Page:Baseball Joe on the School Nine.djvu/76

 Fodick. "Who said you fellows could use the diamond, anyhow?"

"We didn't ask anybody," retorted Teeter with a snap.

"Well, you want to—after this," was the surly command. "I'm captain of the nine and what I say goes. I'm not going to have the diamond all torn up before the season opens, see! I'm captain!"

"Not yet," spoke Peaches quietly. "The election isn't until next week."

"What's that got to do with it? You ain't thinking of running opposition to me; are you?"

"No," and a bright spot burned on the fair cheeks of the light-complexioned lad.

"Because if you are you'll have a fight on your hands," threatened Luke. "Who's been pitching?" he asked, his gaze roving over the crowd of lads.

"I was for our side," replied Joe quietly.

"Oh, you—yes I heard about you!" exclaimed Luke with a grating laugh. "You're the fellow who wants to pitch on the nine; ain't you? Well, you want to get that bee out of your bonnet, or you may get stung, see? Hiram told me about you. Why, you are only an amateur. We want the best here at Excelsior. By Jove, it's queer how tacky