here is Burt Standish! He's

n rompers, short dresses and knickers. Now she was sixteen. Her bright orange sweater and skirt of brilliant blue somehow matched her sharply turned-up nose and freckled cheeks. Meg was real. Johnny thought her the realest girl he had ever known. "Not soft," was

smiled at her he said, "Burt Standish

y do you say that? I just heard we were

h about that as-well, as anyone, except Colonel C

st you watch our smoke!" Seizing a megaph

her lithe young body swayed in rhythmic mo

Yea! Team!

beside him on the grass, Johnny repeat

him a sharp look.

did not

lonel Chamberlain, who had just com

er as Johnny reached his side. "It's a tough br

Johnny

. That's what our star pitcher prefers to be known by-just the plain letter 'J.' And, as I

eenly disappointed. "'Fraid

." The Colonel's voice dropped. "Just tell the boy

his ancestors. He loved it for that and for other reasons. The people who lived here stood for certain things-that is, most of them did. They were honest, or at least as honest as they knew how to be. They were kind to the unfortunate. They believe

oug Danby, the captain. "The Colonel just told

re?" Doug's

st have to make the best of it. And-" hi

words were on Johnny's l

o his place. "Our star pitcher will not be he

ous Chinaman!" Meg scoffed

er there could be any connection between the mysterious little Chinaman and the failure of their star

tart. With her bright sweater thrown carelessly upon the ground, shapely brown arms

Fred Frame, their regular pitcher, whose arm had a mean way of going back on him

ead doggedly until the fifth. In the sixth they slipped. Three run

eizing his arm to steady herself for a moment, whispered hoarsely, "

t Doug Danby, captain of the Hillcre

ug! Doug!" Meggy was awa

eighth found Hillcre

to win!" Meggy was

y soberly, "we'r

ou say that? We'r

." Johnny's f

ter. "Just because that little Chinaman said it. And how co

ing a megaphone, once again she spra

hoped with all his heart that his

gy screamed. "Of

of the opposing pitcher gleamed as he

ike

ike

omed, and Hillcrest's star batter wen

the home players took their places

ls went wild. The short, stocky cat

rik

rik

ful. Vain hope! The

your

self. One man went down swinging. The

y was silent. Why did he believe in that litt

to second. Francois will get him!" For a sp

t Roger muffed it. The hard-thrown ball rolled far into center field. The runner went on to third. Four more wild ones and a batter went to

t took but one score to tie, and two to win. But those scores never came. They we

at that instant he resolved that Colonel Chamberlain's star pitcher should be in the

n a strange way, whispered,

nny replied hoars

e Chinaman approaching and did n

e diminutive Tao Sin

dford think too. You are good friend of Wung Lu." Once again his voice dropped. "Monday I show you picture of

all about? He had to know. He would be at Whong