Baseball -- Juvenile fiction; High school students -- Juvenile fiction
Caspar was a fine-looking youth, rather large but well conditioned, with
dark hair and eyes, a ready smile, and a jovial laugh. He lived in New
York, but had been spending his summers at the Point for several years.
Dick met Caspar’s mother and two older sisters at luncheon, but Mr.
Billings was not present, and Dick gathered that he remained in New York
save for an occasional week-end. When Caspar explained that Dick was
tutoring Harold Townsend, Mrs. Billings shook her head pessimistically.
“I’m afraid,” she said, “you’ll find him rather difficult. He isn’t
exactly what I’d call a nice-dispositioned boy.”
“Come, mother, don’t discourage Lovering at the start,” laughed Caspar.
“We all know that the kid’s horribly spoiled, but then Lovering isn’t
going to be a governess to him!”
“I don’t want to discourage him, dear, but I thought it only right he
should know that—well, if he isn’t very successful, it won’t be
altogether his fault. Mrs. Townsend is a dear woman, but I can’t admire
the way she has brought up that boy.”
“His brother has already warned me,” replied Dick, with a smile. “I’m
prepared for the worst. So far, Harold has behaved very well. He doesn’t
like to study much, but he hasn’t—well, lain down in the shafts yet.”
“He will, though,” laughed Caspar. “And if you don’t keep a tight rein
he will bust the shafts! That brother of his is a nice chap, though. By
the way, he’s going to play first base for us, Lovering.”
“Who is your pitcher?” asked Dick.
“I—we aren’t quite sure. We expect it will be Mason, but he hasn’t come
yet. If he doesn’t show up we’ll have to find some one else. You know
Morris Brent, don’t you? He’s on the team, too. Then there’s Pink
Northrop and Jim House and Gilbert Chase and Charlie Leary and—let’s
see; oh, yes, Billy Houghton. And Mason, if he gets here in time. How
many’s that? Never mind. I dare say I’ve forgotten one or two. I guess
we’ll average a year or so older than you chaps, but you have been
playing together, and I guess that will equalize things. That field over
behind the hotel isn’t the best in the world, but it’s not bad in the
infield.”
“What position do you play?” asked Dick, when they were back on the
veranda.
“Third usually. I’m not particular. I’m not much of a player, but I get
a lot of fun out of it. I’ve tried two years running for the team at
school and haven’t made it yet.”
“What school do you go to?”
“St. George’s. We turn out some pretty fair ball teams there. I’m going
to try again next Spring. It’s my last year, and if I don’t make it then
I’m a goner.”
“I suppose you’re going to college, though?”
“No; my father doesn’t want me to. Says he needs me with him in the
office. I don’t mind—very much. Of course, I’d like to go; ’most every
fellow I know at school is going. Maybe father will change his mind
before Spring. What about you, Lovering?”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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