CHAPTER XVI.
THE CHALLENGE GAME.
The morning papers contained accounts of the appearance of the “jay pitcher” in the ball-game the previous day and his final unmasking as Frank Merriwell. While the papers were forced to confess that his work in the box had been surprising, still not one of the reporters seemed willing to credit him with ability to keep it up. Some of them stated that his delivery was puzzling to strange batsmen, but that almost any hard-hitting team would be sure to fall upon him heavily before a game was over.
This made Hodge angry and disgusted.
“Why is it,” said Bart, “that these newspaper duffers always seem to think that college men are not as fast as professionals? Professionals seldom play for blood, as college men do.”
“But professionals do have the experience,” confessed Merry. “Old leaguers make the best coaches for college teams.”
“That’s all right; but all the big teams are scouting for college pitchers nowadays.”
“Pitchers are in demand always. Few college men, however, play on league teams outside the pitcher’s box. I see these papers think we’ll be easy for Minneapolis this afternoon.”
“Well, they have another think coming to them. You know the chap who tried to bribe you to throw the game yesterday?”
“Yes.”