NO CHANCE FOR REVENGE.
Ben Raybold, representative of the Northern Securities Company, was
lighting a cigar at the stand in the office of the Antlers Hotel when he
heard about the game of baseball that had been played in Elkton that
afternoon.
“The Merries?” said he, addressing the cigar clerk. “Do you mean Frank
Merriwell’s team?”
“Yes; our boys trimmed those fellows to-day.”
Raybold lifted his eyebrows.
“Do you mean to tell me that a local team defeated Merriwell’s team?”
“Sure thing. I tell you, we’ve got the hottest team in Ohio right here
in Elkton.”
“You must have a hot team to beat those fellows. I’ve seen them play.
They got away with the Chicagos two out of three games in Los Angeles.”
“Well, I rather think our boys might do better than that,” said the
clerk, throwing out his chest.
Raybold smiled a bit.
“Many queer things happen in baseball,” he said. “Your team is not a
straight local nine?”
“Oh, no,” was the proud answer. “We’ve got a salaried team. That is,” he
hastily added, “three men are on salary. The others are employed in
town. One of them is a bell boy here in this hotel.”
The Northern Securities man shook his head in a puzzled manner.
“And such a team got away with Frank Merriwell’s nine?” he said. “I
don’t understand it.”
The cigar clerk was touched.
“You don’t seem to understand,” he said. “Elkton has a team that can
make any of ’em hustle. You ought to see our pitcher. He’s from
Wisconsin. His name is Wolfers. Mark what I’m telling you, he’ll be in
one of the big leagues within two years. I think he’s a better man than
Cy Young or Chesbro, or any of them fellows. He uses the spit ball, and
he can put it just where he wants to, which is better than some of the
pitchers can do.”
At this moment Bob Wolfers, accompanied by Jack Lawrence and Seymour
Whittaker, a local baseball enthusiast and a man of wealth, entered the
hotel.
“Oh, your pitcher may be a good man,” said Raybold, taking his cigar
from his mouth and examining it critically: “but you ought to know that
Frank Merriwell is, beyond doubt, the cleverest slab artist not gobbled
up by one of the two big leagues. The Boston Americans and the New York
Nationals both want him.”
“Is that straight, mister?” asked Wolfers, butting in and winking at the
cigar clerk.
“Yes, that’s straight.”
“I suppose you know it for a fact?”
“I suppose I do.”
“Well, that fellow wouldn’t last twenty seconds on either the Bostons or
the New Yorks. He’s the greatest shine for a pitcher that I ever saw.”
Raybold flushed a bit and chewed at the end of his cigar, while he
surveyed Wolfers from head to foot.
“I presume you’re competent to judge?” he said.
“I presume I am.”
“It’s a fine thing for a man to have a high estimation of his ability as
a judge. Who are you?”
“My name is Wolfers.”
“Oh-ho! I see! Professional jealousy. A case of sour grapes.”
Wolfers laughed derisively.
“Why should it be a case of sour grapes? Merriwell got his medicine all
right to-day.”
“Did you ever get bumped?”
“What has that got to do with it? All pitchers get hit occasionally.”
“That’s right; and, therefore, I claim that you can’t judge Merriwell’s
ability by one game. Probably it will be different in the next game.”
“There will be no next game,” said the manager.
“How is that?”
“One game wound us up with those chaps.”
“Don’t you dare play them another?”
“Dare? Ha! ha! ha! That’s a joke! Look here, my friend, there’s nothing
we’re afraid to hitch up with.”
“Then why don’t you give them another chance at you?”
“Because we have games arranged for the rest of this week, and we expect
to be playing in the league again by the first of next week. We can’t
bother with small fry. We play out of town to-morrow and next day, and
the Cuban Giants meet us here Saturday.”
“I like the way you talk about small fry!” exclaimed Raybold, the tone
of his voice indicating that he did not like it.
“Besides,” said Lawrence, “I don’t fancy Merriwell or any of his crowd
want to tackle us again.”
“That’s where you make a mistake,” said a quiet voice, as Frank entered
the office, limping the least bit. “We’re very anxious to get another
game with you, Mr. Lawrence. We think we might reverse the result of
to-day.”
Raybold’s eyes twinkled. He recognized Frank at once, but, having never
met him, he did not speak. Lawrence shrugged his shoulders.
“It seems to me you ought to be satisfied, Merriwell,” he said. “You got
your bumps to-day, didn’t you?”
“You certainly hit me enough,” confessed Frank.
“Still you are anxious for more. Some people never know when they’ve got
enough.”
This kind of talk was most annoying, but Merriwell had perfect
self-control.
“That’s right,” he acknowledged. “Perhaps I’m one of that kind.”
“Well, out of pity for you, we shouldn’t think of making another game
with you, even if we had the opportunity.”
“Look here,” chipped in Raybold, a trifle warmly, “I believe you’re
troubled with cold feet. That’s what’s the matter! You’re so pleased
over this victory that you want to boast about it.”
This angered Lawrence, who declared that it was nothing to boast about
and made a great deal of talk to that effect. When he had finished,
Raybold said:
“I’ll wager a hundred dollars even with any man that you can’t defeat
Merriwell’s team in another game.”
Seymour Whittaker pricked up his ears.
“What’s that?” he asked. “Your money would feel good in my pocket.”
“Do you take my bet?”
Lawrence turned quickly to Whittaker.
“No use to bet,” he said. “We can’t give them another game. They’ll have
to swallow their defeat and make the best of it.”
“The best of it, or the worst of it,” laughed Wolfers. “Too bad they
feel so sore. They were outclassed, that’s all.”
“I’m sorry I can’t win that hundred off you, sir,” said Whittaker to
Raybold. “It would be easy money for me.”
Lawrence then inquired if Sprowl was in his room at the hotel, and,
being told at the desk that he was, he proceeded upstairs, followed by
Wolfers and Whittaker.
“It’s unfortunate that these fellows will give you no chance to get
even, Mr. Merriwell,” said Raybold. “They must be afraid of you.”
“I hardly think that,” said Merry. “The game to-day could not have
frightened them, although it was close until the finish of the ninth
inning. They have perfect confidence in themselves. As you are a
stranger, it was a surprise to me when you offered to back us in that
manner.”
“Oh, we’ve never met, but I’ve seen you pitch. I was out West a short
time ago. Have you the same team you had in California and Colorado?”
“Just the same, except that we’re one substitute short. Stretcher has
gone home.”
“How did you happen to lose to-day? Was it bad fielding behind you?”
“No, sir. In the ninth I failed to make a hit, with two men on the bags.
On the other hand, when their turn came, they did get the hit needed,
likewise having two men on the sacks. That’s about how it happened.”
In this manner Frank shouldered the burden. He made no reference to his
lame ankle, nor did he explain that he had entered the box after
Morgan’s arm gave out.
“That was hard luck!” exclaimed Raybold. “Could you beat them
to-morrow?”
“No man can predict what will happen in baseball. Look at the poor
showing the Boston Americans made at the opening of the season, just
when every one expected great things of them. There are no sure things
in baseball that is worth being called baseball.”
“Of course we all realize that. Evidently you are not satisfied to leave
Elkton without another try at the team here.”
“Hardly satisfied. Quite the contrary.”
“Well, can’t you drive them into giving you a game?”
“I don’t know how. You’ve just heard their manager refuse.”
“Yes, but men frequently change their minds. Keep at him. Give me
permission to see what I can do. Will you?”
“Well——”
“Of course I mean on my own responsibility. I’ll not represent you.”
“I couldn’t think of permitting that, in case you tried to get a game
through a wager. I can’t prevent you from betting as much as you choose
on your own responsibility.”
“I understand your position. I believe I heard once that betting was
against your principles. You seem to have taken a decided stand on that
matter. It’s rather peculiar for a young fellow in your position, but I
admire you for it. Stick by your principles, say I. I have a theory that
it is wrong for a man to do anything he believes to be wrong. Another
man may not consider it wrong, and, therefore, for him it may be all
right.”
“That’s a dangerous doctrine to preach, as it’s likely to be
misunderstood. I have no doubt but there are men who do not consider it
wrong to lie or cheat; but——”
“Oh, beyond a certain limit my theory does not apply. It applies to some
mooted questions. Lying and cheating are things no man can make right by
thinking or pretending to think they are right. But you know some
strait-laced persons believe attending the theatre on Sunday is wrong.
For them it is wrong. I see no harm in it. I feel that it frequently
does me good. For me it is all right.”
“How about playing cards on Sunday?”
“I see no harm in it. Do you?”
“Yes,” answered Frank honestly. “Even if I did not think it harmed me, I
would not do it on account of the example I might be placing before
others. A man has to consider that.”
“If he considers everything of that sort, he’ll find himself robbed of
much of the pleasure in this life.”
“A man can have plenty of pleasure without resorting to license. This
life can be enjoyed in a good, healthy way, and the person who takes
care not to set a bad example for others enjoys it more than one who is
careless and indifferent. I do not believe any young man of my years
ever enjoyed life more than I; yet I have been conscientious in many
things on account of the example I might be setting before others. It is
possible I might drink without harming myself, but I know there are
fellows on my baseball team who could not drink without doing themselves
serious injury. If I drank, several of them might drink. Could I be
contented and undisturbed if I saw them forming the habit through
following in my footsteps?”
“Well, you put up a great argument, and you’ve given me something new to
think about. Just the same, if I can drive Elkton into playing another
game with you through betting that you’ll defeat them, I am going to do
it. The sandy gentleman was inclined to snap up the hundred I offered.
He must have some influence in baseball circles. I propose to keep after
him. Leave it to me. On what terms did you play to-day?”
“Two-thirds of the net gate money went to the winners.”
“Good crowd?”
“Fine.”
“Your share will pay your bills?”
“It ought to.”
“Well, if you can get two-thirds in the next game, even if you have to
wait several days before you play, you may not lose anything.”
“I’m willing to wait and lose money if I can get the game.”
Raybold found another opportunity that evening to make some betting talk
to Seymour Whittaker.
Whittaker professed a strong desire to wager money on the Elks, but said
he could not, as Lawrence would not consider making another game with
the Merries.
“Are you one of the directors of the team?” asked Raybold.
“Yes, sir.”
“It seems that you might have some influence with him.”
“Not enough to cause him to change his mind. He’s very set. It’s a good
thing for you. I’d feel like a robber after taking your money.”
“Would you, indeed?” laughed Raybold. “Well, see here, my dear man, I’ll
give you a perfect snap. I’ll wager two hundred to one hundred that you
cannot defeat the Merries again, the game to be played here any time
next week, with a fair and impartial umpire.”
“Why don’t you give me your money!” cried Whittaker. “You might as
well.”
“What do you say? Two hundred to one hundred.”
“No use. It can’t be done, and you’re in luck.”
“When does your local paper appear?”
“Thursday.”
“I’m going to insert a notice in the paper to the effect that the Elkton
team does not dare give Merriwell another chance.”
“Don’t be so foolish!”
“Look the paper over when it comes out,” said Raybold. “You’ll find the
notice.”
Raybold was in earnest. He really did insert a notice in the local
paper, paying advertising rates for the privilege. This notice was
sarcastically worded and reflected on the courage of the local team in
refusing to give the Merries another game. It called attention to the
fact that the Merries had on their tour defeated far better known and
much stronger teams than the Elks, while it further stated that no team
could draw such a crowd, all of Elkton being desirous of witnessing
another “go” with the visitors who had given the locals such a tussle
the first time.
There was something about this notice that aroused the pride and
indignation of the Elktonites. The village hummed over it. The citizens
began to tell one another that the Elks must give Frank Merriwell’s team
another chance.
The Elks were playing in another town, but Lawrence was called up on the
phone by two or three persons who asked him why he did not play the
Merries again.
Frank had not known Raybold intended to insert the notice. After the
notice appeared Merry kept still and awaited results.
He had lingered in Elkton with his team, hoping another game could be
secured.
Seymour Whittaker was indignant. He looked around for Raybold and
demanded to know why the people of Elkton had been insulted. Raybold
laughed and said no insult was intended. Whittaker insisted that the
newspaper notice plainly insinuated that the Elktonites were afraid
their team would be beaten if it met the Merries again.
“It looks that way to me,” said Raybold.
“You know we’re not afraid.”
“Prove it.”
“We will!” cried Whittaker. “I’ll have the directors of the team get
together. They can instruct Lawrence to arrange for the game. Then I
presume you’ll squeal on that betting talk you’ve made.”
“Hardly.”
“Put your money up now, then.”
“All right.”
“Two hundred to one.”
“That’s what I offered. If the game is not played, the bet is off.”
They went out and found a stakeholder. The money was put up.
On Saturday the Elks returned home and the famous Cuban Giants appeared
to play them.
The Cuban Giants is one of the strongest colored teams in the country,
and the people of Elkton believed the real test of the locals would come
in the game with the Giants.
Merry knew the directors of the team had held a meeting for the purpose
of considering the advisability of playing again with his team, but he
could learn nothing as to the result of that meeting.
Somehow, after returning to Elkton, Lawrence kept away from Frank, who
saw him for the first time Saturday on the baseball field just before
the beginning of the game with the Giants.
In the presence of the assembled spectators, Frank walked out to the
bench and spoke to the Elkton manager, asking if he had decided to give
him another game.
“Merriwell,” said Lawrence disagreeably, “I never saw a fellow so
persistent in seeking a second drubbing. We’ll play you Monday, on one
condition.”
“Name it.”
“The winning team shall take all the gate money.”
“Agreed!” said Frank, with a promptness that surprised Lawrence. “It’s
settled!”
“You won’t get a dollar.”
“Don’t worry about me. Will you announce the game here to-day? It will
be the best sort of an advertisement.”
“Yes, I’ll announce it.”
As Frank walked away, Lawrence turned to Wolfers, chuckling:
“Didn’t I work that cleverly? The directors instructed me to give him
another game. I’d had to have done so on an even break, fifty per cent.
to each team, if he had insisted; but I kept away from him and made him
so eager he was willing to take terms of any sort. We’ll get all the
boodle.”
Cutts went in to pitch the game, and for five innings he had the
heavy-hitting colored boys at his mercy. In the sixth inning he went to
pieces and gave the Giants five base bits, which netted three runs.
At that time the Elks had five scores.
Wolfers warmed up at once.
He was greeted with tumultuous cheers when he walked out to pitch at the
beginning of the sixth.
The colored boys were stayers. They laughed heartily over the applause
given Wolfers.
“We’ll put him into the stable quicker than we did the other fellow,”
said the captain of the Giants. “Get right after him, boys. Knock his
eye out. He’s a man with a swelled head. You can see it in the way he
walks.”
But when Wolfers struck out the first three batters to face him,
pitching only eleven balls, they began to realize that they were up
against a wizard.
The joy of the spectators was boundless. The man from Wisconsin was
cheered madly as he struck out the third man.
“That’s all right,” declared one of the Giants. “We’ll fall on his neck
next inning.”
“Oh, yes you will!” derisively roared a big man. “You’ll fall on his
neck—I don’t think!”
Lawrence seized the opportunity as a favorable one to make an
announcement. Walking out to the home plate, he held up his hand for
silence.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” he called, “I wish to inform you that there will
be another game here in Elkton Monday afternoon at the usual hour.”
“Hooray!” bellowed the big man. “I’ll quit work to come! You can’t give
us too much of this kind of baseball!”
“It seems,” said the manager of the Elks, smiling, “that some baseball
players are greedy to be trimmed. They don’t know when they have enough.
Our first game with Frank Merriwell’s Athletic Team resulted in a
victory for us. The Merries were not satisfied. Mr. Merriwell has boned
us into giving him another game. We intend to give him all he wants. I
understand that Merriwell himself will pitch for his team. Bob Wolfers
will do the pitching for us, and——”
What a yell went up!
“Oh, that’s a shame!” howled the big man, as the uproar subsided
somewhat. “Why don’t you give them a chance? It isn’t fair!”
“We propose to show you just what kind of a game we can put up with
Wolfers in the box,” said Lawrence. “We promise you your money’s worth.
Don’t miss it.”
“We won’t!” they cried.
------------------------------------------------------------------------