The first man up for the regulars got a fine safe hit.
Both Gooch and Stubbs brightened.
“Ah! what did I tell you!” said Harris. “I knew it would come. Now, if the others will keep it up.”
He did not know that Frank had given the batter a good one, hoping he would get a single. Frank wanted Hodge to have a chance to show his throwing.
Merry was sure the runner would be sent down to second for a steal if he was given a show. He did not pretend to hold the fellow close to the bag, believing it a good plan to let him get a start, for it would make Bart’s throwing show up all the better if the man should be caught.
Diamond knew what was coming, for he understood that Merry was working to show Bart up, and he hugged close to second.
As Merry had anticipated, the batter made a false swing when the ball was pitched, hoping to bother Bart, while the runner scooted for second.
Hodge gathered in the ball, and then, without stirring from his tracks, sent it shooting down toward second like a bullet.
It was a low throw, and it seemed that it must strike the ground before it got to second; but there was force behind that ball, and it did not fall.
“Slide! slide!” yelled the coachers.