“Look here!” exclaimed Bart, and his friends noticed he was pale. “Why didn’t you come to me like a man, Sandy Merton, and tell me there was opposition? I’d have resigned in a minute. But this is a sneaky way of doing things and I’ll fight it, do you understand? I’ll resign if the majority says I ought to but not before. Now go ahead and hold your election!”
“Hurrah for Bart!” called some one and there was a loud shout.
“Order!” vainly called Sandy.
“We don’t want an election!” sang out another boy. “Bart is the best captain we ever had! Didn’t we lick the Preps?”
“That’s right!” yelled a number. “Bart for captain!”
“Let them have the election!” cried Bart. “I’m not afraid. I know what it’s all about. It’s because I didn’t let Sandy pitch that game. And what’s more,” he added, “I believe he deliberately put Lem out of business so he might have a chance!”
“That’s a falsehood!” cried Sandy, making a spring toward Bart.
“Ask Lem,” was Bart’s reply. “If you want to fight, Sandy Merton, come on!”
“Don’t talk that way,” counseled Ned. “Let’s see if we can’t settle this thing peaceably.”