“Joe’s a wise guy,” said Jack. “What he doesn’t know isn’t worth knowing.” “Yes, but what gets me――――” “Oh, that was nothing for Joey! Solomon in all his glory had nothing on Joseph!” “For the love of mud, Jack, shut up! Buster’s trying to tell you――――” “I was going to say,” began Buster patiently again, “that what gets me is why I didn’t realise myself what the trouble was. That’s what gets me! You’d think that when a fellow couldn’t see decently he’d take a tumble and――――” “Sure, it’s a wonder you haven’t tumbled lots of times,” agreed Jack solicitously. “Oh, you make me tired,” grumbled Buster. “You can’t be serious a minute. If you had my――my――――Say, what is it again, Joe?” “Myopia, Buster.” “From the Greek, Buster; myo, close, and opsis, sight. My word, I wish old Dennison could have heard me!” “Yes, you’re a swell Greek scholar!” jeered Buster. “Well, I just thought you’d like to hear about it, Joe. And I hope you get my place at second――if you want it.” “Give it to Foley,” said Jack. “Joe doesn’t need it. But, honestly, Buster, I’m dead sorry you’re out of it this year. We’re going to miss you, old man. But you’ll be in better shape for next, eh?” “If Frank’s going to have my place,” replied Buster dismally, “I’m sorrier than ever!” CHAPTER XVI FOLEY IS WORRIED The next day Joe found himself playing third base. Gordon Smith was changed from shortstop to second and George Peddie was at short. But this arrangement lasted only a few innings. Peddie was out of place at short and Joe was equally miscast as third baseman. Then Steve Hale was put in at short and Joe and Frank Foley were instructed to change places. The game with the Scrubs was finished with that arrangement of the infield, and, while it produced better results than any previous combination, still it was far from perfect. After all, Hale was a third baseman first, last, and all the time, and Foley was not fast enough to fill his shoes. Joe secretly hoped that the arrangement would last, for he was in possession of his coveted position at first, and, in order that it might, he played the very best he knew how that afternoon and won applause more than once. Now that there were no wild pegs from Buster Healey to be stopped the position was far easier.