“Don’t think of it, anyway!” begged Hodge. “Pitch the game yourself, Merry, and we’ll support you next time.”
“That’s what we will, most mighty one!” declared Ready. “We’ll back you up like a stone wall.”
Within a short distance of the hotel they came face to face with Derring, the treacherous umpire. He was accompanied by Hazen, the gambler.
The moment he saw Merriwell, Derring’s face flamed, and he uttered an exclamation of anger. He had been drinking, and he made straight for Frank.
“I want to see you!” he exclaimed. “T believe you gave the crowd the impression that I was trying to do something crooked to-day. I have a score to settle with you.”
Frank looked at the rascal in surprise and contempt.
“You have more nerve than any man I ever saw,” he declared. “Your work on the field to-day spoke for itself. I did not have to give the impression.”
“But you did it, just the same. You got the crowd down on me.”
“How?”