Probably the little scene made Bart nervous, for he struck out, an unusual thing with him. That put the side out, the inning ending in the tie score. There was little apprehension in the ranks of the Preparatory team, but there were anxious hearts among the high school supporters. The cheering died away.
“Stumpy; you pitch,” called Bart.
“Me! Why I can’t pitch! I never pitched a regular game.”
“I’m captain, and you pitch,” said Bart decidedly, and much amazed at his selection Stumpy walked into the box.
The suddenness of it was just his salvation. He had no chance to get nervous.
“Can he do it?” asked Ned, as he started for his place.
“He’s got a fine, natural curve,” replied Bart. “I never noticed it until the other day. Discovered it by accident. I think he’ll make good.”
And Stumpy did. He hardly knew how he did it, but he had a knack of throwing the ball that fooled the best batters on the other team. He struck out the first two men, and there arose murmurs of anxiety among the rivals.
“Why didn’t they put him in first?” asked the captain of the home team of some of his men, wondering why so good a pitcher had been left to the last.