“Wait a minute,” said Dick. “Let me run this thing over. You see he has it fixed so our final game of the season is to be played in Maplewood. I object to that. If he has this game in Maplewood to-morrow, Fairhaven must have the last two games at home. Stand firm on that, Ray. If they agree to it we can afford to accept these other changes.”
“That’s right,” nodded Garrett, and immediately he announced to the meeting Fairhaven’s position in the matter.
Hammerswell raised an objection, and was feebly backed by Whitcomb. The Maplewood man turned in appeal to Uriah Blackington.
“You see there are two of us against one, Mr. Blackington. That ought to decide the matter.”
“But it doesn’t,” declared the Rockford manager grimly.
“Why not?”
“Because we’ve agreed on a schedule, and unless all managers are satisfied with any changes made there can be no changes. If you want this game to-morrow at Maplewood, Mr. Hammerswell, you will have to accept Fairhaven’s terms and give them the last two games on the island.”
In vain Hammerswell argued and pleaded. With difficulty he repressed his annoyance and anger. For once he found it impossible to carry things his own way, and in the end he was compelled to acquiesce to Garrett’s terms. When this final agreement was made, the altered schedule was accepted by vote in the regular manner.
“We got the best of that, Garrett,” smiled Dick, as they left Blackington’s office together. “The two last games on the island should be rousers for us. If we are in position to fight for first place, we will have big crowds and make a fat thing out of it.”
“That’s right, Dick,” nodded Ray. “You were long-headed in demanding that change. I am sorry we have to return to Fairhaven to-night. That trip across always shakes the team up some and puts it out of condition. We’ll have to return as early as possible to-morrow in order to rest up on the mainland before the game.”