston a -liberal coating.” - -“Night after to-morrow,” mused Chapin, looking at a calendar over Cap’s -table. “That will do. There’s no moon. What about brushes?” - -“I guess a whitewash one will do. Maybe the professor has one—or a big -sponge, such as he uses for cleaning his wagon.” - -“Fine!” cried Chapin. “Oh, I can just see the faculty when they file -past the bronze statue, done to a beautiful baby pink! Great! No more -will the lordly Seniors boast of having once run a dump cart into the -class room. The Sophs with their little trick of putting tar on the -bell tower will take a back seat, and the Juniors, whose stronghold, -so far, has been the horrible task of burning red fire under Prexy’s -windows, will be green with envy. Oh, what a lucky day this has been!” - -“It isn’t over yet,” remarked Cap significantly. - -“Well, I’ll see Clatter and get the stuff,” promised Bill. “Then we’ll -meet and do the decorating. How many are in on it?” asked the pitcher, -pausing in his planning. - -“We don’t want too many,” spoke Chapin cautiously. “Us four perhaps, -Bondy and Whistle-Breeches if you like, as they’re on this corridor.” - -“Not Bondy,” said Pete quickly. “We’ll let Whistle-Breeches in, but -Guilder isn’t in our set. He wouldn’t come if we asked him, and we’re -not going to. Besides, he might squeal.” - -“Well, five are enough,” said Chapin. “Now I’ll depend on you to get -the paint, Bill.” - -“And I’ll get it.” - -“Fare thee well, then,” and with another cautious listening at the -door, Chapin took himself out. - -“Well?” asked Cap, of his brothers a little later, when they had sat in -silence pondering over the plan. - -“It’s all to the red-pepper,” declared Bill. “We need something to -wake us up.” - -“I guess this will prevent dreams for some time,” observed the eldest -Smith. - -“It’ll be a scream of a nightmare when the faculty sees it,” came from -Pete, “but there’s no harm in it as long as the paint washes off.” - -With many nods and winks Chapin recalled to the three brothers, and to -Whistle-Breeches, next morning the plot they had made. Whistle-Breeches -had been let into it early in the day, and had eagerly agreed to do his -share. They would need ropes with which to mount to the top of the big -statue, and Anderson had agreed to procure them. - -“I can climb, too,” he said, “and I’ll decorate the top part.” - -“Good for you, Whistle-Breeches!” exclaimed Pete. - -It was that same afternoon that Bill saw Bob Chapin in close -conversation with Mersfeld and Jonas North. It was the first time he -had noticed that Chapin was chummy with the Varsity regular pitcher, -and with the lad who, because of his bullying tactics was generally -shunned, except by his own crowd. - -“I hope Bob doesn’t talk too much about the statue business,” reflected -Bill. “Too many cooks make the hash taste burned. It might leak out.” - -Then, as he was summoned to practice he gave the matter no more thought -until that evening, when he set off alone to see Professor Clatter, and -get the pink paint. - -Pete and Cap wanted to accompany him, but Bill declared that there was -safety in small numbers, and that he preferred to go alone. - -He found his old friend getting ready for an evening performance, -filling his gasoline torches, looking over his stock of supplies, and -tuning the banjo with which, and his not unmelodious voice, he drew a -throng about the gaily painted wagon. - -“Ha, my young friend, back again!” cried the professor. “Greetings to -you. And where are the brothers?” - -“Studying, I expect, or making a pretense to.” - -“Good again! Ah, the lamp of learning burns brightly when one is young. -What ho! Mercurio! Some more gasoline for this torch! We must have -light!” Then the professor having ordered about an imaginary slave, -proceeded to fill the torch himself. - -“Speaking of lamps of learning,” broke in Bill, thinking this was -a good time to announce his errand, “we’re going to do a little -illumination over at Westfield on our own account. How much of that -pink paint have you, Professor?” - -“Pink paint—you mean my Matchless Complexion Tinting Residuum?” - -“I guess that’s it. We need some.” - -“For a masked ball?” - -“For a bronze statue,” replied Bill, and he proceeded to relate the -details of the plot. The professor listened carefully. Bill told -everything, and at length the traveling vendor asked: - -“Did you and your brothers think of this scheme, Bill?” - -“No, as a matter of fact Bob Chapin proposed it.” - -“Ah, I suppose he is one of the leading spirits when it comes to these -plots of—er—innocent mischief?” - -“No, I never knew him to get up anything of the kind before. And that’s -the funny part of it. He never takes a hand in ’em. But now he comes to -us with the idea, and he’s going to help carry it out. I never knew he -had gumption enough to break out this way. It’s a good one, though.” - -“And doesn’t it strike you as odd that he suddenly breaks out now?” -asked the professor in rather a curious voice. - -“Odd? Dow do you mean?” - -“I mean do you think he had any object in it?” - -“Object in it?” - -“Yes, to get you boys interested and—” - -“Why, he’s interested himself. He’s going to help decorate Pop Weston.” - -“I know, but you say he never did anything of the kind before,” -objected Mr. Clatter, looking sharply at Bill. - -“No.” - -“And isn’t it rather late in the college year for him to begin?” - -“It is—say, look here, Professor Clatter! Do you know anything about -this?” demanded Bill. - -“No, only what my common sense tells me. But I gather that there is -some feeling against you because of baseball matters.” - -“A little—yes, Mersfeld is sore, but—” - -“Wait a minute. Now, if some of your enemies could get you into a game -like this, and then desert you, and let the whole blame fall on you, -or, even, we’ll say, tip off the college authorities, to use a slang -term—wouldn’t they make trouble for you.” - -“Yes, they would, but—” - -“Is this Bob Chapin a particular friend of yours?” - -“Not particularly.” - -“Is he in with this Mersfeld?” - -“No, not any more than—By Jove!” Bill checked himself suddenly. The -remembrance of Chapin talking earnestly to Mersfeld and North came back -to him. - -“Ah!” exclaimed the professor knowingly, as he rubbed his hands. “I -fancy we are getting at something. Now if our friend Tithonus Somnus -were here we would get him to read the stars for us, but, in his -absence I’ll venture to give you a bit of advice, Bill.” - -“What is it, Mr. Clatter.” - -“You may consider this in the light of a warning,” went on the medicine -vendor earnestly. “Don’t have anything to do with the trick of painting -the statue, Bill; or if you do—” - -He paused significantly. - -“Well, if we do?” repeated Bill. - -“If you do, then play the double cross, and catch your enemies in the -net they have spread for you,” was the reply in a low voice. - -Bill started, and, as he did so there came a cautious knock at the door -of the wagon. - -“Who’s there?” asked the professor quickly. - -“It’s me—Tithonus,” was the answer in a hoarse whisper. “Let me -in—quick! The police are after me!” - - - - -CHAPTER XX - -THE PLOTTERS CAUGHT - - -Professor Clatter swung wide the door, and the figure of the rain-maker -toppled in, rather than walked. - -“Quick! Shut it and lock it!” he cried, and he assisted in the -operation. Then he passed beyond the small room in the rear of the -wagon—a room that served as dining hall, living apartment, sitting -room and parlor, and in a few seconds Mr. Somnus could be heard -crawling into one of the bunks. - -“If they come for me—you haven’t seen me, of course,” came his voice -in muffled tones, indicating that his head was under the bed clothes. - -“Of course not, my dear Tithy,” replied the professor. “And, in fact, -so quick was your passage through, like a half back making a touchdown, -to use a phrase doubtless familiar to my friend Bill Smith—to use that -phrase, I have scarcely seen you. But what is the matter? Why this -haste? There doesn’t seem to be any one following you—at least not at -your heels.” - -“Are you sure?” asked the muffled voice. - -“Sure, yes, Tithy,” replied the medicine man, after a moment of -listening. “No one is coming. But what in the world is the matter?” - -“Oh, it’s an unfortunate mistake I made,” was the answer. “If you’ll -wait a while, to make sure the police and sheriffs officers are not -after me, I’ll come out and explain.” - -“I wish you would, Tithy, for Bill and I are much in the dark.” - -After a wait of several minutes, during which Bill wondered what in -the world could have caused the rain-maker to flee in such terror, -the individual in question came out of the compartment devoted to the -sleeping bunks. - -“Well?” asked the professor. - -“Not well—bad,” was the despondent reply. “You see I found the -star-gazing trade poor lately, on account of so many cloudy nights, so, -in order to make a living I ventured to proclaim that I would read the -stars and reveal the future—for a consideration. It was risky, I know, -but I did it, and did it well—for a time. - -“All was prosperous and happy, until to-night, just before supper I was -visited by a man who wanted to know whether he would be successful in a -certain undertaking. I consulted my charts and said that he would.” - -“What was the undertaking?” asked Bill. - -“He was going to collect a long overdue bill from a man who owed him -some money,” went on the astronomer. “I told him to be firm, and he -would succeed. - -“A little later he came back, all tattered and torn, with one eye -blackened, his collar a rag, and his clothes covered with dirt. He -entered my wagon without knocking, and presented himself before me. - -“‘I was firm!’ he shouted at me, ‘but I did not succeed. This is -what the other man did to me!’ Oh, it was terrible. He accused me of -deceiving him, and he sprang at me, and would doubtless have made me -suffer, but I escaped through the front door, leaving my beloved cat, -Scratch, behind, and I fled here. - -“As I ran on I could hear the terrible threats the man uttered against -me, of causing my arrest. Even now I fear—hark! What’s that?” - -Mr. Somnus paused in alarm, and seemed about to dart for the bunks -again. - -“Nothing—absolutely nothing,” answered the professor, calmly. Mr. -Somnus listened, and seemed satisfied. - -“I guess that fellow didn’t mean all he said,” put in Bill. - -“Perhaps,” agreed the astronomer, with a sigh. “I certainly hope not.” - -“You are not the only one who has troubles,” went on the traveling -medicine man. “Here’s Bill.” - -“What troubles has he?” asked Mr. Somnus. “Has he been -predicting—reading the stars?” - -“Not exactly,” answered the pitcher. And then Professor Clatter told -about the proposed painting of the statue and his own warning. - -“I’m glad you happened in, Tithy,” went on the vendor of the Peerless -Permanent Pain Preventative, “for I’d like your opinion about -this matter. I say it’s a plot to get Bill and his brothers into -trouble, what do you think about it?” He detailed the reasons for his -suspicions, and waited for an answer. - -“Well,” began the fugitive, “not speaking by the stars at all, you -understand, and making no promises for which I can be held responsible, -I think you’re right, Theophilus. And I’d advise Bill to look out.” - -“But how?” eagerly asked the pitcher. “I’m beginning to agree with you. -How can I catch Mersfeld and North at their little game, for a game I -think it is?” - -“Easy enough,” said the professor. “Go on as if you and your brothers -and Whistle-Breeches—Oh, what a classical name—go on as if you -intended to carry out the trick. Take my word for it those fellows -will be hidden somewhere ready to see you caught, and you can turn the -tables on them. - -“In some way they will, I feel sure, get word to the college -authorities of what is on foot. Very well, you have but to stay away at -the last moment, and give some sign by which the proctor will be led -to the hiding place of your enemies. Then, by judiciously spilling a -little of the pink paint near their rooms, and secreting a pot of it -near their hiding place, you will have them on the hip, as my friends -the Romans say.” - -“Good!” cried Bill, after a moment’s thought, “I’ll do it.” - -“Then here is the pink powder,” went on the professor, handing Bill -several packages, “and may luck attend you. Just mix it with water, and -it will do the work. Now, Tithy, I can attend to your case.” - -“And I’ll get back to school, and put up a game on North and Mersfeld,” -said Bill. - -“We wish we could be there to see,” spoke Mr. Clatter in eager tones. -“Tithy and I would enjoy it, but we have troubles of our own. I’ll be -around this way in about two weeks again, and you can tell me about it.” - -“Come to the ball game,” invited Bill. “We’re going to play Sandrim in -a league contest.” - -“I will, if I am not in jail,” promised the astronomer solemnly. - -Bill hurried back to his brothers and told his story, adding the -professor’s suspicions, warnings and advice. - -“The sneaks!” burst out Cap. “Mersfeld and North to put up a game like -that on us.” - -“And Chapin to go in with them,” added Pete. - -“They ought to be run out of school!” declared Whistle-Breeches. - -“Easy,” suggested Bill. “Maybe Bob Chapin didn’t know what he was up -against. We’ll have a talk with him.” - -Bob soon proved to the satisfaction of the Smith brothers and Donald -Anderson, that he was not aware of the “double cross” plan of the -deposed Varsity pitcher. - -“North and Mersfeld suggested the scheme to me,” Bob admitted, “and -said you fellows would be good ones to do it.” - -“And they’re going to play a safety, and hide somewhere to watch us be -nabbed by McNibb; aren’t they?” demanded Cap. - -“They’re going to hide some place near the statue,” replied Bob, -“because I heard them saying something about it. But, honest, fellows, -I didn’t know that they were going to squeal. They got me all worked up -and I was interested. I hope you believe me.” - -“We do,” Bill assured him. “Now to get even. I guess, in case they make -the split, that they’ll send an anonymous letter to McNibb. How about -it?” - -“Naturally,” agreed Cap and Pete. - -“Then we’ll add another,” went on Bill, “and in it we’ll disclose the -hiding place of the sneaks. Where did you say it would be, Bob?” - -“In the clump of rhododendron bushes in front of the statue.” - -“Good! Now the plot thickens, and we’ll have to thicken the pink paint. -Come on, fellows, get busy. First I’ll prepare the second anonymous -letter.” - -A few hours later Proctor McNibb was rather surprised to receive a -screed, signed with no name, informing him that a plot existed among a -certain lot of Freshmen, and that the said plot consisted of a plan to -paint the founder’s statue baby-pink. - -“If you wish to catch the vandals, be on hand near the statue shortly -after midnight,” the anonymous epistle went on. - -Now the proctor was an honorable man, and usually did not pay much -attention to unsigned letters. But here was one he felt that he must -heed. Where it had come from he did not bother his head about. - -“Some upper classmen, who have given over such sacrilegious horse-play -may have sent it,” he argued, “or the townsman from whom the paint was -purchased may have been stricken with remorse, or have a fear that -he will be found out. At any rate I’ll catch them red-handed. No, -pink-handed I guess,” and the proctor smiled at his joke. - -The official’s surprise may be imagined when, shortly after the receipt -of the first letter, he got another. Our friends had a spy, in the -person of one of the janitors, who did work in that part of the school -where Mr. McNibb had his rooms, and the janitor at once informed Bill -when there were signs of unusual activity in the proctor’s office. - -“It’s their letter!” declared Bill. “Now for ours!” and it was sent, -disclosing the information that the would-be painters of the statue -would be hidden in the clump of rhododendron bushes. - -Then there was a busy time for our friends. Throwing in his lot with -the Smith boys and Whistle-Breeches, Bob Chapin helped them in the -plot, by pretending to keep Mersfeld and North posted. - -“You can hide in the bushes, just as you planned,” said the languid -youth to them. - -“And see the fun?” eagerly asked Mersfeld. “Will they be on hand?” - -“Oh, they’ll be on hand all right,” said Bob, and there was a grim -smile on his face, which the plotters did not observe. - -So anxious were they to be present, and see the Smith boys captured, -that Mersfeld and North left their rooms early. This was the cue for -Bill and his brothers to make their way to the enemies’ apartments, -and, by scattering around a little of the pink mixture, give the idea, -to a casual observer, that the coloring stuff had been prepared there. - -In the meanwhile, and before the two lads who had planned to get their -classmates in trouble had gone to their hiding place, several pails -of the pink mixture had been hidden in the clump of bushes. Strings -led from the pails to behind a stone wall, where Bill, his brothers, -together with Whistle-Breeches and Bob, would hide. At the proper -time the strings would be pulled, and the stuff upset. This would be -additional evidence against the two plotters. - -“Well, I guess it’s about time for us to go out,” said Cap, as midnight -approached, that hour, having been suggested to Bob by the plotters. -“Go easy, now, for McNibb may have spotters posted.” - -“No, I think not,” said Bob. “He’ll depend on catching us at the -statue. Oh, wow! Won’t those fellows be surprised!” - -Mersfeld and North were in hiding. They had been waiting for some time. - -“Hang it all!” muttered the deposed Varsity pitcher, “why don’t they -come?” - -“Oh, they’ll be here all right.” - -“You don’t s’pose they could have backed out; do you?” - -“No, Bob Chapin said they were hot for the trick, and rose to it like a -hungry trout to a fly. Oh, they’ll be here.” - -“Then I wish they’d hurry. I’m getting a cramp in my leg, crouching -down so long.” - -“That’s nothing. I know I’ll have rheumatism or housemaid’s knee, or -something like it, for sitting on the damp ground. But think of it! -They’ll be suspended, and you’ll be back on the nine!” - -“Yes, that makes it worth while.” - -“Hark! I think I hear something!” cried North suddenly. - -They peered out. Two dark figures could be seen coming cautiously -around the base of the statue. - -“That’s them!” whispered Mersfeld. - -“No, that’s McNibb, and one of the janitors is with him. He’s too -early! He’ll scare ’em off!” - -“Jove! It looks so. I wonder—” - -“Say! He’s heading this way!” cried North suddenly. “Can he see us?” - -They waited in an agony of fear and apprehension. There was a movement -in the bushes—a curious sloshing, splashing sound, and something -seemed to be flowing around the feet of the two plotters. - -“Great guns!” cried Mersfeld, “what are we up against?” - -“Keep quiet,” begged North hoarsely. - -It was too late. - -“Ha! I have you! Waiting for a chance to despoil the statue; are you?” -cried the voice of the proctor. - -He made a rush for the bushes. Mersfeld and North made a rush to get -out. Their feet became entangled in the strings that had been pulled a -moment before by the hidden Smith boys. Down in the pink paint went the -conspirators, just as the proctor and his impressed aide hurried up and -grabbed them. - -“I have you!” exclaimed the college official. “I have stopped your -nefarious work just in time. Strike a match, Biddel.” - -The janitor obeyed. In the glow stood two sorry-looking figures, pink -paint dripping from them. - -“Mersfeld and North!” ejaculated the proctor. “I would not have -believed a member of the Varsity nine capable of such a trick.” - -“We weren’t going to do it,” began the pitcher, and then the futility -of the denial made itself plain to him, as in the dying glow of the -match he saw the sight he and his companion presented. - -“Follow me, gentlemen,” said the proctor simply, leading the way to his -quarters. - -“Caught in their own trap!” whispered Bill softly, as he and his -brothers and chums looked over the top of the wall, and saw what had -taken place. - -“Talk about painting the town red,” murmured Cap. “The very _grass_ is -_pink_, over there,” and chuckling to themselves our heroes hurried to -their rooms lest they, too, be taken in for being out after hours. - - - - -CHAPTER XXI - -AN INTERRUPTED SUPPER - - -“Wasn’t it great?” demanded Bill. - -“All to the lalapalooza!” was Cap’s opinion. - -“I thought sure McNibb would hear us snickering when we pulled the -strings and upset the paint,” added Pete. - -“And what a sight Mersfeld and North were!” remarked Whistle-Breeches. -“They must have looked like walking complexion advertisements when the -lights were turned on.” - -“I wonder if they’ll be fired?” spoke Bob Chapin. “I wouldn’t like -that.” - -“Hu! That’s probably what they wanted to happen to us!” cut in -Whistle-Breeches. “It’s a case of chicken eat turkey I reckon, and -everybody have cranberries.” - -“They didn’t actually _do_ anything,” went on Bill, as he and his -brothers and chums were talking over the affair next morning. “The -evidence only pointed to them as if they were _going_ to do it.” - -“That’s enough for McNibb,” commented Cap. “Great monkey doodles! There -goes last bell and I’ve got to look over my Pindar yet. Holy mackerel!” - -The whole school was buzzing with the news, and it was soon generally -known that the Smith boys had neatly turned the tables on the plotters. - -As for those worthies, the events had followed each other so rapidly -that they hardly knew what to think, much less say or do. It was a -complete surprise to them, and they dared not utter a word as to what -their real intentions had been. - -As Cap had said, the circumstantial evidence was enough against -them. They had been caught, if not exactly with the paint in their -possession, at least with it all over them, and the anonymous letter -was enough to declare their object, albeit that screed was intended to -throw suspicions on others. - -“Have you anything to say?” the proctor had asked them when he had them -in his sanctum. - -“I—er—I guess not,” answered North, with a glance at his pink-stained -clothing. - -“How about you, Mersfeld?” - -“I—I don’t know, it was not our intention—Oh, well, I guess I have -nothing to say, either,” and the pitcher gave up the attempt. - -“Very well. You may go. I’ll take your case up with the faculty.” - -The two lads were in an agony of apprehension lest they be expelled, or -suspended for the remainder of the term, but after a faculty meeting, -in which Dr. Burton had made a plea for them, it was decided to debar -both lads from participation in all athletic or other sports for a -month, to stop all evening leave for the same period, and to inflict -other punishment in the matter of doing extra classical study. - -The fact that they had not actually committed any overt act of -sacrilege against the statue was in their favor, though, as the -proctor said, only the receipt of the anonymous letter prevented it. - -And how Mersfeld and his crony writhed in agony as they thought of the -letter they had themselves written! They guessed that their plot had -been laid bare, and they suspected Bob Chapin, who, fearing punishment, -spoke to the Smith boys about it. Then, on Cap’s suggestion, and in -order that the truth might be known, a statement of how it had all come -about was drawn up and sent to the two plotters. - -“That’s the last time I try any of _your_ tricks,” said Mersfeld -bitterly to North. - -“Get out! Weren’t you as hot for it as I was? Why don’t you think of -something yourself then, if you’re so smart?” - -“I will—next time,” and the two parted not the best of friends. - -The barring of Mersfeld from the diamond took him off the Varsity team -for the time being, though he was still considered a member of it, even -if he could not play. He was allowed to take part in practice games, -however, for Captain Graydon and Coach Windam well knew the value of -keeping some box men in reserve. - -“No telling when Smith will develop a glass arm or go up in the air, or -get wild,” said Graydon. - -“No, but he’s doing well now,” declared the coach. “He pitched a -no-hit-no-run game in a five inning practice the other day.” - -“That’s too good to last. We’ve got to hold on to Mersfeld, and work up -some one else.” - -“Sure. Mighty queer how the Smith boys turned that statue trick; eh?” - -“Oh, those fellows aren’t greenhorns, if they did come from the -country. Wait until they get hold of the ropes here a little better, -and they’ll cut things loose.” - -“Yes, and maybe they’ll be barred from the team.” - -But our heroes showed no inclinations, at present, of doing anything -like that. They went on the even tenor of their ways, showed up -regularly at baseball practice, and had their lessons as well, perhaps, -as the average student. They did not “cut” more than the regulation -number of lectures, and they made many friends. - -Bill kept on improving in his control and his curve work, until the -delighted coach and captain declared that they already had a good grip -on the pennant. - -Several unimportant games were played, and one or two of the league -contests, in which the Westfield nine made about an even break. The -season was far from over, and he would indeed have been a wise prophet -who could have told who would win the pennant. - -“I think even Duodecimo Donaldby, alias Tithonus Somnus himself would -be at a loss,” declared Cap. “But, fellows,” he went on, addressing his -two brothers, “keep up the good work. Make the name of ‘Smith’ a credit -to the school.” - -“The only trouble is that there are so many Smiths that in ages to come -they won’t know which breed it was who did it,” complained Pete. - -Mersfeld was bitter in his heart against our heroes, and was anxious -for revenge, but he and North had had a falling out, and he did not -know what he could do to get even with the Smith boys. Meanwhile he -sulked in his room, and thought mean thoughts. - -“Say, fellows, do you know I think we ought to do something,” remarked -Bill to his brothers one day, as they came in tired but happy from the -diamond, after some hard practice. “It’s been dull lately.” - -“Yes, let’s paint another statue,” remarked Cap grimly. - -“Or put a cow in the physics class,” suggested Pete. - -“No, but seriously, I think it’s up to us to do something,” went on -Bill. “We’ve got a lot of friends who expect things from us, and we -ought to keep up our reputation. What do you say that we give a little -spread? Dad sent me two fivers the other day.” - -“You can’t give a spread for that,” declared Cap. - -“I know it, but you fellows have some, and if you loosen up a bit—” - -“Oh, count us in,” came quickly from Pete, “only how are you going to -do it? Hire a hall in town, and—” - -“Oh, not that kind!” cried Bill quickly. “I mean a little midnight -supper up in our rooms. We can do it fine here, as we’re on the same -floor. It’s like one big room when the connecting doors are open.” - -“We’d get caught sure as blazes,” observed Cap, “and you know our -reputations are none too good. I think McNibb suspects us of having -something to do with the statue game.” - -“Why?” asked Bill. - -“Oh, the other day he was up here, snooping around, and he saw a splash -of that pink paint on the wall. He went over to it right away, and -looked at it like Sherlock Holmes. I was in a nervous sweat, and I -thought he’d ask some questions, but he only said: ‘Ah, Smith, that -color has a powerful spreading ability; hasn’t it?’” - -“And what did you say?” demanded Bill. - -“What _could_ I say? Nothing. I just played safety and kept still, and -mighty glad I was that he didn’t ask any more. But as I say, I think he -suspects us, so we’ve got to be careful.” - -“Oh, we can pull this off all right,” declared Bill. “I have a plan.” - -“Tell it,” begged Whistle-Breeches. “Things are dull of late. Liven ’em -up.” - -He had entered just in time to hear Bill’s last remark. - -“Well, some big-gun from the other side, England or Germany, is coming -here next Friday night, to lecture on pedagogics or something like -that. The entire faculty is going, I understand, and only McNibb and -the janitors will be on hand. Besides that, the Seniors have some sort -of a legitimate blow out, and there’s the Junior concert. So things -will be quiet around here, and we can just as well as not have our -spread. What do you say, fellows?” - -“I’m for it—here’s my cash,” answered Pete, passing over some bills. - -“Ditto,” added Cap, following suit. - -“Say, fellows, I’m broke,” put in Bob Chapin, who looked in at that -juncture, “but if there’s anything like that going on, count me in.” - -“Me too!” cried Whistle-Breeches. - -“This is strictly on the Smith boys,” declared Bill. “It’s to -celebrate our second childhood, or something like that. Well, I’ll go -ahead with the arrangements.” - -On the Friday night in question there might have been seen a number of -figures—dark, stealthy figures—stealing, one at a time, toward the -dormitory where the Smith boys lived and moved and had their being. Yet -not a gleam of light shone from their windows, for Bill had bought some -black roofing paper and tacked it over the casements. - -“It makes it warm,” he said, “but it’s safer.” - -The good things had been bought, and some boards to be covered with -newspapers and laid on the beds were to serve for tables. As the lights -were turned off at a certain hour, save in the corridor, candles had -been procured. - -“At last all was in readiness,” as they say in novels. The guests -had assembled and were gathered about the banquet table. No one had -been caught, as yet, for Bill had laid his plans well, and all of -the faculty, some of whom might otherwise have been prowling about -the school, were listening to a very deep lecture on how to impart -knowledge to boys, by a man who had never had any. As for Proctor -McNibb, he had so many extra duties on his hands that he did not go -near the Freshmen’s dormitory until quite late. - -This gave our heroes and their friends the lack of attention which they -much desired. There was a goodly crowd present, when Whistle-Breeches, -who had been named as toastmaster, arose, and with a bottle of ginger -ale in one hand, and a cheese sandwich in the other, proposed: - -“Those Smith boys! May we always have ’em with us!” - -“Hear! Hear!” cried Wendell Borden, in a dull, monotonous voice. -Wendell had read that this was what Englishmen said at banquets, and -his father had come from England. - -“Less noise!” ordered Bill. “Do you want to have the place pulled, and -all of us pinched? Go on and eat!” - -They fell-to, and there was merry feasting, even if the jests did have -to be passed around in whispers, losing thereby much of their wit. - -“Now, fellows,” began Bob Chapin, as he rose and held out a bottle of -lemon soda, “let me propose—” - -There was a knock on the door—a knock as of one having authority. - -A sudden hush fell upon the assemblage. - -“Answer, Bill, Cap—some of you,” whispered Whistle-Breeches nervously. - -“What’ll I say?” demanded Bill. - -The knock was repeated. - -“Ask whose there,” suggested Bob. - -“Who—who’s—there?” stammered Bill, as though it cost him an effort. - -“It is I—Mr. McNibb. Are there any persons in your room besides -yourselves?” - -“Ye—yes,” stammered Bill. Lying was not permitted by the school honor -code. - -“Open the door!” came the command. - -Bill looked appealingly around. Some of the boys made motions as though -to dive under the beds. - -“Face the music!” ordered Cap sharply, for he detested sneaking tactics. - -“Open the door,” came the command again, in stern tones. - -There was no choice but to obey, and Bill arose to draw the bolts. - -He slowly opened the portal, and, as it swung back the banqueters -peered forward to behold the smiling countenances of Ward and Merton, -two of the biggest seniors in the school. - - - - -CHAPTER XXII - -HITTING A BULLY - - -Blank looks of surprise, astonishment, relief and anger at the manner -in which they had been deceived, struggled for mastery over the faces -of the Freshmen. The two seniors walked in, looked coolly about, -as though the whole affair had been arranged for their especial -entertainment and inspection, and then calmly took two vacant seats -near the head of the improvised banquet table, which is to say the bed. - -“Ah, very cozy and comfortable here; eh Ward?” observed Merton. - -“Indeed yes. The old Romans weren’t in it with these chaps. They don’t -recline at table, but make their table on the recline! Ha! Ha! Joke! -Everybody laugh!” - -There was a grim silence, at which the Seniors seemed surprised. They -looked around at the banqueters. - -“Well, why don’t you laugh?” demanded Ward. “Don’t you Freshies know -what’s good for you?” - -“Ha! Ha!” burst out Bill, as much in relief at not finding McNibb in -their midst, as at the alleged joke. - -“Laugh!” commanded Merton sternly. - -“Laugh!” ordered Ward sharply. - -It was instruction that could not be disobeyed, for the Freshmen, -under certain circumstances, were by the unwritten, but none the less -stringent rules of the school, bound to do certain things commanded -by their class superiors. Thereupon there ensued a series of snickers, -more or less forced. - -“Not so loud!” ordered Merton. “Or you _will_ have McNibb here. Sorry -if we gave you fellows heart-failure, but we smelled out this little -feed, and thought we’d better show you how easy it is to get caught. -Pass the cheese.” - -“And I’ll have some of those pickled lambs tongues,” added Ward. “I -say, boys, you _do_ know how to get up a grub-fest. Who’s doing?” - -“The Smith boys,” murmured Whistle-Breeches. - -“Might have known,” declared Merton. “Say, you fellows are cutting -things loose at Westfield. Well, it’s good for the old school. Here, -Ward, are some prime macaroons.” - -The seniors helped themselves and each other to what was best on the -table, making more or less funny remarks, while their unwilling hosts -looked on, not daring, because of another unwritten law, to eat with -them. - -“Here, get busy, you fellows,” ordered Ward. “Pass things up toward -this end. We’re hungry, and it isn’t often that you have two noble -Roman senators to grace your banquets. Get busy.” - -“What appetites!” murmured Cap in whispered admiration. “I thought I -could eat, but they have me beaten a mile.” - -“Never mind, as long as it wasn’t McNibb. They’re welcome to all that’s -left—we had a good share,” spoke Bill. - -The Seniors seemed to be having a good time, but they could not keep -on eating, and even in their hearts was the fear lest they be caught. -So, with a mock farewell, they took their departure, promising to send -some of their fellows around to enjoy the feast of good things. - -But no more of the fourth-year men arrived, due to the fact, probably, -that the meeting at which were the entire faculty, was nearly at -an end, and soon the college and the grounds would be infested by -professors. Then, too McNibb might come around at any moment. - -“Hurry, fellows,” suggested Bill and his brothers. “Eat what’s left and -then cut out of here. It _might_ be McNibb next time.” - -“Say, I thought it was all up with us, when that knock came,” remarked -Pete. - -“Same here,” added Whistle-Breeches. “Are there any stuffed olives -left?” - -“Nary a one,” answered Cap. “Those chaps stuffed themselves on ’em.” - -“Stuffed Seniors instead of stuffed olives,” observed Bill grimly. - -The feast was over, the remains cleared away and, one by one, or in -couples, the guests departed, with intervals between the leavings, so -that too much noise might not be created. - -The last one had gone—the room was in fairly good shape, albeit -bottles and cans had been piled into closets until the recesses were -almost overflowing—there to stay until such time as they could be -smuggled out. - -“Well; how about it?” asked Bill. - -“It was all right—even the interruption,” replied Cap. - -There came a sudden knock on the door. The brothers, who were not the -only occupants of their adjoining rooms looked at each other with fear -in their eyes. - -“Gentlemen, are you in bed?” demanded the unmistakable voice of the -proctor. - -“Ye—yes!” exclaimed Bill, making an appealing motion to his brothers. -With a single motion they threw themselves, dressed as they were, upon -the covers, while Bill extinguished the single candle. “We’re in bed, -Mr. McNibb.” - -“I’m glad to hear it,” was the grim retort. “I thought I saw a light -through the key hole.” - -“No—no, sir,” declared Pete. The room was in darkness but the smell of -a recently extinguished candle was only too evident. - -“Very well,” and the proctor passed on, leaving the Smith boys to -recover of near-heart-failure as best they might. - -The banquet given by our heroes was the talk of the school for several -days—wireless talk, of course, for it would never do to have it come -to the ears of those in authority. Those who had not been favored with -an invitation were wondering how they could cultivate the good graces -of our friends, and the lucky ones who had attended were wondering when -there would be another spread. - -There was hard baseball practice the day following the little affair, -and, for some reason Bill was a little off in his pitching. - -“You’ll either have to get a new pair of glasses,” grimly remarked the -coach, “or you’ll have to cut out your midnight suppers, Smith.” - -“All right,” agreed the pitcher, for the word of Mr. Windam was law. -The scrub, on which Mersfeld was pitching was close to beating the -Varsity, over which fact the deposed twirler was gloating. - -“If things go on this way,” he said to his crony North, as they left -the field, the two again being friendly, “I’ll be back in the box once -more.” - -“I’d be glad to help you,” was the answer, for though North did not -exactly care for Mersfeld, whom he felt was not in his “class,” yet the -bully had formed an unreasoning hate toward our heroes, and would have -been glad to see them run out of the school. “If anything turns up by -which we can get back at those fellows, count me in.” - -“All right,” replied Mersfeld, duly grateful. - -The two strolled across the campus, and, as they got behind a clump -of bushes, North saw a small, timid boy, one of the students at a -preparatory school connected with Westfield, passing along. He called -to the lad, whom he knew slightly: - -“Here, Harvey, carry my glove and bat, I’m tired,” for North had been -playing on the scrub. - -“Oh, please, I can’t,” replied Harvey. “I’m in a hurry. I—I will next -time.” - -“I said now!” exclaimed North putting out a hand, and catching the -small chap roughly by the shoulder. “_Now_, do you hear! Not next week, -but _now_. What’s getting into you fellows from the prep, anyhow? Take -that bat!” and the bully brought it down with considerable force on -Harvey’s shoulder. - -The little lad gave a cry of pain, and started to run, breaking from -North’s hold. With a coarse expression the larger student threw his -heavy glove at the little boy, catching him on the back of the head. -Then, with a quick jump North was at his side again, and had the little -fellow’s arm in a cruel grip. - -“Try to run away from me; will you?” he demanded. “I’ll show you that -it won’t do to fool with me—you prep. kids are getting too fresh. Now -you get down on your knees and beg my pardon, and then take my glove -and bat, and Mersfeld’s bat too.” - -“Oh, North—” began the pitcher, who was a fairly decent chap. - -“Let me manage him,” exclaimed the bully. “These kids have to be taught -their place. Get down on your bones, now!” - -He seized the frail lad’s hands in his strong ones, and bent them over -backward. - -“Oh, Mr. North! Please don’t. I—I won’t do it again! I’ll carry the -bat! Oh, you’re breaking my hands!” - -He cried out in agony, and Mersfeld took a step forward half intending -to interfere. But he did not get the chance. - -Some one with blazing eyes leaped from behind the clump of bushes and -confronted the bully. A clenched fist was drawn back, and then shot -forward. Right on the point of North’s aristocratic chin it landed with -a sound that could be heard for some distance. - -Backward the bully was hurled, almost turning over, and then he slumped -down on the grass. He stayed there for several seconds, and then got up -slowly. - -“Who—who did that?” he asked thickly, for he was a bit dazed. - -“I did,” answered Cap Smith quietly, “and if you want any additional -just try some more of your bullying tactics on boys smaller than -yourself.” - -North staggered to his feet, and rushed at Cap. - -“Not here! Not now!” cried Mersfeld, throwing himself in front of his -crony. “Meet him later! There’ll have to be a fight, of course?” and -the pitcher looked at Cap. - -“Of course,” was the grave answer. - -“All right. I’ll see one of your friends,” for these matters were -rather scientifically arranged at Westfield, on certain occasions. - -“See Bill or Pete,” answered Cap, as he turned aside and strolled up -the campus. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII - -THE FIGHT - - -“Time!” - -It was the call of the watch-holder, and, as he spoke the word, two -scantily clad figures leaped toward each other. - -“Take him easy now, Cap!” cautioned Bill to his larger brother. - -“Go in and finish him!” advised Mersfeld to North, for whom he was -acting as second. Merton was keeping time, and Ward, the other Senior -who had been the unbidden guest at the little spread was referee. - -It was the fight between North and Cap Smith—the fight which was the -inevitable outcome of the interference when the bully was mistreating -little Harvey. - -The contest took place where all such affairs were “pulled off,” if -I may use such a term, in a well-secluded spot back of the baseball -grandstand. - -“Watch his left!” was the further advice of Bill, who was acting as -second, gave to his brother, while Mersfeld sarcastically cut in with: - -“Look out for biting in the clinches, North.” - -It was a useless insult, for Cap never answered it. - -Narrowly he watched his opponent, looking into his eyes, and trying to -guess, by close observations of those organs, how the lead would be. - -Out shot North’s left, after a weak feint with his right. Cap was not -deceived. Cleverly he blocked the blow and countered with his left. His -aim was a bit short, but it caught North over the eye, too lightly to -raise a mark, however. - -The fight was now on, and for a time blows were delivered with such -rapidity that the onlookers were in doubt as to who was having the best -of it. It was give and take, yet it was not brutal. - -For the lads were both healthy and strong, and the soft gloves which -the Seniors had insisted that they wear, precluded any serious damage -to either. Nor were they scientific enough to do any material harm, for -though they had both taken boxing lessons, they were far from being in -the class with pugilists. - -North half turned, made a feint as though to drive his right into Cap’s -face, quickly shifted, and shot out his left. - -“Wow!” cried Mersfeld in anticipation of what was about to happen to -the youth against whom he bore a grudge. - -But it was the unexpected which took place, for North in making the -shift had left himself unguarded for one fatal moment. - -In shot the ready left of Cap Smith, straight from the shoulder, with -all the steam behind it which our hero could muster, and North was -neatly bowled over, bleeding slightly from the nose. - -“First blood for us!” called Bill shrilly. - -“Well, you needn’t shout over it, and bring McNibb here!” grumbled -Mersfeld, as he hurried to his fallen champion. - -“I—I’m all right!” gasped North. “My—my foot slipped on the grass.” - -“Like fun!” retorted Pete. “You’ll have some more of those ‘slips’ -before it’s over.” - -“That’ll do,” spoke Ward quietly. He looked at his classmate. - -“Time,” called Merton, for North had been attended by his second, while -Bill looked after Cap, who was in no way distressed. - -“Don’t hurry to finish him,” whispered Bill, as Cap arose from his knee -to go forward. “You can do him.” - -“I don’t know about that,” was the cautious reply. “He has a strong -right, and guards pretty well. I just managed to get in.” - -“Don’t let him get you that way again,” advised Mersfeld to his friend. -“It’s too risky.” - -“I won’t, if I can help it.” - -They were at it again, hammer and tongs, giving and taking. Several -body blows were exchanged, making both lads grunt, but doing no damage. - -Then, when Cap tried for another left to the jaw he either -miscalculated, or North guarded quickly, for Cap’s fist came against -his opponent’s forearm, and the next minute our hero went down under a -well directed blow, that eventually closed his right eye. But he did -not mind this, got up quickly and was at it again. - -Seeing his advantage in the next round North hammered away at Cap’s -optic, thereby not only causing the Smith lad exquisite pain, but -greatly hampering him in the fight, for his vision was reduced by half. - -“You’ve got him now!” exulted Mersfeld, when the round was over, and -he was spraying his man with water from a ginger ale bottle. “Keep at -him!” - -“Oh, he’s got lots of go yet,” declared North. “If I can close his -other eye I’ll have him though.” - -“Then play for that.” - -North tried to, but he was so intent on this that he left his own chin -unguarded. Cap did not care much about inflicting visible punishment on -the bully, but he did want to end the fight, for which, truth to tell, -he had no great hankering. - -Once more his reliable left went boring in, and North gently went over -backwards, coming heavily down in the grass. He almost took the count, -but the time keeper was merciful, and allowed him a few seconds. - -“He’s about all in,” whispered Bill to his brother, when after some -feeble and cautious sparring the round was at an end. “Finish him up. -I’m afraid McNibb or some of the profs. might come.” - -“So am I. Here goes for a knock-out.” - -Cap tried for it, but North was shifty. He was playing on the defensive -now, for he found that Cap was more cautious and was guarding his -damaged eye well. And North did not dare open his guard enough to come -back strong. Therefore he clinched several times, hanging heavily on -his opponent to tire him. - -Cap tried to avoid this, and there was considerable leg work which was -hard on the breathing apparatus. He thought he saw one good chance, and -sent in an upper cut, but it fell short, and he got a blow on the ear -that made his head ring. - -Thereafter he was more cautious. - -“You must do him up soon,” implored Bill. “Can’t you take a chance?” - -“I’m afraid to, with my bad eye.” - -“That’s so. Well, use your own judgment.” - -But the next round was the last, and the end came most unexpectedly. -North led with his right, intending to try once more his feinting, -shifting tactics. But he made a miscalculation. Cap blocked with his -left, and sending in a cross-counter with his right caught North on the -side of the head. - -Down went the bully like a log, not badly hurt, but stunned enough to -make him take the count. There was no chance to allow the fatal ten -seconds to elapse, however, for, from the crowd that surrounded the two -contestants came the cry: - -“Here comes Prexy!” - -“Skip! Here’s Dr. Burton!” - -“Come on, Cap! Get into your coat—never mind your shirt—out this -way!” cried Bill, Pete and Whistle-Breeches in the same breath. - -Cap looked afar, and saw the figure of the venerable president bearing -down on them. The head of Westfield school was eagerly perusing one -book, and had another under his arm. - -Cap hurriedly dressed as best he could. He saw North slowly rising, -assisted by his friends. Cap started toward him. - -“Where you going?” demanded Bill. - -“To shake hands—it’s all over. I want to be friends.” - -“You’ve no time. I doubt if we can get away as it is.” - -Bill, Pete, Whistle-Breeches and some of the others tried to get Cap -in their midst, so that his blackened eye would not be seen. They -hoped to be able to get back to their rooms by a round-about path, but, -alas for their hopes. Dr. Burton looked up, saw them, and changing his -course, bore down more directly on them. - -“It’s all up!” groaned Pete. - -Bill looked around, and saw North and his friends hurrying into the -dressing rooms under the grandstand. He wished he had thought of that, -but there was no time now. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV - -THE KIDNAPPED PITCHER - - -“What’ll you say when he asks you what’s up?” asked Whistle-Breeches. - -“Guess I’ll have to tell the truth,” answered Cap. - -“Couldn’t you say you ran into the fence catching a foul ball?” -inquired Bill. - -“Nothing doing,” was his brother’s retort. “The doctor would guess -right in a minute. Besides, I wouldn’t fake it that way.” - -“Of course not. I was only joking. Well, he’ll be here in a second. -He’s looking at us as if undecided whether we were Greek roots or some -Sanskrit characters. Maybe he’ll pass us up,” went on Bill. - -“No such luck!” groaned Pete. “Pull your cap down farther over your -eyes, and maybe he won’t see the bruise.” - -But all the efforts of the lads were seemingly to go for naught. The -venerable president, squinting at them through his thick spectacles, -smiled in a friendly fashion, as he came nearer. The students halted -and touched their caps. - -“Ah, boys, just coming from a game?” inquired Dr. Burton. - -“Yes, sir,” answered Whistle-Breeches, who, being slightly taller than -Cap, had stepped in front of him. - -“Ah, and who won, may I ask?” - -“We—er—that is we didn’t finish,” answered Bill, hoping to draw -attention away from Cap. - -“The season has opened well, I hope,” went on the doctor. “And there -are good chances for keeping the pennant here, I trust?” - -“We’re going to try hard,” put in Pete, who, being on the other side, -trusted to draw the attention of the president farther away from his -brother. As for that hero he remained quiet. - -“Pull your cap farther down!” again advised Bill in a hoarse whisper. - -Whether it was that or whether he would have noticed it anyhow, the -eyes of the president went straight to Cap’s bruised countenance. He -saw the blackened eye, and the cuts and scratches. - -“Ah, there has been an accident, I see,” he remarked, and he advanced -closer to the lad. - -“Er—yes—that is I—” - -“Cut it out,” whispered Bill, nudging his brother in the back. - -“Hit by a ball, I suppose,” went on the president. “And yet they say -baseball is comparatively harmless. Why, you look almost as if you had -been through a football scrimmage, Smith.” - -“Ye—yes, sir,” stammered Cap. - -“Better have it attended to right away,” continued Dr. Burton. “That -eye looks very painful.” - -“It is,” murmured Cap. - -“And you had better wear a stronger mask,” were the doctor’s parting -words, as he turned aside. There was a queer smile on his face, and -his eyes twinkled behind his glasses. He opened his book at the place -where a cautious finger had kept the pages apart, and passed on. - -“Talk about luck!” exclaimed Whistle-Breeches hoarsely. “He never even -suspected that there’d been a fight. Oh, you Cap!” - -“Suspected!” burst out Bill. “I’ll bet he knows all about it!” - -“He did not!” declared the other lad. “Why, he’s so interested in that -book that I don’t believe he remembers now whether he spoke to us or -not.” - -“He doesn’t; eh?” exclaimed Bill. “Say, he went off reading his book -upside down, and if that doesn’t indicate that he’s on to our game, and -is laughing at our attempts to keep it from him, I’d like to know what -it does mean?” - -“Was his book upside down?” - -“Surest thing you know. Say, what the doctor doesn’t know wouldn’t -cover a postage stamp. But it was white of him not to let on. You’re -lucky, Cap!” - -“Yes, regular Smith luck,” put in Whistle-Breeches. - -“Well, don’t take any chances. Cut away to your room. I can get you -some raw beefsteak for the optic.” - -“An oyster is better,” declared Pete, and they scientifically discussed -the various merits of the two. - -“If we had Professor Clatter here he’d paint it with some eye dope and -Cap would look all to the merry.” suggested Bill. But the traveling -medicine man was not available, and Cap had to do the best he could. - -It was some days before he was decently presentable and North was just -as bad. Of course the faculty must have suspected the reason for the -darkened eyes and bruised faces, but as there was no official report -or complaint, nothing was said of it, and the matter was dropped. - -The upper classmen took up the question, and a sort of truce was -patched up between Cap and the bully, but though North professed to be -friendly there was a sullen look in his eyes, and Cap knew he would do -him a bad turn if he got the chance. Mersfeld and North were thicker -than ever, and the Smith boys agreed among themselves to be on their -guard. - -Meanwhile there was baseball a plenty. Some league games were played, -and a number of minor contests took place. It was drawing close to the -time for the annual Freshman battle on the diamond with Tuckerton, and -this game was always a hotly contested one, and eagerly looked forward -to by the first year students and their friends. - -“We stand a better chance to win this time, than ever before,” remarked -Armitage, who was captain of the first year team. “We’ve got Bill to -pitch, and he’s a wonder.” - -The Varsity twirler did occupy the box for the Freshmen nine, and no -objection had been raised to this arrangement until nearly time for the -Tuckerton game. Then the nine of that school sent in a formal protest, -objection to Bill on the ground that though a first year lad, he was -not properly a member of the Freshman team, since he was the Varsity -pitcher. - -“Well, we’ll just ignore that objection, and if they don’t want to -play with Bill in the box we’ll claim the game by forfeit,” decided -Armitage. The dispute waxed hot and an appeal was taken to the student -body which governed athletics among the members of the school league. -They decided that Bill could pitch. - -“Well, he won’t if we fellows have any spunk,” declared Borden, the -Tuckerton captain. - -“Spunk? How do you mean?” asked Swain, the pitcher. - -“I mean that we can put up a game on him so that he can’t pitch against -us, and they’ll have to put in Potter, the substitute. We can knock -_him_ out of the box, but Bill Smith is no easy mark. It means losing -the game for us to bat against Bill.” - -“But what can we do?” asked Swain. - -“Get Bill out of the way the day before the game.” - -“How?” - -“Kidnap him, of course. Spirit him away, and keep him in cold storage -until we win. Are you game?” - -“Can it be done?” asked Swain. - -“Of course. I’ll arrange it, if you fellows will help.” - -“Certainly we will, but how is it to be done?” - -“Easy enough. We’ll just meet him in the dark on the road, bundle him -into my auto, and take him to a quiet place where he can’t get away.” -Borden was a rich youth, and had an automobile which he had brought to -school with him. - -He went more into detail about his plan, and after realizing that it -would mean losing the game if Bill pitched against them, his teammates -somewhat reluctantly agreed to the scheme. They thought they were -within their rights for they totally disagreed with the finding of the -governing body that Bill was entitled to pitch as a Freshman, even -though he was on the Varsity. - -“Suppose they find out we did it, and take the game from us even after -we win?” suggested Cadmus, who was the Tuckerton Freshman catcher. - -“They’ll never discover it,” boasted Borden. “They’ll lay it to some of -the Sophs or Juniors at Westfield, and Bill will never recognize us for -we’ll wear masks.” - -“All right, we’re with you,” decided his chums. “Now for the details.” - -These were soon settled. It was agreed that Bill should be captured the -night before the game, when there would be little chance that he could -be rescued in time to play. - -“But how will we get hold of him,” asked Cadmus. - -“I’ll send him some sort of a message,” replied Borden. “I’ll write a -note, in a disguised hand, and ask him to call at a certain place in -the village. We’ll be on the lookout and when he goes past that lonely -stretch of woods, on the main road we’ll grab him, run him off in my -car to a place I know of, and leave him there.” - -“Suppose some of his brothers or friends come with him?” Swain wanted -to know. - -“Oh, well, we can get away with Bill before they realize what’s up. You -fellows want everything too easy.” - -When, on the night before the game with Tuckerton, Bill Smith received -a note, asking him to call at a certain hotel in the village, there -to talk over baseball matters, the pitcher showed the missive to his -brothers. - -“Looks sort of fishy,” decided Cap. - -“What name is signed to it?” inquired Pete. - -“Just says ‘Baseball Crank,’” was the reply. “I think it’s a joke.” - -“Are you going?” asked Whistle-Breeches. - -“Might as well. But I’m going to go easy, and take a look around before -I go inside. Maybe I can turn the tables.” - -“Tell you what we’ll do,” broke in Cap. - -“What?” - -“We’ll all go with Bill. Then, if there’s any trouble we can help him. -Maybe North or Mersfeld put up this game.” - -“That’s right,” agreed Bill. “I’ll be glad if you fellows will come -along, though it may be straight after all.” - -So, after obtaining from the proctor permission to go to the village -on condition that they would be back before locking-up time, the -three Smith brothers, and Whistle-Breeches sallied forth. They never -suspected there might be a joke perpetrated on them while on their way, -rather expecting some game in the village, and so proceeded along the -highway in careless ease, singing and joking. - -As they reached a lonely stretch of woods, just below getting into the -village, three figures sprang out from the underbrush. Over their faces -were strips of cloth, and at the first sight of the trio our friends -drew back in some alarm, feeling they had met with a gang of highwaymen. - -“That’s the one—in the centre!” called a hoarse voice, and a grab was -made for Bill. Before his brothers or Whistle-Breeches could rally to -his aid he was borne off, struggling and kicking against his unknown -captors. - -“Into the car with him—quick!” was the whispered order, and, ere -the three lads left standing in the road had recovered from their -astonishment, there sounded the chug-chug of an automobile, and Bill -was whisked away. - -“Well, wouldn’t that get your goat!” gasped Cap, as he stood looking -at the fast-disappearing red tail lamp of the machine. “They’ve got -Bill!” - -“Come on after ’em!” yelled Pete, starting down the highway on a run. -“We’ve got to rescue him!” - - - - -CHAPTER XXV - -TO THE RESCUE - - -“Here! Come back!” cried Cap. - -“What for?” demanded Pete, pausing in the darkness, and gazing first -toward the disappearing red light and then toward where his brother -stood. - -“You can’t catch an auto, no matter if you are a good base runner,” -replied the older Smith lad. “Come here.” - -“That’s right, I guess there isn’t much use running,” admitted Pete -dubiously, as he slowly returned. - -“But they’ve got Bill, and we ought to help him. Maybe they’ll hold him -for a ransom.” - -“It’s only a joke,” decided Cap. “Come on, we’ve got to use our brains -against these fellows, and maybe we can turn the tables on them. First -we’ll go on to town, and see if any of them really are at the hotel. We -may get a line on them there.” - -But there was no trace of any one at the hostelry who might, by any -stretch of the imagination, be considered as of those who had a part in -the kidnapping. - -“Back to school,” ordered Cap. “We’ll see if there’s anything doing -there.” - -It did not take long to learn that no hazing was going on that night, -and that none of the various school societies were engaged in any -pranks, and when it was made clear that neither Mersfeld nor North had -been out of their rooms, they were absolved from the half-suspicion -that pointed to them. - -“But Bill’s gone,” said Pete blankly. - -“Yes, and it’s up to us to find him,” decided Cap. “I guess to-morrow—” - -“By Jove, to-morrow is the date for the big Freshman game with -Tuckerton!” exclaimed Whistle-Breeches. “You know how they protested -against him. I’ll bet a cookie, without a hole in it, that—” - -“Say no more!” burst out Bob Chapin, with a tragic gesture. “The plot -is laid bare! Tuckerton has our hero! On to the rescue!” - -But it was too late to do anything that night, though probably had -the college authorities been appealed to they would have permitted -further search. However our friends preferred to work out the problem -themselves. - -Meanwhile poor Bill was being rapidly carried away, whither he knew -not. All that he was aware of was that a cloth had been wound around -his head and face to prevent him from seeing or from crying out. Then -he was bundled into an auto, and the car was speeded up. - -Bill tried to listen and catch any sounds that might indicate where he -was being taken, but Borden, who wanted to make speed had the muffler -cut out and the only noise the pitcher heard was that made by the -machine. - -It was a rough road over which he was being taken, and the car swayed -and pitched from side to side, tossing Bill about. When he first felt -himself grabbed by his unknown assailants he had tried to struggle away -from them, but they had skilfully wound ropes about his legs and arms, -and now, bundled up as he was in one corner of the gasoline vehicle, -he tried in vain to free himself. But the ropes held. - -At length, however, lack of air, by reason of the cloth being too -tightly drawn over his head, caused the unlucky lad to give utterance -to a muffled appeal. - -“I say, you fellows don’t want me to smother; do you?” he demanded. - -“No, of course not,” came the cool answer. “If you’ll promise not to -make a row we’ll take off some of the horse blankets. How about it?” - -Bill listened intently. He did not recognize the voice. He was minded -to return a fierce answer, that he would suit himself about calling for -help, but he recalled that in many cases discretion is the better part -of valor. So, rather meekly, he made answer: - -“I’ll be good, kind Mr. Highwayman!” - -There was a stifled laugh at this. - -“Takes it well,” remarked one of his captors in a whisper. - -“Yes—but wait,” was the significant comment. “You take off some of the -wrappings. Be careful he doesn’t spot you.” - -Bill was soon more comfortable, as far as breathing was concerned, but -his limbs were still cramped from the cords that bound them, and he -was in a most uncomfortable position. He seemed to be reclining in the -tonneau of the car, and some one was in the seat with him. He tried -his best to make out the features, but it was dark, and the half masks -which his captors wore prevented recognition. - -Nor did the voices afford any clew, for when those in the auto spoke -it was either in half whispers or in mumbled words so that the tones -were not clear. At first Bill thought it was some of the students from -Westfield who were playing a joke on him, but later he changed this -opinion. He had an idea that it was either Mersfeld, North or some of -their crowd, but the conversation among his captors soon disclosed that -they were not these lads. - -“I wonder what they want of me, anyhow,” mused Bill. “It was foolish to -pay any attention to that note. I wish I had looked more carefully at -the writing.” - -Yet, as he tried to recall the characters he was sure he had never seen -the hand before. - -“It’s a joke, though, sure,” decided the pitcher. “And it’s some young -fellows who have me in tow. Guess I’ll talk and see if they’ll answer.” - -He squirmed into an easier position, and fired this question at those -in the auto: - -“Where are you taking me?” - -“You’ll soon see,” was the reply. - -“If I ever find out who you are, I’ll pay you back well for this,” went -on Bill. - -“You’re welcome to—if you find out,” was the significant answer. - -“I know you!” suddenly exclaimed the captive. “You’re fellows from -Sandrim, trying to get even for us boys taking your boats,” went on -Bill, for, not long before that, the lads from Westfield had carried -a lot of boats from their rival school, and deposited the craft in -the middle of their own campus. “You’re from Sandrim,” declared Bill -positively. - -A laugh was his only answer. The auto kept up the speed, and presently -turned from the main road, into a sort of lane. - -“Is this the place?” asked the lad who was in the tonneau with Bill. - -“A little farther,” answered the one at the wheel. “Look out he doesn’t -slip away from you.” - -“Oh, I’ve got him,” was the reply, and a hand took a firmer grip of -Bill’s shoulder. - -The car came to a sudden stop. A door of a building which the pitcher -could see was a sort of shack, or hut, was opened, and a shaft of light -came out. - -“Is that you—” began a voice. - -“Yes, keep quiet!” was the quick retort. “We’ve got him. Help carry him -to the room, and don’t talk.” - -Before Bill could prevent it he was again tied up, and some one lifted -him from the car. He was carried along in the darkness, trying in vain -to make out what sort of a place he was in. - -Then he was laid, none too gently, on a pile of some rags in a corner -of a dark room. The door was closed and Bill was left alone with his -anxious and gloomy thoughts. - -“Potato salad!” he gasped, half aloud, for the rags had been removed -from around his head, “I hope I get away from here in time to play in -the Freshman game to-morrow! It will be fierce if I don’t.” - -Bill listened. He could hear the auto puffing away. He was left alone -in the deserted shack—at least he thought he was alone, for he heard -no noise. - - * * * * * - -Bright and early the next morning Pete and Cap were up, ready to go -to the rescue of their brother. They arranged to cut their lectures -that day, as did also Whistle-Breeches, and, though many more students -wanted to take part in the search, it was thought best not to make too -much of the affair. - -“For, whoever has done it will hear about us getting excited about it -and they’ll have more of a laugh on us than ever,” declared Cap. “It’s -a disgrace that we ever let Bill be captured.” - -“We couldn’t help it,” was Pete’s opinion. “But we’ll get him back.” - -Their first move in the morning was to go to the place where the -kidnapping had occurred. There they saw the marks of some auto wheels, -but, as several cars had passed by in the meanwhile it was impossible -to do any tracing. - -“We’ve got to make inquiries,” decided Cap. “We’ll ask along the road, -of farmers and the people we meet.” - -They did not have much success for they could not describe the auto, -nor those in it, and many cars had gone over the road. - -“It’s my notion that you’re lookin’ fer a needle in the haystack,” was -the opinion of one farmer whom they asked, and when the boys thought of -it, they nearly agreed with him. - -“But what will we do at the game if he doesn’t show up?” demanded -Captain Armitage. “It will be fierce to go up against Tuckerton without -Bill in the box.” - -“What _can_ we do?” asked Pete hopelessly when a good part of the -morning had gone, and there was no trace of the missing pitcher. - -“Go right to Tuckerton, and accuse them!” suggested the irate captain. -“Tell them we know they spirited Bill off, and demand that they produce -him, or we’ll not play.” - -“They’d laugh at us,” said Cap. “Call us kindergartners, and all that -sort of thing. No, we can’t crawl that way. But I believe the Tuckerton -fellows _did_ have a hand in the game, and if we can only find out -which of them hired an auto I think we’d have a clew.” - -“Maybe one of them owns a car,” suggested Whistle-Breeches. It was a -new thought for the searchers, and it was received joyously. - -“By Jinks! That’s the stuff!” cried Cap. “Pete, you get on that trail, -and I’ll inquire at the only garage in town if any of the fellows from -Tuckerton hired a gasoline gig there. I’ll meet you at the cross roads.” - -This was a place about half-way between the two schools which were only -a few miles apart. - -With Pete went Whistle-Breeches, to help in the inquiry, and Bob Chapin -accompanied Cap. Meanwhile Captain Armitage was in despair, for he had -counted on Bill to win the biggest part of the game, and without him -he was sure his nine would lose. On the other hand there was rejoicing -in the Tuckerton camp, when it was known that Bill was missing, though -only a few of the members of the nine and its supporters, guessed the -cause of his absence. - -Noon came, and Bill was still among the missing. Cap had obtained no -news at the town garage, and though Pete had learned that Borden of -Tuckerton, owned a car, he could not locate that youth or his machine. -For the nine had some grounds a distance from the school to practice -before the big game. - -“I guess it’s no use,” said Cap despairingly. “It’s a queer sort of a -joke, if that’s what it is, and it looks as if Bill would be out of the -game. You’ll have to play without him, Armitage.” - -“Well, I’ll wait until the last minute,” decided the captain. “He may -get away and join us. Lucky it’s on our own grounds. We’ll have that -advantage. Poor Bill. I wonder where he is?” - - - - -CHAPTER XXVI - -JUST IN TIME - - -Bill Smith, about that same time, was wondering the same thing. He had -dozed off after his captors had left him, but, with the first glint of -morning sun into the room where he was a prisoner he had awakened. He -was still bound. - -“Well, this is pretty punk!” he exclaimed. “To think that they got -ahead of me this way! I wonder where I am, anyhow? And I wonder how I -can get away, and back—Great muskmelons! If I don’t show up at the -game—” - -The thought was too much for Bill. He resolved on bold tactics. -Considering that his promise not to make an outcry ended with the -leaving of his captors, he raised his voice in a shout. - -“Help! Come here, somebody! Let me out! Police!” - -Bill didn’t particularly want the police, for he knew that his -captivity was the result of some school prank, and the boys never -called on the officers of the law if they could help it. But “Police!” -was an easy word to say, and it carried well. Therefore the captive -yelled it again and again. - -But there was no answer to his cries, and after straining his throat -until it ached, the pitcher decided that he had better save his breath -and try other means to escape. - -“First to see if I can’t get rid of some of these ropes on my arms and -legs,” he murmured. He tugged and strained at them, after wiggling to -a sitting position, but the knots had been made with care, and held. -Bill tried to pull his hands from the loops but it was useless, and his -feet were equally secure. He could not gnaw through the ropes as he had -sometimes read of prisoners doing, for his hands were tied behind his -back. - -“I certainly am up against it,” he said aloud. Then, for the first -time, he took note of his prison. He was in a vacant room, evidently -in some old fashioned house, to judge by the character of the woodwork -and the wall paper. There were two windows, and a door, the latter -apparently quite solid. - -“Let’s have a look outside,” suggested Bill to himself. He struggled to -his feet, and, by a series of hops, gained the windows. He was in the -third story of a house, set in the midst of a neglected garden, and the -scene that met the lad’s gaze was unfamiliar to him. - -“I might be a hundred miles from nowhere, for all I can tell,” he -concluded dubiously. “Well, now for a try at the door.” - -Hopping over to the portal Bill turned around with his back to it, and -managed to reach the knob with his hands. It turned, but the door was -locked. - -“Nothing doing there!” exclaimed the captive. “Well, here’s for -some more noise.” He yelled and shouted at the top of his voice, -accompanying himself by beating on the door with his bound fists. -Silence was his only answer. - -Once more Bill hopped to the window. He looked out, hoping he might see -some one to whom he could appeal. Then, as he gazed helplessly out, he -noted a nail driven into one side of the casement. At once a plan came -into his mind. - -“If I can rub the rope that binds my hands, up and down over the head -of that nail, I may fray the ropes enough to break them,” he remarked -aloud, for it made it seem less lonesome to speak thus. “Once I get my -hands loose—” Bill did not finish, but he had great hopes of what he -could then do. - -He began at once with the rusty nail as a knife. It was hard work, and -several times his hands slipped and his wrists were scratched, but he -kept at it, and finally found that the cords were giving way. He worked -faster, and then, with a sudden strain he found his arms free. Then it -was an easy matter to loosen his feet, and he stood up unbound. - -“Now for a try at that door!” exclaimed the lad, and after giving the -knob a vigorous turn, and vainly pulling on the portal he began to kick -it violently. - -He was engaged in this, at the same time yelling and demanding to be -released, when the door suddenly opened. So suddenly in fact that -Bill toppled outward with it, and was caught in the arms of a big -man who entered quickly, carrying the captive backward with him, and -immediately locking the portal again. - -Surprise bereft the lad of speech for a moment, and the man, after -gazing at him, and noting the ropes on the floor, remarked: - -“Well, you got rid of ’em yourself, I see. If you’d have waited a -little longer I’d have taken ’em off. I’m a little late getting here -with your breakfast.” - -“Breakfast!” gasped Bill. “You’d have taken off the ropes! Say, what -kind of a game am I up against, anyhow?” - -“Oh, I guess it’s all right,” said the man easily. - -“Well it isn’t all right,” declared Bill. “If you don’t let me out of -here right away there’s going to be the biggest row you ever saw,” and, -as if in support of his assertion the pitcher rushed over and began -kicking on the door again. - -“Hum! Them fellers was right,” murmured the man seemingly not a bit -disturbed by what Bill was doing. - -“What fellows?” demanded the pitcher, pausing in his attack. - -“The ones what brought you here. They said you’d cut up rough, and make -a lot of fuss, an’ by gum, they was right! I guess you sure enough do -need a straight-jacket.” - -“A straight-jacket!” gasped poor Bill. “Say, for the love of cats, tell -me what I’m up against; won’t you?” - -“I don’t know, I’m sure,” was the calm reply. “I was told to humor -you until the keeper come, an’ I’m doin’ it. What would you like for -breakfast?” - -“I don’t want any—let me out!” pleaded Bill. He was beginning to see -the joke now. - -“I don’t dast,” replied the man. “The fellers what brung you here -said you was dangerous at times, an’ I might be held responsible. They -fetched you here in an automobile, an’ arranged with me to leave you -in this vacant house of mine until they could come again, with keepers -from the lunatic asylum, to take you away. I’m expectin’ ’em every -minute, but they said I was to untie you by daylight, an’ feed you, as -you was less violent when it wasn’t dark.” - -“Say, look here!” cried Bill. “Do you think I’m crazy?” - -“I’m sure of it,” was the answer. “At least, no, I ain’t neither. There -I clean forgot to say what them fellers told me to. No you ain’t crazy. -I am, an’ everybody else is, but you’re sane. That’s what they said -I was to tell you, if you asked me that question. All crazy persons -thinks they are sane,” he went on in explanation. “You’re sane.” - -“But look here!” pleaded the captive. “Of course I’m sane. I’m a -student at Westfield, and the fellows who brought me are either -students from there, or from some other school, playing a joke on me. -Now let me go!” - -The man shook his head. - -“They told me you’d say that, too,” he said. “I can’t let you go. I -promised to keep you here until the keepers came, an’ I’m goin’ to -do it. Now take it easy and you’ll be all right. I’ll bring you some -breakfast. You look hungry.” - -“I am, but say—” Then the hopelessness of appealing any further to the -man came forcibly to Bill, and he was silent. - -“That’s better,” announced the man, preparing to unlock the door again. -“I live over here a little way. This house belongs to me, but it’s been -vacant some time, so you can yell and holler all you please—no one -will hear you. I’ll go get you some victuals. Is there anything special -you’d like? My wife is a good cook.” - -“Oh, bring anything,” said poor Bill. He knew that he would have to eat -if he was to keep up his strength, for he had determined to try to -escape by the windows as soon as he was left alone again. He had a wild -idea of making a rush when the farmer opened the door, but a look at -the bulky frame of the man made him change his mind. - -The food was good and Bill ate a hearty meal. Then he was left alone -again, the farmer, on locking the door, saying that he expected the -keepers any moment. It was evident that he believed the stories the -captors of Bill had told him. - -Once he was alone, and when a look from the windows had assured him -that he was not being watched, Bill began to put into operation his -plan of getting away. - -He hoped that the ropes which had bound him would enable him to make -his way down them out of the window, but on tying the pieces together -he discovered that they were not long enough. - -“Up against it!” exclaimed the lad, until, looking more carefully out -of the end casement he discovered that a stout lightning rod ran near -it, down the side of the house. - -“That’s just the cheese, if it will hold me,” murmured the lad. “I’m -going to try it anyhow.” - -He crawled out on the window sill, tested the rod as best he could, and -then swung himself down it. To his joy it held, and in a few seconds he -was safe on the ground. - -“Now to find out where I am, and streak it for school and the game!” he -murmured, looking around to see that the farmer was not in sight. He -got his bearings and was soon out on a dusty highway. He ran for some -distance until a turn in the road hid the house of his captivity from -him, and then slowed down to a walk. - -The surroundings were still unfamiliar to him, but meeting a man -driving a carriage he learned that he was near the village of -Belleville, about twenty miles from Westfield. - -“And it’s coming on noon, I haven’t half enough to buy a railroad -ticket, and the game is called at two o’clock!” groaned Bill. “I -certainly am up against it good and hard!” - -The man whom he had accosted was going in the wrong direction, or he -would have given the lad a lift. However, he did consent to drive him -to the railroad station. - -“I’ll see if I can’t give the agent a hard-luck story, and have him -trust me for a ticket,” thought the pitcher. - -But the station agent proved to be a hard-featured man, who had once -lost a dollar by lending it to a young lady who told him a pathetic -story, and he turned a deaf ear to Bill’s pleading. - -“No money no ticket,” he declared. - -“But look here,” gasped Bill. “Some fellows, either at my school, or -from Tuckerton, played a joke on me last night—kidnapped me. I’m to -pitch in the championship Freshman baseball game at two o’clock this -afternoon, and I’ve just _got_ to be there. I’ll pay you back if you -trust me for a ticket. Or say, you can ship me as express, C. O. D. and -the boys will pay the charges at Westfield.” - -“Live stock has to travel in cattle cars, not as express,” answered the -agent with a grim smile. “Besides I don’t believe in baseball anyhow. -Some boys was battin’ a hall once, an’ they busted one of the windows -in this ticket office. I had to pay for it, too! I ain’t got no manner -of likin’ for baseball.” - -Bill saw that it was no use in pleading, and turned away. With despair -in his heart he noted that it was nearly one o’clock. He might as well -give up. Already the players were beginning to get ready for the game. -In fancy he could hear the words of wonder at his absence from the -diamond. - -“They may think I threw the game,” thought Bill, and then he remembered -that his brothers and Whistle-Breeches had seen him captured, and would -tell the story. - -“They’d come to the rescue if they only knew where to come, too,” -thought Bill gloomily. - -The pitcher was in desperate straits. A search through his pockets -disclosed the fact that he had nothing to pawn on which to raise money, -even if there had been a pawn shop in the village. He was just giving -up, deciding to walk to Westfield, hoping to arrive before dark, when, -as he left the station he nearly collided with a pretty girl, who was -just entering, having alighted from a trim little motor car, that was -still puffing outside. - -“I beg your pardon,” mumbled Bill. - -“Oh!” exclaimed the girl. “I—why it’s Mr. Smith!” she cried, holding -out her hand. “I’m glad to meet you again. But why aren’t you over at -school at the big game? I’m on my way there.” - -For a moment you could have knocked Bill down with the wind from a -slow ball, as he afterward expressed it. He looked at the girl, and -recognized her as Miss Ruth Morton, to whom he had been introduced by -Bob Chapin at one of the school games. - -“Miss Morton!” he murmured. “I—Oh, if you’re going to Westfield will -you take me? I’m marooned!” - -Then, rapidly, he blurted out the whole story of his capture and his -inability to get back. - -“Take you! Of course I’ll take you!” exclaimed Miss Morton. “I have to -stop for a girl friend, who is going to the game with me, but there’ll -be plenty of room for you.” - -“I’ll ride on the mud guard or hang on back!” exclaimed Bill, a gleam -of hope lighting his woe-begone countenance. “Only I want to beat -Tuckerton!” - -“And I want you to, even if a—a friend of mine goes there. I think it -was an awfully mean trick they played on you.” - -“Oh, I’m not _sure_ any Tuckerton fellows did it,” said Bill, who -wanted to play fair. “It may have been some of the Westfield crowd,” -but he had his own opinion. - -Miss Morton, who had come to the station to inquire about some express -package, hurried out to her car, followed by Bill. He offered to run it -for her, but she was not a little proud of her own ability to drive. - -“We’ve got to make time,” suggested the pitcher nervously. - -“I can do it,” the girl assured him, and, once she had thrown in the -third gear, the pitcher had no reason to complain of lack of speed. - -Miss Morton’s girl friend—Miss Hazel Dunning—was taken aboard and -then, with Bill sitting on the floor in front, and resting his feet on -the mud-guard step, for the machine was only a runabout, the trip to -Westfield was begun. - -Back on the school diamond there was an anxious throng of students and -players. The news of Bill’s kidnapping was known all over, and while -there was despair in the ranks of the Westfield Freshmen and their -supporters, there was ill-concealed joy among the Tuckerton nine and -their adherents. - -“Those fellows know where Bill is,” declared Cap. - -“But we don’t dare accuse them,” agreed Pete. - -“And we’ll lose the game,” went on Armitage dubiously. - -Bill never forgot his trip with Miss Morton. She was a daring driver, -for a girl, and once or twice took chances that made even the -nerve-hardened pitcher wince. But with a merry laugh she sped on, after -cutting in ahead of a load of hay, on a narrow bridge. - -Once there was a hail from a speed-watching constable but the girl kept -on. - -“There’s oil on my number, and I never expect to come this way again,” -she declared recklessly. - -“If only we don’t get a blow-out!” murmured Miss Dunning. - -“Don’t you dare suggest such a thing, Hazel!” cried Miss Morton. - -She turned on more speed. It lacked five minutes to two, and Bill knew -the game would be called on the dot. They were two miles away, and -could hardly get there on time, but the pitcher consoled himself with -the reflection that at least he could take part after the first inning. - -“Are we going to make it?” asked Miss Dunning. - -“We’ve _got_ to!” declared Miss Morton, as she swung around in front -of a farm wagon, thereby causing the grizzled driver symptoms of heart -failure. - -Bill could hear the shouts on the diamond now. He was in a fever of -excitement, and stood up to catch a first glimpse of the field. Miss -Morton, with her lips set firmly around her pretty mouth grasped the -steering wheel more rigidly and drove on. Toward the diamond she -turned. There was another cheer from the crowd, but Bill could not see -what was going on, and feared the game had started. There came a break -in the throng and he had a glimpse of the field. What he saw reassured -him. - -“I’m just in time!” he gasped. “They’re only practicing!” - -He leaped out as the girl brought the car to a sudden stop with both -brakes grinding and screeching. - -“See you later! A thousand thanks—never could have done it but for -you, Miss Morton!” burst out Bill as he ran over the grass. “I’ll never -forget it.” - -“Me either,” murmured the girl. “I never drove so fast before in all my -life, but I wasn’t going to tell him so,” she confided to her chum, as -they left the car and walked toward the grand stand. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVII - -A SCRIMMAGE - - -“Play ball!” called the umpire. - -“Wait! Wait!” begged Bill breathlessly, as he ran forward. “I’m in -time! I can play. Where’s Armitage? I’ve been locked up—couldn’t get -here before! Can’t I play?” - -A cheer greeted Bill’s unexpected appearance. His brothers who had -given up hope rushed forward to clap him on the back. Whistle-Breeches -did a war dance around him. There was wild rejoicing among the -Westfield Freshmen. The Tuckerton Freshmen looked glum. - -“Well, he got here after all,” muttered Swain, the pitcher, to Captain -Borden. - -“Yes. That farmer must have let him go before I meant him to.” - -“What are you going to do—protest again?” asked Cadmus. - -“No; what’s the use? I think they’re suspicious as it is. All we can -do now is to play to beat ’em. Hang the luck anyhow, but—I s’pose it -serves us right.” Borden had the grace to admit that much. - -Meanwhile Bill had rapidly told the story of his captivity and his ride -in the auto. - -“I tell you what we ought to do!” declared Armitage angrily, “we ought -to refuse to play them, and claim the game. The idea of kidnapping our -pitcher!” - -“Easy!” exclaimed Cap. - -“That’s right,” put in Bill. “I wasn’t hurt any, and it was rather a -lark after I got away. Besides we don’t know for sure that Borden and -his crowd did it, though I’m almost positive it was his auto. But never -mind. Let’s play ball.” - -“It’s too late to get into uniform,” remarked the captain, “and we’re -to take the field.” - -“I’ll pitch as I am, and borrow a uniform when it’s our turn to bat,” -spoke Bill. - -“But can you twirl?” inquired his brother. “After what you’ve been -through—away all night—knocked around in an auto, no decent meal—” - -“That’s where you’re wrong, I had one good meal, and the next one can -wait until we win the game. Miss Morton—she’s several kinds of a -pretty brick, by the way—she got some sandwiches on the trip in. My! -She’s a stunner! How she did drive! She—” - -“Oh, get in your box, and play ball,” interrupted Armitage, with a -laugh at Bill’s enthusiasm. - -There were dubious looks on the faces of the Tuckerton players at the -advent of the talented pitcher, but a gleam of hope came when Borden -whispered that he might be all out of condition from his captivity, and -could not hold his own in the box. - -Curiously enough it did not occur to any of the conspiring rivals of -Westfield that they had taken an unfair advantage in spiriting Bill -away. They felt that he had no right, as the Varsity pitcher, to play -with the Freshmen against them. - -But if they hoped that Bill was out of condition they were doomed to -disappointment, for when he had put on his glasses, which Cap had -brought with him on a forlorn chance, Bill never pitched better ball. -At first he was a little stiff, and issued several passes, whereat -there was rejoicing among the visitors, and grim despair in the ranks -of the home team. But Bill shook off his momentary indisposition, and -when the final inning had ended in a dazzling succession of plays, the -Westfield team had won by a score of ten runs to three. - -“Wow, Oh, wow!” cried Armitage, hugging Bill. “If you hadn’t come along -we’d have been in the soup!” - -“Nonsense!” objected Bill. - -“It’s true,” said Whistle-Breeches. “Swain was in great form to-day.” - -“But Bill was better,” added Pete. - -“You could make a story out of what you went through,” drawled Bob -Chapin. “Ring in Miss Morton as the heroine.” - -“Only for her I’d never have made it,” agreed Bill, as he went over to -shake hands with the pretty, blushing girl. - -“Oh, it was fine! Fine!” cried Miss Morton, as she greeted Bill and his -companions who surrounded her and Miss Dunning. - -“Perfectly wonderful the way you struck out the last three men,” went -on the other girl. - -Bill blushed behind his ears. He was too tanned to have the color show -elsewhere. - -And so the Tuckerton-Westfield Freshmen game passed into school -history, and Bill never really found out who had kidnapped him. In fact -he never tried, for he concluded that his suspicions were good enough, -and he did not want revenge. - -The summer crept on, and the close of the term was near at hand. More -games were played, and Westfield was doing well. She did not have, as -yet by any means, a clear title to the pennant. In fact the loss of a -few games would mean that Tuckerton or Sandrim would get it, but the -Smith boys and their chums were working hard. - -As for Mersfeld he was still under the ban, for when he was allowed -to resume athletics he had gone so stale that after a try-out he was -relegated to the ranks of the subs for the Varsity, and Bill’s place as -first pitcher was undisputed. And there was bitterness in the heart of -the former twirler. - -“Oh, if I could only get square with him!” he muttered to North. - -“There’s only one way to put him out of the running,” declared that -worthy. - -“And that is—?” - -“To get his special glasses. He can’t get another pair made in time -now, for that old codger of an astronomer has been arrested I hear, and -the other professor hasn’t been around lately. There’s only a week more -before the close of the season, and if you get the specks Bill couldn’t -pitch. You might have a chance then.” - -“I wish we could get ’em, but we risked it once, and—” - -“We’ll have to do it differently this time. No more trying to sneak -into his room. We’ve got to take the glasses away from him personally.” - -“How? Hold him up some dark night? That won’t do, for he only carries -them with him going to and from the games.” - -“And that’s just when I mean to take them. If we could get him into -what would look like a friendly scrimmage say, one of us could frisk -the glasses out of his pocket, and he’d be left when he tried to pitch -next time.” - -“Can it be done?” - -“Sure. If you’re with me just hang around the next time Bill comes -off the diamond. I’ll start something, you come back at me, we’ll run -around Bill and his brothers—maybe upset ’em, and in the confusion if -I can’t get the glasses I’m no good. I know where he carries ’em.” - -“All right, North. If I can only get back on the team I’d do anything!” - -“Then it’s settled,” was the reply, and the two cronies walked away -together, talking of their mean plot. - -Their chance came the next day, when a crowd of the players were -returning from the ball field after a practice game. - -“Tag, you’re it!” suddenly cried North to Mersfeld, and he -began circling about Bill, Pete and Cap, who were walking with -Whistle-Breeches. - -“Oh, cut it out!” cried Mersfeld, as if in objection, and he tripped -North up. The latter in falling made a grab for Bill, as if to save -himself, and in an instant the two went down in a heap and there was a -laughing, struggling crowd of youths rolling over the grass in what was -apparently a friendly scrimmage. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVIII - -THE GLASSES ARE GONE - - -“Here get up off me, can’t you?” demanded Bill, as he found himself -under North’s no light weight. The latter had his arms around the -pitcher. - -“Sorry. Did I hurt you?” asked the bully with elaborate politeness as -he helped Bill to his feet. - -“No, but I don’t want my nose rubbed in the dirt. It might spoil the -shape.” - -“That’s right. Wait until I get hold of Mersfeld. It was his fault.” - -North scurried off, pretending to be in pursuit of his crony, while -Cap, Pete and Whistle-Breeches, who had gone down in the melee were -fighting off several of their chums who, seeing the prostrate group, -had, boy fashion, thrown themselves on top, a-la-football practice. - -“Oh, say, this is too much!” gasped Cap, as he tossed Bob Chapin to one -side. - -“Yes, who started this, anyhow?” demanded Pete, digging some grass out -of his left ear. - -The skirmishing and fun were general now, and no one seemed to remember -that Mersfeld and North had been the storm centre. The two were far -enough away, over the campus by this time. - -“Well, did you get ’em?” asked Mersfeld nervously, as he looked back at -the throng of lads who had ceased their struggles and were brushing -what they could of the dirt off their clothes. - -“I sure did,” was the answer. “Look,” and he showed him a small black -case, which, on being opened, disclosed the peculiar glasses that Bill -wore when he pitched. - -“Good!” exclaimed the deposed pitcher. “Now what’ll we do with ’em?” - -“Here, you take ’em,” and North held them out. - -“Not much!” came the quick answer. - -“Why not?” - -“Think I want to be caught with them on me?” - -“Well, I don’t want ’em either. Shall I throw ’em away?” and he made a -half-motion toward a clump of bushes. - -“No, some one might find ’em, and give ’em back, and then we’d be as -badly off as before. Here, I’ll tell you what to do. Toss ’em into that -old cannon,” and Mersfeld pointed to one on the far edge of the campus. -It was a Spanish war trophy, loaned by the government. “No one will -ever think of looking there for ’em.” - -With a quick motion North slid the case of spectacles down the muzzle. -Then the two quickly kept on their way. - -Bill and his friends proceeded to the gymnasium, where the players -indulged in a shower bath, and, a little later the three brothers -were in Cap’s room, talking over baseball matters in particular, and -everything in general. - -“Let’s see,” mused the pitcher as he looked over a schedule of dates. -“We play Northampton day after to-morrow, Sandrim the next day, and -then Saturday winds up the season with Tuckerton. And say, fellows, do -you know we’ve got to win every game to keep the pennant!” - -“How’s that?” demanded Cap. “I thought we had a good lead?” - -“So we did have, but Tuckerton and Sandrim have pulled up on us, and -it’s almost a tie now. Yes, we’ve got to make a clean sweep from now on -or we’ll not be in it.” - -“Well, we can do it,” declared Pete vigorously. - -“Sure,” asserted Whistle-Breeches, as if it was the most simple thing -in the world. - -“Oh, certainly, my lords and gentlemen,” added Bob Chapin -half-mockingly. “Just sit here and figure it out by averages and -percentages.” - -“Dry up!” advised Cap. “How’s your arm holding out, Bill?” - -“Oh, I guess I’ll manage, though we’re going to have a grandstand -finish this week.” - -“How about your eyes,” asked Whistle-Breeches. “Can’t you get along -without the glasses yet, Bill? I’m always afraid a ball will crack into -them, and then you _would_ be out of it.” - -“That part never worries me,” said Bill. “I’m so used to ’em now that -I’d feel lost in the box without ’em. They certainly were a great -thing, and I—” - -He paused suddenly, and hurriedly crossed the room to where his uniform -was picturesquely draped over a chair. Rapidly the pitcher felt through -the pockets, and a look of alarm came over his face. He began tossing -aside a multitudinous collection of articles on his bureau. - -“What’s up, something bite you?” asked Pete. - -Bill did not answer. He was feeling now in the pockets of the suit he -wore. As he went from one to the other his face assumed a more and more -worried look. - -“For cats’ sake what is it?” demanded Cap. “Lost a love letter? We -won’t read it if we find it.” - -“My glasses!” gasped Bill. - -“Your glasses?” repeated Whistle-Breeches. - -“Yes—they’re gone,” and with a wild look on his face the pitcher -dashed from the room and ran toward the gymnasium, followed by his -brothers. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIX - -MERSFELD IN THE BOX - - -There was a wild search in and about the gymnasium on the part of Bill, -his brothers and his chums, but of course the missing glasses were not -found. - -“Are you sure you dropped them here?” asked Cap, as he went over again -the room which his brother had used as a dressing department before and -after the shower bath. - -“Well, I’m not sure, of course,” answered Bill, “but they’re gone, and -I must have dropped them somewhere.” - -They went over the place inch by inch, looked in odd nooks and corners -and inquired of the janitors and helpers, but the spectacles were not -found. - -“Say,” cried Whistle-Breeches with sudden illumination, “I’ll bet you -dropped them that time we were all fooling on the campus!” - -“By Jinks! I believe I did!” cried Bill, and he made a mad dash for the -place. The others followed and soon the lads were scanning the grass, -going about on their hands and knees. From a vantage point Mersfeld and -North watched. - -“He’s missed ’em all right,” exulted the deposed pitcher. - -“Sure, and he’ll look a good while for ’em, too.” - -“Think he’ll suspect us?” - -“Not a bit of it,” replied North. He started toward the group of -searching lads. - -“Here! Where are you going?” cried his companion in alarm. - -“Going over to help ’em hunt.” - -“Come back! Do you want to give the whole thing away, just when I’ve -got a last chance to get back on the nine?” - -“Give it away, you chump! Why the best way to throw ’em off the track, -and make ’em feel sure that we had nothing to do with it is to help -Bill look for his glasses. Come on. It’ll be a joke, but they can’t -appreciate it.” - -Somewhat dubious of the plan, Mersfeld followed North, who strolled up -to Bill. The Varsity pitcher’s face wore a worried look. - -“Lose something?” asked North innocently. - -“Yes, my glasses. They must have dropped out of my pocket when we were -skylarking here.” - -“That’s too bad!” and North winked at Mersfeld. “We’ll help you look.” - -“Sure,” agreed the deposed pitcher, and the two hypocrites went -carefully over the ground, laughing to themselves as they thought of -the glasses in the muzzle of the cannon. - -Darkness came and the search had to be given up. Puzzled as to what -could have happened to his glasses, uselessly and mechanically feeling -in pocket after pocket, Bill accompanied his brothers back to his room. -Mersfeld and North went off together. - -“Well, what are you going to do?” asked Pete, as he looked at the -pitcher. - -“I don’t know what to do,” and Bill’s tone was despondent. - -“Maybe you can get along without them now, for the few remaining -games,” suggested Cap. - -“No,” and Bill shook his head. “I’ll need them, for I tried to pitch -without them to-day, and my curves were away off. And as for the -remaining games—they’re the most important of the season. We’ve just -_got_ to win them to make good and keep the pennant. I don’t see what -could have happened to the glasses.” - -“You might have lost them anywhere between the diamond and here,” said -Whistle-Breeches. “We’ll look again in the morning.” - -“Say!” cried Pete. “Can’t you get some oculist in town to fix you up -a pair that will do? It can’t be that they were such peculiar glasses -that they can’t be duplicated.” - -“Maybe not,” half-agreed Bill, “but the old rain-maker-astronomer said -the lenses had to be ground in a certain way, and I don’t know where he -had them made.” - -“We’ll try some one in town,” went on Cap. “I believe they can fix you -up,” and they spent some time talking of that possibility. - -Bill was worried, and with good reason. He wanted to maintain his -position as pitcher, and he knew he could not do so if he did not -“deliver the goods.” That he could pitch without the glasses he did -not believe, but he was anxious for morning to come that he might test -himself again. - -Bright and early he and Cap went out to the diamond, not only to look -for the glasses but to do some work with the horsehide. It is needless -to say that the glasses were not recovered, and to Bill’s despair he -found that he was throwing wild. - -“It won’t do,” spoke Cap despondently, as he tossed back the ball which -he had had to reach away outside of the plate to gather in. - -“No, I guess not,” agreed his brother. “It’s either a new pair of specs -for me, or—some one else in the box.” - -“We’ll try to get a new pair of glasses first,” suggested Cap, as -cheerfully as he could. - -An oculist whom they consulted, but not the one to whom they had first -gone after the accident, looked grave when he had tested Bill’s eyes, -and heard the story of the blow. - -“Of course I can fit you with glasses,” he said, “but it may take some -time to get them just right.” - -“How long?” asked the pitcher anxiously. - -“A week—perhaps two.” - -“It won’t do!” declared Bill. “Why the last Sandrim game comes off in -three days, and a week later the final with the Tuckerton nine. I’ve -got to pitch in both.” - -The oculist shrugged his shoulders. - -“I’ll do my best,” he said. “The lenses will have to be specially -ground. If I knew where the others were made I could get them from -there.” - -But the astronomer had failed to say where he had had Bill’s glasses -made, and there was nothing for it but to try some other lens-making -place. Meanwhile the oculist said he would temporarily fit Bill with a -pair of glasses. - -But when the pitcher tried to use them, his curves were worse off than -before, and with despair in his heart he laid aside the spectacles. - -“I’ll have to wait for the others,” he said. - -“But what about the game with Sandrim?” asked Captain Graydon. “Can -you pitch for us?” - -Bill shook his head, and said nothing. The captain and coach looked at -each other. - -“We’ll have to put Mersfeld back in the box,” decided Mr. Windam -dubiously. - -“Yes, and he’ll have to practice hard every spare minute, and even -then—” The captain did not finish, but they knew what he meant. - -It was with wild and ill-concealed exultation in his heart that -Mersfeld received orders to take his old place. - -“Now it’s up to you to make good!” said North to him. - -“And I’ll do it, too!” was the fierce response. “Bill Smith shan’t get -his hands on the ball again.” - -Mersfeld began hard and steady practice, and, whether it was that the -rest had done him good, or whether he had improved did not develop, but -there was a more hopeful look on the faces of the captain and coach. - -“We may do Sandrim yet,” said Graydon, “and if Bill can get his glasses -in time for the Tuckerton game we may pull out ahead.” - -“I hope so, but it’s going to be a hard row to hoe.” - -Bill and his brothers and friends made strenuous efforts in the little -while that remained to get the glasses in time, but there was a delay, -the lenses were not ready, and when the day of the final game with -Sandrim arrived Mersfeld was in the box. - -Bill sat on the bench, bitterness in his heart, his fingers fairly -aching to get hold of the ball. But he knew that his eyes were -practically useless. - -It was a hard game, and Westfield won it only by the hardest kind of -work, and the narrow margin of one run. It was due more to the support -Mersfeld got than to his pitching that he pulled the contest out of -the fire, and at one time, when Sandrim had three men on bases, and -none out it looked like a walk-over for them. - -But Cap, who was behind the bat, and Pete, at short, were towers of -strength, and once more the Smith boys, even though the trio was -broken, demonstrated their worth. - -“Now, if we can take Tuckerton’s scalp we’ll be all right,” remarked -the coach to the captain, as they strolled off the diamond after the -game. - -“Yes, but we need Bill. Oh, if his eyes would only get right again!” - -“Yes, or if he can only get his glasses in time.” - -It was three days later before the oculist had the special lenses, and -Bill tried them hopefully. At first they seemed to be all right, but -after he had pitched a few balls Cap called to him: - -“Get ’em over a little better, Bill. That last one was quite a ways -out.” - -“What’s the matter? Why it went right over the plate!” - -Pete who was behind Cap, watching his brother’s curves started, and the -oldest Smith lad shook his head. Then Bill knew that the glasses were -not the same. - -“I guess it’s all up,” he said despondently. “I’m out of it.” - -“No!” cried Cap. “We’ll help you!” - -“What can you do?” Bill wanted to know. “There’s no use having this -oculist try it again.” - -“No, but we’ll find Professor Clatter and Tithonus Somnus and get him -to make a right pair of glasses. That’s our last chance!” - -“And a mighty slim one, too!” murmured Bill, “with the final game only -a few days off!” - - - - -CHAPTER XXX - -BILL’S FALL - - -When the oculist learned that the glasses he had made for Bill were -practically useless, he wanted to try again, and, as there could be -no harm in it, and as some good might result, the pitcher consented. -But he and his brothers at once began the task of trying to locate -Professor Clatter and his friend the astronomer. - -And a task it was, for they had nothing by which to go. The Smith -boys knew the towns at which the medicine man usually stopped in his -travels, and telegrams were sent to the police of each one, asking them -to have Mr. Clatter at once get into communication with his former -friends. But the answers that came back stated that the professor had -not recently been in the town addressed or else had just left. - -The time was getting woefully short. Preparations were completed for -the final and deciding game of the series, which as far as the pennant -went, was a tie between Tuckerton and Westfield. - -With the exception of their pitcher Westfield had the best nine in many -years, and her rival was equally well provided for. It would be the -hottest game of the season, and indications pointed to record-breaking -attendance. - -“Oh, if I only could pitch!” sighed poor Bill. “It’s the one game of -the year.” - -“And Miss Morton will be there,” added Cap. - -“Yes, hang it all. Oh, I’ve a good notion to get some surgeon to -operate on me, and see if he can’t straighten my eyes!” - -“No time for that now,” said Pete sadly, for he and his brother, as -well as all their friends, sympathized deeply with Bill. “It’s hard -luck, old man, but it can’t be helped.” - -Mersfeld was practicing early and late, and even Cap, who was to be -behind the bat, had to admit that the former twirler was in good form. - -“He can’t touch you when you are at your best though, Bill,” he said to -his brother, “and I wish you were going to be in the box, but—” - -It now seemed practically sure that no help could be had from Professor -Clatter or his odd friend. And the second pair of glasses made by the -oculist were worse than the first. Bill’s vision was away out of focus -when he used them. - -“It’s me for the bench again,” he said the night before the big game, -and nothing that his brothers or friends could say consoled him. - -A vigorous search was still kept up for the missing case of spectacles, -and notices were posted about the school regarding them, but they were -still in the cannon, and no one thought of looking there, save the two -conspirators, and of course they did not. There was unholy joy between -them. - -“You got what you wanted,” said North to Mersfeld when the make-up of -the nine for the concluding championship game was announced the night -preceding it. - -“That’s right, thanks to you.” - -“Oh, well, I’ll depend upon you to help me out, sometime. I’ve got a -score to pay back to Cap Smith yet,” and there was a vindictive look on -the bully’s face. - -The Westfield nine went out on the diamond for early practice on the -morning of the game, and Mersfeld seemed in good form. There was a -confident smile on his face as he threw the balls to Cap. - -“Keep it up,” advised the catcher, who wished in vain that his big mitt -was receiving the swift balls his brother could send in, in place of -those from Mersfeld. - -“Tuckerton is bringing along two extra pitchers I hear,” said the -captain to Coach Windam. “They must be looking for a hard game!” - -“I hope we give it to ’em! As for box men, we’ll put Mersfeld in, of -course, and if worst comes to worst and he doesn’t last we’ll have to -rely on Newton.” - -“I suppose so. Oh, if only Bill Smith—! But what’s the use, we’ll do -the best we can.” - -It was the afternoon of the great game. Already the grandstands on the -Westfield grounds were beginning to fill up with the cohorts of the two -schools, and other spectators who came to look on, and cheer. There -were pretty girls galore, and a glance over the seats showed a riot of -colors from the hats and dresses of the maidens, to the gay banners and -ribbons on horns and canes. - -The Tuckerton nine had arrived in a big coach, and their entrance on -the diamond was a signal for a burst of cheers and many songs. - -Then out trotted the home team, and there was a wild burst of barbaric -voices in greeting, while rival singing bands, more or less in -harmony, chanted the praises of their respective teams. - -The Smith boys were with their mates, and, even though he knew he was -not going to play, Bill had put on a uniform. - -“I’ll feel better sitting on the bench than up in the stand,” he said -to his chums. He tried to smile, but it was a woeful imitation. - -There was a sharp practice by both teams. Cap took Mersfeld to a -secluded spot, and gave him some final advice about signals, before -they started to warm-up. Bill, who wanted to see how his rival was -handling the horsehide strolled over to watch him and Cap. - -“Pretty good,” he said to Mersfeld, who had pitched in some hot ones. - -“Glad you think so,” was the somewhat ungracious answer. “I guess I’ll -do.” Mersfeld was anything but modest. - -It was almost time for the game to be called. Just back of where Bill -was watching his brother and Mersfeld, Whistle-Breeches was knocking -grounders to Pete, who was to play shortstop. Some one threw in a ball -from the outfield to one of the fungle batters. The sphere went wild, -and came toward Whistle-Breeches. - -“Look out!” yelled Pete, and Anderson raised his bat intending to stop -the wildly-thrown horsehide. He hit it harder than he intended, and it -was shunted off in the direction of Bill. - -“Duck!” suddenly exclaimed Cap, who saw his brother’s danger, and -instinctively Bill dodged. He turned to one side so quickly that he -lost his balance, and the next moment he fell heavily, his head -striking the ground with considerable force, while the ball landed some -distance from him. - -They all expected to see Bill jump to his feet with a laugh at his -awkwardness, but to the surprise of all he remained lying there, still -and quiet. - -“Bill’s hurt!” cried Cap, making a dash toward him, while several other -players came hurrying forward to see what was the matter. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXI - -“PLAY BALL!” - - -Cap Smith was the first to reach his brother. As he lifted him up Bill -opened his eyes. - -“I’m all right,” he murmured. “I can stand alone.” - -He proved it by doing so. His hand went to his head, and when it came -away there was a little smear of blood on the palm. - -“Must have hit on a stone and cut myself,” he said, a bit faintly. “But -I’m all right now.” - -“Are you sure?” asked Pete, slipping his arm around his brother. -“Better come over here and sit down.” - -He led Bill to the bench, and indeed the pitcher was a trifle dizzy, -and his head felt queer, for he had fallen harder than he had supposed. - -The other players, finding that nothing serious was the matter went -back to their practice. In the grandstands the singing and cheering was -multiplied. Crowds of pretty girls, eager youths, demure chaperones, -old grads, young grads and mere spectators continued to arrive until -every seat was filled. - -“It’s going to be a great game,” murmured Cap, who, finding that his -brother was apparently all right, resumed, his catching with Mersfeld. -“I never saw such a crowd!” - -“It’s money in the treasury whether we win the pennant or not,” -declared J. Evans Green, the business-like manager. - -“But we _are_ going to win!” declared Cap emphatically. “Keep ’em -guessing, Mersfeld, and you’ll do. Now when I put three fingers on my -mitt so, let me have a swift drop,” and he went on with his code of -signals. - -The conferences between the respective captains had ended, and Burke, -head of the Tuckerton Varsity nine, signalled to his men to come in -from practice, as they were to bat first. Graydon assembled his team -for a few final instructions. - -“Sorry you’re not playing with us to-day,” he said to poor Bill, who -was sitting on the bench. The cut in his head had stopped bleeding. - -“You’re no more sorry than I am,” declared the pitcher ruefully. “But -it can’t be helped.” - -“We may have to call on you yet,” said the coach, “if they knock -Mersfeld and Newton out of the box.” - -“I’m afraid I couldn’t do much good,” was Bill’s doleful answer. - -“Play ball!” howled the umpire, and the players took their places, -Mersfeld catching the new white horsehide sphere the official tossed to -him. - -The first ball which Mersfeld delivered was cleanly hit away out in -centrefield, and when it came back the batter was on second base. There -was a wild riot of cheers at this auspicious opening for Tuckerton, and -a grim look on the faces of the Westfield players. - -“That looks bad,” murmured Bill, as he watched Mersfeld wind up for his -next delivery. The pitcher was visibly nervous, and Cap, seeing it, -made an excuse to walk out to him. - -“Keep cool!” he whispered, “or you won’t last.” - -Mersfeld stiffened, and struck out the next man. But the third one got -a three bagger out of him, and the following one a single. When the -inning came to a close there were three runs chalked up for the rivals -of our friends, and there was only gloom for the home team. Nor was it -dissipated by the triumphant songs their opponents sang. - -One run was the best that Graydon’s men could do on their first trial, -though captain and coach pleaded earnestly with them. - -“I guess they’ve got our number,” murmured Pete to his brother as the -latter donned his protector and mask. - -“Oh, don’t be so gloomy,” was the advice. - -Mersfeld went from bad to worse, and at the beginning of the fourth -inning the captain and coach held a consultation. - -“We’ve got to do something,” said Graydon. - -“I agree with you. But what?” - -“Newton will have to go in.” - -“It looks so. We can’t chance Bill.” - -“No. Well, tell Newton to pitch next inning.” Two more runs went to the -credit of Tuckerton, making the score eight to two in their favor. - -By desperate playing and taking several chances our friends managed to -pull a brace of tallies out of the ruck that inning, so that there was -some hope. Mersfeld sulked when told to go to the bench, and pleaded -for another chance, but the coach and captain were firm. - -“Get ready, Newton,” ordered Graydon. - -The substitute Varsity twirler was not a wonder, and he knew it, but -he started off well, and there was some hope, until he began to go to -pieces after issuing passes to two men. Then it seemed all up with him, -though only one run went to Tuckerton’s credit that inning. - -Cap shook his head dubiously when he took off his mask at the beginning -of the second half of the fifth inning. His apprehensive feeling was -shared by his teammates, by the coach, the manager and by thousands of -the Westfield supporters, who sat in gloomy silence while the cohorts -of Tuckerton yelled, shouted and sang themselves hoarse. - -“I’m going to do something desperate,” declared the coach, to the -captain, when two runs had come in to sweeten the tally for Westfield, -thereby causing wild hope among her friends. - -“What are you going to do?” asked Graydon. - -“I know we can beat these fellows, even now, if we could only hold them -down to no more runs,” went on Windam. “And to shut them out for the -rest of the game we need a good pitcher. Mersfeld can’t do it, Newton -doesn’t count, Bill is out of it, and I’m going to put in Morgan.” - -“What! The Freshman sub?” - -“It’s a last hope, I know,” admitted the coach, “but we’ve got to do -something. Morgan is good, and if he can last he’ll be all right.” - -Rather listlessly, and almost hopelessly the captain consented to it. -He was crossing to tell Morgan of the decision arrived at, when he -noticed that Cap and Bill were having a little warm-up practice off to -one side, for it would not be Cap’s turn to bat in some time. - -As Bill stung in a ball his brother uttered a cry of surprise. - -“What’s the matter—hurt?” asked the captain quickly, fearing more bad -luck. With his best catcher laid off, as well as the star pitcher, the -game might as well be given up. - -“Hurt! No, I’m not hurt,” answered Cap. “Here, Bill just throw a few -more that way,” he called eagerly to his brother. - -Bill, wondering what was up, did so, fairly stinging them in with his -old-time force. The look of surprise on Cap’s face grew. - -“Here!” he called to the captain, and he motioned for Bill to approach. -“Do you notice any difference in your eyes?” he asked his brother -eagerly. - -“My eyes?” repeated Bill, slowly. - -“His eyes,” murmured the captain. - -“Yes,” went on the catcher. “Every ball you threw came in as straight -as a die, and the curve broke just at the right time. Say, maybe I’m -loony, or dreaming, but you pitch just as you used to, Bill, before you -got hurt! Do your eyes feel any differently?” - -“Well, they don’t ache as they used to when I pitched without my -glasses, and there seems to be a queer feeling in my head.” He put his -hand back to where he had fallen on the stone a little while before. - -“Bill, you’ve got your eyesight back!” cried Cap eagerly. “I’m sure of -it!” - -“Do you really believe it?” asked the pitcher trembling with suppressed -hope. - -“Sure. But we’ll try once more. Come over here.” - -The game was going rather slow now, for the Tuckerton pitcher was -tiring, and was not sure of his man. He had decided to walk him, and -to kill time was playing with Whistle-Breeches, who was on second. -Consequently little attention needed to be given to the contest for the -moment by the captain. He could see what Cap and Bill were going to do. - -Once more Bill threw in the balls. They came just as they had formerly -done, perfectly. - -“You’ll do!” cried Cap in delight. - -“Get ready to go to the box!” ordered the captain tensely. - -“But I—I don’t understand,” stammered the pitcher. - -“You’ve got your sight back!” went on his brother, “and I believe -what did it was the fall you just had. It did something to your -head—relieved the blood or nerve pressure or something. Anyhow you can -pitch once more!” - -“That’s the stuff!” cried Graydon. “We need you!” - -There was a wild yell from the grandstands, and out burst a chorus of a -Westfield song. - -“Whistle-Breeches brought in a run,” cried Graydon. “Things are picking -up! Now we’ll wallop ’em!” - -Three runs were the best Westfield could do that inning and when the -home team was ready to take the field there was a murmur of surprise as -it was announced that Bill Smith would pitch. - -As Bill started toward the box there was some excitement at one of the -entrance gates near the grandstand back of the home plate. - -“I must go in! I must go in!” a voice cried. “I tell you the Smith -boys need me!” - -Something in the voice attracted the attention of Bill, Cap and Pete. -They looked, and saw Professor Clatter rush past a ticket-taker. - -“Here I am!” cried the medicine man. “I came on as soon as I could. I -got your message in Langfield. And here are your glasses, Bill!” - -He held up the case containing the missing spectacles, and fairly ran -across the diamond. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXII - -NIP AND TUCK FOR VICTORY - - -The game was halted. There were angry demands from several players as -to why a stranger was allowed to come on the field. Others, recognizing -the professor, clamored that it was all right. - -“I came as soon as I could!” explained the medicine man to the Smith -boys, who gathered about him. “I knew something must be wrong. I can’t -locate Tithonus though. What is it? Bill’s glasses? Here they are, -found in the most opportune way! Talk about golden rivers!” - -The professor was panting from his run and his rapid talk. He held the -glasses to Bill. - -“Where did you find them?” gasped the pitcher. - -“Just now, as I was coming across the campus. I left my wagon over in -the road. As I was passing one of the cannon some of the janitors were -cleaning it. There was a lot of leaves and rubbish in it. Then out fell -the glasses just as I passed. I grabbed them up, and I knew the whole -story.” - -“You knew the whole story?” cried Cap. “Who put them there?” - -“No, no! I can’t tell that!” declared Mr. Clatter, while North and -Mersfeld looked at each other in relief. “I mean I understand it -all—about your messages to me,” went on the medicine man. “At first I -couldn’t imagine why you had telegraphed me. I knew you must be in some -kind of trouble though.” - -“Yes, we generally are,” murmured Pete. - -“And, as soon as I saw the glasses fall from the cannon I realized what -it was. Bill lost them, perhaps a bird took them for its nest. At any -rate here they are, and it’s very lucky, too, for I can’t get any trace -of Tithy. Here, Bill, put them on and play ball.” - -“I don’t need them now,” answered the pitcher. - -“Don’t need them! You don’t mean to say that the game is over—you -haven’t lost the championship; have you?” and the professor looked -pained, for he was a lover of base ball, and in his journeyings he -faithfully read the accounts of the games at Westfield, where his -friends the Smith boys attended. “Have you lost the pennant?” asked the -professor sadly. - -“Not yet, but we’re in a fair way to if this keeps on,” murmured Cap, -for the score was seven to nine in favor of Tuckerton. - -“But why doesn’t Bill need his glasses then?” asked Mr. Clatter. - -“Because I can see to pitch without them,” answered our hero. “A funny -thing just happened, Professor,” and Bill told about his fall and the -odd effect it had had on his vision. The traveling medicine man looked -interested. - -“Yes, that’s exactly how it may have taken place,” he declared, as Cap -stated his theory. “Here, let me have a look at you, Bill.” - -“Say,” angrily cried Burke, captain of the Tuckerton nine, “if this -is a ball game let’s go on with it, and if it’s a hospital for injured -players we’ll get off the field.” - -“That’s right,” added Hedden, the pitcher. “We’re here to win the -pennant, not to listen to fairy stories.” - -“Play ball!” yelled Brower, the catcher. - -“Easy now,” counseled Professor Clatter. “It won’t take me but a moment -to look at Bill’s head, and then the game can go on. You don’t seem to -realize that something extraordinary has taken place here.” - -“It will be extraordinary if we ever play ball again,” remarked Burke, -sarcastically. But the professor did not heed him. He was looking at -the cut on Bill’s head. - -“That accounts for your eyes getting right again,” he said. “It’s a bad -cut, but you’re in shape to play, in spite of it. Go in, and win!” - -“That’s what we’re going to do!” declared Cap. - -“Surest thing you know!” cried Pete. - -“I’d like to find out how my glasses got in that cannon,” spoke Bill, -but no one enlightened him, though Professor Clatter, as he looked at -the guilty, flushed face of Mersfeld had a suspicion of the truth. - -“Play ball!” called the umpire, and the Westfield nine went to their -places in the field. Mersfeld, with a bitter look on his face, watched -Bill go to the box. - -And the pitcher did not need his glasses, though he took them with -him as a matter of precaution. With his eyes right once more, and -feeling full of confidence Bill exchanged a few preliminary balls with -Cap. Then he signified that he was ready for the batter. Cap, with a -gratified smile, had noticed that the horsehide cut the plate cleanly -and yet the curves broke just at the right time. - -“Strike one!” called the umpire suddenly, following the first ball Bill -delivered. The batter started. He had not moved his stick. He gave the -umpire an indignant glance, opened his mouth as if to say something, -and then thought better of it. - -There was a long-drawn sigh of relief from the grandstands and -bleachers where the Westfield supporters sat, and Bob Chapin ventured -to start the song, “We’ve Got Their Scalp Locks Now!” - -Bill smiled at his brother behind the plate. Pete picked up a handful -of gravel and tossed it into the air before settling back ready for -whatever might come his way. - -“Strike two!” came sharply from the umpire. - -“That’s the way to do it! Make him fan, Bill!” cried Whistle-Breeches. - -“He’s done,” called Bob Chapin. - -“Make him give you a nice one,” was the advice the batter got from his -friends. - -The man with the stick tapped the plate and smiled confidently. He -was still smiling when the next ball came. He struck at it—missed it -clean, and threw his bat to the ground with such force as to splinter -it. - -“Batter’s out!” said the umpire quietly. - -“That’s the way to do it!” - -“There’s more where those came from!” - -“We’ve got their Angora!” - -These were the cries that greeted Bill’s initial effort in the box at -that championship game. Matters were looking brighter for Westfield, -and every man on the team, and every supporter who wanted to see the -pennant stay where it was, felt hope coming back to him. - -There was a little apprehension in Tuckerton’s ranks. The game had -seemed so sure to them, but now the tide was turning. Still Bill might -not be able to keep it up. - -As for our hero, however, he knew that his eye was as true as it had -ever been, and he felt able to go on for nine innings if necessary. But -only four remained in which to turn the trick. Could he do it? Others -beside himself asked that question. - -The next man stepped to the plate. Two fouls and a miss on the last -strike was the best he could do, and he went back to the bench. The -third man Bill struck out cleanly. - -“Wow! Wow!” howled the Westfield crowd. “We’ve got ’em going!” - -But it was to be no easy victory. Though by reason of Bill’s twirling a -momentary halt had been called on the winning streak of the visitors, -still Westfield must make more runs in order to win the game. - -And this was not easy. Hedden was hit for two singles, but the -Westfield players were a bit careless on bases, and one was caught -napping. One run was brought in on Cap’s three bagger making the score -eight to nine, with a single leading tally in favor of the visitors. - -From then on it was nip and tuck for victory. Bill kept up the good -twirling, and such box work as he exhibited was not seen for many a -long day on the Westfield diamond. Not a Tuckerton player got a hit off -him in the next three innings, goose eggs going up in the frames, that -up to the advent of Bill had contained at least one tally for each time -the visitors were at bat. - -But, on the other hand Westfield, try as they did, could not score. -The captain and coach begged and pleaded, and the crowds by songs and -cheers urged their men to battle to the death. It seemed useless. The -two teams, now evenly matched, sea-sawed back and forth, with grim, -bulldog tenacity, but there the game hung in the balance. - -Tuckerton was still one run ahead when they came to bat in the ninth -inning. - -“Hold ’em down! Hold ’em down!” pleaded Cap to Bill. - -“I will,” promised the pitcher, and he did, striking three men out in -quick succession amid the cheers of the crowd. - -“Now’s our last chance,” murmured Captain Graydon as his men came in. -“It’s do or die for the pennant now!” - - - - -CHAPTER XXXIII - -WINNING THE PENNANT - - -“One run to tie, two to win and three to make a good job of it,” -murmured Cap, as he walked to the bench with his brothers. “Can we do -it?” - -“We’ve got to,” answered Bill. - -“You make a home run, I’ll limp along after you, and Pete can follow,” -suggested Bill. “That will do the business.” - -“It might happen,” said Cap. “Whistle-Breeches is up first, then I -follow, and, after Graydon has a whack, you and Pete come along, Bill.” - -“Oh, don’t talk about it!” exclaimed the pitcher. “It makes me -nervous,” but he did not show any signs of it. - -“How are your eyes?” asked Pete. - -“All right. I feel fine. But I’d like to know who hid my glasses.” - -“Batter up!” called the umpire, and Whistle-Breeches, a little pale -because of what depended on his work, walked to the plate. - -“Now line out a good one!” counseled the coach. “You can do it. Wait -for a nice one.” - -It was good advice, and well meant, but alas! Whistle-Breeches fanned -the air. - -“One down!” exulted the captain of the Tuckerton nine. “We only need -two more!” - -“Well, you don’t get me!” murmured Cap, with a grim tightening of his -mouth. And he made good. A pretty two-bagger was his contribution, and -he got to third on a little fly which Graydon knocked, but the captain -was out at first. - -“Two down, play for the batter!” called Burke. “They’ve only got one -chance, and they can’t make good. The pennant comes to Tuckerton!” - -“Don’t you fool yourself,” murmured Bill, as he went to the plate. -Hedden, his rival pitcher, regarded him with a mocking smile. Bill was -not especially strong in stick work, but somehow he felt that he was -going to make good to-day. - -He saw a ball coming, and sized it up for a slow out. Knowing the -peculiarity of the curve which Hedden pitched Bill stepped right into -it. His bat met the horsehide squarely, and with a “Ping!” that sent a -thrill of joy not only to his heart but to the hearts of his brothers -and friends. - -“Right on the nose! Oh, what a poke!” cried Whistle-Breeches who -rejoiced for Bill over what he himself could not do. - -Away sailed the ball, well over the centre fielder’s head, away sped -Bill legging it for first with all the speed of which he was capable. - -“Run! Run! Run!” - -“Come on in, Cap!” - -“Oh what a poke!” - -“Pretty! Pretty!” - -The crowd on the stands was yelling and jumping up and down. Old men -were tossing their hats into the air, clapping each other on the back, -making friends with strangers, and telling each other that it reminded -them of the time when they were boys. - -Bill swung around second, as Cap fairly leaped over home plate, -bringing in the tying run. The Tuckerton players were wild with -chagrin. The game was being pulled out of the fire—snatched from them -at the moment when they thought they saw a safe victory. The centre -fielder nearly had the ball now, and Bill was heading for third base. - -“Go on! Go on!” - -“Home! Home!” - -This and other advice was shouted at him. He gave a quick glance -around, and decided that he would risk it by going on to the last bag. -It was a narrow chance, almost too narrow, and Bill had to slide so -far that his uniform took on a new shade, and his mouth and eyes were -filled with dust and gravel, for the ball whizzed into the hands of the -eager baseman. - -“Safe!” decided the umpire after a breathless run to third that he -might see the outcome. - -The score was now tied! - -There was a howl of disgust from the Tuckerton crowd but the decision -stood, and there was wild rejoicing on the part of the Westfield throng. - -“Now then, Pete, it’s up to you,” said the coach solemnly as the third -member of the Smith boys trio stepped to the bat. “If you don’t bring -Bill in at least, I’ll never speak to you again.” - -“I’ll do my best,” declared the doughty little shortstop. He was one of -the best men who could have been up in an emergency of this kind, with -two out, a man on third and the winning run still needed. For Pete was -as cool as the proverbial cucumber. - -He smiled in a tantalizing fashion at the Tuckerton pitcher, who was on -the verge of a nervous breakdown because of the many epithets hurled at -him, in an endeavor to “get his goat.” He had to watch Bill carefully, -for that worthy was playing off as far as he dared, hoping to slip in -with the needed winning run. The catcher, too, was fearful lest some -ball get by him, and had told the pitcher to be on the alert to run in -instantly in the event of a passed ball. - -“Ball one!” howled the umpire, as Hedden threw. - -“Oh wow! He’s going to walk you, Pete!” called Graydon. - -“You’ve got a pass!” shouted Bob Chapin. - -Pete smiled cheerfully. He thought the next ball looked good, and swung -at it, but he had been fooled by a neat trick. - -“Strike one!” said the umpire, and a breathless silence followed. - -“Two more like that and we’ve got ’em!” called the catcher to Hedden. -“You can do it.” - -The pitcher nodded. He threw the swiftest ball of which he was capable. -It came almost before Pete was ready for it, but with the quickness of -light he swung on it. - -Oh what a “Ping!” followed, and he knew that he had made good. Once -more, amid the frenzied howls of the crowd, the ball sailed outward and -upward. - -“Bill, Oh Bill! Where are you? Come in! Come in!” pleaded scores to -him. But the pitcher did not need these entreaties. On he came running -as he had never run before. The catcher, to disconcert him, stood as -though to catch the ball. Bill dared not look around to make sure that -it had not been caught and thrown home. Brower was right in his path. - -“Slide!” some one called to him, and for the second time that day Bill -dropped and shot forward on the ground. His hand touched the plate, and -he knew that he was safe, for he had not heard the thud of the ball in -the catcher’s mitt. Then, he felt some heavy body fall on him, and for -the moment the breath was knocked from him, and he lost consciousness. -He had knocked the catcher’s feet from under him, and toppled that -player in the dust. - -Cap ran to pick up his brother. - -“Hurt?” he cried anxiously. “Oh Bill, you did it! We win.” - -“No—n-not much hurt!” gasped Bill. “Just—just a little—little -short—of wind—that’s all.” - -They gave him water and he felt better, and then he looked out over the -diamond. Pete had reached third, and was still running. Around the last -bag he swung, but the right fielder far on amid the daisies had the -ball now. - -“Go back! Go back!” howled Graydon, for, though the game was won he -wanted to pile up another run against Tuckerton if he could. - -But Pete did not heed. The ball had been thrown, but the fielder had to -run so far back for it, that he could not get it far enough in. There -was just a chance for Pete to make a home run, and he took that chance. - -The horsehide fell short of the second baseman, who ran to get it. By -this time Pete was half way home, and running well. - -“Come on! Come on!” pleaded hundreds to him, and Pete came. - -“Slide!” cried the coach, and, as Bill had done, so did Pete, but with -more cause. - -On came the ball, thrown swiftly by the second baseman. Pete was -hurtling forward through a cloud of dust, his hand eagerly stretched -out to feel the plate. His fingers touched it, and a welcome thrill ran -through him, just as he heard the thud of the ball in the catcher’s -glove. Down came the horsehide on his shoulder with vicious force. - -“How’s it?” excitedly yelled the catcher to the umpire. - -There was a moment’s silence, and the players and crowd hardly -breathed. It seemed as if the weight of kingdoms hung on the decision, -and Pete lay there waiting. - -“Safe!” decided the umpire, and yells of delight mingled with those -of chagrin. Westfield had the game now by two runs and the pennant -remained with them. - -Oh what rejoicing there was! No need to play the game out farther. -Indeed it could scarcely have been done had the coach or captain -desired it, so wild with delight were the members of the nine. - -“Oh you Smith boys!” was the gladsome cry, and around our heroes there -danced a wild and enthusiastic mob of players of the game. Horns -tooted, rattles added their din, old men, youths and maidens swelled -the riot with their voices, the shrill tones of the girls sounding high -above the hoarser notes of triumph. - -“We win! We win!” cried Graydon, hugging the rather grave and sedate -coach, and whirling him about in a dance. - -“Yes, and at the last minute,” added Mr. Windam. “That was a lucky fall -of Bill Smith’s.” - -“There was crooked work somewhere,” said the captain in a low voice. -“Those glasses never fell into the cannon, and I know whom to suspect.” - -“Then keep it to yourself,” advised the coach, and Graydon did so. - -It seemed impossible that it was all over, that the school baseball -season was at an end, and that Westfield still had the pennant, yet -such was the case. Already the crowds were leaving the grandstands. -Students were gathering in groups to cheer over, or sing about, the -victory. The team was hugged and hustled here and there. The Smith -boys and their mates were lifted to the shoulders of their fellows and -paraded about the diamond. The Tuckertons had given a cheer for the -victors, and, in turn, had been cheered for their plucky fight. - -“And to think that this is the end of the season,” remarked Bill -regretfully to his brothers, as they walked over toward the gymnasium. - -“Oh, but it will soon be fall, and then for the good old pigskin -punts!” exclaimed Pete. - -“That’s so. I wonder if we can make the eleven?” said Cap. “I hope we -can.” - -“We’ll try, anyhow,” declared Bill. - -How they tried, and with what success they had will be told of in the -third volume of this series to be called “Those Smith Boys on the -Gridiron; or A Touchdown in Time.” In that book we will meet with our -school friends again, and learn how they played several great games. - -As Bill and his brothers strolled across the campus they saw a group of -girls coming toward them. - -“Oh cats!” exclaimed Bill. “I look like sin; don’t I?” - -“I’ve seen you cleaner,” answered Whistle-Breeches, as he noted Bill’s -torn jacket and dusty trousers. “But what’s the odds?” - -“There’s Miss Morton,” murmured the pitcher. - -“Oh!” cried the girl, with whom he had once rode at such top speed to -play in the Freshman game. “Oh, I want to shake hands with all you -boys! Wasn’t it perfectly splendid?” - -“Glad you think so!” mumbled Bill, trying to hide behind Cap. But -Miss Morton would have none of that. She held out her hand to Bill -especially. - -“I’ll spoil your gloves!” he protested. - -“As if I cared for them!” and she only laughed at the grimy stains -which Bill made on the white kids. Then, in turn she and the other -young ladies greeted our friends, and repeated, over and over again, in -more or less emphatic words, what they thought of the victory. - -“And may I add a word,” spoke a voice, as the girls moved off. The boys -turned to behold Professor Clatter. - -“It was fine!” he declared. “Not even by the use if my Rapid Robust -Resolute Resolvent, my Peerless, Permanent Pain Preventive or my -Spotless Saponifier could a more noble victory have been won. I -congratulate you. Pactolus congratulates you, and when we find the -golden river we’ll make a crown of victory for you. But what I want to -add most especially is, that our mutual friend Tithonus Somnus has just -arrived. His wagon is over near mine, and he and I entreat you to come -and see us, and partake of such humble fare as we may afford.” - -“Do you mean all of us?” asked Cap. - -“The entire nine!” cried the medicine man warmly. “We will dine out of -doors, and Mercurio will serve the viands.” - -“What say, fellows; shall we go?” asked Cap, for the members of the -Varsity team were gathered about the Smith boys. - -“Go? Of course,” answered Graydon. “We can break training now, and -we’ll eat golden rivers or Resolute Resolvent or even Spotless -Saponifiers! Lead on!” - -“You say Tithy has arrived?” asked Bill, as the little throng moved -over the campus, it having been arranged that as soon as they got off -their uniforms they would go to the professor’s wagon. - -“Yes, he heard that I was headed here, and followed.” - -“What business is he in now?” inquired Pete. - -“Oh, he is selling a wonderful instrument. It is a pocket knife, a -glass cutter, a can opener, hammer, screw driver, and twenty-six other -tools, more or less, combined into one. Tithy is enthusiastic over it. -Well, I’ll go to tell him you are coming, and then I will bid Mercurio -set the table.” - -The professor, with a low bow, turned away, and hastened off. - -“Queer chap,” commented Graydon. - -“But as good as gold,” added Bill, and his brothers agreed with him. -“To think of him finding my glasses. I wonder how they got there?” - -No one answered him, and Mersfeld and North did not hear the question. -Perhaps they would not have replied had they listened to it. - -A little later the members of the nine were seated in the shade of the -two queer wagons, on the long, green grass, beside the road, partaking -of the hospitality of Professor Clatter and Tithonus Somnus, who -gravely announced that he had changed his name, as well as his trade -and that thenceforth he would be known as Cornelius Cutaby. - -Proudly he showed the new implement for which he was traveling agent. - -“It will do anything from cutting glass to taking an automobile apart,” -he declared. - -“Well, if it will open some more of that ginger ale, I’ll be glad of -it,” remarked Bill. “These olives and ham sandwiches make me thirsty.” - -“What ho! Mercurio!” called Professor Clatter. “Pass the ginger ale,” -and, having executed his own command he opened the bottles with the -combined glass cutter and screw driver, and served to his friends the -frothing beverage. - -“Now fellows, for the baseball song—‘Strike ’em Out and Run ’em Down!’ -and then we’ll go back to school and get ready for the celebration -to-night!” suggested Cap, after a pause. - -The improvised banquet was over. In the twilight the boys stood up, and -softly sang the time-honored song of Westfield, sung whenever there -was a victory. Professor Clatter brought out a guitar and played the -accompaniment, and Tithy—I beg his pardon, Cornelius Cutaby—joined in -the chorus. - -And now, for a time, we will take leave of Those Smith Boys, though -if the fates are kind, they may be met with again, as well as the -professor and the traveling agent for the combined glass cutter and -monkey wrench. - - -THE END - - - - -Boy Inventors’ Series - - The author knows these subjects from a practical standpoint. Each - book is printed from new plates on a good quality of paper and - bound in cloth. Each book wrapped in a jacket printed in colors. - - _Price 60c each_ - - - 1 Boy Inventors’ Wireless Triumph - 2 Boy Inventors’ and the Vanishing Sun - 3 Boy Inventors’ Diving Torpedo Set - 4 Boy Inventors’ Flying Ship - 5 Boy Inventors’ Electric Ship - 6 Boy Inventors’ Radio Telephone - - -The “How-to-do-it” Books - - These books teach the use of tools; how to sharpen them; to design - and layout work. Printed from new plates and bound in cloth. - Profusely illustrated. Each book is wrapped in a printed jacket. - - _Price $1.00 each_ - - - 1 Carpentry for Boys - 2 Electricity for Boys - 3 Practical Mechanics for Boys - - _For Sale by all Book-sellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of the - above price._ - - - M · A · DONOHUE · & · COMPANY - 711 · SOUTH · DEARBORN · STREET · · CHICAGO - - - - -TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES: - - - Text in italics is surrounded by underscores: _italics_. - - Obvious typographical errors have been corrected. - - Inconsistencies in spelling, punctuation, and hyphenation have been - standardized. - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Those Smith Boys on the Diamond, by Howard R. 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Garis. - </title> - <link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> - <style type="text/css"> - -body { - margin-left: 10%; - margin-right: 10%; -} - - h1,h2 { - text-align: center; - clear: both; -} - -p { - margin-top: .51em; - text-align: justify; - margin-bottom: .49em; -} - -.ph1 {text-align: center; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold;} -.ph2 {text-align: center; font-size: large; font-weight: bold;} -.ph3 {text-align: center; font-size: large; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 2em;} - -div.chapter {page-break-before: always;} -h2.nobreak {page-break-before: avoid;} - -hr { - width: 33%; - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 2em; - margin-left: 33.5%; - margin-right: 33.5%; - clear: both; -} - -hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} -hr.tb {width: 45%; margin-left: 27.5%; margin-right: 27.5%;} - -table { - margin-left: auto; - margin-right: auto; -} - -.pagenum { - position: absolute; - left: 92%; - font-size: smaller; - text-align: right; -} - -div.titlepage {text-align: center; page-break-before: always; page-break-after: always;} -div.titlepage p {text-align: center; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5; margin-top: 2em;} - - -.gap {padding-left: 3.5em;} - -.x-large {font-size: x-large;} - -.center {text-align: center;} - -.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} - -.caption {font-weight: bold; text-align: center;} - -.figcenter { - margin: auto; - text-align: center; -} - -.poetry-container {text-align: center;} -.poetry {display: inline-block; text-align: left;} -.poetry .verse {text-indent: -2.5em; padding-left: 3em;} - - -.transnote {background-color: #E6E6FA; - color: black; - font-size:smaller; - padding:0.5em; - margin-bottom:5em; - font-family:sans-serif, serif; } - </style> - </head> -<body> - - -<pre> - -Project Gutenberg's Those Smith Boys on the Diamond, by Howard R. Garis - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license - - -Title: Those Smith Boys on the Diamond - Nip and Tuck for Victory - -Author: Howard R. Garis - -Release Date: October 9, 2017 [EBook #55715] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THOSE SMITH BOYS ON THE DIAMOND *** - - - - -Produced by David Edwards, David E. Brown and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -book was produced from scanned images of public domain -material from the Google Books project.) - - - - - - -</pre> - - - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/cover.jpg" alt="" /></div> - -<div class="transnote"> - -<p class="ph3">TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES:</p> - -<p>The cover image of this eBook was created by the transcriber from the title page of the original and is thus entered into the public domain.</p> - -<p>Obvious typographical errors have been corrected.</p> - -<p>Inconsistencies in spelling, punctuation, and hyphenation have been standardized. -</p></div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/frontis.jpg" alt="Safe at Home" /></div> -<p class="caption"><span class="smcap">Safe at Home</span></p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="titlepage"> -<h1>THOSE SMITH BOYS<br /> -ON THE DIAMOND</h1> - -<p><small>OR</small></p> - -<p class="ph1">NIP AND TUCK FOR VICTORY</p> - -<p><small>BY</small></p> - -<p class="ph2">HOWARD R. GARIS</p> - -<p><i>Author of -Uncle Wiggily and Alice in Wonderland, Uncle Wiggily<br /> -Longears, Uncle Wiggily and Mother Goose,<br /> -Uncle Wiggily’s Arabian Nights</i></p> - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/titlepage.jpg" alt="" /></div> - -<p>MADE IN U. S. A.</p> - -<p>M·A·DONOHUE·&·COMPANY<br /> -CHICAGO<span class="gap">NEW YORK</span></p></div> - - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p class="center">Made in U. S. A.<br /> -<br /> -<br /> -<span class="smcap">Copyright, 1912 By</span><br /> -R. F. FENNO & COMPANY<br /> -<i>Those Smith Boys on the Diamond</i><br /> -</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak"> -CONTENTS</h2></div> - - - -<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="4" summary="table"> - -<tr><td align="right"><small>CHAPTER</small></td><td> </td><td align="right"><small>PAGE</small></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">I</td><td><span class="smcap">A Close Game</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_9">9</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">II</td><td><span class="smcap">A Fire Department Run</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_19">19</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">III</td><td><span class="smcap">A Leaky Boat</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_30">30</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">IV</td><td><span class="smcap">A Great Home Run</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_39">39</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">V</td><td><span class="smcap">Off For Westfield</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_50">50</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">VI</td><td><span class="smcap">A Lively Hazing</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_58">58</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">VII</td><td><span class="smcap">Moving the Senior Stone</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_69">69</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">VIII</td><td><span class="smcap">Organizing the Nine</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_77">77</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">IX</td><td><span class="smcap">Bill is Hit</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_84">84</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">X</td><td><span class="smcap">The Doctor’s Verdict</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_91">91</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">XI</td><td><span class="smcap">Meeting an Old Friend</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_96">96</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">XII</td><td><span class="smcap">Professor Clatter’s Plan</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_105">105</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">XIII</td><td><span class="smcap">Bill is Himself Again</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_113">113</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">XIV</td><td><span class="smcap">The Try-Out</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_125">125</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">XV</td><td><span class="smcap">The Conspirators</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_131">131</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">XVI</td><td><span class="smcap">Caught</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_136">136</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">XVII</td><td><span class="smcap">Bill’s Pitching</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_141">141</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">XVIII</td><td><span class="smcap">A Plot Against Bill</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_154">154</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">XIX</td><td><span class="smcap">The Professor’s Warning</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_160">160</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">XX</td><td><span class="smcap">The Plotters Caught</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_171">171</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">XXI</td><td><span class="smcap">An Interrupted Supper</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_181">181</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">XXII</td><td><span class="smcap">Hitting a Bully</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_190">190</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">XXIII</td><td><span class="smcap">The Fight</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_197">197</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">XXIV</td><td><span class="smcap">The Kidnapped Pitcher</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_203">203</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">XXV</td><td><span class="smcap">To the Rescue</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_211">211</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">XXVI</td><td><span class="smcap">Just in Time</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_219">219</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">XXVII</td><td><span class="smcap">A Scrimmage</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_230">230</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">XXVIII</td><td><span class="smcap">The Glasses are Gone</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_235">235</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">XXIX</td><td><span class="smcap">Mersfeld in the Box</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_239">239</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">XXX</td><td><span class="smcap">Bill’s Fall</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_245">245</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">XXXI</td><td>“<span class="smcap">Play Ball!</span>”</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_250">250</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">XXXII</td><td><span class="smcap">Nip and Tuck For Victory</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_257">257</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td align="right">XXXIII</td><td><span class="smcap">Winning the Pennant</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_263">263</a></td></tr> -</table> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<p class="ph1"> -THOSE SMITH BOYS ON THE<br /> -DIAMOND</p> - -<p class="center">OR</p> - -<p class="center">NIP AND TUCK FOR VICTORY</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span></p> - - -<p class="ph2">THOSE SMITH BOYS<br /> -ON THE DIAMOND</p> - - - -<hr class="tb" /> -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER I</h2></div> - -<p class="ph3">A CLOSE GAME</p> - -<p>“<span class="smcap">Come</span> on now, Bateye, soak it in!”</p> - -<p>“Say, are you going to hold that ball all day?”</p> - -<p>“What’s the matter with you; didn’t you ever see a -horsehide before?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, for the love of Mike! Throw it! Throw it! Do -you want to give ’em a run?”</p> - -<p>“That’s the way! Wake up, Bateye!”</p> - -<p>These were only a few of the expressions and questions -hurled by the other players at Bateye Jones, the Freeport -rightfielder, who, after running back to recover a ball that -had passed high over his head, was holding the sphere -for a moment until he had made sure of the position of -the runner, Jake Jensen, of the Vandalia team.</p> - -<p>“Throw it! Throw it! You can take a picture of it -after the game!” howled Captain John Smith of the Freeport -nine, as he danced about behind home plate, and saw -Tom Evans come in from third, and noticed Jensen legging -it around from second.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span>Bateye threw, and, mingling with the cries of the -players and the yells of the crowd, there were groans of -anguish as the ball passed high over the second baseman’s -head, who jumped for it in vain.</p> - -<p>Bill Smith, the wiry little pitcher, made a successful -grab for the horsehide as it bounced on the ground, captured -it, and hurled it to third, just in time to catch -Jensen there.</p> - -<p>“Out!” yelled the umpire.</p> - -<p>“Aw, say, I beat it a mile!” protested the panting -runner. “What’s the matter with you, Foster?”</p> - -<p>“Out,” said the umpire again, waving his hand to indicate -that Jensen was to leave the bag.</p> - -<p>“Say, I’ll leave it to anybody if I—”</p> - -<p>“Come on in,” invited Rube Mantell, captain of the -Vandalias in a weary tone, and Jake shuffled to the bench.</p> - -<p>“Mighty lucky stop, Bill,” called Pete, or “Sawed-off” -Smith, to his brother the pitcher. The small-statured -lad again took his position at short stop which he had -left for a moment. “I wonder what’s the matter with -Bateye to-day? That’s the second error he’s made.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I guess he got a bit rattled with so many howling -at him,” spoke Bill good-naturedly. “Come on now, -Pete. There are two down, and we ought to wallop ’em -easy when it comes our turn. Watch me strike Flub Madison -out.”</p> - -<p>Bill, who was the best pitcher the Freeport team had -secured in several seasons, again took his place in the -box, while his brother John, or “Cap” from the likeness -of his name to that of the old Indian fighter, resumed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> -his mask, after shooting a few indignant looks in the direction -of the unfortunate Bateye Jones.</p> - -<p>“He’s got to improve if he wants to stay on the team,” -murmured Cap Smith as he waited for the next ball. “I -s’pose he’ll excuse himself by saying the sun was in his -eyes, or something like that. Or else that he can’t see -well in the daytime. He certainly can see good at night. -Old Bateye—well, here goes for the next one,” and Cap -plumped his fist into the big mitt, and signalled to his -pitching brother to send in a slow out curve to Flub Madison -who took his place at the plate.</p> - -<p>It was the ending of the eighth inning, and the score -was seven to six, in favor of the Freeport lads. The game -was far from won, for their opponents were playing -strong, and still had another, and last, chance at the bat. -To win meant much for the team on which the Smith -Boys played, for they wanted to capture the championship -of the County League, this being one of the last games -of the season.</p> - -<p>“One ball!” hoarsely called the umpire, as Bill unwound, -and sent the horsehide sphere plump into the mitt of his -older brother.</p> - -<p>Cap looked an indignant protest, and hesitated as he -tossed the ball back. It was as clean a strike as could -be desired, but it was not the first time the official had -favored Vandalia that day. The game was on their -grounds, and the rivalry that existed between the two -cities, located on either side of the Waydell river, was -carried even into baseball.</p> - -<p>“Make him give you a nice one, Flub,” called some of -his friends.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span>“He’ll walk you, anyhow,” added another sarcastically.</p> - -<p>Bill Smith gritted his teeth but said nothing. He -shook his head as his brother signalled for the same kind -of a ball, and sent in a swift drop. Flub bit at it, and -swung viciously.</p> - -<p>“Strike one!” sounded sweet to the ears of the pitcher -and catcher.</p> - -<p>There was a vicious “ping” as the next ball was sailing -over the plate, and for a moment the hearts of the Freeport -nine and the hopes of their supporters were like -lead, but they turned to rejoicing an instant later, as they -saw the ball shoot high over the extreme left grandstand, -and disappear.</p> - -<p>“Foul strike!” called the umpire, as he tossed a new -ball to Bill.</p> - -<p>Cap signalled for the fast drop, and his brother nodded -in assent.</p> - -<p>“Three strikes! Batter out!” was yelled a moment later -and Flub threw down his stick in disgust, and walked toward -the outfield.</p> - -<p>“Now’s our last chance!” exclaimed Bill to John, as -he came running in, while the teams changed places. “We -ought to get at least three runs—in fact we need ’em if -we’re going to win, for they’ve got three of their best hitters -up when they come for their last dips. But if we -can get a lead of four runs we’ll be all right.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, we’ll be all right if Bateye doesn’t go to sleep -again,” grumbled Cap. “Say, what’s the matter with -you?” he demanded as the unlucky rightfielder filed in.</p> - -<p>“Why—er I—that is I—”</p> - -<p>“Oh, out with it! You’re holding that talk as long as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> -you held the ball. Don’t do it again!” and Cap, who -never could be ill-natured for very long, condescended to -smile, while Bateye promised to do better in the future.</p> - -<p>“Now Doc, show ’em how to make a home run,” suggested -Pete, as Harry or “Doc” Norton, dubbed with the -medical term by virtue of his father’s profession, came up -to the bat. Doc tried hard, but only got a single. He was -advanced to third when Norton Tonkin rapped out a nice -two bagger, but that was as far as luck went for the -Freeport nine that day. The next three players struck -out under the masterly pitching of Nifty Pell, and the -three Smith Boys did not get a chance.</p> - -<p>“Well, we’re one run to the good. If we can hold ’em -down the game’s ours,” observed Pete, as he walked out -with his brothers, followed by the rest of the team. “It’s -up to you, Bill.”</p> - -<p>“I know that, Sawed-off,” was the answer. “I’ll do my -best, but I can’t play the whole game. Crimps! But I -<i>would</i> like to win this game! They’ve been making so -many cracks about putting it all over us!”</p> - -<p>“We’ve <i>got</i> to win!” said Cap Smith fiercely. “We -need this to help us get the pennant. Don’t get nervous -Bill, and you can do ’em. Try that up shoot on Scurry -Nelson.”</p> - -<p>The last half of the ninth inning began. There were -agonized appeals from the Vandalia supporters for the -nine to cinch the tying run, and then to bring in half a -dozen more for good luck.</p> - -<p>“They shan’t do it, if I can help it!” murmured Bill -Smith half-savagely, as he took his place.</p> - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span>Noticing the manner in which Bill stung in a few practice -balls his brother behind the plate smiled happily.</p> - -<p>“Bill hasn’t lost any speed,” he thought gleefully.</p> - -<p>Scurry Nelson swung with all his force at the first ball, -and his bat passed neatly under it.</p> - -<p>“Strike one!” came from the umpire, as if it made no -difference to him.</p> - -<p>“Only two more!” howled the supporters of the Freeport -nine. “You can do it, Bill!”</p> - -<p>Bill tried the same kind of a curve again, and got away -with it, but on the third attempt, after giving a ball on -purpose, he heard the fatal “ping” and a swift grounder -got past Pete.</p> - -<p>There were groans of dismay from part of the crowd, -accompanied by howls of delight from the other half, as -Scurry landed on first. Bill felt his heart wildly beating, -and Cap thumped his big glove viciously.</p> - -<p>The Vandalia team on the bench was in transports of -joy. Already they saw their enemies vanquished. Bill -calmed himself by an effort, and even smiled as he faced -Buck Wheeler the next man up. Buck was a notoriously -heavy hitter and it seemed as if he would knock the cover -off the ball when he swung at the first one Bill sent in. -Only he didn’t hit it.</p> - -<p>And he didn’t hit the next two, either, though he made -desperate efforts to do so, and there was not quite so -much elation on the faces of the Vandaliaites as the next -man got up. He knocked a little pop fly, which Bill -caught with ease making two out and, as quick as a flash the -pitcher turned and threw to second, toward which bag<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> -Scurry was legging it for all he was worth. Bill was just -a second too late, however and the runner was safe.</p> - -<p>“Two down! Only one more, and the game is ours!” -came the encouraging yells from the grandstand where -the Freeport supporters were crowded.</p> - -<p>Bill smiled happily and got ready for the next man, -at the same time watching Scurry on second. The following -player was Will Longton, and had a high batting -average. There was a smile of confidence on his face as -he stepped to the plate.</p> - -<p>Bill sent in a puzzling twister, and Will smiled as he -refused to bite at it.</p> - -<p>“Ball,” called the umpire.</p> - -<p>“Take it easy! He’s afraid, and he’ll walk you,” was -the advice Will got. He was still smiling confidently when -the next ball whizzed past him.</p> - -<p>“Strike,” came from the umpire, with obvious reluctance, -since he wanted to see his friends win. Will looked -an indignant protest at the official, and rubbed some dirt -on his hands, so that he might better grip the bat.</p> - -<p>“Watch him soak the cover off!” howled an enthusiastic -admirer.</p> - -<p>Longton did hit it, but only a foul resulted, and Scurry, -who had started for third, had to come back.</p> - -<p>“You know how to do it, Bill,” called the catcher to -his brother, giving him a sign. Bill nodded, and the next -instant, amid a breathless silence a swift ball shot from -his hand, straight for the plate.</p> - -<p>With an intaking of breath Will Longton swung at it -with such force that he turned completely around, and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> -look of astonishment on his face was mirth-provoking, as -he realized that he had missed.</p> - -<p>“Pung!” went the ball as it settled into the pit of Cap -Smith’s glove, and the voice of the umpire, as he called -“Three strikes—batter out!” was lost in the howl of delight -that welled up from grand stands and bleachers as -the crowd realized that Freeport had held their opponents -down in the last inning, and had won the game. What if -it was only by one run? One run has often won a league -championship.</p> - -<p>“Great work, Bill!” cried Pete as he ran in, clapping -his brother on the back.</p> - -<p>“That’s the stuff!” agreed Cap, as he hugged the pitcher. -“We did ’em! Come on now, we can catch the next boat -across the river if we get a move on,” and the Smith boys, -followed by the rest of the team, hastened to the dressing -rooms, stopping only long enough to return the cheer -which their opponents gave them.</p> - -<p>The crowd was surging down from the stands, talking -about the close game, discussing the best plays, arguing -how if such a man had done differently the result would -have been changed, and speculating as to Freeport’s and -Vandalia’s chances for winning the pennant.</p> - -<p>“What are you fellows going to do to-night?” asked -Bateye Jones a little later as he stood talking with his -chums, the Smith Boys on the little ferry boat which ran -across the river from Vandalia to Freeport.</p> - -<p>“Nothing special, I guess. Why?” inquired Bill.</p> - -<p>“What do you say if we give the fire department a run?”</p> - -<p>“Give ’em a run?” asked Cap with a puzzled air. “What -do you mean?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span>“Why they haven’t been out in nearly two weeks, and -they’re just waiting for a chance to show off their new -uniforms, and try the new chemical,” spoke Bateye. “I -say let’s give it to ’em.”</p> - -<p>“How?” asked Pete, who detected a gleam of fun in -the half-closed eyes of the lad who had such a habit of -being out nights, and such a reputed ability to see in the -dark, that it had gained him the name of Bateye. “How -you going to do it?”</p> - -<p>“Easy. Come over here, and I’ll tell you. Come on, -Doc, and you, too, Norton.”</p> - -<p>The two lads thus addressed, together with the Smith -boys, moved forward on the little boat.</p> - -<p>“I saw Spider Langdon and Beantoe Pudder looking -at us,” explained Bateye, when they were safe in a corner -of the craft, “and I didn’t want them to get on to us. -Now here’s my scheme. We can have some fun, and, at -the same time give the department a chance to show off,” -and with that Bateye began to whisper the details of his -plan.</p> - -<p>It did not take long to disclose it, and at the conclusion -he asked:</p> - -<p>“Will you do it, fellows?”</p> - -<p>“Will we? Will a cat eat warm milk?” demanded Pete, -as if there was no question about it.</p> - -<p>“But say, there won’t be any come-back, will there? -We got into trouble enough with the railroad people, and -by flying our kite with Susie Mantell on the tail of it last -year, so I’m not looking for any more,” said Cap Smith solemnly.</p> - -<p>“Oh, this will be all right,” Bateye assured them. “Now<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> -I’ll come over about eight o’clock, and make a noise like a -tree toad. Then you come out. But lock up Waggles, -your dog, or he might give the scheme away.”</p> - -<p>“We will,” promised Bill, and then the boat tied up at -the wharf, and the ball players in advance of the crowd -rushed off.</p> - -<p>“Say, I’ll bet there’s something doing,” said Beantoe -Pudder to Spider Langdon, as they followed the throng.</p> - -<p>“Why?” asked the long legged lad, who was nicknamed -“Spider.”</p> - -<p>“Because I saw those Smith Boys and Bateye talking -together, and—” but at that moment Sam Pudder stumbled -and would have fallen, had not his chum caught him.</p> - -<p>“There you go again, Beantoe!” exclaimed Spider, as he -helped him regain his balance. “What’s the matter with -you?”</p> - -<p>“It’s these new shoes, I guess,” and Beantoe, who owed -his title to his habit of stumbling, limped along. “But -as I was saying, I saw the Smith fellows and Bateye and -Doc talking together. There’s something doing. Let’s -watch and see what it is,” he concluded.</p> - -<p>“All right, I’m with you. We’ll hang around to-night, -and maybe we can spoil their game,” and the two cronies -who, among other things in common, had a dislike for the -Smith Boys and their friends, hurried along, whispering -together.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile the members of the Freeport Volunteer Fire -Department were all unaware of the plot brewing against -them.</p> - - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER II</h2></div> - -<p class="ph3">A FIRE DEPARTMENT RUN</p> - - -<p>“<span class="smcap">Well</span>, boys, how did you make out at the game?” -asked Mr. Smith, as his three sturdy sons tramped into -the house a little later.</p> - -<p>“Fine,” answered Pete. “It was a close game, but we -won.”</p> - -<p>“Good!” exclaimed the father. “I wish I’d been there.”</p> - -<p>“What’s Mrs. Murdock got for supper?” demanded Bill, -as he sniffed various odors coming from the kitchen. -“I hope it’s roast lamb!”</p> - -<p>“I want sausage and potatoes!” cried Pete.</p> - -<p>“Get out! It’s too early for sausage,” asserted Cap. -“Guess again, Pete.”</p> - -<p>“What is it, Mrs. Murdock?” demanded Bill, as the -housekeeper just then entered the room.</p> - -<p>“Roast beef and baked potatoes,” she answered, and -there was a chorus of delighted howls.</p> - -<p>“Fine!” cried Bill a second afterward making a rush -for the buxom lady who had kept house for Mr. Smith, -since his wife’s death some years before. The other brothers, -following Bill’s lead, tried to kiss her at the same -time, but she shut herself up in the pantry for refuge, -and declared that they would not only be the cause of -making the potatoes burn, but would also spoil the roast -if they did not raise the siege. So they capitulated, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> -a little later were sitting down to a meal, with such appetites -as only bless those who play ball.</p> - -<p>And while the meal is in progress I will take the opportunity -of introducing you to the Smith lads a little more -formally.</p> - -<p>There were three of them, as you have guessed, John -the eldest, then William, or “Bill,” as he was always -called, and Pete, the youngest. They lived with their -father and the housekeeper in a large, old fashioned house -in the town of Freeport, on the Waydell river. Across -the stream was the town of Vandalia, and, as told in the -first volume of this series, entitled “Those Smith Boys,” -there was much rivalry between the two places.</p> - -<p>In the initial volume it was related how the Smith boys, -who were always getting into mischief, but who did not -mean to do wrong, started off a handcar, which ran away -down grade on the new line of the Green Valley Railroad.</p> - -<p>The handcar rushed through the railroad construction -camp, knocked down a water tank, crashed into the tent -of the chief surveyor, and made such a rumpus generally -that the Smith boys, fearing the consequences, ran away.</p> - -<p>It was a question whether the railroad would locate -a station at Vandalia or at Freeport, and the decision was -almost in favor of Freeport when the Smith boys, played -their unfortunate trick. Then the chief surveyor determined -to place the depot in Vandalia, out of revenge.</p> - -<p>The Smith brothers had many adventures during the -time they were away from home. They were looking for -a thumbless man, whom they suspected of having robbed -their father, and in their journeyings fell in with Theophilus -Clatter, a traveling vendor of patent medicines,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> -patent soap and a patent stain remover. They also met -with Duodecimo Donaldby, who posed as a rain-maker, or -a horse doctor, as suited his convenience.</p> - -<p>The boys became traveling showmen to aid in the work -of selling the patent medicine and soap, after their friend, -Mr. Clatter, had been arrested for telling fortunes, and all -the while the lads kept a lookout for the thumbless man.</p> - -<p>How they found him, and overheard him discussing a -plot to rob the paycar of the railroad, how they frustrated -his plans, saved the car and won the gratitude of the -railroad officials is told of in the book. Also how it was -decided, as a sort of a reward for what the Smith boys -had done, to locate the railroad depot in Freeport after all. -So the thoughtless prank of the lads turned out well after -all.</p> - -<p>Part of the money stolen from Mr. Smith was recovered, -and the boys also received a reward from the railroad -company. Their father had planned to send them to -Westfield Academy, immediately after their return from -journeying about the country, but his financial and other -matters prevented, so the boys had spent the winter helping -him.</p> - -<p>Mr. Smith’s business affairs were now in good shape, -and he was quite well off, so he determined that with the -opening of the fall term at Westfield, his sons should attend -there.</p> - -<p>All summer the boys had been having a good time at -various sports, of which baseball was chief. They were -valued members of the Freeport nine, and it looked as -though they would do more than their share in helping<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> -that team win the pennant. Only a few more games remained -to be played before the season would be over.</p> - -<p>“And then for Westfield,” remarked Pete at the supper -table that night, as they talked over their plans.</p> - -<p>“I hope we can get on the nine there,” said Cap.</p> - -<p>“Oh, sure we can,” declared Bill.</p> - -<p>“Well, just because you can pitch well in the county -league, doesn’t say that you’ll make good at Westville,” -objected Cap. “They play big college teams there, you -know.”</p> - -<p>“Well, I’m not afraid of a college team,” said his brother. -“We’ll make the nine—you see.”</p> - -<p>“Hark! What’s that?” asked Pete suddenly, listening -intently.</p> - -<p>The sound of a tree toad came in through the opened -window.</p> - -<p>“Bateye Jones,” murmured Cap.</p> - -<p>“Are you boys going out?” asked Mr. Smith, looking -up quickly from the paper he was reading, as he heard -the name of the lads’ chum.</p> - -<p>“We—er—that is we thought of it,” replied Bill.</p> - -<p>“Well I do hope you won’t get into any more mischief,” -went on their father. “I’m about tired of hearing everything -that happens in this town laid to ‘Those Smith -Boys.’”</p> - -<p>“So are we, dad!” exclaimed Cap. “And half of the -things that are done aren’t up to us at all.”</p> - -<p>“Well, perhaps that’s so. But be careful now.”</p> - -<p>“Yes,” they promised in a chorus, as they hurried out -to meet Bat-Eye. And they really meant to do as they -had said, but they were full of life and energy, and—well,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> -you know how it is yourselves. Things don’t always turn -out as you think they will.</p> - -<p>A little later six figures might have been seen hurrying -away across lots in the rear of the Smith homestead. -There had been some earnest whispering before their departure, -and from the manner in which they hastened -away it might have been argued, by anyone who knew the -lads, that something was going to happen.</p> - -<p>Then, a few seconds after the six had melted away in -the darkness, two other figures rose up from the deep -grass where they had been hiding.</p> - -<p>“There they go, Beantoe,” whispered one lad. “I wonder -what’s up?”</p> - -<p>“We’ll soon find out, Spider,” was the response. “Come -on, we can easily follow them.”</p> - -<p>Cautiously the two sped on in the blackness. Just ahead -of them could be seen the group of six, and, from time to -time, the twain could hear the voices of the Smith Boys, -and their chums, Bateye Jones, Doc Lutken and Norton -Tonkin.</p> - -<p>“Can you hear what they’re saying?” whispered Beantoe.</p> - -<p>“Naw, but we don’t need to. We’ll just follow ’em.”</p> - -<p>The six led their shadowers quite a chase, and it was -not until half an hour later that the foremost lad turned -into a vacant lot that stood on the outskirts of the town. -In the middle of the lot was a tumble-down barn and -shed, long disused, and useful only as an abiding place for -an occasional tramp.</p> - -<p>“Gee whizz!” exclaimed Beantoe, as he and his crony -sank down out of sight in the grass, for the six had come<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> -to a halt in front of the ancient structure. “Gee whizz! -All this round-about way, when they could have walked -down the road to this place in ten minutes.”</p> - -<p>“That’s all right,” argued Spider. “That shows that -something is up. They didn’t want to be seen coming -here, and so they went around through the lots. Say, do -you know what I think?”</p> - -<p>“No, but I know what I think! I think we’re chumps -for coming after them! What does it amount to, anyhow?”</p> - -<p>“I’ll tell you,” whispered Spider. “They have a secret -society, and they hold meetings here. That’s why -they go about it so carefully. But they can’t fool us. -We’re right here, and we’ll sneak up, hear all they say, -and then where will their secret society be, I’d like to -know?”</p> - -<p>“Do you really think so?”</p> - -<p>“I’m sure of it. Look, they’re going in the barn.”</p> - -<p>The two lads who were hiding in the grass, just beyond -the fence that enclosed the old shed, raised their heads -and looked. Surely enough the Smith boys and their -friends were entering the deserted barn.</p> - -<p>“Let’s go up and listen,” proposed Spider.</p> - -<p>“No, wait awhile,” advised Beantoe. “Give ’em a -chance to get started, and we can hear all they say.”</p> - -<p>“They’re making a light!” exclaimed Spider.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span>“Sure! Maybe they’re going to initiate new candidates -into their society. They think they’re great stuff, but -wait until they find out that we know all their secrets and -passwords. Then they’ll come down off their high -horses.”</p> - -<p>“Sure! Come on up now. They must be started by -this time.”</p> - -<p>Carefully getting up from their hiding places the two -spies cautiously advanced toward the old barn.</p> - -<p>“They’re lighting up all over,” observed Beantoe eagerly. -“Must be going to have a regular celebration.”</p> - -<p>“I guess so. Come on over on this side. There’s a -little window that we can look in.”</p> - -<p>Spider was leading the way, and, just as he reached -the window in question, his companion, as was his habit, -unfortunately stumbled over a stone.</p> - -<p>“Oh, there you go again, Beantoe!” exclaimed Spider -wrathfully.</p> - -<p>“I—I know it,” admitted his crony. “Gee horse, but it -hurts!”</p> - -<p>“Well, keep quiet and come on. I guess—”</p> - -<p>But what Spider guessed he never told, for at that moment -there was a rush of figures from the barn, and the -two spies were surrounded.</p> - -<p>“We’ve caught ’em!” cried Cap Smith gleefully.</p> - -<p>“Who are they?” asked Bill.</p> - -<p>“I’ve got Beantoe Pudder,” announced Doc Lutken, -making a grab for the stumbling lad.</p> - -<p>“And here’s Spider Langdon,” added Pete Smith, taking -a tighter hold of the struggling youth.</p> - -<p>“What were they doing?” inquired Cap.</p> - -<p>“Following us, of course,” said Norton Tonkin.</p> - -<p>“We were not!” denied Beantoe, but the evidence was -against him.</p> - -<p>“I wonder what they want?” asked Bill.</p> - -<p>“They must have known what we were going to do, and -they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> want to squeal on us,” suggested Bateye. “What -shall we do?”</p> - -<p>“Is it too late to stop it?” asked Bill, with a glance -toward the barn.</p> - -<p>Inside could be seen several flickering lights.</p> - -<p>“Sure, it’s going hard,” answered Pete. “We can’t -put it out.”</p> - -<p>“Then let’s make ’em stand for it,” suggested Bateye. -“They’ll squeal anyhow, so let’s make ’em take their share -of the blame. It won’t amount to much anyhow, for dad -was going to have the place pulled down, and he won’t -care what happens to it. We’ll tie Beantoe and Spider to -the fence here, and run and give the alarm. The firemen -will loosen ’em when they get here.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, don’t tie us up!” pleaded Beantoe in alarm.</p> - -<p>“No, don’t leave us here!” begged Spider. “We’ll never -say a word about your secret society. Not a word, honest -we won’t!”</p> - -<p>“Who said anything about a secret society?” demanded -Bill.</p> - -<p>“Why, ain’t that what you came out to the barn for?” -asked Beantoe.</p> - -<p>“And did you follow us to hear the secrets?” inquired -Pete, beginning to understand something.</p> - -<p>Beantoe and Spider maintained a discreet silence.</p> - -<p>“By Jinks! that’s it, fellows!” cried Bill. “Say, this -is rich! Tie ’em to the fence, and leave ’em. Then we’ll -give the alarm! Say, this is great!”</p> - -<p>“Oh, don’t tie us! We won’t tell!” wailed Beantoe and -Spider in a chorus.</p> - -<p>But their foes were relentless, and in a few minutes<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> -the two spies were secured to the fence across the road -from the barn. Meanwhile the flickering lights in the -old structure had increased. Smoke was pouring from -the windows and doors.</p> - -<p>“There, you can tell any story you like now,” said Pete, -as he fastened the last knot. “Maybe they’ll believe you -and maybe they won’t.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, we Smith boys will be blamed anyhow,” was Bill’s -grumbling opinion.</p> - -<p>“Then we might as well have the game as the name. -Come on, it’s going good now. We’ll give the department -something to do.”</p> - -<p>With a final look at the barn, and the lads who were -tied to the fence, the Smith boys and their chums began -to run down the road in the direction of the town. As -they left, the whole interior of the rickety structure was -lighted up, and the smoke poured out thicker than ever.</p> - -<p>“They’ve set the barn on fire!” yelled Beantoe, as he -struggled to get loose.</p> - -<p>“And they’re going to put the blame on us,” added -Spider, threshing about with his long legs.</p> - -<p>“But we’ll tell who did it!”</p> - -<p>“What good will that do, when they find us here. Besides -those fellows will give the alarm, and that will throw -suspicion off them.”</p> - -<p>“But look how we’re tied.”</p> - -<p>“I know it, but they’ll say we did it ourselves. Oh, I -wish we hadn’t followed those Smith boys!”</p> - -<p>“So do I!”</p> - -<p>Swiftly running down the road, the boys in question, -and their chums, set up a loud cry:</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span>“Fire! Fire! Fire!”</p> - -<p>They were on the outskirts of the town now, and the -yell was soon taken up by many voices.</p> - -<p>“Fire! Fire! Fire!”</p> - -<p>“Where is it?” demanded several.</p> - -<p>“The barn on my father’s place,” answered Bateye Jones -pantingly.</p> - -<p>Some one rang the alarm bell on the tower of the -hose house.</p> - -<p>The few firemen on duty began to rush about, and -hitched up the horses. Other volunteers from nearby -houses hastened to the hose house. A red glare could be -seen reflected on the sky. The fire department at last -had a chance for a run, and the members rejoiced in it, -for there had been many days of inactivity. It mattered -not that the barn was a worthless structure, better burned -than left standing. It was a chance to get out the new -apparatus, and must not be missed.</p> - -<p>The hose wagon and chemical engine combined rattled -out of the house. Men shouted various unimportant directions. -The horses were scarcely awake.</p> - -<p>“There they go!” exulted Bateye as he and the others -prepared to race back to the scene they had so recently -left.</p> - -<p>“S’pose they find out we did it?” asked Pete.</p> - -<p>“It doesn’t matter,” said Bateye. “I got leave from -dad to burn the barn, only he didn’t know I was going to -do it to-night. He wants to put up a silo for cattle fodder -on the place, so the barn had to come down, anyhow, and -burning was the easiest way. But I thought we might -as well have some fun out of it while we’re at it.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span>“Sure!” agreed Cap Smith.</p> - -<p>And then the boys, and scores of others, ran on, while -voices multiplied the cry of:</p> - -<p>“Fire! Fire! Fire!”</p> - - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER III</h2></div> - -<p class="ph3">A LEAKY BOAT</p> - - -<p><span class="smcap">The</span> old barn made a good blaze. Beantoe and Spider, -tied with their hands behind them to the fence, could not -help but admit that.</p> - -<p>“Say, it’s a peach of a fire all right!” exclaimed the -long-legged lad, as he vainly struggled to free himself.</p> - -<p>“It sure is! I wonder if they’ll arrest us?”</p> - -<p>“Of course not. If they did I guess Bateye and the -others would be square enough to own up to it.”</p> - -<p>“I guess so, but maybe the firemen will be mad when -they find out about it.”</p> - -<p>“Get out! They’ll only be too glad of a chance to -use the new hose. Besides Cooney Humpville hasn’t used -his new trumpet yet. Say, it’s getting warm all right!”</p> - -<p>“Yes, but it won’t be any hotter. It’s at the worst of -the blaze now. Why don’t the firemen come?”</p> - -<p>“Here they are!” cried Spider.</p> - -<p>From down the highway came a confused sound—shouts -and yells mingled with the galloping of horses and the -rumble of the hose wagon.</p> - -<p>Up dashed the Freeport fire department, glorious in red -shirts and red helmets, with the red hose wagon in their -midst.</p> - -<p>“Unreel the hose!” yelled the chief.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span>“Better take the chemical line in first, Cooney,” suggested -one of the red shirted men.</p> - -<p>“Aw, don’t call me Cooney; call me Chief!” begged the -head of the fire-fighters. “I say put the hose on the hydrant -and squirt.”</p> - -<p>Several men started to do this, but it was found that -the nearest fire plug was farther away than the hose would -reach, so it was unavailable for the fire.</p> - -<p>“We’ve got to take the chemical, Cooney!” called another -man. “Run the wagon nearer.”</p> - -<p>“Aw, don’t call me Cooney, call me—” but his men did -not stay to listen to his renewed pleading. The horses -had been unhitched, and led away. Willing hands now -dragged the wagon closer to the burning barn, and soon -two lines of small hose to carry the chemical stream were -unwound.</p> - -<p>“Let her go!” yelled the men in a chorus, and the engineer -who operated the tanks, screwed down the wheel -valve that broke the bottle of sulphuric acid into the solution -of soda and water.</p> - -<p>Two foamy streams spurted from the hose nozzles, but it -was easy to see that they would have little effect on the -blaze. A lot of water was needed, and that was not available. -Still, even though the old barn burned to the -ground no harm could result. There were no other buildings -within an eighth of a mile.</p> - -<p>“Look here!” suddenly cried some of the firemen as -they neared the fence, and then they discovered Beantoe -and Spider tied to the rails.</p> - -<p>“Who did it?”</p> - -<p>“How did it happen?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span>“Did you see anyone start the fire?”</p> - -<p>“How did you get tied up?”</p> - -<p>Questions were fired at the two lads, who were soon -released. They looked through the gathering throng for -a sight of the Smith boys and their chums. Beantoe saw -Bateye laughing at him.</p> - -<p>“There are the fellows who set the barn on fire!” cried -the stumbling lad. “We saw ’em; didn’t we Spider?”</p> - -<p>“Sure; and they tied us up,” and, forthwith the tale was -related to such of the firemen and the crowd as would -listen. And this was a goodly number, for it was seen that -it was useless to try to save the barn, and all that could be -done was to watch it burn, harmlessly.</p> - -<p>“And those Smith boys tied you up?” demanded Chief -Humpville, “and burned the barn?”</p> - -<p>“Sure they did,” asserted Bateye. “Them an’ Doc an’ -Bateye.”</p> - -<p>“Just as likely as not these fellows set the barn, and -tied themselves up,” ventured a fireman, nodding at the -captives.</p> - -<p>“That’s right; for the Smith brothers, and Bateye ran in -and gave the alarm,” added another.</p> - -<p>“Didn’t I tell you how it would be,” wailed Spider. “I -knew they’d blame us.”</p> - -<p>The twain protested, even unto tears, that they had no -hand in the prank, and when they related, with much detail, -how they had been surprised and caught the tide -turned in their favor.</p> - -<p>“You might know those Smith boys would be up to some -such game as this,” remarked Mr. Wright, who kept the -feed store. “They ought to be arrested for arson.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span>“That’s right; or else sent away to the reform school,” -added Mr. Henderson, who sold shoes.</p> - -<p>“I hear they are going away to school this fall,” declared -Mr. Flint, a retired merchant.</p> - -<p>“Well, they can’t go any too soon to suit me,” went on -Mr. Wright. “They’re always doing something—those -Smith boys are!”</p> - -<p>“But you must admit that they helped get the railroad -to come here,” suggested Mr. Blanchard, the grocer.</p> - -<p>“Yes, but they’re like a cow that gives a good pail of -milk and then kicks it over,” asserted Mr. Flint. “But I -ain’t going to stay here any more. The fire’s most out, -and I guess it’s a good thing the old barn went. It was -only good for tramps.”</p> - -<p>In spite of the usual feeling against the Smith boys -this was the general sentiment, and when Chief Humpville -wanted to make a charge of arson against the lads, he was -persuaded not to.</p> - -<p>“And so you fellows really did it; eh Bateye?” asked the -chief, when the lad who could see in the dark had admitted -his part in the affair, together with the Smith boys. They -did it to clear Beantoe and Spider, who were deemed -guilty by some.</p> - -<p>“Sure I did it,” admitted Bateye shamelessly. “Aren’t -you glad you had the run?”</p> - -<p>The chief and his men were, but did not want to say so, -for their new helmets and red shirts had been audibly admired, -and the new apparatus, though its chemical streams -were not effective against the fire, because of the start the -blaze had acquired, were a source of pride to the townspeople.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span>“Ain’t it against the law to set a fire?” demanded the -chief, bound to maintain his dignity.</p> - -<p>“Not when you have permission,” asserted Bateye, “and -my dad said I could get rid of the barn any way I liked.”</p> - -<p>“Did he say you could burn it?” asked the chief.</p> - -<p>“Well, not exactly, but I liked that way better than any -other, and so we did it. I knew nothing could happen, -as there wasn’t any wind.”</p> - -<p>The chief felt the uselessness of making any comments, -especially as Mr. Jones was in the crowd, and confirmed -what his son said.</p> - -<p>“But I certainly didn’t know he intended to burn it at -night,” said Bateye’s father, “or I would have prevented -him. However it’s done, and I’m glad the barn is gone. -And if the firemen think—”</p> - -<p>“Oh, that’s all right, Mr. Jones,” said one of the red-shirts -with a laugh. “We were getting too fat lying around. -The run did us good.”</p> - -<p>It was not long ere the barn was but a heap of glowing -embers and then the chief, calling hoarsely through his -new trumpet, ordered the apparatus to “take up” though -there was little to take up, and the department slowly went -back to headquarters. The crowd followed, talking excitedly -of what had happened.</p> - -<p>“I guess you fellows won’t take after us next time; will -you?” asked Cap of Beantoe and Spider, as the two lads -passed by.</p> - -<p>“Humph! You just wait; that’s all!” threatened Beantoe, -vaguely. “We’ll get square with you yet!”</p> - -<p>“That’s what,” added Spider, striding along on his thin -legs.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span>“They’ve got to think up something mighty soon,” said -Bill, as he and his brothers and their chums turned down -a street that led to their homes. “We’re going off to school -in about three weeks.”</p> - -<p>“Not before the close of the ball season, though; are -you?” asked Bateye anxiously. “We can’t win the championship -if you go.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, we’ll finish out the season on the nine,” promised -Cap. “And I guess our team will win, if you don’t make -any more wild throws.”</p> - -<p>“Nary a one,” promised Bateye fervidly.</p> - -<p>It was several days before the town got over talking -about the fire. Mr. Smith heard of the part his sons had -taken in it, and talked severely to them.</p> - -<p>“Why are you always up to such risky tricks?” he asked.</p> - -<p>“This wasn’t risky,” declared Bill in justification.</p> - -<p>“We didn’t think it was any harm,” added Pete.</p> - -<p>“That’s the trouble. You don’t think enough. You -didn’t think the time you started the runaway handcar, -and you remember what happened. Now be more careful.”</p> - -<p>They promised, and Mr. Smith, who was a very busy -man, sighed and wished the boys would settle down and be -less playful.</p> - -<p>“Maybe when they get to the Academy, life there will -help to settle them,” he said with a shake of his head. -Whether it did or not we shall soon see.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile Beantoe and Spider were racking their brains -for some plan to get even with the Smith boys and their -friends.</p> - -<p>“I don’t care so much for Bateye and Doc. and Norton,” -said<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> Beantoe, “but I would like to play a trick on Pete and -his brothers.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll see if I can’t think of one,” promised Spider. A -few days later he came to his crony with joy written on his -face. “I think we have them,” he said exultingly. -“There’s a chance to put one over the Smith boys.”</p> - -<p>“How?”</p> - -<p>“Come along, and I’ll show you. They’re going out -fishing. I just saw Bill down to the hardware store buying -some hooks, and I heard him tell Bateye they were -going down past the swimming hole.”</p> - -<p>“Well, what’s the answer.”</p> - -<p>“We’ll stop at my house, get an auger and a loaf of -bread, and I’ll tell you on the way.”</p> - -<p>“What’s the auger and bread for?”</p> - -<p>“I’ll show you. Come on. I want to get to their boat -before they arrive. Then we’ll hide and see some fun.”</p> - -<p>A little later Beantoe and Spider stole cautiously to the -Smith boys’ boat house on the banks of the Waydell river.</p> - -<p>“You keep watch, and I’ll bore the holes in the boat,” -suggested Spider. “It won’t take long.”</p> - -<p>He was soon busy with the auger, and then his crony -understood.</p> - -<p>“I see!” he exclaimed. “You’re going to make holes -in the boat, and then when they’re out fishing, it will sink!”</p> - -<p>“Sure! You’re a regular detective,” said Spider, boring -away while Beantoe watched.</p> - -<p>“But won’t the water come in as soon as they start out, -and won’t they get on to the trick,” asked the stumbling -lad after thinking it over.</p> - -<p>“That’s where the bread comes in,” explained his friend.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> -“I’ll make a lot of holes, and stuff them up with bread. -Then I’ll smear dirt over the bread and it won’t show. It -will stay in the holes until Bill and the others get out in -the middle of the river and then it will soak up, and come -out. The boat will leak like a sieve, and they’ll have to -swim ashore.”</p> - -<p>Spider worked industrially, and soon had a number of -holes in the bottom of the fishing skiff. The holes were -well plugged with bread, and smeared over so that they -did not show.</p> - -<p>“Here they come!” suddenly warned Beantoe.</p> - -<p>“Well, I’m done!”</p> - -<p>Spider threw away what remained of the bread, put the -auger under his coat, scattered to one side the pieces of -wood that had resulted from the boring, and then he and -his companion made a dash for the bushes, just as the -three Smith brothers came in sight, with their fishing rods -over their shoulders.</p> - -<p>“Looks like a good day for bites,” remarked Pete, as -he got in the stern of the boat.</p> - -<p>“Sure,” agreed Bill, pausing on the bank to see if he had -all his tackle.</p> - -<p>“Get in, Bill, and I’ll shove off,” proposed John, for the -boat was drawn partly up on shore.</p> - -<p>“Now watch the fun,” whispered Spider to Beantoe, as -they peered from the bushes, and saw the boat being rowed -toward the middle of the deep river.</p> - -<p>“Maybe they’ll be drowned,” suggested Beantoe rather -frightened.</p> - -<p>“Those fellows? Naw! They can swim like fishes, but -their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> clothes will get wet, and it’ll serve ’em right for the -way they treated us at the fire.”</p> - -<p>“How soon before the boat will begin to leak?”</p> - -<p>“It ought to in a few minutes now. Gee whillikins! -But I’m glad I thought of that trick! Won’t they be surprised -when the water comes rushing in?”</p> - -<p>“They sure will,” and then the two cronies eagerly -watched the Smith boys, who, all unconscious of the fate -in store for them, were rowing down toward the fishing -grounds.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER IV</h2></div> - -<p class="ph3">A GREAT HOME RUN</p> - - -<p>“<span class="smcap">Wow</span>!” suddenly exclaimed Bill Smith, as he gave a -start that nearly upset the boat.</p> - -<p>“What’s the matter, did you jab yourself?” asked Pete.</p> - -<p>“Yep. Ran a hook into my thumb,” answered Bill, as he -carefully extracted the barb, while Pete, who was rowing, -rested on the oars and looked critically at the few drops of -blood which oozed forth.</p> - -<p>“Does it hurt?” he asked, rather needlessly.</p> - -<p>“Does it hurt? No, I do this every day just for exercise!” -retorted. Bill sarcastically as he put the injured -thumb into his mouth.</p> - -<p>“Shouldn’t do that,” observed Pete.</p> - -<p>“Do what; jab myself? Don’t you s’pose I know that, -you amiable loon?”</p> - -<p>“No, I mean put your bleeding thumb into your mouth. -You are likely to get germs in it.”</p> - -<p>“In which, my thumb or my mouth?”</p> - -<p>“Say, when you two fellows get through chinning, I wish -you’d pass me down the box of hooks. I want to put on a -smaller one,” observed Cap, who was getting his line ready. -As he spoke he looked down into the bottom of the boat, -and asked:</p> - -<p>“Who’s been eating crackers here?”</p> - -<p>“Crackers? Nobody,” answered Bill. “Why?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> “Because there are a lot of cracker crumbs or bread -crumbs under the seat here, and—”</p> - -<p>Cap gave a sudden start, and looked toward shore. -There was a slight movement in the bushes, and Beantoe -and Spider who had been peering eagerly out, withdrew -their heads into the shrubbery.</p> - -<p>“The water must be coming in now!” exulted Spider.</p> - -<p>“Sure!” agreed his crony.</p> - -<p>Cap was anxiously staring at the bottom of the boat. -He put his finger on a certain spot. The finger nearly -went through a soft place, and a second later some water -began trickling in.</p> - -<p>“By crimps! I’m on to their game!” cried Cap. -“Quick, fellows! Those cork floats from the box! Stuff -’em in the holes!”</p> - -<p>“What holes?” demanded Bill, removing his thumb from -his mouth that he might speak the more plainly.</p> - -<p>“The holes Spider and Beantoe bored, and then stuffed -up with bread,” answered Cap. “It’s an old trick. I suspected -something when I saw the crumbs. They didn’t -clean ’em all up. Lively now! Cracky! Here’s another -hole. Hand over those corks, Pete, if you don’t want to -swim ashore. Quick now, and don’t let those fellows suspect. -We’ll plug the holes, and go on as if nothing had -happened. Lucky we’ve got plenty of corks.”</p> - -<p>“Hey! There’s a lot of water coming in here!” called -Bill.</p> - -<p>“Keep quiet!” ordered his elder brother. “Plug it up. -Don’t let on that there’s anything wrong. Beantoe and -Spider are on shore watching us. I just saw the bushes -moving,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> and there’s no wind, so they must be there. Say, -are you going to be all day with those corks, Pete?”</p> - -<p>Thus livened up Pete passed back the box of bottle-stoppers. -By this time the bread in several holes in the -boat had become soaked through, and the water was coming -in at a lively rate. But Cap and his brothers worked fast. -They could see by the little bulges, caused by the swelling -plugs of bread, where the holes were, and, soon they had -them all stopped up before enough of the river had entered -to do any harm.</p> - -<p>“Now row on, Pete,” ordered Cap. “I guess we went -them one better this time.”</p> - -<p>“Say, my feet are getting damp,” objected Pete, for there -was a little puddle of water under his seat.</p> - -<p>“Pity about you!” sneered Cap. “If it hadn’t been for -me thinking of these corks you’d be wet all over. Row on, -now, and when we get around the bend where those fellows -can’t see us, we’ll sponge out. They’ll be wondering why -their trick didn’t work. Row on!”</p> - -<p>And, as Pete rowed, sending the boat along the river, it -was watched by two very much puzzled lads on the bank. -They wondered why the boat didn’t sink.</p> - -<p>“Say, I thought you said they’d have to swim ashore,” -observed Beantoe rather contemptuously to his crony.</p> - -<p>“They will, in a minute. Maybe I pressed the bread -in too hard, and it takes a while to soak up. But the boat -will sink in a few seconds.”</p> - -<p>They resumed their watching, and, though they saw the -three brothers doing something in the boat, the hidden -ones never dreamed that the Smith boys were plugging up -the holes with corks.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span>“It’s got to sink pretty soon now, if we want to see the -fun,” observed Beantoe, after an anxious pause.</p> - -<p>“I think it’s going down some,” said Spider doubtfully, -wondering whether he had not worked the scheme right.</p> - -<p>“Yes, it’s going down stream, to the fishing hole,” spoke -Beantoe. “I guess it’s all up with the joke.”</p> - -<p>They realized that it was all over as far as they were -concerned a few minutes later, when the boat containing -the Smith boys passed around the bend and out of sight, -apparently in as good a condition as it had ever been, and -not leaking a drop.</p> - -<p>“Well, what do you know about that?” demanded Spider, -as he got up and stretched his cramped legs, for they had -been crouching in the bushes.</p> - -<p>“What do I know about it?” demanded Beantoe in accents -of disgust. “I know that you don’t know how to -play a joke; that’s what I know. I thought we’d see some -fun, and watch those fellows have to swim ashore.”</p> - -<p>“So did I, but—but something went wrong, or else they -got on to the game, and stuffed up the holes,” answered -Spider, helplessly scratching his head. “Come on, I’ll treat -you to a chocolate soda.”</p> - -<p>This somewhat consoled Beantoe, but there was anguish -in the hearts of the cronies when, that evening, as they -were down at the post office with the usual crowd of boys, -the Smith brothers, who had returned from a successful -fishing trip, stepped up to the plotters.</p> - -<p>“Here’s something for you and Spider, Beantoe,” remarked -Cap, holding out his hand.</p> - -<p>“What is it?” demanded the stumbling lad, backing -away, for he feared a trick.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span>“Something to stop up holes in boats,” answered Cap, as -he showed a lot of corks.</p> - -<p>There was a chorus of laughs for the Smith boys had -told the story, and the joke was distinctively on Beantoe -and his crony. They slunk away, and Spider had to stand -treat for several more sodas before his chum would forgive -him for being led into a plot that was so easily turned -against themselves. It was some time before they again -ventured to play a joke on our heroes.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile the baseball season was drawing to a close, -and the championship of the county league lay between -Vandalia and Freeport. It came to the final game, the -play-off of a tie.</p> - -<p>“Now fellows,” remarked Cap, one afternoon, as they -journeyed toward the diamond in Freeport, where the closing -contest was to take place, “we’ve just got to win to-day. -It means the pennant for us.”</p> - -<p>“And for Vandalia—if we lose,” added Pete, in a low -voice.</p> - -<p>“But we’re not going to lose, Sawed-off!” exclaimed -Bill, as he swung his pitching arm around to limber it up. -“Are we, Cap?”</p> - -<p>“Not much,” and the tall lad thumped his big mitt. -“Don’t let anything get past you to-day, Pete.”</p> - -<p>“I won’t. Is Bateye going to play?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, but he’s improved a whole lot. My! There’s a big -crowd out!” added Cap, as he neared the grounds and saw -the great throng on the stands, and scattered about the -field.</p> - -<p>“Hear ’em yell,” remarked Bill.</p> - -<p>“Yes, Vandalia is out for blood to-day. Lucky we won -the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> toss, and have the game on our grounds. It’s a good -part of the battle.”</p> - -<p>The Smith boys were soon out on the diamond with their -teammates, doing some hard practice. The crowds increased -for not only was there an intense baseball fever in -both towns, but, because of the natural rivalry between the -places, a game between Freeport and Vandalia, always -brought out a record-breaking attendance.</p> - -<p>“Play ball!” called the umpire, and the game was on.</p> - -<p>It was a hot contest from the very beginning, when Rube -Mantell of the Vandalias knocked out a two-bagger with -the first ball Bill delivered.</p> - -<p>“Oh wow! Pretty one! Pretty one!” yelled the crowd. -“That’s a beaut! Take third! Take third!” shouted some -enthusiastic one, but the ball was fielded in too quickly.</p> - -<p>There was a grim look on Cap’s face as he gave the -signal to his brother in the box, and Bill nodded. He -struck out the next man, who was a heavy hitter, gave the -following player his base on balls, and struck out the -third. The succeeding man knocked a hot liner which -Pete, at short, stopped, almost at the risk of his life, and a -goose egg went up in the first frame for Vandalia.</p> - -<p>“Oh, not so bad; eh?” asked Cap, as Bill came in to the -bench.</p> - -<p>“No, but I nearly had heart disease when Rube whacked -it that first time.”</p> - -<p>“Aw, that was an accident. He can’t do it again.”</p> - -<p>Then Freeport went to bat and succeeded in getting one -run over the plate, much to the joy of her supporters. -Vandalia duplicated this in her second chance, and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> -game ran along to the seventh inning without another run -being chalked up.</p> - -<p>“Here’s where we do something,” announced Jake Jensen, -of the opposing team, as he took his place, and swung -his mushroom bat menacingly. But he only fanned the -wind, as did his successor.</p> - -<p>Then Flub Madison knocked as pretty a three-bagger as -was seen in many a game, and before Bateye could get the -ball in, the runner was speeding away from the last bag. -But, as he turned, Doc. Lutkin who was covering third, -limped to one side with an expression of pain on his face.</p> - -<p>“Flub has spiked Doc!” yelled Pete, running over to his -friend. The ball bounced in front of Doc, and Pete caught -it, but Flub had seen it coming, and was back on the bag. -“You spiked him on purpose!” cried Pete, drawing back -his fist.</p> - -<p>“I did not!” asserted Flub angrily. “He got in my way! -I couldn’t help it!”</p> - -<p>“I saw you do it on purpose—you want to kill off our -men!” went on Pete menacingly, and there might have -been a row, had not Cap run down from home, and quieted -his brother.</p> - -<p>“I’m sorry,” said Flub contritely. “Are you much hurt, -Doc?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I—I guess I can play,” answered the plucky lad, -“but I can’t run.”</p> - -<p>“We’ll let you have a runner,” proposed the captain of -the Vandalia nine. It was the least he could do. Doc’s -foot was punctured in the fleshy part, and, after it had -been treated, the game went on. Flub came in on a little<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> -fly by Nifty Pell, and that put the Vandalias one run ahead -whereat there was great rejoicing.</p> - -<p>“We’ve got to do ’em now or never,” declared Cap grimly, -when he and his mates came up for their turn.</p> - -<p>They tried hard, but fate was against them, though Bill -was called out at first on a close decision which even the -crowd characterized as “rotten.”</p> - -<p>But it stood, and when that inning was over the score -was two to one, in favor of Vandalia.</p> - -<p>“Well, we have one more look in, and then—” Cap -paused suggestively.</p> - -<p>“I can see that pennant going across the river,” announced -Bateye gloomily.</p> - -<p>“Say, you never were any good at seeing things in the -daytime,” declared Bill. “You want to take another look, -Bateye. We’re going to win!”</p> - -<p>There was a positiveness in Bill’s tones that seemed to -infuse itself into the spirits of his teammates. There was -a brief consultation among the Freeport players, and exhortation -from the captain and manager, and then the final -inning began.</p> - -<p>Vandalia played desperately—played for blood, and got -it—in the shape of one run, putting them two ahead. It -was due to an error of the centre fielder, who slipped when -he had a nice fly in his hands, and there was a groan of -anguish. Then the Freeport players settled grimly down, -and Bill struck out three in succession.</p> - -<p>“Three runs to win!” said Cap in tense tones as he -took off his mask and chest protector. “We’ve just got to -get them.”</p> - -<p>Pete brought in one, and after a desperate race when he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> -was nearly caught on third, Norton Tonkin landed another, -sliding home in a cloud of dust when the third baseman -threw the ball to the catcher, just above the latter’s head, -which error tied the score.</p> - -<p>“Now for the winning run!” said Pete, as his elder -brother went to the bat. But the chances were against -the Freeport team getting it, as there were two out, and -the Vandalia pitcher was lasting well. Still the score -was tied and there would be another inning if Cap did not -make good.</p> - -<p>“But I’m going to bring in a run,” he told himself -grimly, as he rubbed some dirt on his hands, and took a -firm grip of the stick.</p> - -<p>The ball came whizzing toward him. He was half -minded to swing at it, but a signal he had caught passing -between the pitcher and catcher warned him, and he let -it pass.</p> - -<p>“Strike!” called the umpire. Cap opened his mouth to -say something, and then thought better of it.</p> - -<p>“You won’t fool me again,” he called to the man in the -box, with a grim smile.</p> - -<p>“Whack!” That was Cap’s stick meeting the horsehide. -Out sailed the sphere, a long, low straight drive into right -field—away out among the daisies.</p> - -<p>“Oh, wow!”</p> - -<p>“Oh, pretty!”</p> - -<p>“Oh, a sweet one!”</p> - -<p>“Run, you old war-horse! Run, you scob! Run!”</p> - -<p>“A homer! A homer!”</p> - -<p>“All the way round! Come on in!”</p> - -<p>These were some of the yells that greeted Cap’s performance.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> -But he did not stay to listen to them. On he -sped for first and rounded the initial bag with a swing that -carried him well on to second.</p> - -<p>On and on he went, running as he had never run before -since he felt that on him now depended the championship.</p> - -<p>“Run! Run you lobster!”</p> - -<p>“Run, you dear old goat!”</p> - -<p>“Run, Cap, run!”</p> - -<p>“Come on, boy! Oh, a pretty one!”</p> - -<p>The grandstand was rocking and swaying with the -stamping of feet. The cheers were deafening. The Vandalia -players were almost stupefied. The Freeporters were -dancing up and down in a wild delirium of joy.</p> - -<p>The rightfielder was running after the ball like mad. -He had picked it up. He was throwing it in. Cap was -speeding toward third. He had passed it when the fielded -ball was in the air. Could he beat it home?</p> - -<p>That was what everybody wanted to know. On and on -ran the player. Nearer and nearer came the ball. The -second baseman had it now. He threw it toward the Vandalia -catcher, who, with feet well braced apart was waiting -for it with outstretched hands.</p> - -<p>Cap was almost exhausted. His legs felt like wooden -ones, but they kept going like the pistons of an engine.</p> - -<p>“Come on, boy! Come on! Come on!”</p> - -<p>“Oh you Cap!”</p> - -<p>“Beat it! Beat it!”</p> - -<p>Cap dropped like a shot and slid, feet foremost. The -catcher reached forward. There was a vicious “ping!” as -the ball landed in his big mit.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span>There was a moment of intense anxiety. A cloud of -dust hid catcher, runner and umpire from sight.</p> - -<p>And then, from this mist of dirt, in which three figures -could dimly be seen moving about, came this one word:</p> - -<p>“Safe!”</p> - -<p>Oh, what a howling there was! What cheers, what yells, -what thumpings on the back, what improvised war-dances, -what shakings of hands!</p> - -<p>For Freeport had won, almost on the last chance and -had the pennant. No wonder Cap Smith was overwhelmed -with praise as he walked panting to the bench.</p> - -<p>“Say, I guess there’s something in those Smith boys -after all,” remarked Mr. Flint, who had torn his score -card to bits as he wildly whooped himself hoarse while -watching the home run.</p> - -<p>“Well, they might be worse,” conceded Mr. Henderson.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER V</h2></div> - -<p class="ph3">OFF FOR WESTFIELD</p> - - -<p><span class="smcap">Whether</span> it was because their trick of putting holes in -the Smith boys’ boat did not work, or because they wanted -to get even with the brothers on general principles was -not made clear, but certain it was, that a few days after -the closing ball game, Beantoe and Spider made another -attempt to perpetrate something on our heroes.</p> - -<p>“This time it will come off all right,” Spider had assured -his crony.</p> - -<p>“It ought to; we spent time enough on it,” said the stumbling -lad. “I certainly hope it does.”</p> - -<p>With much labor and secrecy the two conspirators had -made a lot of sharpened stakes, and tied stout cords to -them. They had also prepared a quantity of molasses and -lampblack.</p> - -<p>“We’ll wait until they’re in their ‘coop,’ holding a meeting,” -explained Spider. “Then we’ll drive these stakes in -the ground at the foot of the stairs, so they’ll trip over the -strings when they rush down. And if they fall into the -lampblack and molasses, we can’t help it; can we?” he -chuckled.</p> - -<p>“Of course not,” answered Beantoe, with a malicious -grin. “But how are you going to get them to rush out of -the coop?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I’ll show you.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span>“And s’pose they catch us at it?”</p> - -<p>“I don’t believe they will. It won’t take but a couple -of minutes to stick in the stakes. The ground’s soft and -the stakes are sharp. We’ll work it to-night, for it will -be good and dark, and I heard Cap tell Bateye and Doc. -to come over after supper, so they’ll all be there.”</p> - -<p>“Good. We’ll get square this time.”</p> - -<p>A little later two figures, carrying some stakes and a -can, might have been seen proceeding cautiously toward the -Smith homestead. The two figures did not go boldly up -and ring the front door bell. Instead they sneaked around -in the rear where there was an old workshop, which had -been converted by Cap and his brothers into a sort of -“coop” or den, where they held meetings and talked over -pet schemes.</p> - -<p>Entrance to the coop was obtained by means of an outside -stairway, which led to the second floor, where the -meetings were always held, in a room, the walls of which -were hung with bats, masks, fencing foils, boxing gloves, -fishing poles and other trophies dear to boyish hearts.</p> - -<p>It was at the foot of this outside stairway, after carefully -looking about to see that they were not observed, that -Beantoe and Spider began thrusting the sharpened stakes -into the ground. Then they wound the stout cord in and -out among them, making a maze of string, which, if anyone -ran into unexpectedly in the dark, would be very likely -to trip him up.</p> - -<p>“There, now to spread the molasses and lampblack -around and give the alarm,” said Spider, when they had -nearly finished their preparations.</p> - -<p>“Are you sure they’re up there?” asked Beantoe.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span>“Pretty sure. You can see the light, and I heard a lot -of voices.”</p> - -<p>They listened a moment and caught the unmistakable -tones of Cap Smith.</p> - -<p>“It’s all right,” whispered Spider. “Pour the stuff out, -Beantoe.”</p> - -<p>“Aw, I don’t wanter. You’d better,” objected the tripping -youth.</p> - -<p>“I will not! Didn’t I get all the stuff, and stick in -most of the stakes?”</p> - -<p>“Well, I sharpened some. Besides, I’m afraid if I pour -it I might slip and fall into it.”</p> - -<p>“That’s so, I didn’t think of that,” and as Spider recalled -the unfortunate habit of his crony he took the can -of molasses and lampblack from him, and began making a -trail of it all about the foot of the stairs, walking backwards -so as to keep out of it himself.</p> - -<p>“I guess that will do,” announced the long-legged lad -at length. “Now we’ll hide back here and watch the fun. -I’ll bring ’em out.”</p> - -<p>“How?”</p> - -<p>“Listen, and you’ll hear.”</p> - -<p>Spider drew from his pocket a blank cartridge pistol. -Looking as well as he could in the dark, to observe that -his companion was hidden, Spider fired two shots in the -air, and immediately gave a very good imitation of a dog’s -agonized howling.</p> - -<p>“They’ll think it’s their dog, Waggles,” whispered Spider, -“and they’ll come out quickly enough.”</p> - -<p>His surmise was correct. The door of the coop, at the -head of the outside stairway was suddenly thrown open,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> -and in the glare of light could be seen Cap Smith standing.</p> - -<p>“What is it?” the hidden ones could hear those in the -coop asking. “Is Waggles shot?”</p> - -<p>“Can’t be Waggles—he’s here,” answered Cap. “Come -back!” he ordered as the dog, with a whine, started down the -stairs.</p> - -<p>“But it was some dog,” insisted Pete, coming to the -door, and joining his brother as he peered out into the -darkness.</p> - -<p>“Sure it was—and two shots. I’m going down to see.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll come too,” volunteered Pete.</p> - -<p>“I told you I’d get ’em out,” whispered Spider, and -Beantoe grunted.</p> - -<p>Cap started down the stairs, followed by Pete. Bill -together with Doc. and Bateye came after them.</p> - -<p>“Now watch carefully!” whispered Spider, trying not to -laugh.</p> - -<p>Suddenly Cap uttered an exclamation. He had run -into the first string. He swung about, got tangled in -another and went down, for his feet slipped in the molasses.</p> - -<p>“Great Scott!” he cried. “Look out, fellows, there’s -something wrong here! Keep back!”</p> - -<p>But his warning came too late. Pete made a jump to -help his brother, and he too went down, sprawling in the -sticky stuff.</p> - -<p>“It’s glue!” he yelled. “Show a light!”</p> - -<p>“What’s the matter?” demanded Bill.</p> - -<p>“Get a light,” repeated Sawed-off, as he floundered about.</p> - -<p>“Keep back!” yelled Cap.</p> - -<p>There was so much confusion that Bill, Doc, and Bateye<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> -came down to see what the trouble was. Then, they too, -got tangled in the cords, and went ingloriously down, the -sticky and black stuff getting all over their clothes, hands -and faces.</p> - -<p>“Oh wow! This is awful!” panted Cap, as he crawled -out, and being now able to dimly make out the cords and -stakes he could avoid them. “It’s a trick!” he cried.</p> - -<p>“Time for us to skip,” murmured Spider who was doubled -up with laughter. “I guess this one works all right; -didn’t it Beantoe?”</p> - -<p>“It sure did. But come on, or they’ll catch us.”</p> - -<p>They started to crawl away. Cap staggered up the -stairs and got a lantern. He came down, and by the light -he saw what sorry looking objects were his brothers and -chums.</p> - -<p>“Oh, this is fierce!” he wailed.</p> - -<p>“You’re a peach!” cried Pete. “Look at him, Bill!”</p> - -<p>“We’re <i>all</i> covered with the stuff!” exclaimed Bateye, -who looked like an amateur minstrel.</p> - -<p>“Hark!” whispered Cap.</p> - -<p>The sound of some one stumbling in the bushes came to -the ears of the brothers. It was the unfortunate companion -of Spider, falling down.</p> - -<p>“Beantoe Pudder!” cried Cap. “He and Spider did -this!”</p> - -<p>He made a dash in the direction of the sound. Beantoe -got up and tried to run, but went down again, dragging -Spider with him, for the latter’s long legs got tangled up in -a garden rake.</p> - -<p>“Come on!” cried Cap to his brothers after a rush as -he stood over the conspirators. “I’ve got ’em both!”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span>They tried to arise, but Cap pushed Beantoe back, and -grabbed Spider. He knew it would take the stumbling -lad some time to get up, and before he could do so, Pete -was on hand, and had made a prisoner of him.</p> - -<p>“Both of ’em!” exulted Bill, who came up on the run. -“What shall we do with ’em?”</p> - -<p>“Give ’em a dose of their same medicine,” decided Cap -grimly. And it was done.</p> - -<p>When the unfortunate Beantoe and Spider were released -from the hands of their enemies they were even -sorrier looking objects than were the Smith boys and their -chums. For the work of rolling the conspirators in the -lampblack and molasses had been thoroughly done, whereas -our friends only had some scattered spots on themselves.</p> - -<p>“Oh, let us go!” begged Beantoe, “we’ll never do anything -to you again!”</p> - -<p>“Yes, please let us go, and we’ll always be your friends -forever,” promised Spider eagerly.</p> - -<p>“Not much you won’t be our friends!” declared Cap. -“We wouldn’t let you be friends even with our dog, Waggles. -Now, fellows, into the ditch with them, and I guess -that will end it.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, don’t!” wailed Spider.</p> - -<p>“Please don’t!” begged Beantoe. But no heed was paid -to their protests, and into the ditch at the end of the garden -they were thrown, from whence they clambered, dripping -with slime, and very much chastened in spirit.</p> - -<p>“But they certainly did put one over us,” admitted Bill, -a little later, as he and his brothers and chums were cleaning -themselves off as best they could.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span>“Yes, and even though we got back at them, it won’t -take the molasses out of our clothes,” said Pete ruefully.</p> - -<p>“Maybe Mrs. Murdock won’t make a fuss!” observed -Bill uneasily, and the housekeeper did, even to the extent -of complaining to Mr. Smith.</p> - -<p>“Now, boys, this practical joke business has got to stop,” -said their father, when he heard the story next morning. -“Spoiling your clothes is too much.”</p> - -<p>“But, dad,” objected Cap, “it was Beantoe and Spider -who worked it on us. We didn’t do it!”</p> - -<p>“Well, they wouldn’t have done it if you hadn’t done -something to them first.”</p> - -<p>“No,” protested Bill, “they were mad because the boat -trick didn’t work.”</p> - -<p>“And they tried that scheme on you because of what you -did to them at the fire,” remarked Mr. Smith. “No, boys, -it must stop; and to make sure of it, I’m going to send you -away.”</p> - -<p>“Send us away?” faltered Cap.</p> - -<p>“Yes. It’s the only means by which I can have any -peace. I know you don’t mean any harm, but I never -know what is going to happen next. I have arranged for -you to go away to boarding school—the Westfield Academy, -as you know. The term does not open in two weeks, but I -can’t stand this any longer. Mrs. Murdock, help the boys -to pack up. I’m going to send them to school at once, and -have them out of the way. I have been thinking of this, -and I wrote to Dr. Burton, president of Westfield, asking -if they could come. He said they might, so get ready to go, -boys.”</p> - -<p>Mr. Smith tried to speak severely, but there was a half<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> -smile on his lips. The boys said nothing for a few seconds. -Then Cap softly cried:</p> - -<p>“Hurrah for Westfield!”</p> - -<p>“I’m afraid I haven’t quite made the punishment fit the -crime,” said Mr. Smith softly, as he turned away. “But -off you go, boys. You’ll start to-morrow, and I hope you -will like it. You may be a bit lonesome at first, but it will -give you a chance to get acquainted with the school and -grounds before the other students arrive. Now I’ll have a -little quietness,” and Mr. Smith went to his library, while -the boys executed a noiseless war dance.</p> - -<p>“Oh, those boys! Those boys!” exclaimed the housekeeper -throwing up her hands hopelessly.</p> - -<p>How they managed to get ready on such short notice the -brothers hardly knew, but they accomplished it, and the -next afternoon, having bidden their friends good-bye, they -took the train for Westfield Academy, an institution of -learning about one hundred miles away.</p> - -<p>“Now remember,” called Mr. Smith after them, “no more -practical jokes.”</p> - -<p>“That’s right,” promised Cap. “We’re going to play -baseball as soon as the spring season opens.”</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER VI</h2></div> - -<p class="ph3">A LIVELY HAZING</p> - - -<p>“<span class="smcap">Wow</span>! But this is a lonesome place!” exclaimed Cap -Smith, as he and his brothers were set down by the depot -stage in front of the gates of Westfield Academy.</p> - -<p>“And we’ve got it all to ourselves for two weeks,” added -Pete. “I wonder how we can stand it?”</p> - -<p>“Got to,” declared Bill grimly. “Say, they’ve got a beaut -diamond,” and he motioned toward the baseball field.</p> - -<p>“Nothing doing in that line until spring,” commented -Cap. “Football has the call now, but I don’t s’pose we’ll -get a look in at that. Well, come on,” and he went -through the massive bronze gates.</p> - -<p>“Where you going?” demanded Bill.</p> - -<p>“Up to see Prexy. Dad gave me a letter for Dr. Burton, -the president, and we want to pay our respects, and -find out where we’re going to sleep to-night. I don’t exactly -feel like camping out on the grass.”</p> - -<p>“Me either,” came from Pete. “Say, as soon as we can -get into some old togs can’t we get up a game. Maybe -there are some fellows sent on here early, like us, and we -can pick up a nine.”</p> - -<p>“I’m afraid not, son,” spoke John, “but that looks like -a place where a college president would hang out. Come -on, we’ll give it a trial.”</p> - -<p>A little later they were shaking hands with the venerable<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> -Dr. Burton, who made them genially welcome, but -looked all the while as if he didn’t quite know what to do -with them, and wished they would take themselves off, or -go away so that he could get back to a volume of Chinese -proverbs on which he was working, making a translation -of it into modern Hebrew.</p> - -<p>“I’m very glad to see you young gentlemen,” he said, -“and I hope you will like it here at Westfield. The students -will—ahem—arrive shortly.” That was all the reference -he made to the fact that our heroes were sent on -ahead of the time as a sort of punishment, and the boys -were duly grateful.</p> - -<p>“I have arranged for you to have rooms, temporarily, in -the senior dormitory,” went on Dr. Burton. “Professor -Landmore, the science instructor is there, and he—er—he -will, ahem—look after you,” and the good doctor seemed a -trifle embarrassed.</p> - -<p>“I guess he thinks we sure do need looking after,” murmured -Pete, when he and his brothers had settled down in -a big room containing three beds, which apartment was to -be their home until the term opened.</p> - -<p>“Shall we decorate?” asked Bill.</p> - -<p>“What, put up all our trophies? Not much!” exclaimed -Pete. “Wait until we get into our own flat, and see what -sort of neighbors we have. This will do for now. I’m going -to get unharnessed,” and he proceeded to don some -more comfortable clothes than those in which he had traveled.</p> - -<p>A little later the brothers were out on the deserted diamond, -tossing balls back and forth, and batting them. In -vain they looked for some one with whom to organize even<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> -half a nine, and finally they gave it up, and strolled about, -looking at the college buildings, walking over the football -gridiron, and speculating as to what sort of fellows they -would get chummy with when the students arrived.</p> - -<p>For two weeks our heroes lived rather a dull life, though -Professor Landmore made friends with them, and took -them on long walks collecting science specimens. Once he -went fishing with them, but he paid little attention to the -sport after he had captured a new species of frog, notes -concerning which he proceeded to enter at great length in a -book, while the Smith boys pulled out some fine specimens -of the finny tribe.</p> - -<p>That night, the final one before the opening of the term, -our friends were given their regular rooms in the Freshman -dormitory—three connecting apartments, not very large, -but just suitable for the boys. And straightway the -brothers began to decorate the walls, each in his own peculiar -way.</p> - -<p>With their choice possessions and trophies hung up, the -brothers gathered in Pete’s room that night for a talk before -turning in.</p> - -<p>“Well, the crowd will be here to-morrow,” observed Bill.</p> - -<p>“Yes, and then for some lively times,” added Pete.</p> - -<p>“How do you mean?” asked Bill.</p> - -<p>“Initiations, and hazing and all that. But we’ll have -to stand it.”</p> - -<p>“Surest thing you know,” declared Cap. “We all want -to make the ball team this spring, and if we balk out of the -hazing I know what that means.”</p> - -<p>“Are you going to take all that comes?” asked Bill.</p> - -<p>“Well, up to a certain point, but if it gets too strenuous, -I’ll<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> take a hand myself. But we can’t tell until the time -comes. Now let’s get to bed.”</p> - -<p>Lively were the scenes that took place the next day. -With the arrival of many new students, the return of old -ones, the assigning of the boys to their rooms, the making -up of classes, it is a wonder that poor old “Prexy’” did -not desert. But he took everything calmly, and soon a sort -of order came out of chaos.</p> - -<p>The Smith boys found themselves in the midst of a -lively colony of students in their dormitory. There were -five rooms on a short corridor, and of these our heroes had -three. Pete’s apartment was between those of Bill and -John’s, while the letter’s adjoined the room of Donald Anderson, -a new lad who was at once dubbed “Whistle-Breeches” -by some senior from the fact that Donald wore -corduroy trousers, which squeaked or “whistled” as he -walked. As soon as he learned why he was so christened, -he got rid of the offending garments, but the name stuck, -and “Whistle-Breeches” he remained to the end of his -course.</p> - -<p>Next to Bill there roomed a well-dressed, supercilious -lad, who was reputed to be quite wealthy, and his overbearing -manners added to this surmise. He was James -Guilder, but he was at once christened “Bondy” for he had -boasted of his father’s stocks and bonds.</p> - -<p>Behold then, these five lads domiciled together in the -Freshman corridor. Across the hall from Pete’s room, was -a larger apartment, which, as befitted his station, held a -lordly senior, one Dick Lawson, who rejoiced in the name -of “Roundy” because he was fat. He was also good natured, -and though the school authorities had placed him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> -there to have a sort of leavening effect on the Freshmen, -he was too good natured to be any sort of a monitor.</p> - -<p>After the first supper, partaken of with the entire school -assembled in the refectory, the three Smith boys went to -their rooms, not knowing what else to do.</p> - -<p>“I say, we’re not going to stay in like chickens; are -we?” demanded Bill.</p> - -<p>“No, but take it easy,” advised Cap. “We want to get -the lay of things before we start anything.”</p> - -<p>“That’s all right,” agreed Pete. “Do you know what -the Freshmen do the first night?”</p> - -<p>“Get hazed?” ventured Cap.</p> - -<p>“No, they go out and collect signs from around town—pull -’em off, you know; bootblack signs, restaurant signs—any -kind—and decorate their rooms with ’em. Let’s do it. -Whistle-Breeches said he’d go.”</p> - -<p>“Let’s don’t,” came from Cap calmly. “To-morrow will -do as well, and I want to look over some lessons. We’ve -got to buckle down to work here. It isn’t like the school -at home.”</p> - -<p>“Wow! I say you’re not going to become a greasy grind -so soon; are you?” demanded Bill in contempt.</p> - -<p>“Not exactly,” answered Cap, “but we didn’t come here -just to have fun. Dad expects something of us.”</p> - -<p>“Of course,” agreed Pete, “and we won’t disappoint him, -either. I guess I’ll—”</p> - -<p>But a knock on the door interrupted him, and a voice -called out:</p> - -<p>“Open up, Freshies!”</p> - -<p>“The hazers!” whispered Bill.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> “Shall we stand ’em -off?”</p> - -<p>“Might as well get it over with,” suggested Cap. “Just -stick together, that’s all, and when I give the word, which -I’ll do if they get too strenuous, just sail into ’em as we -did into Beantoe and Spider that time.”</p> - -<p>“Sure,” agreed his brothers.</p> - -<p>“Come on, Freshies! Open up or we’ll break in!” and -the summons was a thundering one.</p> - -<p>“Coming!” cried Pete gaily, and he swung back the portal -to confront a crowd of Sophs and Juniors, who had -taken it unto themselves to do some hazing.</p> - -<p>“Oh, this is fruit! This is easy!” was the cry, as they -saw the Smith brothers.</p> - -<p>“Please—please you—you won’t be too—too rough, will -you fellows?” pleaded Pete, in simulated terror.</p> - -<p>“Rough? Oh no, we’ll be as gentle as lambs; eh boys?” -retorted one of the hazers.</p> - -<p>“Oh, no, we won’t do a thing to them!” cried another.</p> - -<p>“Who’s in the next room?” demanded the leader of the -band.</p> - -<p>“Bondy Guilder,” replied Bill, indicating the room adjoining -his, where the wealthy lad was domiciled.</p> - -<p>“And on the other side?”</p> - -<p>“Whistle-Breeches Anderson.”</p> - -<p>“Good! Yank ’em both out, boys,” was the order, and -some of the cohorts left to execute it, while our three -heroes were pulled and hauled from their apartments, going -not unwillingly, as they thought of Cap’s plan.</p> - -<p>“Out on the diamond with them,” ordered the leader, -who was addressed as “Senator” but with whom the Smith -boys were not acquainted. “Bring along the other two.”</p> - -<p>Pete and his brothers soon found themselves in the midst<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> -of a motley crowd of Freshmen, more or less alarmed over -the ordeal in prospect. Some were cravenly begging to be -let off. Others were threatening and some, like our friends, -were silent, taking it as a matter of course.</p> - -<p>“Now then, the gauntlet for some one,” ordered the Senator. -“Line up, fellows. Here’s a good one to start with,” -and he hauled Bondy Guilder out from the press.</p> - -<p>“Hands off!” exclaimed the wealthy lad angrily.</p> - -<p>“Oh, ho! High and Mighty; eh? Well, that doesn’t -go at Westfield. Send him down the line, fellows,” and -the Senator gave Bondy a shove. The hazers had lined up -in two files, armed with bladders, rolls of papers, books -and stockings filled with flour. It was a reproduction of -the old Indian gauntlet along which hapless prisoners had -to pass, being beaten and clubbed as they ran.</p> - -<p>“You chaps are doing this at your own risk!” cried -Bondy trying to break away.</p> - -<p>“That’s all right, sport! We’ll chance it,” came the -answer. “Run, you lobster, or you’ll get the worst of it!”</p> - -<p>“I—I protest!” cried the victim, as he turned to see who -had hit him with an inflated bladder, in which corn rattled.</p> - -<p>“He doth protest too much!” cried a laughing hazer, -fetching Bondy a resounding thump with a slap-stick.</p> - -<p>“Run!” shouted the Senator, giving him another shove, -and the wealthy lad ran perforce, since he was half-pushed, -half-pulled the length of the double line.</p> - -<p>And what a trouncing he got! He was at once recognized -as a supercilious and overbearing lad and the punishment -to fit the crime was duly meted out to him. He -reached the end of the gauntlet rather much the worse for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> -wear, and his spruce new suit was in need of a tailor’s -services.</p> - -<p>“Now for the next!” cried the Senator. “Where’s that -Whistle-Breeches fellow?”</p> - -<p>“Here,” answered Anderson.</p> - -<p>“Well, we’ll let you off easy, for you look like a good -sort.” Whistle-Breeches was grinning in an agony of apprehension. -“Can you sing?” he was asked.</p> - -<p>“A—a little.”</p> - -<p>“Dance?”</p> - -<p>“Even less.”</p> - -<p>“Good, then you’ll do the Highland fling. Here, who’s -got the mouth organ?”</p> - -<p>“I have,” was the answer from the ranks of the hazers.</p> - -<p>“Pipe up a Scotch hornpipe. Where’s that whitewash -brush, and skirt. Off with his trousers.”</p> - -<p>Before Donald could protest he was minus his lower -garments and a short skirt of Scotch plaid had been slipped -over his head, and fastened behind. Then a dangling whitewash -brush was hung about his hips, in imitation of a -Scottish costume, and while the mouth organ made doleful -music Whistle-Breeches as well as he was able, which was -not very good, did a dance.</p> - -<p>“Livelier!” was the command, amid a gale of laughter, -and livelier it was, until even the hazers were satisfied.</p> - -<p>“Next,” called the Senator, like a barber.</p> - -<p>“Here are three we can work off together,” volunteered -some one, and Pete, Bill and John Smith were thrust -forward.</p> - -<p>“What’ll it be?” demanded the Senator.</p> - -<p>“Blanket tossing,” called several.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span>“No, the pond test.”</p> - -<p>“Too cold for the water. We’ll give ’em the blanket -degree. Bring out the woolens.”</p> - -<p>Some heavy horse blankets were produced and with the -hazers holding to the corners, our heroes were tossed up -into the air, and caught as they came down with sickenish -feelings. But they had been through the ordeal before, -and knew what to do. They kept quiet and were not hurt.</p> - -<p>But when Bill and Pete were tossed together, it was not -so much fun, and they very nearly had an accident. Altogether -it was rather a tame hazing, and the Sophs and -Juniors felt it so.</p> - -<p>“The pond! The pond!” was the cry.</p> - -<p>“That means a ducking,” said Cap in a whisper to his -brothers. “We won’t stand for that. Let ’em take you -along easy, until they get you right to the edge, and then -take a brace, and pitch in the first man you can grab. I’ll -whistle when it’s time. They won’t suspect anything.”</p> - -<p>“The pond! The pond!” was the cry again raised, and -though the Senator and some of the older students were a -bit averse to it they had to give in to the majority.</p> - -<p>“Come on!” cried the crowd, hustling Pete and the two -other lads along. “It’ll be over in a minute and you’ll -feel better for it,” consoled one hazer to Cap.</p> - -<p>“Do you really think so?” he asked gently.</p> - -<p>“Sure,” was the reply, and the youth wondered why the -three did not make more of a fuss. He found out a little -later.</p> - -<p>“Much against our will, we are compelled to initiate you -into the mysteries of the Knights of the Frogs,” said the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> -Senator, as the crowd lined up on the bank of a pond not -far from the football gridiron.</p> - -<p>“Go ahead,” said Cap easily, glancing on either side -where his brothers stood. “Is it deep?”</p> - -<p>“Only to your waist,” answered the Senator. “Can you -swim?” and he was in earnest for he would have stopped -the hazing had he found either of the candidates deficient -in the watery pastime.</p> - -<p>“A little,” admitted Bill. “Oh, please—please don’t -throw us in!” he pleaded suddenly.</p> - -<p>“No, don’t—I—I have a cold,” added Pete, taking his -cue.</p> - -<p>“I—I’d a good deal rather have something else, if it’s -all the same to you,” put in Cap, pretending to shiver.</p> - -<p>“I thought we’d get their goat!” shouted a lad who had -been disappointed that the candidates did not show more -fear. “All ready now, in with ’em!”</p> - -<p>The three Smith brothers allowed themselves to be led -close to the edge of the pond. On either side of each lad -stood a hazer, with one hand on a collar and the other -grasping the seat of the trousers.</p> - -<p>“All ready!” again called the leader. “I’ll count three -and in they go!”</p> - -<p>“One!” came the tally, and the throwers swayed their -victims slowly to and fro.</p> - -<p>“Two!” came the count.</p> - -<p>But before the third signal could be given there came -a whistle from Cap. At that instant the hazers had eased -back ready for the forward motion at the word three!</p> - -<p>But it did not come. Instead Pete, Cap and Bill seemed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> -to slip down. In an instant they were loose. But they did -not run.</p> - -<p>Instead they put out their feet, one after the other gave -vigorous shoves, and six forms, dextrously tripped, lay -prostrate on the sod. They were the forms of the lads -who had expected to toss into the pond the three Freshmen.</p> - -<p>“In with ’em!” cried Cap, and before the astonished -hazers knew what was up, one after the other had been -rolled down the sloping bank of the pond, into the water.</p> - -<p>The tables had been turned most effectively, and, as our -heroes fled off through the night they heard some one call:</p> - -<p>“For the love of tripe, what are we up against? Who -were those fellows?”</p> - -<p>“Th—those—those Smith boys!” was the spluttering -answer of one who crawled out of the frog pond.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER VII</h2></div> - -<p class="ph3">MOVING THE SENIOR STONE</p> - - -<p>“<span class="smcap">It</span> occurs to me,” remarked Cap Smith one evening -about a week after the hazing, when his two brothers and -Whistle-Breeches had foregathered in the elder Smith lad’s -room for a talk, “it occurs to me, fellows, that we’re not -doing much to uphold the honor and dignity of the Freshman -class. What about it?”</p> - -<p>“Not doing much?” demanded Bill. “Say, didn’t we -put it all over the fellows who tried to haze us?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, for the time being, but they caught us later, and -man-handled us about twice as badly as if we’d let them -carry out the original program,” answered Cap musingly.</p> - -<p>“Well, didn’t we win the cane rush, and can’t we carry -our sticks?” asked Pete as he mended a broken bat in -anticipation of spring.</p> - -<p>“Yes,” admitted Cap, “we did win the rush, and we -ought to have, for the Freshman class is big this term. -That’s what I’m complaining of, it’s so big, and there -are such a lot of fine fellows in it—not to mention ourselves—that -it ought to do something to make its name -known and feared for generations to come in the annals -of Westfield.”</p> - -<p>“Meaning just what?” asked Whistle-Breeches, as he -carefully marked a page in his algebra, lest he forget it.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span>“Meaning that we ought to get busy. Now have you -fellows anything to propose?”</p> - -<p>“We might paint the class numerals on the bell tower. -That hasn’t been done in a couple of years I understand,” -spoke Bill.</p> - -<p>“Childish,” was Cap’s objection.</p> - -<p>“Let’s go about town, changing all the signs in front of -the stores,” came from Pete. “The Freshmen did that one -year, and a chap with a pair of shoes to fix took them -into a millinery joint. That would be sport.”</p> - -<p>“Regular high-school game,” was what Cap said. -“That’s old. Think of something new.”</p> - -<p>“Besides, it isn’t altogether safe,” added Whistle-Breeches. -“I tried to get some signs for my room the -other day, and I did get a nice one from a ladies’ hair -dressing parlor, but the proprietor turned out to be a man, -and he spotted me. It cost me just seven-fifty for that -sign. I could have had one made for a dollar. I’m not -stuck on the sign racket. But, Cap, how about taking -down the Junior flag pole? We could dig it up some dark -night and shift it over to the football field.”</p> - -<p>“That wouldn’t be so bad,” remarked Cap condescendingly. -“But I have what I think is a better plan. You -know that big meteor, or piece of a meteor, that stands -just off the middle of the main campus?”</p> - -<p>“The Senior stone?” asked Bill.</p> - -<p>“That’s it. Now what’s the matter with taking that and -depositing it on the college front steps some dark night?”</p> - -<p>“What, move the Senior stone?” cried Whistle-Breeches -aghast.</p> - -<p>“Exactly,” answered Cap, “it isn’t chained down; is it?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span>“No, but it weighs several tons,” declared Bill, “and -besides it is almost sacred. Why, it’s a piece of a meteor -that some polar discoverer brought back and presented to -the school. The Seniors have always claimed it, and that’s -where they hold their farewell doings every commencement.”</p> - -<p>“I know it,” said Cap. “All the more reason for moving -it. The meteor must be tired of staying so long in one -place. Besides we owe the Seniors something, for the way -they turned in and helped the Juniors haze us this term.”</p> - -<p>“But—move the Senior stone!” gasped Pete, as if it was -a crime unheard of.</p> - -<p>The Senior’s stone at Westfield was an ancient and honorable -institution. I forgot how many years it had occupied -a spot on the campus, and, as Bill said, the graduates -always gathered about it at Commencement and had “doings” -there. The stone, which was of meteoric origin, was -very heavy, and was considered almost sacred to the upper -class. Freshmen were required by school tradition to take -off their hats when passing it.</p> - -<p>“Now what do you say to it?” asked Cap, when the idea -had sufficiently filtered through the minds of his brothers -and their visitor. “Wouldn’t that be worth doing?”</p> - -<p>“If we could manage it,” answered Pete. “But it’s infernally -heavy, and how could we shift it?”</p> - -<p>“Easy,” answered Cap. “I’ve got it all worked out.”</p> - -<p>“It would take half the class to carry it,” went on Bill, -“and if we get a crowd like that out on the campus at -night the faculty would be on in a minute, to say nothing -of the Seniors.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t intend that half the Freshman class, or even -ten<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> members of it shall have a part in it,” went on Cap. -“We four are enough.”</p> - -<p>“What, to move that big stone?” cried Bill.</p> - -<p>“Hush!” exclaimed his elder brother. “Do you want to -give the scheme away? Not so loud. Evidently you -haven’t studied physics lately; and the principles of the -wedge, lever, pulleys and the like are lost on you. I have -the very machine needed to move the stone, and if you -fellows will help we can do it to-night.”</p> - -<p>“Of course we’ll help!” said Pete.</p> - -<p>“We haven’t done much lately,” added Whistle-Breeches. -“I’m with you. But why to-night? It’s late now.”</p> - -<p>“So much the better. We can get out without any one -seeing us. Besides the Seniors are having a class meeting -to-night and they won’t spot us. If you’re ready come on.”</p> - -<p>The others hesitated a moment, and then prepared to -follow Cap. That leader, having ascertained by a careful -observation that the coast was clear below, let himself out -into the corridor, went down it a short distance to see that -no scouting monitor was on the alert, and then signalled -to his brothers and Whistle-Breeches.</p> - -<p>A little later four shadowy forms, skirting along in the -darkness made their way softly out of the school grounds.</p> - -<p>“Where are you going?” asked Bill, as Cap led them -along a road which was dug up for the putting in of a -sewer and water system. “This is as bad as crossing the -Alps.”</p> - -<p>“Well, beyond the Alps lies Italy, and beyond these dirt -piles is the machine we need for moving the Senior stone, -my lads,” was Cap’s whispered answer. “Come on, we -are almost there.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span>They proceeded in silence until there came a sudden cry -of dismay from Bill.</p> - -<p>“What’s the matter?” inquired Cap.</p> - -<p>“Oh, I stumbled in a hole! Say, it’s as dark as red ink, -and full of gullies along here.”</p> - -<p>“You’re as bad as Beantoe,” declared Pete. “Come on. -How much farther, Cap?”</p> - -<p>“It’s around here somewhere I think. I spotted it -to-day as I was coming from town, and that’s how I happened -to think of the scheme. Ah, here it is,” and in the -semi-darkness he went over to something that looked like -half of a wagon truck. It consisted of two high wheels, -with an iron arrangement between them, a long pole or -lever and several chains.</p> - -<p>“What’s that, for the love of tripe?” demanded Bill.</p> - -<p>“That,” said Cap, “is a stone-carrier, a pipe-carrier, a -stump-puller and is also used in a variety of other ways -to lift heavy weights and transport them from one place to -another. The technical name has escaped me, but I think -that will answer you,” and with this delivered in his best -class room style, Cap took hold of the long pole and began -moving the machine out from amid a pile of sewer and -water pipes.</p> - -<p>“Say, I believe that <i>will</i> do the trick!” exclaimed Bill -admiringly.</p> - -<p>“Of course it will,” declared Cap. “Come on, now. We -haven’t any too much time, for the Seniors may come out -of meeting any minute, and some may take a notion to -stroll around the campus, though it’s not likely.”</p> - -<p>Behold the conspirators then, a little later, trundling the -big two-wheeled affair along the dark road. Fortunately<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> -the dirt was thick, and the machine made no noise. -Also the campus grass was long and soft and the wheels -rolled smoothly along.</p> - -<p>A careful bit of scout-work on the part of Bill, a cautious -approach and soon the plotters were beside the meteor -ready to fasten the chains around it, lift the heavy weight -by the enormous leverage of the long handle, and wheel it -to the main school steps.</p> - -<p>Cap and Bill adjusted the chains, handling them with -care, so that they would not rattle. The links were soon -fastened about the stone.</p> - -<p>“All ready now?” asked Cap in a whisper, as he took -his place at the lever.</p> - -<p>“Let her go,” answered Pete.</p> - -<p>Cap and his two brothers bore down on the handle. -Something began to give. Suddenly there was a hoarsely -whispered appeal.</p> - -<p>“Oh! For cats’ sake! You’ve got my foot caught in -the chains! You’re lifting me with the rock!”</p> - -<p>It was the unfortunate Whistle-Breeches who had been -stationed near the meteor to steady it when it was raised -from its ancient bed.</p> - -<p>“Hurry up, get loose!” commanded Cap, and he and the -others raised the pole until the chains were slackened sufficiently -for Donald to get his foot out.</p> - -<p>“All right, go ahead!” he called.</p> - -<p>There was a creaking of wood and metal. The big lever -came slowly down. More slowly Whistle-Breeches saw the -meteor being raised. At last it was free from the ground, -and was slung, in the chains, between the two big wheels.</p> - -<p>“All right!” he whispered. “She’s free!”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span>“Come on then,” ordered Cap, and they started across -the campus, pulling after them the Senior stone, which -from the time when the mind of man ran not to the contrary, -had reposed in a place of honor. Now it was moved.</p> - -<p>“Right in the middle of the steps,” suggested Cap, and -they bent their course in that direction. A little later -the heavy stone, weighing several tons, was carefully lowered -on the big paving flag that marked the beginning of -the main school entrance.</p> - -<p>“I rather guess they’ll open their eyes when they see -that,” said Cap, as he wheeled the machine away, and -stood off to observe the effect. Truly the meteor rested in -a strange place.</p> - -<p>“Come on—no time for artistic observation,” suggested -Bill. “We may get caught. Let’s make a get-away.”</p> - -<p>“Sure,” agreed Whistle-Breeches, and silently through -the darkness they sped with the wheeled affair.</p> - -<p>As they were leaving the college grounds they heard -some one approaching along the road which they must -take to return the lifter.</p> - -<p>“Some one’s coming! Duck!” whispered Cap hoarsely.</p> - -<p>“And leave this?” asked Bill.</p> - -<p>“Sure. Shove it into the bushes.”</p> - -<p>They tried to carry out this plan, but, even as they -were doing so some one came into sight. There was just -light enough to see that the man was Professor Landmore -of the science class, and at the sight of him the four lads, -abandoning the machine, made a headlong dive for the -bushes.</p> - -<p>“Who’s there?” demanded the professor, suddenly -halting.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span>No answer, of course; only the sound of hurried flight.</p> - -<p>“I demand to know if you are Westfield lads!” went on -the instructor vigorously.</p> - -<p>“Think he recognized us?” asked Bill, as they paused -for breath, for they were now well hidden.</p> - -<p>“I don’t think so,” answered Cap, peering through the -bushes.</p> - -<p>“He’s gone to look at the two wheels,” reported Bill, -who was also making an observation.</p> - -<p>“Then we’re safe,” decided Cap. “He’ll make a book -of notes about it, and calculate how much more weight it -could lift if it had bigger wheels, and a lever twice as long. -Come on, we’ll get back to our little beds,” and he started -away as stealthily as possible.</p> - -<p>“But won’t he see the machine, and know how the stone -was moved?” asked Pete.</p> - -<p>“What of it? We can’t help it, and even a member of -the Senior class in differential calculus and strength of material -will know that meteor couldn’t move of itself. As -long as Prof. didn’t see us I don’t care. Come on.”</p> - -<p>And, before they made their silent ways into their rooms -that night, the four conspirators took another look at the -big stone of Senior fame, resting in its unaccustomed place.</p> - -<p>“There’ll be a row in the morning,” was Cap’s opinion.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER VIII</h2></div> - -<p class="ph3">ORGANIZING THE NINE</p> - - -<p><span class="smcap">Nobody</span> was late for chapel next day—a most unusual -occurrence. But the news of the removal of the stone -had early become known, and before the first call for -breakfast almost the entire school was out on the campus, -gazing at the work of the Smith boys and Whistle-Breeches.</p> - -<p>“Say, that was a peach of a stunt all right,” was the -general comment. “Who did it?”</p> - -<p>“Well, if we find out who of you Freshies did it, there’ll -be something <i>else</i> doing,” was the angry retort of the -Seniors, since, just before leaving the stone, Cap had -painted on it in hastily scrawled characters:</p> - -<p class="center">“COMPLIMENTS OF THE FRESHMEN.”</p> - -<p>“Don’t you wish you knew?” demanded Pete, with a -wink at his brothers.</p> - -<p>“What would you do if you did know?” asked Bill.</p> - -<p>“Make you fellows roll it back with your noses,” was the -grim answer.</p> - -<p>“How in the mischief did they do it?” some of the -cooler-headed Seniors wanted to know.</p> - -<p>“Why the little beggars must have used a platform, on -long poles to carry it on,” decided one of the upper class. -“Though how they got away with it, and so quietly, is a -mystery. How are we going to get it back?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span>“Have to hire a gang of men I guess,” said a companion -dubiously.</p> - -<p>The matter was spoken of by Dr. Burton at the morning -exercises, and he requested whoever had perpetrated -the “alleged joke,” as he called it, to make himself, or -themselves, known. Of course no one confessed, nor did -the good doctor expect them to, but he had done his duty, -and then he hurried back to his study to resume work on -translating some clay tablets, of early Assyrian characters, -a friend had sent him.</p> - -<p>It was Professor Landmore who solved the problem, by -telling his class that day of a curious machine he had seen -for applying the principle of the lever, and he described the -big two wheeled affair he had noticed beside the road the -previous evening. Then the secret was out, and the Seniors -learned how the trick had been worked. It was even -rumored that the Smith boys had had a hand in it, but -nothing came of it, and the upper classmen had to endure -the taunts and stings of the Freshmen until, by hiring -some of the sewer contractor’s men, the stone was put back -in its old place.</p> - -<p>But the joke created quite a stir, and our heroes were -considered “honor men” in the Freshman class, which had -gained undying fame by so simple a means, for it was -many years before the story of the removal of the Senior -stone grew stale in the annals of Westfield.</p> - -<p>But now matters were more or less settled down in the -school, and our three friends gave at least part of their -time to study. Meanwhile they had joined several Greek -letter fraternities, and were having their share of college -life. They wanted to make the Varsity football team, but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> -failed, as there was an overabundance of material that fall. -However they did make the Freshman team, and proved -themselves worthy of the honor. But as I intend to tell -of the prowess of the Smith boys on the gridiron in a book -to follow this, I will merely mention now that Bill, Pete -and Cap did more than their share of work in winning -the Freshman championship for the school, after many -hard-fought battles.</p> - -<p>The final game on the gridiron had been played, and the -Westfield Varsity had won. Long hair was sacrificed to the -barber’s shears, dirty suits and leather pads were laid -away, and nose guards and helmets put upon the shelf -until another fall. Then began a winter of more or less -discontent, according as the lads liked or disliked study. -Our heroes were about the average, neither better nor -worse.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>There was rather a more balmy feeling to the air than -had been noticed in some time. The snow had gone, and -the grass that had been brown and sear was beginning to -take on a tinge of green. Cap Smith, mending a rip in -his big catching mitt looked out of the window, yawned -and stretched lazily.</p> - -<p>“Too much study?” asked Bill.</p> - -<p>“No, I think I’m getting the spring fever. How about -you, Pete?”</p> - -<p>“Same here. I’m tired of this measly Latin. Say, -where is that new mushroom bat I bought the other day?”</p> - -<p>“I don’t know, unless Whistle-Breeches borrowed it to -prop his window up with. Jove! but it’s getting warm!”</p> - -<p>“I like his nerve if he has,” and Pete made a hasty<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> -journey to the room of the lad at the end of the corridor, -returning with the stick in question, and followed by the -culprit himself.</p> - -<p>“I didn’t know it was a <i>new</i> bat,” said Whistle-Breeches -in extenuation. “Besides there won’t be any baseball for a -month.”</p> - -<p>“There won’t, eh?” retorted Bill. “I’ll bet they’ll have -the cage up in the gym this week.”</p> - -<p>“I heard something about it,” admitted Cap. “Mr. -Windam, the coach, said he’d soon be on the lookout for -candidates.”</p> - -<p>“Think we have any show?” asked Pete eagerly.</p> - -<p>“I guess so. We had a good record from home.”</p> - -<p>“That doesn’t count so much here,” was the opinion of -Whistle-Breeches. “I’d like to make the nine, but I’m -afraid I won’t.”</p> - -<p>“Where do you play?” asked Cap, sizing up his chum -with a professional eye.</p> - -<p>“Right field.”</p> - -<p>“Then you bat some?”</p> - -<p>“I did a little better than two eighty-nine last year,” -was the modest answer.</p> - -<p>“Then you ought to get in all right. Now I want to -catch, and Bill wants to pitch,” went on Cap, “and—”</p> - -<p>“And I’d like to fill it at short,” interrupted Pete.</p> - -<p>“And that’s the trouble,” came from Bill. “It would -look too much like a family affair if we were all on the -nine.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I don’t know,” said Whistle-Breeches. “If they -want good players—”</p> - -<p>“They’ll take us,” declared Cap with a laugh. “Well,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> -even if we can’t make the Varsity, we’ll have some games. -I wish the ground would dry up a bit, so we could get out -and have some practice.”</p> - -<p>Bill leaned forward and looked from the window, which -gave a view of a path leading to the gymnasium. On a -post not far away from the building was a bulletin board, -and at that moment Forbes Graydon, captain of the Varsity -nine, was tacking something up on it.</p> - -<p>“Wonder what that is?” asked Bill idly.</p> - -<p>“Let’s go look,” proposed Pete. “Come on, Whistle-Breeches.”</p> - -<p>They hurried down, and after a hasty reading of the -placard waved their hands to Cap and Bill, who soon joined -them, together with a throng of other students.</p> - -<p>For the notice gave announcement that all who wished -to try for the baseball team were to report in the Gymnasium -that afternoon, when matters pertaining to the organization -of the nine would be talked over.</p> - -<p>“Shall we go, fellows?” asked Cap.</p> - -<p>“Go? You couldn’t keep me back if you hitched me to -the Seniors’ meteorite,” declared Bill with energy.</p> - -<p>“Going to try for it, Bondy?” asked Whistle-Breeches -of their wealthy neighbor at Bill’s end of the corridor.</p> - -<p>“Me? No. Baseball is such a rough and dirty game. -But I shall cheer for our team, and back it with my money, -of course. Do you think we have a chance to win the -championship? I’d like to wager something on it.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, you and your money!” growled Whistle-Breeches -as he turned away in disgust. “We play ball at Westfield -for the <i>game</i>—not for <i>bets</i>!”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span>“Ah—really!” exclaimed James Guilder in supercilious -tones as he wiped his glasses with his silk handkerchief.</p> - -<p>There was a big crowd in the gymnasium that afternoon, -when Mr. Windam, who occupied the platform with Captain -Graydon and J. Evans Green, the manager, banged -his gavel for order.</p> - -<p>“You all know why we are here, so there is no use wasting -time going over that,” said Mr. Windam. “There are -several vacancies on the Varsity nine, and we shall be -glad to have new candidates announce themselves. You -new men will all be given a fair try-out, and those who do -not make the team will become substitutes.</p> - -<p>“I might add, though you probably all know it, that -we won the pennant last year by only a narrow margin. -It is going to be hard to keep it this year, for I understand -Tuckerton College, our most formidable rival, has -an exceptionally strong team, and they are after our -scalps.”</p> - -<p>“Well, they won’t get ’em!” Voice from the throng.</p> - -<p>“Not if we can help it,” went on the coach. “Only I -want to warn you that we expect top-notch playing from -every member of the team. Financially we are in good -shape, and just as soon as the candidates can be picked out -we’ll begin work in the cage. This week, if possible.</p> - -<p>“Now, Mr. Green, Captain Graydon and myself will -take your names if you will come forward.”</p> - -<p>There was a moment’s hesitation, and then Cap Smith, -with a look at his two brothers, arose and walked toward -the platform. There was a murmur in the throng as Pete -and Bill followed, and as Whistle-Breeches got up.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span>“The whole Smith family!” called a voice, and there -was a snicker of mirth.</p> - -<p>“Well, maybe we’ll be glad of more of the Smith boys -before the season is over,” said Mr. Windam good-naturedly. -“Now boys, your names, and the positions you’d like to -have.”</p> - -<p>The organization of the Westfield nine was under way, -and as Cap and his brothers noted the number of candidates -they began to fear that their chance of all being together -on the team was a slim one.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER IX</h2></div> - -<p class="ph3">BILL IS HIT</p> - - -<p>“<span class="smcap">Well</span>,” asked Mr. Windam, as Cap stood before him. -“What name?”</p> - -<p>“Smith—John.”</p> - -<p>“Um. Spell it with a ‘Y’”</p> - -<p>“Not much. Just plain Smith.”</p> - -<p>“Good; and the position?”</p> - -<p>“Catcher.”</p> - -<p>“We’ve got three, but never mind. Accidents will happen. -Next!”</p> - -<p>“Smith,” said Bill laconically. “Plain Bill.”</p> - -<p>“I see. And you’d like to be—”</p> - -<p>“Pitcher.”</p> - -<p>“Good again, as Mr. Pumblechook would say. Do you -know Mr. Pumblechook?”</p> - -<p>“Slightly,” answered Bill, as he recalled his Dickens.</p> - -<p>“Pitcher; eh?” mused the coach, as he jotted Bill’s name -down. “We’ve got about seven candidates, but the more the -merrier. Glass arms are catching. Next!”</p> - -<p>“Smith—Peter,” and the third member of the well-known -family stood forth.</p> - -<p>“Great Scott! Any more? What is this anyhow, a family -affair?”</p> - -<p>There was a laugh, and Mr. Windam wrote Pete’s name -down with “shortstop” opposite it.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span>“Not so bad,” the coach murmured. “We need a good -man at short, and you look as if you’d fill the bill.”</p> - -<p>Sawed-off smiled in a gratified manner, and the taking -of names proceeded. There was a large number of candidates, -and they appeared promising, the coach, captain and -manager agreed as they looked them over later. Then, -announcing that work in the cage would start in two days, -and admonishing the lads to be on hand, and do their best, -the meeting was called to a close.</p> - -<p>“Think we’ll make it?” asked Bill anxiously as he and -his brothers, together with Whistle-Breeches, walked to -their rooms, to at least make a pretense of reading and -studying.</p> - -<p>“We will if work is going to count for anything,” -declared Cap.</p> - -<p>The work soon began, and within the next few days -there was a considerable weeding-out.</p> - -<p>Our heroes were lucky, or, rather their former good -playing stood them in excellent stead, and they, together -with their friend of the former corduroy trousers, were -among the fit survivors. True they were not assured of -any particular positions on the team, but they realized that -they would be fortunate if they made the Varsity at all. -In batting Pete did better than either of his brothers, and -he received some compliments from the coach.</p> - -<p>Cap was on the anxious seat regarding his position behind -the bat, and it was not until on one occasion he did -some fearless work, and demonstrated a good throwing -ability that he drew from the coach and captain a word -of praise that meant much.</p> - -<p>“I guess you’ll do, ‘Plain’ Smith,” said the coach with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> -a reassuring smile. “Of course I can’t tell until I see you -out of doors, but you look good to me.”</p> - -<p>“How about Bill?” asked Cap anxiously, for he wanted -to see his brother fill the twirling box, and he knew that -the control Bill had of the ball, his curving ability, and his -lasting qualities would win him a place if he had a fair -try-out.</p> - -<p>“Well, I don’t know,” was the somewhat dubious answer. -“Alex Mersfeld pitched all last season, and naturally he’s -entitled to it again. He’s our star man, but of course if -your brother is better—well, we’ve got to have the best—that’s -all. I don’t play any favorites.”</p> - -<p>And with this Cap had to be content.</p> - -<p>Spring came with a rush, the ground dried up, and two -weeks after the applications for the team were all in out-of-door -practice was ordered. Then the ranks were further -thinned, but our heroes and Whistle-Breeches still held -their own.</p> - -<p>Cap was slated as first substitute catcher, and Pete was -honored with a firm place on the Varsity as shortstop. -But with Bill it was different. Mersfeld held his old position, -and there was no denying that he had a good arm.</p> - -<p>Still, when Bill got a chance to show what he could do -he opened the eyes of the coach and captain.</p> - -<p>“If we ever need to take Mersfeld out there’s a chap -who can fill the box to perfection,” declared Mr. Windam. -“I almost wish we could play him regularly.”</p> - -<p>“But he’s only a Fresh,” objected the captain, “and if -we put the three Smith boys on the team, it’ll be said we -are trying to make a family affair of it.”</p> - -<p>“Can’t help it—we want to win.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span>And, as the days went on the Smith boys further -demonstrated their abilities. Practice was now held regularly -and there were games between the Varsity and scrub -nines, Bill pitching on the latter team. His curves were -a source of wonder and delight to his team mates, and -chagrin to his opponents, and on one occasion, when they -did not get a hit off him in five innings, the coach shook -his head in doubt.</p> - -<p>“I don’t know about it,” he murmured. “If he keeps on -improving as he has he’ll displace Mersfeld.”</p> - -<p>“Nonsense!” said the captain easily.</p> - -<p>It was one afternoon toward the close of a practice game, -when the scrub was one run ahead, and the coach was -exhorting the Varsity lads to “perk up,” and put some -ginger into the contest. Bill was in the box, and had -been doing some excellent work for the scrub when Graydon, -of the Varsity, came up to the bat.</p> - -<p>“Now’s a chance to strike me out!” he called good-naturedly. -“If you don’t I’m going to make a home run.”</p> - -<p>“Then you’d better go sit down now,” replied Bill, as -he wound up for a swift out. It went from his hand with -a speedy whizz, and the batter caught it squarely on his -stick. There was a resounding whack, and the ball came -straight for Bill, at about the level of his head.</p> - -<p>He put up his hands for it, instinctively, but so swift -was the horsehide sphere traveling that it broke through -and hit him on the head, just over the left eye. He -dropped like a stone, and Graydon, tossing aside his bat, -raced for the fallen lad.</p> - -<p>“By Jove old man!” he cried contritely, all thoughts of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> -the game forgotten. “I’m sorry for that. Wow! But -that’s a nasty bump!”</p> - -<p>Poor Bill was lying in Graydon’s arms, unconscious, -while a big lump was swelling up on the pitcher’s head.</p> - -<p>“Some water!” cried Graydon, and they brought the -pail. Pete and Cap hastened up, as did Mr. Windam.</p> - -<p>“Now don’t cut off all the air,” said the coach. “Harris, -perhaps you’d better ask Dr. Blasdell to step down,” -there being a physician on the school’s staff of teachers.</p> - -<p>But Bill opened his eyes as the cold water trickled -down his face, and murmured:</p> - -<p>“I’m—I’m all right. I’m not hurt—just a little dizzy.”</p> - -<p>“Take it easy, old man,” advised the coach. “A little -more water. Here, Snyder, mix a little of that aromatic -spirits of ammonia. You’ll find the bottle in my valise,” -for Mr. Windam kept a few simple remedies in readiness -for first aid to the injured.</p> - -<p>Soon Bill was much better, and there was no need for -the services of Dr. Blasdell, who came hurrying down at -the summons. He found that there was no apparent injury -to Bill’s skull, and the plucky pitcher wanted to go -on with the game, but they would not hear of it, and put -another man in, while our hero was taken to his room to -lie down. The Varsity won the game, but took little -credit for it, and when the contest was over there were -many inquiries for Bill.</p> - -<p>“Well, how do you feel?” asked Pete the next day, as -his brother got up and looked in the glass at the strip of -plaster over the big bump, for the skin was broken.</p> - -<p>“I feel as though I tried to stop a taxicab with my -head. Dizzy, you know. But I guess it will pass over.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span>He felt much better as the day passed, and wanted to -get into practice that afternoon, but the coach would not -let him.</p> - -<p>However, on the following afternoon, Bill insisted so -strenuously that he was allowed to get into a uniform, -and take his place on the diamond. There was no game, -but he and Cap did some work together.</p> - -<p>The first few balls Bill pitched went a bit wild, and -his brother did not pay much attention to them, but when, -after he had delivered about the seventh one, and it went -wide of the plate, Cap called:</p> - -<p>“Get ’em over, Bill. They’re a bit too far out.”</p> - -<p>“Too wide! What’s the matter? That cut off as big -a corner of the plate as you’d want.”</p> - -<p>“What? It was four inches out.”</p> - -<p>“Nonsense!” exclaimed Bill. “You can’t see straight. -Here, how’s this?”</p> - -<p>The ball shot from his hand, but Bill had to step some -distance out to gather it into his big mitt.</p> - -<p>“Worser and worser,” he said with a smile. “Guess -your vacation didn’t do you any good.”</p> - -<p>“Say, what’s the matter?” demanded Bill somewhat -peevishly. “I’m getting those over all right.”</p> - -<p>“Then there’s something the matter with your eyes,” -declared his brother seriously, and he looked anxiously at -the younger lad.</p> - -<p>“Watch this!” called Bill.</p> - -<p>He threw very carefully but he seemed to lose control -of the ball, which ability was one of his best features. -It again went wide, and Cap had to reach out for the -sphere.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span>The catcher shook his head.</p> - -<p>“How are your eyes, Bill?” he asked kindly, walking -toward his brother. “Maybe the jar they got when you -were hit, sort of put them on the blink for a few days. -Don’t you think so?”</p> - -<p>“I don’t see how it could be. Just try a few more.”</p> - -<p>They did, but Cap only shook his head. Other players -were noticing something wrong, and as soon as Cap saw -this he called the practice off.</p> - -<p>“We’ve had enough for to-day,” he declared, as though -it was of no consequence, but Bill knew that his brother’s -light tone covered a deeper meaning. There was a vague -alarm in the heart of the lad who aspired to be the Varsity -pitcher.</p> - -<p>Was his eyesight going back on him? Was he losing -his control? What ailed him?</p> - -<p>He hardly dared answer, yet he resolved to put it to the -test soon.</p> - -<p>“My head does feel a little queer,” he admitted to himself, -and much against his will. “And my eyes—my eyes—I -wonder if there can be anything wrong?” and he -walked moodily off the diamond, while Cap and Pete -gazed apprehensively after him.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER X</h2></div> - -<p class="ph3">THE DOCTOR’S VERDICT</p> - - -<p>“<span class="smcap">Maybe</span> if you take a few days’ rest you’ll be all right, -Bill,” suggested Pete a little later, when the brothers -were in their connecting rooms.</p> - -<p>“That’s it,” agreed Cap eagerly. “A rest will do you -good, Bill, and then you’ll be in shape for the try-out just -before the first league game. Take a good rest.”</p> - -<p>“I’m not tired,” protested Bill who sat in a corner -nervously fingering his pitching glove. “Why should I -need a rest?” He asked the question fiercely as though -there was some disgrace attached to it.</p> - -<p>“But your eyes,” said Cap. “You know you’re off in -your pitching.”</p> - -<p>“That’s right—I did rotten to-day, and if I’d been in -a game they’d have knocked me out of the box. But I’ll -be all right in a few days more. That lump is still as sore -as the mischief,” and he tenderly felt of the place where -the batted ball had hit him.</p> - -<p>“And if you don’t get all right?” asked Cap softly.</p> - -<p>“Then I’ll see a doctor!” exclaimed Bill with energy. -“I’m not going to lose a chance to pitch on the Varsity -this season, and I believe I will have a chance. I’ve been -watching Mersfeld, and he’s not such a wonder.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t think anything of him,” admitted Cap. -“I’ve caught for him in a couple of practice games, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> -he hasn’t half your speed, though he has some nice -curves, and a good control. I don’t believe he’d last -through a hard game.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, we’ll fix Bill up, and have him on the Varsity -yet,” declared Pete easily. He could afford to speak thus -for he was sure of his own position at short, and Cap had -at least a tentative promise of being behind the bat in -a number of the big games that would soon be played.</p> - -<p>The brothers talked over the situation, and then fell -to studying, with more or less energy, until interrupted -by the entrance of Whistle-Breeches and Dick, or -“Roundy,” Lawson, the genial senior having gotten into -the habit lately of calling on his neighbors.</p> - -<p>“What’s wrong?” demanded Whistle-Breeches as he noticed -Bill’s rather dejected attitude.</p> - -<p>“Oh, I’m on the blink. Can’t see to throw straight,” -and then the story, which was already known to several in -the school, was told.</p> - -<p>“I’ll tell you what it is,” began Lawson, and his words -were carefully listened to, as befitted a Senior. “You -want to see a doctor, Bill.”</p> - -<p>“You mean Doc. Blasdell?”</p> - -<p>“No, he’s all right for a pain on your insides, but I -mean an eye doctor—an oculist. I know a good one. -I had trouble with my eyes once, and I went to him. He -can fix you up. Maybe there’s a little strain which some -medicine will cure. Why don’t you go to see him?”</p> - -<p>“I believe I will. It’s tough to be knocked out before -the season starts. I’ll go to-morrow.”</p> - -<p>Then they fell to talking of the baseball prospects, -how this player was making out at first, another in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> -the field, what the chances were for good batters, the -prospects of Westfield holding the pennant, and kindred -matters.</p> - -<p>All the while Bill sat in a darkened corner, for Lawson -had insisted on this since his advent into the room, saying -that darkness was good for weak eyes. And poor Bill -fingered his pitching glove, wondering if he would ever -get back into the box again. Cap was straightening a -bent wire in his mask and Pete was re-winding some tape -on a favorite bat that always opened at the split every -time he used it. But he could not bring himself to throw -it away.</p> - -<p>“Mind now,” stipulated Lawson, as he and Whistle-Breeches -took their leave, “you see that eye man to-morrow.”</p> - -<p>And Bill promised.</p> - -<p>They went to the oculist’s together, Cap and Bill, and -the pitcher was put through a number of tests. He sat -and looked at candles, while the medical man put a lens -in front of the lights, and turned the glass sideways to -make the single image develop into two. Then when Bill -admitted that the two lights were not on the same level -(as they should have been to one of normal vision) the -oculist shook his head doubtfully.</p> - -<p>Next he looked through the eye away into the -back of Bill’s head, with a queerly constructed instrument, -and reflected glaring lights into the lad’s orbs until -he blinked in pain. Reading cards of different size type, -taking a stick, and trying to impale a series of concentric -circles, first with his left eye closed and then with the -right one shut, ended the test.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span>“Well,” announced the oculist at length, “it’s not as -bad as it might be. Your left eye is considerably out of -focus, and I should say it was caused by some pressure -on the optic nerve—possibly the result of that blow with -the ball.”</p> - -<p>“But what can be done about it?” demanded Bill with -a note of despair in his voice.</p> - -<p>“Well, nothing much. In time it may readjust itself, -and again—it may not.”</p> - -<p>“Do you mean that I’ll always be this way—not able -to throw straight?” demanded the pitcher almost springing -up from his chair.</p> - -<p>“Easy now, old man,” cautioned Cap in a low voice.</p> - -<p>“Won’t I ever be able to throw straight again?” cried -poor Bill.</p> - -<p>“I’m afraid not,” answered the doctor. “Of course if -the pressure on the nerve could be removed it would be -possible, but that would take an operation, and I don’t -recommend it. In fact it might make matters worse. -But it’s not so bad. It will cause you no annoyance.”</p> - -<p>“No annoyance?”</p> - -<p>“Not a bit. You can see as well as ever. You can -read, write, walk about, in fact only in matters requiring -a critical judge of distance will you be at all hampered.”</p> - -<p>“But that’s just it!” cried Bill. “I <i>need</i> to be a judge -of distance if I’m going to pitch on the team.”</p> - -<p>“I’m sorry, but you can’t pitch any more,” was the -doctor’s verdict, and to Bill, who like his brothers had -his whole soul wrapped up in baseball, the words sounded -like a doom.</p> - -<p>“Not pitch any more?” repeated Bill dully.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span>“Not until that nerve pressure is removed,” was the -answer, “and I advise against any operation for that. -I can fit you with a pair of glasses that will take off any -strain when you are reading, and that’s all you need. -But you can’t pitch—that is if you have to be accurate.”</p> - -<p>“And that’s just what I have to be,” murmured Bill. -“Not pitch any more—not pitch any more,” and he -covered his eyes with his hand, and swayed uncertainly.</p> - -<p>“There—there old man!” spoke Cap, a trifle hoarsely, -for he was much affected by the way his brother had -taken the blow that had fallen. “Maybe it won’t be as -bad as it seems. You may get better.”</p> - -<p>Bill shook his head despondently.</p> - -<p>“Come on,” he said to his brother. “I—I’ll come back -for the reading glasses later, doctor. I—I don’t just feel -like it now,” and Cap linked his arm in that of Bill’s and -led him away, the footsteps seeming to recite mockingly -over and over again, like some death knell.</p> - -<p>“You can’t—pitch—any—more! You can’t—pitch—any—more!”</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XI</h2></div> - -<p class="ph3">MEETING AN OLD FRIEND</p> - - -<p><span class="smcap">For</span> some time after leaving the doctor’s office neither -Cap nor Bill spoke. The latter stumbled along, his mind -filled with gloomy thoughts, and as for Cap he was wondering -what he could say to take the pain from his -brother’s heart. Wisely he concluded that he could say -nothing. At length Bill spoke.</p> - -<p>“Well, what do you think of it?” he asked.</p> - -<p>“It might be worse,” replied Cap, as cheerfully as he -could.</p> - -<p>“Worse!” Bill laughed mirthlessly. “I don’t see it.”</p> - -<p>“Why you might be blind, or not able to see to read -or get about without wearing goggles and using a cane. As -it is you only needed specs to read with. And maybe the -nerve will get well of itself.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, after the season is over, and I lose all chance -of playing on the Varsity. I tell you I want to pitch, -Cap. That’s one reason why we picked out Westfield,—because -of the good nines they have here.”</p> - -<p>“I know it; but what’s to be done? If you can’t control -the balls, and place them where they ought to be, -you know—”</p> - -<p>“Yes, I know how it is,” and he spoke bitterly. “I’d -be of no use in the box. Well, I s’pose there’s no help -for it,” and Bill picked up a round stone, and threw it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> -at a telegraph pole. He missed it by a foot, though -usually he was a good shot. He laughed mirthlessly, and -turning to Cap said: “See how it is?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, well, don’t take it so hard. That was a nasty -blow you got, and the effects may be a long time wearing -away. But I’m sure you’ll be all right next season, if -you’re not this.”</p> - -<p>“But a whole season off the diamond!” gasped Bill in -dismay.</p> - -<p>“Oh, you don’t need to get off. Maybe Windam will -play you in the outfield. You can catch; can’t you?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, but I want to be in the box. However if I can’t—I -can’t,” and seeing that he was causing Cap pain by -his manner, Bill tried to assume a more cheerful air.</p> - -<p>“Graydon will be cut up over it,” said the elder lad, -referring to the player whose batted ball had been responsible -for Bill’s mishap.</p> - -<p>“It wasn’t his fault,” declared the pitcher. “I ought -to have known better than to try to stop it at such close -range. It was going like a bullet. I should have passed -it.”</p> - -<p>“You couldn’t—and be a Smith boy,” exclaimed Cap -with a laugh. “We’d take a chance on anything in the -shape of a ball, I guess.”</p> - -<p>“Well, I’ll go back in a couple of days, and get the -reading glasses, and maybe they’ll help some,” decided -Bill, as they walked on. They were nearing the college, -the many buildings of which could be seen in the distance -above the trees, the red tiled roofs making a pretty -picture seen through the green foliage.</p> - -<p>“Hello, something’s going on!” exclaimed Cap, as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> -they swung into the main road that led up to the grounds. -“Look at the crowd.”</p> - -<p>“Baseball game?” suggested Bill.</p> - -<p>“No, they’re away this side of the diamond. There’s -some sort of a wagon there—a Gypsy van, I guess. -Maybe some of the fellows are having their fortunes -told. Come on, we’ll get in the game, and have some -fun.”</p> - -<p>“Maybe it’s an ambulance, and some one is hurt.”</p> - -<p>“Get out! They don’t have ambulances around here.”</p> - -<p>The brothers increased their pace, and as they neared -the vehicle something vaguely familiar about it attracted -the attention of Bill and Cap. They looked at each -other.</p> - -<p>“It can’t be him!” exclaimed Bill.</p> - -<p>“It looks like his rig, though,” assented Cap. “But -it’s painted a different color. I wonder—?”</p> - -<p>“Hark!” cautioned his brother.</p> - -<p>They were close to the throng of students now, but -could only see the top of the wagon, which was a covered -one. A voice could be heard droning away like this:</p> - -<p>“Young gentlemen, it is one of the greatest pleasures -of my life to speak to students—to persons of learning, -in which class I am so fortunate as to count myself, -though in an humble capacity. Learning, I may say, extends -even to the noble steed which draws my equipage, -whose cognomen is, I may say derived from—”</p> - -<p>“That’s all right, old sport, what’s the horse called?” -demanded one of the students, with a laugh.</p> - -<p>“Yes, get down to business,” added another.</p> - -<p>“Right you are, young gentlemen,” admitted the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> -voice, though Bill and Cap could not yet see the speaker. -They observed their brother Pete beckoning frantically -to them, and they increased their pace. “Right you are,” -resumed the owner of the covered wagon. “The name -of my noble animal is Pactolus, called after, I need not -remind you—”</p> - -<p>“The river of Lydia in which the King Midas washed -himself one Saturday night, so that he put the golden -touch on everything,” interrupted one of the classical -students, and there was a laugh, but it did not disconcert -the traveling vendor, for such Bill and Cap now -knew him to be.</p> - -<p>“Exactly,” he admitted. “The river whence ever -after the visit of the king, the sands became golden. -Thus I named my horse Pactolus in the hope that some -day he might stumble into a river which, if it did not -turn him to gold might at least make him a steed of -silver.</p> - -<p>“But, young gentlemen of Westfield, which I understand -is the name of the school in the distance, I did -not attract you hither by the magic of my voice and -playing to talk to you on classical subjects. This is a -practical world, and we who live in it must also be practical. -Whoa, there, Pactolus!” This as his steed showed -signs of restiveness, due to the fact that some of the -boys were tickling his ears.</p> - -<p>“Whoa, Pactolus. Never mind if some of your longer-eared -brothers are whispering to you to entice you away -to pastures green—stay you here!”</p> - -<p>This reference to donkeys had the effect of causing -the mischief loving lads to hastily draw away from the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> -horse, in some confusion, for there were snickers at their -expense.</p> - -<p>“It is a practical world,” resumed the speaker, “and -we must recognize that, and be practical ourselves. Now -there is nothing more practical for the removal of any -kind of misery, whether inward or outward, than my -Peerless Permanent Pain Preventative, which is good -for both man and beast, and eradicates all the ills that -flesh is heir to, and some that it is not. Good for man -and beast I repeat. See! I use it on myself,” and suiting -the action to the word, the man, who had black -flowing locks, as Bill and Cap could now see, and who -wore light trousers, a red and green striped vest and a -red shirt with black polka dots—this man vigorously -rubbed some stuff from a bottle on his big forearm.</p> - -<p>“There I had a pain—’twas there, ’tis gone. ’Twas -mine, ’tis yours—for the asking,” and he waved his -hand toward the throng of students who laughed again, -and seemed amused by the clatter of the traveling medicine -man.</p> - -<p>“Think not it is only for external pain—’tis also for the -ills of the inner organs. See, I take some thusly,” and, tilting -back his head the speaker swallowed a generous potion -from the bottle. “Good for man and beast,” he went on, -smacking his lips. “As harmless as a baby, and as powerful -as an electric current. See, Pactolus minds it not, yet it -will take the stiffness from him like magic,” and, leaning -forward he rubbed some of the contents of the bottle on -the animal’s flank.</p> - -<p>Pactolus merely looked around, waved his ears slowly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> -to and fro, and seemed to take but a mild interest in the -matter under discussion. Probably he was used to it.</p> - -<p>“Now who wants a bottle of this wonderful remedy?” -went on the man. “The regular price is one dollar, but to -introduce it among gentlemen of learning I am selling it -for the small sum of twenty-five cents—a quarter—and it -would be cheap at half the price. Or, if you have no immediate -need for this, let me introduce to your favorable consideration -and notice, my Rapid Robust Resolute Resolvent, -which is a cake of soap guaranteed to take out stains -on linen, silk, wool, cotton, velvet, calico and satin, the skin -of the hands or face, from wall paper, newspaper, writing -paper or wrapping paper. Positively nothing like it -known to science.</p> - -<p>“Or, if you care not for these, I have others. My Spotless -Saponifier is a soap worthy to be used by all the gods -that on Olympus dwell, and it sells for only ten cents a -cake. An’ you like that not, let me introduce to your polite -and favorable consideration my Supremely Sterling -Silver Shiner. Nothing like it known for cleaning silver, -gold, brass, copper, pewter, iron, lead, bell-metal, watch -chains, baseball bats, and gloves, and for brightening up a -dull intellect it has no equal, though I despair of selling -any for that purpose when I gaze on the bright, smiling -and intelligent faces before me.”</p> - -<p>There was a mocking groan from the students at this, -and some more laughter.</p> - -<p>“And now,” went on the vendor, “who will be the first -to purchase some of my Peerless Permanent Pain Preventative, -my Rapid Robust Resolute Resolvent, my Spotless -Saponifier or the Supremely Sterling Silver Shiner? Who -will be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> the first?” and the man, who was as gaudily attired -as his wagon was painted, advanced into the crowd.</p> - -<p>There was a moment of hesitation, and then Cap, Bill -and Pete, who were standing together, exchanging queer -glances, heard Bondy Guilder say in a low voice to some of -his particular cronies in the sporting set:</p> - -<p>“I say, fellows, let’s have some fun. Let’s upset his -old apple cart, and spill his Pain Killer and other stuff. -He has nerve, trying to do business so near the school. -There ought to be a rule to keep these peddlers away. -Let’s make a rough house for him.”</p> - -<p>“Sure! Go ahead! We’re with you!” agreed several. -“Come on, we’ll all make a rush together.”</p> - -<p>Cap and his brothers heard. They looked at each other -and nodded.</p> - -<p>“Here you are, young gentlemen! Here you are!” the -voice of the vendor was murmuring. “You have listened -with gratifying attention to the patter of Professor Theophilus -Clatter, and now you may buy his wares. You -need not beware of the wares of Theophilus Clatter!” he -declaimed in a sing-song voice.</p> - -<p>“That’s him!” exclaimed Pete.</p> - -<p>“Of course,” agreed Bill.</p> - -<p>“And they’re going to make a rough house for him,” -added Cap. “Shall we stand for it?” he asked in a low -voice.</p> - -<p>“How are we going to stop them?” demanded Bill.</p> - -<p>“If we say he’s a friend of ours I think they’ll pass it -up.”</p> - -<p>“Acknowledge him as our friend before this crowd—tell<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> -how we traveled with him and sold patent medicines,” -asked Pete. “They’d laugh at us!”</p> - -<p>“What of it?” inquired Cap indignantly. “Professor -Clatter helped us when we were in a hole, after we’d run -away from home. It’s up to us to help him now. I’m -going to stand up for him. If the boys get going they’ll -demolish the wagon, and everything in it. We can’t have -that.”</p> - -<p>“I guess not,” agreed Pete and Bill in low tones.</p> - -<p>“Come on then,” suggested their elder brother, edging -his way through the throng.</p> - -<p>The plan proposed by the rich bully had taken the fancy -of his fellows. The word was passed around and the students -got ready for a rush that would overturn the wagon. -Already they were jostling the professor who was aware -of a change in the temper of the students. He looked -around uneasily, and glanced back at his wagon. Quite a -throng was now between him and the vehicle. He turned -to retreat, vaguely alarmed, but found himself cut off.</p> - -<p>“My Rapid Robust Resolute Resolvent,” he was saying, -“is guaranteed to—”</p> - -<p>“Come on now, fellows, over with the wagon!” cried -Guilder. “Altogether, with a rush! Make a rough house! -This faker has no business here!”</p> - -<p>The rush started but before it could get under way, -Cap, Pete and Bill Smith had sprung up on the steps that -were let down from the back of the vehicle. They stood -together looking over the crowd of their fellow students.</p> - -<p>“Hold on!” cried Cap calmly, raising his hand for silence.</p> - -<p>“What’s up?” demanded Bondy with a sneer.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span>Professor Clatter, with a look of wonder on his face was -staring at the three Smith boys.</p> - -<p>“No rough house here,” said Cap determinedly, noting -with relief that nearly every one in the crowd was a Freshman. -Had they been Sophomores, Juniors or Seniors he -would hardly have dared take the stand he did.</p> - -<p>“No rough house? Why not?” demanded the rich lad. -“Why can’t we have some fun with this fellow?”</p> - -<p>“Because,” went on Cap resolutely, and no one knew -what an effort it was to make the announcement in an exclusive -crowd of students, “this man is a friend of my brothers -and myself. If you’re going to make trouble for him, -you’ve got to reckon on us,” and Cap standing there, with -his brothers beside him, looked sturdy enough to put up a -pretty good argument.</p> - -<p>“Your friend?” sneered Bondy.</p> - -<p>“Our friend,” repeated Cap calmly. “So you’ll please -pass him up, as a matter of class courtesy.”</p> - -<p>It was an appeal that could not well be denied.</p> - -<p>“Listen to Professor Clatter’s friend!” cried several of -Bondy’s cronies.</p> - -<p>“Proud to acknowledge it,” put in Bill in drawling tones, -“and so would you, if you knew the story.”</p> - -<p>Professor Clatter was still staring at the three lads on -the steps of his wagon.</p> - -<p>“The Smith boys! The Smith boys!” he murmured. -“I’d never have believed it. Whoa, Pactolus! We have -unexpected allies,” and he made his way through the -crowd of wondering students to where our three heroes -waited for him on the wagon steps.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XII</h2></div> - -<p class="ph3">PROFESSOR CLATTER’S PLAN</p> - - -<p><span class="smcap">Standing</span> there, facing their fellow students who were -gathered in a mocking crowd about the medicine wagon, -Cap, Bill and Pete hardly knew how to begin, nor what -to talk about after they had started.</p> - -<p>“Do you mean to say you’re going to stick up for—for -<i>this</i> person?” demanded Bondy, and he put all the scorn -of which he was capable into the words.</p> - -<p>“We certainly do,” declared Cap firmly. “If you’ll let -us explain, we’ll—”</p> - -<p>“Young gentlemen, permit me,” broke in the voice of -Professor Clatter. “I believe I can—”</p> - -<p>“No more of your patent medicine jargon!” interrupted -some of Guilder’s cronies. “We’ve had enough.”</p> - -<p>“I wasn’t going to speak of my wares,” said the vendor -simply. “I hope you will give me credit for knowing how -to deal with gentlemen—when I see them.”</p> - -<p>There was a laugh at this, and the Professor knew he -had at least some of his audience with him.</p> - -<p>“I was going to ask my friends, the Smith boys, to allow -me to make the explanation,” Mr. Clatter went on. “I -believe I can give all the facts necessary.”</p> - -<p>He looked at Cap, who nodded an assent. Then, mounting -the steps beside the lads, the vendor of the Peerless -Permanent Pain Preventative and the various other nostrums,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> -told simply, but effectively, how, one morning, he -had met our three heroes as they were fleeing from home, -under the mistaken notion that they were to be tarred and -feathered. Mr. Clatter related how he had provided them -with breakfast from his wagon, how they had traveled -about with him, selling his goods, taking part in a sort of -minstrel show, all as related in the first volume of this -series.</p> - -<p>“And when I was arrested for innocently practicing -palmistry, in an effort to locate a man who had robbed their -father, these boys kept on with the business alone, and -made money enough to pay my fine,” said the professor. -“I can never thank them enough for what they did, and -now they have more than ever put me in their debt by -standing up in this friendly fashion for me when—well, -I know you young gentlemen love fun, but this wagon and -stock is all I have in the world,” he concluded simply, and -there was a break in his voice.</p> - -<p>For a moment there was silence, and then the story, which -the professor told much more dramatically than either of -our heroes could have presented it, had its effect.</p> - -<p>“By Jove! That was no end of a lark!” exclaimed -Roundy Lawson. “I wish I could travel around like that, -and eat when I pleased.”</p> - -<p>“That was <i>rich</i>!” declared Whistle-Breeches Anderson. -“Why didn’t you ever tell us that, Cap?” he demanded.</p> - -<p>“I never thought you fellows would care about hearing -it. But now, boys, do you blame us for sticking up for -Mr. Clatter?”</p> - -<p>“Not a bit of it!” came in an emphatic chorus. “You’re -all right, professor!”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span>“Pass out some of that Rapid Resolute Resolvent!”</p> - -<p>“I want some of that Spotless Soap!”</p> - -<p>“Me for the Pain Killer. I ate too much dinner!”</p> - -<p>“A little silver polish will about suit me!”</p> - -<p>The students were clamoring for the wares, now, and the -vendor, who had shaken hands with our heroes, and whispered -to them how grateful he was, began passing out his -goods. Whether the students really wanted it, or only -bought out of sympathy, or because of a class spirit, mattered -little as long as he sold the articles, and the professor -did a thriving trade.</p> - -<p>“Come on,” disgustedly called the rich lad to the cronies -in his own particular set, “I might have known better than -to come to Westfield. I was warned that a number of -common persons attended it, and now I’m sure of it. I -shall write father and have him withdraw me at once.”</p> - -<p>“Why don’t you withdraw yourself, and save daddy the -trouble?” asked Whistle-Breeches as the rich lad passed -on amid his chums, with a sneer on his face.</p> - -<p>All danger to the professor’s wagon was now over, and -he at once made friends among the students, for he was a -man who had traveled much, and his ways, while suiting his -particular business, were genial and kindly when once you -knew him, though at first they might seem bombastic and -uncultured. He knew how to gain the attention of an -audience.</p> - -<p>“Well, it’s a real pleasure to see you boys again,” went -on the professor when the desire of the crowd for his wares -had been satisfied, and when most of the students had -strolled away. “And so you are attending school here? -Well, what has happened since last we met?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span>“Lots,” declared Cap, and he proceeded to tell the main -facts.</p> - -<p>“Are you still traveling about in the same way?” asked -Pete.</p> - -<p>“Yes, but I don’t do any more palmistry. It’s too risky. -But what’s the matter with you, Bill? You don’t seem -well.”</p> - -<p>“Got hit with a ball,” explained the lad, touching the -place where there was still a lump on his head.</p> - -<p>“Too bad, but you’ll soon be over it. Pactolus once -kicked me, and it was a week before the swelling went -down.”</p> - -<p>“The swelling is the least part of it,” spoke Bill gloomily, -and Pete, who had not yet heard of the result of the -visit to the oculist, looked in alarm at his brother’s tone.</p> - -<p>“What’s the trouble?” inquired Mr. Clatter. “Perhaps -some of my pain killer will help you. It’s good stuff in -spite of the way I sell it. I used to know something of -medicine. Let me wrap you up a bottle for old times’ -sake.”</p> - -<p>“No,” answered Bill wearily, “it isn’t the pain. But I -can’t pitch any more,” and he told the whole story, sitting -inside the wagon, which was equipped for living in Gypsy -fashion, his brothers and the professor listening sympathetically.</p> - -<p>“Can’t pitch; eh?” murmured Pete. “That’s tough.”</p> - -<p>“It sure is,” declared Bill. “And I’ve got to wear glasses -when I read. I might as well resign from the team right -away.”</p> - -<p>Professor Clatter looked critically at the lad who sat -near him. Though it had been many years since the vendor<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> -had played ball, he had not lost his love for the game, -though he never belonged to a regular nine. But he appreciated -what it meant to Bill.</p> - -<p>“When do you get your reading glasses?” he asked -casually.</p> - -<p>“Oh, I’m in no hurry to become a ‘four-eyes,’” replied -Bill bitterly. “I’ll get them next week. Jove, but it’s -tough!” and he shook his head.</p> - -<p>“Well, we must be getting back,” said Cap, after a pause. -“I’ve got some boning to do.”</p> - -<p>“Same here,” added Pete. But Bill got up in silence to -follow his brothers.</p> - -<p>“Can’t you come and see me again?” asked Professor -Clatter anxiously as his young friends descended the steps. -“I’m going to stay in this neighborhood for some days and -I’d like to talk over old times with you. Yes, Pactolus, -I’m going to unharness you, and let you crop of the green -herbage,” and he proceeded to release the horse from the -shafts. “Pactolus and I understand each other,” he went -on. “At least he knows what I say to him, though I have -not yet mastered his language. It takes Dean Swift for -that.”</p> - -<p>“Has he stumbled into the river of gold yet?” asked -Cap.</p> - -<p>“Not yet, but I look at every stream eagerly as we pass -over or through it, when it is not too deep. Some day -perhaps the sands will be golden,” and the medicine man -laughed gaily. “But do come out and see me some night -when you have a chance. I’m going to camp on the other -side of town. Come out to-night, if you will. I’ll probably -have an old friend there to greet you.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span>“Who?” asked Pete. “Not the thumbless man?”</p> - -<p>“No, he’s safe in jail, I hope. But what would you say -to Duodecimo Donaldby?”</p> - -<p>“The weather prophet?” asked Bill, with a show of -interest.</p> - -<p>“The same,” answered the professor, “though whether he -is still engaged in making it rain, or whether he is doctoring -horses I know not. He changes his occupation from -day to day, and from night to night, like the phases of the -moon, but I expect him.”</p> - -<p>“Then we’ll come,” decided Cap earnestly. “I should -like to see him again. Dear old Duodecimo! He was a -queer chap.”</p> - -<p>“And he hasn’t changed any,” was the professor’s opinion. -“Well, I shall expect you then. Remember, on the other -side of town. Now can’t I give you some soap, or pain -killer or—or something?”</p> - -<p>He seemed so eager about it that they did accept a -bottle of the pain killer, which was excellent for sprains. -Then they took their leave, promising to come back that -night.</p> - -<p>“I expect to do a little business early in the evening so -if I am clattering when you arrive, just wait in the crowd -for me. I still do some singing and banjo playing to draw -a throng. I don’t s’pose you boys would like a try at your -old job?” and he laughed heartily.</p> - -<p>“I’m afraid it would hardly be in keeping with our characters -as students at Westfield,” said Pete. “But say, if -you’ll stay around here long enough maybe we can get the -glee club to do a stunt for you.”</p> - -<p>“That would be asking too much,” declared the genial<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> -professor, with a wave of his fat hand on which still -sparkled the diamond ring. “Well, farewell until the -shades of night do fall.”</p> - -<p>“The same old professor,” remarked Cap, as he and his -brothers strolled toward the school buildings.</p> - -<p>“Yes, I’m glad we could help him—they would have put -him on the blink for keeps,” said Pete earnestly if a bit -slangily.</p> - -<p>Bill said nothing, but there were bitter thoughts in his -heart as he walked on, and nothing his brothers could say -or do served to cheer him.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile Professor Clatter, standing in the back room -of his wagon, which was his house, his store, his sleeping -apartment and his theatre of entertainment, watched the -three boys.</p> - -<p>“Fine fellows,” he murmured. “It’s too bad about Bill. -I wonder if I couldn’t help him? He’ll have to wear -glasses—wear glasses and play ball—I wonder if it could -be done? I don’t see why not, especially in the pitcher’s -box. Now I wonder if Duodecimo will be on hand?</p> - -<p>“If he comes I have a plan to propose to him! Jove, I -don’t see why it wouldn’t work. If he hasn’t forgotten all -he used to know about eyes it ought to! I’ll chance it, -anyhow. Yes, that’s what I’ll do. Maybe I can fix up a -scheme so that Bill can pitch on the Varsity team after all. -I’d like to. Yes, I’ll propose it to Duodecimo, and see -what he says,” and, filled with pleasant anticipations about -his plan, Professor Clatter proceeded to get his simple -meal on the little oil stove he carried in his wagon.</p> - -<p>“What ho! Mercurio!” he cried, clapping his hands.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> -“Come, base varlet, set out the magic table, for I am an -hungered and would’st dine!”</p> - -<p>And then, having given his orders to his menial, Mr. -Clatter, highly pleased, proceeded to carry them out himself.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XIII</h2></div> - -<p class="ph3">BILL IS HIMSELF AGAIN</p> - - -<p>“<span class="smcap">Well</span>, are you coming?” asked Pete of Bill as he tossed -into a corner of his study one of a pile of books over which -he had been doing more or less “boning” in the last hour.</p> - -<p>“Coming where?”</p> - -<p>“Over to see Professor Clatter. Cap’s ready.”</p> - -<p>“Oh—I don’t know.” Bill spoke listlessly. He had -been trying to study but a curious watery mist came into -his eyes, and, try as he did to brush it away, the film -seemed to return. The eye near the injured spot smarted -and burned.</p> - -<p>“Come ahead,” urged Cap, entering his brother’s room -at that moment. “Whistle-Breeches wants to go and see -the performance.”</p> - -<p>“All right, you fellows go, and I’ll stay here. I don’t -care much about it.”</p> - -<p>Cap winked at Pete. They understood Bill’s despondency, -and were determined to get him out of the slough of -it.</p> - -<p>“Oh, it’ll be sport—like old times,” urged Cap. “The -professor will do his singing and banjo act, and I’ve a good -notion to get up on the platform and show Whistle-Breeches -how we used to earn our board and lodging.”</p> - -<p>“Better not, Bondy might spot us and there’d be a faculty -row. He’d be just mean enough to squeal. But -come<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> on, Bill. The professor expects us. Say, remember -the time after he got nabbed, and we tried to take the spot -out of the man’s vest, and it turned green, red, yellow and -a few other colors? Remember that, Cap?”</p> - -<p>“I should say I did!” exclaimed John Smith. “I -thought sure it was all up with us,” and he laughed heartily. -A smile came over Bill’s gloomy face. Pete saw it -and nudged his brother.</p> - -<p>“We’ll see the rain-maker again,” went on Pete. “Better -come, Bill. Don’t worry about your eyes, and pitching -and all that. Maybe it will come out right.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, it’s easy enough for you fellows to talk, for -you can play ball, but—Oh well, what’s the use of kicking. -I s’pose I’ll get in form again for next year,” and with -rather a bitter laugh Bill prepared to follow his brothers.</p> - -<p>As they had been on their good behavior of late, and as -there was such a competition for places on the ball team, -it was decided that they should get permission to make -a trip to the village instead of trying to run the guard.</p> - -<p>“I’m not hankering to have the proctor’s scouts nab me,” -explained Cap, “and I guess we can get a pass all right if -we put it up to Nibsy good and strong,” the aforesaid proctor -who rejoiced in the appelation Alexander McNibb being -thus designated.</p> - -<p>They obtained permission easily, though the proctor -looked at them rather sharply, and Pete wondered if he -recognized in him and his brothers the lads who had, a few -nights previous, wheeled a town sprinkling cart into the -middle of the school inner court and left it there with an -admonition printed on a big placard adorning it, recommending -that certain members of the sporting crowd get<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> -aboard the water vehicle. But if the proctor knew anything -he kept it to himself, and, a little later the three -Smith boys, and Whistle-Breeches were trudging toward -town.</p> - -<p>They saw the glare of the gasoline torches on the professor’s -wagon before they heard his voice, but it was not -long ere they recognized his resonant tones calling out the -merits of his Rapid Robust Resolute Resolvent and other -wares.</p> - -<p>There was a large throng about the wagon, and business -was good. The professor, looking over the heads of his -audience recognized our heroes, and nodded to them pleasantly, -yet never ceasing his “patter.” Between the sale -of his remedies and soap, he rendered several ballads accompanying -himself on the banjo.</p> - -<p>“It sure does remind me of old times!” exclaimed Pete, -humming the chorus of the song the professor was singing.</p> - -<p>“Cut it out!” advised Cap hastily.</p> - -<p>Bill was not very talkative, but Whistle-Breeches enjoyed -the affair immensely, and was greatly interested in what -Professor Clatter called his “patter.”</p> - -<p>“We ought to get him to some of our class rackets,” -said Donald. “He’d be no end of a lark.”</p> - -<p>“I guess he doesn’t stay in this part of the country long—nor, -in fact anywhere more than a couple of nights,” -replied Pete, and, as he spoke he looked beyond the gaudily -decorated vehicle of the medicine vendor and caught a -glimpse of another wagon drawn alongside the road. It -was one with something like a three inch quick-firing gun -projecting from the covered top, and Pete whispered to his -brothers:</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span>“There’s Duodecimo Donaldby’s rig if I’ve got my eyesight -left. I wonder if he’s shooting rain-making bombs -for a living now, or curing sick horses?”</p> - -<p>“We’ll soon know,” said Cap. “The professor is nearly -through.”</p> - -<p>The crowd having exhausted the entertaining features of -the medicine man’s little effort, and the sale of the remedies -and soaps being about at an end, Mr. Clatter announced -that he was through for the evening. The people -began to disperse, and soon Cap, with his two brothers and -Whistle-Breeches were seated inside the snug little wagon, -enjoying a cup of tea and some cakes which the professor -set before them.</p> - -<p>“I’m glad you boys came,” he said, as he looked in the -tiny teapot to see how much of the beverage remained. -“I want to have a talk with you—but hold on, I was almost -forgetting an old friend.”</p> - -<p>He stepped to the window of his vehicle, poked out his -head, and gave a call which was at once answered. Presently -some one was heard approaching, and, as the door -opened the head of the character known to our friends as -the “rain-maker,” was thrust inside.</p> - -<p>“Welcome to the Smith boys!” he called.</p> - -<p>“Enter!” invited Mr. Clatter.</p> - -<p>“Yes, come in and talk over old times, Mr. Donaldby,” -added Pete.</p> - -<p>“Hush! Not that name!” exclaimed the weather -prophet, with a warning finger laid athwart his lips. “Not -that name or by a shattered cirrus-nimbus cloud you’ll have -the authorities about my ears!”</p> - -<p>“How about Mirthrandes Hendershot?” asked Cap.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span>“No—no! Not that! Not that! Spavin, ring bone -and blind staggers are things of the past. I dare not undertake -to cure any more horses.”</p> - -<p>“Just what <i>are</i> you doing?” asked Pete, as the former -weather prophet entered and took a low stool.</p> - -<p>“Ah, now we are coming to it,” was the answer with a -smile. “In the first place my name—how does Tithonus -Somnus strike you?”</p> - -<p>“An odd combination,” remarked Cap, recalling the one -ancient god who was turned into a grasshopper, and the -other who symbolized sleep.</p> - -<p>“Odd, and so much the better,” went on Mr. Somnus. -“It typifies my calling.”</p> - -<p>“Which might be—?” asked Bill suggestively.</p> - -<p>“Which might be almost anything, and nothing, and -which, at times is neither or both, but which at present is -that of astronomer ordinary. That is my present occupation. -I go about the country initiating the farmers and -country folk into the mysteries of the heavens. In fact I -jump about from place to place, hence the name Tithonus. -I jump while others sleep, and show the stars which only -come out at slumber-time—hence the name, Somnus. Is -it clear?”</p> - -<p>“Perfectly so,” answered Whistle-Breeches, who thought -the astronomer a most delightful character.</p> - -<p>“And so you are showing the stars and moon?” asked -Pete.</p> - -<p>“On all except cloudy nights,” was the reply. “I find -it pays well. Only misfortune seems to follow me. The -other night when there was a most delightful moon, I had -trained my telescope on it, and was admitting the populace<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> -to the view at so much per ‘pop’ as it were. I could not -understand the murmurs of indignation that arose from -some of the gazers, nor the expressions of wonder from -others, until taking a look myself, I saw a strange and -weird countenance peering at me from the end of the telescope. -I had been describing the mountains of the moon, -but lo! they turned out to be the whiskers and eyes of my -pet cat Scratch, who, perched upon the roof of my wagon, -was calmly gazing down through the object lens.”</p> - -<p>“A cat!” cried Cap. “No wonder the people couldn’t -understand what they saw.”</p> - -<p>“And so I was in ill-repute,” continued the astronomer -gloomily, “and had to travel on. Then it was cloudy to-night -so I can do no trade. But enough of this, tell me -of yourselves,” which the boys proceeded to do.</p> - -<p>The talk worked around to Bill’s misfortune, and as soon -as this topic was reached Professor Clatter, who had hitherto -been talking but little, evidenced a sudden interest.</p> - -<p>“Now it is my turn to say something,” he said. “I -asked you boys to come here for a purpose, and the purpose -was connected with my friend Duodecimo—I beg your -pardon, Tithonus Somnus. In the first place, Tithy, which -I will call you for short, in the first place, Tithy, have you -forgotten what you used to know about spectacles?”</p> - -<p>“Spectacles? No,” was the reply. “But what in the -world has that to do with baseball, and the fact that Bill -will have to give up pitching?”</p> - -<p>“I’ll get to that in time,” replied the professor. “You -used to go about the country fitting people with glasses, -did you not, Tithy?”</p> - -<p>“I did, until they passed a law requiring one to maintain<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> -a fixed residence if he would practice as an oculist, -and then I became a weather prophet, a rain-maker, a horse -doctor and other professional men in turn.”</p> - -<p>“Exactly,” said the professor. “And am I right in -thinking that you still have your eye-testing apparatus with -you, and also some of the spectacle lens?”</p> - -<p>“You are. In fact I have made a small telescope of -some of my glasses. You may not think so,” he went on, -turning to the lads, “but I received a fine medical education, -and I specialized in eyes. I was once considered a -good oculist, but love of a roving life precluded me practicing -with success. Still I have not forgotten my knowledge.”</p> - -<p>“I thought not!” exclaimed Mr. Clatter with energy. -“That’s why I asked the boys to come here to-night to -meet you. I had a plan in mind, and I hope, with your -aid, Tithy, to carry it out.</p> - -<p>“Bill, here, wants to pitch on the Varsity nine. He has -a good chance, or, rather he had a good chance, until his -unfortunate injury lost him a certain necessary control of -the ball. Am I not right?” he asked, appealing to the -youth in question.</p> - -<p>“That’s right,” answered Bill, wondering what was going -to happen.</p> - -<p>“Very well then. Now it seems that with the proper -glasses the temporary defect in your vision would be corrected -as far as reading was concerned; wouldn’t it?”</p> - -<p>“That’s what the doctor said.”</p> - -<p>“Correct again. Now then, if you can wear glasses to -read with, why can’t you wear them to play ball with?”</p> - -<p>“Play ball in glasses!” cried Bill.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span>“It has been done,” went on the professor easily. “Of -course it would be rather hard for a catcher or a baseman -to wear them, with the necessity of having to catch balls -thrown with great swiftness. But it’s different with a -pitcher. He practically only throws the ball, and it is -returned to him easily. Glasses would not be a hindrance -to you. In fact, in your case, they would be a help.”</p> - -<p>“I—I never thought of wearing glasses and pitching,” -stammered Bill.</p> - -<p>“All the more reason for thinking of it now. Here is -my plan.”</p> - -<p>The professor motioned for the boys and the astronomer -to give close attention.</p> - -<p>“We’ll get Tithy here to give you a good examination,” -said Mr. Clatter, “and we’ll have him make you a special -pair of glasses. He’ll put them in a strong frame, so they -will set close to your face, and fasten on securely. They -won’t come off no matter how hard you run, and in fact -you may not need them when you’re at the bat. But you -do need them to pitch with, and you’re going to have them. -Can you make an examination to-night, Tithy?”</p> - -<p>“Better than in daylight. I have all the instruments, -and I think I could make the glasses.”</p> - -<p>“Then it’s all settled!” declared Mr. Clatter, as if that -was all there was to it. “Come along, boys, we’ll go over -to the other palace car, and see what happens. Bill, you’re -going to pitch again, and if you don’t make the Varsity -it’s your own fault!”</p> - -<p>The medicine man had rattled on at such a rate that the -boys had hardly had a chance to speak. As for Bill his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span> -brain was in a whirl. He did not know whether or not to -have any faith in what was proposed.</p> - -<p>“Do you really think it can be done?” he asked.</p> - -<p>“Of course it can!” declared Mr. Clatter.</p> - -<p>“I can make the glasses all right,” answered Mr. Somnus -with professional pride.</p> - -<p>“But could I pitch with them on?” asked Bill.</p> - -<p>“I don’t see why not,” was Cap’s opinion.</p> - -<p>“Wouldn’t the fellows laugh me off the diamond?”</p> - -<p>“I’d like to see them do it!” exclaimed Whistle-Breeches -fiercely.</p> - -<p>“If you can’t play, after you show that you can still -pitch as good as before, Cap and I won’t be on the team,” -declared Pete with energy.</p> - -<p>“Oh, I’m not going to act that way about it,” spoke -Bill, but there was a more hopeful look on his face.</p> - -<p>A little later he was again being put through the eyesight -test. Mr. Somnus, as he preferred to be called, was -in his element. He had a very good set of instruments, and -he very soon demonstrated that he knew his business.</p> - -<p>“Ha! Hum!” he exclaimed from time to time, as he made -test after test, and jotted down the results of some calculations -on paper. “I find that you will have to have a -very peculiar pair of lens,” he said. “I haven’t them, but -I can get them for you.”</p> - -<p>“And will the defect in my eyes be corrected?” asked -Bill eagerly.</p> - -<p>“You’ll never know you had it,” was the confident answer. -“The injury was a peculiar one, involving, as the -other doctor told you, one of the optic nerves. It may -pass away at any time, but while it exists it must be corrected.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> -Glasses will do it, and inside of a week I predict -that you will pitch as well as before. Shall I make -the glasses?”</p> - -<p>“Yes!” fairly shouted Bill. “I don’t care what they -cost.”</p> - -<p>The details were soon arranged. Mr. Somnus knew of -an establishment where lens for glasses were ground, and -he undertook to procure them for Bill. He would return -with them in a few days, he said, and adjust them in a -proper frame—a frame that would admit of rough play.</p> - -<p>“Then we’ll see what happens,” said Professor Clatter. -“I have to travel on in the morning, but I’m coming back -to see the test. I’m interested in this,” and the honest, if -somewhat eccentric character, clapped Bill heartily on the -back.</p> - -<p>The pitcher’s spirits had come back to him, and on the -way back to the school that night he laughed and joked -with his brothers as before.</p> - -<p>It seemed as if the time would never pass. Baseball -practice was the order of the day now, and every afternoon -the Westfield diamond was thronged with prospective members -of the Varsity nine. Cap was more than ever assured -of a place as catcher, Pete, as I have said, was the regular -Shortstop, but poor Bill had to wait, and see his rival, -Mersfeld, filling the box.</p> - -<p>“But keep up your spunk,” Pete told his brother one -afternoon, following a grueling practice. “They’re not half -satisfied with Mersfeld, and if your glasses are any good at -all you’ll have his place.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t want to put him out,” said Bill. “If I only<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> -get a chance to play in some of the big games I’ll be satisfied.”</p> - -<p>He refrained from pitching during the time he was -waiting, and was excused from some of his studies until -he had the reading glasses the town oculist made for him.</p> - -<p>Then, one day, came a note from the rain-maker stating -that he and his wagon were in their former place, and that -the “ball-glasses,” as Bill called them, were ready.</p> - -<p>“Now for the test!” cried Mr. Somnus, as Bill, his -brothers and Whistle-Breeches arrived at the improvised -camp early one afternoon. Cap had brought his mask and -glove and was to catch for his brother.</p> - -<p>“I hope my plan works,” murmured Mr. Clatter.</p> - -<p>The special lenses which Mr. Somnus had had made were -fitted into a strong, black rubber frame, and it set close to -Bill’s eyes. It gave him an odd appearance, but it was -just the thing for playing a game of ball. He had demonstrated -that he could bat well without any glasses, so he -would only have to be a “four-eyes,” as he dubbed himself, -in the pitching box.</p> - -<p>The glasses were put on. Bill took a ball, and walked -off a short distance while Cap donned his mask and mitt.</p> - -<p>“Let her go!” he called to his brother, who was “winding -up,” in his usual fashion. A square stone had been laid -down as a plate.</p> - -<p>There was an anxious moment among the little knot of -spectators. Bill drew back his hand, worked his arm a -couple of times, squinted through the glasses, and then -with the speed of a miniature projectile, the ball left his -grip and sped toward Cap.</p> - -<p>“Biff!” That was the ball hitting the big mitt.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span>“Strike!” yelled Cap. “It was over the plate as clean -as a whistle, but it had a curve to it that would fool Hans -Wagner himself! Good work, old man!”</p> - -<p>“Try another!” called Bill, trying to keep his voice cool.</p> - -<p>Once more the ball went over the plate cleanly.</p> - -<p>“Strike!” called Cap again.</p> - -<p>“Are they all right?” asked Bill.</p> - -<p>“Right as a trivet! Oh, Bill, you’re yourself again!”</p> - -<p>There was a moisture in the pitcher’s eyes, but the odd -glasses concealed his tears of gratitude.</p> - -<p>“Hurrah!” yelled Professor Clatter leaping about like -a boy. “Now you’ll make the Varsity; eh Tithy?”</p> - -<p>“He will! I can read it in the stars!” said the little -astronomer, gaily.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XIV</h2></div> - -<p class="ph3">THE TRY-OUT</p> - - -<p><span class="smcap">That</span> Bill was delighted to find his former skill had not -deserted him goes without saying. It was tempered a bit -by the fact that he had to wear glasses, but that could not -be helped.</p> - -<p>“I wonder how Mr. Windam will take to ’em?” he asked -his brothers as they walked back to school together.</p> - -<p>“He won’t care as long as you can pitch the way you -did this afternoon,” declared Cap.</p> - -<p>“I wonder what Graydon will say?”</p> - -<p>“I don’t see how he can say anything,” came from -Whistle-Breeches. “Any captain wants the best pitcher he -can get.”</p> - -<p>“And as for J. Evans Green, he’s the kind of a manager -who wants to see games won, and keep possession of the -pennant,” declared Pete. “There won’t be any kicking -about the glasses, Bill. He’d let you wear hoop-skirts if -it made you play better.”</p> - -<p>But there was objection to Bill when he appeared for -practice wearing the odd goggles, though it did not come -from coach, captain or manager. It was first voiced by -Bondy Guilder, and some of his cronies.</p> - -<p>“Why don’t you play a lot of men with crutches, and -their arms in bandages?” asked the rich youth with a sneer.</p> - -<p>“I would if they could do better than some fellows I -know<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> who seem to think a ball will bat itself and catch itself,” -declared the captain with energy, for there had been -a slump in practice that day.</p> - -<p>It even extended to Mersfeld the crack pitcher who issued -passes to a number of men and was hit more times than he -liked to count.</p> - -<p>“What’s the matter with you?” demanded the coach half -savagely as the scrub pulled over three runs in succession, -and Mersfeld walked another man to first. “Are you -dreaming that this is a tennis match, or don’t you want to -play?”</p> - -<p>“Of course I want to play!” was the reply, “only I can’t -be at top-notch all the while.”</p> - -<p>“You’ve got to!” was the curt decision. “If you don’t -do better than this in the final try-out you’ll be a substitute -instead of a regular.”</p> - -<p>“And I suppose ‘Foureyes’ Smith will have my place?” -suggested Mersfeld with a sneer.</p> - -<p>“It’ll go to the man who does the best work—four eyes -or eight eyes—rest assured of that. Now put some ginger -into your pitching, if you can!”</p> - -<p>Stung by the words of the coach Mersfeld did a little -better, and the Varsity saved the game by a narrow margin. -But there were many whispers around the school and in -the gymnasium that day there were strange rumors of a -shake-up in the team, rumors of the strong nines which -the Tuckerton Sandrim and Haydon schools had ready -to put on the diamond to battle for the pennant in the -interscholastic league.</p> - -<p>The opening of the season was not far off. Day by day -the practice on the Westfield diamond grew harder and more<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> -exacting. Bill had gotten back all his former skill, and -the little rest seemed to have done him good, for his speed -increased, and his curving ability was considered remarkable -by his friends. He had gotten used to the glasses -which he only wore when in the box, and he hardly noticed -them at all.</p> - -<p>Mersfeld, too, had taken a brace, and was doing good -work, whereat coach and captain were glad.</p> - -<p>“I guess he’ll make out,” said Graydon one night when -he and Mr. Windam were talking over matters. “But I’m -glad we have Smith to fall back on.”</p> - -<p>“So am I. Smith may be first pitcher yet. When have -you arranged for the try-out game?”</p> - -<p>“Day after to-morrow. We’ll play Mersfeld four innings -on the Varsity and then give Smith a show. That will be -the test.”</p> - -<p>There was so much interest in the try-out that almost -as big a crowd assembled on the diamond to witness it -as usually was present at a match game. Bill was a trifle -nervous for he realized what he was up against, and as for -Mersfeld, that pitcher went about with a confident smile on -his face.</p> - -<p>“Are you going to make it?” his friends asked him.</p> - -<p>“Of course I am,” he assured them. “I’ll pitch against -Tuckerton all right Saturday.”</p> - -<p>For the first league game was to take place then, and -it was unofficially announced that the players who made -the best records in this, the final try-out would have the -honor of representing Westfield on the diamond at the -opening of the season.</p> - -<p>“Play ball!” called the umpire, and Bill watched his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> -rival take his place in the box. How he longed to be -there himself! But he knew his turn would come, and -he felt in his pocket to see if his precious glasses were -safe. Without them he would be lost, and he wished -now that he had had two pairs made for emergencies. -He decided he would try to locate the traveling astronomer -and get another set.</p> - -<p>The game opened up with a snap, and this was maintained -right along. Everyone was doing his best, for it -was no small honor that was at stake. There was no -denying that Mersfeld did well for the first three innings. -There was only one hit off him, and in the fourth -he struck out two men in quick succession.</p> - -<p>Then, whether it was a slump, whether he went stale, -or whether it was nervousness due to the fact that he was -under close observation did not manifest itself, but the -fact remains that, after getting two men out, he grew -wild, passed one of the poorest batters, was hit for a -three bagger by the next, and when another got up, and -knocked a home run, there was pandemonium among the -members of the scrub nine.</p> - -<p>“What’s got into Mersfeld?” was the general inquiry.</p> - -<p>Nobody knew, and when the fifth inning opened, with -Bill in the box, there was intense excitement. Bill adjusted -his glasses and got ready to pitch.</p> - -<p>“Now watch Foureyes put ’em over!” sneered Bondy -Guilder.</p> - -<p>“That’ll do!” called Mr. Windam sharply. “This isn’t -a match game, and there’s no need of rattling one of our -own men. Save your sarcasm, Guilder, for Tuckerton!”</p> - -<p>Bondy muttered something under his breath, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span> -walked over to talk to Mersfeld, who was darkly regarding -his rival from the coaching line.</p> - -<p>Bill was a bit nervous but as Cap had been sent in to -catch the pitcher grew confident as he saw the friendly -face of his brother, and caught the well-known signal for -an out shoot.</p> - -<p>Bill nodded in confirmation, drew back his arm, hesitated -a moment, wondered for one wild second whether -he was still himself, and could see to make the curve, and -then—he threw.</p> - -<p>“Strike one!” howled the umpire, and then Bill knew -that he <i>was</i> himself, and a fierce joy welled up in his -heart. He caught the ball Cap tossed back to him, and -sent it stinging in again.</p> - -<p>“Strike two!” was the reassuring call, and the batter -pounded the plate in desperation, for he had not before -moved his stick.</p> - -<p>He swung viciously at the next one, and—missed it -clean.</p> - -<p>“That’s the boy!”</p> - -<p>“Go at ’em!”</p> - -<p>“Put some more over like that!”</p> - -<p>“Give the next one a teaser!”</p> - -<p>Thus Bill’s friends encouraged him.</p> - -<p>The try-out game went on, growing more fierce as each -player struggled to make a record. Bill was a marvel -with the ball. But one hit was registered off him during -the five innings that he pitched. After the contest there -was a consultation among the captain, manager and -coach and it was announced to the anxiously waiting -ones that Bill Smith would pitch the first five innings<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> -of the opening game with Tuckerton, with Mersfeld as -second pitcher, while Cap Smith would catch for his -brother, and Dean Denby for Mersfeld.</p> - -<p>“I told you that’s how it would be!” cried Whistle-Breeches -clapping Bill on the back with such heartiness -that the pitcher’s glasses nearly flew off.</p> - -<p>“Boy, I’m proud of you!” spoke Cap fervently.</p> - -<p>Mersfeld said nothing but there was a bitter feeling -in his heart.</p> - -<p>“An upstart Freshman!” he muttered as he passed by -Bondy Guilder.</p> - -<p>“That’s what,” agreed the rich youth, “and I’d like to -see him taken down a peg. Do you know how it can be -done?”</p> - -<p>“No,” replied the rival pitcher.</p> - -<p>“Come here and I’ll tell you,” suggested Bondy, and -the two walked across the diamond arm-in-arm, talking -earnestly, and the talk boded no good for Bill Smith.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XV</h2></div> - -<p class="ph3">THE CONSPIRATORS</p> - - -<p><span class="smcap">There</span> was plenty to talk about that night. The rooms -of the Smith boys were thronged with some old and many -new admirers, for nothing succeeds like success, and now -that Pete was officially named as Varsity shortstop, now -that Bill had the preference, at least in the opening game, -as pitcher, and when Cap was named to catch for his talented -brother our heroes found themselves very much in -the lime-light.</p> - -<p>“To think of all three of us making the Varsity in our -first year!” exclaimed Bill, as he received the congratulations -of several new acquaintances.</p> - -<p>“It’s great!” declared Cap. “I’m afraid our rivals -will dub it the ‘Smith Nine,’ instead of Westfield.”</p> - -<p>“Let ’em,” declared Captain Graydon, who was present. -“I don’t care what they call the nine if we keep the -league pennant. But let me tell you Smith boys, and -all you other baseball fellows who are here, it’s going to -be no easy matter. Tuckerton has a battery that’s hard -to beat, and Haydon has a better team than ever before. -We’ve got our work cut out for us.”</p> - -<p>“And we’ll make good!” exclaimed Whistle-Breeches, -who was happy because he had been promised at least -part of the opening game, even though he was in centre -field.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span>But among the visitors to the rooms of our heroes -Mersfeld and Bondy were conspicuous by their absence. -The failure of Mersfeld to call was commented on, and it -was openly said that he was jealous. And as Westfield -was an institution where the school spirit was especially -strong this was all the more marked.</p> - -<p>“I’m sorry there’s a feeling between the two pitchers,” -said Captain Graydon to Mr. Windam as they walked to -their dormitories together after the informal little visit. -“For both Smith and Mersfeld are fine fellows. We may -need them both before the season is over.”</p> - -<p>“I expect we will. But we couldn’t pass over Mersfeld’s -poor work to-day. By putting Smith ahead of him -it may spur him up a bit.”</p> - -<p>“I hope it doesn’t spur him up to any mischief,” murmured -the captain dubiously.</p> - -<p>“Mischief; how?”</p> - -<p>“Well, he has a very ugly temper, and once he gets -aroused—well, the worst he can do is to withdraw from -the team, I suppose.”</p> - -<p>“I’d be sorry for that,” went on the coach. “But we -really have a find in Smith. He’s better than before his -injury, or else those glasses help him.”</p> - -<p>“I guess it’s the glasses. No one’s vision is perfect the -doctors say, and perhaps we’d all be better for spectacles. -I was just thinking what would happen if they became -broken in a critical game. Bill couldn’t pitch.”</p> - -<p>“That’s so. He ought to have a pair in reserve. I’ll -speak to him about it.”</p> - -<p>Then the coach and captain fell to talking about other<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> -baseball matters, including the coming game on Saturday, -and the chances for winning.</p> - -<p>Bill and his brothers rejoiced among themselves, and -with their friends, and a letter telling about the honor -that had come to the Smith boys was sent to their father, -all three joining in making it a sort of composite epistle.</p> - -<p>“Two days more and we’ll see what we can do on the -diamond in a league game,” said Cap, as he got ready to -do some neglected studying. “Now don’t mention ball -again for an hour. I nearly slumped in Latin to-day, -and if any of us fall behind we’ll be hauled up and put -out even if we knock a home run. So buckle down, -fellows.”</p> - -<p>It was hard work to apply oneself to lessons after the -events of the day, but they did it—somehow.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile, strolling along a dark and infrequented -road that led back of the school buildings, were two figures -deep in conversation.</p> - -<p>“It’s too risky a game to play,” objected Mersfeld, as -he strode moodily along.</p> - -<p>“But you don’t want him to knock you out of your -place, do you?” demanded his companion, Bondy Guilder.</p> - -<p>“No, of course not. But suppose I’m found out?”</p> - -<p>“You won’t be. I can get the glasses easily enough, -for his room is right next to mine. I was going to change, -for I don’t fancy the crowd he and his brothers trail in -with—they’re regular clod-hoppers. I’m glad now I -didn’t, for it will give us just the chance we want.”</p> - -<p>“What have <i>you</i> got against him?” asked the pitcher.</p> - -<p>“Oh, he’s a regular muff, and he thinks he’s as good as -I am,” was the illogical answer. “I’d be glad to see him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> -off the nine. It ought to be composed of more representative -school fellows, anyhow than a lot of ‘Smiths.’”</p> - -<p>“I haven’t anything against the name, but I have -against Bill,” said Mersfeld. “He shoved himself in, -and pushed me out—and I’d like to get even.”</p> - -<p>“You can, I tell you. If I get hold of his glasses he -can’t pitch in the game Saturday.”</p> - -<p>“Can’t he get another pair?”</p> - -<p>“Not the way I’ll work it.”</p> - -<p>“Why not? Suppose you do manage to sneak in his -room and get his goggles. He’ll miss them sure as fate, -and send for another pair.”</p> - -<p>“No he won’t.”</p> - -<p>“Why not?”</p> - -<p>“Because I won’t take them until Saturday morning, -or just before the game, and it will be too late to get -another pair. Or, better still, I can take out the special -lenses that are in the frames, and substitute others. Then -he won’t suspect anything, he’ll go to the box, pitch so -rotten that Graydon will have to take him out, and you’ll -go in. Bill won’t know whether it’s the glasses, or -whether his eyes have gone back on him again. How’s that -for a trick?”</p> - -<p>“It’s all right I guess,” was the hesitating answer. “I -rather hate to be a party to it,” went on the pitcher, who -was not a bad chap at heart. “But—”</p> - -<p>“But he had no right to come here and supplant you,” -put in Bondy.</p> - -<p>“No, that’s right. Well, can you get the glasses -from his room?”</p> - -<p>“Sure, and I’ll arrange to have other lenses to slip in -them.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> I’ll get the size, and they’re easy to change. I -was close to him to-day, and I saw how the rubber frames -were made. I guess Bill won’t be such a wonderful pitcher -when I get through with him,” and Bondy chuckled as -he and his fellow conspirator turned around and walked -back toward school.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XVI</h2></div> - -<p class="ph3">CAUGHT</p> - - -<p><span class="smcap">There</span> was an air of subdued excitement all about -Westfield, that extended even to good old Dr. Burton. -He even found it rather difficult to apply himself to translating -some early Assyrian tablets into modern Hebrew -as a preliminary to rendering them into ancient Chinese.</p> - -<p>The various members of the faculty found their students -paying rather less than the usual attention to the -lectures, and in one quiz, when Cap Smith was asked -concerning the raising of an unknown quantity to the -nth power his answer was:</p> - -<p>“He’s out on first!”</p> - -<p>“Doubtless true, but unfortunately Westfield has no -chair for the science of applied baseball,” answered the -professor as the laugh went rippling around the room.</p> - -<p>But the spirit of the game was in the air, it hung -about the school buildings, lingered in the dormitories, -and the very smell of chemicals in the laboratory seemed -replaced by the odor of crushed green grass, the whiff of -leather and the sound of the explosions of the miniature -Prince Rupert’s drops, as the science teacher demonstrated -the effect of a sudden change in the strain of a congealed -body seemed to the lads to be the blows of the bat on a -ball.</p> - -<p>Over on the diamond, which had been as carefully<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span> -groomed as a horse before he is led out to try for the blue -ribbon, were any number of eager enthusiasts practicing. -There were talks between the coach and captain, anxious -conferences with the manager, and on every side could be -seen lads in their uniforms carefully looking after balls, -bats, masks or chest protectors. Some were tightening the -laces of their shoes, others mending ripped gloves, while -Bill Smith had indulged in the luxury of a new toe plate.</p> - -<p>For the next day would mark the opening of the Interscholastic -league, and the first big game—that with -Tuckerton—was to be played.</p> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="verse">“And you must wake and call me early,</div> -<div class="verse">Call me early, Peetie dear,</div> -<div class="verse">For to-morrow is the opening</div> -<div class="verse">Of the dear old baseball year.”</div> -</div></div> - -<p>Thus Cap misquoted the verse, and joined his brothers -and chums in the laugh that followed.</p> - -<p>But if there were many hearts that rejoiced at the near -prospect of the big opening contest, there were two lads -whose souls were filled with bitterness. One was Mersfeld, -the partially deposed pitcher, and the other Bondy -Guilder, who, for no particular reason, had come to almost -hate Bill and his brothers.</p> - -<p>“Do you think you can get the glasses?” asked Mersfeld -of his crony, on the night before the big game.</p> - -<p>“Sure. I’ve been watching Bill—his room’s next to -mine you know—and I know just how he goes and comes. -I have some ordinary lenses all ready to slip in the place -of the special ones I’m going to take out.”</p> - -<p>“How’d you get the right size?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I made a pretence of wanting to see his glasses -and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> while I had them I pressed a sheet of paper on them, -got an impression of the size, and got the lenses in town. -They are not an unusual size, only they’re ground differently -to bring one eye in focus with the other. Bill -won’t pitch more than one inning in the game to-morrow, -and then you can go in.”</p> - -<p>“But he’ll know what’s wrong as soon as he has his -eyes, and the glasses tested again.”</p> - -<p>“What of it? He won’t suspect us, and all you want -is a chance to make good; isn’t it?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, for if I do make good in the opening game I’m -sure they’ll have to let me stay through the season, and -Bill won’t be in it. I’m glad you’re helping me.”</p> - -<p>“I’d do more than that to put one over on the Smith -boys. I don’t like them. I wish they’d get out of -Westfield.”</p> - -<p>Bondy had his plans all laid, and had, after considerable -trouble secured a pair of lenses to replace those in -Bill’s pitching glasses. Now, like some spider watching -for his hapless prey, he sat in his room on the morning of -the day of the big game, waiting for a chance to sneak -in and make the substitution. He felt that he could do it, -for no one ever locked his door at Westfield, and Bill had -been in the habit lately of spending a lot of time in the -apartment of Whistle-Breeches.</p> - -<p>But now Bill was in his room, and Bondy was impatiently -waiting for him to go out. The sneak knew that if -he could change the glasses the trick would not be discovered -until after Bill was in the box, for he did not use -the goggles in preliminary practice where there was no -home plate over which to throw.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span>“Hang it all! Why doesn’t he go?” thought the rich -lad as he peered from the partly-opened door of his study, -and saw Bill moving about in his room. The pitcher -was taking a few stitches in his jacket, which had been -ripped. “I haven’t much more time,” mused the conspirator, -“for they’ll soon go out to practice, and he’ll take -the goggles with him.”</p> - -<p>There was a call from down the corridor. It came -from the room of Whistle-Breeches.</p> - -<p>“I say Bill, where are you?”</p> - -<p>“Here. What’s up?”</p> - -<p>“Give us a hand, will you? I can’t get this needle -threaded and there’s a hole in my stocking as big as your -fist. I wouldn’t mind, only it’s opening game and we -want to look decent. I caught it on a nail.”</p> - -<p>“Wait a minute. I’ll be with you,” sung out Bill, and -dropping his own work he darted for the room of his -chum.</p> - -<p>“Just my chance!” whispered Bondy. “But I haven’t -much time!” He had the substitute lenses ready, and a -small screw driver with which to open the frame and -make the change.</p> - -<p>Into Bill’s room the sneak darted when he saw the -pitcher enter the study of Whistle-Breeches. A rapid -glance around showed him where the goggles were—in -their usual place on top of a shelf of books.</p> - -<p>It was the work of a minute to secure them, and begin -to loosen the screws. Bondy worked feverishly, but his -very haste and nervousness were against him. His hands -trembled, and he was in a sweat of fear. One glass was -almost loose, when, with a suddenness that was as startling<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> -as a clap of thunder would have been, the door leading -from Bill’s to Pete’s room opened, and the shortstop -entered. He did not notice Bondy at first, as the latter -stood in the shadow of the book shelves, and this fact -gave the conspirator time to shove the screw driver and -extra lenses into his pocket.</p> - -<p>“Caught!” he murmured under his breath.</p> - -<p>The tinkle of glass caught Pete’s ears, and he wheeled -around.</p> - -<p>“Oh! Hello, Bondy!” he exclaimed, and then catching -sight of his brother’s goggles in the other’s hands he -quickly asked:</p> - -<p>“What are you doing with those glasses?”</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span> -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XVII</h2></div> - -<p class="ph3">BILL’S PITCHING</p> - - -<p><span class="smcap">For</span> a moment Bondy did not answer. On his face -there was a sickly grin, and he seemed to turn a sort of -greenish white.</p> - -<p>“What are you doing with those glasses?” repeated -Pete as he took a step forward.</p> - -<p>“I—er—I just came in to see Bill,” stammered the rich -lad. “He was out, and I—I—er I was looking at them. -Queer lenses; aren’t they? One seems to be loose. I was -going to tell Bill he ought to tighten it.”</p> - -<p>No wonder it was loose, for the sneak had partly taken -out the screw. The expression on Pete’s face changed. -He had had a quick suspicion that all was not right, but -he began to feel now that perhaps he was mistaken.</p> - -<p>“See, here is the loose glass!” went on Bondy eagerly, -for he was quick to notice the altered expression on the -other’s countenance. “It ought to be tightened, or it -might drop out during the game, and become broken. -You can tighten it with a knife.”</p> - -<p>He dared not offer his own screw driver.</p> - -<p>“That’s right; it does need fixing,” admitted Pete. -“Much obliged for noticing it, old man. Bill might not -have seen it.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, I just came in—er—to ask Bill how his arm -was, and I noticed the glasses,” went on the visitor lamely.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span>“Why, what’s the matter with his arm?” asked Pete -quickly, and in some alarm.</p> - -<p>“Oh, nothing, I—I just wondered if it would hold out.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I guess it will. There, the glass is tight now,” -and Pete, who had used his knife to set the screw, tapped -the rubber frame to listen for any vibration. There was -none.</p> - -<p>“Well, I’ll be going,” announced Guilder, with an air -of relief. “See you at the game. It’s most time to start,” -and he slipped from the room, just before Bill returned.</p> - -<p>“I wonder what he wanted?” mused Pete, looking after -the retreating figure of the rich lad. “Mighty funny his -getting friendly all of a sudden. I wonder what he -wanted?”</p> - -<p>Pete looked at his brother’s glasses. He glanced toward -Bondy’s room, and pondered again. Just then Bill came -in.</p> - -<p>“Say, son, you ought to keep these locked up,” remarked -Pete, handing the glasses to him.</p> - -<p>“Why?”</p> - -<p>“They might get broken if you leave them around so -promiscuous. I just tightened a screw.”</p> - -<p>“Thanks. Crimps! but I’ve got to hustle. I was -showing Whistle-Breeches how to mend a rip in his stocking. -He was for tying a string around it as if it was a -bag he was closing up. Well, we’ll soon be slaughtering—or -slaughtered; eh?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, how about you?”</p> - -<p>“Fit as a fiddle. I wish I had to pitch the whole game.”</p> - -<p>“Maybe you won’t after you see the way they knock -you out. They’ve got some hard hitters.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span>“I’m not worrying. Is Cap on the job?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, we’re all ready. What are you waiting for?”</p> - -<p>“Just got to put a few more stitches in this jacket. -I’ll be right over. Go ahead.”</p> - -<p>“No, we’ll wait for you,” and Pete took a chair in his -brother’s room. He was thinking of Bondy’s visit but he -made up his mind to say nothing about it at present. -After all he might be wrong in his suspicion, but he resolved -to keep a sharp lookout.</p> - -<p>Soon Bill had finished his sewing task, and went out -with his brother. Cap joined them, and a little later -they were on the diamond, indulging in some light practice.</p> - -<p>Down the road came the sound of songs and cheers, -mingled with indiscriminate yells. Then came the blast -of horns.</p> - -<p>“The cohorts of Tuckerton!” cried Cap. “Here they -come!”</p> - -<p>Several big stages swung into view, laden down with -students and girls, for the boys had brought a lot of their -young lady friends to see the game.</p> - -<p>The vehicles were gay with colors—flags and banners -waved from canes and long staffs. Horns adorned with -the hues of Tuckerton were waved and blown. Then -came more songs, more cheers, more wild yells, and -more rioting of colors, as the banners, flags, ribbons and -streamers were shaken at the crowds of Westfield students -who poured out and greeted their rivals.</p> - -<p>As the stage loads of spectators drew up and were -emptied, another carryall swept along the road. It contained<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> -the opposing nine, and in grim silence, like gladiators -coming to the battle, they alighted.</p> - -<p>“Three cheers for the best nine in the league!” called -the leader of the Tuckerton cohorts, and the yells came -in quick response.</p> - -<p>“Now three cheers for the second beet nine—the one -we’re going to wallop—Westfield!” called the same youth -who was almost hidden behind a big bow of his school -colors.</p> - -<p>Westfield was appropriately serenaded, and then they -returned the compliment. The grand stands and bleachers -were now beginning to fill, for a game of baseball -between these two schools was worth coming a long distance -to see.</p> - -<p>“Gee! what a lot of pretty girls!” exclaimed Pete as -he stood with his brothers near home plate after some -sharp warm-up practice.</p> - -<p>“You let the girls alone—until after the game,” advised -Cap.</p> - -<p>“There <i>is</i> a big crowd,” remarked Bill.</p> - -<p>“Don’t let it fuss you,” suggested his older brother, for -Bill was likely to get a bit nervous, and he had never -played in such a big and important game before. “Come -over here and we’ll try a few balls. Better wear your -glasses to get more used to them.”</p> - -<p>“Gee! maybe it’s a good thing I got caught as I did,” -mused Bondy as he saw Bill putting on the goggles before -the game had started, as he was practicing with Cap. -“He’d have found it out by now, and the game would have -been all up. But I’ll get him yet! I wonder why Mersfeld -doesn’t come around. He acts afraid.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span>The other pitcher was afraid—horribly so. His heart -misgave him for consenting to the trick, and yet he let -it be carried out. At least he supposed it had been, for -he took pains to keep out of the way of Bondy. And -when he saw Bill in the goggles pitching a few preliminary -balls to his brother, he wondered what sort of balls they -were.</p> - -<p>“How long will he last—how long?” he murmured, for -he thought the plot had been carried out.</p> - -<p>The crowds increased. The Tuckerton nine and substitutes -trotted out for practice, and good snappy practice -it was. Captain Graydon shook his head as he watched.</p> - -<p>“They’ll come pretty near having our numbers,” he remarked.</p> - -<p>“Nonsense!” exclaimed the coach. “They play fast -and snappy, that’s a fact, but we can do the same.”</p> - -<p>“No, that’s just where our men fall down,” went on -Graydon. “They’re good stickers, and can pull a game -out of the fire in the last few innings, but they don’t -wake up quickly enough. That’s what I’m afraid of. I -wish we had decided to let Smith pitch the last half instead -of the first innings.”</p> - -<p>“Say, that’s what we’ll do!” suddenly exclaimed the -coach. “This is the first chance I’ve had to get a line on -the Tuckerton boys, and I believe it will be policy to put -Mersfeld in at the opening. He’s feeling sore, and he -hasn’t as good lasting qualities as I’d like. We’ll put -him up first, and if he can’t hold ’em down we can change -at any time. I’ll tell Smith.”</p> - -<p>Bill felt a sense of disappointment that he was not to -open the game, but he knew better than to dispute with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> -the coach. Cap looked as though he could not quite understand -it, and he wondered if it was a sample of what -would happen in other games.</p> - -<p>“We’ve got to save you two for a pinch,” explained -Graydon to the catcher, just before the game was called. -“Begin to warm-up again after the third inning.”</p> - -<p>The preliminaries were over, and the Tuckerton men took -their places on the bench, the home team having last chance -at the bat. The Westfield nine walked to the field, and -Bill and Cap took their places with the other substitutes.</p> - -<p>“I wonder what’s up?” mused Mersfeld as he was told -to go to the box. “He must have the changed glasses and -Mindam and Graydon have seen how punk he is even in -practice. Here’s where I get my chance!”</p> - -<p>The game began, and the first crack out of the box -netted a two-bagger for the initial hitter of the Tuckerton -nine. Mersfeld smiled a sickly smile as the ball came -back to him.</p> - -<p>“It’s all right,” called Denby reassuringly from behind -the bat. “We’ll get this fellow.”</p> - -<p>Mersfeld did strike him out, after the man had made -two foul strikes, and, feeling a trifle nervous the twirler -issued walking papers to the next hitter, who had a high -average for stick work.</p> - -<p>“Work for this man,” signalled the catcher to the -pitcher, but Mersfeld, as he was about to throw was aware -that the first hitter was stealing to third. He shot to -the baseman quickly—but wildly. It went over his head, -in among a crowd of spectators, and before the ball could -be fielded in the man was home with the first run of the -game, and with only one out.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span>What a wild burst of songs and cries of gladness came -from the stands where the visitors were! Flags and banners -waved, and the shrill voices of the girls seemed to -mock the Westfield players.</p> - -<p>“Starting in bad,” murmured Bill to Cap.</p> - -<p>“Oh, well, all our fellows are a trifle nervous. I guess -we’ll make good.”</p> - -<p>Mersfeld redeemed himself a few seconds later by striking -out the next man up, and with two down, the last man -knocked a little pop fly. It looked good but Pete got under -it, and had it safely in his hands when the runner was -ten feet from first.</p> - -<p>“Well, now to see what we can do,” remarked Graydon -as he came in from first with his men eager to get a chance -at the sticks.</p> - -<p>They did not do so much, for there was an excellent -battery against them, and one run was all they could tally. -But it tied the score, and gave the home rooters something -to shout for.</p> - -<p>Whether it was nervousness or whether his conscience -troubled him was not made known, but Mersfeld seemed -to get worse as the game progressed. His throws to the -basemen were wild, and he practically lost control of the -ball, while his curves broke too late, and the opposing -team readily got on to them.</p> - -<p>“Oh, we’ve got the pitcher’s ‘Angora’ all right!” -chanted the visiting rooters, that being the classical term -for “goat” or nerve.</p> - -<p>“And I believe they have,” admitted the coach, when -the fourth inning opened with the score eight to one in -favor of Tuckerton. They had garnered two in the second<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span> -frame, three in the third, and a brace in their half -of the fourth. The one lone tally was all Westfield had -when they came to bat in the ending of the fourth, and -though they worked fiercely not a man got over the rubber.</p> - -<p>“Smith and Smith is the new battery for the Westfield -team!” announced the umpire as Graydon’s men went out -to the field at the opening of the fifth. Mersfeld had not -said a word when ordered from the box. He knew he had -been doing poor work, but with a bitter feeling in his -heart he watched to see how Bill would make out with, -as he supposed, the changed glasses.</p> - -<p>“Now watch the celebrated Smith brothers work!” cried -a Tuckerton wag, as Cap and Bill took their places.</p> - -<p>“Yes, and they <i>will</i> work, too!” murmured Pete.</p> - -<p>“At least if we can’t get any more runs, I hope we can -keep the score down,” thought the coach, to whom the -game, thus far was a bitter disappointment. All his -work so far that season seemed to have gone for naught.</p> - -<p>Bill was smiling confidently, as he took his place in the -box. The crowd which had not before had a good look -at him, caught sight of the goggles, and instantly there -was a chorus of cries.</p> - -<p>“Foureyes! Foureyes!”</p> - -<p>It was what Cap and Pete had feared would happen. -Would it bother their brother?</p> - -<p>Bill showed no signs of it. He did not appear to resent -the name, but smiled back at his tormentors in an -easy fashion.</p> - -<p>“I wear these so I can strike out more men!” he called.</p> - -<p>“I guess he’ll do,” murmured the anxious captain on -first base, and the embittered coach took heart.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span>Cap and Bill exchanged a few preliminaries, and then -signalled for the batter to take his place. The man up -was a terrific hitter and Bill used all his wiles on him. -First he purposely gave him a ball, and then sent in a -slow teaser which the man did not strike at, but which -the umpire counted.</p> - -<p>“Here’s where he fans!” thought Bill, as he tried an -up shoot. It made good, and the bat passed under it -cleanly. There was a murmur of chagrin from the stick-wielder’s -fellows and he resolved to knock the cover off -the next ball.</p> - -<p>But alas for hopes! Once more he swung wildly—and -missed.</p> - -<p>“Out!” howled the umpire gleefully, for his sympathy -was with Westfield, as much as he dared show it.</p> - -<p>And when the next two men never even touched the -ball there was joy unbounded in the ranks of the home -team, for now they saw a chance for victory.</p> - -<p>“I don’t see that you did anything,” whispered Mersfeld -to Bondy as the change was made for the ending of -the fifth.</p> - -<p>“Didn’t get the chance,” whispered back the plotter. -“I was nearly caught. But this isn’t the only game. -There’ll be other opportunities.”</p> - -<p>Westfield was at the bat, and it must have been the -effect of Bill’s pitching for every man up made a hit, and -the bases were soon filled. But only two runs came in, -for the opposing team took a brace at an opportune time -for themselves, and in season to prevent too heavy scoring -by the Westfield lads.</p> - -<p>“Now only six runs to beat ’em!” called Captain Graydon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> -cheerfully, as though that was a mere trifle. “Keep -up the good work, Bill, and we’ll dedicate a chapel window -to you.”</p> - -<p>Bill did. He surpassed even his own previous pitching -records, and did not allow a hit in that inning, while in -their half of it Westfield got one, making the score four -to eight in their opponents’ favor.</p> - -<p>“Now for the lucky seventh!” called the coach, when -that inning started. “Don’t let them get a run, Bill, and -help our fellows to pull in about a dozen.”</p> - -<p>Bill smiled, and—struck out the first two men. Then -one of the heavy hitters managed to get under a neat little -up shoot, and sent it far out over the left fielder’s head. -It was good for two bags, and the next man brought the -runner in, to the anguish of Bill, who feared he was -slumping, as there had been two hits off him in succession. -But with a gritting of his teeth he held his nerves in check, -and that ended the scoring for the first half of the -seventh.</p> - -<p>“Now, boys, eat ’em up!” pleaded coach and captain -as Bill and his teammates came in. They did, to the extent -of three runs, which seemed wonderful in view of -what had previously been done, and there was a chance for -wild yelling and cheering on the part of the home rooters.</p> - -<p>With the score seven to nine, when the eighth opened, -it looked better for Westfield’s chances, and when she -further sweetened her tallies with another run, brought -in by Pete, there was more joyful rioting.</p> - -<p>“They mustn’t get another mark!” stipulated the captain -when the final inning opened. “Not a run, Bill.”</p> - -<p>“Not if I can help it!” the pitcher promised. From a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> -corner Mersfeld watched his successful rival—watched him -with envious eyes.</p> - -<p>From the grandstand Bondy also watched, and muttered:</p> - -<p>“I won’t fail next time. I’ll spoil your record if it’s -possible!”</p> - -<p>Amid a wild chorus of songs and school cries Bill faced -his next opponent. He proved an easy victim, as did the -lad following, but from the manner in which the third -man began hitting fouls it seemed to argue that he would -eventually make a hit. And a hit at this stage might -mean anything. For Westfield needed two runs to beat, -and they were going to be hard enough to secure—every -member of the team knew that.</p> - -<p>It was the fourth foul the batter had knocked. The -others had been impossible to get, though Cap had tried -for them. Now, as he tossed off his mask, and stared -wildly up into the air to gage the ball he heard cries of:</p> - -<p>“Can’t get it! Can’t get it!”</p> - -<p>“I’m going to!” he thought fiercely. He ran for it, -and was aware that he would have to almost run into the -grand stand to reach it. The crowd made way for him. -Into the stand he crashed, with a shock that jarred him -considerably, but—he had the ball in his hands!</p> - -<p>“Wow! Wow! Wow!” cheered the crowd, even some of -the Tuckertons themselves. The side had been retired -without a run, and they cheered Cap’s fine catch.</p> - -<p>“Now for our last chance!” said Captain Graydon when -his men came in. “We’ve just <i>got</i> to get two runs. No -tenth inning—do it in this!”</p> - -<p>“Sure!” they all agreed.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span>Whistle-Breeches came up first, and when he had fanned -out he went off by himself and thought bitter thoughts. -For he had narrowed the team’s chances.</p> - -<p>“Don’t worry, we may do it yet,” said the coach kindly -but he hardly believed it.</p> - -<p>Graydon made good in a two bagger, and got to third -when Paul Armitage made a magnificent try, but was out -at first. And that was the situation when Cap Smith -came up. There were two out, a man on third, and two -runs were needed. Only a home run it seemed could do -the trick.</p> - -<p>“And a home run it shall be!” declared Cap to himself.</p> - -<p>But when he missed the first ball, and when, after two -wild throws a strike was called on him, it looked as if the -chances were all gone.</p> - -<p>“He’ll walk you!” shouted some sympathizers, but the -Tuckerton pitcher had no such intentions. He was going -to strike Cap out, he felt.</p> - -<p>“Whizz!” went the ball toward the catcher. Cap drew -back his bat, and by some streak of luck managed to get -it under squarely. He put all the force of his broad -shoulders into the blow, and when he saw the ball sailing -far and low, he knew it would go over the centre fielder’s -head and into the deep grass beyond.</p> - -<p>“It’s a home run or a broken leg!” murmured Cap, as -he dashed away toward first.</p> - -<p>“Oh you Cap!”</p> - -<p>“Pretty! Pretty!”</p> - -<p>“A lalapalooza!”</p> - -<p>“Run! Run!”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span>“Keep on going!”</p> - -<p>“Come on in, Graydon! Come home! Come home!”</p> - -<p>Thus the frantic cries.</p> - -<p>Graydon was speeding in from third, and desperate -fielders were racing after the ball. It could not be located -in the tall grass, and Cap was legging it for all he was -worth.</p> - -<p>“Run! Run! Run!” Thus they besought him. Graydon -crossed the rubber with the tying run, and still the -ball was not found. Then, as Cap passed second, a shout -announced that a fielder had it. But he was far out, and -the second baseman knew his teammate could never field -it in from where he was. He ran out to intercept the ball, -as Cap was legging it for home.</p> - -<p>“Thud!” The second baseman had the horsehide. He -turned to throw it home, and the catcher spread out his -hands for it. But Cap dropped and slid over the plate -in a cloud of dust, and was safe just a second before the -ball arrived.</p> - -<p>Westfield had won! And on the last chance!</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XVIII</h2></div> - -<p class="ph3">A PLOT AGAINST BILL</p> - - -<p><span class="smcap">What</span> rejoicing there was among the members of the -nine and the supporters of the team! How the lads -howled, their hoarse voices mingling with the shrill cries -of the girls! Sober men danced around with their gray-haired -seat-mates, and several “old grads” who had witnessed -the contest jumped up and down pounding with -their canes on the grandstand until it seemed as if the -structure would collapse.</p> - -<p>“Good boy, Cap!” cried Bill, clapping his brother on -the back. “Good boy!”</p> - -<p>“All to the horse radish,” added Pete.</p> - -<p>“Oh, you fellows didn’t do so worse yourselves,” remarked -John, as he tried to fight off a crowd that wanted -to carry him on their shoulders.</p> - -<p>He was unsuccessful, and a moment later was hoisted up, -while a shouting, yelling, cheering procession marched -around the grounds, singing some of the old school songs -of triumph. It was a glorious victory.</p> - -<p>It was fought all over again in the rooms of the boys -that night, and the team was praised on all sides.</p> - -<p>“Still it was a narrow squeak,” declared the coach to -the captain, “and we’ve got to do better if we want to -keep the championship.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span>“Oh, I guess we’ll do it,” answered Graydon. “Those -Smith boys are a big find.”</p> - -<p>“I should say so! I don’t know what to do about the -battery, though. We can’t let Mersfeld and Denby slide -altogether.”</p> - -<p>“No, we’ll have to play them occasionally. And Mersfeld -isn’t so bad sometimes. He gets rattled too easily, -and Bill Smith doesn’t. Well, come on out and I’ll blow -you to some chocolate soda.”</p> - -<p>Meanwhile the Smith boys were having a jollification -of their own in their rooms, whither many of their friends -had gone. Bill brought out some packages of cakes, and -bottles of ginger ale and other soft stuff, on which the -visitors were regaled.</p> - -<p>“Here’s more power to you!” toasted Billie Bunce, a -little fat junior, who was not above making friends with -the freshmen.</p> - -<p>Mersfeld did not attend the little gathering in the rooms -of our heroes. And had they seen him, in close conversation -with Jonas North, a little later, and had they heard, -what the two were saying, they would not have wondered -at his absence. Mersfeld met North as the latter was -strolling about the campus.</p> - -<p>“What’s going on up there?” asked North, as he motioned -to where lights gleamed in the rooms of our friends, -for it was not yet locking-up time.</p> - -<p>“Oh, Smith Brothers and Company are having some sort -of an improvised blow-out,” replied the temporarily deposed -pitcher. “Those fellows make me tired. Just because -they helped pull one game out of the fire they think<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span> -they’re the whole cheese. I’d like to get square with Four-eyes -somehow or other.”</p> - -<p>“Why don’t you?” proposed North, with a grin. “Seems -to me you ought to be able to ‘do’ him.”</p> - -<p>“I am, if it came to a fight, but I wouldn’t dare mix it -up with him.”</p> - -<p>“Why not?”</p> - -<p>“Because there’d be a howl, and everyone would say I -did it because I was jealous. I’d have to have some -mighty good excuse to warrant wading into him.”</p> - -<p>“Well, can’t you think of one?”</p> - -<p>“No, I can’t. I’d like to get square with him, though.”</p> - -<p>“Put him out of business you mean—so he couldn’t -pitch for a while?” asked the bully.</p> - -<p>“That would do, yes.”</p> - -<p>“You might put up a job to burn his hands with acid -in chemistry class some day. Just a little burn would do. -You could say it was an accident.”</p> - -<p>“No, that’s too risky,” remarked Mersfeld, after thinking -it over. “I’d like to have it come about naturally. -Now if he or his brothers would try some trick, and get -caught—suspended by the faculty for a month—or laid -off from athletics, that would do. But the Smith fellows -seem to have given up pranks lately, and have buckled -down to lessons. I guess they’re afraid.”</p> - -<p>North did not answer for a few moments. He walked -along, apparently deeply thinking. Suddenly he exclaimed:</p> - -<p>“I believe I have it! Get them caught while doing some -fool cut-up thing, such as is always going on around here. -That<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span> would do it, if we can get them into something desperate -enough so they’ll be suspended. Fine!”</p> - -<p>“Yes, it’s all very well enough to say ‘fine!’ But how -are you going to work it? Haven’t I told you that they’ve -cut out jokes?”</p> - -<p>“That’s all right. We can get ’em into the game -again.”</p> - -<p>“How?”</p> - -<p>“Easy enough. All they need is to have some one to -make a suggestion. They’ll fall into line quickly enough, -and then—have McNibb catch ’em in the act, and it’s all -off with their baseball. I haven’t any love for ’em, either, -and I’d like to see ’em out of the game. They don’t belong -in our class here.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, they’re all right, but they think they’re the whole -show,” complained the pitcher bitterly. “All I ask is for -Bill Smith to get out of the box, and let me in. I can -do as good as he!”</p> - -<p>“Of course you can,” agreed North, though if Mersfeld -could have seen the covert sneer in the bully’s smile perhaps -he would not have been so friendly with him. “Well, -if you’ll help, I’ll work it. We’ll have ’em caught in -the act—say painting the Weston statue red or green—that -ought to fetch ’em.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, but how are you going to arrange to have ’em -caught?” asked Mersfeld.</p> - -<p>“Easy enough. Here’s my game,” went on North. -“First we’ll propose to Bill or Cap, or to the other brother, -that as things around the school are a little dull, they -ought to be livened up. They’ll bite at the bait, for they -like fun, and when they hear that it would be a good<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span> -stunt to decorate the big bronze statue of old man Weston, -in front of the main building with green or red -paint, they’ll fall for it.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, but they know enough not to get caught, even if -they go into the trick.”</p> - -<p>“They can’t help being caught the way we’ll work it,” -was the crafty reply.</p> - -<p>“Why not?”</p> - -<p>“Because the night they select for the joke—and we’ll -know when it is—there’ll be an anonymous letter dropped -at Proctor McNibb’s door, telling him what is going to be -pulled off. He’ll get on the job, and catch the Smith -boys at the game. How’s that?”</p> - -<p>Mersfeld meditated a moment.</p> - -<p>“I guess it will do,” he said slowly—“only,—”</p> - -<p>“Well, what’s the matter with my plan?” demanded -the bully half angrily.</p> - -<p>“If you or I propose such a game to Bill or his brothers -they’ll smell a rat right away.”</p> - -<p>“Of course they will, but you don’t s’pose I’m such -a ninnie as to propose it ourselves; do you?”</p> - -<p>“What then?”</p> - -<p>“Why I’ll have some one who is friendly to them do -it. Oh, don’t worry, they’ll fall for it all right enough. -Now come on over to my room, and we’ll fix it up,” and -the two cronies, one a rather unwilling participator in the -plot, walked along the campus, casting back a look at the -gaily lighted windows of the apartments of the Smith -boys.</p> - -<p>“Hang it all!” mused Mersfeld as he tried to quiet an -uneasy conscience, “I don’t want to get those fellows into<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span> -trouble, but I want to be back in my rightful place as -pitcher on the Varsity.”</p> - -<p>And then he and North went into the details of the -plot against our heroes, against Bill more particularly, for -it was he whom Mersfeld wanted to displace.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XIX</h2></div> - -<p class="ph3">THE PROFESSOR’S WARNING</p> - - -<p>“<span class="smcap">Say</span>, Cap, don’t you think things are rather slow, not -to say dreary around here?” asked Bob Chapin a few -days after the ball game, as he strolled into the elder -Smith lad’s room, and appropriated the easiest chair. -“It’s the spring fever or the summer sleeping sickness -coming on, I’m sure.”</p> - -<p>“What’s up now, Bob?” asked Bill, as he tossed aside -his chemistry, glad of an excuse to stop studying.</p> - -<p>“What Bob needs is to train for the eleven or get into -a baseball uniform,” added Pete. “He’s getting fat and -lazy, and he hasn’t any interest in life.”</p> - -<p>“Get out!” cried the visitor, who did not go in for -athletics, and who preferred to be considered a “Sport,” -with a capital “S,” wearing good clothes and spending all -his spare time in a town billiard parlor. “You get out, -Pete. Didn’t I try for the glee club?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, but you were too lazy to practice,” remarked Cap -frankly.</p> - -<p>“How brutal of you!” cried Chapin, with a mock theatrical -air. “Didn’t I even forgive my enemies and beg -them to take me into the banjo club?”</p> - -<p>“Which, for the good of the service, they refused to -do,” went on the elder Smith.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span>“Oh, have you no mercy?” asked the visitor in a high -falsetto voice, striking an attitude.</p> - -<p>“We’re all out of it—expect a fresh lot in next week,” -answered Bill. Then after a pause he added: “Now -there’s a thing you could do, Bob.”</p> - -<p>“What’s that?”</p> - -<p>“Go in for theatricals. Why don’t you join the Paint -and Powder club?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I don’t know. Afraid of spoiling my complexion -with burnt cork and grease preparations, I guess,” was -the indolent reply. “But I don’t want to discuss myself. -I was asking if you fellows didn’t find it dull here? Why, -there hasn’t been a thing pulled off since we brought the -calf into the ancient history class two weeks ago. It -is frightfully dull at Westfield. Don’t you think so, -really?”</p> - -<p>“Hadn’t noticed it,” replied Cap. “What with baseball -practice, and digging and boning and lectures and writing -home occasionally for money we manage to exist; eh -fellows?”</p> - -<p>“Sure!” chorused his brothers.</p> - -<p>“Well, I say it’s dull,” went on Chapin. “Now you -fellows used to cut up some, when you first came, but you’d -think you had all reformed the way you’ve been keeping -quiet lately.”</p> - -<p>“There’s nothing to do,” complained Bill, in whom the -spirit of mischief burned more strongly than in his -brothers. “Show us a good lively time and we’ll be in on -it.”</p> - -<p>“I can’t show it to you,” replied Chapin. “You’ve got -to make it for yourselves.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span>“Well, I’ll do my share,” went on Bill eagerly. “Why, -is there something up?”</p> - -<p>“Now, Bill, you haven’t any time to undertake any -pranks you know,” admonished Cap, but his voice was not -at all commanding, and there was a gleam of interest in -his eyes.</p> - -<p>“Yes, cut out the funny business,” added Bill. “But -what is it, anyhow, Bob? No harm in telling; is there?”</p> - -<p>“Sure not. I was just wishing a racket would break -loose, and I happened to think of something a while ago. -It would take some nerve to do it though, and maybe you -fellows—”</p> - -<p>He paused significantly—temptingly.</p> - -<p>“Say, who says we haven’t got the nerve?” demanded -Bill quickly.</p> - -<p>“Now, Bill go easy,” advised his older brother, but he, -too, looked interested.</p> - -<p>“Oh, well, certainly you have the nerve,” admitted -Chapin. “But it’s risky.”</p> - -<p>“Are you willing to go in on it?” asked Pete quickly.</p> - -<p>“Of course,” was the instant rejoinder.</p> - -<p>“Then name your game!” came from Bill, “and you’ll -find us right behind you up to the muzzle of the cannon. -Out with it!”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I wish you’d stayed away,” spoke Cap. “I’m -back in my trigonometry, and if I flunk—Well, I suppose -we may as well hear what you’ve got up your sleeve,” and -he laid aside his book, with a laugh and a half-protesting -shake of his head.</p> - -<p>Bob’s first act was to go over to the door of Cap’s room,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span> -in which the gathering took place, and see that the portal -was tightly closed. Then he listened at the keyhole.</p> - -<p>“Is it perfectly safe?” he asked in a whisper. “Can -anyone hear us?”</p> - -<p>“Say, what are we up against?” asked Cap with a -laugh. “Is this a gunpowder plot, or merely a scheme -to burn the old school.”</p> - -<p>“Listen, and I will a tale unfold,” went on Chapin. -“Gather ’round, my children, gather ’round the camp-fire -and Anthony shall tell us one of his famous stories. So -they gathered ’round—”</p> - -<p>“Oh, get along with it—we’ve got to do some boning to-night, -Bob,” complained Pete. “We’ve heard that camp-fire -joke before.”</p> - -<p>“Do you know the bronze statue of ‘Pop’ Weston in -front of the school?” asked the visitor in a stage whisper.</p> - -<p>“Do we know it? The statue of the founder of Westfield? -Well I should bust a bat but we do,” answered -Bill.</p> - -<p>“What do you think of the color of it?” asked Chapin.</p> - -<p>“What do you mean?” Cap wanted to know.</p> - -<p>“I mean wouldn’t it look prettier red or blue or pink, -than the shade it is now?”</p> - -<p>He paused to look at the three brothers. They did not -answer for a moment. Then Bill exclaimed:</p> - -<p>“Say, is that what you mean—to paint the statue?”</p> - -<p>Chapin nodded slowly.</p> - -<p>“It’s—sacrilege,” whispered Cap.</p> - -<p>“Only an iconoclast would dare think of such a thing,” -declared Bill. “But—” there was an eager light in his -eyes.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span>“It was done once, years ago,” proceeded the tempter, -“and the whole Freshman class was suspended for a week, -as the faculty couldn’t find out who did it. It has been -many, many, weary years since such an honor fell upon us -Freshmen,” and he sighed deeply, as though in pain.</p> - -<p>“By Jove!” exclaimed Cap softly. The daring plot -appealed to him, conservative as he was.</p> - -<p>“How did they get the paint off?” asked Pete.</p> - -<p>“It had to wear off,” replied Chapin. “But I don’t -want to do anything like that. We can use water colors, -and they won’t spoil the bronze, and really it would -be a little too rotten to make such a mess of it. Just tint -it a light Alice blue, or a dainty Helen pink—it will wash -off, but it will look pretty for a while, and the freshmen -class will have made a name for itself that it can be -proud of. Are you with me? It can easily be done, and -the chances are we won’t be caught. How about it?”</p> - -<p>“I’ll do it!” exclaimed Bill quickly.</p> - -<p>“I don’t know,” began Cap.</p> - -<p>“Oh, come on,” urged Pete. “It’s been a long time -since we’ve had any fun.”</p> - -<p>“If we’re caught, it means good-bye to balls and bats,” -went on the eldest brother.</p> - -<p>“But we won’t be caught,” declared Chapin eagerly. -“Besides, what if we are—that’s half the fun.”</p> - -<p>“All right, go ahead,” agreed Cap. “Might as well be -killed for a sheep as a lamb, I guess. I’m in on it.”</p> - -<p>“Now about the paint,” went on the tempter, as he -again listened at the door. “We’ll have to be careful -where we get it, as McNibb is a regular detective for following -a clue. It ought to be bought out of town.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span>“That’s so,” agreed Pete.</p> - -<p>“Hold on, I have it!” cried Bill, after a moment’s -thought. “Professor Clatter.”</p> - -<p>“Professor Clatter?” inquired Chapin. “You mean -that medicine man with his queer wagon?”</p> - -<p>“Exactly,” went on the pitcher. “I saw him in town -the other day, and he said he was coming back to play a -return engagement near here. He’s got some new kind of -stomach dope or something like that. Besides, he has -some patent face powder that he says he got at a bargain, -and he’s going to try and work it off on the ladies in the -crowd. It’s a beautiful pink, and it’s harmless. I was -looking at a box of it, and it got on my hands. Say, for -a few minutes I had the nicest baby complexion you’d -want to see. But it all washed off as easily as soap.”</p> - -<p>“Well, what’s the answer?” asked Chapin, as Bill -paused.</p> - -<p>“Why we’ll get some of that powder from the professor, -mix it up, and use it on the statute. It will come off -easily and I defy Proctor McNibb to trace where it came -from. The professor is a friend of ours, and he’ll keep -mum.”</p> - -<p>“The very thing!” cried the visitor. “When can you -get it?”</p> - -<p>“To-morrow, or next day,” answered Bill, who had now -entered heart and soul into the piece of mischief. “I’ll -get enough to give Pop Weston a liberal coating.”</p> - -<p>“Night after to-morrow,” mused Chapin, looking at a -calendar over Cap’s table. “That will do. There’s no -moon. What about brushes?”</p> - -<p>“I guess a whitewash one will do. Maybe the professor -has<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> one—or a big sponge, such as he uses for cleaning -his wagon.”</p> - -<p>“Fine!” cried Chapin. “Oh, I can just see the faculty -when they file past the bronze statue, done to a beautiful -baby pink! Great! No more will the lordly Seniors -boast of having once run a dump cart into the class room. -The Sophs with their little trick of putting tar on the -bell tower will take a back seat, and the Juniors, whose -stronghold, so far, has been the horrible task of burning -red fire under Prexy’s windows, will be green with envy. -Oh, what a lucky day this has been!”</p> - -<p>“It isn’t over yet,” remarked Cap significantly.</p> - -<p>“Well, I’ll see Clatter and get the stuff,” promised Bill. -“Then we’ll meet and do the decorating. How many are -in on it?” asked the pitcher, pausing in his planning.</p> - -<p>“We don’t want too many,” spoke Chapin cautiously. -“Us four perhaps, Bondy and Whistle-Breeches if you like, -as they’re on this corridor.”</p> - -<p>“Not Bondy,” said Pete quickly. “We’ll let Whistle-Breeches -in, but Guilder isn’t in our set. He wouldn’t -come if we asked him, and we’re not going to. Besides, -he might squeal.”</p> - -<p>“Well, five are enough,” said Chapin. “Now I’ll depend -on you to get the paint, Bill.”</p> - -<p>“And I’ll get it.”</p> - -<p>“Fare thee well, then,” and with another cautious listening -at the door, Chapin took himself out.</p> - -<p>“Well?” asked Cap, of his brothers a little later, when -they had sat in silence pondering over the plan.</p> - -<p>“It’s all to the red-pepper,” declared Bill. “We need -something to wake us up.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span>“I guess this will prevent dreams for some time,” observed -the eldest Smith.</p> - -<p>“It’ll be a scream of a nightmare when the faculty -sees it,” came from Pete, “but there’s no harm in it as -long as the paint washes off.”</p> - -<p>With many nods and winks Chapin recalled to the three -brothers, and to Whistle-Breeches, next morning the plot -they had made. Whistle-Breeches had been let into it -early in the day, and had eagerly agreed to do his share. -They would need ropes with which to mount to the top of -the big statue, and Anderson had agreed to procure them.</p> - -<p>“I can climb, too,” he said, “and I’ll decorate the top -part.”</p> - -<p>“Good for you, Whistle-Breeches!” exclaimed Pete.</p> - -<p>It was that same afternoon that Bill saw Bob Chapin -in close conversation with Mersfeld and Jonas North. -It was the first time he had noticed that Chapin was -chummy with the Varsity regular pitcher, and with the -lad who, because of his bullying tactics was generally -shunned, except by his own crowd.</p> - -<p>“I hope Bob doesn’t talk too much about the statue -business,” reflected Bill. “Too many cooks make the hash -taste burned. It might leak out.”</p> - -<p>Then, as he was summoned to practice he gave the -matter no more thought until that evening, when he set -off alone to see Professor Clatter, and get the pink paint.</p> - -<p>Pete and Cap wanted to accompany him, but Bill declared -that there was safety in small numbers, and that he -preferred to go alone.</p> - -<p>He found his old friend getting ready for an evening -performance, filling his gasoline torches, looking over his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span> -stock of supplies, and tuning the banjo with which, and his -not unmelodious voice, he drew a throng about the gaily -painted wagon.</p> - -<p>“Ha, my young friend, back again!” cried the professor. -“Greetings to you. And where are the brothers?”</p> - -<p>“Studying, I expect, or making a pretense to.”</p> - -<p>“Good again! Ah, the lamp of learning burns brightly -when one is young. What ho! Mercurio! Some more -gasoline for this torch! We must have light!” Then the -professor having ordered about an imaginary slave, proceeded -to fill the torch himself.</p> - -<p>“Speaking of lamps of learning,” broke in Bill, thinking -this was a good time to announce his errand, “we’re -going to do a little illumination over at Westfield on our -own account. How much of that pink paint have you, -Professor?”</p> - -<p>“Pink paint—you mean my Matchless Complexion -Tinting Residuum?”</p> - -<p>“I guess that’s it. We need some.”</p> - -<p>“For a masked ball?”</p> - -<p>“For a bronze statue,” replied Bill, and he proceeded -to relate the details of the plot. The professor listened -carefully. Bill told everything, and at length the traveling -vendor asked:</p> - -<p>“Did you and your brothers think of this scheme, Bill?”</p> - -<p>“No, as a matter of fact Bob Chapin proposed it.”</p> - -<p>“Ah, I suppose he is one of the leading spirits when -it comes to these plots of—er—innocent mischief?”</p> - -<p>“No, I never knew him to get up anything of the kind -before. And that’s the funny part of it. He never takes -a hand in ’em. But now he comes to us with the idea, -and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span> he’s going to help carry it out. I never knew he had -gumption enough to break out this way. It’s a good one, -though.”</p> - -<p>“And doesn’t it strike you as odd that he suddenly -breaks out now?” asked the professor in rather a curious -voice.</p> - -<p>“Odd? Dow do you mean?”</p> - -<p>“I mean do you think he had any object in it?”</p> - -<p>“Object in it?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, to get you boys interested and—”</p> - -<p>“Why, he’s interested himself. He’s going to help decorate -Pop Weston.”</p> - -<p>“I know, but you say he never did anything of the kind -before,” objected Mr. Clatter, looking sharply at Bill.</p> - -<p>“No.”</p> - -<p>“And isn’t it rather late in the college year for him to -begin?”</p> - -<p>“It is—say, look here, Professor Clatter! Do you -know anything about this?” demanded Bill.</p> - -<p>“No, only what my common sense tells me. But I -gather that there is some feeling against you because of -baseball matters.”</p> - -<p>“A little—yes, Mersfeld is sore, but—”</p> - -<p>“Wait a minute. Now, if some of your enemies could -get you into a game like this, and then desert you, and -let the whole blame fall on you, or, even, we’ll say, tip -off the college authorities, to use a slang term—wouldn’t -they make trouble for you.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, they would, but—”</p> - -<p>“Is this Bob Chapin a particular friend of yours?”</p> - -<p>“Not particularly.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span>“Is he in with this Mersfeld?”</p> - -<p>“No, not any more than—By Jove!” Bill checked himself -suddenly. The remembrance of Chapin talking -earnestly to Mersfeld and North came back to him.</p> - -<p>“Ah!” exclaimed the professor knowingly, as he rubbed -his hands. “I fancy we are getting at something. Now -if our friend Tithonus Somnus were here we would get -him to read the stars for us, but, in his absence I’ll venture -to give you a bit of advice, Bill.”</p> - -<p>“What is it, Mr. Clatter.”</p> - -<p>“You may consider this in the light of a warning,” -went on the medicine vendor earnestly. “Don’t have anything -to do with the trick of painting the statue, Bill; -or if you do—”</p> - -<p>He paused significantly.</p> - -<p>“Well, if we do?” repeated Bill.</p> - -<p>“If you do, then play the double cross, and catch your -enemies in the net they have spread for you,” was the reply -in a low voice.</p> - -<p>Bill started, and, as he did so there came a cautious -knock at the door of the wagon.</p> - -<p>“Who’s there?” asked the professor quickly.</p> - -<p>“It’s me—Tithonus,” was the answer in a hoarse whisper. -“Let me in—quick! The police are after me!”</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span> -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XX</h2></div> - -<p class="ph3">THE PLOTTERS CAUGHT</p> - - -<p><span class="smcap">Professor Clatter</span> swung wide the door, and the figure -of the rain-maker toppled in, rather than walked.</p> - -<p>“Quick! Shut it and lock it!” he cried, and he assisted -in the operation. Then he passed beyond the small -room in the rear of the wagon—a room that served as -dining hall, living apartment, sitting room and parlor, -and in a few seconds Mr. Somnus could be heard crawling -into one of the bunks.</p> - -<p>“If they come for me—you haven’t seen me, of course,” -came his voice in muffled tones, indicating that his head -was under the bed clothes.</p> - -<p>“Of course not, my dear Tithy,” replied the professor. -“And, in fact, so quick was your passage through, like a -half back making a touchdown, to use a phrase doubtless -familiar to my friend Bill Smith—to use that phrase, I -have scarcely seen you. But what is the matter? Why -this haste? There doesn’t seem to be any one following -you—at least not at your heels.”</p> - -<p>“Are you sure?” asked the muffled voice.</p> - -<p>“Sure, yes, Tithy,” replied the medicine man, after a -moment of listening. “No one is coming. But what in -the world is the matter?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, it’s an unfortunate mistake I made,” was the -answer. “If you’ll wait a while, to make sure the police<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span> -and sheriffs officers are not after me, I’ll come out and -explain.”</p> - -<p>“I wish you would, Tithy, for Bill and I are much in -the dark.”</p> - -<p>After a wait of several minutes, during which Bill -wondered what in the world could have caused the rain-maker -to flee in such terror, the individual in question -came out of the compartment devoted to the sleeping -bunks.</p> - -<p>“Well?” asked the professor.</p> - -<p>“Not well—bad,” was the despondent reply. “You see -I found the star-gazing trade poor lately, on account of -so many cloudy nights, so, in order to make a living I -ventured to proclaim that I would read the stars and reveal -the future—for a consideration. It was risky, I -know, but I did it, and did it well—for a time.</p> - -<p>“All was prosperous and happy, until to-night, just before -supper I was visited by a man who wanted to know -whether he would be successful in a certain undertaking. -I consulted my charts and said that he would.”</p> - -<p>“What was the undertaking?” asked Bill.</p> - -<p>“He was going to collect a long overdue bill from a man -who owed him some money,” went on the astronomer. “I -told him to be firm, and he would succeed.</p> - -<p>“A little later he came back, all tattered and torn, with -one eye blackened, his collar a rag, and his clothes covered -with dirt. He entered my wagon without knocking, and -presented himself before me.</p> - -<p>“‘I was firm!’ he shouted at me, ‘but I did not succeed. -This is what the other man did to me!’ Oh, it was -terrible. He accused me of deceiving him, and he sprang<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span> -at me, and would doubtless have made me suffer, but I -escaped through the front door, leaving my beloved cat, -Scratch, behind, and I fled here.</p> - -<p>“As I ran on I could hear the terrible threats the man -uttered against me, of causing my arrest. Even now I -fear—hark! What’s that?”</p> - -<p>Mr. Somnus paused in alarm, and seemed about to dart -for the bunks again.</p> - -<p>“Nothing—absolutely nothing,” answered the professor, -calmly. Mr. Somnus listened, and seemed satisfied.</p> - -<p>“I guess that fellow didn’t mean all he said,” put in -Bill.</p> - -<p>“Perhaps,” agreed the astronomer, with a sigh. “I -certainly hope not.”</p> - -<p>“You are not the only one who has troubles,” went on -the traveling medicine man. “Here’s Bill.”</p> - -<p>“What troubles has he?” asked Mr. Somnus. “Has he -been predicting—reading the stars?”</p> - -<p>“Not exactly,” answered the pitcher. And then Professor -Clatter told about the proposed painting of the statue -and his own warning.</p> - -<p>“I’m glad you happened in, Tithy,” went on the vendor -of the Peerless Permanent Pain Preventative, “for I’d like -your opinion about this matter. I say it’s a plot to get -Bill and his brothers into trouble, what do you think -about it?” He detailed the reasons for his suspicions, -and waited for an answer.</p> - -<p>“Well,” began the fugitive, “not speaking by the stars -at all, you understand, and making no promises for which -I can be held responsible, I think you’re right, Theophilus. -And I’d advise Bill to look out.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span>“But how?” eagerly asked the pitcher. “I’m beginning -to agree with you. How can I catch Mersfeld and North -at their little game, for a game I think it is?”</p> - -<p>“Easy enough,” said the professor. “Go on as if you -and your brothers and Whistle-Breeches—Oh, what a -classical name—go on as if you intended to carry out the -trick. Take my word for it those fellows will be hidden -somewhere ready to see you caught, and you can turn -the tables on them.</p> - -<p>“In some way they will, I feel sure, get word to the -college authorities of what is on foot. Very well, you -have but to stay away at the last moment, and give some -sign by which the proctor will be led to the hiding place -of your enemies. Then, by judiciously spilling a little of -the pink paint near their rooms, and secreting a pot of it -near their hiding place, you will have them on the hip, as -my friends the Romans say.”</p> - -<p>“Good!” cried Bill, after a moment’s thought, “I’ll -do it.”</p> - -<p>“Then here is the pink powder,” went on the professor, -handing Bill several packages, “and may luck attend you. -Just mix it with water, and it will do the work. Now, -Tithy, I can attend to your case.”</p> - -<p>“And I’ll get back to school, and put up a game on -North and Mersfeld,” said Bill.</p> - -<p>“We wish we could be there to see,” spoke Mr. Clatter -in eager tones. “Tithy and I would enjoy it, but we -have troubles of our own. I’ll be around this way in -about two weeks again, and you can tell me about it.”</p> - -<p>“Come to the ball game,” invited Bill. “We’re going -to play Sandrim in a league contest.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span>“I will, if I am not in jail,” promised the astronomer -solemnly.</p> - -<p>Bill hurried back to his brothers and told his story, -adding the professor’s suspicions, warnings and advice.</p> - -<p>“The sneaks!” burst out Cap. “Mersfeld and North -to put up a game like that on us.”</p> - -<p>“And Chapin to go in with them,” added Pete.</p> - -<p>“They ought to be run out of school!” declared Whistle-Breeches.</p> - -<p>“Easy,” suggested Bill. “Maybe Bob Chapin didn’t -know what he was up against. We’ll have a talk with him.”</p> - -<p>Bob soon proved to the satisfaction of the Smith brothers -and Donald Anderson, that he was not aware of the -“double cross” plan of the deposed Varsity pitcher.</p> - -<p>“North and Mersfeld suggested the scheme to me,” -Bob admitted, “and said you fellows would be good ones -to do it.”</p> - -<p>“And they’re going to play a safety, and hide somewhere -to watch us be nabbed by McNibb; aren’t they?” -demanded Cap.</p> - -<p>“They’re going to hide some place near the statue,” -replied Bob, “because I heard them saying something -about it. But, honest, fellows, I didn’t know that they -were going to squeal. They got me all worked up and I -was interested. I hope you believe me.”</p> - -<p>“We do,” Bill assured him. “Now to get even. I guess, -in case they make the split, that they’ll send an anonymous -letter to McNibb. How about it?”</p> - -<p>“Naturally,” agreed Cap and Pete.</p> - -<p>“Then we’ll add another,” went on Bill, “and in it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span> -we’ll disclose the hiding place of the sneaks. Where did -you say it would be, Bob?”</p> - -<p>“In the clump of rhododendron bushes in front of the -statue.”</p> - -<p>“Good! Now the plot thickens, and we’ll have to -thicken the pink paint. Come on, fellows, get busy. -First I’ll prepare the second anonymous letter.”</p> - -<p>A few hours later Proctor McNibb was rather surprised -to receive a screed, signed with no name, informing him -that a plot existed among a certain lot of Freshmen, and -that the said plot consisted of a plan to paint the founder’s -statue baby-pink.</p> - -<p>“If you wish to catch the vandals, be on hand near the -statue shortly after midnight,” the anonymous epistle -went on.</p> - -<p>Now the proctor was an honorable man, and usually -did not pay much attention to unsigned letters. But here -was one he felt that he must heed. Where it had come -from he did not bother his head about.</p> - -<p>“Some upper classmen, who have given over such sacrilegious -horse-play may have sent it,” he argued, “or the -townsman from whom the paint was purchased may have -been stricken with remorse, or have a fear that he will -be found out. At any rate I’ll catch them red-handed. -No, pink-handed I guess,” and the proctor smiled at his -joke.</p> - -<p>The official’s surprise may be imagined when, shortly -after the receipt of the first letter, he got another. Our -friends had a spy, in the person of one of the janitors, -who did work in that part of the school where Mr. -McNibb had his rooms, and the janitor at once informed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span> -Bill when there were signs of unusual activity in the proctor’s -office.</p> - -<p>“It’s their letter!” declared Bill. “Now for ours!” and -it was sent, disclosing the information that the would-be -painters of the statue would be hidden in the clump of -rhododendron bushes.</p> - -<p>Then there was a busy time for our friends. Throwing -in his lot with the Smith boys and Whistle-Breeches, Bob -Chapin helped them in the plot, by pretending to keep -Mersfeld and North posted.</p> - -<p>“You can hide in the bushes, just as you planned,” said -the languid youth to them.</p> - -<p>“And see the fun?” eagerly asked Mersfeld. “Will they -be on hand?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, they’ll be on hand all right,” said Bob, and there -was a grim smile on his face, which the plotters did not -observe.</p> - -<p>So anxious were they to be present, and see the Smith -boys captured, that Mersfeld and North left their rooms -early. This was the cue for Bill and his brothers to make -their way to the enemies’ apartments, and, by scattering -around a little of the pink mixture, give the idea, to a -casual observer, that the coloring stuff had been prepared -there.</p> - -<p>In the meanwhile, and before the two lads who had -planned to get their classmates in trouble had gone to -their hiding place, several pails of the pink mixture had -been hidden in the clump of bushes. Strings led from the -pails to behind a stone wall, where Bill, his brothers, together -with Whistle-Breeches and Bob, would hide. At -the proper time the strings would be pulled, and the stuff<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span> -upset. This would be additional evidence against the two -plotters.</p> - -<p>“Well, I guess it’s about time for us to go out,” said -Cap, as midnight approached, that hour, having been suggested -to Bob by the plotters. “Go easy, now, for McNibb -may have spotters posted.”</p> - -<p>“No, I think not,” said Bob. “He’ll depend on catching -us at the statue. Oh, wow! Won’t those fellows be -surprised!”</p> - -<p>Mersfeld and North were in hiding. They had been -waiting for some time.</p> - -<p>“Hang it all!” muttered the deposed Varsity pitcher, -“why don’t they come?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, they’ll be here all right.”</p> - -<p>“You don’t s’pose they could have backed out; do you?”</p> - -<p>“No, Bob Chapin said they were hot for the trick, and -rose to it like a hungry trout to a fly. Oh, they’ll be -here.”</p> - -<p>“Then I wish they’d hurry. I’m getting a cramp in -my leg, crouching down so long.”</p> - -<p>“That’s nothing. I know I’ll have rheumatism or housemaid’s -knee, or something like it, for sitting on the damp -ground. But think of it! They’ll be suspended, and -you’ll be back on the nine!”</p> - -<p>“Yes, that makes it worth while.”</p> - -<p>“Hark! I think I hear something!” cried North suddenly.</p> - -<p>They peered out. Two dark figures could be seen coming -cautiously around the base of the statue.</p> - -<p>“That’s them!” whispered Mersfeld.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span>“No, that’s McNibb, and one of the janitors is with -him. He’s too early! He’ll scare ’em off!”</p> - -<p>“Jove! It looks so. I wonder—”</p> - -<p>“Say! He’s heading this way!” cried North suddenly. -“Can he see us?”</p> - -<p>They waited in an agony of fear and apprehension. -There was a movement in the bushes—a curious sloshing, -splashing sound, and something seemed to be flowing -around the feet of the two plotters.</p> - -<p>“Great guns!” cried Mersfeld, “what are we up -against?”</p> - -<p>“Keep quiet,” begged North hoarsely.</p> - -<p>It was too late.</p> - -<p>“Ha! I have you! Waiting for a chance to despoil the -statue; are you?” cried the voice of the proctor.</p> - -<p>He made a rush for the bushes. Mersfeld and North -made a rush to get out. Their feet became entangled in -the strings that had been pulled a moment before by the -hidden Smith boys. Down in the pink paint went the -conspirators, just as the proctor and his impressed aide -hurried up and grabbed them.</p> - -<p>“I have you!” exclaimed the college official. “I have -stopped your nefarious work just in time. Strike a match, -Biddel.”</p> - -<p>The janitor obeyed. In the glow stood two sorry-looking -figures, pink paint dripping from them.</p> - -<p>“Mersfeld and North!” ejaculated the proctor. “I -would not have believed a member of the Varsity nine -capable of such a trick.”</p> - -<p>“We weren’t going to do it,” began the pitcher, and -then the futility of the denial made itself plain to him,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span> -as in the dying glow of the match he saw the sight he -and his companion presented.</p> - -<p>“Follow me, gentlemen,” said the proctor simply, leading -the way to his quarters.</p> - -<p>“Caught in their own trap!” whispered Bill softly, as -he and his brothers and chums looked over the top of the -wall, and saw what had taken place.</p> - -<p>“Talk about painting the town red,” murmured Cap. -“The very <i>grass</i> is <i>pink</i>, over there,” and chuckling to -themselves our heroes hurried to their rooms lest they, -too, be taken in for being out after hours.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span> -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXI</h2></div> - -<p class="ph3">AN INTERRUPTED SUPPER</p> - - -<p>“<span class="smcap">Wasn’t</span> it great?” demanded Bill.</p> - -<p>“All to the lalapalooza!” was Cap’s opinion.</p> - -<p>“I thought sure McNibb would hear us snickering when -we pulled the strings and upset the paint,” added Pete.</p> - -<p>“And what a sight Mersfeld and North were!” remarked -Whistle-Breeches. “They must have looked like -walking complexion advertisements when the lights were -turned on.”</p> - -<p>“I wonder if they’ll be fired?” spoke Bob Chapin. “I -wouldn’t like that.”</p> - -<p>“Hu! That’s probably what they wanted to happen to -us!” cut in Whistle-Breeches. “It’s a case of chicken eat -turkey I reckon, and everybody have cranberries.”</p> - -<p>“They didn’t actually <i>do</i> anything,” went on Bill, as -he and his brothers and chums were talking over the affair -next morning. “The evidence only pointed to them -as if they were <i>going</i> to do it.”</p> - -<p>“That’s enough for McNibb,” commented Cap. “Great -monkey doodles! There goes last bell and I’ve got to -look over my Pindar yet. Holy mackerel!”</p> - -<p>The whole school was buzzing with the news, and it -was soon generally known that the Smith boys had neatly -turned the tables on the plotters.</p> - -<p>As for those worthies, the events had followed each<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span> -other so rapidly that they hardly knew what to think, -much less say or do. It was a complete surprise to them, -and they dared not utter a word as to what their real -intentions had been.</p> - -<p>As Cap had said, the circumstantial evidence was enough -against them. They had been caught, if not exactly with -the paint in their possession, at least with it all over them, -and the anonymous letter was enough to declare their object, -albeit that screed was intended to throw suspicions -on others.</p> - -<p>“Have you anything to say?” the proctor had asked -them when he had them in his sanctum.</p> - -<p>“I—er—I guess not,” answered North, with a glance -at his pink-stained clothing.</p> - -<p>“How about you, Mersfeld?”</p> - -<p>“I—I don’t know, it was not our intention—Oh, well, -I guess I have nothing to say, either,” and the pitcher -gave up the attempt.</p> - -<p>“Very well. You may go. I’ll take your case up with -the faculty.”</p> - -<p>The two lads were in an agony of apprehension lest -they be expelled, or suspended for the remainder of the -term, but after a faculty meeting, in which Dr. Burton -had made a plea for them, it was decided to debar both -lads from participation in all athletic or other sports for -a month, to stop all evening leave for the same period, -and to inflict other punishment in the matter of doing -extra classical study.</p> - -<p>The fact that they had not actually committed any -overt act of sacrilege against the statue was in their favor,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> -though, as the proctor said, only the receipt of the anonymous -letter prevented it.</p> - -<p>And how Mersfeld and his crony writhed in agony as -they thought of the letter they had themselves written! -They guessed that their plot had been laid bare, and they -suspected Bob Chapin, who, fearing punishment, spoke -to the Smith boys about it. Then, on Cap’s suggestion, -and in order that the truth might be known, a statement -of how it had all come about was drawn up and sent to the -two plotters.</p> - -<p>“That’s the last time I try any of <i>your</i> tricks,” said -Mersfeld bitterly to North.</p> - -<p>“Get out! Weren’t you as hot for it as I was? Why -don’t you think of something yourself then, if you’re so -smart?”</p> - -<p>“I will—next time,” and the two parted not the best of -friends.</p> - -<p>The barring of Mersfeld from the diamond took him -off the Varsity team for the time being, though he was -still considered a member of it, even if he could not play. -He was allowed to take part in practice games, however, -for Captain Graydon and Coach Windam well knew the -value of keeping some box men in reserve.</p> - -<p>“No telling when Smith will develop a glass arm or go -up in the air, or get wild,” said Graydon.</p> - -<p>“No, but he’s doing well now,” declared the coach. -“He pitched a no-hit-no-run game in a five inning practice -the other day.”</p> - -<p>“That’s too good to last. We’ve got to hold on to Mersfeld, -and work up some one else.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span>“Sure. Mighty queer how the Smith boys turned that -statue trick; eh?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, those fellows aren’t greenhorns, if they did come -from the country. Wait until they get hold of the ropes -here a little better, and they’ll cut things loose.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, and maybe they’ll be barred from the team.”</p> - -<p>But our heroes showed no inclinations, at present, of -doing anything like that. They went on the even tenor of -their ways, showed up regularly at baseball practice, and -had their lessons as well, perhaps, as the average student. -They did not “cut” more than the regulation number of -lectures, and they made many friends.</p> - -<p>Bill kept on improving in his control and his curve -work, until the delighted coach and captain declared that -they already had a good grip on the pennant.</p> - -<p>Several unimportant games were played, and one or -two of the league contests, in which the Westfield nine -made about an even break. The season was far from -over, and he would indeed have been a wise prophet who -could have told who would win the pennant.</p> - -<p>“I think even Duodecimo Donaldby, alias Tithonus Somnus -himself would be at a loss,” declared Cap. “But, -fellows,” he went on, addressing his two brothers, “keep -up the good work. Make the name of ‘Smith’ a credit to -the school.”</p> - -<p>“The only trouble is that there are so many Smiths -that in ages to come they won’t know which breed it was -who did it,” complained Pete.</p> - -<p>Mersfeld was bitter in his heart against our heroes, -and was anxious for revenge, but he and North had had -a falling out, and he did not know what he could do to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span> -get even with the Smith boys. Meanwhile he sulked in -his room, and thought mean thoughts.</p> - -<p>“Say, fellows, do you know I think we ought to do -something,” remarked Bill to his brothers one day, as -they came in tired but happy from the diamond, after -some hard practice. “It’s been dull lately.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, let’s paint another statue,” remarked Cap grimly.</p> - -<p>“Or put a cow in the physics class,” suggested Pete.</p> - -<p>“No, but seriously, I think it’s up to us to do something,” -went on Bill. “We’ve got a lot of friends who expect -things from us, and we ought to keep up our reputation. -What do you say that we give a little spread? Dad -sent me two fivers the other day.”</p> - -<p>“You can’t give a spread for that,” declared Cap.</p> - -<p>“I know it, but you fellows have some, and if you loosen -up a bit—”</p> - -<p>“Oh, count us in,” came quickly from Pete, “only how -are you going to do it? Hire a hall in town, and—”</p> - -<p>“Oh, not that kind!” cried Bill quickly. “I mean a -little midnight supper up in our rooms. We can do it -fine here, as we’re on the same floor. It’s like one big -room when the connecting doors are open.”</p> - -<p>“We’d get caught sure as blazes,” observed Cap, “and -you know our reputations are none too good. I think -McNibb suspects us of having something to do with the -statue game.”</p> - -<p>“Why?” asked Bill.</p> - -<p>“Oh, the other day he was up here, snooping around, -and he saw a splash of that pink paint on the wall. He -went over to it right away, and looked at it like Sherlock -Holmes. I was in a nervous sweat, and I thought he’d -ask<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span> some questions, but he only said: ‘Ah, Smith, that -color has a powerful spreading ability; hasn’t it?’”</p> - -<p>“And what did you say?” demanded Bill.</p> - -<p>“What <i>could</i> I say? Nothing. I just played safety -and kept still, and mighty glad I was that he didn’t ask -any more. But as I say, I think he suspects us, so we’ve -got to be careful.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, we can pull this off all right,” declared Bill. “I -have a plan.”</p> - -<p>“Tell it,” begged Whistle-Breeches. “Things are dull -of late. Liven ’em up.”</p> - -<p>He had entered just in time to hear Bill’s last remark.</p> - -<p>“Well, some big-gun from the other side, England or -Germany, is coming here next Friday night, to lecture on -pedagogics or something like that. The entire faculty is -going, I understand, and only McNibb and the janitors -will be on hand. Besides that, the Seniors have some -sort of a legitimate blow out, and there’s the Junior concert. -So things will be quiet around here, and we can -just as well as not have our spread. What do you say, -fellows?”</p> - -<p>“I’m for it—here’s my cash,” answered Pete, passing -over some bills.</p> - -<p>“Ditto,” added Cap, following suit.</p> - -<p>“Say, fellows, I’m broke,” put in Bob Chapin, who -looked in at that juncture, “but if there’s anything like -that going on, count me in.”</p> - -<p>“Me too!” cried Whistle-Breeches.</p> - -<p>“This is strictly on the Smith boys,” declared Bill. -“It’s to celebrate our second childhood, or something like -that. Well, I’ll go ahead with the arrangements.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span>On the Friday night in question there might have been -seen a number of figures—dark, stealthy figures—stealing, -one at a time, toward the dormitory where the Smith -boys lived and moved and had their being. Yet not a -gleam of light shone from their windows, for Bill had -bought some black roofing paper and tacked it over the -casements.</p> - -<p>“It makes it warm,” he said, “but it’s safer.”</p> - -<p>The good things had been bought, and some boards to be -covered with newspapers and laid on the beds were to -serve for tables. As the lights were turned off at a certain -hour, save in the corridor, candles had been procured.</p> - -<p>“At last all was in readiness,” as they say in novels. -The guests had assembled and were gathered about the -banquet table. No one had been caught, as yet, for Bill -had laid his plans well, and all of the faculty, some of -whom might otherwise have been prowling about the -school, were listening to a very deep lecture on how to -impart knowledge to boys, by a man who had never had -any. As for Proctor McNibb, he had so many extra duties -on his hands that he did not go near the Freshmen’s -dormitory until quite late.</p> - -<p>This gave our heroes and their friends the lack of attention -which they much desired. There was a goodly -crowd present, when Whistle-Breeches, who had been -named as toastmaster, arose, and with a bottle of ginger -ale in one hand, and a cheese sandwich in the other, -proposed:</p> - -<p>“Those Smith boys! May we always have ’em with us!”</p> - -<p>“Hear! Hear!” cried Wendell Borden, in a dull, monotonous -voice. Wendell had read that this was what<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span> -Englishmen said at banquets, and his father had come -from England.</p> - -<p>“Less noise!” ordered Bill. “Do you want to have the -place pulled, and all of us pinched? Go on and eat!”</p> - -<p>They fell-to, and there was merry feasting, even if the -jests did have to be passed around in whispers, losing -thereby much of their wit.</p> - -<p>“Now, fellows,” began Bob Chapin, as he rose and held -out a bottle of lemon soda, “let me propose—”</p> - -<p>There was a knock on the door—a knock as of one having -authority.</p> - -<p>A sudden hush fell upon the assemblage.</p> - -<p>“Answer, Bill, Cap—some of you,” whispered Whistle-Breeches -nervously.</p> - -<p>“What’ll I say?” demanded Bill.</p> - -<p>The knock was repeated.</p> - -<p>“Ask whose there,” suggested Bob.</p> - -<p>“Who—who’s—there?” stammered Bill, as though it -cost him an effort.</p> - -<p>“It is I—Mr. McNibb. Are there any persons in your -room besides yourselves?”</p> - -<p>“Ye—yes,” stammered Bill. Lying was not permitted -by the school honor code.</p> - -<p>“Open the door!” came the command.</p> - -<p>Bill looked appealingly around. Some of the boys made -motions as though to dive under the beds.</p> - -<p>“Face the music!” ordered Cap sharply, for he detested -sneaking tactics.</p> - -<p>“Open the door,” came the command again, in stern -tones.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span>There was no choice but to obey, and Bill arose to draw -the bolts.</p> - -<p>He slowly opened the portal, and, as it swung back the -banqueters peered forward to behold the smiling countenances -of Ward and Merton, two of the biggest seniors -in the school.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span> -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXII</h2></div> - -<p class="ph3">HITTING A BULLY</p> - - -<p><span class="smcap">Blank</span> looks of surprise, astonishment, relief and anger -at the manner in which they had been deceived, struggled -for mastery over the faces of the Freshmen. The two -seniors walked in, looked coolly about, as though the whole -affair had been arranged for their especial entertainment -and inspection, and then calmly took two vacant seats -near the head of the improvised banquet table, which is to -say the bed.</p> - -<p>“Ah, very cozy and comfortable here; eh Ward?” observed -Merton.</p> - -<p>“Indeed yes. The old Romans weren’t in it with these -chaps. They don’t recline at table, but make their table -on the recline! Ha! Ha! Joke! Everybody laugh!”</p> - -<p>There was a grim silence, at which the Seniors seemed -surprised. They looked around at the banqueters.</p> - -<p>“Well, why don’t you laugh?” demanded Ward. “Don’t -you Freshies know what’s good for you?”</p> - -<p>“Ha! Ha!” burst out Bill, as much in relief at not -finding McNibb in their midst, as at the alleged joke.</p> - -<p>“Laugh!” commanded Merton sternly.</p> - -<p>“Laugh!” ordered Ward sharply.</p> - -<p>It was instruction that could not be disobeyed, for the -Freshmen, under certain circumstances, were by the unwritten, -but none the less stringent rules of the school,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span> -bound to do certain things commanded by their class superiors. -Thereupon there ensued a series of snickers, more -or less forced.</p> - -<p>“Not so loud!” ordered Merton. “Or you <i>will</i> have -McNibb here. Sorry if we gave you fellows heart-failure, -but we smelled out this little feed, and thought we’d -better show you how easy it is to get caught. Pass the -cheese.”</p> - -<p>“And I’ll have some of those pickled lambs tongues,” -added Ward. “I say, boys, you <i>do</i> know how to get up a -grub-fest. Who’s doing?”</p> - -<p>“The Smith boys,” murmured Whistle-Breeches.</p> - -<p>“Might have known,” declared Merton. “Say, you -fellows are cutting things loose at Westfield. Well, it’s -good for the old school. Here, Ward, are some prime -macaroons.”</p> - -<p>The seniors helped themselves and each other to what -was best on the table, making more or less funny remarks, -while their unwilling hosts looked on, not daring, because -of another unwritten law, to eat with them.</p> - -<p>“Here, get busy, you fellows,” ordered Ward. “Pass -things up toward this end. We’re hungry, and it isn’t -often that you have two noble Roman senators to grace -your banquets. Get busy.”</p> - -<p>“What appetites!” murmured Cap in whispered admiration. -“I thought I could eat, but they have me beaten a -mile.”</p> - -<p>“Never mind, as long as it wasn’t McNibb. They’re -welcome to all that’s left—we had a good share,” spoke -Bill.</p> - -<p>The Seniors seemed to be having a good time, but they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span> -could not keep on eating, and even in their hearts was the -fear lest they be caught. So, with a mock farewell, they -took their departure, promising to send some of their fellows -around to enjoy the feast of good things.</p> - -<p>But no more of the fourth-year men arrived, due to the -fact, probably, that the meeting at which were the entire -faculty, was nearly at an end, and soon the college and the -grounds would be infested by professors. Then, too McNibb -might come around at any moment.</p> - -<p>“Hurry, fellows,” suggested Bill and his brothers. “Eat -what’s left and then cut out of here. It <i>might</i> be McNibb -next time.”</p> - -<p>“Say, I thought it was all up with us, when that knock -came,” remarked Pete.</p> - -<p>“Same here,” added Whistle-Breeches. “Are there -any stuffed olives left?”</p> - -<p>“Nary a one,” answered Cap. “Those chaps stuffed -themselves on ’em.”</p> - -<p>“Stuffed Seniors instead of stuffed olives,” observed Bill -grimly.</p> - -<p>The feast was over, the remains cleared away and, one by -one, or in couples, the guests departed, with intervals between -the leavings, so that too much noise might not be -created.</p> - -<p>The last one had gone—the room was in fairly good -shape, albeit bottles and cans had been piled into closets -until the recesses were almost overflowing—there to stay -until such time as they could be smuggled out.</p> - -<p>“Well; how about it?” asked Bill.</p> - -<p>“It was all right—even the interruption,” replied Cap.</p> - -<p>There came a sudden knock on the door. The brothers,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span> -who were not the only occupants of their adjoining rooms -looked at each other with fear in their eyes.</p> - -<p>“Gentlemen, are you in bed?” demanded the unmistakable -voice of the proctor.</p> - -<p>“Ye—yes!” exclaimed Bill, making an appealing motion -to his brothers. With a single motion they threw -themselves, dressed as they were, upon the covers, while -Bill extinguished the single candle. “We’re in bed, Mr. -McNibb.”</p> - -<p>“I’m glad to hear it,” was the grim retort. “I thought -I saw a light through the key hole.”</p> - -<p>“No—no, sir,” declared Pete. The room was in darkness -but the smell of a recently extinguished candle was only -too evident.</p> - -<p>“Very well,” and the proctor passed on, leaving the -Smith boys to recover of near-heart-failure as best they -might.</p> - -<p>The banquet given by our heroes was the talk of the -school for several days—wireless talk, of course, for it -would never do to have it come to the ears of those in -authority. Those who had not been favored with an invitation -were wondering how they could cultivate the good -graces of our friends, and the lucky ones who had attended -were wondering when there would be another spread.</p> - -<p>There was hard baseball practice the day following the -little affair, and, for some reason Bill was a little off in -his pitching.</p> - -<p>“You’ll either have to get a new pair of glasses,” grimly -remarked the coach, “or you’ll have to cut out your midnight -suppers, Smith.”</p> - -<p>“All right,” agreed the pitcher, for the word of Mr.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span> -Windam was law. The scrub, on which Mersfeld was -pitching was close to beating the Varsity, over which fact -the deposed twirler was gloating.</p> - -<p>“If things go on this way,” he said to his crony North, -as they left the field, the two again being friendly, “I’ll -be back in the box once more.”</p> - -<p>“I’d be glad to help you,” was the answer, for though -North did not exactly care for Mersfeld, whom he felt was -not in his “class,” yet the bully had formed an unreasoning -hate toward our heroes, and would have been glad to -see them run out of the school. “If anything turns up by -which we can get back at those fellows, count me in.”</p> - -<p>“All right,” replied Mersfeld, duly grateful.</p> - -<p>The two strolled across the campus, and, as they got -behind a clump of bushes, North saw a small, timid boy, -one of the students at a preparatory school connected with -Westfield, passing along. He called to the lad, whom he -knew slightly:</p> - -<p>“Here, Harvey, carry my glove and bat, I’m tired,” -for North had been playing on the scrub.</p> - -<p>“Oh, please, I can’t,” replied Harvey. “I’m in a hurry. -I—I will next time.”</p> - -<p>“I said now!” exclaimed North putting out a hand, and -catching the small chap roughly by the shoulder. “<i>Now</i>, -do you hear! Not next week, but <i>now</i>. What’s getting -into you fellows from the prep, anyhow? Take that bat!” -and the bully brought it down with considerable force on -Harvey’s shoulder.</p> - -<p>The little lad gave a cry of pain, and started to run, -breaking from North’s hold. With a coarse expression -the larger student threw his heavy glove at the little boy,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span> -catching him on the back of the head. Then, with a -quick jump North was at his side again, and had the little -fellow’s arm in a cruel grip.</p> - -<p>“Try to run away from me; will you?” he demanded. -“I’ll show you that it won’t do to fool with me—you -prep. kids are getting too fresh. Now you get down on -your knees and beg my pardon, and then take my glove and -bat, and Mersfeld’s bat too.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, North—” began the pitcher, who was a fairly decent -chap.</p> - -<p>“Let me manage him,” exclaimed the bully. “These -kids have to be taught their place. Get down on your -bones, now!”</p> - -<p>He seized the frail lad’s hands in his strong ones, and -bent them over backward.</p> - -<p>“Oh, Mr. North! Please don’t. I—I won’t do it -again! I’ll carry the bat! Oh, you’re breaking my -hands!”</p> - -<p>He cried out in agony, and Mersfeld took a step forward -half intending to interfere. But he did not get the chance.</p> - -<p>Some one with blazing eyes leaped from behind the -clump of bushes and confronted the bully. A clenched fist -was drawn back, and then shot forward. Right on the -point of North’s aristocratic chin it landed with a sound -that could be heard for some distance.</p> - -<p>Backward the bully was hurled, almost turning over, and -then he slumped down on the grass. He stayed there for -several seconds, and then got up slowly.</p> - -<p>“Who—who did that?” he asked thickly, for he was a bit -dazed.</p> - -<p>“I did,” answered Cap Smith quietly, “and if you want<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span> -any additional just try some more of your bullying tactics -on boys smaller than yourself.”</p> - -<p>North staggered to his feet, and rushed at Cap.</p> - -<p>“Not here! Not now!” cried Mersfeld, throwing himself -in front of his crony. “Meet him later! There’ll have -to be a fight, of course?” and the pitcher looked at Cap.</p> - -<p>“Of course,” was the grave answer.</p> - -<p>“All right. I’ll see one of your friends,” for these -matters were rather scientifically arranged at Westfield, on -certain occasions.</p> - -<p>“See Bill or Pete,” answered Cap, as he turned aside and -strolled up the campus.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span> -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXIII</h2></div> - -<p class="ph3">THE FIGHT</p> - - -<p>“<span class="smcap">Time!</span>”</p> - -<p>It was the call of the watch-holder, and, as he spoke the -word, two scantily clad figures leaped toward each other.</p> - -<p>“Take him easy now, Cap!” cautioned Bill to his larger -brother.</p> - -<p>“Go in and finish him!” advised Mersfeld to North, for -whom he was acting as second. Merton was keeping -time, and Ward, the other Senior who had been the unbidden -guest at the little spread was referee.</p> - -<p>It was the fight between North and Cap Smith—the -fight which was the inevitable outcome of the interference -when the bully was mistreating little Harvey.</p> - -<p>The contest took place where all such affairs were “pulled -off,” if I may use such a term, in a well-secluded spot back -of the baseball grandstand.</p> - -<p>“Watch his left!” was the further advice of Bill, who was -acting as second, gave to his brother, while Mersfeld sarcastically -cut in with:</p> - -<p>“Look out for biting in the clinches, North.”</p> - -<p>It was a useless insult, for Cap never answered it.</p> - -<p>Narrowly he watched his opponent, looking into his eyes, -and trying to guess, by close observations of those organs, -how the lead would be.</p> - -<p>Out shot North’s left, after a weak feint with his right.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span> -Cap was not deceived. Cleverly he blocked the blow and -countered with his left. His aim was a bit short, but it -caught North over the eye, too lightly to raise a mark, -however.</p> - -<p>The fight was now on, and for a time blows were delivered -with such rapidity that the onlookers were in doubt -as to who was having the best of it. It was give and take, -yet it was not brutal.</p> - -<p>For the lads were both healthy and strong, and the soft -gloves which the Seniors had insisted that they wear, precluded -any serious damage to either. Nor were they scientific -enough to do any material harm, for though they had -both taken boxing lessons, they were far from being in the -class with pugilists.</p> - -<p>North half turned, made a feint as though to drive his -right into Cap’s face, quickly shifted, and shot out his left.</p> - -<p>“Wow!” cried Mersfeld in anticipation of what was about -to happen to the youth against whom he bore a grudge.</p> - -<p>But it was the unexpected which took place, for North -in making the shift had left himself unguarded for one -fatal moment.</p> - -<p>In shot the ready left of Cap Smith, straight from the -shoulder, with all the steam behind it which our hero could -muster, and North was neatly bowled over, bleeding slightly -from the nose.</p> - -<p>“First blood for us!” called Bill shrilly.</p> - -<p>“Well, you needn’t shout over it, and bring McNibb -here!” grumbled Mersfeld, as he hurried to his fallen -champion.</p> - -<p>“I—I’m all right!” gasped North. “My—my foot -slipped on the grass.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span>“Like fun!” retorted Pete. “You’ll have some more of -those ‘slips’ before it’s over.”</p> - -<p>“That’ll do,” spoke Ward quietly. He looked at his -classmate.</p> - -<p>“Time,” called Merton, for North had been attended by -his second, while Bill looked after Cap, who was in no way -distressed.</p> - -<p>“Don’t hurry to finish him,” whispered Bill, as Cap arose -from his knee to go forward. “You can do him.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t know about that,” was the cautious reply. “He -has a strong right, and guards pretty well. I just managed -to get in.”</p> - -<p>“Don’t let him get you that way again,” advised Mersfeld -to his friend. “It’s too risky.”</p> - -<p>“I won’t, if I can help it.”</p> - -<p>They were at it again, hammer and tongs, giving and -taking. Several body blows were exchanged, making both -lads grunt, but doing no damage.</p> - -<p>Then, when Cap tried for another left to the jaw he -either miscalculated, or North guarded quickly, for Cap’s -fist came against his opponent’s forearm, and the next minute -our hero went down under a well directed blow, that -eventually closed his right eye. But he did not mind this, -got up quickly and was at it again.</p> - -<p>Seeing his advantage in the next round North hammered -away at Cap’s optic, thereby not only causing the Smith -lad exquisite pain, but greatly hampering him in the fight, -for his vision was reduced by half.</p> - -<p>“You’ve got him now!” exulted Mersfeld, when the -round was over, and he was spraying his man with water -from a ginger ale bottle. “Keep at him!”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span>“Oh, he’s got lots of go yet,” declared North. “If I -can close his other eye I’ll have him though.”</p> - -<p>“Then play for that.”</p> - -<p>North tried to, but he was so intent on this that he left -his own chin unguarded. Cap did not care much about -inflicting visible punishment on the bully, but he did want -to end the fight, for which, truth to tell, he had no great -hankering.</p> - -<p>Once more his reliable left went boring in, and North -gently went over backwards, coming heavily down in the -grass. He almost took the count, but the time keeper was -merciful, and allowed him a few seconds.</p> - -<p>“He’s about all in,” whispered Bill to his brother, when -after some feeble and cautious sparring the round was at -an end. “Finish him up. I’m afraid McNibb or some of -the profs. might come.”</p> - -<p>“So am I. Here goes for a knock-out.”</p> - -<p>Cap tried for it, but North was shifty. He was playing -on the defensive now, for he found that Cap was more -cautious and was guarding his damaged eye well. And -North did not dare open his guard enough to come back -strong. Therefore he clinched several times, hanging -heavily on his opponent to tire him.</p> - -<p>Cap tried to avoid this, and there was considerable leg -work which was hard on the breathing apparatus. He -thought he saw one good chance, and sent in an upper cut, -but it fell short, and he got a blow on the ear that made -his head ring.</p> - -<p>Thereafter he was more cautious.</p> - -<p>“You must do him up soon,” implored Bill. “Can’t you -take a chance?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span>“I’m afraid to, with my bad eye.”</p> - -<p>“That’s so. Well, use your own judgment.”</p> - -<p>But the next round was the last, and the end came most -unexpectedly. North led with his right, intending to try -once more his feinting, shifting tactics. But he made a -miscalculation. Cap blocked with his left, and sending in -a cross-counter with his right caught North on the side -of the head.</p> - -<p>Down went the bully like a log, not badly hurt, but -stunned enough to make him take the count. There was -no chance to allow the fatal ten seconds to elapse, however, -for, from the crowd that surrounded the two contestants -came the cry:</p> - -<p>“Here comes Prexy!”</p> - -<p>“Skip! Here’s Dr. Burton!”</p> - -<p>“Come on, Cap! Get into your coat—never mind your -shirt—out this way!” cried Bill, Pete and Whistle-Breeches -in the same breath.</p> - -<p>Cap looked afar, and saw the figure of the venerable -president bearing down on them. The head of Westfield -school was eagerly perusing one book, and had another -under his arm.</p> - -<p>Cap hurriedly dressed as best he could. He saw North -slowly rising, assisted by his friends. Cap started toward -him.</p> - -<p>“Where you going?” demanded Bill.</p> - -<p>“To shake hands—it’s all over. I want to be friends.”</p> - -<p>“You’ve no time. I doubt if we can get away as it -is.”</p> - -<p>Bill, Pete, Whistle-Breeches and some of the others -tried to get Cap in their midst, so that his blackened eye<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span> -would not be seen. They hoped to be able to get back -to their rooms by a round-about path, but, alas for their -hopes. Dr. Burton looked up, saw them, and changing -his course, bore down more directly on them.</p> - -<p>“It’s all up!” groaned Pete.</p> - -<p>Bill looked around, and saw North and his friends hurrying -into the dressing rooms under the grandstand. He -wished he had thought of that, but there was no time now.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span> -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXIV</h2></div> - -<p class="ph3">THE KIDNAPPED PITCHER</p> - - -<p>“<span class="smcap">What’ll</span> you say when he asks you what’s up?” asked -Whistle-Breeches.</p> - -<p>“Guess I’ll have to tell the truth,” answered Cap.</p> - -<p>“Couldn’t you say you ran into the fence catching a -foul ball?” inquired Bill.</p> - -<p>“Nothing doing,” was his brother’s retort. “The doctor -would guess right in a minute. Besides, I wouldn’t fake -it that way.”</p> - -<p>“Of course not. I was only joking. Well, he’ll be here -in a second. He’s looking at us as if undecided whether -we were Greek roots or some Sanskrit characters. Maybe -he’ll pass us up,” went on Bill.</p> - -<p>“No such luck!” groaned Pete. “Pull your cap down -farther over your eyes, and maybe he won’t see the bruise.”</p> - -<p>But all the efforts of the lads were seemingly to go -for naught. The venerable president, squinting at them -through his thick spectacles, smiled in a friendly fashion, -as he came nearer. The students halted and touched their -caps.</p> - -<p>“Ah, boys, just coming from a game?” inquired Dr. -Burton.</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir,” answered Whistle-Breeches, who, being -slightly taller than Cap, had stepped in front of him.</p> - -<p>“Ah, and who won, may I ask?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span>“We—er—that is we didn’t finish,” answered Bill, hoping -to draw attention away from Cap.</p> - -<p>“The season has opened well, I hope,” went on the -doctor. “And there are good chances for keeping the -pennant here, I trust?”</p> - -<p>“We’re going to try hard,” put in Pete, who, being -on the other side, trusted to draw the attention of the -president farther away from his brother. As for that -hero he remained quiet.</p> - -<p>“Pull your cap farther down!” again advised Bill in a -hoarse whisper.</p> - -<p>Whether it was that or whether he would have noticed -it anyhow, the eyes of the president went straight to -Cap’s bruised countenance. He saw the blackened eye, -and the cuts and scratches.</p> - -<p>“Ah, there has been an accident, I see,” he remarked, -and he advanced closer to the lad.</p> - -<p>“Er—yes—that is I—”</p> - -<p>“Cut it out,” whispered Bill, nudging his brother in the -back.</p> - -<p>“Hit by a ball, I suppose,” went on the president. -“And yet they say baseball is comparatively harmless. -Why, you look almost as if you had been through a football -scrimmage, Smith.”</p> - -<p>“Ye—yes, sir,” stammered Cap.</p> - -<p>“Better have it attended to right away,” continued Dr. -Burton. “That eye looks very painful.”</p> - -<p>“It is,” murmured Cap.</p> - -<p>“And you had better wear a stronger mask,” were the -doctor’s parting words, as he turned aside. There was -a queer smile on his face, and his eyes twinkled behind<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span> -his glasses. He opened his book at the place where a -cautious finger had kept the pages apart, and passed on.</p> - -<p>“Talk about luck!” exclaimed Whistle-Breeches hoarsely. -“He never even suspected that there’d been a fight. Oh, you -Cap!”</p> - -<p>“Suspected!” burst out Bill. “I’ll bet he knows all -about it!”</p> - -<p>“He did not!” declared the other lad. “Why, he’s so -interested in that book that I don’t believe he remembers -now whether he spoke to us or not.”</p> - -<p>“He doesn’t; eh?” exclaimed Bill. “Say, he went off -reading his book upside down, and if that doesn’t indicate -that he’s on to our game, and is laughing at our attempts -to keep it from him, I’d like to know what it does mean?”</p> - -<p>“Was his book upside down?”</p> - -<p>“Surest thing you know. Say, what the doctor doesn’t -know wouldn’t cover a postage stamp. But it was white -of him not to let on. You’re lucky, Cap!”</p> - -<p>“Yes, regular Smith luck,” put in Whistle-Breeches.</p> - -<p>“Well, don’t take any chances. Cut away to your room. -I can get you some raw beefsteak for the optic.”</p> - -<p>“An oyster is better,” declared Pete, and they scientifically -discussed the various merits of the two.</p> - -<p>“If we had Professor Clatter here he’d paint it with -some eye dope and Cap would look all to the merry.” suggested -Bill. But the traveling medicine man was not -available, and Cap had to do the best he could.</p> - -<p>It was some days before he was decently presentable and -North was just as bad. Of course the faculty must have -suspected the reason for the darkened eyes and bruised<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span> -faces, but as there was no official report or complaint, nothing -was said of it, and the matter was dropped.</p> - -<p>The upper classmen took up the question, and a sort -of truce was patched up between Cap and the bully, but -though North professed to be friendly there was a sullen -look in his eyes, and Cap knew he would do him a bad -turn if he got the chance. Mersfeld and North were -thicker than ever, and the Smith boys agreed among themselves -to be on their guard.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile there was baseball a plenty. Some league -games were played, and a number of minor contests took -place. It was drawing close to the time for the annual -Freshman battle on the diamond with Tuckerton, and this -game was always a hotly contested one, and eagerly looked -forward to by the first year students and their friends.</p> - -<p>“We stand a better chance to win this time, than ever -before,” remarked Armitage, who was captain of the first -year team. “We’ve got Bill to pitch, and he’s a wonder.”</p> - -<p>The Varsity twirler did occupy the box for the Freshmen -nine, and no objection had been raised to this arrangement -until nearly time for the Tuckerton game. -Then the nine of that school sent in a formal protest, -objection to Bill on the ground that though a first year -lad, he was not properly a member of the Freshman team, -since he was the Varsity pitcher.</p> - -<p>“Well, we’ll just ignore that objection, and if they -don’t want to play with Bill in the box we’ll claim the -game by forfeit,” decided Armitage. The dispute waxed -hot and an appeal was taken to the student body which -governed athletics among the members of the school -league. They decided that Bill could pitch.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span>“Well, he won’t if we fellows have any spunk,” declared -Borden, the Tuckerton captain.</p> - -<p>“Spunk? How do you mean?” asked Swain, the pitcher.</p> - -<p>“I mean that we can put up a game on him so that he -can’t pitch against us, and they’ll have to put in Potter, -the substitute. We can knock <i>him</i> out of the box, but -Bill Smith is no easy mark. It means losing the game -for us to bat against Bill.”</p> - -<p>“But what can we do?” asked Swain.</p> - -<p>“Get Bill out of the way the day before the game.”</p> - -<p>“How?”</p> - -<p>“Kidnap him, of course. Spirit him away, and keep -him in cold storage until we win. Are you game?”</p> - -<p>“Can it be done?” asked Swain.</p> - -<p>“Of course. I’ll arrange it, if you fellows will help.”</p> - -<p>“Certainly we will, but how is it to be done?”</p> - -<p>“Easy enough. We’ll just meet him in the dark on -the road, bundle him into my auto, and take him to a -quiet place where he can’t get away.” Borden was a rich -youth, and had an automobile which he had brought to -school with him.</p> - -<p>He went more into detail about his plan, and after -realizing that it would mean losing the game if Bill -pitched against them, his teammates somewhat reluctantly -agreed to the scheme. They thought they were within -their rights for they totally disagreed with the finding -of the governing body that Bill was entitled to pitch as a -Freshman, even though he was on the Varsity.</p> - -<p>“Suppose they find out we did it, and take the game -from us even after we win?” suggested Cadmus, who was -the Tuckerton Freshman catcher.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span>“They’ll never discover it,” boasted Borden. “They’ll -lay it to some of the Sophs or Juniors at Westfield, and -Bill will never recognize us for we’ll wear masks.”</p> - -<p>“All right, we’re with you,” decided his chums. “Now -for the details.”</p> - -<p>These were soon settled. It was agreed that Bill should -be captured the night before the game, when there would -be little chance that he could be rescued in time to play.</p> - -<p>“But how will we get hold of him,” asked Cadmus.</p> - -<p>“I’ll send him some sort of a message,” replied Borden. -“I’ll write a note, in a disguised hand, and ask him to -call at a certain place in the village. We’ll be on the -lookout and when he goes past that lonely stretch of woods, -on the main road we’ll grab him, run him off in my car to -a place I know of, and leave him there.”</p> - -<p>“Suppose some of his brothers or friends come with -him?” Swain wanted to know.</p> - -<p>“Oh, well, we can get away with Bill before they realize -what’s up. You fellows want everything too easy.”</p> - -<p>When, on the night before the game with Tuckerton, -Bill Smith received a note, asking him to call at a certain -hotel in the village, there to talk over baseball matters, -the pitcher showed the missive to his brothers.</p> - -<p>“Looks sort of fishy,” decided Cap.</p> - -<p>“What name is signed to it?” inquired Pete.</p> - -<p>“Just says ‘Baseball Crank,’” was the reply. “I think -it’s a joke.”</p> - -<p>“Are you going?” asked Whistle-Breeches.</p> -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<p>“Might as well. But I’m going to go easy, and take a -look around before I go inside. Maybe I can turn the -tables.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span>“Tell you what we’ll do,” broke in Cap.</p> - -<p>“What?”</p> - -<p>“We’ll all go with Bill. Then, if there’s any trouble we -can help him. Maybe North or Mersfeld put up this -game.”</p> - -<p>“That’s right,” agreed Bill. “I’ll be glad if you fellows -will come along, though it may be straight after all.”</p> - -<p>So, after obtaining from the proctor permission to go -to the village on condition that they would be back before -locking-up time, the three Smith brothers, and Whistle-Breeches -sallied forth. They never suspected there might -be a joke perpetrated on them while on their way, rather -expecting some game in the village, and so proceeded along -the highway in careless ease, singing and joking.</p> - -<p>As they reached a lonely stretch of woods, just below -getting into the village, three figures sprang out from -the underbrush. Over their faces were strips of cloth, -and at the first sight of the trio our friends drew back -in some alarm, feeling they had met with a gang of -highwaymen.</p> - -<p>“That’s the one—in the centre!” called a hoarse voice, -and a grab was made for Bill. Before his brothers or -Whistle-Breeches could rally to his aid he was borne off, -struggling and kicking against his unknown captors.</p> - -<p>“Into the car with him—quick!” was the whispered -order, and, ere the three lads left standing in the road -had recovered from their astonishment, there sounded -the chug-chug of an automobile, and Bill was whisked -away.</p> - -<p>“Well, wouldn’t that get your goat!” gasped Cap, as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span> -he stood looking at the fast-disappearing red tail lamp -of the machine. “They’ve got Bill!”</p> - -<p>“Come on after ’em!” yelled Pete, starting down the -highway on a run. “We’ve got to rescue him!”</p> - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span> -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXV</h2></div> - -<p class="ph3">TO THE RESCUE</p> - - -<p>“<span class="smcap">Here!</span> Come back!” cried Cap.</p> - -<p>“What for?” demanded Pete, pausing in the darkness, -and gazing first toward the disappearing red light and -then toward where his brother stood.</p> - -<p>“You can’t catch an auto, no matter if you are a good -base runner,” replied the older Smith lad. “Come here.”</p> - -<p>“That’s right, I guess there isn’t much use running,” -admitted Pete dubiously, as he slowly returned.</p> - -<p>“But they’ve got Bill, and we ought to help him. -Maybe they’ll hold him for a ransom.”</p> - -<p>“It’s only a joke,” decided Cap. “Come on, we’ve got -to use our brains against these fellows, and maybe we can -turn the tables on them. First we’ll go on to town, and -see if any of them really are at the hotel. We may get -a line on them there.”</p> - -<p>But there was no trace of any one at the hostelry who -might, by any stretch of the imagination, be considered -as of those who had a part in the kidnapping.</p> - -<p>“Back to school,” ordered Cap. “We’ll see if there’s -anything doing there.”</p> - -<p>It did not take long to learn that no hazing was going -on that night, and that none of the various school societies -were engaged in any pranks, and when it was made -clear that neither Mersfeld nor North had been out of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span> -their rooms, they were absolved from the half-suspicion -that pointed to them.</p> - -<p>“But Bill’s gone,” said Pete blankly.</p> - -<p>“Yes, and it’s up to us to find him,” decided Cap. “I -guess to-morrow—”</p> - -<p>“By Jove, to-morrow is the date for the big Freshman -game with Tuckerton!” exclaimed Whistle-Breeches. -“You know how they protested against him. I’ll bet a -cookie, without a hole in it, that—”</p> - -<p>“Say no more!” burst out Bob Chapin, with a tragic -gesture. “The plot is laid bare! Tuckerton has our hero! -On to the rescue!”</p> - -<p>But it was too late to do anything that night, though -probably had the college authorities been appealed to they -would have permitted further search. However our -friends preferred to work out the problem themselves.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile poor Bill was being rapidly carried away, -whither he knew not. All that he was aware of was that -a cloth had been wound around his head and face to prevent -him from seeing or from crying out. Then he was -bundled into an auto, and the car was speeded up.</p> - -<p>Bill tried to listen and catch any sounds that might -indicate where he was being taken, but Borden, who -wanted to make speed had the muffler cut out and the -only noise the pitcher heard was that made by the machine.</p> - -<p>It was a rough road over which he was being taken, and -the car swayed and pitched from side to side, tossing Bill -about. When he first felt himself grabbed by his unknown -assailants he had tried to struggle away from them, but -they had skilfully wound ropes about his legs and arms, -and now, bundled up as he was in one corner of the gasoline<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span> -vehicle, he tried in vain to free himself. But the -ropes held.</p> - -<p>At length, however, lack of air, by reason of the cloth -being too tightly drawn over his head, caused the unlucky -lad to give utterance to a muffled appeal.</p> - -<p>“I say, you fellows don’t want me to smother; do you?” -he demanded.</p> - -<p>“No, of course not,” came the cool answer. “If you’ll -promise not to make a row we’ll take off some of the horse -blankets. How about it?”</p> - -<p>Bill listened intently. He did not recognize the voice. -He was minded to return a fierce answer, that he would -suit himself about calling for help, but he recalled that in -many cases discretion is the better part of valor. So, -rather meekly, he made answer:</p> - -<p>“I’ll be good, kind Mr. Highwayman!”</p> - -<p>There was a stifled laugh at this.</p> - -<p>“Takes it well,” remarked one of his captors in a -whisper.</p> - -<p>“Yes—but wait,” was the significant comment. “You -take off some of the wrappings. Be careful he doesn’t spot -you.”</p> - -<p>Bill was soon more comfortable, as far as breathing was -concerned, but his limbs were still cramped from the cords -that bound them, and he was in a most uncomfortable -position. He seemed to be reclining in the tonneau of the -car, and some one was in the seat with him. He tried his -best to make out the features, but it was dark, and the -half masks which his captors wore prevented recognition.</p> - -<p>Nor did the voices afford any clew, for when those in the -auto spoke it was either in half whispers or in mumbled<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span> -words so that the tones were not clear. At first Bill -thought it was some of the students from Westfield who -were playing a joke on him, but later he changed this -opinion. He had an idea that it was either Mersfeld, -North or some of their crowd, but the conversation among -his captors soon disclosed that they were not these lads.</p> - -<p>“I wonder what they want of me, anyhow,” mused Bill. -“It was foolish to pay any attention to that note. I wish -I had looked more carefully at the writing.”</p> - -<p>Yet, as he tried to recall the characters he was sure he -had never seen the hand before.</p> - -<p>“It’s a joke, though, sure,” decided the pitcher. “And -it’s some young fellows who have me in tow. Guess I’ll -talk and see if they’ll answer.”</p> - -<p>He squirmed into an easier position, and fired this question -at those in the auto:</p> - -<p>“Where are you taking me?”</p> - -<p>“You’ll soon see,” was the reply.</p> - -<p>“If I ever find out who you are, I’ll pay you back well -for this,” went on Bill.</p> - -<p>“You’re welcome to—if you find out,” was the significant -answer.</p> - -<p>“I know you!” suddenly exclaimed the captive. “You’re -fellows from Sandrim, trying to get even for us boys -taking your boats,” went on Bill, for, not long before that, -the lads from Westfield had carried a lot of boats from -their rival school, and deposited the craft in the middle -of their own campus. “You’re from Sandrim,” declared -Bill positively.</p> - -<p>A laugh was his only answer. The auto kept up the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span> -speed, and presently turned from the main road, into a sort -of lane.</p> - -<p>“Is this the place?” asked the lad who was in the tonneau -with Bill.</p> - -<p>“A little farther,” answered the one at the wheel. “Look -out he doesn’t slip away from you.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I’ve got him,” was the reply, and a hand took a -firmer grip of Bill’s shoulder.</p> - -<p>The car came to a sudden stop. A door of a building -which the pitcher could see was a sort of shack, or hut, -was opened, and a shaft of light came out.</p> - -<p>“Is that you—” began a voice.</p> - -<p>“Yes, keep quiet!” was the quick retort. “We’ve got -him. Help carry him to the room, and don’t talk.”</p> - -<p>Before Bill could prevent it he was again tied up, and -some one lifted him from the car. He was carried along -in the darkness, trying in vain to make out what sort of a -place he was in.</p> - -<p>Then he was laid, none too gently, on a pile of some rags -in a corner of a dark room. The door was closed and Bill -was left alone with his anxious and gloomy thoughts.</p> - -<p>“Potato salad!” he gasped, half aloud, for the rags had -been removed from around his head, “I hope I get away -from here in time to play in the Freshman game to-morrow! -It will be fierce if I don’t.”</p> - -<p>Bill listened. He could hear the auto puffing away. He -was left alone in the deserted shack—at least he thought -he was alone, for he heard no noise.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Bright and early the next morning Pete and Cap were -up, ready to go to the rescue of their brother. They arranged<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span> -to cut their lectures that day, as did also Whistle-Breeches, -and, though many more students wanted to take -part in the search, it was thought best not to make too -much of the affair.</p> - -<p>“For, whoever has done it will hear about us getting -excited about it and they’ll have more of a laugh on us than -ever,” declared Cap. “It’s a disgrace that we ever let Bill -be captured.”</p> - -<p>“We couldn’t help it,” was Pete’s opinion. “But we’ll -get him back.”</p> - -<p>Their first move in the morning was to go to the place -where the kidnapping had occurred. There they saw the -marks of some auto wheels, but, as several cars had passed -by in the meanwhile it was impossible to do any tracing.</p> - -<p>“We’ve got to make inquiries,” decided Cap. “We’ll -ask along the road, of farmers and the people we meet.”</p> - -<p>They did not have much success for they could not -describe the auto, nor those in it, and many cars had gone -over the road.</p> - -<p>“It’s my notion that you’re lookin’ fer a needle in the -haystack,” was the opinion of one farmer whom they asked, -and when the boys thought of it, they nearly agreed with -him.</p> - -<p>“But what will we do at the game if he doesn’t show up?” -demanded Captain Armitage. “It will be fierce to go up -against Tuckerton without Bill in the box.”</p> - -<p>“What <i>can</i> we do?” asked Pete hopelessly when a good -part of the morning had gone, and there was no trace of -the missing pitcher.</p> - -<p>“Go right to Tuckerton, and accuse them!” suggested<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span> -the irate captain. “Tell them we know they spirited Bill -off, and demand that they produce him, or we’ll not play.”</p> - -<p>“They’d laugh at us,” said Cap. “Call us kindergartners, -and all that sort of thing. No, we can’t crawl that -way. But I believe the Tuckerton fellows <i>did</i> have a hand -in the game, and if we can only find out which of them -hired an auto I think we’d have a clew.”</p> - -<p>“Maybe one of them owns a car,” suggested Whistle-Breeches. -It was a new thought for the searchers, and it -was received joyously.</p> - -<p>“By Jinks! That’s the stuff!” cried Cap. “Pete, you -get on that trail, and I’ll inquire at the only garage in -town if any of the fellows from Tuckerton hired a gasoline -gig there. I’ll meet you at the cross roads.”</p> - -<p>This was a place about half-way between the two schools -which were only a few miles apart.</p> - -<p>With Pete went Whistle-Breeches, to help in the inquiry, -and Bob Chapin accompanied Cap. Meanwhile Captain -Armitage was in despair, for he had counted on Bill to win -the biggest part of the game, and without him he was sure -his nine would lose. On the other hand there was rejoicing -in the Tuckerton camp, when it was known that Bill -was missing, though only a few of the members of the -nine and its supporters, guessed the cause of his absence.</p> - -<p>Noon came, and Bill was still among the missing. Cap -had obtained no news at the town garage, and though -Pete had learned that Borden of Tuckerton, owned a car, -he could not locate that youth or his machine. For the -nine had some grounds a distance from the school to practice -before the big game.</p> - -<p>“I guess it’s no use,” said Cap despairingly. “It’s a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span> -queer sort of a joke, if that’s what it is, and it looks as if -Bill would be out of the game. You’ll have to play without -him, Armitage.”</p> - -<p>“Well, I’ll wait until the last minute,” decided the captain. -“He may get away and join us. Lucky it’s on our -own grounds. We’ll have that advantage. Poor Bill. I -wonder where he is?”</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span> -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXVI</h2></div> - -<p class="ph3">JUST IN TIME</p> - - -<p><span class="smcap">Bill Smith</span>, about that same time, was wondering the -same thing. He had dozed off after his captors had left -him, but, with the first glint of morning sun into the room -where he was a prisoner he had awakened. He was still -bound.</p> - -<p>“Well, this is pretty punk!” he exclaimed. “To think -that they got ahead of me this way! I wonder where I -am, anyhow? And I wonder how I can get away, and back—Great -muskmelons! If I don’t show up at the game—”</p> - -<p>The thought was too much for Bill. He resolved on -bold tactics. Considering that his promise not to make -an outcry ended with the leaving of his captors, he raised -his voice in a shout.</p> - -<p>“Help! Come here, somebody! Let me out! Police!”</p> - -<p>Bill didn’t particularly want the police, for he knew -that his captivity was the result of some school prank, and -the boys never called on the officers of the law if they -could help it. But “Police!” was an easy word to say, -and it carried well. Therefore the captive yelled it again -and again.</p> - -<p>But there was no answer to his cries, and after straining -his throat until it ached, the pitcher decided that he had -better save his breath and try other means to escape.</p> - -<p>“First to see if I can’t get rid of some of these ropes -on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span> my arms and legs,” he murmured. He tugged and -strained at them, after wiggling to a sitting position, but -the knots had been made with care, and held. Bill tried -to pull his hands from the loops but it was useless, and his -feet were equally secure. He could not gnaw through the -ropes as he had sometimes read of prisoners doing, for his -hands were tied behind his back.</p> - -<p>“I certainly am up against it,” he said aloud. Then, for -the first time, he took note of his prison. He was in a -vacant room, evidently in some old fashioned house, to -judge by the character of the woodwork and the wall paper. -There were two windows, and a door, the latter apparently -quite solid.</p> - -<p>“Let’s have a look outside,” suggested Bill to himself. -He struggled to his feet, and, by a series of hops, gained -the windows. He was in the third story of a house, set -in the midst of a neglected garden, and the scene that -met the lad’s gaze was unfamiliar to him.</p> - -<p>“I might be a hundred miles from nowhere, for all I -can tell,” he concluded dubiously. “Well, now for a try at -the door.”</p> - -<p>Hopping over to the portal Bill turned around with his -back to it, and managed to reach the knob with his hands. -It turned, but the door was locked.</p> - -<p>“Nothing doing there!” exclaimed the captive. “Well, -here’s for some more noise.” He yelled and shouted at -the top of his voice, accompanying himself by beating on -the door with his bound fists. Silence was his only answer.</p> - -<p>Once more Bill hopped to the window. He looked out, -hoping he might see some one to whom he could appeal. -Then, as he gazed helplessly out, he noted a nail driven<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span> -into one side of the casement. At once a plan came into -his mind.</p> - -<p>“If I can rub the rope that binds my hands, up and -down over the head of that nail, I may fray the ropes -enough to break them,” he remarked aloud, for it made it -seem less lonesome to speak thus. “Once I get my hands -loose—” Bill did not finish, but he had great hopes of -what he could then do.</p> - -<p>He began at once with the rusty nail as a knife. It was -hard work, and several times his hands slipped and his -wrists were scratched, but he kept at it, and finally found -that the cords were giving way. He worked faster, and -then, with a sudden strain he found his arms free. Then -it was an easy matter to loosen his feet, and he stood up -unbound.</p> - -<p>“Now for a try at that door!” exclaimed the lad, and -after giving the knob a vigorous turn, and vainly pulling -on the portal he began to kick it violently.</p> - -<p>He was engaged in this, at the same time yelling and -demanding to be released, when the door suddenly opened. -So suddenly in fact that Bill toppled outward with it, -and was caught in the arms of a big man who entered -quickly, carrying the captive backward with him, and -immediately locking the portal again.</p> - -<p>Surprise bereft the lad of speech for a moment, and the -man, after gazing at him, and noting the ropes on the -floor, remarked:</p> - -<p>“Well, you got rid of ’em yourself, I see. If you’d have -waited a little longer I’d have taken ’em off. I’m a little -late getting here with your breakfast.”</p> - -<p>“Breakfast!” gasped Bill. “You’d have taken off the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span> -ropes! Say, what kind of a game am I up against, anyhow?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I guess it’s all right,” said the man easily.</p> - -<p>“Well it isn’t all right,” declared Bill. “If you don’t -let me out of here right away there’s going to be the biggest -row you ever saw,” and, as if in support of his assertion -the pitcher rushed over and began kicking on the -door again.</p> - -<p>“Hum! Them fellers was right,” murmured the man -seemingly not a bit disturbed by what Bill was doing.</p> - -<p>“What fellows?” demanded the pitcher, pausing in his -attack.</p> - -<p>“The ones what brought you here. They said you’d cut -up rough, and make a lot of fuss, an’ by gum, they was -right! I guess you sure enough do need a straight-jacket.”</p> - -<p>“A straight-jacket!” gasped poor Bill. “Say, for the -love of cats, tell me what I’m up against; won’t you?”</p> - -<p>“I don’t know, I’m sure,” was the calm reply. “I was -told to humor you until the keeper come, an’ I’m doin’ -it. What would you like for breakfast?”</p> - -<p>“I don’t want any—let me out!” pleaded Bill. He was -beginning to see the joke now.</p> - -<p>“I don’t dast,” replied the man. “The fellers what -brung you here said you was dangerous at times, an’ I -might be held responsible. They fetched you here in an -automobile, an’ arranged with me to leave you in this vacant -house of mine until they could come again, with keepers -from the lunatic asylum, to take you away. I’m expectin’ -’em every minute, but they said I was to untie you by daylight,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span> -an’ feed you, as you was less violent when it wasn’t -dark.”</p> - -<p>“Say, look here!” cried Bill. “Do you think I’m crazy?”</p> - -<p>“I’m sure of it,” was the answer. “At least, no, I ain’t -neither. There I clean forgot to say what them fellers -told me to. No you ain’t crazy. I am, an’ everybody else -is, but you’re sane. That’s what they said I was to tell -you, if you asked me that question. All crazy persons -thinks they are sane,” he went on in explanation. “You’re -sane.”</p> - -<p>“But look here!” pleaded the captive. “Of course I’m -sane. I’m a student at Westfield, and the fellows who -brought me are either students from there, or from some -other school, playing a joke on me. Now let me go!”</p> - -<p>The man shook his head.</p> - -<p>“They told me you’d say that, too,” he said. “I can’t -let you go. I promised to keep you here until the keepers -came, an’ I’m goin’ to do it. Now take it easy and you’ll -be all right. I’ll bring you some breakfast. You look -hungry.”</p> - -<p>“I am, but say—” Then the hopelessness of appealing -any further to the man came forcibly to Bill, and he was -silent.</p> - -<p>“That’s better,” announced the man, preparing to unlock -the door again. “I live over here a little way. This house -belongs to me, but it’s been vacant some time, so you can -yell and holler all you please—no one will hear you. I’ll -go get you some victuals. Is there anything special you’d -like? My wife is a good cook.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, bring anything,” said poor Bill. He knew that he -would have to eat if he was to keep up his strength, for he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span> -had determined to try to escape by the windows as soon as -he was left alone again. He had a wild idea of making a -rush when the farmer opened the door, but a look at the -bulky frame of the man made him change his mind.</p> - -<p>The food was good and Bill ate a hearty meal. Then he -was left alone again, the farmer, on locking the door, saying -that he expected the keepers any moment. It was evident -that he believed the stories the captors of Bill had -told him.</p> - -<p>Once he was alone, and when a look from the windows -had assured him that he was not being watched, Bill began -to put into operation his plan of getting away.</p> - -<p>He hoped that the ropes which had bound him would -enable him to make his way down them out of the window, -but on tying the pieces together he discovered that they -were not long enough.</p> - -<p>“Up against it!” exclaimed the lad, until, looking more -carefully out of the end casement he discovered that a -stout lightning rod ran near it, down the side of the house.</p> - -<p>“That’s just the cheese, if it will hold me,” murmured -the lad. “I’m going to try it anyhow.”</p> - -<p>He crawled out on the window sill, tested the rod as best -he could, and then swung himself down it. To his joy -it held, and in a few seconds he was safe on the ground.</p> - -<p>“Now to find out where I am, and streak it for school -and the game!” he murmured, looking around to see that -the farmer was not in sight. He got his bearings and -was soon out on a dusty highway. He ran for some distance -until a turn in the road hid the house of his captivity -from him, and then slowed down to a walk.</p> - -<p>The surroundings were still unfamiliar to him, but meeting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span> -a man driving a carriage he learned that he was near -the village of Belleville, about twenty miles from Westfield.</p> - -<p>“And it’s coming on noon, I haven’t half enough to buy -a railroad ticket, and the game is called at two o’clock!” -groaned Bill. “I certainly am up against it good and -hard!”</p> - -<p>The man whom he had accosted was going in the wrong -direction, or he would have given the lad a lift. However, -he did consent to drive him to the railroad station.</p> - -<p>“I’ll see if I can’t give the agent a hard-luck story, and -have him trust me for a ticket,” thought the pitcher.</p> - -<p>But the station agent proved to be a hard-featured man, -who had once lost a dollar by lending it to a young lady -who told him a pathetic story, and he turned a deaf ear -to Bill’s pleading.</p> - -<p>“No money no ticket,” he declared.</p> - -<p>“But look here,” gasped Bill. “Some fellows, either at -my school, or from Tuckerton, played a joke on me last -night—kidnapped me. I’m to pitch in the championship -Freshman baseball game at two o’clock this afternoon, -and I’ve just <i>got</i> to be there. I’ll pay you back if you -trust me for a ticket. Or say, you can ship me as express, -C. O. D. and the boys will pay the charges at Westfield.”</p> - -<p>“Live stock has to travel in cattle cars, not as express,” -answered the agent with a grim smile. “Besides I don’t -believe in baseball anyhow. Some boys was battin’ a hall -once, an’ they busted one of the windows in this ticket -office. I had to pay for it, too! I ain’t got no manner of -likin’ for baseball.”</p> - -<p>Bill saw that it was no use in pleading, and turned -away. With despair in his heart he noted that it was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span> -nearly one o’clock. He might as well give up. Already -the players were beginning to get ready for the game. In -fancy he could hear the words of wonder at his absence -from the diamond.</p> - -<p>“They may think I threw the game,” thought Bill, and -then he remembered that his brothers and Whistle-Breeches -had seen him captured, and would tell the story.</p> - -<p>“They’d come to the rescue if they only knew where to -come, too,” thought Bill gloomily.</p> - -<p>The pitcher was in desperate straits. A search through -his pockets disclosed the fact that he had nothing to pawn -on which to raise money, even if there had been a pawn -shop in the village. He was just giving up, deciding to -walk to Westfield, hoping to arrive before dark, when, as -he left the station he nearly collided with a pretty girl, -who was just entering, having alighted from a trim -little motor car, that was still puffing outside.</p> - -<p>“I beg your pardon,” mumbled Bill.</p> - -<p>“Oh!” exclaimed the girl. “I—why it’s Mr. Smith!” -she cried, holding out her hand. “I’m glad to meet you -again. But why aren’t you over at school at the big -game? I’m on my way there.”</p> - -<p>For a moment you could have knocked Bill down with -the wind from a slow ball, as he afterward expressed it. -He looked at the girl, and recognized her as Miss Ruth -Morton, to whom he had been introduced by Bob Chapin -at one of the school games.</p> - -<p>“Miss Morton!” he murmured. “I—Oh, if you’re -going to Westfield will you take me? I’m marooned!”</p> - -<p>Then, rapidly, he blurted out the whole story of his -capture and his inability to get back.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span>“Take you! Of course I’ll take you!” exclaimed Miss -Morton. “I have to stop for a girl friend, who is going to -the game with me, but there’ll be plenty of room for you.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll ride on the mud guard or hang on back!” exclaimed -Bill, a gleam of hope lighting his woe-begone countenance. -“Only I want to beat Tuckerton!”</p> - -<p>“And I want you to, even if a—a friend of mine goes -there. I think it was an awfully mean trick they played -on you.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I’m not <i>sure</i> any Tuckerton fellows did it,” said -Bill, who wanted to play fair. “It may have been some of -the Westfield crowd,” but he had his own opinion.</p> - -<p>Miss Morton, who had come to the station to inquire -about some express package, hurried out to her car, followed -by Bill. He offered to run it for her, but she was -not a little proud of her own ability to drive.</p> - -<p>“We’ve got to make time,” suggested the pitcher -nervously.</p> - -<p>“I can do it,” the girl assured him, and, once she had -thrown in the third gear, the pitcher had no reason to complain -of lack of speed.</p> - -<p>Miss Morton’s girl friend—Miss Hazel Dunning—was -taken aboard and then, with Bill sitting on the floor in -front, and resting his feet on the mud-guard step, for the -machine was only a runabout, the trip to Westfield was -begun.</p> - -<p>Back on the school diamond there was an anxious -throng of students and players. The news of Bill’s kidnapping -was known all over, and while there was despair in -the ranks of the Westfield Freshmen and their supporters,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span> -there was ill-concealed joy among the Tuckerton nine and -their adherents.</p> - -<p>“Those fellows know where Bill is,” declared Cap.</p> - -<p>“But we don’t dare accuse them,” agreed Pete.</p> - -<p>“And we’ll lose the game,” went on Armitage dubiously.</p> - -<p>Bill never forgot his trip with Miss Morton. She was -a daring driver, for a girl, and once or twice took chances -that made even the nerve-hardened pitcher wince. But -with a merry laugh she sped on, after cutting in ahead -of a load of hay, on a narrow bridge.</p> - -<p>Once there was a hail from a speed-watching constable -but the girl kept on.</p> - -<p>“There’s oil on my number, and I never expect to come -this way again,” she declared recklessly.</p> - -<p>“If only we don’t get a blow-out!” murmured Miss -Dunning.</p> - -<p>“Don’t you dare suggest such a thing, Hazel!” cried -Miss Morton.</p> - -<p>She turned on more speed. It lacked five minutes to -two, and Bill knew the game would be called on the dot. -They were two miles away, and could hardly get there on -time, but the pitcher consoled himself with the reflection -that at least he could take part after the first inning.</p> - -<p>“Are we going to make it?” asked Miss Dunning.</p> - -<p>“We’ve <i>got</i> to!” declared Miss Morton, as she swung -around in front of a farm wagon, thereby causing the -grizzled driver symptoms of heart failure.</p> - -<p>Bill could hear the shouts on the diamond now. He -was in a fever of excitement, and stood up to catch a first -glimpse of the field. Miss Morton, with her lips set firmly -around her pretty mouth grasped the steering wheel more<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span> -rigidly and drove on. Toward the diamond she turned. -There was another cheer from the crowd, but Bill could not -see what was going on, and feared the game had started. -There came a break in the throng and he had a glimpse -of the field. What he saw reassured him.</p> - -<p>“I’m just in time!” he gasped. “They’re only practicing!”</p> - -<p>He leaped out as the girl brought the car to a sudden -stop with both brakes grinding and screeching.</p> - -<p>“See you later! A thousand thanks—never could have -done it but for you, Miss Morton!” burst out Bill as he ran -over the grass. “I’ll never forget it.”</p> - -<p>“Me either,” murmured the girl. “I never drove so -fast before in all my life, but I wasn’t going to tell him -so,” she confided to her chum, as they left the car and -walked toward the grand stand.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span> -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXVII</h2></div> - -<p class="ph3">A SCRIMMAGE</p> - - -<p>“<span class="smcap">Play</span> ball!” called the umpire.</p> - -<p>“Wait! Wait!” begged Bill breathlessly, as he ran forward. -“I’m in time! I can play. Where’s Armitage? -I’ve been locked up—couldn’t get here before! Can’t I -play?”</p> - -<p>A cheer greeted Bill’s unexpected appearance. His -brothers who had given up hope rushed forward to clap -him on the back. Whistle-Breeches did a war dance -around him. There was wild rejoicing among the Westfield -Freshmen. The Tuckerton Freshmen looked glum.</p> - -<p>“Well, he got here after all,” muttered Swain, the -pitcher, to Captain Borden.</p> - -<p>“Yes. That farmer must have let him go before I -meant him to.”</p> - -<p>“What are you going to do—protest again?” asked -Cadmus.</p> - -<p>“No; what’s the use? I think they’re suspicious as it -is. All we can do now is to play to beat ’em. Hang the -luck anyhow, but—I s’pose it serves us right.” Borden had -the grace to admit that much.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile Bill had rapidly told the story of his captivity -and his ride in the auto.</p> - -<p>“I tell you what we ought to do!” declared Armitage<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span> -angrily, “we ought to refuse to play them, and claim -the game. The idea of kidnapping our pitcher!”</p> - -<p>“Easy!” exclaimed Cap.</p> - -<p>“That’s right,” put in Bill. “I wasn’t hurt any, and it -was rather a lark after I got away. Besides we don’t know -for sure that Borden and his crowd did it, though I’m -almost positive it was his auto. But never mind. Let’s -play ball.”</p> - -<p>“It’s too late to get into uniform,” remarked the captain, -“and we’re to take the field.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll pitch as I am, and borrow a uniform when it’s our -turn to bat,” spoke Bill.</p> - -<p>“But can you twirl?” inquired his brother. “After what -you’ve been through—away all night—knocked around in -an auto, no decent meal—”</p> - -<p>“That’s where you’re wrong, I had one good meal, and -the next one can wait until we win the game. Miss Morton—she’s -several kinds of a pretty brick, by the way—she -got some sandwiches on the trip in. My! She’s a stunner! -How she did drive! She—”</p> - -<p>“Oh, get in your box, and play ball,” interrupted Armitage, -with a laugh at Bill’s enthusiasm.</p> - -<p>There were dubious looks on the faces of the Tuckerton -players at the advent of the talented pitcher, but a gleam -of hope came when Borden whispered that he might be -all out of condition from his captivity, and could not hold -his own in the box.</p> - -<p>Curiously enough it did not occur to any of the conspiring -rivals of Westfield that they had taken an unfair advantage -in spiriting Bill away. They felt that he had no<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span> -right, as the Varsity pitcher, to play with the Freshmen -against them.</p> - -<p>But if they hoped that Bill was out of condition they -were doomed to disappointment, for when he had put on -his glasses, which Cap had brought with him on a forlorn -chance, Bill never pitched better ball. At first he was a -little stiff, and issued several passes, whereat there was rejoicing -among the visitors, and grim despair in the ranks of -the home team. But Bill shook off his momentary indisposition, -and when the final inning had ended in a dazzling -succession of plays, the Westfield team had won by a score -of ten runs to three.</p> - -<p>“Wow, Oh, wow!” cried Armitage, hugging Bill. “If -you hadn’t come along we’d have been in the soup!”</p> - -<p>“Nonsense!” objected Bill.</p> - -<p>“It’s true,” said Whistle-Breeches. “Swain was in great -form to-day.”</p> - -<p>“But Bill was better,” added Pete.</p> - -<p>“You could make a story out of what you went through,” -drawled Bob Chapin. “Ring in Miss Morton as the -heroine.”</p> - -<p>“Only for her I’d never have made it,” agreed Bill, as he -went over to shake hands with the pretty, blushing girl.</p> - -<p>“Oh, it was fine! Fine!” cried Miss Morton, as she -greeted Bill and his companions who surrounded her and -Miss Dunning.</p> - -<p>“Perfectly wonderful the way you struck out the last -three men,” went on the other girl.</p> - -<p>Bill blushed behind his ears. He was too tanned to -have the color show elsewhere.</p> - -<p>And so the Tuckerton-Westfield Freshmen game passed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span> -into school history, and Bill never really found out who -had kidnapped him. In fact he never tried, for he concluded -that his suspicions were good enough, and he did -not want revenge.</p> - -<p>The summer crept on, and the close of the term was near -at hand. More games were played, and Westfield was doing -well. She did not have, as yet by any means, a clear -title to the pennant. In fact the loss of a few games would -mean that Tuckerton or Sandrim would get it, but the -Smith boys and their chums were working hard.</p> - -<p>As for Mersfeld he was still under the ban, for when -he was allowed to resume athletics he had gone so stale -that after a try-out he was relegated to the ranks of the -subs for the Varsity, and Bill’s place as first pitcher was -undisputed. And there was bitterness in the heart of -the former twirler.</p> - -<p>“Oh, if I could only get square with him!” he muttered -to North.</p> - -<p>“There’s only one way to put him out of the running,” -declared that worthy.</p> - -<p>“And that is—?”</p> - -<p>“To get his special glasses. He can’t get another pair -made in time now, for that old codger of an astronomer -has been arrested I hear, and the other professor hasn’t -been around lately. There’s only a week more before the -close of the season, and if you get the specks Bill couldn’t -pitch. You might have a chance then.”</p> - -<p>“I wish we could get ’em, but we risked it once, and—”</p> - -<p>“We’ll have to do it differently this time. No more trying -to sneak into his room. We’ve got to take the glasses -away from him personally.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span>“How? Hold him up some dark night? That won’t -do, for he only carries them with him going to and from -the games.”</p> - -<p>“And that’s just when I mean to take them. If we could -get him into what would look like a friendly scrimmage -say, one of us could frisk the glasses out of his pocket, and -he’d be left when he tried to pitch next time.”</p> - -<p>“Can it be done?”</p> - -<p>“Sure. If you’re with me just hang around the next -time Bill comes off the diamond. I’ll start something, -you come back at me, we’ll run around Bill and his brothers—maybe -upset ’em, and in the confusion if I can’t get the -glasses I’m no good. I know where he carries ’em.”</p> - -<p>“All right, North. If I can only get back on the team -I’d do anything!”</p> - -<p>“Then it’s settled,” was the reply, and the two cronies -walked away together, talking of their mean plot.</p> - -<p>Their chance came the next day, when a crowd of the -players were returning from the ball field after a practice -game.</p> - -<p>“Tag, you’re it!” suddenly cried North to Mersfeld, and -he began circling about Bill, Pete and Cap, who were -walking with Whistle-Breeches.</p> - -<p>“Oh, cut it out!” cried Mersfeld, as if in objection, and -he tripped North up. The latter in falling made a grab -for Bill, as if to save himself, and in an instant the two -went down in a heap and there was a laughing, struggling -crowd of youths rolling over the grass in what was apparently -a friendly scrimmage.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span> -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXVIII</h2></div> - -<p class="ph3">THE GLASSES ARE GONE</p> - - -<p>“<span class="smcap">Here</span> get up off me, can’t you?” demanded Bill, as he -found himself under North’s no light weight. The latter -had his arms around the pitcher.</p> - -<p>“Sorry. Did I hurt you?” asked the bully with elaborate -politeness as he helped Bill to his feet.</p> - -<p>“No, but I don’t want my nose rubbed in the dirt. It -might spoil the shape.”</p> - -<p>“That’s right. Wait until I get hold of Mersfeld. It -was his fault.”</p> - -<p>North scurried off, pretending to be in pursuit of his -crony, while Cap, Pete and Whistle-Breeches, who had -gone down in the melee were fighting off several of their -chums who, seeing the prostrate group, had, boy fashion, -thrown themselves on top, a-la-football practice.</p> - -<p>“Oh, say, this is too much!” gasped Cap, as he tossed -Bob Chapin to one side.</p> - -<p>“Yes, who started this, anyhow?” demanded Pete, digging -some grass out of his left ear.</p> - -<p>The skirmishing and fun were general now, and no one -seemed to remember that Mersfeld and North had been the -storm centre. The two were far enough away, over the -campus by this time.</p> - -<p>“Well, did you get ’em?” asked Mersfeld nervously, as -he looked back at the throng of lads who had ceased their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span> -struggles and were brushing what they could of the dirt -off their clothes.</p> - -<p>“I sure did,” was the answer. “Look,” and he showed -him a small black case, which, on being opened, disclosed -the peculiar glasses that Bill wore when he pitched.</p> - -<p>“Good!” exclaimed the deposed pitcher. “Now what’ll -we do with ’em?”</p> - -<p>“Here, you take ’em,” and North held them out.</p> - -<p>“Not much!” came the quick answer.</p> - -<p>“Why not?”</p> - -<p>“Think I want to be caught with them on me?”</p> - -<p>“Well, I don’t want ’em either. Shall I throw ’em -away?” and he made a half-motion toward a clump of -bushes.</p> - -<p>“No, some one might find ’em, and give ’em back, and -then we’d be as badly off as before. Here, I’ll tell you -what to do. Toss ’em into that old cannon,” and Mersfeld -pointed to one on the far edge of the campus. It was a -Spanish war trophy, loaned by the government. “No one -will ever think of looking there for ’em.”</p> - -<p>With a quick motion North slid the case of spectacles -down the muzzle. Then the two quickly kept on their -way.</p> - -<p>Bill and his friends proceeded to the gymnasium, where -the players indulged in a shower bath, and, a little later -the three brothers were in Cap’s room, talking over baseball -matters in particular, and everything in general.</p> - -<p>“Let’s see,” mused the pitcher as he looked over a schedule -of dates. “We play Northampton day after to-morrow, -Sandrim the next day, and then Saturday winds up the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span> -season with Tuckerton. And say, fellows, do you know -we’ve got to win every game to keep the pennant!”</p> - -<p>“How’s that?” demanded Cap. “I thought we had a -good lead?”</p> - -<p>“So we did have, but Tuckerton and Sandrim have -pulled up on us, and it’s almost a tie now. Yes, we’ve got -to make a clean sweep from now on or we’ll not be in it.”</p> - -<p>“Well, we can do it,” declared Pete vigorously.</p> - -<p>“Sure,” asserted Whistle-Breeches, as if it was the most -simple thing in the world.</p> - -<p>“Oh, certainly, my lords and gentlemen,” added Bob -Chapin half-mockingly. “Just sit here and figure it out -by averages and percentages.”</p> - -<p>“Dry up!” advised Cap. “How’s your arm holding out, -Bill?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I guess I’ll manage, though we’re going to have a -grandstand finish this week.”</p> - -<p>“How about your eyes,” asked Whistle-Breeches. “Can’t -you get along without the glasses yet, Bill? I’m always -afraid a ball will crack into them, and then you <i>would</i> be -out of it.”</p> - -<p>“That part never worries me,” said Bill. “I’m so used -to ’em now that I’d feel lost in the box without ’em. They -certainly were a great thing, and I—”</p> - -<p>He paused suddenly, and hurriedly crossed the room to -where his uniform was picturesquely draped over a chair. -Rapidly the pitcher felt through the pockets, and a look -of alarm came over his face. He began tossing aside a -multitudinous collection of articles on his bureau.</p> - -<p>“What’s up, something bite you?” asked Pete.</p> - -<p>Bill did not answer. He was feeling now in the pockets<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span> -of the suit he wore. As he went from one to the other -his face assumed a more and more worried look.</p> - -<p>“For cats’ sake what is it?” demanded Cap. “Lost a -love letter? We won’t read it if we find it.”</p> - -<p>“My glasses!” gasped Bill.</p> - -<p>“Your glasses?” repeated Whistle-Breeches.</p> - -<p>“Yes—they’re gone,” and with a wild look on his face -the pitcher dashed from the room and ran toward the -gymnasium, followed by his brothers.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span> -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXIX</h2></div> - -<p class="ph3">MERSFELD IN THE BOX</p> - - -<p><span class="smcap">There</span> was a wild search in and about the gymnasium -on the part of Bill, his brothers and his chums, but of -course the missing glasses were not found.</p> - -<p>“Are you sure you dropped them here?” asked Cap, as -he went over again the room which his brother had used -as a dressing department before and after the shower bath.</p> - -<p>“Well, I’m not sure, of course,” answered Bill, “but -they’re gone, and I must have dropped them somewhere.”</p> - -<p>They went over the place inch by inch, looked in odd -nooks and corners and inquired of the janitors and helpers, -but the spectacles were not found.</p> - -<p>“Say,” cried Whistle-Breeches with sudden illumination, -“I’ll bet you dropped them that time we were all fooling -on the campus!”</p> - -<p>“By Jinks! I believe I did!” cried Bill, and he made a -mad dash for the place. The others followed and soon -the lads were scanning the grass, going about on their hands -and knees. From a vantage point Mersfeld and North -watched.</p> - -<p>“He’s missed ’em all right,” exulted the deposed pitcher.</p> - -<p>“Sure, and he’ll look a good while for ’em, too.”</p> - -<p>“Think he’ll suspect us?”</p> - -<p>“Not a bit of it,” replied North. He started toward the -group of searching lads.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span>“Here! Where are you going?” cried his companion in -alarm.</p> - -<p>“Going over to help ’em hunt.”</p> - -<p>“Come back! Do you want to give the whole thing -away, just when I’ve got a last chance to get back on the -nine?”</p> - -<p>“Give it away, you chump! Why the best way to throw -’em off the track, and make ’em feel sure that we had nothing -to do with it is to help Bill look for his glasses. Come -on. It’ll be a joke, but they can’t appreciate it.”</p> - -<p>Somewhat dubious of the plan, Mersfeld followed North, -who strolled up to Bill. The Varsity pitcher’s face wore -a worried look.</p> - -<p>“Lose something?” asked North innocently.</p> - -<p>“Yes, my glasses. They must have dropped out of my -pocket when we were skylarking here.”</p> - -<p>“That’s too bad!” and North winked at Mersfeld. -“We’ll help you look.”</p> - -<p>“Sure,” agreed the deposed pitcher, and the two hypocrites -went carefully over the ground, laughing to themselves -as they thought of the glasses in the muzzle of the -cannon.</p> - -<p>Darkness came and the search had to be given up. -Puzzled as to what could have happened to his glasses, -uselessly and mechanically feeling in pocket after pocket, -Bill accompanied his brothers back to his room. Mersfeld -and North went off together.</p> - -<p>“Well, what are you going to do?” asked Pete, as he -looked at the pitcher.</p> - -<p>“I don’t know what to do,” and Bill’s tone was despondent.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span>“Maybe you can get along without them now, for the -few remaining games,” suggested Cap.</p> - -<p>“No,” and Bill shook his head. “I’ll need them, for I -tried to pitch without them to-day, and my curves were -away off. And as for the remaining games—they’re the -most important of the season. We’ve just <i>got</i> to win them -to make good and keep the pennant. I don’t see what -could have happened to the glasses.”</p> - -<p>“You might have lost them anywhere between the diamond -and here,” said Whistle-Breeches. “We’ll look again -in the morning.”</p> - -<p>“Say!” cried Pete. “Can’t you get some oculist in town -to fix you up a pair that will do? It can’t be that they -were such peculiar glasses that they can’t be duplicated.”</p> - -<p>“Maybe not,” half-agreed Bill, “but the old rain-maker-astronomer -said the lenses had to be ground in a certain -way, and I don’t know where he had them made.”</p> - -<p>“We’ll try some one in town,” went on Cap. “I believe -they can fix you up,” and they spent some time talking of -that possibility.</p> - -<p>Bill was worried, and with good reason. He wanted to -maintain his position as pitcher, and he knew he could -not do so if he did not “deliver the goods.” That he could -pitch without the glasses he did not believe, but he was -anxious for morning to come that he might test himself -again.</p> - -<p>Bright and early he and Cap went out to the diamond, -not only to look for the glasses but to do some work with -the horsehide. It is needless to say that the glasses were -not recovered, and to Bill’s despair he found that he was -throwing wild.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span>“It won’t do,” spoke Cap despondently, as he tossed -back the ball which he had had to reach away outside of -the plate to gather in.</p> - -<p>“No, I guess not,” agreed his brother. “It’s either a -new pair of specs for me, or—some one else in the box.”</p> - -<p>“We’ll try to get a new pair of glasses first,” suggested -Cap, as cheerfully as he could.</p> - -<p>An oculist whom they consulted, but not the one to whom -they had first gone after the accident, looked grave when -he had tested Bill’s eyes, and heard the story of the blow.</p> - -<p>“Of course I can fit you with glasses,” he said, “but it -may take some time to get them just right.”</p> - -<p>“How long?” asked the pitcher anxiously.</p> - -<p>“A week—perhaps two.”</p> - -<p>“It won’t do!” declared Bill. “Why the last Sandrim -game comes off in three days, and a week later the final -with the Tuckerton nine. I’ve got to pitch in both.”</p> - -<p>The oculist shrugged his shoulders.</p> - -<p>“I’ll do my best,” he said. “The lenses will have to be -specially ground. If I knew where the others were made -I could get them from there.”</p> - -<p>But the astronomer had failed to say where he had had -Bill’s glasses made, and there was nothing for it but to try -some other lens-making place. Meanwhile the oculist said -he would temporarily fit Bill with a pair of glasses.</p> - -<p>But when the pitcher tried to use them, his curves were -worse off than before, and with despair in his heart he -laid aside the spectacles.</p> - -<p>“I’ll have to wait for the others,” he said.</p> - -<p>“But what about the game with Sandrim?” asked Captain -Graydon. “Can you pitch for us?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span>Bill shook his head, and said nothing. The captain and -coach looked at each other.</p> - -<p>“We’ll have to put Mersfeld back in the box,” decided -Mr. Windam dubiously.</p> - -<p>“Yes, and he’ll have to practice hard every spare minute, -and even then—” The captain did not finish, but -they knew what he meant.</p> - -<p>It was with wild and ill-concealed exultation in his -heart that Mersfeld received orders to take his old place.</p> - -<p>“Now it’s up to you to make good!” said North to him.</p> - -<p>“And I’ll do it, too!” was the fierce response. “Bill -Smith shan’t get his hands on the ball again.”</p> - -<p>Mersfeld began hard and steady practice, and, whether -it was that the rest had done him good, or whether he had -improved did not develop, but there was a more hopeful -look on the faces of the captain and coach.</p> - -<p>“We may do Sandrim yet,” said Graydon, “and if Bill -can get his glasses in time for the Tuckerton game we may -pull out ahead.”</p> - -<p>“I hope so, but it’s going to be a hard row to hoe.”</p> - -<p>Bill and his brothers and friends made strenuous efforts -in the little while that remained to get the glasses in -time, but there was a delay, the lenses were not ready, and -when the day of the final game with Sandrim arrived Mersfeld -was in the box.</p> - -<p>Bill sat on the bench, bitterness in his heart, his fingers -fairly aching to get hold of the ball. But he knew that -his eyes were practically useless.</p> - -<p>It was a hard game, and Westfield won it only by the -hardest kind of work, and the narrow margin of one run. -It was due more to the support Mersfeld got than to his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</a></span> -pitching that he pulled the contest out of the fire, and at -one time, when Sandrim had three men on bases, and none -out it looked like a walk-over for them.</p> - -<p>But Cap, who was behind the bat, and Pete, at short, -were towers of strength, and once more the Smith boys, -even though the trio was broken, demonstrated their worth.</p> - -<p>“Now, if we can take Tuckerton’s scalp we’ll be all -right,” remarked the coach to the captain, as they strolled -off the diamond after the game.</p> - -<p>“Yes, but we need Bill. Oh, if his eyes would only get -right again!”</p> - -<p>“Yes, or if he can only get his glasses in time.”</p> - -<p>It was three days later before the oculist had the special -lenses, and Bill tried them hopefully. At first they seemed -to be all right, but after he had pitched a few balls Cap -called to him:</p> - -<p>“Get ’em over a little better, Bill. That last one was -quite a ways out.”</p> - -<p>“What’s the matter? Why it went right over the plate!”</p> - -<p>Pete who was behind Cap, watching his brother’s curves -started, and the oldest Smith lad shook his head. Then -Bill knew that the glasses were not the same.</p> - -<p>“I guess it’s all up,” he said despondently. “I’m out -of it.”</p> - -<p>“No!” cried Cap. “We’ll help you!”</p> - -<p>“What can you do?” Bill wanted to know. “There’s no -use having this oculist try it again.”</p> - -<p>“No, but we’ll find Professor Clatter and Tithonus -Somnus and get him to make a right pair of glasses. -That’s our last chance!”</p> - -<p>“And a mighty slim one, too!” murmured Bill, “with -the final game only a few days off!”</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</a></span> -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXX</h2></div> - -<p class="ph3">BILL’S FALL</p> - - -<p><span class="smcap">When</span> the oculist learned that the glasses he had made -for Bill were practically useless, he wanted to try again, -and, as there could be no harm in it, and as some good -might result, the pitcher consented. But he and his brothers -at once began the task of trying to locate Professor -Clatter and his friend the astronomer.</p> - -<p>And a task it was, for they had nothing by which to -go. The Smith boys knew the towns at which the medicine -man usually stopped in his travels, and telegrams were -sent to the police of each one, asking them to have Mr. -Clatter at once get into communication with his former -friends. But the answers that came back stated that the -professor had not recently been in the town addressed or -else had just left.</p> - -<p>The time was getting woefully short. Preparations -were completed for the final and deciding game of the -series, which as far as the pennant went, was a tie between -Tuckerton and Westfield.</p> - -<p>With the exception of their pitcher Westfield had the -best nine in many years, and her rival was equally well -provided for. It would be the hottest game of the season, -and indications pointed to record-breaking attendance.</p> - -<p>“Oh, if I only could pitch!” sighed poor Bill. “It’s -the one game of the year.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</a></span>“And Miss Morton will be there,” added Cap.</p> - -<p>“Yes, hang it all. Oh, I’ve a good notion to get some -surgeon to operate on me, and see if he can’t straighten -my eyes!”</p> - -<p>“No time for that now,” said Pete sadly, for he and his -brother, as well as all their friends, sympathized deeply -with Bill. “It’s hard luck, old man, but it can’t be helped.”</p> - -<p>Mersfeld was practicing early and late, and even Cap, -who was to be behind the bat, had to admit that the former -twirler was in good form.</p> - -<p>“He can’t touch you when you are at your best though, -Bill,” he said to his brother, “and I wish you were going to -be in the box, but—”</p> - -<p>It now seemed practically sure that no help could be -had from Professor Clatter or his odd friend. And the -second pair of glasses made by the oculist were worse than -the first. Bill’s vision was away out of focus when he used -them.</p> - -<p>“It’s me for the bench again,” he said the night before -the big game, and nothing that his brothers or friends -could say consoled him.</p> - -<p>A vigorous search was still kept up for the missing case -of spectacles, and notices were posted about the school regarding -them, but they were still in the cannon, and no -one thought of looking there, save the two conspirators, -and of course they did not. There was unholy joy between -them.</p> - -<p>“You got what you wanted,” said North to Mersfeld when -the make-up of the nine for the concluding championship -game was announced the night preceding it.</p> - -<p>“That’s right, thanks to you.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</a></span>“Oh, well, I’ll depend upon you to help me out, sometime. -I’ve got a score to pay back to Cap Smith yet,” and -there was a vindictive look on the bully’s face.</p> - -<p>The Westfield nine went out on the diamond for early -practice on the morning of the game, and Mersfeld seemed -in good form. There was a confident smile on his face -as he threw the balls to Cap.</p> - -<p>“Keep it up,” advised the catcher, who wished in vain -that his big mitt was receiving the swift balls his brother -could send in, in place of those from Mersfeld.</p> - -<p>“Tuckerton is bringing along two extra pitchers I hear,” -said the captain to Coach Windam. “They must be looking -for a hard game!”</p> - -<p>“I hope we give it to ’em! As for box men, we’ll put -Mersfeld in, of course, and if worst comes to worst and he -doesn’t last we’ll have to rely on Newton.”</p> - -<p>“I suppose so. Oh, if only Bill Smith—! But what’s -the use, we’ll do the best we can.”</p> - -<p>It was the afternoon of the great game. Already the -grandstands on the Westfield grounds were beginning to -fill up with the cohorts of the two schools, and other spectators -who came to look on, and cheer. There were pretty -girls galore, and a glance over the seats showed a riot of -colors from the hats and dresses of the maidens, to the gay -banners and ribbons on horns and canes.</p> - -<p>The Tuckerton nine had arrived in a big coach, and -their entrance on the diamond was a signal for a burst of -cheers and many songs.</p> - -<p>Then out trotted the home team, and there was a wild -burst of barbaric voices in greeting, while rival singing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</a></span> -bands, more or less in harmony, chanted the praises of their -respective teams.</p> - -<p>The Smith boys were with their mates, and, even though -he knew he was not going to play, Bill had put on a -uniform.</p> - -<p>“I’ll feel better sitting on the bench than up in the -stand,” he said to his chums. He tried to smile, but it -was a woeful imitation.</p> - -<p>There was a sharp practice by both teams. Cap took -Mersfeld to a secluded spot, and gave him some final advice -about signals, before they started to warm-up. Bill, -who wanted to see how his rival was handling the horsehide -strolled over to watch him and Cap.</p> - -<p>“Pretty good,” he said to Mersfeld, who had pitched in -some hot ones.</p> - -<p>“Glad you think so,” was the somewhat ungracious answer. -“I guess I’ll do.” Mersfeld was anything but -modest.</p> - -<p>It was almost time for the game to be called. Just back -of where Bill was watching his brother and Mersfeld, -Whistle-Breeches was knocking grounders to Pete, who was -to play shortstop. Some one threw in a ball from the outfield -to one of the fungle batters. The sphere went wild, -and came toward Whistle-Breeches.</p> - -<p>“Look out!” yelled Pete, and Anderson raised his bat -intending to stop the wildly-thrown horsehide. He hit it -harder than he intended, and it was shunted off in the -direction of Bill.</p> - -<p>“Duck!” suddenly exclaimed Cap, who saw his brother’s -danger, and instinctively Bill dodged. He turned to one -side so quickly that he lost his balance, and the next moment<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span> -he fell heavily, his head striking the ground with -considerable force, while the ball landed some distance -from him.</p> - -<p>They all expected to see Bill jump to his feet with a -laugh at his awkwardness, but to the surprise of all he remained -lying there, still and quiet.</p> - -<p>“Bill’s hurt!” cried Cap, making a dash toward him, -while several other players came hurrying forward to see -what was the matter.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span> -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXXI</h2></div> - -<p class="ph3">“PLAY BALL!”</p> - - -<p><span class="smcap">Cap Smith</span> was the first to reach his brother. As he -lifted him up Bill opened his eyes.</p> - -<p>“I’m all right,” he murmured. “I can stand alone.”</p> - -<p>He proved it by doing so. His hand went to his head, -and when it came away there was a little smear of blood on -the palm.</p> - -<p>“Must have hit on a stone and cut myself,” he said, a -bit faintly. “But I’m all right now.”</p> - -<p>“Are you sure?” asked Pete, slipping his arm around -his brother. “Better come over here and sit down.”</p> - -<p>He led Bill to the bench, and indeed the pitcher was a -trifle dizzy, and his head felt queer, for he had fallen -harder than he had supposed.</p> - -<p>The other players, finding that nothing serious was the -matter went back to their practice. In the grandstands -the singing and cheering was multiplied. Crowds of pretty -girls, eager youths, demure chaperones, old grads, young -grads and mere spectators continued to arrive until every -seat was filled.</p> - -<p>“It’s going to be a great game,” murmured Cap, who, -finding that his brother was apparently all right, resumed, -his catching with Mersfeld. “I never saw such a crowd!”</p> - -<p>“It’s money in the treasury whether we win the pennant -or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</a></span> not,” declared J. Evans Green, the business-like manager.</p> - -<p>“But we <i>are</i> going to win!” declared Cap emphatically. -“Keep ’em guessing, Mersfeld, and you’ll do. Now when -I put three fingers on my mitt so, let me have a swift drop,” -and he went on with his code of signals.</p> - -<p>The conferences between the respective captains had -ended, and Burke, head of the Tuckerton Varsity nine, -signalled to his men to come in from practice, as they were -to bat first. Graydon assembled his team for a few final -instructions.</p> - -<p>“Sorry you’re not playing with us to-day,” he said to -poor Bill, who was sitting on the bench. The cut in his -head had stopped bleeding.</p> - -<p>“You’re no more sorry than I am,” declared the pitcher -ruefully. “But it can’t be helped.”</p> - -<p>“We may have to call on you yet,” said the coach, “if -they knock Mersfeld and Newton out of the box.”</p> - -<p>“I’m afraid I couldn’t do much good,” was Bill’s doleful -answer.</p> - -<p>“Play ball!” howled the umpire, and the players took -their places, Mersfeld catching the new white horsehide -sphere the official tossed to him.</p> - -<p>The first ball which Mersfeld delivered was cleanly hit -away out in centrefield, and when it came back the batter -was on second base. There was a wild riot of cheers at -this auspicious opening for Tuckerton, and a grim look on -the faces of the Westfield players.</p> - -<p>“That looks bad,” murmured Bill, as he watched Mersfeld -wind up for his next delivery. The pitcher was visibly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</a></span> -nervous, and Cap, seeing it, made an excuse to walk -out to him.</p> - -<p>“Keep cool!” he whispered, “or you won’t last.”</p> - -<p>Mersfeld stiffened, and struck out the next man. But -the third one got a three bagger out of him, and the following -one a single. When the inning came to a close -there were three runs chalked up for the rivals of our -friends, and there was only gloom for the home team. -Nor was it dissipated by the triumphant songs their opponents -sang.</p> - -<p>One run was the best that Graydon’s men could do on -their first trial, though captain and coach pleaded earnestly -with them.</p> - -<p>“I guess they’ve got our number,” murmured Pete to -his brother as the latter donned his protector and mask.</p> - -<p>“Oh, don’t be so gloomy,” was the advice.</p> - -<p>Mersfeld went from bad to worse, and at the beginning -of the fourth inning the captain and coach held a consultation.</p> - -<p>“We’ve got to do something,” said Graydon.</p> - -<p>“I agree with you. But what?”</p> - -<p>“Newton will have to go in.”</p> - -<p>“It looks so. We can’t chance Bill.”</p> - -<p>“No. Well, tell Newton to pitch next inning.” Two -more runs went to the credit of Tuckerton, making the -score eight to two in their favor.</p> - -<p>By desperate playing and taking several chances our -friends managed to pull a brace of tallies out of the ruck -that inning, so that there was some hope. Mersfeld sulked -when told to go to the bench, and pleaded for another -chance, but the coach and captain were firm.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</a></span>“Get ready, Newton,” ordered Graydon.</p> - -<p>The substitute Varsity twirler was not a wonder, and he -knew it, but he started off well, and there was some hope, -until he began to go to pieces after issuing passes to two -men. Then it seemed all up with him, though only one -run went to Tuckerton’s credit that inning.</p> - -<p>Cap shook his head dubiously when he took off his mask -at the beginning of the second half of the fifth inning. -His apprehensive feeling was shared by his teammates, by -the coach, the manager and by thousands of the Westfield -supporters, who sat in gloomy silence while the cohorts of -Tuckerton yelled, shouted and sang themselves hoarse.</p> - -<p>“I’m going to do something desperate,” declared the -coach, to the captain, when two runs had come in to -sweeten the tally for Westfield, thereby causing wild hope -among her friends.</p> - -<p>“What are you going to do?” asked Graydon.</p> - -<p>“I know we can beat these fellows, even now, if we could -only hold them down to no more runs,” went on Windam. -“And to shut them out for the rest of the game we need -a good pitcher. Mersfeld can’t do it, Newton doesn’t -count, Bill is out of it, and I’m going to put in Morgan.”</p> - -<p>“What! The Freshman sub?”</p> - -<p>“It’s a last hope, I know,” admitted the coach, “but we’ve -got to do something. Morgan is good, and if he can last -he’ll be all right.”</p> - -<p>Rather listlessly, and almost hopelessly the captain consented -to it. He was crossing to tell Morgan of the decision -arrived at, when he noticed that Cap and Bill were -having a little warm-up practice off to one side, for it -would not be Cap’s turn to bat in some time.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</a></span>As Bill stung in a ball his brother uttered a cry of surprise.</p> - -<p>“What’s the matter—hurt?” asked the captain quickly, -fearing more bad luck. With his best catcher laid off, as -well as the star pitcher, the game might as well be given -up.</p> - -<p>“Hurt! No, I’m not hurt,” answered Cap. “Here, -Bill just throw a few more that way,” he called eagerly to -his brother.</p> - -<p>Bill, wondering what was up, did so, fairly stinging -them in with his old-time force. The look of surprise on -Cap’s face grew.</p> - -<p>“Here!” he called to the captain, and he motioned for -Bill to approach. “Do you notice any difference in your -eyes?” he asked his brother eagerly.</p> - -<p>“My eyes?” repeated Bill, slowly.</p> - -<p>“His eyes,” murmured the captain.</p> - -<p>“Yes,” went on the catcher. “Every ball you threw -came in as straight as a die, and the curve broke just at -the right time. Say, maybe I’m loony, or dreaming, but -you pitch just as you used to, Bill, before you got hurt! -Do your eyes feel any differently?”</p> - -<p>“Well, they don’t ache as they used to when I pitched -without my glasses, and there seems to be a queer feeling -in my head.” He put his hand back to where he had -fallen on the stone a little while before.</p> - -<p>“Bill, you’ve got your eyesight back!” cried Cap eagerly. -“I’m sure of it!”</p> - -<p>“Do you really believe it?” asked the pitcher trembling -with suppressed hope.</p> - -<p>“Sure. But we’ll try once more. Come over here.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</a></span>The game was going rather slow now, for the Tuckerton -pitcher was tiring, and was not sure of his man. He had -decided to walk him, and to kill time was playing with -Whistle-Breeches, who was on second. Consequently little -attention needed to be given to the contest for the moment -by the captain. He could see what Cap and Bill were going -to do.</p> - -<p>Once more Bill threw in the balls. They came just as -they had formerly done, perfectly.</p> - -<p>“You’ll do!” cried Cap in delight.</p> - -<p>“Get ready to go to the box!” ordered the captain -tensely.</p> - -<p>“But I—I don’t understand,” stammered the pitcher.</p> - -<p>“You’ve got your sight back!” went on his brother, “and -I believe what did it was the fall you just had. It did -something to your head—relieved the blood or nerve pressure -or something. Anyhow you can pitch once more!”</p> - -<p>“That’s the stuff!” cried Graydon. “We need you!”</p> - -<p>There was a wild yell from the grandstands, and out -burst a chorus of a Westfield song.</p> - -<p>“Whistle-Breeches brought in a run,” cried Graydon. -“Things are picking up! Now we’ll wallop ’em!”</p> - -<p>Three runs were the best Westfield could do that inning -and when the home team was ready to take the field there -was a murmur of surprise as it was announced that Bill -Smith would pitch.</p> - -<p>As Bill started toward the box there was some excitement -at one of the entrance gates near the grandstand -back of the home plate.</p> - -<p>“I must go in! I must go in!” a voice cried. “I tell you -the Smith boys need me!”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</a></span>Something in the voice attracted the attention of Bill, -Cap and Pete. They looked, and saw Professor Clatter -rush past a ticket-taker.</p> - -<p>“Here I am!” cried the medicine man. “I came on as -soon as I could. I got your message in Langfield. And -here are your glasses, Bill!”</p> - -<p>He held up the case containing the missing spectacles, -and fairly ran across the diamond.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</a></span> -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXXII</h2></div> - -<p class="ph3">NIP AND TUCK FOR VICTORY</p> - - -<p><span class="smcap">The</span> game was halted. There were angry demands from -several players as to why a stranger was allowed to come on -the field. Others, recognizing the professor, clamored -that it was all right.</p> - -<p>“I came as soon as I could!” explained the medicine -man to the Smith boys, who gathered about him. “I knew -something must be wrong. I can’t locate Tithonus -though. What is it? Bill’s glasses? Here they are, -found in the most opportune way! Talk about golden -rivers!”</p> - -<p>The professor was panting from his run and his rapid -talk. He held the glasses to Bill.</p> - -<p>“Where did you find them?” gasped the pitcher.</p> - -<p>“Just now, as I was coming across the campus. I left -my wagon over in the road. As I was passing one of the -cannon some of the janitors were cleaning it. There was -a lot of leaves and rubbish in it. Then out fell the -glasses just as I passed. I grabbed them up, and I knew -the whole story.”</p> - -<p>“You knew the whole story?” cried Cap. “Who put -them there?”</p> - -<p>“No, no! I can’t tell that!” declared Mr. Clatter, -while North and Mersfeld looked at each other in relief. -“I mean I understand it all—about your messages to me,” -went<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</a></span> on the medicine man. “At first I couldn’t imagine -why you had telegraphed me. I knew you must be in some -kind of trouble though.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, we generally are,” murmured Pete.</p> - -<p>“And, as soon as I saw the glasses fall from the cannon -I realized what it was. Bill lost them, perhaps a bird took -them for its nest. At any rate here they are, and it’s very -lucky, too, for I can’t get any trace of Tithy. Here, Bill, -put them on and play ball.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t need them now,” answered the pitcher.</p> - -<p>“Don’t need them! You don’t mean to say that the -game is over—you haven’t lost the championship; have -you?” and the professor looked pained, for he was a lover -of base ball, and in his journeyings he faithfully read the -accounts of the games at Westfield, where his friends the -Smith boys attended. “Have you lost the pennant?” -asked the professor sadly.</p> - -<p>“Not yet, but we’re in a fair way to if this keeps on,” -murmured Cap, for the score was seven to nine in favor -of Tuckerton.</p> - -<p>“But why doesn’t Bill need his glasses then?” asked Mr. -Clatter.</p> - -<p>“Because I can see to pitch without them,” answered our -hero. “A funny thing just happened, Professor,” and Bill -told about his fall and the odd effect it had had on his -vision. The traveling medicine man looked interested.</p> - -<p>“Yes, that’s exactly how it may have taken place,” he -declared, as Cap stated his theory. “Here, let me have -a look at you, Bill.”</p> - -<p>“Say,” angrily cried Burke, captain of the Tuckerton<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</a></span> -nine, “if this is a ball game let’s go on with it, and if -it’s a hospital for injured players we’ll get off the field.”</p> - -<p>“That’s right,” added Hedden, the pitcher. “We’re here -to win the pennant, not to listen to fairy stories.”</p> - -<p>“Play ball!” yelled Brower, the catcher.</p> - -<p>“Easy now,” counseled Professor Clatter. “It won’t -take me but a moment to look at Bill’s head, and then the -game can go on. You don’t seem to realize that something -extraordinary has taken place here.”</p> - -<p>“It will be extraordinary if we ever play ball again,” -remarked Burke, sarcastically. But the professor did not -heed him. He was looking at the cut on Bill’s head.</p> - -<p>“That accounts for your eyes getting right again,” he -said. “It’s a bad cut, but you’re in shape to play, in spite -of it. Go in, and win!”</p> - -<p>“That’s what we’re going to do!” declared Cap.</p> - -<p>“Surest thing you know!” cried Pete.</p> - -<p>“I’d like to find out how my glasses got in that cannon,” -spoke Bill, but no one enlightened him, though Professor -Clatter, as he looked at the guilty, flushed face of Mersfeld -had a suspicion of the truth.</p> - -<p>“Play ball!” called the umpire, and the Westfield nine -went to their places in the field. Mersfeld, with a bitter -look on his face, watched Bill go to the box.</p> - -<p>And the pitcher did not need his glasses, though he took -them with him as a matter of precaution. With his eyes -right once more, and feeling full of confidence Bill exchanged -a few preliminary balls with Cap. Then he signified -that he was ready for the batter. Cap, with a gratified -smile, had noticed that the horsehide cut the plate -cleanly and yet the curves broke just at the right time.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</a></span>“Strike one!” called the umpire suddenly, following the -first ball Bill delivered. The batter started. He had not -moved his stick. He gave the umpire an indignant glance, -opened his mouth as if to say something, and then thought -better of it.</p> - -<p>There was a long-drawn sigh of relief from the grandstands -and bleachers where the Westfield supporters sat, -and Bob Chapin ventured to start the song, “We’ve Got -Their Scalp Locks Now!”</p> - -<p>Bill smiled at his brother behind the plate. Pete picked -up a handful of gravel and tossed it into the air before settling -back ready for whatever might come his way.</p> - -<p>“Strike two!” came sharply from the umpire.</p> - -<p>“That’s the way to do it! Make him fan, Bill!” cried -Whistle-Breeches.</p> - -<p>“He’s done,” called Bob Chapin.</p> - -<p>“Make him give you a nice one,” was the advice the -batter got from his friends.</p> - -<p>The man with the stick tapped the plate and smiled confidently. -He was still smiling when the next ball came. -He struck at it—missed it clean, and threw his bat to the -ground with such force as to splinter it.</p> - -<p>“Batter’s out!” said the umpire quietly.</p> - -<p>“That’s the way to do it!”</p> - -<p>“There’s more where those came from!”</p> - -<p>“We’ve got their Angora!”</p> - -<p>These were the cries that greeted Bill’s initial effort in -the box at that championship game. Matters were looking -brighter for Westfield, and every man on the team, and -every supporter who wanted to see the pennant stay where -it was, felt hope coming back to him.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</a></span>There was a little apprehension in Tuckerton’s ranks. -The game had seemed so sure to them, but now the tide -was turning. Still Bill might not be able to keep it up.</p> - -<p>As for our hero, however, he knew that his eye was as -true as it had ever been, and he felt able to go on for -nine innings if necessary. But only four remained in -which to turn the trick. Could he do it? Others beside -himself asked that question.</p> - -<p>The next man stepped to the plate. Two fouls and a -miss on the last strike was the best he could do, and he -went back to the bench. The third man Bill struck out -cleanly.</p> - -<p>“Wow! Wow!” howled the Westfield crowd. “We’ve -got ’em going!”</p> - -<p>But it was to be no easy victory. Though by reason of -Bill’s twirling a momentary halt had been called on the -winning streak of the visitors, still Westfield must make -more runs in order to win the game.</p> - -<p>And this was not easy. Hedden was hit for two singles, -but the Westfield players were a bit careless on bases, -and one was caught napping. One run was brought in -on Cap’s three bagger making the score eight to nine, -with a single leading tally in favor of the visitors.</p> - -<p>From then on it was nip and tuck for victory. Bill -kept up the good twirling, and such box work as he exhibited -was not seen for many a long day on the Westfield -diamond. Not a Tuckerton player got a hit off -him in the next three innings, goose eggs going up in -the frames, that up to the advent of Bill had contained -at least one tally for each time the visitors were at bat.</p> - -<p>But, on the other hand Westfield, try as they did,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</a></span> -could not score. The captain and coach begged and -pleaded, and the crowds by songs and cheers urged their -men to battle to the death. It seemed useless. The -two teams, now evenly matched, sea-sawed back and forth, -with grim, bulldog tenacity, but there the game hung in -the balance.</p> - -<p>Tuckerton was still one run ahead when they came to -bat in the ninth inning.</p> - -<p>“Hold ’em down! Hold ’em down!” pleaded Cap to -Bill.</p> - -<p>“I will,” promised the pitcher, and he did, striking -three men out in quick succession amid the cheers of the -crowd.</p> - -<p>“Now’s our last chance,” murmured Captain Graydon -as his men came in. “It’s do or die for the pennant -now!”</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</a></span> -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXXIII</h2></div> - -<p class="ph3">WINNING THE PENNANT</p> - - -<p>“<span class="smcap">One</span> run to tie, two to win and three to make a -good job of it,” murmured Cap, as he walked to the -bench with his brothers. “Can we do it?”</p> - -<p>“We’ve got to,” answered Bill.</p> - -<p>“You make a home run, I’ll limp along after you, -and Pete can follow,” suggested Bill. “That will do -the business.”</p> - -<p>“It might happen,” said Cap. “Whistle-Breeches is -up first, then I follow, and, after Graydon has a -whack, you and Pete come along, Bill.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, don’t talk about it!” exclaimed the pitcher. “It -makes me nervous,” but he did not show any signs of it.</p> - -<p>“How are your eyes?” asked Pete.</p> - -<p>“All right. I feel fine. But I’d like to know who hid -my glasses.”</p> - -<p>“Batter up!” called the umpire, and Whistle-Breeches, a -little pale because of what depended on his work, walked to -the plate.</p> - -<p>“Now line out a good one!” counseled the coach. -“You can do it. Wait for a nice one.”</p> - -<p>It was good advice, and well meant, but alas! Whistle-Breeches -fanned the air.</p> - -<p>“One down!” exulted the captain of the Tuckerton nine. -“We only need two more!”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</a></span>“Well, you don’t get me!” murmured Cap, with a grim -tightening of his mouth. And he made good. A pretty -two-bagger was his contribution, and he got to third on -a little fly which Graydon knocked, but the captain was out -at first.</p> - -<p>“Two down, play for the batter!” called Burke. -“They’ve only got one chance, and they can’t make good. -The pennant comes to Tuckerton!”</p> - -<p>“Don’t you fool yourself,” murmured Bill, as he went to -the plate. Hedden, his rival pitcher, regarded him with a -mocking smile. Bill was not especially strong in stick -work, but somehow he felt that he was going to make good -to-day.</p> - -<p>He saw a ball coming, and sized it up for a slow out. -Knowing the peculiarity of the curve which Hedden pitched -Bill stepped right into it. His bat met the horsehide -squarely, and with a “Ping!” that sent a thrill of joy not -only to his heart but to the hearts of his brothers and -friends.</p> - -<p>“Right on the nose! Oh, what a poke!” cried Whistle-Breeches -who rejoiced for Bill over what he himself could -not do.</p> - -<p>Away sailed the ball, well over the centre fielder’s head, -away sped Bill legging it for first with all the speed of -which he was capable.</p> - -<p>“Run! Run! Run!”</p> - -<p>“Come on in, Cap!”</p> - -<p>“Oh what a poke!”</p> - -<p>“Pretty! Pretty!”</p> - -<p>The crowd on the stands was yelling and jumping up and -down. Old men were tossing their hats into the air, clapping<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</a></span> -each other on the back, making friends with strangers, -and telling each other that it reminded them of the time -when they were boys.</p> - -<p>Bill swung around second, as Cap fairly leaped over -home plate, bringing in the tying run. The Tuckerton -players were wild with chagrin. The game was being -pulled out of the fire—snatched from them at the moment -when they thought they saw a safe victory. The centre -fielder nearly had the ball now, and Bill was heading for -third base.</p> - -<p>“Go on! Go on!”</p> - -<p>“Home! Home!”</p> - -<p>This and other advice was shouted at him. He gave a -quick glance around, and decided that he would risk it -by going on to the last bag. It was a narrow chance, almost -too narrow, and Bill had to slide so far that his uniform -took on a new shade, and his mouth and eyes were filled -with dust and gravel, for the ball whizzed into the hands -of the eager baseman.</p> - -<p>“Safe!” decided the umpire after a breathless run to -third that he might see the outcome.</p> - -<p>The score was now tied!</p> - -<p>There was a howl of disgust from the Tuckerton crowd -but the decision stood, and there was wild rejoicing on the -part of the Westfield throng.</p> - -<p>“Now then, Pete, it’s up to you,” said the coach solemnly -as the third member of the Smith boys trio stepped -to the bat. “If you don’t bring Bill in at least, I’ll never -speak to you again.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll do my best,” declared the doughty little shortstop. -He was one of the best men who could have been up in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</a></span> -an emergency of this kind, with two out, a man on third -and the winning run still needed. For Pete was as cool -as the proverbial cucumber.</p> - -<p>He smiled in a tantalizing fashion at the Tuckerton -pitcher, who was on the verge of a nervous breakdown because -of the many epithets hurled at him, in an endeavor to -“get his goat.” He had to watch Bill carefully, for that -worthy was playing off as far as he dared, hoping to slip -in with the needed winning run. The catcher, too, was -fearful lest some ball get by him, and had told the pitcher -to be on the alert to run in instantly in the event of a -passed ball.</p> - -<p>“Ball one!” howled the umpire, as Hedden threw.</p> - -<p>“Oh wow! He’s going to walk you, Pete!” called Graydon.</p> - -<p>“You’ve got a pass!” shouted Bob Chapin.</p> - -<p>Pete smiled cheerfully. He thought the next ball looked -good, and swung at it, but he had been fooled by a neat -trick.</p> - -<p>“Strike one!” said the umpire, and a breathless silence -followed.</p> - -<p>“Two more like that and we’ve got ’em!” called the -catcher to Hedden. “You can do it.”</p> - -<p>The pitcher nodded. He threw the swiftest ball of -which he was capable. It came almost before Pete was -ready for it, but with the quickness of light he swung on -it.</p> - -<p>Oh what a “Ping!” followed, and he knew that he had -made good. Once more, amid the frenzied howls of the -crowd, the ball sailed outward and upward.</p> - -<p>“Bill, Oh Bill! Where are you? Come in! Come in!” -pleaded<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</a></span> scores to him. But the pitcher did not need these -entreaties. On he came running as he had never run before. -The catcher, to disconcert him, stood as though to -catch the ball. Bill dared not look around to make sure -that it had not been caught and thrown home. Brower -was right in his path.</p> - -<p>“Slide!” some one called to him, and for the second time -that day Bill dropped and shot forward on the ground. -His hand touched the plate, and he knew that he was safe, -for he had not heard the thud of the ball in the catcher’s -mitt. Then, he felt some heavy body fall on him, and for -the moment the breath was knocked from him, and he lost -consciousness. He had knocked the catcher’s feet from -under him, and toppled that player in the dust.</p> - -<p>Cap ran to pick up his brother.</p> - -<p>“Hurt?” he cried anxiously. “Oh Bill, you did it! We -win.”</p> - -<p>“No—n-not much hurt!” gasped Bill. “Just—just a -little—little short—of wind—that’s all.”</p> - -<p>They gave him water and he felt better, and then he -looked out over the diamond. Pete had reached third, -and was still running. Around the last bag he swung, but -the right fielder far on amid the daisies had the ball now.</p> - -<p>“Go back! Go back!” howled Graydon, for, though the -game was won he wanted to pile up another run against -Tuckerton if he could.</p> - -<p>But Pete did not heed. The ball had been thrown, but -the fielder had to run so far back for it, that he could -not get it far enough in. There was just a chance for Pete -to make a home run, and he took that chance.</p> - -<p>The horsehide fell short of the second baseman, who ran<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</a></span> -to get it. By this time Pete was half way home, and running -well.</p> - -<p>“Come on! Come on!” pleaded hundreds to him, and -Pete came.</p> - -<p>“Slide!” cried the coach, and, as Bill had done, so did -Pete, but with more cause.</p> - -<p>On came the ball, thrown swiftly by the second baseman. -Pete was hurtling forward through a cloud of dust, his -hand eagerly stretched out to feel the plate. His fingers -touched it, and a welcome thrill ran through him, just as -he heard the thud of the ball in the catcher’s glove. Down -came the horsehide on his shoulder with vicious force.</p> - -<p>“How’s it?” excitedly yelled the catcher to the umpire.</p> - -<p>There was a moment’s silence, and the players and -crowd hardly breathed. It seemed as if the weight of -kingdoms hung on the decision, and Pete lay there waiting.</p> - -<p>“Safe!” decided the umpire, and yells of delight mingled -with those of chagrin. Westfield had the game now by two -runs and the pennant remained with them.</p> - -<p>Oh what rejoicing there was! No need to play the -game out farther. Indeed it could scarcely have been -done had the coach or captain desired it, so wild with delight -were the members of the nine.</p> - -<p>“Oh you Smith boys!” was the gladsome cry, and around -our heroes there danced a wild and enthusiastic mob of -players of the game. Horns tooted, rattles added their -din, old men, youths and maidens swelled the riot with -their voices, the shrill tones of the girls sounding high -above the hoarser notes of triumph.</p> - -<p>“We win! We win!” cried Graydon, hugging the rather<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</a></span> -grave and sedate coach, and whirling him about in a -dance.</p> - -<p>“Yes, and at the last minute,” added Mr. Windam. -“That was a lucky fall of Bill Smith’s.”</p> - -<p>“There was crooked work somewhere,” said the captain -in a low voice. “Those glasses never fell into the cannon, -and I know whom to suspect.”</p> - -<p>“Then keep it to yourself,” advised the coach, and -Graydon did so.</p> - -<p>It seemed impossible that it was all over, that the school -baseball season was at an end, and that Westfield still had -the pennant, yet such was the case. Already the crowds -were leaving the grandstands. Students were gathering -in groups to cheer over, or sing about, the victory. The -team was hugged and hustled here and there. The Smith -boys and their mates were lifted to the shoulders of their -fellows and paraded about the diamond. The Tuckertons -had given a cheer for the victors, and, in turn, had been -cheered for their plucky fight.</p> - -<p>“And to think that this is the end of the season,” remarked -Bill regretfully to his brothers, as they walked over -toward the gymnasium.</p> - -<p>“Oh, but it will soon be fall, and then for the good old -pigskin punts!” exclaimed Pete.</p> - -<p>“That’s so. I wonder if we can make the eleven?” -said Cap. “I hope we can.”</p> - -<p>“We’ll try, anyhow,” declared Bill.</p> - -<p>How they tried, and with what success they had will -be told of in the third volume of this series to be called -“Those Smith Boys on the Gridiron; or A Touchdown in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</a></span> -Time.” In that book we will meet with our school friends -again, and learn how they played several great games.</p> - -<p>As Bill and his brothers strolled across the campus they -saw a group of girls coming toward them.</p> - -<p>“Oh cats!” exclaimed Bill. “I look like sin; don’t I?”</p> - -<p>“I’ve seen you cleaner,” answered Whistle-Breeches, as -he noted Bill’s torn jacket and dusty trousers. “But what’s -the odds?”</p> - -<p>“There’s Miss Morton,” murmured the pitcher.</p> - -<p>“Oh!” cried the girl, with whom he had once rode at -such top speed to play in the Freshman game. “Oh, I -want to shake hands with all you boys! Wasn’t it perfectly -splendid?”</p> - -<p>“Glad you think so!” mumbled Bill, trying to hide behind -Cap. But Miss Morton would have none of that. -She held out her hand to Bill especially.</p> - -<p>“I’ll spoil your gloves!” he protested.</p> - -<p>“As if I cared for them!” and she only laughed at the -grimy stains which Bill made on the white kids. Then, -in turn she and the other young ladies greeted our friends, -and repeated, over and over again, in more or less emphatic -words, what they thought of the victory.</p> - -<p>“And may I add a word,” spoke a voice, as the girls -moved off. The boys turned to behold Professor Clatter.</p> - -<p>“It was fine!” he declared. “Not even by the use if my -Rapid Robust Resolute Resolvent, my Peerless, Permanent -Pain Preventive or my Spotless Saponifier could a more -noble victory have been won. I congratulate you. Pactolus -congratulates you, and when we find the golden river -we’ll make a crown of victory for you. But what I want -to add most especially is, that our mutual friend Tithonus<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</a></span> -Somnus has just arrived. His wagon is over near mine, -and he and I entreat you to come and see us, and partake -of such humble fare as we may afford.”</p> - -<p>“Do you mean all of us?” asked Cap.</p> - -<p>“The entire nine!” cried the medicine man warmly. -“We will dine out of doors, and Mercurio will serve the -viands.”</p> - -<p>“What say, fellows; shall we go?” asked Cap, for the -members of the Varsity team were gathered about the -Smith boys.</p> - -<p>“Go? Of course,” answered Graydon. “We can break -training now, and we’ll eat golden rivers or Resolute Resolvent -or even Spotless Saponifiers! Lead on!”</p> - -<p>“You say Tithy has arrived?” asked Bill, as the little -throng moved over the campus, it having been arranged -that as soon as they got off their uniforms they would go to -the professor’s wagon.</p> - -<p>“Yes, he heard that I was headed here, and followed.”</p> - -<p>“What business is he in now?” inquired Pete.</p> - -<p>“Oh, he is selling a wonderful instrument. It is a -pocket knife, a glass cutter, a can opener, hammer, screw -driver, and twenty-six other tools, more or less, combined -into one. Tithy is enthusiastic over it. Well, I’ll go to -tell him you are coming, and then I will bid Mercurio set -the table.”</p> - -<p>The professor, with a low bow, turned away, and hastened -off.</p> - -<p>“Queer chap,” commented Graydon.</p> - -<p>“But as good as gold,” added Bill, and his brothers -agreed with him. “To think of him finding my glasses. I -wonder how they got there?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</a></span>No one answered him, and Mersfeld and North did not -hear the question. Perhaps they would not have replied -had they listened to it.</p> - -<p>A little later the members of the nine were seated in -the shade of the two queer wagons, on the long, green grass, -beside the road, partaking of the hospitality of Professor -Clatter and Tithonus Somnus, who gravely announced that -he had changed his name, as well as his trade and that -thenceforth he would be known as Cornelius Cutaby.</p> - -<p>Proudly he showed the new implement for which he was -traveling agent.</p> - -<p>“It will do anything from cutting glass to taking an automobile -apart,” he declared.</p> - -<p>“Well, if it will open some more of that ginger ale, -I’ll be glad of it,” remarked Bill. “These olives and ham -sandwiches make me thirsty.”</p> - -<p>“What ho! Mercurio!” called Professor Clatter. “Pass -the ginger ale,” and, having executed his own command -he opened the bottles with the combined glass cutter and -screw driver, and served to his friends the frothing beverage.</p> - -<p>“Now fellows, for the baseball song—‘Strike ’em Out -and Run ’em Down!’ and then we’ll go back to school -and get ready for the celebration to-night!” suggested -Cap, after a pause.</p> - -<p>The improvised banquet was over. In the twilight the -boys stood up, and softly sang the time-honored song of -Westfield, sung whenever there was a victory. Professor -Clatter brought out a guitar and played the accompaniment, -and Tithy—I beg his pardon, Cornelius Cutaby—joined -in the chorus.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</a></span>And now, for a time, we will take leave of Those Smith -Boys, though if the fates are kind, they may be met with -again, as well as the professor and the traveling agent for -the combined glass cutter and monkey wrench.</p> - - -<p class="ph3">THE END</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<p class="ph1">Boy Inventors’ Series</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>The author knows these subjects from a practical standpoint. Each -book is printed from new plates on a good quality of paper and -bound in cloth. Each book wrapped in a jacket printed in colors.</p></blockquote> - - -<p class="center"><i>Price 60c each</i></p> - - -<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="table"> -<tr><td>1....</td><td>Boy Inventors’ Wireless Triumph</td></tr> -<tr><td>2....</td><td>Boy Inventors’ and the Vanishing Sun</td></tr> -<tr><td>3....</td><td>Boy Inventors’ Diving Torpedo Set</td></tr> -<tr><td>4....</td><td>Boy Inventors’ Flying Ship</td></tr> -<tr><td>5....</td><td>Boy Inventors’ Electric Ship</td></tr> -<tr><td>6....</td><td>Boy Inventors’ Radio Telephone</td></tr> -</table> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p class="ph1">The “How-to-do-it” Books</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>These books teach the use of tools; how to sharpen them; to design -and layout work. Printed from new plates and bound in cloth. -Profusely illustrated. Each book is wrapped in a printed jacket.</p></blockquote> - - -<p class="center"><i>Price $1.00 each</i></p> - - -<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="table"> -<tr><td>1....</td><td>Carpentry for Boys</td></tr> -<tr><td>2....</td><td>Electricity for Boys</td></tr> -<tr><td>3....</td><td>Practical Mechanics for Boys</td></tr> -</table> - - -<p class="center"><i>For Sale by all Book-sellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of -the above price.</i></p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p class="center"> -<span class="x-large">M · A · DONOHUE · & · COMPANY</span><br /> -711 · SOUTH · DEARBORN · STREET · · CHICAGO</p> - - - - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Those Smith Boys on the Diamond, by Howard R. 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