"Is this the kind of square deal you promised us?" he demanded.
Merry rose, turned, and faced the man.
"What's the matter?" was his question. "You know Mulloy was entitled to his base."
"But your umpire threatened to put one of my men out of the game."
"He has authority to put any player out of the game. He can't fine the men, but he can order them off the field if they raise a disturbance and make back talk to him. If one of my players should rush at him the way McCann did, I should expect him to put the man on the bench or off the field. If he didn't do it, I'd do it myself. You know Bender threw that ball at Mulloy to drive him back from the plate, and you also know that Mulloy was in his proper position."
"Aren't we going to have any sort of a square deal here?" gurgled Bearover furiously.
"You're going to have as square a deal as you ever received in all your career, but you're not going to bulldoze the umpire or any one else on this field."
"If we don't get what we want, we'll stop the game in the very first inning," threatened Bearover.
"You can stop it by refusing to play," said Frank. "You heard Carker tell McCann that he would forfeit the game if he did such a thing. It will be all over in short order in case you or your captain pulls the team off the field."
"But look at this crowd! You'll disappoint this crowd! You'll have to refund the gate money!"