“Come on, fellows!” called Walter as he raced in from the field. “This is enough. I’ve grown stiff waiting for a ball to come my way. It wouldn’t make any difference if you came to bat a dozen times. It would be the same thing right over again.” Walter’s elation at Dan’s success was great now. The three heavy hitters of the school nine had each struck out twice in succession as they tried to hit the ball. The face of Gus Kiggins was a study. Anger, chagrin, rage――all were expressed in it. The sight caused Walter to laugh, for he thought he understood the feelings of the burly player. His interest was keener when he saw that Samson had advanced to Dan and was speaking warmly to him. Ned, a moment later, joined the two and his enthusiasm was unconcealed. “Where did the country bumpkin come from?” asked Gus Kiggins of Walter. “Oh, I found him this summer. He struck out fifteen in one game! He’s a wonder! I guess we’ll all feel that the Tait School has somebody to take Red’s place now.” But Gus was scowling and looking at the new boy with unconcealed anger. “Never mind, Gussie,” continued Walter in mock sympathy. “We’ll let you carry the bats for the nine if you’ll be good.” At that moment Dan approached the group, and as he drew near the expression of contempt which he saw on the face of Gus Kiggins caused him to stop and look inquiringly at his roommate. CHAPTER XVIII A NEW PITCHER Unaware of the expression on the face of Gus Kiggins, Walter said to Dan as the latter joined the group, “Didn’t I tell you? You’re all right, Dan.” Then, turning to his companions, he continued: “I always keep my eyes open for the nine. You fellows seem to think the eleven is the only team in school, but when I can find a pitcher for the nine, such as I have in Dan Richards, I’m telling you that you’ll forget there is such a game as football when you see what the baseball nine will do for us.” “There’s a better way yet,” said Gus, looking boldly at Walter as he spoke. “What’s that?” “Hire two or three professionals,” sneered Gus. “We don’t want them.” “Might as well have them as to have ‘muckers.’” The face of Gus was glowering, and his feeling was manifest to all. “We have some muckers already,” retorted Walter hotly. He was angry at the reflection upon his choice perhaps even more than at the slight cast upon Dan. He glanced hastily at his roommate, and from Dan’s unchanged manner he concluded that he either did not know what a mucker was or did not apply the epithet to himself. “Who’s a mucker?” demanded Gus as he stopped and faced Walter. “Do you mean to tell me that I――――” “I am not mentioning any names,” broke in Walter with a sneer. “When a fellow is a mucker he doesn’t have to run around and wave a banner. It is usually stamped on his face. If it isn’t, give him a chance to open his mouth and he’ll do the rest.”