Part 8 (1/2)
”Right you are, Jack! I'oing to have our annual gaet busy,” put in Gif Garrison ”I had no idea they would ask for a aley Academy,” remarked Walt Baxter ”You see, they are to play the new school too”
”Yes, and I heard that those Longley felloere boasting they were going to do up Hixley, just the sa to do us up”
”Gee, but that Tommy Flanders makes me sick!” broke in Fred ”I really think he's the most conceited fellow I ever ood player,” reood batsood all-around player”
The regular nine, minus two players who had left the school the ter A little later, with two substitutes, they were to play a ainst a scrub team picked from the most available of the ball players left
Jack Rover was in the box and was putting some swift ones over the plate As yet he did not have perfect control of the horsehide, and as a consequence it occasionally went over the catcher's head
Three gaed for Colby Hall, one with Hixley High, another with Coluley
They were to take place in the order named and at intervals of one week
The practice soon caame with the scrubs started This proved to be quite a contest, and Fred Rover distinguished hier, while Jack struck out six batsmen, much to his satisfaction When the contest caular nine had won by a score of 11 to 3
”Well, that shows the old nine is still in the running,” reyht you are, Dan,” answered Jack ”Just the saley, either, please don't forget that”
”Oh, I know that just as well as you do, Jack We've got to play much better than we did to-day if we expect any victories in the regular gaainst dink Wilsey again,” said Gif
”I don't believe that any of us are likely to forget it,” grinned Dan
All remembered dink Wilsey very well He was the pitcher for Hixley High and a felloas destined to beco delivery, and sometimes struck out even the best of the batsmen with ease
From that day forth Jack and the other members of the ball tea pitcher obtained better control of the sphere, and then he did what he could to increase his speed and
The contest with Hixley High was to take place on the latter's grounds, and almost all the pupils at Colby Hall irls were also present from Clearwater Hall and from the town
”Oh, Jack, I hope you win!” said Ruth Stevenson, as he strode forward to greet her and the others who had arrived fro to do our best, Ruth,” answered the young pitcher And then, as he noticed soly: ”You don't have to look so glua else,”
she answered soberly
”Why, what's the ?”
”Yes, Jack But--butabout it,”
she faltered
”Has anybody been annoying you?”