“Won’t they let you off for the afternoon if you ask them?” demanded Walter. “I--I wouldn’t like to ask,” replied Tom. “Not so soon after vacation.” Walter was mutinous. “What’s the good of being able to pitch the way you can if you don’t do it?” he asked. “That makes me tired!” “I’m real sorry,” said Tom apologetically. Walter sniffed. “I thought, anyway, you’d play in the field for us. Say, I tell you what I’ll do, Tom. I’ll go around and see Cummings myself. I’ll tell him we need you that afternoon. He’s a good sort and----” “I--I’d rather you wouldn’t, please,” begged Tom. “I’d play for you in a minute if I could. But they’ve been mighty nice to me and it don’t seem fair to ask for an afternoon off so soon after a whole week’s vacation. If I could, I’d be playing baseball all the time. I’d rather do it than--than eat, I guess!” “Well, if Thorny can’t pitch Wednesday,” returned Walter doggedly, “you’ll just have to, work or no work. And that goes, doesn’t it, Thorny?” “Well, we certainly want to lick the Springs team,” said the pitcher. “And, if I can’t pitch, I guess it’ll be up to Tom.” “I would if I could----” began Tom. But Walter cut him short. “You will, too, if I have to go down there to the store and drag you out,” he said positively. “Here we are, fellows! Let’s give ’em a cheer now just to show we’re here!” And so, as the car turned into Main Street, a vociferous greeting issued from the rear seats of the trolley, announcing to the world at large that the Blues were home again with another scalp! Tom went back to Derry that evening by a late train and John Green and Star were at the station to meet him with the buggy. And all the way home to the farm Tom regaled the hired man’s ears with a history of the great victory, John Green, whose notions of baseball were scanty and confused, listening with flattering attention, while Star, nestling between Tom’s legs, wiggled with ecstasy. On Monday, Tom went back to Amesville and to the store and his labours. And for a fortnight life was busily monotonous. He didn’t play with the Blues again, either in the field or the pitcher’s box. Thorny’s disability only lasted a day or two and he finished out the season for the team. The Monday lesson didn’t come off, for the reason that a driving autumn rain set in Monday forenoon and lasted three days. After that the occasion never occurred when both Tom and Thorny were at liberty, and some ten days later Thorny went off to college in Illinois, and Tom didn’t see him again until near Christmas time. And then, one fine crisp autumn day, Sidney came back and Tom went down to the station at noon to meet him. CHAPTER XIV COACH TALBOT MAKES A CALL