Pierson was surprised by the freshman’s manner, for he had expected Frank to show excitement and delight.

“What sort of a fellow is this?” he thought.  “Does he really understand me, or is he a little thick?”

Then he saw by Frank’s fine and highly sensitive face that he could not be thick, and he began to perceive that the freshman had nerve.  That was one of the great requirements for a successful pitcher.

“I have spoken of this to you, Mr. Merriwell, so you may be keeping yourself in condition through the winter, as you will then stand all the better show of making a favorable impression when you are given a trial.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“If I were in your place I would not make any talk about it, for something may happen that you will not be given a trial, in which case it would be very humiliating if you had publicly stated that you were to have a show.”

“You may be sure I will say nothing about it, Mr. Pierson.”

“That is all.  Good-day, sir.”

“Good-day, sir.”

Pierson passed on, quite aware that a number of students were regarding him with the utmost amazement, plainly wondering that he should have stopped to talk with a freshman on the campus.

Walter Gordon had seen the two speaking together, and he hastened to call the attention of some friends to it.

“Look there!” he cried.  “As I live, Merriwell is talking with Pierson!  What’ll you bet the fellow’s not making a try to get on the regular ball team?  Ha! ha! ha!  He’s got crust enough for it.”

“And I am not sure he hasn’t the ability for it,” said Easy Street.

“Oh, rats!” snapped Walter.  “He’d go to pieces in the first inning.  He’ll never make a pitcher in his life.”

“There are others,” murmured Lucy Little.

CHAPTER XXIII.

The Yale spirit.

Frank went to his room with his head in a whirl.  He had dreamed of working hard to secure a place on the freshman team, but he had not dreamed there was a possibility that he would be given a trial in the regular Yale nine during his first year in college.

Merriwell knew well enough that Phillips men were given the preference in everything at Yale as a rule, for they had friends to pull them through, while the fellows who had been prepared by private tutors lacked such an advantage.

But Frank had likewise discovered that in most cases a man was judged fairly at Yale, and he could become whatever he chose to make himself, in case he had the ability.

The Phillips man might have the advantage at the start, but he could not hold the advantage unless he proved himself worthy.  If the unknown student had nerve and determination he could win his way for all of the wire pulling of the friends of some rival who was not so capable.

Frank had heard the cry which had been raised at that time that the old spirit of democracy was dying out at Yale, and that great changes had taken place there.  He had heard that Yale was getting to be more like another college, where the swell set are strongly in evidence and the senior likely to be very exclusive, having but a small circle of speaking acquaintances.