“But, between you and me,” said Don, taking Dick’s arm, “we gained a lap on you through the bad playing of one man on your team. You know whom I mean.”
“I don’t put it onto any one man,” retorted the Fardale captain. “The simple truth is that I was not pitching my game to-day.”
Roberts laughed.
“Our fellows were hitting well, Merriwell; but your shortstop made several bad breaks. The only thing he did during the game was to get that first two-bagger. And he spoiled it by trying to make three bases. I don’t know how it looked to you, but, by George! it actually seemed to me that he was trying to throw you fellows down.”
Dick shook his head.
“Darrell isn’t that kind of a chap,” he asserted. “He has always been loyal to Fardale, and there is no reason why he should wish to see us defeated.”
“All right,” said Roberts. “You know best.”
“I had to put him into the game to fill a gap. Our regular shortstop, Gardner, was taken ill.”
“Well, take my advice, don’t fill any more gaps with Darrell. When are we going to play this game off? Of course, we will have to do it some time. We’re confident we can beat you this year, and we don’t want to let the chance slip.”
“Why, I don’t know,” answered Dick. “Our dates are pretty well filled.”