Meanwhile Gus Kiggins doggedly continued to practise pitching and his work was of such a character that he was looked upon as the substitute pitcher in addition to his work on first base, where he was acknowledged to be supreme. Little Carlton Hall had learned a few lessons not taught in the classroom and somehow had weathered the storms, although he still was not without his attentions from Gus Kiggins and others. His deep affection for Dan had increased steadily, and it was Dan who had strengthened the younger boy’s spirit of self-reliance and determination so that at last he had decided to remain in school, though his life there was not one of unalloyed pleasure. The first game of the league was now at hand. The nine of the Military Academy and their supporters were to come the following day, and excitement ran high in the Tait School. Dan, in spite of his quiet manner, was perhaps more excited than any of his fellows, realizing as he did how much success or failure would mean to him. The afternoon before the game Ned was surprised when Carlton Hall came to his room. “What’s wrong, young man?” Ned demanded as he became aware of the excitement of his visitor. At the boy’s reply Ned was as much aroused as his caller, and seizing Carlton by the shoulders he demanded: “How do you know? Say that again! Be careful now!” “It’s just as I told you,” said Carlton. “Say it again,” demanded Ned sharply. “I was feeling lonesome,” began Carlton obediently, “and I wanted to be alone. I went over to those bushes back of the library and just stretched myself on the ground there behind them. While I was lying there Gus Kiggins and Walter Borden came along and sat down on that bench the other side of the lilac bushes.” “How did you know who it was?” “I peeked. I was just going to try to crawl away without being seen when I heard Gus say, ‘We’ll fix the pious fraud.’” “Go on. What did Walter say?” “He said, ‘I hate to do it, Gus.’” “Did Gus say what he wanted Walter to do?” “You’re right he did.” “What was it?” “He wanted Walter to put some stuff in the water Dan drank or in something he ate before the game to-morrow.” “What did he want him to put in it?” “Ipecac. Gus said, ‘That’ll make him sick enough to quit the box and it won’t hurt him a bit, either.’” “What did Walter say then?” “He said he didn’t want to do it. He said he didn’t like Dan any better than Gus did, but he didn’t want to go into any such low-down trick as that.” “I should think he wouldn’t want to,” said Ned savagely. “But he agreed in the end that he’d do it?” “Yes. I think Gus knew something that Walter was afraid he’d tell if he didn’t agree.” “The sneak! Did you hear either of them say when the trick was to be played?” “Some time just before the game.” “How long did you lie there?” “All the time they were talking. I wanted to get away, but I didn’t dare move. If Gus Kiggins had found me he would have killed me,” said Carlton, shuddering as he spoke.