the mouth. I'm certain
Harry didn't break her promise!"

"All right, fellows!" shouted Chub, throwing the practice ball to the
umpire and trotting to his position. "After 'em hard, now. We're all
back of you, Kirb!"

Cole settled his mask into place and Kirby sent three trial balls to
him. Then Smith, the first of the Hammond batsmen, stepped into the
box.

"Hello, you!" called Chub cheerfully as Roy edged over toward him. "It's
good to see you there, old chap. Get after 'em, Roy. We're not beaten
yet!"

"Not a bit of it!" answered Roy. "We'll have them on the run in a
minute."

A whole lot depended on Kirby, and everyone realized that fact. If he
could pitch his best game and hold Hammond down to her present score
there might be a chance of Ferry Hill's doing something in the next two
innings. But Kirby had had but a few minutes of warming up work and
might prove stiff. He got one strike on Smith and then sent him four
balls, one after the other, seemingly unable to find the plate. Smith
trotted to first. Chub called laughingly across to Kirby.

"That's right, Kirb, give 'em a show."

Kirby smiled and dug his toe into the ground.

Rollins tapped the plate with his bat and shot a questioning look toward
Smith on first. Kirby pitched wide, Cole slammed the ball down to Roy
and Roy swung at the runner. But Smith was full-length in the dust with
his fingers clutching a corner of the bag. Roy tossed the ball to Kirby.
Smith crawled to his feet, dusted his clothes and took a new lead.

"Strike one!" droned the umpire.

Smith trotted back to the bag. The coach sent him off again.

"Take a lead, take a lead!" he shouted through his hands. "He won't
throw it! Down with his arm, now! _Look out!_"

But the warning came too late. Kirby had turned suddenly and thrown
swiftly, and Roy's downward swinging hand had found Smith a good six
inches away from base.

"Out on first," said the umpire.

From the Ferry Hill side came the sound of clapping hands and cheering
voices. Smith walked back to the bench and Roy, moistening his mitten in
the inelegant but effective manner of the ball player, trotted out to
his position.

"One gone, Cap!" he cried. "Let's have the next one!"

"All right, Roy. Next man, fellows!"

The next man was easy for Kirby. Rollins already had one strike and one
ball on him and Kirby finished him up in short style, causing him to
strike a full six inches above a deceptive drop and then putting