"Oh, yes; you'd have had us going around the bases one after another."
Over by the bench Mr. Barry was punctuating some remarks with emphatic motions of his knotty cane.
"Extraordinary—extraordinary! Not even one of them got as far as second base!"
"I suppose you will not come again, sir?" ventured Professor Ivins.
"I most certainly shall," answered Mr. Barry. "But I hope to goodness I'll see a more cheering sight on the next occasion."
The boys who happened to hear these remarks told their companions. As fast as though the air had wafted the words from one point to another the school had them on the tip of its tongue. And they grew in importance in the process of traveling about.
"Never mind, fellows," remarked Bob Somers, as they gathered in the gymnasium. "There are two more games with the Stars before the inter-scholastic championship begins."
A boy rushing wildly into the doorway attracted his attention.
"Hello, Benny! What's up?" drawled Dave Brandon.
"An awful lot!" cried Wilkins, breathlessly. "What do you think? Luke Phelps just told me he heard that Mr. Barry said he was so disgusted he thought of withdrawing his offer—honest fact. Say, Brandon, does that article of mine have to be typewritten?"