"
Merriwell flashed Dunstan Kirk a quick look. It was evident that the
captain of the Yale baseball-team did not know that Buck Badger was
intoxicated when he was lured aboard the excursion steamer, _Crested
Foam_.
A similar imperfect knowledge of the true condition of affairs at that
time had been noticed by Merriwell in the conversation of others. The
newspapers in the notices of the burning of the steamer had given
attention chiefly to Lynn, merely stating briefly that Badger had been
drugged and robbed by the ex-boat-keeper.
"I shouldn't think it would be a pleasant reflection," Frank answered.
"Very humiliating to a man of Badger's character. And it has just taken
the heart out of him. Until that time he was one of the most promising
of the new pitchers at Yale. I was expecting good things from him. Now
he seems to be nothing but a blighted 'has-been!'"
Merriwell smiled.
"And of all the sad words of tongue or pen,
The saddest are these: 'It might have been!'"
"Just so," assented Kirk. "It's too bad to see a capable fellow go to
the bone pile! I don't like it. I talked with him and tried to encourage
him, but it had no permanent effect. He braced up for a little while,
and then slumped again."
"At heart, Badger is very proud!" Frank explained.
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