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But the Rube had developed into such a wonder in the box that it took time for his let-down to dawn upon me. Also it took a tip from Raddy, who sat with me on the bench. "Con, the Rube isn't himself today," said Radbourne. "His mind's not on the game. He seems hurried and flustered, too. If he doesn't explode presently, I'm a dub at callin' the turn."
There are several ways in which men can be homely, and Radbourne, of Radbourne & Company, had chosen the worst way of all. When you saw him you wanted to smile. He was little and roly-poly. His eyes were too small, their blue too light. His nose was acutely and ungracefully pug. His ears were too big and stood out from his head. His mouth was too wide.
I'm sorry," this to David, "I had nothing to fit you. Can you do without?" David put him at ease on that point, and Miss Summers retired. In a few minutes, fewer than you might suppose, she returned. Radbourne clapped his hands in delight. "Look, David!" David obeyed. And then he was sure that he had never done justice to the face peering up at him from under the veiled hat.
I said, turning to my star twirler. "Connelly, I've seen as fast a team in as bad a rut and yet pull out," returned Radbourne. "We're about due for the brace. When it comes look out! As for me, well, my arm isn't right, but it's acting these warm days in a way that tells me it will be soon. It's been worked too hard. Can't you get another pitcher? I'm not knocking Herne or Cairns.
Any man who can work out such things ! For a very little I would give you your discharge this moment." "But I beg of you Mr. Radbourne, you don't know what my position means to me " "I didn't mean that seriously, of course. But you ought to be back in your own work. Why did you ever leave it?" "Because I couldn't make a good enough living." David flushed as he said it.
An odd fish, no doubt of it, was Jonathan Radbourne, though a good man to work for and, as Jim Blaisdell had said and David soon found, by no means a fool. There was no hint of masterfulness about him, which was because he never thought of himself as a master.
Raddy was an old pitcher and had seen the rise of a hundred stars. I told him about the game at Rickettsville and what I thought of Rube, and frankly asked his opinion. "Con, you've made the find of your life," said Raddy, quietly and deliberately. This from Radbourne was not only comforting; it was relief, hope, assurance.
But it will be different now, because we know that if we're careful for a while we can clean them all up. Radbourne seems a good man to work for and maybe this job will develop into something better. And I'll be doing work on the side for Dick for a while. It won't be so long before the debts will melt away.
I will merely state the case to Mr. Radbourne." "Suppose he concludes that making a job for Davy is too high a price to pay even for your ladyship's favor?" Mrs. Jim smiled confidently. "Mr. Radbourne and I understand each other. And he doesn't have to pay for my favor. I have made him a present of it." Two mornings later David found a note from Jim, asking him to call at the bank.
She moved quietly away from him and did not once look back, though she knew he was watching her. But when a door was between them she stopped for a moment, quivering lips pressed hard, both hands tightly clenched. Then she, too, sought Jonathan. "Mr. Radbourne, the church people telephoned to-day that I can have the position." "I am very glad. When shall you be leaving the office?"
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