“Oh! that’s all right. I wouldn’t have minded it a bit, only I was afraid I might be late for the game,” said Ralph, preparing to go. “And everything depends on the pitcher, I know. That makes it all the kinder of you, turning aside as you did. I hope you’ll stop in and see us some time, my boy. We live in the Grant cottage, on the road to Menhaven. The girl will be glad to see you, and her mother, too, I wager.” “I’ll try to, some time later. But I hope you can get her in to town to let a doctor look at those fingers without delay. If a bone is broken it ought to be set, you know,” said Ralph, over his shoulder, for he had started off. “Hold on a minute, my boy. There’s our wagon and horse right handy. I’ll speak to the boss, and take the rig to drive to town right away. And by jumping in you can get to the baseball grounds quicker than if you walk; besides having a little rest. Wait up a minute. You haven’t told me your name, either, you see.” Halted by these words from the father of Mary, Ralph turned on his heel. He saw that what the other had said was true, and that by waiting a bit he could ride with advantage to himself. “I guess that’s a fact, and if you’re going right away I’ll hang on behind. To tell the truth, I’m a little mixed up in my bearings, and might get lost if I went without a guide. You see, I’ve only lived about here since last fall. My name’s Ralph West! Why, what’s the matter, sir?” for the man had started back while he was speaking, and stared at him as if suddenly given a shock. “Ralph West? Do you mean to tell me that _you_ are the boy, then? And that some fatality has brought _you_ to do a favor for me and mine? This is the last straw on the camel’s back. I was weakening before; now I don’t see how I can hold out!” And hearing these muttered words, Ralph realized with a thrill that Sam Smalling, the father of the child he had assisted, must know something about his mysterious past! CHAPTER XIV SAM SMALLING MAKES A PROMISE For the time being Ralph forgot all about the fact that he was nearly due on the baseball field that afternoon. Sam Smalling’s words seemed to indicate that he might be in possession of some knowledge concerning the things which the boy was fairly wild to know. “Oh! what do you mean?” he asked, in trembling tones, as he came back to clutch the sleeve of the man’s shirt eagerly, and fasten a pair of anxious eyes on his face. Smalling was visibly shaken. He tried to avoid the gaze of Ralph at first, and looked down at his feet in the manner of a man whose sins had suddenly arisen to confound him. “You must know something about me, Mr. Smalling, or you wouldn’t have said what you did. I’ve only recently learned that I was adopted by the people I’ve always believed to be my own parents; and ever since that time I’ve been just wild to learn who I am. Do you know?” demanded Ralph.