As Hal was on his way home alone that night, having stayed around longer than Hans, he heard some one following close behind him, and after he had gone a couple of blocks someone touched him on the shoulder and said, “Hello, Case, what’s the hurry?” Turning round he saw that it was Johnny McGrew, the old timer who was a great second baseman and who was on the team which would play the next day. After they had walked a little way, McGrew suddenly said: “Case, I want you to do something for me. We old fellows are no match for the wonders, including yourself, which Hughie has on the Varsity this year, and we’ve just got to win to keep up the old team’s reputation. You just write down the signals which Hughie uses, and that will enable us to lick the spots off you. Nobody will know about it, and I’ll see that you get a hundred and twenty-five dollars for it.”
Naturally Hal became very indignant, and proceeded to show it by preparing to fight.
[“Now don’t get mad, kid,” said McGrew.] “Nobody need know. Think it over and I’ll call around at your room in the morning and fix it up with you.” Then without another word he turned on his heel and went back. Hal was so mad he did not know what to do for several minutes. His first thought was to go back to the hotel where these old fellows were staying and where he knew he would still find a large number of his student friends and denounce Johnny. Finally he thought of Hughie and he became almost sick at the thought that anyone would take him for that kind of a lad.
[“Now don’t get mad,” said McGrew.]
“I’ll go to see Hughie and tell him all about it,” said Hal to himself. “As they have approached me and found I wouldn’t do what they wanted, they will probably tackle some one else who may fall.” So he hunted up Jenkins whom he found in his rooms with Everson and Larke, laying out the campaign for the game next day. By this time Hal was so angry he didn’t wait to see Hughie alone, but blurted out his story to the three of them. They were very much surprised, and thanked Hal for coming to them with the warning.
“I wonder,” said Larke, “if that’s the way they win from us youngsters.”
“What’s the matter with putting up a job on McGrew?” said Everson.
“Say, that would be a slick idea,” said Hughie. “I’ve got the scheme. You go home, Hal, to-night and say nothing. When McGrew comes in the morning you tell him you’ll do it, but that I never give out the signals until after morning practice, and that you will get them for him and hand them to him when the teams are dressing for the afternoon game. Also that he can hand you the money later.