“Did the curve break well?”
“Couldn’t have been better. You’ll fool ’em all right with that twist.”
“I’m a little stiff yet. Well, let’s see what we can do toward getting up a game.”
Joe went to Rocky Ford that afternoon, and was fortunate in finding the new manager of the Resolutes, the one-time rivals of the Silver Stars. The team had greatly changed, and had been strengthened by some new players. They had not yet broken up for the season, and, as they had no game on for Saturday, the manager readily agreed to come to Riverside with his lads, and take on the Silver Stars in a sort of exhibition contest.
“I suppose you’ll pitch?” spoke the manager, as Joe was about to leave for home.
“Yes, I want to. Why?”
“Nothing, only maybe we better handicap your team, or else you’d better allow us half a dozen runs to start with,” was the laughing answer.
“I’m not as formidable as all that,” retorted Joe. “Are any of the old boys playing yet?”
“Oh, yes, quite a few. There’s Art Church, Lew Entry, Ted Neefus and Hank Armstrong.”
“I’ll be glad to see ’em again,” spoke Joe.