“You ought not to complain, Dan,” said Walter. “Fifteen strike-outs shouldn’t make you blush.” “I’m not blushing.” “Ye didn’t do s’ bad after all,” roared Silas, at that moment joining the boys and slapping Walter on the back as he spoke. “I thought long in th’ first o’ th’ game ye wasn’t worth shucks, but th’ way ye took that liner an’ then giv’ it a heave t’ second was pretty slick. What d’ye think o’ the Rodman nine now?” he added triumphantly. “I think the ‘nine’ consisted mostly of Dan and his pitching.” “Dan done noble,” admitted Silas, “but th’ trouble was he didn’t give none o’ th’ other fellows a show. He struck out so many o’ th’ Benson chaps that ’bout all th’ was left for our boys was t’ stan’ still an’ watch th’ Bensons walk up t’ th’ home plate, sass th’ umpire, give their club a fling, an’ march back an’ sit down.” “Well, it came out all right, Silas,” laughed Walter. “Ye’re right it did. I told ye ’twould, didn’t I? Neow what d’ye think ’bout what I said?” “What did you say?” “That Dan ought t’ get th’ New Yorks t’ come up here. I rather guess Dan could give their best knockers somethin’ t’ think ’bout.” Dan laughed lightly, and Walter said: “Silas, I’m afraid you’re a little bit prejudiced in favor of the Rodman nine.” “Not a bit. Ye see what was done to the Benson fellows, didn’t ye? That tells th’ whole story.” “It might be a different story if we had been playing a professional team like New York or Chicago.” “Prob’ly they’d got a run or two,” admitted Silas, “but they couldn’t ’a’ batted Dan. Nobody could.” “He certainly did well,” said Walter warmly as he turned once more to his friend. “Dan,” he added abruptly, “come over to the house this evening, won’t you?” “Why?” “My father will be there. He’s coming up this afternoon and I want you to meet him.” “That’s good of you, but probably he won’t be overanxious to see me. Why should he?” “After you struck out fifteen men this afternoon? Why, it’s like meeting the President or the King of England!” exclaimed Walter enthusiastically. “Is that all?” laughed Dan. “No, it isn’t all. Will you come?” “I’ll think about it.” “Will you come?” said Walter persistently. “What time?” “Any time after supper.” “I guess so.” “I shall expect you!” The boys separated, each starting for his home. Walter’s elation over the result of the game was great and manifested itself in the way in which he walked along the road that led to his grandfather’s farm, which was a half-mile or more from the little village. His thoughts plainly were upon some project in his mind, for he frequently exclaimed, “Great! We’ll have something to show next spring! The school will think I’ve made the greatest find in years!” As Walter turned into his grandfather’s yard he saw his father and mother seated on the wide, shaded veranda, and instantly he ran to greet them. “When did you come?” he asked his father as soon as he had warmly welcomed him.