“Sure. Billie Ruggler and Teddy Bunker. They’re going to belong to my nine. Here they come now!” suddenly exclaimed Tommy, glancing through the window. “And they’ve got another fellow with them. I’m going to have a catch, anyhow, if we can’t play a regular game,” and then, forgetting all about his new room, Tommy hurried out to meet his new friends.
“This is Herbert Kress,” said Billie, introducing their companion. “This is the fellow I was telling you about,” he went on, pointing at Tommy. “He took his bat away from Jakie Norton, and Jakie didn’t dare grab it back.”
“If he’d tried it, he’d have had a lively tussle with all of us,” predicted Teddy. “We were ready for him.”
“Come on and have a catch,” proposed Tommy. “Will you join our new nine?” he asked of Herbert.
“Sure. I’ll be glad to, but I don’t know much about the game. We boys never had a team before.”
“Then it’s time you did!” declared Tommy, with a laugh. “I’ll start one. We’ll have some fun. Know any other fellows who’ll join?”
“I guess so,” replied Teddy, while Herbert said in a low voice to Billie:
“Say, this Tommy Tiptop certainly does things, doesn’t he?”
“Yes; I’m glad he moved to town,” replied Billie, eagerly.
“There’s Joie Grubb!” called Teddy, as the boys stood in Tommy’s front yard. A very fat boy was walking slowly on the other side of the street.