Frank Merriwells Reward | Page 4

of request to make, I
know, and it leaves me under the suspicion of wanting to see you
beaten by the Hartford fellows. But I hope you know me well enough
to understand that such cannot be the case."
"Sure! I'd never thought of it, if you hadn't!"
"I've thought of asking this of you for a day or two. You see, if you,
who are not particularly Badger's friend, show such a disposition to
recognize and honor his pitching abilities, it ought to brace him up!"
Merriwell drummed thoughtfully on the table.
"Perhaps it can be done! If it will brace him up any and put him on his
feet, I shall be glad to show Badger all the consideration I can."
"I was almost afraid to mention it," explained Kirk, "for I know that he
has not felt just right toward you. But if you will?"
"I intended to pitch that game myself, for Abernathy's men are not the
easiest things on the planet. Of course, if Badger falls down, I should
be compelled to go into the box and do my best to save the day. And
with a fellow 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, we're sure to give
way. 'Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall!'"
Merriwell smiled. He liked to get the opinions of his friends, though
usually he acted on his own.
"So you think it was a temptation instead of an opportunity?"
"What is a temptation?" chirped Bink Stubbs.
"Why, every time you grin at me that way I want to hit you in the
mouth," explained Danny. "It's a temptation I can hardly resist!"
"Crush it!" yelled Bink, feinting with his fists. "If you don't, I'll have
to!"
"Somebody throw those idiots out of the window!" growled Bruce,
seeking solace in his pipe.
"Somebody give me a light for this cigarette first," begged Danny. "If I
must fall I want help to alight!"

"Shouldn't think you'd need it!" Browning declared. "You have a light
head. It would hold you up like a balloon!"
"Of course, if the captain wanted you to take on Badger and you've
promised to do