With Mask and Mitt

ortance of doing his utmost to develop a good nine, whether by making it himself or by spurring on some better man to outdo him, arranged the periods and combinations for winter pract

atteries we are more

ion, Rob was almost startled to find what a gap existed between himself and his old battery mate; and as he remembered how often in past games when bases were full and things were going wrong with the pitching, he had guided the bewildered Carle out of his difficulties, he could not help a feeling of pique, nor avoid wondering whether Borland would succeed as well. After Carl

uldn't pitch because his whole idea seemed to be to throw a ball with as big a curve as possible, without much care as to where it was going, or how near the plate it was destined to come; the only ball which he could surely put over was a straight waist ball which any child could hit. He wouldn't learn, because he thought it a pitcher's business to pitch, and a catcher's not to give instruction but to catch. To Rob's suggestions that any kind of a waist-high ball was dangerous, that the best pitcher he ever saw did not cover a width of more tha

ng whether it would not be better after all to let the catching go altogether and take his chances on his hitting for a fie

Patterson, ruefully. "I ca

hes you?"

pose, but he never tells me anything, and you can't learn by yourself

g

cumstances. Here was O'Connell who might have instruction but wo

, and all that, you know,—but I've had mighty little chance for coaching and no such experience as these fel

ming in his own discouragement the right to blame the oth

the kind of thing I'm getting won't be much better than a month. You don't have to

ldn't he catch Patterson, and let O'Connell take Foxcroft? He knew nothing of Patterson, it was

e me for a change, and let

eptance of the proposal. His words, which cam

uld kick, though. He isn't go

so Foxcroft would do just as well. I'd like to catch some one I could work with, and feel an interest in and try to push alon

lp, I do. You'll find me ready to learn all right. You see Poole,—no, I'll see him and t

g Owen, whom he considered too officious, but at the notion that he should be given a third-string catcher instead of a second. But the change was made, and the n

ould nudge each other and exclaim and wonder; the knowing ones would talk with wise patronage; the ignorant ask foolish questions in awe-struck tones. Then the company would exchange places with a similar squad at the pitcher's end, and, big-eyed with amazement, watch the unintelligible signals, and try to detect the jump or the break, the out or the in, the lift or the drop, which the conductor of the party assured them was to be seen. Those were great days for battery one at Seaton school.

g

t as to be entirely distrustful of himself. This fault of timidity Rob sought to overcome by encouragement and by plain lessons from the successes of pitchers whom he had known. When once Patterson understood that by good pitching was meant, not "doing t

teaching than Owen. But in the main it was the fundamental principles which Patterson needed, and as to these his catcher was well informed. They were left much to themselves. The general public had no interest in the third battery. Poole occasionally looked in on them for a few minutes, but on these occasions Rob, with a perversity perhaps excusable, d

ly runs, and confided to him the facts as to his home life which one usually reserves for his most intimate companion. Yet with all his friendliness and willingness to follow the steps of another better fitted to lead, Patterson was by no means weak. There was a substantial basis of character and principle underlying his naturally trustful disposition. He followed only a presumably wiser guide; he yielded only up to a certain point and in certain directions. While possess