“I wish I could,” said Chick hopelessly. “Honestly, though, I don’t see how he could make anything out of what I said, Mr. Cade. We never talked signals, and, anyway, it was before we’d changed to the new ones. Maybe I did explain two or three plays to him, but I don’t believe he understood them or could remember them, sir.”
Mr. Cade shook his head. “He could if he set out to, I’m afraid. Look here, it’s nearly eleven, and you chaps will have to hustle. When you get a good chance, Burton, I want you to sit down and go over your talks with Devore and try to recall about what was said by you regarding the team. It may be that Devore hasn’t a thing in the world and that the whole business is poppycock, but I’d like to be certain one way or another. Will you do that?”
“Yes, sir,” replied Chick despondently. “Gosh, I seem to have made a complete mess of everything! I wish some one had hit me on the head a couple of months ago, and hit a lot harder! I—I’m beastly ashamed of myself, Mr. Cade, and it’s certainly mighty white of you to—to take it so decently!”
“That’s all right. Don’t trouble about it too much. Get to bed now, have a good sleep and see me to-morrow.”
[CHAPTER XIX]
TOMMY ISSUES AN ULTIMATUM
Very little was said on the way back to Upton, partly because there was little time remaining before eleven o’clock and it was necessary to hurry, and partly because both boys were busy with their thoughts. Once Bert said in puzzled tones: “Funny Devore wrote to you in a railroad envelope if he got fired a year ago, Chick.”
“Probably took a supply of them home,” answered Chick. “Just about what he would do, swipe the office stationery. He must have run out of letter-heads, though, because he wrote on a sheet of plain paper. Did you hear what Johnny said? That Devore made his living shooting pool? Gosh, he played me for an easy mark, all right! I’m going to find that guy and push his face in if it’s the last thing I do.”
Nearing the dormitory Bert spoke again. “I didn’t mention it to Johnny, Chick, but the day Devore came up to the room after his money, you know, he tried to pump me. I didn’t think anything about it at the time, but I guess he was after some dope on our plays.”