e a fatheaded----"

"Oh, now, see here, Siebold," interposed the instructor. "You can't
refuse that. It will only bring out the best players and strengthen the
team."

"Well, then, if Mr. Gay says so," Siebold agreed, "we'll play you and we
can shut out any bunch you can get together."

CHAPTER XIX

A SHUT-OUT

Bill turned to Sadler. "You're with us?"

"Sure, Siebold has a substitute for right field."

"I'm with you, too," said Dixon. "Put Longy in my place, Cap."

Siebold grew angry. "You fellows have been kickers all along, and now
you think that will weaken us. Well, if Ritter can't take a fly better
than you can, you big stiff, I'll assassinate him; and Long is as good a
short stop as you are, Dixon."

"We have four other substitutes and I'll promise three of them for our
scrub team, Brown," Sadler declared.

"All right; that's seven fellows and we can pick up two more, surely.
Let's hunt them up right now," demanded Bill.

They did. As it was clearing, they went to the diamond and after a
little practice all round at town ball, Bill watching closely, they got
into the places best suited to each player and then elected Bill manager
and Sadler captain. The big fellow and Dixon had discarded their suits
for plain shirt and trousers, and a small collection was taken up for
pants and some extra gloves. Mr. Gay gave them a catcher's mask and some
bats.

The next afternoon, the challenge having been formally given, the match
between the regulars and scrubs took place, Siebold winning the toss and
taking the bases, Mr. Gay acted as umpire.

Maxwell seemed to be in better form than usual. Perhaps because he found
a "ragged lot of players," as Bill put it. The scrubs had not fully got
together and they went out, two on strikes, and Sadler's fly was caught.
The regulars went to bat, laughing, Siebold straddling the plate.

Gus stood in the box, smiling. He nodded to little Kerry behind the bat
and Kerry inclined his head to the left. Sadler and Dixon were watching
closely. Could the new pitcher on whom Brown appeared to stake so much
really do anything? If he could send them over the way he boxed, thought
Sadler, "good night"! Brown was all the time springing something worth
while. That was just why he and Dixon had been willing to make a final
kick at Siebold's arbitrary rulings. And now here was Siebold himself,
one of the surest batters