“No, it doesn’t hurt much,” replied Tommy. “I don’t mind. Now knock a good one, Patsie!”
Dan delivered another ball, and Patsie missed it, while the opposite side yelled with delight.
“That was too high!” said the batter. “I want one there,” and he held the stick out in front of him to show where he liked the ball to come.
“Here it is!” exclaimed Dan, and he pitched the ball again.
There was a crash of the bat, and the ball went sailing over the grass.
“Run, Patsie! Run!” his friends advised him.
“Come on in, Tommy! Come on in!” were the other shouts, as Tommy, who had started for second base, reached it and hesitated about going “home.” Then he concluded it was safe, and he raced on. But Pete Johnson had the ball now, and threw it in.
“Look out!” yelled George Squire. “He’ll get you, Tommy!”
Sammie Small stretched out his hands to gather in the ball and put the runner out at the home plate.
“Slide, Tommy! Slide!” advised Patsie, who had reached second base and was resting there.