“Dost hear the croaker?” inquired Jack Ready. “Rattles, you have a very weak heart.”
“See if I’m not right!” exclaimed Harry. “Cameron is no fool.”
“I am certain that he depends mainly on the skill of his players,” said Frank. “He cannot believe it possible that a lot of amateurs stand a show of downing those professionals. There will be nothing crooked as long as it appears to him that his players have the best chance to take the game. We must fool them, fellows.”
“We’ll do our best, Frank,” was the assurance they gave him.
Never had there been such a wonderful outpouring to witness a baseball game in all that region. When Frank and his players entered the inclosure they found the stand packed, the bleachers black with people, and a great gathering held back by ropes stretched on both sides of the field. Besides that, the officers employed by Cameron were kept busy chasing spectators out of the outfield.
Not only did it seem that all Cartersville was there, but more than a like number of people had come in from outside the town.
The Merries were received with a hearty cheer. They hurried to their bench, lost no time in laying out their bats, pulling off their sweaters, adjusting gloves and preparing for practice. At a word from Frank they trotted briskly onto the field, and practice began.
Merry warmed up with Stretcher as catcher, while Hodge and Starbright batted to the men practicing on the diamond and in the field.
Frank was slow and deliberate in warming up. He did not use speed, but limbered his arm gradually. Toward the last he threw two or three fairly swift ones and let it go at that.
The players, however, went at it in earnest from the very start, and both infield and outfield work was of a snappy and sensational order.