CHAPTER XV
A STRANGE DISCOVERY
"Three cheers for Excelsior Hall!" cried Captain Elmer Dalton of theMorningside team. "All ready boys, with a will!"
The cheers were deafening and perhaps they were all the more heartybecause it was the winning nine and its supporters who were giving them.
The crowd swarmed over the diamond, players and spectators mingling.Everybody was talking at once, the losing side and their supporterstrying to explain how the defeat had come about, and the victorsexulting in their victory.
"I don't see what's the matter with you fellows, anyhow," growled Hiram,as he strode over and joined the little group of disconsolate ones whowere walking toward the dressing room. "You ought to have beaten 'em."
"And so we would have if they'd given me decent support," broke in Luke."There were too many changes on the team."
"And I suppose you think I'm responsible for that," retorted Hiramquickly.
"I didn't say so. One thing, though; there's got to be another change."
"That's right," added the manager scowling at the team, but neither henor Luke intimated where the change ought to be made.
"They're right on that one point," said Peaches, "a big shift is needed,and I can tell 'em one place to make it, if not two."
"Where?" asked Teeter.
"Pitcher for one," replied Peaches quickly, "and catcher for the other.If we had two good men as a battery there would have been a differentstory to-day."
"What's that?" quickly demanded Hiram, turning around, for Peaches hadunconsciously spoken louder than he intended.
"I said I agreed with you," spoke the lad diplomatically, "that if we'dhad some changes the result would have been different to-day," but hedid not mention the changes.
"Well, it's all over," remarked Joe to Tom, as they descended from thegrandstand. "Let's get back home. Jove! But it's too bad to start theseason with a defeat."
"Somebody had to lose," replied Tom philosophically. "We couldn't bothwin, and I didn't expect it would turn out much different when I heardthe talk on the way to the game. But it will teach Luke and Hiram alesson."
"If they want to learn it--yes."
"Oh, don't worry. They'll be only too anxious, after to-day. But Inotice some of the Trinity Hall and Lakeview Prep. players here. Gettinga line on us, I guess."
"Shouldn't wonder. We play Trinity next week."
"Well, we ought to win that game. Hurry up, Joe, and we can get the nexttrolley back. No autos for us."
As the two chums hurried across the diamond they found themselves in themidst of a crowd of Morningside players and students. At the sight ofone lad in the uniform of Morningside, a uniform not soiled by the dustand grime of the diamond, Tom plucked Joe by the sleeve.
"For the love of Mike, look there!" exclaimed the former first basemanof the Silver Stars.
"Where?" asked Joe, and Tom pointed to the player in the spick and spannew uniform.
"Sam Morton!" gasped Joe, as he recognized his former rival on the Starsand his sometime enemy. "Sam Morton! What's he doing here?"
"Looks as if he was on the nine," replied Tom. "He's in one of theMorningside uniforms, but he didn't take part in the game."
"Sam Morton here!" went on Joe, wonderingly. "It doesn't seem possible.I wonder why we didn't hear something about it? It sure is he, andyet----"
"Wait, I'll ask some one," volunteered Tom, and tapping on the shouldera Morningside player near him, he asked: "Is he one of your nine?" Tompointed to Sam Morton, who had not yet observed our heroes.
"What? Oh, yes; he's a newcomer here I believe, but he had quite areputation, so Captain Dalton put him on as substitute pitcher."
"Substitute pitcher!" gasped Joe.
"Yes, he's rather good I believe. He hasn't had much practice with us asyet or we'd have played him part of the time against you fellows to-day.Why, do you know him?"
"Yes. He used to be on the same town team with me," replied Joe.
"He'll probably play next week," went on the Morningside lad, "and whenwe meet you fellows again he'll probably do what Ted Clay did to-day,"and he grinned cheerfully--there is nothing like a cheerful enemy.
"Sam Morton here," murmured Joe, as if unable to believe it, while hisold enemy strode on without having seen him, and the Morningside lad,who had given them the information swung about on his way to thedressing rooms.
"Say, that's going some!" exclaimed Joe, as he and Tom walked on. "Fancymeeting Sam Morton here. I didn't hear that he was going to boardingschool."
"Neither did I. He must have made up his mind lately. Probably he beganright after the Easter vacation. I didn't spot him at the time of thebanner parade."
"Me, either. But there was such a mob of fellows that it was hard tofind anyone. But if he's here and he makes good, and pitches in some ofthe games, and if----"
"If you get the chance to pitch for the school nine, you and Sam mayfight your old battles over again," finished Tom.
"That's right," agreed Joe.
It was a discouraged, disgruntled and altogether unhappy crowd of ladsthat returned to Excelsior Hall late that afternoon. Despondency perchedlike a bird of ill-omen on the big flagstaff; and a celebration thatsome of the lads had arranged for, in case of a victory, did not comeoff.
Tom and Joe were seated in their room, talking over various matters,including the game of the day, when there came the usual signal on theirdoor, indicating that a friend stood without.
"That's Teeter," predicted Tom.
"Peaches," was Joe's guess, but when he swung open the portal both ladsstood there. On their faces were looks of suppressed excitement.
"What's up?" demanded Joe.
"Lots. Special meeting of the athletic committee called. In the gym.Come on!" panted Peaches.
"We're going to protest against the way Hiram manages the team!" addedTeeter.
"Come on!" urged Peaches, recovering his breath. "We want you with us.There's a lot of feeling against Hiram and Luke. They practically lostthe game for us to-day. The revolt is spreading. It's a chance for you,Joe. Come on."
"There's going to be a hot time!" predicted Teeter. "We have permissionto hold a meeting. All the fellows are coming. Get a move on."
Joe and Tom grabbed up their caps and hurried after their chums, Joewith a wildly-beating heart. Had his chance come?