“Well, I suppose that’s so,” admitted the Texan. “Never thought of it that way. No, pard, you can’t ask him to pitch; but, all the same, you can’t pitch yourself. What are you going to do?”
“It’s a problem I can’t answer now,” said Dick.
Arlington was the one who settled the problem. That very day he stopped Merriwell on the parade ground, drew him aside, and said:
“See here, Captain Merriwell, I am going to ask you just one more favor. If you don’t grant it, this will be the last time I’ll ever ask anything of you.”
“What is it?” demanded Dick.
“I want to pitch Saturday.”
“Do you?”
“Sure thing. May I?”
“Do you realize what you are asking?”
“You bet I do!” warmly retorted Chet. “You turned me down the last time I asked such a favor, and I thought I’d never ask another.”