o as to secure it. A brilliant play over _your_ way would
please Molly a heap, I reckon, Fred."

The other turned very red in the face, and then, tried to laugh it off
as he hastened to say in a voice that trembled a little, despite his
effort to control it:

"Yes, she told me the same thing, Jack, and it was nice of Molly to say
it, for you know she's the prettiest girl in Chester, and a dozen boys
are always hanging around her. Yes, I'd be a fool not to do myself proud
tomorrow, with so many of my friends looking on; though of course any
fellow might run into a bit of bad judgment and make a foozle, when he'd
give five years of his life to work like a machine. I'm hoping, and
praying, too, Jack, that such a streak of bad luck won't come my way,
that's all I can say. Here's where I leave you, if you're bound for
Jennings' place. If it's my promise to do my level best tomorrow you
want, Jack, you've got it!"

So they parted. Still, Jack was not altogether easy in his mind. He went
over every little incident of their recent intercourse as they trudged
along side by side; and wondered whether Fred, who was not very well
known to him, could be deceiving him. He cudgeled his brain to
understand what those strange actions of the third baseman could mean,
and who that sporty looking individual, whom he had with his own eyes
seen talking so mysteriously to Fred might be.

CHAPTER IV

WHEN CHESTER AWAKENED

"Did you ever see such an enormous crowd?"

"Beats everything that ever happened around Chester all hollow!"

"Talk to me about excitement, the old town has gone stark, staring crazy
over baseball; and it's all owing to Jack Winters coming to Chester, and
shaking the dry bones of what used to be a Sleepy Hollow place."

"Right you are, Pete, and this is only a beginning of the glorious
things scheduled to happen within the next six months or so. Already
there's great talk about a football eleven that will clean up things in
this neighborhood. We've got the right sort of stuff to make up a strong
team, too, remember."

"And, Oliver, when I hear them speak of ice hockey, and skating for
prizes, it gives me a heap of satisfaction, for you know I'm a crank on
winter sports. Because the boys of Chester didn't seem to enthuse over
such things has been the grief of my heart. But this day was certainly
made for a thrilling baseball game."

"Oh! the sky looks blue enough, and that sun is some hot, I admit, but
s