The Merries seemed rather nervous. In fact, they were too anxious, and they began practice by several bad fumbles and throws. Hodge was one of the offenders. He made a high throw to second.
“Whip it down again, Bart,” said Frank.
Bart obeyed, but this time his throw was too low.
Immediately Frank took the ball and threw to second, taking pains to make the throw good.
It was a case of showing exactly what he wanted done.
Hodge set his teeth and resolved that every throw should be perfect after that, and it was.
To some it may have appeared that Merry was showing off. Instead of that, he was impressing Bart by force of example.
As Grafter watched the Merries practice he became more and more uneasy.
“I didn’t kiss that thousand good-by,” he said; “but I think I’d better have done it. I’ll never see it again.”
Again Gowan grinned.