Roberts, by swift running, reached second, as Darrell had not been backed up by a fielder, and there was some delay in returning the ball to the diamond.
Pausing on second, the captain of the home team shouted with laughter.
“Why didn’t you strike me out?” he derisively inquired.
“Dern your picter!” said Tubbs. “You ought to be out! You didn’t get a hit! You made them two bases on an error!”
“But your shortstop never touched the ball.”
“If he didn’t,” said Tubbs, “he ought ter have touched it. There wasn’t anything to prevent.”
Dick caught the fat boy’s eye and shook his head warningly. To Darrell he made no complaint.
Hal was a trifle pale, and he had turned toward Dick as if expecting a reprimand, holding himself ready to retort.
“Right after him, Conway!” cried Roberts, dancing about close to second base. “A clean hit ties the score.”
For the first time, after throwing two called balls to the next batter, Dick tried the jump ball. Of course, he was not aware that the Fairport batters had been putting in special practice at hitting a sharp rise.