now that the tedious business interview was concluded, "going to the ball-game this afternoon—might get pocket picked—yes, better have it sent."
"Where shall I send it, sir?"
"Eh? Oh, shoot it along to Mrs. Archibald Moffam, at the Cosmopolis. Not to-day, you know. Buzz it in first thing to-morrow."
Having completed the satisfactory deal, the jeweller threw off the business manner and became chatty.
"So you are going to the ball-game? It should be an interesting contest."
Reggie van Tuyl, now—by his own standards—completely awake, took exception to this remark.
"Not a bit of it!" he said, decidedly. "No contest! Can't call it a contest! Walkover for the Pirates!"
Archie was stung to the quick. There is that about baseball which arouses enthusiasm and the partisan spirit in the unlikeliest bosoms. It is almost impossible for a man to live in America and not become gripped by the game; and Archie had long been one of its warmest adherents. He was a whole-hearted supporter of the Giants, and his only grievance against Reggie, in other respects an estimable young man, was that the latter, whose money had been inherited from steel-mills in that city, had an absurd regard for the Pirates of Pittsburg.
"What absolute bally rot!" he exclaimed. "Look what the Giants did to them yesterday!"
"Yesterday isn't to-day," said Reggie.
"No, it'll be a jolly sight worse," said Archie. "Looney Biddle'll be pitching for the Giants to-day."
"That's just what I mean. The Pirates have got him rattled. Look what happened last time."
