e fall from the machine, which sadly soiled his elegant and immaculate clothes, did not deter him from continuing to practice upon it whenever it was not being used by its owner and he could find

, who saw Phil Springer wearing the big catching mitt a

ast. "If Grant really should pan out to be the better man, you'd fe

Hooker's home, but he strolled with steps somewhat quickene

id not know where he had gone. The motorcycle was standing

arette-stained fingers. "When the old lady said he wasn'

near-by stable, but the regular repetition of that thumping sound convinced him that such could not be the case and led him to investigate

le, throwing a baseball at the rear wall of the building, recovering it wh

ert stood and watched for several minut

he name of mystery do you mean by sneaking out here an

in hand. He frowned a bit, then followed it with a rather shame-faced grin

myself a littl

lse to do. I thought likely you'd be using your motorcycle; and, everythin

over a piece of plank the size of the home plate; but you can't catch, and so I'm trying to see how

erbert. "What's

that's what I lack. Even Eliot has acknowledg

" he quoted. "Nevertheless, good, plain, common sense should teach you that you're wasting y

uch, and I haven't any great confidence in Grant. What if they should both get theirs?

it has to have its run with the fellows who become infected. All right, waste your time; but while you're do

'll get enough of this in ten or fifteen minutes

iff heard the ball thudding agai

watched the boys practice a while when school was over, Grant doing his full share of pitching to the batters. Despite prejudice

s will make him lose his head." Which was evidence enough that Roy little understood Rodney Grant, who invariably became all the more resolute and determi

ingle until supper time, fancying he was gaining some skill in accuracy, although

pear. "He'll be around pretty soon, so I'

he motorcycle was missing from the stand on which it was always kep

the machine was not there, he rushed i

id. "I'm sure nobody has touche

." Then he caught his breath, struck by a sudden thought.

you don't think your friend woul

lk when, to his unspeakable relief, round the corner from Willow Street came Rackliff

achine without asking?" he raspe

ll seek to conciliate you with a full explanation. I've had to push this confounded thing

chine from the limp and weary city boy.

garette, did Rackliff offer any further explanation. Finally, with a little cough a

und school this aftern

dered wher

t laying

ng w

k a few wagers on the game to-morrow, with the dead certaint

r. "And you put my m

t your life I'd never made that trip if I'd dreamed it would be necessary for me to push the old thing so far. Still, I'm mighty glad I went. Say, Roy, Copley is dead sure Barville will

o be seen betting agai

Then let me have your cash, and I'll pl

Even Copley may be, for he

here, Roy, do you know Eliot's

y,

finger syste

es

close together, an outcurve; spread apart, one on the in

rect, but what's th

and let me handle it. If I don't double it for you to-morrow I'll agree to sta

swered Roy, "I'm certainly going to raise