"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.

Osgood and Shultz retired to the bench, where they sat talking, the latter showing by his manner that he was thoroughly enraged against his captain, while his friend, more politic and suave, accepted the situation with pretended indifference and disdain.

Although the team had been weakened by the removal of these two players, for the subst.i.tutes surely could not fill their positions with an equal amount of skill, Grant betrayed no sign of weakening himself. Pelty and Leach were retired by the strike-out route, and even Crispin's best performance was a weak grounder on which he perished in a hopeless dash to first.

The tenth inning opened with Tuttle at bat. Chub had never been a hitter, but he did succeed in rolling a weak one to Leach, who threw him out.

"Now, Stoney," implored Cooper, as the catcher again came up, "you've got to do it. He's been a mark for you. One run is all that we need to take this game. Lace it out."

Leach was very glad that the bases were empty. Even under those circ.u.mstances he began as if he meant to pa.s.s this dangerous slugger.

After pitching two b.a.l.l.s, however, he got one across, and Ben fouled it.

Then came another ball, which was followed by a high, speedy shoot.

Stone smashed the horsehide again, bringing every spectator up standing.

It was a splendid drive, but Cohen took it on the run and held fast to it.

"Ah-ha! Oh-ho!" whooped Baxter joyously. "Old Eat-'em-alive is finished.

Now you have things your own way, Lefty."

Although Shultz was grinning as Stone came walking back, Osgood politely declined to smile.

Sile Crane sighed as he picked up his bat.

"By Jinks!" he muttered. "I'd sartainly like to make one more hit off that feller. I don't seem able to touch him no more." After which he walked to the plate and swung at the first ball pitched with all the strength of his long, sinewy arms.

There was a tremendous ringing crack, and the ball went sailing away, away, far over the center-fielder's head. The little Oakdale crowd screamed like lunatics, but the Wyndhamites were distressingly silent as the long-geared lad raced over first, second, third, and on to the plate, which he reached ere the ball could be returned to the diamond.

CHAPTER IV

WYNDHAM'S LAST DESPERATE STAND.

Charley Shultz sneered openly, with his full red upper lip curved high and exposing his broad teeth, as the delighted Oakdale players congratulated their comrade who had made that opportune home-run drive.

"Look a' that gangling country jay," he muttered in Osgood's ear. "See him grin like a baboon. See him distend his flat chest. Probably he thinks himself a Lajoie or a Wagner."

"Hush, Charley!" cautioned Osgood gently. "Don't be too open in your feelings; it's bad policy. Besides, I've got Crane on the string. He's astride the fence now, and doesn't know which way he's going to fall."

"Oh, all right," returned Shultz; "but I don't see what use you can have for him. He hasn't any money, and his influence doesn't amount to much."

"Even the support of the weakest chap may prove of some value when the break comes."

"After to-day you ought to force things in a hurry. I hope you're not going to stand for the rotten deal that swell-head Nelson has handed out to us."

"Have patience, old man-have patience," soothed Osgood. "I'll strike when the iron is hot. When possible, a good general always avoids going into an engagement before his plans are properly prepared and his forces strengthened to the full limit."

The fact that these two disgruntled fellows took no part in the rejoicing of their team seemed to be overlooked at the time; for this was a game in which a run in the tenth inning was of tremendous importance, and, taking into consideration the recent course of the contest, almost an a.s.surance of victory. A triumph over the always formidable Wyndhamites in the season's first meeting between the two teams would give Oakdale a much desired advantage in the High School League.