CHAPTER XXIII
HIRAM IS OUT
There was an ominous silence over the gathering in the gymnasium. Itwas entirely different from the former meeting which started in such ahub-bub, and which created such a stir. This time it meant "business,"as Peaches said.
Hiram called the session, but refused to preside. He wanted to be ableto say what he thought from the floor, and from the manner in which heand Luke and one or two of their friends conferred before the sessionopened, it was evident that Hiram was going to make a fight to maintainhis prestige.
"Come to order, young gentlemen," suggested Dr. Rudden, when thegymnasium was well filled. It seemed as if every lad in Excelsior Hallwas there. "You know what we are here for----"
"To elect a new manager and captain!" shouted someone.
"Stop!" commanded the coach, banging his gavel.
"Who said that?" cried Hiram, springing to his feet. "If I find out----"
"Silence!" commanded the chairman, while Luke pulled his crony to hisseat.
"This meeting will be conducted in a gentlemanly manner, or not at all,"went on the professor quietly; but the boys knew what he meant. "We arehere to discuss the baseball situation, and try to decide on some planfor bettering the team. I will hear suggestions."
"I just want to say one thing," began Hiram. "I have managed this teamfor three seasons, and----"
"Mis-managed it," murmured someone.
"Why didn't we get the Blue Banner?" asked another voice.
"Young gentlemen, you will have to keep from making side remarks, andinterrupting the speakers," said Dr. Rudden. "Go on, Shell."
"I never had any kicking on my management before," continued Hiram,glaring at those around him. "I can manage it all right now, and it'sonly some soreheads----"
"Rather unparliamentary language," the chairman warned him.
"If we had a few good players we could win every game," went on thebully. "But the season is young yet, and----"
"I don't think that is a valid excuse," said the professor. "You hadyour choice of the whole school in picking the nine, so it is the faultof yourself and the captain if you haven't a good team. As for theearliness of the season, the boys have had plenty of practice and theyought to have struck their gait before this. I'm afraid something elseis to blame."
"We need better pitchers for one thing!" called someone.
"That's right!" yelled a double score of voices, and Dr. Rudden, seeingthe sway of sentiment, did not object.
"We've got two good pitchers!" fairly yelled Hiram. "I know what thisall means--that Joe Matson and his crowd----"
"That will do," the chairman warned him.
"It's true!" exclaimed Frank Brown, jumping to his feet. "I'm not a goodpitcher, and I don't mind admitting it. I can't hold the other fellowsdown enough. If I could, we would have won these last two games, for ourboys can bat when they haven't the heart taken out of them."
"That's the way to talk!" cried Tom Davis.
"Nothing like being honest about it," commented Dr. Rudden. "Thatstatement does you credit, Brown. How many of you think the same--thata different pitcher would strengthen the team?"
"I! I! I!" yelled scores.
"It's not so! Our pitchers are good enough!" These cries came from Luke,Hiram and a few of their cronies.
"There seems to be a division of opinion," began the chairman. "I thinkwe had better vote on it."
"There are a lot of fellows here who have no right to vote!" criedHiram.
"That won't do, Shell," said Dr. Rudden sternly. "This is a matter thatconcerns the entire school--to have a winning nine. Every student isentitled to vote."
"Hurrah!" yelled Tom. "This is a victory all right. The end of Hiram,Luke and Company has come."
"You'll pitch on the school team, Joe!" called Peaches in our hero'sear.
"I'd like to," Joe answered back, "but I'm afraid----"
"All in favor of having a change in pitchers, since Frank Brown hasbeen good enough, and manly enough, to say that he knows his ownweakness--all in favor of a change vote 'aye,'" directed the chairman.
"Aye!" came in a thunderous chorus.
"Contrary minded----"
"No!" snapped Hiram. Luke and Jake Weston followed with feeble negatives.They, too, were beginning to see which way the wind blew.
"Whom will you have for pitcher?" asked the Professor. "Can you decidenow, or will you wait and----"
"Decide now!" was yelled. "Joe Matson for pitcher! Baseball Joe. JoeMatson!" was cried in different parts of the room.
"Very well," assented the chairman. "This may be a wise move. All infavor of Joe Matson as pitcher, since Frank Brown, the regular boxman,has practically resigned--all say 'aye.'"
Again came the hearty assent, and again the feeble objection of Hiram.
"Joe Matson is now the regular pitcher for the school nine," said Dr.Rudden.
"And I want to say that I'm glad of the change," put in Larry Akers.
"Hurray! Hurray!" yelled the now excited and enthusiastic students.Things seemed to be coming out right after all.
"I want to say," exclaimed Joe, "that while I appreciate the honor doneme, we may need substitute pitchers. In fact, I'm sure we will, and Iwish Frank and Larry would remain to help me. I'll coach them all I can,and I know they both have pitching stuff in them. I've made quite astudy of pitching as an amateur. Some day I hope to be a professional,and I'm willing to tell Frank and Larry all I know."
"Good!" exclaimed the chairman. "I think they'll take your offer.Well, we have now made one change. Are there any more that you thinknecessary?"
It was rather a delicate question, for everyone knew what was meant. Butthe lads were saved from doing what most of them knew ought to be done.
"Do I understand that Joe Matson is the regular pitcher on the schoolteam?" asked the manager, sourly.
"That seems to be the sentiment of the students, Shell," answered Dr.Rudden.
"And without me, or the captain, having anything to say about it?"
"You were out-voted, Shell."
"Well, then all I've got to say is that I don't manage this nine anymore!" fairly yelled Hiram. "There's my resignation, and it takes effectat once!" and, walking down the aisle he threw a folded paper on thetable at which the professor sat.
"Shall this resignation be accepted?" asked the chairman, amid a rathertense silence.
"Yes!" came so quickly and with such volume that there was no doubtabout the sentiment of the crowd. Perhaps Hiram had hoped that he wouldbe asked to reconsider it, but if so he was disappointed. He walked backto where Luke sat. He leaned over the captain and said something in awhisper.
"I'm not going to," replied Luke, loudly enough for all in the room tohear.
"Go on!" ordered the bully. "If you don't, I'll----" and then his voicesank to a whisper again.
"All right," assented Luke, and walking forward as his crony had done,he, too, tossed a paper on the table. "There's my resignation as captainand a member of the Excelsior baseball nine!" he exclaimed.
There was a gasp of surprise from the crowd. Hiram and Luke both out! Itwas rather unexpected, but Tom and his friends felt elated. Now theywould have a chance to play. It looked like the dawn of a brighter dayfor Excelsior Hall.