Never before had such a roaring crowd assembled on the Maplewood ball field. Special cars came rolling into town, loaded down with men and boys, who sprang off and went marching away toward the field. They were loud and boisterous in manner, and many of them announced repeatedly that they were there to see the home team win. That a great number of them were toughs could be seen at a glance. When the game began, however, not all the spectators assembled on the field were of this tough class. The summer visitors of Maplewood were on hand in an unusually large body, and even while practice was going on some of them complained to Benton Hammerswell that the language of the roughs present was offensive. They asked the Maplewood manager if he could not do something to keep these offensive persons quiet.
“I am afraid it’s impossible,” he answered. “I didn’t expect such a crowd to-day or I would have had officers present. I am sorry if they are offensive in their conduct or talk, but I can’t repress them without assistance.”
In his heart he had no desire to repress them. Jack Cole had not spoken a falsehood when he told Dick that through Hammerswell the toughs had been gathered up and brought to the field.
No one seemed to observe Cole until he was noticed batting the ball while the Fairhaven team was practicing. Then there were numerous expressions of surprise over the fact that Jack was in a playing suit.
Hammerswell observed him and walked swiftly over to the home team’s bench, on which sat Chester Arlington.
“What’s that fellow, Cole, doing here?” inquired the Maplewood manager.
“You tell me,” said Chester sourly. “I don’t know.”
“He has a suit on.”
“My eyes are all right. I see he has.”
“What’s the matter with you? You’re crusty.”
“It’s my turn to pitch to-day,” said Chester. “Are you going to put me in?”
“Sit still,” retorted Hammerswell. “We have to win this game to-day, and I’m taking no chances. Raymer is the best pitcher in this league, and he goes into the box.”
Instantly Chester rose, savagely flinging down the ball he had been holding while sitting.
“Then I’m done!” he snarled. “This ends it for me! I quit you now, Hammerswell, and I hope your old team is wiped off the map!”
“Hold on!” commanded the manager sharply. “You’ve been paid in advance. You’ve received your salary for another week.”
“Oh, forget it!” sneered Arlington. “That’s all right! I’ll keep it!”
Benton exposed his teeth beneath his small, dark mustache.
“You will cough it up if you quit,” he asserted.
Arlington faced him unhesitatingly.
“Don’t dream such a thing for a minute!” he snarled. “I’ll cough up nothing. Instead of that, I may ask you to cough up a little. I know about some of the tricks arranged for this game. I know where certain balls are hidden in the outfield. Do you want me to talk?”
“You’d better keep still,” answered Hammerswell, in a whisper.
Chet snapped his fingers.
“All right. Then don’t talk to me about returning any money you’ve given me. I’m going up to the hotel to get into my other clothes. I will leave this suit outside your door, as I won’t want it any more this year.”
Without another word, he turned his back on Hammerswell and walked away.
Just before the game began Dick called his players around him and many of the spectators observed with surprise that Jack Cole was one of them. With Dick in their midst, they pressed close, getting their heads together and listening to him.
“Boys,” said Merriwell, glancing from one to another, with his calm, dark eyes, “this is going to be a fierce old fight to-day. Over there by first base you can see a lot of toughs who have been brought here to rattle us and who will do so if possible. Just close your ears to howls and insults. Don’t let them distract your attention from the game for a single moment. Let’s go into this thing with the determination of winning out or leaving our carcasses right here on the field.
“If we can stick to it with the right spirit we’ll stand a show of winning. It’s spirit that tells, boys. I want you to get into the mood. Keep on your toes every instant. No matter where you’re playing, keep alert and wide-awake. The outfielders need to be just as watchful and alert as the infielders. Seconds count in getting after the ball. The player who starts at the crack of the bat gains time. I know you want to win. If we should carry off this game we would be tied with one of the other teams for first place.
“From this day to the finish of the season it’s going to be a fierce old struggle. Every game won counts heavily for final success. Every game lost will be a millstone to drag down the defeated team. Throughout all the yelling and howling of these hoodlums, don’t forget that we’ve friends here. The summer people are with us, but it’s not likely they’ll make enough noise to be heard while the toughs are whooping it up. Now, fellows, let’s get after that pitcher at the start. A good start counts, and we may worry Raymer if we connect with his delivery at the outset.”
During this talk Merriwell’s players seemed to feel the spirit of undying determination that he possessed. As his eyes turned from one to another, it seemed that he poured out upon them a little of his own spirit, and when the game began every one of them was filled with it.
The batting order of both teams follows:
Fairhavens. Maplewood.
Gardner, rf. Mole, cf.
Bold, p. Hunston, 1st b.
Bradley, 3d b. Connor, ss.
Buckhart, c. Halligan, lf.
Merriwell, ss. Lumley, 3d b.
Jolliby, cf. Dillard, 2d b.
Singleton, 1st b. Farrell, rf.
Tubbs, 2d b. Garvin, c.
Smart, rf. Raymer, p.
Gardner walked out with a springy step and took his position at the plate. Raymer whistled over a swift one, and Earl promptly drove it far into left field. As the ball bounded past the fielder, who was running after it, it seemed certain that Gardner would make three bases, and there was a possibility of his circling the diamond and scoring.
Some of those who watched the ball bound away to the fence were surprised to see Halligan pause in his pursuit of it, stoop quickly, and pick something up. Then the fellow turned and threw a ball to Connor, who had run out a little toward left field.............