Jerry winked meaningly. “Ches wants some glory. They’ll bat him out of the box in three innings; you see if they don’t.”
“Hope they do,” said Spider Wells, blinking almost vindicatively. “Chester’s all the time trying to do things he can’t.”
“He can play third base,” said Willard. “I wish he’d stay there. I suppose Tucker will play third. Look at the bunch of girls in the grand stand, will you!”
“I pretty nearly got soaked for two grand stand seats,” said Teddy Thurston. “My sister wanted to come, but she got a headache the last time and I reminded mother of it and she said Bess couldn’t come. I’m in fifty-five cents.”
“That’ll do for sodas when we get back,” suggested Jerry. “Any fellow who will put up a game like that on his sister has to pay for it, doesn’t he, fellows?”
It was the unanimous opinion of the crowd that he did, and Teddy, after mentally figuring the expense, hesitatingly agreed. “Only,” he bargained, “it’s to be straight soda, fellows; no ice-creams, you know!”
Jerry was for combating that ultimatum, but at the moment the Audelsville team, in their gray and blue suits, took the field for practice, and Jerry turned his attention to the home players.
“Who’s going to score?” asked Spider, taking a scorebook from his pocket and tentatively wetting the tip of a pencil between his lips. Spider was an indefatigable scorer, but as he was never able to quite keep up with the plays it was necessary for his success that someone else nearby should keep the score as well. Willard shook his head.
“I forgot to bring mine,” he said. Spider looked troubled until Teddy Thurston brought forth a scorebook and borrowed a pencil from Tom. By that time Audelsville had enjoyed her five minutes of fielding and batting practice and Mr. Chase, the Assistant Principal, walked out to the plate.
“Chase is going to umpire,” commented Willard. “That means we’ll get a square deal.”