Page:The purple pennant (IA purplepennant00barb).pdf/81

Rh "Out with it! What's on your mind?"

"Nothing much. Only—well, that field certainly needs a good rolling."

"It certainly does," assented Way. "But if you're hinting for me to go back and talk to that man again"

"I'm not. The time for asking has passed. We gave them a chance to be nice about it and they wouldn't. Now it's up to us."

"Right-o, old son! What are we going to do about it?"

Lanny smiled mysteriously. "You just hold your horses and see," he replied. "I guess the crowd's here, Dick. Shall we start things up?"

"Yes, let's get at it. Hello, Fudge!"

"Hello, fellers! Say, Dick, I'm quitting."

"Quitting? Oh, baseball, you mean. What's the trouble?"

"Oh, I'm not good enough and there's no use my hanging around, I guess. I'm going out for the Track Team to-morrow. I thought I'd let you know."

"Thanks. Well, I'm sorry, Fudge, but you're right about it. You aren't quite ready for the team yet. Maybe next year"

"That's what I thought. Lanny'll be gone then and maybe I'll catch for you."