"It's all over college, Tubbs, all over college. You must be practicing pitching in private."
"But I don't know a thing about pitching. In fact, I don't know much about baseball," pleaded the dudish student.
"Oh, come now, Tubbs—you can't fool me. Most likely you have been practicing in private, and when you come out on the diamond you will astonish everybody. Well, I am glad to know that Brill College is really to have a first-class pitcher at last. We need it if we are going to win any baseball games.
"Now, Tom, I tell you that I don't know——"
"Oh, you can't fool me, William," declared Tom, positively. "I got the information straight, and I know it is absolutely correct. You are booked as the head pitcher for Brill this season." And thus speaking, Tom turned on his heel and walked off, leaving William Philander Tubbs much perplexed.
CHAPTER V
THREE LETTERS
A new idea had entered Tom's mind, and he lost no time in carrying it out. Meeting Bob Grimes and Stanley Browne, he drew them quickly to one side and mentioned the talk he had had with William Philander.
"Now, carry it along," he concluded. "If you do it properly, we'll have a barrel of fun out of it."
"Right you are!" returned Bob, and Stanley winked knowingly. Then Tom hurried off, to interview several others of the students, principally those who were interested in the Brill baseball nine.