What happened is well known. Joe was accused, and would not inform on another to save himself. Perhaps it was the wrong thing to do—certainly he owed it to himself to have the right to vindication. I am not defending him, I am only telling of what happened.
Then came the dramatic episode, when Spike unwittingly brought out the truth from Charlie. It seems that the boy’s conscience had been troubling him, for though Weston pretended it was only an innocent joke he was playing on Joe, the lad suspected something.
And so the full explanation was made to the Dean, and the latter, publicly, at chapel the next morning, begged Joe’s pardon, and restored him to his full rights. As for Weston and De Vere, they were not in evidence. They had left Yale.
“Sharp practice from now on,” ordered Mr. Hasbrook, when the excitement had quieted down somewhat. “We’ll have to replace De Vere at right field, but otherwise the team will be the same as before. Matson, you’ll pitch, of course.”
“And he’ll win for us, too!” cried Spike.
“I’m sure I hope so,” went on the head coach. “Spike, if it wasn’t so late in the season I’d let you catch. You deserve something for your share in this.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t think of catching now, though it would be great,” declared Joe’s chum. “Give me a chance next season.”
“I sure will,” said the head coach. “Get busy now, everybody. We’ve got to beat Princeton!”
“Oh, Joe, do you think we’ll win?” asked Spike, half nervously, the night before they were to start for New York to meet their rivals.
“Win! Of course we’ll win!” cried Joe, and though so much depended on him, he was the coolest member of the team.