“I am sorry to hear you say this, Darrell. Why should you have to pick up trouble with me? There was a time when we did not pull together very well, but I fancied that time was passed.” “So did I.” “But now——” “I tell you I can’t explain it, for certain reasons,” said Hal; “but I frankly confess I acted the part of a cheap duffer. I am thoroughly ashamed of myself, and that’s why I came to you to ask your pardon. But for that shower I would have lost the game for Fardale. And to-day I’d be in the depths of remorse. I am conscience-stricken as it is. What can they think of me? I know the fellows are not all fools. They must have seen through my wretched work. I am certain they did, for some of them have given me the scornful eye. They have no confidence in me. You can have no confidence in me.” Dick arose and advanced to Hal’s side. The latter was sitting now, with his elbows on the table and his head on his hand. “You’re mistaken, old man,” said Dick gently. “I still have confidence in you.” Darrell looked up quickly. “Is it possible?” he asked. “Why shouldn’t I?” exclaimed Dick. “A fellow who has manhood enough to confess a mistake or a fault is just the sort to win my confidence. You come here like a man and acknowledge your mistake. I suspected you before that, and yet I hated to believe.” “I knew you couldn’t help suspecting me. I am always doing some confoundedly foolish thing! I have a miserable disposition, Merriwell. I can’t seem to control it at times.” “A chap who recognizes his own weaknesses and fights against them stands a good chance to win. The one who can’t see his failings, or refuses to see them, is the fellow who fails.” “Perhaps that is right.” “I know it is right, Darrell.” “Still, even now you wouldn’t give me another show? You say you have confidence in me; but, knowing as much as you do, would you dare put me into the game against Fairport?” Dick stood squarely before his visitor. “Darrell, you can play baseball, and I know it. I was sorry when you refused to come out with the others this spring. We lost a good man in you. Gardner is ill, and it seems likely now he will not be able to play Wednesday. Do you want to fill his place?” Instantly Hal sprang to his feet. “Do I?” he exclaimed. “You bet your life I do! But you won’t use me? It isn’t possible.” “Come out for practice to-morrow,” urged Dick. “We will have Monday and Tuesday to practice, and you may be able to improve some in that time. If you can get into your old form you will be all right.” “And Wednesday?” questioned Hal. “If Gardner is not in condition to play Wednesday you shall fill his place.” Hal seized Dick’s hand. “Merriwell,” he chokingly exclaimed, “you’re the whitest fellow in the world! I will never again believe any gossiping lies about you.” “So you have been hearing gossip of some sort, have you?” questioned Dick. “Well, never mind; I don’t wish to hear it myself. The quickest way to kill gossip is to scorn it.”