Ignoring the protest Dan looked straight into the face of his accuser and said: “I shall have to say both yes and no. I’ll own up that if I hadn’t been a—if some people hadn’t thought I could pitch a little—probably I wouldn’t be here now. But I know too, that that isn’t the only reason why——”
“That’s all I want,” interrupted Gus triumphantly. “You own up that you don’t pay your own way, and you can’t deny that someone has offered to send you because you think you can pitch a little. That’s all I claimed. I haven’t anything against you, you understand, but I rather guess that Doctor Sprague won’t stand for such things. The Tait School has too good a name to spoil it now by hiring m—professionals,” he hastily interrupted himself.
The boys glanced slyly at Dan, but he was silent. His face flushed and it was plain that the brutal words had cut deeply, although he tried not to show it. Turning sharply, Hodge said:
“Richards, did you ever get money for playing ball?”
“Not a cent!” spoke up Walter hastily.
“Let him answer for himself,” said Gus.
“No, I never was paid for a game,” answered Dan quietly.
“That settles it,” declared Smith.
“No, it doesn’t settle it,” almost shouted Walter. “I’ll tell you fellows just how it was——”