Part 3 (1/2)

”Ben was caught off the sack by five feet,” said Nelson. ”Two wrongs don't make a right. But it's hard medicine to swallow.”

Thus far Chipper Cooper had not made a hit; but now, as if he, too, was fired with resentment by the injustice of the decision, he landed on the second ball pitched to him and drove it out for a clean single.

”G-g-good bub-bub-boy, Chipper!” shouted Springer. ”It's a wonder he didn't call it a fuf-foul, though.”

Sleuth Piper, solemn and savage, took his place at the plate, grabbing his bat and shaking it as if he meant to make a dent in the ball as surely as Leach got it within reach. Not once did he swing, however, and the left-handed twirler looked disgusted when he had presently handed up the fourth ball in succession and thus given one of the weak batters of the visiting nine a pa.s.s.

”Get the next man, Lefty,” urged Baxter. ”He's fruit for you.”

With the head of the list following Springer, the Oakdale boys hoped for the best; but Phil put up a dead easy infield fly that was smothered, and the visitors had lost another splendid opportunity.

Never in his life had Grant pitched better than he did in the last of the eighth. Only three batters faced him, and two of these fanned, the third putting up a foul which Stone took care of with ease.

”Steady, fellows,” cautioned Baxter, as his men started for the field.

”We've only got to hold them. Old Grant can't keep that steam up. We'll get to him.”

Leach started the ninth as if he meant to duplicate the last turn of the Texan, fanning Captain Nelson with apparent ease.

Once more Rod Grant came to bat, and once more, with his pet club in his hands, he out-guessed the southpaw twirler, banging a clean single into center.

At Osgood's elbow Nelson quickly said:

”Sacrifice him to second. That will give him a possible chance to score if Shultz hits safe.”

Osgood made no retort. He saw Grant looking toward the bench and placing himself in position to get away swiftly on the bunt. At the plate, he beheld the first ball pitched to him apparently coming over just where he wanted it, and instantly he felt that he could hit it out safely.

Furthermore, he had not changed in his conviction that it was bad policy to sacrifice with one man down, even though the next two hitters were supposed to be the best stickers on the team, and one of them, Shultz, was his especial chum. Therefore he swung on the ball and met it.

Instead of a drive, it proved to be a grounder that went clipping over the skin diamond straight into the hands of Pelty. Like a flash Pelty snapped it to Foxhall, who had leaped on to second, and, turning, Foxhall lined the sphere to first, again completing a fast double play.

Nelson was on his pins, and he intercepted Osgood as the latter, without looking toward him, attempted to pa.s.s on the way to his position at third.

”Go to the bench,” said Jack, his voice hoa.r.s.e and husky. ”You're out of the game, Osgood.”

”I beg your pardon,” said Osgood. ”What did you say, sir?”

”I said you're out of the game. I won't stand for such rank disobedience.”

”Oh, very well,” said Osgood, coolly turning toward the bench. ”You're the autocrat-at present.”

”What's the matter?” demanded Shultz, running up. ”What's the trouble, Ned?”

”Nothing,” was the reply, ”only I'm benched because I didn't make a safe hit.”

”If he benches you I'll quit myself,” threatened Shultz.

”You won't quit,” said Nelson instantly. ”You're fired. The bench for you, too. Get off the field.”

”Well, wouldn't that choke you!” gulped Shultz, astonished to have his bluff called so promptly. ”How will he fill both our places?”

Nelson showed them in a moment by placing Roy Hooker, one of the spare pitchers, at third, and sending Chub Tuttle to fill center field.