'He wouldn't pay me as much as I already make with
the ice cream company.'
"'You know,' said Charlie Carr, 'I manage the Indianapolis Club.'
"'I know that,' I said. After all, everybody knew that!
"'How would you like to sign with me?' Charlie said with a smile.
"'You're in the minor leagues,' I replied. 'If a major league club won't
pay me what I want, how could you do it?'
"'How much do you want?' he wanted to know.
"I took a deep breath and then answered, 'Two hundred a month.'
"'Wow!' he said. 'You want all the money, don't you?'
"'No,' I told him. 'But you want a good pitcher, don't you?'
"'Yes,' he answered simply.
"'Well, I said, I'm one.'"
The five Ozites laughed at this, and the shadow smiled. He was actually
beginning to fear that he was giving them too many details and that his
story may be becoming long-winded and dull. But seeing that he was not
boring his listeners, he continued:
"He agreed to my terms, of course. So right then I signed my first
professional contract, with Indianapolis of the American Association.
"When I got home that night I had to tell my dad about it, because I was
to leave for Indianapolis the very next day. Oh, that was a terrible
night! Finally, Dad said, 'Now listen, I've told you time and time again
that I don't want you to be a professional ballplayer.
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