[Pg 101]
At the beginning Patterson had but a single ball of which he was sure,—which he could deliver as he wanted it, and when it was wanted. On two or three others he was uncertain, sometimes successful, more often wild. Owen's task was to construct out of these possibilities the "three bread and butter balls" which form the chief stock in trade of the good pitcher. Stated thus simply the task would seem simple; in fact, it was most difficult, although Patterson's implicit11 confidence in his catcher and absolute eagerness to take his advice smoothed many obstacles from the path.
Few boys are willing to believe that the great pitchers12 achieve their greatest success through the clever manipulation and variation of a very small number of curves. When Owen repeated McLennan's assertion that three or four good balls, with brains, were enough for any pitcher to use, Patterson believed him and strove for the three good balls; when Owen explained that the most deceptive13 ball for a good batsman is not a new one with an unexpected curve, but a familiar one with speed disguised, Patterson set to work to acquire a change of pace with the same apparent method of[Pg 102] delivery. In the beginning Owen would hold his hands where the ball was to come, and hold them there again and again until the right ball did come. When a certain accuracy with the three bread and butters was attained14, the catcher would place his hands over the plate shoulder high, and require a certain ball to be thrown at them, repeating the exercise a foot to the right and to the left at the same height, and in the three corresponding positions just above the level of the knee. Sometimes he got in a batter1 to add distraction15 to the problem. Having early discovered that Patterson could throw a very good jump ball, he made him practise on the "initial cutter," a ball which just skims the breast of the batsman, and which even an expert is frequently tempted17 to strike at, though he knows he cannot hit it safely.
The mere18 fact of Patterson's implicit dependence19 would have been enough to impress Rob with a sense of responsibility. As the weeks went by, however, another fact which gradually forced itself into recognition added seriously to this feeling. Patterson was splendid raw material, which the catcher was either developing or spoiling in[Pg 103] the course of his lessons. To become a superior pitcher, one must be physically20 capable of applying great power suddenly and convulsively. This ability may be expected only in an intensely nervous temperament21, in which muscles are doubly powerful under excitement, or in one of absolutely cold blood, which grows colder and more tense and more silently fierce as the strain of the contest increases. Patterson was of the former class, quick and snappy in movement, with concentrated impulse and muscles answering instantly to stimulus22. In addition to the right temperament he was blessed with the ability to "get up," that is, to start the ball with a full arm swing which makes it possible to bring the body into the movement and increase greatly the radius23 of the throwing arc. His curves, moreover, came easily, and his arm did not readily lame24.
Over against these excellences25 were to be set lack of experience in the field, and an inclination26 to nervousness and faint-heartedness which only a series of unquestioned successes or the quiet support of a trusted battery mate would be likely to dispel27.
[Pg 104]
While the third string battery was thus busy with its serious but unregarded work, Carle was riding hard along the road of popularity. He was rarely by himself these days, except when he slept. He loafed away many study hours in other fellows' rooms, spoke28 contemptuously of serious work, trotted29 his lessons whenever possible, loved to show himself in the company of supposed swells30, was frequently seen lounging in druggists' windows or standing10 in a group of noisy fellows at the crossings with hands bulging31 the pockets of his wide trousers, talking loudly and swaggering. Though Carle as a scholarship man was expressly debarred from smoking, Poole neither by admonition nor exhortation32 could succeed in keeping the cigarette wholly from the pitcher's lips—and why indeed? Did not most of the great professionals smoke even in their playing season!
"He's a dead sport, that Carle!" remarked Duncan Peck one day during an interval33 between plagues. "I don't see how he can pitch."
"But he can," replied Owen, to whom the remark was made, "or at least he could last year."
"Oh, I know he can," Duncan made haste to[Pg 105] reply. "Haven't I seen him do stunts34 in the cage. It's great, but he doesn't seem quite the kind of fellow that makes a fine athlete, like Laughlin, for example, or Lindsay, or Strong, or any of those fellows."
Owen did not reply. He held no brief for his townsman. Carle had long since ceased to manifest any desire for Owen's society, and Owen, in natural pique35, would make no advances on the basis of their old friendship. Their ways seemed destined36 to lie apart.
One day early in March a letter was delivered at Rob's room, addressed in an unfamiliar37 hand, yet bearing the well-known postmark "Terryville, Pa." He had just come in from the gymnasium, where Strong had announced to him the final decision as to the make-up of the relay team which was to compete in Boston on the following Saturday. Owen was the choice for fourth man over Jacobson, who, though perhaps no slower, had been adjudged less capable of holding up under strain. With thoughts fluttering excitedly under a variety of emotions, among which half-hearted regret and a sort of dread38 had place with elation,[Pg 106] Rob gazed at the address on the envelope, and vaguely39 wondered who could be the sender. He felt for the moment actual resentment40 at being compelled to exchange the temporarily glorified41 Seaton atmosphere for the uninteresting common air of Terryville. The letter, however, had much more to do with Seaton than with Terryville. It ran as follows:—
"Dear Robert,—
"Is anything the matter with Ned? We are worried about him. I have just had a letter from the secretary of Seaton saying he has been put on study hours, whatever that is, for unexcused absences and for neglecting his work. The dining hall also sent me another notice that the last bill had not been paid. I sent Ned the money for it more than two weeks ago. He keeps writing for money, but don't say much about himself, and can't seem to answer any questions at all. We've lived awful close this winter to keep Ned away to school, and the last money I had to take from the bank, which I really hadn't ought to do. What makes the school cost so much more than[Pg 107] they said it was going to? Are they sticking us, or ain't Ned doing right? I've talked with your father, but he don't seem to know. I wish you'd talk with Ned and put him straight if there's anything the matter. He thinks a lot of you. When he was home Christmas everything was fine; but there's been a change somewhere. I'm a poor man, and can't do for him like your father does for you, so I wish you'd be careful not to put him up to being extravagant42. He's free-handed and easy led, and likes to do the same as his friends. Now, Robert, just remember his ma and me kind of hold you responsible for the boy, and try to help him and us.
"Yours truly,"
John H. Carle.
Throwing the letter with a violent snap into the corner of the room, Rob rested his elbows on the table, dropped his chin into his two hands, and contemplated43 the rows of books in the case with eyes that saw nothing and a mind upheaved in indignant protest. Relay team and baseball were forgotten, and along with them the French verbs[Pg 108] which he had failed on at the last exercise, and the appointment for an English conference which it was hazardous44 to miss. Vehement45 thoughts like his insist on sole possession. He tempt16 Carle to extravagance, have influence with him, be responsible for him! What an utterly46 false and unfair assumption! What right had Mr. Carle to send him that kind of a letter, or suppose any such thing, when for two months Ned had done no more than nod to him when they chanced to meet in the street? It was outrageous47! It would be better to write the father plainly the facts in the case, incredible as they might appear, rather than suffer longer under the unjust imputation48.
To this the feeling of loyalty49, strongest and most unreasoning of all healthy student instincts, interposed its veto. He could not write the father of the shortcomings of the son, any more than he could declare them to the school authorities. Indeed, it was not necessary to do so. He had given Mr. Owen in his yesterday's letter a tolerably full account of conditions, and his father might tell Mr. Carle as much as he chose. It was tough business for Mr. Carle.
[Pg 109]
Rob rose and went to the window, his thoughts now diverted from his own side of the matter to the sacrifice and disappointment of the Carles. It was certainly hard on the parents; he felt sincerely sorry for them. How could Ned play them so false!
Rob turned from the window, picked up the crumpled50 letter, took his hat, and went out. Mr. Carle had asked him to have a talk with Ned. He hated above all things to do it, but sooner or later his conscience would drive him to it, and it was better to have the disagreeable task over at once than to worry for days and then do it.—Besides, there was very little probability that Carle would be at home.
Haynes White was just coming out of Carter 13 as Rob approached. White was a clever senior who did tutoring in upper middle subjects. The query51 flashed into Rob's mind, as he knocked at the door, whether White was there to help Carle get ready for the history examination which was due on the following day. There was nothing wrong in this, to be sure, though it was hardly to be expected that scholarship men would have money to spend in tutoring.
[Pg 110]
Carle greeted him with politeness and visible surprise; then waited to learn the reason of his visit. Rob also, suddenly confronted by the necessity of putting his plea into fitting words, stood for some seconds speechless, unable to think of any diplomatic way of broaching52 an unpleasant subject. The constraint53 at last grew too painful to be endured. Abandoning all hope of devising a proper opening, he held out Mr. Carle's letter and said: "Read it!"
In silence, but with flushed face and a defiant54 hardening at the corners of his mouth, as if he expected reproof55, Ned took the letter and read it through. When he had finished, the flush was deeper, and anger as well as defiance56 displayed itself in his face.
"What does he want to write you all that stuff for! I don't see what business it is of yours."
"He seems to hold me responsible."
"The old man is all off; I should think you'd know enough to let the thing alone."
"But, Ned, he isn't all off," answered Rob, sailing blindly in. "He's wrong if he thinks you're following my lead, but he's right about the[Pg 111] main thing. You're living the wrong kind of a life here. A fellow in your place can't run with the fast gang you're going with. You simply can't do it; you'll ruin yourself trying to."
"That's easy enough for you to say," retorted Carle, hotly, "when you can have whatever money you want, and aren't in with anybody. If you're in the swim you've got to spend something. My old man ought to have kept me at home if he didn't mean to give me what's necessary. I'm no long-haired grind."
"But he can't give you more; he says so in the letter. He hasn't it to give."
This was an unfortunate fact against which argument was as powerless as acid against oil.
"Is that all you've got to say?" asked Carle, sullenly57, after a brief period of silence. "Because if it is, I've got something I'd like to do."
Yes, that was all. Owen could think of nothing else to say, and took his dismissal willingly. It had been an unpleasant scene, but brief; he had tried to do his duty in the matter, and even if he hadn't been wholly skilful58, he felt relieved that it was all behind him. Poor Mr. Carle!
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1
batter
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| v.接连重击；磨损；n.牛奶面糊；击球员 | |
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2
plodding
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| a.proceeding in a slow or dull way | |
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3
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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4
pitcher
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| n.(有嘴和柄的)大水罐；(棒球)投手 | |
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5
maxim
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| n.格言，箴言 | |
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6
overload
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| vt.使超载；n.超载 | |
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7
docile
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| adj.驯服的，易控制的，容易教的 | |
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8
questionable
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| adj.可疑的，有问题的 | |
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9
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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10
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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11
implicit
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| a.暗示的，含蓄的，不明晰的，绝对的 | |
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12
pitchers
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| 大水罐( pitcher的名词复数 ) | |
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13
deceptive
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| adj.骗人的，造成假象的，靠不住的 | |
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14
attained
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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15
distraction
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| n.精神涣散，精神不集中，消遣，娱乐 | |
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16
tempt
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| vt.引诱，勾引，吸引，引起…的兴趣 | |
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17
tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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18
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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19
dependence
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| n.依靠，依赖；信任，信赖；隶属 | |
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20
physically
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| adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律 | |
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21
temperament
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| n.气质，性格，性情 | |
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22
stimulus
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| n.刺激，刺激物，促进因素，引起兴奋的事物 | |
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23
radius
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| n.半径，半径范围；有效航程，范围，界限 | |
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24
lame
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| adj.跛的，(辩解、论据等)无说服力的 | |
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25
excellences
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| n.卓越( excellence的名词复数 )；（只用于所修饰的名词后）杰出的；卓越的；出类拔萃的 | |
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26
inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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27
dispel
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| vt.驱走，驱散，消除 | |
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28
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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29
trotted
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| 小跑，急走( trot的过去分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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30
swells
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| 增强( swell的第三人称单数 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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31
bulging
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| 膨胀； 凸出（部）； 打气； 折皱 | |
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32
exhortation
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| n.劝告，规劝 | |
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33
interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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34
stunts
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| n.惊人的表演( stunt的名词复数 )；（广告中）引人注目的花招；愚蠢行为；危险举动v.阻碍…发育[生长]，抑制，妨碍( stunt的第三人称单数 ) | |
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35
pique
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| v.伤害…的自尊心，使生气 n.不满，生气 | |
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36
destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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37
unfamiliar
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| adj.陌生的，不熟悉的 | |
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38
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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39
vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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40
resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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41
glorified
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| 美其名的，变荣耀的 | |
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42
extravagant
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| adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的 | |
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43
contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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44
hazardous
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| adj.(有)危险的，冒险的；碰运气的 | |
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45
vehement
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| adj.感情强烈的；热烈的；(人)有强烈感情的 | |
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46
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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47
outrageous
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| adj.无理的，令人不能容忍的 | |
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48
imputation
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| n.归罪，责难 | |
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49
loyalty
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| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
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50
crumpled
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| adj. 弯扭的, 变皱的 动词crumple的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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51
query
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| n.疑问，问号，质问；vt.询问，表示怀疑 | |
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52
broaching
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| n.拉削；推削；铰孔；扩孔v.谈起( broach的现在分词 )；打开并开始用；用凿子扩大（或修光）；（在桶上）钻孔取液体 | |
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53
constraint
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| n.(on)约束，限制；限制(或约束)性的事物 | |
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54
defiant
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| adj.无礼的，挑战的 | |
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55
reproof
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| n.斥责，责备 | |
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56
defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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57
sullenly
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| 不高兴地，绷着脸，忧郁地 | |
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58
skilful
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| (=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的 | |
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