The captain, putting up at the largest hotel in town, often visited the high school and athletic field, where his bluff, hearty manner gained immediate favor. Of course there were exceptions. "Crackers" Brown, Owen Lawrence, Aleck Parks and some of their followers didn't seem so favorably impressed.
"He's got too much to say, and I don't like the way he says it," growled Parks. "Makes you think of a steam roller flattening everything before it."
"He's as thick as paste with the Somers crowd," said Owen.
"And when the captain drops in to Terry Guffin's he roars his opinions out so loud that my delicate ear-drums rebel," remarked "Crackers," in his usual grave tone. "Now, to change the subject. As Mr. Barry said to Bob Somers and Steele the other night, 'There ought to be a change mighty soon.'"
"I guess there's no doubt about his saying it," grumbled Owen, "though both of 'em are as mum as oysters."
"They don't deny it," said "Crackers."
"If the nine doesn't take a brace on the next game," observed Aleck Parks, "I'll begin to believe our athletic field has joined the castle in Spain class."
There could be no doubt that the school was taking an intense interest in the third contest with the Stars, scheduled for the following Saturday. Coach Steele had his men out practicing every afternoon, devoting his attention to strengthening the weak points.
"Jack Frost" was developing more confidence in himself, and Willie Singleton, another pitcher, whom Steele had not yet used, was rapidly acquiring the knack of speeding shoots and curves over the plate.
"Charlie Blake and Tom Clifton bother me a bit," confided Coach Steele to Bob Somers. "Charlie's a mighty good player until something happens to shake his nerves. Then he's apt to hit the toboggan. And Tom's a little too excitable, especially when it comes to close plays. At their best, however, I don't think any of the candidates could beat them."