“It wasn’t my fault,” declared Ned. “Haggerty crossed signs with me.”
That made Capt. Hardy angry with Haggerty, and he called him in to the bench, sending Walbert out.
Walbert had not warmed up, and what he had seen made him feel a trifle nervous. This was not like a practice game. It seemed to be a game for blood.
The spectators realized that the fate of more than one player depended on their work in that game. Capt. Hardy was merciless, and he would not hesitate to lop off the head of any man he considered weak. He had no favorites, and he was fearless in the way he handled the team. His power was great, as he was manager, as well as captain.
Rattleton followed Fales. He popped up an easy one to shortstop who got under it and dropped it purposely, trying to draw Fales off first to make a double. But Fales knew that trick, and he hugged the bag.
Rattleton was out.
Diamond came next. He hit a hot one straight at Walling, the third baseman, and it was gathered in, putting the side out.
But at the end of the first inning, the score stood 2 to 0 in favor of the “scrubs.”
“Now, I do hope they’ll get on to Merriwell,” muttered Sydney Gooch, who was looking very serious. “This is not the kind of fun I came out to see.”
“Same here,” admitted Bink Stubbs. “But it can’t continue. Merriwell’s gang has had a streak.”