Joe was taken in charge by Boswell, and in the clubhouse more attention was given to the sore arm.
"How does it feel now?" asked the trainer, anxiously.
"Fine!" replied Joe, and really the pain seemed all gone.
"Then come out and warm up with me. You'll be needed, if I am any judge."
To Joe's delight he found that he could send the ball in as swiftly as ever, and with good aim.
"You'll do!" chuckled Boswell. "And just in time, too. There goes a home run, and Barter's been hit so hard that we'll have to take him out."
It was the beginning of the third inning, and, sure enough, when it came the turn of the Cardinals to bat, a substitution was made, and the manager said:
"Get ready, Joe. You'll pitch the rest of the game."
Joe nodded, with a pleased smile, but, as he raised his arm to bend it back and forth, a sharp spasm of pain shot through it.
"Whew!" whistled Joe, under his breath. "I wonder if the effects of that liniment are wearing off? If they are, and that pain comes back, I'm done for, sure. What'll I do?"