“Fan, Anson—fan!” hissed the captain of the home team.
Immediately Anson struck out, and Warren followed his example.
Believing they had the game safely in hand, the home players were doing their best to hurry through five innings.
The visitors saw their design, and Dick urged his men to go after the ball earnestly at the beginning of the fourth. Jolliby did his best, but was thrown out at first. Singleton lifted a fly that was captured. Tubbs reached first on an error, and Buckhart lifted a foul back of third that was secured by Macon. Fardale’s chance in the fourth was passed.
The clouds were hanging black overhead now, and a few sprinkles of rain came pattering down.
“What shall I do, captain?” asked Ware of Roberts, as he picked up his bat.
“Fan,” answered Roberts. “Get out just as quick as you can.”
Ware obeyed, and both Crockett and Dustan did the same thing, much to Buckhart’s disgust.
“Waugh!” exploded the Texan. “What sort of an old baseball game is this yere? Are you chaps playing a kids’ game? Why don’t you play ball?”
“That will be all right!” laughed Roberts. “Just you fellows play one more inning. That’s all we want.”