“This is the situation now, isn’t it? Everson on third, Delvin on second. All right, now let’s see what happened.” “Ty swung his trusty locust (thought it was willow) against the first groove cutter (let me see, that must mean a ball put over the plate) and the horsehide (ball) stamped his initials on the Clubhouse flag pole (the ball must have hit the flag pole, eh?) and Ty almost beat Everson and Little Arthur to the water cooler (that’s almost too plain, Tim. Ty made a home run and brought home Everson and Delvin. Better improve that one a little).” “I think it will average up,” said Tim. “All right,” said Professor Bennett. “What happened next? Mr. Talkington (why mister, I wonder?) while waiting for four (trying to get his base on balls) was chased with three (what, get his base on three balls?).” “No, sir, he struck out. They chased him to the bench.” “Oh, I see!” said the Professor. “Larke sent one singing to the curve box (that must be the pitcher) which the slab artist (pitcher) tossed to the initial sack (first).” “I really think some of it is too plain,” said the Professor, rather more pleased than he would let on. He found himself quite an adept in this new language. “It improves as you go along, I think,” said Tim. “Let’s see what happened in the second inning,” went on the Professor. “Barber College goes to bat now, doesn’t it? Amberg hit one over the shortest route to Everson (that must be a straight-line hit), Wheeler spun three times and sat down (spun what? I don’t get that).” “When a fellow strikes at a ball hard and misses he generally spins around,” said Tim. “Wheeler missed three strikes which he tried very hard to hit.” “I see,” said the Professor, “and Dorner did the same. So Black struck out two in succession, eh?” “Black (was Black the first man up?) did what was expected of the pitcher. What is expected of a pitcher at bat? I don’t get that.” “Pitchers generally bat poorly. Black struck out,” said Tim. “Oh, I see! Gibbie is up next. Gibbie got a one timer (that’s a one-base hit, I guess) back of Wilson (let me see, where does Wilson play? Oh, yes, third!). Gibbie got a one-base hit back of third (very plain), Ross arched one to Knight (an arching fly), Everson dropped one in front of the rubber (a bunt, I am getting on splendidly again), Gibbie annexing the keystone bag (Gibbie got to second), Little Arthur was there with a dew drop (dew drop? What’s a dew drop, Tim?).” “A little fly ball that comes down out of the sky and lights on the grass without touching anything,” said Tim. “Oh, I see! it was a little fly that should have been caught, but no one got there in time. Wilson picked it up too late to shut the door on either Gibbie, Everson or Delvin (couldn’t prevent them from what?) who slid into the vacant chairs (did he want to shut the door on the chairs?). You used a bad one there, Tim--and all the seats at table were occupied (bases all full, eh?).