plate and Chub retreated to the coacher's box and
knelt on the ground.

"Not too far," he counselled anxiously. "Watch out! Wait for the hit.
Charlie'll send you down."

Rollins looked over at him, but didn't throw. The new player was plainly
timid and wouldn't give much trouble. So he turned his attention to
Cole. Roy pranced nervously about on his toes a scant yard from base
while the pitcher doubled himself into a knot. Then, as the arm began to
drop swiftly, Roy leaped forward and shot for second.

"He's gone!" cried the infielders.

Cole swung at the ball, which was a drop, the Hammond catcher found it
near the ground, side-stepped and sent it swiftly down to second.
Unfortunately for success, he delivered it head-high to shortstop and in
the moment that it took for the latter player to swing down with it Roy
found safety. Squatting on the bag he waited for proceedings to resume,
dusting the brown soil from the front of his shirt and hearkening
happily to the cheers which thundered from the Ferry Hill side. Then he
was up and taking a good long lead in response to the appeals of Thurlow
back of third. Rollins evidently felt sore, for Roy had done what few
had succeeded in doing that spring; he prided himself on the fact that
runners found it mighty hard work to steal bases on him! So he tried
twice to catch Roy napping on second, but failed each time. Cole sent up
a foul and then fanned out.

Sidney Welch took his place. Sid had made a good record to-day for a
youngster and Roy looked for a hit. It came at once. Sid took a try at
the first delivery and sent it speeding into short center field. Center
slammed the ball down to third, but Roy was up again by the time it got
there. Post came to bat looking determined. Roy danced along third base
line and once narrowly escaped a put-out when Rollins slammed the ball
over to third. Then Post let drive at a straight one and lifted a high
fly into short left field. He was caught out and neither Roy nor Sid had
a chance to advance.

"Two gone!" shouted Cole over at first. "Everything goes!"

"You've got to score, Roy!" coached Thurlow. "Take a good lead now!
That's it!"

Chub was at bat. Rollins sent a strike over. Chub tapped the plate. Sid
edged farther away from first. Rollins pitched again.

"He's gone" was the cry. "Watch home!"

Sid was lighting out for second. Shortstop ran in and catcher threw down
to him. Roy ran a few steps farther toward the home pla