“That’s all right,” returned Roland. “You’ll see pretty soon that I know what I know. Yale can’t win to-day. The die is cast, and Virginia drags her feathers in the dust.”
Hodge became convinced that he understood the fellow’s meaning. He remembered Elsie’s words of a short time before. Why was Ditson so confident? For once in his life, Bart resolved to be diplomatic. He would seek to draw the fellow out.
“With Merriwell in the box, there is a possibility that Virginia will not score,” he said.
“With Merriwell in the box!” laughed Ditson. “Ha! ha! ha! Why, is that so? Well, wait and see what Mr. Merriwell does to-day. It is my private opinion that he will not do any pitching worth mentioning. I tell you Virginia will bury you.”
There was that in the fellow’s manner that added to Bart’s conviction that something was wrong. For the first time Hodge began to be alarmed.
“What do you mean?” he demanded. “Merriwell is in first-class trim. He is sure to do good work to-day.”
“Is he? Ha! ha! ha! Wait and see!”
“What is up?” hissed Hodge, unable to control himself longer. “Have you been at your old dirty tricks, Ditson? If you have—if the least harm has befallen Frank Merriwell——”
“Don’t say it,” warned Roland, with a careless gesture of his cane. “I don’t mind your bluffing talk, Hodge. I know nothing about anything that has happened to your pet, Merriwell. I only know that he is a——”
“Come outside and say it—come outside!” begged Bart. “Don’t force me to hit you here!”