“That was splendid!” agreed June.
“Oh, I don’t think it was such a wonderful thing!” declared Zona. “It just fell right into his hands, and he couldn’t help holding it.”
Doris gave her a resentful look.
Dick waited for Hal and walked in to the bench with him.
CHAPTER XXIX.
FARDALE’S FIRST RUN.
“You saved us that time, old man,” smiled Merriwell, with his hand on Darrell’s arm. “That was clever backing up.”
Darrell flushed and looked pleased over this compliment.
As Dick reached the bench, Wiley rose and said:
“Mate Richard, if you wish to put yonder perfidious rogue out of the game, and thus give yourself a fair chance with an honest umpire, I stand ready to take my solemn oath that I know he is crooked. While on the train to-day I heard some of those fellows saying they had the umpire fixed. If you permit him to continue his sinuous course you are destined to lose this game.”
“Are you telling me the truth when you say you heard such a thing on the train?” asked Dick.