ght the ball, held it an instant, signaled, and let
drive. It was the same Gardiner batsman whom Prescott had struck
out at the opening of the game. This time the young giant got
the range of the ball by sheer good guessing.

Crack! It soared. Right field ran backward after the ball.
Now the Gardiner fans were up and yelling like Comanches.

"Leg it, Prendergast!"

The runner touched first bag, then darted on for second. Right
field was still after the ball.

"Whoop! He's pulverized the second bag!"

"Just look at third, old man, and come steaming home over the
plate!"

That runner had been well trained. He was close upon third base
and going with unabated speed.

He kicked the bag---then a warning cry told him that right field
had the ball.

A swift look over his shoulder, and Prendergast fell back upon
third just before the ball dropped into the third baseman's hands.

"Safe on third!" came the umpire's announcement. The ball arched
over to Dick Prescott. Purcell signaled him to let the ball come
in over the plate.

Now the air was all a-tingle. The visitors had a run in sight.
Dick felt the thrill, but steeled himself against any impulsiveness
or loss of nerve. He signaled the drive, then let go. Three
strikes and out, the ball all the while so closely under control
that Prendergast fidgeted but did not dare steal far from third.

Then came Dowdy to the bat. He was far and away the best batsman
from Gardiner. Prendergast began to edge in.

"Strike one!" from the umpire.

Crack! The leather hung low, a little to the left of shortstop,
who raced after it. Prendergast was going in at a tremendous
clip. As shortstop reached the ball, he swooped down on it, stopped
its rolling, and rising quickly, hurled it in across the plate.

Purcell was waiting, and made a good catch. It looked close.
Everyone eyed Umpire Foley.

"Runner safe home," he decided.

There was a gasp of disappointment, but the decision was fair.
Prendergast had made good by a fraction of a second---and there
was a man on first.

"Oh, Dick! Oh, Prescott!" wailed the home fans. "We look to
you."

Dick's answer was to strike the next man out, with never a chance
for the man on first to steal away from Dalzell and make second.
Then a short fly filled first and second. Dick struck out a
second man---then a third.

But this was getting on Gridley's nerves. Despite Prescott's
fine pitching, it began to look as tho