him work later on, O. K. Just warn your sluggers they
needn't expect any home-runs if they put the ball out in center."

They stood there and watched for some little time. Occasionally the
boy from Belleville would make some remark. His eyes sought the agile
figure of the athletic instructor from time to time.

"One thing you Scranton fellows are lucky in, which is, having such a
splendid coach as Mr. Leonard. Why, he used to go to Princeton with my
dad, as I only learned a day or so ago. He's coming over to take
dinner with us next Sunday. Let me tell you, he's some peach of a
physical director. Dad says he was one of the most popular fellows in
college, and that as a half-back on the gridiron, he made a reputation
second to none."

Hugh and Thad looked especially pleased to hear this outside praise of
the man for whom they themselves had come to entertain the utmost
respect and admiration.

"Yes," said Hugh, warmly, "we expect that if Scranton has any show in
the games that are to be played in the Three-town League this season,
most of the credit will lie at the door of Mr. Leonard. He seems to be
a wonder at getting a boy to bring out every atom of energy and vim
that lies in him. Only Nick Lang acts surly under him. That's the big
fellow who made that three-bagger a while ago. He's the bully of the
town."

"Used to be, you mean, Hugh, up to the time--" began Thad, when the
other shook his head at him discouragingly.

"None of that now, if you please, Thad. We want to forget bygones, and
only remember that we're in the baseball world these days. There, Eli
hit the ball a good hard smack, but it went straight at the short-stop,
who handled it neatly for an out. Our turn out in the field now, Thad.
Glad to have seen you, O. K. Carry a message back home to Belleville
for me, will you? Tell your fellows Scranton High has found herself at
last, in the world of sports, and is primed to give both Belleville and
Allandale a hard tussle for the prize."

"I'll tell them that with pleasure, Captain Morgan," replied the other,
"and add a few remarks of my own about what I have seen of your
hustling crowd over here. May the best nine win, and the contests
leave no after bitter sting. If we can't get the prize, we'd be glad
to see you fellows beat Allandale, because they'd be unbearable if they
won two years running."

O. K. soon afterwards mounted his motorcycle and went spinning along
the road like a