sion to speak of this during their turn at bat, as he
and Hugh sat by themselves on the lower bleacher seats, watching the
game, the other took him to task for his way of thinking.

"You've got to get over that personal way of thinking, Thad, when you
belong to a ball club like Scranton High," he said, earnestly. "Now we
all know what Nick is, and few fellows like to play in a game where he
has any part; but remember that he is one of the high-school students,
and on that account has just as much right to aspire to a place on the
representative team as you or I."

"But he always makes trouble wherever he goes," expostulated Thad,
still unconvinced, it seemed; "and mark my words, he'll do something to
try and break up this team, if things don't go just to suit his ideas."

"Please don't forget Mr. Leonard when you say that, Thad. Depend on
it, he's going to keep his eye on Nick right along. If the fellow
shows any insubordination, he'll get his walking papers like a flash,
and perhaps be booted off the grounds in the bargain, if he gets too
fresh."

"Well, perhaps you're right, Hugh," grumbled Thad. "Mr. Leonard must
know a heap more than a boy like me, who sees everything on the
surface. And I admit that was a cracking good catch Nick made, after
such a hard run. He can field, all right, and he is a gap-stopper in
center field, for a fact."

"There, look at him send out a screamer right now, that ought to be
good for a double!" exclaimed Hugh. "You see, we need Nick on the
team. He is one of our mainstays at bat and in the field. If only Mr.
Leonard can control him, he's apt to be of great assistance to us in
winning games. The boy who would take his place isn't really in the
same class with Nick as a player. So let's try to forget all about our
natural aversion while we're playing ball. If we act that way, the
other fellows are apt to follow suit. And, Thad, conquering your
feelings may be the means of bringing a glorious victory to Scranton
High. Wouldn't you think yourself well repaid for just repressing your
antipathy toward Nick Lang?"

"Of course you're right, Hugh, as you nearly always are. I'm so
quick-tempered I make all sorts of silly blunders. But look there, I
can see a cloud of dust up the road yonder. Now I wouldn't be at all
surprised if we had another friendly visit from that Belleville fellow,
O. K. He's taking quite an interest in Scranton, it seems, and has run
over again this