“You’re another!” promptly retorted Brick McLane.
“Only for Fairhaven, you fellers would have the pennant nailed now! They’ve kept yer down!”
“You dreamed it!” was the retort. “Smoke up! Your pipe’s going out!”
“Here’s Torrey!” was the cry from the excited Rockford spectators. “Torrey will line it out! Just watch Torrey!”
While playing on the Maplewood team Torrey had demonstrated the fact that he was a remarkable batter. His hitting had been commented on a great deal by patrons of the games in the Trolley League.
Dick Merriwell had studied this chap’s style of batting and discovered his weak spot. Regardless of Buckhart, Merriwell now began to whistle the ball over, using curves that he knew would bother the batter. This led Torrey to strike twice and miss.
“He’ll hit it next time,” asserted many. “He never strikes out.”
After wasting two balls the captain of the Fairhaven team again sought Torrey’s weak spot, and found it.
Brad’s eyes had blurred, and he seemed uncertain as he put up his hands.
Torrey swung sharply, hit the ball on the under side of the bat, and seemed to drive it straight down to the ground. It struck like a piece of lead a foot in front of the plate and lay there.