Saturday to find out how we're improving. We must
jolly him along, Hugh, and never let him see we're feeling a bit of
anxiety over our pitchers."

Sure enough, the rider of the motorcycle proved to be Oliver Kramer,
the same boy who had been over before to take a look at the Scranton
players. He came alongside the two chums sitting on the bleachers, and
deposited his machine so that it would be safely out of the way.

"Hello! fellows!" he remarked, cheerily, as he held out his hand to
Hugh. "Here I am again, right side up with care, as the clown in the
circus always says. Glad to meet you again, Captain Morgan, and you
also, Thad Stevens. Mr. Leonard was over to dinner at our house
Sunday, and he invited me to drop in any old time, and see how your
crowd was making out. I hope now you don't object to my being here,
Hugh?"

"Not in the least, O. K.," Hugh told him, smilingly. "We're pushing
along pretty fairly, and ironing out some of the wrinkles as we go.
Lots still to be done before we're ready to try conclusions with your
team at Belleville; but with such a capable coach as Mr. Leonard, we
believe we'll get there in time."

They watched the play go on. There were some really clever stunts done
that called for loud cheers on the part of the small crowd present. O.
K. added his strident voice to the shouts.

"Great work that, old top!" he shouted at Sandy Dowd, who had made a
magnificent steal to second, after getting first on a single, his slide
amidst a cloud of dust being the grand climax of the feat; for though
the catcher sent the ball down in a direct line to the baseman, still
the red-headed Sandy had his hand on the bag at the time he was
touched, and there was no disputing the "safe on second" of the umpire.

For three innings did O. K. sit there and enjoy the game. He was a
baseball enthusiast of the first water, and never could get quite
enough of his favorite sport. Of course he preferred taking part in a
game, but the next best thing was to watch others play, and comment on
their mistakes; just as most people can play the critic while watching
a game of billiards and always feel they could have improved on the
shot that missed connections.

"Well, what do you think now, O. K.?" asked Hugh later on, when the
Belleville boy made preparations as though about to start homeward.
"Do you notice any improvement in our work? Have we gone up or down,
in your judgment?"

"Yes, be honest, now,