The boys of Columbia High on the diamond : $b or, Winning out by pluckForbes, Graham B.
General
The boys of Columbia High on the diamond : $b or, Winning out by pluck
Forbes, Graham B.
Baseball stories; High school students -- Juvenile fiction; Teenage boys -- Juvenile fiction
Others of the boys began to gather around, attracted by the animated
discussion, just as Frank had been hoping they would. He had noted the
fact that Lef Seller was in the place, not doing much in the way of
exercise, for he had been debarred from competing in the track team or
taking part in any athletic rivalry for the balance of the term, and
could only look on and make sarcastic remarks.
But, somehow, there seemed to be an attraction to Lef in the person
of Frank Allen. Perhaps it may have been on a par with the fatality
that draws the silly moth to the flame of the candle. He had tried to
wrong the other terribly, and, the plot having failed, he seemed eager
to catch anything that was said concerning the matter by Frank or his
chums.
So, among the rest, he lounged over to the spot where Frank sat,
upon the edge of a little table, idly swinging his leg to and fro.
Apparently Frank never paid the slightest attention to the presence of
Lef; but, truth to tell, he was keenly alive to the fact.
“What’s all this talk about over here?” demanded Seymour, pushing into
the group.
Lanky took it upon himself to explain.
“Why, Frank was springing a joke on the lot of us. He says that our
two hands are totally unlike--that if an impression was made of each
fellow’s right and left, he’d never dream they belonged to the same
body. What do you think of that, Rod. It’s going some, for Frank, eh?”
The captain of the nine looked thoughtful.
“You may smile at it, fellows, but really I’m inclined to side with
Frank. I’ve read some strange things along that line lately, and
believe there’s considerable truth in it,” he marked, soberly.
At this Lanky laughed jeeringly. He had been taken into the scheme far
enough by Frank to know how to play his part. And out of the corner
of his eye he saw that Lef Seller had hung to the outskirts of the
crowd, listening with some show of interest to what was said. Lef, as
a rule, had been frowned upon of late when he came around, and as no
one noticed him now, he felt encouraged to remain. No boy likes to feel
that he is an outcast among his schoolmates.
“Prove it, Frank!” scoffed Lanky.
“Yes, make your assertion good, old chap!” echoed Buster, encouragingly.
“Well, why not? And here’s a splendid chance to make the test,”
declared Frank, jumping down from his seat.
He strove to act as though badgered into the exposition of his belief,
when to tell the actual truth, the stage had all been set beforehand
for just this opening.
“What’s he going to do, boys?” asked Jack Eastwick.
“Oh, I get on to his curves. See there, on that window seat are a dozen
little boxes. You know what they contain, fellows?” cried Lanky.
“The modeling clay Mr. Oswald uses in his geographic lectures!” said
Tom Budd, as he placed his hands on the table Frank had just vacated,
gave a hitch to his lower extremities, and after a whirl through the
air like a cart wheel, once more calmly alighted on his feet.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account