“When do we play?” asked Joe.
“This coming Saturday.”
“I thought they said all their dates were filled,” commented Tom Davis.
“They were, but some team they counted on busted up and that left an opening. Then, too, I fancy that little dig I gave them about being afraid had its effect. Joe, it’s up to you now.”
“All right!” and our hero accepted the responsibility with a smile.
There was considerable excitement among the Silver Stars over the prospective game. They were almost too excited to keep on with the practice against the scrub, but Darrell talked like a “Dutch uncle” to them, to quote Rodney Burke, and they went at their work with renewed vigor.
When Joe got home that evening after some hard practice there was another letter from his father. It was brief, merely saying:
“In a few days I will know all. My next will contain good news—or bad.”
“Oh, this suspense is terrible,” complained Mrs. Matson.