"Good. If you'll take my advice, though, you'll make the third and fourth men up hit pop flies—they're the hardest batters on the team."
"I always try to strike out the first men who face me—it rather takes the life out of the team," replied the pitcher quietly.
The matter-of-fact way in which Bronson spoke delighted his hearers. But Hal put an end to further remarks by ordering his find to warm up.
Instead of letting himself out, Bronson only used enough speed to limber his arm, and when he declared he was ready, Hal met the Landon captain to toss the coin for choice of innings.
Luck smiled on Baxter, and Hal chose the field, thus assuring his team the last chance at bat.
When the result of the toss was made known, the Baxter contingent cheered wildly. Landon tooted its horns in defiance, but when the visiting nine took their positions, there was a momentary lull.
Taking plenty of time, Bronson watched Gregory for a signal, but when it came for an inshoot, he shook his head. Twice more he refused to pitch the balls his catcher called for, and gave the signal for his in-jump.
"Get an alarm-clock to wake that pitcher up," shouted a Landon man through a megaphone.
But before the echo had died away, Bronson had sent the ball speeding toward the plate.
With a grin, the batter struck at it—and missed.