“Seems to me,” said Hoboson, as he rose from the bench and stopped Dick, who had trotted in to secure his glove before going into the box—“seems ter me I’ve heard that you deliver a queer curve you call the combination ball. When I want you to t’row that one I’ll give you this signal.”
Saying which, he showed Dick the signal he would make.
“Better not try it,” said Merriwell promptly. “You can’t hold it. It would fool you just as it fools batters. When he’s in condition Buckhart can handle it, but I don’t dare use it with any one who is not accustomed to it.”
“That’s all right,” said Hoboson. “Don’t you worry. Jest hand it right up and see me do my duty.”
For a pitcher Kennedy was a good hitter, and he opened Rockford’s half of the seventh with a pretty single.
With Spangler at bat, two strikes and three balls were called.
Then Hoboson signaled for the combination ball.
Dick shook his head.
Hoboson repeated the signal, and again Dick shook his head. In apparent disgust, the tramp called for a straight ball. Spangler smashed it into right field, and Kennedy took third on the hit.
“You see what happens,” said the tramp. “I tell yer not to be afraid, me boy. Jest deliver the goods and see me hold up my end.”