CHAPTER VI
BASEBALL TALK
With so many other affairs to claim our attention, I have purposelyavoided going into the details of the baseball season at Brill thatyear. As my old readers know, the college had a baseball nine and afootball eleven, and both had, at various times, done well at onesport or the other.
This particular year, baseball matters had not gone as well as hadbeen expected. In the first place, several of the best players on thenine had graduated the year before and left the college. Then had comea long wet spell, during which time only some indoor practice in thegymnasium could be attempted. Thus, at the opening of the season, thenine possessed four players who had hitherto played only on the scrub,and the whole team lacked the practice that was essential to success.The most serious loss was in the battery, both the pitcher and catcherof the year previous having left the college. Bob Grimes, who playedat shortstop, was the captain, and after a good many tryouts, he hadput Spud Jackson in as catcher. For pitcher, there were threecandidates: a lad named Bill Harney, who was a tall junior; a muchsmaller chap who had come from Yale, named Dare Phelps; and Tom, whohad been pushed forward by a number of his friends. Tom had thought topay strict attention to his studies for the remainder of the term, butfinally agreed to accept the position if it was offered to him.
"I think you are going to make it, Tom," said Songbird one day afterTom had been pitching on the regular team against Bill Harney, who hadbeen pitching on the scrub. Tom had managed to hold the scrub down tothree hits, while Harney had allowed fourteen hits, one of which hadbeen turned by the batter into a home run.
"Oh, I don't know about that," replied Tom. "Harney isn't so bad. Hehad a little ill luck to-day, that's all. And then, don't forgetPhelps."
"I'm not forgetting either of them. Just the same, I think you aregoing to make the nine."
The next day, Tom was put in as pitcher on the scrub, while DarePhelps occupied the box for the regular nine. For the first sixinnings, it was a nip-and-tuck battle between the two pitchers. Butfrom that time on, Dare Phelps seemed to go to pieces, while Tomstruck out man after man. As a result, the score at the end of thegame stood 4 to 10 in favor of the scrub.
"Tom, I think that settles it!" cried his brother, as he rushed up andtook the other by the shoulder. "You certainly held them down in greatshape."
"And say, didn't the scrub bang Phelps all over the diamond!" broke inanother student. "My, he must feel pretty sore!" And evidently thiswas true, because a minute later Dare Phelps left the diamond anddisappeared from view. Nearly everybody in the college had watched thegames between the scrub and the regular nine; and that night theconcensus of opinion seemed to be that Tom ought to pitch for theregular team.
"You'll have to do it, Tom," said Bob Grimes, when he called on theolder Rover in the morning. "Phelps acknowledges that you are a betterpitcher than he is, and I think Bill Harney will have to do the same."
"Better wait and see how I pitch in one of the regular games,"returned Tom, modestly. "For all you know, I may go to pieces."
"Nonsense, Tom! I know you too well for that," and Bob grinnedbroadly. "We'll show Roxley College this year what we can do."
Every year there were two contests between Brill and Roxley, a rivalcollege located some miles away. One contest was at baseball, and theother football. During the past Fall, Roxley had suffered its seconddefeat on the gridiron at the hands of Brill. But the Spring previous,its baseball nine had literally "wiped up the diamond" with Brill by ascore of 6 to 0. My, readers can, therefore, well imagine how anxiousthe baseball management was to win the game scheduled to come off inabout a week.
Since returning to college from his trip to New York, and then thelonger trip to Alaska, Sam had given almost his entire time to hisstudies. He was quite a baseball player, but he felt that to play onthe regular team would take too much of his time.
"If you are going to leave college this June, it won't make so muchdifference whether you pass with flying colors or not, Tom," he said."But if I am to return in the Fall, I want to make sure that I am notgoing to do so under conditions."
"But, Sam, I don't see why you can't play a game or two," persistedTom. "It doesn't seem natural for you to keep out of it altogether."
"Well, I have played some on the scrub."
"Oh, I know, but that isn't like going in for the regular thing. Youcould be on the regular team if you really wanted to."
This matter was talked over several times, but Sam refused to beentirely persuaded. He, however, finally agreed to go on the bench asa substitute, provided Bob would not ask him to play any insideposition. By a toss-up, it had been decided that the game should takeplace on the Roxley grounds. As a consequence, the boys of Brill andtheir friends would have to go to the other college either by trainfrom Ashton, or in automobiles or some other kinds of conveyances.
"Of course, we'll take the girls, Tom," said Sam, in talking thematter over. "We can go over to Hope in the auto for them, and I thinkit would be nice if we took Songbird along and stopped at theSanderson cottage for Minnie."
"All right, that suits me," replied Tom, "Let us ask Songbird aboutit."
Of course the would-be poet was delighted, and he at once sent a noteto Minnie, asking her to be ready when the auto arrived. The girls atHope were communicated with over the telephone.
"I'm afraid it's going to rain," said Spud, on the evening before thegreat game was to take place. And Spud was right. By nine o'clock itwas raining steadily.
"Just our confounded luck!" muttered Songbird, as he paced up and downthe room which he and half a dozen others were occupying. "Now, Isuppose that game and our nice auto ride will be all knocked in thehead."
"Don't worry so early," returned Sam, cheerfully. "I don't think thisis anything more than a shower, and we need that to lay the dust." Samproved to be right, for before some of the boys retired, the rain hadstopped coming down, and one by one the stars began to appear. In themorning, the sun came up as bright as ever, and by ten o'clock theground was as dry as any one could wish. The day was a Saturday, and,of course, a holiday both at Brill and Roxley. By eleven o'clock, acarryall had taken a large number of the students to Ashton, wherethey were to take a special train for Roxley. All of the automobilesat Brill were in use, and with them all of the turnouts that could behired in the vicinity.
"No time to spare!" sang out Tom, as he ran the automobile up to thecollege steps.
"I am ready," said Sam, who had a dresssuit case with Tom's uniformand his own in it.
"Where is Songbird?"
"I don't know, I thought he was with you."
"Here I am!" came the cry, and the would-be poet of the college camerushing across the campus. He was dressed in his very best suit, andwore a rose in his buttonhole.
"Wait! I almost forgot the horns!" cried Sam, and he darted back intothe building, to reappear a few seconds later with several long tinhorns. Into the automobile piled the boys, and then, with a loudsounding of the horn, Tom turned on the power, and the machine startedoff in the direction of Hope, soon reaching the spot where theautomobile had gone into the river.
"That poor chap didn't hurt his machine much, so I have heard,"remarked Sam, as they bowled along over the bridge. "But, I think itmight have been better if he had come out of it scott free, and theauto had gone to pieces."
"We ought to call on him, Sam," returned Tom. "I would like to findout whether or not he is related to Jesse Pelter."
"Oh, don't bother about that to-day. Let your mind rest on thegame--and the girls," and Sam grinned faintly.
The run to the seminary did not take long. The Laning girls stoodwaiting on the porch, and once they were in the car, the machine washeaded in the direction of the Sanderson cottage.
Nellie occupied the front seat with Tom, while Sam was in the tonneauwith Grace and Songbird. The younger girl was in her usual happy mood,but Nellie's face showed worriment.
"Have you heard anything more about the missing ring?" q
uestioned Tom,while on the way to the Sanderson farmhouse.
"Not a thing, Tom," answered Nellie, soberly.
"Of course they have questioned the hired help?"
"Yes. And they have also questioned a number of the teachers and thestudents."
"Has Miss Harrow said anything more about it to you?"
"No, but every time we meet, she gives me such a cold look that itfairly makes me shiver. Oh, Tom, sometimes I don't know how I am goingto stand it!" And now the girl showed signs of breaking down.
"There, there! Don't think about it any more, Nellie--at least, forto-day. Think of the jolly good time we are going to have and how weare going to defeat Roxley."
"Do you think Brill will win, Tom? I heard some of the girls at Hopesay that they were sure Roxley would come out ahead. They said theyhave an unusually strong nine this year, and that they have alreadywon some games from the strongest nines around here."
"Well, that is true. Nevertheless, we hope to come out ahead."
"Sure we'll come out ahead!" cried Songbird. "With Tom in the box it'sa cinch."
"Just what I say," broke in Sam. "Tom has got some curves that arebound to fool them."
In order to make time, Tom had put on nearly all the speed of whichthe car was capable, and in a short while they came in sight of theSanderson farm. Mr. Sanderson was at work in an apple orchard near by,and waved his hand to them as the machine drew up to the horse-block.
"Better come along," sang out Sam, gaily.
"I wouldn't mind a-seein' the game," returned the old farmer. "ButI've promised to pick these early apples and ship 'em. I wish you boysluck." And then he brought over a pail full of apples, and dumped themin the tonneau of the car. Minnie, looking as fresh and sweet as ever,was on the piazza, and when the car stopped she hurried down thegarden walk. Songbird leaped out and helped her in beside Grace,shaking hands at the same time.
"Good gracious, Pa! how could you do so?" said Minnie, reproachfully,as she stepped between the apples.
"Oh, I thought as how ye might git hungry on th' way," returned Mr.Sanderson, with a broad grin. "If ye don't want to eat them, you feedyour hosses on 'em." And he laughed at his little' joke.
"We'll eat them fast enough don't worry," cried Sam, and then, with atoot of the horn, the automobile proceeded on its way to Roxley.