CHAPTER XIA GAME OF BALL
"Come here," said Conrad Fletcher; "come here, Charlie, and choose upfor a game. We must make haste, or recess will be over."
"All right, Conrad."
The first choice devolved upon Conrad. He chose Ephraim Pinkham, notedas a catcher.
"I take Elmer Rhodes," said Charlie.
"John Parker," said Conrad.
"Henry Strauss."
"Godfrey Preston," was Conrad's next choice.
"Can you play, Andy?" asked Charlie.
"Yes," said Andy.
"Then, I take you."
"I've a good mind to resign," said Godfrey, in a low voice, to BenTravers. "I don't fancy playing with that Irish boy."
However, he was too fond of playing to give up his place,notwithstanding his antipathy to Andy.
Charlie Fleming's side went in first, and Charlie himself went to thebat. The pitcher was Godfrey. He was really a fair pitcher, andconsidered himself very superior. Charlie finally succeeded in hittingthe ball, but rather feebly, and narrowly escaped losing his firstbase. He saved it, however.
Next at the bat was Elmer Rhodes. He hit one or two fouls, but not afair ball. Finally he was put out on three strikes; meanwhile,however, Charlie Fleming got round to third base. Henry Strausssucceeded in striking the ball, but it was caught by center field,rapidly sent to first base, before Henry could reach it, then thrownto the catcher in time to prevent Charlie Fleming from getting in. Heran half-way to home base, but seeing his danger, ran back to thirdbase. Next Andy took the bat.
"Knock me in, Andy," called out Charlie Fleming.
"All right" said Andy, quietly.
"Not if I can prevent it," said Godfrey to himself, and he determinedby sending poor balls, to get our hero out on three strikes. The firstball, therefore, he sent about six feet to the right of the batter.Andy stood in position, but, of course, was far too wise to attempthitting any such ball. The next ball went several feet above his head.Of this, too, he took no notice. The third would have hit him if hehad not dodged.
"Why don't you knock at the balls?" asked Godfrey.
"I will, when you give better ones," said Andy, coolly.
"I don't believe you know how to bat," said Godfrey, with a sneer.
"I don't believe you know how to pitch," returned Andy.
"How's that?" sending another ball whizzing by his left ear.
"I want them waist-high," said Andy. "My waist is about two feet lowerthan my ears."
Godfrey now resolved to put in a ball waist-high, but so swiftly thatAndy could not hit it; but he had never seen Andy play. Our hero had awonderfully quick eye and steady hand, and struck the ball with suchforce to left field, that not only Charlie Fleming got in, withoutdifficulty, but Andy himself made a home run.
"That's a splendid hit," exclaimed Charlie, with enthusiasm. "I didn'tthink you could play so well."
"I've played before to-day," said Andy, composedly. "I told you Iwould get you in, and I meant what I said."
Godfrey looked chagrined at the result. He meant to demonstrate thatAndy was no player, but had only contributed to his brilliant success;for, had he not sent in so swift a ball, the knock would not have beenso forcible.
As there were but six on a side, two outs were considered all out.
"Who will catch?" asked Charlie Fleming; "I want to pitch."
"I will," said Andy.
"All right! If you can catch as you can bat, we'll cut down theirscore."
Andy soon showed that he was no novice at catching. He rarely let aball pass him. When Godfrey's turn came to bat, one was already out,and Andy determined to put Godfrey out if it was a possible thing. Onestrike had been called, when Godfrey struck a foul which was almostimpossible to catch. But now Andy ran, made a bound into the air, andcaught it--a very brilliant piece of play, by which Godfrey and hisside were put out. The boys on both sides applauded, for it was apiece of brilliant fielding which not one of them was capable of. Thatis, all applauded but Godfrey. He threw down his bat spitefully, andsaid to Fleming:
"You didn't give me good balls."
"I gave you much better than you gave Andy," said Charlie.
"That's so!" chimed in two other boys.
"I won't play any more," said Godfrey.
Just then the bell rang, so that the game was brought to a close. Andyreceived the compliments of the boys on his brilliant playing. Hereceived them modestly, and admitted that he probably couldn't makesuch a catch again. It was very disagreeable to Godfrey to hear Andypraised. He was rather proud of his ball-playing, and he saw that Andywas altogether his superior, at any rate in the opinion of the boys.However, he ingeniously contrived to mingle a compliment with a sneer.
"You're more used to baseball than to books," he said.
"True for you," said Andy.
"You're a head taller than any of the boys in your class."
"I know that," said Andy. "I haven't been to school as much as you."
"I should be ashamed if I didn't know more."
"So you ought," said Andy, "for you've been to school all your life. Ihope to know more soon."
"Anyway, you can play ball," said Charlie Fleming.
"I'd rather be a good scholar."
"I'll help you, if you want any help."
"Thank you, Charlie."
They had now entered the schoolroom, and Andy took up his book andstudied hard. He was determined to rise to a higher class as soon aspossible, for it was not agreeable to him to reflect that he was theoldest and largest boy in his present class.
"Very well," said the teacher, when his recitation was over. "If youcontinue to recite in this way, you will soon be promoted."
"I'll do my best, sir," said Andy, who listened to these words withpleasure.
"I wish you were coming in the afternoon, too, Andy," said his friend,Charlie Fleming, as they walked home together.
"So do I, Charlie, but I must work for my mother."
"That's right, Andy; I'd do the same in your place. I haven't suchfoolish ideas about work as Godfrey Preston."
"He ain't very fond of me," said Andy, laughing.
"No; nor of anybody else. He only likes Godfrey Preston."
"We got into a fight the first day I ever saw him."
"What was it about?"
"He called my mother names, and hit me. So I knocked him flat."
"You served him right. He's disgustingly conceited. Nobody likes him."
"Ben Travers goes around with him all the time."
"Ben likes him because he is rich. If he should lose his property,you'd see how soon he would leave him. That isn't a friend worthhaving."
"I've got one consolation," said Andy, laughing; "nobody likes me formy money."
"But someone likes you for yourself, Andy," said Charlie.
"Who?"
"Myself, to be sure."
"And I like you as much, Charlie," said Andy, warmly. "You're tentimes as good a fellow as Godfrey."
"I hope so," said Charlie. "That isn't saying very much, Andy."
So the friendship was cemented, nor did it end there. Charlie spoke ofAndy's good qualities at home, and some time afterward Andy wassurprised by an invitation to spend the evening at Dr. Fleming's. Hefelt a little bashful, but finally went--nor was he at all sorry forso doing. The whole family was a delightful one, and Andy was welcomedas a warm friend of Charlie's, and, in the pleasant atmosphere of thedoctor's fireside, he quite forgot that there was one who looked downupon him as an inferior being.
Dr. Fleming had himself been a poor boy. By a lucky chance--orProvidence, rather--he had been put in the way of obtaining aneducation, and he was not disposed now, in his prosperity, to forgethis days of early struggle.
Andy found that, in spite of the three hours taken up at school, hewas able to do all that was required of him by the Misses Grant. Theywere glad to hear of his success at school, and continued to pay himfive dollars a week for his services. This money he regularly c
arriedto his mother, after paying for the new clothes, of which he stood somuch in need.