Realizing what was going to happen, Taffy crossed the plate leisurely, followed by Sandow, and later by Fred.
"Three to nothing! Three to nothing!" roared the Baxter students. "Good old Cotton-Top!"
Victory thus assured, the next two batters made little attempt to hit the ball, and were easy outs.
Deliriously happy that they had won the game on Landon's grounds, the Baxter students and alumni rushed onto the field, cheering and yelling for Fred and Bronson.
But the two boys, shrinking from the demonstration, hastened to the dressing-room, quickly donned their street clothes and slipped out, going directly to the station and into the students' special train, where they found Margie and Dorothy awaiting them by prearrangement.
Their tête-a-tête was short, however, for when their schoolmates discovered the two boys whose playing had won the game, they refused to leave them.
Elated with the victory, the students considered the championship practically won, confident that on their own grounds they would have no difficulty in winning the second game, which was to be played on the second day following.
Having arranged for a meeting of the supper club at Fred's, the members trooped gayly to the house upon arrival at Baxter.
In delight, Mrs. Markham listened to the glowing description of her son's home run.
"Too bad you will be unable to play when Landon comes here," she exclaimed.