“Coming out to see us practice this afternoon?” asked Tom Davis of Joe several days later. “We’re getting ready to play the Red Stockings of Rutherford, Saturday.”
“Sure I’ll come,” answered Joe. “Will it be a good game?”
“It ought to. The Red Stockings used to have a good nine but they struck a slump and lately we’ve been beating them. But I hear they have a new pitcher and they may make it hard for us. Say, what’s this yarn Sam is telling about you practicing down on the fairgrounds.”
“Oh, it’s true enough,” answered Joe with a flush. “I thought I’d get up some speed. I’ve got a chance to get on the nine.”
“Is that so; I hadn’t heard it. Gee! I hope you do. How you going to manage it?”
“Well, I don’t know as Darrell wants it known,” was the answer, “but I’ll tell you,” and Joe proceeded to relate his talk with the manager, about the prospective leaving of McGraw.
“That’s so, Jed is going away,” admitted Tom. “I had forgotten about that. Say, I hope he leaves before Saturday and then you can get a chance to play.”
“What about Len Oswald, the substitute centre fielder?”
“Oh, Len is practically out of it. He can’t get off Saturday afternoons any more. Too much business in that Fordham grocery where he works. That’s a good thing for you. I’m real glad of it, Joe. But say, if you want to practice pitching, why didn’t you ask me to catch for you?”