low like Badger, that might not work well. It would be just like
him to think that I did it to humiliate him and show myself the better
pitcher! You see the possibility?"

"Yes, I see it!"

There were other considerations, which Frank did not desire at the
moment to mention.

"I'll have a talk with Badger, and see what I can do!" Kirk went on.
"When he was so wildly ambitious, a little while back, a word from me
might have settled it; but I suppose I shall have to show him by
argument that he ought to accept your friendly offer. You authorize me
to make that as an offer?"

"Yes. I'm willing to try to help Badger. He has good stuff in him, and,
as you say, it would be too bad for him to get into the dumps and
neglect to develop it. I can arrange it, I think, and, if he will pitch
for us Saturday, he may. With the clear understanding that I am at
liberty without question to take the pitcher's box at any time I see
fit!"

"Of course!"

The captain's face had brightened. He was not a partisan of Buck Badger,
nor of any man. He cared only for the recognition and development of the
best Yale players and the triumph of the Yale nine. And because he
recognized in Frank Merriwell these same unselfish qualities he had come
to him with this request.

"I doubt much if Badger will accept the offer," said Frank.

"I shall take the offer to him, anyway. I believe it will brighten him
to receive it, even if he refuses it. That desire for popularity which
you mentioned will, I think, make him accept. He may tell himself and
all his friends that he doesn't care for your opinion, but he does, just
the same! He can't help caring for the opinion of any man who is a
gentleman. I shall approach him carefully!"

CHAPTER II.

HOW THE NEWS WAS RECEIVED.

"Huah!" grunted Browning, opening his eyes a trifle in surprise, "don't
that jar you?"

"What will Bart say?" gasped Rattleton.

"Merriwell doesn't have to take his orders from Hodge!" snapped Diamond.
"But, just the same, I think it's a fool sort of agreement!"

Merriwell was in his room talking to some of his friends of the request
of the baseball-captain.

"Hodge will be cot under the holler!" sputtered Rattleton.

"My dear Rattles, don't worry about Hodge!" Diamond begged.

"If you had only said to that captain, 'Get thee behind me, Satan!'"
grumbled Dismal Jones. "But, of course, you could not resist such a
temptation! When evil makes itself seem to us good, w