"And that's the chap they talk of for manager," said Phil to Tom disgustedly.
"Oh, I guess it's all talk," remarked the pitcher. "We will rush Ed Kerr through, and the season will soon start."
The scrub game began. It was not remarkable for brilliant playing, either in the line of fielding or batting. Tom, though, did some fine work in pitching, and he and Dutch worked together like well-built machines. Tom struck out three men, one after the other, in the second inning, and repeated the trick in the last. Sid Henderson rather surprised the coach by making a safe hit every time he was up, a record no one else approached that day, for Rod Evert, who was doing the "twirling" for the team opposed to Tom's, was considered a good handler of the horsehide.
"Good work, Henderson," complimented Mr. Leighton. But Sid did not seem particularly pleased.
"Everybody on hand for the election to-night," commanded Tom, as the game ended, the pitcher's team having won by a score of eight to four.
There was a large throng assembled in the gymnasium that evening, for at Randall sports reigned supreme in their seasons, and the annual election of a baseball manager was something of no small importance. For several reasons no manager had been selected at the close of the previous season, when Tom had been unanimously selected as captain, and it now devolved upon the students who were members of the athletic committee to choose one.
As has been explained, among the players themselves, or, rather, among the majority, Ed Kerr, the catcher of the previous season was favored, but, of late there had been activity looking to the choosing of some one else.
There were vague rumors floating about the meeting room, as Tom Parsons went up on the platform, and called the assemblage to order. It was noticed that Bert Bascome, a freshman who was said to be quite wealthy, was the center of a group of excited youths, of whom Ford Fenton was one. Ford had tried for the 'varsity the previous season, had failed, and was once more in line. As for Bascome, he, too, wanted to wear the coveted "R."
"Politics over there all right," observed Phil Clinton to Dutch. "Any idea of how strong they are?"
"Don't believe they can muster ten votes," was the answer. "We'll put Ed in all right."