“Great day for the game,” said Ned as he patted Dan on the shoulder when the latter took a ball in his hand and started toward one side of the field to “warm up.”
“Yes, one of the finest I ever saw. Look at the crowd, Ned,” added Dan as he glanced at the great gathering.
“Five thousand,” responded Ned as he too scanned the crowded seats.
“Not so many as that,” laughed Dan. “Enough, though.”
“Make you nervous?”
“Not yet. Can’t tell what the effect will be later.”
“You’re all right, Dan,” said Ned cheerily, as he once more patted his friend on the shoulder. “You don’t lose your head.”
“I don’t want to to-day——”
Dan stopped abruptly as a treble call, “Dan! Dan!” came from the bleachers not far away. Both Ned and the young pitcher glanced in the direction from which the hail had come and saw little Carlton Hall standing erect and waving his cap frantically as he called the name of his hero.
“What does he want?” said Ned. “Has he heard of more ipecac they’re to feed you?”