The game with Trinity was a source of delight to the Excelsior team.

Their rivals came to the diamond battlefield eager for a victory, and they worked hard for it, but the new combination was too much for them.

When the final run was chalked up the score stood:

Excelsior Hall, 11; Trinity, 4.

"That's what we want to do to Morningside," said Tom.

"And we will!" predicted Joe.

They had hard practice before the second game with their ancient rivals--for Morningside was a foe whom Excelsior Hall was always eager to beat. In the series for the possession of the Blue Banner she had three games with Morningside and a like number with the other teams in the league.

It was the day of the second Morningside game, and it was to take place on the Excelsior diamond. The weather could not have been better. Spring was just merging into Summer, and the lads were on their mettle. There had been a big improvement in their playing, and they were ready to do battle to a finish.

Luke and Hiram had not been much in evidence since their resignations.

They occasionally came to a game, or to practice, but they made sneering remarks, and few of the students had anything to do with them. It was quite a jolt for Hiram, used as he was to running matters to suit himself.

The crowd began arriving early at the Excelsior diamond, for word had gone around that it was to be a game for "blood," and both teams were on edge. If Excelsior had improved, so had Morningside. They had strengthened their men by long, hard practice, and they were confident of victory.

Joe and Tom had expected before this to hear something about their old enemy, Sam Morton, at Morningside, but the former pitcher for the Silver Stars was seldom mentioned. However, it was learned that he was to subst.i.tute in the Morningside-Excelsior game.

Out on the diamond trotted the renovated Excelsior nine. They were received with a burst of applause, and at once got to practice. A little later out came their rivals, and there was a cheer for them. Immediately the opposition cheering and shouting contingents got busy, and there was a riot of sound.

"Going to stay and see the game?" asked Luke of Hiram, as they entered the gate.

"Yes, might as well. Gee! But I hope our fellows lose!"

Nice sentiments, weren't they for an Excelsior student? But then Hiram was very sore and angry.

"So do I," added Luke. "It would show them what a mistake they made by dropping us."

"That's right," agreed the conceited Hiram. "If they had only waited we'd have come out all right. It was all the fault of Joe Matson and Tom Davis. I'll get square with 'em yet."

They strolled over the grounds, winding in and out amid the throngs.

They almost collided with a Morningside player.

"Beg your pardon," murmured Luke. "Oh, it's Sam Morton," he added, for he had met Sam in town a week or so previously. "Have you met Hiram Sh.e.l.l, Sam," and he introduced the two.

"Oh, yes, you're the manager of the Excelsiors," said Sam. "Glad to know you. I think we'll beat you again. I may pitch after the fifth inning.

I'm only the sub now, but I expect to be the regular soon."

"I _was_ manager," replied Hiram bitterly, "but Joe Matson and his crowd put up a game on me, and I resigned."

"Joe Matson, eh? He's the same fellow who made a lot of trouble for me."

"Excuse me," murmured Luke. "I see a friend of mine. I'm going to leave you for a minute."

"All right," a.s.sented Hiram. "So Joe Matson made trouble for you, too, eh?" he went on to Sam, curiously.

"Yes, he played a mean trick on me, and took my place as pitcher," which wasn't exactly true, as my old readers know. "I'd like to get square with him some way," concluded Sam.

"Say, so would I!" exclaimed Hiram eagerly. "Shake hands on that. He's a low sneak, and he played a mean trick on me. I'd do anything to get even."

"Maybe we can," suggested Sam.

"How?"

"Oh, lots of ways. Come on over here where no one will hear us. Maybe we can fix up some scheme on him. I'd give a good deal to get even."

"So would I," added Hiram. "I wish I could get him off the nine, and out of the school."

"I'll help you," proposed Sam eagerly; and then the two, who were very much of a kind when it came to disliking our hero, walked off, whispering together.

"Play ball!" came the distant cry of the umpire, and the great Excelsior-Morningside game was about to start. But the plotters did not turn back to watch it.

CHAPTER XXV

BY A CLOSE MARGIN

"Whew!" whistled Captain Elmer Dalton of the Morningside nine, as he greeted some of the lads against whom his team was to play, "you fellows have been making a lot of changes, haven't you?" and he looked at the several new members of the school team, including Joe and Tom.

"Yes, a bit of house cleaning," replied Ward Gerard. "I am captain now.

Hiram and Luke got out."

"Yes, I heard there was some sort of a row."

"Oh, I suppose it's all over the league by this time," put in Peaches.

"But it couldn't be helped. It was like a dose of bitter medicine, but we took it, and I think it's going to do us good."

"You mean _we're_ going to do you good," laughed Elmer. "We're going to trim you again to-day."

"Not much!" cried Ward. "We'll win. Come now, a little wager between you and me--for the sodas, say."

"You're on!" agreed Elmer. "Where's your batting list?"

The two captains walked over to the scoring bench to arrange the details of the game. The two teams were made up as follows, this being the batting order:

EXCELSIOR-- George Bland centre field d.i.c.k Lantfeld left field Harry Nelson second base Nat Pierson third base Tom Davis first base Charles Borden shortstop Harry Lauter right field Joe Matson pitcher Ward Gerard catcher

MORNINGSIDE-- Dunlap Spurr centre field Will Lee shortstop Wilson Carlburg left field Ted Clay pitcher Wallace Dougla.s.s catcher Elmer Dalton first base Walker Bromley third base Loftus Brown second base Harry Young right field

The Excelsiors were to bat last, and while the rival crowds of school boys were singing, cheering and giving their cla.s.s yells, Joe Matson walked to the box for the second time as pitcher on the school nine in a big school league game. No wonder he felt a trifle nervous, but he did not show it, not even when some one yelled:

"Look at the new pitcher they've got! We'll get his number all right."

"Yes, we'll have his goat in about a minute!" added another Morningside partizan.