CHAPTER XXXVII.
A PROTEST.
The morning paper from Wellsburg arrived in Bloomfield at seven o'clock.Before the coming of Frank Merriwell to Bloomfield this morning paperhad been able to boast of barely a dozen regular subscribers orpurchasers in the little town. Now, however, things were different, andBloomfield took fully fifty copies of the paper each morning. Theformerly indifferent citizens had become eagerly anxious to get thepaper as soon as possible after its arrival each morning in order to beposted on the county and State news.
The increasing circulation in Bloomfield had been noted by the editor ofthe _Herald_, who wisely decided to have a regular correspondent in thattown who would furnish a daily news letter. This correspondent hadfaithfully reported the reunion of Frank Merriwell's old flock and thedoings of the house party at Merry Home.
Between eight and nine o'clock each forenoon Frank found a short periodof rest from his duties at Farnham Hall. On the morning following thearrangements for the ball game with the Rovers he jogged into town incompany with Hodge and called at the post office for his mail.
Something unusual seemed to be taking place at the post office. Morethan a dozen villagers were assembled there in two or three groups, allof them talking earnestly and some appearing decidedly excited. Merryobserved that many of them held Wellsburg _Heralds_ in their hands.
"What's up, Frank?" questioned Hodge. "Suppose the advertisement of thatgame to-day has kicked up all this disturbance?"
"I can't tell," answered Merry. "Perhaps we'll find out."
As they stepped inside they heard a tall, thin-lipped man declaiming ina sharp, rasping voice:
"You'll find out, neighbors, that my predictions will come true. They'recoming true already. The spirit of frivolity and sin is running riot inthis town. Wickedness is rampant. Staid and respectable citizens arelosing their dignity. Good church members are becoming afflicted withthis worldly spirit. And who's to blame for it all--who's to blame?There's only one man. He's created this indescribable change. Thefoolish ones have regarded him as a public benefactor, but I insist thathe's doing untold harm. He brought about the downfall of Brother Hewett,who was respected and revered by every one in Bloomfield for years.You're afraid of him--that's what's the matter. You don't dare to speakout and express yourself. Now I'm not afraid of him. I am ready todenounce him in public. I'm ready to denounce him to his face. You knowwho I mean. His name is---- Er, hum! How!"
"Good morning, Deacon Crabtree," said Frank, as the speaker stammeredand hemmed, having ceased abruptly in his remarks. "I notice that, asusual, you are denouncing sin and wickedness. Bloomfield should be proudof the fact that it has one man who makes no compromise with iniquity.Evidently you stand firmly rooted on the rock of righteousness."
"Yes, sir--yes, sir, that's right," said Crabtree. "I'm not one of thesewhiffle-minded creatures who changes his opinion every time the windchanges."
"That's a very good thing," nodded Merriwell. "I haven't much patiencewith people who are so extremely changeable. At the same time, it mustbe admitted there is some truth in the saying that only mules and foolsnever change their minds."
Jeremiah Crabtree turned red in the face.
"Is this a jab at me, young man?" he snapped. "Are you personal in yourremarks?"
"I hope you won't take it as personal unless it happens to hit yourcase, Mr. Crabtree. People seldom care to wear clothes that do not fitthem. What has happened now that's caused all this commotion and talk?"
"Mebbe you haven't seen the _Herald_ this morning."
"I confess I haven't."
"Well, you'd better read it. If you'll look in the second column on thefirst page you'll find something about a great ten-thousand-dollarbaseball game that's going to take place in Bloomfield to-day."
"A ten-thousand-dollar game?"
"Yes, sir. Don't you know anything about it?"
"Well, I'm aware that there's to be a baseball game here this afternoon.I was not aware it was to be a ten-thousand-dollar game."
"Well, look at that--look right there!" snapped Crabtree, holding up thepaper and pointing a long bony finger at an article in the secondcolumn. "Notice the heading in big black type. Notice it says that FrankMerriwell's own baseball team will play the Rovers, the championindependent team of the country, for ten thousand dollars."
Merry smiled.
"I think that's an exaggeration," he said. "I think that's simply anadvertising dodge, Mr. Crabtree."
"Do you mean to say you ain't made no arrangement to play this team fora sum of money? Do you mean to say there ain't been no betting on thegame? This article distinctly states that one of your friends, and aplayer on your team, has made a wager of ten thousand dollars thatyou'll beat the Rovers."
"I mean to say I know nothing whatever of such a wager, and I do notbelieve that a bet of that sort has been made. I was in Wellsburgyesterday and gave the _Herald_ certain information to be used inadvertising this game, but I assure you I gave them no informationconcerning a wager of that sort. On the face of it the yarn appearsdecidedly preposterous. I think Bloomfield citizens are generally awareof the fact that I am opposed to betting in any form."
"I know you've always claimed you was," said Crabtree, with a sneer;"but, 'cordin' to some of the things I've heard about ye, you've been amighty sportin' young feller in your day. You've lived pretty high for ayoungster, and you've had dealings with sportin' people. They tell meyou don't drink, you don't gamble, you don't swear, and you don't do anyof them things; but I fail to understand how any man can associate withpersons who do drink and swear and gamble without acquiring such habitshimself. Now, sir, it's a well-known fact that professional ball playersare generally dissolute and disreputable. These Rovers areprofessionals--they claim to be. When you play ball against them yousort of put yourself in their class."
"Well, not exactly, Mr. Crabtree," denied Frank. "I presume you areaware that a number of college baseball teams play games early everyseason with teams of the National and American Leagues. Yale usuallyplays the New York Nationals in New York. The Yale team is made up ofnon-professional college men, amateurs in good standing. They do notbecome professionals by engaging in a game with the New York Nationals.I don't care to discuss this matter with you, Mr. Crabtree. I simplygive you my assurance that I know nothing whatever of thisten-thousand-dollar wager, and I am satisfied that no such wager hasbeen made. The story is intended to arouse excitement and interest, withthe evident purpose of bringing out a crowd of spectators to witness thegame."
"Then it's a fraud and a deception!" cried Jeremiah, flourishing thepaper in his right hand and shaking his clenched left hand in the air."It's a falsehood--a barefaced lie! It's an imposition on the public!You're concerned in it, sir! You can't get out of it! If you don't knowanything about it, you're concerned just the same."
"I fail to see how you make that out."
"When you make an agreement to play them professionals you knew whatsort of men they were. If they've originated this yarn for the purposeof deceiving people, you're responsible because you've had dealings withthem."
"That's rather far-fetched, Mr. Crabtree."
"Nothing far-fetched about it."
"If I should purchase a horse of you for a hundred dollars, and, inorder to increase the apparent value of that horse, with the idea ofselling him to some one else, I should go around informing people I hadpaid three hundred dollars, would you be responsible in any way? Do youfeel that in any manner you would be party to the falsehood?"
Rufus Applesnack had been listening to the talk, and now he gaveCrabtree a jab in the ribs.
"He's gut ye, deacon--he's gut ye!" chuckled the grocery man. "He's gutye right where the wool is short!"
"I fail to see it! I fail to see it!" rasped Crabtree. "There ain't nosimilarity in the two cases. My mind is made up on the point, and Idon't propose to change it."
"Which sorter reminds me of the mule Mr. Merriwell mentioned a fewminutes ago," declared Applesna
ck, as he turned away.
Frank secured his mail and was leaving the post office, when outside thedoor he came face to face with Owen Clearpath, the new parson of thevillage church.
"I'd like to have a word with you, Mr. Merriwell," said the parson;"just a word."
He drew Frank aside, while Hodge waited.
"I don't see how Merry keeps his patience and temper in dealing withthese hide-bound yokels," muttered Bart.
Clearpath seemed confused and ill at ease. He hemmed a little whileMerry waited quietly for him to speak.
Suddenly the young minister began, as if forcing himself with a greateffort to say something he regarded as decidedly disagreeable.
"You know, Mr. Merriwell," he said, "that I hold you in the highestestimation. You know I'm considered by the members of my church and thepeople of this town generally as a liberal preacher. In fact, I'mentirely too liberal to suit some of the church members. You've done asplendid work for Bloomfield, and you're doing a splendid work. I'mproud of you, sir."
"It isn't necessary to sugar coat the pill, parson," smiled Frank. "Justhand it out to me, and I'll swallow it."
"Well, you know there's been several unpleasant, not to say sensational,occurrences in this town of late. I don't suppose you're to blame foreverything that has happened. I have insisted that you could not beblamed for the unfortunate misstep of Brother Hewett, who was tempted totake a little more hard cider than was really good for him. Yourdetractors have insisted that the deacon was led into this actionthrough his exuberance over the arrival of your friends. Some of themhave tried to hold you responsible for Brother Hewett's temporarydownfall."
"I'm very sorry the deacon did such a thing," asserted Frank. "I hopeyou've not been too harsh with him, parson."
"I haven't mentioned the matter to him. I've thought it best tooverlook it, for I'm certain he feels deeply humiliated and downcast. Iknow for a fact that he's heard of it from other quarters. I've tried toshow him that my confidence is unshaken."
"Which I believe was a very wise course to pursue."
"Another thing that caused a great sensation was the unfortunate deathof that Mexican who broke into your house some ten days ago. There havebeen all sorts of rumors about that affair. I'm positive the facts weregiven to the coroner's jury, who failed to find any one save Murilloresponsible."
"No one could feel more disturbed over the matter than I have," saidFrank.
"You see your enemies are inclined to use such matters against you, ifpossible. A number of persons have come to me this morning and shown mean item in the Wellsburg _Herald_."
"I've just seen that item," said Frank. "Let me assure you, parson, thatso far as I have the slightest knowledge, I'm positive there's not aword of truth in the statement that a ten-thousand-dollar wager has beenmade on the result of the baseball game to be played this afternoon."
Clearpath looked relieved.
"I'm glad to hear you say that," he breathed. "I decided to ask youabout it. Have I your authority to deny the truth of that statement?"
"You may say I gave you my word that I knew nothing whatever of thematter."
"I'll do so, sir--I'll do so. If you think the game will be clean andrespectable, I may decide to witness it myself."
"It's not my intention to permit anything on Farnham Field that may notbe witnessed by you, by any lady, or by any child in town. I hope to seeyou at the game this afternoon, parson."