“There has been very little shifting of late. The team is pretty well settled down. Of course there must be shifts when men are hurt, but I think we have some substitutes who are fully as strong as the regulars.”
At this moment two persons approached the group. They were Captain Birch and Steve Lorrimer, the manager. There was a serious look on their faces. In fact, Lorrimer seemed decidedly angry. The group parted for him, and he stopped before Frank, with Birch slightly in the background.
“Look here, Merriwell,” said the manager sharply, “what is this I’ve heard that you are saying?”
“I don’t know, sir,” said Frank quietly. “What have you heard?”
“Have you been saying that you thought the team was overworked so that it was not in condition?”
Frank’s lips came together for a moment. He saw there was a storm rising.
“I believe I did make some such remark,” he answered.
“Well, you are making altogether too much talk! Why the devil did you say it?”
“Because it is true?”
Lorrimer turned pale.