“Well, I don’t know, but I believe I can run fairly well,” replied Frank, with an air of modesty.

“My friend is a very good judge of runners, and he says you’re all right.  In doing so he settled a point in my mind.  I have been watching your ball playing in practice this fall, and I have arrived at the conclusion that you have good stuff in you if you do not get the swelled head.  Young man, the swelled head is one of the worst things with which a youth can be afflicted.  When he gets it for fair it is likely to be his ruin.”

Pierson addressed Frank as if he were a father speaking to a boy.  Frank felt that the junior was patronizing to a certain extent, but the fellow’s manner of stopping him on the campus was so remarkable that it more than overbalanced his air of superiority.

Wondering what Pierson could be driving at, Frank kept silent and listened.

“Now, I have a fancy,” said the baseball magnate, “that you are rather level headed.  Still, the best of them get it sometimes, and that is why I am warning you.”

Pierson spoke deliberately, still looking hard at the freshman, who waited quietly.

“He’ll come to the point if he is given time,” thought Frank.

“I have seen you pitch,” said Pierson, “and I have watched your delivery and your curves.  You are very good.  More than that, you bat properly and your judgment is excellent.”

He paused again, as if to note what impression this praise made upon the other.  Frank felt his cheeks grow warm, but his voice was perfectly steady as he said: 

“Thank you, sir.”

“I did not know just what you would do when it came to running till my friend saw you run,” Pierson went on.  “He says you are all right.  Now, if you will look out for yourself and keep yourself in condition, it is quite possible that you may be given a trial on the regular ball team in the spring.”

Frank felt his heart give a great jump.  On the regular team!  Why, he had not dreamed of getting there the very first season.  Was Pierson giving him a jolly?

“Are you serious, sir?” he asked.

“Most certainly, Mr. Merriwell,” answered the junior.  “I can assure you that you stand an excellent chance of having a trial.  What the result of the trial is will depend entirely upon yourself.”

“What position, Mr. Pierson?”

“Well, there is but one position that is not well filled.  We’ve got men to burn for every other place.  If you are tried at all, it will be in the box.  Heffiner is the only man we have, and he can’t do all the work.  There will come times when he will be out of condition.”

To pitch on the regular ball team!  To be given an opportunity when the great Heffiner proved out of condition!  That was glory indeed.  No wonder Frank Merriwell tingled with excitement in every part of his body; but it was a wonder that he appeared so cool and self contained.