Page:The purple pennant (IA purplepennant00barb).pdf/172

Rh knew baseball when you were waving a rattle. Talk about things you understand."

"Of course he knows baseball. I'm not saying he doesn't, am I? What I'm telling you is that Joe Browne's a heap better fielder than Howard Breen."

"Maybe, but he isn't worth two cents as a hitter."

"That's all right. If a fellow fields well enough he doesn't have to be any Ty Cobb to make good. It's all right to go after runs, but if you let the other fellow get runs, too, what good are you doing? If they whack a ball into right field it'll be good for three bases, I tell you. Breen's as slow as cold molasses and can't throw half-way to the plate!"

"You'd better slip down there before it's too late and tell that to Dick," said Arthur sarcastically. "He'd be mighty glad to know it."

"That's all right, old scout. You wait and see if I'm not right. I just hope the first fellow up lams one into right!"

He didn't though; he popped a foul to Lanny and retired to the bench. The succeeding "Norris-villains," as Fudge called them, were quickly disposed of at first, and Harry Bryan went to bat for the home team. Bryan was a heady batsman and had a reputation for getting his base. He wasn't particular how he did it. He was a good waiter,