“It sure had Rance up in the air for a minute,” replied Joe. “When he pitched the next one he hardly knew what he was doing.”
“Always something new every minute,” chuckled McRae. “If I could put a head like yours on every member of this team we’d simply walk in.”
“Well,” said Joe, “we’ve got off to a flying start anyway. The Brooklyns have used up their best pitcher, and we ought to get three out of four at least in this series.”
“I wish I’d had a stop watch to-day,” remarked Jim, as in the cool of the early evening they walked toward their rooms.
“What for?” asked Joe in some surprise.
“To time you as you went around those bases,” replied Jim. “Gee, Joe, you were like lightning. Honestly, I don’t think it took you more than eleven seconds. I never saw you run so fast.”
“I had to,” laughed Joe. “There was no time for loafing when a thrower like Maley had hold of the ball.”
“It came in on a line right into Tighe’s hands,” declared Jim. “I never saw a prettier throw. My heart was in my mouth. It would have surely nipped any other runner in the league. And that slide of yours was a dandy. Remember what you said to me the other day about winning the base-stealing championship of the league? Well, after what I saw to-day I believe you’ll cop it. You’ll have the catchers standing on their heads.”
“That’s yet to be proved,” deprecated Joe. “But I’m going to make a try at it anyway.”