There was on Dick’s face a grim look of determination. He was determined to prevent Gannon from following up the hitting. Giving a sudden hitch at his waistband with both hands, he whistled the combination ball over the plate.
Gannon fouled it.
“You touched him, Gan, old boy!” cried Madison. “Let him try that again!”
Young Merriwell lifted both hands above his head and then seemed to throw one that was bound to pass over the very centre of the plate.
Gannon stood without moving his bat, and the ball took a sudden outcurve.
“One ball!” was the umpire’s decision.
“Make him put ’em over, Gan!” urged Madison.
The batter nodded.
An inshoot followed, but it was too close to be a strike, and Gannon simply let it pass, falling back slightly from the plate.
“Two balls!”