the position of pitcher, too?" asked Belle, looking at Dave.

"Oh, I may make the job of brevet-pitcher on the second nine,"
Dave laughed goodhumoredly. "The only reason I put my name down
for pitcher was so as to make the fight look bigger."

"Who are the other candidates for pitcher?" asked Laura.

"Well, Ripley's one," replied Dave.

"Ripley? Oh, _he_!" uttered Miss Bentley, in a tone of scorn.

"I understand he's no fool of a pitcher," Dick remarked.

"I congratulate him, then," smiled Laura.

"On what?"

"Not being a fool in everything," returned Laura. Then she added,
quickly:

"I'm afraid that expresses my real opinion, but I've no right
to say it."

"There are two reasons why you shouldn't say it," added Dave,
gravely.

"What are they?" Laura wanted to know.

"First of all---well, pardon me, but it sounds like talking about