"Don't try, sir; don't try!" advised Mr. Kimbole, smiling benignly. "What a grand sport baseball is! I trust, sir"--he turned toward Professor Ivins--"that you have enjoyed the afternoon as much as I." "Ahem--ahem!" The professor polished his eye-glasses industriously. "To be sure. After one has been cooped up indoors all week this sunshine is really delightful," he admitted. "No matter who may be discouraged by the showing of the school, I am not," declared Captain Bunderley, emphatically. "I believe, if we could get the consensus of opinion, you'd have few supporters," snapped Mr. Rupert Barry. "Five straight defeats seem to forecast a dismal failure." CHAPTER XII "FOR THE GOOD OF THE SCHOOL" A few days later, Bob Somers, hard at work studying in his "den," was summoned down-stairs to the 'phone. "Now I wonder what's up?" he murmured, somewhat impatiently. "Haven't much time to prepare for the next exercise in logarithms." As soon as he placed the receiver to his ear the gruff voice of Tom Clifton began coming over the wire. And there was a note of pent-up excitement in it which instantly caught the captain's attention. "I say, Bob, what do you think? Do you know what 'Crackers' Brown has done? Never heard of such nerve in my life." "Tell me quick!" laughed Bob. "He's posted up a big notice on the gymnasium door calling for candidates for another team. How does that strike you?" "I suppose there is nothing to prevent him, Tom." "You haven't heard all. The notice says that as the regular nine has been tried and found wanting the interests of the school demand that his players be given an equal show with the others." "I had an idea something like this was coming. Who told you?" "Benny Wilkins. Had the thing copied word for word in his note-book. May be a joke, you say? No; nothing of the sort! It's an actual fact. Gee! Maybe I don't feel mad enough to punch 'Crackers' Brown!" Bob Somers' face remained unruffled. "I don't think we want to indulge in any real warfare, Tom," he sent through the transmitter. "'Crackers' plan may fizzle out. Besides, I think we can count upon having the majority of the fellows on our side." "But Benny Wilkins says a whole lot are beginning to waver. He thinks there'll be a sizzling hot time before many weeks. Aleck Parks and Owen Lawrence are buttonholing every fellow in sight, telling 'em how the grounds'll be lost unless Bob listens to reason." "What does 'Crackers' want us to do?" "Put Roycroft, Lawrence and a few others on the team, and discharge Charlie Blake, Alf Boggs, and--and"--the tone of Tom's voice seemed hot enough to scorch the wire--"myself. Honest fact, Bob--I don't know whether I can keep from punching him or not. What are you going to do about it?" "No Central American disturbance at the Kingswood High," said Bob, dryly. "What am I going to do? Get right back up-stairs and finish my work."