"I'd rather you'd stay on the field," declared his captain.
"But I'd rather be with my friends." And, turning on his heel, Bart crossed the diamond, joining his mother and guests in the grand stand.
"Aren't you going to play?" exclaimed one of the girls.
"No; Markham's gang runs the team."
"But they shouldn't allow their jealousy to keep a good player like you out of the deciding game," declared another member of the party.
"If you knew Markham, you'd understand," returned the bully, rejoicing at the utterly false impression he had given of his rival.
Further effort to prejudice his friends was forgotten in the yell that arose from the Landon stand.
"We've got him going! We've got him going!" howled the students.
Acting on Sandow's suggestion, Bronson had passed both the first and second Landon batters, pitching balls that were impossible to hit, to limber up.
But when the spectators saw the second player trot to first base, they believed the wonder pitcher was having an off day, while the Baxter supporters criticized Hal for sending Bronson to the box without preliminary work.