Page:Lefty o' the Bush.djvu/176

 *turned another man. "We'd be fools to work him too much. We're holding him back for the Bullies. He's got that bunch measured, and they're pie for him."

When the game was over and the regretful crowd was passing slowly out through the gates, Cope sought Hutchinson.

"We've got to have another pitcher," he said.

"Is that so?" said the manager. "I saw you talking with Lefty. Is he frightened out? Is he going to quit the league, or will he go to Bancroft?"

"He won't do neither!" rasped Cope. "And he ain't frightened. I say we've got to have another pitcher because it's plain that Lefty's the only real first-class twirler we own."

"Skillings will be all right when he rounds into shape," asserted Hutch. "I didn't sign Deever."

"Well, I did—and he's as good as Skillings. Neither one of them ain't got the goods. Do you know of any good pitcher we can get hold of in a hurry?"

"Such a man will be hard to find late in June."

"But we've got to find him!" came grimly from Cope's lips. "No matter what price we have to pay, we've got to have another top-notch slabman. If you can't find him—"