Dick and Ray Garrett were waiting in Uriah Blackington’s office when Hammerswell and Jared Whitcomb entered. The Maplewood manager carried himself with an air of self-satisfaction and importance. “Well, gentlemen,” he said, “it seems that the Trolley League is ready to start afresh on a level footing. No team has an advantage now, and that’s a good thing for the league. I have the boys to make you hustle, and Maplewood proposes to walk off with the pennant.”
“What’s this business about changing the schedule?” asked Garrett. “Fairhaven is satisfied with the schedule as it stands.”
“Maplewood and Seaslope are not,” retorted Hammerswell. “I also understand that Rockford would like to make one or two changes. Is that right, Mr. Blackington?”
“If these changes can be made without stirring up hard feelings I favor it,” nodded Uriah Blackington. “I don’t want to kick up strife. There’s been enough of that.”
“You see, Garrett,” said Hammerswell, “three of us wish to make some changes. If you object, you will stand alone.”
“What are the changes you wish to make?” inquired Ray.
“I have the thing all jotted down here,” said Hammerswell, producing a sheet of paper. “Mr. Whitcomb and myself have agreed on it. Just look it over, Mr. Blackington.”
Uriah Blackington glanced over the altered schedule and nodded.
“That’s satisfactory to me,” he said. “You have given us two Friday games in place of a game Thursday and a game Wednesday. Friday is the best day for Rockford.”
Garrett waited quietly until the others had examined the newly outlined schedule. He then took it and inspected it with Dick.
“What do you think about the changes?” he asked, in a low tone.
“See here,” said Dick, pointing at the schedule, “Hammerswell has shifted the game to-morrow so that it is to be in Maplewood instead of Fairhaven. Do you see his object?”
“I don’t know.”
“It’s plain enough. His team is winning now. With all the teams tied, he fancies he can gain an advantage by playing the next game at home. Two teams must lose to-morrow. That will place them both tied for last position. The two teams that win will be tied for first position. Hammerswell is looking for first position. If he secures an advantage by winning to-morrow, he’ll have a fairly good hold on the place.”
“Then you object to that change, do you?”
“Wait a minute,” said Dick. “Let me run this thing over. You see he has it fixed so our final game of the season is to be played in Maplewood. I object to that. If he has this game in Maplewood to-morrow, Fairhaven must have the last two games at home. Stand firm on that, Ray. If they agree to it we can afford to accept these other changes.”
“That’s right,” nodded Garrett, and immediately he announced to the meeting Fairhaven’s position in the matter.
Hammerswell raised an objection, and was feebly backed by Whitcomb. The Maplewood man turned in appeal to Uriah Blackington.
“You see there are two of us against one, Mr. Blackington. That ought to decide the matter.”
“But it doesn’t,” declared the Rockford manager grimly.
“Why not?”
“Because we’ve agreed on a schedule, and unless all managers are satisfied with any changes made there can be no changes. If you want this game to-morrow at Maplewood, Mr. Hammerswell, you will have to accept Fairhaven’s terms and give them the last two games on the island.”
In vain Hammerswell argued and pleaded. With difficulty he repressed his annoyance and anger. For once he found it impossible to carry things his own way, and in the end he was compelled to acquiesce to Garrett’s terms. When this final agreement was made, the altered schedule was accepted by vote in the regular manner.
“We got the best of that, Garrett,” smiled Dick, as they left Blackington’s office together. “The two last games on the island should be rousers for us. If we are in position to fight for first place, we will have big crowds and make a fat thing out of it.”
“That’s right, Dick,” nodded Ray. “You were long-headed in demanding that change. I am sorry we have to return to Fairhaven to-night. That trip across always shakes the team up some and puts it out of condition. We’ll have to return as early as possible to-morrow in order to rest up on the mainland before the game.”
“Why not remain here?” suggested Dick. “Hammerswell counts on our making the trip to-morrow, and without doubt he expects his players to be in first-class condition, while we should be somewhat shaken up. Let’s fool him.”
“A good suggestion!” cried Garrett. “If they celebrate on the island to-night they will have to do so without us. We’ll stay right here.”
Thus it came about that the Lady May returned to Fairhaven without the ball team.
That night Dick Merriwell and Bart Hodge sat up until a late hour talking. Of course, Dick was anxious to hear all about his brother, and therefore he plied Hodge with questions.
“Why didn’t Frank come himself?” he asked for the third time.
“He wanted to,” said Hodge, “but he felt that he couldn’t spare the time just now. His mining interests have kept him busy during the last few weeks.”
“Where did you leave him—in Denver?”
“No; in Chicago.”
“Chicago?” exclaimed Dick. “Why? How was that? I didn’t suppose——”
“It was business that took us both to Chicago. We have been negotiating with a syndicate that wants to buy the Phantom Mine in the Mazatzals. They sent an expert to examine the property, and we know he made a favorable report, for they offered us a price on it. We wired our terms, and they urged us to come on to Chicago. When we arrived there, however, they attempted to cut down on us, and the whole deal hung up. Had we put it through, it was our intention to come on here together in time to witness the final games in this league. I have left everything in Frank’s hands. He wished me to come on, and we agreed on our rock-bottom price before I pulled out of Chicago. If the syndicate comes to terms, all right; if they don’t accept our figures, the deal is off.”
“Are you anxious to sell your interest in the mine?” asked Dick.
“Not exactly anxious,” answered Hodge; “but I have a wish to go into business in the East, and the money I should receive would be enough to set me up. Frank has his other mines to look after, and he’s willing to let go of the Phantom. Still, we know it’s valuable property, and we’re not going to sell it for anything under a fair price.”
“I thought,” said Dick, “that there still might be some trouble over that mine, and that possibly you were willing to dispose of it for that reason.”
“Not a bit of trouble,” smiled Hodge. “All that thing seems settled. Frank has downed his enemies in the West, and things are moving swimmingly. His San Pablo Mine, in Mexico, is the richest propert............