Then came two decisions on a rattling double play, and Merriwell got both of them right by swift work. Both were declared out, and the game was over—Newport had won!
Some of the Institute men started to growl, but the captain cut them off sharply.
“It was the best umpiring I ever saw!” he exclaimed, enthusiastically. “Mr. Merriwell, we owe you our thanks. You did a beautiful job, and I believe you made this game one of the best ever played on this ground. There were any amount of close decisions, and I think you had all of them right. Newport beat us to-day, but I am not raising a growl.”
He shook hands with Frank, and the Newport captain came up and did the same. The pitchers of both teams stated that never before had they been so well satisfied concerning the rules on balls and strikes.
The Newport captain proposed three cheers for the M. C. I.’s, which were given. Then he proposed three more for the umpire, and there was an almost universal response.
“Well,” said Hodge, coming up to Frank, “that was a better game than I expected to see here, but I know your work had something to do with it. Poor umpiring would have set half these fellows kicking, and ruined the game.”
“It’s new work for me,” laughed Frank; “and I am not particularly stuck on it. Now, I’m hungry enough to eat anything. I want some of those ‘army beans.’”
“Yaw,” grunted Hans, waddling up, “I vos so hongry dot you can veel id at der bit uf my stomachs. Id vos awful ven you felt all gone ad der bit uf my stomachs.”
“Where are Browning and Diamond?” asked Frank.
“Don’t know,” answered Bart. “Think they must be taking in the dance. I reckon we’ll find them there.”