"It isn't any laughing matter, son," he exclaimed, grimly. "You all know what an eccentric old man Mr. Barry is----" "But not so much as to make him unreasonable," suggested Coach Steele. "Oh, I don't know. Listen." The squad "listened," as did many lads who crowded the big room. "He's an eccentric old creature," repeated Tom. He glanced sternly into Benny's grinning face. "What do you think? I heard that one of the fellows--one of our fellows, mind you--said the way we played ball was enough to make Mr. Barry plant corn on his lot." "Oh--oh!" gasped Benny Wilkins, faintly. "Yes, it's so. I'd just like to find him and punch his head." "That isn't enough to get excited about," laughed Bob Somers. "You haven't heard the worst. Some chap with more tongue than brains thought it was such a good joke he'd have to tell somebody else, and Mr. Barry happened to hear what he said. And----" "What happened?" demanded Benny, even more faintly than before. "Mr. Barry got angry--told Professor Hopkins he hadn't thought of it before, but if that was the way the school was talking he thought the idea might be a good one. If I knew who said it in the first place I'd punch him right here." "Maybe some one could point him out," suggested "Crackers" Brown, pleasantly. "How about it, Spearman?" Benny Wilkins made a determined effort to look innocent and unconcerned. It was a most distressing moment until he realized that Spearman, although he guffawed loudly, had nothing to say. A solemn grin played about the corners of Brown's mouth. "I'll bet it was you, 'Crackers'!" cried Tom. "Couldn't have been I," mumbled Brown, "because I have more brains than tongue. I didn't do it. But if you want to scrap I'll accommodate you right now." "Never mind," said Benny, joining in a roar of mirth. "Wait until they lose the next game." "I'll get him yet," announced Tom, fiercely. "See here, manager"--he turned toward Lou Mercer--"we play the Goose Hill fellows next Saturday?" "Correct!" "If any more boys in the school think Mr. Barry's lot ought to be turned into a corn field they'll change their opinion after that game." "We'll see," said Owen Lawrence, shaking his head very knowingly. "What we shall see," supplemented "Crackers." "I think," mused Benny, "that I'll finish my article on the baseball game. Goodness! Wouldn't it be awful if somebody should tell Mr. Barry what Tom called him--an eccentric old creature?" Study and practice kept the boys busy for the rest of the week. The Goose Hill crowd had considerable reputation, although the Stars had won a spirited contest from them by the score of five to three.