“Do I? I should say I did! Why, he was one of the most contemptible sneaks I ever saw!”
“Roland Ditson is in Charlottesville.”
“But he hasn’t courage enough to do anything. No one need ever fear him.”
“He might not have courage enough himself, but there are desperate men in these parts who will do almost anything for money. We do not see many of them here in town, but we hear of them. You know there is an outlaw by the name of Cunningham who defies officers to capture him and who has carried on a perfect reign of terror not more than a hundred miles from here.”
Bart laughed, trying to reassure her.
“Oh, well, it’s not at all likely Mr. Cunningham has had anything to do with Roland Ditson or is in this vicinity. Don’t get alarmed, Elsie. Frank can take care of himself.”
“But Roland Ditson has been so confident that U. V. would defeat Yale! It has seemed strange. You know he comes here to this house, and I have been compelled to meet him and treat him decently. He has made some talk, and it has been his boast that Virgil Paragon, the great U. V. pitcher, would ‘make Yale look sick.’ I understand that he has bet lots of money against Yale.”
“Well, he’ll lose it,” said Bart.
“You bet your boots he will,” mentally agreed King Jimmy.
“Not if Frank does not pitch.”