He was sitting in his study at Carsonville, and with him was his son. Bully Carson’s face was decorated with a large black eye, over which he wore an eye patch.
He was clad in a loud checked suit, flaming-red necktie, and green waistcoat. From one corner of his mouth drooped a negligent cigarette. His face looked pasty and unwholesome, and reflected the same hard, unscrupulous look that shone in his father’s eyes.
“Son, here’s where we even up with them Merriwells for good and all.”
Colonel Carson tugged at his goatee again, and glanced down at Merry’s telegram of acceptance. He used the Clippers as a means to win money by gambling. And when he did gamble, it was usually a sure thing. This he proceeded to prove in his next words.
“Bully, I’m going to clean up a lot on this here Fardale game,” he stated reflectively. “I got word to-night that Southpaw Diggs will come.”
“Whew!” Bully peered at his father in admiration. “Pop, you’re a slick one! Ain’t you afraid they’ll recognize him?”
“Not at Fardale. He’ll take a fictitious name and shave off his mustache. I’m going to pay him well for it. Also, I’ve got a semipro catcher to take the place of Squint Fletcher, whom some of the town boys trounced. Squint was always insolent, anyhow.”
“Yes,” said Bully, with a scowl. “He didn’t have no respect for me at all. Then you’ve got two other fellers from that outlaw league, ain’t you?”
“For first and third,” replied his father. “Our own second baseman is excellent, and with Southpaw Diggs we’ll have a walk-away, son.”
Bully nodded. Diggs was a famous professional pitcher. In his good days he was one of the best in the country, but he had been let out by the last team he had been with for drunkenness.
“Quite sure. He has agreed to let me bet half the amount I am to pay him on our team. He’s also agreed not to touch a drop meantime, and, as he needs the money, we can depend on him fully.”
Carson, junior, looked down at the floor, then lifted his one good eye suddenly.
“Pop, I want some money,” he blurted out. “I want to get down some bets on this game for myself, and I’m busted.”
“Nothing doing,” and his father’s eyes narrowed. “I’ll make a clean-up for the family, son.”
“Aw, loosen up!” exclaimed Bully disgustedly. “You durned old tightwad, you got more dollars in the bank than I have cents! Why, you own the bank, yet you won’t come over with a hundred!”