When Frank had stripped, so that his arm could be examined, it was found that he had a nasty black and blue mark as a result of coming in contact with a rock in his impetuous dash into the river. “The worst of it is that the muscle is affected. Every time I close my hand it causes intense pain. I couldn’t do that hundreds of times during the afternoon. Ralph, it’s positively up to you to-day!” he said, finally. Ralph sighed deeply. “I’m awful sorry. Not that I won’t do my level best to take your place; but only for this I believe we would have won that pennant to-day. It’s fortunate there’s another game to follow,” he said, trying to cheer up. “We’ll get this game, all right, don’t worry about that. Before the sun goes down perhaps every fellow will be shouting the praise of the new pitcher. I’m just anxious to see those Bellport batters try to size up that spit ball of yours.” “That’s mighty white of you to say so, Frank. And you can depend on it I’ll do my level best,” returned the other, firmly. “No fellow can do more. And now, suppose we return once more to that affair of yours. Twice we were interrupted when I started in to tell you,” and Frank pushed his guest down into a comfortable sleepy-hollow chair. “Oh! yes. Do you know I’d forgotten that entirely, with so much other excitement going on. You said your uncle wrote he intended paying your folks a visit soon, and would meet me. I hope he makes up his mind to tell me all he knows. It means everything to me, you see,” returned Ralph. “I intend to make him tell. He just can’t go back to the city again without letting either father or else myself know all he does. But perhaps that may not amount to much after all, Ralph.” “What do you mean, Frank?” “Why, you see, perhaps this mysterious person who wants to do you some good, and yet hide his, or her, light under a bushel, may have taken measures to send the money each end of a month to my uncle, and that he doesn’t know himself who really hands it over to him,” Frank continued; for he feared that his friend might allow his hopes to soar too high, only to meet with grievous disappointment. Ralph sighed and shook his head. “I see what you mean, and I’ll try not to be too sanguine. But I do hope something will come up soon to relieve this awful suspense. And now I want to forget all about that, and remember only the game--and Columbia High!” “Good boy, Ralph! You’re made of the right stuff. And never let it occur to you once that we’re going to lose this game, no matter if the score is five to one at the end of the seventh inning. Depend on the boys to do their part in slamming out the ball, while you pitch steadily away like a machine.” Ralph soon took his departure. The news would soon creep around Columbia, and many of the enthusiastic supporters of the school team must feel a quiver of apprehension when they learned that reliable Frank Allen could not pitch that afternoon.