Part 8 (1/2)
”Sure he is, and as chipper as ever. Only grins when anybody tries to josh him about flying. Nothing ever feases that feller. He comes up again after every knockdown, as fresh as a daisy. Says he's going to give the old town a sensation some day before long. And he means it, too,” remarked one of the other boys near by.
Elmer and Lil Artha exchanged meaning glances, and presently the latter managed to whisper to his companion of the morning:
”Did you do it, Elmer?”
”I asked my father what I ought to do, and he sent me over to tell Mr.
Jones the whole story, because all sorts of yarns were going around, and he said Toby's mother might hear something awful had happened, and be frightened.”
”And what did Mr. Jones say?” continued Lil Artha.
”He laughed a little,” replied Elmer, then looked serious like. ”I rather expect he'll put a crimp in Toby's flying business after this, though up to now he's rather encouraged the boy, thinking it was smart in him. Now he sees the danger. But get out in the field, and throw in a few from first, old fellow.”
The scene was an animated one, with boys in uniform and without, banging out high flies, pa.s.sing b.a.l.l.s, and exercising generally. It really seemed as though every one in the town who could get off must be there that afternoon to see how the Hickory Ridge team gave promise of playing when up against the strong Fairfield nine.
Girls had come down in flocks, and not a few men were present, among whom Elmer noticed his old friend, Colonel Hitchins.
This fact caused him to remember something, and the sight of his catcher, Mark c.u.mmings, fitted right in with his thoughts. Apparently Mark had also noticed the presence of the Colonel, for after throwing up his hand as a signal that he had had enough of practice for the time being, he advanced toward Elmer, and was presently speaking in a low tone to him.
”See who's here, Elmer?” he asked.
”Well, I notice a lot of mighty pretty girls for one thing,” smiled the other.
”You know I don't mean them, or any particular girl,” replied the catcher, who was a singularly modest lad as well as a handsome one.
”Over yonder in that bunch--the old colonel!”
”Oh, yes, I noticed him a bit ago,” remarked Elmer. ”But that isn't surprising. He's always taken a heap of interest in boys' sports, and used to play baseball many years ago, he says, when it was a new game.
He told me he was in a nine that played the old Cincinnati Reds the first year they ever had a league. And that was a long time ago, Mark.”
”You're right, it was, Elmer; but when I saw the colonel it reminded me that so far I haven't done anything about finding out how that lost cap of mine happened to be picked up under his peach trees, when I dropped it a mile away, over on the bank of the Sunflower.”
”I heard that two men had been arrested, charged with stealing those peaches,” Elmer remarked.
”Yes, that's so, for they were silly enough to sell the fruit to Phil Dongari, the man who keeps the biggest fruit store in town. Colonel Hitchins could tell his prize peaches anywhere, so he went and bought them back again; and getting a line on the men, had them put in the town cooler, where they are yet.”
”Just so, Mark; that's ancient history,” smiled Elmer; ”but as you say it doesn't do the first thing along the line of explaining how your cap got under those same trees, does it?”
”But, Elmer, I'm relying on you to get a move on and find out something before the trail gets cold,” argued Mark.
”That sounds pretty fine, my boy,” observed Elmer; ”but what makes you believe I can do anything to help out? You've got all the advantages I have.”
”That's so,” admitted Mark; ”only I'm a greenhorn about following a trail, and you know heaps. Besides, something in your manner seems to tell me you've already got a hunch on about this thing.”
”Oh, that's the way you look at it, eh?” mocked Elmer.
”Yes, I haven't been going with you all this time not to know how to read your face and actions,” replied Mark, boldly. ”And it's my honest opinion right now that if you chose you could put your finger on the culprit.”
”Thank you for your confidence, my boy; but I'm not quite so dead sure as you make out,” returned Elmer.
”But you _think_ you know?” protested Mark.
”I believe I've got a good clew; I admit that, Mark.”