Dazedly, Renton swept the path about him. Then realizing what had happened he straightened up and threw for home. But Joe had already dented the rubber for the winning run.
He had scored from first on a single! It was a magnificent play, a fitting wind-up to the most glorious season that the Giants had ever had.
And above all it rounded out the task that Joe had set himself. By unflagging work, by matchless pitching and hitting ability, by the finest kind of headwork he had reached his goal.
And it was a happy Joe who, after the tumult and the shouting had died away, after McRae, Robbie and his comrades had nearly wrung his hands off and pounded him black and blue, sat with Jim and with Mabel, who had arrived in time to see his crowning victory, and talked over the events of the day.
“And you put it over, old boy!” exulted Jim. “Hung up a record in the seven things you said you would.”
“You might have known he would,” said Mabel proudly.
“Didn’t I tell you that seven was a lucky number?” said Joe, with a grin.
THE END
THE BASEBALL JOE SERIES
By Lester Chadwick