“He’s a pitcher, isn’t he?” struck in Ballard.
“He is, and a good one, but I’m told he’s equally good as a baseman. If I have to be relieved, Barzy can be shifted to the pitcher’s box. Mose Handy will cover the third sack, and Jerry Spink will take care of left field.”
“You’ve got your nine, Chip,” reported Clancy, totting up, “and Lenning is left for right field. Want any substitutes?”
“Got to have. Benaway, Shaw, and Reckless will sit on the benches and be prepared to fill in. I hear they are good all-around ball players.”
“It’s a good team,” commented Clancy, after studying the list for a few moments, “with possibly one or two exceptions.”
“Strikes me, fellows,” said Merry, “it’s a mighty fine line-up. I’ll go over to Mr. Bradlaugh’s office and speak for Mexican Joe, Lenning, and Brad. I wish you two fellows would hunt up the others. If you can find them, have them all report at the Ophir athletic field not later than four this afternoon. This will be just preliminary to some hard work to-morrow.”
Merry grabbed his cap from the veranda floor, where he had dropped it, and started briskly to his feet.
“You can count on Pink and me to interview the rest of the fellows, Chip,” returned Clancy.
“Stir around,” Frank answered, on his way down the veranda steps. “There’s not much time between now and four. If some of the fellows can’t get out to the clubhouse by four, then any time up till five will do.”
It was not many minutes until Merry was in the office of the general manager of the Ophir Mining Company. Mr. Bradlaugh greeted him with a smile and a warm handclasp.