Eighteen of the students of Brill College were having a game of baseball on the athletic field of that institution of learning. The regular season for baseball was at an end, and the youths had fixed up their nines to suit themselves, with Dick Rover as captain of one side and Frank Holden as captain on the other. On Dick’s side were his brother Tom, and a number of their chums, while Sam was doing the catching for Frank.
It was only a friendly contest and all of the students were in the best of spirits. The main examinations for the term were practically over, and in a few days more the students were to scatter for the summer vacation.
It was the ending of the fourth inning and the score stood 6 to 4 in favor of Frank Holden’s nine. If Tom should manage to bring both Dick and himself in it would tie the score. But Tom was not known for his home-run qualities.
Frank Holden made a signal to Sam and then sent in a low, swift ball. Tom made a swing at it. But he was too slow.
“Strike one!” sang out Will Faley, the umpire. “Try it some more, Tom.”
Again the ball came in and this time Tom struck at it with all his might.
Crack! The ashen stick met the horsehide and the ball went whizzing off to the right of the home plate, in the direction of a number of students who were crossing the grounds.
“Foul!” sang out the umpire, as the sphere curved through the air.
“You can’t get it, Sam!” called out Max Spangler. “It’s too far off already!”
“Look out, you fellows!” yelled Frank, from the pitcher’s box. “If you don’t——”