“If he only could!” said another; but there was only doubt in the words and the voice.
Kates glanced toward Spratt, and a signal told him that the desperate fellow on first would try to steal. To assist Jack, Sam swung wildly at the first ball pitched, although he was careful not to hit it.
Spratt’s thin legs carried him down the line to second with deceptive speed, and a beautiful slide landed him safely on the sack a second before he was tagged.
“Safe!” shouted the umpire.
Spratt leaped up, dusting his clothes and grinning.
“You’re dud-dud-dreadfully slow,” he observed mockingly to the second baseman.
“Oh, never mind,” was the retort. “You won’t go any farther.”
“Th-think so?” said Jack.
“Know so.”
“Bub-bub-bet you on it. Kates is gug-going to biff it.”