“Then I’m off for a line of study.” Sam arose and Jack followed his example. “We’d all better keep our ears wide open and our eyes peeled between now and Saturday. If we can find out what they’re up to maybe we can get ready for them. I don’t half like the way Gus is grinning!”
“I’ve got a private detective on the job,” answered Dolph. “Young Green, Midget Green, you know, came to me this afternoon and said he’d heard that the Towners were going to do something this year that would just give them the game. He didn’t know what it was, however; he’d just heard some of the kids boasting. I told him to try and find out what the Towners were up to and he’s hot on the trail now, I guess.”
“I suppose,” said Ted, “you promised him that if he found out anything you’d let him chase balls in Finkler’s meadow for the rest of his natural life!”
“Something of that sort,” agreed Dolph smilingly.
“Isn’t it possible to get hold of some of that field?” asked Jack. “I heard the fellows talking about it this afternoon, and Sam says Finkler won’t sell or lease or anything.”
“Wish we could,” said Dolph. “No, the old rascal has it in for us good and hard. It’s a wonder he doesn’t stand down there with a shotgun and keep us from getting the balls that go over there!”
“Has he been asked about it lately?” pursued Jack.
“Lately? Why, no, not for a year or so, I suppose. I guess Benny’s tired of making him offers. The last time he offered old Finkler about twice what the land was worth, I heard. What the school ought to do is to get some land across the road and put the athletic field there. We need a running track pretty bad, Borden.”
“So I should think. I was wondering whether if the fellows sort of got together and agreed not to—to worry Mr. Finkler, or to trespass any more, he wouldn’t rent a strip of that meadow to us.”