"But you are the better pitcher—Roger says so—and I heard so from Ben Basswood,—through a letter he wrote to his sister."
"Well, maybe I'll get a chance to pitch a few innings—if Purdy breaks down. But I trust he doesn't break down—it's hard luck for any pitcher to do that."
There was a pause, and Laura pulled her brother further into a corner, away from the others.
"I want to speak to you about something," she continued in a low tone. "Do you know that Jessie got an awful letter about you?"
"A letter? Who from?"
"I don't know. It came from Oakdale and was signed A Friend. It said you were leading a fast life here—drinking and smoking and gambling."
"It's false, Laura—I don't do any of those things."
"I know that."
"Did Jessie believe what the letter said?"