Page:Baseball Joe on the School Nine.djvu/240

226 "Of course not!" chorused the other two.

"But they evidently think he does," went on Tom. "Here he comes now; let's ask him."

"Say, what does it all mean anyhow?" inquired Teeter when he had warmly clasped Joe's hand.

The young pitcher told of the finding of the telegram, and its result.

"But, hang it all, that's no evidence!" burst out Tom.

"The doctor thinks so," replied Joe grimly.

"Some one who has a grudge against you—Say!" exclaimed Teeter with a sudden change of manner. "I'll bet it was Luke or Hiram who did it—pulled the statue down and then tried to blame it on you."

"Sure!" chorused Tom and Peaches.

"Wait!" cried Joe. "It's bad enough for me to be suspected of knowing something that I don't, but we can't go to accusing even Hiram or Luke on mere guesswork. It won't do."

"But hang it all, man!" cried Peaches. "You can't play ball."

"No," answered Joe quietly.

"And the league season is closing! How are we going to win without you in the box?"

"You'll have to—that's all. Brown or Akers