In his heart he had no desire to repress them. Jack Cole had not spoken a falsehood when he told Dick that through Hammerswell the toughs had been gathered up and brought to the field. No one seemed to observe Cole until he was noticed batting the ball while the Fairhaven team was practicing. Then there were numerous expressions of surprise over the fact that Jack was in a playing suit. Hammerswell observed him and walked swiftly over to the home team’s bench, on which sat Chester Arlington. “What’s that fellow, Cole, doing here?” inquired the Maplewood manager. “You tell me,” said Chester sourly. “I don’t know.” “He has a suit on.” “My eyes are all right. I see he has.” “What’s the matter with you? You’re crusty.” “It’s my turn to pitch to-day,” said Chester. “Are you going to put me in?” “Sit still,” retorted Hammerswell. “We have to win this game to-day, and I’m taking no chances. Raymer is the best pitcher in this league, and he goes into the box.” Instantly Chester rose, savagely flinging down the ball he had been holding while sitting. “Then I’m done!” he snarled. “This ends it for me! I quit you now, Hammerswell, and I hope your old team is wiped off the map!” “Hold on!” commanded the manager sharply. “You’ve been paid in advance. You’ve received your salary for another week.” “Oh, forget it!” sneered Arlington. “That’s all right! I’ll keep it!” Benton exposed his teeth beneath his small, dark mustache. “You will cough it up if you quit,” he asserted. Arlington faced him unhesitatingly. “Don’t dream such a thing for a minute!” he snarled. “I’ll cough up nothing. Instead of that, I may ask you to cough up a little. I know about some of the tricks arranged for this game. I know where certain balls are hidden in the outfield. Do you want me to talk?” “You’d better keep still,” answered Hammerswell, in a whisper. Chet snapped his fingers. “All right. Then don’t talk to me about returning any money you’ve given me. I’m going up to the hotel to get into my other clothes. I will leave this suit outside your door, as I won’t want it any more this year.” Without another word, he turned his back on Hammerswell and walked away. Just before the game began Dick called his players around him and many of the spectators observed with surprise that Jack Cole was one of them. With Dick in their midst, they pressed close, getting their heads together and listening to him. “Boys,” said Merriwell, glancing from one to another, with his calm, dark eyes, “this is going to be a fierce old fight to-day. Over there by first base you can see a lot of toughs who have been brought here to rattle us and who will do so if possible. Just close your ears to howls and insults. Don’t let them distract your attention from the game for a single moment. Let’s go into this thing with the determination of winning out or leaving our carcasses right here on the field.