“It was nothing but an accident, my good people; but he has a way of making those accidents just as regularly as he eats his meals.”
“Why, he’s a corker!” howled the man with the hoarse voice. “He’s the best short-stop I ever saw.”
“Thanks, silver-throated sir,” said Ready, doffing his cap. “He is too modest to speak for himself. I am a trifle shy, but not quite as shy as he is.”
“What do you think of that?” growled Hazen, his red face redder than usual.
“I don’t know how it happened,” said Derring.
Wescott joined them and he said:
“The boy is a wonder! There is no doubt about it. If he keeps on he’ll be playing in one of the big leagues before he is out of his teens.”
“But, of course, he can’t hit any,” said Derring.
“I don’t know whether he can or not. We’ll wait and see.”
Maloney was the next man, and Frank smilingly gave him one over the heart of the plate. Maloney cracked it straight out to Gamp, who gathered it in, and the Merries came trotting in to the bench.