Page:Rover Boys Down East.djvu/24

14 him and he was put out, and so was the runner at first.

"Wow!" cried Songbird. "Thought you were going to knock the ball across the river and back, Spud."

"So I did," answered Spud, as he walked up from first. "It landed on the other side, bounced back, and the shortstop got it. Fierce luck, eh?" And he cut a face that made many of the students standing by laugh outright.

In the next inning the other side added two runs to their total. One of these runs was made by Sam, much to the youngest Rover's satisfaction.

"We've got you going!" he cried, to his brothers and the others. "Might as well give up."

"Huh! we haven't started yet," retorted Tom. He turned to William Philander Tubbs, who had strolled near. "Say, Tubby, old boy, lend me your green socks for luck, will you?"

"Oh, Tom, please don't ask me to—ah—lend those socks," pleaded William Philander, innocently. "They are the only pair of that shade I have, and the young ladies say"

"They can't resist you when you have them on," finished Tom. "All right, if you want me to lose the game, keep the socks," and the fun-loving Rover put on a mournful look.