ntly the Texan was confused, seeing which, Cline attempted to
purloin the sack behind his back, only to be caught easily when Rod
turned and snapped the ball to Nelson.

This cheered the sympathizers with the home team, who were heartened
still more as, a few moments later, the amazingly calm Texan took the
crooked-nosed Roberts in hand and struck him out.

"Now, let's play ball and hold this lead, fellows," shouted Copley.
"It's easy enough. We've got the game nailed."

Sanger had no trouble in fanning Piper, and again Oakdale's hope ebbed,
as Nelson, who had not made a safety for the day, was sent by the whiff
route to join Sleuth on the mourners' bench.

With two gone, Berlin Barker got his first hit. There rose a groan,
however, when it was seen that roly-poly Chub Tuttle was the next
sticker. Tuttle justified the hopeless ones by popping a dinky little
fly into Sanger's hands.

"It's all off! It's all over!" crowed Copley, tossing the catching
mask spinning aside. "You've only got to get three more, cap. The way
you're pitching, it'll be like picking ripe fruit."

"But let's get some more tallies if we can," urged Sanger.

This, however, was not possible; for Grant gave his prettiest
exhibition in the ninth, striking out three fellows in succession with
that perplexing drop, which apparently he had mastered.

"This is our last chance, boys," said Eliot, as the locals gathered at
the bench. "One run is a small margin, and no game is lost until it's
won."

Ben Stone, his face as grim as that of a graven image, stood forth and
waited. Two balls he ignored, one of which was called a strike; and
then, seeming to get one to his liking, he planted the club against the
leather with a sharp, snapping swing. As in practice on the day Hooker
had pitched to him, Stone laced the ball straight over the center-field
fence for a home run, and pandemonium broke loose and continued while
he jogged slowly over the bases.

The score was again tied.

Roy Hooker had not been fully at ease, and his face turned almost ashen
as he saw the ball disappearing beyond the fence. He took no part in
the crazy demonstration of his schoolmates, declining even when some
one caught him by the shoulders and shouted in his ear, asking why he
did not cheer.

At the bench Stone was surrounded and congratulated by his delighted
teammates. Even the disconsolate Springer aroused himself enough to
speak a word of praise.

"We want