“Want a ride?” sung out a fellow in baseball attire who occupied the seat with the driver. The Four looked at each other inquiringly.
“We might ride for a little ways,” suggested Tom sheepishly.
The fellow in front accepted their hesitation as assent.
“Pile in there behind,” he said. “You’ll find room somewhere!”
“Sure!” called a voice from the body of the coach, which was one of those long vehicles with seats running lengthwise on either side, known in some localities as a “barge.” “Sure! Lots of room. Come on!”
So they went. A boy hanging on to the steps behind dropped out of the way, and they climbed in. The occupants, a merry, good-natured throng, shoved and pushed until there was room for the newcomers, and the coach started up again. Many curious looks were cast at the boys’ packs, and finally,
“Going over to the game?” asked Dan’s nearest neighbor.
“Oh, I thought perhaps you were going,” was the reply. “It’s the game between Laurelville and Mannig; baseball, you know. We play ’em every year for a purse.”
“Oh,” said Dan, in turn. “Where’s it to be?”
“Laurelville this year. We’re the Mannig team--and rooters,” he added with a laugh. “The fellow that called out to you is Burns, our captain and third baseman. It’s going to be a great game. Everybody turns out, you know.”
“Not likely, I guess,” was the answer. But a howl of protest arose.
Dan’s informant grinned and dropped his voice.
“They’ll lick us for keeps, I guess,” he said cheerfully. “Our pitcher’s sick and can’t play. We tried to get Monroe, of Brooklyn; ever hear of him? Well, he’s a dandy, but he wanted more than we could pay. We offered him thirty-five too!”
“But--do the other fellows let you get players from outside?” asked Dan.
“Oh, yes, we get ’em wherever we can find ’em. So does Laurelville. Their pitcher is Somes, of Rockaway, and he’s a dandy. We won’t be able to hit him at all. And they’ve got a catcher, too, that’s just about all right!”
“About four miles farther. You fellows had better come along and see the game.”
“Maybe we will,” answered Bob. “What do you say, Nelson?”
“I’m willing,” was the answer. “Can we get something to eat there?”
“Yes, indeed; there’s a fine hotel at Laurelville. You’d better come along and root for us.”