CHAPTER XXI.
A HOT OPENING.
It was a remarkable crowd that turned out to witness the game between Merriwell’s ball-team and the Philadelphia Athletics. It was made up mainly of young people. A good part of the young men were college fellows who knew Merriwell by reputation, or had met him.
As the Athletics had shown themselves to be one of the fastest among the big league teams, it was generally admitted that Merriwell’s nine would have a hard show to win. Nevertheless, the youthful element of the gathering was strongly in sympathy with Frank.
But the Athletics had plenty of fans on hand to root for them, and odds of five to one were offered that the home team would win.
“It’s a shame to see so much good money go begging!” sighed Jack Ready; “but Merry has given notice that we are to make no bets. The trouble with him is that he has too much conscience to play baseball. Why, he wouldn’t even buy an umpire if he knew the other side was stealing a game! He needs a pair of wings and a harp!”
The Athletics appeared on the field first and got in some batting-practise. They were not at all inclined to work, but Nick Robinson was a man who permitted no soldiering, and every man had to stand up and swing the club a certain number of times.
It was a team of hitters, and they agreed among themselves to put Merriwell out of the box in less than three innings. They fancied it would be no trick at all.
When Merriwell’s nine appeared they were received with a shout of applause from the college men and waving of handkerchiefs in the hands of the young ladies assembled. Frank was pointed out to hundreds of girls who were eager to see him, and all declared him “just perfectly splendid!”
But the appearance of Dick Merriwell in uniform was the surprise of the day at the start.