Part 60 (1/2)
”Putnam knew Pierson was not there to see any Harvard men.”
”Oh, take your time.”
Harry grinned. He was speaking with such deliberation that he did not once twist his words or expressions about, as he often did when excited and in a hurry.
”That's why you wasn't put in at the start-off,” he declared.
”What is why? You will have to make the whole matter plainer than you have so far. It is hazy.”
”Putnam did not want Pierson to see you pitch.”
”He didn't? Why not?”
”Because Pierson was there for that very purpose.”
”Get out!”
”I know what I am talking about. You have kept still about it, but Pierson himself has let the cat out of the bag.”
”What cat?”
”He has told--confidentially, you know--that he has thoughts of giving you a trial on the regular team. The parties he told repeated it--confidentially, you know--to others. It finally came to my ears. Old Put heard of it. Now, while Old Put seems to be your friend, he doesn't want to lose you, and he had taken every precaution to keep you in the background. He has made Gordon more prominent, and he has not let you do much pitching for Pierson to see. He permitted you to go in to-day because he was afraid Gordon would go all to pieces, and he knew what a howl would go up if he didn't do something.”
Frank walked up and down the room. He did not permit himself to show any great amount of excitement, but there was a dark look on his handsome face that told he was aroused. Harry saw that his roommate was stirred up at last.
”As I have said,” observed Frank, halting and speaking grimly. ”I have regarded Burnham Putnam as my friend; but if he has done as you claim for the reasons you give he has not shown himself to be very friendly.
There is likely to be an understanding between us.”
Rattleton nodded.
”That's right,” he said. ”He may deny it, but I know I am not off my trolley. He didn't want Piersan to see you work because he was afraid you would show up so well that Pierson would nail you for the regular team.”
”And you think that is why I have been kept in the background so much since the season opened?”
”I am dead sure of it.”
”Putnam must have a grudge against me.”
”No, Frank; but he has displayed selfishness in the matter. I believe he has considered you a better man than Gordon all along, and he wanted you on the team to use in case he got into a tight corner. That's why he didn't want Pierson to see you work. He didn't want to lose you. But he was forced to use you to-day, and you must have satisfied Pierson that you know your business.”
”Well, Harry, you have thrown light on dark places. To-morrow I will have a little talk with Put about this matter.”
”That's right,” grinned Harry; ”and Pierson is liable to have a little talk with you. You'll be on the regular team inside of a week.”
CHAPTER x.x.xI.
WHAT DITSON WANTED.