, for shortly afterwards he was perched safely
on the initial sack, with Hugh himself at bat, and filled with a
grim determination to send the runner along, as well as plant himself
on the bag.

He picked out a good one, and cracked it out for a double, Owen
managing to land on third. All Scranton arose and roared to "K.K."
to send them both home, which he obligingly did with the nicest
possible little hit that could have been made, he himself reaching
second on the throw-in.

Julius Hobson was now up, but he struck out, greatly to his chagrin.
With the score tied, and the sky looking so threatening, Hugh was
more than ever anxious that one more hit should bring in the run that
might eventually win the game.

Patterson realized his weakness, and tried in various ways to delay
the game. He had to tie his shoe once, and then managed to toss
the ball again and again to try and nip "K.K." at second. In doing
so he actually let the runner make third, as O'Malley on second
allowed the ball to slip out of his hands, and the agile "K.K." slid
along in safety, making a great slide to the sack.

Then Tyree got in the tap that scored the runner, although he himself
was caught at first. Thad sent a dandy hit out past short, but was
left when "Just" Smith struck out.

In their half the Allandale players again tried to delay the game
until the umpire threatened to call it off, and proclaim Scranton the
winner nine to nothing. Then they went to work, but without avail,
for the inning found Scranton just one run to the good.

Play was continued, even though a fine drizzle started, that caused
hundreds of the spectators to take warning and depart.

At the beginning of the seventh inning, with the score the same, the
rain came down in torrents and play was discontinued. Later, finding
that there was no hope of the game being resumed, the umpire declared
it in the favor of Scranton, and those fellows went home happy though
soaked to the skin.

CHAPTER XX

A GLORIOUS FINISH---CONCLUSION

The fact that Allandale and Scranton were tied, and that there must
be played a deciding game, brought out a clause in the League contract
providing for just such a possibility. It would be manifestly unfair
to play this game on either grounds, even when tossing a penny for
choice; because luck should not enter into such a championship any
more than was absolutely necessary. So this last game was to take
place on the Bellevill