“Not proven perhaps, but——”
“Then you’re not being used right, Bern.”
“Not proven, but established as a conviction in Merriwell’s mind.”
“Rot! rot! You just think it has been established as a conviction in his mind. You don’t know whether it has or not.”
“I do know he is satisfied that Tucker is innocent.”
“And Tucker, being one of his goo-goo boys, gets the chance to play, while you pine on the bench.”
“Merriwell knows I’m friendly with you. He knows you would do anything in this world to hurt him. He doesn’t trust me. If I’d cut loose from you the way Kates did, I’d be on the team the same as Kates is. He’s there, isn’t he? You can’t say Merriwell is keeping one of his particular pets on first to the exclusion of Kates.”
“Merriwell had to have a first baseman and an assistant pitcher. Ambitious as he is, as much as he likes to show off, he can’t do all the pitching. Toleman was sulking, and the team just had to accept Kates. That’s plain enough. You didn’t have a chance of forcing yourself in the way Sam did.”
“Oh, don’t tell me that! I don’t believe it. I got there once. What have I made by listening to your plans and plots? I’ve lost the chance I had, and even though they can’t prove anything against me I’m under suspicion. You’ve said you would clear me, but never yet have you made a single promise good.”
“Now, hold on!” snarled Lynch, his red hair seeming to bristle. “That’s just about enough from you. Haven’t I been doing my best? Wasn’t I putting myself out on your account last night, and didn’t it come near being my finish?”