But Jack was interrupted by a knock on the door of Frank and Andy's room, and the opening of the portal disclosed "Old" Wallace, the coach, who came in to talk baseball. He had been away for some time, and had recently returned. Then, for a time, Billy Chase and his affairs were forgotten.
The regular baseball nine was being whipped into shape, and the time for the first match game of the season was approaching. The weather had come off warm quite suddenly, and the diamond was in fine shape. Practice was going well, and the Racer boys and their chums felt that they had a winning team.
It was one or two nights before the game with Waterside Hall, the ancient enemy of Riverview, that Frank and Andy obtained permission to go into town. Frank wanted to get a new glove, and Andy had some shopping to do concerning baseball matters.
"Well, let's take in a 'shiftin' picture show,' as the Scotchman called the movies," suggested Andy, when their errands were done.
"Will we have time?" asked Frank, always more or less cautious.
"Of course we will."
So they went to the moving picture entertainment. As they entered several persons were coming out, having seen the first "round" of films, and, at the sight of one of the audience, Frank started.
"What's the matter?" asked Andy, who was walking next to him. "See a ghost?"
"No, but I saw that lame man, who was hanging around the ball field the other day—the fellow Billy Chase seemed so afraid of."
"Well, what of it? He isn't looking for us, and I guess he won't find Billy. I saw him boning away for further orders as we came out. Here are a couple of good seats. They're going to have illustrated songs, too. There's that pretty girl who was in here the other night."