Carson leaped for it and fumbled. Clancy sprinted down to second, and, before the big fellow could decide where the ball ought to go, Merry was safe on first and Clancy was taking third.
“Wake up, you bonehead!” growled Squint, as he walked out and met his captain. “Say, you’re the limit!”
“He’s l-l-limited, al-l-l right!” chirruped Chub, from behind third. “The bal-l-loon’s gone up, fel-l-lows! Tag al-l-long!”
Carson scowled as Billy Mac faced him. Frank seized his chance and went down to second. Again the crowd lost its head with delight, yelling and stamping in a frenzied manner.
“Finish it up, you bonehead,” grated Squint. “Fan this man and we have ’em.”
Billy laughed. A moment later the ball came down, and he cracked it squarely. It shot back at Carson like a bullet. The big fellow leaped aside amid a yell of derision, and, before Murray had fielded it, Clancy and Merriwell had crossed the plate.
The Clippings had clipped the Clippers!
Merry and Billy reached the shelter of the dressing room first, but the rest of the team was caught by the frenzied crowd. As the two entered, they found the black-bearded stranger waiting for them. He held out a paper to Billy.
“Here,” he said, with a laugh, “is something for your mother, Billy. I think you won it pretty fairly, old man!”
The stranger caught at his beard, and it came off in his hand. Chip took one glance, then leaped for him with a yell.