“Runner out!” decided the umpire clearly.
Then there was another roar from the bleachers.
Jack Ready fiercely doubled his fist and thumped himself behind the ear.
“All my fault!” he moaned. “I did it!”
Carker looked sorrowful.
“My last game of baseball,” he said sadly. “I do not care to play the game any more. It is a deception and a humiliation. No more! No more!”
Merriwell was the next batter. Park knew Merry was a good hitter, and he was cautious. Frank did his best to work the pitcher for a base on balls, but, with two strikes called on him, he was finally forced to hit.
He did so sharply, sending the ball shooting along the ground between third and short.
Frank crossed first and turned to the left, knowing it was best to have all the start he could if there was any show of making second.
“Go on!” roared Browning, who had reached the coaching-line at first, Ready, having come in from near third.