He began working to that end at once. But the time was very short. The two squads—cubs and regulars—were leaving that very afternoon, and the task of finding an unknown boy in the few hours remaining, even though he had been foresighted enough to obtain an accurate description of the fellow from Lefty, was next to impossible.
As it was, Stillman risked a call-down from his editor by staying over a day at Ashland. When he finally left to catch up with the team he was scheduled to accompany North, he had found no clew, but had placed the matter in the hands of a retired member of the San Antonio police force living in the smaller town.
William Bowers was shrewder than the ordinary run of officers. He had been a sergeant for years, and time hung heavily on his hands. He might succeed, and he might not. Stillman felt that the result would be a toss-up. But it was the best he could do.
CHAPTER XXXVII
OPENING THE SEASON
Slowly and leisurely the Hornets zigzagged their way northward, pausing here and there to play an exhibition game with some minor-league team, which was usually won by headwork and experience rather than by any extraordinary display of hitting. Even after the regular period of work at the training camp, the big fellows were not wielding the hickory with special effect.
They shaped rapidly into condition, however, and, when the time came to face some of the stronger teams of the minor-league clubs above what was once known as Mason and Dixon’s line, they did not disgrace themselves.
Finally, with much rejoicing, the metropolis was reached and the two squads reunited. Jim Brennan, his mind finally made up after weeks of close watching and weighing, proceeded to discard the few remaining recruits who, in his opinion, had shown themselves not quite ripe.
Then, with the squad trimmed down to the number at which it would remain throughout the season, a week or more of hard, strenuous work ensued. A new infielder had to be broken in by his veteran comrades to the finer intricacies of the game. New signals were devised and perfected. Various pitchers were tried out, one after the other, in a full nine-inning game, and their condition studied by the astute manager. The batting order was decided on. In fact, everything was done which could be done in preparation for that great occasion to which many thousands of enthusiastic fans had been looking forward so ardently—opening day.