CHAPTER XVIIA TRY-OUT
It was so early in the school year that opportunities for talking over the new boys had of necessity been limited. The fact that Walter had a new roommate who was somewhat “green†had been noticed and smilingly commented upon, but what he was able to do in the school life was unknown. Indeed, with the exception of two or three of Walter’s closest friends, to whom he had enthusiastically described Dan’s success as a pitcher, the matter had not been referred to.
As the football team claimed the chief interest of the school at this time there were only a few besides the two scrub nines present when the game began, a fact for which Dan was deeply thankful.
“Your agricultural friend is as strong as an ox and he has a good swing with his bat, but he hasn’t any more idea of team work than he has of trout-fishing in Mars,†Ned in a low voice had said to Walter as the latter passed him to take his position as short-stop. “We’ll see now what he can do.â€
“Yes; you keep your eyes open,†retorted Walter confidently. Dan caught the ball which Walterthrew him and then in turn began to throw it about the diamond. He had not had an opportunity to warm up and several weeks had elapsed since he had had a ball in his hand. To most of the players, the game was only a “scrub†anyway, but to Dan, as no one realized more fully than he, there were larger issues at stake. His quiet manner, however, was unchanged and only Walter was aware how eager his friend was to do well.
The opposing batter now advanced to the plate and Dan caught the ball, settled back in the pitcher’s box, swung his arm once or twice, and then pitched the ball. His action was not graceful and the ball was not swift.
The batter struck at it, but failed to hit it, although the failure apparently was due to his own weakness. A straight swift ball produced a second strike, and then in accordance with the signals and plan of action to which Ned and Dan had agreed before they assumed their positions in the field, the pitcher sent in his “pet,†a form of delivery to which Moulton had devoted much time and pains.
The ball sped swiftly as it left Dan’s hands and though it came fairly over the plate the batter stepped back as if in fear of being hit.
“Here, you timid creature, why don’t you strike at a good ball when you get it?†demanded Ned sharply of the batter.
“It didn’t come within a mile of the plate,†retorted the batter.
“Come here, Chesty!†called Ned, turning to the spectators. “Come on and umpire this game. This fellow can’t tell whether the ball is going to hit him or whether it started in the other direction.â€
“Yea, I’ll do that,†responded “Lord Chesterfield†as he arose, carefully brushed his clothes with his hands, and took the position to which he had been called.
“Two strikes on this fellow,†said Ned as he replaced his mask and gave his chest-protector a pull. “Now go ahead. Call it two balls. I don’t know just how many he deserves.†Signaling to Dan to repeat his last effort Ned stretched forth his hands for his pitcher to begin again.
Once more Dan sent in a swift inshoot, that as it came to the plate suddenly appeared to turn and vindictively try to hit the player at the bat.
“Three balls,†called Chesty glibly.
Ned glared at him as in duty bound, but did not speak as he returned the ball to Dan.
“Four balls! Take your base!†shouted Chesty once more, after Dan had pitched another ball.
Ned started to protest, but a low laugh from Dan caused him to check the word he was about to speak and he returned the ball.
The second boy to bat obtained the same result as his predecessor, and two were on bases.
“Careful, Dan,†called Walter in a low voice from his position as short-stop. “Take it easy. Don’t try too hard.â€
Dan did not reply, but swinging about he threw the ball swiftly to second base and the runner was caught at least two feet away.
“That’s the way to do it!†called Ned. “Now look sharp and we’ll have this fellow on strikes,†he added as the third boy advanced to the plate.
Dan responded with a ball so swift and unexpected that Ned dropped it.
“Ball!†shouted Chesty. And as Dan sent in three more that came with equal speed, he declared that each was a ball and allowed the batter to take his base.
“What’s the trouble, Dan?†called Walter.
“Nothing,†responded Dan.
“Get them over the plate.â€
“They are,†said Dan quietly. “Your umpire can’t see straight.†However, Dan apparently did not try to pitch his best. He retired the side after one run had been made and twice the ball had been hit into the infield.
“No use,†he explained to Walter as they walked in together. “The fellow either can’t or won’t see. I’ll just give them easy ones and let them go.â€
“No; don’t do that. Chesty will see after a bit,†protested Walter. But Dan was perverse and for several innings pitched a slower ball which occasionally was hit, though most of the boys that faced him struck out.
“I don’t know,†said Ned to Walter, after an hour had elapsed. “He has speed if he lets himselfout, but he’s as wild as a hawk. Doesn’t seem to know just where the plate is or what it is for.â€
“Dan says Chesty can’t or won’t see.â€
“Here come the fellows from the football field,†said Ned quickly, as the eleven were seen approaching on their way to the dressing-room. “I’m going to ask Gus Kiggins and some of the fellows to come in and bat. There’s Samson too,†he added. “I’ll have him call strikes and balls. We’ll see now what we’ll see.â€
In response to Ned’s call four of the boys stopped and acting upon Ned’s suggestion quickly agreed to face Dan. The physical instructor good-naturedly agreed to decide as to the balls and strikes and took a position behind Ned.
The scrub game had served to “warm up†Dan and, as Walter keenly watched him, more eager than he would have acknowledged to have his words of praise proved true, he smiled as he noticed that Dan settled back in a way he recognized and understood. Whenever Dan had his present expression Walter had no fear.
Hodge, the heavy right tackle on the football team and the heaviest hitter on the school nine, smilingly grasped a bat and faced the pitcher. Gathering himself together Hodge struck at the first ball Dan sent in, but his bat failed to reach the elusive little sphere and he joined in the laugh that greeted his efforts.
“Look out, Hodge,†called Gus Kiggins. “It’llcome back and hit you!†His tones were bantering and it was plain that he was not looking upon the work of the new boy in any serious way.
Again Dan sent in the ball, this time even swifter than before, but as it reached the plate it suddenly seemed to rise in the air and Hodge struck several inches beneath it. An expression of surprise, almost of chagrin, appeared upon the face of the tall player and as he looked again at Dan there was an added element of interest in his expression.
Once more the pitcher turned himself about and Hodge braced himself for even a swifter ball, but in spite of Dan’s contortions the ball slowly rose and Hodge had struck at it long before it had crossed the plate.
“You’re out!†called Samson sharply to the batter, though he was looking keenly at Dan as he spoke.
“Come on, Smith. Try your luck,†said Hodge to one of the other boys who was standing with a bat in his hand awaiting his turn.
Smith, stout, stolid, manifestly possessed of great strength, advanced laughingly to the plate and keenly watched Dan. He struck viciously at the first ball and a long foul followed. He lunged at the next ball, but it seemed to dodge his bat. He looked again at the pitcher, grasped his bat more firmly, and then swung quickly at the ball which Dan sent in with his utmost strength. “Strike!†called Samson, then turning to the catcher, who haddropped the ball, he said, “What’s the trouble, Ned? Can’t you hold him?â€
“Go ahead,†replied Ned grimly, bracing himself.
Again the ball came swiftly, but Smith once more failed to hit, and when Dan repeated his experiment with Hodge by sending a slow ball and the batter struck at it long before it reached him Smith good-naturedly exclaimed as he threw down his bat, “No use, fellows. You can’t find the ball.â€
Gus Kiggins now walked to the plate. Without knowing who was facing him, Dan felt that there was opposition keen and strong expressed in the face of the player. The interest of all in the little group of spectators was aroused now, and Walter, whose delight at Dan’s feat in striking out the two heavy hitters of the school nine was unconcealed, was watching the young pitcher with increasing eagerness. If Gus Kiggins could be struck out too! “Dan,†he said in a low voice, “give Gus a low drop. He can’t hit a low ball.â€
Without betraying whether or not he had heard the suggestion, Dan looked keenly at the batter and then sent in a sudden and terrifically swift ball that crossed the plate before Gus had fairly drawn back his bat. The ball was quickly returned by Ned, and again, with his sudden quick swing, Dan threw the ball before Gus was fully aware.
“Two strikes!†called Samson in a low voice.
“You’re doing nobly!†laughed Hodge as he watched the batter. “Look out for that thirdstrike! The ball has a habit of stopping somewhere up in the air and waiting for you to strike at it before it decides to come on.â€
“I’ll wait for it,†retorted Kiggins and a moment later he lunged heavily at the ball which Dan threw with terrific speed.
“Three strikes! You’re out,†declared Samson.
“That’s enough,†said Dan as he dropped the ball and started from the field.
“Give us another round. You caught us off our guard,†called Kiggins. Without a protest, Dan once more picked up the ball, called to Ned to take his position behind the bat, and prepared to resume his work.
Again in order the three players faced the new boy, but with the exception of a high foul which Hodge raised, not one was able to hit the ball.
“Come on, fellows!†called Walter as he raced in from the field. “This is enough. I’ve grown stiff waiting for a ball to come my way. It wouldn’t make any difference if you came to bat a dozen times. It would be the same thing right over again.†Walter’s elation at Dan’s success was great now. The three heavy hitters of the school nine had each struck out twice in succession as they tried to hit the ball.
The face of Gus Kiggins was a study. Anger, chagrin, rage—all were expressed in it. The sight caused Walter to laugh, for he thought he understood the feelings of the burly player. His interestwas keener when he saw that Samson had advanced to Dan and was speaking warmly to him. Ned, a moment later, joined the two and his enthusiasm was unconcealed.
“Where did the country bumpkin come from?†asked Gus Kiggins of Walter.
“Oh, I found him this summer. He struck out fifteen in one game! He’s a wonder! I guess we’ll all feel that the Tait School has somebody to take Red’s place now.â€
But Gus was scowling and looking at the new boy with unconcealed anger. “Never mind, Gussie,†continued Walter in mock sympathy. “We’ll let you carry the bats for the nine if you’ll be good.â€
At that moment Dan approached the group, and as he drew near the expression of contempt which he saw on the face of Gus Kiggins caused him to stop and look inquiringly at his roommate.