“Don’t let them shut us out!” he entreated. “It will be a disgrace!”
“I thought so a while ago,” said Wolfers, in a low tone; “but it will be no disgrace to be whitewashed while batting against a fellow like that Merriwell. I didn’t think he could pitch at all. He’s the best man I ever saw toe the rubber! I’m going to tell him so after the game. Why, Lawrence, we’ve got a team of hitters. Every man is a sticker. Do you realize that we haven’t secured a single safe hit to-day?”
“I realize it!” groaned Lawrence.
Nor did they secure one. For Merry it was a “no-hit, no-run” game. Although he struck out but one man in the ninth, the other two batted easy bounders into the diamond and were thrown out at first.
The game ended one to nothing in favor of the Merries.
Bob Wolfers was the first to reach Frank and grasp his hand.
“Boy, you’re all right!” he cried. “If I’ve said anything unpleasant, I apologize. You’re a gentleman, too! As a pitcher, you’ve got any youngster living skinned a mile!”
The Elks remembered what had followed the first game, when the Merries were defeated, and they did not fail to cheer for the winners.
“Sa-a-ay, Mr. Merriwell—sa-a-a-ay!”
Frank looked round.