“And you don’t yet know who pulled down the statue?”
“No. It was manly of Fodick to confess, and though I shall have to suspend him, of course, I didn’t even ask him to inform on the guilty ones. I really couldn’t, you know.”
“No, I suppose not. But I’m glad Joe is going to play. I think we shall win.”
“I hope so,” murmured Dr. Fillmore.
The surprise and gratification of the students may easily be surmised when the next morning at chapel, Dr. Fillmore made his announcement, stating that Joe had been on probation under a misapprehension, and that now the ban was removed he could play ball.
“And I hope that he and the others of the nine play their very best,” concluded the head of the school, “and win!”
There was a spontaneous cheer, and neither the doctor nor any of the teachers took the trouble to stop it. Joe’s face was burning red, his heart was thumping like a trip hammer, but he was the happiest lad in school.
“Oh, it’s great! Glorious! I can’t talk! Whoop!” yelled Teeter, once out of chapel, as he balanced himself on his toes.
“Say, old man, it’s too good to be true!” cried Peaches, yelling and capering about until his usually fair complexion was like that of a beet.
“We’ll make Morningside look like thirty cents!” declared Tom.