“All right,” assented Gregory. “But if you want to quit at any time, give me the signal. And I’ll tell you what I’ll do. Have you a ’phone at home?”
“Yes.”
“Then I’ll have someone get your house on the long distance wire, and find out just how your father is. I’ll also send word that you’ll start to-night.”
“That will be fine!” cried Joe, and already he felt better. The bad news had shocked him for the time, though.
“Play ball!” called the umpire, for there had been a little delay over the talk between Joe and the manager.
“Just keep quiet about it, though,” advised the manager to the young pitcher. “It may only upset things if it gets out. Are you sure you can stand it?”
“I—I’m going to stand it!” responded Joe, gamely.
He faced his first batter with a little sense of uncertainty. But Nelson, who was catching, nodded cheerfully at him, and gave a signal for a certain ball that Joe, himself, had decided would best deceive that man with the stick. He sent it in rushingly, and was delighted to hear the umpire call:
“Strike one!”