I mean to keep it." Up to that moment, angry and unreasonable as he was, Bart had half-believed that Merriwell might yet back out of his position, and refuse to let Buck go into the box.

He saw now how mistaken he had been.
"And you expect me to catch for that scoundrel ?" he demanded, shaking with rage.

"I tell you, Merriwell, I won't do it! I'll do any reasonable thing you want me to do, but I won't do that! I draw the line there, short and sharp! I won't play in a nine with Buck Badger!" "Very well, then, we'll have to get along without you!" "Do you mean it, Merry ?" Hodge gasped.

"Do you mean that you will choose him before me ?" "Nothing of the kind, and you ought to know it.

You would know it, if you were not just blind with anger and prejudice.