ice, it began to look as if he really
would succeed in "taking his pelt"; but, declining to reach for the
decoys, Rod finally met the ball on the trade mark, lining it over the
center fielder's head, after which he made third before he was stopped
by the wild gestures and cries of the delighted coacher, Nelson.

Roy Hooker swallowed a lump in his throat. "Why, they're hitting
Sanger!" he muttered huskily.

"Hitting him!" shouted the overjoyed fellow at Roy's elbow. "They're
hammering him for fair. Told you they might do it."

"But he'll brace up," said Roy. "He's got to brace up."

"Let's hope he won't till the fellows put this game on ice. Here's
Cooper. He's not a strong batter, but---- Oh, gee! look a' that!
Look a' that! A Texas leaguer! That scores Grant!"

Indeed, Chipper had bumped a Texas leaguer over the head of the second
baseman, who made a desperate but futile effort to reach the ball; and
Oakdale had every reason to cheer as Rodney Grant easily scampered home
from third.

Sanger really seemed to be off his feet, and Sleuth Piper, trying for a
hit, drove two fouls into the crowd on the bleachers.

"Straighten 'em out a little, Pipe," pleaded Cooper, returning for the
second time to first. "You've got my tongue hanging out now."

Copley, squatting, signaled for a straight ball. Sanger, apprehensive
and nervous, shook his head. Copley promptly repeated the signal, and
insisted on it. Finally Sanger obeyed, putting one straight over.

Sleuth swung at that straight one, his heart full of confidence, but he
missed it cleanly. In a moment he was raging at the catcher, who had
promptly snapped off his mask and tossed it aside.

"Somebody will break your head if you try that again," snarled Piper.

"What's the matter with you?" flung back Copley belligerently. "You've
got bats in your belfry."

"You'll have a bat across your belfry if you repeat that trick,"
threatened Sleuth stiffly. "That's all I've got to say. Don't you
touch my bat again when I'm hitting."

Copley laughed derisively at the excited words of the slim, angry,
pale-faced fellow; and the umpire, not having seen the catcher's
prestigious interference, was unable to penalize the offender.

His anxiety somewhat relieved by this termination of the home team's
batting streak, Roy Hooker looked around for Rackliff, and discovered
Herbert coolly sauntering down beside the ropes toward first base. As
if he felt the attractio