“That’s playing the game,” asserted Dick. “Any batter who will swing at the ball after having three balls called by the umpire without any strikes doesn’t know his business.”
“Well, if you’re sus-sus-satisfied,” said Chip, “I don’t sus-sus-sus-suppose I got any kuk-kuk-kuk-kick coming.”
Bessie Dale was laughing.
“You see how easy that was for Jack Ware,” she said. “He is just beginning to pitch now.”
“Oh, he won’t keep that up,” said Zona. “He was careless. See those clouds in the west? I am afraid we’re going to have a shower before this game is over.”
“Better pray for it to come before five innings are finished,” said Bessie. “If it doesn’t you will lose the game.”
“You’re not ahead of us now.”
“We will be pretty soon.”
Ware did his best to deceive big Bob Singleton, but Bob got in one of his lucky cracks and lined out a beautiful three-bagger. He would have tried to make it a homer, but Dick was on hand at the coach line back of third base and stopped him there.
There was a shout of derisive laughter from the Fairport boys as Obediah Tubbs waddled out to strike.