Rival Pitchers of Oakdale

f the game had already begun to make itself felt in their blood. Roger Eliot, the grave, reliable, steady-headed captain of the nine, who had scored such a pronounced success as captain of th

er, "and we ought to get in some much-needed practice for th

double kernel into his mouth. "We'll be there, though I don't believe we

y. "If my memory serves me, you wa

eady and prepared to play. I was on hand to step in as a pin

itter, wouldn't you? You never made a hit in a game in all your life, Chub, and you know you were s

ance to try my hand at some of the pitching; but, after that first game, Ames, the biggest mule who ever captained

imation of others. In connection with baseball, he had always entertained an overweening ambition to become a pitcher, although little qualified for such a position, either by temperament or acquired skill. True, he could throw the curves, and had some spee

loped so well as a twirler

lect that he did anything worth bragging abo

ger; "and he was doing too much pitching

his year, that's sure," said Hooker. "He can't

ch," put in Sile Crane. "I see them at i

never had any experience, but, just because he and Phil have become chummy, Sprin

n at the gate of the yard; "and Phil has got the catching

tting thick, them two,

in Jinuary," drawled

hey're naturally sweet on e

e. "There you go! Hav

shell nut take it

ythias," remarked Stone, watchin

d Jonathan,"

ey Grant was a natural athlete, whose early life on his father's Texas ranch had given him abounding health, strength, vitality, and developed in him qualities of resou

ir arms about each other, met the approachin

k on our gay cowboy," o

he rescued her from drowndin' when she was carried over the dam on a big ice-cake in the Jinuary freshet. That

ertain cheap chap by the name of Bunk Lander, who plunged into the rapi

f to be a pretty decent fellow; and Stickney, whose store he once pilfered, has given him a job on his new delivery wagon. There's

ng back Hooker exasperatedly. "Why, even you, yourself, did

d Roger unhesitatingly. "I believe Stone was about

his hero from Texas chooses Springer f

ifle. "We are still good friends. If he happens to find Springer more

ith Phil Springer. He's got the idea into his head that he can pitch, and he's us

s now approached the group near the ste

uster has got onto the drop. He threw it first-rate to

said Rodney Grant laughingly; "but if I do turn out to be

and we'll give you a chance to pitch for the batters. We've

owly and reluctantly toward the cool, dark doorway of the academy. Roy

he muttered. "Well, we'll see what comes of it. If I