“Can you keep it up?” asked Mr. Sargent wonderingly as Dud sank to the bench and Davy Richards flourished a towel in front of his face.
“I think so, sir. I’m going to try awfully hard,” answered Dud.
“Well, go easy on yourself this inning. Let them hit a little if you like. There’s another inning coming and maybe several.”
“Yes, sir.” Dud’s gaze, straying along the bench, caught sight of Jimmy, Jimmy dressed for play and with an anxious regard fixed on the coach. “If you could, sir,” said Dud, “I wish you’d let Logan in. It wasn’t our fault that we got left, sir; at least, not wholly; and Jimmy’s crazy to play!”
“Logan? Maybe in the next inning. I’ll see. Here! What’s this?”
This was Star Meyer picking himself up from the water bucket, having in some way tripped over one of Jimmy’s feet as he passed. Jimmy was all sympathy and apologies, but Star only muttered. His haughtiness was wholly lacking and the fellows viewed with real concern the almost abject manner with which he righted the empty pail and retired into the far end of the bench. But Jimmy, catching Dud’s eye, winked wickedly.
The eighth passed into history without witnessing a run for either side. Grafton got Ordway to first on a pass and he went on a base when Ayer lifted one to left for the second out. Then, while Boynton was at bat, Hugh was caught napping at second and another chance to score passed into oblivion.
Mount Morris’ first man got a hit and was thrown out at second on an attempted steal, Brooks making as pretty a peg to Murtha as one could hope to see. The next man struck out miserably. Then followed a scratch hit that came near to being an error for Blake. The next man, Saylor, flied out to Murtha and ended the eighth.
Boynton started for Grafton in the ninth by beating out a weak hit and the scarlet pennants waved again. Meyer, bat on shoulder and stepping to the plate, was recalled.
“Logan batting for Boynton!” called the umpire.