“It will take too much time to explain. But if you want to make it a sure thing that you gather in your bets it’s up to you to do something.” “Tell me what, boss!” “I want you to get after the Fairhaven catcher. The whole team is stopping at the Corndike. If you can run onto that fellow Buckhart on the street to-night and put him out of commission you’ll fix the thing so your bets will be safe, as there is no other man who can fill his place to-morrow with Merriwell in the box.” “You want me to knock de block off dat chap, do yer?” “If you can put him into the doctor’s hands it will be a good job. Don’t be satisfied to give him a thumping, but use him up so he’ll be unable to play ball to-morrow. That’s my advice.” “I’ll do it if I get der chance, boss,” nodded McCord. “Of course I don’t want to be pinched for der job, and I can’t jump him right out in public where dere’ll be witnesses.” “Of course not. It’s a warm evening, and I fancy the most of those fellows will walk out for a breath of air. If you could hang around and follow Buckhart until you get a good opportunity to light on him, it would be a fancy piece of work.” “I hate ter leave dis ball,” confessed McCord; “but I can’t afford to drop any good money on dat game.” “If you polish this Buckhart off in first-class shape, so he can’t play to-morrow, I’ll drop you a fiver out of my own pocket,” promised Fernald. “I’ll get after dat guy right away, Tom,” nodded the young thug. “Better take two friends with you.” McCord looked surprised. “What fer?” he demanded. “Don’t you t’ink I can take care of him all by my lonesome? Why, I can eat dat chap! He’s nutting but a boy.” “But he may have friends with him. You will need at least two or three companions to keep his friends off while you do him up. I suggest that you take not less than three. Then if you happen to run onto a bunch of them you will be all right.” “Mebbe dat’s good advice,” confessed Bingo. “I want to do der job in a hurry. I’d better have some good scrappers wid me.” “Any one here you can get?” “None of my gang, but I guess I know where ter find der boys. Tapper Mullin is fingering the pasteboards down at Mike McGinnis’ joint. He picked up a couple of sailor chaps what t’ought dey knew a lot about poker, and he’s skinning dem of dere loose coin. I’ll git him all right, and den I’ll look after Skip Billings, anodder good man. You say der baseball chaps are at der Corndike? Well, you jest stroll back dere and hang around. If you see dis feller we’re arter stroll out for a walk, jest watch which way he goes. I’ll be along wid my pals in twenty or t’irty minutes.” Fernald left the place and retraced his steps toward the hotel. Instead of following him, the young hobo, who had listened outside the window, waited until Bingo McCord came out. He then trailed McCord.