"We are bound to be the champions!"
"I think we ought to play them a series of three games," suggested Joe. "One game is hardly a fair test."
"That is exactly my idea," said Fred. "Let us talk it over with Voup and his crowd."
"Of course if he wants to play only one game let it be so," said Link. "I'm sure we can beat them."
A note was addressed to the members of the Excelsiors, asking for a conference, and the talk came off the next afternoon. The rivals had already considered the matter of playing three games for the local championship, and were willing to come to such an agreement. It was decided that the first game should be played on the Excelsiors' grounds, the second on the Lakeports' grounds and the third, if a third game was necessary, should be decided by a toss-up.
"We are going to wax you good and hard from the start," said Si Voup, after the meeting was over. "After the first inning you won't be in it a little bit."
"Talk is cheap," answered Fred, dryly. "It costs money to buy mules. Wait till the first game is over."
"I don't see how you can expect to win," put in Sidney Yates. "We have got the finest players in this vicinity on our club."
"No professionals are to be allowed," said Joe, quickly.
"Oh, we haven't any professionals," answered Si Voup. But this was not strictly a fact, since two of the players on his team had played for money several times.