"Can't he put it off?" pleaded Sandow. "One day won't make any difference, will it?" "Unfortunately, it will. The matter is of the utmost importance," replied Fred's mother. "Then I must let Hal know, right after supper," declared the second baseman. The young people did not allow this news to dampen their celebration, however, and the supper was a merry feast. "Why does father want me, Momsy?" asked Fred, when he had a minute alone with her. "I don't know, son. He simply telegraphed for you to go to Manchester on Wednesday; without fail." Accompanied by the others, the boy sought Hal, who was forced to make the best of the situation. But though the absence of his second baseman would prove a serious handicap, he believed Bronson could pitch the team to victory. Consequently, when he received a note from that pitcher the next morning announcing that he, too, had been called to Manchester by his father, he was in despair. Quickly seeking Sandow, he discussed with him what was best to do. "Use Bart," urged the leader of the Firsts. "He'll do his best to outdo Clothespin's record, and with Fred out of the game, he'll have no reason to throw it." This move agreed upon, Hal summoned the bully by telephone. "I want you to pitch to-morrow," exclaimed the captain when the boy appeared. "With Fred on second?" "No; with Lefty. Johnson will take Lefty's place in the field." "Where's Fred?" "Out of town. Will you do your best, or will you sulk?" "I sulk? Not when I have the chance to take down Bronson's swelled head by showing him that he isn't the only fellow at Baxter who can pitch." Satisfied with this retort, Hal ordered Bart to find Gregory and put in some hard practice, while Sandow promised to drop round and pitch to him that he might train his batting eye. But when the students heard the two stars of the first game were to be out of the second, they were glum indeed. With the arrival of the Landon players and supporters, however, the Baxter students put forth the appearance of confidence. Again the Landon section used tin horns and it did not take the students long to realize they bothered Bart. In consequence, every time he wound up to pitch, they let loose a broadside of discordant toots. For five innings, the bully managed to hold his opponents runless, but in the sixth he went all to pieces, and when Holcomb relieved him, Landon had a lead of four runs. Goaded to desperation by the caustic comments of their captain, the Baxter boys sought to wrest victory from defeat, but in vain. And Landon won, 4 to 1, thereby necessitating a third game at Winthrop. CHAPTER XX AN INTERVIEW OF IMPORTANCE Bright and early on the day of the game, Fred and Bronson had taken the train for Manchester, the three hours' journey being whiled away in speculation as to the cause of their summons and the showing Bart would be able to make against Landon.