Ready had slackened speed, intending to be caught between first and second if Sprowl threw to Tinker. Merry had signaled for Jack to work this trick in order to give Rattleton an opportunity to try to steal home.
The Elks declined to step into the trap.
Rattleton was compelled to plunge back to third.
“It’s all right now,” asserted Spud Bailey. “Frank Merriwell will drive in two runs, an’ he may make a homer.”
“You make me sick!” sneered Freckles. “I don’t berlieve he ever got a hit in his life.”
“You’ll see! You’ll see!”
Merry refused to bite at Wolfers’ “teasers,” but he missed one that was over the inside corner.
A moment later the third ball was called.
With two strikes and three balls declared, every one seemed to feel that the critical point of the game had been reached.
The next ball pitched might settle the contest.