Earl’s face flushed.
“Oh, he has had his lesson!” averred Grace. “He knows how those liners feel! Bet his hands are burning yet!”
“If you’re afraid,” said Chet, “you had better let some one else play that position.”
This injustice touched Gardner keenly, but he made no retort.
The following batter lifted a long one into the field, and the runner on second believed he saw his opportunity to score.
By a splendid run Black succeeded in pulling the fly down, upon which he immediately threw to Gardner, who wheeled and snapped the ball to Tubbs for a double play.
This splendid work delighted the cadets and relieved Arlington. As he came in to the bench, however, Chester was growling at Gardner.
“If you had stopped the liner,” he said, “they could not have scored! You didn’t go after it until it was past you!”
Earl was beginning to get sore over this, and he gave Chet a resentful look as he warmly retorted:
“If you’re not satisfied with my playing I will get out of the game!”