“No. Maplewood and Fairhaven are tied in second position, having played forty-four games each, winning twenty-two of them. Rockford and Seaslope have played forty-five games each. Rockford is on top, as she has won twenty-three and lost twenty-two. Seaslope is at the bottom, having won twenty-two and lost twenty-three. Rockford and Seaslope have only one game more to play. If Rockford wins she will hold first place, although Maplewood may tie her. To do so we must win both games from Fairhaven. If Rockford loses and we win both games we’ll go into first position, while Fairhaven will go plumb to the bottom.” “But what if Rockford loses and Fairhaven wins both games?” asked Hammerswell’s companion. “It won’t happen!” savagely declared Hammerswell. “It can’t happen!” “But what if it does?” persisted the other man. “Why, Fairhaven would win the pennant. She’d have twenty-four games to her credit.” “Where would Maplewood land?” asked Grimes, with a touch of maliciousness in his voice. “At the bottom,” confessed Hammerswell. “And you’d be bu’sted?” “Wiped out! I wouldn’t have a dollar left. I’ve drawn all my money from the bank and bet it in two ways. I have found suckers who were willing to bet even money that Fairhaven will win first position, or at least will be tied for first place after the games to-morrow. I have also found others who were confident Maplewood will land at the bottom, and so I’ve risked everything on those two chances. I can’t lose on both bets. There’s not one chance in a hundred that I shall.” “If that’s the case,” said Grimes, “you oughter have some boodle in your clothes to-morrer night.” “I will have some,” nodded Benton; “but at the most it will not be enough to make good my losses this summer or come anywhere near it.” “Well, I ain’t goin’ to be hard on you, seeing you’ve had such bad luck, but you’ll have to fork over five hundred. I’ll split my price in two and take that amount. Don’t try to monkey with me if you win, Hammerswell. I’m going to be on Fairhaven Island to-morrer.” “How do you expect to get there without being seen and recognized?” “Leave that ter me. I’ll git there.” “Stay away,” urged Benton. “I’ll make an appointment and meet you somewhere on the mainland to-morrow night.” “Oh, no, you don’t! I know you too well. I know how you keep your app’intments and your promises. I will be on hand after the game, and I’ll keep track of you, Hammerswell, till you fork over. You can bet your life on that!” In vain Hammerswell urged his companion not to attempt such a thing. Grimes was determined and would not yield. “Don’t worry,” he said. “I won’t git nabbed. I’ll take care of that. Now I guess I’d better be jogging. I’ve had good luck ter-night in seein’ you all quiet by your lonesome self, and I am satisfied. But don’t forgit what I know! Don’t forgit what I can tell! Don’t forgit I saw you throw Sullivan inter the river! Don’t forgit it’s murder you will face if I peach on you! Good night!”