“Oh, he’s got it, all right. I’m the one who hasn’t. He thinks he’s the coming scholastic wonder of the diamond, I guess. Of course, I’m perfectly willing to help the chap and keep him from killing himself off with cream-puffs, and that sort of thing, Polly, but you’ve got to own up that it’s a bit tough on me. Think of putting in half an hour every day with Kewpie! Gee, I’ve got troubles of my own, too. That silly Elk Thurston’s got it in for me, after that trifling affair of yesterday, and there’s no working in the same cage with him. It wouldn’t be so bad if we weren’t both trying for the same job.”
“Do you mean that Elkins Thurston is a catcher, too?”
“He is if I am,” answered Laurie smiling. “More, I guess, for he did some catching last spring with the second. Still, at that, he isn’t so much better. We’re both pretty bad yet, Polly.”
“What does he do that—that you don’t like, Laurie?”
“Oh, just acts ugly and nags whenever he gets a chance. If he keeps it up I’ll crown him with a bat some fine day!”
“You mustn’t get into any fuss with him,” said Polly decidedly. “He’s a lot bigger than you and—”
“Huh, that’s why I mean to use a bat!”
“Besides, you shouldn’t have taken his bicycle. You see, Laurie, you really started the trouble yourself.”
“Yes, I suppose I did, but he shouldn’t be so touchy. Anyway, I don’t intend—”
He was interrupted by the opening of the door and the tinkling of the bell. [A frail-looking little] [woman in a queer old-fashioned dress] and a funny little flat bonnet entered and Polly went to attend to her. The two talked together across the opposite counter in low tones, and, just to show that he was not trying to overhear them, Laurie whistled softly. After a minute or two the little woman went out and Polly rejoined Laurie.