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 "No." Laurie shook his head mournfully. "No, it isn't that. I—I just talk too blamed much."

"Well, who have you been talking to now? Get it off your chest, partner."

So Laurie told him. The narrative lasted until they had reached their room, and after, and when, at last, Laurie ended his doleful tale Ned looked at him in silence for a long, long moment. Finally, "You half-portion of nothing!" breathed Ned pityingly. "You—you poor fish!"

"Well, what could I do?" asked Laurie. "I wasn't going to let Elk make me look like a fool."

"Huh! What do you think you look like now?"

Laurie began to prepare for supper without replying. He acted as if chastened and worried. Ned watched him for a minute in frowning perplexity. At last the frown vanished. "Well, what are you going to do?" he asked.

Laurie shrugged. "How do I know? I did think that maybe somehow or other Kewpie could learn to pitch, but I guess you're right about him. He never could."

"No, but he's got to!" was Ned's astounding