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 it to-night. By the way, can you find a fellow to help with the dummy on Monday?"

"Yes, I'll get one of the kids. We'll have to buy some more balls in a day or two, Dick. We lost one to-day, you know."

"Yes, and we may lose more. You'd better order a half-dozen on Monday."

George confided that evening to Cottrell that Dick didn't seem much worried by the day's fiasco.

"Why should he?" asked Chester loyally, observing the manager with a disapproving scowl. "Who cares what Locust Valley does if we can get a team that will beat Springdale?"

"I know," George hastened to say, "but seems to me it's a bad idea to let any team walk over us the way Locust Valley did. It—it sort of destroys confidence. Besides, just between you and me, Chester, the fellows don't like it much. I've heard talk of a meeting to protest."

Chester shrugged his square shoulders and grinned. "Let 'em," he said shortly. "Much good it'll do 'em. Dick Lovering's coach and he's going to be coach. We all agreed to give him a free rein and he's going to have it. It seems to me the best thing you can do is to stand up for him, George."