Toward night the heavy fog that had rested like a pall over Fairhaven Island all day lifted and retreated toward the open sea. At sunset the sky was bespangled with dainty clouds, which were tinted a hundred beautiful shades of such colors as no artist can reproduce. Although on the mainland it was muggy and hot, out there on Fairhaven Island there was a gentle breeze, and twilight drew on softly and silently. After supper, Dick and his friends sat chatting on the veranda of the Central Hotel. Garrett was there, and Bart Hodge was comfortably deposited in a big rocking-chair. Singleton sprawled on a seat, and taken altogether the lads presented a picture of ease and laziness.
“Dern my picter!” Tubbs suddenly squealed. “I bet a good squash pie that something besides the fog kept old Hammerswell from bringing his team over here to-day. Said while there was such a fog he couldn’t get the bo’t he’d engaged to make the trip, but I don’t believe it.”
“You’re tut-tut-too wise!” exclaimed Chip Jolliby. “What dud-dud-dud-dud-do you believe?”
“I bet, by Jim, that there was another reason why he didn’t come! I bet he’s going to have new players.”
At this many of the boys laughed.
“He’s had too many new players already,” declared Earl Gardner. “That’s what’s kept him down. He kept shifting his team round early in the season, and it’s a wonder he did as well as he did. Since getting that bunch from the Northeastern League he’s made no changes and had better success. It will be a hot finish, no matter how it comes out. Why, if Maplewood could win both games to-morrow she’d take first place! If she loses both games she’ll go to the bottom. I tell you that’s the way to have things stand near the end of the baseball season. It keeps up the excitement.”
Dick had been writing and figuring on a slip of paper. While thus engaged he was making out the standing of the various teams in the league, and this he now passed round for the boys to inspect.
“You will see, fellows,” he said, “that only twelve points separate the bottom team from the one at the top. That’s close enough to make it a heap exciting, as Buckhart would remark.”
“Hit’s halmost too close for comfort, don’t you know,” observed Billy Bradley. “Hif we lose both games to-mor............