CHAPTER XXIX
BUCKING THE TIGER
"Hurray! Matson is going to pitch for us!"
"Get out! He's barred!"
"Not now. It's all off. He'll pitch against Princeton!"
"Where'd you hear it?"
"What's the matter with Weston?"
"Oh, he's gone--vamoosed--flew the coop. Couldn't stand the disgrace.It'll all be out in the morning."
Student meeting student on the campus, in dormitories, in the commons,at Glory's--anywhere in fact, passed these, and similar remarks.
"And to think you knew, all the while, that Weston put that red paint onthe steps, and you wouldn't squeal!" cried Spike, clapping his chum onthe shoulder.
"Would you?" asked Joe quietly.
"Well--er--now you have got me, old man! But it's all right. Come on outand celebrate."
And they celebrated as they never had before. Joe was given an ovationwhen he entered Glory's, and every member of the nine--substitutes andall--were there to do him honor. That is, all but Weston and De Vere.They had quietly taken themselves from Yale.
The explanation was simple. Weston had, as my readers know already, putthe red paint on the professor's steps. He was not discovered, for Joekept quiet. Then, when our hero was preferred as pitcher, in thebitterness of his heart, Weston planned to throw suspicion on him. Hesent the first anonymous letter, though Avondale knew nothing of it.Then Weston took De Vere into his confidence and the two evolved thescheme of smuggling the pot of red paint, that Weston had used, intoJoe's closet. The epileptic lad, Charlie, was the innocent medium, andonce the paint was hidden Weston sent the second anonymous letter to theDean, telling about it.
What happened is well known. Joe was accused, and would not inform onanother to save himself. Perhaps it was the wrong thing to do--certainlyhe owed it to himself to have the right to vindication. I am notdefending him, I am only telling of what happened.
Then came the dramatic episode, when Spike unwittingly brought outthe truth from Charlie. It seems that the boy's conscience had beentroubling him, for though Weston pretended it was only an innocent jokehe was playing on Joe, the lad suspected something.
And so the full explanation was made to the Dean, and the latter,publicly, at chapel the next morning, begged Joe's pardon, and restoredhim to his full rights. As for Weston and De Vere, they were not inevidence. They had left Yale.
"Sharp practice from now on," ordered Mr. Hasbrook, when the excitementhad quieted down somewhat. "We'll have to replace De Vere at rightfield, but otherwise the team will be the same as before. Matson, you'llpitch, of course."
"And he'll win for us, too!" cried Spike.
"I'm sure I hope so," went on the head coach. "Spike, if it wasn't solate in the season I'd let you catch. You deserve something for yourshare in this."
"Oh, I wouldn't think of catching now, though it would be great,"declared Joe's chum. "Give me a chance next season."
"I sure will," said the head coach. "Get busy now, everybody. We've gotto beat Princeton!"
"Oh, Joe, do you think we'll win?" asked Spike, half nervously, thenight before they were to start for New York to meet their rivals.
"Win! Of course we'll win!" cried Joe, and though so much depended onhim, he was the coolest member of the team.