It wasn’t necessary, however, for the detective to put any dents in Mr. Wright, for the next morning Mr. Cummings informed Tom that it was all arranged. “It wasn’t so easy to bring him around, Tom, but he came after awhile. I told him, among other things, that it would be good business. Said we sold a lot of things to the high school boys and that if you played ball with them and won games for them it would make us more popular than ever and we’d get more trade.” Mr. Cummings paused to chuckle reminiscently. “I sort of think that’s what did the business, son. After that he listened real patiently and finally gave in. So you’re to have three afternoons off every week this month and two next. You’d better see Mr. Talbot yourself and see what days he wants you. I guess Monday had better be one of them, for that’s usually rather a dull day with us. Then Wednesday and Saturday might do for the others.” Tom thanked Mr. Cummings gratefully. “Seems to me, though, it would be fairer if you were to take something off my wages until the baseball season’s over,” he urged. “I--I’d feel better about it.” “Well, I suggested that to Horace, but he turned on me and nearly bit my head off. Said, so long as we didn’t have to get anyone in to take your place while you were out, he guessed we needn’t be so tarnation mean as all that! I guess we won’t quarrel about a dollar or so, Tom. After all, there is something in what I told Horace about getting more trade by letting you play with the team, and I guess we don’t stand to lose anything.” Mr. Talbot suggested Thursdays instead of Wednesdays as one of the days, since the midweek games were played on Wednesdays and he believed Tom could learn more on a practice afternoon. So it was finally arranged that Tom was to report for practice on Monday and Thursday afternoons and for play on Saturdays until June. After that Thursdays and Saturdays were to suffice. Meanwhile Mr. George had talked with the coach and had agreed to go out to the field twice a week, and oftener if he could, and take the pitchers in hand. Tom couldn’t determine which seemed the most pleased, Mr. Talbot or Mr. George!