Page:Baseball Joe on the School Nine.djvu/248

234 He'll need his rest if he is to pitch against Morningside."

"Then you're going to remove the probation ban, Dr. Fillmore?" asked Dr. Rudden eagerly.

"Of course. I shall make the announcement at chapel, and wish Matson and the others of the nine all success."

"And you don't yet know who pulled down the statue?"

"No. It was manly of Fodick to confess, and though I shall have to suspend him, of course, I didn't even ask him to inform on the guilty ones. I really couldn't, you know."

"No, I suppose not. But I'm glad Joe is going to play. I think we shall win."

"I hope so," murmured Dr. Fillmore.

The surprise and gratification of the students may easily be surmised when the next morning at chapel. Dr. Fillmore made his announcement, stating that Joe had been on probation under a misapprehension, and that now the ban was removed he could play ball.

"And I hope that he and the others of the nine play their very best," concluded the head of the school, "and win!"

There was a spontaneous cheer, and neither the doctor nor any of the teachers took the trouble