“Thanks, I dare say we can get together again,” replied Gordon not overly enthusiastic. “I’ll let you know.” “Next time we’ll have a decent umpire,” cried Jack, pausing on his way to the dressing shed. “That man’s a thief!” “Aw, don’t be a baby,” growled the opposing captain. “You were out all right enough. I saw the play, didn’t I?” “I don’t care whether you did or not. I was perfectly safe. I crossed the plate before the ball ever got to him!” “What if you did, kid? You didn’t touch it. That ump is all right. The trouble is you can’t take a beating. Chase yourself.” Jack was fighting mad then and pushed his way back, but Gordon and some of the others seized him, while the stragglers from the audience clustered around, eager for trouble. “Jack, you get out of here,” directed Dick sternly. “Like fun I will! That big chump can’t tell me——” “Just one more word and you’ll be suspended!” Dick spoke very quietly. Jack stared open-mouthed, his gaze traveling from the derisive face of the Lesterville captain to the stern countenance of the Clearfield manager. Gordon and Lanny still held him firmly. He swallowed hard, rewarded Dick with a baleful glare and said: “Go ahead and suspend! You’re a peach of a manager, anyhow, to stand around and let those robbers swipe the game on us! You——” But Gordon and Lanny hustled him promptly through the throng at that, the crowd dissolved and the field emptied. In spite of Jack’s protest the game was recorded: Lesterville, 11; Clearfield, 7. CHAPTER XIII JACK IS SUSPENDED They talked it over on the way back in the train and the consensus of Clearfield opinion was that, taking into consideration the indisputable fact that the umpire had been against them all through the game, the final score was nothing to be ashamed of. Only Jack failed to subscribe with any enthusiasm to that verdict. Jack frankly sulked. Dick called Gordon over to his seat after the discussion had waned and the fellows had quieted down. “Who,” he asked, moving his crutches to make room for Gordon, “can we get to take Jack’s place?” “To take Jack’s place?” exclaimed Gordon. “Why, what’s the matter with Jack?” “I thought you understood that he was suspended,” replied Dick calmly. “I certainly gave him a fair warning.” “But—but—” blurted Gordon in bewilderment, “you can’t do that!” “Why not?” Gordon stared. Finally, “Are you in earnest?” he asked. “Of course. I’m manager of this team. And while I’m manager the fellows have got to behave. Jack was all wrong. He had no business talking like that. In the first place, it wasn’t up to him to protest the decision. In the next place he might have got us into a nasty row with those toughs over there. They were dying for a scrap all along. If they had started anything we’d have got pretty well mussed up, Gordie.” Gordon nodded. “I know,” he said gloomily, “but—Jack was excited, Dick. And it _was_ a robbery. You can’t blame him for getting a bit hot about it.”