Jarley slid, but the Texan pinned him fast to the ground before his hand could reach the plate, and he was out on a close decision.
The disappointment of the Franklin crowd was only exceeded by the delight of the cadets. Nort Madison attempted to dispute the umpire’s decision. He claimed that Jarley was safe, but those who had watched the plate closely knew this was not so.
Wiley hugged himself.
“Beyond question,” he murmured, “I shall have to get into gear and take to the diamond. This arouses me to the limit.”
After two strikes and two balls were called, Dickson managed to catch one of Merriwell’s shoots and drop it over the infield. On this safe hit Tipton ran as if his life depended upon it, and the coacher near third sent him home.
Darrell secured the ball and tried to stop the run at the plate, but was a moment too late to do so.
“That clinches it!” laughed Madison. “We win a scalp to-day, boys!”
“Oh, has Fardale lost the game, cap’n?” anxiously asked little Abe.
“Not yet,” declared Wiley. “Strange things may happen before this game ends.”
Westcott was the weakest hitter on the visiting team, and Dick had little trouble in striking him out.