“Porter might miss him,” said Dan, gravely.
“Let her! Who cares as long as we have the victim safe?”
“I’m willing to wager,” scoffed Durfee, “that Holmes won’t show up a bit better than Reid.”
“Is Reid going in?” asked Alf. “I thought you’d decided on Servis for to-day.”
“Oh, Payson thinks we ought to be sure about the game,” replied Durfee. “As far as I’m concerned, I don’t much care whether we win or lose. I’d put Servis in if I had my way. Hammel is going to start the game at catch. Payson thinks he ought to have a good try-out. And Black is going in at first.”
“That’s a poor scheme,” said Alf. “Black can catch anything in reach, but he can’t throw across the diamond to save his life. But it’s none of my business.”
“I suppose Payson hasn’t thought of putting a good man in left field?” asked Dan, innocently. Durfee grinned.
“He hasn’t said anything about it. I guess we’ll have to get along the best way we can with Alf.”
Alf grunted. “Left field, my fresh young friends, is the only position that is being properly covered,” he said. “If we had a decent shortstop and a fair second baseman, we might get along pretty comfortably.”
After which brilliant persiflage the trio sought commons, where an early dinner was to be served.