Something, he knew not what, prompted him to put the question. It never really occurred to him that Brennan had changed his mind, but afterward he was more than thankful that the suggestion had come from him.
“Yes!” snapped Ogan. “He wants Redmond to go in. I told him I’d promised you, and Redmond’s arm wasn’t limbered up, but that didn’t make any difference. Sorry, old fellow, but I’ll make it up to you another time.”
Lefty turned away with a shrug, and tossed his glove up, catching it deftly as it fell. Then he laughed. Ogan could have no idea, of course, how difficult it was to make that laugh sound natural.
“Sure!” Lefty said lightly. “You won’t want me at all, then?”
“Not this afternoon. I’ll put you in to-morrow, though, if it takes a leg.”
He passed on toward the bench, leaving Locke to follow more slowly, his face still indifferent, but his mind full of bitter disappointment. To-morrow! That promise was poor consolation when he had set his heart on pitching to-day. He would never have another chance like this to pit himself against Bert Elgin.
The next instant he raised his head and met Elgin’s eyes fixed upon his face with a look of malicious satisfaction. For a fraction of a second Lefty stared. Then he smiled, and, turning, made his way straight toward the runabout containing the two girls.
It had suddenly come to him that he would have to go back and explain to them. He hated the necessity intensely; but, since it had to be done, it might as well be gotten over swiftly.