Yale!”
The jay smiled, and his face was transformed. The foolish expression had vanished, and he seemed positively handsome. In his general appearance a most astonishing change had taken place. All his awkward slouchiness had vanished, and now he was straight and graceful, despite the clothes he wore.
The crowd looked on amazed, realizing something was about to happen.
“Look at the jay!” gasped Trueman.
A hush fell on the spectators. Webber had seen the change in the unknown pitcher, and it bewildered him.
“Play ball!” commanded the umpire, as the Minneapolis pitcher stood, with the sphere in his hand.
Then Webber swung his arm and put one right over the heart of the plate.
The mysterious batter did not wait for another one, but he picked that one out and smashed it hard enough to make a dent in it.
The ball went out on a line clear of the reach of any infielder, and the runner ahead of the jay tore up the dust as he scooted round the bases. Over second he went, on to third, over third, and, while the spectators rose up and howled, he came speeding home.
The ball had been recovered, but, in his effort to stop the run, the fielder threw wild. The mysterious ball-player saw this, and he took a chance by keeping on when he reached third base.