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The third baseman, who had been playing catch with one of his teammates, waved back and jogged over
to the end of the dugout. He looked glum.
How you folks doin ? he asked.
Okay, Danny said. What s the matter?
I m out fifty bucks, that s what. I got into it with Kelly before the game.
What for?
Me and a few of the boys had a meetin this afternoon. We don t like them bringing these coons into
town.
It s just an exhibition. You ve played against a lot of these boys before.
Yeah, I know, but it s different this time. They re sticking around. Us and them and the Saints are
playing round-robin for a few weeks. After that, Kelly says, they re gonna fill up any slots open from
players that get sick with Monarchs. They re gonna fill the whole circuit that way. Indy s already filling in
with nigger players from the ABC s.
Danny hated to hear the kid talk that way in front of Shirley. Lou was a good kid, but he had a big chip
on his shoulder when it came to the race question. A lot of people felt that way, especially the ones who
had been hit hard by Hun. When you ve had plenty of bad luck, it didn t seem right that it wasn t spread
around equally. But he hated to hear it, all the same.
Go easy, Lou. Just the other day you were crying because the league was going to shut down. This way,
you re still playing ball, right? Maybe these night games ll catch on. People can come after work. The
more people in the seats, the more chance you ll keep getting paid to play ball.
I ll need a raise, to pay that fifty. Gee, Kelly let me have it!
Maybe he was right.
Lou s eyes flashed. He ain t right. The whole thing stinks!
Ravelli! Stop yappin and get out to third, we re takin infield, the manager yelled.
Just try to forget about it, Lou, Danny said.
Yeah. Hit me a foul ball. Please?
Kelly charges us four bits every time we hit one out of play, Shirl.
Here, Kal said, handing Lou a fifty-cent piece.
Ravelli!
Yeah, yeah, keep your shirt on, I m comin ! You folks enjoy the game. We ll murder em!
Lou jogged over to third. His coach swung a long fungo bat and hit a sharp liner right at his knees. Lou
knocked it down, pounced on it, and threw high over the first baseman s head.
That s ten more, Ravelli! the coach yelled, pointing with the bat.
Maybe Lou ought to quit, Shirley said. He can t afford to play, at this rate.
He s taking the whole thing pretty hard, isn t he, Danny said.
He never left his room all day. Not for breakfast or for lunch, and Aunt Lucille made chicken croquettes
just to try and coax him out.
He s just worried, that s all, Kal said.
He s been acting awfully queer.
Well, he s had it tough with his parents and all.
So have I, Shirley said. And I don t act queer, do I?
Danny smiled. No, I guess you don t.
They went back up to their seats. Kal bought some peanuts and beer, and a pop for Shirley. Danny sat
back and watched the Millers infield drill. They were a pretty good outfit this year, with Nick Cullop
playing center and hitting them out regularly, and Carmen Hill showing plenty of stuff on the mound.
Before the Association shut down, they d been leading Louisville by four games and Columbus by six
with just twelve contests left before the first half closed out.
Out in the infield, Lou settled down, and handled all his chances without a hitch. They finished with the
double play, each man fielding a bunt and coming off the field after he threw to first.
Next the Monarchs came out for their drills, and they really made a show of it, lining up behind second as
their coach hit alternate shots to the left and right of the bag, each man standing where he d fielded the
ball until all the players had taken one. Then the coach hit a fungo straight up in the air, and while it hung
there, the Monarchs, on cue, ran out to their positions, and got there before the ball landed in front of the
mound, where Frank Duncan, the catcher, grabbed it and threw to Newt Allen covering second, who
fired it home to Rogan, Rogan pivoting and smoking a throw down to third that was caught right at the
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