Comrades on River and Lake Part 9

"I look at it this way," said Chot. "Truem was a cad of the first water, as many boys are who have well-to-do parents, and have wanted for nothing during the time they are growing up to go to college. Unless such a boy has a strong grip on himself he'll grow supercilious, and may be led into doing spiteful things just as Truem was. We gave Truem what he deserved when we were in Bayville on our vacation that summer, and he took a strong dislike to us from that moment. But after he came to Winton his eyes gradually opened, and he saw that we were trying to act squarely with everyone. Then a longing for real companionship came into his heart, as it will sooner or later come to every boy who goes to the bad, and he finally mustered up the courage to tell us that he wanted us to be his friends. And I tell you, fellows, it takes a lot of courage to ask a thing like that of the boys who have been always on the other side, and whom you have been fighting for months. But Truem did it, and now, I say we should have enough interest in his future welfare to lead him along the right path, take him into our set, if need be, and show him that we are glad from the bottom of our hearts to help him. Those are my sentiments."

There had been not the slightest interruption while Chot was speaking.

Each listener had a serious look on his face, for he saw that Chot was in deadly earnest, and when he had finished, each boy felt that their chum was right. Truem had earned the right to their friendship and they should see that he never regretted it.

Bert was the first to speak.

"You are right, Chot, and Truem will have no warmer friend than I next term," he said.

The others hastened to a.s.sure Chot that they felt the same way, and the matter was dropped.

"By the way, Chot," said Bert, suddenly, winking at the other boys, "what ever became of Lucy Pendleton?"

"Why do you ask me?" queried Chot.

"Well-er-because I thought you were somewhat interested in her."

"Oh, no," drawled Fleet. "He isn't interested. I'll never forget the time, just the same, that he let Tom and I do all the work on our telephone line so that he could talk to her."

"Correct," said Tom, "but Chot would never admit it."

"But all joking aside," said Bert, "where is Lucy to spend the summer?"

"After a short visit at Mortonville, she will stay with her aunt, Mrs.

Dashworth, at Stockdale," said Chot.

"I thought she had a father somewhere," said Pod.

The Comrades exchanged glances. Lucy did have a father, but he was not all a man should be, as the Comrades had every reason to know. During the winter he had come to Mrs. Dashworth's and sent for Chot to ask him to raise enough money to do the preliminary work on a Colorado mining claim which he had staked out. This Chot had done for Lucy's sake, forcing Pendleton to give Lucy a fifth interest, and a fifth interest each to Tom and himself. Pendleton was now in the west, trying to interest capital in the venture. Chot and Tom had little faith in the claim's panning out well, but for Lucy's sake they had given Luther Pendleton a chance.

Chot had been more inclined to do this than Tom, who had taken an instinctive dislike to Pendleton when Pendleton had been bookkeeper at the bra.s.s works in Mortonville, and had, upon the death of Tom's father, exacted the sum of one thousand dollars from Tom and his mother, alleging that Mr. Pratt had made away with that much of the company's funds. Tom knew positively that his father had been innocent of the charge, for by accident a phonograph had recorded part of a conversation between Mr. Pratt and someone connected with the bra.s.s works, in Tom's attic room, but Mr. Pratt had been taken suddenly ill and was unable to reveal the name of the man who was trying to do him injury.

These things now recurred to the Comrades, and especially to Tom, who sat for an instant gazing gloomily out over the lake.

"Someone wronged my father-someone wronged him, and I'm going to find him yet, if only to let my mother know that not the slightest stain rested on my father's character. I must-I will find this man!" and Tom gritted his teeth, as he silently made this resolve.

His reverie was broken by the sound of the horn calling them to dinner, and springing up they all raced for the house, Fleet leading the entire distance, as a vision of fried eggs, new potatoes and apple pie appeared before his eyes.

CHAPTER VII-THE BASEBALL GAME

THE CREIGHTONS.

Meelick, ss Creighton, 2b Kenby, 1b Pratt, c Duncan, p Jones, rf Day, 3b Lorrens, lf Smeed, cf

CLEVERDALE.

King, lf Cotton, 2b Gregg, c Biddle, rf Corker, 3b Strange, ss Burton, cf Windle, 1b Johnson, p

Umpire: Mr. Creighton

When the teams lined up for the fray in the big Creighton pasture the next day, that is the way the line-up looked. Bert's father, who was a baseball enthusiast, and noted for his squareness in all things, was chosen umpire by the mutual consent of both sides, after a short conference between Bert and Waldy Biddle, the captain of the Cleverdale team.

Jones, Day, Lorrens and Smeed, who filled out the Creighton team, were players of no mean merit, but a little light on batting, so Bert put them at the lower end of the batting list, preferring to bring as much of the old Winton talent into play at the start as possible.

Both teams showed up well in the preliminary practice, and the spectators from Cleverdale and the surrounding farming country settled down with an expectant hush, as Mr. Creighton cried:

"Play ball!"

Bert had won the toss for innings, and took the field, sending Chot into the box, himself going to second, from which point of vantage he could watch each move of the game.

King, the Cleverdale left fielder, was the first to face Chot, and he appeared to be confident, for he smiled in a way that made Chot resolve to teach him a few things about pitched b.a.l.l.s.

Chot sent over a wide out, which started straight toward King, then curved over the plate. The batter let it pa.s.s and Mr. Creighton called a strike.

This made King smile all the harder. But when Chot sent over a hard, straight ball, fairly sizzling with speed, and he struck at it and missed, he did not appear so confident.

Chot smiled as he noted the look of amazement on King's face, and with a quick movement he sent over one of his best drops. King then showed his inexperience with such b.a.l.l.s by striking fully a foot over it. He retired, rather crestfallen, giving place to Cotton.

Cotton appeared fully as confident as the boy who had preceded him, and after twice fouling the ball, he knocked a little pop-up which Day gathered in off third without trouble.

Gregg tried to bunt, but missed and a strike was called. He then tried to hit it out, and in this, also, he was unsuccessful, for Chot sent over some of his b.a.l.l.s, and the Cleverdale player had struck out before he realized it.

The farming contingent, which was rooting for the Creightons, cheered as Bert's team came in from the field.

"Even in the rural districts the great national game has a strong hold,"

said Tom.

"Yes; it seems that the entire country goes out of its way to do homage to baseball and those who play it," said Chot.

Pod felt natural in being the first to bat, for he had led the Winton batting list during the entire series of games with Winton's closest rival, Jackson College. The series had been won by Winton, three games out of five, and Pod, as well as the Comrades had contributed not a little toward the victories.

Pod pleased Bert, as well as the other boys by knocking a single between first and second. The ball was recovered by Captain Biddle, and Johnson turned to find Bert facing him at the plate.

Not to be outdone by Pod, Bert sent a hot one down the third base line, taking two bases and advancing Pod to third. The little fellow was about to try for the plate, when Chot stopped him at the third cushion.

"Don't be greedy," Chot said. "We'll try and get you home somehow."

Pod grinned.

"This suits me," he said.

Fleet was at bat, and after letting two go by, he sent a long fly into center field, which Burton caught after a long run. Immediately Pod dashed for the plate, and though the fielder made a good throw to Cotton, who, in turn, sent the ball to Gregg, he was safe by a good margin.

Tom went out on a grounder to Corker, who threw to first. Then Chot pounded out a double into right, Bert scoring the second run for his team.

Then Jones struck out, retiring the side.