at would have been sad, had Joe been that kind of a lad-showing his feelings needlessly. But our hero was full of spunk and grit, and, though Hiram's

w-down, cantankerous, sneaking, bulldoz

p if you go on that way, Tom. Besides, save some o

never will. I wish I had thought to get

nto trouble. Better

to play ball, and the first crack out of th

have any particular right

t a pitcher here who can stand up to you, and I'm going to tell that

quickly. "It will onl

nt to pitch

wouldn't. Hiram Shell is just the kind of a fellow who, if he thinks

you going

ll season hasn't opened yet. The team isn't ma

fellows who weren't going to play,"

have been played there may be a change. I may get a chance to play then, just as I did on the Star

ke Hiram Shell rubs your nose in the dirt, and then kicks you in the bargain. He'll have to ask me to play now. I won'

h. He was feeling more like himself now, though the memory

longer," resumed Tom after a paus

to himself. He had had high hopes when he left the Riverside High School to come to Excelsior Hall that he would at once become a member of the nine. His ambition, of course, was to

e suddenly, and the two chums turned to be

down for it. It seems you have to have a permit at Excelsior t

ur back now?"

r the wrong way?" Peaches wanted

's the limit," and he rapidly told how Hiram had sneered at J

fellows. The trouble is that the athletic committee is too big. There are a lot of lads on it who don't care a rap for baseball or

g a discrete silence, for he did not want to urge his own qua

by a good lot, and their votes keep him in. He spends his money freely and toadies to them, and they fairly black his shoes.

ing to do if I stay

ed Peaches and

," said Tom, "and when I do I think you'll see some

a manager and captain will be elected. It's always done that way here, though in some places they do it right at the close of the seaso

at athletic meet

very lad in the school, but lots don't take the

a different turn to it

was the retort of Peaches; and then the four

to a scrub game

d Joe eagerly; and

baseball game of the season the following afternoon. Tom, Joe, Peaches and Teeter tried to get more out, but there wer

m will release them if they

ome only he had some experimental work to finish.

upied the box for his side, an honor that came easily to him since no

so he felt that he was being watched, not only by his particular friends, but by others. An

t his idle fears, and sent in a swift curve. It

Teeter admiringly from behind the bat as th

ed Joe, and he re

the bat fell for a like fate, but the third fou

t get discouraged," exclaimed Teeter as an excuse for h

during the long winter of comparative inactivity. He knew that he could "come back with the goods," and there was a f

discovered their weak points, while others found themselves doing better than they expected. Joe's side won by a small margi

ed a voice, and they turned to behold Luke Fodick.

ybody," retorted

tain of the nine and what I say goes. I'm not going to have the

s quietly. "The electio

t? You ain't thinking of runn

rned on the fair cheeks of

hands," threatened Luke. "Who's been pitching?"

side," replie

ant to get that bee out of your bonnet, or you may get stung, see? Hiram told me about you. Why, you are only an amateur. We want the best here

the bench. In another s

I'll give you the best licking you ever had; and I'll do it right here and now if you say another word about my pitching! I didn't come here to take any of your sneers, and I don't intend to. Now