Page:Baseball Joe on the School Nine.djvu/195

Rh the Lakevllle boys by a large score, as they had done the previous year, Excelsior was beaten, nine to seven.

"Well, it's not as bad as the last game," was all the consolation Hiram could find.

"Say, don't talk to me!" snapped Luke. "Something's got to be done!"

"That's right," put in Peaches, who came up just then. "Something has got to be done, Hiram Shell, and right away, too."

He looked the bully squarely in the face. Behind Peaches came Teeter, George Bland and several of the subs.

"What—what do you mean?" stammered Hiram.

"I mean that it's either you or us," went on Peaches.

"Either you get out as manager or we get out as players," added Teeter. "We're tired of playing on a nine that can't win a game. We can play ball, and we know it. But not with you, Hiram. What's it going to be—you or us?"

"Say!" burst out the bully. "I'll have you know that—"

A hand was placed on his shoulder. He wheeled about to confront Dr. Rudden.

"I think something must be done," said the