e players would feel the whiz of some speed
under their chins.

He struck Moore out, retired Reed on a measly fly, and made Clark hit a
weak grounder to second; and he walked in to the bench assured of the
outcome. On some days he had poor control; on others his drop ball
refused to work properly; but, as luck would have it, he had never had
greater speed or accuracy, or a more bewildering fast curve than on
this day, when he meant to win a game for a girl.

"Boys, I've got everything," he said to his fellow-players, calling
them around him. "A couple of runs will win for us. Now, listen, I
know Mackay. He hasn't any speed, or much of a curve. All he's got is
a teasing slow ball and a foxy head. Don't be too anxious to hit. Make
him put 'em over."

But the Salisbury players were not proof against the tempting slow
balls that Mackay delivered. They hit at wide curves far off the plate
and when they did connect with the ball it was only to send an easy
chance to the infielders.

The game seesawed along, inning after inning; it was a pitcher's battle
that looked as if the first run scored would win the game. Mackay
toyed with the Salisbury boys; it was his pleasure to toss up twisting,
floating balls that could scarcely be hit out of the diamond. Wayne
had the Bellville players utterly at his mercy; he mixed up his high
jump and fast drop so cleverly, with his sweeping out-curve, that his
opponents were unable to gauge his delivery at all.

In the first of the seventh, Barr for Bellville hit a ball which the
third baseman should have fielded. But he fumbled. The second batter
sent a fly to shortstop, who muffed it. The third hitter reached his
base on another error by an infielder. Here the bases were crowded,
and the situation had become critical all in a moment. Wayne believed
the infield would go to pieces, and lose the game, then and there, if
another hit went to short or third.

"Steady up, boys," called Wayne, and beckoned for his catcher.

"Burns, it's up to you and me," he said, in a low tone. "I've got to
fan the rest of these hitters. You're doing splendidly. Now, watch
close for my drop. Be ready to go down on your knees. When I let
myself out, the ball generally hits the ground just back of the plate."

"Speed 'em over!" said Burns, his sweaty face grim and determined.
"I'll get in front of 'em."

The head of the batting list was up for Bellville, and the whole
Bellville contingent on