Page:Baseball Joe on the School Nine.djvu/149

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THE INITIATION
137

ly. "In the first place we want this business of shifting players all about, stopped. A fellow gets used to playing in one postion and he's best there. Then you or Luke change him."

"Well, hasn't the captain the right to do that?" demanded Luke.

"Sure, yes," spoke Peaches, "but when you get a good lad in a good place keep him there."

"Is that all?" sneered Hiram.

"No, we think there ought to be better pitching," went on the self-constituted chairman.

"Ha! I guess that's where the whole trouble is!" cried Hiram quickly. "This meeting is for the benefit of Joe Matson."

"Nothing of the sort!" exclaimed Joe quickly. "I knew nothing about it until Teeter told me. Of coure I'd like to pitch; there's no use denying that, but I don't want any fellow to give way for me if he's making good."

"That's the trouble—he isn't," put in Teeter.

Hiram took a quick resolve. He could smooth matters over now, and later arrange them to suit himself and Luke. So he said:

"All right, I admit that we didn't make a very good showing to-day. But it was our first game, and Brown and Akers didn't do very well in the box. But don't be too hasty. Now I'll tell you