How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
The other fingered his tie knot. "Why do you suppose she goes around pickin' on athletes for?"
"Not only athletes but also the cream of the crop. She's knocked off a crack football boy, and now an Olympic runner. Better watch out, Whammer, she may be heading for a baseball player for the third victim," Max chuckled.
Harriet Bird is a strange sort of serial killer. Max's question is a good one: why does she pick on cream-of-the-crop athletes? In a way, Harriet is kind of like destiny in the novel; just when someone feels like they're on top of the world, at the height of their strength, she's there to knock them down and defeat them.
Quote #2
He changed the fifty-cent piece Sam had slipped him on leaving the train, and this pretty girl in yellow, a little hefty but with a sweet face and nice ways, who with her peanut of a father was waiting on trade, handed him three balls. Lobbing one of them, Roy easily knocked off the pyramid and won himself a naked kewpie doll. (1.145)
The scene here is far from a professional baseball competition; it's a regular old carnival game. However, if you've ever tried to knock over the pyramid of bottles you know that sometimes those games aren't as easy as they look. The fact that Roy can easily knock off the pyramid shows his skill; and winning a naked doll might remind us that he's trying to impress Harriet with his skill, too.
Quote #3
As Roy fingered the ball for the last throw the Whammer came by holding over his shoulder a Louisville Slugger that he had won for himself in the batting cage down a way. Harriet, her pretty face flushed, had a kewpie doll, and Max Mercy carried a box of cigars. The Whammer had discarded his sun glasses and all but strutted over his performance and the prizes he had won. (1.151)
Wherever you get one guy showing off his strength and skill, it won't be long before another one struts in to challenge him. The prizes that the Whammer has won for himself and his friends are evidence of his batting prowess, and Roy is winning at pitching. The contest between them comes pretty naturally then.