“That suits me,” replied Bart.
When school was over a picked nine prepared to give battle to the regular one in order to bring out the weak points.
“Don’t you think we ought to have a substitute pitcher?” asked Lem, as he prepared to go into the box.
“You aren’t afraid of breaking down, are you?” asked Bart anxiously.
“No, only you never can tell what is going to happen.”
“Here you go, Stumpy!” called Bart as his chum was tossing the ball to the right-fielder in the warming-up practice.
Fenn sent the leather spheroid toward the catcher with all the strength of his arm. Bart caught it on his heavy glove. As he did so he called in a low voice to Lem, and the two held a whispered conversation.
“Do you think he can do it?” Lem asked.
“Yes, if we spring it on him suddenly and don’t give him a chance to get nervous. That’s Stumpy’s main fault. But I’m hoping there’ll be no need for it.”