“I have quit Hammerswell,” said Chester. “I have been through with him for some time, but I remained in Maplewood for a particular reason. A few minutes ago you accused me of sticking by the Maplewood team when I knew Hammerswell was plotting and scheming to down Fairhaven. He never told me much of anything about his plots. I was captain of the team. As long as he kept me in that position I stuck by him. After a while I began to find out some things about his plans and plots, and I was anxious to learn still more. That led me to stay there. I thought if I could get onto his secrets I could make him cough up some good money, and I’ll need money this fall if I return to Fardale. Mother used to furnish me with the cash, but she’s in a sanitarium now, and I’ll not be liable to get too much dough from the old man. That’s why I stuck in Maplewood and did my best to find out things about Hammerswell. I thought I might squeeze him a little while I had a chance.” “In other words,” said Dick, “you contemplated blackmailing him.” “I don’t like the way you put it!” exclaimed Chester shortly. “I’ve found out all the things I want to know, but little good they’ll do me. Hammerswell is busted. If he should be defeated in both games here on the island to-day he wouldn’t have enough money to take him out of the county. He’s bet all the money he could rake and scrape on the result of the games to-day. He’s going to spring a surprise on you in the shape of new pitchers. You want to be ready for them. I know the kind of luck you have, Merriwell, and I have felt lately that you would land on top. The more I thought about it the firmer became my convictions that you couldn’t be defeated. To-night Hammerswell will be strapped, and, therefore, my knowledge of his crookedness will be useless in the way of twisting money out of him.” Dick was listening quietly, his dark eyes watching Arlington with a steady stare that made Chester uneasy. “Go on,” urged Merriwell. “Last night,” said Arlington, “I learned something about Hammerswell that made me decide right away that he ought to be sent to the jug. Bad as I knew him to be before that, I never fancied he had committed murder.” “Murder!” breathed Dick, lifting his eyebrows. “Just that,” nodded Chet, “and nothing else. I was lying on the grass in front of the hotel last night, smoking a cigarette and thinking. Pretty soon a man came sneaking up, dodging from one clump of shrubbery to another. His movements interested me, and I watched him. He didn’t observe me, and I took care he should not. I followed him, and saw him hide behind the shrubbery until Benton Hammerswell, smoking a cigar, approached the spot. Then the man I had followed stepped out and spoke to Hammerswell. It was Luke Grimes, the assistant engineer of the _Lady May_, a chap I fancy you have good cause to remember, Merriwell.”