“Well, what are you trying to get at?”

“Don’t be in a hurry,” said Harry, who was now speaking with unusual calmness.  “You regard Old Put as your friend?”

“I always have.”

“But you think he didn’t use you just right to-day?”

“I will confess that I don’t like to be used to fall back on with the hope that I may pull out a game somebody else has lost.”

Harry nodded his satisfaction.

“I knew you would feel that way, unless you had suddenly grown foolish.  It’s natural and it’s right.  There is no reason why you shouldn’t be the regular pitcher for our team, but still Gordon is regarded as the pitcher, while you are the change pitcher.  Frank, there is a nigger in the woodpile.”

“You will have to make yourself clearer than that.”

“Putnam knew that Pierson was going to be present at the game.”

“Well?”

“Pierson didn’t go on to see any Harvard friends.  He couldn’t afford the time just at this season with all he has on his hands.”

“Go on.”

“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.”