“What do you say? Two hundred to one hundred.”
“No use. It can’t be done, and you’re in luck.”
“When does your local paper appear?”
“Thursday.”
“I’m going to insert a notice in the paper to the effect that the Elkton team does not dare give Merriwell another chance.”
“Don’t be so foolish!”
“Look the paper over when it comes out,” said Raybold. “You’ll find the notice.”
Raybold was in earnest. He really did insert a notice in the local paper, paying advertising rates for the privilege. This notice was sarcastically worded and reflected on the courage of the local team in refusing to give the Merries another game. It called attention to the fact that the Merries had on their tour defeated far better known and much stronger teams than the Elks, while it further stated that no team could draw such a crowd, all of Elkton being desirous of witnessing another “go” with the visitors who had given the locals such a tussle the first time.
There was something about this notice that aroused the pride and indignation of the Elktonites. The village hummed over it. The citizens began to tell one another that the Elks must give Frank Merriwell’s team another chance.
The Elks were playing in another town, but Lawrence was called up on the phone by two or three persons who asked him why he did not play the Merries again.