Page:Baseball Joe on the School Nine.djvu/51

 reputation. That's what partly induced you to come here, too, I guess."

"Well, yes, In a way. Of course I like baseball, but I'm not so crazy after it as you are. Maybe that's why I'm not such a good player. If I can hold down first, or play out in the field, it suits me; but you—"

"I want to be pitcher or nothing," interrupted Joe with a smile, "but I'm afraid I'm a long way from the box now."

"Yes, from what I can hear, Hiram has the inside track in the baseball game. He's manager chiefly because he puts up a lot of money for the team, and because his friends, what few he has, are officers in the organization."

"Who's captain?" asked Joe. "Maybe I could induce him to let me play even if Hiram is down on me."

"Nothing doing there," replied Tom quickly. "Luke Fodick is captain, or, rather he was last year, I hear, and he's slated for the same position this season. Luke and Hiram are as thick as such fellows always are. When Hiram is hit Luke does the boo-hoo act for him. No, Luke will be down on you as much as his crony is. But maybe we can get up a second nine, and play some games on our own hook!"