If we can't get the prize, we'd be glad to see you fellows beat Allandale, because they'd be unbearable if they won two years running." O.K.soon afterwards mounted his motorcycle and went spinning along the road like a streak, leaving a cloud of dust behind him, also an odor of gasoline.

The practice game continued with varying fortunes.
In fact, it mattered very little which side won, as various pitchers were being tried out under the eagle eye of Mr.Lawrence; his principal object being to form an opinion as to the respective merits of the many players.
When another afternoon they met again, doubtless Mr.Lawrence would have decided to eliminate several of the players as utterly beyond hope of ever making the regular nine.

So by degrees he would decide who was best fitted for each and every position, with a number of able substitutes, who could be called on should there be any change necessary during a game, from injury, or because a certain player failed to do what was expected of him.
After the game had come to an end, and the crowd commenced to separate, as usual, Hugh and Thad started to walk home together.

They overtook Owen Dugdale and hastened to join him.

Both boys doubtless had a little thrill just then, remembering how often the other had been in their thoughts lately.
Owen seemed to be in great spirits.
"I never knew that I had it in me to become so fond of baseball as I seem to be doing right now," he told them.