“Oh! Frank, I can hardly believe it even now, it seems so very strange! Just to think, because I wouldn’t believe some fellows were trying to get me in the bushes, where they could keep me from showing up, I’m going to hear the truth about the past, and who I really am!” “Hurrah! that’s great news you’re telling me, and I’m sure as glad as if I’d found another dad myself!” exclaimed Frank. CHAPTER XIX WHAT UNCLE JIM KNEW “Of course you are, Frank! Don’t I know what an interest you’ve taken in this affair?” Ralph looked into the face of his friend as he spoke, and there was sincere affection in his expression. “But tell me what happened, for I’m just wild to know, Ralph.” The other had looked around several times while they walked away from the field that had so lately been the arena for that fiercely-fought battle of the bats. “There’s some one following us, Frank,” he said, uneasily. “Oh! come, you’re nervous after all this strain, and imagining things. I guess it’s only some fellow who happens to want to go the same way we do.” But when Frank had turned his head, to the surprise of his comrade he gave vent to an exclamation. “Well, I declare if I don’t believe it is him!” he ejaculated, and his face took on an expression of pleasure. “Who is it?” asked Ralph, eagerly. “Why, who but my uncle Jim!” was the reply. Ralph went a little white. Really things were happening very rapidly, once they had taken a start. He observed with deepest interest the big man who was breathing hard as he managed to overtake them; and Ralph took especial note of the fact that he seemed to have a very genial face. “Hello! there, Frank; I thought it was you; but you boys walk so fast I had more or less trouble in overtaking you, and as to getting through that crowd to speak to you on the field, it was utterly impossible! How are you, my boy?” and the big man from New York held out his hand to his nephew. “Glad to see you, Uncle Jim. And it’s plain that you are just as fond of baseball as ever. Sorry you saw Columbia go down in defeat, though,” said Frank. “Oh! that comes to every club sooner or later; and in this case it was one of those accidents that can never be avoided. I saw the last few innings, and that triple play took my breath away. I give you my word that contest was the equal of any I’ve seen this year among the big leagues. And isn’t this the game little pitcher who held them down so well?” with a curious glance at Frank’s companion. “Sure it is, and he would have won his game only for that streak of tough luck. Uncle Jim, let me introduce to you my friend, Ralph West!” The lawyer started and looked closer than ever at the second boy. “Glad to meet you, Ralph. And, to tell the honest truth, it was to see you that I’ve journeyed up here just at a very busy time in my practice.” He still kept his eyes fastened on the face of the boy, which of course he could see had gone white.