hough he had never whispered it to a living soul. Springer owed his
success mainly to the heady work, good back-stopping, clever coaching
and steadying influence of Eliot, who did nearly all the thinking for
Phil while the latter was on the slab. This, however, is often the
case with many pitchers who are more than passably successful; to the
outsider, to the watcher from the stand or the bleachers, the pitcher
frequently seems to be the man who is pitting his brains and skill
against the brains and skill of the opposing batters and delivering the
goods, when the actual fact remains that it is the man at the
"receiving end" who is doing nine-tenths of the thinking, and without
whose discernment, sagacity, skill and directing ability, the twirler
would make a pitiful show of himself. There are pitchers who recognize
this fact and have the generosity to acknowledge it; but in most cases,
especially with youngsters, no matter how much he may owe to the
catcher, the slab-man takes all the credit, and fancies he deserves it.

"Oh, Springer's all right," declared Roger loyally; "but, of course, he
needs some one to do part of the work, so that he won't use himself up,
and I have hopes that he'll succeed in coaching Grant into a good
second string man. He's enthusiastic, you know; says Grant is coming."

"Queer how chummy those fellows have become," laughed Barker shortly.
"I don't know whether Rod Grant can make a pitcher of himself or not,
but I was thinking that Hooker might pan out fairly well if only Phil
would take the same interest and pains with him as he's taking with
Rod."

"Perhaps so," said the captain of the nine; "but I have my doubts. Roy
is too egotistical to listen to advice and coaching, and he entertains
the mistaken idea that curves and speed are all a pitcher needs. He
hasn't any control."

"But he might acquire it."

"He might, if he only had the patience to try for it and work hard, but
you know he's no worker."

They had reached the gymnasium, and the discussion was dropped as they
entered and joined the boys in the dressing room, who were hurriedly
getting into their baseball togs. Hooker was there with the others,
for he had a suit of his own, which was one of the best of the
discarded uniforms given up at the opening of the previous season when
the team had purchased new suits. There was a great deal of joshing
and laughter, in which Roy took no part; for he was a fellow who found
litt