“Get the tickets, Robbie,” said McRae, as the last man on the opposing team struck out in the ninth inning. “That boy is trained right up to the minute. He’s ready for the gong right now.”
After supper that night McRae told Joe and Jim that he wanted a word with them out on the veranda.
“I think you boys have got all the training you need,” he said. “You’re right on edge now, and I don’t want you to go stale. So I’m going to send you on to New York to rest until the season opens next week.”
The unexpected statement took the boys off their feet. They looked at each other thunderstruck.
“We’ve already arranged for your transportation,” went on McRae. “Robbie, hand me over those tickets.”
Robbie pulled them out of his pocket. McRae glanced at them and handed one to each of the boys.
“Here they are,” he said. “It’s a pretty long trip, so I think you’d better take it by easy stages. The first stop-off will be Riverside.”
CHAPTER V
A SURPRISE PARTY
Joe and Jim stood as though paralyzed, scarcely daring to believe their ears.