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 to play with boys. Never had he imagined such a state of affairs to be possible—simply it had never occurred to him….

As he passed down the school walk he saw half a dozen lads sitting under a tree. His impulse was to make a wide detour, avoiding them as if they were wild beasts and dangerous—but he restrained it, walked straight ahead.

“Hello,” called a boy.

Angus paused, uncertain what to do or say.

“Goin’ to live here?”

“Yes.”

“Whereabouts? I hain’t seen any fam’ly movin’ in.”

“He's livin’ with Mis’ Bassett. Ma told me,” a second boy volunteered.

“Where’d you come from?”

“Michigan.”

“Good thing you come to Ohio. It's got Michigan beat forty ways.”

Angus held no brief for his former place of abode, so remained silent.

“We’re gittin’ up a ball team. What d’you play?”

Angus shook his head.

“Don’t you play nothin’? Not pitch or field or nothin’?”

“No.”

“Why? Don’t you like baseball?”