to shoot 'em over the plate in such a marvelous fashion that our
rivals will go down and out in one, two, three order."

At his announcement, a great hubbub arose on all sides.

"Tubbs! is he a baseball pitcher?"

"I didn't know he knew a thing about baseball."

"That dude launching a fadeaway? That gets me!"

"Where did he learn to pitch?"

"Who put him on the team?"

"Say, Tubbs, explain this, won't you?" This last remark came from four
students in unison.

"You let me out of this!" cried the dudish student in despair. "It's
all some horrid joke! I am not going to pitch! I don't know anything
about pitching! I don't know hardly anything about baseball! I don't
want to play! Why, when a fellow falls down running around the bases,
he is apt to get all dirty! You let me out of this!" And so speaking,
William Philander Tubbs pushed his way out of the crowd, and fairly
ran for the nearest of the school buildings.

"I guess that will hold W. P. for a while," was Tom's comment, as the
tall student vanished.

"Good joke, Tom!" returned Bob.