Quickly the word went around through the precincts of Excelsior Hall.

"There's going to be another hot meeting."

"Hiram's on his last legs."

"His game is up now."

"This means that Joe Matson will pitch, sure, and we'll win some games now."

"If Hiram goes, Luke will, too, and there'll be a new captain."

These were only a few of the comments and predictions made by the players and other students as they got ready to attend the session.

CHAPTER XXIII

HIRAM IS OUT

There was an ominous silence over the gathering in the gymnasium. It was entirely different from the former meeting which started in such a hub-bub, and which created such a stir. This time it meant "business,"

as Peaches said.

Hiram called the session, but refused to preside. He wanted to be able to say what he thought from the floor, and from the manner in which he and Luke and one or two of their friends conferred before the session opened, it was evident that Hiram was going to make a fight to maintain his prestige.

"Come to order, young gentlemen," suggested Dr. Rudden, when the gymnasium was well filled. It seemed as if every lad in Excelsior Hall was there. "You know what we are here for----"

"To elect a new manager and captain!" shouted someone.

"Stop!" commanded the coach, banging his gavel.

"Who said that?" cried Hiram, springing to his feet. "If I find out----"

"Silence!" commanded the chairman, while Luke pulled his crony to his seat.

"This meeting will be conducted in a gentlemanly manner, or not at all,"

went on the professor quietly; but the boys knew what he meant. "We are here to discuss the baseball situation, and try to decide on some plan for bettering the team. I will hear suggestions."

"I just want to say one thing," began Hiram. "I have managed this team for three seasons, and----"

"Mis-managed it," murmured someone.

"Why didn't we get the Blue Banner?" asked another voice.

"Young gentlemen, you will have to keep from making side remarks, and interrupting the speakers," said Dr. Rudden. "Go on, Sh.e.l.l."

"I never had any kicking on my management before," continued Hiram, glaring at those around him. "I can manage it all right now, and it's only some soreheads----"

"Rather unparliamentary language," the chairman warned him.

"If we had a few good players we could win every game," went on the bully. "But the season is young yet, and----"

"I don't think that is a valid excuse," said the professor. "You had your choice of the whole school in picking the nine, so it is the fault of yourself and the captain if you haven't a good team. As for the earliness of the season, the boys have had plenty of practice and they ought to have struck their gait before this. I'm afraid something else is to blame."

"We need better pitchers for one thing!" called someone.

"That's right!" yelled a double score of voices, and Dr. Rudden, seeing the sway of sentiment, did not object.

"We've got two good pitchers!" fairly yelled Hiram. "I know what this all means--that Joe Matson and his crowd----"

"That will do," the chairman warned him.

"It's true!" exclaimed Frank Brown, jumping to his feet. "I'm not a good pitcher, and I don't mind admitting it. I can't hold the other fellows down enough. If I could, we would have won these last two games, for our boys can bat when they haven't the heart taken out of them."

"That's the way to talk!" cried Tom Davis.

"Nothing like being honest about it," commented Dr. Rudden. "That statement does you credit, Brown. How many of you think the same--that a different pitcher would strengthen the team?"

"I! I! I!" yelled scores.

"It's not so! Our pitchers are good enough!" These cries came from Luke, Hiram and a few of their cronies.

"There seems to be a division of opinion," began the chairman. "I think we had better vote on it."

"There are a lot of fellows here who have no right to vote!" cried Hiram.

"That won't do, Sh.e.l.l," said Dr. Rudden sternly. "This is a matter that concerns the entire school--to have a winning nine. Every student is ent.i.tled to vote."

"Hurrah!" yelled Tom. "This is a victory all right. The end of Hiram, Luke and Company has come."

"You'll pitch on the school team, Joe!" called Peaches in our hero's ear.

"I'd like to," Joe answered back, "but I'm afraid----"

"All in favor of having a change in pitchers, since Frank Brown has been good enough, and manly enough, to say that he knows his own weakness--all in favor of a change vote 'aye,'" directed the chairman.

"Aye!" came in a thunderous chorus.

"Contrary minded----"

"No!" snapped Hiram. Luke and Jake Weston followed with feeble negatives.

They, too, were beginning to see which way the wind blew.

"Whom will you have for pitcher?" asked the Professor. "Can you decide now, or will you wait and----"

"Decide now!" was yelled. "Joe Matson for pitcher! Baseball Joe. Joe Matson!" was cried in different parts of the room.