The Lucky Seventh Part 23

"As good as that, eh? By the way, who scores for your team?"

"I don't know." Harold shrugged his shoulders. "n.o.body, I guess. Why?"

"I should think you'd like to do it."

Harold considered. "I guess," he answered finally, "I don't know how well enough."

"I can show you. You bring a book Sat.u.r.day and sit by me, and I'll make a professional scorer of you in no time."

"Too much trouble," replied the other indifferently.

"It isn't trouble at all, Harold; it's fun. Better try it some time.

It's a good thing to know."

Presently Harold asked: "Why aren't you coming to-morrow?"

"Because we haven't been getting on very well, Harold. I thought it might be a good idea for us to stop for a couple of days and think it over; see whether we want to go on with it or not, you know. If we decide that we do, we'll start all over again Monday and do the thing right."

"Humph!" muttered Harold. "What did you tell my mother?"

"Oh, just that I wasn't willing to go on and take her money without accomplis.h.i.+ng something," replied d.i.c.k cheerfully. "I told her you could study as well as your brother if you wanted to--"

"She's always beefing about Loring!" grumbled the boy.

"And that if you didn't want to there wasn't much use in my coming.

Well, I'll cut through here for the car. I'll see you Monday, Harold."

"What about Sat.u.r.day?" asked the other. "You said--"

"Of course! Look me up, and bring your score-book."

"Haven't any."

"You can get one at Wadsworth's, on Common Street. Or I'll buy one for you, if you like."

"You needn't. It's too much like work. So-long!"

d.i.c.k returned to Clearfield more encouraged. If only Mrs. Townsend would do as she had agreed to, he believed that he could manage Harold and earn the money that was being paid him. He had about given up hope of finding more pupils, and so could ill afford to lose Harold. He certainly didn't want to, he reflected, but he would in an instant rather than make no better progress than he had been making.

At practice that afternoon, Gordon told him that Morris had asked to see him, and d.i.c.k agreed to call at the Brents' for a few minutes before supper. Morris was pathetically glad to see the two boys and very loath to have them go again. Mrs. Brent looked in for a short time and Louise met them on their way out and thanked them for coming. She looked rather tired, and Gordon spoke of it.

"It's been so hot to-day," she explained, "and I've been indoors a good deal since Morris was hurt. He can't read to himself yet, and so I have to do it for him. Of course, I'm very glad to, but it is hard work in a way. I wonder if either of you have any books he'd like. I've read about everything I can find."

"I think I have," responded d.i.c.k. "I'll bring two or three over. I guess what Morris wants is a rattling good adventure story."

"Yes; he's crazy to hear stories about s.h.i.+ps and pirates and hidden treasure, you know. About the only other thing he cares about is the baseball news. I read that to him every morning, and I'm getting to be quite-quite learned."

"I suppose," said d.i.c.k, "the doctor won't let you move him out to the Point yet."

"He says we can go in about another two weeks. I think it will be much better for Morris. He's getting fearfully tired of that room up there.

And it is hot, you know. Thank you both for coming, and do come again when you can. I guess it isn't much fun for you, but Morris looks forward to it all day."

"She's a nice girl," commented d.i.c.k, as they pa.s.sed through the gate.

"Pretty, too."

"She _is_ nice," agreed Gordon. "I guess when a fellow's laid up like that a sister's a pretty good thing to have around."

"Yes," said d.i.c.k. And, after a moment, he added: "I'll find those books and take them around to-morrow morning."

"I would," approved the other. "You're certain to find her in then."

"Don't be a chump, Gordie! She's only a kid!"

"She's as old as I am, except for a few months. And if you call me a kid I'll lick you."

"If you do, I'll suspend you," replied d.i.c.k sternly.

Gordon laughed. "I hope I'd get as much fun out of it as Jack is getting," he said. "He confided to me to-day that you were a fine manager. 'I tell you, Gordon,' he said, 'a manager's got to have plenty of discipline!' If you could only fire Jack for good and all, he'd love you like a brother, d.i.c.k!"

"I sort of wish we were going to have him in the game Sat.u.r.day," said d.i.c.k. "We'll miss his batting, I guess."

"I wonder if this fellow Mason is as good as they seem to think him.

Anyone know where he comes from?"

"I didn't ask. He's probably better than Porter, though. I have a feeling that we're due to get the short end of the score day after to-morrow."

"I wouldn't be surprised. I hope to goodness Harry can play. If he is out of it, we will be in a mess!"

"How is Tom getting on with his s.h.i.+ngling or painting or whatever it is he's doing?"

"I don't know. Why?"

"Well, it would be a good thing if he could come out and practice a little more. It's too bad we can't find another fellow to help out with the pitching, Gordie. If Tom got sick we'd be in a fix."

"We surely would! But I don't believe Tom was ever sick in his life.

Anyway, he was pretty fit to-day. I caught him for a few minutes, and he had everything there is."

d.i.c.k smiled. "Tom has just three b.a.l.l.s, Gordie: an out, a pretty good drop, and a fast one that's a peach. That's all he needs, though. If he mixes them up right he can get by. But we've got to find our batting eye Sat.u.r.day if we're to win. How about the line-up? Think we'd better change it?"

"Yes, I do. This fellow Sh.o.r.es had better follow Lanny, don't you think?

He seems to think he can bat, but he didn't connect with much yesterday."

"Maybe he was embarra.s.sed," suggested d.i.c.k, with a smile.

"Embarra.s.sed!" said Gordon. "Yes, about as much embarra.s.sed as a bull-pup! Maybe he will do better in a game, though. Well, so-long, d.i.c.k. I'll have to hustle or I'll be late for supper."

"Coming around to-night?"