Gardner walked out with a springy step and took his position at the plate. Raymer whistled over a swift one, and Earl promptly drove it far into left field. As the ball bounded past the fielder, who was running after it, it seemed certain that Gardner would make three bases, and there was a possibility of his circling the diamond and scoring.
Some of those who watched the ball bound away to the fence were surprised to see Halligan pause in his pursuit of it, stoop quickly, and pick something up. Then the fellow turned and threw a ball to Connor, who had run out a little toward left field.
“How did that happen?” exclaimed William Drake. “That’s not the ball!”
Connor snapped the ball he had received to Dillard at second, and Gardner’s run was checked there.
“Wait a minute, Mr. Umpire!” cried Dick, starting out onto the diamond. “That’s not the ball in play! That’s not the ball Gardner hit!”
Immediately there was a terrific uproar from the crowd of hoodlums. They yelled at Dick, and hurled upon him all sorts of epithets. Some of them even started to follow him onto the field.
“Get off the field!” commanded the umpire. “If you crowd out here I’ll stop the game! Get back behind the ropes!”
They retreated reluctantly, still howling at Dick.
The umpire thought the ball thrown in by Halligan was the one he had put in play, and therefore Dick’s protest was passed over.
“I’ll have Gardner look for the right ball when he takes the field,” said Merriwell, as he retreated to he bench.