CHAPTER XV
JOE'S PLUCK
Joe's distress at receiving the bad news was so evident, at least toGregory, that the manager hurried over to the young pitcher and asked:
"What's the matter, old man? Something upset you?"
For answer Joe simply held out the message.
"I say! That's too bad!" exclaimed Gregory sympathetically. "Let's seenow. You can get a train in about an hour, I think. Skip right off. I'llmake it all right." It was his business to know much about trains, andhe was almost a "walking timetable."
"Awfully sorry, old man!" he went on. "Come back to us when you can.You'll find us waiting."
Joe made up his mind quickly. It was characteristic of him to do this,and it was one of the traits that made him, in after years, such aphenomenal pitcher.
"I--I'm not going home," said Joe, quietly.
"Not going home! Why?" cried Gregory.
"At least not until after the game," went on Joe. "The telegram says myfather isn't in any immediate danger, and I could not gain much bystarting now. I'm going to stay and pitch. That is, if you'll let me."
"Let you! Of course I'll let you. But can you stand the gaff, old man? Idon't want to seem heartless, but the winning of this game means a lotto me, and if you don't feel just up to the mark----"
"Oh, I can pitch--at least, I think I can," said Joe, not wishing toappear too egotistical. "I mean this won't make me flunk."
"That's mighty plucky of you, Joe, and I appreciate it. Now don't make amistake. It won't hurt your standing with the club a bit if you go now.I'll put Collin in, and----"
"I'll pitch!" said Joe, determinedly. "After that it will be time enoughto start for home."
"All right," assented Gregory. "But if you want to quit at any time,give me the signal. And I'll tell you what I'll do. Have you a 'phone athome?"
"Yes."
"Then I'll have someone get your house on the long distance wire, andfind out just how your father is. I'll also send word that you'll startto-night."
"That will be fine!" cried Joe, and already he felt better. The bad newshad shocked him for the time, though.
"Play ball!" called the umpire, for there had been a little delay overthe talk between Joe and the manager.
"Just keep quiet about it, though," advised the manager to the youngpitcher. "It may only upset things if it gets out. Are you sure you canstand it?"
"I--I'm going to stand it!" responded Joe, gamely.
He faced his first batter with a little sense of uncertainty. ButNelson, who was catching, nodded cheerfully at him, and gave a signalfor a certain ball that Joe, himself, had decided would best deceivethat man with the stick. He sent it in rushingly, and was delighted tohear the umpire call:
"Strike one!"
"That's the way!"
"Two more like that and he's a goner!"
"Slam 'em in, Matson!"
Joe flushed with pleasure at the encouraging cries. He wondered if Mabelwas joining in the applause that frequently swept over the grandstand ata brilliant play.
Again Joe threw, and all the batter could do was to hit a foul, whichwas not caught.
Then came a ball, followed by another, and Joe began to get a bitanxious.
"That's the boy!" welled up encouragingly from the crowd.
Joe tried a moist ball--a delivery of which he was not very certain asyet, but the batter "fell for it" and whirled around as he missed itcleanly.
"Three strikes--batter's out!" howled the umpire, and the man went backto the bench.
The next candidate managed to get a single, but was caught stealingsecond, and Joe had a chance to retire his third man.
It was a chance not to be missed, and he indulged in a few delayingtactics in order to place, in his mind, the hitter and his specialpeculiarities.
With a snap of his wrist Joe sent in an out curve, but the manner inwhich the batter leaped for it, missing it only by a narrow margin, toldour hero that this ball was just "pie," for his antagonist.
"Mustn't do that again," thought Joe. "He'll slam it over the fence if Ido."
The next--an in-shoot--was hit, but only for a foul, and Joe, whose hearthad gone into his throat as he heard the crack of the bat, breathedeasier. Then, just to puzzle the batter, after delivering a "moistener"that fell off and was called a ball, Joe sent in a "teaser"--a slowone--that fooled the player, who flied out to shortstop.
Joe was beginning to feel more confidence in himself.
The others of the Pittston team grinned encouragingly at Joe, andGregory clasped his arms about the young pitcher as he came in to thebench.
"Can you stick it out?" he asked.
"Sure! Have you any word yet on the 'phone?"
"No. Not yet. I'm expecting Hastings back any minute," naming asubstitute player who had not gone into the game, and whom the managerhad sent to call up Joe's house. "But are you sure you want to keep onplaying?"
"Sure," answered Joe. He had a glimpse of Collin, and fancied that theeager look on the other pitcher's face turned to one of disappointment.
"You're beating me out," said Tooley, the south-paw, with an easy laugh.
"I'm sorry," said Joe, for he knew how it felt to be supplanted.
"Oh, I'm not worrying. My turn will come again. One can't be up to themark all the while."
Pittston managed to get a run over the plate that inning, and when itcame time for Joe to go to the mound again he had better news to cheerhim up.
Word had come over the telephone that Mr. Matson, while making sometests at the Harvester Works, had been injured by an explosion ofacids. Some had gone into his face, burning him badly.
His life was in no danger, but his eyesight might be much impaired, ifnot lost altogether. Nothing could be told in this respect for a day orso.
Hastings had been talking to Joe's sister Clara, to whom he explainedthat Joe would start for home as soon as the game was over. Mrs. Matsonwas bearing up well under the strain, the message said, and Joe was toldnot to worry.
"Now I'll be able to do better," said the young pitcher, with a littlesmile. "Thanks for the good news."
"You're doing all right, boy!" cried Gregory. "I think we're going towin!"
But it was not to be as easy as saying it. The Newkirk men fought hard,and to the last inch. They had an excellent pitcher--a veteran--who waswell backed up with a fielding force, and every run the Pittstons gotthey fully earned.
Joe warmed up to his work, and to the howling delight of the crowdstruck out two men in succession, after one had gone out on a pop fly,while there were two on bases. That was a test of nerve, for somethingmight have broken loose at any moment.
But Joe held himself well in hand, and watched his batters. He so variedhis delivery that he puzzled them, and working in unison with Nelsonvery little got past them.
Then came a little spurt on the part of Newkirk, and they "sweetened"their score until there was a tie. It was in the ninth inning,necessitating another to decide the matter.
"If we can get one run we'll have a chance to win," declared Gregory."That is, if you can hold them in the last half of the tenth, Joe."
"I'll do my best!"
"I know you will, my boy!"
For a time it looked as though it could not be done. Two of the Pittstonplayers went down in rapid succession before the magnificent throwing ofthe Newkirk pitcher. Then he made a fatal mistake. He "fed" a slow ballto John Holme, the big third baseman, who met it squarely with hisstick, and when the shouting was over John was safely on the third sack.
"Now bring him home, Joe!" cried the crowd, as the young pitcher steppedto the plate. It was not the easiest thing in the world to stand upthere and face a rival pitcher, with the knowledge that your hit mightwin the game by bringing in the man on third. And especially after theadvent of the telegram. But Joe steadied himself, and smiled at hisopponent.
He let the first ball go, and a strike was called on him. There was agroan from grandstand and bleachers.
r /> "Take your time, Joe!" called Gregory, soothingly. "Get what you want."
It came. The ball sailed for the plate at the right height, and Joecorrectly gaged it. His bat met it squarely, with a resounding "plunk!"
"That's the boy!"
"Oh, what a beaut!"
"Take third on that!"
"Come on home, you ice wagon!"
"Run! Run! Run!"
It was a wildly shrieking mob that leaped to its feet, cheering on Joeand Holme. On and on ran the young pitcher. He had a confused vision ofthe centre fielder running back to get the ball which had dropped wellbehind him. Joe also saw Holme racing in from third. He could hear theyells of the crowd and fancied--though of course it could not beso--that he could hear the voice of Mabel calling to him.
On and on ran Joe, and stopped, safe on second, Holme had gone in withthe winning run.
But that was all. The next man struck out, and Joe was left on the"half-way station."
"But we're one ahead, and if we can hold the lead we've got 'em!" criedGregory. "Joe, my boy, it's up to you! Can you hold 'em down?"
He looked earnestly at the young pitcher.
"I--I'll do it!" cried Joe.