“This meeting will be conducted in a gentlemanly manner, or not at all,” went on the professor quietly; but the boys knew what he meant. “We are here to discuss the baseball situation, and try to decide on some plan for bettering the team. I will hear suggestions.”
“I just want to say one thing,” began Hiram. “I have managed this team for three seasons, and——”
“Mis-managed it,” murmured someone.
“Why didn’t we get the Blue Banner?” asked another voice.
“Young gentlemen, you will have to keep from making side remarks, and interrupting the speakers,” said Dr. Rudden. “Go on, Shell.”
“I never had any kicking on my management before,” continued Hiram, glaring at those around him. “I can manage it all right now, and it’s only some soreheads——”
“Rather unparliamentary language,” the chairman warned him.
“If we had a few good players we could win every game,” went on the bully. “But the season is young yet, and——”
“I don’t think that is a valid excuse,” said the professor. “You had your choice of the whole school in picking the nine, so it is the fault of yourself and the captain if you haven’t a good team. As for the earliness of the season, the boys have had plenty of practice and they ought to have struck their gait before this. I’m afraid something else is to blame.”
“We need better pitchers for one thing!” called someone.