Page:Baseball Joe on the School Nine.djvu/228

214 "Do it, then. I've got a date with Sam, and I'll go see him. See if you can get something this afternoon or evening, and if you can we'll do it."

"I will," and the two plotters parted, the chief one to keep an appointment with Joe's enemy. Sam's hatred against our hero was increased because Sam was not allowed to pitch for his own team.

"I've got to keep Ted Clay in condition, so that when we meet Excelsior again he'll be on edge," said Captain Dalton of the Morningsides. "That Matson is a wonder and we can't take any chances. I don't dare risk letting you pitch."

"That's another one I owe to Joe!" muttered Sam. "I must certaintly get even with him. Hiram and I ought to pull off something," and then he sent word to the Excelsior bully. That afternoon the three conspirators, with guilty looks, met in a secluded place and talked over their plans.

There was a knock on Joe's door. His chum Tom had gone out that evening to a lecture, and our hero was all alone.

"Come!" called Joe, and from down the corridor Luke Fodick peered out of his slightly-opened door to see what was going on.

"Here's a telegram for you," said one of the school messengers, handing in a yellow envelope.