In the meanwhile Joe had been working hard. Under the advice of Boswell he adopted new training tactics, and he had his arm massaged by a professional between games. He was surprised at the result of the new treatment, and he found he was much fresher after a hard pitching battle than he had been before.
"He thinks he's going to be a Boy Wonder," sneered Willard.
"Oh, cut it out!" snapped Boswell. "If some of you old stagers would take better care of yourselves there'd be better ball played."
"Huh!" sneered Willard.
The Cardinals came back to St. Louis to play a series with New York.
"Wow!" exclaimed Rad as he and Joe, discussing the Giants' record, were sitting together in the Pullman on their way to their home city, "here's where it looks as if we might get eaten up!"
"Don't cross a bridge before you hear it barking at you," advised Joe. "Maybe they won't be so worse. We're on our own grounds, that's sure."
"Not much in that," decided his chum, dubiously.
When Joe reached the hotel he found several letters awaiting him. One, in a girl's handwriting, he opened first.
"Does she still love you?" laughed Rad, noticing his friend's rapt attention.