CHAPTER IV
A ROW WITH SAM
"What are you thinking about, Joe?"
It was his sister Clara who asked the question, and she had noticed thather brother was rather dreaming over his books than studying. It was theMonday night after the Saturday when the memorable game with theResolutes had taken place.
"Oh, nothing much," and Joe roused himself from a reverie and began topour over his books.
"Well, for 'nothing much' I should say that it was a pretty deepsubject," went on Clara with a laugh, as she finished doing herexamples. "It isn't one of the girls here, is it Joe? There are a lot ofpretty ones in our class."
"Oh--bother!" exclaimed Joe. "Let a fellow alone, can't you, when he'sstudying? We have some pretty stiff work I tell you!" and he ruffled uphis hair, as if that would make his lessons come easier. "It's a heapworse than it was back in Bentville."
"I think so too, but I like it, Joe. We have a real nice teacher, andI've met a lot of pleasant girls. Do you know any of the boys?"
"Hu! I guess you want me to give you an introduction to them!" exclaimedJoe.
"No more than you do to the girls I know," retorted his sister, "sothere!"
"Now, now," gently remonstrated Mrs. Matson, looking up from her sewing,"you young folks keep on with your lessons. Your father can't go onreading his paper if you dispute so."
Involuntarily Joe and his sister glanced to where Mr. Matson sat in hiseasy chair. But he did not seem to be reading, though he held the paperup in front of him. Joe fancied he saw a look of worriment on hisfather's face, and he wondered if he was vexed over some problem ininventive work, or whether he was troubled over business mattersconcerning his new position.
Then there came to the lad's mind a memory of his mother's anxiety thenight he had come in from the game, and he wondered if the two had anyconnection. But he knew it would not do to ask, for his father seldomtalked over business matters at home.
Finally, seeming to feel Joe's look, Mr. Matson, after a quick glance athis son, began to scan the paper.
"Go on with your studying, Joe and Clara," commanded Mrs. Matson with asmile. "Don't dispute any more."
"I was only asking Joe if he knew any nice boys," spoke Clara invindication. "I know how fond he was of playing baseball back inBentville, and I was wondering if he was going to play here."
"Guess I haven't much chance," murmured Joe half gloomily, as he drewidle circles on the back blank leaf of his book.
"Why not?" asked Clara quickly. "The girls say the boys have a good ninehere, even if they were beaten last Saturday. There's going to beanother game this Saturday, and Helen Rutherford is going to take me."
"Oh, yes, there's a good enough team here," admitted Joe. "In fact theSilver Stars are all right, but every position is filled. I _would_ liketo play--I'd like to pitch. I want to get all the practice I can onthese small teams, so when I go to boarding school I'll have somethingto talk about."
"And you're still set on going to boarding school?" asked Mrs. Matson,sighing gently as she looked at her son.
"I certainly am--if it can be managed," replied Joe quickly.
Mr. Matson started so suddenly that the paper rattled loudly, and hiswife asked:
"What's the matter, John, did something in the news startle you?"
"Oh--no," he said slowly. "I--I guess I'm a bit nervous. I've beenworking rather hard lately on an improvement in a corn reaper andbinder. It doesn't seem to come just right. I believe I'll go to bed.I'm tired," and with "good-nights" that were not as cheerful as usual heleft the room. Mrs. Matson sighed but said nothing, and Joe wonderedmore than ever if any trouble was brewing. He hoped not. As for Clarashe was again bent over her lessons.
The Silver Star nine was variously made up. A number of lads worked indifferent town industries, one even being employed in the harvesterworks where Mr. Matson was employed. Others attended school.
Joe Matson had attended the academy in the town of Bentville whence theymoved to Riverside, and on arriving in the latter place had at oncesought admission to the high school. He was given a brief examination,and placed in the junior class, though in some of the studies the pupilsthere were a little ahead of him, consequently he had to do some hardstudying.
The ambition to attend a boarding school had been in Joe's mind for along while, and as his father was in moderate circumstances, and soonhoped to make considerable from his patents, Joe reasoned that hisparents could then afford to send him.
Among others on the nine who attended the high school were DarrellBlackney and Sam Morton, who were in the senior class, and Tom Davis,whose acquaintance Joe had made soon after coming to Riverside. Therewas a school nine, but it was made up of the smaller boys and Joe had nodesire to join this. In fact none of the lads who were on the SilverStars belonged to the school team.
"Well, I'm through, thank goodness!" finally exclaimed Clara, as sheclosed her books.
"And I am too," added Joe, a moment later. "Hope I don't flunkto-morrow."
"Are you going to the game Saturday?" asked Clara.
"Oh, I guess so. Wish I was going _in_ it, but that's too much to hopefor."
"Don't you know any one on the nine?"
"Yes, Tom Davis."
"He's the boy back of us, isn't he? His sister Mabel is in my class."
"Yes," assented Joe, "but Tom is only a substitute."
"Maybe you could be that at first, and then get a regular place,"suggested Clara.
"Um!" murmured Joe. He didn't have a very high opinion of girls'knowledge of baseball, even his sister's.
When Joe reached home from school the following afternoon he saw hismother standing on the front steps with a letter in her hand.
"Oh, Joe!" she exclaimed, "I was just waiting for you. Your father----"
"Is there anything the matter with father?" the lad gasped, his thoughtsgoing with a rush to one or two little scenes that had alarmed himlately.
"No, nothing at all," answered his mother with a smile. "But he justhurried home from the factory with this note and he wanted you, as soonas you came home, to take it to Moorville. It's for a Mr. Rufus Holdneythere. The address is on it, and I guess you can find him all right.You're to wait for an answer. Go on your wheel. It's only a few miles toMoorville, and a straight road, so your father says."
"I know where it is," answered Joe. "Tom Davis has relatives there. Hepointed out the road to me one day. I'll go right away. Here, catchhold of my books, mother, and I'll get my wheel out of the barn," for abarn went with the house Mr. Matson had rented.
A little later the lad was speeding down the country road that pleasantspring afternoon. Joe was a good rider and was using considerablestrength on the pedals when suddenly, as he turned a sharp curve, he sawcoming toward him another cyclist. He had barely time to note that itwas Sam Morton, the pitcher of the Silver Stars, and to utter a warningshout when he crashed full into the other lad.
In a moment there was a mix-up of wheels, legs and arms, while a cloudof dust momentarily hid everything from sight. At first Joe did not knowwhether or not he was hurt, or whether Sam was injured. Fortunately Joehad instinctively put on the brake with all his strength, and hesupposed the other lad had done likewise.
Then, as the dust cleared away, and Joe began to pull his arms and legsout of the tangle, and arise, he saw that Sam was doing the same thing.
"Hope you're not hurt much!" was Joe's first greeting.
"Humph! It isn't your fault if I'm not," was the ungracious answer, asSam felt of his pitching arm. "What do you mean by crashing into afellow that way for, anyhow?"
"I didn't mean to. I didn't know that curve was so sharp. I'd neverridden on this road before."
"Well, why didn't you blow your horn or ring your bell or--orsomething?"
"Why didn't you?" demanded Joe with equal right.
"Never mind. Don't give me any of your talk. You're one of the freshjuniors at school, aren't you?"
"I don't know that I'm 'fresh,
'" replied Joe quietly, "but I am ajunior. I'm sorry if I hurt you, but I couldn't help it."
"Yes you could, if you knew anything about riding a wheel."
"I tell you I couldn't," and Joe spoke a bit sharply. "I was into youbefore I knew it. And besides, you ran into me as much as I did intoyou."
"I did not. If you don't know enough to ride a wheel, keep off theroads!" snarled the pitcher. "If I'm stiff for Saturday's game it willbe your fault."
"I hope you won't be stiff," spoke Joe, and he said it sincerely.
"And if my wheel is broken you'll have to pay for it," went on Sam.
"I don't think that's right," said Joe firmly. "It was as much yourfault as mine, and my wheel may be broken too. I'm going to look," headded as he lifted his bicycle from where it was entangled with Sam's.
A bent pedal, which would not interfere with its use, was all the damageJoe's wheel had sustained and beyond a few bent spokes and a puncturedtire Sam's seemed to have suffered no great harm.
"I'll help you straighten those spokes," said Joe cheerfully. "It won'ttake but a minute. I can have my father straighten my pedal at thefactory. And I'll help you mend and pump up your tire. I'm sorry----"
"Look here!" burst out Sam in a rage, "I don't want any of your help.You're too fresh. You come banging into a fellow, knocking him all overand then you think you can square things by offering to help him. Idon't want any of your help!"
"Oh, very well," replied Joe quietly. "Then I'll be going on. I've gotan errand to do. But I'd like to help you."
"Mind your own business!" snapped Sam, still rubbing his pitching arm.He made no motion to pick up his wheel.
Joe was half minded to make an angry retort but he thought better of it.He wheeled his bicycle to the hard side-path of the road, and,ascertaining that his letter was safe, prepared to mount and ride away.
"And mind you, if my arm is stiff, and I can't pitch Saturday it will beyour fault, and I'll tell the fellows so," called Sam as he leaned overto pick up his wheel.
"All right, only you know it isn't so," replied Joe quietly.
As he pedaled on he looked back and saw Sam straightening some of thebent spokes. The pitcher scowled at him.
"Hum," mused Joe as he speeded up. "Not a very good beginning forgetting on the nine--a run-in with the pitcher. Well, I guess I wouldn'tbe in it anyhow. I guess they think I'm not in their class. But I willbe--some day!" and with a grim tightening of his lips Joe Matson rodeon.