“Sure! Sure it is!” Goggles felt his thoughts clearing. Seizing a pair of pliers, he quickly made the change. “Now,” he breathed, “Now! Let’s try it.”
They did try it and old Irons O did his work perfectly.
“O.K. boys?” the stranger asked, still smiling.
“O.K.!” Goggles breathed.
Seizing a megaphone, the man roared, “Ready to go! Clear the field!”
Once again the crowd settled into its place. A look of pleasant anticipation flashed like a gleam of sunlight from face to face.
“S-strike!” the umpire roared. The game was on. And such a game as it proved to be! A plucky, good-natured young fellow cheerfully pitted his strength and skill against a thing made of iron, copper and steel.
The first Centralia batter went down, one, two, three in a row. Goggles, with Irons O’s aid, had given him two easy curves and a straight swift one. Perhaps the batter experienced stage fright at batting against such a pitcher. However that might be, he went down swinging and the crowd roared its applause.
The second batter came to bat wearing a confident grin. Nor did his confidence go unrewarded. He made first on a line drive and received his full share of fans’ approval.
Then Irons O appeared to lose his control. He gave the third batter three balls in a row.