Hughie and Everson had hold of Crossley and were calling him various kinds of names for such bone-headed conduct—for once in their lives both of these boys had been fooled—they thought what they had seen was Crossley’s idea of stealing a base and were wondering where he got such an idea.
Hal himself as he was carried from the field by Hans, thought it was his own fault standing on second base as he did with the ball in his hands, instead of running up the line out of the path of the runner and touching him out before he got to the bag.
Hal blamed no one but himself, but Hans, while he said nothing, had seen the look in Crossley’s eye as he started for second, and had watched him all the way. He had noted particularly the viciousness of Crossley’s jump and the care with which he brought his feet down on the right spot and while he knew of no reason why Crossley should have it in for Hal, he knew there was something back of it. Hal’s foot was pretty badly cut, but the doctor fixed him up, sent him home in a carriage and told him he’d better not put his uniform on for three or four days.
[He was out next day with a cane], and his foot did not hurt him particularly. He went to the ball grounds and watched the boys practice and he got to thinking that he hadn’t counted on being injured. He had been spiked before, however, and he felt that with proper care he would be back in the game again soon, and not knowing that he had an enemy, he had no reason for not feeling good.
[“He was out next day with a cane.”]