Page:The purple pennant (IA purplepennant00barb).pdf/227

Rh until the eighth inning when a foul tip glanced away from a bat and split one of his fingers. After that McCoy went behind the plate, and it was a marvel that the visitors didn't pull the game out of the fire, for Sprague McCoy, an outfielder, was quite at sea in the backstop position. Nostrand, however, who was in the points during the last four innings, got himself together and managed to stave off two batting rallies. The incident opened Dick's eyes to the fact that a second substitute catcher was needed, and he and Captain Jones went a-hunting. It was Pete Robey upon whom their choice finally fell, and Pete found himself suddenly elevated from an insecure position amongst the rabble to a seat on the first team bench. But that was a day or two later. To-day Dick and Warner Jones were still discussing the matter when they left the field, and it was into that discussion that Fudge broke when he and Perry caught up with the older boys just as Dick swung himself into the runabout.

"Dick, did you find out anything last night?" asked Fudge eagerly.

"Hello, Fudge! Hello, Perry! Why, yes, something. Pile in here and I'll tell you in a minute. Let Perry sit in your lap, Warner, will you? Fudge, you squat on the floor."