“Then, even if he writ to you, there wasn’t no negotiations, for it takes two parties, at least, to enter inter negotiations. He’ll find he can’t bluff me on that tack.” “Give me time――all I ask is a few days――and I can answer positively whether or not he ever wrote to me.” “That don’t make no diff’runce, if you didn’t answer it. He’ll find he’s barkin’ up the wrong tree when he tries to bluff me outer a pitcher that fashion.” “I presume there will be more or less publicity over this contention, and that’ll be unfortunate――for me.” “Yes, I’m worried over that. Riley’ll be sure to let ev’rybody know that you’re Hazelton, of Princeton, though mebbe it won’t git outside the Northern League to bother ye when you go back to college.” “Maybe not, but the chances are that it will, if Riley makes much of a roar over it.” “But you won’t quit?” cried Cope, in sudden panic. “If he tries to frighten ye out by threatenin’ to blow the matter broadcast, you won’t let him drive ye that way? Great Scott! That would fix us! It would be almost as bad as havin’ to give ye up to them.” “I am not much of a quitter,” answered the other man, with a smile. “It will be a mighty bad thing to have the facts made public; but, once I’ve set my hand to anything, I seldom turn back. I don’t think you need to worry about losing me, Mr. Cope.” The storekeeper rushed forward and seized the young pitcher’s hand. “Good f’r you!” he spluttered. “That’s the stuff! We’ll hold Bancroft’s nose right to the grindstone; we’ll put the wood to ’em this year. But I’m mighty sorry, on your ’count, boy; it’ll be tough if you’re really chucked off your college team.” “Well, we won’t worry about that,” laughed Locke, rising and returning the hearty handshake. “We’ll have to take things as they come. It’ll give me additional satisfaction now to down Bancroft. I have a personal feeling about it.” CHAPTER XXIV A MATTER OF VERACITY Near eleven o’clock that forenoon, Henry Cope saw Benton King passing his store. Immediately he hurried out, calling to the young man. “Hey, Bent!” he cried. “Want to see ye a minute. Come back here, will ye?” King came back. “What’s the matter, Mr. Cope? You seem somewhat disturbed.” “Come inter my office, won’t ye? I want to ask you a few questions. ’Twon’t take long.” King glanced at his watch. He was wearing a woolen shirt and his ordinary mill clothes, but even in such common toggery he was a rather handsome young fellow. “All right,” he said; “I’ve got ten minutes to spare.” He was speculating a bit as he followed the storekeeper into the cramped private office. “Set down,” invited Cope. “I prefer to stand, if you don’t mind.” “All right. I’ll come right to the p’int. I s’posed you was ruther interested in our baseball team, and I didn’t cal’late you’d do anything to hurt it.” “You were quite right,” said Bent.