"Gee, but that must have been some clout!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Joe. "That fellow sure can kill the ball."

The pause that followed told them as plainly as words of the yelling and excitement at the grounds that were holding up the game.

"Ladies and gentlemen," came the announcement: "Ralston now pitching for the Pittsburghs."

"Batted the other fellow out of the box!" exclaimed Jimmy gleefully, who made no bones of the fact that he was rooting for the Giants.

"Him for the showers," agreed Herb, who was also a Giant adherent.

"I guess the Giants have put the game on ice," exulted Joe.

"Don't be too sure," warned Bob. "Those Pittsburghs are fence breakers, and they may stage a rally any minute. It takes more than a three-run lead to make them curl up."

That they were not going to "curl up" became evident as the game progressed toward its close. They fought like tigers for every advantage, made hair-raising stops and throws and slugged the ball ferociously. But a Giant fielder seemed to be in front of every ball, and when the Pittsburghs came up for their last inning the score was still 3 to 0 in favor of the New York team.

But in that ninth inning!

CHAPTER VIII-A THRILLING CLIMAX

It is certain that the Polo Grounds was a bad place for any one troubled with a weak heart during that ninth inning of the Giant-Pittsburgh game.

That the boys from the Smoky City were "out for blood" was evident from the moment that Elton, the first man up, faced the pitcher.

"Elton swings at the first ball offered and sends a screaming liner to left," proclaimed the radio voice. "It caromed off the left field wall and was skilfully handled by Miller, who by a quick return was able to hold the runner to two bags."

"Pretty good beginning," murmured Herb, shifting a little uneasily in his seat.

"Oh, that's nothing," Joe rea.s.sured him. "One swallow doesn't make a summer and one hit doesn't win a ball game."

"Maginn sends a gra.s.ser between second and third," continued the voice.

"Elton scored easily and Maginn reached second on a close decision."

"That saves Pittsburgh from a shut-out anyway," muttered Jimmy. "But I guess that'll be about all."

In this, however, he was mistaken.

"Wilson drives the ball on a line over second," went on the voice.

"Menken made a great attempt to spear it but couldn't reach. A quick relay of the ball kept Maginn from getting beyond third, but on the throw-in Wilson reached second."

"Men on second and third and no man out!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Joe.

"Those fellows have got their batting clothes on," commented Bob. "Did you notice that each one of them offered at the first ball pitched? I guess they've solved Roberts at last."

That the manager of the Giants had reached the same conclusion was evident from the pause that followed and the subsequent notice that Compton had taken Roberts' place in the box.

"Strike one!"

"Strike two!"

"That begins to sound better," Jimmy comforted himself.

His satisfaction was of short duration.

"Ackerson hits to deep short. The ball took a high bound and Helmer by a brilliant effort knocked it down, but too late to get the runner at first. Maginn scored and Wilson reached third."

"That makes two runs," sighed Herb. "One more and they'll tie the score."

"And with two men on bases and n.o.body out, they're almost sure to do that much at least," muttered Bob. "It's too bad to have the Giants blow the game just when they had it in their kit bags."

The silence was almost painful as the boys waited for the next announcement.

"Ackerson steals second just beating Thompson's good throw by a hook slide."

Almost a groan went up in the crowded room. Some of the boys got so restless that they rose and paced the room, or sat forward in their chairs as though they were straining their eyes to look at the actual diamond.

"A single now will bring in two runs and put Pittsburgh in the lead,"

groaned Jimmy.

"And with Krug, their clean-up man at the bat!" said Bob glumly.

"Strike one!"

"Ball one!"

"Ball two!"

"He's trying to make him bite at bad ones," commented Herb.

"Strike two!"

"Ball three!"

"Now he's got Compton in a hole," murmured Jimmy. "He's got to put the next ball over."

"And if he does, I'm afraid that Krug will kill it," gloomed Joe.

There was a momentary pause.

"Krug hits a terrific drive to the box," announced the voice. "Compton leaps into the air and spears it with his left hand. He throws to Albers and catches Wilson, who had left the bag, Albers hurls the ball to Menken and gets Ackerson, who was trying to scramble back to second.

Triple play, three men out and the Giants win, three to two!"

There was a moment of stupefaction in the crowded room. Then a roar broke out that brought Mrs. Layton up to the room in a hurry under the impression that something dreadful had happened.

"It's all right, Mother," laughed Bob. "We're only excited over the baseball game. It came out so unexpectedly that it took us all off our feet."