CHAPTER XVII
THE INITIATION
For a moment after the unexpected support of Teeter's ultimatum to Hiramthere was a tense silence. The lads who had come in with the bully--hissupporting army so to speak--remained grouped around him and Luke. Onthe other side stood Teeter, Peaches, Tom, Joe and their friends, and anumber of the better players of the school nine. Included among themwere a number of the substitutes.
Hiram Shell looked around him. He must have been aware that his powermight slip very easily from him now, unless something was done. It wasno time to pursue his usual tactics. He must temporize, but he made uphis mind that those who had revolted from his authority would pay dearlyfor it sooner or later.
"Well, what do you fellows want?" he fairly growled.
"I'll tell you what we want," said Teeter firmly. "In the first placewe want this business of shifting players all about, stopped. A fellowgets used to playing in one position and he's best there. Then you orLuke change him."
"Well, hasn't the captain the right to do that?" demanded Luke.
"Sure, yes," spoke Peaches, "but when you get a good lad in a good placekeep him there."
"Is that all?" sneered Hiram.
"No, we think there ought to be better pitching," went on theself-constituted chairman.
"Ha! I guess that's where the whole trouble is!" cried Hiram quickly."This meeting is for the benefit of Joe Matson."
"Nothing of the sort!" exclaimed Joe quickly. "I knew nothing about ituntil Teeter told me. Of course I'd like to pitch; there's no usedenying that, but I don't want any fellow to give way for me if he'smaking good."
"That's the trouble--he isn't," put in Teeter.
Hiram took a quick resolve. He could smooth matters over now, and laterarrange them to suit himself and Luke. So he said:
"All right, I admit that we didn't make a very good showing to-day. Butit was our first game, and Brown and Akers didn't do very well in thebox. But don't be too hasty. Now I'll tell you what I'll do," and heacted as though it was a big favor. "I'll let you fellows have a voicewhen I make changes after this. We'll do some harder practice. I'll makeBrown and Akers pitch better----"
"I don't believe he can," murmured Tom.
"We won't make any more shifts--right away," went on Hiram. "Maybe youfellows were right. I haven't given as much time to the team as Ishould. But wait--we'll win the Blue Banner yet."
"That's all we ask," said Teeter. "We just wanted you to know how wefelt about it, and if things are better and our nine can win, we won'tsay another word."
"All right, let it go at that," and Hiram affected to laugh, but therewas not much mirth in it. "Might as well quit now, I guess. Everybodyout for hard practice next week. I want to see some better stick-work,and as for pitching--where are Brown and Akers?"
"Here!" cried the two boxmen.
"You fellows will have to brush up a bit on your speed and curves," wenton the bully manager. "Isn't that right, Luke?"
"Sure," grunted the captain. There was more talk, but it was not of thefiery kind and, for the time, at least, the threatened disruption hadpassed. But there was still an undercurrent of dissatisfaction againstLuke and Hiram.
"Well, I don't see as it did an awful lot of good," remarked Tom Davisto Peaches and Teeter, as they walked out of the gymnasium with Joe, alittle later. "I don't see that Joe is benefitted."
"I didn't expect much," spoke our hero. "It was well meant and----"
"And it did good, too," interrupted Teeter. "It's the first time any oneever talked to Hiram like a Dutch Uncle, and I guess it sort of jarredhim. He'll sit up and take notice now, and it will be for the good ofthe team."
"But where does Joe come in?" asked Peaches.
"Well, I figure it out this way," replied Teeter. "Brown and Akers willtry to make good but they can't. The fellows will see that we've got tohave a new pitcher, and Hiram will have to give 'em one. Then Joe willstep in."
"There are others as good as I in the school," remarked Joe modestly.
"Well, they haven't shown themselves if there are," was Teeter's retort."No, Joe will be pitching before the season is over, you see if heisn't."
The question was discussed pro and con, as they went to their rooms, andcontinued after they got there until a monitor warned them that thoughpermission had been given to hold a meeting it did not extend tomidnight lunch.
It was one night, after a hard day on the diamond, that Joe and Tom, whowere studying, or making a pretense at it, heard the usual knock ontheir door.
"Teeter and Peaches--I wonder what's up now?" asked Tom.
"Let 'em in and they'll tell us," suggested Joe, as his roommate went tothe door. It was kept locked, for often some of the fun-loving studentswould come in unannounced to create a "rough-house," to the misery ofthe two chums.
As the portal swung back, there was revealed to Joe and Tom severalsheet-clad white figures, each one with a mask of black cloth over hishead. The sight was rather a weird one, and for the moment Tom wasnonplussed.
"Shut the door," commanded Joe quickly. "They're up to some high jinks!"
Tom hesitated for a moment. If it was Peaches, Teeter and their friends,he did not want to shut them out, but, on the contrary might want tojoin the fun. If, on the contrary, it was a hostile crowd there was nouse getting into trouble. So Tom hesitated and was lost.
For a moment later, the throng of white-clad and unrecognizable figures(because of the masks) stepped into the room.
"We have come," announced one in a voice that sounded hollow and deep,"to initiate you into the Mystic and Sacred Order of the Choo-Choo!"
"Get out, Peaches, I know your voice," said Joe, not quite sure whetherhe did or not.
"Prepare to join the Mystic and Sacred Order of the Choo-Choo! Shall henot, comrades?" demanded a second figure.
"Toot! Toot! He shall!" was the answer in a chorus.
"That's Teeter all right," affirmed Tom.
"Come!" commanded the first figure, advancing to take hold of Tom's arm.
"Shall we go, Joe?" asked his chum.
Joe thought a minute. There had been rumors in the school of late, thatseveral initiations had been held into a newly-formed society. Reportsdiffered as to what society it was, some lads stating that they had beenmade to join one and some another. But all agreed, though they did notgo into particulars, that the initiations were anything but pleasant.Joe was as fond of fun as anyone but he did not like beingmistreated--especially when it was not by his friends.
"Don't go!" he called suddenly to Tom.
"Then we'll make you!" said the disguised voice. "Grab 'em fellows!"
Instantly there was a commotion in the room. Joe leaped back to getbehind a sofa, but one of the black-masked figures was too quick for himand seized him around the neck. Our hero tried to tear the mask from theface to see who his assailant was, but other hands clasped his arms frombehind and he was helpless.
Tom, too, was having his own troubles. He was beset by two of theunknowns and held in such a way that he could do nothing. The strugglethough sharp was a quiet one, for the students did not want to attractthe attention of a monitor or prowling professor.
"'Tis well," spoke the lad who was evidently the leader, when Tom andJoe were held safely, their hands having been tied behind their backs."Away with them to the dungeon deep, and they will soon be good,faithful and true members of the Mystic and Sacred Order of theChoo-Choo!"
Then, realizing that discretion was probably now the better part ofvalor, Joe and Tom meekly followed their captors.
Baseball Joe on the School Nine; or, Pitching for the Blue Banner Page 17
