“I shan’t disappoint yez, not me!” grunted the Irish cadet. “I’m on to his curves, so I am!”
The very first ball came in just as Hogan wished it. He took a step, landed solidly on the sphere, and sprinted like mad for first.
“Foul ball!” sang out the umpire, when poor Emerald was halfway to second base.
“Bad cess to the foul!” panted the batsman, as he walked slowly back to the home-plate. “I thought I had third sure!”
The next ball was too high, and he let it pass. Then came another just right, and once more the Irish youth banged away with all of his might. This time the sphere went down to deep center.
“Run! run!” was the yell. “Run, Emerald!”
“Show ’em what an Irish lad can do!”
And Emerald did run, up to third. Then he saw the second-baseman muff the ball and saw Dan Baxter start for it, and he tore towards home. Over the plate he slid—and the ball came in—but just a second too late.
“The Browns are one run ahead!”
“Andy Snow is up next.”