“Either the wounded hero would have to go in and be slaughtered, or else they’d have to temporarily lift my suspension, and let me toe the mark.”
“I reckon you’re fit, all right, Lef. I’ve been ketchin’ you for a week, and I never thought you had so many cute tricks in you. And speed, why it’s there to burn. I hope they do let you have a chance,” remarked Bill.
Lef uttered a grunt of disgust.
“It’s all off,” he said, with a shrug of his shoulders.
“What d’ye mean?” asked Bill.
“Look yonder at that wagon stopping on the road by the gate. A feller’s jumped out, and he’s got a baseball suit on, too. It’s that sneak Ralph, as sure’s you’re born. I’m on to his curves, all right. He just wants to keep the crowd in suspense, you know, and then get the cheers when he shows up. Bah! he makes me tired, that’s what.”
Lef judged others by himself. Under similar conditions that was just what he would have done, for applause was sweet in his ears.
When Ralph was seen running across the field there was a rippling cheer that advanced into a positive roar. The boy’s face flamed, for he was not accustomed to being in the limelight. Still, he paid no attention to the shouts that greeted his coming, but hastening over to where the boys were still practicing he met Captain Seymour.
“Glad you’ve turned up, Ralph. The boys were beginning to get a little worried about you, and Frank just said he’d go in if necessary, though his arm is in a bad way, and he might injure it for keeps. We want him for the last game—if there is going to be another,” said Roderic, looking closely at the other, as if to make up his mind whether Ralph had brought his nerve with him.
“The delay was entirely unavoidable. I had to carry a little child half a mile. She had crushed her hand. That is her father in the wagon with her, on the way to the doctor’s. Hello! Frank! better late than never. Send her in, Paul! How long can I have to warm up, Captain?” said Ralph, as he caught the ball, and began to return it, quietly at first, but with increasing pressure as his muscles responded to the demand made upon them.